I'm sure all of us have made chaplets for our heads at Beltane and the like. How simple can you get? No? Hmm. I'll have to make a note to tell you how. Lovely things.
Anyway...
Making a seasonal garland is as simple as braiding hair. Easier, in fact. Here's what you do. I'm going to assume you have access to *some* natural items like small branches of leaves and perhaps a few flowers, but not nearly enough to make a garland longer than the length of a coven's altar. Certainly not enough to encircle the magic space, if you desire to make a physical symbol of your will.
You'll need a length of rope at least long enough to cover your desired size, plus approximately one foot. I recommend cotton clothesline. Not only is it cheap, it's a natural material.
The greenery you've collected.
Silk flowers to fill in the gaps. Watch dollar stores for bargains, then fill in with a few very good pieces from craft stores if you need to save money.
Florist's wire or if you're really tight for money, use twine rolled up until it fits easily in your hand.
One permanent marker
Tie one end of the rope to the leg of a table, or at minimum a door knob and work while sitting on the floor. Double the rope up until you find the middle and mark it with the marker. This is your ending point. Lay the first bit of greenery near the doorknob or table leg and facing toward the end. Tie it down tightly, leaving the wire intact. Lay the next bit right up against it and wrap the wire to secure the greenery there. Contine adding greenery and wrapping unti the stem overlaps your middle mark. Stop. Tie off or cut the wire securely.
Now go to the other end and repeat the sequence, covering the rope with greenery in a pleasing pattern. Save one of the prettiest and fullest bits for the center to finish it off. I made one for Yule years ago, and we still use it now and then. They're pretty durable with care.
If you wish, you may also wrap the garland loosely with wired ribbon, feathered boas, or whatever suits your needs. While I never did this, another coven took the time to "write in Theban certain protective words and symbols on the wired ribbon." I learned of it when their HPS came to thank me for sharing the technique. (You'd be amazed what happens when you get three or more HPS' in the same room over coffee. No coven secrets of course! Just shared fun no worse than a gaggle of women at a quilting bee.)
I recommend storing the garland in a wreath holder, or a plastic tote. Take off the real greenery first. Silk greenery is best for long-term use, and you can add to the garland as money allows.
Lena
Anyway...
Making a seasonal garland is as simple as braiding hair. Easier, in fact. Here's what you do. I'm going to assume you have access to *some* natural items like small branches of leaves and perhaps a few flowers, but not nearly enough to make a garland longer than the length of a coven's altar. Certainly not enough to encircle the magic space, if you desire to make a physical symbol of your will.
You'll need a length of rope at least long enough to cover your desired size, plus approximately one foot. I recommend cotton clothesline. Not only is it cheap, it's a natural material.
The greenery you've collected.
Silk flowers to fill in the gaps. Watch dollar stores for bargains, then fill in with a few very good pieces from craft stores if you need to save money.
Florist's wire or if you're really tight for money, use twine rolled up until it fits easily in your hand.
One permanent marker
Tie one end of the rope to the leg of a table, or at minimum a door knob and work while sitting on the floor. Double the rope up until you find the middle and mark it with the marker. This is your ending point. Lay the first bit of greenery near the doorknob or table leg and facing toward the end. Tie it down tightly, leaving the wire intact. Lay the next bit right up against it and wrap the wire to secure the greenery there. Contine adding greenery and wrapping unti the stem overlaps your middle mark. Stop. Tie off or cut the wire securely.
Now go to the other end and repeat the sequence, covering the rope with greenery in a pleasing pattern. Save one of the prettiest and fullest bits for the center to finish it off. I made one for Yule years ago, and we still use it now and then. They're pretty durable with care.
If you wish, you may also wrap the garland loosely with wired ribbon, feathered boas, or whatever suits your needs. While I never did this, another coven took the time to "write in Theban certain protective words and symbols on the wired ribbon." I learned of it when their HPS came to thank me for sharing the technique. (You'd be amazed what happens when you get three or more HPS' in the same room over coffee. No coven secrets of course! Just shared fun no worse than a gaggle of women at a quilting bee.)
I recommend storing the garland in a wreath holder, or a plastic tote. Take off the real greenery first. Silk greenery is best for long-term use, and you can add to the garland as money allows.
Lena
No comments:
Post a Comment