Friday, October 31, 2014

Post Art: All Hallow's Eve

Happy Halloween to all. I like to send my tricks and treats in the mail. I always have a great time writing my greetings and crafting my envelopes. Luckily there are some great Harry Potter stamps out that I used, as well as some awesome Vintage Circus postage. I used ink, stickers, transfers, and wax seals to embellish my cards. I think I enjoy sending mail as much as receiving it. This year I sent out about a dozen Halloween greetings. And soon friends, it will be time for holiday cards!

 

 


 
I sent these cards of "The Night Circus" to many friends. By the incredible artist of the macabre, Abigail Larson. See more of her work here http://society6.com/abigaillarson


Monday, October 20, 2014

Autumn Visitors...

I could hardly believe my eyes Sunday morning when in my pond I saw my dog, Derby, swimming round and round trying to catch two frisky OTTERS! I live near a creek but have never seen otters on the creek and didn't in my wildest dreams expect them in my own pond. They frolicked and taunted my dog all day. This morning I've not seen any sign of them so I think they made their way back to the creek. Two weeks ago we got several doses of heavy rain which makes all the little streams connect and my guess is that they made their way up the snaking water and ended up visiting me. What a treat. They are such playful creatures!
 
 



 

Sunday, October 19, 2014

Writing with Fire

Pyrography is the art of writing with fire and also known as wood burning. It is something I began to dabble in last winter. Since, I've mainly done lettering for signs. I'm using a very rudimentary wood burner - I think it cost 20 bucks. I really like this art form, the contrast, the feel of singeing the wood, the scent, the texture of the finished product. But it can be hard work, tedious, dangerous if you are daydreaming and my eyes burn here and there from the little smoke created. This is a recent creation of mine for a gift. I bought an inexpensive soft wood box at Hobby Lobby for a few bucks and with a little work made it into a lovely, one of a kind gift. One day I'd like to get my hands on a better tool, that I can hold more like a pencil, that doesn't get quite so warm in my hand.
 



 

Thursday, October 16, 2014

The Dark Half

A vintage photograph of some of my relatives, discovered in an old forgotten box.
Samhain is the ancient Celtic/Gaelic festival dividing the light half of the year (summer) from the dark half (winter). Now, we now call it Halloween. Ancient people believed Samhain night to be an active time for fairies, ghosts, goblins, and other dark creatures. They wore masks to confuse the spirits, to be passed by and mistaken for one of their kind or to scare the creatures away and ward off evil. And one way or another, the tradition trickles on. Perhaps in a less reverent way, but it survives nonetheless. So don your mask and light a bonfire - I think these masks would do.
 
P.S. As an American I'm just learning that Samhain should be prounounced as "sah-ween" or "sah-win" or the like. Oh, the mysteries of old Gaelic.

Pumpkins & Paint

Some festive fall windows I recently painted:
 



Saturday, October 11, 2014

Elk Lines

              
 
Story weaver Sylvia V. Linsteadt is spinning a new tale. Elk Lines is a re-mything, a rewilding of "The Handless Maiden", a Hungarian folk tale. The entwined story of the mystical Elk People of Point Reyes, California and the tale of Eda Crost will come in eight installments by mail at each of the Celtic festival dates. The first two were delightful. Here in the woods I read the first installment with fire and kettle. If only I could take part in this ritual each time. Elk Lines are lovingly packaged and sent in an envelope adorned with stamps  hand drawn by Sylvia, inspired by the tale. The tale is tied with a spun yarn of wool and accompanied by a note to the reader about the Celitic festival date upon which the tale has arrived. Also to be unfolded is a hand drawn map of Point Reyes and a Feral Palm Reading with watercolor painting. The story thus far is mystical, poignant, enchanting, and well written. It is steeped in myth, ecology, animal lore and a love and yearning for the wild world.  
 
In an era that has forgone so many tangible joys, it is a delight to receive these treasures in the mail, carefully open and unfold them, and then sit and enjoy a tale. I am one of few that still write letters and send things in the post but it is time to rekindle this tradition. It is such a joy and one you can unfold anytime you like to enjoy again.
 
Read more about Elk Lines or sign up here. Visit Sylvia's charming blog The Indigo Vat here to read get a deeper look into her inspirations and projects. If you are interested in shorter stories by mail for adults of children look at Sylvia's Grey Fox Epistles and Leveret Letters here.  You can sign up any time.


 
Here are some of Sylvia's Pictures of her creations:
 

A Feral Palm Reading
 

Wednesday, October 8, 2014

Harvest Bounty

Just stocked in Traveling Chariot's Etsy Shop -
 
A forest gathering of Autumn's colorful bounty: ripe persimmons and myriad acorns. The exquisite colors and textures of Autumn are captured in this 8 x 10 Fine Art Photograph. Be ushered into the forest beneath the gilt and burnished trees, leaves dazzling down.


https://www.etsy.com/listing/206479473/bounty-8-x-10-fine-art-photograph?ref=shop_home_active_1

Monday, October 6, 2014

Bounty

 
Autumn is upon us and it is a shame to be inside. The colors are changing before my eyes and the harvest of the wildwood is quite the bounty. I have an inkling that the woods and the critters know the winter will be harsh. There are more berries, fruits, and nuts on our land than I've ever seen before. Perhaps it is because we are taking good care of them but they might know something we don't. I've been gathering what the woods has to offer, partly to eat, partly to enjoy the colors and textures of autumn in my home. I've also been spying lots of crawling critters. A few weeks back I tried my hand at weaving a basket in the most amateur way. But it holds up and has a wonky charm to it. I hope I'm not the only one pausing to enjoy the bounty of Autumn, the see her colors, feel her breeze, and walk beneath a shower of gilt leaves.



 
 


 
 
 



Little Black Quills & Books to Fill

Newly listed in Traveling Chariot's Etsy Shop are new quills - only one large but many little black quills with fine points. Quills always come with nice paper, a writing grid, and a one of a kind cedar stand. Also new on my shelves are a few books: the Royal Pocket Wanderer, the small but Long Letter, and the teeny Tiny Wee Woodsman

https://www.etsy.com/listing/206162010/royal-wanderer-travelers-pocket-journal?ref=listing-shop-header-3
The Royal Wanderer

https://www.etsy.com/listing/206162010/royal-wanderer-travelers-pocket-journal?ref=listing-shop-header-3
Interior of The Royal Wanderer

https://www.etsy.com/listing/206165118/the-long-letter-travelers-pocket-journal?ref=listing-shop-header-2
The Long Letter - Traveler's Pocket Journal
 
https://www.etsy.com/listing/206165118/the-long-letter-travelers-pocket-journal?ref=listing-shop-header-2
Interior of the Long Letter Journal

https://www.etsy.com/listing/206188213/the-wee-woodsman-traveling-tiny-journal?ref=listing-shop-header-0
The Wee Woodsman


Love & Letters

Here is a custom address book I recently completed for an Etsy customer. I was thrilled to be asked to create a gift for a wedding anniversary. The traditional gift for the anniversary was leather so an address book fit the bill. The customer and I worked out all the details and I was even able to personalize the inside cover for them. I love the embossed leather in combination with the gold leafed leather spine. The gold scroll end papers compliment the rest. I love the final result and my customer did too. Such a treat to create something special that will be around for a long while.




Sunday, October 5, 2014

Black Belt

A downtown window sign I painted for Aurora Martial Arts on Locust in Aurora, MO