Ann Freels

Ann Freels is a full-time craft artist, author and member of the Southern Highland Craft Guild. She has been making corn shuck dolls and exploring natural materials in craft since 1975. She is devoted to the creative process of craft, and especially the alchemy of transforming raw, natural materials into new forms. She dyes the natural dried corn shucks by hand, then rolls and ties them into the doll figures, using a variety of natural materials and repurposed objects to embellish the dolls. Anne’s dolls represent her imaginative notions of folklore, legend, myth, and earthly and celestial entities, as well as traditional Appalachian themes. Because of her interest in keeping corn shuck doll craft alive, Anne teaches workshops and classes, and has authored an instructional book on the craft: “Making Colorful Corn Shuck Dolls.” You can find her work at various craft galleries and shops in the southern Appalachian region.