Tree Magic, Plum Trees

When we moved out to the middle of the woods, one of the first things we did was plant trees in our red clay front yard. We planted two Thundercloud Plums that we found for a good deal at the Big Lots...these trees have been a delight...they took a bit to spread out but their pink blossoms in the spring and year round rich purple leaves are lovely in the front yard. I use their branches when I can...when they need pruning and are able to give me some of their energy.
Dr James Maertens of the Bardic Institute writes in his article Dryads and the magical properties of Wood "Plum is a consummate wand wood for the creative artist or anyone desiring to focus on magic that will enhance skill, overcome barriers, keep people or disturbance at bay, evoke toughness and persistence, patience, protection, and healing, especially of the blood."
Plum has a dark, textured sheen to it when sealed and has a loving, powerful energy to me...its branches and twigs are strong and straight with an air of determined resolve...definitely an encouraging wood to drive ambition and persistence. I can see though how it could turn to jealousy though and even obsession.

Tree Magic, Sweetgums

We have lots of Sweetgum trees around here and they are one of my favorite trees...they are happy, hardy trees with lovely star shaped leaves that turn pretty colors in the fall. Some of the magical things I've read about Sweetgums...they have Faerie and Sky magic, calming and protective energy that brings happy vibes that quell anxiety. Their witch burrs are particularly protective. Oh, and they attract Luna Moths!

Sweetgum wood is particularly nice to work with...it has a lovely texture and puts me in a good mood when I craft with it.

Wacky cute snowy owls craft for the winter season

This is my kind of craft...pinecones and sticks and birds...we had so much fun doing this! Check this link for the instructions from the NWF's site but here is ours...
We gathered pine cones and used some of my twigs, leaves and honeysuckle vine for the nest as well as pretty paper, white paper, mod podge, cotton balls, coffee filters and felt....beads and a cigar box.
We layered the cigar box with coffee filters, shiny red paper and pulled apart cotton balls for the snowy ground then layered the inside of the top with coffee filters and a glittery moon and stars for the snowy winter sky.
Riona picked out all the beads for the little owly eyes.
We painted the pine cones with mod podge then covered them with pulled apart cotton balls.

Then yellow circles of felt for the eyes (and beads) and black triangles for the beaks. I ended up having to hot glue gun the beads on.

Then the wings...white paper with cotton glued on...

Put it all together and you get a wacky cute snowy owl family....Riona is completely smitten with hers.
She lays them down at night, closes the box a bit for bedtime then opens it and sets them back up in the morning. It's so sweet. Oh and to get that circular nesty look I used honeysuckle vines cause they sort of grow in circles anyway and they are easy to manipulate.