A Haida Gwaii Spruce 2
Face, Front
I’ve finished carving Sitka’s head and torso…
.
.
Hair
This is the back of her head, where her hair mostly flows in line with the wood grain. The asymmetrical style is because the whole bottom pinged off when I was carving!
.
.
Limb Lumber
The extra bits available for arms and legs were twisty and difficult to work – bits broke off with alarming frequency, I had to start a whole new arm, and get a second foot carved…I had been warned by the kind person who turned the blanks that she had found it difficult to work with on her lathe, and that it might be hard to carve – she was right!
.
.
finished
I did get her to this point – I might otherwise have refined some bits, but I am reluctant to go further in case of disasters. She is a strange mixture of vulnerable, yet strong.
.
.
Thinking
Now she has been given a coat of interior satin Varathane, as a sealer…what is she thinking? I wonder if she misses her forest…
.
.
Friend
…Tansy will be her friend, and help her to remember, having known her as a tree friend, and now as a doll friend.
.
.
Painted
Sitka is definitely not moping about, she’s ready and eager to get her limbs attached…
.
.
Ready to play
and she wants clothes!!
.
.
Quimper Hittys 
Just wonderful!
Thanks so much Bill – coming from a mentor carver, I really appreciate that!
Oh wow! I am always inspired by your work-carving, sewing, weaving, gardening…there’s something about Sitka and the extraction that you’ve given her that leads me to say, “WELL DONE”. That’s an understatement but I am in awe of all you (and the tree) went through to get to this point. She is TRULY more than a chip off of the old block, she is magnificent. There’s a depth here that I can only intuit.
Yes – yes – indeed YES, I am in such agreement. Thank you for voicing this feeling so weell.
Sitka does have a depth – the wood ended up so, so beautiful even with the challenges, it also smelled wonderful while I was carving it, that spicy and clean spruce gum smell, though she wasn’t sticky! I am pleased with her and it means a lot that you feel her specialness.
Welcome Sitka!
Muchísimas Gracias!
Today, I found each successive stage so moving – the character of this little person so strong – I LOVED that she made so clear that wanted her hair to be sideswept, blown on the breeze outdoors. It’s a great look. And the wide swirl of her chest –
i was awestruck… her ‘ingrained’ sense of sacred purpose of the twice-born revealed by the sacred thread worn across left shoulder down to right waist, and around the back – in little Sitka’s case, deeply ingrained from her past life; I have so many stories welling up in me, across cultures. (But you can read the Wikipedia entry for Upanayana – in India.) Sitka has led you into tapping into something newly present, but deep and strong and ancient – with a purpose yet to be revealed. Greetings, dear Sitka… I honour you, and thank you. Have fun!
Sitka greets you and thanks you for the teaching, namaste.
she carries her forest and Haida Gwaii within her. It always surprises me how unique each new Hitty appears, she looks so much like where she came from – strong and powerful yet vulnerable and fragile. Welcome Sitka with the beautiful name. Can’t wait to see her clothes.
It surprises me too, Onesmallstitch, almost as though she directed the process throughout, or at least the tree did. Many hands brought her here – my teachers, the recovery crew, my husband, the friend with the lathe…I am so grateful for the help and encouragement along the way.
I love what ushashi said. This little wooden looks like the native people from her island. So very very special.
I learned something new from her too, and I love that so many people can see her specialness. I love being part of the means that brought her out of the broken tree.
Welcome Sitka! What a beautiful expression on your face… it is great dear Hitty Lady and for me, from far away distance, just by watching all these photographs and process, is an amazing story, and also so exciting too. It was a tree, a broken tree, and your magical hands touched her… Sitka was waiting for you there… I am really so excited now for her dress and etc. Thank you, Love, nia
Thank you so much Nia, this new little person will be a joyful presence in my doll cupboard!
What a great little forest sprite she is. Sitka has so much character…she is going to have some great adventures I am sure!! I like her necklace!
I think she will have great adventures – small, but great if you know what I mean! I gave her that necklace because the faceted blue beads reminded me of some beads that were found near the village her tree came from!
She has a stoic quiet and calm solidity about her. Is she going to be a member of the Haida Nation?
I think she will like being a doll, and will always carry a spirit with her of the islands where her tree used to grow.