Snow!

So we had a ridiculous snowfall today! It's rare that here in Northern Virginia that we get such snow but this year has been a record! I don't know how people deal with this stuff all the time. It's lovely but such a hassle!


Other than eating ice cream, chocolate pudding, and having great spaghetti for dinner I've been doing something with those keys I got from the antique store the other day. I think I'm going to turn some of them into these beaded pendants. What do you think so far?

Quick Etsy Update

Today I did a quick Shop update and added some Four Thieves Vinegar. Ya know, no matter how many times I bottle this stuff and even when I use a funnel I always spill it everywhere! I guess my home is pretty protected by now, eh? :)

We are preparing for a supposed 40 inch snowfall between today and tomorrow so I won't be leaving the house! Lots of crafting to be done here while the boyfriend plays video games. We also had ice cream for breakfast so we're off to a good start to a great weekend!

Etsy Update: Incense and Bags

Today I listed the Mystic Eye Pouch and a batch of Kyphi Incense in the Shop! I really love the design on the Kyphi tin I came up with. I find that selling incense with a container seems like a cool deal since I ALWAYS have an issue finding containers to put things in. This simplifies things :)

Since moving I have found nothing but positive things to say about this area. I live about 15 minutes from a historical college town full of antique stores, which I've been prodding through lately, hole in the wall shops, great little venues and restaurants, and a giant library to boot! There is this one very large antique store that has dissapointed me with it's service. The store is beautiful, clean, decent prices, and a great selection. The owners of this consignment based venue are very wary of any "young" person that ventures within the building possibly because of college students stealing in the past. This leads them to follow you around the store the entirety of your browsing. I like to touch, pick up, smell, and sort anything I want to buy and their presence makes me uncomfortable. And they've seen my pentacle so who knows what the lady blue-hairs think of me now! :D


On my most recent antique trip I picked up a lot of antique keys. While not skeleton keys, which are typically are more expensive, these keys are old with strange notches for the tumblers of locks. Some are very rusted and have wonderful personalities. My plans for these keys will take the shape of some sort of Hecate/Spiritual Gate/Knowledge Based etc charm which is still in the muddly puddles of my creative brain space and has yet to take true shape. Stay tuned for that. We are expected to get anywhere from 12in of snow to 40in of snow this weekend! I might have to go to work, or I might get to sit around the house watching tv and crafting which I'd much rather do that go to that "real" job any day!

I'd like to think that in these last two weeks of absence I've been pretty busy. I've got several WIP's lying around including several more trinket bags. The lack of sales in my Etsy shop has not deterred my progress at all, it has probably strengthened my resolve. I will try and generate more traffic to my site. Want to trade links, witchy friends? Let's do it.

Juniper Smudge added to shop!

So today I added a Juniper Smudge Stick to the shop. When Juniper is carried or burned it helps break hexes, increase psychic power, and guards against ghosts and sickness. It also protects against theft so this is a great herb to keep within your home! I have Juniper readily available to me so I plan on keeping these in stock regularly.


In the past I had used a small bookshelf and small wall shelf as my altar and for years I'd groused about not having adequate space for my ever expanding collections of tools and herbs and various witchy items. I never had the space for something more suited to my needs. Several weeks ago I was poking around the local thrift store and happened upon it. It was perfect. A small peacock colored dresser... for only $10. Its dark knobs called to me, it's perfect amount of storage space and shape. It was beat up and had great character to it. I had to have it.

I cannot account for the weight of the actual piece since I charged the boyfriend with sole responsibility of it's transport, but it fits perfectly in the space provided. I've slowly been unpacking small box after small box and to see everything evolve is wonderful. Before I'd have to sift through at least four or five chests and boxes to find the right items I needed, and now with the procurement of this dresser, everything seems so much easier.

I know, I know, it looks a complete mess and that's because it kinda is. Ask any witch and I'm sure there's a moderate amount of "organized disorganization" to every setup. We installed the shelf above and I use that mainly as effigy space and the top surface of the dresser is working space, where I bind smudge sticks and blend incense etc etc. I think an altar can and should serve both functions, for worship and work.

Once all the artwork and charms are hung it will look more like my old space but until then I'm satisfied with it's state.

Now organizing my herbs are a totally different story....

What inspires your altar?

Etsy Shop Open!

So I finally opened the Etsy shop! It will only have a few things in it at first but my stock will slowly grow as time passes. The first few things to go in there will be some Smudge Sticks and a Dragon's Blood Oil, as well as the Tambourine Evil Eye bag I showed the other day. Most of the items should be listed by tonight, if not tomorrow. Swing by and check it out! I'd love to know what everyone thinks.

Anathemum on Etsy

Winter berries and beads

So after about a month or so of unpacking, straightening, and decorating, I finally have the time to do some crafts. Our new apartment is lovely and I'm enjoying spending time making it our own. My craft room is coming along at a slower pace then the rest of the place but it's starting to take shape. This is the first time I've had a room devoted solely to crafting so I want it to be organized and perfect, both of which take time.


The room itself gets good light despite the winter sun and my Sage is still doing well. Remember when I started growing plants from seeds? It was a larger undertaking than originally expected and only the Sage survived! I still have yet to harvest anything from it since it is still quite small but I'm sure once it warms up and can be put back outside then it will flourish!


The apartment community is full of trees and woods which is lucky considering it's straight off such a busy road and area. There's a large Holly bush right outside our balcony and many more scattered throughout the property (in fact one of Gypsy's favorite "spots" is right by this cluster of three of the largest Holly trees). I've also found Juniper, Oak, and Birch. Once the leaves return I may even find more of nature's treasures along the way.


Over the holidays I gathered many holly branches (under the cover of darkness like the sneaky witch I am), used a few for decoration for Christmas, and dried many of the berries for use in future projects. The Juniper above shall have a similar fate, being dried and used for decoration and projects. I love it's dusty little berries, the color reminds me of cold bitter winter winds.(By the by, isn't the Macro setting on our new camera just the bee's knees? I'm loving it!)


In addition to all the organizing, I've been working on a few projects here and there, this one included. It involves some hand bead work and newly learned french knots and embroidery. There was no pattern used here and I just kinda went with it as I always try to do, just letting the muses guide me. Unless I'm working on something very particular and specific I try not to use patterns. I enjoy having the shapes unfold around what I'm doing as it's a very organic process that way and it always produces better results. Try it and see what you come up with! This motif is going to become a tarot bag or similar sack of holding. I'd love to know what everyone thinks!

Moving!

Things have been quiet on the internet for me because I'm moving in the real world! Yes, that's right, a new little abode to call our own with a separate space to devote solely to crafting! All my precious supplies and tools are tucked away in cardboard boxes and it's quite exciting to think of all the organizational possibilities and the vast amounts more space I'll have to spread my creativity on to. Be back soon!

The Dark Half

Good evening everyone. I'm wishing you all a Happy Samhain, Dia De Los Muertos, Dia De Los Santos, All Soul's Day, or whichever Ancestor/Spirit Festival you celebrate. This is the lower part of my altar for my favorite time of year. I painted the small cat painting in the back which at some point may be for sale in the etsy.

With the beginning of the dark half of the year I am always filled with bountiful inspiration. On it's way is a shipment of bottles from the Sunburst Bottle Company which are ready to be filled with all sorts of delights for the coming darker months. I've already drafted a label design as well which I shall debut in good time.

I hope the conjuring of your ancestors is blessed and for now I'll leave you with some pictures I'd like to share from recent outings and museum trips with the boy.

Hey everyone, just wanted to let you know that I'm still hanging around. For the time being my focus has shifted elsewhere but with the approaching Sabbat I feel it's time to reenter the blogosphere and pick up my tools to begin crafting again. I should have a small posting coming up within the next few days to show you what I've been up to.

Feels good to be back!

Don't forget to check out the Giveaway over at Carolina Gonzalez's blog!

More charms and uncreative titles.

It's been a long time, I know. But I'd quickly like to share some small things I've been up to. I'm tired so this will be short and quick.



These are some smudge sticks that just finished drying. They are made with Sage and Lavender and tied with purple cotton cord. The Lavender is from my own garden and I was nearly bitten by a large spider while harvesting some. I think it's Arachne telling me to keep up with my crafting!

Below are several more charms I've made similar to the one in my previous post. All of these are made with a mixture of bought and found, vintage and new beads and findings.


This one focuses on the Water element, being made with silver chain and several shell beads and freshwater pearls. The other beads are glass and amethyst stone chips and silver toned dangles to catch the light.


This one focuses on the Fire or Sun element and channeling masculine energy. It has amber colored glass, Red Jasper stone chips, and a mixture of brass and gold metals.



This one is my favorite and represents Persephone, Queen of the Underworld. The upper part is a wheat design with spring colored glass teardrop shaped beads, while the lower part represents the time during the year that Persephone spends in the Underworld with Hades. The red glass beads are shaped like Pomegranate seeds and I thought it appropriate to add them.