Progression...Flight...PART ONE

I have found these last four years to be one of incredible awakening...OR was it really peeling way layers of taught behavior to reveal my true self??

Being an artist and being in connection with ourselves...is how most of us voice our soul. I have found in that it can vary greatly on what we are saying...but the underlying message is there.

Let me give you an example through my own story. I will tell this in several postings so that I can express myself well and that you can massage this around in your own mind. My goal is to be of service to you through my journey.

I am going to start about 4 years back...I have been creating dolls for 30 years and I think if I went THAT far back - it would be-well- a little excessive...and it would be a book not a posting! 

Predate

Story Hats

This one is LadyBug...she, with the Gold Fish are the two I feel most define this entire series...don't get me wrong- I love each and everyone of the ones I made. They all had a special moment in creating and in finding their match of a new home. 

I believe what my obsession with them was the myth and symbolism of the Chinese Children's Hats....which lead me to find my own coping method in finding a love expressed. Each held a nurturing and care.

More here:http://rootiestudio.blogspot.com/p/story-dolls.html

The Start

Every story needs a start...perhaps not an ending but at least a start!

My Dad lay in his bed in the hospice center, the last of an earthly life, but as he told me, he  had no "woulda, coulda, shoulda's" left. He felt he had lived his life as he wanted and to it's best.

He passed right after his 81st birthday May 2014. 

Pictured here on his 80th birthday after riding 81 miles!

My response to this was the Four Seasons (of Life)...

Summer ~ Plum Rain 梅雨 Méiyǔ, : 

https://fromthesehandsblog.blogspot.com/2014/10/summer-four-seasons-series.html

Spring ~ Delicate Blossom 精致的花 Jīngzhì de huā : https://fromthesehandsblog.blogspot.com/2014/10/spring-four-seasons-series.html

Winter ~ Snow Flower 雪花 Xuěhuā:

https://fromthesehandsblog.blogspot.com/2014/10/winter-four-season-series.html

Autumn Beautiful Haven 美丽的天堂 Měilì de tiāntáng:

https://fromthesehandsblog.blogspot.com/2014/10/autumn-four-season-series.html

These where to become my last* dolls in this style . I love them and they, with my Story Hats expressed where I was in my life.

* although you never know where your path will take you!

I find as I write this a soft peace comes over me...no longer holding the tragic events that followed my Dad's death...but I can now see how my art helped me through these very volatile times (as well as a great therapist!)

Retreat in to Quiet

After almost two years of full on blows to my mind, body, soul...I found that I needed to retreat. I really had nothing left to give...I felt like it was time to cocoon and let my transformation happen..quietly.

What came from that time was these pieces...

Tiger, Ghost, Luna

Moths

I felt that I was in the process of emerging but not as a full on bright butterfly...yes- more of a Moth.

"The moth never questions provision. 

She has complete faith that all of her needs will be meet each night.”

Tiger:

https://fromthesehandsblog.blogspot.com/2016/09/emerging-from-cocoonpart-2.html

Ghost and Luna:

https://fromthesehandsblog.blogspot.com/2017/01/emerging-from-cocoonpart-3-taking-flight.html

The kimono representing their cocoon and wings hold their brightness, but not for all to see...yet.

Tiger

Ghost

 Luna

And so my journey of healing and rediscovery began...

Next week- Flight :Wings

The Four Seasons : In Memory

 Now today, I look back at the 9 years since my Dad has passed and how art can be such an incredible voice when we have no words...

I share these Four Sessions from where my heart was in 2014...

·       I found that we don’t create reality, it just is but it is our response to that reality that we create our world that we live in.

·       I also discovered that how I responded to each part of my journey was directly related to distinct parts of my being and that I was able to see a connection to my art as the Four Seasons.

Winter ~ Snow Flower

more on techniques of Winter here

 When one was about to give up hope that the cold winter would never end, an angel spirit appeared, transformed some of the snowflakes into snowdrop flowers, proving that winter eventually gives way to spring. This simple little flower is a symbol of transformation, hope, purity and consolation. Winter...in life everything is cyclical...everything has a season...everything changes.

·       My dear Dad said "Nothing is permanent except for change".

·       In our own lives, we may be in the midst of a coldness and even perhaps deep darkness, but as time wears on a light will appear within the darkness.

·       A light that will bring forth hope and calmness in knowing that nothing is permanent.

·       I found the more I reached for that beauty, the more I found the balance that was so needed at that time.

·       Hope does not come naturally us humans, we must practice at it.

Spring ~  Delicate Blossom 

more on techniques of Spring here

New blossoms symbolize feminine beauty, grace, gentility, and happiness. Pink blossoms convey youth, innocence, and joy. It is the end of difficult period and the beginning of a new Life cycle. 

Spring...a fresh start...a new blossom.

·       I find that in our hearts, Spring can happen anytime, in any season, after any life changing or challenging event.  

·       We have all heard the words of Spring cleaning...to sweep out or get rid of the unwanted.

·       I fell that it important to integrate these things that have touched or tortured my heart.

·       They became a part of me and now I could start spring forth with new knowledge of what makes us- us.

·       Spring forth with those new blossoms of wisdom and grace to learn more about me and who I am without restrictions.

 Summer ~ Plum Rain

more on techniques of Summer here

 

Summer, in most climates, is the warmest of most seasons. The sun is a warming presence, so it heats up our passions, our desires, and warms our hearts to the potential that we may bring to our life.

In China, the rainy season kicks in across southern and eastern regions. The rains are nicknamed the plum rains for the season when the blossoms ripen into fruit.

·       This was the time when I was able to feel safe enough to start to feel things emotionally, to shed tears of things that I never was able to have in my childhood or as an adult.

·       I was becoming a woman, I was growing and I was stronger within myself.

Autumn ~ Beautiful Haven 

more on techniques of Autumn here

 

Chinese lantern flowers symbolism - they have an endearing and joyful emblem of warmth. Given that these flowers enfold and defend the small, delicate fruit buried within their husks, they may be the perfect symbol for protection. Their fiery orange red hue denotes a passion for life, amiability, endurance and vitality.

During this part of my journey, I felt fragile, exposed, and felt that I needed some emotional protection. I researched many different things that bloom in China in the fall and this is what I found... the Chinese Lantern... protection and also lantern as light to lead the way.

·       Through my challenging life’s journey, I found that I was finally able to let things go.

·       By letting go I was now able create a new beauty even in the most challenging times. I was able create my own life…my own haven.

·       It has been an incredible time of learning so much about myself and who I am.

Emerging from the Cocoon...Part 1

It has been some time since I have written my blog. I have had quite a journey getting to this place and have come out looking back at my trials as true blessings.

I am grateful for where and who I am today.
I have grown greatly with the help of incredible dear people in my life.

Have I emerged a new person? Perhaps, I am a person that has integrated those loose parts of me that faced the challenges into one better person who has some nicks but much better compassion towards others and hopefully, more wisdom...

As an artist, I feel it is part of my soul's experiences, to take these experiences and translate them into my work.

At this year's 2016 NIADA Conference I was ask to be the keynote speaker. Susan Scogin had definite ideas of where she wanted this presentation to take the audience. We spoke quite in depth about the deeper meanings of being an artist and how to inspire others through their emotions and feelings to extend inwards and using this in their art.

So over the next month or so, I will share with you my presentation in this limited forum...The one thing that I thought was (and still is) interesting is the difference in not only the dolls but also in the photography of the two very talented photographers!

I started with my Four Seasons Dolls as follows...and in later postings transition into my Moth Dolls.

·       I found that we don’t create reality, it just is but it is our response to that reality that we create our world that we live in.

·       I also discovered that how I responded to each part of my journey was directly related to distinct parts of my being and that I was able to see a connection to my art as the Four Seasons.

Winter ~ Snow Flower

more on techniques of Winter here

 When one was about to give up hope that the cold winter would never end, an angel spirit appeared, transformed some of the snowflakes into snowdrop flowers, proving that winter eventually gives way to spring. This simple little flower is a symbol of transformation, hope, purity and consolation. Winter...in life everything is cyclical...everything has a season...everything changes.

·       My dear Dad said "Nothing is permanent except for change".

·       In our own lives, we may be in the midst of a coldness and even perhaps deep darkness, but as time wears on a light will appear within the darkness.

·       A light that will bring forth hope and calmness in knowing that nothing is permanent.

·       I found the more I reached for that beauty, the more I found the balance that was so needed at that time.

·       Hope does not come naturally us humans, we must practice at it.

Spring ~  Delicate Blossom 

more on techniques of Spring here

New blossoms symbolize feminine beauty, grace, gentility, and happiness. Pink blossoms convey youth, innocence, and joy. It is the end of difficult period and the beginning of a new Life cycle. 

Spring...a fresh start...a new blossom.

·       I find that in our hearts, Spring can happen anytime, in any season, after any life changing or challenging event.  

·       We have all heard the words of Spring cleaning...to sweep out or get rid of the unwanted.

·       I fell that it important to integrate these things that have touched or tortured my heart.

·       They became a part of me and now I could start spring forth with new knowledge of what makes us- us.

·       Spring forth with those new blossoms of wisdom and grace to learn more about me and who I am without restrictions.

 Summer ~ Plum Rain

more on techniques of Summer here

 

Summer, in most climates, is the warmest of most seasons. The sun is a warming presence, so it heats up our passions, our desires, and warms our hearts to the potential that we may bring to our life.

In China, the rainy season kicks in across southern and eastern regions. The rains are nicknamed the plum rains for the season when the blossoms ripen into fruit.

·       This was the time when I was able to feel safe enough to start to feel things emotionally, to shed tears of things that I never was able to have in my childhood or as an adult.

·       I was becoming a woman, I was growing and I was stronger within myself.

Autumn ~ Beautiful Haven 

more on techniques of Autumn here

 

Chinese lantern flowers symbolism - they have an endearing and joyful emblem of warmth. Given that these flowers enfold and defend the small, delicate fruit buried within their husks, they may be the perfect symbol for protection. Their fiery orange red hue denotes a passion for life, amiability, endurance and vitality.

During this part of my journey, I felt fragile, exposed, and felt that I needed some emotional protection. I researched many different things that bloom in China in the fall and this is what I found... the Chinese Lantern... protection and also lantern as light to lead the way.

·       Through my challenging life’s journey, I found that I was finally able to let things go.

·       By letting go I was now able create a new beauty even in the most challenging times. I was able create my own life…my own haven.

·       It has been an incredible time of learning so much about myself and who I am.

Next week: Transition

The Seasons: Summer

Hello Dearest Readers,

I would say that 99% of my work...my art...comes to me in a flash that settles into my body. It is a feeling that I am reaching to capture and bring it into this world of ours.

Summer - this new workshop- is no different and yet it is!

The Seasons started with Spring...and as no pun intended The Seasons Workshops springboarded from my one of kind series of The Four Seasons (below)... read more here.

Summer, Spring, Winter, Fall

As a strict "rule" I never cross mingle my one of a kinds with my teaching dolls...until now. These one of a kind pieces above were a great turning point in my life. They were created as I walked with my Dad on his last of life's journey. They were critically important to me to express and to learn what the Seasons of life meant to me personally. I believe that our workshops dolls will carry the essence of these one of kinds.

I realize now that Spring has happened online and coming in person to Piecemakers in 2024..and Summer is ready to bloom online...that I am once again on a path of expanding myself...my art...my understanding of at least my life...a firmer footing. 

It is also very important to me to bring this understanding to my students. I needed to carefully think to whom and how I wish to present my workshops. I believe it is the  years of devotion to my art, that it is most important to me to pass this knowledge to those who are interested in receiving it.

Summer: Bloom

As I stated above most of my work comes to me in a flash...I must reach out and capture it before it floats away to another artist.

I do this by quickly sketching the sparkling essence and pull it tangibly onto paper. She is now ready to come to life for my students.

Initial Sketch

Completed Summer

Fabric Choices

Once, I have my subject on paper, it is time to choose the fabrics. For me, this is done not only by sight but also by feel.

There is something called Synesthesia.

Synesthesia is when your brain routes sensory information through multiple unrelated senses, causing you to experience more than one sense simultaneously.

Yes, I actually feel the color and how that will translate into the piece. For my one of kinds, which are more complex, I may need to alter the fabric to create the visual of the feeling.

Summer Palette

click on photo to see video!!

Even in my Asian inspired pieces, the skin tone is not a true white. I also show how to dye the fabric to soften the tone of the skin.

before                 after

When designing, I always start with the head. And then move onto the body.

Once sewn, armatured, and stuffed, we can paint the eyes and (in this case) insert them into the needlesculpted face.

The first layer of painting is created....to be followed with a second layer after the kimono is complete!

The Kimono et al...

As you well know, I love the Asian esthetic....from Korean, Chinese, and Japanese...encompassing the Tibetan esthetic. I find each of these distinct cultures beautiful and soulful. Most everything has a deep symbology to it.

As an artist, I choose to be inspired by not replicate or reproduce to the exact. So I use the word "kimono" just so we have a reference to the idea.

We all love fabric and color!! To bring this into a Lesson, we discuss their fabric choices and how to bring the best of their own fabric forward.  How can we realign the fabric to create something that is unique and memorable? What can we learn?

To adding to the Kimono...each step is also about learning to being present in what we are creating.

To complete the foundation of the kimono...

We then learn how to create even deeper into ourselves and are now able to Bloom in our expression!

I love hand-dyeing and am always experimenting with new ways to dye...

At the end, we will have a beautiful and thoughtful ensemble for our own Summers...

Last to create is her  Raindrop Hat and her Zori shoes...

Finale!!

This art piece will be three months in the learning and the making, discovering along the way the Language of Flowers and what knowledge they can give us to take into our own lives.

click on photo to Summer Workshop description

 and close up photos!!

Summer : The Seasons with Leslie O'Leary
please reach out with any questions! here

SUMMER SIGN UP HERE!

EARLY BIRD!! save $20 until Friday November 3 2023

code: summer 20

All my Love!!

Leslie

Summer- Four Seasons Series

This is the last of my dolls to share with you of the Four Seasons Series...in case you missed any of the series click on the season and it will link to that doll.

Summer, Spring, Winter, Autumn

Doll Photography: Mark Mortensen

Hand-made wood stools: Gary Leitch

Summer ~ Plum Rain

梅雨 Méiyǔ

From mid-May through mid-July, the rainy season kicks in across southern and eastern China. The rains are nicknamed the plum rains (梅雨 meiyu, or “may yoo” in Mandarin) for the season when the blossoms ripen into fruit.

I find as an artist that I can hopefully, translate my hard times from this year into great tender beauty. 

This Summer doll's hat,  has rain drops around her hat...but they could also be tear drops of the person we miss and will remember with all great love and the happiness they brought to us. And  we hold dear what we have learned from them and will make it bloom.

  Rain washes away 

but the Water that remains gives life.

 

 Close Ups:

 Tiny bead rain drops

 close up of her painted eye

 even more close up!

Details:

Summer in her hat. Love the hat silk fabric. I had chosen another fabric for her but after completing her dress and pants, I decided that this was the very best touch. The design was to depict an umbrella shape and then added delicate rain drops around the brim. Note the cording defining each section of the hat.

Her plum colored dress top is made from a very exquisite silk brocade that I purchased in China. It just has that so special hand. I feel so fortunate to have it in my stash and to be able to work with it! Tale note of the placement of the bamboo with in the weave of the fabric. I enjoy the thoughtfulness that goes into each and every step of creating my dolls.

Entire assemble is lined with deep aqua silk dupioni.

 

The back side of Summer's hat. Take note of the fabric design and how I fussy cut the fabric to work with the shape of the hat...ok, I have to admit, I thought working with her hair required my patience but these little beads...patience! Each on required to be topped with the smallest of a seed bead so they would tangle properly.

Close up of her braided hair. I love this hair, but will tell you it is a bear to work with.  It is so very fine, that I need to wet it to be able to manage it into what ever style she needs. Even with it unruliness I would not use anything else...it is just the perfect air for her.

 

Very close up of her collar. I cut the silk brocade specifically to pick up the turquoise collar in the weaving.

 

On Summer, I ran the collar the entire length of the opening down to the pieced skirted area...like rain running down.

Sleeves and pants legs have this beautiful Chinese gold medallion front and center.

Pieced skirted area was done in a deep watery aqua...

 

Close up of hand-sewn vintage cording to finish of edges.

Finally her shoes, I raised the vamp on them to cover her foot a bit higher...in case she came across any puddles.

  Spring passes and one remembers one's innocence.
Summer passes and one remembers one's exuberance.
Autumn passes and one remembers one's reverence.
Winter passes and one remembers one's perseverance.
― Yoko Ono

 I hope you enjoyed this Series...

next up Kitsune!