The Coblynnau are Welsh Mine Fairies: they are good-natured, helpful creatures who dress in rags and live – for the most part – underground. They are fond of making stone sculptures.
The Coblynnau were mine goblins who signalled where the richest seams of coal were by tapping out messages to miners or leaving trails of stones underground. Their story provides a starting point for many of the Art Dolls that I make. Living on the edge of the scarred and rugged South Wales coalfield means that you are never far from history. It is not beautiful in a chocolate-box way but it is a land rich in legend and magic – just perfect for a Textile Artist and Dollmaker like me.
In the Coblynnau project I will be making one art doll to go with each of The Keepers. Each doll will be displayed somewhere close to The Keeper but perhaps not easily seen, camouflaged rather than hidden. The first one that I’ve made is Coblynes yr Afon, to go with The Keeper of the River. I’ve been needlefelting some of the merino wool that I got from Haulwen Crafts last week to form the body of the doll. I’ve chosen some cold, muddy colours so that the doll fits in well with the landscape and the story.
I also wanted a textural effect which makes it difficult to tell where the Coblynes ends and the landscape begins. This is why needlefelting the merino wool was such a good technique. It allowed me to build up shapes and areas of density. I’ve stitched some lines from the script of The Keepers into the body of the doll too.
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I meet a lot of people who like the art dolls because they’re quirky, tactile and they always have a story to tell. This storytelling aspect can make them an empowering thing to create. Over the next few weeks, I’ll be showing you how I go about making an art doll and if you’re not the stitching type – don’t worry. Art dolls can be made out of carved wood, hankerchiefs, stones, wool – the list is endless!
Rydw i’n creu y ddol wrth ffeltio gyda nodwydd. Rydw i’n defnyddio gwlân Merino sydd yn feddal iawn I ffeltio a gwlân Angora ar gyfer gwallt y ddol.