Heartfelt Dolls
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    • Heartfelt doll-making: a healing experience
    • Heartfelt Dolls: the memory keepers
    • Heartfelt Dolls on life and death
    • Heartfelt Dolls: aesthetic meditation
    • Heartfelt Dolls: using textile crafts in contemporary art
    • Heartfelt Dolls: seeking a definition
    • Heartfelt Dolls: A Political Voice?
    • Heartfelt Dolls: Face On/Face Off
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  • Dolls
    • Heartfelt Dolls: companions for the journey
    • The Quotidian Doll: an introduction >
      • The Quotidian Doll Blog: introducing a Heartfelt-doll-a-day
    • Diaspora: the 101 dolls project
    • Heartfelt Dolls willing to leave home (for sale) >
      • Matariki
      • Through A Glass Darkly
      • Stitch Yourself a Boyfriend
      • Pink Walkers
      • Steampunk Dolls
      • Selfies
      • The Heroine's Journey
      • An English Country Garden
      • Hobo Chic
      • The Fisherman
      • I Shall Wear Purple
      • Enraged Woman Riding a Black and White Dog Writing Wrongs
      • Salute to the Sun
      • Old Woman in a Shoe
      • Soul Sisters
      • The Smiles Project
      • BFF
      • Blue Belles
      • Shades of Gray
      • Angels with attitude
      • Angels of gold
      • Angels
      • 'Ladies a plate'
      • Cosy up with a bit of skirt
      • Ice Palace
      • Troupe de verde
      • Animal Antics
      • Male dolls
      • Carnivale: stiltwalking dolls
      • Calendar Girls
      • Dammit dolls
      • Oh Cliche
      • Heartfelt Graffiti
      • Double Trouble
      • Lilliputians
      • Kiwi Icons
      • Faeries
    • Heartfelt Fundraisers >
      • Volunteer Fire Fighters
      • Memory keepers
      • Shades of Gray >
        • Shades of Gray Duets
        • Shades of Gray Men
      • Calendar Girls
      • Pink Walkers
      • Bandanna Chic
      • Selfies
    • Heartfelt Companions: sharing my journey with you >
      • One-of-a-kind heartfelt dolls >
        • Julie Has Flown North For The Summer
        • Hot Flash!
        • Whoops!
        • Medusa
        • The Bag Lady
        • Purple people eater
        • Social Climber
        • Place
        • Fertility Fairy
        • Smile
        • Blue Baths Belle
        • An Artist's Book
        • Pink Lady
        • Beloved
      • Heartfelt dolls in a series >
        • The Rainbow Connection
        • What's in a cup?
        • The Apple
        • Hi-Cut Internet Dolls
        • Godde Dolls
        • Shrines
        • The Rites of Autumn
        • Bibliophile
        • Seeing the world through different eyes
        • Akuba: encouraging change
        • It takes a village
        • Umbrella and Umbrage
        • A cautionary tale ...
    • Heartfelt Process, Heartfelt Transformation >
      • Matron Saints
      • Creative Guardians
      • The Nest
      • Freeing the caged heart: the poets and the dollmaker
      • The Unemployment Blues
      • The Bare Necessities
      • The Heroine's Journey
      • The Alchemy of Change
      • Sticks and stones
      • Stitch yourself a boyfriend
      • Inner Child
      • Salute to the Sun
      • Bindings
      • Euphrosyne: reclaiming joy >
        • Freeing the caged heart: poetry to lift your spirits
        • The Smiles Project
        • Dancing Feet
        • Irrepressible
        • Greening: a lenten journey
        • Wild Women Like to Dance
        • I Am Woman
        • Harakeke flowers
        • Circle of friends, vessel of hope
        • Dance
        • Spirit seekers, spirit guides
      • The Great Divide: one woman's experience of divorce >
        • Numb
        • Bound
        • Burlap and lace
        • Naked
        • Reclaim
        • Bitch
        • The Devil on my back
        • Burdened
        • God alone is enough
        • Simple heart
        • Broken dreams
        • Will the real me please stand up?
        • The Classifieds
        • Sing-a-song
        • Dark nights >
          • You are dying ...
          • Beast of burden
          • Wounded healer, broken heart
          • A moment of conversion
          • Unbuilding
          • Peace
          • Transform me
          • A clean heart
          • Unwrapped
          • Doormat
          • The weight of expectation
          • Promise
          • A new me
          • The fabric of my life
          • Struggle
          • Hanging
        • Dance me To The End of Love
      • Black Dog: one woman's experience with depression >
        • The Anti-depressants
        • Some days
        • What I wish you knew about depression
    • Heartfeltfelt Emotion >
      • Gold Angels: coping with tragedy
      • Emotions: a challenge
      • Lamentation
      • Heartfelt Anger >
        • Anger Management with Dammit Dolls
        • Dammit!
    • Heartfelt Celebration! >
      • I Shall Wear Purple!
      • Birthday dolls
      • Birthday cards
      • Julie's 21st
      • Celebrate my femininity!
      • Troupe de verde
    • Heartfelt Graffiti
    • Heartfelt Care >
      • Ageing >
        • I Shall Wear Purple
        • The Seven Ages Of Woman
      • For the children
      • Living with dementia
      • Say 'NO' to family violence >
        • You don't have to take it like I did
        • Are you the one?
      • Heartfelt Conservation >
        • Seduced By The Wild
        • Feathers Over Hamurana
        • Birds
      • Living with cancer
      • Breast Cancer Awareness >
        • Hello Dollies: an article
        • Pink Walkers
        • Primal scream
        • Flat Out
        • Paradox
        • Just Checkin'
        • I Love you, Mum
        • Mammogram Slam
        • Friends for the journey
        • Hair Today
        • Domestic Goddess
        • Deconstruct Reconstruct
        • Sewphie the stitcher
        • Nana and Gran
        • Procrastinating Polly
        • Colour blind
        • BRAve New World
        • Unzipped
        • Lord, to whom shall we go?
        • Knitting Nellie
        • The nay-sayers
        • Vessels of hope
        • Dancing Woman Labyrinth
        • Breast Labyrinth
    • Time Capsule series
  • Heartfelt Creativity
    • Heartfelt Fun
    • Heartfelt Comfort >
      • Girl Reclining on a Sofa
      • Cotton-soft boas
      • Wild Women Like to Hang About
    • Heartfelt Stitch >
      • Mother's Little Helper
      • Needlewomen
      • Old Woman in a Shoe
      • Delight in a cup
      • Heartfelt Companion
    • Heartfelt Wrapping >
      • Colour Blind
      • Spirit dolls
      • Bound
      • Aspects of Self
      • Wrapping as an art form
      • Wild Women Like To Dance
    • Heartfelt vestis >
      • What a wonderful world!
      • A thanksgiving vest
      • Dalmatics
      • In Praise
    • Labyrinth >
      • Shell labyrinth
      • Breast Labyrinth
      • Labyrinth scroll
      • Stitched labyrinth
      • Dancing Woman Labyrinth
      • Hopi labyrinth
      • Bead labyrinth
      • Journey
    • ANZAC: a tribute >
      • ANZAC Quilt
      • Rawene Boys
      • ANZAC jacket
  • Heartfelt prayer
    • Heartfelt crocheted rosaries
    • Heartfelt Retreat >
      • An Advent Retreat in Daily Life
      • Our daily medicine: a 28 day reflection on living and dying
      • Hidden in Plain View: a retreat in daily life
      • 24 hours: a retreat reflecting on the passion of Jesus
      • Stations of the light
    • Heartfelt waiting: reflections on the season of Advent >
      • Matron Saints of Un-named Women
      • Advent is a vessel
      • Advent is a pilgrimage
      • Advent remembers we are all related.
      • Advent is creative
      • Advent is a ritualised experience
      • Advent is expectant
      • Advent names God
      • Advent is a door
      • Advent: a sacred space
    • Stations of the Cross >
      • Christchurch Stations of the Cross
      • 24 Hours
      • Stations with haiku
      • John Badcock "Stations of the Cross"
    • Heartfelt Season: reflecting on the season of Lent >
      • A Lenten Walk
      • Lenten Prayer Flags
    • Heartfelt Hallelujah: reflections on the season of Easter >
      • Voices on the Via Lucis
    • Prayers from the Ark >
      • The Mouse
      • The Spider
      • The Dog
      • The Elephant
      • The Lizard
      • The Lamb
      • The Peacock
      • The Giraffe
      • The Toad
      • The Parrot
      • The Mother Hen
      • The Goldfish
      • The Cat
      • The Lion
    • Heartfelt Belief
    • Heartfelt Reflection >
      • These Parables Blow Me Apart!
      • A Single Thread
      • Every moment is gift
      • Harvest Wheat
      • Stepping out in faith
      • Harvest Heart
      • Dream catcher
      • The Sewing Basket
    • Sacred Story >
      • The Road to Emmaus
      • The Loaves and the Fishes
    • Listening To Winter
    • Genesis
    • Heartfelt Writing >
      • Joy on a String
      • Changing Landscapes
      • Rites of Passage
      • Sowing and Reaping
      • Hidden In Plain View
      • An Emmaus Journey
      • God and Dog
      • Dear Julie
      • An Intentional Walk
      • The Widow's Might
      • Does God Exist?
      • The Sewing Basket
      • Advent: A Sacred Space
      • A Secular Liturgy
      • Your Call
      • Dance me To The End Of Love
  • "100 day" projects
  • Prayer flag project
    • Blessings on the wind: a year of blessings >
      • April blessings
      • March blessings
      • February blessings
      • January blessings
      • December blessings
      • November blessings
      • October blessings
      • September blessings
      • August blessings
      • July blessings
      • June blessings
      • May Blessings
      • April Blessings
      • March Blessings
    • Prayer flag blog
  • Gratitude Flowers

Day Thirty-four ... questions

16/1/2014

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Today, questions have risen to the surface.

Laurence Freeman writes,
"Get the question right
before getting confused or intoxicated by the variety of answers."

What is the role of art in our society?
How do crafts preserve our cultural identity?
What is the difference between the consumer art of everyday living
and the fine art of galleries?
Do we need art or craft to become fully human?
How do we define artists? artisans? craft artists? craftspeople?
Should art or craft have a purpose?
How does art exclude?

Amongst all the pondering and musing I realised two things -
art and craft are only relevant if they enable me to become the best person I can be;
and if they do the same for those who encounter it.
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Day Thirty - three ... therapy

15/1/2014

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Doll-making as therapy has been highlighted for me today.

Recognising my Euphrosyne and Blue Belles as art which connects us with hope.
Hope as a function of art.
Surely this is art as therapy.
Alain de Botton and John Armstrong in Art as Therapy write

"The dancers in Matisse's painting are not in denial of the troubles of this planet,
but from the standpoint of our imperfect and conflicted - but ordinary - relationship with reality,
we can look to their attitude for encouragement.
They put us in touch with a blithe, carefree part of ourselves
that can help us cope with inevitable rejections and humiliations."


Watching as a support worker guided a woman with Alzheimers to interact with the dolls.
Remembering as a function of art.
Surely this is art as therapy.

Setting up Lamentation to accompany me as I grieve for my cousin.
Sorrow as a function of art.
Surely this is art as therapy.
LAMENTATION
for my cousin Brian who died on Monday January 13th, 2014

 Kua hinga te totara i te wao nui a Tane
The totara has fallen in the forest of Tane
Picture
LAMENTATION for Brian May you rest in peace
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Day Thirty-two ... quiet

14/1/2014

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Today was quiet.
Time to watch the pukekos feeding on the grass.
Time to sway with the pohutakawas in the wind.
Time to sit entranced by the play of light on windows and stone.

Today was quiet.
A hush filled The Arts Village.
A contentedness filled my heart.
And I worked at a snail's pace ... slowly, attentively.

I worked on our collaborative piece.
To the sepia tones, words and figures,
I added vintage pattern pieces and running stitch.
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Day thirty-one ... to market, to market

13/1/2014

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I think community markets are essential.
Be they farmer's markets, selling fresh produce,
or craft markets, offering locally-made, handmade arts and crafts,
markets reflect our heartfelt yearning
for community;
for face-to-face contact with producers;
for a sense of belonging with like-minded people;
to encourage and support the creativity and endeavour of each other;
for a slower-paced, intimate way to shop;
to support micro-business;
to celebrate diversity;
to gather.
The Hot Lakes Craft Market is one such place.
Artists, artisans and craftspeople reflecting the diversity of our creative heart.
I enjoyed being a part of this growing phenomenon.
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Day thirty ... attentiveness

12/1/2014

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Attentiveness -
the trait of being observant and paying attention

I sat with Vera as she repaired the marionettes.
She carefully studied how the strings were attached;
analysed how the mechanism could be improved;
made changes, tried them, and made more changes!
Her focus, determination and concentration were a wonder.

Attentiveness -
the trait of being considerate and thoughtful of others

I watched as a mother enabled and helped her child optimise her play time with the Fantasyland.
She prompted her daughter;
listened to her;
drew her attention to different aspects of the Fantasyland.
Always she was aware of how her daughter was feeling;
and was guided by what she wanted to play with next.
I was overawed by this loving-attentiveness.

Attentiveness -
paying particular notice

Because my thoughts were elsewhere,
I failed to take particular notice of the doll I was working on.
I spent much of the morning UNPICKING!!
I find I need to be 'tuned in' to the doll on my lap,
to bring out each doll's unique personality;
and to absorb the lesson she (or he) is offering.
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Day Twenty-nine ... blessings

11/1/2014

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It is a life-changing experience when we practice counting our blessings each day.
I have much to be grateful for during my residency:
the generosity of visitors;
time to create;
witnessing the imaginative play of children;
the encouragement of friends;
the demands of discipline;
the fruitfulness of limitations;
a beautiful studio and gallery space;
the shared stories;
warm sun and refreshing breezes;
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Day Twenty-eight ... revisit

10/1/2014

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There is a time to explore new things ...
and there is a time to revisit familiar things.
I am honoured and humbled that several visitors have come back a second time
to share their delight with others.
I am revisiting old pains as I transform an old duvet cover,
covered with kisses, into a series of dolls.
There can never be too many revisits from troubadour, Don Coles.
Music is balm for the soul.
I am revisiting old doll patterns,
considering how I can give them new life, new vision.
Revisiting is both comfort and challenge;
delight and demand;
a time to reclaim and recover.
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                          COLLABORATIVE PROJECT

10/1/2014

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Paula Kerslake in Studio Two has invited the artists in The Open Studios Project to participate in a collaborative art project. The finished artwork will be donated to a school. Her inspiration came from the Tunisian Collaborative Painting projects. We have adapted it somewhat but it will be a challenging, creative and communal work of art. We are working on it until Wednesday 15th January, 2014, so come along and see it grow and change.
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Day Twenty-seven ... stories

9/1/2014

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I read this quote from Deena Metzger today:

"Stories move in circles. They don’t move in straight lines.
So it helps if you listen in circles.  
There are stories inside stories and stories between stories,
 and finding your way through them is as easy and as hard as finding your way home.
And part of the finding is the getting lost.
And when you’re lost, you start to look around and  listen."

Today has been filled with stories.
The Cottage Gallery resonates with the story of each doll.
Visitors whisper and laugh;
 share heart-wrenching tales of loss;
and wonderful stories of life moving and intersecting in circles.

Perhaps the chaotic display of the dolls
is an analogy for our 'trying to find our way through our stories'.
And perhaps as more dolls arrive,
wanting to join the circle,
we come to realise how intrinsic sharing our story is to being human.
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Day Twenty-six ... relevance

8/1/2014

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When I told someone that my dolls were bought by overseas' visitors,
they responded that now I can say my creations are in 'International Collections'.
I was taken aback.
I could not understand the significant difference between a doll living with me,
and one companioning a friend;
or entertaining a young visitor from Waiheke;
or being a 'signature piece' on the wall of a delightful couple from Perth;
or partying in the nightclubs of Edinburgh;
or distracting the clients of a naturopath in the USA;
or smiling with a resilient couple from Auckland;
or relieving anger in Anchorage Alaska.
What is the relevance of such a phrase?
For me, I simply delight that these Heartfelt Dolls have found new companions for the journey.
They will indeed, continue to transform and enrich the lives of those who encounter them.
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    Author

    My name is Liz Pearce. I create dolls. This summer, December 2013 and January 2104,  I am one of five resident artists in The Open Studios Project at The Arts Village, Rotorua, New Zealand.

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