Sunday, September 15, 2013

Holly

I learned about Holly about a year ago. I received a message about making Holly.  Not unusual until he said "Life size". I have made life size a couple times. One so many years ago that my memory of it has faded. The more recent was my own Cairn terrier Cinder so I have much fur from her as I have been stripping her coat for  over 13 years now. Cinder is recreated out of Cinder you could say. Now back to Holly... I was very busy with so many orders when I received  the message.. as always the first question "what is Holly?" Holly is an elderly Maltese with one eye.  I had to say I just couldn't do the project.. too much work and I was just so overwhelmed with work already, and a show coming up to do.  I hate to ever say NO but there was just no way.. days later late in the evening the phone rang.. it was Holly's owner an older man wanting to just ask once more if I would consider doing it. I proceeded to explain the reasons why it was just impossible. My husband sat by listening to the conversation as well as one of my own little loves Ted! Holly's owner began to tell me that Holly was quite old and that he was so afraid of when she died how lost he was going to be.. he then said to me " Lucy she is my best friend.. I just can't not see her" OK done after that sentence I knew I was making Holly! He said the exact thing that I understood well... "how can I not see her?"  Yes how? I know that feeling I would just love one more look and touch of my Old Ted.  So after hanging up the phone and telling my husband what was said. No explanation needed.. My husband has a best little friend too! Teddy..
I received packages of Holly fur and we kept in touch confirming the real Holly was still doing fine something I found myself obsessed with. When I returned from the show as promised I started Holly.  Happy to say Holly has went home now and is doing her job... she will not be the real Holly of course and it is not going to be easy when that day comes to say goodbye to Holly, however now there will be a memory of her with her fur and her favorite pose so that in a small way she will comfort her owner when he has to say goodbye...
This is what my artwork is really about.