WHITE ANGELS: A HEALING JOURNEY
Diagnosed with a serious illness during a global pandemic,
I set aside doll making to focus on living well in the present moment.
After a long interlude,
I created a doll from material discarded by my daughter.
This angel is repairing one of her wings with gold thread.
The tear is still visible.
She speaks to me of stillness,
attentiveness,
the slow passage of healing, and loving self-care.
Her simple act of stitching offers me hope,
fills me with courage,
and empowers me to rise each morning.
She is called, "Every breath is a new beginning."
I set aside doll making to focus on living well in the present moment.
After a long interlude,
I created a doll from material discarded by my daughter.
This angel is repairing one of her wings with gold thread.
The tear is still visible.
She speaks to me of stillness,
attentiveness,
the slow passage of healing, and loving self-care.
Her simple act of stitching offers me hope,
fills me with courage,
and empowers me to rise each morning.
She is called, "Every breath is a new beginning."
One of the healing modalities that I use daily is that of positive affirmations.
"I am a positive woman."
"I intend to heal mind, body and spirit."
"I am strong."
"I am resilient."
This doll expresses another,
"I will allow something extraordinary to materialize in my life today."
She sits on a bale of straw
and is spinning another bale,
strand by strand,
into gold.
She is created from discarded fabric, gifted vintage lace, straw, burlap, wood and gold thread.
"I am a positive woman."
"I intend to heal mind, body and spirit."
"I am strong."
"I am resilient."
This doll expresses another,
"I will allow something extraordinary to materialize in my life today."
She sits on a bale of straw
and is spinning another bale,
strand by strand,
into gold.
She is created from discarded fabric, gifted vintage lace, straw, burlap, wood and gold thread.
One aspect of my healing journey
has been the slow acceptance of the changes in my body.
I am not who I used to be and never will be again.
There is a grieving process
and a gentle acknowledgement of my 'new normal'.
This doll arose after I read the meme
"And the moon said to me,
"My darling, you do not have to be whole in order to shine.""
She is in intimate dialogue with her muse,
with the divine,
with that which encourages and uplifts her.
These dolls use the puzzle form described by Susanna Oroyan
where body parts are formed and sewn together to give a completed shape.
has been the slow acceptance of the changes in my body.
I am not who I used to be and never will be again.
There is a grieving process
and a gentle acknowledgement of my 'new normal'.
This doll arose after I read the meme
"And the moon said to me,
"My darling, you do not have to be whole in order to shine.""
She is in intimate dialogue with her muse,
with the divine,
with that which encourages and uplifts her.
These dolls use the puzzle form described by Susanna Oroyan
where body parts are formed and sewn together to give a completed shape.
She sits with an empty plate.
I wanted to create a tasty morsel to tempt the appetite but she refused!
She ponders
"What is my meaning?
What is my purpose?"
Pablo Picasso said,
" Your meaning is to find your gift. Your meaning is to give it away."
In this time of healing and transformation,
I am impatient, struggling.
I had thought doll making was my gift
but it doesn't sit easily at the moment.
Although each figure I create speaks to me deeply, encouragingly, lovingly,
I don't know what to do with them.
They are an intrinsic part of me
but sometimes also feel like a weight, a burden.
I wanted to create a tasty morsel to tempt the appetite but she refused!
She ponders
"What is my meaning?
What is my purpose?"
Pablo Picasso said,
" Your meaning is to find your gift. Your meaning is to give it away."
In this time of healing and transformation,
I am impatient, struggling.
I had thought doll making was my gift
but it doesn't sit easily at the moment.
Although each figure I create speaks to me deeply, encouragingly, lovingly,
I don't know what to do with them.
They are an intrinsic part of me
but sometimes also feel like a weight, a burden.
Every day I am gifted many graces and blessings.
How many do I choose to acknowledge and open?
Have I received the grace which will give me wings?
I am like a caterpillar in a chrysalis,
experiencing change and transformation
but not knowing how that change will manifest.
This figure is brave.
Still in the process of change, s
he opens a grace to reveal her wings.
Made using the Holding Pattern as described by Barb Kobe,
with discarded white linen, vintage lace, scraps of gold thread and braid and beads, and a found fabric box.
How many do I choose to acknowledge and open?
Have I received the grace which will give me wings?
I am like a caterpillar in a chrysalis,
experiencing change and transformation
but not knowing how that change will manifest.
This figure is brave.
Still in the process of change, s
he opens a grace to reveal her wings.
Made using the Holding Pattern as described by Barb Kobe,
with discarded white linen, vintage lace, scraps of gold thread and braid and beads, and a found fabric box.
"You are valuable because you exist.
Not because of what you do,
or what you have done,
but simply because you are." Max Lucado
This healing and transformational process
is all about learning to be in the present moment.
A lesson I am relearning every moment of every day!
Simply to sit.
To smell the roses!
Breathe deeply.
Appreciate this moment.
Dwell in it deeply.
Consciously.
Attentively.
The healing and transformation will be happening
- slowly- at a level I may not be aware of.
Doll is made using the Holding Pattern described by Barb Kobe,
using linen, organza, vintage lace and handmade fabric flowers.
Not because of what you do,
or what you have done,
but simply because you are." Max Lucado
This healing and transformational process
is all about learning to be in the present moment.
A lesson I am relearning every moment of every day!
Simply to sit.
To smell the roses!
Breathe deeply.
Appreciate this moment.
Dwell in it deeply.
Consciously.
Attentively.
The healing and transformation will be happening
- slowly- at a level I may not be aware of.
Doll is made using the Holding Pattern described by Barb Kobe,
using linen, organza, vintage lace and handmade fabric flowers.
Communication and connection are very important during the healing journey.
Messages we give and those we receive.
It is irrelevant how these messages are delivered and received -
face-to-face, phone, snail mail, cyber space -
but it is important that there is a connection.
Connection uplifts the human spirit and aids healing and transformation.
This figure is holding a small bottle with a message inside.
The lid or stopper is in her other hand.
Has she just opened the bottle,
or has she put a note inside ready to be delivered?
I believe intention and anticipation are an important part of connection.
The doll is sitting on a piece of driftwood found near the lake.
She is made of linen, lace, shells, gold thread, merino fleece and a small glass vial.
Messages we give and those we receive.
It is irrelevant how these messages are delivered and received -
face-to-face, phone, snail mail, cyber space -
but it is important that there is a connection.
Connection uplifts the human spirit and aids healing and transformation.
This figure is holding a small bottle with a message inside.
The lid or stopper is in her other hand.
Has she just opened the bottle,
or has she put a note inside ready to be delivered?
I believe intention and anticipation are an important part of connection.
The doll is sitting on a piece of driftwood found near the lake.
She is made of linen, lace, shells, gold thread, merino fleece and a small glass vial.
