Hallows Everyday 4

A Magic Potion Just For You

Find a very tall black hat;

Fill it with a squeaky bat.

Catch a clever shiny crow;

Gather up the pumpkin's glow.

Call your black cat home to you;

Summon up a ghost or two.

Throw in lots of special treats,

Like candy corn and lizard feets!

Simmer, bubble, stew and wait...

Then it's time to celebrate!

Laura J. Perin, needlework designer

www.twohandedstitcher.blogspotcom

Blessings nine!

Hallows Everyday 3

Evocation of the Witch

I am one with the Universe.

I am nothing and I am everything.

I am the stars and the moon,

The seas and the storms,

The breath of life,

The alchemical change,

The living and the dead,

I am!

I am the power and the joy,

I am the spirit that dances,

I am the magick and the priestess,

The witch and the sorceress,

The angels and the Elements,

Omnipotent, Omnipresent,

I am!

I am the past, the present, and the future.

I am the void.

And I am the manifestation of all my desire,

I am!

So Blessed Be.

(- author unknown -)

Blessings nine!

Hallows Everyday 2

Halloween

A gentle breeze rustling the dry cornstalks.

A sound is heard, a goblin walks.

A harvest moon suffers a black cat's cry.

Oh' do the witches fly!

Bonfire catches a pumpkin's gleam.

Rejoice, it's Halloween!

- Richard Anderson -

Began stitching on my Spooky Countdown, now... just to keep up! 

Blessings nine!

Happy October!

The Veil Is Getting Thinner

As I went out walking this fall afternoon,

I heard a whisper whispering.

I heard a whisper whispering,

Upon this fine fall day...

As I went out walking this fall afternoon,

I heard a laugh a' laughing.

I heard a laugh a' laughing

Upon this fine fall day.

I heard this whisper and I wondered,

I heard this laugh and then I knew.

The time is getting near, my friends,

The time that I hold dear, my friends,

The veil is getting thin, my friends,

And strange things will pass through.

(author unknown)

Once again Autumn is here and we prepare for the most sacred of times. I was so pleased to have celebrated the Autumn Equinox with 13 other women, most just beginning their journey along the path of the witch. Some will stay, some will leave; all, including myself, have been enriched by the experience of Autumn celebrated in the old way.

This is the time when we draw inwards; searching, healing, experiencing that which hides deep, down, and within. We prepare ourselves for that deeper journeying while celebrating the change of season, this glorious time of year. Ancestor altars, for those who do not have them all year, are prepared. My ancestor altar is tended all year, but I give it an especial cleaning and decorate it for the season. As I do so, I remember. I remember those who have passed, what they mean to me, and know they are never far if I need them.

This year will be a time of intense, personal devotional activity, even more so than my usual daily devotions. I will, as usual, honor my ancestors of blood and breed, but, in addition, will add special ancestor workings for this season. They are calling and so I must answer. My usual practices are changing a bit too; all for the good. I know I am not the only one experiencing this, so I assume something is happening energetically to move us along down the paths of our practice. 

Last year I posted something I called Hallows Everyday. This year, again, I will post something each day to remind us of the season, a way to celebrate, a prayer, a poem, a picture. Enjoy!

Blessings nine!

David Gilmour Sonnet 18

I viewed this when a friend shared this on Facebook. I have been a Pink Floyd, David Gilmour fan for years, never mind how many, and thought this was so beautiful. Enjoy!



Blessings nine!

Can Witches Really Fly?

Here's a little video I thought some would enjoy!

Blessings nine!

Happy September!

Things have been hectic at Toadstool Condo. We are emptying a storage unit and getting rid of stuff we just don't need. It feels both good and sad. I was able to locate some missing books - the expensive two volumes about Sacred Geometry, which seems to have taken hold of me - but that will be another post. I also found some paintings I did from the late 1990s. I thought I'd share a few here.

Seed Mother

(copyright 1997 E A Kaufman)

Sheila-Na-Gig

(copyright 1997 E A Kaufman)

Serpent Lady

(copyright 1997 E A Kaufman)

Crone Crescent

(copyright 1997 E A Kaufman)

Between the needlework, the art work, and the photographs, there is very little wall space! I found this little needlework piece I had started some time ago and lost track of, Wife Into Thy Garden by The Goode Huswife. It is stitched on 36 count linen and the verse is over one thread. I have just added the bricks under the window and half of the third line of the verse. It is a wonderful little piece, I can't imagine why I put it down.

This next piece is from a freebie I found on line, it is called The Leaky Cauldron. No self-respecting witch would have a leaky cauldron so I fixed it up and changed a couple of other things. I am stitching a skeleton key under the witch. Will I go for a verse or some other little related design after that? Time will tell. 

So... now back to the kitchen. Tonight is Rosh Hashanah, and as my darling hubby is Jewish, this is a major event in our home. I made a wonderful brisket last night, brisket is much better when made a day ahead; we only need to slice and heat it. The veggies are just about ready to go, the candlesticks are polished, the challah sits majestically alongside a shiny red apple and some honey. We always have a slice of apple dipped in honey for a sweet New Year. And speaking of sweet, Manischewitz Cream White Concord wine is chilling in the fridge next to some apple cider. Oh, I love that wine.

The apple cider, if I can keep my darling hubby from drinking it all, is for the apple butter I will be making next week. Yes, it is that time again. I've not done much preserving this year, just some plum butter and some bread and butter pickles. The apple butter is the last item on my list for this year. Those preserves will make nice gifts during the winter holidays... and we have quite a few: Chanukah, the Winter Solstice, and Christmas. What can I say? It's good to celebrate everything! 

I am preparing for my Divine Feminine Discussion group next week; we will be learning to draw sacred mandalas taught by Vibrational artist and healer, Gina Orlando of Syner G Crystal Healing, www.sacredheart144.com or find her at her Facebook page, (click here). In addition, there is the Autumn Equinox, and I will be celebrating a version of the Eleusinian Mysteries with my apprentices and some of the gals from our occult studies group. September is a busy month and begins my most favorite time of year. Happy September!!!

Blessings nine!

Our Demeter The Bountiful Ritual

I thought I'd share our Demeter the Bountiful altar since I finally managed to get the photos from one of the gals. We had a beautiful ritual and feast afterwards. There were ten of us and most had never attended a ritual such as this. There was a great deal of excitement and enthusiasm on their parts, which really made me remember how it was for me when I started participating in women's rituals. All of us joining together to honor the goddesses. It was beautiful.

I wrote the ritual based on my standard one for this celebration, and made sure each woman had a task. They all did wonderfully and are looking forward to our next celebration, The Autumn Equinox. I'm pretty excited about it too!

We cast our circle, recited our invocations and blessings, made a little charm, performed a bit of divination, cast our offerings and libation into the garden, then feasted. A wonderful evening celebrated with wonderful women!

Blessings nine!

Witchy Stitches!

I don't call myself the Witch of Stitches for nothing! Earlier today I headed over to my local needlework shop, Cross Stitch Cupboard, in Fort Lauderdale. Karen had called me to let me know that the Halloween Ornament issue of Just Cross Stitch had arrived. I had planned a trip to the grocery store anyway, so I decided to stop at the Cupboard first.

I think this issue is the best they have ever done. There are 51 really great designs, with plenty of witches. I have already chosen 10, YES, YES, 10 designs that I want to stitch. Most of them are smalls so that's not as big a deal as it sounds. So here are my favorite witchy designs from this issue to encourage you to pick up a copy and a needle, LOL!

A little stitching witch holding a sampler. How could I NOT stitch this, fond as I am of samplers! This design is by Gail Bussi and is called "Little Stitching Witch."

Three designs on this page - all smalls. Top left, "Witch" designed by Pamela Byrd Smith of The Prairie Schooler, a favorite designer. Middle right, "Family Portrait" - a silhouette of a witch, another small, quick stitch, designed by Wendy White of Wee Works. Bottom left, "Double, Double" designed by Linda Ebright of Lizzie*Kate - how could I NOT stitch this one? 

"Matilda Hornbuckle" designed by another favorite designer, Lori Brechlin of Notforgotten Farm. I love these primitive designs and this one is delightful!

"The Spells' Store" designed by Isabella Abbiati of The Primitive Hare, yet another favorite designer. This is just too wonderful not to stitch!

Another little primitive style design, "Ghoul Tidings", designed by Paulette Stewart of Plum Street Samplers. I love her designs too. This little witch is another favorite and I have to stitch her.

"Fire Burn & Cauldron Bubble" designed by Traci Horner of Ink Circles. This is not my usual style, but anything with a cauldron...

"Goody Trask 1692" designed by Tanya Marie Willis Anderson, AKA The Sampler Girl. A cute little primitive design. Tanya has wonderful Jane Austen designs too.

"Starry Witch" designed by Elizabeth Toledo of Dames of the Needle. This is actually the first one I want to stitch. I have some wonderful linen, color Cognac, that will be just perfect. Can't wait to start this!

Right in the middle of the page, another one that caught my eye, a hardanger design by Lucy Lyons Willis, The Sampler Girl's mom. I love her work as well. I don't do a lot of hardanger, rarely in fact, but this piece has inspired me so...

Well, that's nine designs, but if you look at the magazine cover, there is a little owl in the bottom right corner - that little one makes 10 designs!

Now I wonder if these designs have inspired any of you who don't stitch to take up a needle and give it a try. Those of you who do stitch, well, which are you going to stitch? We'll see how many I actually get done as I have three designs I am currently working on, one is actually a silhouette of a witch at her cauldron! I can't resist a witchy design! In addition, I now have three apprentices and two monthly classes I am teaching. I wonder if I can stitch while I lecture??? ; )

All this stitching is really part of my devotional work. Most of what I stitch is dedicated to the goddesses I am devoted to. Stitching, threads, scissors, needles, all play a part in my magickal work as well. It is art as ritual. In 1997 I had an article, "The Ritual of Stitching", published in The Beltane Papers, unfortunately no longer in print. I was going through some papers and found the article which I will post here soon. It includes a design for a home blessing sampler and I will see if I can post that too - not really sure how to do it. I will have to re-chart the design with my MacStitch program. The design was originally charted by hand. So... stay tuned!

Blessings nine!