Come meet Awena Buttorfleoge

I was asked last week what was my favorite part of dollmaking.  Was it the painting, the sculpting, the costuming?  I had to say no... it wasn't any of those.  My favorite part is the inspiration.

It was when I was standing in front of my fireplace (warming myself) that "she" first showed up.  She asked "Do you see me?"  Well of course I had to reply "Yes" and then the fun began.

​She had a sleeping face like in a meditation pose with a flower arrangement on her head.  Once I saw her I couldn't unsee her... until I got started sculpting her.  Now she no longer shows up in my carpet (*lol).

She shared clues about her name with me pretty early on in our "connection".  Though I love some of the more colorful suggestions, I felt there was the option of only two but I just couldn't decide as to which one.  It was then when she told me that I did not have to choose as she was both.  Her name is Awena Buttorfleoge.

​​I was to later discover that 'Awena' means 'muse' in Welsh and my Awena is a Seer.
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'Buttorfleoge' is an old English word for butterfly.  Somehow that seemed to fit as I could see her personality flitting from topic to topic, much like the butterfly flying from spot to spot.

​So, what has Awena told me so far? I have learned that she is one of the first Sleeping Sisters.  She wasn't always a member of the Sleeping Sister's guild (you will learn more about them in brambles yet to come).

​It was a difficult choice for her to make in joining the guild as at the time she thought she had just met the person (more like the troll) she was to be with. But the Fates had another path she was to walk.  It is these little twists of inspiration that make the characters come to life for me!

This is where I enjoy the dollmaking - at the beginning of the path.  When they first awaken a spark of magic within me.  I want to then capture them and bring them to life, helping them to tell their story.  So as I keep working through all of their stages of transformation (much like the metamorphosis of a butterfly), they reveal to me a little more about themselves  - feeding my inspiration ​each step of the way.

​Look at me... I have wings!!!