Cabaret and Goblins and Spring!

 I haven't been on here much, I know.  Nor on Twitter or Facebook or other social media, and I'm starting to get phone calls from friends as they ensure that I'm not purposefully avoiding them.

Here's my very good reasons for being so far away right now:

Image by Modern Scribe Photography

Eric and I are members and the costumers for Bombs Away Cabaret.  My character is real sweet, y'all....her name is Iona Traylor (say it out loud!). 

BAC is dedicated to restoring burlesque to it's comedic roots, and protecting the integrity of the art form that is cabaret. Most of our music in the shows are original creations, and we write our own plays as well...and we are goofy, cheesy, and sexy!  I love this group.

Our shows are not for profit - we choose a local charity every year to reap the benefits of our shakes and shimmies.  This year, our show opened on 4/20, and it is called "High Skirts: Illicitly Yours" - subtle, right?  We perform four shows each weekend, and we sold out 3 of our 4 shows this past week!  We'll see how this coming weekend goes, and send the proceeds to Brother Wolf Animal Rescue, a fabulous no-kill shelter who is working to buy their kennel property.

So there hasn't been much posting or gardening, as I've been sewing silk pot leaves to bras and bedazzling underwear.

 And then...

Eric and Amber DePixi with Gandersnitch the Goblin
at Festival of Legends, April 2012

The 1st Festival of Legends took place in Chapel Hill, North Carolina in April. 

Eric and I know some amazing performers from festivals like the Maryland Renaissance Faire and the Carolina Royal Faire, and when some of them informed us that there was an effort to create a new Faerie/Fantasy Festival in North Carolina, we were thrilled!

The Festival of Legends was in large part a community funded event, some of their funds being raised via Kickstarter.  Eric and I got in on the earlybird VIP ticket purchase but couldn't make it to the festival for it's opening day.  So on a cold, wet, rainy Sunday, we drove the 4 hours to get to Chapel Hill.

We dressed as Kender, since we needed to wear layers, and had many colorful things that didn't suit our normal Faire pirate gear.  Eric finished his hoopak on the road, and we jingled and bounced into the festival with glee!

We met new friends (like Gandersnitch in the pic above, who makes very clever things) and hugged the bejeezus out of the ones we've missed and drank just enough alcohol to keep warm.  Frenchy and the Punk kept us dancing, and wouldn't you know it, the beer being served was Green Man Brewing from Asheville.  We enjoyed the acoustic performance of Hayley Jane, as well. It was a small fair, being so new, but we can't wait for next year, and are making plans to work it for sure!

Anyhoo...between that, making honey, and looking around for a new hollar to settle in 'round these parts, I haven't had much time.  But you know what I do have?  Love.

Thank you for reading, and I'll try to keep y'all posted!

Picture Post: Drum Altar, Equinox 2011

The drum altar is one of my favorite parts of participating in events with my spiritual family. Made up of eclectic, ecstatic, and excited witches, we use this space as a focal point for the community at large weekend events.

The core structure of the drum altar uses the Yoruban Ifá sprits, the Orisha, and their archetypes to build from...but the altar is not limited to that tradition. We have many different paths at these events, and the common languages are love and drum...so there is a Ganesha, a Legolas doll on the Ochossi altar (hunter, archer, tree-dweller), many many different things used to symbolize the energies we are all bringing together to work with.

Along with symbols, the festival participants bring food, candy, fruit, bread, wine, rum, whisky, cigars, candles, and more...the offerings left on the higher tiers are left for the gods, and those on the blanket are for the hungry and thirsty drummers, dancers, and watchers as the night grows darker and the fire grown higher.

Here are some glimpses of the altar during the daytime...imagine it at night, lit by tealights and candles, the mirrors flashing with the firelight, the pounding drums at your back, and the blankets full of happy people feeding each other chocolate, honey, and grapes!

Oshun, Mary, Sweet Mother, the center and heart of the altar.

A larger view of the altar...Oshun, Yemaya, and Eleggua

Ganesha is chilling next to Ochossi, and under Ogun.

Ancestor, trickster, gate and crossroads

A view of the left side, Ogun near the top, Obatala at the top, Chango opposite Ogun.

I got a choice.

Mama loved me so much that she told me what was up, straight and clean.

I was just a baby girl child, only three years old when she and my Daddy decided that they couldn't live together anymore, that they fought too much and were just not right for each other. I remember them fighting, but somehow knew it wasn't about me, and let it happen without getting too scared or upset, as I recall, anyways.

So when we moved out of the apartment and me and my mama had a sleepover with Nana, which happened occasionally, it didn't seem too strange.  After a couple of days, though, I noticed things were different right around the same time Mama crouched down and looked me straight in the eyes.  She said that she lived with Nana and Pop now, and that Daddy lived with Memaw and Grandad, and that I was welcome to stay anywhere I wanted to.

This is pretty heavy shit for anyone, but I was three. I took it like a champ. I remember thinking about it for a minute, realizing the gravity but not really comprehending the situation. Little Amber looked her Mama back in the eye and said "I want to live with Daddy and Memaw now, since I've stayed with you and Nana for a couple of days."

My mama never wept, didn't freak out, and just nodded and said, "Ok."  I don't remember feeling her being upset or sad, although I'm sure now she was, somewhat. We went to my Memaw's house and that was that for a couple of years (visiting regularly of course) until Mama got her own place nearby, a block or so away.  I always had my Daddy and Mama nearby me, allowing me to bounce from one to the other on a whim...them and the loving grandparents made me a big safety net of loved ones who I knew cared for me, even though I knew by then that they were humans, with fears, and emotions, just like I was.

My folks were never BIG PARENT people to me, but REAL people.  For that, I value them. For that, and for the choice given to someone who couldn't even tie their own shoes yet, I thank them.  And for never letting me see the true anger they bore each other, I thank them as well.

If you hate your mate, then do so. If you love your child, then do so. And for the love of god/goddess/plants or whatever you pray to and believe is watching you, please do not use them as a pawn in your emotional outbursts. Don't tug them. Remember Solomon, and don't cut them in half. Remember patience, and let them know they are loved by both and don't tear them apart with your anger.

The only times I got really angry at my Daddy is when he said something nasty about my Mama.  I knew well his anger towards her, but that wasn't his place to share it with me.

The only times I mistrusted my family is when they spoke against my Daddy...again, it wasn't their place to tell me "adult" problems...when he was just my Daddy.

I was given a choice that most children are not given. I was given respect, and love, and kept apart from their mutual emotional displays (except that one time, where they nearly broke the fish tank, and I told them off for almost hurting Pierre, ze amazink and also swimmink feesh).

For the love of your children, THINK first, and FEEL on your own. If you can't seperate it, then seperate yourself and seek counseling, or meditate, or whatever makes you calm and rational. REALLY rational, not just pretending to be so.

Your child thinks, more than you think they do.  They know way more than you assume they are aware of.  They realize that you are a person, and they are closer to the source. They know it better than you do, the fact that you are a falliable human, and that one day they will have to grow up to be one, too.  And they will learn their responses from you.

If you fear, so will they.  If you scream, so will they.  If you treat them with disrespect, don't expect them to be around longer than they have to.

It takes two people to make a child, until we learn that cool trick that certain reptiles and amphibians have.  And what is the first big lesson we teach our children?  SHARING.  And if you can't live it, they can't learn it. RESPECT. If they can't see it in the two people they know best, how can they know what it means?

Some of the worst lessons we teach our children are BLAME and FAULT.  Now, these are different than their cousin RESPONSIBILITY...who is a valuable friend.  Blame and fault cause only pain. Responsibility causes awareness of one's ability to affect change on a situation and know that you must assume the consequences of that change.

I made a choice that was the fairest choice a toddler could come up with.  Sharing. Balance. Fairness, Peace, and LOVE.

You are a mirror. What does your child see when they look into you?

That is what they will be.

Copyright Amber Shehan, May 29, 2011 - You may distribute for non-commercial use. For any other inquiries, please contact anchasta@yahoo.com

Kara, the Awesome!

Isn't she adorable? *squoosh*

I am one lucky lady.

I received a package in the mail from a dear friend who I haven't seen in *mumblemumble* years...and a thrill of excitement flickered through me!

Kara was a buddy of mine during my very short stint in college.  She was the first person who I allowed to be my friend, the first person I could stop being afraid enough to talk to besides my roommate. Part of it was her colorful Doc Martins.  Part of it was her Navy blue pea coat. And part of it was her complementing my magazine cut-out of David Bowie in my orientation notebook as we sat cross-legged on the Quad, listening to helpful Seniors babbling about the history of the school.

Apple-fairytale-goodness

We shared Play Analysis, and later, a Bitter Actress Tea Party.  We shared tea, and music, and it was in her room that I first discovered the world of Sandman and Neil Gaiman and Johnny the Homicidal Maniac.  She giggles like a Muppet, and is adorable beyond compare! She is a crow, and a foxy lady. She is also a magnificent artist!

Every gift I've ever received from Kara is a treasure that I still hold dear:  the handmade luck stone with a raven and a rune, the Yule card stamped with her engraved art, and the crayon drawing of a fairy in a rainbow river she passed me in Play Analysis on my birthday.

A portion of map from the area I was born

And now, years later, here before me was a box from my sweet and wonderful friend.

Inside of this box was.....MORE BOXES. How awesome is that?  It makes the pleasure of opening gifts even more pleasurable.  I removed a small, green treasure chest, and a yarn-wrapped cardboard jewelry box, and an OOAK art card.  Each box contained one of her lovely handmade necklaces, beautiful collage charms that she sells on her Etsy shop, No Rabbits Here. 

The "Eat" apple charm made me squee for it is tiny and reminds me of the Snow White fairy tale. It makes me think of apple magic, of the star at the center of the apple when you cut it just right...of the health and earthiness of this luscious fruit. It makes me think of my time of year, the harvests of August and the early sweet apples that can be plucked from the trees and enjoyed immediately!

The "Virginia Beach" charm astounds me for it contains not only a portion of a map from the area that I was born, but also the smallest half-doily that I have ever seen. Her collage work is fabulous, subtle, and overall quite impressive!

If you want to learn more about Kara, she blogs about her art over at Kara Paints.  And her Etsy shop is again, No Rabbits Here.  Everything you buy goes to support her, her tattoo business, her art, and also her precocious children who I can't wait to meet one of these days!

Thank you, Kara!

Notes, Updates, and Other Blather!

A couple of Notes!

Just so you know, my blog background, banner, and most of the photography on my blog are created by Sarah Thomas, from Modern Scribe Photography.  She now has an Etsy shop with adorable Pre-made banners, Etsy avatars, and other OOAK graphic design creations. She even does photo editing on demand...she can give you pointed ears or adjust lighting and background.

How can you resist the chance to have Inky as your shop banner and avatar? I mean LOOK at HIM! *squee*

Sarah is also the designer for the brand new Asheville Etsy Street Team logo, as seen on Etsy and on their new Facebook page. Yay!

The Asheville Etsy Street Team is on the preliminary planning stages of a local Street Team show, probably in late summer, early fall of this year. As more details are set into stone, I will share them here. :)

Also, the Pagans of Etsy Street Team is having a SPRING SALE! Click HERE to see the many wonderful handmade goods on sale for you to purchase! This sale ends on April 19, so check it out now! Over 400 items are on sale in honor of this lovely season.

Threads of Magique was sweet enough to give me a blog award: the Sunshine Blog. I don't continue chain posts or awards, but I DO hope you go check out Threads of Magique and see the awesome things made and shared there!

I'll be updating soon with my April To-do list, some pics of our chicken coop-in-progress, and more. It's just so hard to write when there are ever-long-growing days full of gorgeous sun to wallow in and dirt to play in!