Day 7 - Stroll the Shops for Christmas/Yule

Todays featured artisan is Sarah from 'Windscry Designs'. Sarah is a very interesting person! She had a career in the US Army as a Special Agent, but after contracting arsenic poisoning and then dealing with the repurcussions of that, she retired, became pregnant with her second child and began jewelry making. Sarah also crochets and has had one of her shawls included in an exhibit in Arcata, California. Here are a few of my favorite items from Sarah's Etsy shop . . .

Day 2 - Stroll the Shops for Christmas/Yule

Here we are on Day 2 of the Stroll and two more delightful artisans sharing their work. The first is Beth of 'Gemworks by Beth'. Beth's story is truly inspirational as she works around her condition of Rheumatoid Arthritis . . . she calls herself handi-capable! Isn't that inspiring?! Here are a few of my favorite items from Beth's Etsy shop . . .

The second artisan is Debra of 'String Bead Studio'. Debra was a full-time graphic artist but, due to layoffs, she turned her attention to her love for beading and hasn't looked back! Click on her shop name to visit her shop . . . it's delightful! Here are a few of my favorite items from Debra's ArtFire shop . . .

Visit our hostess Jan at 'Jan Tanis Designs' to learn more about these fabulous and inspiring artisans!

A Dash of This and a Pinch of That . . .

Well, here we are at Friday once again . . . the weeks go by so fast! Of course, I probably wouldn't be saying that if I worked a mundane job all week, so I feel for those of you who do.

I thought I'd share a few goodies with you that I purchased this week . . . well, that and I'm procrastinating on my Beltane post - there's so much that I want to include and I find I'm editing and re-editing - sometimes one should leave well enough alone. However, it will get done and I'll post it within the next few days.

First off is a picture I quickly snapped of a Hawk sitting in my backyard tree. I could just make him out from where I was sitting in the sunroom, surprised actually, that Bijou wasn't freaking out over him. Usually she sees them before I do and I'm left wondering what all the fuss is about. You can just make him out in about the center of the picture . . .

I popped into Marshall's the other day and picked up this little oil burner for $4.99. I love the little spirals on it which I'm sure will dance once I put a tealight candle in it. I plan on using it for the first time at Beltane.

I purchased these items from "White Magick Alchemy' on Etsy. I've been wanting an oil to use in my Esbats to dress candles and such, so this was a good find in Nan's shop. The Fires of Beltane is a resin mix I'll be using at Beltane and I also purchased three tumbled black Moonstones, which I thought would be awesome to use during Esbats.

I've been finding some rituals and spells lately that use a hand mirror in them and not owning one, I went shopping on Ebay where I found this lovely. It's a bit scratched up, but I think that just adds to the character. It will go into a black velvet bag when not in use to keep it clear.

And what would my post be of late without a mention of a stone or crystal? Well, I found this lovely Carnelian necklace at a website belonging to Judy Fritts, a talented jewelry designer, and knew I had to have it. Like I've said before, I can't get enough Carnelian right now. Judy's prices are very reasonable for the quality of work she does. I hope you'll stop by Judy's website - who knows? You might find something that jumps out at you!

Okay, so I took it off long enough to get a really good picture . . .

Have a Blessed weekend and Happy Easter to those of my family, friends and you who celebrate it.

Finding that Which is Lost

Back in April, Brian took me to Hawaii as part of my 50th birthday celebrations. It was a wonderful week spent with our friends Bernie and Richard. We toured the island of Maui, snorkeled (seeing turtles in the wild was awesome!), and of course did our fair share of lying on the beach.

While we were touring the island we stopped at a lookout to see if we could see any whales. We were lucky and saw a few water spouts, albeit they were somewhat in the distance. At the lookout was a lady selling necklaces. I wondered over to her van and looked at what she had to offer. After a bit, I found the most beautiful necklace . . . it spoke to me. So Brian bought it for me and I wore it proudly the rest of our vacation.

Wearing the Necklace in Vegas

Then in May I went to Vegas with my sisters, again as part of my 50th birthday celebrations, and wore the necklace there on one or two occasions. After the trip, I unpacked and put things away not really being mindful of what I was doing. Fast forward to November. I was going out and wanted to wear my necklace. I couldn't find it anywhere! I also couldn't believe I hadn't worn or thought of that necklace since May! I searched everywhere, going through all my clothes, through the suitcases, through the purses, but to no avail. Finally in frustration, I gave up. I thought I'd lost it forever.

About a week or so later I was doing some research on the internet and came across a spell for finding something that is lost. I thought, why not? So I cast the spell and waited . . . and waited . . . and waited . . .

Last Thursday I developed a severe sore throat along with the usual aches and pains that signals flu. On Friday night as I was heading to bed, I wanted something to soothe my throat, so I was looking up in one of our bathroom cupboards for some throat lozenges. In the cupboard I found my little green purse that I sometimes use when I don't want to carry around my big purse. I thought to myself, "could it be in here?" I said a silent, hopeful prayer, opened the purse and THERE IT WAS! MY NECKLACE! Satisfaction and relief swept over me.

Now you want to know the interesting part? I had said the spell some weeks previous, but just that morning I found the spell back in the pile on my desk, said the spell and sent it out to the universe. Thank the Goddess for listening!

So if you've lost something and can't find it back, perhaps it's time to cast your own spell . . .

Spell for Finding that Which is Lost

You may burn an incense that symbolizes finding lost things and a green or orange candle. For added emphasis, you may invoke Saint Anthony into the spell.

~ Magic Help Incense ~
2 T Cinnamon
2 T Vanilla Extract
1 T Rosemary
1 T Thyme
1 tsp Cloves
1 tsp Ginger
1 tsp Allspice
1 Pinch of Salt

"Bound and Binding,
Binding Bound.
See the Sight,
Hear the Sound.
What was lost,
Now is found.
Bound and Binding,
Binding Bound."


Spell to Find a Lost Object

For this spell you'll need a mirror, one orange and one black candle, and a small magnet.

After you have cast your circle, called the quarters and invoked the God/Goddess, light the black candle (for solving mysteries and drawing away the negativeness of the loss) and the orange candle (for luck and precious objects). Visualize the lost object in the mirror as already being found. Place the magnet between the two candles and stroke it towards you as you recite this rhyme:

"By the wavering flame of this black light,
Grant to me of my jewelry a sight.
By the power of this orange flame,
Give me luck to find the same.
In this mirror the jewelry I see
Make the magnet draw them to me."

Substitute the name of the object for the word "jewelry". Say this three times. Close the circle, but leave the candles burning with the magnet between them until the candles burn down.