M is for…

      is for magical

I so love Crows and Ravens.  They’re quite magical.

And so I was delighted when author Audrey Niffenegger released her book Raven Girl.

It’s a delightful little fairy tale about a love affair between a postman and a raven.   (Right there two of my fave beings – how could I not love this?!)  They have a child, a raven girl trapped in a human body, and the tale continues with what happens next.

I totally love the tale, but I was even more enchanted to find out the back story.  Niffenegger was approached by the choreographer of the Royal Ballet in London, Wayne McGregor, and asked to write a new fairy tale which he’d turn into a ballet.  How fun is that? The ballet has actually been produced and you can read a review here.  Which I urge you to do because they show the raven girl’s costume which makes me long to be a ballerina, or at least have access to someone who would make me a beautiful costume with wings.  You might also be interested in checking out Audrey Niffenegger’s site as well.

Last month I established my nosegay ranking system for books I was reviewing, using the language of flowers.  So in keeping with that tradition, I’m awarding a nosegay of:

Tulips:  declaration of love

Queen Anne’s Lace – fantasy

Everlasting Pea – everlasting pleasure

Reading the story reminded me of a favorite piece of art I own, a print by Rose Walton called  “What Mama Found.”

It’s a wonderful drawing of a mother holding a baby with a human body but crow head, and the baby is holding a crow doll.  I love it.  I have it hanging in my office and here’s a photograph of it:

Admittedly it’s not the best photo, but I also want to be a bit careful.  I’m not entirely sure about the nuances of etiquette and responsibility when showing someone else’s art.   I’d like you to see it as you would if you were visiting my home, but I ask that you be respectful and not pull the picture and post it somewhere else.  Sharing in the digital age is often so confusing to me.

But in any case you may also wish to visit Rose Walton’s site.  I doesn’t appear to be kept up on a regular basis but you can see some of her other work.

Here’s my index art for today for Daisy Yellow’s ICAD challenge:

I carved that raven many years ago, but somehow it still delights me every time I see it. 

So tell me, what are you finding magical these days?  What delights you?  Have a favorite fairy tale?  Are you a crow/raven lover?  Have any books to recommend.  Do share – you know I love to hear.