"QUINTESSA" CEREMONIAL BURNING BOWL

“QUINTESSA”

BURNING BOWL

"Quintessa"

Sold. Thank you Autumn!

I was at the bank the other day and I noticed the teller’s nametag said “Quintessa.” How beautiful! I’ve never heard that name before. When I asked her what had inspired her mother to give her such a regal name, she said that her parents were in England when she was born and her mother wanted to give her a ‘queenly’ name. This name inspired me to create a burning bowl that is regal and befitting of the name. I haven’t come up with her story yet, but I will.

Close-up

For those of you who are new to my blog and don’t know the story of the burning bowl, please read below.

Unity Church has a special ceremony each New Year’s Eve. A large bowl is placed at the altar and each member of the church is asked to write down problems or vices they wish to annihilate from their lives.. It could be a wish to quit smoking or drinking. It might be a desire to loose weight or to quit any of a number of addictions. Each person places their list into the bowl and at midnight, the bowl is lit. Everyone watches as the fire burns away all the troubles.

Stained Glass Basin

Quintessa is 9” h (including her crown) 5” w and 4” deep. I sculpted her with stoneware clay. Her basin is of fracture streamer stained glass which was fired with her in the kiln. She is priced at $52.00. You will be able to view her adornments a bit better on Etsy. You can purchase there or directly from me via my e-mail.

Thanks so much for viewing.

GRANDMOTHER TREE WALL HANGING

GRANDMOTHER TREE WALL HANGING

Full Picture

Sold. Thank you Connie!

A friend of mine loves turtles. She volunteers to help breed them in all sorts of interesting places like Grand Cayman. She saves the broken pieces of turtle shell and offered to bring some to me to use in my work. I was thrilled when I saw the beautiful, rustic shells. They are perfect for my series titled “Grandmother Tree.”

Close-up of Turtle Shell and Driftwood

Here is the story that accompanies Grandmother Tree:

“Grandmother Tree”

The trees are alive! She wandered into the garden early one morning and she heard them speak to one another.. It was a language spoken on another frequency..in another vibrational time frame. They spoke of healing with power and energy and of the relationship between energy and matter. She was drawn to an ancient Chinese Elm and as she leaned her body next to the base, somehow she felt immersed in the tree and felt herself slip into the tree..was one with the tree and knew that she was the tree.....

~Cheryl Dolby~

Close-up of Face

The materials I used were, driftwood, moss, lotus pod, turtle shell , clay and of course, there is always love added to each of my finished pieces.

She is 4” w x 22” tall. Priced at $68.00 If you’d like to purchase her, I have just placed her on Etsy or you can e-mail me.

Thank you so much for viewing.

'SHI" "I AM NOT THE BODY"

“SHI”

“I AM NOT THE BODY”

Sold. Thankyou Deb!

I love the effect I get when I use earthy, woodsy materials along with the Renaissance Oil painting method I use for my faces. It seems to produce a rich quality that I can’t get with acrylics or other methods I’ve used.

The story I gave her comes from my book, “Grandmother Tree.” The book is out of print at this time but I will soon combine it with my “She Who Whispers” book to create a 3rd edition. “Shi” seemed appropriate for this original mixed media painting. Here is the story:

“SHI”

“I AM NOT THE BODY”

She so bravely bore her illness. Knowing there were those who would miss her in the end and being selfless beyond compare, she spoke these words. “Grieve not for me, for I am not the body. I am the green, fertile earth, the waves merging with the sea. I am the silence of the Himalayas and the eternal vibration of Om…know that I will live forever..for I am not the body….I am the soul.” The word Shi in Zen, written by calligrapher Hakuin, means death…anyone who sees Through death becomes ageless, deathless and Immortal..

~Cheryl Dolby~

“Shi” is 11” w x 14” h and 1” deep. I have priced her at $235.00 and she is available through me at this e-mail or you can purchase through Etsy. Thanks so much for viewing. This is definitely going to be a new series for me.

WITHIN THE WITHIN GODDESS NECKLACE

WITHIN THE WITHIN GODDESS NECKLACE

Picture of "Within the Within" on Manniquin

Years ago, I took a correspondence course with Yehwehnode Two Wolves-Twyla Nitch, clan mother of the Seneca tribe in New York. She named her followers “The Keepers of the Stones” and even sent me my own special stone in a little leather pouch. I have kept it through the years and think of her often. She passed away a few years ago. I was glad that I sent her a story I had written about the Seneca’s and her in particular. titled ” Within the Within,” I sent it to Twyla for her approval. She read it and told me that she approved of all but one word. The last word in my story ended with the word “power.” Twyla explained to me that if I changed that name to “withinness,” more “power” would be invoked into my story because it was the “withiness” that takes us to our center and our truth.

Close-up

Here is the story I wrote.

Within the Within

At a very young age, she had learned to speak the language of the stones and the language of the trees. Her people, the Seneca, Keepers of the Western Door of the symbolic Longhouse, had taught her.

They taught her of the foundation of truth which is called "within the within.'" She learned of the sanctity of the circle and how it symbolizes perfect truth and is considered the pathway of peace and harmony.

But of all the many truths that she was taught, he sould knew a truth that her mind was just beginning to comprehend..HER truth. For there is no collective truth. The truth of one soul is not the same as that of another. She knew that truth's purpos is growth...soul growth. She would be open to all truths but true to her own. She knew that by being true to herself, therein she would find her withiness.

Chain Detail

Within the Within is 3” w x 10 1/2 “ long with 81/2 “ chain measured from neck to top of necklace. This particular necklace, unlike some of the other ones I have created, would work well for a shorter gal. I’m very tall and tend to make them all geared toward my height.

I used turquoise and other embellishments and sculpted an original clay face as the focal point of the necklace. I hope whoever receives my necklace wears her with power and withiness.

I have priced her at just $89. You can purchase her from Etsy or from me.

PHILOSOPHY ART DOLLS

PHILOSOPHY ART DOLLS

"The Moment of Absolute Certainty Never Arrives" One Of My Favorite Quotes

When I was a child, someone gave me a precious little cloth doll. She looked as though she came from Poland or somewhere in the Netherlands. She had a hand made face and a cloth body. I loved her beyond words. Now that I’m older, (ha, much older) I am yearning to recreate that little old world doll. After much trial and tribulation, I came up with a version that definitely is reminiscent of that little treasure.

"Jump Off Cliffs and Build Your Wings On The Way Down" This Is A Ray Bradbury Quote

I hand sculpted each face with clay, painted it to look ancient, used cloth on the body (which is flat ) added push pins so that she is has fully moveable joints and then gave her one of my favorite quotes. Each on is definitely an original.

"There Is A Fine Line Between Genius and Insanity-I Have Erased That Line" Author unknown. I Have To Admit, Her Face Does Look A Bit 'Crazy'-But That Was The Point

Shown For Size

"Small is The Heart That Can Love But One" Author Unknown

Back Side Grommet Hanger Shown

I’m offering 4 for sale. They are approx 3”w x 10”h. Some of my customers tell me they hang the little dolls on the wall and others hang on a suction cup at the window. I prefer to let mine hang about the house is unusual places, where guests can happen upon them by chance and be charmed by the sayings I’ve given to them. They certainly do cheer up a cold winter’s day and bring a bit of sunshine to those receiving them. I have priced them at $38. and can ship anywhere in the continental USA for just $5.00. Please e-mail me if you’d like one to be sent to you. Thanks so much!

GODDESS FACE JARS

GODDESS FACE JARS

Number 1 Timekeeper Features interesting purple beadwork

Sold. Thank you Francie

I have a few face jars left from Christmas sales if anyone is interested. They are priced reasonably at $25. each. I hand sculpted each face, added all types of interesting finds from the year’s antique and flea market shopping. The apothecary jars are 3” in diameter and hold 10 oz. of whatever you choose to place into them. I think candles or creams would be sublime. You could even place food items into them since the jar has a tight rubber seal. I’m sure my reader’s will find all sorts of uses for them I have never even thought of.

Number 2 Soaring Spirit Features an antique butterfly broach

Number 3 Feather Keeper Features small metal dreamcatcher and other Native American Looking Objects

Sold. Thank you Lisa

Number 4 Tree Crone Woman Features small gold metal tree

Sold. Thank you Francie!

Number 5 Blooming Spirit Features small gold butterfly and beadwork

Number 6 Renaissance Woman Features Antique Neck Piece

Sold. Thank you Lisa

I have numbered and named each one after the stories I write

View of Jar

Let me know if I can send one or more to you. Just e-mail me and we can go from there. They make wonderful special gifts for all occasions year round.

THE ALCHEMIST

THE ALCHEMIST

Full View

Sold. Thank you Cindy!

She is glitzy and exciting looking and befitting of her name. The wearer should expect magic to happen each time she ventures out into the world.

Close-up of Center

The Alchemist is the last Goddess Ceremonial Necklace I have to offer this year. She would be a wonderful asset to wear to a party or to ring in the new year. She is 3” wide by 8” high and has a chain of 11” from the neck to top of necklace. I used gold, black and purple accents to the stars and other glitzy accents. I have priced her at $115.00. Please e-mail me if you would like me to send her to you. You can also view her more closely on Etsy. I accept Paypal. Thank you so much.

Close-up of Jangles

BEADED VINTAGE FACE BAG

VINTAGE BEADED FACE BAG

Vintage Beaded Face Bag

Sold. Thank you Kimberly!

While roaming through her grandmother’s attic, the girl came across what looked to be a very ancient beaded bag. To her surprise, there was a face on the front. The look on the face was one of wisdom and of a certain knowing. It immediately captured her heart. What was the history of the bag? Why had her grandmother never showed it to the family? Now that her grandmother’s memory was waning, she guessed she would never find the answer. Still, the precious purse seemed to beckon and the girl fled with it to the rest home where her grandmother now lived.

Close-up of Face

Years later, the girl was now a woman. So often when she traveled here and there to meetings, parties and out on the town, that precious purse accompanied her. She held it’s history in her heart and would not reveal it to anyone. She often thought back to the day when she held the purse up for her grandmother to see. She remembered the tears her grandmother shed and the story her grandmother had told her of the purse and how she came to own it.

Close-up of Beadwork

More years passed and the vintage purse was handed down from grandmother to daughter to granddaughter, all vowing to hold the story of the antique to their hearts, not revealing it to anyone. The mystery of the bag remains to this day. Just looking closely at the face on the fabric purse with the subtle yet radiant beadwork of amber and browns seem to cast a spell on the beholder. To touch the soft beadwork, almost, but not quite, renders the answer to a question too intimate to even put into words.

While shopping at an antique mall, I discovered this incredible purse. I have looked up vintage bags on google and cannot find the source. Still, there is something charming and wonderful about the colors and feel of the bag. I decided to add one of my original faces and more beadwork that looked similar to what is on the bag. Of course, the story then came to me. Perhaps one of my readers can give the answer to the bag’s mystery. She is 5"w x by 9"h x and the beaded stap is aprox. 21" long. I have priced her at $89.00. Please let me know by e-mail.
if you’d like to have her as your own. You can also view and order on Etsy if you prefer.

Thank you for your patience in reading this long story~