Monday, August 19, 2013

Hibiscus Page

Here is the Hibiscus Page I made!
I used the glass from the picture frame to help press my flower in!

Tip: if window screen is unavailable a pair of hose can be used!

Home-made Paper

As Unique as You!
This easy recipe is a great way to personalize your parchment!
You will need:

  • Old newspapers, or other non-waxed paper
  • Window screen
  • Frame, use a size to fit your needs, this is how big your paper will be (a standard picture frame is fine)
  • Sm. tub, or aluminum pan (big enough for frame to fit into)
  • Mortar & Pestle, or Blender
  • Water
  • Bowl
Tear your newspaper into quarter to dime size bits.
Place in bowl of water and let it soak over night, or two nights if you like.
Drain off most of the excess water.
Take your now soggy paper fibers and grind'em to a pulp! :)
After you feel you have significantly pulverized the pieces set to the side.
Fill your pan with warm water deep enough to submerge your frame well.
Add in your pulp and mix, distributing pulp evenly in the water.
Place in your screened frame.

Lightly, raise your frame up and down, moving from side to side until your pulp has become fairly uniform in the screened portion of the frame.
Remove any clumps as necessary.
Add your own unique flare! Maybe some pressed flowers or herbs?
Who knows, the possibility are endless!

Once you are satisfied with the thickness and uniformity of your page slowly raise your frame out of the pan, allowing the excess water to drain off.
Place in a warm area for drying, or you can use a hair dryer.
Once dry peal off and,
Ta-da!
You made your own paper!

~Shine Boldly~
Mary

#recycledpaper

Friday, August 2, 2013

Last Light

Shine Boldly as you travel your path, you never know what you will find!!
 Many small steps equal a Great magical journey!
Photo By: M. Willoughby 2013


Gwyl Awst/Lughnasadh

The Feast of August!  The beginning of the Harvest festivals.
    This ancient holiday is traditionally celebrated on July 31st- Aug 1st. Mid-point between Summer solstice/Midsummer and the Autumn equinox/Mabon. Unless you strictly follow astronomical calculations for your celebrations. This year (2013) August 7th will be the astronomical mid-point.
     The Welsh call this day Gwyl awst or Calan awst, feast of August.
     The Celtic call this day Lughnasadh named for Lugus.
     In Ireland Lughnasadh is celebrated with festivals of skill and craft. Some historical Irish traditions include, trading, making contracts, and matchmaking.
     Wiccan call this day Lammas, meaning "loaf mass", or Lughnasadh, Wicca celebrations vary including aspects of multiple harvest traditions. For many this is a time of handfastings.
     Many families use this time of year to hold reunions. Fortifying traditions and also sharing and learning new skills. T-shirts, games, and activities. Always fun!
    Harvesting grain, fruits, and berries is the tradition of this holiday.
Baking bread from your first grain harvest is a commonality of many. This holiday is a time of giving thanks, a time when we see the ripening of the crops over which we have labored, reaping what we have sown.               We honor the cycles, giving thanks for the life which the Sun and Earth provide; as all of the ancient celebrations do.
     During harvest we contemplate the end of one cycle bringing life to another. Start gathering seed for the next years planting.
    As we break our bread giving thanks for this cornucopia brought forth from working with the cycles, this is also a good time to reflect on what we have sown into our life's. What we have sown into the lives of others. What skills would we like to improve on? Are the seeds we're sowing and "growing" helping us to reach our goals?
      What will you "harvest" from your "soul crop"?

~Shine Boldly~