Today I inspected my recently acquired booty from Labels and Joannes. I marveled at all the fabulous materials I'd found, washing what needed washing, organizing into bins and cutting up swatches to share the new materials with my good friend, Brigit Snyder, fellow artist and doll maker extraordinaire.
She's been instrumental in helping me heal from my mother's death and supporting me in finding my way to the path of the Spirit Doll. She's always extremely generous, "Take anything you want!" with her supplies so I feel a debt of gratitude when getting new supplies myself. When I delivered the goods, we both ooh'ed and ahh'ed over all the new yarns and fabrics. I didn't realize how seriously lacking in materials I was until Brigit filled my coffers last week from her stash-- every new fabrics and yarn and bead and shield inspired me to go back and re-work what I had considered finished dolls. They were not. Now they are. And it's so satisfying. Unbelievably satisfying, like I'm just having way too much fun!
I've been prepping for this work my whole life, it seems, all my training is serving me well. Not only do I get to hunt for fabrics, trinkets, yarns and beads but I can then combine them with treasures from my stash of artist supplies I've accumulated over the years and, most importantly, treasures from Mother Nature-- branches & moss from the trail I run on almost daily, driftwood from the Puget Sound and tiny dried flowers, leaves and other bits and pieces. When I'm done with the heavy lifting, I can then sculpt faces while catching up on my favorite programs -- two birds with one stone! After baking, painting and finishing the faces, I peruse these little spirits, a diverse group, nesting together to see who's ready to be captured and made into a Spirit doll.
There is work being done but it feels like I'm hardly working. I guess that's the holy grail in our culture, being able to enjoy what you do and also bring a little light into someone else's life. I am truly blessed and appreciative for every day of life.