Happy New Years

Dear Oracle Family,
 
Happy New Year! Thank you for celebrating last year with us and to bigger and better things in 2025. It may be scary and uncertain but with the support of our community - we can do this together. 

We have a few fun workshops in February and prepping for some Valentine cheer - so keep your eyes peeled for some exciting date night ideas and gifts. We are also prepping to hear to San Diego for the first time! Mark your calendars, for the Oddities Flea Market, March 29th & 30th.

Although, our hearts go out to our dear friends and everyone in LA right now - wishing for the fire to end soon and looking into ways to support from afar

xo, Oracle

Leaving Message from Laura:

Oracle has been a place where my genuine love of learning and sharing random nature-and-science facts was not only part of the job, but I was also in constant conversation with others who also shared that same love of nature and learning! I have made so many friends and shared so many beautiful memories with you all! The 2024 Holiday Party and Pop-up in December marked my official first time back to Oracle as a visiting artist... and I could not have asked for a more perfect or lovely way to mark that particular Solstice and turning to this next chapter. The Solstice candles I dressed that weekend were truly packed with so much love, gratitude, hope and wishes for health for all of us this year.

October 2024 marked the anniversary of my 5th year as part of Oracle Natural Science's studio and shop team. Now I must leave that role and focus on my health and recovery. As far as my own studio, Moth & Candle, I have been working on adjusting my candle-making process and developing a slightly new approach that doesn't harm my health. So batches are smaller and availability is more limited for the time-being. But of course Oracle will get priority and you'll see me back for events in the future! 

Thank you, Oracle community! You became a part of my heart and I carry you with me in this next chapter. Although there are guaranteed to be more challenges ahead, healing and growth are rarely comfortable or easy... I AM curious to see what's next!

xoxo, Laura Pensar
mothandcandle.com

Oracle Holiday Party!

:: A little behind the Artists you’ll find at this years Holiday Party! ::

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Wildcraft Co. is a herbal soap and skincare company that seeks to remind humans they are part of nature and that herbs are here to teach us. Run by creative director, mystic and herbalist Quinn Kavanaugh, Wildcraft is also a container for Radical Self-Care experiences and Esoteric studies. Each product contains high quality plant-based oils that are celebrated for their skin loving benefits. Every preparation is infused with beneficial herbs and therapeutic grade essential oils to help nurture your skin, hair and spirit.

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Momoko Usami received a BFA and MFA from Kyoto City University of Art in Kyoto, Japan. After she completed two years as a resident artist at Lillstreet Art Center in 2009/2010, she built her personal studio in rural Missouri near Kansas City where she teaches small art classes for the community. Momoko draws inspiration from many things, including Japanese painting from the Edo period, dreams, and daily encounters on the street. Her unique, playful and often interactive ceramic works have been shown in the United States, Canada, and Japan.

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Josh Cotter, an author/cartoonist for 25 years, lives north of KC. His books range from tightly rendered cautionary comics to experimental psychological comics to informative sociopolitical comics. He’ll have his most recent books, ‘Goat and Sheep by the Well’, ’Thee Infinite ©’, ’nod away' and the second edition of his book about adult autism, ‘Driven by Lemons’, along with stickers, pins and original art.’

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Fighting fast fashion with raw artistry, Whiskey & Bone wields an edge of rebellion that sets them apart in the industry. Whiskey & Bone’s collection are a form of self-expression, reflected in their natural beauty and rugged charm. Each piece is handcrafted in-studio with premium raw materials and a killer soundtrack. Look out for chunky turquoise and pearl necklaces along with some statement pieces using polychrome Jasper!

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Linnea is a local non-binary artist in KC. They make silly comics, illustrations, and zines. They also love to hike, try new foods, and hang out with their pets.

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Josh Martin is a multi-disciplinary artist working in Tattooing, Ceramics and Painting.  He playfully speaks on personal experiences of small town midwestern internalized guilt and Americana through his use of color, materials and subjects.  Josh will have an assortment of ceramics, prints and paintings available for the holiday sale.   

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Swain Scales at The Blacksnail Forge makes functional high carbon steel knives and ceremonial blades, as well as ritual tools,  decor, and other odds & ends in his blacksmith shop in Warrensburg, Missouri. Swain’s unique creations often draw inspiration from traditional blade profiles, reimagined in a modern design. Swain is passionate about repurposing locally sourced and reclaimed materials to breathe new life into discarded items and lessen the environmental impact of his craft. The majority of his materials are sourced or milled locally by himself. In his “spare time” he and his family enjoy owning and working on their no till, food forest, market polyculture garden. 

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Opal & Gold, are bringing one of a kind engravings, both jewelry and framed art. And other gemstone jewelry in affordable price ranges - Their shop is one of my favorites here at KC and can’t wait to have them again in the studio!

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Sweet Destructor is Evie Englezos, eternal energy which is currently taking the form of a mortal human. Inside their work are meditations, reflections and spells to do with our moment on earth and this natural world, the beauty of mystical thinking, death, and humankind's desire to cheat it, past and future histories, ancient and recent mythologies, science and fiction and fantasy, the joy of creation and the necessity of destruction. You know, the regular stuff. Evie is bringing along a selection of ceramics in their signature style, some sample pieces from a fun new line, discounted seconds, and a couple blankets from their recent collaboration with West Elm.

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Driven by a constant quest to learn more about their craft, Bryan and Andrea have mastered many metalsmithing techniques and have designed a broad range of products and spaces.  The husband-and-wife team met at college, where they studied metalsmithing and design together. This is also where they began to combine their ideas about design, materials, inspiration, and the direction of their art and lives. After designing numerous products and displays for other companies, they formed a company of their own: Amuck LLC. They make jewelry with a vision and art full of heart!

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Dani Hurst Brown of Weaves Shoots and Leaves is an Earth-worker, Nature Alchemist, and a life-long Animist. Dani draws inspiration for her art and weavings from the land and its myriad inhabitants, as well as from life’s ever-spinning wheel of seasons and cycles. Find a varying sizes of wild-foraged wreaths ready to be adorned—as well as copies of “Wreathing Magic Through the Year,” her zine about seasonal wreathing and how to begin and maintain your own practice. Dani has also been maintaining - “Odyssey of the Oracle”

—a large-scale seasonal wreathing project Weaves, Shoots, & Leaves, has beem tending to at Oracle Natural Science—since its inception in Spring 2022. She will be working on updating it for the Winter Solstice on Saturday during the party/sale, and will be available to discuss and answer questions as time allows.

Makes sure to swing by and see us Dec 21st & 22nd! Take a walk through the alleyways, support the arts, get some last minute treats, get some delicious food and coffee in our amazing neighborhood we call home - KC Crossroads! <3

December Holiday Guide

Our annual holiday guide is a collection of our favorite items curated to our special Oracle’s, the different sections and members making up Oracle’s-core essence! - Shop by section or shop the whole guide! Every item is something extra special for the shop this year, so you can’t go wrong getting that perfect gift this Holiday Season! Thank you for the extra support by shopping at your favorite small business this season and a big Solstice & Happy Holidays <3

Oracles of November

It is officially 11 years in business with you all and what an amazing journey. We have changed through the years, through fine curiosities and to now taxidermy studio. Every step like a time capsule and helped us grow to where we are today, just keep growing! From our ever growing beetle colony, our pet memorials, to traveling to new cities and spaces to teach and spread our knowledge… my heart is grateful for the hard times and the good. Cherishing today as a new years eve and cant wait to see what another 11 year brings us.

We had our first ever tattoo popup with Josh Martin, some new ribbons at World Championships, to our first ever Oddities Flea Market with Ryan Matthew Cohen (younger-Alessandra was bursting at the seams), all the great memories traveling with our awesome team and friends to teach classes, our first big Museum Install with Staab Studios and Linda Hall Library, perfecting some new skills, every dear pet memorial, and all the day to day that I wouldn’t exchnage for anything; Our community, our clients, we love you so much. Want to take this moment to thank every darn single person who has supported us and brought us to where we are today, I am utterly grateful for you. x0, Alessandra

This month we have a few exciting things happening to keep your eyes peeled for: We will be closed for Thanksgiving the 28th-29th but then having our annual Small Business Saturday party with artist Miranda who will be doing sweet little pet portraits and the launch of our Holiday Gift Guide. Then we will be preparing to welcome the talented Gotham Taxidermy to Kansas City!

Aspiring taxidermists! … December Divya Anantharaman (Gotham Taxidermy NYC and author of Stuffed), an award winning licensed professional taxidermist preserving animals for clients ranging from museums, designers, gallerists, and collectors. Her specialties are birds, small mammals, and anatomic anomalies. Her mission statement is: To spark wonder and curiosity to inspire conservation, which we love to live by! Be sure to read Divya’s class policies before signing up. She also offers class payment plans, so don’t be too intimidated to take on these incredible hands-on classes taught by a master in the field!

Skeleton Class:
Friday, Dec 6th 5 - 8:30pm

Students will learn everything they need to create their very own bird skeleton display in a glass dome. Skeletons will be provided, and students will be able to modify, articulate, and position them to their liking, and mount them onto bases, topped with a glass dome. Students will then create a naturalistic or fantasy habitat customized to their bird, and go home with a piece of osteological art that is ready to display. Students will go home with their custom made creations, instructions for maintaining their pieces, and newfound or nourished love of taxidermy and preservation!

Chick Taxidermy Class:
Saturday, Dec 7th 9am - 1pm

This class is designed for beginners with an interest in bird taxidermy. No matter the experience level, all are welcome! Students will learn everything they need to create their very own bird taxidermy mount, from proper skinning, fleshing, degreasing/washing, and skin preparation, and spend time practicing various techniques for grooming feathers. Professionally made forms will help bring the bird to life, with special attention to fitting, hidden stitches, and arranging feather patterns. We will discuss and use various carding techniques and drying set ups tailored to the individual poses of each bird.

SOLD OUT Taxidermy Class:
Sunday, Dec 8th 11am - 5pm

Brought to Central Park by Shakespeare enthusiasts… European Starlings overtook native birds, causing substantial destruction to wildlife and crops. However, their eye-catching plumage-glossy, spotted, and iridescent, brightens up our city. They are one of few birds that are NOT protected by the MBTA, and can be legally possessed by individuals as long as local laws are followed. These starlings are legally and sustainably sourced, no animals are harmed for the sake of taxidermy. Students will go home with their custom-made creations (a starling taxidermy mount on a reusable temporary base) instructions for maintaining their pieces, and a strengthened love of taxidermy!

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Holiday Guide - Staff Favorites & Holiday Market! (Part 3)

Continuing in our Holiday Guide - we have our Staff Picks! Between Laura, Melissa, and I - our choices magically aligned and hopefully speaks to you too! But we cannot stop there, since all our items in the shop our handpicked and curated to artists we truly love. We made a list of all our featured artists! Until then, here are our ‘Team Picks!”

Laura’s top pick is East End Press’s array of Paper Garlands; From dancing skeletons, to turtle doves, who’s to say they aren’t all Holiday themed? Beyond these picks, a cup of tea like a Ritualcravt Blend or a new tarot deck?! How could you go wrong…

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Melissa’s top pick is our adorable beetle domes! Especially our precious double beetle love bugs (link below) - we have so many choices you have to look at them all and there’s a price point that fits everyone’s budget. Beyond these picks, our crystal zine to brush up on some crystal or a cute taxidermy ornament (to be premiered!) might be the way to go!

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Alessandra’s (hello, it’s me!) top picks are a little all over the place; from Dreamwing’s real monarch necklace to our cockatoo skeleton - I really can’t choose! Honestly my best suggestions for gifts are either something made by hand (literally the most heartfelt gift imo) or something to do together (maybe a class or a craft/kit to do together?) OR something that would be a great help to their current collection or hobby; a tool can sometimes be the greatest gift (I know I still cherish a tweezer set I was gifted years ago), like a pinning board or ento pins! Our FSW Taxidermy Protection Spray (link below) is also a great tool to help maintain any avid collector collection. OR! A great birding book or new sketchbook to take on your next hike?? All great add ons to any naturalists’ lifestyle.

And of course, sometimes gifts are hard or budgets are tight - Best thing you can do this holiday season, especially to support your favorite small businesses is to like, share, and support <3 sometimes the best gifts are the support alone and the gift of quality time spent together instead of a physical gift - Happy Holidays and hope to see you soon. All gratitude and love to you all for being an integral part of the Oracle Family,

xo, A.

Holiday Market
:: Featuring Artists ::

ceramicist & illustrator Sweet Destructor, illustrator & zine artist Linnea Nierman, and jewelry & metalsmith Amuck Designs!
Dec 16th & 17th :: 12-5pm

Holiday Guide & Small Business Saturday (Part 2)

Saturday :: Nov 25th :: 12-5pm

Featuring Broom Artist & Maker Amanda Lee of PleaseSendWord
STUDIO CLOSED :: Nov 23rd + 24th

This Holiday season, we are highlighting some of our favorite artists, makers, and our favorite in-house products through a curated gift guide (to hopefully help easy off some of that holiday pressure)! We made sure not to leave out any Oracle Family member; To our little witch or naturalist, to our scientists, gem hound, or especially to our artists or folks that prioritize maybe some quality time to learn something new… We made sure to think of something for everyone (even have some fun/funny gifts, because who doesn’t need a cheer-me-up right now?)

The Oracle

Probably a tough subject to try to find a gift for - because they have it all! Maybe looking into something unique or something to add to their craft - something rare and unique - where science meets magic

ideas for you: (1) Smells Like a Spell, ritual candles and incense (2) Fortune telling scratcher cards (3) Raw rose quartz - a rarity! (4) Entomology specimen domes (5) Freeze-dried taxidermy rattlesnake (6) Gary Staab bronze dart frog (7) Eclectic Curiosities specimen art (8) Articulated spines of beaver, bobcat, fox, or otter - all things that would help connect to nature and beyond! 

The Naturalist

When the night gets long, help a naturalist or that witch in your life bring some of that sunshine back by indulging in some nature and color - Something to cozy with, but gosh, maybe some quality time or a night of tarot cards might do the trick

ideas for you: (1) Cleansing selenite bowl (2) Aura Quartz or palm stones (3) Ritualcravt protection or home cleansing kits (4) Ritualcravt veil tea (5) Ash Miyagawa rabbit pelt for tarot spreads (6) For Strange Women Botanical Oracle (7) Dreamwings real butterfly wing jewelry (8) Entomology domes (9) Sunstone tower (10) Fawn freze-dried taxidermy

The Scientist

The curious always needs the outlet of discovery - pull their nose out of that book by giving them another book or start a little book club! There's always something around to help them with their next project - or tools to inspire the next best thing

ideas for you: (1) Entomology learning kits (2) Bare Bones of Articulation zine or Intro to Bug Pinning (3) Bone vials (4) Cabinet of Curiosities pin collection (5) Dikdik Skull (6) Mini Articulated domes (7) Taxidermy Protection Maintenance Spray to protect your specimen collection from pests (8) Bismuth (9) Atropos Curios Curioscapes (10) Entomology or nature based books - feed that knowledge hunger! 

And last but not least; our Oracle Club Members! From Bug Clubs to now Bone Club and just being part of the family, we have a variety of kits, domes, but especially exciting upcoming classes... but sometimes a gift card is the way to go!

ideas for you: (1) Ibis Skull (2) Fox Articulated Dome (3) Paw Articulation Kits - learn the Basics of Bone Cleaning & Articulation (4) Atropos Curios curioscapes or any custom projects (5) Online or in-store gift cards! (6) Oracle framed specimens - there is a few classes on the horizon so save a spot in an upcoming class!

We are adding more and more new items to the website daily, so stay tuned for more.

This Saturday (Nov 25th - 12-5pm) we will be kicking off the Holidays with Small Business Saturday, hosting broom artist and maker Amanda Lee of PleaseSendWord! She will be showcasing some beautiful one of a kind brooms and other creations that you should not miss! So swing by for a hot cup of cider and purchases over $50 get to go home with a free gift! 
 

xo, Oracle