A Spiritual Journey...

Anna, Shawn, me, and Ciro

I was recently privileged to be invited by an IADR member, Anna Esposito, to her home in Naples and to visit the site of Pompeii.  

​Did you know that Naples existed at the time of the Mount Vesuvius eruption in 79 AD, though luckily they did not receive the devastation of Pompeii. 

Naples helps today to shine the light on Pompeii's history.  It is at Pompeii that we can see the amazing art, walk the roads, and just get a glimpse into an age that no longer exists.  How we have changed and are continuing to change, but also how we have remained the same too.

I was reminded of some of the "sameness" as I walked along an ancient Roman roadway in Naples called Christmas Alley.  It was there that I discovered the way I structure my porcelain dolls is the same way many of the specialty figures are still made today in Naples.  What are these figures used for?  They are used in the building of presepe or in English - Nativity creche.

Besides seeing all the amazing animated figures and figurines plus the lighting for these creche, I made a discovery.  In one of the shops, they were selling a similar head like one that I had been inspired to sculpt just before leaving for Italy.

I didn't know why I need to sculpt Bohoj (pronounced Boe-hosh) before leaving on our trip - other than loving his goofy smile.  But to find a similar head with that same goofy laughter style on his face felt very serendipitous.

Both faces reflect the joy in life.  As the saying goes: KISS - keep it simple stupid.
Telling me don't get caught up in the day-to-day drama.  Find those little things in life that bring a smile to my lips.

So as long as dolls can express my passion, my insights, and keep on talking to me, I know there will always be a need for Dollmakers and the creations we create.  They take me on spiritual journeys as well as physical ones.  They enlighten me and help me to find my balance and the world would be a sad boring place without them in it.