Jarapas – A Traditional Spanish Rag Rug

(This images are not ours, they were found online)

Our rag rugs are called Jarapas or, in the Canary Islands, Trapera (Trapo = Rag). A Trapera is a handwoven rug made of strips from cotton fabric. They are from Arabic origin, where they are used not only as rugs, but also as blankets, beach carpets, even curtains – being made of cotton and not wool, they preserve the freshness of the houses during the long months of our desertic summer. They are colourful, lightweight, durable, washable and incredibly soft. Searching online, I found they were a collector’s item outside Spain, and once again, I (sadly) confirmed that even in the Canary Islands, this hand craft has almost disappeared completely.

We have many wonderful friends that have donated old clothes/curtains/sheets/etc for my doll making and sewing – they are so wonderful that our fabric stash is starting to overwhelm the house LOL! T-shirts and stretchy cotton fabrics are not used much for anything, so we decided to find a way to recycle it and give the fabrics a new life – and then we thought of Traperas.

We built this loom simply using a painting’s frame (another donation) and nails. A strong thread is used (we use a thread used in sewing jeans – does anyone know the name in English?) and strips are simply threaded in a “brick” pattern and knotted on the sides – see pics for details. It is a very delicate and time consuming process, but I have to say I enjoyed it to bits: in many ways it is like building a painting. Placing it in the easel was a good idea, as I can change the height for more comfortable working.

Here’s our first finished piece, a Yule gift for Fernando’s father. It measures 58 x 25 cms (that’s 29 x 12,5 inches) without the side fringes – enough to make a nice bedside rug. We started with the tradititional style, but we are working on ideas to add thick wool handspun threads among the stripes for extra loveliness. You will find them in the shop very soon – wouldn’t this make an awesome outdoor altar mat???

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Today’s New Listings: Crow & Bear Shaman Prints

I liked the design of the shopping bags so much that I had to make postcards of them :). The painting on cotton was scanned and slightly retouched in Photoshop to give it a cleaner look. 10×15 cms/ 4×6 inches, printed in high quality photographic paper, with enough border on all sides for framing. All prints will be numbered and signed by me. All prints come with a regular size white envelope.

You can find these items at The Hoodoo Shop at Etsy.

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New Products Listed! Seed Sets & Wildharvesting Handpainted Bags

Seed Set – The Dark Witch – Castor Oil Plant, Deadly Nightshade, White Nightshade, Mandrake, Catnip And Rue

This set of seeds comes directly from our own collection and is made for those witches interested in cultivating those magickal plants related to the Dark Arts.
The Set Contains:
- Castor Oil Plant (Ricinus Comunis): the warrior protector of Dark Witches. 5 seeds. Wildcrafted in Anaga, Tenerife. POISONOUS.
- White Nightshade (Solanum Douglasii): this lady of the night knows many secrets about spirits. 20-40 seeds. Cultivated by us. POISONOUS.
- Deadly Nightshade (Atropa Belladona): one of the most famous magickal plants ever! Nothing like her when searching for sacred visions. 20-30 seeds. Traded with a local farmer. POISONOUS.
- Mandrake (Mandragora Officinalis): her Royal Majesty when it comes to Magick! Traded with a local farmer. 2 seeds. POISONOUS.
- Catnip (Nepeta Cataria): we have added this one just for your cat familiar – and you can use it too! A favourite of woodland spirits. 20-40 seeds. Traded to a local farmer. EDIBLE.
- Rue (Ruta Graveolens): another fierce protector for magickal work. 4 pods (please break them to release the seeds). More than 100 seeds. Wildcrafted at Anaga, Tenerife.

Seed Set – The Green Witch – Fennel, Lemon Balm, Lemongrass, Holy Red Basil, Vervain, Valerian, Borage and Saint John’s Wort

A wonderful set for the Gardening/Kitchen/Green Witch with 8 powerful plants for magickal and medicinal use:
- Fennel (Foeniculum Vulgare): a fairy plant, excellent for all digestive issues. Over 40 seeds. Wildharvested in Anaga, Tenerife.
- Lemon Balm (Melissa Officinalis): a Deva plant, calming and soothing for the nervous system. 20-40 seeds. Traded to a local farmer.
- Lemongrass (Cymbopogon Flexuosus): the lucky plant of Hoodoo makes a refreshing and tonic herbal drink. 20-30 seeds. Traded to a local farmer.
- Holy Red Basil (Ocimum Basilcum): a beautiful variety of the usual Sweet Basil, with red/purple leaves – a plant sacred to female deities to give luck and protection. 20-40 seeds. Traded to a local farmer.
- Vervain (Verbena Officinalis): another fairy herb that opens the gates to the unseen worlds – also an excellent aid for digestive problems. 20-40 seeds. Traded to a local farmer.
- Valerian (Valeriana Officinalis): relax yourself with its tea and increase meditation and focus. 15-20 seeds. Traded to a local farmer.
- Borage (Borago Officinalis): this humble roadside plant hides a fierce protection warrioress! Calms lungs and sore throats with its tea, and its flowers are edible. 15-20 seeds. Traded to a local farmer.
- Saint John’s Wort: the anti-deppressant of nature is under the protection of the Green Man. 3 pods – please open the pods to release seeds. over 300 seeds. Wildharvested in Anaga, Tenerife.

Bear Shaman – Harvesting/Foraging/Shopping Bag – Handpainted – OOAK

Handpainted OOAK bag depicting a Shaman Spirit from the Bear clan – a unique piece for your wildharvesting, foraging, grocery shopping, or for taking sacred items to outside rituals.
The bag is made from vey sturdy cotton and its measures are:
- Width: 31 cms/ 12 inches;
- Height: 34 cms / 13 inches;
- Handles: 30 cms/ 12 inches, enough to wear over the shoulder.
I am expecting a shipment of more blank bags by the end of January – custom orders will be available then. If you want to pre-order, please convo me with your request. Each bag is unique as it is painted freehand, but designs will be repeated if necessary.

Crow Shaman – Harvesting/Foraging/Shopping Bag – Handpainted – OOAK

Same specifications as above.

You can find all these items and more at The Hoodoo Shop at Etsy.

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Psychoactive Herb Sets Listed!

One of our favourites parts of Herbalism, and one of the focus of our Magickal Gardening, is the use of cultivation of entheogenic and psychoactive plants. Psychoactive plants are an essential part of Witchcraft, working as vehicles of the seeking of the Witch in the Spiritual Worlds. To the simplest act of smudging with sage to the preparation of the ayahuasca, one of the most powerful hallucinogenics in the world, psychoactive plants go hand in hand with magickal practises and spirituality.

These herbs can be smoked, used in your magick teas, as incense or in any other use of your choice. This set contains six different psychoactive plants, all in around 5 gram doses (1/5 ounce). ALL the herbs are certified organic and bought to farmers we trust. The set comes beautifully wrapped in a bronze organza bag.

- Catnip (Nepeta Cataria): relaxing and aphrodisiac – specially added to be shared with your cat familiar :)
- Damiana (Turnera Diffusa): aphrodisiac, lucid dream inducer, wonderful for all work with the Moon Goddesses;
- Nettle (Urticae Herba): playful and powerfully relaxing, this is one of the Fairies’ favourites.
- Passionflower (Passiflora Edulis): aphrodisiac, stimulating and amazing as a pre-ritual herb.
- Skullcap (Scutellaria Galericulata): strong flavour, not for all tastes! The best herb for Dark Arts and working with Ancestors and Spiritual Guides.
- Wild Lettuce (Lactuca Virosa): another herb related with the Spirits of the Night, Dark Fairies and other elusive spirits. An excellent offering when burned before spiritual consultations.

Important Note & Disclaimer:
- None of this herbs is a substitute for Cannabis!!!
- Once you make your purchase, we are not responsible anymore for your use and level of knowledge on this type of plants. We highly encourage you to research about each plant’s use and specific properties.
- We are not responsible for allergic reactions – though none of this herbs is know for producing allergic reactions, it may happen.
- On the other hand, none of this herbs is toxic or strong enough to cause hallucinations – we have chosen safe herbs that Witches of all paths and levels of expertise can use.

Special Thanks:
the gorgeous handsculpted head on the picture is a piece of unique art made by A.M., dearest friend and teenage Witch and Artist – thank you very much my dearest!

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New Items At The Hoodoo Shop

Yes, I know I said I’d be taking a break from blogging until 2010 but since we are working every day and listing new items, I couldn’t help but jump in for a moment and give you the news!

Midsummer’s Dream Incense

In the middle of winter, would you like to have a splash of pure summer? This incense, made with scented pine wood shavings and other flowers and herbs like cinnamon, rose petals, geranium petals and many others smells like a garden under the warmth of the summer sun – powerful, sensual and almost intoxicating. Perfect to honour all Love and Beauty Goddesses like Isis, Aphrodite, Venus, Ishtar, Oshum, etc – and of course the Fairies love it! This would make an awesome incense to enhance your love and abundance spells.

Dianic Magick Incense

Dianic Magick is one of my favourite forms of the Craft, and one have practised myself for about ten years already. My complete love from it came after the reading of “Aradia Or The Gospel Of The Witches” written by Charles Godfrey Leland. Leland met a clan of Italian Witches who allegedly shared with him all the secrets of the Stregheria (Italian Witchcraft).

Aradia starts with the story of Goddess Diana, whom in love with her brother Lucifer turns into a white cat to enter his house. Lucifer adopts the cat and allows her to sleep in his bed with him; one night Diana takes back her human form and makes love with her brother – from that night of love, Herodias (Aradia) is born. Herodias is sent to Earth to teach Withcraft to humans, as the Queen of Witches herself, so women can learn the ways of her Magick and fight against the oppressors of the poor.

The rest of the book contains Herodias’ teachings, many more legends of the Stregheria myth and Leland’s own reflections on said Craft. A wonderful reading that has inspired this set of three incenses, one for each character in this beautiful legend.
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Right now we are working on several new herbal products and I managed to finish a full set of polymer clay beads to make charms and amulets for the shop:

They have been handsculpted, painted and aged ONE BY ONE, without the use of any molds. I have already finished a gorgeous three-strand necklace that I hope to be listing today, though I can’t promise anything as our friends from Madrid are arriving today to stay home until the New Year and I’m not sure how much we will accomplish these days…

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Merry Yule To All Our Readers!!!

I will be taking a little break from blogging until the new year comes – the shop will be attended, so don’t worry about making your purchases, we’ll be here serving orders as usual. Until then, I want to wish all our readers and online friends a wonderful Yule season and the best for the new year coming!!!

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OOAK Handcarved Spindle – Available!

This spindle for handspinning fibers has been completely carved BY HAND by Fernando, without the use of any electrical tools, from start to finish. It is his own design and it’s fully functional and much lighter than it looks. The one we use for spinning our fibers is exactly the same (see pic below with spun wool).

The woods have been wildharvested at the mountains of Anaga (Tenerife), and has been naturally shed by trees. We’re still trying to find the latin names of the two woods used – so far we only know the name that Anaga people give it (pimentero and rajanero), but we haven’t identified them yet. The piece measures 23 cms.- that is 9 inches, and has been varnished twice for durability.
We accept custom orders, but as we collect wood naturally shed by trees, we cannot guarantee that we can replicate a piece – but we DO guarantee that each piece is absolutely unique, and a real treasure to fiber lovers :). You can find this item at The Hoodoo Shop at Etsy.

And here’s Fernando’s second handspun yarn, a piece of dark geranium merino wool. I knew he would be a natural at this! He is already whining that he doesn’t have more time for it lol…

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Resting

Too tired after the massive spellcasting yesterday to write something interesting LOL… just some images of the day.

Herbal Tea

Randomness and Nature make awesome art: a plate for drying herbs in my witchy room.

Healing Magick

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Sweet Potatoe Yule Cake (Makes Pan Happy)

Ingredients:
- 300 gr. flour;
- 125 grams of sugar;
- 1 sweet potatoe, around 150-200 grams, boiled, peeled and mashed;
- 1/2 carrot, grated;
- the peel of half a lemon, grated;
- 2 eggs;
- 1 glass of milk;
- 5 cardamom seeds, powdered;
- 1 cinnamon stick (around 10 grams), powdered;
- A spoonful of powdered ginger – you can use fresh ginger too, but it will taste slightly different.
- 30 grams of baking powder.

Do exactly as you would do with a regular cake; mix all dry ingredients (flour, spices, baking soda) in a bowl and set aside. On another bowl, mix butter and sugar first until the mix it’s light and fluffy; then add the eggs, milk, lemon rind, the mashed sweet potatoe and the grated carrot – one ingredient at a time, mixing well before adding another. Then add the dry mix slowly. Prepare your baking pan, add the mixture and bake for 15 minutes at high temperature, and for 20-25 at low. Keep an eye on this cake because it’s very light and can get burnt easily.

While the cake bakes, rearrange your altar to your favourite Yule deities, and offer them a slice right our of the oven, decorating it
with borage flowers for extra – loveliness :).

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Little Bits Of Life & Craft

I finally finished the restoration of the mannequin that Fernando found in the trash several months ago. Most of the hair had to be resculpted with air-dry clay, plaster and craft glue and repainted, and the face got a complete repaint to give the skin a more natural colour and take off all the hideous air-brush make-up. Though I’d prefer a bald mannequin to play with wigs, this is what I have so I tried to make the best of it.

The main reason to finish the restoration was to show off the new pieces made with Fernando’s wood crochet hooks and hadspun yarns! I crocheted this scarflette for my best friend, who’s leaving for Spain’s mainland in a couple of weeks to spend Yule with her husband’s family. The black yarn is regular black acrylic, and the red is Fernando’s first handspun yarn. The scarflette has small fasteners to keep it in place.

This is the cochineal we wildharvested a week ago in the Anaga mountains, cleaned and ready for the oven – I was going to make a cake, so I wanted to use the after-baking heat of the oven to dry it – talk about saving energy! Cochineal makes one of the most ancient fiber dyes in history, carmine, and it has been a huge tradition in the Canary Islands for many centuries, as nopales are one of the most common cacti here. The insect is collected from the nopales after its reproductive stage with big wooden spoons, cleaned (they grow a white “foam” around them to protect the egg lays) and dried, both with oven heat and later by the action of the sun. Once completely dry, it is powdered and simply added to water, as it is water soluble. Once we start the dyeing experiments I’ll talk more about this process – and don’t worry vegetarians, this insect is collected dead :).

And please forgive the awful light in this pic – my camera and my kitchen really hate each other LOL – but I had to show this gorgeous cake. I will try to make better pictures tomorrow and share the recipe as it contains surprise ingredients!

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