Fire and Ice

My first doll for 2014 is done. She’s been given a place of honour at the tea shop. This is Colleen Babcock’s last design. Colleen’s original name for her is Ascending. As soon as I saw this design, I just knew I had to make it. It has such depth of emotion. Colleen was moved to create her when the riots in the UK happened.

Fire and Ice is both literal and metaphorical. You can see the literal interpretation of fire with the candle stick and red beading. You can see the ice with her body wrap and icicle beading.  The metaphorical interpretation is entirely an individual one, everyone who sees her will feel a different emotion.

My personal interpretation goes to a place where the woman has felt the sting of the fire. She has been scorched by the fire over time, from the tips of her feet to the top of her head. Her hair is singed and has turned red in places, but she cares not. Confronted with her situation, she remains calm and resolute, not allowing the force of the fire to consume her. She knows the ice beneath will always douse any flame that threatens her.

A few details about Fire and Ice. I used fibres from Jessica for the main part of the hair. I had ordered some custom dyed mohair locks from Tracy, and they arrived in time for me to include some of the red. Tracy is very accommodating if you require some special colours of fibres for your art work.

The candlestick was a thrift store find and with a bit of elbow grease was made shiny and new again. The base needed filling in as did the top. I used Apoxy Clay to fill in the top and to wrap around the wire frame to make sure she is well supported, and finally, I formed the petals where the icicles are hanging.

I waited for months to make this beautiful doll and am so happy she is finally done. The instructions as always with Colleen’s designs, are perfect.