The Starfish and Mermaid - the Wisdom of Stella and Ginger Pearl

This particular little pair of friends, Stella and Ginger Pearl, are quite well known under the Waters, but not so much up here by us land dwellers....until now. Recently this beautiful little Starfish and her feisty Mermaid friend were spotted by a kind, dark haired woman sitting at the water's edge. Normally they would have quickly swam back down to the ocean floor in safety, but they were curious about the woman. They felt safe. They could tell that she had a kind heart.

Stella and Ginger Pearl floated at the top of the calm blue waters in the Cove, holding on to the edge of  a tall rock, peaking occasionally at the woman while she occasionally peaked at them. The woman was sad and writing a letter, whispering the words as she wrote. She needed help, and she was sad because the friends that she had had for years, that she had helped and inspired along the way...weren't here for her when she needed them. She was disappointed.

Oh Goodness ! They knew ALL about this! This is how Ginger Pearl had met Stella, and they had became best of friends. Ginger had this same moment in her own life, and later learned that the "friends" that she had had in the past were actually people that had needed her help. There was nothing wrong with that. She was happy to help them with what she had and what she knew. The mistake that was made was that over time, she had thought of them as "friends" when actually there were simply sweet acquaintances. It was then time for Ginger Pearl to create those wonderful friendships that were based on two friends supporting the highest good for one another, unlike the one sided one's from her past.

Mermaids have a unique kind of magic that allows them to communicate with the land dwellers. They can place their whispers inside the bubbles of water on top of the Sea and blow them across to the human. When the bubbles pop, their whispers can be heard.
So, Ginger sent her whispers across, and her and Stella waited. After a few minutes they knew that she had heard, for a slight smile moved across the woman's face. She took a deep breath and they knew that the woman felt better.

The woman stood up and put her paper and pen back in her bag and pulled her things together to leave. She turned for a moment and looked back at the large rock, curiously, and smiled. She pulled her compass out of her pocket and started walking back, a little more confident, now that she had a direction.
She blew a kiss over her shoulder and whispered "Until we meet again", and continued to walk. Stella and Ginger caught the kiss, sent one back, and then dove happily back down  to their home.

****This fun pair of friends, Stella and Ginger Pearl, are a Starfish and Mermaid duo that was completely hand stitched and beaded. You can find them on my website here
https://jeannefryart.indiemade.com/product/starfish-and-mermaid-beaded-art-dolls-stella-and-ginger-pearl-spirit-dolls-story

Considering my Art Dolls as members of my Wisdom Keeper Family

Over the years I've been asked many times if I keep any of my Wisdom Keeper Art Doll creations, and if it is hard putting them up for sale because of a sense of attachment. 

To the first part of the question...I keep very few of my creations. I could probably count on one hand the number of Wisdom Keepers I have kept in my realm. The ones that I have kept marked a significance for me, symbolic of growth as an artist or growth as a woman. Do I have favorites? Yes, but they change over time like my own sense of being. 

One Wisdom Keeper that I have kept holds a special place in my heart, although I have to say I don't even quite remember the name I titled her with. To me she represented Magic, the magic and beauty  of being a woman, being able to manifest, and a sense of whimsy. While many of my art dolls could reflect that same thing, this one was different....she had Toes ! 10 glorious toes !As an amputee, this was special to me because as I created each toe and painted the nails, it was as if I was doing so for myself. 

Clay Sculpted Art Doll by Jeanne Fry

While I love each of the art dolls for their own special attributes and what their symbolism means to me, I don't feel a great sense of attachment for I feel that their being is meant for someone else to begin with. 

Another Wisdom Keeper that was special to me was my first commissioned piece. I have to say that creating a commissioned art doll is far more gratifying and special, because during that creative process I feel that I am connecting energetically with the recipient, and the Wisdom Keeper itself holds something far more amazing. 

Crow Goddess - Wisdom Keeper Art Doll by Jeanne Fry

I was in love with the Crow Goddess, as she just embodied a sense of peace, wisdom, and mystique. 

When I began creating the Art Dolls with Gourd and Clay, my creativity went wild. I love working with those mediums and found that the ways I could "play" were endless. My senses evolved, feeling like the Cloth and Clay art dolls were symbolic of inward processes and soul work, and the Gourd and Clay art dolls were more reflective of our outward projections of being a woman. In a sense they reflected the symbolism of the new moon and the full moon; the contrasts of the vibrant dancing singing woman of the full moon vs. the quiet reflective poetic woman of the new moon. 

The Storyteller Gourd Wisdom Keeper Art Doll by Jeanne Fry

The "Storyteller" was one of the first Gourd creations, her meaning so special to me, of the importance of passing on the stories and history. 

Ecstasy in Motion - Gourd Art Doll by Jeanne Fry

I then began to explore working with the fluidity of motion within the art dolls. This truly changed something in me as an artist, bringing a sense of deeper connection. 

But no matter the medium or style of creative process, each Wisdom Keeper carries a sense of reverence of being a woman and it is that feeling that I ultimately wish to share with others. 

Someone asked, if one of the Wisdom Keepers were "you', which one would it be?

As an artist I am sure that there is a piece of me within every art doll, but I suppose the one that most reflects how I feel inside......

Peace and Love,

Jeanne

Blue Dragonfly Art Doll Ornament with Painted Dragonfly Keepsake Box

This past week I wanted to create some small Goddess Art Doll Ornaments that could hang from the window latches of my living room windows that overlook the flower garden. I ended up loving them so much that I created another little collection to offer online.  

Each of them are made of doll making clay and some of them are designed as Dragonfly Goddesses with wings. What I originally thought was going to be a simple project, with no faces or embellishments, quickly became an in depth project. I decided they needed faces, wings, beads, ribbons. The more I added, the more I wanted to add.

One of the actually became a 2 part piece....A small Dragonfly Goddess Ornament in a Painted Dragonfly Keepsake Box.

The wooden box was painted and embellished with organza ribbon and a ceramic dragonfly charm on the lid. A small Art Print of one of my older dragonfly paintings is attached in the bottom of the box. I decided to include the "Smile" Blue Dragonfly Art Doll Ornament with the box. They just seemed meant to be together.

SOLD

Magical Beings in the Mountain Mist

Today it has been cold and dreary on the mountain. As the mist floats over the curves of the mountain, I stay warm inside prepared to work a little magic. With my dog at my feet and warm cup of tea, I oull up Netflix and find a beautiful little movie to work along with. "Ondine", a movie about an Irish fisherman who finds a Selkie in his fishing net, captures my attention and while it's Celtic tunes play softly under the actors, I work on a Mermaid Poppet that's a gift for Steve's wife. 

At midday I finished another custom order for a Raven Goddess doll, that I have completely fallen in love with.

The magic and grace just seems to exude from her.

So pleased to have gotten my orders done, now I will see what I can create for this weekend's show.

SOLD

Art Dolls Touching the Spirit this week...

This week my Art Doll creating focused on some custom orders and gifts, along with adding to my inventory. Twice the amount of time was taken with them, an almost meditative process of complete serenity as I worked. I always enjoy creating them, but something was a bit different this week.

It  felt similar to  a time a few years ago when I sat for hours creating hundereds of prayer bundles for a sweat lodge. When you create prayer bundles, your mind is to be focused on prayers and positive thoughts, and while I always am happy when I create my dolls...this week seemed to be a pure meditation. It was wonderful.

Healing Comfort ~ Chelsea

Embrace

Dreaming Angel

Green Tea

Cherry Blossom

These dolls have been adopted, but you can see more of my art dolls in my Indiemade shop here

http://jeannefryart.indiemade.com

Displaying Art Dolls for Shows

Of all the various types of Art that my husand and I create and set up in our art show booths, displaying the Art Dolls is my most time consuming. My Art Dolls use about 1/3 of our booth. I am constantly changing the type of display stands, risers, and shelving and now I'm at it again, sketching different ideas for them.

My full size Wisdom Keeper Art Dolls come in various sizes ranging from 6 inches to 14 inches tall. Using shelving makes them less visible, so I have found that using the risers gives them the height and individuality that they need.

My smaller versions, the Wisdom Keeper Poppet, need to be able to be picked up easily in order to see their fine details.

Fall is coming...time for Halloween Art Dolls

My most favorite season  is nearly upon us...Fall. I absolutely love Autumn. Growing up in Upstate New York introduced me to this glorious time and since then I have lived in some of the most beautiful places that nurture my love for this color rich time period.

As a child I would go to the Cider Mill in Endicott NY. I would watch them make the old fashioned cake donuts and would peak into all of the barrels of candy apples and apple cider. I waited all year for them to open. In the back of the Cider Mill you would find the Cider Mill Playhouse, where you could watch a play. It was exciting every time.

The crisp air, the changing of the leaves, and the brilliant colors all enhance my anticipation for the season and the things to do...one of them being Halloween. And so, it wouldn't be complete if I didn't create some Art Dolls for this season, now would it?

This week Ophelia's Pumpkin Patch joined our clan of Wisdom Keepers....

Ophelia waits all year for this time..her favorite and most important time...the harvesting of her Pumpkin Patch. The pumpkins may not be the largest...and they may be slightly odd shaped, but everybody and I do mean everybody knows that Ophelia grows the most magical and delightful pumpkins around.

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