Last night I was resting in my recliner with Pugsley and my needlework. It was a sweet evening. I watched It’s A Wonderful Life and then a kind of schmaltzy old Dolly Parton Christmas movie but it was sweet to just relax and stitch and snuggle my wee boy and watch Christmas movies. And tucked in with us was this first doll I am about to begin working on.
I used to love to make dolls. A little lopsidedish and wonky and so full of heart and love and spirit. I take my time, no two will be alike, and the first one will be for me so I can experiment with her. I am letting her sit with me and speak to me. She whispers in my ear. These dolls are going to have a very special purpose and I am delighted with an idea I had to begin with them. Whole new worlds are coming into being as I find my way back into this work.
I was reading about a few dollmakers today and a few quotes came up that I love and that truly speak to my heart about what being a dollmaker is. This one in particular…
“With joy in every task and whimsy in our hearts, we are the Dollmakers, it is who we are.”
Gayle Wray
Joy and whimsy. What could one do in the world that would be more important than doing work that is joyful and full of whimsy? The very thought makes my heart happy. What I know now is that self-care and healing my heart, body, and mind are what need to be the focal point of my life because in healing myself I will have more to give in the world. In healing myself and sharing my journey with others perhaps I might help others find their own way too. My dolls will be companions for the journey, first for myself, and then for those who would like to invite one into their life. And writing their stories as I create them will make them come to life. We are so much more than we realize, or that others see. Dolls are not inanimate objects, they are the embodiment of all that the dollmaker was at the moment of her creation. I hope that I may be worthy of the little ones I draw into life. In their creation I will be offering the best of myself, or so I hope that will be the case.
I have been looking, for a very long time, for a way to heal myself, to be able to find my way in the world. I think that the moment I picked up needle and thread again I began that journey. I feel a peaceful contentment inside as I do this work. There is an answer in that to a question I didn’t quite know how to ask, but, having begun to realize that this is what has been missing in my life I am stepping off the merry-go-round of the internet paradigm of how to run a business, how to “make millions” or what success means. Success, for me, is about finding peace in my heart, sharing what I have to offer with others, loving with a full and open heart and being open to receiving love in return, and finding a way to make the income that I need to live a quiet life out of the mainstream, but open to the world as I am able.
If you are here with me, reading this blog, you are part of a lovely and loving community that means so much to me. Thank you for being here. I am sending each of you a warm, gentle hug, and much sincere love. The dolls are speaking to me again. I will share them and what they have to say with all of you. Their stories hold healing power. They have begun to heal me. What a gift. I feel peaceful and blessed. May the joy and whimsy begin…
Dear Maitri,
Yes helping ourselves and sharing our journey definitely can help others. My coach and I are creating a FREE webinar about Agoraphobia and how EFT/tapping helps. We won’t be trying to sell anything, just sharing. I will be telling my story too. I am so excited. I belong to an agoraphobia support group and I asked them if they would be interested. About 20 people said yes. This will happen before January 7 2019. I will let you know.
I am looking forward to seeing your dolls. I’m sure they will be adorable.
How is your leg feeling? I hope much better.
Love to you and Pugsley.
Jean,
How lovely that you are creating new work that you are excited about, and agoraphobia is so misunderstood. This is important work and I wish you much luck with it.
And thank you, I am dreaming my way into my dolls. It is a slow, gentle adventure. It’s so hard to say about my leg because you can’t “see it.” I am taking the medication and doing everything I am told to do. I hope it is healing.
And much love to you too honey. I hope your holidays are bringing you joy…
whimsy and joy. yes! soft cloth dolls, yes! with cute embroidered faces! and buttons, and who knows what else? a wonderful project…
the stockings are hung by the chimney with care…. the little tree we named Henri Bella is standing tall-ish, adorned with tiny blue and white lights, to be ornamented on the morrow.
hugs and good cheer to all xo ka
Darling Ka, whimsy and joy indeed! And I am so excited to see your tree and I love that you used both blue and white lights. That will be so lovely. And today you will be putting the ornaments on, right? Oh I want to see! 😀
And hugs and good cheer to you and Tom and Alana and may your days be merry and bright…
Love,
M. xoxox
Oh how lovely! Reading your relaxing post almost lulled me into a warm wee nap. Lol. Looking forward to seeing your doll. Did you ever see the movie “The Dollmaker” with Jane Fonda? It was a good movie about an Appalachian family that moved to Michigan and the social, cultural, and economic changes that occurred. But dolls were at the center of it.
Thank you so much dear Marge, I will have fun sharing her along the way. And gracious! That movie, the Dollmaker, was decades ago! I remember seeing it when it came out but that was so long ago I don’t even remember it. Thanks for reminding me. I’ll look it up!