New succulents.

Religious candles.

I’ve been fascinated with mythology, religion and superstition 

for as long as I can remember. As a Texas transplant I’m intrigued by Mexican (Texican?) religious candles. Not only are they incredibly cheap and plentiful, they’re also colorful and decorative! Plus, they have an interesting religious history to go along with them. 

The ancient Mexican religion, Nahua, began as a combination of several Mexican religions (practiced by the Toltecs Mayans and Zapotecs) that were later absorbed into Aztec beliefs. Nahua was polytheistic (believing in multiple deities). After the entry of the Spanish, the native religion combined with monotheistic Roman Catholicism but managed to retain some previous deities and rituals. One of the most popular Mexican Catholic images is the Virgin Mary or more specifically, Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe (Our Lady of Guadalupe). (Irrelevant side note: My favorite images of Our Lady are those airbrushed onto pick up trucks.) It’s a common saying that you’re not truly Mexican unless you believe in the Virgin of Guadalupe, who according to legend, appeared to a laborer and asked that a church be built on the site of a former Aztec temple. 

When worshiping saints, believers usually have a ritual in which they light a religious candle and ask for the Saint’s protection, intervention, blessing or wish. The Virgin is petitioned for miracles of love, health, money or progress. Religious candles have an image of a Saint on the candle and are usually accompanied by a prayer written on the back. The color of the candle also carries a meaning. For example,

· Blue- provides protection 

· White- increases health 

· Yellow- for business or work related petitions 

· Red- to increase love and passion 

· Pink- for protection in new romances 

· Green- for general luck 

· Purple- used for more energy 

· Black- used to revoke and return any bad thoughts from enemies 

Remember, the candle has to be burned out completely in order to receive the blessing or protection! 

Happy wishes! 

Sources:

http://www.free-press-release.com/news-give-to-your-candle-a-glow-1282064710.html

http://www.facts-about-mexico.com/mexican-religion.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/13/nyregion/13virgin.html

Curtains part II: the living room

I found more gold curtains at Savers for less than $6. The curtain rod was about $5 at Target (I wasn’t able to find curtain rods in any of my usual thrift haunts.) The tie backs I made from an old belt so they were free! 

A visitor part II.

This isn’t quite exciting as a baby possum in my closet, but...there was a humongous spider in my apartment last night! Most likely a wolf spider (thanks, Google). 


Interesting wolf spider fact: the mother carries the egg sac around with her and when the young spiders hatch they climb onto her back and ride around until they’re partially grown. Aww too cute! 

the eyes reflected the flash!

Valance.

I purchased a valance for my kitchen window from the Savers on South Lamar Blvd. It’s gold with fringe (double score!) and flower embroidery; the label reads “Made in Turkey.” I also bought curtains for the living room only to find out that they’re not curtains at all (although I suppose I could sew them into curtains). I didn’t check them out in the store and what I bought instead was a few yards of sheer material. My curtain hunt continues! 

Weekend finds on Burnet.

On my first trip to the Burnet Road Flea Market I found the darling tribal print stool above. Lately I’ve been infatuated with African and Indian fabrics and prints (click here to see the shoes I’m coveting) so I was thrilled. I also purchased a cropped, 3/4 sleeve raccoon fur coat from the 1940’s because I need yet another piece of cold weather clothing. Ha! 


The flea market is on 48th and Burnet and is open from 8-4 on the 2nd and 4th weekend of the month. 


Burnet is home to numerous thrift stores as well, like Top Drawer, Savers, Assistance League of Austin and St. Michael’s Academy. There are a hand full of vintage and antique boutiques on Burnet too. 


The empty flower pot (in the back of the first picture) I bought at Miguel’s Imports (also on Burnet) which we came across purely by accident when we were looking for the flea market. They have huge, gorgeous imported pots from Mexico and Asia and they happened to be having a 50% off sale. The giant “Papaya” planter my friends purchased took four of us to move up the stairs! Sorry, I don’t have any pictures so you’ll just have to take my word for it! The mostly outdoor shop and plant selection brought me back to my outdoor nursery days when I worked at Perennial Point in Plains, Pennsylvania during the late 90’s. Right before the Y2K chaos. Ha!

Green glasses.

The perfect summer glasses. 

The great leopard moth.

I came across two beautiful, albeit withering, moths outside of my apartment. Of course, I had to find a way to incorporate them into my decor. (I recognize the irony of a lifelong vegetarian with a penchant for taxidermy, however I almost always purchase animal goods secondhand or find them already dead!)

Common Name: Great leopard mothScientific Name: Hypercompe scribonia (Stoll)Order: Lepidoptera

Description: The great leopard moth, Hypercompe scribonia (Stoll) (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae), with a 3-inch wingspan, is white with black open-circular spots on the forewings and a metallic blue abdomen with orange markings. Caterpillars grow to about 2 inches. The caterpillars are fuzzy black caterpillars with the underlying body color of red to orange.

Life Cycle: Caterpillars can be abundant in the spring time. They can sometimes be seen crossing roads so commonly that motorists notice them. The adult moths are common under lights at night later in the season to mid summer. There may be a second generation later in the year.

Habitat and Food Source(s): Caterpillars feed on a variety of broad leaved plants that seem to be mostly weeds.

Pest Status, Damage: They are not considered pests except a bit in pastures. They are abundant enough for many people to notice them.

(Source: http://insects.tamu.edu/fieldguide/cimg253.html)

Iron and brass bed.

My mom discovered this great iron and brass bed frame (headboard and footboard) for only $19.99 at the Goodwill on Lake Austin Blvd. 

The footboard was the more interesting piece so I wanted to use it as the headboard. Unfortunately, it was too short. I ended up removing the wheels that were on the bottom and inserting two wooden poles purchased at the Home Depot (see pic below). Instant lift!

Auction finds.

Below are two recent Goodwill auction scores.

antelope horns

An antelope’s horn is prized in many parts of the world for its medicinal and magical powers. The horn is taken as an aphrodisiac, used in Chinese medicine to calm the liver, release toxins, and treat headaches and fevers. In the Congo the horns are even thought to confine spirits. 

wood and leather checkered chest

My new “pet”.

Two days ago I saw a small animal scurry across my floor (past my unfazed cat) and into my closet! I didn’t get a good look at the tiny creature but I did know it was too large to be a mouse. What else could it be? (Please do NOT be a RAT!) I checked the floor of the closet, underneath the bed, under my shoe rack and saw NOTHING!  
Today I was sitting on my bed and saw some motion coming from the closet. I slowly turn to my right as a little inquisitive face peeks out at me from the top of my clothing hangers. My visitor was a BABY POSSUM! I couldn’t find it because I had been looking on the floor and the possum had been hiding in my clothes! 


The possum was actually pretty cute! Below are some pictures of the little guy after he was safely removed from my apartment. 

bag o’ possum 

Walls.

Decorate with clusters of paintings, frames, photos and skulls. Use whatever you have! In my opinion, the more random/asymmetrical the design the better. Also, don’t get too carried away - chose only one wall (or a wall in each room) for this. 

Need more inspiration? Click here.