Runes

Last summer, I was taking an online rune class, as mentioned here. I had to drop the class because I had other distractions pop up.  Regardless, I decided to make my own set of runes, rather than buy some made by a Chinese child in a factory.  Runes are traditionally supposed to be made from something of the earth.  Since I am not known for my wood-whittling skills, and do not have the patience to chisel runes images into stone (as cool as that would be!), I decided to go as au-natural as modern craft would allow.  I used paper clay!  At one point, it was of the earth, trust me.  Another tradition that I read, the colors used would be red.  The most hard core of the Runes makers would use the most natural red pigment---blood!  I decided to forgo the bio hazardous approach and stick with what I know- Lumiere by Jacquard light body metallic acrylic paint.  Way less creepy, and in my opinion- prettier!

I carved the Rune images with the handle of a paint brush.  I then painted the inside of the carvings with Crimson Lumiere paint.  I painted the outside of the stone Bright Gold.  I really like the way they came out.  They are very light weight, but sturdy.  I am not fearful of breaking them or anything. 

I keep them in a pouch that I received as a bridesmaids gift from my friend's mother-in-law. The cultural juxtoposition is a little odd-- Korean pouch with Nordic divination--but I like it and it works for me.  And that is what is most important.

While I had the paint out, I decide to make one Rune for a piece of jewelry, mostly just to try paper clay as an amulet.  The Germanic name for the Rune I chose for the amulet is Jera, which represents the letters J and Y.  You know, J for Jennifer?  The Rune represents Harvest, which is additionally appropriate because my birthmonth is October- a very Harvest-y month!  According to the book Relationship Runes: A Compass for the Heart, this Rune indicates Perseverence: "Perseverance leads to the harvest of the self...So be open to life, be open to adventure, and remember to look for the humor in times of hardship.  This Rune reminds us that we can change when we make change our first priority, and that we always possess the freedom to persever and begin again.  Patience yields its rewards.  Time brings answers.  To understand is lucky."

I created my own jumpring, because for some ungodly reason, I have zero jumprings.  What self respecting neophyte jewelry maker doesn't have jumprings?!?!  I stuck with the more natural feel by using waxed cotton as the necklace.

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