How to bring a piece of paper to life ...
It is the unique combination of paper craft and projection and story that enthrals.
It takes a courageous, committed and creative spirit
to envision; to push the boundaries; to experiment; to realise a dream.

I am entranced by all sorts of dolls:
from the fluffy dolls my daughter made from yarn to the corn husk doll given to me by a neighbour;
from delicate porcelain dolls to larger-than-life dancing dolls used in street theatre;
from intricately crafted dolls with movable fingers to soft huggable figures.
Each doll has the capacity
to bring joy and to delight;
to transform and to heal;
to accompany and to listen;
to reveal and to hide.
Each doll has a story and a history - sometimes known only to the creator,
sometimes only to the doll's caretaker.
I love the simplicity of theses sunshine art dolls,
which use a simplified body form and stunning painted canvas.  
I made a series of dolls called "The Inner Child"
which used a simplified body form as a canvas for inner exploration and healing.

Another magical interpretation of a song using fibre :-)

Music has an inherent ability to transport us; to fulfil us; to acknowledge our human journey.

When we couple this with textiles which are essential to life as we know it 
(think of  bedding, clothing, shelter, footwear, health, protection,
identity, banners and flags to name a few),
the whole is more than the sum of its parts.

I have used dolls to illustrate songs,
especially 'You don't have to take it like I did' -
a call to resist family violence.

How do we answer the important questions in life?

Like ...
what makes for a good life?
what is the meaning of life?
how should we live?


Is there a right answer,
or simply an answer that reflects our unique invitation to live?

A delight :-)

I believe all art embodies the essence of the artist.
Sometimes this is very obvious, such as in a self-portrait.
Even a completed 'paint-by-numbers' reflects a stage or moment in the artist's life.
Most of my dolls are part of a process of healing or transformation for me.
Sometimes this is quite clear, as in the dolls exploring my divorce, and then my recovery.
I love this idea of writing a wish on paper,
and then scrunching this into a ball to create the head of a Wish Doll.
Very powerful.
Very healing.

I have a strong antipathy towards salesmanship.
I believe it commodifies human beings, debasing their inherent dignity.
I feel it warps our perspective and our relationships.
It skews the natural balance between needs and wants.
But I agree with the notion that whenever we argue a point or lobby for a particular group or fight against injustice, we are in some way selling our idea: trying to convince others of a need.
Perhaps it boils down to the manner in which we conduct ourselves and our activities.
Perhaps it is reflected in whether we are able to put ourselves in the shoes of another.
Is the key in sharing our story -gently, honestly, and letting it connect with others?
Do we need a collaborative approach rather than a competitive or combative approach to meeting our needs and the needs of others?

"You bless us with departures--
for they are a necessary part of our
journey, necessary for arriving.
May I be always ready to take
leave, always aware that every
arrival is a prelude to departure,
every birth a step toward dying,
and may I thus taste the blessing of
being fully present where I am." 

Brother David Steindl-Rast in 99 Blessings: An Invitation to Life

How do we speak the inexplicable?
How do we express our deepest sorrows?
How do we shatter the cultural mores which demand that certain issues are not spoken about?
How do we accompany women through miscarriage, female circumcision, domestic violence, divorce, transition and change, infertility, cancer?
How do alert the world to these issues?
Art is a powerful medium which crosses all boundaries and barriers and speaks directly to the heart.
The Breast Labyrinth I created to raise awareness of Breast Cancer is such a piece of art.