Category: Reviews

Swept Away by The Witch’s Broom

by Administrator, posted in Books, Reviews, Wiccan/Pagan

Since pretty much always brooms have been associated with witches. And although Deborah Blake’s latest is called “The Witch’s Broom: The Craft, Lore & Magick of Broomsticks”, there is something there for more than just a Witchy reader.

Don’t get me wrong, “The Witch’s Broom” has loads for the witch who is looking to add a broom into their magical routines. Ritual use of brooms, spells and charms incorporating brooms, and segments Blake calls “Real Witches, Real Brooms” where other notable Witches talk about how they use brooms in their practices are all there for the magical practitioner.

However there are loads of great stuff to be found for the non-Pagan, non-Wiccan, non-magical practitioner. Just your average John Q. Broomfan. You can learn how to make your own broom, how to decorate store bought brooms, and get great gift ideas. I know I’m eager to hit the craft store now for some shopping. Also, there is fun broom folklore and history.

Oh, and there are wonderful, whimsical, interior illustrations throughout the book by Mickie Mueller. The totally adorable cover art was done by John Kachik.

“The Witch’s Broom” is just such a fun, informative read. I promise if this review has piqued your interest you will enjoy the book. Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to buy some new brooms.

Craftivism Now!

by Administrator, posted in Art, Books, DIY, Politics, Reviews

Are you ready to be inspired? Like let’s go out and change the world right now, this minute, level of inspiration? Then pull up a chair because have I found the book for you and it is all about crafting. Yep, like needle and thread, yarn and bead, clay and paper crafting. The book is called “Craftivism: The Art of Craft and Activism” and it was edited by Betsy Greer, author of “Knitting for Good!: A Guide to Creating Personal, Social, and Political Change Stitch by Stitch” and she also runs the blog Craftivism.com.

What is craftivism? It’s a term for crafting that is motivated by social or political activism. Greer explains that “the creation of things by hand leads to a better understanding of democracy, because it reminds us that we have power.”

“Craftivism” is divided into four categories: Personal Threads, Refashioning Craft, Craft as a Political Mouthpiece, and Activating Communities. Personal Threads features personal approaches to craft including the concept of guerrilla kindness and some really badass cross-stitchers and quilters. Refashioning Craft discusses how you can use craft for clothing that can reflect beliefs by crafting resistance or making a statement such as a jewelry maker who creates in public and gives away the result. The next section, Craft as a Political Mouthpiece, includes the AIDS Quilt, a knitted mouse activist, the work of the Adithi collective, and more. Finally Activating Communities which shows how crafting can improve and empower communities be it by updated suffragette banners (there’s one for Robyn!) or making handmade basketball nets.

“Craftivism” is a fascinating look at art, politics, crafts, and fashion. The interviews and stories are inspiring and at times emotionally moving. You’re going to want this book and then get ready to get engaged.

Encyclopedia of Goddesses & Heroines

by Administrator, posted in Books, Mythology, Religion, Reviews

If you’re looking for a resource for information about goddesses why not go straight to the best, Patricia Monaghan? Monaghan published the first encyclopedia of divine females in 1979, and that book has stayed in print in one form or another right up to today with “Encyclopedia of Goddesses & Heroines”. The latest is newly expanded and features more than 1,000 heroines and goddesses from folklore, literature, and religion from around the world. The amount of information is dizzying.

The “Encyclopedia” is broken up by region and country; South America and the Caribbean, Mesoamerica, North America, South Eastern Europe, Scandinavia, Rome, Greece, Celtic World, Pacific Island and Australia, Japan, Southeast Asia and Indonesia, India, Circumpolar North, China and Korea, Eastern Mediterranean, and Africa, and I’m sure I missed some!

Do you know who Uti Hiata is? How about Ececheira? What about Pidari? They’re all pretty cool. I bet you’d find them interesting. You know a good way to learn about them? Yep. “Encyclopedia of Goddesses & Heroines”.

The “Encyclopedia of Goddesses & Heroines” is an invaluable resource, written by an undeniable expert in the field.

Fly Away with Dr. Hummingbird

by Administrator, posted in Music, Reviews

I received a promotional copy of April White’s album “dr. hummingbird” and I’ve got to tell you guys, it is a beautiful journey I’d encourage you all to take.

It’s electronic, but incredibly intimate in sound. Open waves reveal tiny, tinkling notes prancing on tip toes atop the waves. “dr. hummingbird” is easily a go to album for meditation, yoga, or general relaxation. However I want to add I’ve found it wonderful for my focus as I’ve played it in the background as I’ve worked at my laptop. White mentioned that listeners have used the album to prevent road rage, study for finals (See? I said it was good for focus!), and file their taxes.

You can find “dr. hummingbird” on BandCamp or Amazon.com!

Fun with Coloring Books!

by Administrator, posted in Art, Books, Reviews

I’ve always colored in coloring books, and as long as I can remember my mother has too. Right now, next to my computer, is a Hello Kitty coloring book that from time to time I color in. I’m not sure why we do it. But recently two different companies sent me coloring books to review and while using them I set myself to pondering why a 37 year-old woman still colors in coloring books.

Coloring does let you clear your mind. You need to concentrate, but not too hard. So it strikes a nice balance. It lets me be creative. Sadly I don’t know how to draw, so it gives me some of the satisfaction of an artist. Don’t laugh, it’s the closest thing I get to artistic expression. Unfortunately when coloring books are your creative medium, you’re generally stuck with Disney princesses and child safe versions of DC comic book characters. However these two coloring books showed me there are other options out there for grown up coloring book fans.

“The 1990s Coloring Book: All That and a Box of Crayons (Psych! Crayons Not Included.)” by James Grange is coloring book full of nostalgia and trivia. You can bust out a box of crayons and color the Taco Bell Chihuahua (Yo quiero Taco Bell!), pogs, George H.W. Bush throwing up on the Japanese Prime Minister, the “I Want to Believe” poster from Mulder’s office on the “X-Files”, and more!

Hypercolor This Tee

As you can see, I chose to do the Hypercolor page. The info shared is, “Introduced by Generra Sportswear Co. Inc. in 1991, the Hypercolor clothing line used fabrics dyed with thermochromic inks that would temporarily change colors when exposed to an increased temperature such as body heat. Pretty awesome, unless you had a sweat problem. Awkward!”

If that seems too silly to you, perhaps you’d be interested in “The Mandala Coloring Book: Inspire Creativity, Reduce Stress, and Bring Balance with 100 Mandala Coloring Pages” by Jim Gogarty. Just as the subtitle suggests, it has 100 mandalas for you to color, but it also has a nice introduction/how to use this book section. It discusses the meaning behind color choices and how you color.

Finest Colors Rose Art Can Provide

If you’re a coloring book fan, I hope you’ll give one of these, or both of these a try. They both have a lot to offer in their own distinct way. More importantly, if you haven’t colored in a coloring book since elementary school, I hope this post, and these books, inspire you to give it a go now. You’ll find that there is still satisfaction in coloring as an adult, and what else do you have to put up on your refrigerator?

The Encyclopedia of Crystals

by Administrator, posted in Books, Reviews

As you guys may recall, I am a lady that loves me some crystals, gemstones, and minerals. I was excited by the historical insights offered by “A Lapidary of Sacred Stones” by Claude Lecouteux and Isidore Kozminsky’s “Crystals, Jewels, Stones: Magic & Science” but I was downright thrilled to be given access to the practical, revised and expanded edition of, “The Encyclopedia of Crystals” by Judy Hall.

You may recognize Hall’s name as the author of “Crystals and Sacred Sites: Use Crystals to Access the Power of Sacred Landscapes for Personal and Planetary Transformation” that I reviewed here on The Buffet. Well, when Hall isn’t busy proposing new theories on how to use crystals she’s authoring some of the most definitive guides to minerals and gemstones. So why are her books some of the best out there? Glad you asked.

My favorite feature, and the most obvious, is that the crystals are laid out (or listed if you prefer) in the book by color. How great is that? Hey, I have this purple stone and I can’t remember what it is. No problem, I’ll pull out the “Encyclopedia” and flip to the purple section and see what it matches up with. How awesome is that? But I know what stone I want to read about! Again, not a problem. There is an alphabetical crystal index at the front of the book and there is a thorough index in the back of the book as well. There is also a short but very informative introduction that covers everything from basic geology to the chakras.

Each stone is given a fantastic image or two to help with identification. Then they list: crystal system, chemistry, hardness, source, chakra, number, zodiac sign, planet, and what it’s beneficial for. After that there is a paragraph with historical and folkloric detail.

Judy Hall’s “Encyclopedia of Crystals” is an absolute must own for anyone interested in minerals and gemstones. If you’re going to own just one book as a resource on crystals, this is the one.

The Daemon Tarot

by Administrator, posted in Books, Reviews, Tarot

Calling Ariana Osborne’s “The Daemon Tarot” a tarot is giving it far too little credit. Osborne based the set of 69 cards on Jacques Auguste Simon Collin de Plancy’s “Dictionnaire Infernal”. As you would suspect, that’s French for “Infernal Dictionary”. The book itself, we learn from Osborne’s introduction, has a bit of history itself. The Dictionary was originally published in France in the 1818 when Collin de Plancy was a demonologist. The book at that time was filled with magic and the idea of using skepticism instead of superstition when making decisions. Then in the 1830’s Collin de Plancy converted to Catholicism and in 1863 a sixth edition of the Dictionary was published that reflected his new beliefs. Essentially, demons became demonic.

Enter Osborne who gets her hands on a copy of this late edition of the Dictionary. She comments that the art, done by Luis Breton, really speaks to her because although the creatures portrayed “are clearly inhuman, their strangeness does not make them appear terrible.” And Osborne sharing that really struck me, and that’s when I was ready to look at these cards with fresh, unbiased eyes.

Like all tarot sets, each card has its own entry in the companion book. The entry is broken into three sections: Annotation provides information on the subject and includes research from the Dictionary and more, Inspiration shows Osborne’s interpretations and insights into the subject of each card, and Divination, since the cards don’t follow a traditional tarot deck format this section gives focused meanings that can be used in spreads. Osborne suggests using a one card draw or a six-card spread that she describes with this deck.

Ariana Osborne's The Daemon Tarot

With all the information contained in the 142 page book, and the classic artwork on the 69 card set, “The Daemon Tarot” is an excellent reference tool, not just a divination tool. At a suggested retail price of $19.95 everyone should own it. Seriously.

Sixty-Minute Seder

by Administrator, posted in Books, Judaism, Religion, Reviews

A few of years back I admitted to being a “bad” Jew and hosting less than polished Seders. However each year we have a Passover Seder, a special ritual dinner where we tell the story of the Jews flight from Egypt. Seder comes from the Hebrew word for order, referring to the order of the ritual. I always hope that like in most things, it’s the thought that counts.

You know who are some awesome Jews? Cass (Yickezkale) and Nellie (Nechama) Foster. These guys aren’t “bad”, they’re Orthodox. They’re some hardcore, boxing up pots, pans, dishes, silverware, etc. keeping Kosher folks. That also means they were hosting what could politely be called marathon Passover Seders. 50 or more dinner guests were attending Passover Seders that would last 3 or 5 hours.

Cass Foster, known for having written “Sixty-Minute Shakespeare” plays was soon jokingly, or not so jokingly, being asked, “What about a Sixty-Minute Seder?” And so the “Sixty-Minute Seder: Preserving the Essence of the Passover Haggadah” by Cass (Yickezkale) and Nellie (Nechama) Foster was born.

The Haggadah helps guide you through the Passover Seder and there are tons available with loads of different focuses; ranging from feminism to children. “Sixty-Minute Seder” is traditional but simple enough to follow that even a below Reform level Jew can follow what’s going on. It also has recipes, and you all know how I love recipes!

With Passover in just a couple of weeks, now may be the time to consider taking a new Haggadah out for a test drive. Perhaps this will be the year you’ll have a “Sixty-Minute Seder”.

She: A Celebration of Greatness in Every Woman

by Administrator, posted in Books, Reviews

Each woman is different and unique, and author Mary Anne Radmacher and artist Liz Kallock aim to explore those diverse qualities in “She: A Celebration of Greatness in Every Woman”. Radmacher divides the woman into many different categories, which are celebrated in their own chapters: She is Willing, She is Nurturing, She is an Intrepid Traveler, She is Magical, She is a Purposeful Risk Taker, She is Cooperative and Collaborative, She is Compassionate, She is Resourceful, She is Mystical, She has a Voice, She is Inspiring, She is Happy, She Embodies Actions and Words, She is Regal, She is a Leader, She is Determined, She is a Life Long Learner, She is Imaginative, She is in Service, She is Creative, She is Welcoming, She is an Exquisite Aesthetic, She is Contentment, She is a Model of Balance, and She is a Fine, Kind Friend.

Text from She by Mary Anne Radmacher

These chapters are comprised of quotations from a wide variety of sources ranging from J.K. Rowling to Madonna, Marilyn Monroe to Gloria Steinem, and Margaret Cho to Madeleine L’Engle. These quotes are all related to the theme of the chapter. For instance, in the She is a Life Long Learner Chapter there is a quote from one of my favorites, Eartha Kitt, “I am learning all the time. The tombstone will be my diploma.”

She is Nurturing

The artwork in “She” is fabulous. Pages have a pressed flower look along with images of women that have a vintage artwork aesthetic. Viva Editions was wise to spare no expense in publishing “She” by making the book hardcover and full color throughout with thicker, studier paper stock that will withstand repeated viewings.

All of this comes together making “She: A Celebration of Greatness in Every Woman” a wonderful gift for young women graduating, Mother’s Day, or just a fun and inspiring coffee table book. Maybe it’s the gift you’ve been looking for to give yourself.

Dreary & Naughty

by Administrator, posted in Books, Reviews

Schiffer Publishing reached out to me with a fun little series that originally was let loose in 2003 and came back in 2013. Since it has a Valentine’s Day book in the series I thought now would be a good time to lay these guys on you. We’re talking about Dreary & Naughty.

The series focuses on its two main characters, Dreary (son of the Grim Reaper) and Naughty (daughter of the Devil). Both of them are in high school and the books focus on the sort of issues you face during those years, such as deciding what to do with your life, romantic rivalry, and feelings of ostracization. All of this is written by John LaFleur…..in rhyme. The books are all illustrated adorably by Shawn Dubin. The Dreary & Naughty books are like children’s picture books, for teenagers and adults. It may seem odd, but it works.

The first book in the series is “The Misadventures of Dreary & Naughty” and the third book is “Dreary & Naughty: The ABC’s of Being Dead”. Like I said, with Valentine’s Day being here, I thought we should focus on the second book, “Dreary & Naughty: Friday the 13th of February”.

Dreary and Naughty: Friday the 13th of February

I don’t want to give too much away, but we start with it being Friday the 13th of February, the day before Valentine’s Day. Dreary and Naughty are best friends. It almost goes without saying, but the teenage daughter of the Devil, Naughty, is smoking hot. Sometimes literally. Dreary, being an introverted skeleton, is not a big hit with the ladies. In fact, he didn’t receive a single Valentine’s card from anyone. Yet Naughty, despite the tail and horns, is rolling in cards from admirers.

A Few Valentine's in Naughty's Locker

This creates some tension between the friends. We see Dreary working hard to finish his gift for Naughty for their Valentine’s Day date. Does Naughty get her act together in time to let Dreary know how much he means to her? There’s only one way to find out!

Happy Valentine's Day!