I met Barb Kobe through a mutual friend who encouraged Barb to bring a few of her dolls and medicine bags with her to an event. I was awestruck by her creative gifts. I bought a medicine bag and was gifted with one from our mutual friend. Later I decided to buy another one and went to her home studio to pick it out. I met the dolls and was hooked!  I have been in her Tuesday night studio class for 3 years now.  Not only have I learned basic techniques but have basked in the wisdom of Barb and the fellow wise women who gather weekly. We share our journeys and stories as we create. We inspire one another and offer insights into each others' work. We laugh, we cry, we share, we grow.  Barb is the catalyst gently encouraging us on our creative journey.

I enjoyed drawing and painting in high school and college art classes. Then I began a 36 year journey as a speech/language pathologist. Although I readily drew things for teacher’s projects over the years, I didn’t have the time to do much creating just for me. My dolls fulfill that need. They represent aspects of my journey. Each one magnifies an emotion or an attribute I want to embrace or honor in myself or others.  They have hidden words or messages within their bodies.  They bring me great joy. They have inspired my friends, as well. Each time a new doll emerges it creates a sense of excitement and fulfillment. There are so many waiting to come forth!

I am a musician and facilitator for womens day retreats, camps or gatherings. My dolls have been incorporated into many retreats and I have led women in making simple dolls as part of them. It is a great process to watch others create their dolls with each one unique just as we are.

Five of my dolls were in an Art Show at Robbin Gallery during the month of January. Making healing art dolls takes me to a much deeper level than I’ve experienced before. It is cathartic.  Although I find the dolls beautiful in their own ways, I have had to learn to deal with the emotions involved when others don’t.  People either “get them” or they don’t. It has been a good process for me in trusting my own gifts and my right to express them in a unique way.

Chief Eagle Beak -Ode to My Dad

Mixed media
17"tall X 10"wide
NFS

My Dad, intrigued by my dolls, jokingly asked if I would make him one, too. I said "sure and said I would name him 'Chief Eagle Beak'" which was my dad's family nickname, due to his large nose.  I set out with that in mind. But the doll had other ideas as it evolved into a fisherman. The face caught the twinkle in Dad's eyes and  his marvelous schnoz! The body became a shrine to Dad's annual pilgrimage with his sons, grandsons and nephews to Clearwater Lake to fish. It captured the earthy fun and beauty they find in fishing together.

August 2010 - Dad is dealing with congestive heart failure and facing heart surgery in the near future. His sons and nephews, pictured at the heart of this art piece holding their string of fish, have all spent time with him in the past month. The piece stimulates discussions of many of their adventures and offers healing not only to Dad, but the "boys" as well.