PLAYING CARDS IN EUROPE

Many different types of deck have been used in Europe since the introduction of playing cards around the 14th century, and several types of deck are still used in various regions for various games. Almost all of them have in common that there are exactly four suits, and numbers or other symbols indicate which cards within a suit are "better", "higher" or "more valuable" than others, whereas there is no order between the suits unless defined in the rules of a specific game. There is exactly one card of any given rank in any given suit. The differences between European decks are mostly in the number of cards in each suit; for example,

• 13 in the commonly-known French deck,
• 14 in the French Tarot game, 
• 10 in Spain,
• 10 in Italy and in some games in Spain,
• 9 in Switzerland for the Jass, 
• 8 in some games in Germany and Austria, e.g. Skat
• 8 for Belote in France,
• 5 in Hungarian Illustrated Tarock,

and in the inclusion or exclusion of an extra series of (usually) 21 numbered cards known as tarocks or trumps, sometimes considered as a fifth suit, but more properly regarded as a group of special suitless cards, to form what is known as a Tarot deck.

SPAIN

ITALY

GERMANY

SWITZERLAND

My intention in CelticJourney was to create a special deck of playing cards that would have the essence of Ireland, its culture and its art.

The suits of this deck are based on artifacts of the Irish culture:

-Ardagh Chalice: discovered in September 1865 in a ring fort at Reerasta, Ardagh, Limerick.

-Tara Broach: a Celtic broach of about 700 AD found in Co Meath.-Harp: for centuries the 

  harp has been a beloved emblem of Ireland.

-Celtic helmet: relating to the Celts, whose protective armor included an iron helmet.

Jacks, Queens and Kings in each of the suits relates to a figure from the Irish Mythology, having the whole deck 12 different figures.

The four provinces of Ireland, Connaught, Leinster, Munster and Ulster are represented in the deck, as each of the King figure shows a shield of one of the provinces.

The detailed art-work and the vibrant colours used in my designs make the onlookers stop and have a closer look, to be taken then into a journey.It is then, that from distant past, come tales of Gods, giants and heroes.

The price of each deck is E6.99.Postage within Ireland is E2. Postage to rest of the world is E3.80 with postage

within Ireland €8.99 EUR rest of world €10.70 EUR

    

If you would like to see other countries deck of cards, have a look at this website: http://www.wopc.co.uk/

My Irish Mythology cards are featured in their site too: 

http://bit.ly/IukdVk

http://bit.ly/11OM3Ez

OGHAM WRITING

Spanish born Carmen Garcia moved to Ireland in 1994.

A self-taught artist and crafter, plus a trained Complementary Therapist,

She has always been interested in Celtic Art, Irish Mythology and ancient Irish culture.

The combination of all of this makes her art and crafts an extension of her healing.

The new pieces that she has created using the ancient Ogham writing, gives her the perfect ground for the healing energy to flow.

All wood used is sourced in Ireland and the whole process is hand made, which allows Carmen to create custom pieces to suit the needs and the imagination of the customer

“Since I moved to Ireland I have been in love with everything Irish. When I discovered Ogham writing I was so

excited I started making cards for friends and family. I loved the idea of sending different wishes for different occasions.

If a friend was ill I'll send a card with Healing wrote in Ogham. They all ended up framing them!

When a very good friend moved to her own house I thought a frame with "Home is where the heart is" was in order.

After that I got few custom orders, " One road together" as a wedding gift, "Kelly" as a family name......

Each piece is handmade. Wood is sourced in Westport, Co Mayo and I pyrograph Ogham writing in it.

I might use a Celtic design as background, keep it simple or try 

a new idea; it all depends on the mood at the time.

The final piece is mounted and I hand-write the translation in Irish and English and is framed in Westport in a window frame either 

in white or black.

When the framing is completed I channel Reiki energy.

As a bit of fun I have also made bookmarks, bangles, keyrings and my Celtic horoscope pendants are proving very popular.”

Ogham is an Early Medieval alphabet used primarily to write the early Irish language (in the so-called “orthodox” inscriptions, 4th to 6th centuries), and later the Old Irish language (so-called scholastic ogham, 6th to 9th centuries). 
 There are roughly 400 surviving orthodox inscriptions on stone monuments throughout Ireland and western Britain; south of Ireland, in Counties Kerry, Cork and Waterford. 
A rare example of a Christianised Ogham stone can be seen in St Mary’s Collegiate Church Gowran Co. Kilkenny. The largest number outside of Ireland is in Pembrokeshire in Wales. The vast majority of the inscriptions consist of personal names.
Ogham is sometimes called the "Celtic Tree Alphabet", based on a high medieval Briatharogam tradition ascribing names of trees to the individual letters. The etymology of the word ogam or ogham remains unclear. One possible origin is from the Irish og-úaim 'point-seam', referring to the seam made by the point of a sharp weapon.
                     

      

One road together

Handmade

36 cm x 51 cm white box frame

White oak

Sold

                 

Balance
Handmade

36 cm x 51 cm white box frame

White oak

E115

Sold

 

Failte 
Handmake

37 cm x 46 cm white box frame

Elm

E111

                                                

                                                                      

Thinking of You
Handmade

31 cm x 46 cm white box frame

White oak

E107

Cead Mile Failte 

Handmade

35 cm x 46 cm white box frame

Elm

SOLD

       Follow your Dreams 
Handmade

32 cm x 42 cm White box frame

White Oak 

Sold

 Kelly
Handmade

26 cm x 39'5 cm White box frame

Beech

Sold

Slainte 
Handmade

32 cm x 54 cm black frame

Elm

Sold

 

Friendship
Handmade

38 cm x 50 cm black frame

Elm 

Sold

 

Home is where the heart is 
Handmade 

White Oak

Sold

Grow old with me 

the best is yet to come

Handmade

Walnut

Sold

Failte

Handmade

 38'5 cm x 32 cm

 White Oak

SOLD

Prosperity
Handmade

28'5 cm x 37'5 cm
ELM

E 105

Peace
Handmade

28 cm x 38'5 cm
Elm

SOLD

May your hand always be stretched
in friendship and never in need
Handmade

Elm

Sold

Dreams come true
Handmade

24 cm x 36'5 cm
White Oak

SOLD

Selection of Ogham bookmarks

Around 18 cm in length
Each piece is unique

Pine / Elm / White Oak / Beech

On one side Ogham wish, on the other Celtic design

On sale in the Craft House, 

James Street

Westport, Co Mayo 
RRP E15.95

Selection of Key-rings
Each piece is unique   

Poplar wood

Sizes  varies from 2cm to 8cm
On one side Ogham wish, on the other Celtic design  

Brass coloured chain 5.5 cm
RRP E9.95

  Selection of  Bangles
Each piece is unique 
  
Around there is Ogham wish and Celtic design
 Pine

2 cm wide

internal diameter 7cm
RRP E12

http://bit.ly/11OM3Ez

BRIDGET

                                         

Also Brigit, Bride and Brighid.
Her name comes from the old Irish brigh, meaning "power" and is considered a classic Celtic Triple Goddess.
In Celtic religion and Irish Mythology is the daughter of the Dagda and one of the Tuatha De Danann.
She was the wife of Bres of the Fomorians, with whom she had a son, Ruadan.
She had two sisters, also named Brighid.
She was the great mother Goddess of Ireland.
At one time in history most of Ireland was united in praise and worship of her. She was probably one and the same with Dana, the first great mother Goddess of the Irish.
Bridget represents the supernal mother, fertility and creative inspiration.
She was also worshiped as a warrior and protector,
a healer, a guardian of children, a slayer of serpents,
a sovereign and a Goddess of fire and the sun.


http://bit.ly/11OM3Ez

NEW DESIGNS

http://bit.ly/170I75u

PYROGRAPHY

             

Pyrography or pyrogravure is the art of decorating wood or other materials with burn marks resulting from the controlled application of a heated object such as a poker. It is also known as pokerwork or wood burning.

The term means "writing with fire", from the Greek pur (fire) and graphos (writing).It can be practiced using specialized modern pyrography tools, or using a metal implement heated in a fire, or even sunlight concentrated with a magnifying lens.
A large range of tones and shades can be achieved. Varying the type of tip used, the temperature, or the way the iron is applied to the material all create different effects. After the design is burned in, wooden objects are often coloured. Light-coloured hardwoods such as sycamore, basswood, beech and birch are most commonly used, as their fine grain is not obtrusive. However, other woods, such as pine or oak, are also used. Pyrography is also applied to leather items, using the same hot-iron technique. Leather lends itself to bold designs, and also allows very subtle shading to be achieved. Specialist vegetable-tanned leather must be used for pyrography (as modern tanning methods leave chemicals in the leather which are toxic when burned), typically in light colours for good contrast.Pyrography is also popular among gourd crafters and artists, where designs are burned onto the exterior of a dried hard-shell gourd, usually with dramatic results.
The process has been practiced by a number of cultures including the Egyptians and some African tribes since the dawn of recorded history. Pyrographer Robert Boyer hypothesises that the art form dates back to prehistory, when early humans created designs using the charred remains of their fires. It was known in China from the time of the Han dynasty , where it was known as "Fire Needle Embroidery". During the Victorian era , the invention of pyrography machines sparked a widespread interest in the craft, and it was at this time that the term "pyrography" was coined (previously the name "pokerwork" had been most widely used).In the late 19th century, a Melbourne architect by the name of Alfred Smart discovered that water-based paint could be applied hot to wood by pumping benzoline fumes through a heated hollow platinum pencil .This improved the pokerwork process by allowing the addition of tinting and shading that were previously impossible. In the early 20th century, the development of the electric pyrographic hot wire wood etching machine further automated the pokerwork process, and Art Nouveau  pyrographic glove-boxes and other works were popular in that era. Pyrography is a traditional folk art in many parts of Europe, including Romania, Hungary and Flanders, as well as Argentina and other areas in South America.

Candle holder that I decorated with Celtic design using pyrography.

Selection of items I have engraved so far

Hand made,hand bound notebooks 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyrography


     

OLWEN & KILHWCH

                   

In Welsh mythology Olwen is the daughter of the giant Ysbaddaden and cousin of Goreu. She is the heroine of the story Culhwch and Olwen in the Mabinogion.

Her father is fated to die if she ever marries, so when Culhwch ( sometimes spelled as kilhwch) comes to court her, he is given a series of immensely difficult tasks he must complete before he can win her hand.
With the help of his cousin King Arthur, Culhwch succeeds and the giant dies, allowing Olwen to marry her suitor.

The name "Olwen" reappears in the folktale Einion and Olwen, about a sheep herder who travels to the Otherworld to marry Olwen, The tale was collected at the turn of the 20th century but is certainly related to Culhwch and Olwen.

The meaning of the name Olwen is white footprint. According to legend, she was so gentle and fragile that white lilies would grow in her footprints.

SLIDE SHOW

For those who wish to see the whole deck of Irish Mythology playing cards.

http://bit.ly/11OM3Ez

The price of each deck is E6.99.Postage within Ireland is E2. Postage to rest of the world is E3.80 with postage

within Ireland €8.99 EUR  rest of world €10.70 EUR