Blog Archives - Heartfelt Dolls

Dolls and therapy ...

11/10/2013

There are many, many, talented, creative lateral thinkers out there.
People with such compassion and love for the other
that they seek or create innumerable ways to engage and heal.
We often think of dolls in a narrow way.
But here are dolls that engage and heal and communicate and are fun!
Wow:)

I hate war ...

10/10/2013

Anything we can do to eliminate war from
our mind-sets;
our hearts;
our vocabulary;
our budgets;
our career choices;
our play;
our problem-solving and think tanks;
our future
is an action rooted in compassion.
It is a good action.
Art is a powerful voice for peace;
for non-violence;
for an end to conflict and war.

Redeeming Eve. Reimagining everything ...

9/10/2013

What would life be like for us, especially women,
if we did not live in a society shaped and dominated by men?
I am not meaning women adopting a male-persona to succeed in a male-dominated world.
So much would be different ...
communication
distribution of power
storytelling
collaboration
ecology
worship
relationships ...
I have thought about this now and then -
The Apple series explored the subjugation of women in the church.
Is change a possibility in our life time?

Therapy dolls ...

8/10/2013

People are good.
Generous with their time and giftedness.
Compassionate.
Always thinking of the other.
Our world is a better, happier place because people share.

Spreading happiness ...

7/10/2013

How easy it is to spread happiness ... any time of the year :)
A smile;
a coin to a busker;
a lift to a hitch-hiker;
a donation to a food bank;
listening to a story on the bus;
a contribution to a charity collector;
directions to someone who is lost ...
Each action recognises our shared humanity.
No judgement or preaching or proselytising ...
simply one human being reaching out to another human being.

Gardening with soul ...

6/10/2013

I cannot think of any greater thing than living an integrated life;
a seamless life, where there is no dichotomy,
no separation of body and soul, work and leisure, us and them;
a compassionate life, rich in acceptance, love, consideration of the other;
a visionary life, seeking to give a voice to the disempowered and disconsolate;
a life attentive to the seasons of the soul,
of the body, of the community, of the garden, of the earth.
This documentary/film moved me deeply.

Alzheimers and art therapy ...

5/10/2013

Whatever we do in life,
it is imperative that we treat all those we encounter with respect and dignity.
We are all called to accompany each other,
and help each other become the best person we each can be.
We need to listen to the life stories of those we meet,
and contribute to those stories with meaningful and relevant interactions,
relationships and experiences.
We must use our own giftedness and vision to enrich the lives of others.

Sacred space ...

4/10/2013

I think it is important for the creative life ...
and for our well-being ...
to have a space that calls us to silence;
encourages a grateful heart;
honours the divine;
centres our soul.
This space is an invitation to develop a relationship with our interior selves;
with our creative spirit;
with our reflective heart.
It may reflect the seasons of the world;
the seasons of our heart;
the seasons of our church;
or the seasons of our life.

Echoes of creation ...

3/10/2013

We are created beings.
We live in a created world - natural and man-made.
We are called to create.
The world is our inspiration and our palette;
our studio and our gallery;
part of the process and part of the product.
We must honour our environment and give thanks for its generosity.
Abuse will destroy us all.

Spirit dolls ...

2/10/2013

Handcrafted dolls tell a story, must SHRIEK a story as Maggi Hennen says.
One of the many stories we craft dolls for is the story
which transitions us from one stage of life to another.
We can embed in them all our hopes and desires;
our grief and our regrets;
and by doing this we free ourselves to live fully and attentively in this present moment.
I have made wrapped spirit dolls, using driftwood, torn cloth and embellishments.
I have also made spirit guides: ritualistic, free.