Beltane Handkerchief & booklet

The Beltane is very special to me as it was my first real introduction to The Wheel of the Year when I went to the burning of the wicker man and Beltane celebrations at Butser Ancient Farm. I had been looking for a Beltane event and this was less than 20 minutes from my sisters house. I immediately booked tickets.

This event opened up a whole new world which just made sense to me and I instantly felt at home. I don't have any faith but with these eight festivals which celebrate the way this land shifts and changes throughout the year, what the earth and hedgerows offer, celebrating nature and landscape, a connection with our ancient past, something slotted into place.

When researching this design I found a story of nine Welsh woodsmen, entering the woodland to gather sticks and branches from nine different trees to burn on a sacred fire. I decided to base the design around this story and also include nine plants to forage for at this time of year. The trees I have included are Oak, Ash, Willow, Alder, Hawthorn, Birch, Blackthorn, Holly and Hazel and the plants are Ox-eye daisies, Jack in the Hedge, Violets, Dandelions, Fumitory, Ground Ivy, Gorse, White Deadnettle and Comfrey.

The border for many of my designs illustrates trees chosen for their associations with old customs and beliefs. They are Elder, Oak, Ivy and Holly. I have also included some of the phases of the moon.

This handkerchief is sewn by me in Wales. The image is printed in the UK onto an untreated cotton fabric certified as 100% organic. The approximate size for each handkerchief is 320 mm x 320 mm.

Each order is wrapped in acid free, unbleached tissue paper, tied with yarn and includes a hand written thank you note. I am happy to address this to recipients of gifts at no extra cost. Just let me know in the notes when you place your order.

As a special offer for the Beltane 2021 I sent out packs of Nine Sacred Trees, gathered in our woodland.