from these hands...: Finding Beauty in the Quiet : Soul Sisters

Between my dolls of Transition...The Cicada and The Bee

and Transcending to my new line "Ito"...

I found I needed to create something more delicate and quiet...

These came into being as The Soul Sisters.

COMING TOGETHER:

These dolls started with all cloth sewn bodies.

But of course, I could not leave it there- had to add something to alter the "feel" of the piece. I love patina- anything with patina. I believe it gives beautiful soulful layers to art as well as to life!

So into a (loose) tea bath they went...I wanted it to be purposely spotty...

One whole doll and one bust of a doll...being created here.

I love when I am able to be quiet...in the flow...in communication with my pieces I am creating.
That is when I find that they tell me what's next...

Next up was adding another layer using alcohol inks. I love tipped fingers and toes- I mean LOVE..even obsessed with this right now!

These dolls are created to be on a simple black stand with the "symbolism" on the bottom of the base.

Needlesculpting and painting, the face came next...with embroidered eyebrows.

KIMONO GOWN:

Sometimes when I have an idea in my head I will do a very very quick sketch...I do not do anymore than this because if I go further, I feel that the idea has been created.

So now onto creating this gown!
These are the fabrics for Blue Lotus...all silk.

Here hat decor is hand-dyed using Japanese papers and Procion natural fiber dyes.

Blue Lotus flower completed...I included some found nature- these lovely sticks that I gathered over winter during my morning walks...tinted with subtle gold.

Onto the kimono style gown!
I machine sew the larger sections and then hand-sew all the pieces together.
I love hand-sewing- that is where my true mindfulness/meditation steps in. Gently focus on the task at hand.