Airmid is the December Goddess of the Month Hand Embroidery

 I am happy to say I had time yesterday evening to get some stitching in and pleased to present the last Goddess of the Month hand embroidery for 2021, Airmid (also known as Airmed, Airmeith or Airmedh) is the Irish Goddess associated with healing, and particularly herbal healing. She is also associated with gardening, nature, family and loyalty.

I completed the stitching late last night, washed off the stitch and wash product and hung her up to dry, this morning I snapped her photo wrinkled fabric and all. Here is a close up of the foraging bag at her hip.

I haven't decided if I am going to do a new monthly challenge for 2022. I may just continue on with goddesses though nothing is set in stone, currently I am in the midst of creating a new Greenman piece. 

Here is a look back at all 12 Goddesses I hand embroidered during 2021

  All these pieces have to be trim to the same size if I decide to make them into a quilt, if not just trimmed and finished, possible ideas include: altar cloth, wall hanging, prayer flags, framed or mounted and made into a book. Well there is time to decide. I'm sure like everyone else this week I have a few things I want to finish up and things to get done before the start of a brand new year.

 

Christmas Eve

 Well I made it to Christmas Eve 2021 and despite several set backs this year I am feeling pretty good. 

I decided to pass on putting up a Yule tree this year, I had it pulled out of the box, spread out the branches and left it for a day or two, when I opened the box of ornaments I realized I just didn't feel like decorating a tree this year.  So I boxed up the tree, put away the ornaments and decided this arrangement would work perfectly for me this year.

My arrangement of silk flowers, pinecones, berries and greenery was all I needed this year, oh and my vintage Yule log which has been packed in a box since 2011, I was planning to remove the plastic decorations and remake it but decided to leave it.  I think it fits in with the vintage table cloth.

This is my $5.00 bargain I picked up at Walmart the other day while I was browsing the garden center.

It's just an assortment of evergreens and a few faux berries all stuck into florist foam, it smells divine and marked down from $39.95 to $5.00 I grabbed one.  It's turning a bit brown so I have to trim it each morning. It sits on my table in the kitchen and all those boxes around the table are now gone.

Later today between chores and stitching I'm going to sit down and read through the latest issue of Beachcombing magazine before the new issue arrives.  The subscription was a thoughtful gift from a dear friend I lost this year.  

She knew how much I love the beach and sea glass and one day an issue arrived in the mail for my birthday.  I knew who sent it right away right before I became ill in 2020 we had been walking the beach and I was lamenting how finding sea glass on the beaches in Florida is rare, well for me anyway and that I was planning to visit a few of the beaches where finding it wasn't as difficult but not without a challenge.  A few weeks later the magazine arrived, I didn't even know such a magazine existed.  Perhaps this year I will make it to a few of those beach glass beaches.

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas, Blessed Yule and the happiest New Year yet!

 

Midway through December and a completed Baba Yaga

 Time is just flying by, can you believe we are in the middle of December, where does the time go? This is going to be a short post.

Having online retail shops and working from home this time of the year can be a challenge, this year I don't think I have slowed down since mid October, it's great on one hand business is doing well and this year I am able to get through all of the days without help, it's exhausting by the end of the day but nothing like last year when I was so ill I needed both my son and daughter in-law to help with the pulling and packing orders and dropping off at the post office.  

This year I have managed to do it all once again, which feels great.  I mentioned being exhausted at the end of the day which has been a problem since having the heart surgery in July, I don't feel as energetic as I think I should be. So in the new year I am going to see a new cardiologist for a second opinion.

During my down time I have been stitching my goddess of the month hand embroidery pieces, I had posted the Elen of the Ways and Baba Yaga while she was being stitched, here she is completely stitched.

I love the expression on her face, she turned out exactly like I had hoped she would.  I am currently stitching the final goddess for the year, Airmid for December.  Recently I posted a photo of the Baba Yaga in one of the Facebook groups I am in and someone pointed out she isn't a goddess but a witch.  I know she is a witch but I follow a goddess spirituality path and consider her a goddess as well.