SOLSTiCE and WiNTER is upon us !

HAPPY SOLSTiCE

There's nothing like...

a bonfire to celebrate a fire festival !

Its Winter Solstice and I began the bonfire a couple of hours before the climax... three times i re-stacked the large pile and the well pleased Sun put His hat on to thank us for the offering.

There's a tradition here at Twilight... On the eve of Solstice, the trees in the Winter Spiral are adorned with ornaments... They were handmade by me using heavy gauge copper wire and large decorative crackled marbles.

The marbles 'charge up' during the summer months when the sun is at His peak and then radiate out their energy in the fallow months. Apart from being festive, their primary symbolic function is to encourage the Sun to rebirth and provide us with another year of warmth and light.

Red and triangular shapes represent the element of Fire.

Dark blue & the Moon represents the water element.

Green and square shapes represent the element of Earth.

Light blue & Star represents the air element.

"White the sheep that gave the wool

Green the pastures where they fed

Blue and scarlet side by side

Bless the warp and bless the thread

May the charm of lasting life

Be upon your flocks in full

From the hill where they rest

May they rise both whole and well

Bless the man who wears this cloth

May he wounded never be

From the bitter cold and frost

May this cloth protection be

Now is walked the web we spun

Winter storms may rage in vain

Bless the work by which we won

Comfort from the wind and rain"

(old Scottish waulking song adapted by Susan McKeown)

Catching up... TREASURY FEATURE THANKS !

GRATiTUDE to all those folks who take the time to feature Brizel's goodies !

A lovely celestial Treasury called Moon and Stars, created by BitofEarth, which features one of Brizel Handcrafts's Silk Tapestry Table Pouches !

A delicious lacy Treasury called Feel of a Lady, created by the infamous DCHStudio, which featured a gorgeous violet star Czech glass button... from brizelsupplies !

A fun vintage item Treasury called Ready Set Go, created by amanda0h, which featured a lot of glitzy rhinestone buttons from brizelsupplies !

Another celestial moment for Brizel Handcrafts, with treasury mistress Peylu, creating a fun treasury featuring a Brizel Silk Tapestry Table Pouch.

Remembering our dead... ANCESTOR ALTAR 2009

Like any other time of year... the Wheel turns and the season changes bringing its unique and precious gifts...

By the time October draws to its end and depending on when the dark of the moon climaxes... I've unpacked and created a special altar dedicated to those who have passed on to the 'Apple Lands'.

My Ancestor altar items are otherwise stored in a very special cedar chest... something that I 'inherited' from Gabriel... the one who 'taught me' how to reach those who were departed from this world... those souls who meant something to me... or vice versa.

I look forward to restoring the chest one of these years...

This year I decided to create the Ancestor altar in the entry way to the dome... and I was very excited to pull from my fabric repositary...

... this wonderful Michael Miller spiral skull design.

Every year I prune some part of one of my olive trees and this year i had an immense main branch that needed to be cut... so i waited for the right day and here it is with a large array of ripe black Italian olives. I think my Italian ancestors are very pleased with this substantial offering :)

I have been building my collection of Day of the Dead statuettes for some years now. These are awesome ceramic pieces that are created in Peru and have become a major part of my Ancestor Altar.

A market woman holds flowers in the front of her skirt... she wears a hat that is home to a bird and her nest... at her back she wears a backpack full of flowers.

November 18th is my paternal grandmother's birthday... i was able to harvest some red & white roses from the Spiral Garden to honor her memory. I also made her a cup of lemon ginger tea !

A group of six musicians play music to keep the altar festive... my maternal grandfather was an oboe player and musician... I wish i had had the honor of hearing him play.

Animals surround the players: on the right... a mama cat holding her four dead kittens; on the left... a guardian angel cat wearing a top hat; at the front... a cat storyteller musician with his kittens; and a dog all dressed up for the occasion !

Death, Love and Chastity flanking a wedding couple representing my paternal grandparents...

There is also a photo of a self-portrait painted by my art professor & mentor, Garrett Boone.

A circle of village women keep another wedding couple company... photos of my maternal grandparents and also a pictorial representation of my twin sister.

Justice flanks a ceramic bottle of olive oil made in the Calabria region of Italy.

Photos of my feline daughters and sons: Pat, Blinks... Tillie and Tara... Moonstone, Tammy, Jezebelle and Chelsea... All precious to me... and I still miss each one of them !

This year, I was able to find a canine for the altar. I grew up with two Irish setters and today, I have three dogs in my animal pack and family. I hope they will be with me for a long time... even Dingo, who is currently 17 years old !

And finally a photograph of me... all dressed up to honor my Ancestors and sacred dead...

YOU are not forgotten and my deepest thanks... for you have made me a better person. As I celebrate your memories this winter may your love & wisdom find their way into my consciousness. HO !

***

I want to thank my Etsy friend Laura, from lkfarnsworth, for creating the Ancestor necklace for me and also to Lisa, from Cerublu, for another gorgeous hat. Please click on their store names to visit their wonderful shops !

an introduction to... Brizel Silk Tapestry Table Pouches

Brizel Silk Tapestry Table Pouches are handcrafted & individually unique pouches made with silk yarn and/or banana silk yarn.

Brizel Silk Tapestry Table Pouches are bags created to store something extra special...

... perhaps for housing some divination tools or Tarot cards;

or... for some other kind of ceremonial tools;

or... maybe for a rosary or prayer beads; fine jewelry or even a pearl necklace;

or... perhaps for your personal diary or poetry book;

or... for some irreplaceable photographs;

or... for a special ancestor heirloom or keepsake...

A table pouch is for storing whatever feels sacred & important to you !

When considering a table pouch... think about what you’d like to put in it... for example... if its a tarot deck then will it be in its original box or wrapped in a cloth ? would you like to have the original tarot booklet stored in there ? or perhaps a notebook ?

Brizel Silk Tapestry Table Pouches have been made bigger to accommodate those types of things :) They are very thick and have no sides... so their interior space is smaller than the external finished size.

Inspired originally by ancient rug bags, Brizel Silk Tapestry is a technique that was developed to create woven rug-like thickness. Since I work in spiral formation, I adapted upon crochet... each thick silk yarn loop must be pulled tightly before the next one can be made... making the creation of a Brizel Silk Tapestry piece both a conscientious & effortful act. A Brizel table pouch typically takes around 10hrs to complete.

The silk yarn that is used to create Brizel’s Silk Table Pouches is made from reclaimed silk threads and loom warps, left overs from a silk garment factory... which are reclaimed and hand spun into this gorgeous yarn by Nepalese and Himalayan craftswomen. Some of the pouches also have some banana silk- a silk like yarn made from banana fibers - yet another lovely eco-friendly product !

Brizel Silk Table Pouches have a gorgeous colorful design at the front: usually a sun, a moon, or an all-seeing eye... sometimes a large spiral motif or a yoni gateway. Brizel Silk Tapestry Table Pouches have been created to store something extra special and whatever you decide to put in it, a table pouch will keep those things safe - out of sunlight and out of immediate reach- inside a thick silk tapestry bag which can be displayed on a coffee table, mantle piece, bed side table or altar space.

The pouches close at the back with a flap and are secured with two large colorful vintage buttons, often with spiral motifs. The spiral reflects the numenous nature of life, mirroring the direction in which the pouches are made. Brizel Silk Tapestry Table Pouches are very thick, like a rug bag, substantial in weight and often weighing between 150 and 200 grams !

Each Brizel Silk Tapestry Table Pouch has my special Brizel logo: a lilac faux swede label with the Brigit cross, rising sun and full moon, to assure you that this pouch is handmade by me. Please dry clean only !

If you are interested in purchasing an original Brizel Silk Tapestry Table Pouch... please visit the Brizel Handcrafts store !

ALL iMAGES designs CONTENT

©2008-2009 Nicole Planchon /

Brizel Handcrafts ALL rights reserved

BRiGHTHAVEN nominated for CHARiTY of the MONTH

I am absolutely delighted that my BrightHaven nomination for the month of November was chosen by the Radomizer... and here we are... Team EFA (Etsy for animals) are raising money through our sales to benefit this wonderful organization !

When you have a moment, please visit their web site: http://www.brighthaven.org
There is a wonderful video introduction on their front page.


Their mission statement reads: "BrightHaven is dedicated to the rescue, care and enhancement of the lives of senior and disabled animals. We are also dedicated to a program of research and education, arising from the miraculous results we have seen, when the balance of natural feeding, holistic care and modern medicine are used in a loving family environment."

"BrightHaven is a Healing Arts Center for animals and our primary focus is to educate the public on the many natural alternatives to conventional health care or euthanasia."

"Our focus is, in particular that of hospice care and transition itself. Over the last fifteen years we have offered both sanctuary and hospice care to hundreds of animals, and wish now to use our experience to help others care for their senior or special needs animals."

"Currently BrightHaven is home to 34 cats, four dogs, four horses, a pig, two goats and a number of farmyard birds and the work load is intense! These animals and birds are our close family members and we journey through their care we are constantly learning more and more and find ourselves very well able to offer advice based upon our experiences."

"We are extremely hopeful that, through our program of education others will now come forward to open their hearts and homes as we have done and continue this extraordinary mission we have begun."

"We also envisage that, as the word is spread both by us and also the ever changing and growing veterinary community, that many will undertake the care at home of their senior or special needs pets."

Many members of EFA (Etsy for Animals) will give part of their profits to help this wonderful cause...

Our team leader Michele, Etsy store owner mvegan5 created this wonderful treasury to spread the word throughout Etsy !


My Thanks to all my fellow EFA members !

*Photos reproduced by kind permission of BrightHaven

Celebrate the Season ETSY TREASURY FEATURE

Sponsored by KisforCalligraphy... Thank you for featuring one of Brizel Handcraft's Hip Button Belts... a lovely willow green belt dedicated to Virgoan energy.

To visit Brizel's Handcrafts store- please click HERE to get to there !

To view this particular product- please click on photo !

Greetings from the Spiral Garden @Twilight

Greetings from the heart of the Spiral Garden !

At the very center of this 80' diameter Spiral Garden... which path and accompanying flower bed winds three times before reaching a 40' center... lies a heart made of reclaimed grey bricks...

At its very center rises a iron wrought heart shaped spiral staircase which base is weighed down by heart shaped rocks...

This is a special place and especially at this time of year... when the golden grasses desiccated from the long summer's heat... are renewed by the first rains.

For us, in Northern California, we are beginning our green season... and whilst it may be short lived before a few white days will cover this lush carpet... it is a time of renewal and hope.

The passion flowers are blooming amidst the lavenders and rose hips... perhaps the last big show before the cold will settle on the land.

Bees are still coming and going...

Caressing the floral tendrils in their lovely dance...

bringing joy and goodness into their homes...

Samhain Blessings from Twilight !