An update on the projects.
(Image description: A photo of a green field filled with blue wildflowers. A tree stands on the horizon, with large, white clouds in a light blue sky.) Credit: Photo by tsuyoshi kozu on Unsplash
It’s now a week until Bealtaine, and I wanted to give an update on the projects I talked about in the last post.
I’m following through on the outlined plans for the bell branch. I found this bell branch tutorial and used it as inspiration for mine. In place of the embroidery floss, I opted to use some silver ribbon I already had.
The previous bell branch was painted with silver acrylic paint, but I like this option better. The piece of driftwood has a lovely grain and knotholes that I don’t want to cover up, at least not entirely. The ribbon will obviously cover up some of its natural beauty, but it also complements these features. I also think the metallic look will also be a nod to Brighid the Smith.
The bell branch isn’t completed yet, but I’ve strung the bells onto the ribbon. The branch still needs some sanding down in places, as I can still see some small particles of sand in the grooves of the wood. After that, I want to seal it and then wrap the ribbon and bells around it.
I’ve done a trial run of how the ribbon could be situated on it, and it seems like it’ll work out well. I’m still undecided on whether I want to use wood glue to give some extra grip to the ribbon, as doing this would make it difficult to make any changes in the future.
As for the flower crown, I still need to get the flowers and other supplies out of storage. I’m also not entirely settled on the exact style for it. The potential designs include a headband style, a more traditional crown, or even a simple clip.
While my time may be somewhat busy in the time leading up to Bealtaine, I think I will be able to complete these projects in time. Additionally, writing out my goals in this manner does motivate me to accomplish tasks. With practice, I believe that writing tasks out can help me to better focus manifesting my creativity.
Bealtaine is a period of growth until the year begins to darken again. While this association traditionally relates to crops and livestock, I think it can apply to arts and crafts as well. I’m working on the growth of my skills in order to harvest beauty later in the year and for the future.
In the next post, I will be including photos of the finished projects and discuss how my celebrations went over the course of my flamekeeping shift and Bealtaine.
Happy early Bealtaine!
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