Merry Solstice/Christmas

Merry Solstice/Christmas

I know you are going to get sick of me posting so many blogs together but this is an off the cuff unplanned one.

This is a result of seeing a post on a friends Facebook status. Apparently they (A Druid) had been having a chat with a Catholic Priest. The Priest had been expressing how sad he was that people kept telling him that 'Jesus Christ' wasn't actually born on 25th December and that Christmas is actually a stolen Pagan Festival! 

Naturally the Priest found this upsetting, insulting and missed the whole point of the Celebration - New birth, light and renewal. Did these people really believe he did not know the historical facts?

First of all I would like to apologise to this unknown Priest that people that call themselves Pagans would say that Christmas is a 'Stolen Pagan Festival'.  I also agree that they have missed the point of the Celebration Season.This sort of thing seriously annoys me and does nothing to foster good relations with other faiths.

I am going to go out on a limb here and I hope I don't offend people but this is my opinion and only my opinion. 'The Bible' is a book. It was written over hundreds of years by different people. It was not written in our language or our culture and I should imagine during times of persecution possibly in secret code. Therefore should not be taken word for word.

If you have ever played Chinese Whispers you will know how easily things change. A slip here, a slip there and the whole thing can change. Now imagine that across time,culture,language and geography. 

How would you explain the workings of a DVD to the Victorians? I think it is probably quite possible. They did have electricity (I am of course when saying Victorians referring to men of science etc not the local populace). They also had Phonographs for sound and for what I shall entitle for ease 'What the Butler Saw' machines and their like. So if you suggested that a DVD was a combination of the two they would probably get an inkling of the end result.

That is going back roughly 150 years in our own culture. Now you try going back 500 years and see if you could explain it, then a 1000, 1500, 2000. Indeed by 2000 years by my dodgy mathematics Christ would only be in his teens and most of the things he is renowned for he hadn't done yet.

Finding this analogy difficult to do. Well the same works in reverse. So shall we say for arguments sake that 'The Bible' or any other religious book you may have to hand is a matter of interpretation. It is the essence of the message that is important!

So now we have settled not to take the literature literally let us move on. So Christ wasn't born on 25th December? Well first of all Christmas Day is Christ -Mas Day. I don't recall anywhere it stating that it was actually 25th December in the Bible. Which Calendar are you using? 

'What do you mean which Calendar? 

Well are you calculating the date using the Hebrew Calendar, the Roman Calendar, the Julian Calendar, the Gregorian Calendar or even a Solar or a Lunar Calendar? Time despite what you might think isn't fixed.

Christmas is Christ's Official Birthday you know like 'The Queen' has an actual birthday and an Official Birthday.  So I am afraid 'So called Pagans' you are actually scoring an own goal there.

'Oh but they are using candles to celebrate like we do!' Please give me a break. Is that seriously your argument? Of course they use candles. Everybody used candles whether it was a celebration or not. My mother who is in her 70's can remember electricity being put in her house when she was little.

'But they put lights in the trees too.' Face palm. Okay I will make it simple. Look around your house. Where are the main lights? Unless you are exceptionally trendy I think you will find them in the ceiling. That is because a when a light is higher it sheds more light than when it is on the floor. Trees have this unerring tendency to be above ground and reasonably high up. Therefore using their height to place candles or even oil lamps makes sense. This is not some religious or mystical element it is simple physics.

'Incense?' Hmm. Let me think. 2000 years ago, sweaty humans and animals huddled together in a group in a hot country. Nope can't imagine why they would want something that smelt nice or repelled insects.

Look I am not really just wanting to have a go at you but please just think before you open your mouth. In fact try listening.  You can't read one book and think you know it all, you can't, nobody can. Also you can disagree with other peoples faiths without forcing you own down peoples throats. 

Christmas isn't stolen. It is a festival in its own right that depending on your point of view either coincides with or alternatively has been built on and incorporates existing traditions.

So if you are celebrating Christmas, Yuletide, Solstice, Saturnalia, Hanukkah or anything else this season I wish you all the best and try  to remember: 

'Tis the Season to be Jolly and other things ending in Olly.

Little Mo's Rose Handbag

 Little Mo's Rose Handbag Craft Design

I don't usually do blogs so close together but since I am in a lot of pain and confined to the sofa I thought I might as well do this short one. The last blog was about a cover for a basket to match my Lammas Costume.

This was primarily done to use in our fabulous 'The Outrageous Mother Goose Pantomime.' I was playing the part of somebody called 'Little Mo'. She is a villager who is 'Quite Particular' with airs and graces above her station. Early on one of the boys A.K.A 'Demon Decay' came up with the idea that 'Little Mo' should have different costumes.

He designated my Lammas costume for the Opening Number and Finale. I had a posh dress which had been originally bought for a wedding which he decided should be my transformation (I had a beauty treatment in the show) outfit and also a gypsy look for other scenes.

I took this information on board and with a the help of a couple of wigs and accessories I had practically a different look each time I went on stage. Indeed I think in the end I had more changes than the Dame. I think next year I shall be known as the woman of a thousand scarves.

This blog is a quick guide to how I made a matching handbag for the gypsy outfit. The outfit was a pink skirt and a cream top with ribbons and rosebuds on.

First take a piece of cloth. My piece was roughly the size of an A4 sheet of paper. Fortunately the top section was already hemmed.

I do wherever possible try to recycle material from old clothes and other items. This material was the lining of a pair of curtains from which I had used the top layer for a costume in a previous pantomime.  Pin and tack around the rest of the three sides. If you notice I have made the hem around the other 3 sides smaller than the top. This is deliberate as you will see later.

Pinned A4 Cloth                                                 Tacked A4 Cloth

Folded and Pinned Cloth

Obviously by hemming the cloth it will now be smaller than A4. The next point is to fold the cloth. As you can see in the photograph I have not folded the cloth directly in half. Find the top hem which is larger than the others.


Take the bottom of the cloth and fold to just under the large hem. You should have at least an inch of extra cloth left.

Blanket Stitched Cloth

You can tack along the edge but if you want to make it stronger I suggest you Blanket Stitch it as I have. This makes it far less likely to come undone especially if you intend to use it rather than just for decoration. You have been working on the inside of the bag so now turn it the right way.

Pinned Flap

Next you need to turn your attention to the top hem or Flap as I will now refer to it. Before you start make sure that the longest piece of material is underneath so you can fold it forward over the top piece. Fold the two corners of the Flap downwards so it
makes a diagonal edge and pin.

 Hemmed Flap
When you are happy with the pinning and have checked you can still fold the Flap easily tack the material. As you can see in the photograph the shape should now resemble an envelope.



Ribbon Handle
 I next took a piece of Pink Ribbon. I measured it so it was long enough to go along two sides of the bag and also comfortably over my shoulder.

I hemmed the Ribbon so it wouldn't fray then folded it over the edge of the bag. I must admit I did have trouble with this due to the thinness of the Ribbon I used. You might want to use a slightly thicker Ribbon for ease.


Once I had finished one side I repeated the process with the other side. Take my tip and don't do this when you're half asleep at 2.30 in the morning. You can't tell in the photograph but I managed to get the ribbon twisted and didn't find out until I had finished the darn thing. Grrrrr.

Green Ribbon Edge
Next I added the decoration. I used the leftover pieces from the top I had jazzed up to match the pink skirt. I added a Green Ribbon along the Flap. For the final touches I added some Rose Buds to the handbag.

Rose Buds          

With this now done the handbag was ready for use. Here I am with it on stage.

If you like amateur dramatics and live in the area we are always looking for new members. Here are some links you might find useful.

http://duchessplayers.weebly.com/
https://www.facebook.com/DuchessPlayers?fref=ts
http://www.duchess-theatre.com/

   

Lammas Costume - Basket

Lammas Costume - Basket

This is an add on to the Lammas Costume I made for Pagan Pride 2014. After people in my drama group saw it they decided it was ideal for this years 'The Outrageous Mother Goose Pantomime'.

Since I have a basket to carry I decided to make a cover to go with it. These are the pictures and instructions. Have skimped a little bit at the beginning due to the fact that I only thought about doing a write up until three quarters through.

First of all you need a basket. The shape of the cover will depend on the shape of the basket. Mine is a rectangular shape.

Plain Basket Side View

First of all choose your material. I am using cotton off cuts I saved from the Lammas Costume.

Take a piece large enough in width and length to go over the basket handle. It wants to be fairly sturdy material. It will need to go comfortably over the handle plus enough material to attach to other pieces of material .

Plain Basket View From Above

Make sure you leave enough material to make a good hem. I have decided to use Brown cotton for my base.

Cut out a rectangle in the centre.Check it fits nicely and hem both the cut out section and the edge of the material

Brown Letter Box Shape Over Handle

Once you have done this you should end up with what looks like a Brown hemmed letter box.

This is your starting point for adding the rest of the material. Next you begin adding the rest of the material. I found it easiest to go around the length of the basket first. You can either do this in small sections or as I have done and for each side made long rectangular pieces.

Green Material Attached to Letterbox

I measured from the centre of the length of the basket to the centre of the width of the basket around the outside. I then made 4 lengths of rectangular material (2 for each end) and hemmed them. I then sewed one end to each of the of the centre points of the letter box. Then I sewed the 2 free ends together.Repeat for the other side.

Joined Green Lengths 

Off Basket  

Joined Green 
Lengths On Basket

Once you have added the sections that go around the basket you can start adding the rest of the material to the letter box section.

Selection of Hemmed Squares

The idea is to make a patchwork effect cover though if you wish you could just add one large piece of cloth. I have cut out and hemmed a selection of squares in a variety of colours. 

An example of green squares can be seen here.I pinned and sewed the squares onto the Brown letter box until I had enough to cover the top of the basket.

Pinned Squares

Sewn Squares Reverse View

When you have finished adding all your squares it should look as shown in the pictures below.

With Squares added showing the Basket Opening

Next you have to think about covering the gap in between the two sections of covers.

This I did by cutting a couple of rectangles big enough to bridge the gap and cover the width. I decided to use a darker green to do this so I could easily identify which were the gap covers in a hurry. 

Green Flap

I also chose to use slightly thicker stiffer material so they would not drop down into the basket. Once I had cut out the rectangles I hemmed them. Next was to pin the rectangles into place prior to sewing.

Pinned Flap

 I pinned ONE flap as close as I could to the basket handle without rucking. I ensured that it would bridge the gap comfortably.

The next part is very important otherwise you might have to unpick and start again.Start sewing on the side nearest to the basket handle.

First Sewn Flap

When you have completed that side you can then turn the corner and continue sewing along the length of the flap.Now the third side depends on how far back you placed your flap. 

Second Flap Pinned

Before sewing the third side pin the second flap into place. This is because you want to be able to tuck the second flap under the first to hold it. Once you have pinned the second flap you will be able to tell if you need to sew any part of the third side.

Both Flaps Sewn

If you need to sew any of the third side I suggest that you do a stitch at a time. That way you can keep checking that the second flap fits snugly under the first.

Overlapped Flaps

As you can see in the photograph the flaps interlock nicely. If there is any gap at the side by the handle more squares can be added to cover it.

Hemmed Triangles

In order to match the skirt from the Lammas Costume I cut out some triangles in various colours and sizes.
Hem around the triangles as you did the squares and rectangles.

Then pin them all around the basket.

Pinned Triangles

After pinning the triangles where you want them you can sew them into place.

Sewn Triangles

Now the cover is finished you can turn your attention to the basket handle. That is of course if you wish to do so. As my basket was bought second hand some of the weaving had come loose and was also missing in places.

First remove the cover and start with the plain basket shown below.


Plain Basket

Orange Hemmed Ribbon

Take a long piece of ribbon. I chose an orange coloured piece of ribbon roughly an inch and a half in width. Since ribbon frays quite easily I would hem the ends.

Pinned Ribbon

Wrap one end around the bottom part of the handle and pin it.

Sewn Ribbon Front and Back

Begin winding the ribbon around the handle of the basket. Keep it nice and tight so it doesn't unravel. Keep winding until you reach the other side of the basket. Then either sew, pin or glue the other end of the ribbon.

Fully Wrapped Ribbon

When you have finished wrapping and fixed the end of the ribbon you can replace cover.

Finished Basket

That is the Basket Cover finished and ready for use. However at a later date I may decide to add more triangles and decoration. Hope you enjoyed this blog.