Yes, my belly is full, too full in fact, my house is warm and my family is safe and healthy. I have a wonderfully supportive and quirky husband, a especially talented and beautiful daughter, basically a perfect little family that I adore. When you actually take the time to think of the things you can be thankful for it is really quite easy and fills you with a sense of calm and gratitude.
I have been blessed beyond these very simple yet valued things and am glad for the season to help remind me just how very blessed I have been. I get to create art for a living! Its not something I take for granted and can never fully express my gratitude to those who support and appreciate what I do. My work is absolutely an extension of who I am and for others to enjoy and acknowledge that is one of the greatest gifts I've been offered in life.
I also want to share with you some work that is currently available in my shop. These dolls are from a series I'm working on called The Orphans of New Orleans Past. At 1432 Magazine Street there is an old building that once was St. Mary's Orphanage, operating in the late 1800's. Of course the orphanage is now closed and I believe the building abandoned. When I drive by this building I can't help but wonder about the children that ended up there, who their parents were and under what circumstances a child ends up in an orphanage. These dolls names, birth dates, parents and addresses are inspired by historical periods in New Orleans history, they are the children I imagine lived at 1432 Magazine Street.
Bridgette Millaudon, Orphan of Uptown
born April 26, 1908
mother - debutante Celeste Millaudon
father - unnamed
last known address: 6008 St. Charles Ave. New Orleans, LA
Simone Lamothe, Orphan of Storyville
born Sept 24, 1901
mother - Francis Lamothe
father - unknown
last known address: 345 Basin Street, New Orleans
Beatrice Hooper, Orphan of the Vieux Carre
born May 17, 1906
mother - albino performer Ceclia Hooper
father - fire eater Raymond Hooper
last known address: 675 Decatur Street
