The Thoughts and Symbolism behind this Gourd and Clay Sculpted Spirit Doll titled "No Apologies"

I wanted to talk for a few moments about the symbolism and intention behind my new Figurative Sculpt titled "No Apologies". 

No Apologies for Being my Authentic Self - Spirit Doll

Over the past two weeks I created a concept through 3 separate art modalities - Watercolor Painting, Sculpture, and Writing. The concept that I was portraying was "No Apologies for Being my Authentic Self".
In the Sculpture modality I used Gourd and Clay as the base of a Spirit Doll, a part of my Wisdom Keeper Art Doll collection, honoring the many layers of being a woman. The compilation of mixed media in this piece brings together Gourd, Clay, Handmade Paper, Wood, and Acrylics.

Her story reads as follows:

No Apologies will be made when she is speaking her truth, for she will no longer water it down or deliver it in small palatable pieces. Her Truth is not spoken in malice. Her Truth is spoken with strength and with grace. 

No Apologies will be made in honoring her own truth, for she will respect the needs of her own Spirit, just as she respects and listens to the needs of others. 

No Apologies will be made when she is drawing her line. Her boundaries are healthy and honor her Soul. 

No Apologies will be made when she is defending her line. Her boundaries are transparent and let you know where she stands. 

No Apologies will be made if it appears that she has changed, and no apologies will be made on how long those changes may have taken. She will celebrate her conscious evolving, always respecting what feels right in her heart. 

No Apologies will be made when she reveals her Authentic Self. She may have been afraid to show herself in the past, or she may have been afraid to defend herself in the past, but she is not afraid Today. 

Today, she lives, loves, and breathes from her deepest sense of Truth, 

and she does so with No Apologies." 

SOLD

Strength of the Alder Woman - OOAK Spirit Doll Original Sculpt

She stands, tall and proud, no matter what is happening around her. Whether the skies are filled with ferocious winds, battering rains, thick blankets of snow, or simple gloominess.....she Stands just as tall and proud as she does on the good days. She doesn't let those harder days keep her from being who she is. In fact, she digs in deeper and and holds steadfast. 

She shares who she is and what she has, lovingly with no conditions. She gives shelter to those who need it, and feeds those who could benefit. 

Alder Woman, thank you, for being a teacher who leads by example. for loving with no conditions, and for inspiring us all to Stand tall and proud. 

"Strength of the Alder Woman" is an OOAK Spirit Doll - with Original Sculpted Clay Face and Hand Stitched Body. She was designed as a Wall Hanger. You can fund her in my Etsy here

Strength of the Alder Woman Spirit Doll

I'm Still Dancing - through it all - I'm Still Dancing

A Letter to the Big C, 

"I'm still Dancing. Through it all, I'm still Dancing. 

You may take my strong threshold for pain, and you may take my ability to keep food down. Through it all, I learned to honor my pain and find ways to gently nurture and comfort my body

You may attack my immune warriors and make me feel as though I am waking roughly on a battle field. Through it all, I learned to be a guardian of my energy. retaining and spending it wisely. 

You may force me to spend too many days getting poked and prodded by doctors instead of enjoying the beautiful things in my life.Through it all, I learned the importance of surrounding myself with healthy relationships and enjoying each moment with them. 

Through it all, Big C, I made sure to level the playing field. I made sure you didn't take more than I was willing to lose. Through it all, for each thing that you took, I created a space for something special to reside. And while I now take back any power that I think you may have had....

I give myself permission to color my life a new kind of beautiful.

I'm still Living. I'm still Loving. And I'm still Dancing. 

Through it all."

This mixed media Figurative Sculpture is probably my most diverse piece of Art, and at the same time is one of the most meaningful. She is #1 in my new "BraveHearts" series. Her symbolism focuses on Breast Cancer Survival and her Mastectomy Tattoo. 

Her "neutral" state (in regards to her color palette of Beige and White) should not distract you from her mosaic of textures. 

"I'm Still Dancing" was created from Burlap, Clay, and Linen, along with supportive mediums. 

She stands 19 inches in height, spans 11 inches in width, and is 9 inches in depth. 

Her head, face, and torso are an Original Sculpt from Clay. Her hair was sculpted into an up-do, and is a rich honey blonde shade. Using Acrylics, her torso and face were painted a pale skin tone in the softest of a Cream shade. 

One breast was sculpted on her torso, the other is absent (reflective of a mastectomy)and now replaced with a mastectomy "tattoo". The tattoo was painted in white, yellow, grey-lavender, and cream. 

Her arms were hand stitched from muslin, stuffed with polyester filling, and attached to the torso in an outstretched form. 

From her hips downward a metal armature was created in a long skirt shape. Strips of burlap and glittered organza were draped around the armature and coated with a special medium that when dried, transformed the burlap just as hard and stiff as the clay. A thick sheet of felt encloses the bottom of the sculpture. 

Her arms were hand stitched from muslin, stuffed with polyester filling, and attached to the torso in an outstretched form. 

The above "Letter to the Big C" comes with the Art Doll, printed on card stock, signed and dated. 

You can find her listed in my Etsy here

I'm Still Dancing Figurative Sculpture

Inner Power - Wisdom Keeper Art Doll - the Whimsy Series

She Stands in her Power. She has learned how to walk in the world in a way that honors her own soul AND that of others. She now understands that it was never about "Don't be afraid"....it was actually about Recognizing the fear, Acknowledging the fear, and moving Forward anyway.

For far too long she had allowed the fear to hold her back, until soon she found that she was holding back from living life entirely. Much healing commenced in order for her to be able to "take her life back". Some days were hard and some days were easy, and she continued to work on those fears until she came to a place where the fear didn't make her decisions any longer. 

She embraces the freedom that came with that healing, feeling like a weight was lifted from her shoulders. She found it was so much easier to walk through her days without carrying old fears and past experiences on her back. 

Her Inner Power is up front and personal, and not only does it make her feel stronger, but she is able to empower others just by simply Being. 

You can find more of "Inner Power" in my Etsy here

Inner Power Whimsy Woman Spirit Doll

Messy Perfection - Living and Loving our Uniqueness

When I pick up a brush to begin painting, I load my palette with all the colors I think I will want, all the colors that feel right. I don't add them as I'm going along. I want all my choices "standing at the ready" and contributing to the beauty just by being present. 

My home is much the same way. Every color and pattern contributes to the hodge podge of decor that surrounds me, each carrying its own purpose and appeal. I find comfort in that diversity. I am more of a circular thinker than a linear thinker, and it manifests in how I walk in life. 

The people in my life follow a similar standard - different languages, different religions, different colors, different opinions, all beautiful and honored. I celebrate our Uniqueness and all that we learn from one another. I am grateful for those who walk in the world without the desire to label and separate us from one another. I am grateful for those who have a heart that will Listen, feel Compassion, and Validate another for who they are, and not try to change them into what they think they need to be. I am grateful for those who say "I love you just as you are, right here, right now". 

I am always perplexed by those who feel the need to change someone else, into something that makes them feel comfortable. They will try to change how you Think and Live, by making you feel uncomfortable about who you are and the decisions you  make. Don't let them. Often they are operating out of Judgment or Fear, not necessarily to honor your highest good. 

"Celebrate your Uniqueness, every day in every way ! The way you look, the way you dress, the way you eat, the way you talk, they way you think, the way you love, and the way you pray, makes you the glorious person you are. There is no other like you. 

We are all splotches on the palette, all contributing our own beauty to the artwork of Life. We are unique and messy and Perfection". 

SOLD

Star Being Wishes - a Wisdom Keeper Spirit Doll

Dear Human, 

I came from the Stars, just for You. 

I came from the Stars because I heard your spirit making wishes. 

I came from the Stars because I sensed your worry. 

I came from the Stars, to help You. 

Please find a safe loving place to keep me, where you will see me every day and where you can hear me when I remind you that....

💙there is always a light shining, even in the darkest of places...

💙that I don't want you to lose hope while you are waiting on your wish, because sometimes that means when it comes it will be extra special.. because we worked extra hard on it for you....

💙that in the meantime while you are waiting and wishing, be happy - dance - enjoy every moment - don't waste them because they are too precious....

💙and that, we are watching you from the Stars, we are cheering you on, and we will light the way. 

We're in this together.

Love in all ways,

From just one little Star who loves you

You can find "Star Being Wishes" on my Etsy here

Star Being Wishes Inspirational Spirit Doll

Pearls and Power - a Spirit Doll for Women's Empowerment

Pearls and Power

This beautiful Goddess may at first appear as a delicate feminine flower, but underneath that soft exterior is a powerful warrior. Her journey has taught her many lessons over time, and while some of those lessons were brought with ease and swiftness, others were more difficult mountains to climb. No matter the mode of the lesson though, she kept the beautiful wisdom that she received from them all. 

She carries both the light and the dark - the yin and the yang - the masculine and the feminine. It allows her to embrace the beautiful Goddess essence while also being the strong warrior that is sometimes needed. 

She is connected to the Ocean - the Water - the flowing energy of healing and emotion. It has brought her a more complete balance of head and heart, of love and life, of Heaven and Earth. 

Yes, do not underestimate this delicate flower, for she has bloomed into a warrior of

Pearls and Power. 

SOLD

Her Sacred Heart a Woman in Prayer -Gourd and Clay Spirit Doll Figurative Sculpture

When she is happy, she stands in prayer.

When in sadness, she stands in prayer. 

When she is worried, she stands in prayer. 

And when she is afraid, she stands in prayer. 

Her prayer is a part of her, like a deep breath, 

it is natural and complete. 

It keeps her focused, reassures her heart, and 

allows her to keep Standing. 

Each word that she speaks, each step that she takes,

are in alliance with her Sacred Heart. 

You can see more of "Her Sacred Heart" in my Etsy here

Her Sacred Heart Original Sculpted Art Doll

Dreaming Butterfly - A Whimsy Women Spirit Doll

While my Art Dolls have always been created as members of my Wisdom Keeper Art Doll Collection, I have now created another family of them titled the "Whimsy Women Collection". 

The Whimsy Women Collection consists of  Spirit Dolls that are whimsical and soft free form. These dolls are Cloth with Painted Muslin Faces. 

One of the Whimsy Women from the 1st Edition of this collection is a Dreaming Butterfly titled "In Her Dreams". 

"In her Dreams she is a Butterfly

a rare and beautiful Butterfly

In that magical space of slumber

she is able to fly the world over"

The Butterfly Whimsy Woman was created with deep purple and periwinkle blue Batik, and an original painted muslin face. 

Close View of Painted Muslin Face

Back View of Soft Cloth Butterfly Wings

This Original Purple Butterfly Cloth Folk Art Doll is an OOAK (original one of a kind) creation by Jeanne Fry titled "In Her Dreams". In this unique design her body was hand stitched from a beautifully deep purple and periwinkle blue batik fabric that boasts her head and torso. Her face was painted on a cut piece of muslin with acrylics and a fabric medium that will protect the painting for longevity. The muslin face was then attached to the body. A fun vibrant floral patterned fabric was used to create her pillow-like wings that are attached on each side of her and adorned with beads in the center. Using the same purple batik, two antennae were sewn and attached to the top of her head. Soft periwinkle blue cotton lace was used to swirl around her face, adorned with magenta buttons. That same blue cotton lace adorns the bottom of her body, again embellished with  magenta buttons. A turquoise ribbon loop with button was sewn at the back of her bead to give the option to display her as Wall Art if desired. 

"In Her Dreams" is a 1st Edition Whimsy Women Spirit Doll and is listed on Etsy here 

In Her Dreams - 1st Edition Whimsy Women

Tea and Healing Prayers with Persephone - Art Doll for the Big C

"Tea and Healing Prayers with Persephone" is a meaningful Spirit Doll that was created for the strong and beautiful Cancer Warrior who is battling the "Big C". A story card accompanies her that reads:

"Persephone was created for you, to be your companion, your secret friend, your Warrior Sister against the Big C. She was created in prayer and infused with love throughout each hand stitched moment. Her colors were chosen to bring Renewal and Vibrance. She was designed to hold comfortably, when you Pray, Meditate, when you're afraid or alone, and most especially when you take cherished moments for Tea. 

She knows that the medications can make you feel bad, and she is here to sit with you while you drink your tea to comfort your belly. She will help to remind you that "this too shall pass". 

Persephone whispers:  "Everything is going to be okay. You are loved and watched over, always. The hard moments will pass and softer gentler moments will replace them. We've got this, together we will walk through the struggle, hand in hand. The Big C will soon be a distant memory. We are stronger than it knows. Everything is going to be okay".

You Are Loved. "

You can find Persephone in the Etsy shop here

 Tea and Healing Prayers with Persephone