Tones of Dirt and Bone

These photos are part of a series called "tones of dirt and bone", taken by Mike Brodie, aka The Polaroid Kidd, is a self-trained photographer from Pensacola, Florida. He began documenting Vagabond Culture (gypsies, hobos, train-hoppers and squatters) in 2003 when he left home at 18 to travel across America. A friend gave him a Polaroid SX-70 Camera and he's been taking photographs of the friends and companions he encountered on his travels ever since! The series was published as book 1 of 4 in These Birds Walk "Kin Subscription Series". View more work here and here!

I Love Antler Magazine!

ANTLER is an online magazine that just made its debut! The project looks very promising...I can't wait for the next issue!

Shary Boyle

I've been discovering lots of new artists on tumblr! Shary Boyle boasts a diverse portfolio of sculpture, paintings, and illustrations...but in my opinion she has really mastered porcelain! This piece in particular is amazing, even though it kinda freaks me out! I wouldn't say I'm afraid of spiders...they just make me rather uncomfortable!

Time to Fly...

Just before I opened my old shop in 2002 I got into a car accident with my Ford Bronco II. It was a pretty bad ass little truck...Black & Tan, 4-Wheel Drive. It was an 88' but purred like a lion...haha. It got me through Chicago's brutal winters...I never had to shovel myself out of a parking spot, gotta love 4-wheel drive! I didn't really need a car during the years while I had my shop open. I lived behind my shop. Atomix Cafe...my favorite coffee spot, was a few doors down from my storefront. If I needed a gift, there were plenty of artsy boutiques within walking distance. The laundry mat, grocery store, florist, daughters school all just a hop a skip and a jump away. If I needed to go a bit further, I could hail a cab at the corner or hop on the bus. I had a fun batending gig a few nights a week that put lots of extra cash in my pocket. Life was simple then. After I closed my shop there was this steady slow decline of everything good in my life. For the last 2 years things have been getting better...slooowly. But I have been so fearful in moving forward that something bad will happen or I will f@#% things up! I realize I'm creating obstacles with my self doubt and fear. I have never been an insecure person, but along the way there was a lot of loss of power. I experienced so much tragedy...deep wisdom gained if that amounts to anything. Anyway it's time to get prosperity flowing again...I need a new car and a new broom too! I have a long list of things to submit to the Universe!



After I had my son 2 years ago I obviously had some weight to lose. I also cut off my beautiful dreads that were below my booty during that time. At first it felt liberating, but then I felt stripped bare like a bird whose feathers had fallen out. I didn't realize how much I hid behind my hair...it was my armor. I started gaining more weight...ugh! I already need to lose pregnacy fat! A friend of mine who is an energy healer called me out on it. I don't know what's the hell is wrong with me! She took a long pause and a deep breath and said..."you don't feel safe in the world...you're physically expanding out into your energy field...to protect yourself" O.K. enough of this shit...I need to butch up and handle my business. I need to conjure up the FORCE and annihilate my demons once and for all! I just joined Weight Watchers...next week is my first meeting, where I get weighed in...ahh! I hate the thought of it, but I need help until I become more self-disciplined! Time to clean house! I used to have an amazing handcarved broom. The broom handle was about 2 ft. long and carved into the shape of a phallus...that's right a giant dick! It was painted with symbols all over it and had a snake running up to the head of the broom. I felt it was time to pass it on and I sold it at my shop. It's time for a new broom and a new life!

Full Moon Magick!

Spring Equinox is almost here! The Sun enters Aries, Friday March 20th! So in preparation for the new cycle I've been trying to get my spring cleaning done early! The full moon was on Tuesday March 10th...when the moon is full, that's when you want to do purification and protection rituals...because your driving away bad spirits (negative vibes, illness, ect.) Anyway, I got inspired to make a witchy protection medicine bag...This is pure swamp witch hoodoo! I'm posting it in my etsy shop Monday morning. The bag contains herbs and stones that ward off evil/harmful energies. It aids in 'hearing' the guiding voices of the ancestors. I included a coyote tooth, Coyote offers powerful medicine. He is a crossroads spirit and can unlock any door!

"Great Coyote, Trickster, Shape-Changer, keep me from danger...Cunning magician, teach me your ways...Of magical fire, of Powers much higher...Lead me to new life. Brighten my days."

Ingredients:

As Above~So Below

I started a tumblr page! So on days when I don't have time for wordy posts, I'll just post images, videos and/or quotes! Sometimes an image speaks volumes! Please come visit me on Witch Mountain!

Courtney Brooke Photography

Courtney Brooke contacted me recently...just to say she loves my Etsy shop and that she sent a link to all her friends! I was sooo beyond flattered! I have been a fan of her beautiful photography since the moment I stumbled across her lush portfolio! I found her through one of my favorite bands, Ex Reverie. She has photographed some of my favorite psychedelic/folk music artists...many from the Language of Stone family, also Devendra Banhart and Natasha Kahn (Bat for Lashes). Not only is she super talented...she quite lovely too! She takes beautiful self portraits, modeling for Mama Stone Vintage, Bona Drag, and her own shop, Dreamboat Vintage, on Etsy! We chatted back and forth a bit and I'm going to send her all the witchy things I'm creating to be photographed! I'm hoping for some mystical atmospheric editorial shots, as well as close ups of the items! I know what ever she does will ROCK and I can't wait!!! Everything is falling into place...Magic Magic Magic, do as you Will!



Courtney for Mama Stone Vintage...


Gillian Chadwick of Ex Reverie...


Feathers

Taken by the Sky...

Rhiannon rings like a bell throu the night
And wouldnt you love to love her
Takes to the sky like a bird in flight
And who will be her lover

All your life youve never seen a woman
Taken by the wind
Would you stay if she promised you heaven
Will you ever win

She is like a cat in the dark
And then she is the darkness
She rules her life like a fine skylark
And when the sky is starless

All your life youve never seen a woman
Taken by the wind
Would you stay if she promised you heaven
Will you ever win
Will you ever win

Rhiannon
Rhiannon
Rhiannon
Rhiannon

Taken by
Taken by the sky
Taken by
Taken by the sky
Taken by
Taken by the sky

Dreams unwind
Loves a state of mind
Dreams unwind
Loves a state of mind

The Stone Age Revival

Hello Everyone! Here are some bowls that I was experementing with...I'm trying to design something that looks both modern and neolithic. I'm going to make an entire set of tableware based on this design. They are hand built from slabs of clay and have lots of character! I'm pretty happy with the form...the outside has nice impressions from my fingertips. But I still have to figure out the best way to glaze them. I applied different layers of a clear top coat on them to see what the outcome would look like. The shiny ones will work best for food service but I sure do like the way the ones that are more Matte look like. Also, I'm going to try a brown underglaze instead of the black I used. I think maybe they are too grey...brown might warm it up a bit. They are all different, I trimmed the edges uneven on purpose...I like how they stack up...looks like something the Flintstones would use! I'll be adding 3 of them MY ETSY SHOP tomorrow! They are perfect for holding tiny treasures or jewelry!









I'm also working on some handthrown scrying bowls. I found this awesome glaze called "Obsidian" that's perfect! Scrying is a magic practice that involves seeing things psychically in a medium, usually for purposes of obtaining spiritual visions and divination or fortune telling. scrying is most commonly done with a crystal ball, but you can using any smooth reflective surface, such as a bowl of liquid, a pond, stones, glass, mirrors.

And...I'm working on handthrown altar goblets too...using very 70's looking glaze...I'll have those in the shop soon!

Book Love...

So I've recently acquired some old books to use in photographing jewelry for MY ETSY SHOP. My photographs suck and I know that's why I haven't made the front page of Etsy. I'm always more concerned about photographing the detail of the item rather than turning the whole thing into an artistic project. Plus my 2 year old is usually climbing on me or I've had 2 cups of coffee...so I really need a tripod! I also ordered some dried sheet moss...so it will look foresty, yay! I can't wait to tell you about the amazing things that I'll have available in my shop soon, things are going to get super mystical and magical! But for now I must keep my secrets locked away! Anyway, about those books...

The Elegant Witch ~ The Fiery Novel of Witchcraft and Adventure ~ How could I resist!


Witch Hill ~ A History of Salem Witchcraft ~ This one's a beauty...published in 1871! Cover is complete with a Witch, a cat, and an owl!



Check out the spine of the book, it's Alice and the Cheshire Cat!

Catrin Howell

"Catrin Howell creates animal forms founded on legend, myth and fantasy. She is renowned for her portrayal of wild beasts, creatures that capture the imagination. She focuses her interest on the major theme of animals and Welsh myths, especially those from the Mabinogion."



“I am fascinated with animals and the way they are used to convey narratives, from the roles they play in mythology, as iconic symbols, often carrying out complex roles and their ability to trigger memories and emotion." Catrin Howell

Shop Update: Black Forest Relics!

I just added some of the relics from this collection to MY ETSY SHOP! Deer teeth and tiny hooves, Wolf teeth, bird of prey talons...all with detailed sterling silver settings!



The 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.

h.NAOTO

h.NAOTO is post Punk...post Goth...post Lolita...

His otherworldly designs are like a folkloric-punk-victorian-tribal-gothic-fantasy mash-up that will leave you spellbound! Here are some tastings from his Spring/Summer 2009 collection! Make sure to check out h.NAOTO's enchantment and doom live on the runway...'08 Autumn/Winter and '08 Spring/Summer. I think the folks at Tokyo's Fashion Week are having alot more fun!



By the way...I've been invited to be a guest blogger for Haute Macabre! I highly recommend you go through the archives...post after glorious post of gothic couture!

Odyn Vovk

Odyn Vovk [oh-din va•hk] Translation: ONE WOLF



With the close of New York Fashion Week , people have been talking about the effect of the economy on the industry. Many designers were forced to shift to frugality. Fashion mainstays such as Betsey Johnson and Vera Wang opted out of having full shows! After the costs of logistics, models, make-up artists and publicity are considered, a fashion show can cost as much as $750,000 to produce. What!?

Out from the depths of this economic crisis came emerging designer Odyn Vovk! His line is raw, dark, and vital...apocalypse couture! Go HERE for more photos from the runway...

Anna Sui

New York's Fashion Week wasn't too exciting this year! But Bohemian darling, Anna Sui never disappoints! She had Bat for Lashes blasting as the models ushered in her "Belle Époque" inspired Fall Winter 2009/2010 collection. Her ad campaign for this collection doesn't reflect its magnificance at all...check out the video HERE. Velvet, lace, ribbon, leather, fringe, rossettes, feathers, beads...Divine! That's right... laugh in the face of this so called Recession...If your lights get cut off...don't cry! Just put on your fanciest threads...and eat cake, drink wine, and make love by candlelight! Ah yes, La Vie Bohème!