Why Gaelic not Celtic when you chose your name?

I wish I had a dollar for every time we've been asked this over the years. We wouldn't be rich, but it could sure come in handy! Believe me this was something we deliberated about for quite a while before we finally chose Gaelic Knot Studio as our official name. That choice was made a few years ago and if it was to be made today it would be even more difficult.

According to our dictionary the word Celtic can be pronounced both kel-tic or sel-tic. It can also be spelled Keltic. As a  noun it is a subfamily of the Indo-European family of languages subdivided into the Brythonic branch consisting of Cornish, Welsh and Breton, and the Goidelic branch consisting of Irish Gaelic, Scottish Gaelic and Manx. As an adjective it means; Of or pertaining to the Celtic people or languages.

One of the strongest influences for our name choice was the pronounciation issue associated with the word Celtic. We prefer it with the "K" sound and didn't feel like continually debating which is more correct. Considering much of our focus was on our Irish and Scottish heritage we decided to go with a less used version. So we chose Gaelic Knot Studio. It is who we are and how we are known. Since that time we have discovered our family line also includes a strong Cornish branch and possibly a Welsh branch as well. In general we celebrate our Celtic heritage as well as a very strong love of nature in our work. 

A Clover by Any Other Name

My daughter Skye found two Five Leaf Clover in our back yard today. Not one, but two of them growing side by side on the same cluster of Clover. I've never found anything but the usual three leaves every time I've ended up near a Clover plant and took the time to look. In one quick glance down, Skye happened upon two of the rare deformities. Needless to say it started me thinking.

To begin with when I was younger there would not have been a "weed" of any kind allowed to grow in our grass, so the chances of me finding any Clover at all would have been very slim. My Dad was a real stickler about weed killer and fertillizer. My how times have changed. Now we're more concerned with what type of chemicals are getting into our ground water and sewer system so we try to use environmentally kind weed control.

Aside from the whole environmental issue the scientic name for Clover is Trifolium and it belongs to the same family as the Irish Shamrock. The ones we actually purchase special from the florist in the beginning of March! The Shamrock is a particular variety of Trifolium.

Trifolium is a Latin word that very literally means three leafed.  There are about three hundred different species of Trifolium, including Clover and Shamrock. Some of the other names it's known by are Honey, Honeystalks, Shamrock, Three-Leafed Grass, Trefoil and Trifoil.

Most people know the lore of a four-leafed clover supposedly bringing good luck, however that's not the only magic surrounding this legendary plant. Some of it's powers include protection, money, love, fidelity, exorcism and success.

Two-Leaved - you shall soon find a lover.

Three-Leaved - worn for protection

Four-Leaved - protects against madness, strengthens psychic abilities, enables you to detect the presense of ghosts and leads the wearer to money, gold or treasure.

Five-Leaved - powerful for attracting money

White Clover worn or scattered around protects against hexes. Red Clover aids in dealing with financial matters and removes negative spirits. Clover in general is believed to keep snakes away if grown on your property. One more fact against the tale of Saint Patrick's ridding Ireland of snakes. Where there are Shamrocks there would not have been snakes to begin with. Of course many feel it was the Driuds he was talking about not the reptiles.

Clover has many uses in agriculture and Livestock raising, including feed, fertilizer and soil restoration. It's easily grown as ground cover and comes back even when mowed repeatedly and is very imortant in the production of Honey. The next time you spot a clump of clover in your garden, look it over a bit closer. You never know what you might find.

Sunday, the day of the Sun!

Happy Sunday to all! Since today is named for the Sun it's seems like a good time to discus the Ogham (pronounced oh-am, the g is silent) of Oak. Oak is thought to be associated with the Sun and the element of fire. It is known as Duir and represents the letter "D". It is written as two slashes on the left side of a vertical line.

Ogham is an ancient Celtic alphabet that may have originated far back in pre-history with a group of people who many feel are only a myth themselves, the Tuatha De Danann. It is the Tuathan God of Elloquence, Oghma who is crediteded with development of the Ogham. The Tuatha are often refered to as the last "magical" race of Ireland and were considered to be the inhabitants prior to the arrival of the Celts. Though they were originally said to have been taller than average, in modern times it is the Tuatha who are associated with the diminutive faeries and nature spirits. Tolkin based his "Elves" on the Tuatha De Danann in his books The Hobbit and The Lord of The Rings.

In early writings the ogham were thought to have been a secret message system carved into sticks and delivered by special courriers to pass information from behind enemy lines then burned. Sadly this is only theory since any wooden objects used would have long ago been destroyed. Ogham inscriptions have been found on stones in Ireland and other areas of the Brittish Isles dating back as far as the fifth century and are said to often mark land borders. There have even been a few discovered in North America! Although many attempts have been made to relate the Ogham to the Germanic Runes, the Ogham names are very Irish and have not been borrowed from any other language.

There is much lore surrounding the Oak tree. It is considered to be the "King of the Woodlands" and tallest of the trees, which may explain associations with the sun. The Oak can reach a height of one hundred and fifteen feet with a girth between thirty to forty feet! Oaks can have lifespans of over seven hundred years  and does not produce acorns for the first seventy to eighty, it is considered one of the longest living trees in the Northern Hemisphere and there are approximately six hundred species of Oak in the world.

Believed to have been sacred to the ancient Celtic Druids, who supposedly would not meet unless an Oak was present, many feel the word druid literally means "oak wisdom". Newgrange, the mystical center of Ireland, was anciently reputed to have an Oak grove at it's heart. The sacredness of this tree may also be attributed to it's dietary contribution as acorns were dried and ground to produce flour throughout the Brittish Isles and Europe. Wild pigs were very fond of the acorns and often found forraging beneath oaks, so indirectly the oak provided meat as well. Wild Boar is thought to have been a traditional feast and celebration food for the Tuatha De Danann. Hunting wild boar was considered an act of skill and bravery, a place of honor went to the warrior who was accredited with the kill.

 The Oak has been long valued for it's wood in the building of houses, ships and furniture, as well as high-quality charcoal for smith's forges. Tannin, produced by the bark is widely used in the process of tanning leather. Because of it's height oaks often attract lightening, yet it survival is well proven by the number of twisted and blasted oaks. Because of this the Oak has long been associated with gods of thunder in numerous mythologies of the world. The wood burns long and was generally preferred for ritual fires at Summer Solstice celebrations. A tree of such great strength a nail cannot be driven into it once the heartwood is aged.

In folk medicine acorns and crushed oak leaves were used as antiseptics. Gargling with a tea made from the inner bark is claimed to relieve a sore throat. Oak was also used to create remedies for fever, tired or inflamed eyes, an antidote for poison, plus pain and discomfort during a women's menstrual cycle!

Magically the Oak seems to naturally emanate protection. Two twigs of oak, bound in red thread to form an equal-armed cross are supposed to guard against evil and should be hung inside the house. Placing acorns in windows guards against lightening. Carrying a piece of oak protects from all harm and draws good luck. Carrying an acorn is said to preserve youthfulness, increase fertility and strengthen sexual potency. Religous idols were often fashioned from oak. Planting an acorn during the dark of the moon is claimed to ensure money will come to you soon. Here's a fun one for an autumn afternoon with children; catch a falling oak leaf and you shall have no colds all winter!

To find out more about the Ogham and the lore of the trees very good sources of information are:
Ogam, The Celtic Oracle of the Trees by Paul Rhys Mountfort
Celtic Tree Mysteries, Practical Druid Magic & Divination by Steve Blamires
Druid Magic, The Practice of Celtic Wisdom by Maya Magee Sutton Ph.D. and Nicholas R. Mann
Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs by Scott Cunningham

Five Reasons To Hang A Wreath on Your Door!

The tradition of hanging aWreath on the door has been around for centuries and you can find a wreath almost any where, especially going into autumn or the winter holiday season. They come in many styles, sizes and colors for just about any season or occation, but why should you hang a wreath on your front door? Here are five good reasons, though I'm sure there are actually many more.

1. To greet and welcome guests to your home.
What a beautiful way to help family and friends feel welcome to your home. By hanging a wreath on your door you show you care and truly welcome them.
2. To give your home more Curb Appeal!
A beautiful wreath hung on your door really dresses up your entry way and the front of your house. Chose one that is large enough to be seen from the street and compliments the colors of your home.

3. To set you house or apartment door off so visitors can find you easier.
In many neighborhoods the houses are so identical it's difficult to spot your own house or townhome. A bright wreath could make your place stand out in the crowd for visitors trying to find you for the first time.

4. To celebrate a special occation

What a great way to decorate for any holiday or special occation. Hang a festive wreath on your door before your next gathering and let the fun begin.

5. To protect your home from evil spirits and negativity!

Yes, I said evil spirits and negativity. Willow, a very traditional wreath material in the Brittish Isles because it grows profusely there, is said to have protective properties that can ward off evil spirits and negativity.

It may be true, you can find wreaths everywhere. However if you're looking for a truly special wreath, one that is different from the rest check out the wreaths my daughter and I make at Gaelic Knot Studio. What makes a wreath from Gaelic Knot Studio so different you ask?

All of our Wreaths at Gaelic Knot Studio are truely handmade. Many are even one of a kind to the point that the silk flowers we've used to decorate it are no longer available! We cut all of our own Weeping Willow and Grapevine, with respect and honor for the living plant, then hand-wrap the wreaths ourselves. Because of the hand-wrapping each of our wreaths are different, no two branches in nature are formed the same, nor do they bend or wrap the same. This gives our wreaths a rustic, old time, country charm. They aren't perfect, some are round, some come out more oval in shape. Some resemble a teardrop and a few are a bit flat on one side, but each one is 100% natural, has its own character and made is in the USA with local material.

Here in the United States Grapevine seems to be the most popular wreath material, so we try to keep a variety of Grapevine wreaths on hand. We prune our vine in the autumn, letting it grow throughout spring and summer, so sometimes in late summer our stock gets a bit low. We're just about due to harvest our vine, after wrapping the newly made wreaths will need to cure in the still warm sunshine until they're dry and ready to decorate. Most store bought grapevine wreaths have the curly little tendrils cut off. Sure, they tangle together if your not careful and they can be a real pain at times. However they are part of what gives Grapevine it's unique look and character, so we try leave some of them on. We want our customers to know they've gotten a real honest to goodness Grapevine wreath!

The other wreath material we use for our wonderfully unique wreaths is Weeping Willow. Weeping Willow is a very flexible wood that can easily be bent and shaped. It gives us the ability to create something a bit different than what you can find elsewhere. Most of our willow wreaths are created with a knot in the center of them, traditional unending circular shape has a three looped Trinity knot center. The number three being concidered sacred to the ancient Celtic people and representative of the divine, there are numerous triple dieties in Celtic spirituality.

Willow grows profusely in the Brittish Isles, the land of much of our ancestry and in ancient times grapevine did not grow there. In Britain, willow is the most traditional wood for wreaths. It was also believed Willow had a protective nature and when placed on a door it would keep evil spirits and negativity from entering the home. This may even be why the tradition of putting a wreath on a door originated, they were pretty and protective as well.

Because of their endless circular shape, like the undying love of a couple about to take their vows, wreaths have long been considered as traditional as rings at weddings. Worn as circlets on heads, as bracelets and used as decorations too. A wreath or two can be used to greet guests at the ceremony, the reception and at your home afterwards. They also make wonderful housewarming gifts for a new couple embarking on their new life together. Our wreaths are long lasting, can be stored then brought out year after year to help you celebrate your anniversary and remember the magic of a very special day.

We feel weaths are an investment and should be saved to dress up your door or wall above a fireplace for more than one holiday or season, we have chosen to decorate our wreaths with long lasting silk flowers instead of live or dried flowers. Silks will stay fresh and beautiful looking for many seasons to come. We try to find the most realistic looking flowers and folliage that are truly beautiful and as unique as our wreaths.

Each  of our wreaths at Gaelic Knot Studio is finished with a handmade ribbon bow chosen carefully to coordinate with the flowers and compliment their color. When possible we use wire edged ribbon so the bow can be reshaped and straightened easily. We even attach a wire loop on the back at the top so each wreath will hang exactly as it was designed to and is ready for your door the moment you remove it from the box.

Hang a wreath on your door and enjoy a time honored tradition of not just beauty, but protection as well.

The Thistles Are Blooming!

It's that time of the summer when the beautiful huge Thistle blossoms begin to open. We've got a really nice specimen that sprouted up in the back of our yard this spring. Skye has been watching it for months and managed to capture the first flower in all its glory. If you aren't familiar with Thistle they are considered a weed by most and grow in poor soil along the side of many roadways. There are a number of different varieties with flowers that range from purple and pink to yellow and most of them have very, very prickly spines on them. Kind of like a Dandelion on steriods.

The Thistle in our yard (pictured) is a Bull Thistle, it's a rather large bush with numerous flower heads and stands well over six feet tall. Skye actually got out a ladder to take this photo of the central flower in the crown of the bush. The blossom measured about 2 1/2 inches from the base to the top of the flowerhead and you can see the spines covering the  bulb like base.

If you can get close enough to take in the fragrance the blossoms smell amazingly like honey! Please be careful to find bush with flowers that are easily accessable before you try to sniff them.

In lore Thistles are believed to strengthen vitality or energy and ward off theives. Grown in a pot on the doorstep they protect against evil. Thrown into a fire they are thought to guard the home against lightening. It is claimed that Wizards in England actually chose the tallest thistle in a patch to use as a walking stick! Some even believe when men carry a Thistle it makes them better lovers.

The Thistle is as symbolic to Scotland as the Shamrock is to Ireland and grows profusely there. It is said this spiney wild plant actully helped the Scots fight against the Viking invasion by making the Norsemen cry out in pain and giving away their location when attempting to use the mist and darkness as a cover for their attacks.

The Scotland Thistle River Rock Paperweight (pictured) was hand painted by my daughter Skye and is available for purchase in our shops. It has been signed by the artist, is a true work of art and as with all of our rock paperweights the deisign has been painted on so the natural beauty of the stone itself also shows. Though the rock has been coated with a clear varnish to protect it from chipping it is intended to be used indoors to grace a desk, shelf or table and celebrate pride in one's Scottish heritage.

Snowing in July?

Happy Monday everyone! I know snow? Really? I'm a crafter and we've got to think about and plan for holidays far in advance, so forgive me. Also there is a "12 Day's of Christmas in July" sale event going on at Artfire and in our Artfire studio. We're offering free shipping to the continental US and Canada on all of our hand-knotted jewelry and snowflakes. We use a very high quality nearly white Linen cord for our work that is actually made in Ireland!  Yes, Ireland!

This is one of my nine original design Michigan Snowflakes. Each one is hand-knotted by me, so yes, for me it is snowing in July. They measure approximately 4 inches across and sell individually for $6.00 or in a set of three different designs for $15.00.  You can see how elegant they look against the tree. The open lacey design even allows the lights to shine through.

As if tree ornaments wasn't enough, here's another original design I created. Once again hand-knotted by me. The choker style necklace and bracelet have clear faceted glass beads in them and are secured by a bead and loop toggle. They contain no metal for ladies who have allergies to many metals. My daughter and I break out from the nickle in many pieces of jewelry so we created something we could actually wear and realized a market for it. The necklace is adjustable so it can be worn loose or tight. The snowflake jewelry is available separately or in sets and there's even a matching pin or brooch.

Growing up in the US state of Michigan, I was insprired by the beauty of the glistening ice and snow from our Michigan winters as the huge flakes drifted down in the glow of the street lights. So here's a little piece of a Michigan winter that won't melt even in tropical climates and you won't have to shovel it!

Friday's Rune of the Day

TGIF! Though it doesn't seem possible that it's Friday already. Wow, where did my week go? With 12 Days of Christmas in July @ Artfire.com running from July 12th through the 23rd and Christmas in July @ Etsy.com running from the 15th through the 25th we have been busy at Gaelic Knot Studio.  

I've decided to pull a Rune each Friday then share a bit of interesting info about them on my blog.

The Rune of the day is Nauthiz. It represents the letter N and is also known as Nyd by some. Nauthiz is the Germanic name and Nyd is the Old English name. I've included both since technically the Anglos and the Saxons were both Germanic in origin. Nauthiz is called the Rune of constraint, and some consider it to be the master of us all...Time. It tells us we must learn to deal with severe constraint and represents the obstacles we create for ourselves as well as those we encounter in the world around us. Both can be equally difficult to handle. Drawing Nauthiz tells us not to rush things, this is a Rune of adversity, not failure. Basically it is telling us that now is a time to wait not act.

It is a perfect Rune for this time of year when everything is growing, but it's not yet time for the harvest or outcome of those seeds of creativity we sowed a few months earlier. Life works very similarly in both the plant and the animal world and the wheel of the year turns with the seasons. There is a time to plant, a time to grow, a time of harvest and a time to lay fallow. It's just part of life.

In case you've never heard of Runes, they're an ancient alphabet script generally used by the Germanic people of Scandinavian origin. They were utilized for legal documents, poetry, inscriptions and divination though never actually evolved into a spoken language. Sadly the original interpretations of the Runes have been lost. The Rune casters of old kept their secrets well and records if made at all did not survive. In ancient times Runes were often used by warriors on a conquest. the symbols were carved on amulets, drinking cups,battle spears, over the lentels of buildings and on the prows of Viking ships.

Today Runes are used by the Spiritual Warrior on the quest for self-change and knowledge or enlightenment. Most Runes come in sets of 24 or 25, an extra Rune was added at one point. The extra Rune is blank. Some say it it nothing more than an extra piece in case one is lost. Others use it as "Odin's Rune" the Rune of the unknown, claiming that it indicates information the universe will not yet reveal.

Till next time...May the Stars watch over and protect us all.

Christmas in July SALES!

Business has been very slow at our studio even though there are claims out there in the real world that the economy is improving. Where? Certainly not in my neck of the woods. So far our year to date has been worse! I pray it will improve soon.
Gaelic Knot has been on Esty for over a year now, we even split into two shops, Gaelic Knot Studio and The Scrappy Cat Collection.

http://gaelicknotstudio.etsy.com/ has handmade items that honor our Celtic heritage and our respect for nature.

http://thescrappycatc.etsy.com/ was created so we could help stray and abandoned cats in the Detroit Metropolitan area. 50% of all sales from our colorful cloth Kitty items for Cats, Kids and Cat Lovers goes towards helping the cats and kittens we foster, plus to rescue groups and shelters in the area. So many folks have lost their homes and had to abandon their beloved pets in our neighborhood and in the entire area, we have to do what we can to help.

Also just recently we opened a studio on Artfire. We have items from both of our Etsy shops under one roof at Artfire, kind of a one stop shopping experience. You can find our Artfire studio at http://gaelicknotstudio.artfire.com/

I'm still learning my way around here, but I'm determined to get back here at least once a week to post updates on events and new items in our shops/studio. Between Skye and I, we've got a number of works in progress and and even more in the development stage.

Here's what's happening now!

Twelve Days of Christmas In July SALE - Artfire - July 12 to July 23

Christmas In July SALE - Etsy - July 15 to July 25

We've got free shipping on:

All Hand-Knotted Irish Linen Jewelry
All Scrappy Cat Collection items
All Michigan Snowflake Holiday Tree Ornaments