Index
I hope these FAQs answer your questions, but if you want to know something not answered here, please contact me so I can best serve you.
Custom Spirit Art Dolls
Each You-Do-You Voodoo™ and SoulStitch™ doll is a one-of-a-kind vessel of intention—built by hand, filled with carefully chosen materials, and carrying its own distinct presence.
They’re made to work with you, not for you. Some Keepers use them in ritual or meditation. Others keep them close during shadow work. Many just like having a physical reminder of the qualities they’re trying to strengthen—courage, calm, clarity, protection.
Think of them as companions in your personal work: a mix of symbolic art, grounded psychology, and a little unapologetic edge. They won’t “fix” you. But if you engage with them, they’ll hold space for the parts of you that need it.
What are You-Do-You Voodoo™ and SoulStitch™ art dolls?
Each one is a handmade vessel of intention—built from wire, wrapped in batting, twine, and yarn, and filled with gemstones, herbs, and oils chosen for your specific needs or the doll’s own “personality” as it takes shape.
- You-Do-You Voodoo™ dolls lean edgy and empowering—perfect for personal growth, shadow work, or calling your own energy back.
- SoulStitch™ dolls carry a more mystical or elemental tone, embodying archetypes, nature spirits, or symbolic forces you want to work with.
No two are alike, and each is designed to feel like a companion rather than an object.
Can I customize my doll?
Yes, practically every part of her. Fill out a form and we’ll start.
Do these dolls involve harmful Voodoo practices?
No—and let’s be clear, Vodou itself isn’t inherently harmful. It’s a spiritual tradition rooted in healing, protection, and honoring ancestors. The “you do you” in You-Do-You Voodoo™ means exactly that: the doll reflects your growth, healing, and personal power—not control over anyone else. The only energy here is the one you choose to put into shaping your own life.
Can my doll bring me luck or protection?
Not like a rabbit’s foot or a four-leaf clover.
Your You-Do-You Voodoo™ doll is a vessel of intention. The gemstones, herbs, and other elements in her body are chosen for specific reasons — grounding, protection, clarity, courage, growth — but the energy isn’t passive or automatic.
If you set your intention for protection, her energy can act as a reminder, a mirror, and an anchor for that work. Same with luck — but here, “luck” usually means alignment: being clear enough to recognize opportunities and strong enough to take them.
Think of her as a collaborator, not a charm. The more you engage with her — touching her, speaking your intention, keeping her in your line of sight — the stronger the connection and the more noticeable her support will feel.
Why do you use things like gemstones and herbs in your dolls?
Because they matter. Every one of my dolls is built with intention, and the materials aren’t random — they’re chosen for their energetic, emotional, or symbolic weight.
Gemstones carry grounding, clarifying, or protective energies. Herbs amplify, soften, or redirect that energy, depending on what the doll is built to hold. Together, they create a quiet but steady charge — something you can feel when you hold her and something that stays alive as you work with her.
This isn’t about following someone else’s tradition or a pre-written spell. It’s about creating a vessel that reflects you: your needs, your work, your healing, your power. That’s why every doll’s blend of stones, herbs, and sometimes oils is unique. Nothing is arbitrary; every choice has a reason, and that reason is tied to what the doll is meant to do for you.
How do I use my doll?
Your doll is a tool, a reminder, and a quiet collaborator. Here are some ideas on working with her.
Everyday Practices
- Intention Touchpoint
Touch her or speak your intention each morning or night. A quick “We’re still doing this” keeps her energy tied to your work. - Breath Breaks
Stop where she is, take a few deep breaths, and let her energy help you reset when life spins too fast. - Daily Gratitude
Whisper a thank-you or acknowledgment when you pass by. Small, steady rituals keep the connection strong.
Energetic & Emotional Work
- Shadow Work
Keep her nearby during journaling or hard emotional work. She’ll hold space for the things you’ve avoided naming and reflect your truth back at you. - Protection & Cleansing
Place her near your front door, by your bed, or in your workspace to help clear stagnant energy and keep your space grounded. - Emotional Recharge
When you’re depleted, sit with her. Imagine her gemstones and herbs recharging what you’ve burned through.
Creative & Intentional Work
- Creative Spark
Put her on your desk as a reminder to stop censoring yourself and create the thing that scares you most. - Goal Anchor
Write down your goals and place them with her — a physical, daily reminder of where you’re headed. - Ritual Building
Include her in your rituals: light candles, play music, or sit in silence while you work with intention.
Rest, Intuition, and Transition
- Dreamwork
Keep her near your pillow or nightstand to help with dream recall or clarity during periods of change. - Support During Change
In times of transition — leaving, grieving, healing, or becoming — talk to her. She’ll hold what you’re not ready to say out loud to anyone else. - Travel Companion
Pack her with you when you travel. She’ll carry familiar energy into unfamiliar places and keep you tethered.
How do I care for my doll?
Your You-Do-You Voodoo™ doll is tough, but she’s not indestructible. Treat her with care so she can keep doing her work.
- Keep her dry. A damp rag for dust is fine, but don’t get her wet.
- Avoid direct sunlight. Sunlight fades yarn and some gemstones. If you want her colors to stay sharp, don’t leave her in a sunny window.
- No oils on her body. Direct contact can stain her yarn or break down materials over time.
- No kitchen chaos. Don’t perch her above the stove or anywhere grease and cooking residue drift.
- Keep her out of reach. Pets and kids are curious, but your doll isn’t a toy — for their safety and hers.
- Check her notes. Each doll ships with individual care notes. Read them. Some gemstones and materials have quirks or sensitivities you’ll want to know about.
Where should I place my doll?
Your You-Do-You Voodoo™ art doll should live where you’ll see and engage with her. Close is best — near your bed, on your desk, or in a spot you pass often.
When you see her, acknowledge her. A quick touch, a “Hey, sweetheart,” or just a breath to reset. That moment of interaction keeps her energy connected to yours.
If something’s on your mind, speak it out loud. Ask for guidance. Stay open — sometimes the answer hits fast, sometimes it takes a while.
One rule: don’t tuck her away. Energy builds where you put your attention. If you wouldn’t display something ugly in your line of sight every day, don’t make your doll fight for space in a forgotten corner.
Objects carry energy. Let this one remind you of strength, clarity, and intention — every time you pass her.
What comes with my doll?
Most dolls do not arrive alone. She brings a few things with her — some practical, some personal, sometimes all of the below, sometimes some of the below:
Creation Sheet
Every doll starts with a sketch and notes. As I build her, I jot down whatever comes through — words, images, phrases. Sometimes they’re cryptic to me but hit hard for the Keeper. The sheet usually collects bits of her making — a thread scrap, a smear of glue, maybe a coffee stain. When she’s ready to leave, I send the sheet to release her spirit into your hands.
Story Card
Your doll’s story — told straight. What she revealed during her creation, why certain stones, oils, or herbs were used, and how to work with her energy. It’s a snapshot of her personality and purpose, written for you to keep.
Energetic Notes
A breakdown of the gemstones, herbs, and oils woven into your doll. It includes suggestions for keeping her energy clear and responsive, plus any observations that came up during her build.
Matching Energetic Items
A small bag of the gemstones, herbs, and oils that live inside her — for you to hold, carry, or place on your altar when you want a more direct connection.
Build Photos
Printed photographs that show her coming to life, from bare wire and batting to her finished form — proof that she’s been built with intention at every step.
Certificate of Authenticity
A signed certificate with her photos, materials, completion date, and personalization details — including who she was made for and your city — so her origin story is always documented.
What if I don’t feel anything from my doll at first?
First, know this: there’s nothing “wrong” with you or the doll. Not everyone feels an immediate surge of energy, and that’s okay. These dolls are built with intention — layers of yarn, gemstones, herbs, and quiet charge — but they’re not flashy. They respond to interaction, not expectation.
If you’re not feeling a connection:
- Spend more time with her. Keep her where you’ll see her often. A touch, a glance, or a quiet “good morning” builds recognition.
- State your intention out loud. The act of naming what you need strengthens the energetic thread between you and the doll.
- Listen without trying to force it. Connection usually grows in small, subtle ways — a thought, a dream, a flash of clarity when you weren’t looking for it.
- Use the notes that shipped with her. Every doll comes with a guide to her materials and their purpose. Revisit it — it can help you tune in to her energy.
Think of her as a collaborator, not a performer. The more consistent your interaction, the more you’ll start to feel the shift — sometimes quietly, sometimes like a hit of truth you didn’t expect.
Art Therapy
This isn’t a list of sterile definitions. These answers come from the place where art and psychology overlap—the place where your hands can say what your mouth won’t. Art therapy isn’t about learning to draw or “being creative enough.” It’s about using marks, colors, and materials to get at the truths you’ve been carrying, including the ones your Shadow has been keeping safe until you’re ready.
Here, you’ll find what the research says, what experience has proven, and what it actually feels like to work with the parts of yourself you’ve ignored, avoided, or buried. Some of it might be comforting. Some of it might be uncomfortable. That’s the point. Healing doesn’t happen in a single light-filled moment—it happens in the messy, unpolished space where you decide to see yourself clearly.
What is art therapy?
Art therapy doesn’t require you to be an “artist” or prove you can draw a straight line. It’s a mental health practice that uses creating—painting, sculpting, scribbling, collage, whatever gets your hands moving—as a way to see what’s going on under the surface.
When words fail (or hide), the marks you make can tell the truth. Through the process, you can spot patterns, connect with emotions you’ve been avoiding, and discover parts of yourself you didn’t realize were still there. The art is the language, and the therapist is there to help you translate it into something you can work with.
What is the historical background of art therapy?
Art therapy, as an official field, took shape in the mid-20th century, when artists and psychologists began realizing that creative work could do more than decorate a wall—it could help repair a mind. One early pioneer, Adrian Hill, noticed the mental lift that came from sketching and painting while recovering from tuberculosis, and others quickly began building on that insight.
But the roots run deeper than the title “art therapist.” Carl Jung’s own Red Book—a sprawling, illustrated record of his inner visions—proved that imagery could carry the weight of the unconscious better than words alone. For Jung, drawing and painting weren’t hobbies; they were essential tools for exploring what the mind hides.
Since then, art therapy has absorbed influences from multiple schools of psychology and a wide range of artistic practices. The core idea hasn’t changed: the act of making can help reveal, confront, and transform what you can’t easily say out loud.
How does art connect to mental health?
Art and mental health aren’t just casual acquaintances—they’ve been tangled up for as long as humans have been making marks on cave walls. Creating something tangible out of what you feel can turn a mess of sensations into something you can see, touch, and think about. That shift—pulling what’s inside into the open—can help you make sense of it, confront it, or even decide to let it go.
How can art help express emotions?
Some feelings don’t behave when you try to put them into words. They dodge, they shrink, they disappear. Art gives them another way out. A quick charcoal sketch, a messy collage, a smear of paint—it’s all fair game. Once the feeling’s on the page, you can step back and look at it from the outside. That’s when you start understanding it instead of just living inside it.
What psychological ideas support art therapy?
Art therapy isn’t guesswork—it’s grounded in several major approaches to mental health. From psychodynamic theory (digging into the unconscious, where your Shadow likes to lurk) to cognitive-behavioral strategies (reshaping how you think and react) to humanistic models (focusing on growth and authenticity), each one agrees: creating something can shift the way you process emotion, think about problems, and see yourself.
How can art therapy reduce stress and anxiety?
Making art can drop your stress hormone levels—literally. But the bigger magic is in the “flow” state: that fully-immersed feeling where time gets slippery and your brain stops circling the usual worries. It’s not avoidance; it’s a reset button for your nervous system.
Can art therapy improve self-awareness and self-esteem?
Yes—because when you create something, you leave evidence. The colors you chose, the shapes you made, the symbols you repeated—they all tell a story about you. Not the surface version you show other people, but the one you actually live with. Seeing that story in front of you can make you feel more grounded in who you are and more confident in claiming it.
Does art therapy help with emotional regulation?
Absolutely. Think of it as emotional “external storage.” Instead of holding everything in your body until it spills over, you move it into a drawing, sculpture, or collage. That shift creates just enough distance to choose your next step instead of reacting on autopilot.
How can art therapy support trauma recovery?
Trauma doesn’t like to be cornered by words. Art therapy gives it a safer exit—one where you set the pace. Making art lets you approach the hard parts sideways, without having to relive them directly, and still release some of the pressure they hold. Over time, that process can help reduce PTSD symptoms and strengthen the parts of you that survived.
Can art therapy help build social connections?
Yes. In a group setting, creating alongside others can loosen the isolation that often comes with emotional struggle. Shared materials, shared space, and even shared silence can create a kind of unspoken support. The work doesn’t have to match—the connection is in showing up and making something together.
Does art therapy have cognitive benefits?
It does. Creative work wakes up multiple areas of the brain, improving things like focus, problem-solving, and memory. Think of it as mental cross-training: you’re building flexibility and resilience without having to touch a single spreadsheet.
What are some art therapy exercises I can try at home?
Create a mandala for relaxation
Draw or color a circular design with repeating patterns. The structure helps calm your mind while your hands keep moving. It’s part meditation, part art.
Make a Emotional Color Wheel
Pick colors to represent specific emotions. Then, when you make art, use the color that fits your current mood. It’s a simple way to spot patterns in how you feel over time.
Make a Stress Release Collage
Cut, rip, or tear images and words that reflect what’s weighing on you, then arrange them into something you can look at from the outside. The act of choosing and placing can be surprisingly clarifying.
Create Art in Your Gratitude Journal
Write down what you’re grateful for, then add sketches, doodles, or small collages. It’s less about being relentlessly positive and more about noticing what’s holding you up right now.
Create a Self-Portrait (It doesn’t have to look ‘real’)
Draw or paint yourself—not how you think you “should” look, but how you feel in the moment. It can reveal parts of you that the mirror doesn’t show.
Create Art with Nature
Gather leaves, flowers, stones—whatever you find outside—and arrange or attach them into a piece. It’s grounding, tactile, and gets you out of your head for a while.
Symbolism Guide
What gemstones do you use, and what do they represent?
I choose gemstones based on their energy and the qualities they hold. Here’s a guide to some of the stones I use most often and the intentions they support.
(I will create the guide very soon!)
What role do herbs and essential oils play in the creation of You-Do-You Voodoo™ and SoulStitch™ art dolls?
Herbs and essential oils add an extra layer of intention and energy to each doll. Just like gemstones, they hold symbolic meanings—lavender may bring calm, while rosemary represents protection. I choose herbs and oils not only for their energetic properties but also for the sensory experience they provide, making your connection to the doll richer and more personal.
If you’re curious about the specific herbs or oils used in your doll, check out the [Symbolism Guide] for a deeper dive into their meanings and how they can enhance your intentions.
What does it mean to add an intention or symbol to my doll?
When you share a word, phrase, or drawing with me, I weave that energy into the doll during creation. It becomes a quiet reminder of your goals and growth—something just for you.
How can I choose the right doll for my needs?
Think about what’s calling to you. Is there a feeling you want more of—peace, courage, or love? Let that guide you. If you’re unsure, I’m happy to help match you with a doll that resonates most – just ask me.