2022 Offers
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Befriending Our Shadow V, 2022 Eight Weeks Dates: November 1st-December 14, 2022 Sign up begins Friday, September 9th, 2022 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. |
Next Year, 2023
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Tending Your Inner Garden: Imbolc 2023 An Invitation to Reconnect with the Internal "Greening" within Yourself as Winter Awakens into a New Year: One Week Course Important dates: Sign up starts TBA 2023 Early bird deadline, TBA 2023 Final sign up day, TBA 2023 Dates: TBA 2023 Imbolc is a Celtic Holiday that occurs on either February 1st or 2nd. Imbolc celebrates that time in mid-winter when the shift from darkness to light just begins to make itself known. Symbolically, at this time of year, the dark crone of winter, Cailleagh, makes room for the spring maiden, Brigit, goddess of fertility and creativity. Associated with this holiday is rebirth and rejuvenation. The fairies of the earth are busy at this time whispering encouragement to the buds of flowers and trees to begin to poke out their heads. Imbolc literally means "in the belly" and is also connected to a time in history, when people lived close to the land, where the birth of baby lambs were a tangible sign of the beginnings of spring. For you, Imbolc can be a time to turn into a place of deep rest and connectedness. It is a time to tend to your inner garden as it is just beginning to sprout and as a new year begins to unfold. Or it can be a time of much needed rest and tending to the clearing out of any weeds and brambles that might be in the way of your inner garden's healthy growth. |
Maiden, Mother, Crone, Death II
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
Four month course
Sign up begins January 2023
Early bird sign up deadline, February 2023
Final deadline, March 2023
Tentative Course dates: March-June 2023
Second and fourth Thursdays of the month, 3-5 PM, EST.
Sessions will alternate between discussion and exercises (second Thursday) and doll making (fourth Thursday)
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.
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.
