I am interested in the making of cloth dolls as objects of power rather than as toys or playthings. In the past dolls were often created by women to reflect the social and cultural influences or constructs they were subject to. In folk art both the craft process and the finished doll are a form of storytelling; dolls can be made as familiars, transmitters or carriers of magic, blessings or curses. Sometimes and to some people, a doll is a reliable, unchangeable “other” – a guardian, a muse or a companion on life’s journey.
Biddy Dolls
Surprisingly small, surprisingly powerful – these dolls are stitched to reflect the festivals and seasonal magic of the Celtic year. Biddy dolls traditionally act as guardians and protectors of homes. When they are first brought inside a house, they should be placed under a bed for a few days and then brought out into the open.
Pilgrim Dolls
Another stump doll but this time made using embroidered finger tracery to aid in prayer, mindfulness or meditation. There are 42 stitched interruptions to design which makes the doll suitable for Lenten contemplation but anyone who is familiar with The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy will know the significance of the number 42 for people of every faith or none.
Yarn Dolls
Perhaps the simplest of dolls to make but also the most powerful of objects. Yarn dolls are authentic to the maker, imbued with beliefs and often pinned or worn as talismans or amulets. Their ease of construction – folding, binding, wrapping and tying – means these dolls are often used as starting points in healing or transformative doll-making workshops.
