the Curio Castle BLOG

What A Thing Can Mean

noreply@blogger.com (Tree Pruitt) — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 11:02:00 +0000

Love comes in many forms. I know it's just a chair, but I'm filled with sorrow to see it go away. Not only was it a rare piece of furniture to fit my short little stature but it always reminded me of you, Grandmother. When I looked at it I could again be a child standing in your mysterious bedroom. I'd see the soft glow of sunlight filtering through pristine white lace curtains that would sometimes blow lazy over the chair from a springtime breeze; My mind would fill with the wild scents of your Mount Airy Forest. I could see the Victorian doll on your bed and the lovely things on your dressing table -- none of which I was allowed to touch of course. When I looked at the chair in my home I would go back to times we spent alone in your bedroom talking and sharing secrets because that was the only time you'd let me sit in the pretty chair I'm mourning now. Snuggled into the plump pink seat I marvelled at the difference in our worlds and treasured them coming together. When, many years later, you gave me the chair I hugged you so hard and promised I'd take care of it. Now, I feel like I let you down, like I've lost you all over again with the loss of that little chair. I did everything I could to preserve it, short of storing it away forever, but things that get used get worn and sometimes can't be saved. It was more than mere furniture true, but does it really mean that I've lost you? I'll imagine the chair in my mind where it will, like you, be whole and waiting in your magical bedroom for more secrets and stories to be told. Sometimes a thing can be more than just a thing because of what it means to us, but in the end it really is the thought that counts.

Below, see a special selection of handmade things to love from the Old World Shoppes of Etsy Team; great Valentine's, Sweetest's or Mother's Day gift ideas or treat yourself.

Vintage and Valentine's Update

noreply@blogger.com (Tree Pruitt) — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 04:07:00 +0000

2010 is off to a great start for the Curio Castle since the store fully embraced it's "New-Age" nature of being and declares itself a metaphysical as well as curiosity shop. The new location at Etsy.com is swiftly gathering "hearts" from visitors who have made the shop a favorite; 122 people with 20 so far in January alone! I think that's terrific, especially considering I didn't solicit for fans or directly notify previous shoppers of the address change. The number of sales is fairly good for a new store at Etsy too, and I think that reflects the quality of the unusual items I enjoy offering for sale plus my willingness to work with customers to fill their needs. Speaking of such, there are several new vintage listings for visitors to browse including art craft supply, games pieces and costume jewelry; Browse there now.

vintage X-acto knife & Avon collectable compact mirror recently listed in Etsy shop

combination of vintage & handmade collectibles as Wicca set

(above set previously sold, shown as example)

A reminder: For each item sold from either of my Etsy stores in January I will make a $1 donation to Haiti earthquake relief.

Inspired by Valentine's Day, after taking a look at the "heart" related items I have for sale, I created a special shopping blog. The Magic Heart Love Shop features affordable direct shopping -- no need to be a member of any site other than PayPal -- USA shipping included in the price, and an all love or romance theme. There find handmade heart jewelry and mobile art, unique heart shapes from nature, vintage love related decor and all are items that make fun gifts; Valentine's Day, Sweetest's Day, Mother's Day, weddings or Wicca Handfasting. In the near future I'll also be adding love potions or charms, amulets, and magic spells to do with fertility or sex so that the shop remains open throughout the year.

Look soon for special posts here about old world coins I've recently added to my collection and wishing well coin amulets I've made too!

-- Tree Pruitt
It's OK to love inanimate objects if they love you back!

2010 Handmade Valentine Special

noreply@blogger.com (Tree Pruitt) — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 04:54:00 +0000

2010 has already brought out great love in the world so we now ready ourselves for this years Valentine's Day celebrations. Below, see a special selection of handmade Curio Castle Shoppe gifts to buy for him or her, many with free shipping or bonus items. As a matter of fact, the Old World Shoppes of Etsy Team has put together a gift guide for those shopping handmade from Etsy.com full of gift giving ideas that will be cherished long after Valentine's Day is over. Simply visit the link at Etsy to browse treasures from all OWS Team members chosen for this special feature. Be sure to check back for new additions!

CURIO CASTLE SHOPPE VALENTINE'S DAY LOVE SELECTIONS

http://www.curiocastle.etsy.com/

Quartz Crystal Ornament Sparkle Set houseplant safe sun catchers

Set of 10 mini genuine crystal rods & points wrapped in sparkling copper wire & topped w/ iridescent blue glass beads to hang as magic sun-catchers. Comes with hand written care/info guide for these crystal ornaments PLUS a special organza storage bag featuring handmade lace with beads of quartz, citrine & carnelian gem which have the ability to metaphysically cleanse & re-energize other crystals! Only $20.00 each set! FREE USA shipping or reduced International rates.

Wicca Handfasting Wedding Blessing ACEO original art card

Timeless symbols of love & blessing in a Folk Art style; includes acid free envelope, protective sleeve & now with FREE USA shipping or reduced International rates. Only $10.00!

Desert Military Cami Soldier Teddy Bear

All handmade bear comes in sleeping bag that doubles as a practical pouch when not in use by Teddy. Great gift for a returning soldier, a survivalist, teddy bear collector. Stuffed with red lentil, giving a wonderful life like feel! Lentil are legumes (a sort of bean) and are thought to guarantee prosperity, offer richness of life, safety and money -- making this teddy a unique metaphysical amulet. Priced at just $25.00!

Spiral Heart Handmade Mobile Sun Catcher

Handmade with sturdy copper artists wire with glass bead accents to spark the sunlight and inspire love. Now only $9.00 with FREE USA shipping or reduced International rates.

Love Goddess Inanna Sculpted Figure Ornament with Stones

Unique handmade miniature figure of Goddess Inanna, or Ishtar, with gem stones will hang as ornament or lay flat as altar statue, imitating ancient relic. Includes FREE SHIPPING in the USA and reduced International rates, priced at just $25.00!

Egyptian Bast Cat Storage Box

Three sections inside will store short stick incense, for example Satya Brand Nag Champa or Super Hit or mini candles. Unique OOAK design with authentic hieroglyphic symbols!

Please stop by again for new additions to this Valentine's Day special!

Symbols of St Anthony in Pinback

noreply@blogger.com (Tree Pruitt) — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 03:07:00 +0000

Featured on many old prayer cards, antique buttons and devotional medals is a somewhat mysterious male figure in a brown robe; mysterious because this man, a monk, has the sacred honor of holding the Christ Child. I myself had a celluloid covered, cellulose nitrate plastic, Victorian metal badge featuring this man. Who is this emboldened pleasant faced monk?

Saint Antony, or Anthony, of Padua is frequently portrayed wearing the brown habit and rope of the Franciscan Order. The most popular Franciscan in the world after St. Francis of Assisi. With great zeal St. Anthony fought against heresy. Gifted with an excellent understanding and a prodigious memory, he soon gathered from the Sacred Scriptures and the writings of the Holy Fathers a treasure trove of theological knowledge.

He's most often shown on religious collectibles holding special items, one being a book in representation of knowledge and teaching wisdom to others. Jesus the Child is in his arms seated on top of the book. He is embracing the saint’s neck.

This association is said to originate from an occasion in which the Christ Child miraculously appeared to Anthony while he was preaching on the subject of the Incarnation. The embrace from Christ is perhaps intended to reflect loving gratitude for spreading knowledge with wisdom. Other attributes of the saint include a flowered Cross and especially lily flowers in representation of virtue and chastity. He is called upon most often as the Patron Saint for recovering lost things, horses, unmarried women seeking husbands, and the impoverished.

In 1231 Anthony became ill with dropsy at only 36 years old, and went to rest in a woodland retreat with two other friars. There Anthony lived in a cell built for him under the branches of a walnut tree where he died on 13 June that same year. Because of this, a slice of walnut shell became another charm or symbol of the Saint, in later Victorian times worn hanging from charm bracelets or carried in the pocket of a man.

Antique slice of walnut shell varnished as an amulet charm, next to St. Anthony pinback shown above.

"Though his preaching was always seasoned with the salt of discretion, nevertheless he spoke openly to all, to the rich as to the poor, to the people as well as those in authority."

On a pinback button such as the one shown here in this post, I would place a dollar value between $2.00 to $10.00, despite the age and depending upon condition. One reason I state this is because Saint Anthony is much more commonly depicted than, say, Saint Agnus as shown in the previous blog pinback post. Seen here in the picture, the St. Agnus button is imprinted with the manufacturing company's stamp, "Parisian Novelty Company" of Chicago. Who made it and where it was made is impressed into the metal. The St. Anthony pin is unsigned, so therefore less valuable to collectors than the St. Agnus button because we can't really tell much about who it was made by or where. Of course, if you treasure something in your heart no dollar amount can be placed upon it.
Love your collectibles!

Saint Antony or Anthony of Padua
Feast day: June 13

Referenced:
Catholic Encyclopedia http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01556a.htmChrysler Museum of Art http://www.chrysler.org/wom/Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_of_PaduaNew Mexico State University Retablo Collection http://artdepartment.nmsu.edu/faculty/zarursite/retablo/col-saints.html

Saint Agnus Antique Pinback

noreply@blogger.com (Tree Pruitt) — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 12:33:00 +0000

The pin shown at the left is from the Parisian Novelty Company of Chicago, USA. This devotional medal pinback button of Saint Agnes is a charming old jewelry box find from the Victorian Era, late 1800's, Catholic Church. Still a lovely little work of antique religious art. The condition is good for a pinback over 100 years old; Though the image is faded it has a charming ivory tone. The pin elbow does work on this piece, though it has some mild rust like wear from fingerprints of long ago. It's important for a pinback button to still function. This particular charming amulet like button is round in shape and sized at about 1" inch around.

On a pinback button such as the one shown here in this post, I would place a dollar value between $5.00 to $12.00, depending upon condition. One reason I state this is because Saint Agnus is much less commonly depicted than other saints. The age is certainly a factor; it's amazing such ephemera can survive for so long. Another reason I'd place what is somewhat of a high dollar amount on such a tiny collectible is attribution; Who made it and where it was made is impressed into the metal. The stamped makers mark on the back reads as ... Parisian Novelty Co Chicago. The Parisian Novelty Company was established in 1898 and made many types of celluloid covered, cellulose nitrate plastic, metal badges. The impressed mark also has a double effect, meaning that it was stamped twice by accident. These accidents are often more sought after by collectors because it shows the presence of the hand of the person who made the thing. My information is based upon Internet research and prior sales of actual items. This pinback is no longer available for purchase.

*This pin is featured in a photomanipulation still life art print by Tree Pruitt titled "Nostalgic Offerings". The button itself is no longer available for purchase.

Saint Agnes - by Shonnie Scarola, from Domestic-Church.dom

Virgin, Martyr, Feast Day: January 21
Symbol: young woman bearing a palm leaf or sword and holding a lamb

Agnes, a young Christian convert, is honored as one of the four great virgin martyrs of the Christian Church. She died for her faith in the early fourth century during the reign of Diocletian (284-305), the Roman emperor who ordered the last great persecution of Christians, starting in early 303. St. Agnes, not only had no desire to marry, but was prepared to die for the sake of her faith and her virginity as "the bride of Christ", rather than become the wife of the son of a Roman prefect. She was martyred when she was only 12.

Her death made a profound impression and she became one of the most widely honored of Roman martyrs and one of the most popular of Christian saints. Agnes is regarded as the patron saint of young women and the special protectress of bodily purity. After her death, the young saint was buried in her parents' household cemetery which was located a short distance from the city limits of Rome. At first a modest chapel was placed over the saint's grave. After Christianity became one of the lawful religions of the Roman Empire, Agnes's shrine was enlarged and transformed. According to legend, Constantina, Constantine's eldest daughter by his first wife, Fausta, was afflicted with leprosy. She was reputedly cured of the disease after she had prayed as a pilgrim at Agnes's tomb. The shrine, now known as the Basilica of St. Agnes Outside the Walls, is famous for its mosaics and galleried nave and for housing the relics of St. Agnes, in an ornate silver sarcophagus solidly encased beneath the altar.

Agnes has played a prominent role in Christian art. She has been represented as a young woman bearing a palm leaf or sword and holding a lamb. The symbolism of the lamb is suggested both by her innocence and purity. The Latin word for "lamb" is agnus. The flower of St. Agnes is the Christmas Rose. Its delicate white blossoms represent this special patron of purity.

*This item has sold and information is presented to help others identify a collectible antique pin back.

Rosemaled Future Heirlooms

noreply@blogger.com (Tree Pruitt) — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 02:24:00 +0000

Home decor and trinkets of quality that are loved get handed down through generations. This blog is going to begin featuring future heirlooms -- modern made collectables I feel will stand the test of time, being treasured by grandchildren to come.

The concept had crossed my mind in the past, but the action to start this feature was inspired by visiting a new Etsy.com members store, Norwegian Spirits. This shop offers one of a kind heirloom rosemaled treasures, delightful felted magic creatures and accessories. All of the items there will be handmade by Jorde, who lives in Minnesota where there is a strong Norwegian culture. Jorde has been a student of the beautiful art of rosemaling for about 15 years, having been a student of Shirley Evenstad and Judith Kjenstad -- both Vesterheim Gold Medalists. Jorde is also a fellow member of Old World Shoppes of Etsy, OWS, a friendly group of crafters and artisans dedicated to traditional historic crafts and vintage inspired creations.

Jorde's Rosemaled Fjord Wooden Horse (sold but watch for more soon)

Rosemaling is a Scandinavian peasant style of carved or painted decoration consisting of floral motifs; from Norwegian literally meaning 'rose painting'. It was used in the old days to beautify mundane daily items like furniture, dinnerware plates, bowls, and even walls. During the Arts & Crafts resurgence in the 1970's these complex patterns of natural swirls and muted earth tone colors became hugely popular, inspiring even home appliance color trends such as Burnt Orange or Avocado Green stoves and Harvest Gold dishwashers; Many homes were covered in exterior siding in these titles because the colors were so popular! Rosemaling was so desired through 1960 to 1980 that Peasant Girl style clothing became a rage and craft stores began to sell rosemal transfer rub-ons that made furniture appear to be painted, which really was the beginning of the DIY days. Now, with the Retro 70's trend, these classic colors are once again hot, proving that future generations will continue to love the inspiration gained from Rosemaling, even though they may not know the origin.

My pick for a future heirloom from Jorde's Etsy store is a sculpture like wood horse figure, shown above. I think a creation such as this will stand the test of time with it's well formed floral decorations and strong body that begs to be touched. One of the main reasons why I feel this is because of the structure; it's sturdy made. Without a doubt it will call children to want to play with it and grown-ups to tell them "no way"; however, the bass wood statue is indeed sturdy enough to be played with as a toy. Another top reason it's my pick is that it's a representation of a classic animal species loved and used by millions of people in many cultures; Lots of people love to collect horses! Rosemaled art itself already has a collectible market and, though there are many wonderful items to choose from the store, Jorde's Rosemaled Fjord Wooden Horse especially has all of the classic color and feel future collectors will likely seek.

-- Tree Pruitt, Curio Castle Shoppe
*Referenced:Rosemaling

2009 Holiday Specials

noreply@blogger.com (Tree Pruitt) — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 03:57:00 +0000

Cyber Monday shopping specials that will last through the New Year at the Curio Castle Shoppe on both vintage & handmade metaphysical goods. Selected listings now include a free bonus gift and/or free shipping, or even a reduced price! The host site, Etsy.com, has encouraged these holiday sale specials in the spirit of giving. Use the search bar at the top of the store to look for FREE SHIPPING AND BONUS. Each of the special listings is clearly marked and tagged with one or both "etsyholidaysale" "etsyfreeshipping". GIFT SHIPPING BY REQUEST: I will gladly ship to a USA location of your choice. Just contact me for postage adjustment & address confirmation before checkout.

Here's an example of the deals...

Kokopelli Dancing Hand Painted Spiritkeepers Stone FREE SHIPPING AND BONUS

For a limited time Christmas holiday special this Kokopelli Spiritkeepers Stone comes with free shipping in the USA and bonus a free Kokopelli necklace. It's adjustable by pulling the knots apart and features a laser engraved pendant charm of golden natural horn. The figure form has been filled in with a gold tone. Keep for yourself, add to a gift, or add to your own jewelry creation.

Many of the metaphysical listings and other Spiritkeepers come with a mini lovely clear quartz crystal point and a thick protective little cotton pouch for storage. Some of the gift basket like sets of items have the crystal offer too. So I hope visitors will enjoy these special bargains for the 2009 holiday shopping season.

Have a blessed Yule, Merry Christmas, and very happy holidays!

Vintage Container Vessels in Store

noreply@blogger.com (Tree Pruitt) — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 13:26:00 +0000

Here's a display idea; Small vintage and antique container vessels can create a chic bathroom vignette or country store shabby home decor. Group several bottle and jars together on a display shelf or empty space on a book shelf. On a narrow, but barren, wall space try getting a small shelf to hang and showcase a special individual mini vase or collection of miniature pots.

I recently listed four several such collectables in my store; One of the listings is a set and two different listings match each other. They're unique curiosities that I hope you enjoy browsing. As of the date of this post the items below are available for purchase at my Etsy Curio Castle Shoppe.

Vintage Antique 3 Armed Mini Vase Solid Copper Pot artful painted effect
Cute little copper pot hand painted in England possibly as early as Victorian Era. I have altered the shabby chipped paint surface for a chic artistic effect. 2" tall. I soaked it in a solution of vinegar, then sanded and hand buffed to the desired finish exposing the old layers of natural copper, copper colored metallic paint, soft peach pink, pale ocean blue. The softened colors have an ancient Mediterranean look, and with the vessel shape would fit well into a Greek Minoan style decor. Has a small dollop of lead weight inside, likely placed there many years ago so the vase would not tip over. One side has an indent, but body is sound & solid. Try placing on a decorative display shelf under small photographs or other images of archaeological treasures for a unique grouping!

Antique 3 Armed Mini Vase Copper Pot tole painted with a cross
Cute little copper vessel pot hand painted silver & red in England possibly as early as Victorian Era. Christian Cross like dots design. Original finish great condition for age, with slight dent in side, mild chipped paint. 2" tall.

Pair Collectable Antique Clear Glass Bottles Apothecary
ca. 1900 long neck rimmed glass bottles excavated from American Northwest, both dug from same location. Likely held medicine similar to laudanum. Makes for charming home decor. 2 Sized at 6 1/2" tall 2" thick or deep 2 1/2" wide.
One is marked on the bottom with a number 1 and the other has the numbers 6 and 4. Made by blowing glass into a mould form in the late Victorian Era. There are no chips or cracks, and only mild mineral deposits that can likely be cleaned with a CLR type product. PERFECT for bottle collection, antique collectors and vintage Country Style decorative kitchen. Great bathroom decor vignette display.

Vintage Brass Planter or Pencil Cup with Raised Dot Circles
Solid brass made in India cache pot planter container with a Gothic Mod type design. Holds small potted house plants, flower pots, pens & pencils, artist paint brushes or use as vintage gift basket supply by adding smaller antique collectibles inside.

3 1/3" tall x 4 1/4" diameter
Made in India sticker on the bottom
ca 1970's
Excellent vintage condition; Has small area of oxidation, as seen in photo. It has not been polished, and has original finish with nice bright tone and golden brass color. Circle shapes could easily be thought of as symbols for the Full Moon.

About Curio Castle

noreply@blogger.com (Tree Pruitt) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 12:17:00 +0000

Merry meet! I want you to feel as if your entering a mystical shoppe filled with magic treasures. My name is Tree Pruitt & I welcome you to my Curio Castle Shoppe! I create a wide range of arts, and enjoy crafting, wood burning designs, collecting vintage altar tools, and I am also a ceremonial wand maker. Other ritual magic tools I've made include gourd rattles with carved handles, staffs or walking sticks, ceremonial brooms, spirit rattles, pouches and bags, hand drums and pipes. With over 30 years experience in the occult and metaphysical science I consider myself to be a mystic hedge witch with strong Wicca and Hinduism tendencies, though my crafting style is closer to Native American or Frontier style. Way back when I began to look for my first ritual altar tools I knew that I wanted vintage pieces, so collect (or rescue) them still. I love the mystery of old objects, so usually have to lighten up my personal collections (then I can collect even more).

* Special Items Found In The Curio Castle Include...~ Spiritkeepers hand painted totem animal stones & shells~ hand crafted wood magick wands~ hand crafted wooden altar pentacles~ spiritual handmade home decor~ hand selected vintage & antique altar meditation tools

)O( OLDE MAGICK )O(Vintage & Antique Items Re-Claimed As Magick Ritual ToolsI began by finding new homes for my over grown personal collection of antique & vintage ceremonial tools. Then I simply fell in love with reclaiming these treasures & finding new homes! I've done the work of searching for you; through count less yard sale boxes, web pages and antique shops to find vintage items to be used as ritual tools or New Age accents for meditation spaces. In their former "lives" most of these objects were mundane, ordinary decorations for the muggle home. Some items were originally made for altar use. After a good cleaning & spiritual cleansing, the ordinary becomes ready for the magick to flow! A lovely old patina on a scrying bowl, cauldron, ritual bell, chalice, cup or altar candle holder can enhance the mystical atmosphere inside a sacred circle, helping to raise your magickal juice; imply the mystery of time. Each item has been cleaned and smudged, or other metaphysical method, to remove the prior energies. Still, it's advisable for new owners to smudge again when the treasure gets to its new home because it helps you get to know each other; for your energies to blend.

Vintage Collage Images

noreply@blogger.com (Tree Pruitt) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:39:00 +0000

Introducing a new type of product in the Curio Castle Shoppe at Etsy ... vintage photograph and paper ephemera files to print! Now find image files that you can download safely through your email allowing you to resize an image, use photomanipulation software, and print the same image as often as you like for one low price -- you'll own your own high resolution copy of the file for personal or small art volume use. I'm a lover of old images and frequently a collage artist myself, so I have a small collection of antique postcards, copyright free books, cabinet photographs and paper ephemera on hand. Much of the imagery will likely never find its way into one of my projects, so why let them just sit in the dark unused? I thought it would be more fun to share some of the bits and pieces I've collected over the years.

At the left is a sample image from my store. I refer to this antique photograph as, "With Our Dolly". The scene holds two late Victorian Era girls with a fancy doll and wicker chair. I think this would make a darling little home decor print for a doll collector; trim off the included mat border in an image editing program, color print for an authentic look, then add a new mat and frame! Of course, the file could just as easily be printed for a scrapbook page, or you could use just the text at the bottom of the mat for a collage project. The text states the location of the photography studio as Cincinnati Ohio. I love browsing antique stores to rescue old printing plates and photographs so I have several different pictures of children, especially little girls who look like darling dolls.

Most files I'll be offering are from paper ephemera I've scanned into my computer. Some may be images I've manipulated or altered in some way, such as color enhancement or black and white. I'll also list some old font style words, phrases, and advertisement logo art I've found. In the future, I may decide to add files of weird images I've already manipulated into art or captured as a reference photo that later went unused. I'd love some feedback on the interest of that idea! I figure that if I'm interested in something enough to leave it setting on my hard drive or disk then someone else will find it interesting also. So I welcome you all to my inner files. Imagine the place as a mysterious box of image treasures -- it is in reality a varied and strange space! ;)

Lincoln Penny Lamination Error

noreply@blogger.com (Tree Pruitt) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 03:40:00 +0000

What is a Lamination Error? A coin with a fragment of metal missing or peeled off the coin's surface is termed as a lamination error. This rare minting effect is caused by dirt or gas trapped in the strip as it is rolled out to the prescribed thickness of the coins. Lamination errors may be missing or attached to the coin's surface. In the case of clad coins, the outer layer may be completely or partially missing on one or both sides.

I have a 1995 VDB Lincoln One Cent Penny with unique Lamination Errors. The rare effect on this coin makes the President seem much happier with a smile and pouty lip. The nose is quite deformed with a clad error. This coin has a nice old copper tone color. Last photo is to compare with normal coin and IS blurred a bit; there is no doubling on these coins except that caused by the lamination relay.

*Below is a close view of the clad lamination error.

*Would you like to own this coin? Contact me to see if it's still available (subject = "Lamination Error"). You will receive the exact coin pictured. Coin will be mailed wrapped in acid free paper in a padded mailer for safety.

*Above image shows 1995 Lincoln One Cent Penny with, and one without, the mint error.

*About The U.S. Lincoln Memorial Cent

The U.S. Lincoln Memorial Cent has been issued since 1959, when it replaced the Wheat Penny. Any 1982 and earlier copper Lincoln Memorial pennies are worth setting aside, as the value of the copper bullion in the cents is around 3 times face value now. They have already picked up in sales and in price as the country awaits the 200-year anniversary of President Lincoln's birth in 2009.

Ancient Coin Amulet Pendant Good Luck Charm

noreply@blogger.com (Tree Pruitt) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 02:23:00 +0000

Over fifteen hundred years ago people from all over the world began to use a deep crevice in Central Europe as a wishing well. Over the years many thousands of people continued this practice of throwing coins, medals and trinkets deep into the earth; praying their wishes fulfilled. Now, that land has sold, so the secrets hidden in the wishing well are being rescued. Some of the items recovered are from as early as about the 4th century A.D. and recovery work is being done by a reputable online coin dealer.

I'm really happy to have come upon this special coin to add to the Curio Castle's keep! One of the luckiest amulets is any coin that has been found. This is a lovely genuine ancient wishing well coin, strung on a black satin cord to be tied as a necklace or used in your own amulet spell creation. The coin has an oriental style, though attribution is unknown. I've treated it to enhance the beauty of the natural aged patina. I first hand cleaned the coin, being careful to preserve color and detail. I then sanded and carved out the relief details of the character symbols on the coin, exposing bronze metal highlights. I finished off the coin by hand buffing the surface then dabbing on several coats of durable varathane clear varnish for a water proof shine. The colors are rich, including dark green and red. The patina is a unique, one of a kind, and each coin is a rare metaphysical curio. Coin pictured has sold, but check for available wishing well coin amulets in my Curio Castle Shoppe.

Western Stoneware Old Fashioned Kettle Cauldron

noreply@blogger.com (Tree Pruitt) — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 01:19:00 +0000

As a child I fell in love with the sound of the stoneware lid scraping over a cauldron cookie jar. Now, as an adult and a witchy type, I find great pleasure in collecting three footed kettle pots; especially those made of pottery! A recent offering for sale in my Etsy store is a most excellent example of a vintage stoneware cauldron. Often mistaken for McCoy or Hall pottery, though just as good or even better in quality, the nearly purple pot I have was made by Western Stoneware. Called by the company an "Old Fashioned Kettle", it could easily be called a bean pot, and works wonderfully as a cookie jar or a large Wiccan altar top cauldron for spell working. It was made in Monmouth, Illinois U. S. A.

This pot is in my Etsy Curio Castle Shop, just click this to see if it's still available.

~ Is that kettle pot McCoy or Hull pottery???

~ No, but it looks just as good!

~ But I've seen one like it in another online store or auction and they call it Mccoy.

~ A lot of quality pottery that's marked with only an impressed 'USA' on the bottom gets tagged as McCoy, Hull, Hall, or even California Pottery because the seller doesn't research. To my knowledge McCoy only made one style of three footed bean pot, or kettle, rather than a single round base, other than the known Cookie Kettle type cookie jars. This cauldron kettle pot, and others like it, is made by Western Stoneware.

About the company: In 1906 seven local potteries in Monmouth Illinois joined together to form "Western Stoneware". Western Stoneware is rugged, durable and handcrafted with the same methods used by potters over several generations. Even older pieces are fired to high temperatures with no toxic leads in the hand dipped glazes, and are ovenproof, freezer proof, plus dishwasher safe. In 2006 the pottery celebrated their 100th year anniversary of creating pieces that have been handed down to become family heirlooms. One of the first items offered by this pottery company in 1906 was the red "Old Fashioned Kettle", later being packaged in a box for better marketing. I have one of those most early of pots in my personal collection and I love it!

There seem to be three distinct age groups for this kettle pot. All of them have a single removable metal wire handle, but it varies a bit. The most early years have a pot metal like or iron handle and will certainly show the wear of years. Middle aged, or Mid-Century, pieces have a copper or brass color, and may be a bronze alloy or are plated. In more modern times they were made with a brighter silver toned metal that wears well and looks more like the original 1906 handle.

(photo shows old 1906 style button lid handle in red next to a newer style profile)

When the 1906 kettle is compared to later potted versions there are a few differences that can be noticed. The angle of the lid handle profile is at a slightly higher degree on earlier than later kettles, following suit with Turn of the Century styles, and early pots tend to be a single color on the outside, (see the photographs that compares lids). Those that are of the oldest tend to have a scooped out or moulded foot bottom sometimes covered by glaze, whereas the newer ones have solid unglazed feet bottoms. Look at the photograph of the solid foot and notice the lines that give an idea where the recessed portion was in older pots. I've also noticed pots that seem older are made with a clay that is more white in color than those made past 1940. The change in clay is likely due to a product shift to accommodate the abuse dished out by electric appliances. The glaze on kettles from 1900's also seem on the thin side. Not long in years after the company started, style trends turned to heavier glaze methods, and so Western began to offer two toned hand dipped glazes in popular colors, many with a foam drip accent much thicker than companies like McCoy and Hull ever used.

(Photo at left shows newer style solid feet base)

The Western Stoneware Old Fashioned Kettle is always marked only by an impressed "USA", though heavy glaze can make it hard to see sometimes. The size is about 8 1/2" tall at top of lid, 6 1/2 to brim, and 8 1/2" wide total. It is found most often in basic company colors with white frost or foam dripping (white speckles at the brim). Foam drip glaze is created by whipping the glaze into a froth or foam and then allowing it to drip artfully down the rim of the pottery piece.

Known Western Stoneware colors are as follows...

- Avocado Green Frost

- Brown Frost

- Blue Frost

- Chestnut Frost

- Green (teal) Frost

- Black Frost

Hard to find colors are...

- Pacific Blue With Frost (though a color used by the company today, the near ultramarine purple is rare on the older classic kettle)

- Red solid with dull white or cream inside with no frost is the original 1906 to 1915 style. There is a slightly later red has a brighter white inside glaze.

- Speckled Tan (very rare to find), no frost

- Black Frost (for some reason almost never has a lid survive time)

Western Stoneware today has a growing selection of new pottery items available for purchase online. http://www.westernstoneware.com/

Love your collctible collecables!

Earrings Get Featured Honor

noreply@blogger.com (Tree Pruitt) — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 03:52:00 +0000

Recently, my handmade Spiral Comet Dangle Earrings were honored to be chosen as a feature at Mellow Tones, a handmade shopping guide blog. The earrings are from my Mystic Atlantis Primitive Jewelry Collection of one of a kind pieces. They are hand shaped hammered copper in a spiral with comet like trails that dangle & move; the style pretends it is an ancient treasure from the past.

The Mellow Tones mission is stated as, "to showcase simply beautiful handcrafted goods at fair prices from seasoned artisans... We value fine quality, individual style and patronizing cottage businesses. Our goal is to show you handcrafted goods with heart and soul can cost the same or less than department store banality. We tackle the maze of websites to find products for any budget, for those of us who have been around the block a few times... We only feature goods you can purchase directly from the artist, and this is not a paid directory. It's a place we hope you'll enjoy visiting. It's an online shopping guide for the rest of us. No fads, no hype."

Sandra, of Mellow Tones, is a fellow Etsian with her own shop at ReBopShop and also a fellow member of the Old World Shoppes of Etsy. OWS is a team of artisans representing historical crafts and vintage inspired creations. You can learn more about the OWS Team at our blog http://oldworldshoppes.blogspot.com/.

These earrings were fun to make, and I'm glad to share them with the Net world!

Cleaning An Old Oil Painting

noreply@blogger.com (Tree Pruitt) — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 21:59:00 +0000

Solutions You Can Choose To Clean An Old Painting At Home...
(Oil or Acrylic Paints On Canvas)

Remove dust with a paint or make-up brush making sure brush is soft, clean, and dry.
Use your own saliva moistened with a cotton swab.
Use, with cotton swab, one part of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide to 5 parts of water, especially if mold is present; may lighten some pigment colors.
Use 1 cup denatured or rubbing alcohol to 1 cup water (= to =) with a cotton swab.
Gently rub painting surface with fresh Italian bread, without the crust. The kneaded bread crumbles away taking most dust and tobacco grime to the floor; use a drop cloth for easy work space clean-up. DO NOT use bread if mold is visibly present & follow with brushing off any remaining crumbs. Then use either the rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide solutions above.

While browsing an estate sale one day it was announced that all marked prices would now be half off, so without even looking I grabbed a $5.00 antique oil painting off the floor; what a crazy bargain! When I got the painting home I quickly realized they should have paid me to take the filthy thing! Having sat on its side for God only knows how long, over the years someone had spilled something on the canvas. In addition to regular tobacco smoke and grime residue, the mysterious substance had created very dark streaks running left to right over the painting. I knew I probably had a perfect candidate for testing out some amateur conservation and restoration techniques.

Shown at left is the painting after two initial quick cleaning sessions. Clean any painting at your own risk! A professional should be consulted for valuable or insured pieces. When cleaning a painting or canvas surface NEVER use bleach or dish soap, and always test a small area first with any cleaning method. If paint color comes off onto the test cotton swab, with only reasonable pressure, you might have to consider using a different method, allowing some paint loss, or trashing the painting altogether!

First thing I did was to determine whether or not the painting had any great financial value; it could be worth a costly trip to a professional for cleaning. Look at the photograph of the entire painting above (click image to enlarge). You're seeing it after some initial cleaning to remove those very dark streaks, and the photo is a bit out of focus, but even in such condition it can be seen that the artist was skilled though probably not a Master Painter. An inspection of the frame and canvas itself revealed common construction methods used at the turn of the last Century, offering a date between 1880 to 1915. During this time period it was common for well-off folks to take the Grand Tour of Europe, and indeed easel painting was considered a fine activity for gentleman and ladies alike. I figured the piece was likely the results of a genteel vacation activity; painted en plein air. A later Internet search of the inscribed word "Eibsee" confirmed this suspicion when I discovered the location is still to this day a popular site for tourists; a lake in Bavaria, Germany (ironically the region my own family immigrated from). Though there are artists named with the other inscribed word "Koch", none of them match this piece in painting style or skill level; those artists are high museum quality. So I determined it was worth my $2.50 investment to try my hand at cleaning this very dirty old painting.

Frame is covered in bubble wrap for protection.

At first I used a simple Swiffer type dust cloth to remove the initial layer of debris. I decided not to remove the canvas from the frame, so wrapped the frame with several layers of bubble wrap to avoid any further damage. Placing the whole package onto my artist easel gave me easy access to all areas of the surface, but laying flat on a secure table top works just as well. I then began testing by first using a cotton swab moistened with saliva. It sounds gross, (the painting is gross already anyway), but spit won't soak into the canvas fabric like water and the acids in saliva break down grime without damaging the paint or canvas like a solvent; Do not drink anything other than water if using the saliva method, to avoid transferring food type substances.

Use cotton swabs, not balls, for cleaning any painting. Notice how dirty the swab comes away just from using saliva in a circular rubbing motion; don't over-scrub, being gentle yet firm in stubborn areas of soil. Hold the swab on its side, as shown, for best results. Work a small area at a time with any moist cleaning solution, carefully dabbing and rolling the swab. Working from left to right helps you keep your place to get the whole job done. As soon as a swab is soiled replace it with a clean one. Cleaning a painting takes time, but it can be worth the effort for a beloved piece.

Next, in an area of very heavy soiling I dipped another swab into window cleaner. Though it removed the black streak, it seemed to lift off some of the paint as well, leaving the surface a bit dull and dry looking. The detergents and ammonia in most household cleaners will likely cause cracking of paint or weakening of the canvas later, so just avoid using them at all in your own project. Lastly I used a mixture of equal parts rubbing alcohol and water, which did indeed remove the streaks but simply didn't remove the more general grime as quickly as saliva. For cleaning most oil paint art dilute a solution of 1 cup denatured or rubbing alcohol to 1 cup water. Always use care with rubbing alcohol and remember that it is a solvent that can remove or fog a varnish layer on a painting and will dissolve acrylic paint. Use undiluted rubbing alcohol only to clean frame glass, but avoid using it on acrylic or other glazing materials. Don't lean directly over an item you're cleaning with this solvent to avoid hazardous fumes, and apply a good hand lotion after prolonged contact with skin.

BELOW: before and after areas of cleaning.

Below, vertical streaks of soiling can be seen in this photograph, lessened in appearance already by a quick pass over with saliva dipped swabs.

I've decided to finish cleaning the rest of the painting by using two substance methods. Using circular scrubbing motions with saliva and swab, I'll quickly remove dirt, as shown by the clean streaks in the lake area of the landscape. For more stubborn soiling I'll use the alcohol mixture. Then, when all is as clean as I can get it, I'll go over the entire painting again gently with the alcohol mix, using a less moist swab this time.

referenced:
http://www.mysticgriffin.com/cleaningmoldmildew.htm#180705066

* Smithsonian Museum Conservation Institute http://www.si.edu/mci/english/learn_more/taking_care/care_painting.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eibsee

Travel Zugspitze http://www.ricksteves.com/tvr/pledge/castles/chap_bavaria.htm

Collectible Book Storage Tip

noreply@blogger.com (Tree Pruitt) — Thu, 14 May 2009 00:35:00 +0000

What if you have a collection of books you'd like to keep clean, but can't afford a fancy glass encased book shelf? There is a simple solution that will help avoid dust building up on the tops of your sacred tomes, which is a major cause of soiling and acid damage; add a dust ruffle.

A dust ruffle is a term for a strip of fabric that hangs over an opening to prevent dust from settling inside a space; such as around the bottom of a bed. A dust ruffle doesn't have to be a true ruffle of gathered fabric, and indeed a smooth strip can offer a clean contemporary line of decoration. On a shelf for books, the fabric should hang only about 1/3 to 2/3 of the way down the front so that book titles can still be seen but the spines are covered. Get as creative as you like by adding tassels or even a beaded fringe to almost any type of book shelf. Try using thick paper and double stick tape. Use Velcro to attach the fabric to the edge of the shelf. Though hot glue works well, Velcro type fasteners allow the fabric to be removed for easy cleaning. Let the fabric catch the dust, not your collectible books!

1 Franc 1948 Saint Pierre and Miquelon Coin

noreply@blogger.com (Tree Pruitt) — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 23:41:00 +0000

Have you found one of these oddly light weight coins? I did, or rather, found one in my hand as a token of thanks from an old pal. It was so light it felt like something from a Cracker-Jack box, but the art work seemed crisp and well formed so I set it aside with my meager world coin collection for years. Recently, I've decided the trinkets and baubles in my care should pass on to someone who can better enjoy them, so off I went to learn about this coin.

The first thing I did, not being an expert in numismatics at all, was head to Google! I simply typed in some information found on the coin... "1 Franc 1948 Saint Pierre coin". This guided me to two sites that satisfied my historical questions and helped me identify my coin... Wikipedia offered much history text and CourtJester at Numismatic News gave me photos to be sure I had the right coin (see Tuesday, October 02, 2007 entry) . In fact, that blog entry held the best photos I could find, and it's people helping people through blogging that makes the World Web grow!

Collectors don't come upon these "out-of-pocket" in the USA very often, but it still doesn't make this a hugely valuable coin. The one I had was in very good condition for having travelled so long and far. I can't say what it may have been worth, under twenty dollars certainly, but the value for myself was in adding to someones collection and saving the coin from future trash. I let it go for a small handful of bills on eBay to a person I'm sure is happy with the buy, and I'm glad it found a caring home.

Condition is always a strong factor in determining value of anything, but your own desires also have to be considered; what do you want or need? If you need the best possible price you can get for an old coin then take it to an expert for evaluation. Perhaps it could be added to another coin lot at a place like Heritage Auctions, but that will take some time. Having a coin professionally graded can cost $20.00 or more, so this option won't work for all situations, as it's rare to have a valuable coin just floating around. eBay is a good solution for clearing house quickly, and places like Etsy.com and ArtFire.com are allowing crafters to offer old colletables too, with longer running times and a buy now format. You might consider offering your own old treasures there, or even find some new additions to your own collecting addictions! As always, I enjoyed learning about this coin before passing it on, and it now dwells in my "E-collection".

About this coin:
Diameter: 22(mm)
Composition: Aluminum
Date: 1948, circulated

Saint Pierre and Miquelon's only coins were made of aluminium (hence the very light weight) 1 and 2 francs coins struck in 1948, and both were struck at the Paris Mint. Saint Pierre and Miquelon are two small granite islands about 10 miles off the south coast of Newfoundland, in the North Atlantic Ocean. They are all that remains of the French colonial holdings in North America. It was originally claimed by the French in 1604 and later captured by the British in 1702 and held until 1763, at which time they were returned to the French. They passed back and forth between these two powers on six more occasions until they were finally awarded to France by the Treaty of Paris in 1814. During the Second World War, a full set of banknotes was introduced for the islands. In 1945, Saint Pierre and Miquelon adopted a franc tied to the CFA franc, thus avoiding some of the devaluation imposed on the metropolitan currency (c.f. Réunion franc).

Red Charvel Guitar 650XL

noreply@blogger.com (Tree Pruitt) — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 19:51:00 +0000

This item has already found a happy home (sold).

Hear this electric guitar being played at The Pruitt Project

I have to say that I am excited to have an item like this to talk about in my Curio Castle! Of course, a guitar is a little more than a curiosity, but this near vintage hottie from (Jackson) Charvel is, excuse me, one bitchin' collectible!!! If you like the San Dimas line, from what I read, you'd love to play this quality Strat style 650XL electric guitar. This member of the Professional Series was introduced in 1988. According to a leading website on the subject, the original Charvel 650XL shown listed in the 1989 Charvel Import catalogue had an introduction list price of about $1100. It's that same deluxe version we have, with ivory colored binding, and it is all original. The funky red finish is in killer condition, and the gold flecks really screw with the eye! They are super tiny and make the Charvel seem to change color tone from near orange to blood red; LOOKS GREAT UNDER STAGE LIGHTING! And yes it has that retro Charvel toothpaste logo on the head.

The base of the fret board is stamped "C901176", just as it should be, but this guitar has another interesting set of marks. Inside the back, just under the battery holder, is a set of hand written marks in permanent marker; A 4. 14 . These marks were made before the holder was screwed over top, making them likely rare factory notations, possibly even as in the prototype. A spokesman from Charvel/Jackson said they'd have to examine the guitar first hand to be sure just what's the deal.

Man, it sucks to see this axe go, but with new projects at hand, we do what we must. I'm going to be listing this on eBay for my husband soon. The only reason we're offering it for sale is because he got a new custom Carvin and we need to off set that cost and living; hard truth, but worth it because the Carvin is a sweetie too, and did I mention it's custom??? Sigh, I've always been a fan of Charvel and Jackson, so the pain of selling is probably greater for myself! :) The hard case is included.

Charvel Guitar 650XL being played.

This Charvel guitar has done small venue performances, been featured in visual art work, and also can be heard played in several songs recorded by James Pruitt. You can hear the style range and tonal quality this guitar is able to produce; from heavy Rock, Jazz to ambient New-Age! Now WHO sells a guitar and lets people HEAR it first!!?? Check out "Invasion Evil Alien Monkeys" for a bit of smash, but my personal fav is "Morning Song", of course I'm more metaphysical than Metal. ;)
Hear it at, The Pruitt Project

Charvel Guitar 650XL Professional Series, deluxe with Ivory colored binding

- 1988 or 1989 with Toothpaste style Charvel logo on tilt back head stock

neck through body construction

Maple neck, Alder body

Rosewood fretboard, 24 frets

black Schaller ® made hardware

Floyd Rose ® locking tremolo, made in Germany

Shark Fin inlay

HOT tomato soup red, has tiny gold flakes in original paint

Black Football style input jack- original fitted hardshell case (flightcase) included, no keys

* Helpful sites to ID your own vintage guitar

- Photo database of Jackson Charvel Guitars - http://audiozone.dk/cm/displayimage.php?pos=-351

- http://www.usacharvels.com/id/body.htm

Mold & Mildew Issues for the Artist; conservation & cleaning

noreply@blogger.com (Tree Pruitt) — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 23:42:00 +0000

Spring is here at last, and with it comes moisture, rain, and possibly leaks. Especially after events like the recent Midwest earthquake, cracks in a building can create small places for moisture to creep inside and start a garden on collectibles you have in storage. What is an artist or collector to do!? Included here is an excerpt from the Crafting Natural page on my web site, Realm of the Mystic Griffin. After the article portion below there's a list of all of the how-to or how-to-not sections in the entire "Mold & Mildew Issues for the Artist; conservation & cleaning" article (table of contents). Visit the page to read all of the information offered.

_______________________________________

"Hundreds of Art Works Damaged By Mildew in Museum Warehouse", reads a New York Times headline from 1988. Mold and mildew damage can happen to the best of us in the art world, but what to do around the studio to prevent our creative world from being invaded by these creepy fungi? Find the answers here, along with several helpful tips for the artist, collector, and those who sell vintage collectables and antiques. Always consult a professional for cleaning items of great value. Some information here is repeated in multiple topic sections, and all information herein must be used at your own risk with best judgement.
Having lived in the rainforest of Washington State, I've had my fair share of experience with mold and mildew. Over the years I've used each of the methods for cleaning described on this page for a variety of reasons, not only for water and moisture damage issues. I enjoy experiments, and so have put forth some hard tests on these methods. Try to be aware of other situations were this information might be useful, and don't be afraid to try experiments and tests of your own with care and practice materials. A bit of conservation and restoration knowledge is a big help to any artist or collector. Though anything can be restored, sometimes the effort out weighs the value, and you might not be able to save an item from mold damage, especially. Good luck and always try to find fun in what you do.

*Prevention and Control:
The control of mold and mildew is quite simple: do not let the relative humidity (RH) rise above 70%. Even if an active infestation exists, lowering the RH will cause the mold and mildew spores to become dormant. Similarly, cooler temperatures will also reduce fungi growth overall. Lowering the RH in a damp area should be done right away, but very slowly to prevent excessive stress, possible warping, and splitting of wooden canvas supports or collectables. It's also important to locate any source of excess moisture and determine what can be done to remove it. Try to improve the ventilation where air circulation is very limited. The use of silica gel, a chemical used for drying flowers, may help dry the air. Small packets of silica gel usually come with new shoes or other purchases, and these can be re-used in smaller storage spaces. Place the silica gel in an open container or in a cloth bag in a larger space. The granules can be reused if they are dried in an oven at a low temperature. Relative humidity above 70% encourages mildew or "foxing" on paper. If the humidity in your area exceeds 70% for periods of the year, dehumidify or air-condition rooms where works of art are hanging. Avoid hanging works of art on damp walls. Very dry conditions, below 30% relative humidity, may encourage brittleness of paper, and should also be avoided. For furniture and wooden artifacts the "optimal" environment is about 40º Fahrenheit with roughly 50% RH.

*General Cleaning:
Mold can be cleaned by many methods, and the affected item should be aired out as soon as possible. Once an item, or room, is allowed to dry out to a humidity level below 70%, the dried inactive residues can then be carefully vacuumed off surfaces. Be careful not to breathe or scatter the dust, and clean the vacuum after use. Use a clean, soft paint brush for delicate items and brush right into the vacuum's pull. Protective gear should be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized after each use, or simply bagged and discarded if the situation was severe. Clothing worn during the handling of mildewed items should be laundered with hot water, well rinsed, and thoroughly dried. Dry clean non-washable articles that have been exposed to mold. To wash mold and mildew out of most items, scrub with a mixture of 1 part household bleach to 3 parts water. Don't use hot water with bleach because it stops the action you want; use cool or tepid water. Rinse twice with warm water and allow to fully dry. Never mix liquid chlorine bleach with ammonia or products containing acids such as toilet bowl cleaners, rust removers, or vinegar, or use for items gathered from the ocean. To do so will release hazardous gases. Chlorine bleach can damage some plastics, aluminum, or chipped enamel surfaces. Test a small spot first before fully treating with bleach. If bleach cannot be used, try an all-purpose household cleaner that is safe for that surface, or other method.
Another method; lightly paint the affected area with a solution of hydrogen peroxide, at 1 part of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide (common household) to 5 parts of water, and then let the sun shine on the item for a while. Rubbing alcohol does kill mold spores, but remember that it is a solvent, (read further for more about rubbing alcohol).
Check in all the creepy crawler places for mold, but if you really suspect black mold, especially, is in your house call a professional to check. They use masks and safety gear you probably don't have on hand. Some mold is very dangerous. A little bit, on a wall for example, can be treated with household bleach as described above. After cleaning, paint the affected area with a product such as "Kills" to prime for new wall paint. On a very fine wall mural or fresco, I often begin with a coat of Kills incase anything from the wall surface that I missed in cleaning may try to transfer through. Surfaces painted with mildew resistant paint can be injurious if children suck or bite on them. Therefore, mildew resistant paints should not be used on interior surfaces such as window sills, playpens, or toys. If molds have grown into the inner part of an article, send it to a reliable disinfecting and fumigating service. Such services are often listed under "Exterminating and Fumigating" or "Pest Control" services in the telephone directory.

TOPICS IN CONTENTS: (click HERE to see the entire page, and please do consider making a donation to help keep such information available for FREE!)

* Causes; What is it? * Prevention and Control * General Cleaning
* On Art Supplies and Studio Materials - About Rubbing Alcohol - Paint Brushes
* Paintings - Cleaning A Painting
* Paper - Cleaning Books * Dealing with Plaster and Stone
* Fabric & Leather * Solution Recipes Quick Reference
* Referenced Web Pages for Even More

BUDDING SPRING SALE!

noreply@blogger.com (Tree Pruitt) — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 19:01:00 +0000

While walking through the Realm of the Mystic Griffin, the other day, Griff and myself both noticed vibrant green tips of early Spring buds popping through the snow. Many of the trees in the Realm host fuzzy tips ready to burst into bloom; the Sun whispered that Spring was indeed here. In our excitement, we rushed back to the Curio Castle ready to share some of the joy. All hand made jewelry and selected vintage items have been marked down in celebration of early Spring! New jewelry selections will be added over time, at sale rate, until Summer. The energy swirling around has inspired me to craft necklaces, earrings, pin brooches, pendants, feng shui mobile art, beaded baubbles and mini sculptures to wear! I can promise you some very unique wire crafted pieces featuring vibrant spiritual blues, fossil and gem stones, dolphin, hearts, Christian crosses, Pagan pentacles, Ganesha, and the ever present Spiral of Life.

Garden seeds will be available in the Curio Castle shop too. For a limited time only I'll be offering select flower seeds cultivated from our flower garden. See the "Art & Craft Supplies" section of the shop for flower seed listings that include photos of the plant and blossoms. Note that our garden is chemical free. Poppy, Columbine, Morning Glory and Moon Flower are hardy plants that grow in most zones, with care. I'm also open to trade on seed packets too, if you have some garden goodies of your own to share. Feel free to contact me with offers of insect free viable seeds.

So come see the start of the sale and be sure to come back to see new additions too!

Curio Castle Gets Kudos and a Treasury!

noreply@blogger.com (Tree Pruitt) — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 05:26:00 +0000

Curio Castle has received a friendly and creative honor. An item from the shop has been selected for feature in an Etsy Treasury! Etsy member, "faroutbabe", took the time to artfully hand select twelve items into a temporary collection she's titled, "Including the kitchen sink; beautiful pieces from some of my favorite sellers".

Yes, there IS a kitchen sink involved! :) The collectable Pub Token Bar Coins, attributed Cincinnati, look lovely with the rich natural toned items chosen by "faroutbabe". I think it's a great Treasury, and I added to my own favorite sellers list! You can visit this Treasury only for a short time. Read comments left by others or leave one of your own too.

Just what is a Treasury?

The Etsy Treasury is a member-curated gallery of short-lived lists of 12 hand-picked items each. It is intended to acknowledge and share the many cool things for sale on Etsy. Admin often chooses an exceptional Treasury list to promote on the home page. Learn more http://etsytreasurydemo.blogspot.com/

I offer many thanks to Etsy member "faroutbabe"!

TIPS ON USING A RITUAL BELL

noreply@blogger.com (Tree Pruitt) — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 13:13:00 +0000

Soon, I'll be offering old bells, in the Curio Castle Shop, to be used as Wiccan Pagan altar bells. I have an antique brass gong too! These old treasures offer the charm to take the mundane muggle to a mystical mage, if magic is desired. Below is a pre-view of an old brass bell from England. (*Find Tips below)

Wild Stag Hart Brass Ceremonial Wiccan Pagan Altar Bell
This stout brass bell is perfect for getting in touch with the male energy of the Wild God of the Hunt. The white hart, or English stag, is a powerful ancient symbol of the Divine Masculine, (seen most often in Celtic Arthurian lore). #om019 sold

TIPS ON USING A RITUAL BELL:

It's pretty, but what do I DO with it? How is an altar bell used? I've gathered together some of my thoughts on using a ritual altar bell. I cannot point to specific references for my information, as it was gained through many years of experience and education. As such, I must advise that my information be used at one's own risk. I invite anyone with thoughts to share on the subject, or further questions, to contact me. Always trust your instincts and learn from as many different resources as you can, when seeking in the metaphysical realms; if it feels wrong then don't do it, if it feels right then take it inside. *Note: I cannot speak for Ceremonial Magick as in Golden Dawn, Crowley, or necromancy use; I speak from the perspective of a Neo-Pagan solitary hedge witch.

- Use a ritual bell, or gong, on the altar to announce the start of ceremony or sabbat. It's up to the person performing the ceremony, or the group, to decide before hand when to use the bell. It may also be rung or struck to mark different sections of a ritual, or reserved for Full Moons.

- A lovely Candlemas, or Imbolc, ritual idea is to have a young child in the Circle center. Have him/her move round the Circle, from person to person, with a Circle casting bell. When each member in turn is faced, have the child ring or strike the bell as a candle is lit. Each coven or family member should hold a candle, passing the flame round to call back the Sun God and sooth the Winter Goddess. The child would represent the youthful energy of the newly born God on Yule; offerings, I'm sure, would be accepted by the little deity afterwards!

- Fairies, and all of the Others, are thought to be repelled by the sound of bells. Keep that in mind if you work with the Fey. Try a miniature bell for your altar, as soft sounds seem less abrasive to Fairy, and don't ring it too often. I recall my German and Irish grandmother telling of bells in old wise tales passed down to her; bells being hung above a baby crib to avoid getting stuck with a Changeling instead of little Junior, a bell on the cupboard to keep the Brownies from stealing food (offerings placed far from the house help too), and a bell should be placed on the cat to stop a witch from making it her own familiar.

- A Casting Bell or "Caster"
Use with a wand or staff when calling to the Quarters to drive out negative energy from your Circle. Holding the wand in the projective hand, use the passive hand to ring a handled bell in a figure eight pattern when marking each of the Quarters. A figure eight turned on its side is a symbol for infinity, so a bell user is sending the negative energy into the vastness of infinity to be appropriately distributed throughout the universe; being broken apart by the sound wave. The resounding tone of a casting bell could also be thought of a call to the Elemental Guardians of Earth, Air, Fire, and Water.

- A caster that has been used in Circle may also be used for positive personal affirmation and daily meditation prayer. Ring the bell each time you make an affirmation. The shock wave of the tone will help imbed a new concept within your mind; like self hypnosis!

- Any time there is a need to mark the separation of one positive state of being from or to another is a good time to use a caster bell or gong.

- A Binding Bell or "Binder"
A bell can also be a powerful tool in binding rituals and spells, but once a bell is used for binding it should ONLY be used for binding. The same bell can be used for both positive and negative types of binding. Those who practice Celtic traditions may know the term "binding" as the Gaelic word "geis", which is a very strong magical bond, (I found a great Internet resources for those who'd like to learn more about a geis, or the Gaelic language in general http://dedanaan.com/category/hhgttm/g/page/2/ ).

- Casting a Circle with a binding bell may actually hold any present negative energy IN the Circle, so do not use a binder as a caster! One of the only times a wand, staff, or athame would be used with a bell programmed for binding would be for the cleansing of spirits or ghosts; fairly extreme stuff, really, best left for the well experienced.

- A binder may also be used for self binding spells or meditations. Self binding would be the ritual actions of a person wanting to quit bad habits and personal vices; like a desire to quit smoking or eating fast food, a personal oath to stop yelling at the kids or not be nasty to the boss; get the idea? A binder may be used for positive personal affirmation and daily meditation prayer to REMOVE or drive away something within the self. Ring the bell each time you make a personal daily affirmation.

- Any time there is a need to mark the separation of one negative state of being to a positive state is a good time to use a binding bell.

I hope the information I've shared has been helpful. It's up to you to decide what type of bell you'll need; table top bell that must be struck, or a bell with a handle that must be rung. For more original information about ritual tools visit my web site, Realm of the Mystic Griffin http://www.mysticgriffin.com/ . Do some research of your own to discover how best to use bells in your own magical life.

-- Tree Pruitt

Curio Castle http://www.curiocastle.etsy.com/

ABOUT THE CAULDRON

noreply@blogger.com (Tree Pruitt) — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 23:25:00 +0000

Below is a rough draft article exposing the special qualities of cauldrons and three footed spell pots. I hope to clean it up and finish the article soon, but thought to share the start with you all now.

ABOUT THE CAULDRON:
Meaning of the Cauldron in Myth and Modern Neo-paganism, Wicca. Why does a cauldron have three legs?

A cauldron or caldron (from Latin caldarium, hot bath) is a large metal pot (kettle) for cooking and/or boiling over an open fire, with a large mouth and usually attached to a hanger with the shape of an arc. Cauldrons have fallen out of use nowadays in the industrialized world as the main cooking vessels they once were. The cauldron is special in many forms of society. A photograph with this article shows preparations for matriculation day at a school in Botswana. Food is usually prepared in the school kitchens, but for a feast, special outdoor cauldron pots are pressed into service. Cauldrons became associated with witchcraft, as a cliché popularized by various fictions, including the play Macbeth. In such fantastic fiction, witches often prepare their potions in a cauldron. Also, in legend, a cauldron is purported to be where leprechauns keep their treasure. Taliesin, the founder of bard craft, was said to be born of the Celtic Goddess, Cerridwen, who had a supernatural magic cauldron. Taliesin consumed a potion from Her sacred cauldron, thus gaining the creativity and inspiration to birth the idea of bard song. In Neo-paganism and Wicca the cauldron is a tool of great importance. Used by both modern witches in folk magic and those of the Wiccan faith for cooking herbal remedies, burning spell papers and ingredients, or used as a ritual vessel during ceremony to hold salt or water. A cauldron can be made of most any material, but cast iron and copper are the most common. For practical uses a metal cauldron provides the safest container for cooking and burning, especially since they usually hang or sit on three legs allowing good air flow. Cauldron shaped pots or kettles of other materials such as stoneware and glass can be spiritually cleansed and re-claimed as ritual or ceremonial tools too. They make wonderful candle holders, scrying bowls for divination, and are much better for holding liquids and salt because those substances can damage metal. It requires each of the elements to create a metal cauldron. Such a cauldron could be seen as a symbol of the four elements; earth, air fire, water combined in both function and form. Beside being a practical tool, the cauldron is a spiritual symbol to many. Traditionally the witches' cauldron has three legs no matter what the material it's making. This is seen to be in reference to the Goddess in Her Triple Goddess aspect of Maiden, Mother, and Crone. It could also represent three main stages of life; as in birth, life and then of course death. The symbolic meaning of the cauldron is typically seen to be the Mother Goddess. The plump shape mocks the womb of the Earth; Mother Nature. Because we come from a womb when we are born and are, in most cases, placed in the earth when we die the cauldron is also a symbol of rebirth. The afterlife for ancient Celtic people, and many in Wicca today, is known as "The Cauldron of Rebirth" (Tír na nÓg, Tir na nog or the Land of the Ever-Young). The belief is that those who die pass into the Cauldron of Rebirth before being reincarnated. It's easy to understand this transmutation when we consider the observation that ingredients going into a cooking pot are generally dead plant and animal portions. After being cooked, the resulting substance gives life supporting energy for the human body.
Ironic in this modern era, the association of food with the cauldron is found in a masculine rather than feminine example. The Dagda, who's name means, "The Good God", was the High King (Father of the Gods) of the Tuatha Dé Danann, the supernatural beings who inhabited Ireland prior to the coming of the Celts. The Dagda had a magic cauldron known for great abundance. The cauldron was bottomless, capable of feeding an army; no one would go hungry in its presence. As the Cauldron of Rebirth it appears in the story of 'Branwen, Daughter of Llyr' and is used by the Irish to resurrect their own dead soldiers; they arise to fight the next day but they cannot speak. Being mute perhaps prevented them from telling the secret mysteries of the Underworld.
As a Halloween decoration or sacred ritual tool, the cauldron remains nearly as relevant today as it has through time.

"About the Cauldron", 2007 by Tree Pruitt. http://www.mysticgriffin.com/cauldroncorner.htm

St Benedict Jubilee Medal Victorian Antique Amulet

noreply@blogger.com (Tree Pruitt) — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 02:50:00 +0000

This is a very early Jubilee Medal, perhaps one of the first in 1880, strikings of this religious exonumia collectable! It was stored with several other medals known to be from the late Civil War Era into the Mid- Victorian Era, and matches such construction. Condition is worn but good for the age of this piece; a bit soiled and in need of cleaning so has original finish. Original jump ring included with this RARE ITEM.

Use for religious collectables, Civil War reenactors, witchcraft spell protection amulet use, anti-witchcraft charm, and modern day Christian prayer. Also a fine medicine bag item for those with raven as a totem animal, as St. Benedict was often helped by a raven. Read the information I found on this amulet medal below.

The Saint Benedict Medal

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benedict_of_NursiaMain

This medal originally came from a cross in honor of St Benedict. On one side, the St Benedict medal has an image of Benedict, holding the Holy Rule in his left hand and a cross in his right. There is a raven on one side of him, with a cup on the other side of him. Around the medal's outer margin is "Eius in obitu nostro praesentia muniamur" ("May we, at our death, be fortified by His presence"). The other side of the medal has a cross with the initials for the words "Crux Sacra Sit Mihi Lux" ("May the Holy Cross be my light") on the vertical beam and the initials for "Non Draco Sit Mihi Dux" ("Let not the dragon be my guide") on the horizontal beam. The initial letters for "Crux Sancti Patris Benedicti" ("The Cross of Our Holy Father Benedict") are on the interior angles of the cross. Around the medal's margin on this side are the initials for "Vade Retro Satana, Nunquam Suade Mihi Vana--Sunt Mala Quae Libas, Ipse Venena Bibas" ("Begone, Satan, do not suggest to me thy vanities--evil are the things thou profferest, drink thou thy own poison"). Either the inscription "Pax" (Peace) or "IHS" ("Jesus") is located at the top of the cross in most cases.

This medal was first struck in 1880 to commemorate the fourteenth centenary of St Benedict's birth, and is also called the Jubilee Medal; however, the exact origin is unknown. In 1647, during a witchcraft trial at Natternberg near Metten Abbey in Bavaria, the accused women testified they had no power over Metten, which was under the protection of the cross. An investigation found a number of painted crosses on the walls of the abbey with the letters now found on St Benedict medals, but their meaning had been forgotten. A manuscript written in 1415 was eventually found that had a picture of Saint Benedict holding a scroll in one hand and a staff which ended in a cross in the other. On the scroll and staff were written the full words of the initials contained on the crosses. Medals then began to be struck in Germany, which then spread throughout Europe. This medal was first approved by Pope Benedict XIV in his briefs of December 23, 1741, and March 12, 1742.

Saint Benedict Medal http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Benedict_MedalHistory

The exact time and date of the making of the first St. Benedict Medal are unknown. At some point there were letters found on the back of the medal. These remained a mystery until a manuscript dating back to 1415 was found at Metten Abbey in Bavaria in 1647. The final version of the medal was struck in 1880, in remembrance of the 1400th anniversary of St. Benedict’s birth.

The Medal’s Symbolism

On the front of the medal is St. Benedict holding 2 things. He holds, in his right, hand a cross, to which he was incredibly devoted and, in the left, his rule for monasteries. In the back there is a poisoned cup, that when the saint made the sign of the cross over it, shattered. A jealous enemy had given him this cup and a loaf of bread (also poisoned) that a raven carried away. Above the cup are the words "Crux sancti patris Benedicti" (The Cross of our holy father Benedict). Surrounding the figure of St. Benedict are the words "Eius in obitu nostro praesentia muniamur!" (May we be strengthened by his presence in the hour of our death) as he was always regarded to the Benedictines as the patron of a happy death.On the back there resides a cross. On the cross are the letters C S S M L - N D S M D, initials of the words "Crux sacra sit mihi lux! Nunquam draco sit mihi dux!" (May the holy cross be my light! May the dragon never be my guide!). At the top of the medal is the word Pax (peace.) Surrounding the back of the medal are the letters V R S N S M V - S M Q L I V B, meaning "Vade retro Satana! Nunquam suade mihi vana! Sunt mala quae libas. Ipse venena bibas!" (Begone Satan! Never tempt me with your vanities! What you offer me is evil. Drink the poison yourself!)

Use of the Medal

This medal is used in numerous ways: on chain around the neck; attached to one's rosary; kept in one's pocket or purse,; placed in one's car or home; placed in the foundation of a building; placed in the center of a cross.

Blessing of the Medal

Medals of Saint Benedict are sacramentals that may be blessed legitimately by any priest or deacon -- not necessarily a Benedictine.[1]The following English form may be used:[2]“ V: Our help is in the name of the Lord.R: Who made heaven and earth.V: In the name of God the Father + almighty, who made heaven and earth, the seas and all that is in them, I exorcise these medals against the power and attacks of the evil one. May all who use these medals devoutly be blessed with health of soul and body. In the name of the Father + almighty, of the Son + Jesus Christ our Lord, and of the Holy + Spirit the Paraclete, and in the love of the same Lord Jesus Christ who will come on the last day to judge the living and the dead, and the world by fire.R: Amen.V: Let us pray. Almighty God, the boundless source of all good things, we humbly ask that, through the intercession of Saint Benedict, you pour out your blessings + upon these medals. May those who use them devoutly and earnestly strive to perform good works be blessed by you with health of soul and body, the grace of a holy life, and remission of the temporal punishment due to sin.May they also with the help of your merciful love, resist the temptation of the evil one and strive to exercise true charity and justice toward all, so that one day they may appear sinless and holy in your sight. This we ask though Christ our Lord.R: Amen.

The medals are then sprinkled with holy water.

Antiques & Collectables as Art Props

noreply@blogger.com (Tree Pruitt) — Sat, 03 Nov 2007 08:51:00 +0000

ANTIQUE BOOKS & BONES

What do antiques and collectables have to do with creating art work, you may ask?
Being an artist, I began to collect props for still life painting reference material. Many of my paintings include old pottery, dolls, game pieces, and odd curios. I've also included my collections in digital photomanipulation prints, and sometimes directly in collage or assemblage arts. While redecorating my studio I noticed a good amount of space was being devoted to storage. I used to have a single shelf unit and one cabinet to store my art props and costumes, but the assortment continued to grow faster than the artworks I produced! Before long I was spending more time learning about conservation than creation, and I knew some things had to change. It's been a tough road deciding what collectables to keep, but a fun one too.

I've found homes for much of my collection through eBay, yet still have plenty more to offer for sale. Here, in the included group images, you can see some examples of my use of antiques and vintage collectables in fine art. In the first group image above, I show different ways I've used antique books, pottery, and the same two taxidermy animal skulls; a bear and an otter. Titles of the original art images are as follows, (all art copyright Tree Pruitt), from left to right ...

- "Her Alchemy", mixed media painting on reclaimed canvas portion
- "Passages", water oil paint on reclaimed framed canvas
- "Le Morte D'Arthur", oil paint on canvas
- "Shamanic", digital manipulation of original drawing

VINTAGE TOOLS & TOYS

*Some of the collectables shown above include an old Ocean City fishing reel, antique metal hardware, Zephyr Airkooler vintage electric fan, and die cast toy cars. Titles of the original art images are as follows, from left to right ...

- "Hook, Line and Sinker", photomanipulation
- "Zephyr Dyptic", photomanipulation
- "Hot Car Toys", photomanipulation
- "Metal Objects", photomanipulation

Titles of the original art images are as follows, all art copyright T. Pruitt, from left to right ...

- "Switch Baby", digital photomanipulation of a baby doll face
- "Back In The Day", digital photomanipulation of an antique doll head and vintage jewelry
- "Generation Gap", assemblage sculpture with doll head and stained glass
- "Wordly Woman", digital photomanipulation of toys