Beowulf

This is an amazing scene from Beowulf, performed by Benjamin Bagby. Thanks to the good people at Hex magazine (http://hexmagazine.com/) for posting it on Facebook!

I can resist everything except temptation

Freya and the Fox from The Art of Emily Balivet at http://www.etsy.com/listing/51114883/freya-and-the-fox-5x7-blank-greeting?ga_search_query=freya&ga_search_type=user_shop_ttt_id_5124363

This gorgeous torque from World Tree Designs at http://www.etsy.com/listing/33033432/torque-silver-double-weave-on-copper?ref=ss_listing

Gorgeous beaded necklace from Tunrida at http://www.etsy.com/listing/16075108/elements-of-transformation-necklace-to?ref=sr_gallery_4&ga_search_submit=&ga_search_query=norse+jewelry&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_page=2&ga_order=price_desc&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_facet=handmade

And lovely things (above and below) as always from Norse West at http://www.etsy.com/people/NorseWest

Etsy is a dangerous site for me to visit...there are so many people making so many lovely things. I am spending a very good while browsing and trying hard not to spend quite as long buying! I really love the new twists that people are putting on the traditional styles and methods of Norse jewellery.

PS And how could I resist Freya and the Fox...my very favourite of all animals!

Did you see the Moon last night?

This gorgeous images is from the Etsy shop Delarenaissance

http://www.etsy.com/listing/10030994/aceo-black-raven-crow-moon-nordic-dragon


Did you see the Moon last night?

Did you see the Moon last night
Bathing the Earth in its cosmic glow?
Did you see the Moon last night
Willing me to follow where I long to go?
Did you see the Moon last night
Whispering the secrets of all that it can see?
Did you see the Moon last night
Sharing its tales just with me?

(Poem copyright Feronia & In a Dark Wood 2011)

Runes

A fjord just out of Bergen.

Quite by chance, I discovered The Runes Workbook by Leon D. Wild while shopping on the weekend. I have only just started it, but having read quite a bit about the runes already, I am really taken with his approach in this book. If you are at all interested in the runes and have a chance to get a copy, I would highly recommend you do so. Really inspiring stuff. If you are in Australia, I happened to find my copy being remaindered at Angus and Robertson, who - very, very sadly - are going out of business.

Inspired by nature

Ran, Norse goddess of the Sea

Had lots of fun yesterday, starting to make some little treats from my recently arrived stash of beading supply goodies. The colour of the beads in the necklace on top reminded me of that sort of dramatic, brooding sky before a storm and the one underneath it was in part fashioned from a lovely shell I found on the beach once, with a hole naturally worn through it from the continual sweep of the waves. The Norse sea goddess Ran inspired me on this one.

If you like them, they are for sale in my Etsy shop In dark woods (link in sidebar) but I would also just really welcome your comments about them here!

Excitements on a Tuesday

Excitement! I have just received my order of beaded goodies from the very wonderful Over the Rainbow online shop (http://www.polymerclay.com.au/) and so I can now start on the new Norse jewellery projects I have been planning...stay tuned!

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Finally got my Ipod working again and re-discovered all sorts of good stuff I had downloaded and forgotten about...

The Norse Goddess

Image from www.monicasjoo.org

I have waxed lyrical on the works of the late Monica Sjoo before, but at the moment I am re-reading The Norse Goddess and it is great. As a recovering academic (ha-ha) I have been previously a little snobbish about her subjective style of writing but now, with my own priorities in that direction altogether changed, this is precisely what I love about her books. Factual and yet with her own voice clearly coming through. Get a copy if you can.