OOAK Art Doll - Needle Felted Banshee Puppet

Description

I am pleased to announce the newest piece to come from Enchanted Gypsy studios. This banshee fae is life size and stands nearly four and a half feet tall.

Banshee simply means "woman of the síde" or "woman of the fairy mounds" and is a female spirit in Irish mythology. Usually seen as a messenger from the Otherworld. There are several types of banshees. Some banshees are known to wail when a loved one has died or is about to die. Our banshee here howver, is not that kind. She is simply an enchanting wise one from the realm of fae.

This is a work in progress. I began her nearly four months ago and continue to work on her firming up her legs, hands and basic form and perhaps will be adding a few details here and there as I go. It is a very laborious, slow but infinitely satisfying process to let this ancient one come through me.

She is entirely needle felted from many, many pounds of wool, over a foam, rope and wire core. Her hands contain wire, allowing her fingers to be posed to a degree. Her dress is made using an entire, freshly shorn Romney sheep fleece. After shearing I simply flipped the entire thing over and wet felted the back, preserving the lock structure on the front of the fleece. Her cloak is made from wet alpaca fleece. Her hair is locks from a karakul sheep.

In her hand she holds a staff which will one day contain a large crystal with the base partially wrapped in leather. On the back of her head is a rod that allows for excellent movement of her body and head. Her arms will soon have rods as well. At this time she is a sitting puppet, but my intentions are to try and make her able to walk, with the aide of the puppeteers feet.

Alternatively she would make a wonderful show piece in your living room, though she will need her own chair.

As I said this is a work in progress and will likely take many more months to complete. Any major changes however I will be sure to update with new pictures. Feel free to check in from time to time and see how she is developing.

In all honesty, I do not really want to sell her, that is why the price is so high. However, I figured if I ever did sell her, that would be the price that would somewhat compensate me for all the work, love and energy put in to her. She is one of a kind and will not or could not be recereated.

The inspiration for this piece, like all my work, comes from the natural and supernatural worlds.....

Many blessings ~ Pixie

Added on Dec 06, 2009