A NEW TAROT DECK!

No, not this one. I got this image from pixbaby.

However, there is a gorgeous new tarot deck out by Deborah Blake. The Everyday Witch Tarot released this month. I've been waiting for what seems, ever. I've known this deck was in the works but all things extraordinary take time - two years for this deck. You can read about the release on Deborah's January 2nd, post HERE.

Illustrator, Elisabeth Alba did an amazing job of bringing the images to life. And in all that time, the two never met in person until the deck was finished and being shipped. You can see Elisabeth's post about her first meet-up with Deborah HERE. 

I haven't purchased my deck yet, but I'm eyeing a signed edition in Elisabeth's Etsy shop.

Like everything else Deborah Blake puts her name to, she wants the tool to be user-friendly for every level of practitioner.. thus The EVERYDAY Witch.

Llewellyn publications calls this: Charming images pair with simple explanations to make this the go-to deck for anyone seeking to learn or practice the tarot. 

Whether you are familiar with Tarot, never used a deck or looking for a new deck to work with this year, I suggest The Everyday Witch Tarot. 

Blessings!

~Rain

WHAT THE WEATHER?

The weather from coast to coast has been a roller coaster. Less than two weeks ago we were preparing for an ice storm - after having experienced several days in the upper 60s*. The ice wound up being nothing more than rain in my area, while other places had ice up to an inch thick or more. 

This week we've had the upper 60s* again. I spent part of yesterday outside taking pictures of projects I want to work on this year, measuring for flower beds, cleaning kennels before more rain moved in today - and it did with a vengeance - finding it hard to believe I was doing this in late January! I felt like I should be hunting Easter eggs. But then I hunted them in the snow in CO as a child so anything is possible.  We are to have a couple more above average temperature days before we start experiencing normal January weather - as we approach February. How much stock do you take in the ground hog? Personally, at the rate we are going, I'm not holding my breath for an early spring. 

But Earth Mother has a plan. Patience has never been a virtue of mine. I think she is training me. 

Speaking of spring, while out and about yesterday I saw the first nubs of the Naked Ladies, Grandma's Lillies.. whatever you call them. I didn't think to see if the crocus' were popping their little heads yet. I hope they know what they are doing. 

Thankfully, this is an odd numbered year so fruits and vegies will not produce as heartily. I take comfort in that if we do get a killing frost, I won't be out much... and that there is a reason...

Always a reason

Blessings

~Rain

PLANNING AHEAD

You are not seeing things. I did use this jpg on Monday. The image just happens to serve two purposes. Today it's all about the actual planner.

I am a huge planner nut. I've always used a planner in some form and at times more successful than others. This year, my daily planner page includes reminder to not only work out but to meditate. I've added a couple of meditation apps to my phone:

Take A Break - meditation oasis
       You can set this one for a 7-min work break or a 13-min stress relief break
       Sounds include Ocean, Rain, Stream or Music. You can also set for background  noise to                      continue after the break for 5/10/20 min sessions or as a continuous loop.

        The meditation is voice-led and quite relaxing.

The other is Chakra Meditation. Touch the chakra point on the screen and a coordinating zen instrumental plays.

While both apps are free and sufficient as they are, there are in-app purchases available for extras.

The other thing I want to be more mindful of are the Esbbats/ Sabbats. I found fabulous stickers from Wiccan Planners on Etsy. The seller is very nice and even sent an email letting me know she was available if there were challenges with the downloads or I had any questions. Her planner stickers are very colorful and a bright spot in my planner.

The other Etsy shop I purchased from was Persephone's Planner I ordered her Yule planner stickers and she included a free sticker sheet as well as a 10% off my next purchase. I will be ordering from both of these ladies again.

And maybe.. just maybe, with the tools in place I will actually practice my faith on a regular basis.

Do you have any tips you would like to share on practicing your faith in a busy world? I'd love to hear them.

Blessings!
~Rain

Blessed Walk into 2017!

For the past six weeks I've been doing exactly what the planner suggests. I've been enjoying things like finally taking the time to put the studio in order, pitch some stuff and create cards. As soon as I get an even flow going between my Stampin' Up business and the Marketing Director position I have for Saddlebag Dispatches magazine and Oghma Creative Media, I hope to be doing more personal crafting. Putting my BOS together is first on my list and I also have a couple of needlework projects I want to work on, finally.

We had some spring-like days last week. We even hit 70* a couple of days. I worked around the yard a bit but knew it was too early to disturb ground covers and such. It is still January, after all. This week we've had sleet, ice, cold rains and foggy mists. Wednesday they have us forecast for 60's again.

For now, I'm enjoying the little things outside, such as getting an idea of where I want to plant things come spring, watching my chubby little chipmunk widen the opening to his burrow so he can fit through the hole after he's stuffed his cheeks full of peanuts and sunflower seeds. I swear, he is right out of a Chip & Dale cartoon. Chip is good sized... equivalent to a small Guinea Pig. Then there are the squirrels, the two varieties of woodpeckers and a myriad of bird species.

Last week I made homemade suet cakes.

The critters seem to really like them. The first morning they were all fighting over one small feeder even though I had them hung in two other places around the yard.

If you want the full details on how I made them, please visit my Ozarks Journal blog. 

I start my real job today so getting regular posts here will take awhile. I have a couple for this week, then we'll see how things fair next week as that will follow Bob's first week home. And so it begins....

Blessings
~Rain

BLESSED SAMHAIN - and my BOS materials

Merry Meet, everyone. Blessings on this magical evening. I hope this new Turn of the Wheel is full of good things.

I had hoped to have my Book of Shadows constructed by this night, ready to be blessed. But between hunting down supplies and the other things going on, the best I have is everything gathered. The only item you will not find in the pictures is the paper I will be using for pages. I have chosen an 8.5 x 11 caramel parchment. I want torn edges so the 400+ pages will take a bit of time. Those will all have to be torn on the three sides before they can be put in the book.

I'm mashing up two different BOS designs I found on YouTube. The first is for the basic construction of the outside by jamiebookofshadows. Jamie has done a lovely seven-part series in creating a replica of the BOS from the television show, Charmed. While I have no desire to emulate their BOS, I did favor his construction. Here are the supplies for my cover:

While I would like to have used a real leather, this Marine Vinyl from JoAnn's felt right when I picked it up. I bought enough to do a full 8.5 x 11 BOS as well as a smaller 4x6 or may 3x5 travel BOS. Not sure I'll be using the hinges but I do like the corner protectors from Tim Holtz. Jamie uses a cardboard tube to get his 'curved' spine. Since acquiring this piece from my friend/ store manager at my local Office Depot, I've learned that you can curve any chip board by scoring the length in 1/4" increments then gently conforming the scores to the shape you want. The paper will be my inside cover.  The only thing I don't have in the picture is the Tyvek I've also learned will help strengthen the spine. 

The suede lacing is for binding the pages together. I waffled back and forth between the different methods. I wanted the 8.5 x 11 (and have had the ream of paper for years for this project) so signatures wasn't going to work... though I may use that method for the travel size. I didn't like the 3-ring binder idea. I got a cold vibe from that form. But I fell in love with the method used by Isis Chandler at Pagan Scrapbook Supply.  I want to make my own BOS or I'd have been purchasing one of hers in a heartbeat. In the video below, she talks about their book construction.

So I'll be cutting binding strips and punching holes for awhile as well as tearing those page edges.

I'm not an artist by any means. I can't draw a decent stick figure (though I use to be good at horses - go figure!). But I am good with stamps and coloring so I'll be using those as well as stencils, die cuts for the insides. I recently ordered THIS set from CraftersCompanion. I should have the set in the next week or so.  I have other stamps in my huge supply to work with as well. 

Here is a picture of some of the interior supplies I've gathered:

I'm excited to finally begin putting my BOS together. As I said earlier, I've had the page paper as well as the chip board for the cover for years. I do have two writing deadlines I have to get past first, then I can devote a day or two for construction.

Many Blessings

~Rain

BOOK OF SHADOWS - Eden

I found her!  Her name is Eden. Here's the first of her videos that I watched. I just like her laid back style.

Eden will celebrate her first Turn of the Wheel this week and I am so happy for her. From the moment you step on the path, an incredible journey of self-discovery begins.

One of the things Eden brings up in this video is about how much, if any at all, of our BOS do we share.  I've heard this discussion surface in the past and am reaching a happy middle. I am blaming the Libra in me ;-)

I think that our BOS can be a very personal, if not the most personal, tool in our craft. And while I would not be comfortable sharing my spells with the world or letting others touch my book, when it comes to the artwork, I hope that I could inspire others as Amethyst and Eden have with theirs.

So what's your take on the Show & Tell of your BOS? I'd love to hear from you
Creative Blessings
~Rain

SOMETHING ABOUT AUTUMN

As the Aspens begin to fade out west, the Birch in the Ozarks are just beginning to find their color. The Dogwoods are also turning. Rain is in the forecast for the coming weekend when the Dogwoods would be in their glory. I'm hoping for a span of dry weather to enjoy them before the storms beat the leaves from their limbs. 

I've finally completely moved into the studio... in time to enjoy my space as a turn of the wheel begins. 

With the availability of a workable craft space again I've also been itching to create my Book of Shadows. I've always had the idea of what I wanted in the back of my mind and I still have some things to work out but I'm making progress.

One youtuber who's inspired my artistic side is Amethyst. I love her artwork...

One thing about Amethyst's book is the binding. I LOVE the binding. But her pages would have to have started at at least 17" lengths of paper in able to fold them into 8.5 signatures. I have a ream of standard 8.5x11 paper I bought years ago for this purpose. Since then I've learned more about book binding so am needing to figure out the best way to incorporate what I have rather than buying a massive amount of the larger sheets. Though I could buy parchement sheets by the case for about $20 at a restaurant supply and tea-dye the pages. Hmmm... the brain is processing as I type. I'll keep you posted.

I have another I found but am unable to pull her up right now. Silly me, I guess I was so caught up in her video I failed to Like the video so I could find her. And I'm not seeing her on my subscription list either. 

Next week I'd love to have a discussion on whether to 'show & tell' your BOS.

Until then, Creative Blessings!

~Rain