The dual-crossed circle in a square is the traditional design of the Rune Cloth, upon which the Runes are cast. Each section of the Cloth pertains to a different aspect of life, in both the microcosmic and macrocosmic sense. (The colors and lightning bolts are my own interpretation.) I used acrylic paints on a piece of grey linen.

Mine are made from the branch of an Oak tree that was felled by a summer storm. Oak is a sacred tree to the god Odin, from whom we received the Runes, according to the myth. I carved them with my sacred X-Acto knife. (No kidding -- my X-Acto sees more magical action than any of the ceremonial blades I have!) Then they were coated with an ink wash mixed with three drops of my blood. (In retrospect, the sacrificial blood in the ink was probably unnecessary, since I lost about three pints of it whilst carving the Staves with the X-Acto knife.) Then I painted them with lovely glitter nail polish and varnished them with clear laquer.

I made the bag, too, but that's not nearly as interesting. It also holds my Tarot cards in another pocket. Although they're from two very different traditions, my Runes and my Tarot cards get along with each other nicely.

Here's a set I made out of Shrinky-Dinks! (Though it's not spoken of in the Poetic Eddas or any of the other Viking lore, Shrinky-Dinks are greatly enjoyed by Odin and the rest of his Court.)