I’m doing research for a book that’s set in New Orleans.
While I was there, I wanted to find a voodoo shop. I went into several. One in particular seemed more authentic, since they weren’t selling ‘I got too drunk in New Orleans’ t-shirts next to the voodoo dolls.
They had a variety of stuff I imagine to be reminiscent of such a place: potions, herbs, candles, and dolls of course. In the back, they gave readings. Then I found the one thing the cinched it for me. A voodoo pencil, decorated with paint and fabric to look like a voodoo doll.
Leave it to me to find the Martha Stewart of Voodoo Priestesses.
You’re a brave woman. Have fun with that pencil!!
Ha ha!
Just don’t copy and paste my gravatar image on it!
I live in New Orleans. I am here if you need something.
Go do that voodoo that you do so well.
I have some Mr VooDoo Head dolls. You put the parts on their faces just like Mr. Potato Head, then stick them with giant pins. Comes with instructions (pins are sharp, do not put in eyes; lit candles are hot, do not touch; do not use in church; etc. The kit also includes 12 quality pearl handled pins, a black candle and a sacred black feather. Check here: http://katiejo911.deviantart.com/gallery/30547?offset=0#/d15t7cq
for the box cover.
Please post a picture of it so we can see it!
Glad you got to go to your research site! Don’t know where you’re from but this wonderfully hot day is special. July 1st I’m sharing a post about my home town, with famous facts I’d love your reaction about. Happy Canada Day! http://cmriedel.wordpress.com/2012/06/27/my-home-and-native-land/
I visited a voo doo shop in Orleans years ago when I was part of the press corps covering a political convention there.
Very interesting. Nothing I’d mess around with, but I bet you’ll develop a cool story from it.
I would love to see what the pencil looks like. What magic words must spring forth from it! Yotaki Beautywalk
First let me say a big thanks! for looking and my blog and following me…..Your blog looks interesting…..I love to write as well as cook…..thanks again and I think I’ll follow you also!
Hello, again! It’s been awhile. I stopped by to invite you to my new-website-theme-housewarming-thingy, because you were on my list of WordPress.com followers. I deleted my old WordPress.com site and, after the last few months of changing it up, I’m finally proud of RNMcKinnon.com (especially its new theme, launched yesterday!). Hope you’ll stop by. Keep writing!
Soooo – it wasn’t the little people shaped pin cushions in the sewing kit that gave her away?
I haven’t been there in years, but I had the pencil, the gris-gris, the “jade” necklaces meant to bring wealth, etc from them. I think I just had the pencil I bought like 15 years ago finally fall apart.
Sounds really interesting…
Anne Rice set several of her stories in N’Orleans because she lived there while writing them (the Vampire & Witches series’) and the general atmosphere of “ancient debauchery” (her phrase) was of her muses.
May the city, people (dead and undead), and spirits scare a good story out of you. =0)
Please connect with Carla! She is an expert on New Orleans
http://nolawildandprecious.com/
Hahaha. Great fun. Does your pencil have any powers, that you know of? Maybe it will write the story for you if you put it on a yellow legal pad. It would be worth a try.
If you’re interested, and if they help inspire you for your book, check out my photos from New Orleans a few months ago: http://ayearofpics.wordpress.com/?s=new+orleans&submit=Search.
sounds interesting, hope to see some snaps of it, I am following a blog here’s the link http://erzulieredeyes.wordpress.com/, she loves voddoo also maybe you can asked her about it…
Very cute!
Good post. My best friend from Jamaica accompanied me to New Orleans. There were some shops she merely laughed at. There was one that made her blanch.
Now what can you do with a voodoo pencil. Hmm??? This was fun. I don’t know that I could walk into one of those shops by myself. I bet you got a lot of useful material for your research.
Voodoo crafting. I once made a friend a voodoo doll of her mother-in-law to be. This is the woman who held a bachelorette party and did not invite the bride. My friend loved the doll – her husband to be had a different reaction.
Well, that’s New Orleans!