2007 SAMHUINN/BELTANE CRAFTS ENTRIES

[Earthwoman]

Notice: Please add your original crafts for the current Eisteddfod here, and post any comments into the appropriate feedback thread. Entries for this category include three-dimensional objects crafted by hand, such as wands, staves, athames, jewelery, altars, shrines, and so forth, but excluding sculpture. Generally speaking, craft items would be used for some purpose, as opposed to art created to be viewed.

[Fiach MacMara]

I have shown these pictures previously but not for this purpose. This is the altar / chest that I made for my personal project upon entrance to the Bardic grade. It is made from Pine and measures 3ft in length by 1 ft width by 1 ft height. It has been stained with a Mahogany stain. I am in the process of adding some pyrography to it but my intention is that this will be an ongoing process throughout my Bard course.

[Rhodonit]

I have been thinking for quite a while about if my mantle is more ranging in "Physical Arts" or in "Craft" and I hope I made the right decision.

I made this mantle in July and it is the first thing I ever sewed. After visiting a very special and beloved old place of mine in times of trouble and fear, I had the intension to craft something very special as an offering. (Oh, and it has not been easy to finish it: I've had a broken sewing machine and it took me a while to get a new one. For a while I tried to sew by hand but----- wow! I suppose I wouldn't be ready YET! *lol* ) And that's it. After finishing I gave it into the woods, with prayers and in thanks.

Hope you like it!

Edit: Still doesn't work with the pics as I wished it to, but ... maybe... we'll see. -.-
Edit 2: Finally I managed to put the third pic in. -.-

[Silver Owl]

I have made a fair few of these necklaces and it is a constant work in progress. I am constantly working on different ideas where they are concerned. Each one has a phial with the healing water from Chalice Well or the White Spring or a mixture of both from Glastonbury. Also each has different stones used. This one was made especially for my best friend, it has Lapis Lazuli stones, chips and Hematite stars.
Every one that I have made are unique

Silver Owl

[Abhaill]

ELEMENTAL STRAND

Over the years I've done an extensive amount of work with the elements. This is a strand I made a month or so ago, representing 30 elements, grouped into six main categories. Each element is represented by 9 stone beads, and each 9 is separated from the next by brass spacers. The strand can be worn as a necklace, bracelet, belt, and/or displayed as a six-petaled rosette, as shown in the attachment below.

The following provides a closer look at each of the elements via links, and correspondences of the stones used to represent each element by category:

EARTH: http://www.paintedred.com/abhaill/Earth.jpg
Soil – Mahogany Obsidian, Stone – Moss Jasper, Ore – Brass, Mineral – Yellow Crazy Lace Agate, Fossil – Red Coral

AIR: http://www.paintedred.com/abhaill/Air.jpg
Exosphere – Clear Onyx, Sky – Rose Quartz, Wind – Nevada Jade, Thermal – Peridot, Gas – Smoky Quartz

FIRE: http://www.paintedred.com/abhaill/Fire.jpg
Lightning – Labradorite, Flame – Gold-Painted Glass, Lava – Carnelian, Magma – Red Agate, Core – Tiger Iron

WATER: http://www.paintedred.com/abhaill/Water.jpg
Cloud – White Crazy Lace Agate, Dew – Serpentine, Glacier – Howlite, River – Moss Agate, Ocean – Turquoise

SPIRIT/CENTRE: http://www.paintedred.com/abhaill/Centre.jpg
Heart – Rhodonite, Mind – Rhyolite, Soul – Mother of Pearl, Blood – Garnet, Breath – Clear Fluorite

CIRCLE: http://www.paintedred.com/abhaill/Circle.jpg
Sun – Citrine, Moon – Moonstone, Star – Clear Quartz, Planet – Bronze Freshwater Pearl, Space – Black Onyx

~ Abhaill

[GreenOak]

This is my new wallet in stamped leather. I wanted something I could use as a focus when travelling as I often spend a lot of time on long train journeys.

The majority of the time was spent making the design and getting symbology I was happy with. The central motif is a variant on the druidcraft symbol but with the two knot circles to represent the four elements. The two oak leaves are there because, well, I like oaks.

[Cosmic Ash]

Here is my entry, some slippers I have knitted to keep my toesies warm now the colder weather is coming. I knitted them from a pattern I bought using british wool dyed with all natural dyes (that I also bought). These are the first thing I have knitted in many years, and I am very pleased with the way they have turned out!