Over the past few days in my not so copious spare time, I have been working on getting the new tarot bags ready for embellishment. I decided which designs to use, including some new ones, drew up the motifs for the iron on adhesive, cut them out, ironed them, cut them out, ironed them, cut out the fabric for the pouches themselves, and began the embellishment on one pouch. Time intensive and there is velveteen fluffy pile everywhere and in everything…

Some days my camera doesn’t take very good pictures and today is one of them… The colors on these bags just don’t look anything near as rich as they are in person.

Black wool with rust wool applique. It makes me think of a pentagram that Mary Engelbreit would draw and I’m reconsidering the french knots. The rust is so much rustier than here. Really going to have to work hard on my photos for online selling because this just isn’t right.

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Don’t have much new of my own to report today so I thought I would put in some plugs for other artists of a pagan bent. These fine artists were found by searching etsy.com with the search term “pagan”. There were lots to choose from, all very nice, but these stood out to me as being more innovative than the usual. Follow the breadcrumbs to find the artists that make YOU smile.

Green Woman Crafts – Among her many beautiful offerings is a handmade wooden ogham set. I knew I’d kick myself if I didn’t buy these because I’ve been wanting to make a set. But there is no way I could collect all the woods needed in any easy and harmless way. I just bought a set because it is so very special. The artist responded quickly to my communications. Top of my list today…

Thyme2Dream – lovely wire jewelry, her circlets and ear cuffs are just stunning.

Dolphin Daze – Goddess pendants, hand painted, one of kind, very well done

Unleash the Goddess – Bright beautiful prints

Revelations North – Sculpted wire jewelry

Wing and Talon – Leather goods. yuuuummmmy

Greenfingers – knitted beauties, including 3-d knitted goddesses

Kreativlink – handmade leather journals

I could go on and on.

Enjoy!

The wheel of the year project, the neverending project, progresses. I have details left to do for Imbolg, Lammas, and Beltaine. I could easily embellish this forever adding beads and other little details. Initially I set out to get each wheel piece to the point where I could call it good enough. But every time I add something it just gets better. Funny how that works with embroidery… So who knows how this will progress or how long it will take.

This is easily a simple chart of correspondences. Each section has an animal and a plant and the colors match the time of year as well. This is the piece that got me a yet to be scheduled appearance at a local Outer Grove to discuss art and magic and connection.

Here is a diagram of the proposed layout. Creme areas on a black background. Elements in each corner, design not drawn yet. Pentagram in the center. If I have the time or am inclined and grabbing that much fabric in my hand doesn’t knock my thumb out of socket (happens to me when I have a large bit of fabric to hold for embroidery, a hoop would probably help), I will add vines around the outer edge of the wheel and on the spokes.

Yule

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