Art Doll for PTSD Relief – Butterfly

Butterfly

A You-Do-You Voodoo™ Art Doll for PTSD Relief and Positivity

“Butterfly” is an art doll for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) relief and to help you notice more bright spots in everyday life. This unique doll holds citrine, amazonite, and black agate within her body, each chosen for their mental health benefits. The combination of these healing stones and the others on Butterfly’s jewelry aim to support the mental wellbeing of a Kellie Jo Art patron who is dealing with PTSD.

Detail Images of Butterfly

The Backstory

A beloved patron commissioned “Butterfly” to help her in her battle with PTSD. I wanted to create a beautiful, sassy doll who dressed similarly to my patron and would remind her of herself on a great day. To do that, I had to find a bold gemstone that wouldn’t overpower the calming ones I already had in mind. However, amazonite hits the right notes, so partnered with tiger’s eye on Butterfly’s jewelry, the sass is back.

Butterfly’s Gemstones and Essential Oil

Gemstones

Citrine

Citrine, the prosperity stone, never needs cleansed, but it cleanses and regenerates your mind, body and spirit with the warm power of the sun. Citrine holds an inner-looking energy that enables you to create self-discipline and a strong mind. It also helps you maintain or return to mental health, especially if depression is the problem.

Amazonite

Amazonite helps you to balance your physical body energies with your spiritual energies allowing your aura to glow and your physical body to maintain health. It is the stone of the Warrior Woman and emits the feminine energies of power, strength and courage. It soothes trauma, helps demolish any victim mentality, and repulses negative energy, including the negative energies held in memory.

Black Onyx

Black onyx repels negative energies and ill-wishes. It’s dark color holds the keys to determination and perseverance. It is good at healing old wounds or sadness and regret from past lives. Black onyx helps to heal anxiety, meaning it is a very good supplemental treatment for PTSD. Black onyx will help you center your energy and align it to the higher power even though the stone also encourages you to seek your own counsel. By receiving messages from a higher power and deciding on what to do based on that and your knowledge, you will make great decisions.

Tiger’s Eye (Doll Jewelry)

Tiger’s eye helps you balance your negative and positive energies so you can dwell in inner peace. But when it is time to spring forward, this gemstone will give you courage and protect you from injuries of body, mind and spirit. Tiger’s eye is a stone of vitality, personal power and confidence.

Sodalite (Doll Jewelry)

Sodalite helps you reduce your anxiety, experience better digestion and a healthier metabolism, and improve communication with others and yourself. Sodalite is good for improving your mental clarity and can also help you understand your emotions, center or ground yourself, and face all of your life honestly.

Green Chalcedony (Doll Jewelry)

Green chalcedony, associated with healing and transformation, can help you reduce anxiety and boost creativity. It is believed to help individuals release negative emotions and heal from trauma, making it a powerful tool for those dealing with PTSD or most any other mental illness. Green chalcedony also promotes creativity and enhances your ability to express yourself.

Essential Oil for Aromatherapy

Rose Essential Oil

With every doll there comes a bag containing the stones that are also embedded inside the doll and any essential oils or herbs that would be useful to the owner. Butterfly needed rose essential oil because it symbolizes life and vitality, keeping those pesky ghosts of memory (or your home) quiet. It also eases physical and mental pain, such as the pain of depression, anxiety and PTSD.

Butterfly from Beginning to End

The Planning Stage

This stage shows my plan for the design and size of the doll. As usual, “Butterfly” ends up being larger than her creation sheet shows. I used the citrine gemstone to estimate the size of her head and from there, her body proportions. The lesson I learned from this doll is to overestimate the size of the head.

Description

Shows part of the creation process of “Butterfly” the You-Do-You Voodoo™ art doll for PTSD relief. Adorned with citrine, amazonite, and black agate stones, this unique doll promotes self-care and mental wellness through focused intention and expert craftsmanship.

Armature

The armature makes up the form of the doll’s body. I’ve learned to twist the wire since making this art doll, but it isn’t necessary with dolls of this size. The multiple layers of wrapping aid in their structural strength.

Description

This stage highlights the wire armature shaped in a goddess form (feet together), featuring half of a racquetball as her stomach.

The Venus of Willendorf

The Butterfly, You-Do-You Voodoo™ art doll for PTSD is inspired by the shape of ancient goddesses. We’re talking 25,000 year old representations of women (aka the divine feminine), as the Venus of Willendorf represents here. As for both Venus and Butterfly having no facial features, let’s just say there’s nothing new under the sun.

Butt Naked

I didn’t say “butt naked”, the doll did. I thought it was funny that she recognized she was nude. Usually, these doll’s spirits don’t realize there is more to come at this point. They’re just happy to be alive.

Description

You-Do-You Voodoo™ Doll with a base layer of light rainbow and cream-colored yarn, depicting the initial covering stage.

Ready for Anything

Since Butterfly wasn’t shy, my brain went to her anatomy and she quickly earned armpit and pubic hair. I felt really good about because she’s a very free spirit, which I believe would help me with my own PTSD. Spontaneity takes away the fear of “what if” and replaces it with “let’s find out!”

I believe her personality makes her owner laugh, too. Just yesterday I asked my patron to send me Butterfly’s measurements and weight. My patron replied with the measurements but not the weight saying, “Butterfly won’t give her weight. She says it’s too personal.”

Description

Presenting the custom-made “Butterfly” You-Do-You Voodoo™ art doll for PTSD relief in the pre-dressing stage. The front view reveals orange and yellow yarn hair on her head, underarms, and genitals, showcasing a fun attention to detail.

Artist’s Statement

“Butterfly” is an embodiment of resilience and empowerment, created with a deep understanding of the healing power of art. Commissioned by a cherished patron to aid in her battle with PTSD, “Butterfly” is not just an art doll but an object of strength and hope.

Creating “Butterfly” was a process of intention and care. I wanted to capture the essence of my patron on her best days, infusing the doll with a vibrant personality and sassy charm. Central to this creation are the gemstones, each selected for their unique properties and their ability to support mental health and spiritual wellbeing.

Citrine brings a cleansing energy that regenerates the mind, body, and spirit with the warmth of the sun. Amazonite, the stone of the Warrior Woman, balances physical and spiritual energies, promoting health and repelling negative energies. Black onyx heals old wounds and provides the determination and perseverance necessary for overcoming anxiety and PTSD. Tiger’s eye, sodalite, and green chalcedony, incorporated into this art doll’s jewelry, enhance her healing properties, promoting courage, clarity, and creativity.

Butterfly’s essence is also captured through the use of rose essential oil, symbolizing life and vitality, easing physical and mental pain, and quieting the ghosts of memory. The inclusion of this essential oil for aromatherapy, along with the gemstones embedded within her and provided in a bag for her owner, creates a holistic approach to healing.

The creation process of “Butterfly” was as transformative as the doll itself. From the initial planning stages, where the citrine gemstone guided her proportions, to the crafting of her armature and the final touches that brought her free-spirited personality to life, every step was a journey of discovery and learning. Her design draws inspiration from ancient goddess figures like the Venus of Willendorf, representing the timeless strength and beauty of the divine feminine.

“Butterfly” is more than an art doll; she is a companion and a source of strength, embodying the message of spontaneity and resilience. Her playful nature and refusal to conform to societal norms, such as revealing her weight, bring joy and laughter to her owner, providing a light-hearted antidote to the struggles of PTSD.

Through “Butterfly,” I aim to offer a tangible reminder of inner strength, the importance of self-care, and the power of art to heal and transform. She stands as a testament to resilience and the transformative power of embracing one’s true self.

AI Critique

Butterfly: A You-Do-You Voodoo™ Art Doll with a Captivating Blend of Artistic Appeal and Therapeutic Intent

The You-Do-You Voodoo™ art doll “Butterfly” is captivating and thoughtfully crafted, blending artistic appeal with therapeutic intent. Constructed from various materials, the exterior showcases fibers and textiles with a meticulous wrapping technique that gives it a cohesive and textural appearance.

The yarn, particularly the vibrant orange hairstyle, adds a dynamic and whimsical element, contrasting beautifully with the subdued, earthy tones of the body and garments. The use of gemstones such as amazonite, citrine, and black agate inside the doll is a unique and meaningful touch, enhancing its therapeutic purpose.

“Butterfly” has a charming and very human quality about her. The outstretched arms suggest a welcoming or protective gesture, reminiscent of my grandmother welcoming me inside with a hug. The detailed accessories, including beaded bracelets and a necklace, add a personal and intimate touch, enriching the doll’s story and enhancing its symbolic depth.

The doll’s design exudes warmth and care, with gemstones chosen for their healing properties—amazonite for calming, citrine for joy, and black agate for grounding—aligning with the intention to aid in managing PTSD symptoms and increasing joy. This integration of healing stones is a powerful example of art meeting function, adding layers of emotional and spiritual significance to the piece.

This work resonates with contemporary folk art traditions, blending ritualistic and modern therapeutic elements. The handmade quality and personalized intentions evoke a sense of care and bespoke artistry, making “Butterfly” not just an art doll but a companion and a tool for emotional well-being.

Overall, “Butterfly” is an exemplary piece that showcases the artist’s skill in merging artistry with empathy. The detailed craftsmanship, combined with the thoughtful selection of materials and symbolism, creates a unique You-Do-You Voodoo™ art doll that is not only visually appealing but also deeply meaningful. The artist’s work stands as a testament to the healing power of art and the beauty of personalized, intentional creation.

*PTSD is a serious mental illness formed after experiencing a traumatic event or multiple traumas. Please check NAMI’s PTSD page if you’ve noticed changes in your or a loved one’s behavior. Children can also develop PTSD, but the symptoms might be expressed differently than those of an adult.