Meet Butterfly Woman. I was inspired to make this gourd spirit doll by Native American Kachinas, some of which feature butterflies. For the Blackfeet, butterflies were associated with sleeping and dreams. A mother would often weave a butterfly shape into a blanket and drape it over her baby to encourage the butterfly to come and help the baby go to sleep.
My version of the Butterfly Woman makes a unique and beautiful art figurine gift for yourself or someone special. The doll figurine is completely hand made by me. It is a Kachina-like doll, decorated in Native American style. Her wings echo patterns of the Monarch butterfly and she is adorned with fern leaves, a flower blossom, and bead necklaces. She even sports antennae. Her long black hair is pulled back from her face and trails all the way down her back, between her lovely wings, to her feet.
Butterfly Woman stands 10" tall and is 7" wide from wingtip to wingtip. I made the doll using a people gourd that is 3" in diameter at its widest point. To create her, I first, I cleaned the gourd using water and a copper scrubber. Then I cut off the bottom so that it would stand flat. I used gourd dye to tint the natural gourd. Butterfly Woman's head is a small cannonball gourd adhered to the narrow portion of the people gourd with E 6000 industrial adhesive. Her antennae were hand fashioned from Apoxie Sculpt polymer clay. The flower blossom is also hand made. I used a silicone mold to create the intricately detailed fern leaves from Apoxie Sculpt, painstakingly hand cutting excess clay away from the molded pieces so that just the leaf fronds would stand out. Butterfly Woman's graceful wings are also hand made from Apoxie Sculpt. I painted them with dimensional inks and acrylic paints and then coated them with three layers of Diamond Glaze. They adhere to her back using more Apoxie Sculpt augmented by industrial adhesive. I used dimensional ink to hand draw the pattern on front of the doll. Ceramic beads provide a choker and necklaces. Another fern frond graces the bottom half of the doll. She is mounted on a rustic wood disk. The entire piece is coated with a protective, glossy varnish. The art piece is signed on the bottom of the wood disk. Please note that this art piece is NOT Native American made--it was made by me and I am not of Native American descent.
My gourd art consists of one-of-a-kind pieces--whether they are ornaments or carved vases and bowls--depicting some aspect of nature. When you receive a piece of my gourd art, you have the only one in existence. I create what calls to me from nature--whether wildlife or flowers. And I focus on beauty and joy. Every one of my pieces is fueled by positive energy.
The doll will come to you swathed in tissue paper and packed very carefully.
Returns & Exchanges
I gladly accept returns and exchanges
Just contact me within: 5 days of delivery
Ship items back to me within: 7 days of delivery
I don't accept cancellations
But please contact me if you have any problems with your order.
The following items can't be returned or exchanged
Because of the nature of these items, unless they arrive damaged or defective, I can't accept returns for:
- Custom or personalized orders
- Perishable products (like food or flowers)
- Digital downloads
- Intimate items (for health/hygiene reasons)
- Items on sale
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my gourd art be kept outside?
No. My gourd art is intended for inside use only. The art will not hold up to weather and is not created to do so.
Can my gourd vases and bowls be filled with water for fresh flowers?
No. Unless I specifically state that the piece has been waterproofed, my gourd art should not be exposed to liquids including water. However, non-leaking containers for water--such as slender glass vases, etc.,--can be placed into the bowl or vase if you wish to use the piece for holding fresh flower bouquets. Just be careful to make sure there is no spillage.
There are bumps and blemishes on the gourd art. Are these defects?
No. Gourds are natural elements that will have bumps, dings, and blemishes. These are simply a part of the gourd itself.
Wholesale availability
I am a one person operation. I cannot and do not want to mass produce. I prefer NOT to become involved in wholesale.
Gift wrapping and packaging
Almost all of my art comes gift boxed and tied with a fabric ribbon. If you want the order gift wrapped, please convo me to discuss. I can also include a customized gift enclosure card. Please make sure to let me know in the "message" portion of your order if you wish to send as a gift and provide the name and address of the recipient. I try to include a copy of your receipt with each order. If the item is a gift, I will withhold the receipt unless you direct me otherwise.
Care instructions
I send a set of "care instructions" with all of my gourd art. Gourd art should be cared for in the same manner you would care for fine wood. Simply dust gently with a dry cloth. Keep the piece out of prolonged exposure to direct sunlight to ensure the colors do not fade. Keep the piece out of water.