I too have been up all night!

After that they came into an avenue where all the leaves were of gold... (Twelve Dancing Princesses)




This magical forest was created by Johanna Burke for a Korean luxury goods store. Read more about it at SuperNaturale.

Like the twelve princesses, I have been awake almost all night (though I have not been having wonderful, magical adventures), so we have Insomnia to thank for this post! :)

Oh, and speaking of Twelve Dancing Princesses, be sure to check out the new layout on The Adventures of Elva Undine, my personal blog. The princesses' dresses are my favorite part! I found the layout here.

Little red riding hood and the big bad...chihuahua?

Little red riding hood and the big bad...chihuahua?
Originally uploaded by mydearDelilah

Is this not a super cute pic of Red Riding Hood? I love the model's pose.

Seed Jewelry

How's this for authentic fairy jewelery? I definitely buy more into the school of thought that says the natural world is the source of adornment for fae folk, rather than the whole striped tights and tight t-shirts deal. Just my opinion, but I think these photos support my argument beautifully.




Jewelry by Wieteke Opmeer, via Abigail Doan.

Blodeuwedd and Folky Knitwear

Commenter Beth (I hope that's the right you, Beth!) left me a link that reminded me to write about the topic of our Ravelry spring knitalong, which is Blodeuwedd (say it: blod-eye-weth).

Blodeuwedd was a new story to me when someone suggested it, and if I am honest I am really not too fond of any of the characters. You can read it in The Mabinogi of Math section III, and you will find that a woman is made out of flowers for a man who can have no mortal wife. She betrays him, and is later turned into an owl. So of course, who wouldn't want to knit this beauty in memorium of our springtime story:


It was a treat to have Beth send me that link though, because I found that the same designer (Kate Davies) has also created this adorable folky number that I just love, and I think you will too. It's aptly named Paper Dolls.


I might also be swayed by the model's lovely hair. Just putting that out there.

These made me wonder if knitting could still be considered a folk art. When I think of American folk art, it's more like pumpkin-carving and building snowmen. With designers, classes, and conventions, it seems that it's just not as folky, or maybe primitve? But what's to be said of the girl who picks up her needles and creates a design, after being taught by her mother or sister, to knit? I don't know.

Little Birds is another delightful design that seems to come right out of Fableville...


It's by the inimitable Ysolda Teague whose other patterns boast names like Snow White, Briar Rose, Gretel, and Rose Red. *sigh* I love it when two of my loves come together.

So it's been awhile...let me see what I've been up to that's folky and fairy.y. I've been learning French, so that I can read Charles Perrault to you in the original language someday. I just finished up Patricia Wrede's retelling of Snow White and Rose Red, which was enjoyable enough. Oh! And I'm re-reading all of Fables and Jack of Fables, which is both beautiful and daunting.

What about you? *fisheye lens on my face as I snoop into your life* You been up to anything folky lately?

Kisses from Catullus

I'm off to the land of the pines to celebrate my grandfather's 80th birthday, but I leave you with Kisses from Catullus, a piece by Lydia Gerbig Fast inspired by this quote:

"You ask me how many times we will kiss: I say 'As many as the stars in a tacit night, that watch as furtive lovers lie embracing. A sum to thwart the reckoning of gossips, and to silence the spell-casting tongues of envy.' "

See you in a week!