King George the Christmas Kitty

He immediately hopped into an antique boat that many of my dolls (and bones!) live in in my living room.

He is happy to sail with them on adventures...

...and to stretch out with his new friends for a long winter's nap!


George Takes The Spirit House By Storm!

He is truly a magical being...fortunately, the angels are tied down!

I stopped by the local, lovely pet supply store for a bag of dog food. Well, I came home with a new kitty. A woman was holding an amazing six month old kitten and visiting with me. Her friend, Ann, who bred the cats was there as well. We talked and I asked how much that breed of cat would cost. He is a Scottish Fold...She said that some sell for as much as $1,000.00. Then she said that she would be happy to give me one as a gift. How could I refuse? I told her that I wanted this kitten's brother. Somehow, I knew that this cat was meant to be with me-sight unseen! She showed up at my house forty minutes later with my beautiful kitten! Thank you for the wonderful gift, Ann!

I named him King George. He loves to crawl into my arms and purr for long periods of time. He likes to give kisses and mark my forehead as well. Truly an honor! He is definitely a healing cat. It feels like he has lived with Frenchy and me always. George and Frenchy actually playfully shared one of Frenchy's balls today!

I am intrigued by the fact that my friend Dot in Australia had just finished making a special kitty doll for me to take with me to the hospital. Thank you Dot! I had no intention of getting a real kitty but in some wonderful way, her kitty manifested in my life! Now I will have two kitties. Which one do you think should come to the hospital with me?

The Owl King

I love his wise flower eyes!




Here he is with The Keeper of the Keys.

This is “The Owl King.” He came through immediately following the completion of “Keeper Of The Keys.” I seem to have numerous forms of owls presenting themselves to me both in my art dolls and my daily life. I was playing with a piece of batik fabric when I spotted a tree branch design that looked like a beak. My hands took over from there and before I knew it, I was stuffing this whimsically regal owl.

Like his predecessor, the “Keeper Of The Keys,” he has a large key attached to his chest. The beaded picot edging was inspired by Robin Atkins’ designs in her book Spirit Dolls. I used two multi-faceted beads with green flowers on them for the intensely playful eyes. The beak is constructed from multiple shapes and sizes of bronze-toned beads.

The frog is a Japanese design carved out of wood. I added an antique Chinese coin to the leaf that holds the frog. Many of my creations contain a frog element right now. The frogs are playful and they represent transformation. I used to collect pollywogs in the lagoon next to my beach house where I grew up. I loved watching them transform into frogs.

“The Owl King” also has a bronze-toned wreath of acorns combined with filigree gold trim for a crown. I used three golden metal leaves to embellish his right wing. He actually embodies qualities of both the owl and the frog. He represents a metamorphosis himself!

I am also experiencing a deep process of metamorphosis myself as I face the many details and emotions related to my hysterectomy in January. The winter solstice takes place this weekend. I am emerging from a dark time into the light. I am experiencing a sense of reconnection as I examine many parts of my life. The emotions that have been flooding through me over the past week are providing me with a deep sense of healing and cleansing of issues from the past. Not an easy process but filled with beauty and renewal...

Snow Angels

My"Snow Angel" complete with an elaborate sash around her waist...



I love his melty, green eye!

I work on the dementia unit at a nursing facility in Boulder. My favorite resident died today...I had a feeling something was very wrong. No one seemed to understand that she was actively dying. I was the only one in the room with her and having no luck in trying to calm her. Everyone thought that she was just sick.

I pulled a chair up to her bed side and listened. I finally discerned the word from her agitated state-It was "Pray." I said, "Anna, do you want me to pray with you?" She said yes and continued with her agitated babbling. I prayed and saw a group of her very own angels surrounding her in comfort. I had to leave for the doctor...I just learned that she died soon after I left.

My mother died at Christmas. I was the only one there for her as well...the lyrics to the Sarah McLachlan song came to mind when I shared my story about Anna..."In the arms of the angels. Fly away from here..." It was the song that was popular at the time my mother died. I ached for a mother to hold me. I talked with a friend about the fact that being there for Anna may have been the purpose for having the job at the nursing facility. I may have truly made a difference in the life of another. I know she made a difference in mine!

I do believe that we have angels in each of our lives and that we may be angels for others when we least expect it. I went to bed last night with a sense of miracles...

Early this morning, when I stepped into the snow filled courtyard, I saw an angel constructed out of snow...miracles and angels...After I took the photo, I realized that my imagined angel was actually the backside of a snowman! He has a Haagen Das ice cream container for a hat and the funny pages from the Sunday paper for a scarf!

Believing can manifest in such simple and profound ways. Sometimes following the darkest night...Do you believe in miracles?

"The Guardian"

He and Frenchy, on his right, are mirroring each other...


Here is an amazing being who came through a few months ago. I call him "The Guardian" because his presence is so powerful. I came across a piece of an old fur coat that I had discovered in the garage of an old house. The moment my fingers touched the thick, soft fur, I felt this doll beginning to emerge. I worked straight through as he poured through my fingers. This was the first time that I started using my kitchen forks for claws...I finally had to buy a new set of cutlery!

I love his expressive face and lanky, long, legs accented by the forks. He has a wonderful long, feathery tail that gives him a bird-like quality. He is kind of a combination human, cheetah, and bird...Magical and mysterious! I am featuring him today because I have been spending some extra time with him. I will be selling him to help pay for my upcoming surgery...In fact, I believe that he is already sold...to a very good home!

"Sea Lioness" Revealed

I had to take a new close up photo. Blogspot was misbehaving and refused to put the original on horizontally! Now you won't have to crane your necks to see it! I am increasing my technical skills daily...


This is the only photo that gives a full view of her tail. It has cut-out beautiful fabric flowers sewn onto the trim.



She looks like she is swimming underwater in these photos...

"The lion's roar is to silence what the shooting star is to the dark of night." Laurens van der Post

Art Doll Soup has been quite a journey this week! I have spent the week recovering from a cyst that ruptured on my ovary. I feel like fireworks are taking place inside of the constellation of my feminine self. Surgery, a hysterectomy, has been scheduled for January. I have been struggling with multiple issues related to my uterus over the past year. I have missed many weeks of work. The emergence, finally, of this lovely doll has helped me to get through a very difficult and, at times, very dark week filled with emotion and grieving. I am beginning to emerge as well...

I am actually now grateful for parts of the challenging process that is taking place. I have only been able to drink liquids. Craving carrot juices and now intensely green drinks. I am both a mad scientist and an artist in the kitchen with my juicer in my determination to restore and supplement my health. (Frenchy, my tiny, wise dog, runs for cover each time I press the on button of the magical, roaring, cacophanous machine!) I am beginning to have clarity on issues that have been clouded by the foods that I used to stuff some deep emotions. Once again, the light is beginning to come out of the darkness.

So here she is! The "Sea Lioness." I used the cover off of one of my pillows for fabric. There are five different types of yarn incorporated into her wild mane of hair. I LOVED making her hair. It is delightful!

I cut the body design freehand based on my design for "My Swimming Self." She ended up with a wonderful curvy shape. I used shells once again for her fingers and toes. She has a beautiful piece of abalone over her heart for protection and radiance.

I used mung beans to stuff her legs and some small baggies of brown basmati rice inside her body to help with her balance. (I realized after doing this that those two ingredients help with my balance as well in one of my favorite Ayurvedic healing foods-Kitcheree.) I do hope that Frenchy doesn't try to eat her!

The word that kept coming to me as I was making her is "Courage." I thought of the lion in the Wizard of Oz. I may embroider some courageous words onto her body. Possibly a ROAR as well! I will also add a picot beaded edge...I'll wait and see what else she might ask for...