Sunday, December 1, 2013

Fairyland for Grown-Ups


              “And I am growing up, Saturday!  I am growing up and I have read books, so many books, and I know that growing up means you can’t keep going to Fairyland the way you did when you were a child!  Something happens to you and suddenly you have to keep a straight face and a straight line and I am afraid!  I want something grand and I don’t want to know what it is before it happens!”
                “There are grown-ups in Fairyland” Saturday said.  “Who told you you couldn’t come back when you’re grown?  Was it the same person who told you grown-ups don’t cry or blush or clap their hands when they’re happy?  Don’t try to say otherwise, I’ve seen you fighting like a boxer to change your face so that it never shows anything.  Whoever told you that’s what growing up means is a villain, as true as a mustache.  I am growing up, too, and look at me!  I cry and I blush and I live in Fairyland always!”

--from Catherynne Valente's The Girl Who Soared Over Fairyland and Cut the Moon in Two


The other day I stumbled across part of this quote on Goodreads at the library while I was searching for another marvelous quote about libraries.  (I was still only part way through the book at the time, so I hadn't stumbled on this passage yet)  I confess when I read it, I had to blink my eyes pretty quickly to keep from crying at work.  Why?

Because despite the fact that fairy tales were originally written for adults, despite the fact that we all desperately need to retain a sense of wonder and imagination into adulthood when we can actually use that creative spark to add to the universe in constructive ways that kids might find difficult...

...somewhere along the lines, we got the message that only kids can go to Fairyland.

It started around the Victorian era I think, when childhood was turned into a revered state of being that was dismissed or ignored in previous eras.  The importance of recognizing a child's ability to imagine, to see things in a different way, became of paramount importance.  And in some ways this was a good thing.  In others, it wasn't.  Fairy tales were banished to the nursery, and stories like Peter Pan, and later the Narnia novels, reinforced the idea that when children grow up, they can no longer go to the magical worlds.

And once again, despite the fact that in older ballads and folk tales, it is usually adults who are spirited off under the hill to dance with the faeries...despite stories like Tam Lin and Lady Isobel and the Elf Knight where good strong women old enough to have babies of their own stand up to and defeat evil forces of faerie....

...on some level, we still believed only children can visit fairyland.

This basic rule, reinforced in so many of our favorite stories that kindled this sense of magic in our lives, stayed with us no matter how hard we try to force it back and ignore it.

It's because of this that I found myself blinking back tears as I read Cat Valente's words sitting at my desk in the library, my job where I get to work with thousands upon thousands of stories on the shelves...where I am paid to help pick out which story belongs with which person who walks in our doors.  Despite living with that magic every day, and fostering it in my soul with every breath I take, every beautiful thing I share to my friends on the internet, every line in every drawing and painting I do.... on some secret hidden level buried deep inside, I still am afraid that Fairyland is only for the young.

Catherynne Valente's words were like a spell that slapped me in the face...an awakening that said "whoever told you this is foolish, and should not be trusted."  Fairyland is indeed for the fair young maidens with eyes wide with innocence and the dewy blush of youth.  But Fairyland is also for the wise woman whose beauty only comes with age, and with braiding her hair day by day as it grows more silver than gold.  Fairyland is for the hands that have created and expressed so much that they grow stiff and sore.  It's for the face that has smiled and reacted to so many memories that lines start to etch themselves in its smooth surfaces.  Fairyland is for everyone...it always has been.  Some of us just forgot we already always held the key to its doors.



Linda, Kelly, Jacqui and Dancing Hands at Faeriecon.  Image source
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Image of gorgeous woman at Faerieworlds was saved to my computer...source unknown and Google didn't help.  If you know the source of this beautiful image, please let me know!!

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Daily Magic

I took this picture this morning as the warm golden sun streamed in the window of the living room in a way that only can be this magical when it contrasts with cold frost on the ground.


And it reminded me that home is about more than just accumulating magical-looking objects...it's about allowing the magic that occurs all around us in daily life to shine through.

I have been on a hiatus for the last month or so due to health issues.  I hope to return soon.  <3

Saturday, October 12, 2013

Inside Genie's Lamp: The Decor of Fairy Tales III

When I came up with the idea of doing a series of blog posts about what the real world decor of fairy tales would be like, my husband Tom had a great suggestion:  Inside Genie's Lamp.  What a fun idea!

First the most important detail: the lamp itself

There are some gorgeous fancy versions available:

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But ultimately if you're going to stay true to tale, the lamp has to be old and simple.  This one is quite perfect I think.

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Can't you  just picture Aladdin rubbing the grit off the side of that one to get it to shine?

When Tom first suggested this blog post idea to me, I thought it was such a fun idea.  I was surprised to find out that they actually had a special feature on an Aladdin DVD featuring a tour inside Genie's lamp.  So first, for fun, here's Disney's take on the lamp interior.



I love the rug that looks like the treasure trove where Aladdin found the lamp :D



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Here's a hotel that actually created a room based on Genie's lamp.


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And here's a rather Disney-esque kids playroom also inspired by the inside of the lamp.

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But really when I think of the decor inside Genie's lamp, I picture things like below:


Genie's lamp can't have any or many harsh corners, since it's curved, so softening the edges of the room with draperies are a great idea.





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I love the canopy in this Arabian Nights bedroom.  It's very dramatic in a way I think a Genie would appreciate.

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Look at these incredible bookcase niches!

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I would almost sign a contract to be a Genie to get this bathroom:

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Below is a beautiful Moroccan theme bedroom.  I feel like it brings the fantasy of Genie's lamp to life in a doable way for a real home. 




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Wednesday, October 9, 2013

The Snow Queen: The Decor of Fairy Tales II

One of my three favorite fairy tales ever is The Snow Queen.  When I shared the last blog post of Baba Yaga decorating on Facebook, I asked for ideas for future "decor of fairy tales" posts.  Several responses were for The Snow Queen.  I can't argue that. 

The Snow Queen starts with Kay and Gerda in their idyllic Denmark homes.  When it comes to the visuals of this part of the story, I can't imagine anything but the interiors of artist Carl Larsson, even though he was from Sweden. 




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The problems start when an evil mirror is shattered by a group of demons flying around in the cosmos. 

Two choices for the mirror.  High end:

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and low end:
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When Kay is taken away by the Snow Queen, Gerda goes after him, and on her quest she comes to the home of an older sorceress who enchants her to stay in her garden and home, where it is eternally summer. 

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The whole fairy tale has such stunning descriptions, but I think all of us are the most fascinated by the Snow Queen herself.

I picture her home looking like the lighthouses of Lakes Erie and Michigan I've seen that freeze in twisted patterns in the winter months.

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Or perhaps like this:

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Or this:
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This look might not be reproduceable in reality, but this is just how I picture her home:

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Here's how I picture a modern Snow Queen decorating her living room:

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Saturday, September 14, 2013

Baba Yaga's Home: The Decor of Fairy Tales I

I've been horribly remiss, I know.  The Domythic Bliss Facebook page has still been active and enthusiastic, but I haven't blogged here in far too long.  Let's change that, shall we?

I thought it would be fun to do a new series of posts where we imagine what the home decor of fairy tale characters might look like.  With the cold air and changing leaves, Autumn is definitely in the air.  I decided to start this series with a look at Baba Yaga.

Click here to find out about Baba Yaga if you don't know her yet.

Forest Rogers, who has done one of my favorite artworks and sculptures of Baba Yaga, has a *marvelous* Pinterest board with images of her.

Forest's renditions of Baba Yaga:



So let's start with the exterior of Baba Yaga's home.  A few candidates:

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Since Baba Yaga is a Russian fairy tale character, the last dacha is probably the best for her.

Of course a primary signature of Baba Yaga's home is the fence made from skulls.  Two options below:

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Going into the property, Baba Yaga's garden might look like this:

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 A perfect shot of Baba Yaga's interior:

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And what sort of details might you find in her home?

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Forgive me for this one but...well...it DOES strike me as something Baba Yaga would have in her home....

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And finally we have Baba Yaga's mortar and pestle...

There's this fine specimen on Etsy:
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or this gorgeous old specimen:

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There's this lovely carved soapstone version:

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But really, ultimately, I see Baba Yaga using this classic model:

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I'd love to take suggestions for other fairy tale characters to choose for exploring their hypothetical decor styles!