In the Labyrinth

International Children's Digital Library

Quite a while back I discovered this wonderful treasure trove of children's art books. At that time one was able to click various links on the images and see them in all their fullness on a digital site. Sadly, the site is no longer functioning -- but at least there are these lovely works of art, most of them rare classics of the 19th century. The image above and below is from the work of Walter Crane. 

And have a look (below) at the beautiful Kate Greenaway version of The Pied Piper with its delicate drawings and soft colors. Lovely.

                                    Or this Celtic Tales, with illustrations by Katherine Cameron. 

 

Beaded Treasures from Great Great Grandmother.

My great great grandmother immigrated as a small child with her family from Sweden to Northern Wisconsin. They lived and farmed for a while in Ojibwa country -- before moving father west to North Dakota. I have the beaded moccasins with a leather sole that she wore as a small child. Such sweet work on these little shoes.

 

 

The Marginalia of Flowers

Always swoon-worthy, are these lovely Medieval flowers appearing in the margins of various Book of Hours, sometimes in medical texts, sometimes in gardening books. I can never get enough of looking at these beautiful images and feeling inspired, mostly to embroider May Morris style textiles. They are helpful when writing historical fiction for they reveal the unique preoccupation with flowers, of which each has a medical and social significance. It is just those small details that provide a certain weight and body to a description of a place, or action taken, or a letter written, or the evolution of a plot based the underlying language of flowers.

To Write in the Air: Bakin and Toyohiro

Here's an image that surfaced today that I enjoy because it captures so many stories of flying ships -- whether sailed or feathered, and all the adventures written from such a fanciful vantage point. This magical novel "Musou Byoue Kocho Monogatari" written by Kyokutei Bakin and illustrated by Utagawa Toyohiro, in the late 19th century is about a poet's journey around Japan, perched on the back of bird kite. Would that not be the perfect place from which to write? And for another novel of magical flight I recommend Passarola Rising" by Azhar Abidi about two Brazilian brothers in the 18th century who create a flying ship, and travel throughout Europe and other places...it is a beautiful and haunting novel.

Recently, another image from the Bakin book surfaced (thank you internet) revealing the drama of the writer as he tumbles from the back of his hawk-flying kite. I so wish I had the book! I've seen it described now as a sort of Gulliver's travel, with the intrepid writer and fantastic bird kite (a red and white hawk) flying to new lands. 

 

Barrio Viejo: The Blue Mural

Tucson's very old inner city neighborhood, The Barrio Viejo, has some of the best murals painted by residents over many years on the exterior of the houses. When my daughter and future husband were in town a number of years back, they took these wonderful photos of one of my favorite houses. I learned recently that new owners of the house built a substantial wall around these murals so they are no longer visible to the public -- and that portions of of it were removed  as the owners renovated and up-scaled the house. I am grateful to have these photos of it in which to remember it. 

 

 

 And here's one of the hidden Christ, who appears at the bottom of an adjoining corrugated wall.

  

The Return: Beautiful New Animation

This is a lovely piece of animation from Russian animator Ekaterinburg Natacha Černyšovo who studied animation in France. It is so charming and delightful. It has been a few years since I first saw this little video, and in between my first posting and now re-posting, I have become a grandmother, which has made this film all the sweeter. 

 

"Forget me not," More Friendship Calling Cards

The pleasure of unpacking in a rented house is deciding once and for all to unpack everything, knowing that in due time, one will be moving again. So there is a desire on my part to organize and winnow everything that has sat in a box somewhere in my old attic for thirty years waiting to be noticed. Well, I am noticing now!

A while back I posted a cache of these lovely "calling cards" which you can view in a gallery located on the right sidebar. They belonged to my great grandmother as mementos of past visitors to her home. In a file folder, I found a handful more -- and these are a bit different. Most of them express a sentiment on the front and then when one lifts the hand or the image, there is a signature underneath on the card stock. They are quite ornate -- and I love the ones with the images of the houses as though seen in a crystal ball. So here are a few more to enjoy.

"Bright as fair flowers, be thy life's fair hours!"