Lidija Fairbanks from Temecula, California 2005 Second Annual ALL DOLLED UP: BEADED ART DOLL COMPETITION Theme: Over The Rainbow Return to the web-page displaying all 3 semi-finalists and overall results

Doll named Light of My Life [Please be patient - These pages are graphics intensive and will load slowly]   See the overall Results When voting closes 1/15/06, voting logs will be reviewed for any duplicate or otherwise illegitimate votes (for example, those from the same IP or email address), and these will be deleted. The on-line votes will be tallied and used to adjust the original votes of the Panel of Judges at CBJA, in the selection of a winner. The public's votes will weigh towards 25% of the final tally in selecting the Winner and Runner-Up.

Frontal Image

Light of My Life

Once upon a time, in a land far away, there, Over The Rainbow, I discovered you, embellished with a kind of light and charm, mystery and magic, that one finds only in this special place. Whether it was Fate or Luck, we met again, my Beaded Art Doll, and I renamed you appropriately enough, "Light of My Life".

In a green valley the little fairy child sat by a clear stream. Tears, falling from her face into the water, awakened the nature spirit who dwells in the stream.

The nature spirit moved by the fairy child's pure heart said: "I can see a sadness in your eyes, my child. Tell me how I can help."

"You can't," the little fairy child said. "No one can. My dearest friend my horse is sick and the day of our separation is near. I will never see him again."

The nature spirit was so touched by the fairy child's love for her horse that she told them a way that they could stay together forever. A way that is very hard and dangerous, but possible.

The little fairy had to fly for days carrying her sick friend until she reached a rainbow and collected some rainbow dust into her pouch.

1. Her wings

In that moment their bodies began melting together. The fairy and the horse became one being and one soul, never again to be all alone for as long as they carried rainbow dust in their pouch.

2. Transitional horse/fairy

3. Transitional horse/fairy

This story is a symbolic idea of how I created this doll. I incorporated a horse's legs with a fairy's torso, wings, arms and head. The rainbow dust represents the beautiful shiny beads I used to 'melt' different pieces of the body together and make it into one. For as long as the beads remain stitched together, these two parts of a doll body will stay as one.

The doll sits on the bead embellished music box that plays the song, "You light up my life." As I made her I often listened to the beautiful music she plays and remembered the lyrics of the song:

You light up my life,
you give me hope
to carry on
You light up my days,
and fill my nights with song
(- Debbie Boone)

4. Bead embellished music box

We all have a desire to become one with the people we love. Two personages can become one. One in goal, they can help carry each others' burdens and have unity and harmony with each other. The way is hard, but possible. And the pouch with rainbow dust? It's the pure love which we should carry with us forever.


5. Pouch with Rainbow Dust

Side Image

Back Image

Detailed Image

Light of My Life
(rotation)

List of Materials
and Techniques Employed

Material:
Soft doll body made from 3 different parts (torso, legs and wings)
One of a kind ceramic face
Poly clay handsculpted hands

6. Hands and Face

Stand of bead-embellished music box

Seed beads: #8, 10, 11, 15 and delica
Nymo thread
Glass beads
Crystal Beads
Pearls
Ceramic beads
Topaz, labradorite chips
Dichroic glass

Dimensions:
Without the base stand, the doll is 12" x 7"

Techniques used:
Free form peyote, netting, right angle weave, stringing...

Lidija Fairbanks
from Temecula, California

Doll named
Light of My Life
[Please be patient - These pages are graphics intensive and will load slowly]

See the overall Results


When voting closes 1/15/06, voting logs will be reviewed for any duplicate or otherwise illegitimate votes (for example, those from the same IP or email address), and these will be deleted. The on-line votes will be tallied and used to adjust the original votes of the Panel of Judges at CBJA, in the selection of a winner. The public's votes will weigh towards 25% of the final tally in selecting the Winner and Runner-Up.