Things went well today and I got her finished!
I finished the base last night. I really love it when it gets to this stage and I can stop being careful and constructive. I can start really being creative, draping fabrics, letting seams show and adding found objects.
Okay, I got the wire wrapped and used embroidery thread to secure it and then I really got into it and stopped taking pictures. I added hand painted fabric leaves. I repeated the motif of the butterfly heart and added a butterfly broach I found at a thrift shop. I sewed and tacked down things. I used big visible stitches and thought about how much it helped me, as a young girl, when kind people helped me stitch together the various parts of my broken life. The kindness people did for me kept me from despair and helped me blossom. I hope that sense of repair and renewal comes through in this piece — Spring From The Heart.
I took the following photo on my husband’s dresser. It’s the last thing I see every night when I go to sleep. Do you think my dreams influenced this piece?
Tomorrow off she goes from Portland to Memphis to be part of the 19th Annual Works of Heart Art Auction on February 12th. I miss her already! For more information on the auction please follow this link:
joy murray art~stories~life 
She is beautiful. Good luck with the show. She has great vibes!!
I really love this doll! That wood fabric is great and I especially like the green stitching, and what it meant to you. You can tell it is from YOUR heart!
oh Joy, you’ve done it again! She’s gorgeous! I love the wood fabric and stitches, and she looks like she came out of/fits right in the jungle of plants on the dresser. 🙂 I’m sure she’ll raise a lot of money for the auction.
Thanks! I loved documenting the creation and seeing how things come together on their own. I like watching my plans change as I get into the more complex area’s of posing and embellishing. Next: something less complicated!