New Years Goals

I normally dont do any goals or anything, I never seam to be able to keep them. This year is going to be diffrent. We need big changes and I have to be able to do better for my family.

• This year we will buy our own place. We plan to find at least 1-2 acres where we can set up a work shop and a place for Willow's mom. 
• New equipment: such as sewing machines and at least one embroidery and serger machine. 
• Garden Space- I really miss playing in the dirt.

Although these may not be very many goals these are the biggest and most desperately needing to do this year. Everything else will fall into place.

I dont like talking about how bad things are for us, it seams thats all there is lately. A nasty stalemate.  Well this year we plan to change it. We need it to change. 

As for Creativity Goals we plan to add Poppets, voodoo dolls, and many other great handmade items. 

Website has been updated to be able to accept Credit and Debit cards without using paypal or google checkout. 

We wish everyone a Happy New Year and may you meet your goals as well!

Winter Solstice Viking Hood

I have been very busy working on a Viking Style Hood, it is based off the reconstruction designs of actual hoods that were work by Norse and Vikings.  I actually making two hoods but the one I did traditionally is only fitting children's heads, which will have stars and hearts of bright colors. I decided to make it for my daughter but will get pics of it soon! The other one I improvised on fits small-medium woman's heads. Which it fits my head and face snugly. Which is the way they were supposed to be a snug fit. Its a work in progress design.

I am making felt Holly leaves and berries appliques to go onto one of the hoods. The hoods are made of Red Fleece and will have green satin lining.

All the following pictures are of the Winter solstice hood I am working on.

I will also be adding 2 embroidery motifs on the front and back diamond inserts one of a celtic snowflake and the other of a winter solstice sceane. All around the hood will be little embroidery snow flakes and swirls. I am making it up as I go.
More updates as they happen ~Willow~

Update December 19th
Finished all the holly leaves and berries attached onto the hood, Now the hand embroidery begins!

Update 1-7-2013 

Celtic snowflake embroidered onto white felt that will be appliqued onto the hood. All hand stitched. Embroidery design is from Urban Threads.

Update January 18th: Finally Finished, I didnt add the green satin lining it wasnt matching up so instead of swearing and cursing I just didnt add it. Oaky I admit is i did swear some.

From start to finish on time sheet took close to 88hours roughly 2 weeks. I dont think I will be doing much hand embroidery as I am slow at it.

19th Century Gentleman's Frock Coat

I found in a box a project I had started Over a year ago. I was working on it before we had to move. Well it is nearly finished. All thats left is the hand stitching, buttons and button holes. I might add some embroidery or appliques to it. But for now here is what the coat looks like.  This coat is made with Purple Velvet, my inspiration has come from Gene Wilder's Willy Wonka Movie. Mine is a lot longer then what he wore.  I plan to update this post as we finish up the coat.

I would like to here your ideas on what we can add to this coat.

Front of Coat

Back of Coat

We plan to take better pictures.

Quiver Project

Our daughter has recently acquired a bow and arrows. So now we are creating her a hip quivor. She picked the designs and colors she wanted.  She also wants to be Merida from Brave.

Its a small quiver and we are in the very beginning phases of it.

Along the top is ivy vines
On the Belt loop is her Initial in decorative script which is C.
And she chose a Unicorn Herald design which I got from Urban Threads.

Keep an Eye on this post as we will update as we get it worked on.

Main Quiver

Belt Loop

Our next phase is dying the leather and Painting the designs. This is the first time we have ever done any decorative work on leather, so keep your fingers crossed for us!

Update: March 29, 2013

The leather has been dyed and I began painting the designs.

*Update May 6th 2013*

Finally Finished!

Yule

Many of our Fans has asked us for Yule information. Well we can provide Links to good Yule Resources.

• The Solstice or Yule Tree: http://www.earthwitchery.com/yule-tree.html
• The Faeries of Yule by Edain McCoy on Llewellyn Publishings: http://www.llewellyn.com/journal/article/1805
• Yule Goat Craft: http://bythebroomstick.blogspot.com/2011/12/21-days-of-yule-day-2.html
• Celebrate The Yuletide Season: http://www.mysticvoodoo.com/Yuletide.htm

If you have any links or recipes you would like to share feel free to e-mail us sacredoak2002@yahoo.com

Altar Kits

We have created 2 Altar kits. These are designed to help the practitioner get started on there path.  Our kits are easily over $100.00 each, we are selling them for $75.00. We need to move inventory out. Our loss is your gain and with the shipping issues you are even saving more! These fit in a flat rate box which ships for $12.00 your paying $4.50 in the USA!

Each Kit contains the following:

• Bag of polished stones: Carnelian, plain jasper, moonstone, fancy jasper, amethyst, citrine, black onyx and bloodstone. Sizes may very with every kit. 
• sage smudge wand small, 
• three pieces of charcoal, 
• a charcoal burner, 
• 5 packets of our spell mixes 1/2 ounce. 4 winds, Healing spell mix, releasing spell mix, banishing spell mix, and purification spell mix. 
• Wooden altar tile gold tone pentagram, 
• A good sized pice of Dragons Blood Resin 
• a small brass altar bell approx. 1 inches tall. 

Triple Moon  and Pentagram Kits.

Free Recipe: Herbal Shampoo and Conditioner

Items needed for Shampoo:

• 1 bar of home made soap preferably one with natural herb powders and oils. We used sage
• 1 tablespoon backing soda
• 5 cups water
• 1/2 cup of dry herbs we used rosemarry its for dark hair and a natural astringent.
• Empty clean bottles and dry. Re use those old shampoo and conditioner bottles. 

1. Boil the 5 cups of water.
2. Use two bowls in one grate up your bare of soap and put in the backing soda. in the other place a coffee filter and put your herbs in the middle of the filter. Tie close. 
3. Once the water is at a full boil put 1 cup over the herbs and let them steep for 5-10 minutes. the rest poor gently over your dry soap. It will foam up! Gently stir until all de-solved let sit. Once the herbs of steeped poor the water into the soap mix and gently stir. 
4. the mix will thicken as it cools gently poor into the bottles using a funnel.
5. Shake gently before every use. I just roll it on its side. The mix may become separated or thick on top. Shaking it remixes it. In most cases I never had to shake the mix.

Herbs for Hair types:
Herbs for dark hair: Rosemary, Raspberry leaf, Nettle, Sage, Mugwort

Herbs for light hair: Chamomile, Comfrey, Elder flower, Citrus fruit peel, Calendula, Mullein, White willow bark

Herbs for red hair: Clove, Cinnamon, Henna

Herbs for oily hair: Bergamont, Lemongrass, Lemon peel, Peppermint, Strawberry leaf, White willow bark, Witch hazel

Herbs for dry hair: Chamomile, Clover, Comfrey, Elder, Melilot, Orange blossom

Conditioner:

• Apple Cider Vinegar 2 tablespoon
• 2 cup hot water
• 1/4 cup dry herbs

1. Boil up the water and poor over the herbs let steep for 10 minutes.
2. put the vinegar in the empty bottle gently poor the cool herbal water into the bottle. Gently mix and its ready to go.

Info about natural conditioners:

• Use a herbal conditioning rinse after you shampoo.  Make a herbal decoction of 1/4 cup herbs in 2 cups of water, simmer 10 minutes.  Let cool for 10 minutes then strain.  Pour the liquid over your clean wet hair.  You may rinse it out, but that is not necessary.  Let your hair air dry.  The best herbs for conditioning are Wild Cherry Bark, Nettle, Chamomile, Rosemary and Burdock Root.
• Conditioning Vinegar Rinse:  Apple Cider Vinegar is excellent for your hair; it helps to soften it, gives a great healthy shine, helps return hair to it’s natural ph and can help with dandruff.  You can simply add 1 tablespoon of vinegar to 1 cup of warm water and pour over your hair after shampooing.  Then rinse lightly with cool water.
• Herbal Vinegar Rinse: To make a herbal vinegar, bring one cup of apple cider vinegar to a boil and pour over 1 ounce of herbs (see list below).  Cover and set aside for a week, shaking it daily.  Strain and bottle.  Use just as you would apple cider vinegar.
• Essential oil conditioning brush: Lavender oil and Rosemary oil is excellent for your hair.  It gives it a beautiful shine, helps detangle and stimulates hair growth.  Simply put one drop in your hand and rub on to a natural bristle brush, then brush your hair from root to tip.
• Weekly Oil Treatment: For extra conditioning warm 1/4 extra virgin olive oil add 1-2 drops of lavender oil and massage into damp hair.  Leave in you hair for 1/2 hour (while you soak in the tub) then rinse thoroughly and shampoo as usual.

Website Back in Business

We know this post is late in coming, but our website is back up and running. We are adding inventory  weekly.
There is a shipping glitch, it is undercharging which we will leave until Mid January. This is our gift to you.
This is the last week you can order for Yule, custom items do not fall under this. The All ready to ship items still can get to you by Yule. Many of our items are great as stocking stuffers, self pampering and much more.
We can take custom orders but please be aware that you may not get them in time for Yule.

Have a Great Monday!
www.thesacredoak.com