The Soul Whisperer

When you are at the end of your rope and you feel like you might finally lose your grip, something or someone suddenly whispers words of encouragement to your soul and you feel as if you've been given a little boost of whatever it was you needed to hang in there.  Those whispered words might have been courage, support, inspiration, or love, but they kept you going.  In my imagination, those words are whispered by a guardian of our souls - a Soul Whisperer.  And my latest doll is what I imagine this Soul Whisperer might look like.

I don't know where exactly I got the idea for the Soul Whisperer.  I think it may have started with the fantastic co-ordinated cottons that I bought from the Marsh Store, in Ilderton, Ontario, Canada.  I really loved the faces on the fabric and started collecting buttons and push-moulds with faces on them.

While pondering what to do with these yummy fabrics I remembered a dream that I had in high school at a time when I was particularly stressed.  I dreamed of a beautiful and extremely calm woman. Whenever she appeared I calmed down immediately.  The woman in my dream was a gorgeous black woman with long beautiful braids.  So immediately, I started to picture this doll with her face.  And the faces on the fabrics were the souls she was whispering to. 

I have never made a black doll before this or in fact, any doll that wasn't white.  When I mentioned the idea of this doll to a friend who is black she was very excited about the design.  However, another friend who is white said that I'd better be careful or I might offend someone - a reaction I wasn't expecting.  The idea behind the doll was not political. I just happened to picture the character as being black.  I am not black myself, true, but I am not blond and I've made blond dolls before. 

I think part of the reason that you see many more white dolls than black dolls is that the cloth doll world, and in fact, the craft world is still predominantly white.  And we tend to make dolls in our own image.  Very often people say that we make dolls that look like ourselves without realising it.  However, my friend's cautious reaction to making a doll that is black suggests another reason that we see far fewer black dolls.  Maybe we are afraid of offending people.  How very sad if that is the case.  We are missing out on so much beauty.

I hope when people look at this doll they see what I imagined - a beautiful woman (with extremely stylin' shoes) who just happens to be black. 

I am thinking of offering this doll as an online class so it will be interesting to see how people react to her.  Please let me know what you think. 

Comments

[Lynniah]

Loved your Soul Whisperer, she is awesome!

I've been wanting to make a black doll also, but haven't found the right pattern to do so as yet, they are hard to find, and I don't yet know how to design my own. But I'm determined to get there!

Btw, I once had a dream of a black Angel that came to me many years ago, definitely a Soul Whisperer experience there as well, and I would love to be able to recreate that if I could!

You did a beautiful job, I'd take the class also if you decide to offer it, or even buy the pattern!

Everyone should have their own Soul Whisperer!!

Blessings to you...

[Kendra]

this sould doll would definitely feed me cookie dough! She's stunning Shmolly!

[Fran]

The Soul Whisperer is lovely. Love the colors you used. No one should be offended by your making a African American doll. I make lots of them. Matter of fact my very first time sculpting in clay was an African American doll. I have patterns & pressmold I sell of African American dolls.
You did a Fantastic job of making her. She will make a great class.

[Lisa]

Wow. Imaginative and totally amazing. Truly a fantastic piece of work!

[Søren]

I can't imagine why on earth anyone would be offended by a white person making a black doll, although people do still make those "gollys" which are totally offensive - but yours is something new and modern and beautiful!

It's funny that you had that dream, because I also have this vision of a black woman who calms me down - but she is older and larger than yours - I have been wanting to make a doll of her for years, but I've got such a clear vision of her in my head that I want the doll to come out RIGHT and so I haven't even tried.

Anyway, your doll rocks.

[Jenn]

She's beautiful Bean! I would love a Soul Whisperer...I've never thought about what mine might look like, but I might have a little think about it now!

[Kai]

Colleen, this lovely doll comes across exactly as you wanted her to! She's peaceful & reassuring in every way! I just love her expression, and her outfit is to die for! Someone said they wanted to learn how to make those shoes. ME TOO! But not necessarily for a doll. I'D wear those in a HEARTBEAT! As for the skin color issue - if all we see is that, we are sadly missing out. Your doll is exquisite!

[Baja Betty]

Colleen: Your Soul Whisperer is drop dead gorgeous. I love ethnic dolls and you have captured her perfectly. She definately has the WOW factor.

[JMartin]

Wow! Colleen, she is just beautiful. The fabric with the sunbursts, and all the coordinating fabrics, are lovely and combined so well together.
And those shoes! How did those ever happen?! You have just outdone yourself yet again. Your dolls are so much fun to see...I love checking your site to see whatall you are doing.
I wish we had you in our doll club...your creativity and energy would really perk us up!

Best wishes,
Jean Martin
Tulsa Dolling Dames

[Venus]

You did a great job with her. She's beautiful.

[Sharon Mitchell]

Love the beautiful doll! Her face is so gentle and her eyes speak! Dream dolls are the best! I want to learn how to make those shoes! She's altogether fabulous! In New Zealand I'm called 'Pakeha' -white.

[shashi]

Oh Colleen I think you surpassed yourself. She is so beautiful. Love the fabrics you chose and her feet her well everything really. Well you don't have to worry about offending anyone black because what you have made is actually a compliment to them. How could anyone be offended by her she is the most divine looking doll. Well done you.

[Romona]

Hi Colleen, I hope you do offer her as a class, I'll be in line to do her. What's the big deal about colour anyway. We're all just sources of energy inhabiting these bodies, it's what comes from within and how we respect each other that is far more important than the colour of the suit we're wearing....She's lovely and a lot of emotion went into making her, so yes, please offer her to us as a class....Romona

[Sherry Goshon]

she is beautiful I love her...

[sharon - nz]

Shes is just gorgeous I love her, cant wait for the class.

Yes I have made some black dolls as well and had mixed reactions like yours, but heck I love them.

[Judi Wellnitz]

I think you might be right about making a doll in our own image. One of my friends said she would buy one of my mermaids if it was black. Made me realize that I hadn't been making any dolls of color. So now I do and I just love making a variety of ethnicities.

I love the expression on this doll's face and the story behind it. She is beautiful.

[Karen Mallory]

What a great doll Colleen! I love the expression and the use of the hand. I don't think it makes any difference what color a doll is. I have made many fairies and mermaids that are yellow or green or some non traditional color for skin. We have to be true to our muse!
hugs Karen

[carolyn harris]

I love your Soul Whisperer even more so because she is black ... I have a deep affection for black (African American)dolls ... IMHO the reason many white folks don't make black dolls could be the reason I don't ... the difficulty in getting the face painted & shaded correctly ... I'd love to learn ... it's good to leave your comfort zone ... hugz, Carolyn

[Tami]

She's truly gorgeous with a beautiful story to boot. If anyone's offended at all then I think they're ultra sensitive and would be offended at the drop of a hat. There's nothing offensive at all with your Soul Whisperer. Yes, you should offer her as a class.

I've made a couple dolls that are black and I'm very white (glow in the dark white even). But perhaps that's because my sisters are black (and by sisters I mean as in blood, my mother's and stepdad's daughters). The only thing I've noticed is that sometimes people use actual black cloth and not shades of brown to make black dolls. That's okay if you're not going for a more realistic skintone. Similar to those who use pure white for white dolls.

[Kitty Babcock]

Oh she is gorgeous. She has such spirit and life. Your use of beads is an especially lovely touch.
Love, Mum

[Kay Susan]

I think she is beautiful. The story behind the doll is nice too. No-one should be offended, and it was significant which of your friends thought this might be so! I took some of my Simple baby dolls to an Art and Craft market recently, and I was asked if I would make a mixed race one!

[Carla]

How very beautiful.

[Lee Anne]

I think she's beautiful, no matter the race. I would be interested in taking an on-line doll class for her.

[Cheryl]

Well, I agree it is sad that anyone should feel that a black doll might be offensive just because she is black. I love this doll and your vision for her and I don't see where there is anything about her that should or would be offensive to someone, black or otherwise. When you think about it, even if the doll depicted an image that might be offensive to someone black, some of those images are a part of the black heritage and a doll depicting that would not be meant as offensive but possibly as respectful of what they had to endure back in the day and honoring that heritage and those who lived through it. I guess it is all about your perspective and ANYTHING COULD be offensive to SOMEONE. Otherwise, this doll is awesome and I would have to take the class, now maybe I should go work on Water Lily. LOL