Celtic Crosses
These are just a few of the Celtic crosses we have sold over the years, in all shapes, sizes and colours - some as stand-alones with bases on the bottom and some being very colourful wall hangings. If I had to guess, I'd say that we've made nearly a hundred or so of these crosses.
Some of them were just painted with no additional embellishments, while on others, like many of the ones in the first photo, I added and glued some crushed, dried leaves and knobbly tree bark from the old trees in our back garden that I felt would give them a more ancient look and more tactile, too. I remember someone who bought one of the tree bark textured ones and said, with a smile, 'Very hobbit-y.' I remember smiling when she said that, too.
The only one we still have is that huge one in the center in the photo above which I've lately been considering giving to a local church.
As we've had a lot of requests recently from people who've previously bought these at crafts fairs from me over the years, I'm now thinking about doing more of them once again. They're a bit trickier than the plaques, though, as it means getting the jigsaw out and cutting them to the correct shape and proportions. Having said that, however, they're all a joy to create.
So...what do you think? Shall we make some more Celtic crosses?
34 comments:
Very hobbity, indeed! The crosses are just beautiful--the colors are so vivid and the pieces are, by their very nature, life affirming. I feel your venture will be enormously successful. I think, more and more, people want items that are truly unique, as these are, and handmade by someone who cares a great deal about what she's creating. Looking forward to seeing more of your work!
Jane in Michigan
Thank you so much for your lovely comments on the crosses, Jane, and for visiting my blog.
I've always loved and enjoyed making these crosses, as well as the mandalas and the other types of plaques - they are so very life affirming to me, as well, which is why I've decided that it's high time to get that jigsaw out again and create some new ones.
Slan go foill,
June
Hi June!
Your crosses and mandalas are beautiful! I love how different and unique all of the designs are, and the vivid colors of the mandalas! Thanks for visiting my blog!
Thank you so much for your lovely comments on the crosses and mandalas, Michelle, and for stopping by for a visit to my blog.
I love coming up with new colour combinations for each mandala I do, and for the crosses I've done (and will be doing again in the very near future, I've decided). I love experimenting with the different shades and letting the mandala sort of 'tell' me what colour would feel the best for that particular one.
I've only just discovered your beautiful art blog, and have subbed to it - you've created some absolutely stunning pieces of beauty that I find inspiring. Especially your newest ones with the song lyrics from Bowie and Cat Stevens (and from one of my favourite films, as well!)
Slan go foill,
June
The wooden crosses are lovely June. I love the rustic look and natural feel to them. I think you should continue to make them. The colorful ones are absolutely gorgeous. All of your work is. I'm sure these all will be scooped up very fast.
This is the first comment I made on your blog it's so wonderful that I can now comment on your lovely things.
Good luck with your blog, I know it's going to be a hit.
Thank you so much, Denni, for your very lovely comments, and also, for showcasing my work and my blog on your Harvest Moon blog.
Yes, I've definitely decided to return to doing the Celtic crosses once again, as there has been quite a few requests for them from people who have seen and bought them from me at Christmas crafts fairs over the years. I love making them, and it pleases me so much to know that people like them enough to ask me to do more of them.
The wooden ones, as opposed to the colourfully painted ones, are more of a challenge, which I enjoy, and it's very satisfying from a crafting perspective to make them more tactile when I add in the extra nature-derived mbellishments onto the wooden ones.
Thanks again for all your encouragement, Denni.
Slan go foill, June
Beautiful work, dear sis xxx
Thanks so much, Emma, for visiting my blog and leaving the lovely comment about the Celtic crosses, which I will be doing more of again very soon, hopefully all in plenty of time for the Christmas fair at Bundoran this year.
s you know, this kind of art is new to me and I hadn't given it much thought before, but now that I've seen your crosses and mandalas, it makes me curious about the tradition behind it and how the patterns came to be and what they mean. They look beautiful!
Hi Tat - Thanks very much for the lovely comments about the Celtic crosses and the mandalas.
Thanks very much also for asking me about these beautiful and very ancient motifs that I have learned how to create.
What I'm planning on doing very soon is to blog a little bit about what the motifs like the spirals and the knotwork mean and what they represent in terms of Celtic/Irish history. I too was attracted to the spirals and knotwork and the lettering many years ago, when I first visited Trinity College in Dublin and saw the Book of Kells upstairs in university's library.
Slan go foill,
June
Great idea! Can't wait to read about the history of the motifs.
Hi Jane - Yes, I agree with you and Tat - going into the background, history, meaning and significance of the most-used designs and motifs (the spirals, the interlacing knotwork and the zoomorphics) is an excellent idea, on a subject that's close to my heart, but one that is so vast in terms of ancient Irish/Celtic background, history, mythology and folklore, that you can easily get entranced just by studying what has been written about it by so many amazing authors as well as artists out there who have fallen under the spell of these beautiful designs.
I hope to get a bit more time after finishing three commissions that I've just been asked to do, to devote a post specifically about the history, meaning and significance of these ancient designs and motifs. Watch this space...
Slan go foill, June
The crosses are wonderful and I enjoyed seeing your kitchen signs too, very unique work.
Thanks very much, Linda, for the compliments and for dropping by for a visit.
The kitchen plaques are something that began life as me making one for myself (as I love anything to do with the kitchen, cooking and baking, and I love being in the kitchen as well as being in other people's kitchens), and then a couple of friends came by and saw them and asked me to make two for them, and it kind of evolved from there. I'm chuffed that you like them - I love doing them, as well as the mandalas. I often find myself wishing there were more hours in each day, so I could go back and forth between painting the mandalas and then making some more kitchen plaques.
Speaking of doing more, I will soon be putting some kitchen plaques up for auction on our ebay shop, as well as here with a direct link via the blog.
Thanks again for stopping by, and I hope you drop by again for future visits.
Slan go foill, June
Beautiful work! I'd say go for it and make more of these. They are unique. I've been to many craft fairs over the years and not seen anything similar. Love your new site!
June,
The crosses plaques and mandalas are all brilliant, you are extremely talented and I'm so glad that everything is going so well for you and Tommy.
Well done my friend and long may it continue.
I will link to the blog on facebook and if you ever get set up on there, let me know.
SGF
CTM
x
Hi Bridget - It's lovely to read a comment from you, one of my favourite bloggers, and welcome back after your short break - you were missed!
Thanks very much for the compliments on both the crosses and my newbie venture into Blogland. I've gotten so many lovely comments and compliments about the crosses that we've definitely decided to do them, once again, probably making their re-debut at the Chriatmas fairs in the coming months ahead.
As always, when I find out about any craft fairs coming up, I'll of course let you know. Hopefully we'll meet up before the Christmas craft season starts up - maybe we can meet up in Carrick.
Slan go foill,
June
Hi Ian - Delighted to have you drop by for a visit to my blog. Thanks very much for the comments about the plaques and the mandalas, and also, for very generously offering to put a link onto Facebook. I'm not on Facebook yet, but it is something I'm considering.
Take care, my friend, and thanks again for stopping by.
Slan go foill,
June
WOW!!
Pulling out the jigsaw.
You are such the craftsmen, love it!!
These celtic crosses are beautiful.
Yes, I would create some more of these. :]
Hi April! Thanks for stopping by, and for the compliments on the crosses.
Yes indeed, I'm putting all my safety gear on, getting out the templates that we used on these, and will be cutting them to shape and sizes all during this month.
I'm excited about this all over again, as if for the first time. Similar to the mandalas, once I've finished making one cross, I can't wait to make another one. There's something magical and mystical about both the mandalas and the crosses. I think that's mostly due to the Celtic theme itself - the spirals and the knot designs and motifs - that bring on that magical quality.
Slan go foill,
June
Those are all lovely! You are very talented!
Hi Sharla - Thanks very much for visiting my blog and for the compliments about the crosses.
I love your pet-themed beaded jewellery, and love the fact that you create these lovely pieces to help our furry friends. I love your Sadie, and all your 'fur babies.' I have three 'boys' of my own (akk feline fur babies) and I would do anything for them, so we are singing from the same beaded hymn sheet. Thanks again for dropping by, and hope you'll be visiting on a regular basis (and hopefully, by that time, I'll have written at least another post or two, LOL). Enjoy your Sadieday!
Slan go foill,
June
Hi June, what a lovely blog, your work is gorgeous, so colourful. Thank you for your lovely comment on my blog - hope to see you if you ever visit Montgomery, let me know! xx
Hi Tina - I'm delighted (and chuffed) that you've paid me and my blog a visit. You're most welcome, as are all who come on by to say hi.
Thank you so much for complimenting my crafts as well as my blog. I'm only a newbie at blogging (I love blogs, as you know, but I've never actually blogged before now) but I aspire to have a blog as warm, friendly, inviting and interesting as yours is over at Silver Footprints. I've told so many e-friends about your blog and your shop.
Yes, it would be so brilliant to meet you and of course, to spend lots of time shopping in your gorgeous Indigo Moon.
Take care, and here's wishing you a lovely weekend.
Slan go foill,
June
Hobbity, I like that word :) I like your crosses very much, and the mandalas and kitchen signs below are wonderful.
Thanks so much for stopping by and visiting my blog. It's always a pleasure to see new faces
Hi Ann - Thanks so much for visiting and thanks for the lovely compliments on the mandalas, the crosses and the kitchen plaques.
It's been a little while since I last posted anything, but that's only because I've been so busy getting ready for other crafts fairs and three commissions, and getting more photos ready to add both on the next blog post as well as adding more mandalas to our ebay shop. It's been go-go-go, busy, busy, busy, but I'm truly enjoying both my crafts (ad)venture and finding my blogging sea legs.
Thanks again for stopping by. You're very welcome any time, as are all who've dropped by for a visit. Have you found your glasses yet, by the way? Has Duke been able to help you on the search?
Slan go foill,
June
Your work in so inspiring. Absolutely beautiful.
Absolutely beautiful work you have here. My girls and I were just in Ireland in March. Dublin and Dun laoghaire area. Wish I would have known you were there.
Ireland is beautiful, the history is rich and you have brought the beauty of the Celtic influence out with your amazing works of art.
Good luck with you new shop.
Thanks for stopping by my blog yesterday.
Hi Kathi - Thanks so much for your warm wishes, lovely comments and for visiting my blog.
I was delighted to read that you visited Dublin a couple of months back. I'm on the other side of the country, in the west, so Dublin is also a treat for me when we visit every few months. Hopefully, you were able to treat yourself to seeing the Book of Kells in the library upstairs at Trinity College.
When you and your family come back for a return visit, it'd be lovely to meet you. In the meantime, I hope you'll want to drop by for regular visits here, where I'll soon be chatting a bit about the illuminated manuscripts like the Book of Kells and the Book of Durrow, that have inspired me, and the meanings and my own interpretations of some of the motifs and designs that the monks used most frequently.
Thanks again for stopping by, and have a lovely start to your week.
Slan go foill,
June
Thanks so much, Ana, for visiting my blog and for the lovely comments. I'm chuffed that you chose the word 'inspiring' - with each mandala (or kitcen plaque or cross I do, it further inspires and motivates me to make more and to experiment (and play) more with designs and especially with colours.
I look forward to more visits from you and my own visits to your blog, as your words and your paintings inspire me, too.
Slan go foill,
June
No surprising that people want to buy more of these! They are stunning! As I have strolled through your posts I got such a good feeling - your style and art gives off such good energy! Your booth must be very busy at art fairs!
Hello, thanks for stopping by my blog and leaving such nice compliments.beautiful Celtic crosses, I love the patterns.x
Hi Carolyn - Thanks for stopping by, and for leaving your good energy and positive vibes from your lovely comments about my blog and the craft pieces themselves. On this very grey and overcast Irish afternoon, your comment has brightened my day.
As for the fairs, if only there were more craft fairs in Ireland, as compared to the US or the UK. There are usually clusters of them leading up to and around Christmas, which is wonderful of course, but I'd love it if there were craft fairs on a regular basis, all year round. Thanks once again to Trish and Tom Ryan from Downland Crafts for doing just that - organising fairs pretty much all year round.
I'll be posting very shortly with some new mandalas and a bit of background on the symbology of the motifs and designs, so watch this space.
Thanks again for the lovely comments.
Slan go foill,
June
Hi Michala - Thank you so much for visiting my blog and for the lovely comments you wrote about the crosses. Reciprocally, may I just say again how beautiful your own work is, and how much I enjoy your blog. So inspiring and beautifully expressed.
I look forward to more of your posts, as well as future visits from you here. Thanks again for saying hello.
Slan go foill,
June
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