KATHY FORD from Deep Gap, North Carolina WINNER Fourth Bi-Annual 2009 ALL DOLLED UP: BEADED ART DOLL COMPETITION Theme: Earthen Mother Return to the web-page displaying all 6 semi-finalists and overall results

Doll named Jolyma [Please be patient - These pages are graphics intensive and will load slowly] After reviewing the Beaded Art Doll Images on this page, and reading the artist's stories, materials list, and summary of techniques, VOTE & EVALUATE See the overall Results When voting closes 1/15/10, 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.

Side Image
25" Tall

Jolyma

"The mirror reflects more than my hands can feel.
Lines, edges, shadings, a weariness under the eyes, an awkward stance.
Yet, not reflected is a certain vibrancy --
a compassion and wisdom and wonder so many people rely on.
Only you, my beaded art doll,
capture the fullness of me as I age in place .
You embody changes I want to make, so I aptly name you…"

Jolyma

As a child you spoke to me from mud as I sat at the far end of the garden patting earthen cakes between my palms. And how luminous that mud like the color of your skin could be. Chocolate, gold and olive green the fertile soil in which you breathe. Life survives and thrives in your rich ground. How thick and verdant a tapestry you weave coaxing tender shoots from seed direct towards the sun.

Beneath your feet flow waters pure in blues of midnight, cobalt, azure. And from your head, your crown pours too a stead fall of water vapor to keep the cycle in full fervor. Seashells salt the brine while dolphins race the open water, crabs scuttle and pince morsels as starfish graze the coral fileds. This sacred water serves to cleanse each day anew, filling teardrops to burst and run away hot hurts, quench body's thirst and keep the cups all running over. These are the waters from which life pours forth on this most juicy of planet homes.

A copper skirt around your hips adorns that middle place from whence we all emerged. Copper that perfect balance metal someplace between both gold and silver, reminder of the middle way that runs between all righteous poles. The path of peace, where bees do chant their blessed drone, dragonflies take wing and turtles through the leafy carpets chomp. Honeyed is this path you walk and sweet the air from flower blossoms.

Your robe all crimson, filled with holy fire licks like flames up your slender, wiry frame. You wear your heat in honest glory not secreting away your passions deep to erupt and drown some unsuspecting town in molten rage. No, you model it true for all to see and marvel at its scorching shimmer. Passionately you blaze, immune to life's cruel dowsing lessons.

And above your head in celebration you raise and praise the sun and moon our most local of heavenly spheres. To whose light and motion we shall ever remain in debt, crediting us as they do each day and night with forces awesome. You honor and treasure these blessed principles of male/female might. The moon that draws the tidal swell uniting women through monthly rites, calling wolves to howl and us to nights dark contemplation. And the Sun whose golden reach extends each dawn to quell the fears of night, shines upon our kingdom green encouraging each tree to grow, bloom and bear sweet fruit.

Jolyma appears to those that listen and sit in silence before the mirror. Sometimes belly round and beautiful she appears like some ripened fig and other times all wrinkled and cracked like some ancient desert Brujera. But mostly I see her like this: a dancer robed in crimson fire with copper skirt abuzz with bees, the sun and moon held aloft in perfect balance a torch enlightening the Earth round and rich beneath her feet. In this guise she embodies life as celebration. My life as celebration.

Frontal Image

Back Image

Detailed Image

(rotation)

List of Materials
and Techniques Employed

Dimensions:
25" tall x 8" wide

Construction Techniques:
wire armature
dowel legs
stuffed with Fiber Fill
Painted with Fabric Dye
Styrofoam base/sun/moon

Materials List:
muslin
felt
lame
batting
fiber Fill
copper wire/millinery wire/craft wire/steel wire
wooden dowels/plywood/pvc tubing
gemtac glue
silamide/thread/beeswax
seed beads
bugle beads
fire polish glass beads
swarovski crystal beads
indian glass beads
antique glass beads
amber beads
dangles -- pewter, sterling ,copper & brass

Techniques:
Self Taught (don't know proper terms)
All hand sewn with thread or wire.

VISIT HER WEBSITES:
kingfishercrafts.etsy.com
animalsandicons.etsy.com

KATHY FORD
from Deep Gap, North Carolina


Doll named
Jolyma
[Please be patient - These pages are graphics intensive and will load slowly]

After reviewing the Beaded Art Doll Images on this page, and reading the artist's stories, materials list, and summary of techniques,

VOTE & EVALUATE

See the overall Results


When voting closes 1/15/10, 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.