Aug 30

Aug 30 The Pink Witch, The Broom and Dreams of Flight

creative process, dollmaking, petite fig, storytelling

I used to believe artists and their creativity were a lonely endeavour. Until I started doll making and found that the dolls, the creations, speak to you. You might look lonely in your studio or sewing room, but the truth is you never are.

Fabric and wool...dreams... they all transport you.

Winslow, the Pink Witch. Natural fiber art doll, Waldorf-inspired by Fig and Me.

Some years the depths at which I travel with my dolls, through the imaginary landscape, do amaze me. How can you travel so far, experience so much, relive and enjoy, when you never leave the same chair?

How can your hands guide you to corners of the world, bring memories, smells and tastes, all inside your own head?

My imagination takes me to a different place and time, pedalled by the power of the creative forces and flown by the magic of wisps of wool.

Creating Winslow, my little Pink Witch, felt like a little adventure. She has come directly out of an imaginary foggy landscape, bringing comfort and fresh air into my work, and at the same time allowing me to dig deeper into my creativity's form and function.

Dollmaking never ceases to amaze me, inspire and motivate me to delve deeper and lose myself in that creative journey. Such abandonment is so appreciated and relished.

The sentiment reminds me of the words of William Steig, as he wrote in "Some Notes on Art Inspired by Reich" (published in the Orgone Energy Bulletin in January 1952):

"Life is CREATION - the ceaseless movement of cosmic creative orgone energy weaving the universe. We, being nothing but vessels of cosmic energy, continually, inevitably create - or we die. We create pies, gestures, chairs, houses, thoughts, songs, pictures, ourselves, our societies - and when we create without impediment, we feel the wonder that always accompanies flowing creation".

I've quoted this passage before, and it's because I have it written in my doll journal, to remind me I am but a vessel of this energy, and that it is my mission in life to express it. To not be so serious about it, and to know I always have access to this energy.

Sometimes you have fear, that you won't express it as you feel it. I believe it helps to talk it out, with your doll. In the making of Winslow, I’ve asked her so many questions and she has kindly replied.

Why do you love pink so much? What does it remind you of? She said it reminds her of lake sunrises and sunsets, of the inside of fireweed and the way her eyes feel groggy in the mornings.

Is tulle your most favourite thing in the world, or soaring through the skies on your handy broom apparatus? She loves tulle because it makes her feel like a flower and it's so light it trails behind her as she flies.

What does it feel to fly?

I actually know what it feels like, I have to confess. I fly quite regularly in my dreams. There is a sensation of vertigo at the beginning, if I am dreaming of taking off from the ground.

Most often, I just float. I am sitting on a branch, or remembering sitting atop the roof in my childhood home, something happens, and suddenly I am in the air.

I try to control the direction of my flight, but I struggle a lot. There is a powerful force calling me higher and higher, and I get very scared that I will never again be able to land. It’s like gravity no longer likes me, and I just keep drifting higher and higher.

Somehow, I remember I can direct this flying energy (I always feel it in my lower back), and I focus, and I am going down gently again. I can see the leaves, and the flowers and feel the rush of wind on my cheeks.

Landing is hard, but so is everything in life, isn’t it?

Discussing this flying business with Winny (what we call her here at home), she agreed with me. She also tells me that holding onto a broom is much more efficient and it gives you a sense of power and control. I don’t have a broom (much to my husband’s disbelief)…yet…so I shall take her word for granted.

On the other hand, Winny has quite a magnificent broom. She made it herself from the branch of a magical tree. It's part of her apprenticeship to make your own flying broom-craft.

It’s very hard, so she says, to find these trees. They grow in special parts of forests and swamps, and you only find one or two per forest. The older the forest, the more abundant such trees. But since old forests are quite depleted nowadays, it’s getting harder to find a nice branch to make your aerial perch.

It takes many months to get all the magic to the surface of the branch and then to call your purpose into being. You need this very clear in your head, so the incantation works and your broom obeys your command.

When I hear her talk about all this, I (as usual) equate it to doll making. It takes many days and many hours to bring forth a doll. To bring the magic up to the surface of the wool and to imbue your life’s purpose into the doll.

It also takes experience in talking to the wool. But, much like flying in your dreams, you just have to remember you can do it. Focus your energy and dive down into your creative well.

Talking to the wool might not come naturally to you, and you might feel a bit silly at the beginning. But it works. Concentrate on the sensation of seeing a doll come to life and ask the wool: who is this doll? what is her story? how do we meet? where will she take me?

The wool will answer. You just have to be patient.

Winslow has her broom to soar the skies, as she believes in her own magic and purpose. I too, have my flying apparatus: my imagination. And my purpose is clear as ever, to make these dolls that inspire so many stories.

As Winslow prepares to begin her apprenticeship as a little witch in training, now that she has her broom and has decorated her beautiful hat, I too, prepare for the journey ahead. A season full of magic, foggy land awakenings, bird migration, and the many dolls that will come forth from the creative ether.

Winslow is up for adoption. If you feel more comfortable talking to finished dolls than unfinished wool, she is up to the task to become your friend.

Winslow is a natural fiber art doll, suitable for 12+ or adult doll collectors. She is 16” tall, made with my Petite Fig doll pattern and is sculpted in wool. Her head is articulated and can be posed. Her hair is made of Mohair and is firmly sewn to her head (not glued). Her hair can be styled.

Winslow wears a tulle dress, a tulle petticoat, long pantaloons, velveteen shoes and a magnificent nubby wool hat decorated with pumpkins and linen leaves. Her broom is made with polymer clay and raffia.

If you wish to adopt Miss Winslow, please enter your details in the form below. Only people personally interested in bringing Winslow home please. Her adoption fee is $1595 USD plus postage (US & Canada $50, International will need a revised quote). This doll travels with tracking number and insurance. Duties/taxes/import are dependent on your country of residence (for Canadian residents, GST/HST is included. For the US, this doll is tariff free. For European residents, VAT is not included).

Winslow will be up for adoption until Tuesday September 2nd at 3 PM EDT (Toronto time). I will close the form then and choose a home at random to adopt her. Payment is done via Paypal.

Name

First Name

Last Name

Email + Paypal Address

To notify you and send you the invoice

Country of Residence

To calculate postage

A little note to Winslow

She would like to know more about you and your home

I know I went a little overboard with her story and photos, but like I mentioned, Winslow has inspired a lot of storytelling and has brought a big gust of fresh air to the doll studio.

I thank you for coming to read about her and my thoughts on doll making and creativity. I hope you find them useful.