Sorry I haven't touched in in a bit...

This is just a quick update. I do intend to come back and do several posts...hopefully I actually get to them...and I need to redo my theme....but well. We'll see what happens.

Financially we've stabilized for the most part...unexpected expenses keep cropping up (like the $240 medical bill for when I cut my foot open back in september >_<) but now that we've budgeted everything we can account for it looks like we should be able to scrape by this month...and hopefully be able to stand back up next month. I really want to thank you all. I know I can't thank you enough, but for everyone who has reached out, I really, truly appreciate it. Thank you.

Blessings, one and all.

Please light a candle...

I'm sorry, I don't usually ask for help, but I was wondering if y'all could keep me in your thoughts.  Light a candle, spare a little energy if you can...but I'm in a bit of financial trouble.  We recently *read: about a month ago* switched phone services and each got a smart phone.  It was a little pricey, but just stretching a bit we were able to afford it.  Then we were slammed with totally unexpected car repairs.  Then due to a mistake (not on my part that I was unaware of for several days) my account was overdrawn and I got slammed with three insufficient funds charges ('cause my bank is a dick and wouldn't reject my card so they could charge me more).  All in all we've had to soak about $600-700.  Rent is due at the end of the week, we still have bills from last month to pay as well as this month's bills, and my guy's student loan bills kick in this month.  My next paycheck is on the 10th.  Christmas is this month.

 

We are officially at the oh-shit-we-can't-afford-ramen point.  I'm not asking for money, I'm just asking you to spare a thought.  That's all.  I wouldn't even ask if I weren't at the end of my rope.  I know that likely only a few people will even read this, but if you could, I'd appreciate it.

 

I plan to borrow eggs ('cause I can't afford them) from friends and whip up a batch of prosperity cookies (that is, the cookie recipe Wendy posted over at Year of the Cats--those spices all have the property of prosperity in common), which I will then be leaving as an offering, one a day, until they run out--in addition to any other prosperity spells I do.

 

By the by, does anyone know a kick-ass emergency prosperity spell?

 

((PS--To my little sister, if she reads this, don't you DARE tell mom and dad!  1) I want them to hear it from me if I have to tell them at all 2) I'm only going to go to them for help as a very last resort.  Don't worry, we'll still have you for x-mas vacation.  We'll figure it out somehow.))

 

((PPS-- To the winners of my bindrune giveaway, I'm afraid that I won't be able to ship out your rune for a little while...not until I can afford shipping at least.  I'm very sorry for the inconvenience, and will endeavor to get them out as soon as possible))

Which Norse God/dess are you?

Got this from over at hedgewitch hollow. http://hedgewitchhollow.blogspot.com/

You Scored as Sif

Year of the Cats has the. most. AMAZING. giveaway!

As much as I want to win, I can't keep this giveaway to myself, oh no.  No, Wendy is being far too generous for that.  You see, she is not only having a giveaway, but she is also donating to the cat rescue "Alley Cat Allies" in the winner's name--SUPER GENEROUS!!!!!!
That's the best part, (I wish I could support my own furbaby, but alas I'm barely keeping afloat as it is. >_<) but of course let us not overlook the lovely goodies we could be getting in the mail.
*start singing*
On the first day of Yule, Wendy offered we,
an ornament for the tree!
On the second day of Yule, Wendy offered we,
A kitchen witch's journal
and an ornament for the tree!
On the third day of Yule, Wendy offered we,
A witchy house blessing
a kitchen witch's journal
and an ornament for the tree!
*ends singing*

Yeah...I'm a dork...but go check it out anyways! http://www.yearcats.com/2010/11/29/kitchen-witch-magic-and-giveaway/#comments

WE HAVE SNOW!!!!!!!!!

Look! LOOK! It's our first snow of the season! Isn't it lovely? Pretty little snow chunks the size of a pinhead that melt as soon as they hit the ground. It's a start!

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Happy Turkey Day all!

I apologize that this is a day late...I hope you all had a lovely thanksgiving!

On Magickal Workings II

Well now, the bit where I talked about seeing energy has garnered some interest!  I wanted to try and clarify a point or two, and I'm hoping you all can help me muddle this out.

First, there was some confusion on whether seeing energy = seeing auras.

 

Here is what Mya Om has written on the matter:  "Although most of us can't see it, nearly everyone can learn to feel it...Of the very few people that can actually see energy, some perceive it as color; to me, it looks like steam rising off a hot road in summer."  Heatwaves rising off the road?  I've described it exactly like that before.  She continues "This invisible field is around us constantly, and it extends out from the physical body about one to two inches, depending on the person.  If you are able to see auras, this is the 'empty' space or gap between the body and where the aura begins." (pp. 30-31)

 

Now here we see that she differentiates seeing energy and seeing auras; this is where some confusion has started.  I've always thought that the 'colorless auras' that I could see were just that--auras that I couldn't really see any color it.  I can see them around people, animals, trees, rocks...artificial objects as well.  Auras, as I understand it, can be seen around living creatures, including plants--not so much around inanimate objects. 

 

This is what confused me about these 'auras' I was seeing--why could I not see color?  Was I just unskilled?  Why could I also see them around non-living objects?  Why could I sometimes see them free-floating, unattached to anything? (these I have come to conclude are orbs, as they do look like pictures of orbs)  This would indicate that perhaps there IS a difference between energy and auras.

 

However I have always been given to understand that auras are the energy field of the body.  In effecting change in the body we effect the aura; likewise the concept of aural healing is based in the thought that effecting change in the aura will effect the body.  So if auras are simply the body's energy field, why then is there a differentiation made between the aura and energy? 

 

Yet still both Nellie and myself have noted that occasionally we will see hints of color in these 'bubbles', which could indicate that they are auras.  I must confess I am most perplexed in the matter, and am not sure yet what to conclude.  Is there no difference, or is there a slight one?  Perhaps energy in general inundates all things and has no color, where as living things also have a special sort of energy that is the aura? 

 

At this point I am entirely in the realm of theory; is there anyone out there that can provide some clarification?  Does anyone see auras as they are commonly known, with colors and chakras and everything?

On Magickal Workings

I have been thinking recently on a little ritual of sorts that I could adapt to my everyday life. I don't know about any of you, but I have miserable self-discipline and making myself do anything regularly at a certain time is quite impossible. 'My Life imposes enough of those on me as it is; do I really need to do that to myself?' Is the usual train of thought.

However I am quite certain that if I want to focus on and develop my magickal life (which I do) then one of the best first steps is a little daily (magickal) ritual. It would certainly include an affirmation; I would think the best time to do this would be in the morning, but my mornings generally consist of me struggling awake, checking blogger in a half-awaKe daze as I struggle into my clothes, and stumbling out the door late to work. I don't usually fully wake up before noon. Maybe lunch would be a better time then? We'll see.

The inspiration for this adjustment in my life cycle is a book I'm reading currently, "Energy Essentials for Witches and Spellcasters" by Mya Om. Fantastic read, it's currently re-defining how I think about energy. My thing is that I 'm great with magickal theory. When it comes to magick I'm very book smart...practice, though, that's a little trickier. So I know all these things in THEORY, but have I ever actually done them? No. Well, some maybe.

See, this book has made me realize that I've never actually felt energy before. I've intuited it (I have a well-exercised intuition) but felt it like a magnetic field? Never before this book. I've also discovered that apparently what I thought were colorless auras is energy--which explains why I can see them around trees and rocks and even cars just as easily.

Now, the author claims that not many people can actually see energy, but that just seems a little off to me. It's just so...commonplace to me. Don't you guys see that kind of bubble that appears around stuff when you shift your conciousness?

The author claims that people who can see auras can deduce where the energy field is--that space between the body and the aura. See, that was the piece of information I was missing--according to the author the aura doesn't hug the body as I thought, but there's a space between it and the body, which is what I see--the energy. But surely other people can see that too?

In any case, this book has already given me a lot to mull over. More to come later, though please share your thoughts: i'd love to hear what you all have to say on the subject.

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And the winners are...

*initiate drumroll*
Throw the entries in the cauldron, mix them all around...

...double, double, toil and trouble...hee hee hee...
Aaaaaand the winner....for SJ Tucker's latest CD, Mischief....

......Is.....

Ellie!!!  Congratulations!  Please contact me with your mailing info so I can get this out to you right away!

*restart drumroll*

Aaaand the winners....each proud owners of their own custom bindrunes....

...are....

Mother Moon's Message, Nellie, and Aine O'Brian!  Congratulations!!!  Please contact me with your mailing info and be sure to let me know what sort of Bindrune you would like!  It will take a little longer to get these out to you all (seeing as I have yet to make them) but as soon as you contact me I will get on them right away!

I can be contacted at windchild26ATgmailDOTcom.  Thank you to everyone who entered!  I hope you enjoyed my giveaways.  ^_^  And of course a very special thanks to SJ Tucker for graciously donating her cd  for the giveaway!  Thank you all!!

My giveaways close tonight!

**Edit**  CRAP!!  I'm so sorry guys, life got in the way last night.  I WILL get the winners posted TODAY, if I have to do it on the sly while at work.  Again, sorry!

I don't have enough time to pick the winner this morning, so you all get today still to enter before I get home from work tonight!  Good luck!!

What you likely never knew about Nightshade

**Don't forget to enter my giveaways, they close TOMORROW!!!!**

Being a fledgling herbalist and a witch to boot, I of course like to at least study the Gothic Plants (datura, nightshade, hemlock, henbane, aconite, etc.)  I was launched into learning more about Nightshade quite by accident when out exploring the local golf course one day.

You see, the golf course by my home actually reserves area for natural prairie to regrow along the course (much to the dismay of many a golfer who has lost their ball in the sectioned-off areas).  When out walking the course, as I am wont (but not supposed) to do, I came across the most beautiful plant, light violet star-shaped flowers, striking red berries.  I fell in love, but had no idea what this plant was so I came back home to do my research.  I found out that it was...WOODY nightshade???  Naturally I was rather confused.  There's more than one type of Nightshade?

Indeed there is, my dear witches.  I know of three particular varieties, each with their own slew of folknames, in fact.  I'm sure there are some I've missed, but these are the three I definitely know about.

The first, and likely the one that most people think of when they hear nightshade, is known as Deadly Nightshade (atropa belladonna).  This plant is an incredibly strong sedative; it puts you to sleep FOREVER.  However it is still used medicinally--with GREAT caution--by doctors as a sleep aid.  I have a friend who was prescribed belladonna tablets because he had so many other medical problems commercial medicines would have affected him negatively.  This plant has BLACK flowers (more a dark purple) and BLACK berries, and is actually pretty rare to find at all, let alone in the wild.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atropa_belladonna

The second, and the one I found that day, is Woody Nightshade (solanum dulcamara).  This is the plant that I find is most confused with belladonna, but while it is in the same family so are petunias, tobacco and potatoes.  This plant is also used medicinally, mostly topically for skin conditions (rashes and the like).  I was a bit surprised when I've seen crafters and witches alike claim this plant to be Deadly Nightshade--it's not terribly toxic, except that if small children eat the berries they can be poisonous (which is the case for most things and small children).  This plant has PURPLE flowers and RED berries, and is an invasive perennial that just might volunteer it's way into your yard--climbing fences and trees in great bounds.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solanum_dulcamara

The third is the one I have least experience with, Garden Nightshade (solanum nigrum).  Yes, it's called garden nightshade because people do keep it in their gardens.  This, as with the others, is also used medicinally, though from what I can find more in the cases of fevers and such.  The berries if ingested in large quantities are toxic, though boiling breaks down the toxin and as such they are used in jams and preserves.  This plant has WHITE flowers and BLACK berries.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solanum_nigrum

I'm including links to the wikipedia pages for each so you can find more information for yourself--go get educated!  :-P  If you would like some more information on Gothic Plants in general I would recommend Garden Witch's Herbal by Ellen Dugan.  Recommended listening is "Belladonna and Aconite" by Inkubus Sukkubus.  ;)

My giveaway from Mother Moon!

I won Mother Moon's Halloween giveaway, and today it arrived! Let me just say, what a treasure trove! It had the funnest zebra print packaging, and inside was the cutest little woven basket full of goodies. Indian corn, a black cat plate, acorn candles, and so many other goodies! The most delectable smell wafted out to greet me as soon as I opened the package accompanied by the jingling of bells. I think Mother Moon must be psychic--how else would she know that I had been chocolate deficient this Halloween? So many goodies...well, I shall just have to leave you with pictures to drool over (hurray for smart phones!)

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Giveaway!

I have TWO giveaways currently running, but you only have a few days left to enter!  They both close this coming Monday!  Hurry!

The first is a giveaway for the amazing pagan musician SJ Tucker's latest album, graciously provided by the artist herself.  Don't forget to read the accompanying review!  This contest is US only, found here:  http://confessionsofacraftywitch.blogspot.com/2010/10/review-and-giveaway-awesome-pagan.html

The second giveaway is for all of those people not eligible for the first, three custom-made bindrunes for 3 lucky winners!  Found here:  http://confessionsofacraftywitch.blogspot.com/2010/10/so-ive-been-abandoned.html

This is a reminder to all of those people who may have said they would enter but have since forgotten.  This is also a notice to everyone who may have missed it the first time around!  That's right, TWO GIVEAWAYS!!!.......c'mon, y'all like free stuff, right?  I'll beg if I have to....

So far the count is 8 for the SJ Tucker Giveaway, and
2 for the bindrune giveaway.

Make sure you read all the instructions so you'll definitely be entered!

What do I give to you?
What do I do for you?
I search, and I find you;
I call, and you're not there
I know you're busy
I know you have your own friends
I just reach for a little of that spotlight
in wonder of your starshine

I see it all around you
that Glamour glow
I see it all around you
but will I ever get to know
the WONDER of the starshine
will I walk by the moon's rays?

Jump off a cliff, that's all I know
jump off a cliff, to fly or fall
but I can't take that path
bound by chains of my creation
LOVE
can I ever fly again?

I'm thrashing in the deep
but there's no water to swim in
I flap toward the sky
but there's no air to hold me up
Can't I reach
for my little bit
of starshine?

Leave Love and fly,
keep Love in chains
what choice is that?
I'm just searchin'
for a little bit
of starshine...

I finally got a new phone!

My old phone has been obsolete for a while now, but this one is shiny and new and SMART! ;-) It's a samsung transform... I love my new phone. :-)

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Results of the Samhain swap!

**don't forget to enter my giveaways!  They end Mon, Nov. 8th.**

What a wonderful thing!  I'm so glad that I was able to participate in the Samhain swap, hosted by Faerwillow over at ~serendipity~ (http://tofallorstumbleupon.blogspot.com/).  The premise was to gift 3 (or more) things to the person you were paired up with, and then on Halloween we would all open our packages!

I was paired with onreeones from One Day at a Time (http://onreeones.blogspot.com/), and boy is she one generous lady!  What makes me really sad is that I can't find my camera charger, because I want to show you all what I got!  They're soooo beautiful!  For now I shall have to be content describing it all for you, but I shall be going on a hunt for the charger and as soon as I find it you can bet pictures will be posted!

When I first opened the box I was greeted with an explosion of color!  Pretty colored tissues everywhere, hurray!  Then something dark caught my eye, and subsequently my breath, because the most beautiful black-orange-silver flowered/ribboned barrette caught my eye.  How perfect for Halloween!  And right beneath it the most beautiful metal ornament halloween witch, so glittery!  (she must have realized I'm a bit of a magpie, lol!  I love sparkly!)

Next I discovered the most beautiful little autumnal wreath, with dried apples (they smell like apples and cinnamon and nutmeg, yum!) and fall colored/themed ribbons, so beautiful!  I'm trying to figure out just where to put it up...

But the last two, oh, they really made me catch my breath.  The most exquisite fall leaf-styled dish (which is now serving up my recently roasted pumpkin seeds!) and two absolutely gorgeous fall-leafy pieces of jewelry.  I wasn't sure at first if they were necklaces or bracelets, but decided they were both!  I'm wearing one as a choker and the other as a bracelet as I write this, and I really wish you could see them because they are sooooo beautiful!!!  The colors are all red and gold and brown, with some of the most fun beads!!  Little brown leaf-shaped beads with golden veining, read beads with a design on them that look like paint splatters, shiny gold beads and bumpy bronze beads.....GORGEOUS!!!!!

I can't wait to show you!  Onreeone, thank you so much!!!!  I hope you like your package too!

Happy Halloween/Samhain, one and all!!

Hey! That was unexpected!

**Don't forget to enter my giveaways!  The close Mon, Nov. 8th!**

So today was halloween costume day at work.  I went in my 'gypsy' getup.  Apparently there was a costume contest, and I got third place!  Woot, $10 I didn't have before!  Yay!

Here's my costume...well, for the most part.  This is my garb for the larp I go to, Nero.  This is my character Jacylinn!

So I've been abandoned...

By my loyal followers!  D:<  Does no one read my blog anymore, or is it just that I have that many non-continental US followers out there?  Alright then, here's the deal:  I will be running my own giveaway for the non-continentalers.  I will be giving away 3 bindrunes, custom made for the winners.

 

Bindrunes are talismans that combine different runes of the Elder Futhark for a desired quality, for example safe travel, health, good times/camaraderie, etc. 

 

This giveaway is for all the non-continental U.S. people who can't enter the S.J. Tucker giveaway.  For every post you make on a social network about the S.J. Tucker giveaway, you get one entry (this excludes Facebook unfortunately as Facebook has rules against that sort of thing).

To enter this giveaway:

You must have a way for me to contact you

You must comment on THIS post with a link to the post you made.

Each entry must have a separate comment.

 

Got it?  Good.  By the Gods I WILL get the word out!!!

((PS~ those who aren't eligible for the SJ Tucker giveaway can still listen to her music here:  http://music.skinnywhitechick.com/indexpage))

Review and GIVEAWAY: Awesome Pagan Musician!!

So in my endless quest for fantastic pagan music about a month ago I stumbled onto an artist that I absolutely fell in love with while browsing youtube.  Celebratory, reverent, relating myths...I was impressed with the songwriting, with the powerful melodies, and most of all with the singer's pipes (YOWZA can that girl belt!!).  I found myself soaring in the sun's mighty rays with 'Firebird', quiet and mystical with 'Witch's Rune'...I enjoyed these songs deeply, but for some reason didn't search beyond what was available on a single channel.

Well, Fate had different ideas for that.  A week or two ago I was contacted by Ariel Publicity wanting to introduce me to a pagan artist--yes, you guessed it, the very same one I had recently found!  I was intrigued, said so, and *poof!* a cd was on its way.

So without further ado, I would like to introduce (or reacquaint) you lovelies with the music of S.J. Tucker.

Of course, I didn't spend my week (im)patiently waiting for the cd doing nothing, no sir.  No, a few raps on the head was all it took for Fate to get my attention, so I was off and running searching youtube, her site, her blog, trying to figure out 'just who is this S.J. Tucker?  just what is her music like?'.   

Well m'dears, what I found impressed me.  S.J. Tucker, also known as skinnywhitechick, also known as s00j, has been touring the US since 2004 and has released several albums--all of that new music to listen to!  I dove right in, of course.

It turns out that the songs I had initially listened to were from her album dedicated to her pagan fans, "Blessings" (HIGHLY recommend by the way!).  But there's more...oh, so much more.  You see, this chica has released many more albums than just "Blessings", as lovely as that album is.  Her music isn't exclusively pagan (she's a musician after all, she sings life--ALL of life), but I can tell you it is all fun, and highly enjoyable.

Ever wondered what would have happened if Wendy had taken Hook's deal and become a part of his pirate crew?  Well now you can find out thanks to s00j's Wendy Trilogy! (three songs telling what REALLY happened...Wendy really is much cooler, after all.)  Ever worry if an alligator might have found its way into your house?  S.J. has it in a tango!  Ever wondered if that salad is really as good for you as people say?  Beware, for it is the notorious 'Salad of Doom'!  (I like to call it the Salad of DOOOOOOOM....!!  Because really it's more fun to say it that way.)

But again, there's so much more than that!  It's not just pagan, it's not just fun/silly/ridiculous/laugh-out-loud (is there a better way to say that and really express what I mean?).  Her music is also deep, it's also contemplative, it's also reverent...I think I said it best before.

She sings LIFE.

If you do a bit of your own research you will see this repeated all over the place, but I'm going to repeat it here as well because it is honestly just so right for her.  "Music is communication for SJ Tucker. It is how she tells stories, how she shares lore and myth, how she interacts with the world...without her songs and stories, she is nothing. With them, she is herself." (http://arielpublicity.net/clients/2829)

I completely agree.  I know my exposure is a bit limited here, but I've been listening to her music, I've been watching her live performances up on youtube and listening to her interaction with the crowd.  The way I perceive it, its like she takes a little piece of herself, her experience, gift-wraps it in some pretty melody and presents it to her audience in pure expression.  (If you've read this far into the review comment about 'musical expression' for an extra entry in the giveaway!)  With some of her songs (for me, Neptune) its almost like the music isn't there.  You hear it and enjoy it, but what you experience rather is an emotion, a concept, transferred directly from her to you using the music as a vehicle.

And when I finally, finally got the cd in the mail, I was giddy.  I was ecstatic.  I was like a schoolgirl skipping and giggling because I got to have a little piece of that experience.  I spent the evening trying to find a way to listen to the music in the shower without electrocuting myself.  (after much testing and consideration, I would recommend simply waiting until after your shower--you don't want to miss anything!)  'Neptune' is on this cd!  And so is 'Salad of Doom'!  And, and...!  Well, a bunch of new songs that I wasn't already familiar with, but also fell in love with!  I love 'Ravens in the Library' and 'Cheshire Kitten' and 'Were-Owl', but oh, oh 'Witchka'!  I must say that I do adore 'Witchka'.  (see the story behind the song here:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAOb2YtQDYM  The sound quality isn't the best, but its super cute!)  I can totally see this little girl all in black with a book of spells giggling madly.  It's just such a fun image!

 

This is Mischief, S.J. Tucker's latest album.  This is the cd I got!  There are several songs that deal with relationships, but also songs that consider the quest for knowledge, the ability to find happiness even in your day job, and of course...just how dangerous is your salad?  Ranging from fun and lighthearted to deep and contemplative and everywhere in between, there's a little something for everyone in this album.  

I do wish that lyrics had been included in the little booklet...I have trouble understanding lyrics sometimes, and like to know just what is written.  We do however get a lovely little descriptive piece for each song...not necessarily describing the song, but rather it is added content that can influence your perception of the song.  Even without the lyrics, I do appreciate the booklet, and really if that's all you have to complain about a cd I'd say you're doing pretty good!  But I love, LOVE the art (and mine came with an adorable little 'trading card' featuring SJ. as depicted as a character from one of her other songs, 'Tough Titty Cupcakes', the raccoon).  With all the variety and artistic talent available in this cd, I dare you not to fall in love with at least one song!

Giveaway

And to give you the perfect opportunity to fall in love ;), S.J. has graciously agreed to give one of her new cds away to one lucky contestant!  That's right, you could own your very own copy of Mischief!  Here are the rules to enter:

Participants MUST have a mailing address in the Continental U.S.

Please make sure I have a way to contact you in case you win!

Please leave a separate comment for each entry.

To enter you must post about this review/giveaway on your blog with a link to this post, then leave a comment here with the link to your post.  It doesn't have to be much, just a sentence or two like:

"Leathra over at Confessions of a Crafty Witch has a review up about the pagan musician S.J. Tucker, and she's hosting a giveaway for S.J.'s latest cd!  Check it out at http://confessionsofacraftywitch.blogspot.com/2010/10/review-and-giveaway-awesome-pagan.html!"

Of course you can write your own, but if laziness is a factor in you not entering there ya go! ;)

For an extra entry you can browse S.J.'s music (http://music.skinnywhitechick.com/indexpage) and comment here about a song you like.

**Edit:  for every post you make on a social network (excluding Facebook) you get an extra entry.  make sure to leave a comment with a link to your post.**

Please note that while you are not required to read the review of S.J. Tucker's work, I would recommend it.  It just  gives you a good idea of what you're trying for.  Good luck!

Contest closes Monday, November 8th.  Now go spread the word!

((Disclaimer:   I received a copy of this cd from the artist for review purposes. The opinions expressed here are 100% my own. I was under no obligation to offer a positive review and received no monetary compensation. The artist has provided a copy of her cd for the giveaway.  I might try and convince S.J. that she needs to make an 'Evil Chocolate Addiction' song to balance out the health-nuttiness of 'Salad of Doom', but that's another matter entirely ~_^. ))

It's my Fall altar!

Isn't it gorgeous?  Up front we have my wand, to the right are my herb bottles, my black mirror, and my cauldron, to the left we have a small chest full of divination tool and a black smoky quartz cluster, and in the center we have a 'crystal' ball (prolly just glass--it's from that scrying kit you can get in a bookstore) and the newest edition to my altar items--

Isn't this fellow gorgeous?  Sorry the pic is a little blurry, those are the Futhark spiraling and running across the bone.  According to my dad, the great outdoorsman, this is a raccoon skull.  I found it in some high grass by the side of a trail while I was out exploring this past summer, already cleaned by nature.  I let it sun-bleach a bit, cleansed it, and now we have this!






My divination box (again, sorry it's blurry!)  I have two tarot decks, three rune sets, and two pendulums in there!  The only reason there aren't FOUR rune sets in there is 'cause one of them is still with the PPD stuff over at Brigid's.  ^_^;

Have a wonderful day!

Finally, PPD pictures!

Our location:

This is the pavilion at our local park, where we set up.  In front is the snack table, to the left is the divination table (not set up yet) and to the right are our information tables.











The schedule:
Heh, sorry it's sideways, but I'm on my boyfriend's computer and can't find a program that I can flip it with...macs are a little different like that.  Click for a bigger picture, and....well, turn your head a bit.

This is the kid's area!  We had special pagany coloring books, aura fluffing/glitter blessing (ever had one of those before?  They're so fun!)  and face painting.  Plenty of the adults joined in too.  ^_^

Here is half of our information table, which has our group library as well as pamphlets about paganism and our group, Pagans in Touch.  (Being the ones running the whole thing we felt a little justified in including our own information.)  Oh, and of course our beautiful group organizer, Brigid!

(On top of the green pamphlets you can see a rod for our meditation labyrinth--its one of those that I cut my foot open on.  By the time I was done with it that loop on the end was a wide-open hook!)

The other half of our information table, FULL of ritual items--most of this is from Brigid's personal collection!  There are also close-ups below, click for a bigger picture.

Well, that's all the pictures I have for PPD--this is all during setup, and I injured myself just before the event.  I couldn't go to get my camera on my own once I got back, so I just gave my talk and demonstration without.  :(  Wish I had more!
(And sorry bout the weird spacing on here...new pic upload thingy makes it weird....)

I'm sorry!

I was seriously going to post pics tonight! Not just of PPD, but of my fall altar too! But I can't, you see...the cable that will connect the camera to the computer is missing. BOTH of them. I have no idea where they would be stored, so I'm left to wait until my guy comes home. Don't worry, I'm definitely sharing my altar pics, I just have to be able to get them online! >_<;

((Also, please note: There is now an 'Award Cauldron' page.))

It's a blog award!

Most of you know I'm not too keen on getting awards (those part of the rules that requires I send it to X number of people who are then obligated to pass it on...too much like chainmail which I delete on principal) but there are those kind souls who just want so much to GIVE that somehow they end up on my door. Now, unless I get buried by them, I do try to be courteous and thank-you and answer the questions, but I refuse point-blank to pass it on because I feel like I'm doing the people I'm sending it to a disservice.

Hmm...I'm thinking I should start an Award Cauldron page so I have a place to actually put these things...Well, there's just one with a questionnaire, so here goes!

Thank you so very much Wendy (over at http://www.yearcats.com/) for thinking of me! Wendy was kind enough to nominate me for

award.

Now I'm supposed to share 7 things about me
1) I act, dance, sing, write, paint, sketch, sculpt, knit, crochet, do beadworking, wireworking, and a whole load of other crafty stuff that won't come to mind at the moment...
2) I graduated 1-2 years ago with a Bachelor of the Arts in English
3) Due to #2, I now work as one of the cogs in a debt collection agency
4) The reason I'm not doing something more with my life is because I haven't yet figured out what I want to do...or rather, I have TOO MANY ideas of what I want to do with my life, some realistic, some not, and cannot make a decision on the matter.
5) Umm....I have 4 favorite colors? Green, blue, purple, and silver.
6) Almost there! Umm...umm...I'm really horrible at uploading photos so I can post with them! Wait, you knew that already...crap...
7) ...I can haz chzburgr? (heh! so much for that degree in English thing!)

((PS~ if someone would like to snag this award for yourself you are more than welcome to do so!))

((PPS~ I was in a very humorous mood when I wrote this, so if anyone takes offense PLEASE DON'T. No offense is intended, I'm just enjoying life and I'm not trying to do so at your expense.))

((PPPS~ fun stuff in the works kiddies! Keep you eyes peeled, I'll be having a review of some very talented and fun music up soon!(and maybe the person responsible for said music, we'll see ;P)))

Oh, wow...

Two absolutely brilliant giveaways over at Confessions of a Pagan Soccer Mom today! First, I'm sure you all know I'm an absolute fiend for rune sets, it looks like this one is made of clay: http://www.confessionsofapagansoccermom.com/2008/10/giveaway-from-marie-segals-art-from-my.html
Aren't they gorgeous? What a pretty blue! They look sort of iridescent too. ^_^

And next, the most gorgeous little goddess doll ever! All done up in her autumn harvest colors too. ^_^
Isn't she so beautiful? I absolutely adore her! I do hope that I'll win her...I've never had a goddess to go on my altar, despite all the statues I've made they always want to go elsewhere...I wonder, will I finally find one who will stay? Mama Allpa...I'm trying to learn the lessons she has to teach. http://www.confessionsofapagansoccermom.com/2008/10/giveaway-from-dancing-goddess-dolls.html

Whew!

So, after a looong evening of crafting frenzy my package for Serendipity's Samhain swap is all set and ready to be mailed out! Now I just need to pack for Nero this weekend...and figure out how to take a shower with one stitched up foot and one weak ankle...and hopefully actually get enough sleep tonight to be able to work tomorrow...

But! An evening full of listening the Inkubus Sukkubus, crafting like a madwoman, and finding little extra things I can slip in and fighting ENDLESSLY with paint that wasn't made for the surface I was painting on...well, it was all a lot of fun, and I absolutely CAN'T wait until Halloween when she opens it and I get to open mine!

I just have too much to do and not enough time to do it in... ^_^;;; Ah well! On to the packing! ((CRAP!!! It's 1:30am already!?!?!?!??))

It was Eventful!

Pagan Pride Day, for the most part, rocked!! I have some pictures that I managed to take, though they won't be uploaded until tomorrow most likely. Unfortunately I only have pictures from setup...didn't manage to get any during the event.

Guess what?? We had 35 people come through!! It was fantastic, way more than last year! What's more, 15 of those people weren't group members--they were local non-affiliated pagans! Squeeeeeee!

We started setup around 7:30 and were ready by noon! Since I would be doing rune readings all day I had to show off my new divinatory tool--3 eight-sided rune dice! I decided to do a quick little reading for how the day would go. Comraderie, good...insight and learning, even better...and...hardship? Bwah??? Why on earth would we have hardship? I know that there might be protesters, but....

Well, I found out what the hardship was maybe ten minutes before the event started--I sliced my foot open on a metal hook we were using for the meditation labyrinth. Fun! So I got driven to the hospital and spent most of my day waiting for the stitches...of which I now have three in the bottom of my left foot. Yay!

I got back just in time to do my lecture/demonstration (practical magic and bindrunes, respectively) and I did manage to give two readings. Unfortunately it was my LEFT foot that was injured, and its my RIGHT ankle that is bad. So, I'm pretty much a gimp. Keeping weight off the injured foot puts a lot of strain on my bad ankle, so I can't do long stretches of standing and I had to be carried to and from the parking lot to the park where PPD was. *sigh* My first PPD, and I miss most of it. Ah well, I managed to make it for what counted, I just wish I could have experienced all of it! (Even better, I wish one of these years I could make it to a big PPD, or some big pagan festival in general! The closest I get around here are renn faires...)

Waaaah! Pagan Pride Day is this Saturday!

I'm so nervous! The list of what is yet to be done isn't too long, but I'm still super anxious...I've never been to a Pagan Pride Day event before, let alone help run one, so I'm really hoping we can get everything done!

What? Context? Oh! The group that I am discussion organizer for, Pagans in Touch, runs its own little Pagan Pride Day for our area. Last year we had one semi-official PPD--the Peoria PPD decided to disappear a few months before the event so we tried to pick up the ball with a cursory glance from the National organization. 3-4 months to plan and maybe a hundred dollars to use...we did what we could, but it wasn't stellar. I wasn't even able to be there, 1) because it was on my birthday and 2) because my cousin decided to have her wedding on my birthday! Waaah....

Well, this year I'll actually be able to participate in our own little PPD. No vendors, no drumming circle, in a little park just off of ISU campus...but more planning, more organization, and a bit of money actually saved up!
We have a meditation labyrinth, several talks and demonstrations (two of which by yours truly!), a kid's station with aura fluffing, glitter blessings, coloring books, and face painting...a divination table, an information table...and food donations to go to the Midwest Food Bank (because they're the only charitable organization in the area that doesn't mind that we're a bunch of pagans)!

Pagan Pride Day, Oct. 9th, Anderson Park, Normal IL, http://www.pagansintouch.com/ppd/index.html

((Apparently last year other local groups thought we did an abysmal job and didn't enjoy themselves. Said we dishonored the national organization and couldn't possibly compare to CHICAGO'S PPD. Chicago? We're a handful people who had a few months and about a hundred bucks to pull everything together, and you're snubbing us because we can't compare to CHICAGO???))

Foot in my mouth AGAIN

Some of you may remember how back in November of last year I made a post about my element switching to fire (original post: http://confessionsofacraftywitch.blogspot.com/2009/11/wellnow-that-was-interesting.html). I've been air. I've been water. In each I have been quiet, patient, waiting to assess the full situation before making any comment/action. I has long been my habit to let it slide, or just walk away. I was the master of just letting it roll off my back.

I was NEVER rude, impulsive, easily irritated, rash, easily baited, quick to anger, self-serving, or selfish, and I NEVER was snippy if I was pissed off by something.


But now that I'm fire I AM.
And it's pissing me off!!

I've hurt my friends, insulted the love of my life, reduced my beloved sister to hysterical sobs...and while I do feel guilty, I'm quickly consumed with self-righteous anger. "It's not my fault!" the anger shouts "I've got a life and thoughts too! Why the hell should I cow-tow to their whims? It's not like my thoughts don't matter!!"

The anger does have a point. I've never asserted myself. Never gave thought to myself if someone else needed something, even if it majorly inconvenienced me. Others have always gotten the priority, others were always right, and I was just so damn grateful that they were in my life in the first place that I never even MENTIONED that I had to study for a major final the next day and couldn't really afford to drive them two hours to Chicago so they could make a date.

But suddenly now if there's some small injustice, or just something that pisses me off, I'm belligerent, rude, ungracious, insulting. There's all this emotion and passion that I've NEVER had to deal with before in my life, and I just don't know how to deal with it! My love can't even be sarcastic anymore without my blowing up at him! How on earth do I DEAL with all of this???

Yes, there are benefits to being Fire. I'm actually speaking my mind. When I got majorly shafted the other day at work I went and talked with my manager about it instead of just stewing in my self-pity and misery. And for the first time in my life I actually want to have sex because I actually enjoy it. I'm passionate, I'm creative, I laugh loud and long and sing and dance for the sheer joy of life!

But I step on a loooooot of toes on the way. I no longer know how to handle a situation because I just get so consumed with anger. I've always avoided anger like the plague, because I've never been able to see anything positive coming from anger. I never wanted to hurt the people around me like anger has hurt me. But now at the slightest infraction up it flares, screaming for "My way! MY WAY!!!!". Sometimes I love myself, sometimes I can't stand myself.

The worst part of all is I have no idea how to handle the anger. NO IDEA. I've always kept it so very tightly sealed in a tiny little box. Before I became fire I had only ever been truly angry 4 times in my life. Irritated, yes. Angry, never. But then, when I was angry before, it was very very dangerous. While I never let myself get violent, I considered it. It was only with locking every muscle in my body sometimes that I didn't do anything.

Now that I'm fire and get angry all the time, its not nearly as potent, violent, or dangerous. I hurt people emotionally yes, I insult them, and I hate myself a bit for it, but I would never do physical harm. Well, to them at least. At this point the only method I have that remotely manages the anger is to clench my fists so hard that my nails break the skin of my palm. Yeah, I know that's not a good thing at all, but right now it's all I have.

...hm, I imagine there are a few readers out there going "whoa whoa whoa! Where did all of this come from Leathra? You're always so happy and calm!" Umm...well I'm not ALWAYS angry, and when I am I don't usually let it get to the public sphere. Oh...wait, you're asking why I'm talking about this in the first place? Why that's quite simple.

As the title suggests, I just got pissy/insulting on someone else again, only this time it happened in the blogosphere. I've already written the person in question an apology email, but I was so pissed with MYSELF that I felt the need to post about my issues.

I know that I'll figure out how to truly be fire eventually--this is all just a part of the becoming process. Still, the transition from Air to Water was painless and happened without my notice. My reforging from Water into Fire, however, is full of blood, sweat, and tears. And anger. Lots and lots of anger. I know I'll get there eventually...it's a matter of time and experience. But it's not easy. Gods know what will happen when it's time to become Earth!

It's that time of year again...

when my posts will be swamped with giveaway advertisements, lol!
Today's is The Weiser Field Guide to Witches over at Confessions of a Pagan Soccer Mom! Hurray for the 31 days of Hallowe'en! http://www.confessionsofapagansoccermom.com/2008/10/giveaway-3.html

I've seen this book in Borders before, and I seriously considered picking it up. Not knowing what it was, at first I was like "Ugh, more ridiculous stereotypes. Lovely. Well, it's witchy, I'm a witch, so let's see how bad they mess it up..." ...and they didn't. At all. It's more a chronicle of all things witchy. I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

So I have a theory...

After several failed attempts at trying to fix the comment-ability on my blog, I've come to the theory that perhaps it is my new very pretty fall theme coding that is the problem! *gasp* I'm going to be doing some experimenting, so if you come by and see that my theme is a bit different please try to leave a comment to see if it works. If not PLEASE email me at windchild26ATgmailDOTcom to let me know that it didn't fix the problem.

I LOVE socks!!!!!!!!!!!

These are all of the beautiful socks I have made for myself over the course of one, two years. Making my own socks is my favorite part about knitting--I was never much into the funky, fun-colored socks you can buy in the store, but knitting those socks is one of my favorite things! I can custom-make them for myself, have as intricate or plain a design as I want, and they last FOREVER! I go through store-bought socks at an alarming rate.

Here are some of the designs that you can't really appreciate when the pattern is relaxed:

last but not least, my latest pair. They're just in time for fall, and they remind me of fall! The pattern sort of looks like falling leaves, and the colors are fall colors.

Happy Birthday to me!!

I am now 24 years old. Well, technically I will be at 3 a.m.
So astrologers, you have your date and time (September 26, 1986, 3 a.m.). I wonder if anyone is going to draw up my chart out of sheer curiosity? Likely not--there's a lot of effort that goes into those. But hey, its good practice.

24 and man is the biological clock ticking. I literally woke up saturday morning and asked my boyfriend "once we're married (which will happen in the next year or so) can we start trying to have kids?" Yeah. Weird. At the same time I can't wait, but I also value my freedom WAAAAAAAAY too much.

Ah well. We'll see what I have to say next year.

Here's to another year of love and pain, joy and sorrow, and above all, growth.

Welcome Magical Partygoers!

I have several posts available for your reading enjoyment, and may post more throughout the day. It will depend most on if the mood takes me (which it very well might, what with my perusing so many Practical Magic blog goodies!).

I have been informed of a problem where people cannot comment on my posts; I have checked this and discovered that while I can comment on my own posts, I cannot edit any of them once posted! :( Most unfortunate. Rest assured that I am informing Blogger of this glitch.

I do not know if this problem will be resolved in time for the part; in fact I doubt it. As such, I invite you to please email me your thoughts and comments at windchild26ATgmailDOTcom. If you will preface your comment with which post this is in regards to, I can later edit my posts (once the problem is solved) and add your coments. Thank you!

It's another 31 days of Halloween....

...with BOOKS! Paranormal Books!! Really, can you get any better than that? Ooh, the tingles shoot up my spine in antici.........(SAY IT!!!)...........pation. The month of fun is upon us! Go check it out!!
http://www.paranormalhaven.com/2010/09/halloween-at-haven.html

"There's a little Witch in every Woman"

I find it curious that Warner Bros. even misquote their own movie. Did any of you realize this is a misquote? THIS is what Aunt Jet says: "There's a little witch in all of us." Why does this get transformed to 'every woman?' I mean, yes, there are only women gathered when Jet makes this statement, but I always felt the statement was more enveloping than just those gathered.

Is it because witches are thought to be only women? And men are supposedly 'warlocks'? But that isn't the case at all. Men are not warlocks, they are witches in their own right.

I think Jet's actual statement is far more appropriate. I may be the only one here, but I really don't like to disclude men when there is just as much a right for them as there is for women. We are ALL witches, regardless of gender.

As such, this I say:

There's a little Witch in ALL OF US!

Practical Magic

Here are some lovely sites that I came across as I was researching for my posts. Browse to your heart's content. Enjoy!
http://www.amasveritas.com/film/index.html
http://practicalmagic.warnerbros.com/main.html

The Magick of Practical Magic

I don't know a single pagan who has watched this movie and not gone "I wish magick worked like that in real life!" Being able to blow on a candle to light it, having your tea/coffee keep stirring itself after taking your hand away...little things like that would make it all so much more, well, magickal.

While it is always The Craft that is lauded for its realistic spells/rituals (small wonder why--they actually had a priestess consultant on set!) Practical Magic does manage to get some realism in there.

First bit of magick in the movie: Maria's hanging rope snaps just as she jumps from the scaffolding. I don't know about you, but I'd say that's rather realistic. It's 'coincidental' when it takes effect, as so much magick can be explained as simple coincidence. Now I certainly wouldn't condone trying to hang yourself just to see if you can perform a bit of coincidental magick yourself--are you insane?!? Leave it to the movies, kids: they have their own brand of magic.

Second bit of magick: Maria's curse. She wants to keep herself from ever falling in love, but her intent and energy warps into "a curse on any man that dared love an Owens woman." She likely would have been better served by a spell to ease a broken heart, but by this point she is remarkably bitter which explains her choice.

Next is the love spell the aunts perform for a lovesick woman in the village. This one I think is both unwise and unlikely. One, there is a specific person the spell is to be worked on, which is exactly the WRONG way to go about a love spell. Two, they drive a needle through the heart of a mourning dove to accomplish it. Animal sacrifice in this day and age is rather looked down upon, and its near impossible to find a witch willing to utilize it. Doves are sacred to Aphrodite, goddess of love and beauty. By piercing one of her sacred animals through the heart in sacrifice to her, I can understand how this might function as a love spell but would NEVER condone it. There are much simpler, less harmful ways. Leave the animal sacrifice to the ancients.

Gilly: What are you doing?
Sally: Summoning up a true love spell called Amas Veritas.
Gilly: I thought you never wanted to fall in love.
Sally: That's the point. I guy I dreamed up doesn't exist, and if he doesn't exist I'll never die of a broken heart.
Amas Veritas translates to True Love, so Sally's statement is rather redundant. She picks several flowers, and with each flower she names another quality that she would like in a man. For the record, this IS the right way to do a love spell, so I don't know why the movie thinks you have to name a specific person for a love spell to work. I mean, that's the way to make a love spell backfire! And I think it curious that she chooses white rose petals--then again, its not so mysterious since she's actually trying to NOT fall in love. Pink/Red would be romantic/steamy respectively, but white is that kind of untouched quality.

How many of you realized with this shot that the spell had taken effect? I mean, its kinda obvious that he's the one from her spell--there are all of the white rose petals from her spell scattered about, and he walking through them. I think it a beautiful visual representation of that tingle you feel in the air when a spell takes effect, and quite clever on the director's part (though he likely wasn't thinking about that. It's cinema symbolism).

I'm not even going to go into the resurrection spell...well, I will, but only slightly. Why the HELL would you bring someone back from the dead? Why do the Aunts have a spell like that??? For the spell, there is a black pentacle drawn upon his chest with a white pentacle covering it. Reasonable symbolism there, especially considering the incant:
"Black as Night, erase Death from our Sight
White as Light, Mighty Hekate make it right."
The black pentacle is concealed, hidden from sight as it is enveloped by the white pentacle of resurrection.
There is no purpose to rolling your tongue that I can divine--movie magic, what can ya do. For a while I wasn't entirely sure why they were supposed to drive needles through the eyes, but then a friend of mine came up with a theory--driving needles through his eyes would theoretically weaken him, allowing the spirit to be controlled. I suppose I can see that.

I do like the little Banishing potion Gillian and Kylie whip up. They make it as a simple syrup? Wouldn't everyone ingesting it have that spell cast on them then?
The only ingredients they give us in the movie for this are Blessing Seeds/Nigelis, and Milk Thistle. Is Nigelis even a real? Am I spelling it right? Google is not helping me...

In the end, the magick in Practical Magic is a bit hit and miss. Twisted the right way and with the right intent I suppose they could be perfectly functional spells, but I personally would find my own way of doing things. As I said before, there are MUCH simpler, safer ways of accomplishing the same thing. Still, they did fairly well for all that. And its the little unintentional magick that I really adore--how the aunts know the love lives of every person in town, how Gillian can seduce almost any man she wants, Kylie seeing Jimmy in the garden, how Sally's coffee keeps stirring for her. I also wouldn't mind being able to float safely down from a great height. Ya know, little things.

In any case Practical Magic has a soft spot in my heart. It's the spirit of it that I adore, the real feel of magic. For that, it doesn't have to be spot-on with its spells. I'll still watch it again and again, grinning from ear to ear.

Blessed Mabon!

Traditionally I prepare my altar for fall on Mabon...I may wait a day or two, so I can find more turned leaves to gather and press them properly before using them on my altar. Rest assured, I will definitely have pictures up!

I'm thinking I need to harvest and dry some of the herbs in my garden--perfect time to do it! I discovered last winter that rosemary, despite being an evergreen, will definitely not survive in a pot on a balcony, so I will be harvesting that as well.

I'm considering making some mulled wine...but will likely pass due to our 90 DEGREE TEMPERATURE!! Ugh! Record-setting is great and all, but does it have to be on Mabon?

In any case, I know many of you celebrated yesterday (Is my Llewelyn calendar the only one that says its on the 23rd this year?) but a blessed Mabon regardless! Peace!

Well...

Unfortunately I didn't get a call back. Thank you everyone who wished me luck! Now then...*ahem* Macbeth Macbeth Macbeth Macbeth Macbeth Macbeth Macbeth Macbeth Macbeth Macbeth Macbeth Macbeth Macbeth....lol, j/k! I'm not in the play, nor am I in the theatre, so that won't have any effect.

A good deal of you probably knew, but in case you didn't here's a bit of theatre lore for you. It is considered incredibly bad luck (read: "curse") to say the name Macbeth while in a theatre or while part of a production that isn't Macbeth (Macbeth being the name of Shakespeare's Scottish play with the three witches and a guest appearance by Hekate).

It is thought that the reason this play is cursed (which is why you don't mention it while in a theatre/play) is because the spell contained within the play--double, double, toil and trouble and all that--was a real spell that Shakespeare stole from witches at the time. The witches got pissed and as a result cursed the play. Now, I highly doubt the validity of this claim--I truly doubt that any witch would include in any potion the corpse of a baby that was birthed in a ditch and then strangled by its own prostitute mother ("strangled babe ditch-delivered by a drab").

The more likely explanation as to why its considered bad luck to say the name of this play: if the current production is doing poorly, saying the name might give the director the idea to switch to the more popular Macbeth simply to bring in profit.

In any case, the play got the reputation among theatre folk of being 'cursed'--and we all know what the power of belief can do. Things do go wrong if someone accidentally says the name Macbeth--lights stop working, mics cut out, props/scenery break/go missing, actors get sick, etc. And I'm talking far more than the usual first night hi-jinks...everything goes wrong on the first night, but a play plagued by the Macbeth curse has stuff going wrong constantly.

As a witch its a rather simple matter to disperse the energy that gathers when the name is spoken--other folks don't have it as easy. There are a variety of 'counter-curses', but the one I was subjected to while still in the broom-closet fair traumatized me.

Step 1) take off your left shoe and stand on your right foot only
Step 2) hop counter-clockwise three full rotations
Step 3) go outside. You may only replace your shoe once you have left the building.

Some are more elaborate, some less. With no actual intent or energy however its understandable that this counter-curse only works on occasion. I was a junior in highschool at the time, clueless of the curse and talking about my english assignment at play practice when my director suddenly freaked out at me (and I mean FREAKED OUT--he got purple in the face and spit was flying from his mouth as he screamed at me to shut up). He then stopped absolutely everything and had everyone watch as he made me perform the counter-curse, then escorted me outside the building to make sure I didn't put my shoe on prematurely. Like I said, fairly traumatized. Actors take this stuff seriously.

Anywho, there's a bit of theatre lore for you. Hope you enjoyed it!

Wish me luck!

I'm auditioning at our community theater tonight!  Guess what play it is?

*drumroll*

Dracula!  (yeah, shock, surprise)

 

One of the performances is on Hallowe'en...well, we'll see if I make it first and then I'll worry about that.  Its been forever since I've been in a play!  The last time was in the Vagina Monologues in February a couple years back.  Chances are I won't be auditioning for Rocky Horror again this year, so Dracula here I come!

My Labor Day weekend

It was fantastic! The first vacation I've ever had while working full time. I went with my boyfriend up North--that is, to Birchwood, WI. My family has spent their summers there since before I can remember, and this time I was able to drag the guy along with me. He went expecting a stressful weekend with the almost-in-laws...he ended up having a great time! Says he would like to return at least once a summer, and you know that makes me jump for joy. Summer just isn't summer without tubing on the Lake and campfires with s'mores and driving to Hayward to spend a day in that tourist trap. So I got to have a small summer--with the trees already turning for fall. Lol. Still, it was a balm to my soul (I haven't been up in a couple years!). To the left you can see one of the ways I will spend my days up there.

More teasers

This is how I did her feet! She walks among the stars...

The results are in!

True Random Number Generator
Min: 1
Max: 19
Result:
15
Powered by RANDOM.ORG

And our winner is Andreann! Congratulations! Please email me your mailing address at windchild26ATgmailDOTcom. Now, I've been considering if I should post a picture of her now...and I've come up with a bit of a compromise.
This is how I did her belly:


Keep watching! I'll be posting more samples later!

Contest Extension!

Apparently people are a little late to jump on the bandwagon, lol. The contest deadline is extended till Friday! (This way I have enough time to do the finishing touches, lol.)

Is this right?

My contest ends this Wednesday, but I'm considering giving it an extension. My blog is showing 14 responses to my contest. Is this right? Because I'm getting new people following my blog--but no entries. Hmm. Maybe people don't like the giveaway? I think it an interesting conundrum. So far I have entries for:
Willow (1 entry)
Spellbound in Salem (1 entry)
Nydia (4 entries)
Anastasia (3 entries)
Sydnii (1 entry)
Lisa (1 entry)
Myster (1 entry)
Lyn (1 entry)

If you have responded to my giveaway but for some reason it isn't showing up on my blog, or if the numbers I have here are incorrect, please contact me at windchild26 AT gmail DOT com and I will ensure that you get your entries.

Crafty Witch's First Giveaway!

In celebration of 100 followers, I will be giving away this small (apprx. 8" in length) Goddess statue! (click to enlarge)


This statue will be handpainted by me over the course of the contest and 'glazed' with one of the handiest faux glazes--clear nail polish.

To enter this contest, you must
1) Be a follower of my blog
2) Reply to this post on whether you would like to see the finished product before or after the contest ends.

For extra entries you can
A) Post about my giveaway on your blog (2 entries)
B) Have one or both of my buttons (crafty witch and witchword--I don't mind. ^_^) on your blog (one entry total)
C) Check out my other blog, The Witchword, and reply here with what you think of it--be honest! (2 entries)

That's right, you can get a total of 6 entries! This contest will be going through Fri., August the 27th. You have two weeks! Go spread the word! ^_^
(Please make each entry a separate comment)