Monday, April 24, 2017

Win a Copy of The Witch's Cauldron, Ends May 1, 2017

Win a copy of The Witch's Cauldron, The Craft, Lore & Magick of Ritual Vessels by Laura Tempest Zakroff, a collectible book cover flat, and a 5x7 of the chapter opener that I'll sign for you! 

It's giveaway time again! The latest addition to Llewellyns The Witch's Tools series, The Witch's Cauldron, The Craft, Lore & Magick of Ritual Vessels by Laura Tempest Zakroff, and I really think you're going to love it! I was honored to create the illustrations for this excellent book and I just received my "illustrator copies" and a few book cover flats as well, so I thought this would be a nice time to do a giveaway. One lucky winner drawn at random on May 1 will get a copy of The Witch's Cauldron, a collectible book cover flat, and I'm also including a 5x7 print of the chapter opener, signed and personalized just for you. You can frame it or add it to your Book of Shadows!


I had a blast with these illustrations for the book, Laura, being an artist herself, gave me great direction on what she wanted to see in her book, she was really great to work with. 

You'll notice that the cover doesn't look the same as the other covers in this series, there's a very good reason for that, Llewellyn Worldwide has decided to re-design all the covers of the Witch's Tools series.  I'm delighted to report that the new covers will be featuring my line art from each book! Whooo-hooo! 




These will be the first Llewellyn book covers to feature my art that were not companions for my oracle/tarot decks! As you know, I really thought the original covers were fun, but I do think these new covers are super witchy and really reflect the material inside. wonderfully! The art department did a great job with the vision and design. I wanted to make sure to tell you about the other books getting new covers so you can snatch up the books in this series (Including my book The Witch's Mirror) with original covers while you can, I'm squirreling away a few myself since they might just become collectors items!

Laura did a great job with this book, one of the perks of being a book illustrator is that I get to read them first! The Witch's Cauldron is full of lots of great information about cauldrons, including history, folklore, traditional and innovative ways to use them for all kinds of magic, caring for them, and includes many different kinds of cauldrons you may not have considered. As always in this series, you'll find fantastic contributions by other witchy writers that share their perspective on magical cauldrons including Jason Mankey, Gwion Raven, Meredith Spies and more. Be sure to follow Laura Tempest Zakroff on Facebook for updates on her book tour, and visit her website http://www.lauratempestzakroff.com/

Want to win The Witch's Cauldron?
You have until 5/1/17 at 12:00 AM CST to enter, a winner will be chosen using Rafflecopter.


Click the widget below for instructions on how to enter.
ATTENTION: You must leave a comment on my blog below in order to be a qualified entrant. After you comment, click the button on the blue and white rafflecopter form below.



a Rafflecopter giveaway

Be sure to leave me a comment on my blog,
Tell me about your favorite cauldron magic from fiction including books, movies, TV, or video games?
Click below to add your comment, after you leave a comment be sure to click the button on the blue and white rafflecopter form above, that way your entry will count. Also, feel free to unlock the bonus entries for extra chances to win!

Blessed Be!
Mickie Mueller



Thursday, April 13, 2017

Kitchen Witch Candle Jars Sneak Peek

I'm excited to show you the prototype for a brand new line from the studio workshop, and my kitchen! I'm working on a brand new line of Kitchen Witch spell candle jars. Dan found these lovely frosted jelly jars from one of our dye sublimation suppliers and of course my witchy brain immediately thought, "spell candles!" watch for them in my Etsy shop Mickie Mueller Studio in the next couple days.

UPDATE: Now you can purchase a Kitchen Witch spell candle jar of your own! Click the name of the candle purpose to see photos of these beautiful re-usable candle jars!
Protection     Prosperity    Peace of Mind   Healing Vibes    Clearing & Uncrossing
Here's how the prototype turned out, I'm pretty happy with it! I'm also working on designs for Clearing & Uncrossing, Healing Vibes, Protection,  Blessed Home, Peace of Mind, and  Love & Romance. Each one will have the "Kitchen Witch" label, and will be covered with magical symbols associated with the theme; some drawn by me, and some public domain vintage art. 
I really had fun putting these designs together on the computer, I've got a few done, so you'll be seeing them in my Etsy shop really soon! Don't you love that vintage witch?!
We always have a bit of a learning curve when we dye sublimate a new item, this was our second try, and I was delighted to see it turn out so nice!



The candle jar is cool on it's own, but I just had to throw in a magical candle! I decided to use my old Kitchen Witch technique. This candle was dressed with herbs pressed into warm wax right in my own kitchen and charged with magical energy for prosperity and also charged with Reiki energy (since I'm a Reiki Master) for an extra kick. 
We did a nice little label for the lid too. The jar will come with one of my Kitchen Witch  herb dressed candles wrapped in paper and tied with a little bakers twine. (I need to pick up some bakers twine! LOL)
Here's what the prototype looked like when it had burned down for several hours, I love the way it glows. These candle burned for about 24 hours in this jar.
The right side...
...the left side.
My little Kitchen Witch candle burning away with all those lovely magical kitchen herbs doing their magical stuff!
Once the candle has burned out, you may dispose of any leftover wax however you like. The art on this jar is water-proof so I just set mine in a dish of hot water for about 10 minutes to loosen up the wax, scraped it out, and cleaned it out with hot soapy water to remove all the wax and any residual herbs. This jar can be re-used over and over. You can pour your own candle into the jar, or use votives or tea light candles dressed with your own herbs or oils as I did here.  You could also use it to store a homemade prosperity floor wash, smudge blend, or loose tea blend. 

Well, I better get back to work on a few more designs so that I can make one for you! They'll be in my Etsy shop Mickie Mueller Studio in the next couple of days, I hope you enjoyed this sneak peek of the prototype for our new Kitchen Witch spell candle jars!

UPDATE: Now you can purchase a Kitchen Witch spell candle jar of your own! Click the name of the candle purpose to see photos of these beautiful re-usable candle jars!
Protection     Prosperity    Peace of Mind   Healing Vibes    Clearing & Uncrossing 


Blessed Be!

Mickie

Monday, March 20, 2017

Blessed Spring Equinox

It's the Spring Equinox, also known as Ostara or on your everyday Gregorian calendar, the first day of spring. I woke up to a lovely sunny day and decided to experience the signs of spring around Oak Haven Cottage nestled in our Midwestern small town. Join me, will you, lets see what magic we can find.


Let's step out the door and explore, magic is all around if you just know where to look! I bet you have many or all of these magical plants in your yard too.

I'm delighted to see a bee! They are facing so many challenges, poison in my yard won't be one of them, they can harvest pollen from my dandelions all they want.  Some people just can't stand these wildflowers, but they are edible (if you don't spray with poison) and have many health benefits. Dandelions have magical uses in spellwork as well, they increase psychic ability, are used for calling in helpful spirits, making wishes, protection while sleeping, banishing anger and bitterness, and boosting self expression. Dandelions are associated with Goddesses Hecate, Rhiannon, and Brigid and the God Belenos. Dandelions are aligned with both the sun and the underworld. 

Creeping Charlie is in bloom of course! In old witch's grimoirs it's sometimes referred to as ground ivy or cats foot. Use it for protection against baneful magic, overcoming shyness and anxiety, peaceful sleep and meditation,  also for welcoming friendship, and healing.
The forsythia a traditional Ostara flower was hurt by the freeze a bit, but still beautiful. What would a witch do with forsythia? Spells for optimism, positive state of mind, and healing healing troubled nerves.
I stated aloud, "Blessed Ostara, Spirits of the Land, show me your magic!" And low, I saw a sparkling in the grass! You can't tell by this photo, but it's a lovely little quartz druzy that sparkles in the sunlight! Druzy quartz strengthens the spirit, quells feelings of dread, reduces stress and promotes relaxation. Thanks spirits, this is going on my Ostara altar when I bless the hexenspiegel necklaces I'm making today! More on that at the end of this post. *wink, wink!*
The elm tree that I love to look at from my kitchen window is in bloom. Elm is a tree associated with elves and the Goddess, aids powers of concentration,  balance between heart and head, love, protection from lightning, and meditation in the realm of the fae.



This plantain is hanging out at the base of the elm which has dropped blooms on it, but like most yards I have plantain growing everywhere. Considered a common weed by many, witches know it holds magic for healing, squelching gossip, protection, driving away nightmares, and even protection from snakes, (both literal and figurative.) Also a great poultice for insect bites and stings and other skin problems 
I was delighted to spot a little shepherds' purse! This sweet little wildflower packs a magical punch including
magic for a healthy pregnancy, vitality, perseverance,  healing, prosperity, and protection.

I just love tiny Persian speedwell, also known as birds eye dotting the grass, in addition to being just sweet and charming, it's great for spells such as healing or fertility. In folk magic it was sometimes sewn into garments as a charm for protection. Also use it for banishing negativity and baneful spirits.

The honeysuckle by the bird feeders outside my dining room window hasn't bloomed yet, but it's getting lovely, tender spring leaves. Witches use the wood of honeysuckle Honeysuckle, aka woodbine for magic involving love and devotion,. The blossoms for psychic powers, money and prosperity magic. The honeysuckle growing in your yard can be charged to provide magical protection.

Moss is so magical to me, it always has been. Traditionally moss is a mysterious faerie plant, can be used in prosperity magic and magic to bring comfort and peace. I find it even more fascinating since I discovered that microscopic Tardigrades, also known as water bears live in moss. These tiny guys are the most badass creatures, they're so resilient they can survive the most extreme temperatures and can even survive space! Plus, they're adorable, look them up if you haven't seen one. "Hi water bears! I think your awesome!" wave, wave!
That was fun, thanks for joining me. Now that I've enjoyed the world in bloom around me, I have work to do today. Yesterday I made a prototype for a new batch of hexenspiegels and put them on Etsy so that people may pre-order them if they like. These magical witch's mirrors are a beautiful way to banish negativity from your personal space. Since so many people have felt as if they are under a barrage of negativity these days, I thought the Spring Equinox would be a great time to whip up a bunch of these fantastic magical charms that I wrote about in my book The Witch's Mirror.

I might paint the new hexenspiegels out on the porch if the weather holds up, it's a beautiful day and that would fill them with even more joyful energy.

I'm making these lovely magical witch's mirror charms today on the Spring Equinox, I'll be blessing and charging them on my altar later this evening and then I'll start shipping them out to happy Etsy friends who order them. Want me to save you one? Here's where to pre-order yours, get one before they're all gone: Click here!
 
You can visit the link to read more about the magical hexenspiegel, I have lots of info there and more pics too. If you want to make your own hexenspiegel or learn more about working with mirrors for magic, check out my book The Witch's Mirror.

Blessed Be!

Mickie

Thursday, February 16, 2017

Witch's Book of Shadows Giveaway Winner!

Congrats to Deborah Cartwright! She's the winner of A copy of "The Witch's Book of Shadows, The Craft, Lore, and Magick of the Witch's Grimoire," by Jason Mankey and illustrated by yours truly! I'm including a 5x7 print of the chapter opener, signed and personalized just for you. You can frame it or add it to your own Book of Shadows!




Hey Deborah! Send me an email to mickiemueller@yahoo.com and give me your address, your goodies await!

Blessed Be~
Mickie

Thursday, January 26, 2017

Book Giveaway! The Witch's Book of Shadows by Jason Mankey

Book giveaway time! UPDATE: The contest is over, Deborah Cartwright's name was drawn as the winner Congrats Deborah! If I don't hear from her with a shipping address by March 1 I'll choose another winner. Deborah, email me at mickiemueller@yahoo.com
Post in the comments and tell me "What is your favorite book of shadows from fiction, TV, movie, books, video games, etc."
I'll randomly choose a winner on Monday January 30.

Great News! 

I just got a package in the mail with two illustrator copies of my newly published illustration job The Witch's Book of Shadows!!!  Should I celebrate with a giveaway? Of course I should!  A copy of "The Witch's Book of Shadows, The Craft, Lore, and Magick of the Witch's Grimoire," by Jason Mankey and illustrated by yours truly! I'm including a 5x7 print of the chapter opener, signed and personalized just for you. You can frame it or add it to your own Book of Shadows!
This is the front of the book opened up to the two page spread of the magical bookstore. All the books in this series have a shop, I imagine the shops all exist on a magical street somewhere, want to shop there with me? 

A book about books, what more could any well-read witch want?!
This book is the latest in the popular The Witch's Tools Series from Llewellyn, I've had the honor of doing the interior illustrations for all of them, and I wrote one, The Witch's Mirror!  ...see the little name there...Mueller....that's me! eeee!

I did lots of illustrations of book pages for The Witch's Book of Shadows and hand lettered them, it was a challenge,  and I used a very tiny pen!


If you don't win, you get get your own copy here Llewellyn, Amazon, Barnes & Noble

How to enter to win this book and signed art print of the chapter opener:

In the comments below answer the following question,

"What is your favorite book of shadows from fiction, TV, movie, books, video games, etc."

That's all! Answer in the comments below,  I'll randomly choose a winner on Monday January 30.  Good luck!



Tuesday, January 17, 2017

Girlfriends' Guide to Divorce on Bravo Had my Triple Goddess Statue on Set!

Jan 11 my Sacred Source Triple Goddess statue was seen on TV! 

You might remember back in August I received a clearance agreement from the set decorators of Bravo's "Girlfriends' Guide to Divorce" they wanted to use my Triple Goddess statue as part of the set decoration in Season 3, Episode1! Season 1 and 2 are on Netflix, it's not specifically a witchy or fantasy show, it's a dramady, pretty mainstream, so that's darned cool if you ask me. 

So after a couple of my prints appeared on SyFy's The Magicians, I knew the statue would be somewhere on the set, it could be seen right next to a main characters head while they're talking, or it could be a blur in the background, or even end up on the cutting room floor, the only way you ever know for sure is when you watch the episode. You can imagine how excited I was to see my Triple Goddess gracing the fireplace mantle at the elegant Goddess Ritual that Phoebe threw for her friends on the full moon night of the Summer Solstice! 
I first found it in a publicity shot for the show!



Once I got to watch the episode I was so excited! I was scanning every scene watching for it and then there it was...squeeee!

Of course I couldn't resist going back through the episode and grabbing a couple screenshots!

I zoomed in on this one.

Anyway, it was a lovely scene, the room was stunning, any witch (or Hollywood socialite) would be delighted to be welcomed to such a lovely celebration.

Thanks for sharing my excitement!

If you're looking for this statue to place in your own home, I designed it for Sacred Source, if you visit the website (Click Here) you can see it close up front and back and even order one for your own sacred space!  

"The Triple Goddess represents the divine feminine's connection to the cycles of nature. The Maiden is the spring, sowing seeds, new beginnings, and the waxing crescent moon. The Mother is the bounty of the earth, summer, fruition, first harvest, and the full moon. The Crone is the end of the growth cycle when the leaves turn, final harvest, the sleeping earth in winter, and the waning crescent moon. 

All three Goddess archetypes are known individually, but when the three aspects come together in the triple form their power multiplies, reminding us of the beauty of all the parts of life and the cycles of the earth. "

Check out the episode of Bravo's "Girlfriends' Guide to Divorce" Season 3, Episode 1 (Click Here
http://www.bravotv.com/girlfriends-guide-to-divorce

"Abby deals with the professional fallout from her gigolo scandal while she and Jake care for Becca's abandoned baby. Delia confronts Albert about sabotaging her wedding. Jo considers dating her baker, Scott. Phoebe holds a ceremony to celebrate womanhood, but not all the girlfriends feel like celebrating."

Blessed Be!

Mickie