Seven

My doll productions were never intentional. My boyfriend had gotten me the movie camera, and I didn't use it that much. My girlfriend had gotten me the dollhouse kit. I think, they, first, became a way for me to stay in touch with my best friends when I'd moved across the state. I would decorate The Magic Shoppe for holiday parties, as it is easy to create a gala event in a dollhouse with just streamers. But, then, I'd started making parodies of my favorite movies: It's a Wonderful Witch, Gone with the Witches, Pretty Witch, The Witches of Collinsport Quarter... My productions are just for fun, improvised, but there are people on You Tube with stop motion software and assistance that make serious doll films. Of course, I am laughing, as I do have the help of Thing. I never missed Fantasy Island as a child, and still have a thing for Mr. Rourke, so of course, I had to have a Three Witches Fantasy. I am due for another of those. And, when The Purple Witch never returned from vacation, Suzie Blue Witch and The Red Witch had resorted to Ab Fab Witches.
Then, sick, and shut-in, I created Hex, Yeah!, with Monster High, Ever After High, Barbies, etc... It just started as a highschool doll soap opera, with the usual dances, cooking contests, and parties, but, then, I had to do my own Twin Peaks and Jawbreaker. I have started a new series, Oh, Hex!, that just centers around three Ever After High dolls, since Lizzie is still livid that they've been cancelled. I just cannot help but want to play with Lizzie Hearts, Melody Piper, and Raven Queen. To me, that's what dolls are all about. Why the hex were they cancelled?
I only joined Facebook for the moth game that I am addicted to, since my boyfriend got me a tablet: I'm stubborn. But, most of my family and friends are here, and I was inspired to let some warlocks in to Warlock School. I had been making witches of patrons all along. And, now, The Collins Port Inn has reached the third season. It is a wonder, with all of the vampires and hexcommunication going on. They even do Shakespeare. It is tragic.

Eight

Dolls can be magic, and I am not just talking Voo-doo. If you consider the ancient stone and clay goddess sculptures, dolls, which I do, they are the some of the oldest and most magical artifacts found in Europe, but they were magical, before that. The Egyptians used them as protective talismans, to invoke the help of the gods. Some had animal heads and were associated with different things, such as fertility. Fertility to the ancients meant a lot of different things, including abundant harvests, as well as help in child birth during a time when the angels were harvesting the first born. These dolls were all different sizes and made out of all sorts of things from clay, to pottery, and precious stones. Some were small amulets, worn round the neck. I suppose Voo-doo dolls are rooted in Africa, since Africans have always made wooden and beaded dolls, and most of the wooden dolls represent a god, usually fertility, once again, but Voo-doo is a mixture of also Catholicism and American island traditions, so we not only get the Catholic adoration of art and statuary, mysterious natural powers, but a hoard of helpful saints. The Voo-doo dolls represent one of these Voo-doo gods, usually, and summon their aid, accordingly. Voo-doo dolls have special colors associated with the god, such as green for money or abundance. Gold is also associated with money and abundance, but also with power. Color has always been associated with magic, as it is associated with light, the sun, and therefore, God. The green, purple, and gold of Mardi Gras, or Carnivale, symbolises abundance, passion, and power. There is a church in New Orleans with Saint Fragile, just like A Christmas Story, on display. After he was misnamed, they never bothered it fix him, as the joke just kept getting better. You can make your own Voo-doo dolls from nature, as The Druids know, each tree has a different magical property. Each tree has a different spirit or dryad. Some are not safe to burn in the house. The Druids consider The Oak to be the most magical tree, and everything about it has a power, as it was a symbol of strength, health, and long life. Acorns are bits of powerful magic, symbols of vitality, magic charms for a long life. The Mistletoe that hangs from the boughs is Druid magic that has lasted through the ages. I collect fallen sticks that I see that look like dolls to me. You can stuff your poppets with herbs and prayers helpful for your need, and dependent upon your belief. If you make the doll yourself, it is personal, and more magical, just remember to keep it secret if you are using it for magic. Magic is really the center of any religion. You can put special stones in your poppet, too. If you do not want to make a stuffed poppet, you can use wax, or wind embroidery thread with stone beads round a fabric pouch for the body, just use natural materials: cotton, silk, leather, for magic dolls. I have already covered love dolls, but you can make magic dolls for money, success, harmony, even conquering and conjuring poppets. For money or success dolls, you will want to use green and gold. You may want to use some Oak or a clover, of course, four leafed clovers work best. You will want to use some Bay leaves, as Bay is powerful magic since ancient times. Maybe use some lucky coins, or stuff your doll with the numbers that you want to use for the lottery. Green stones like Malachite, Jade, and Emerald are best for money magic. Friendship, peace, and harmony dolls should be colors like white, pink, blue, and yellow. You can use some Hyssop, which is another magical herb used since ancient times, and mentioned, at least in The Old Testament. It is a purifying herb and beloved by God. Salt is also always used in most good magic spells, as it wards off evil, and is no joke. The ancient Irish considered it to be God's greatest gift to man. It kills viruses, fungi, bacteria, and slugs. Dried Carnation petals are also good, as well as Rosemary and white, blue, or rose quartz. My conquering poppet would contain Psalm 23, The Lord is my Shepherd, as I say it every day. It is empowering. Salt, Hyssop, Sage, Frankincense, Dragonsblood, and, maybe some Obsidian would all be good, and he should have a crown and be gold and white. A conjuring poppet will attract spirits if it contains a tabular quartz crystal with a faceted window to the past. On the otherhand, if you are looking to keep the spirits away, stuff your poppet with salt, Hyssop, Sage, and dried peas. Hang it by the door. Charoite, a beautiful purple stone, even keeps the demons away.

Nine

I was eight when I had the first doll funeral, beneath my Aunt Wanetta's Pussy Willow tree. That tree was on the back hill and was struck by lightning three times. I buried Wonder Woman and Cat Woman in pencil boxes. They killed each other. Can you kill somebody with a magic doll? Probably. Have I tried? The dog kept digging the doll up, as the victim carried pepperoni sticks in his pocket. He did move out of the neighborhood, though. Bet, he was scared. But, yes, dolls can save lives. Just think, if everybody who ever wanted to kill somebody killed a doll in their stead. Funerals seem to come around as often as parties at The Collins Port Inn. Same goes for, Hex, Yeah!. Like, Dark Shadows, I can always bring them back, again, if I want to, like ghosts. I have several ghost dolls, too. Captain Gregg is from the 1850s. I got him when a maritime museum closed in Maine. He had been in a box all this time: the tiny captain of an entire miniature ship. He just has a little boat now, but has gotten a life, so does not miss his ship, much. I make ghost dolls of my dead friends, too. They glow-in-the-dark. Vampires are always prowling around Doll Land. Perhaps that is part of their charm: dolls can live forever, or almost. I have a rare, old, German, doll, Heidi, I've named her. I used to dream about a little girl with long, curly, gold, hair after Heidi moved in, so much, that I'd painted them, together, and never dreamt of her, again. I think, that the little girl died, and the mother had kept the doll in remembrance, as she has a black glass mourning brooch. I believe, the mother and daughter were finally reunited with my painting. And, now, like all things, Doll Therapy, must end; but, it is just the beginning. Doll on!