Devotional crafts?

[stephyjh]

So, it seems that I've been asked to make a quilt in honor of one of my gods. And it wasn't the one I expected, either. I figured, with her associations with the hearth, with nurturing, with creativity, etc., that it would be Brighid who'd want a quilt, but no. The one I'm doing is a scrappy design, a dozen different black prints for a background, with silver and white star blocks and a big black/white/yellow sun block in the center, for Aengus.  The design is a reference to the myth of how he tricked his father the Dagda out of his home at Bru na Boyne, by asking to stay there for (the Dagda thought) a day and a night. (Since Old Irish has no indefinite article, what Aengus actually asked was to occupy it "day and night," i.e., forever. The story is found in Lady Gregory's Gods and Fighting Men and has always resonated with me, since my relationship with my father is beyond complicated too.) Doing it at the size that would be easiest to display in my current living situation--as in, big enough to go on my bed--is going to be a huge project, but oh well.

I mentioned the quilt in chat the other day, and a couple of people mentioned devotional projects they'd done, but I'm interested to hear more, because this is turning out to be a very enlightening experience.

[earth_dragon]

So, it seems that I've been asked to make a quilt in honor of one of my gods. And it wasn't the one I expected, either. I figured, with her associations with the hearth, with nurturing, with creativity, etc., that it would be Brighid who'd want a quilt, but no. The one I'm doing is a scrappy design, a dozen different black prints for a background, with silver and white star blocks and a big black/white/yellow sun block in the center, for Aengus.  The design is a reference to the myth of how he tricked his father the Dagda out of his home at Bru na Boyne, by asking to stay there for (the Dagda thought) a day and a night. (Since Old Irish has no indefinite article, what Aengus actually asked was to occupy it "day and night," i.e., forever. The story is found in Lady Gregory's Gods and Fighting Men and has always resonated with me, since my relationship with my father is beyond complicated too.) Doing it at the size that would be easiest to display in my current living situation--as in, big enough to go on my bed--is going to be a huge project, but oh well.

I mentioned the quilt in chat the other day, and a couple of people mentioned devotional projects they'd done, but I'm interested to hear more, because this is turning out to be a very enlightening experience.

 
I have not done any, myself, but I have plans to. I'm going to incorporate significant things (both general Wiccan, and to Brighid) in my garden next year. And there are several wood working projects I've been turning over in my head.

The quilt sounds like a marvelous idea. I can't wait to see it!

[HeartShadow]

 
I seem to be heading in that general direction with my knitting - it better not take over my knitting, or I'll be pissed.  but I've made a devotional shawl, and am looking at more *fire colors* as devotion to another.  Which isn't my normal, but hey, more yarn, right? :

[Lykaios]

I mentioned the quilt in chat the other day, and a couple of people mentioned devotional projects they'd done, but I'm interested to hear more, because this is turning out to be a very enlightening experience.

 
I work in the realm of Talismanry by request of my gods, and pretty much everything I make is devotional at this point, so this has basically become my life--to the extent that I actually started a business around my "normal" works with the express purpose of funding my spiritual works.  (A win-win: I get funds to purchase expensive supplies, as well as the opportunity to practice and enhance my techniques, while the customers get pretty jewelry :)

I actually got started in beading because of a devotional project. I made a beaded cuff depicting a golden winged scarab against a blue background. I didn't start it with the intent of dedicating it to any specific deity--I just liked the design--but it got snatched up immediately upon completion. I got similar results with other pieces I made that first year, even ones that didn't have explicitly Kemetic imagery. At one point I even got a whisper from Ma'at that she felt beadweaving was a "reflection of cosmic order and balance" and later got poked to incorporate some Kemetic-themed numerology in some of my work (beading is essentially repeated patterns of stitches on bases of 2 or 3--which means I can get iterations of 4, 8, 16, and 9 and layer them within each other--combine that with color combinations and shaped beads and you can have some fun on a symbolic level ).  

Lately I am also experimenting with the idea of the actual creation process being used as a form of prayer in and of itself.  Beadweaving, in particular, has been used as a form of prayer or meditation for hundreds of years (at least, it has among the indigenous people of North and South America and various parts of Africa). Since beadweaving is what I've always naturally tended towards, it'll be a perfect fit for me if I can get some sort of reliable structure in place.

[stephyjh]

I seem to be heading in that general direction with my knitting - it better not take over my knitting, or I'll be pissed.  but I've made a devotional shawl, and am looking at more *fire colors* as devotion to another.  Which isn't my normal, but hey, more yarn, right? :

Shad, someone in chat the other day mentioned the webcomic Worsted For Wear. You should read it.

[Malia]

So, it seems that I've been asked to make a quilt in honor of one of my gods. And it wasn't the one I expected, either. I figured, with her associations with the hearth, with nurturing, with creativity, etc., that it would be Brighid who'd want a quilt, but no. The one I'm doing is a scrappy design, a dozen different black prints for a background, with silver and white star blocks and a big black/white/yellow sun block in the center, for Aengus.  The design is a reference to the myth of how he tricked his father the Dagda out of his home at Bru na Boyne, by asking to stay there for (the Dagda thought) a day and a night. (Since Old Irish has no indefinite article, what Aengus actually asked was to occupy it "day and night," i.e., forever. The story is found in Lady Gregory's Gods and Fighting Men and has always resonated with me, since my relationship with my father is beyond complicated too.) Doing it at the size that would be easiest to display in my current living situation--as in, big enough to go on my bed--is going to be a huge project, but oh well.

I mentioned the quilt in chat the other day, and a couple of people mentioned devotional projects they'd done, but I'm interested to hear more, because this is turning out to be a very enlightening experience.

 
Before Rhiannon became my Patron(-ess?), I was considering working with both Her and Brighid. I made a necklace to symbolize Brighid--it has a golden Celtic triad pendant, two small topaz beads, and a sun-themed clasp. However, no matter what I did (or tried to do), Brighid never showed me a sign of Her existence. So now I just have a pretty necklace. :/

Rhiannon, on the other hand, was at first subtle, then frantically throwing clear evidence at me that She was there. I made a necklace for Her, and She's still here (unlike a certain hearth goddess). The necklace is also beaded, with hematite, malachite, some kind of green agate, and turquoise beads. There's also a rose charm to hold a crystalline leaf pendant. I don't wear it too often (my current wardrobe refuses to compliment it properly), but I'm thinking that it could be something to wear when I work with Rhiannon.

[SkySamuelle]

So, it seems that I've been asked to make a quilt in honor of one of my gods. And it wasn't the one I expected, either. I figured, with her associations with the hearth, with nurturing, with creativity, etc., that it would be Brighid who'd want a quilt, but no. The one I'm doing is a scrappy design, a dozen different black prints for a background, with silver and white star blocks and a big black/white/yellow sun block in the center, for Aengus.  The design is a reference to the myth of how he tricked his father the Dagda out of his home at Bru na Boyne, by asking to stay there for (the Dagda thought) a day and a night. (Since Old Irish has no indefinite article, what Aengus actually asked was to occupy it "day and night," i.e., forever. The story is found in Lady Gregory's Gods and Fighting Men and has always resonated with me, since my relationship with my father is beyond complicated too.) Doing it at the size that would be easiest to display in my current living situation--as in, big enough to go on my bed--is going to be a huge project, but oh well.

I mentioned the quilt in chat the other day, and a couple of people mentioned devotional projects they'd done, but I'm interested to hear more, because this is turning out to be a very enlightening experience.

I love devotional crafts!
 

Recently I made my first Spirit Bottle or Lwa  Boutey for one of the Lwas I serve, LaSirene. For those who don't know, in Vodou, a spirit bottle is a bottle that is dressed with symbols, fabrics and colors of a given Lwa and then it is offered to the Lwa as his/her home to inhabit.It works as both an altar piece and as an altar in itself.
It took me weeks of preparation, and it was a pain to paint it with seagreen nailpolish but I love how it turned out !
You can see it here if you want:

http://seastruckbythecrossroads.wordpress.com/2012/05/17/my-lasirene-bottle/

I also recently made a rather simple altar plaque for the Morrigan - I took an old glass picture frame, I painted it with a crisom red nailpolish and I attached my favorite image of the Morrigan at the center... it doesn't feel finished yet, and I might glue to the frame more symbols or painting black motives on the red if I find a pattern i deem appropriated, in future. I accept imputs if anyone has any ideas!

[Aine Rayne]

I seem to be heading in that general direction with my knitting - it better not take over my knitting, or I'll be pissed.  but I've made a devotional shawl, and am looking at more *fire colors* as devotion to another.  Which isn't my normal, but hey, more yarn, right? :

 
http://worstedforwear.com/?p=108

always more yarn I would LOVE to do this, but I'm pretty sure my boyfriend would not be happy about it XD and I don't even live with him yet lol

[SunflowerP]

http://worstedforwear.com/?p=108

 
So that's what Shad looks like....

Sunflower

[Aine Rayne]

So that's what Shad looks like....

Sunflower

 
I think anyone who is or knows a knitter or crocheter knows that we have a sick and twisted love of yarn XD I spent forty dollars on yarn like a month back, it's so wonderful all the yarn I have! Only some of the skeins even have plans :whis: But it's nowhere even close to close to being that picture T-T I want a yarn hill XD

[Morag]

http://worstedforwear.com/?p=108

always more yarn I would LOVE to do this, but I'm pretty sure my boyfriend would not be happy about it XD and I don't even live with him yet lol

 
So, I just read through that entire archive and linked several comics to my boyfriend, in an effort to prepare him for what living with me will be like.

[HeartShadow]

So that's what Shad looks like....

Sunflower

 
I DREAM of being able to do that!  ohhhhh.....

That said, I'm going to Fiber Fest tomorrow with a nice full wallet ..... muahahahahahahahhaha

[Aine Rayne]

I DREAM of being able to do that!  ohhhhh.....

That said, I'm going to Fiber Fest tomorrow with a nice full wallet ..... muahahahahahahahhaha

Fiber...fest...? This sounds like a magical place

[HeartShadow]

Fiber...fest...? This sounds like a magical place

 
Be jealous.  http://www.greatlakesfibershow.com/LR/

[Aine Rayne]

Be jealous.  http://www.greatlakesfibershow.com/LR/

 
That's terrible XD and I'm way jealous btw lol