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!