It's interesting how an idea that is simmering in the back of my mind will often come into being because I "happen" to come across the perfect item needed for the project. I had been wanting to make a wand for my art studio for quite some time but just couldn't settle on the right kind of wood until I came across a set of beautiful hard wood bobbins. The bobbins are 8" long before decorating. They are perfect!
These are vintage bobbins used in old textile mills during the 1890's -1940's. Can you imagine the creative souls that would have actually worked with these bobbins, what a perfect base for a wand - all that creative energy already resident in the wood!
I want my wand to remind me of the creative energies I draw on each day as I work in my studio; fresh air, sunlight, music, daydreaming, playing, experimenting...just to name a few.
I also wanted it to act as a reminder to carefully guard and nurture my creative energy, spending it wisely each day on those things that truly matter. I've integrated some powerfully creative symbols into my wands. Crystals are symbolic of energy and clarity, spirals are rooted in the ancient Celtic world where stone carvers considered the act of creating a spiral a release for the mind into creative splendor. I love that!
Here is a great quote:
Remember that "you" are the power of the wand. Your wand contains "your" energies, "your" own inner magic and while it is a powerful and useful tool, don't forget that ultimately, you hold your own power within yourself. A wand is not essential for magic; it is simply a useful tool.
CAPSULE - dangling from antique wand bangle and shown in last photo. It is part of the bead landing line called Found Objects carried at Michaels ($3.95 with coupon).
Directions are as follows:
1. Prepare the bobbin by sliding the dowel into the bobbin until it fits snuggly. Each dowel is different, you may need a piece of dowel the full length of the bobbin or a piece only a few inches long. Make a line on the dowel at the point where it emerges from the large end of the bobbin. Remove the dowel, cut the dowel at the pencil line with a craft saw or heavy gauge wire cutters.
2. Spread Weldbond over the surface of the dowel and slide it into the bobbin. If the dowel still wiggles, slide a few toothpicks or slivers of bamboo skewer beside the dowel to act as shims. The shims should be tightly packed against the dowel. Allow the glue to dry completely.
3. Drill a pilot hole into the end of the dowel that is visible at the large end of the bobbin.
4. Black wand - paint the wood surface of the bobbin with two coats of Martha Stewart multi-surface paint.
5. Screw the glass knob onto the hanger bolt, tighten. Screw this knob/bolt assembly into the pilot hole in the large end of the bobbin. Work slowly ensuring that the bolt stays straight as it screws down into the dowel. Align the flat bottom of the knob with the top edge of the bobbin.
6. Cut lengths of wire measuring 10" each. Create a spiral at the end of each wire. Instructions for creating wire spirals by artbeads.Wrap each length of spiraled wire around the barrel of a felt marker, pen or pencil that measures slightly smaller in circumference than the wand, this will ensure that the wire coil will fit snuggly over the wand. Slide each coil onto the wand working from the large end to the small end.
7. For the antique wand, cut out circular inchies and glue onto the fronts of three grubby tags. I love the antique surface of these gorgeously aged tags to show through on the back side. For the black wand glue circular inchies to both the front and back sides of three grubby tags. Attach a wire loop to each grubby tag.
8. Combine the assembled grubby tags with charms and beads to create a bangle for each wand. Refer to the close up pictures above for bangle details. Attach the bangle with a loop of wire tied around the neck of the wand just below the large shank end.
9. For the black wand, string orange seed beads onto a 3"- 4" piece of fine beading wire. Wrap the beaded wire around the large end of the bobbin nestling the wire in the channels. Twist the wire ends together, snip off excess wire. Paint the gold surface of the knob black using Martha Stewart multi-surface paint.
10. Glue a chandelier drop bead into the small end of the wand using Weldbond. Prop the wand inside a cup with the small beaded end pointing up, allow the glue to dry completely.
11. Empower your wand with a ritual that is meaningful to you.
ENJOY YOUR NEW TOOL!