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SOC: Bluebirds of Happiness Edition

Monday, July 7th, 2014 By Deborah

The prompt for week 5 of the Summer of Color is to create something using the colors of Red, Royal Blue, and pop of Light Blue.  Do consider playing along and check out what creative expressions this palette has inspired.

Each week I’ve been making a small journal in which I keep track of the week’s highlights.   Here’s my journal this week:

tn_SOC2.5 

The royal blue paper is actually the back side of some marvelous paper marbled in gold, so my journal has the bonus of a marbled inside cover.  I delight in seeded paper and the heart is part of a batch I made this winter and embedded with an assortment of flower seeds.  I make seeded paper knowing half the fun is planting it and seeing what random magic might grow.  And in this case, what is held in one’s heart.  The light blue feather is a tip of the hat to a dear friend for whom blue feathers are a  magical sign.  I thought of her as I was creating this journal, as she’s teaching a course on journaling to kids this summer.  They’re making their own journals and learning all sorts of fun techniques.  I can only imagine what a blessing it is for kids to be introduced to journaling in such a fun way and then have that tool available to them henceforth. 

 

While I was cutting my feather I couldn’t help but think of bluebirds of happiness.   I was curious about the background of the expression but googling somehow didn’t satisfy me.  I wanted a clear explanation or at least a fabulous story but the best I found was many cultures have used the symbol, with the earliest known recording from 1700 BCE in ancient China where a blue bird was messenger for goddess Xi Wangmu.

Of course there is the song standard from the 40s.  I knew a line from that but not the whole song so I had to look that up too.  Here’s a 1948 version by Gracie Field if you care to give it a listen.

In any case blue birds of happiness have certainly been making appearances in my life over the last week. 

Here are a couple vintage postcards that made their way to me with birthday greetings.

tn_Bluebird2 tn_bluebird1

And then there was this fun cloth wrap that a gift of Lush bath products came wrapped in.  I haven’t decided how I’ll use the cloth yet but I most certainly want those birds to hang around in my space somewhere.  How can you not be happy seeing them?

tn_Birds_LushWrap

Finally, when I was out running errands this weekend I found this feather.  I love feathers and always feel like I’ve received a delightful blessing when I find them. 

 tn_feather_found

What about you?  Have a blue bird of happiness story?  Love feathers?  Journaled as a kid?  Having a colorful summer? Do tell – you know I love to hear.

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Comments

  1. I love your bluebird journal. I admit to feeling envy at chldren being taught to make a journal and being taught the joy of using one freely. Not something ever heard of where I grew up and I feel I missed out on so much creativity, yet not something I now feel drawn to particularly. Some ‘habits’ are best nurtured in childhood I think. 😀

    • I’m always kind of amazed at how the things we loved as kids can find ways of expression in our adult lives.

  5. beautiful journal for the color challenge. I too have always been drawn to feathers and feel there is a special meaning -especially when finding a feather not so usual or popular. I keep my collected feathers on a special table with crystals, heart shaped stones and guidance cards.

    • That lovely Linda. I like to keep my in little vases on various altars. Bouquets of feathers delight me.

    • Clearly I’ll have to scout it out and take a look. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by Kristin.

  7. I love the idea of seeded paper. I’ve made handmade paper before and tried to include seeds, but the paper didn’t turn out very well, unlike your lovely heart. From seeing your heart, I thought I probably didn’t get my paper thick enough. I love what you did, including the feather. This entire journal is gorgeous.

    • Yes, a bit thicker sheet does work better. Wishing you a wonderfully creative and colorful week.

  9. Hi Deborah!

    What a delightful surprise to see your post today. I want to see this lovely inside cover too! Birds are wonderful. I bought my first pair of binoculars last week and was using them to scope out where the birds fly off to when they leave my feeders. Been warring a bit with the squirrel family because they are having a lot of fun overturning my feeders and eating my seed. Hope you are having a wonderful summer! {hugs!}

    • Oh how fun Amy – but alas I think birdwatching may soon become addictive. Be forewarned. 🙂 And good luck with those squirrels – they are persistent albeit cute. Wishing you a wonderful summer as well.

  10. There was an episode of “Urusei Yatsura” (Japanese cartoon show) which featured a self-described “Bluebird of Happiness.” It granted wishes, but had terrible hearing, so almost all the wishes were ruined by terrible wordplay The bird never hung around to get the wisher’s reaction, it just flew off assuming they’d be happy. It was being chased by the space police.

  12. Your weekly journals are wonderful. As for bluebirds, not many, but I do love feathers of all kinds. Have several jars of them, like feather bouquets, around the house.

  13. Your journal is so sweet and lovely, you have used the colours so well with all these great journals. I’ve kept little books for years with poetry, drawings, musings….little companions to note and scribble in, so good for the soul!

  14. We’ve lived in this area now for almost 3 years and have never seen a bluebird up until this spring. They seemed to be everywhere. It’s so enjoyable to see them. I love them 🙂

    • How wonderful Kelli. And I do hope they are heralding a time of great happiness!

  15. Beautiful joural – the red and blues just make each other POP! Loved your birthday cards (happy belated!), and oh boy I’m not much of a bath product person but might I have to drop by Lush to see how to get my hands on that cool fabric? And that feather you found looks special indeed – I wonder what bird it comes from?

    I have a pink bird of happiness right in my living room. He is a Rosy Bourk and I named my blog in his honour. 🙂

    Great post!

    • I’m so glad you stopped by Cindy. How fabulous to have a pink bird – it makes my heart happy just thinking about it! I’m thinking my feather may be from a blue jay. Wishing you a color-filled week.

  17. Love the art! You have had a “bevy of bluebirds” haven’t you! I think that is awesome! I just love it when the universe sends us these little signs…be it for encouragement or happiness or whatever!

    • It’s delightful to be surrounded by those little cosmic winks of love and support isn’t it?

  18. I very much love your little books, this one is especially nice with the blue feather and there is something special about your own handmade paper. Do you make weekly journals all year round, or just for the six weeks of Summer of Colour?
    I enjoyed the rest of your post too with colour, pattern and information and listened to the song, so nostalgic.

    • I began making weekly journals as a SOC practice but I think I may keep it up as I’m enjoying it so. Prior to this I’d been making a weekly card with a few notes about the week on one side and a photo on the other. That was fun as well. Thanks for stopping by and have another color-filled week!

  19. WOW! I love your little journal made with this week’s colors! that feather and your paper just made it so special. I love visiting your blog each week to see what you are going to create! Thanks for sharing your talents with all of us at SOC!

    • Thanks for the kind words. It’s such fun playing in SOC and seeing what everyone is doing.

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