IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO RAISE A CHILD

This series of dolls was made in response to International Women's Day.
I wondered why we have to celebrate women
(or men or children) in isolation.
It occurred to me that the old adage is true:
"It takes an entire community to weave a life."
STORYTELLER

'Storyteller'
captures the essence of a community
and connects me with a fine thread of
poetry,
prose,
song,
myth,
whakapapa,
to those who have shaped me.
Made from a pattern by Noreen Crone-Findlay in her book, "Soul Mate Dolls."
HUNTER

Hunter nourishes the physical body.
He makes me aware of the over-abundant generosity of creation.
and instils in me the value of
ecology,
preservation,
conservation,
stewardship.
ANCIENT DANCER

Ancient Dancer dances for me the songlines ...
to my ancestors in faith;
to my ancestors in family;
to my heritage;
to my culture.
Made from a pattern by Noreen Crone-Findlay in her book,
"Soul Mate Dolls."
TOHUNGA
Tohunga nourishes the spiritual self.
Soul friend, mentor, priest, guru, writer, poet, artist, musician, listener, crone ...
ritual, liturgy, rites of passage, works of art, opus ...
all are guides to help me become.
Soul friend, mentor, priest, guru, writer, poet, artist, musician, listener, crone ...
ritual, liturgy, rites of passage, works of art, opus ...
all are guides to help me become.
GRIM REAPER

The Grim Reaper reminds me that
all things need to die before they can grow.
Look at the bean seed ...
it is buried in the dark soil before emerging as a sprout.
The death of the baby means the emergence of the child.
The death of the child enables the growth of the adolescent.
So, too, death is just another life stage
that we will all make.
all things need to die before they can grow.
Look at the bean seed ...
it is buried in the dark soil before emerging as a sprout.
The death of the baby means the emergence of the child.
The death of the child enables the growth of the adolescent.
So, too, death is just another life stage
that we will all make.
GARDENER

The Gardener
tills the soil of our soul;
tackles the roots of our prejudices;
sows seeds of hope; of change; of embrace; of honesty;
wards off that which invades the natural law;
defends challenges our integrity;
tends to all stages of life - conception, nursery, seedling, adult, crone.
The Gardener is a steward of life and all its mystery.