The birthing of new Spirit Dolls

Hello friends... Yesterday was amazing! Three new Spirit Dolls were birthed! Aren't we glad that we can give birth in this gentle and creative way! Not to mention Lots of Fun!!

Here we see Shannon securing the inner padding to her doll's frame.

 The arms were secured first by the artificial sinew, then the padding is secured with long strips of torn muslin. I love the wavy arms!

 Well, someone (me) got so engrossed she forgot to take more pictures of the process! Here's Shannon's doll almost finished!

 I love the beautiful applique! and all that thick red hair!

 Here is my doll. I started off with the fall color theme that seemed popular today... but something shifted, and here she is in her purple/green/blue finery! with feathers in her hair to boot.

 Lili's doll is magnificent! (sorry I spaced out on taking more pictures of Lili's process.) I love the white dreadlocks! And the royal blue belt sets off nicely against the orange velvet dress!

 both Lili and Shannon are so focused on their creations. This is the point in most workshops where I tactfully mention 'less is often more'... we could just keep going on and on... it's such fun!

 Beautiful smiles.... beautiful Spirit Dolls. A good time was had by all!

Today we make tiny Wisdom Books.... tiny little journals. Pictures to follow! I promise.

Gaia's Daughter #2

Hello dear friends.... I just wanted to share this very special Wisdom Doll I made for a very dear person, Diane. Diane is a person has dedicated her life to be of service to people in crisis. I became inspired to create this 'Gaia's Daughter' after our conversation about her visit with the Dali Lama and Thich Nhat Hanh and I came to the realization that Diane really walks her talk, and is living a life of service and devotion.

The inner structure of Gaia's Daughter is made with the beautiful 'Lacy Moss' (lichen), collected in nearby Monterey, supported by several sticks, one collected from the riverbed in Yosemite Valley, the other from a Coastal Cypress, complete with it's seed pockets. Her 'hair' is moss collected locally in Ben Lomond.

Her inner garments, including her 'cloak of many colors', are a fiber collage of many 'rescued' silks, designer fabrics, and yarns, representing the countless lives Diane has touched. And her cloak is a vintage crochet doily, symbolizing the gift of caring that is woven together throughout all time.

And now Gaia's Daughter's face.... this particular cabochon kept speaking to me, that she wanted to grace Diane's doll. I think, because it is sturdy, substantial, with an elegant gracefulness, all of which depict Diane. I especially like the timeless gaze, as though she is watching over us all through eternity.

And... Her BREASTPLATE: A breastplate is a device worn over the torso to protect it from injury, as an item of religious significance, or as an item of status. A breastplate is sometimes worn by mythological beings as a distinctive item of clothing.

In this case, Gaia's Daughter's breastplate depicts the countless lives Diane has protected and touched, represented by five faces, cradled in Nature's womb of ferns. The symbolic meaning of fern is magic, fascination, confidence, shelter, discretion, reverie and a secret bond of love. And the spiritual meaning of Five draws our attention to the wonder of life, and beckons us to appreciate the perception of chaos all around us.

I just feel so honored that 'Gaia's Daughter #2' came to me to gift to Diane, to let her know she is seen, appreciated, and loved. She has really made a difference in the world.
Namaste.