Witches Collegium

08/26/2024

Several friends from the olden days when we used to travel to all the Crochet Guild of America, The Knitting Guild Association (TKGA), The National NeedleArts Association, and Stitches conferences have recently said how much fun it would be to get together again.

Well, I have an opportunity for all my : Whether I knew you during or after the conference heydays, you're invited to SPARKLE Studio's free Witches Collegium 3 and Mill Kat Healing Arts' Witches Ball ($20 per ticket) in Huntsville, AL.

While it's not a fiber arts retreat, it's still a great opportunity to have a reunion! Leave a comment or send me a DM if you're interested in trying to make it. If there are enough people coming, I'll try to arrange a good room discount at a local hotel.

When you're not doing witchy things, you can work on projects in the seating area at SPARKLE Studio. We can hang out together in the evenings and mornings in the hotel lobby. Remember how fun it was taking over the hotel lobby at all the conferences???

This is the week before Halloween, so you can come have fun with all your fiber friends then be home in time for Halloween festivities with your family! You can even drag your family along to Huntsville: the Witches Collegium is very family-friendly plus there are lots of fun places for other family members to experience: U.S. Space & Rocket Center, Huntsville Botanical Garden, Burritt on the Mountain, Stovehouse, Campus No. 805, Shoppes of Historic Downtown Madison, The Earlyworks Family of Museums, Monte Sano State Park Huntsville, AL, and a whole lot more fun stuff.

This is Alabama, so it may either be unseasonably hot or unseasonably cold. You never know what you're going to get around here.

07/06/2024

The Artful Agenda planner is a game-changer! As a small business owner with SPARKLE Studio, I have so many things to keep track of. It’s going to be so much easier making final plans for our upcoming 3-day event, the Witches Collegium 3, at Lowe Mill ARTS & Entertainment.

I love paper planners. However, I don’t love carrying the heavy thing around with me. I ALWAYS have my iPad with me: email, texting, iOS calendar. It doesn’t weigh nearly as much!

I’ve tried digital planners before that were PDFs that you use inside the GoodNotes app. I had to spend a lot of time finding a layout I liked, extra pages that I liked, making sure everything was hyperlinked so that anything I put in monthly view automatically went to weekly and daily, that I could easily move things around, schedule recurring events, etc. Plus, at the time, none could connect to my iOS calendar and automatically bring things in.

Then the Artful Agenda planner came through my newsfeed when a friend had liked one of their posts. I’ve had it for a few days, experimenting with the free 2-week trial. I’ve watched a few online videos. I’ve joined the FB group. I’ve added my own stickers, started to mess around with lists.

I’m going to be able to do so much with this! I can have it on my iPad, iPhone, and even Windows laptop through the computer app or a browser. I will definitely be paying for the plus subscription when my free trial ends!

Check it out and see for yourself. I’m not making anything if you do. They don’t have an affiliate program. I’m just loving those and I think you just might, too!

Artful Agenda combines the fun and personalization of a paper planner with the convenience of a digital calendar. Choose your cover design, pick your handwriting, color code events and personalize with stickers.

03/03/2024

Want to take a guess?

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/what-is-the-dominant-emotion-in-400-years-of-womens-diaries-180983834/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&utm_campaign=editorial&utm_term=2272024&utm_content=new&fbclid=IwAR0uo5_w_Or297EEhqXtfMX6Z64DH88WhmIZw_JcrCsL0vxYaQJFarwRQ6Y

A new anthology identifies frustration as a recurring theme in journals written between 1599 and 2015

07/21/2023

I am the cauldronkeeper,
the wordweaver.
I know the steeping
and the deepening,
the beauty and the pain.
I have poems in my eyes
and power in my fingertips.
I am the grovetender,
the landmender,
born of earth and sea,
sky and blood.
I have worlds beneath my skin
and stories in my feet
and mysteries in my tears.
I am the moonwalker,
the wavetalker.
I have roots between my toes,
feathers on my shoulders,
oceans in my belly,
and galaxies in my bones.
I am daughter of the stars,
sister of the moon,
child of the universe,
mother of generations.
I blaze with magic. 🔥

01/06/2023

Nollaig na mBan is an old, but not an ancient tradition, in Ireland.

On this day, the womenfolk received a much-needed rest after working so hard over the 12 days of Christmas during the holiday festivities. The menfolk took over the household tasks and childcare so that their wives, daughters and mothers could take valuable time off to celebrate together on January 6th.

Also known as 'Little Christmas', the Christian Feast of the Epiphany, the day La Bufana the 'Good Witch' arrives in Italy and Santa in many eastern European countries, Nollaig na mBan is the last day for the Christmas decorations which are taken down afterwards - not before!

So today, call up your friends, round up the women in your family and meet up together for a cuppa, a drink, a meal or a chat to celebrate the wonder, grace and fabulousness of being a women in today's world.

12/22/2022

Another message for today. ❤️

12/21/2022

Winter Solstice Blessings

Today is the longest night and the darkest day of the year.. And the knowledge that starting tomorrow.. it will get a little brighter again every single day... The returning of the Sun. ☀️

And how beautiful it is to see the sun reflect the winter landscape..

The Winter Solstice is a celebration of our creation.

It helps to be aware of the light that is slowly increasing again after today. Especially in the often still dark January and February months.

Precious Sun..

We are welcoming and honoring your returning ☀️

Since the earliest human times, it has been both natural and necessary for people to gather in the warmth and glow of community to welcome the return of light to a world surrounded by darkness. Through the imitative gesture of lighting candles and fires, we breathe new life into the spirit of hope into our hearts.

We are going to celebrate the Solstice magic tomorrow , gathering with a close group of women🕯.. with fire.. candles...music and ginger compresses (to support our health during this time of the year) ..

✨May you also be surrounded with light of any kind❄️

Lots of winter solstice love to everyone✨

Artist: Amanda Clark

12/20/2022

11/26/2022

I love this song! Take a moment to listen to it being sung by its creator!

https://www.facebook.com/watch?v=657252582665538

11/04/2022