My First Teaching Retreat: Spirit Dolls

Hello dear friends.... 

I'm just back from my first teaching retreat focused on the 

healing qualities of our Ancient Ancestors 

represented by the creation of our individual Spirit Dolls. 

What follows are about 50 pictures I haven't edited yet.

Come back soon, I'll post captions and explainations

of the processes.

Question: Is there a 'better' name for these creations?

 Many people are put off by the term 'doll'.

Two new Spirit Dolls...

"Spirit of Yosemite" began with a Manzanita branch supported by a piece of river washed pine, (both collected in Yosemite last week) secured with sinew. (The face you see was accidental. I always pick the face and let it give me direction.)

 Here she is. I got so involved, I forgot to take pictures of her stages. Her hair is moss picked off the North side of a tree in the Wawona area of Yosemite. Her face is paperclay on a river rocked collected in Yosemite Valley.  Her clothing is a collage of Thai silks and painted muslin, with a bit of dyed netting. Her breastplate and the two fern embellishments are made from paperclay that has been textured stamped and painted.  She is supported by a dowel placed into a vintage textile bobbin which has been secured in a terracotta base, textured and painted.

 A close up of the textured terracotta base.

 Medicine Spirit is comprised mostly of mosses supported by redwood branches and a flexible florist wire. The breastplate is supported on a necklace strung with vintage beads and African trading beads. The Medicine Bay is made from upcycled leather (unknown species) perfect to place your prayers in. Clothes are made from hand painted muslin and Thai silks.  Arms are flexible and can be repositioned.

 Here are two more bases on the drying table.

 Bases are textured stamped in a primitive fashion.

I'm hoping to turn this meditative process into a workshop. Any comments or suggestions are so greatly appreciated! Thank you and Namaste. Sweet Blessings. xoxo

Our last day of vacation....

Well, we could be out at the pool, or sipping something on our deck.... but here we are, crafting and painting our hearts out.
Here's my hubby painting one of his silhouettes.... He is amazing!

 This is what I worked on all morning.... I made the paperclay buttons and embellishments yesterday and let them dry in the sun. Many hours of glazing and reglazing. I'm happy with the results.