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~ October Supplemental ~

Plastic Spoon Witch

                                      

by: Amanda Formaro

Difficulty: Easy

Ages: 6 and up, parental supervision

 

This fun craft can be as intricate or as simple as you like. Adjust the details to make it simpler for younger children by eliminating her belt buckle, necklace, and teeth.

 

What you'll need:

     ●     Plastic spoon

     ●     ½ sheet of lime green felt

     ●     ½ sheet of purple felt

     ●     1 sheet of black felt

     ●     ½ sheet tan felt

     ●     Small scrap of white felt

     ●     1 lime green chenille stick

     ●     2 small wiggle eyes

     ●     1 miniature light green pompom

     ●     10 miniature light purple pompoms

     ●     1 gold chenille stick

     ●     Scissors

     ●     Hot glue gun

     ●     Pattern

 

How to make it:

1. Cut a square of lime green felt large enough to fold over and completely cover the top portion of the spoon. Set aside.

2.  Place spoon, round side facing down, on top of the green felt. Only the top section of the spoon will be wrapped, not the handle. Place a dot of hot glue onto the back of the spoon to tack it in place. Wrap the felt completely around the spoon top, gluing as you go, tucking and gluing ends of the felt into the back side of the spoon.

3.  Cut out two identical dresses from the black felt. Lay one on the work surface and place spoon on top, positioning it so the top of the handle lines up with the neck. Place the other dress directly on top and tack in place at the shoulders and neck area. DO NOT glue.

4.  Cut lime green chenille stick into four equal pieces. Fold each piece in half. Insert, open end inward so that loops are sticking out (these are the arms and legs) and glue in place. Now glue the rest of the dress together.

5.  Cut a strip of purple felt for the belt, wide enough to cover the waist area. Tack seams in the back. Cut a square from the black felt for the buckle. Cut a smaller square out of the center of the larger square and set the small piece aside to use on the hat. 6.  Glue buckle to the front of the belt.

6.  To make the hair, cut a four inch by three inch rectangle from purple felt. Use scissors to fringe one of the long sides. Tack to the back of the "head", lining up the center of the felt hair with the top third of the spoon. Wrap hair around the head and trim where needed. Glue in place. Note: You’ll want to leave about a quarter-inch gap around the forehead area.

7.  Cut two identical hats from the black felt. Just as you did with the dress, lay one hat on the work surface, place the head on top and then arrange the second hat on top of the head. Line up hats and glue in place.

8.  Cut a skinny strip of purple felt out for the hat band and glue in place as you did with the dress belt. Glue the small black square you cut from the belt buckle to the center of the hat band.

8.  Add a necklace by piping some hot glue around the neckline of the dress and place light purple miniature pom-poms in place.

9.  Cut a small point nose from the lime green felt and glue just the large end of it to the center of the face so that the it sticks out a bit.

10. Cut out a tiny strip of white felt and cut it into four small squares. Glue on for the mouth.

11. Glue on a miniature green pom-pom near her chin to create a wart. Glue on two wiggle eyes.

12. Cut an eight inch by three inch rectangle from the tan felt. Use scissors to fringe one end, about two inches inward. Roll up the felt to create the broom bristles and glue together as you roll. Insert gold chenille stems into the bottom end of the bristles and glue in place. Tie a thin strip around the base of the broom and trim the ends. Insert the bottom of the broom handle through the loop hand and down to the foot. Tack with glue to the hand and the foot.


MAGICKAL MUSIC

Continued . . .

As a child she claims to have sung to fairies, as an adult she calls

herself a Scorpio Witch. Wendy Rule is a complex, but approachable

entertainer. A consummate entertainer, she was in the lobby when I  arrived. She sat on a sofa, stacks of her CD’s on the coffee table.

She cheerfully autographed her CD’s, personalizing it for each concert goer.

 

We told her that a contingent in the audience came from Temple of the Goddess and thanked her for her permission to use some of her songs at our seasonal rituals. She was delighted to meet us in person and asked if there were any particular songs we’d like to hear. One of our group suggested, Shine, and lo and behold, Wendy sang it during the concert.

 

As she walked onto the stage, I could examine her attire. She definitely presented a witchy picture–tight bodice and a black flowing skirt. If I had any doubts about her taking my religion of Paganism seriously, she dispelled them immediately. The first thing she did was consult the compass on the small table next to the chair on stage. Her first number was The Circle Song. She cast a circle, not in relation to the stage or the audience, but by the compass.

 

After raising energy in all of us, she sat on the chair next to the small table holding the compass, a chalice of water, and a lit candle. The size of the theater, as well as the stage, made for an intimate evening. We, in the front row, were literally ten feet and one small step away from a powerful voice ranging from soft whispers to resonating highs.

 

She played her guitar, the only accompaniment needed. However, in the middle of the performance, her son Reuben played the accordion while she played the guitar and sang Wolf Moon. I discovered that the accordion is not an antiquated musical instrument, and was indeed a proper instrument to voice Pagan feelings.

 

Wendy’s songs have been described as Shamanic, and no song is more Shamanic than Singing to the Bones.

How the darkness soothes my sorrow

Takes me through the line of reason

Takes to the place of shadows

Alone, Singing to the Bones

 

Paganism weaves throughout her lyrics as thread weaves through a tapestry. Child the First says:

And you are ability

And you are dexterity

You’re pure possibility

And magic and alchemy

And you will be changed

But changing, change destiny

And you, you can do anything, anything, everything

Child the First

 

Wendy sang Shine, one of Temple of the Goddess ritual-goers’ favorite, even dedicating it to Temple of the Goddess. It was overwhelmingly emotional for the entire audience.

 

You are braver than mythical heroes

You have rescued the child of the dreamland

You have conquered the beast of the shadow

The universe is centered on where you stand

Feel the world at your feet

Freedom calls you from time

And all because you shine

You are drinking the nectar divine

 

How can one not feel uplifted after hearing those lyrics? Shamanism, Paganism, deep soul spirituality snake round and about in her music and the words, changing the listener, which therefore changes the world.

 

That magickal night we also heard Zero, and Oh How I Dream, and others, all coming from a place of sacred intent. Far too soon Wendy sang an opening of the circle she had cast at the beginning of the concert.

 

As I left with my CD, Wendy Rule again sat on the couch in the lobby, signing CD’s for appreciative fans. She’s coming back to the U.S. next year and Temple of the Goddess hopes to be able to work with her in some way. Watch for an announcement in our eNewsletter, but believe me, I’m going to buy a ticket first. I cannot, I will not miss hearing this Scorpio Witch spinning a web of Spirit Power around my soul.

 

To read more about Wendy Rule and/or to buy her CD’s, go to:

http://www.WendyRule.com

http://www.myspace.com/wendyrule