Chalks!

I can't tell you how fun it was finding new molds for my chalks. This new mold system is reusable (my others were use once and done) and allows me to create many new and different chalks for you. They're good to carry with you as well, these chalks are super sturdy. Blessed Imbolc to everyone! I'm itching to start my seeds already considering it's so nice outside.

Alkanet Root Sigil Chalk


Money Drawing Sigil Chalk


Uncrossing Sigil Chalk

A few new things, a few old things

Just a reminder that my shop is open and running! All orders will receive free charcoal tablets with orders over $15 (before shipping). Here's a few new things and a few old things.

Blue Eye Notebook


Custom Amulet Pouches


The Hare Notebook

Altar Wash

Ch-ch-ch-ch changes.

To say that I've gone through some changes in the last 6 months is a slight understatement. I'm pregnant and will be bringing a little witch into this world in May and Joey and I are over the moon about this. This change has not yet allowed me to return to my previous shop duties but will eventually. I have been steadily working on my book/miniature/doll projects which can be viewed at Salt Moths for those interested. Currently the shop is open with limited stock but I have many ideas to fill it with.

For those of you who've sent little messages of love I have read them all. Thank you for your kindness.

In reflection on the the goals attained this year I did create more and attend and vend at the festivals I wanted to. My path is still evolving and I better understand it now more than ever. I hope this new year, other than bringing change, will also continue to bring some wonderful personal growth.

Many blessings to all of you.

Direction

Some of the door charms and necklaces that didn't find homes at the festival. Maybe you could take them home?

So while my computer is on the fritz I've had the time to work on some personal and one of a kind projects of mine as well as contemplate the direction of the shop. While I do enjoy crafting supply for the discerning witch I enjoy doing the one of a kind items more so this leaves me with a dilemma.

My current sales venue (Etsy) is flooded with Pagan suppliers so much so that none of us really stand out anymore, with the exception of a few Witches who do things differently and better (You know who I'm talking about). I've decided to no longer expand my botanica and I won't be creating new incenses or oils for the time being in an effort to focus on a more specialized set of products. I will keep my favorite of the botanica products such as my inks, a few incenses and powders but most of my current stock will be discontinued (more than likely this means a sale so keep an eye out!).

With this change I will bring about more of a focused idea with my art and ritual supplies. More charms and ritual jewelry, more block prints and artwork, more embroidered tarot bags, more leather and woodwork, more one of a kind pieces crafted by me. Once my shop reopens, which I hope will be soon, these changes will begin.

After the Virginia Renaissance Faire my computer crashed and I haven't fixed it yet. This leaves me unable to edit and process photos so the shop will remained closed until said computer is back on it's feet. I'm tryin' to make it work, I promise.

I'd like to thank all the great people who came out and saw me at the fair, you were all kind and funny and amazing! We got rain and sweltering heat but it was fantastic. I truthfully have very few photos from the faire because of the modern camera anachronism issue but I snagged a few.

Recently several odd occurrences and creatures have crossed my path. I've been having sleepless nights and scattered dreams, many involving those witches I know. So I've taken this time to work on some personal projects to calm the buzzing.

On the way I have some new products and one of a kind items plus all of the one of a kind pieces that didn't find homes at the faire. I look forward to coming back!

Secrets and works

Some of the jewelry you'll be seeing at my booth at the Virginia Renaissance Faire. Handcarved Yew pendants, talismans, charms, spirit and divination bags, and many one of a kind items will be sold in addition to some of my most classic incenses, oils, and artwork. Any goodies not sold will be put in the shop. Remember, I'll be there the weekend of May 14-15 and closing weekend June 4-5. I hope to see you there.

Snow in spring.

It snowed this morning. There are blooms and blossoms and pollen and snowflakes. The Old Woman has one last laugh.

I've been going through some really uninteresting and unspiritual real life job changes so things have been quiet. I went from a flexible schedule to a fixed one and have had to spiritually change some things. Before I worked a job that allowed me to freely speak about who I am and what I do and it was the first job I was able to do that. It was liberating but alienating but I had time for crafting. Now I feel as though I've taken a step backwards in my progress by changing my job to one where I feel as though to expose myself might leave my employment in jeopardy. So I will stay quiet for now.

I've also been having trouble composing words and sentences and my spelling has worsened. My productivity has slowed. It will pick back up as I'm gearing up for the festival.

The winner of my little contest, which I am sorely late in posting, is Unknown Binaries! Please email me at anathemum(at)gmail.com to collect your prize. A big thanks to those that participated, I loved reading all your words.

Ink and Paper

The Hare Notebook

I often worry that being witches of a digital age has stifled our written word within ourselves.

For myself I can't really get behind the idea of a typed grimoire that's bound in a plastic binder. Plastic is unreceptive. It makes something that should be so personal so very sterile and clinical. It's not as though writing it by hand within a nicer book is harder, it's perhaps more intensive but this implies that the shortcut is the way to go and my mindset couldn't be farther from the truth. For those who find the binder and typed method suitable I encourage you to try a bound book and written words. The claim is that "if I want to change something it's easy to and I don't have to start a whole new book." Part of our learning as witches involves changes that we should embrace, not hide as though they're shameful. Even the most elite of witches started somewhere small and meager.

I'm a purist when it comes to things like this. Perhaps it's the artist in me. I want to use ink and pen and paper within a bound medium. I want to mix my blood with the ink. Or spit. Or whatever. I want my hand to ache after I've transcribed an incantation. I want that ink to accidentally or otherwise be smudged. I want to feel my words as they appear on the page. To add color with paint and mud and blood. This is why I've created all these inks and little notebooks for you witches. To encourage the recording of our paths in a traditional and tactile manner. I personally use one of my little notebooks for recording my results of tarot sessions.

To help encourage all my witches to put down the keyboard and pick up the pen I've got a little giveaway. I want to see pictures of your grimoires, those of you who are willing to show it. A link to a flickr post or photo host will do. Doesn't necessarily have to be of the whole thing, maybe your favorite page. Got a sketch of a deity? Beautiful, let's see it. Don't have a camera? Post the favorite piece of text from your grimoire instead. Please give credit if the posted text or photo is not your own.


The winner will receive this block printed lined notebook. A Piccadilly by brand, measuring 3½ x 5½ in, 100 lined acid free pages with a stitched binding. A silver cardboard notebook printed with my Sticks and Skulls print in high quality black ink. Fits perfectly within a tarot pouch or pocket and is perfect for all sorts of scribbles and sigils.

I will accept entries through the Vernal Equinox, March 20th. Thanks and happy commenting!

Alllmost spring

While things may have been a little quiet in my internet world, I've been a busy bumbling bee around my little thicket. I've been cold stratifying and starting seeds for the witch's garden this year (soooo many plants!!!!), working on dolls and furnishings (as seen at the Spirit House, go look!) and enjoying the first few warm days we've had in Virginia since last fall.

It seems as though every witch I know has fallen ill these past few weeks, myself included. Bouts of coughing and feverish night and dreams have sequestered me to the least labor intensive of my crafts. It has also given me ample time to reflect on past and future projects. Things have slowed in the shop a little since I'm taking some time to work on some personal projects of mine that until now were on a very far back burner. It feels so good to every day be able to do what I love. Don't worry, I have many beautiful things planned for the shop these next few months.

Last March I was putting coolant into my car in the parking lot of my man's job (a disadvantage of driving a 15 year old car). Stuck underneath my tire was a piece of paper and as I bent down to pick it up I discovered it was a tarot card. The Justice card. A return to balance. Adjustment. I quit smoking that month and haven't had a cigarette since.

I've made it a ritual now to pull a spread at the yawnings of spring, preferably the first New Moon. My spread this year was ehhhhh but at least I have a heads up. I've always thought of spring to be the beginning of my year. You know, start the seeds, watch them grow, harvest, death. It seems more reasonable to me.

Dye and Fiber

Solar dyeing, Hibiscus flowers on the left, Onion skins on the right.

The more effort you put into an item, the better it is at performing whatever task you've assigned it. It's about intent. This applies for all aspects of magic and life; amulets, charms, workings, crafts, gifts, whatever. I try to impart everything I make with immense intent, not only just my incense and oils, but other items too. I've always been one to break crafts down, find the roots of them. Sure it's easy to buy dyed fabric but why not do it yourself? If there is so much more intent imparted upon the materials then the finished product will be pulsing with energy.

Natural fibers are a love of mine. I love knitting, felting, and sewing with them; wools and cottons are my absolute favorite. I do a little amateur weaving now and then with scraps of yarn. You've seen many of the pouches and dolls I've created here using them. Something I've been working on recently is Natural Dyeing. Among several books I got for Christmas (Bookbinding and Doll making, I'll eventually get to those) I received a book called A Dyer's Garden: From Plant to Pot, Growing Dyes for Natural Fibers. This book is beautiful and has wonderful pictures and information. In an effort to cut down on things I buy I want to focus on things I can grow or make within my house, hence the book. This year I will add Woad to my garden since I've been dyeing to achieve a beautiful blue without the hassle of an indigo dye pot (chemistry is not a strong suit of mine).

I've already experimented with natural dyes including Alkanet Root (red), Hibiscus Flower (berry red), Safflower (bright yellow), Onion Skin (bright yellow) and some of the results can be seen in the inks and chalks within my shop.

Pot dyeing, all sorts of fallen leaves and berries with muslin.
A few results, Hibiscus on the left, the fallen leaf dye pot in the center, and onion skin on the right.

A bowl of Safflower and Hibiscus. This yielded a lovely berry pink.

Wool yarn, a moth's dream. So many beautiful colors.

Several years ago I visited the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival and came home with armloads of natural yarns, mostly wools, wool blends, and cotton. I bought so much I'm still working through it! One of my favorite commercial yarns (and a total guilty pleasure) is Noro, a Japanese yarn company that manufactures beautiful wool yarn. It stripes stunningly and the colors are vibrant. The company does as much of their spinning by hand as possible and creates these delicious color combinations. Another favorite commercial yarn brand is Lambs Pride by the Brown Sheep Company, a beautiful blend of soft wool and mohair and a dream to knit with. I've been knitting up a storm creating all kinds of pouches bags and purses to store your tarot cards, runes, or gemstones and bones in. Most of them will go to the festivals but some will be left over for the shop. I'm in love with all the colors my house is filled with right now.

And so is Gypsy :). Or maybe it's the squishy yarn bed she's lying on....