Viona Art

I'm currently costume obsessed as I'm still trying to pull together several costumes for future photo projects! You might remember me telling you about the Sorceress costume project! I'm still trying to make this happen! I'm totally inspired by the wonderful fairytale photography of Viona Art! She makes all the costumes that her models wear, she's over the top...check out her website! I really admire people who can construct even the simplest garments. I wish I had formal training, even just for making everyday wear. I need a cloak hoodie for this Fall...it's getting chilly in Chicago already!

Thank You!!!

Wow, what an honor! I've received the Domestic Witch Blog Award from Carolina Gonzalez! Carolina keeps an amazing magickal lifestyle blog, I look forward to each and every post...so inspiring! She's one crafty lady and you can find her witchy wares in her Hoodoo Shop on Etsy! I'm especially smitten with her embroidery!



Thank you for passing this award along to me Carolina! Now I'm supposed to pass this along to 3 of my favorite Witchy Blogs. (I would give this award to Sarah, the Witch of Forest Grove, but she already got it!) The following people are not Witchcraft practitioners per se, but people who are inherently Witchy and live magickal lifestyles!

Sasha and Amber of Violet Folklore met at an Herbal Apprenticeship! They share a love for fashion, art, herbalism, nature, music, and community! Together they keep a lovely magical lifestyle blog that accompanies their vintage clothing shop by the same name, Violet Folklore~haunted threads! I hear they may be adding herbal products to their shop!? I think these gals are the "bees knees" thanks for sharing the love and magick ladies! xo!



Next we have Chad of Mon Petit Fantome! This magick man weaves an enchanting web of music, arts and crafts! Chad is a super supportive friend that I met through Etsy! He owns many of my Black Forest Relics and I have a lovely collection of fanciful forest inspired goodness from his shop too! I think Chad should be featured on the Selby because I want an official tour of his Witchy lil' house! (Chad is pictured below with his bandmate Tracy.) Thanks for all the support and endless inspiration Chad! xo!



Then we have Tamera Jane, the loveliest Gypsy Witch you ever did see! She blogs about her magickal lifestyle on her blog Verhext! Tamera is equal parts Urban Gypsy and Wood Witch! When she's not working hard and living "La Vie Boheme" in California, she's working hard to build a cabin in the woods of Central Vermont! (She has mad style and you can find her vintage and handmade goodies in her Etsy shop!) Someday we're going to have the best Gypsy Witch party in the woods...I just know it!



I know I'm only supposed to list 3...but this post would not be complete without the fabulous bohemian belle, Angeliska! Talk about a magickal lifestyle, I'm certain fairies and gnomes must live in her house! Oh look, kitchen witchery! Black Forest cake is in the oven for desert!



Do you live a magickal lifestyle too? If so, I want to hear all about it!

Lily Fawn

Robyn Von Swank introduced me to the wonderful world of the lovely Lily Fawn a while back. (Robyn knows Lily from her hometown of Victoria, British Columbia.) Lily is one half of the unstoppable vaudeville-rock duo, Hank Pine and Lily Fawn. She recently released a solo album to tell her story. Lily's Lullaby album, Brightest Darkest, is a full-length release comprised of story telling ballads about baby snatching, woodland animals, deadly romance and fairytale nightmares. The album comes with with it’s own hardcover storybook so you can follow along with the songs! Lily’s voice sounds like a long lost relative of Julie Cruz, Johanna Newsome or Blossom Dearie. The music is inspired by artists such as; Bjork, Blonde Redhead, Godspeed You Black Emperor!



Hank Pine and Lily Fawn the comic book series chronicles the sad, twisted and wonderful travels of our two, (three including the dead body in the garbage bag) New Orleans bound nomads! The Hank Pine and Lily Fawn Show is a vaudeville inspired variety act based upon the tragic and hilarious adventures of their comic book series. Like the great acts of old, the music covers many genres, yet all stems from a punk rock ethic! Lily tap-dances and plays the musical saw; trumpet, ukulele, flute, drums and sings! Hank also lends his vocals to this project and plays a mean guitar! In addition to her solo album, she released two albums with her partner in crime, Hank Pine.



"Together their act is eye catching and foot stomping, based upon the tragic and hilarious adventures of their comic book. Hank is tall mysterious figure and member of a secret dooms day cult called the A.S.S. (Avatars of the Second Sun). Lily is a half-deer, half-human forest creature with a penchant for stealing babies from near by villages, thus rescuing them from the perils of our modern world. It is as though Lily fell out of a 1920’s fairytale, innocent and dangerous."






You can also catch Lily tooting her horn in her other band Meatdraw. But wait folks, that's not all! She created a line of organic and wildcrafted herbal products, Earth's Herbal and Lilith Moon Products! She offers medicinal teas, skin salves, aromatherapy, tattoo care products, sex enhancers, and Trance Tonic!

72 Hour Summer Clearance Sale

I can't believe summer is almost over! But, I love the Fall...it's the season of witch. The weather, the clothes, pumpkin pie and hot mulled cider! Plus my birthday is in October and Halloween! Anyway, I want to clear out my etsy shop to make room for lots of wonderful new things! All inventory will be marked down 30%-40% Off! Sale ends Monday night!

Have you seen the new video by The Horrors!? This track really reminds me of My Bloody Valentine...can you hear it? "Primary Colours" is one of my favorite albums this summer! I really can't get enough of these guys, they just keep getting better! They obviously have some great musical influences. Their older stuff reminds me of old garage rock/trash punk like the Cynics, the Cramps and the Gun Club...and bits of old New Wave bands like the Cure and Joy Division. Lately you can hear psychedelic and prog rock influences like the 13th Floor Elevators and CAN. Clever fellas!

and they lived happily ever after...

Are they not the cutest couple!? There are so many nauseating wedding related blogs out there, so these two are really a sight for sore eyes! You might recollect my cynical rantings about American wedding customs and marriage...you can read that HERE. But honestly, I hold the ideals of Love and partnership in high esteem. Love is the Formula of the Universe! Love should not thwart one's true nature or obstruct one's destiny. I was thinking about Crowley's motto: "Love is the Law, Love under Will." I recommend you explore this ideology and integrate it into your belief system...it's on point! Just click HERE... I don't believe in such a thing as the blind or obedient love that religion promotes...that's entrapment. If there is no Freedom in Love, where else will you seek Liberation? Money won't liberate you! If you believe that, you become a slave to your material desires and you'll never find true fulfillment. I think Marriage should be based solely on LOVE: two individuals (who honor each others differences) that make a commitment to evolve together and can then extend their positive energies outward for the evolution of the collective.



For those of you who have chosen not to walk the beaten path in life...your wedding day should be no different! Here are some alternative wedding links:

1. Once Wed ~ This blog features mostly modest yet beautiful and creative Handmade Weddings! They even feature great DIY projects!

2. Ethical Weddings ~ An eco-chic wedding blog...for those for you who want a "Green Wedding" this is an amazing resource! They feature things like organic, vegetarian, and vegan catering ideas, vintage wedding dresses, conflict free diamonds and recycled gold! Awesome!

3. The Offbeat Bride ~ this blog rocks, it covers, tattooed brides, punk, goth and steampunk weddings, eco-weddings for bohemians and hippies, lesbian weddings from the femme "lipstick lesbians" to butch, transmasculine beings, and other gender-benders), and just about every other theme you can think of!

4. Tattooed Brides ~ more tattooed ladies & gents...

5. Wedding Skulls ~ Goth, Halloween, Steampunk, Rockabilly, Heavy Metal, and Punk Rock Weddings!

6. So You're enGAYged ~ A great resource for same sex couples. I found quite a few others out there but suprisingly enough, nothing too exciting. Prop 8 Prop 8 Prop 8...lots of that coming up. Listen folks, I know this is an important issue...but don't let it ruin your special day!!! Fuck the Government and go out and have yourself a fabulous wedding!!! All of my gay friends are artistic types and ex-club kids. I would love to see any one of them get married because I know their weddings would be totally over the top! My suggustions? Have your wedding officiated by one of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence or have your wedding at one of the many Radical Faerie Sanctuaries!

7. Interracial or Interfaith Weddings ~ There are so many resources so just google it! I think it's so important to get this right. Cultural alchemy is no easy task to pull off but balance will ensure everyone is comfortable and has a good time!

Rolling Homes

I would want mine to have some big stained glass windows. These are easy to salvage just about anywhere in the city, but maybe I could even make my own! I would just want enough space for a little kitchenette with family size dining area. And also a lounging/sleeping area...a little gypsy love den with lots of big floor pillows! I would light up the place at night with candles tucked away safely in Moroccan lanterns. It would be nice to have a lofted sleeping area for my kids to climb up into! I also want a small antique wood burning stove, like the ones they used to keep Victorian parlors or bedrooms warm. The website Antique French Stove Co. has the most beautiful stoves you've ever seen in every jewel tone color imaginable. I fancy the black one though, it's witchy!