2024 Offers
Maiden, Mother, Crone, Death II, 2024
An Invitation to Take a Deep Dive Maiden, Mother Crone, Death: Journey to the Fierce Feminine to Reclaim and Honor the "Juice" of the Transition into Mid to Late Life, Revisiting and Integrating Previous Life Milestones
Three month course
Sign up begins February 12, 2024
Early bird sign up deadline, March 25th 2024
Final deadline, April 5th 2024
Course dates: April 11-June 20, 2024
Second and fourth Thursdays of the month, 3-5 PM, EST.
Note: we will meet the first and third Thursdays in June, (meeting consistently every other week)
You are at the crossroads of mid to late life and living in a society like ours, which does not value old age, especially for women, it is necessary to forge a new path ahead. This three month course takes a deep dive into the question, what must I dig deep inside myself to find, in order to face the challenges of this stage of life?
In this doll-making course we use the study of the Maiden, Mother, Crone, Death archetype as a doorway to explore the deeper and more powerful meanings of mid to late life for women. We will look at topics such as examining meanings of old age within the overculture of patriarchy, as a means of shedding the ways we have internalized these toxic meanings. We will look at goddess stories about the maiden, mother and crone, from various cultures, especially stories of the "crone," and reclaim the "juice" within these stories.
We will look at all of this within the framework of the seasons and cycles of nature, with which we as women are deeply connected. In this way, we reclaim our selves as part of the web of life, integral parts of the world around us. We will discover a new vision of what it means to grow old.
We will create a doll (or more than one) celebrating this theme. Course also includes warm up exercises, such as intuitive painting, guided imagery, journaling and more.
Course is now full for 2024. Please email me to be added to the wait list:
Befriending Our Shadow VII, 2024
Eight Weeks
Dates: October-December, 2024
Sign up begins August, 2024
An Invitation to Accept and Love Yourself More Fully by Befriending those often Rejected "Shadow" Parts of the Self
A doll-making e-course about befriending our shadow, using tenderness and compassion to connect with all parts of ourselves. Flip dolls are two sided dolls connected at the waist. These two sided dolls have the capacity to capture divergent views of reality, dark vs light, joy vs sorrow, love vs alienation. In this course you will have the chance, through exploring and befriending your shadow, to discover hidden strengths within. And at the end of the course, your doll will represent and unite both shadow and light. And, important note, you do not need to know how to sew beforehand. This class is open to those at all levels of sewing ability.
This eight week course meets once a week for two hours. You have a choice of Tuesdays from 4-6 EST or Wednesdays from 2-4 EST. The sessions combine informal learning about the shadow from several different perspectives, making time and various prompts, tools and guides for inspiration. The course comes with an e-book that provides instructional videos on how to make a flip doll and lots of additional material to supplement what goes on in class.
There is also an option of self-directed participation, where you would have access to the e-book but not the Zoom sessions.
Next sign up starts August, 2024, stay tuned for exact dates
Tending Your Inner Garden: A Journey through the Cross Quarter Celebrations of the Year
What are the cross-quarter holidays? These are the quieter holidays that mark the time of year equidistant between the solstices and equinoxes. They prompt us to prepare for what is to come next, while still allowing us to rest and prepare. Some say these markers of the changing of the season were celebrated by the ancient Celts. Others say they were invented in modern day. I just love that they give us a chance to tune in, take quiet stock and reconnect to the seasons, to the earth and to our bodies.
I love these holidays for many reasons, (none the least of which is that each of the members of my family gets to celebrate their birthday at one of them!) This year I am going to offer two afternoons on Zoom, for each of the four cross quarter holidays of 2024. These will be low key and will give us a chance to recognize and tune into the more subtle changes in the weather, orientation of the sun and moon and what might be happening in our bodies at these times of year.
In each of these afternoon sessions (if you are in the EST time zone) we will mostly spend time in making a tiny altar, as a symbol of this numinous time of year. If you participate in the entire series, you will have an entire "Wheel" calendar for the whole year, with detachable tiny altars for each of the special holidays. There will also be some ritual, poetry and sharing. This is the second time I am offering this program for the entire year.
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Dates:
I. IMBOLC (February 1)
Zoom sessions, Thursday, February 1, 4-6 PM, EST
AND Thursday, February 8, 4-6 PM
II: BELTANE (May 1)
Zoom sessions, Wednesday, May 1, 4-6 PM, EST
AND Wednesday May 8th, 4-6 PM, EST
III: LAMMAS (August 1)
Zoom sessions, Thursday, August 1, 4-6 PM, EST
AND Thursday, August 8th, 4-6 PM, EST
IV: SAMHAIN (November 1)
Zoom sessions, Friday, November 1st, 4-6 PM, EST
AND, Friday, November 8th, 4-6 PM, EST
Cost:
for all four TENDING YOUR INNER GARDEN sessions.
Before early bird deadline, Monday, January 22: $195
After early bird deadline, Monday, January 29th: $255
NOTe: If you miss the first full year deadline, you can still sign up in April for all year before the second session!
For the remaining three sessions-sign up in April
Before early bird deadline, Monday, April 16th: $130
After early bird deadline, Monday, April 23rd: $170
Sign up for each session separately (check for deadlines above under each session description)
Separately: Before each early bird deadline, $65
after early bird deadline, $85
Resources:
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Other Doll Artists Gallery:
This space showcases the many artists who have created flip dolls in Transformative Healing doll classes and other ventures. Many more to come... |
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Mini E-Books, and Free Videos
Two mini books about the doll-making process (more to come), very reasonably priced. And doll-making instructional videos here, especially how to make flip dolls. |
Resources for Sculptural Needle Felting Techniques and Supplies
Many of my earlier dolls, see gallery page, are done with a technique called sculptural needle felting. I used to try to teach sculptural needle felting techniques and will still give guidance on occasion but here are two resources for artists who are much more patient and skilled at teaching these techniques. As Stephanie mentions below, needle felting can be quite challenging and takes time but if you are willing to commit time and effort, there is so much you can do with this technique. Stay tuned for more resources here.
Stephanie Metz, sculptural needle felting course online.
Her course is very comprehensive and covers all different aspects of construction, materials to use and lots of tips.
Here's what she says about herself on her website:
I'm Stephanie Metz, an internationally-exhibiting, classically-trained sculptor involved in a long-term relationship with wool and felt. It all started when a friend shared an article about wet felting. When I went to a yarn shop, introduced myself as a sculptor, and announced my intention to try felting, the proprietor took one look at me and instead directed me towards a book on needle felting. I went home to try it and was instantly hooked (or maybe poked?)!
19 years into needle felting I'm still excited and amazed by the process and possibilities of this art form-- and I love sharing my knowledge and experience. My goal is to demystify needle felting and make it accessible and understandable.
As a working artist (www.stephaniemetz.com) and mom, teaching in-person workshops is a luxury that happens only a few times a year, but I know from my waiting lists and online community that there's a huge desire to learn about my approach to needle felting-- and a lot of shared frustrations that I can help remedy. Needle felting isn't fast and it isn't easy, but, with patience and knowledge, it is incredibly satisfying. Welcome to my video school!
Kay Petal, also has several free sculptural needle felting courses. She focuses more specifically on doll making and has a wonderful free self paced course on her website. She specializes in quirky needle felted dolls of famous people and also does commissions.
Her website, Felt Alive, is also a great resource for needle felting supplies. This is where I learned to needle felt my dolls and where I ordered many of my supplies when I was doing more needle felting. Lately I have been doing more stitching and sewing but I know I will go back to needle felting when I am called.
Her website, Felt Alive, is also a great resource for needle felting supplies. This is where I learned to needle felt my dolls and where I ordered many of my supplies when I was doing more needle felting. Lately I have been doing more stitching and sewing but I know I will go back to needle felting when I am called.