Art is long and and Time is fleeting!

Ain't it the truth!? I'm at the last stages of preparing for the photo projects I've been planning with Robin Von Swank! I'm mostly all set with locations/sets/props. I'm just getting the costumes/accessories together now! I now have a partner in crime to help me pull off some major fashion terrorism! Holly Conrad of Orpheus Alchemy is helping me with my Sorceress Costume! It's gonna be Fierce!!! Here are some of my inspirations for one of the shoots: First, the Classic Medieval Sorceress...my favorite John Waterhouse painting ever "Magic Circle"



And the Post Apocalyptic Sorceress! This fabulous gown is by the incomparible Skin.Graft.Designs.



I have some great props for the shoot! Check out this creepy taxidermy lizard knife sheath I found! It has 3 knifes, two have african antelope handles, and the other is a figural wood carving! Yay! AND there is this guy who lives in my hood who walks around in the park in the summer with his huge Boa Python...and I think he's going to let me borrow his snake for the shoot! Woo Hoo!






I'll be doing this particular shoot out in the woodland area by my Uncle Doug's house...he has some great details on his land that I want to use. Just look at this magical staircase in his backyard.



Plan B would be to shoot in the metal scrap yard in the Industrial District not far from my place here in Chicago...in which case the shoot would have a more Apocalyptic aesthetic...but would totally rock none the less! Another major source of inspiration for this project, the Witches from Shakespeare's Macbeth! I love the opening scene of Polanski's 1971 version...but the one below is really great too! "Like a hell-broth boil and bubble!"



And then there's my headdress...The plan is to use my dreads that I cut off, so I need to attach them to fabric wrap around head band or make dread falls with them. I found the perfect leather head peice on etsy that will work well as a foundation. It needs to get jazzed up a bit though...antelope horns or a third eye maybe? And huge black feathers for sure! I'm loving the White Witch's look...great headdress!

Past Lives and Reincarnations...

I was digging through my bead box...it's been a looong while! I have plans to go to the gem and jewelry show this Spring, so I wanted to access the situation. I haven't made any beaded jewelry in a very long time, mostly because of lack of supplies and funds to invest in new stuff. As I was digging through my beads n' such I realized I actually had some things I could work with. First, here are a couple of older pieces I made. These are made with sterling silver from India, bone, ostrich shell, onyx, garnet, marcasite. The eye is an agate...I call it the "Eye of Shiva" necklace. The other one is called the "Kali Yuga". Both were created to protect from harm and ward off the evil eye. These are retired pieces in my personal collection...but once upon a time I rocked these hard! They were inspired by the Sadhu, India's Holy Mystics, devotees of Shiva and Kali.





I don't have any silver in my box...but I managed to put some necklaces together that I'm happy with using alot of brass. They feel really Shamanistic...really Earthy. Lately I'm dreaming of a Native American Indian Warrior named "Mighty Bull". He said he has medicine for me if I would share my love and energy. (I guess the medicine worked because I got really inspired to create) He spoke of Bear, guardian of the North...the Owl Clan...and his destination, the Red Mountain. The next day when I went to the grocery store, there was a random "Indian House Blessing" candle mixed in with the religious Saint/Angels candles, so I bought it! Hmmm...so that's what I was thinking about when I made these. I used antique tortoise shell beads, Somalian brass, African mud bone, Indian medicine bone, turquiose, antique amber beads, a Tibetan 'dzi' heavan bead, ect...nothing shabby here. These are for protection and healing! I'll be listing them in MY ETSY SHOP later this evening !

UNEARTHEN

Unearthen jewelry is a modern mystic's dream come true, an alchemical marriage of opposites: vintage bullet casings that once had to power to destroy now hold healing crystals. Just looking at them makes me feel better! If you go to the Unearthen website, you can click on the crystals to get a description of the healing properties of each crystal. Each necklace is carefully packaged in a glass vial and wooden box with a pamphlet outlining the properties of the crystal, care instructions, and cleansing salt to remove negative energy from the crystal. Available at Bona Drag!



"It is possible that most Unearthen pieces have already chosen their bearers. The uniting of the crystal and empty bullet creates a powerful opposition, causing old dreams and new beginnings to fall upon its bearer. For this reason, the stone with the right properties for your needs will inherently attract you. Each crystal carries distinct properties. Its aims may be to clear your mind, focus your heart on goals you struggle to achieve, provide comfort in difficult times, or simply remind you of the balance between destruction and creation. Please choose your Unearthen piece with care."



"Gia Bahm, creator of Unearthen, selects the crystals and bullets according to the histories, qualities, and sizes of the materials. She is a collector, an aestheticist, a creator, and a destructor… much like all of us who are constantly perplexed by the forces of nature and humankind. She lives and works in New York City, balancing her life between wardrobe styling and jewelry design, between summer nights in the woods and winter days on the streets."

Roz Foster

Roz Foster blows my mind! She bridges the gap between the Victorian era of wonder, curiosity, and invention...with Cosmic New Age ideologies. Intelligent designs indeed! Roz churns out imaginary (or not) inventions from her 'Idea Machine' that can aid an ordinary human's evolution by quantum leaps! For example, by wearing 'The Monocle' one will see through the lens of Civilized Insight. I know some people who really could benefit from one of these!



Save yourself hours trying to attain altered states during transcendental meditation (or for you cheaters...spare yourself the harmful side-effects of mind altering drugs like LSD...haaa!) Just have a seat in the 'Ascention Pod' and your there!



To assist one's Astral explorations, try on some 'Intergalactic Wings and Helmets' for size! Space is the place!



Guaranteed or you money back! *wink*

via Phantasmaphile (Kindred we are!)

The Lovers Eye

Pamela Tuohy Jewelry is designed and created by Pamela Tuohy-Novinsky and artist Edward Novinsky...an artistic match made in heaven! I'm particularly crazy about these gorgeous one-of-a-kind 'Lovers Eye' peices!



Portrait miniatures were the photographs of their day, and were tiny paintings of family, loved ones and of those departed and were usually extremely personal remembrances often set in jewelry and worn close to the person. Miniature portraits of just an eye were often refered to as a "lover's eye". In this case they focused on only the eye, often represented with eyebrow and lashes. A wisp of hair, the suggestion of sideburn or the bridge of a nose would hint at the owner's identity but never reveal it. These were often exchanged in secrecy between lovers involved in a love affair of the clandestine variety. The anonymous eye portrayed emotions such as Bliss, Envy, Serenity and Passion. (The eye after all, is said to be the window to the soul!) In the 18th century, if you couldn't afford ivory, you could commission less expensive paintings on vellum, a paper thicker than parchment. The tiny painting was then placed in a gold or silver setting, wreathed with jewels and sometimes with hair under crystal or glass on the reverse. The jewels chosen for the setting were symbolic too. For example, a wreath of garnet and turquoise pansies with pearls...the pansy is a pun meaning “think of me” from the French word pensée. The turquoise, owing to its color, was symbolic of the flower “forget-me-not,” and the pearls symbolized tears. Pamela Tuohy's Lovers Eyes are as captivating, evocative and romantic as the ones created during 18th century!

Mood Board #2 ~ Medicine Woman

A few weeks back I did a post called Kitchen Witchery, about transforming my kitchen into a Sacred Space. (I shared pics of my witchy cast iron collection.) I've been trying to figure out what to do with the room...I have stark white walls and cabinets, charcoal colored ceramic tile, an ugly new white fridge, and an cheap looking white light fixture. With the exception of my awesome vintage stove...I hate my kitchen. I do get tons of light which is nice, but my windows need help, the ugly white mini-blinds have to go. After thinking about it, I can actually work with the white walls, so I've decided not to paint. I'm going to fill the room with natural/organic and ethnic elements to soften the sharp modern elements. Here are some of my inspirations for this project:



Photo below by Kat Heyes and her lovely home above...



I LOVE the space below...high ceilings make my heart sing! via Kaleidoscope Eyes





via Verhext! (I need to move to the woods too girlfriend!)

I dream of owning a large detailed painting by Katy Horan like the one below. (click on image to see full size) I bought a set of three small limited edition Gocco prints from her that I cherish!



I already have some great things to work with, so I only have to buy a few things. I need to find a cool vintage hanging swag lamp, inexpensive window treatments, and some shelving for all my herbs n' such. Otherwise I have lots of wooden bowls, nice woven baskets, old wood crates, misc. folk art. This awesome tribal Afgan wool rug that covers much of the floor and compliments the charcoal colored tile.



I have a giant handcarved commune style kitchen table with matching benches that my Dad made in 1971. For my table top, I have the silverware below...look familiar? They use this silverware in the Hogwart's mess hall in the Harry Potter movie!



I'm slooowly making my own handmade dishes...you might remember me posting my tea bowls before they went into the kiln. I didn't use color...it's a white clay which looks grey before firing. I just used clear glaze and they came out a nice creamy white! (I'll post a complete place setting soon.) I picture the table set with beeswax candles, linen napkins, my rock collection I showed you in the last post, quartz crystal clusters, and little succulent plant arrangements in handbuilt pots.



I have tons of glass jars and a nice little collection of vintage/antique jars for medicinal and magical herbs!



I have some very 70's things in my kitchen that I love like a macramé owl wall hanging. I also have a bunch of antler mounts, a large turtle shell, ethnic masks and art that will all tie in with my Medicine Woman/White Magic theme. I think the pieces below have found a home in my kitchen too! I got the owl from Gothic Rose Antiques. I named her Sophia, after the goddess of Wisdom. I got the bighorn sheep skull from my pal J.C. and the antler shed from a homeless guy who used to wash the windows and shovel the sidewalk in front of my old shop. He was a wise old fella with great stories to tell and treasures in his shopping cart. And on his cart he had a cardboard sign that said "Be kind, I'm not a bad guy, I just made bad decisions" I think he was an angel in disguise!

Speaking Stones

These are some rocks and stones that live with me. On the bottom, a sheet of "blue stone" a gift from my friend Auvergine's mother, from the Shenandoah Valley, Virginia. It's said to ward off evil! On top of that a sheet of river bed rock from the Short Mountain Sanctuary in Vermont (home of the Radical Faeries) given to me by my friend JoJo. The two stones wrapped with rattan pentacles are spirit stones that I bought for myself, and nestled next to those is a stone given to me by my old friend/roomate/co-worker, Jessica aka "the wicked pixie".

Animism is a spiritual ideology that all things that exsist have a soul or spirit: the Sun, the Moon, the Earth, the stars, galaxies clouds, storms, the river, the ocean, humans, animals, plants, trees, and stones. Indigenous cultures and peoples the world over have been trying to help humanity remember this for a very long time now; and many are beginning to remember. Animism may also attribute souls to natural phenomena, geographic features, and metaphors in mythology. The idea is central to Shamanism and Mysticism all around the world. Earth based Religions which emphasize animism in this sense include Shinto, Hinduism, Paganism, Santeria, Vodou, ect. For example, a stone has an individual consciousness. The Lakota and other Native people recognized that earth and the stones are alive. The rocks were here before people were here. Lakota traditions say that life began with the rise of a great stone from the waters of creation. Stones are referred to as our elders. The Lakota word for stone is "tunka-shila" this means “grandfather.”


Covered stones by Resurrection Fern

Many traditional tales speak of the age and the wisdom of the stone people. Among the Iroquois of the northeast, the tale of the storytelling stone explains that in the old days stories were not known by human beings. It was not until a great rock began to tell stories to a boy named Gah-gah or “Crow” that storytelling became a part of the human experience. Among the Lakota they have the story of Stone Boy, the child of a woman and a rock, who brings the first inipi (sweat lodge) to the people.


Made by second-generation rattan weaver, Deloss Webber

The Inipi ceremony, a type of sweat lodge, is a Lakota purification ceremony, and one of the Seven Sacred Rites of the Lakota people. Roughly, it involves a lodge - a frame of Willow saplings covered with hides or blankets. Stones are heated in a fire, then placed into a central pit in the lodge. Water is then poured on the stones to create hot steam. Offerings are made to the spirit world; traditional prayers, songs, drumming, and herbs (tobacco, sweet grass, redcedar or white cedar). Those that conduct this sacred rite communicate with our Sacred Grandfathers that inhabit the stones and translate the messages given.

Have you ever been drawn to a particular object because it spoke to you? Next time you pick up a stone or crystal, think of it as a conscious being with a story to tell you!

Nature Whispers...

Once upon a time, man tred carefully in Earth’s ancient forests. Hunters felt a powerful arcane connection to the Divine while in the forest and were intuitvely aware of it’s sacredness. They also realized the woodlands provided a sanctuary for the animals, trees and plants that sustained them in life, so they treated the land with reverence and respect. After leaving the forests, hunters suffered the loss of connection to the enchanted forest world and sought to bring this magic home with them. They crafted objects and jewelry from the wood, gems, animals they obtained while hunting. These 'hunting trophies' were displayed in the home as mementos.



They crafted amulets and talismans to adorn themselves with. They honored the sanctity of animal’s spirit, therefore the spirit of the animal retained it’s dignity in death. The pendants were regarded as supernatural objects and each piece was endowed with a special mystical power: to protect, to ward off sickness, strengthen the body, and keep away evil spirits. I just added these to My Etsy Shop! The toothy one has already been purchased and will be displayed at The Museum of Witchcraft in Switzerland!



It is not a coincidence that early explorations of the unconscious were undertaken in the vicinity of Earth’s ancient forests. Fables, folklore, and fairytales throughout the world have been handed down orally and eventually written about enchanted forests. The mythologies are always the same, only the cultural landscapes differ. Perhaps the most famous collection of folktales in our lives, is that of the Brothers Grimm, inspired by the valleys and wooded heights of the legendary Black Forest.



Our society is suffering from the loss of connection to nature. It is the mission of Beloved & Co. to awaken that connection and to remind people that we are part of nature, not separate from it. My Black Forest Relic Collection is a kind of Memento Mori to remind people about our current deforestation crisis: the tragic loss of the world’s sacred forest sanctuaries and the plants and animals it protects. The word "relic" denotes a supernatural object (usually a bone or other such) venerated because of association with a saint or martyr. Black Forest Relics are infused with the magic of the forest, the mythologies of the animal and a sense of imminent mourning...each one sacred in it's own right. I’ve decided to donate a portion of the profits made from the sales of my Black Forest Relics to an organization dedicated to defending wildlife. Originally I was going to donate to the World Wildlife Fund...but they said: "Please note that to communicate that you are making a donation to us based on sales, we require a licensing agreement. This entails a minimum annual guaranteed donation of $25,000 and registration as a commercial coventurer in four states. At this time we are not interested in a licensing agreement due to conflicting efforts with another jewelry line which is exclusive." So I'm looking into smaller grassroots efforts...any suggestions?



I've been feeling a deep obligation to give back to Mother Nature lately. I was the first seller on etsy to sell taxidermy jewelry and now it seems we have a trend on our hands. Within months of offering my handmade and vintage/antique taxidermy jewelry another seller began creating grotesque reproductions of the jewelry I was selling. For those of you who have been reading my blog for a while, you might remember me ranting about it. Soon to follow, yet another seller opened a shop offering even more discusting knock-offs of the aforementioned seller...offering jewelry made exclusively from dead squirrels. And now, another seller has opened up a shop solely offering the same kind of antique jewelry I sell.

The problem is not that I now have “competition” or that they may have taken inspiration from my shop or other lines of taxidermy jewelry currently being offered in the marketplace. (Although I do find it extremly bothersome that these greedy opportunists sought out a way to bank on someone else ideas.) The problem is these grotesque reproductions and even the antique peices, are being offered with no regard to the sanctity of the animal used in the creation of the jewelry. One seller has chosen a rusty meat cleaver as the shop’s icon. Pointing not to the sanctity of the animal, but to the violent death the animals experienced. I find the objectification of the animal macabre, blatantly exploiting the death of animals for profit...the animal spirit loses it's dignity in this context. The sacred is completly absent and this drives my point home, our society is suffering from the loss of connection to nature! Alex Grey's painting "Gaia" shows two opposing facets of earthly existence separated by the Tree of Life. On the side representing life out of balance our visionary artist chooses to represent the decadence of humanity through the smoggy skyline of Manhattan Island.



It seems history is repeating itself...the Victorians also felt, in the move from rural to city living, the loss of connection to the natural world and sought to connect with it through collecting taxidermy and other natural objects. The trend was popular within high society and so it became a symbol of status. To meet the demands of the trend, the marketplace for taxidermy grew. This drove the prices down making taxidermy and other natural objects affordable to the middle class. No other society has had such a smothering love as the Victorians had for the natural world. Everywhere was evidence of their fascination with the wild and exotic and their desire to possess it. From the great zoos that were opening around the country, to Natural History museums, and the conservatories that housed their rainforest plants. “Perhaps the ultimate realization of that controlling love for nature was in the art of taxidermy. Here a wild and beautiful creature could truly be possesed- it could become an object: wild but touchable, beautiful and captured.”



The Victorians in their lust for the beauty of nature did not forsee the devastating effects it would have on natural world. The taxidermy business was booming and it wasn’t slowing down. As taxidermy in the home became commonplace, the demand for more exotic tropies grew. And with this, a new trend emerged...the whimsical and bizarre world of Anthropomorphic Taxidermy and sideshow gaphs. Noteworthy taxidermy artists such as Herman Ploucquet, Walter Potter and Edward Hart inspired the work of Dr. Peter Hughes. Hugh's revealed an even darker side of man's malady. He had a number of wealthy admirers of his work who were willing to pay handsomely for various 'special' tableaux to be constructed to their particular specifications. For example: Twelve scenes from the works of children's author Beatrix Potter, constructed for a Mr. Hertz of Iowa, which depicted the author's familiar squirrels and bunny rabbits being 'imaginatively' abused by foxes and cats. And another series of dioramas inspired by De Sade's 'Juliette' in which the unfortunate heroine is represented by a tabby cat and her tormentors by sadistic rabbits, constructed for Lord Bangor. At the time of his death he was working on a commission depicting to recreate in detail various key scenes from De Sade's seminal '120 Days of Sodom'.



Since the Industrial Revolution, man and his machines have waged an official war on Mother Nature. "Civilized" man has become an enemy to the natural world. Not even 10 years ago, there seemed to be hope of an end to it. The wholesale slaughter of animals for museums, art objects, and fashion was not only undesirable, it was offensive. Remember all the “Fur is Dead” campaigns? Models refused to wear fur on the runway stating “I’d rather be naked than wear fur”. But things have changed, and we are seeing the trends return. Some of the same models promote and wear fur these days. How soon we forget! Don't get me wrong, I eat meat...I love feathers, fur, and bones...I own taxidermy! What I'm saying is, we need to make conscious choices. Choose sustainably produced meat, eggs and dairy! When buying other animal products, buy vintage/antique and when buying new...make sure it's from an from ethical source! We need to be aware about the impact overconsumption is having on our bodies and the environment. (Read This)

Roberto Kusterle

"Roberto Kusterle was born in Gorizia ( Italy ) in 1948. Since the Seventies he works within the field of the Visual Arts, devoting himself to painting and installation works. Since 1988 his interest for photograhy begins, and that has become his primary way to express himself. He lives and works in Gorizia." I couldn't settle with just a few images. And his online gallery has so many more! Can you see how this guy influenced photographers like Robert and Shana ParkeHarrison? Their "Architect's Brother" series in particular...I really love their work too.

Shop Update!

Happy Monday Everyone! Just a quicky shop update! I have some curious covetables in MY ETSY SHOP right now:



*a devilsh desk companion/inkwell (a must have for you evil witches and warlocks) "We always use- blood, it's more permanent."

*Gypsy Tasseograpy Tea Cup Set...I also have a matching set of 2 in the shop!

*Vintage Heroine Chic French Apothecary jar...I also have a Mandragora jar (aka Mandrake Root) last one!

*and the latest assortment of Supernatural Specimens and Black Forest Relics!

Have a lovely week! xo LL

Ars Moriendi: The Art of Dying (part 3)

Every time I go to a funeral it becomes painfully evident of how spiritually disconnected people are. People dispose of their dead in an atmosphere designed to slur over the solemn fact that once brought man into the presence of his God. It's tragic, our Godless culture. Aside from Love, Fear of God and the promise of eternal life or damnation has inspired the greatest works of Art/Music/Poetry throughout the ages!

No one does Death like Roman Catholics! Not since the Egyptians anyway! My Nana was 100% Italian and I went to a Catholic school...I was baptized Catholic, and as far as my Spiritual Quest has taken me off the beaten path...I will die Catholic, just in case! Haha! But seriously, I would like my funeral to be in a Catholic Church. The ceremony is a must for any Sensualist...bells ringing, the sound of choir, the scent of burning candles and frankincense and myhrr hanging in air, gilded gold ornamentation, larger than life sized statues of saints and angels, the Madonna and a bloody Christ! Visitors should reflect in dress the solemnity of the occasion...fancy mourning attire required...and weeping...oh yes, bottle those tears and bury me with them! Haaa! See how fun dying can be? My funeral should be followed by a "green" burial conducted by a WiseWoman (representitive of the Feminine Divine). And then followed by excessive feasting and drinking and laughing...



I don't think the Catholic church will support a formal canonization because I am a heretic! Haaa! (Although it would if the church was left to Mary Magdelene instead of Paul!) Never the less, I think my heart is worthy of preservation! I would like my heart cut out, placed in a lovely reliquary, and presented to my family. I'm thinking the next Witch in the family would cherish it. Julia DeVille of Disce Mori let me have a sneek peek at her newest creations recently. (I'll do a post when she updates her site) As most of you know she has a line of gorgeous gothic couture Mourning Jewelry and Art Objects. She has added these exquisite Reliquaries to her collection...to hold Creamation ashes...or the Heart of a dead Lady Lavona! As you can see, they can be personalized via engraving. So yes, I want one!



Many of you might already have plans to donate your organs to Science. If laws would permit, I'd donate my skull or something to art! I'd have to know the artist before my death and approve of the project! I've always been fascinated by the bone ossuaries and bone relics of saints!



Entire skulls or bone fragments of martyrs came to be honored as powerful supernatural objects. These devotional objects were understood to direct the prayers of the faithful to that saint in heaven for their intercession. Sometimes the actual bones are not displayed, but housed in figural sculptures or busts to represent the saints like the ones below.



I've also heard of people requesting their skulls to be donated to the prop department of their favorite Theatre or Opera House! To be used in productions of Shakespeare's Hamlet perhaps? That's a lovely idea too! If you're not familiar with Hamlet...there is a scene in which Yorick, a deceased court jester from Hamlet's childhood, whose skull is exhumed by a gravedigger. The sight of the skull envokes a monologue from Prince Hamlet on the effects of death.



This theme of Memento Mori ('Remember you shall die') is common in 16th and 17th century painting, appearing in art throughout Europe. Images of Mary Magdalene regularly showed her contemplating with her book and a skull.



This also brings to mind the magical works of John W. Waterhouse, his painting titled "The Crystal Ball" in particular. Again, a woman contemplates her Destiny with her Crystal Ball, and like the paintings of Mary Magdalene, a book and a skull is featured in the background.



Countless artworks of wizards, alchemists, sorcerers and so forth feature the quintessential, archetypical skull, usually resting on a book with a single candle burning atop it. The human skull is probably most archaic of oracles...I would like my descendants to have my skull so they can consult it as an oracle. Although I realize one doesn't need a skull to obtain ancestral guidance...it does provide a direct link. For example, if my great great granddaughter wants to know if the man she loves is worthy of her affections...I can offer guidance from beyond the grave! I wish I had my grandmother's skull to consult!