The Warrior Princess

You know how I've been playing with making polymer clay faces lately? I've got a little box full of clay personalities, solemn, furtive, peaceful, proud, all sorts, all silent yet saying a lot. This particular face appeals to me, she is strong yet gentle, proud yet compassionate, and I wanted to save her for something a bit special.

I've been interested in the Comfort Doll project and the co-ordinator for the Southern Hemisphere is Jo from "No Matter Where I Go... I Always Meet Myself There". She is collecting dolls and each time there is a dozen they will be donated to a Womens' Shelter, the idea being to send a message of encouragement from a stranger in the form of an art doll. A strong compassionate doll I thought, a warrior princess.

I had some wool felt left over from the batch I made for my tea cosy which I thought might be suitable. I love the colours in it, and when the piece was felted it reminded me of the ocean, which seemed appropriate as the ocean is strong and follows its own path.

I stitched her body in the womanly figure-eight shape, not only to show her femininity, but also because she is very holdable being clasped around her waist. I needle felted a red heart for her compassion and caring, centred with a flower bead to show positive feelings 'blossoming'. An embroidered flower at the bottom shows flourishing, gaining in strength.

I wanted her to have a proud, strong, protective look, yet beautiful and adorned, so I started by looping and knotting different coloured yarns to give almost a headdress look. Her face is surrounded with green scroll stitch, with a gold bead in between each knot, and then embroidered around that with white basque stitch. She's wearing a beaded necklace with a protective amulet to keep all around her safe.


I finished her off with a quirky little hairpiece made from an enamelled bead and strings of small blue beads. Because she is a lady.

I really enjoyed making her, thinking about how to adorn her and for what reasons. If she manages in any way to give an abused woman or her children something to smile about even briefly then that's a good thing. Jo, she'll be winging her way over to you tomorrow.