Fairy Tales Do Come True

“If you want your children to be intelligent, read them fairy tales. If you want them to be more intelligent, read them more fairy tales.” ~ Albert Einstein

 

I am pleased to announce that my 'simple truths' line of components was selected by Vintaj to be their Art Bead partner of the month with the theme of Storybook.

A few months ago, Jess and Betsey at Vintaj invited me to participate. I just love the ladies at Vintaj! From the first moment that I set eyes on their components I knew that they were special. I don't know if Jess remembers this but years go when I first found Vintaj through the book Easy Beaded Jewelry, I recall sending them an email professing my undying love for their product and asking if they ever had a design team, or job opening, or unpaid long-distance internship that I wanted to apply. I recall that Jess is the one that replied to me (she likely doesn't remember this) and was very gracious about how they didn't have any positions but they appreciated my enthusiasm for their products. Basically a "don't-call-us-we'll-call-you" sort of email. But look! Here I am! They called on me!

Flash forward about five years and I have had the good fortune to meet Jess and the gang, to travel to Galena, IL to spend time with them and to take classes on all the techniques that can be done with their pieces. I have told Trish Italia, Jess' mom, that she is going to have to adopt me one of these days. Jess and I do actually look like we could be sisters.

(I spent all night working on this post and had a picture her from September but Blogger is messing with me and none of my pictures showed up here this morning - will post later to prove it!)

So when they contacted me I knew that this was an awesome opportunity I couldn't pass up. They told me they thought that what I did would be perfect for their theme of Storybook. They sent me a few pictures of tulip fields and a brightly colored tunic and a page from the Grimm fairy tale "The Goose Girl." Being the research geek that I am I immediately had to find the complete story, since that is one that I had never heard of. 

I used to teach English (Literature and Writing) to 7th graders and I always did a unit on storytelling. (Is this like coming full circle, or what?) I loved the part of the unit where we examined fairy tales from around the world (did you know that there are over 300 different versions of the Cinderella story from all cultures?)The Grimm Brothers, Hans Christian Anderson and Charles Perrault are attributed with most of the fairy tales that we know today. They were all actually compilers of tales that had been around for a long time in oral traditions. And they were not the sanitized Disney-fied cartoon versions. They are violent and to the point to teach lessons or to warn the listener. They are filled with opposites: greed and charity, love and hate, right and wrong. I recall as a child immersing myself in these twisted old stories.


Fairy tales and I go way back. My most favorite fairy tale character was Cinderella and as a child I used to pretend that I was her toiling away on cleaning the bathtub in my bubble bath and I was beyond giddy when I got to take a picture with her on the Disney cruise in 2000. And now there is set to be released two versions of Snow White and I couldn't be more thrilled!

I found the original Grimm story at the library. To say that "The Goose Girl" was odd is an understatement.The picture they sent was of the dead horse's head mounted on a stone archway where the goose girl is talking to it. Okaaaayyyy.... Now I had to now more!

"She was born with her eyes closed and a word on her tongue, a word she could not taste. Her name was Anidori-Kiladra Talianna Isilee, Crown Princess of Kildenree, and she spent the first years of her life listening to her aunt’s stories and learning the language of the birds, especially the swans. And when she was older, she watched as a colt was born, and she heard the first word on his tongue, his name, Falada."
~ from 'The Goose Girl' by Shannon Hale

I discovered that there was a retelling and enhanced version of this story with the same name by author Shannon Hale. I devoured the book she wrote because it totally fleshed out the tale for me and made the character come to life. For me it is important to know all I can about a subject so that I can effectively create for them. Since this subject was a fictional character, this novelization proved to be very beneficial (otherwise you might be stuck with a dead horse's head for a pendant ;-). Hale's interpretation explained why this princess was sent to a rival kingdom (to marry a prince she was promised to at birth to restore peace to the kingdoms), that she possessed some special powers (namely the ability to speak to animals like birds and horses as well as to flowers and the wind), that her servant was her betrayer (she threatened to kill her and took her place instead) and how she persevered and regained the throne, leading a people that she could truly call her own - and ultimately won over the prince's heart.

I highly recommend Shannon Hale's magical retelling of this tale. It is a young adult novel but don't let that fool you. I was smitten with a heroine who is smart and beautiful and who gains a sense of her self while making connections with the commoners along the way. In the end it is a happy ever after for a girl with a strong sense of her identity and a prince who loves her for who she is. Isn't that what we all want?

In thinking about the theme of storybook, fairy tales in general, and the goose girl in particular, there were certain themes and images that I wanted to bring out in my designs. Themes of love and hope and imagination. Images of royalty and romance. I wanted to evoke the magic, mystery and fantasy of fairy tales. I ended up creating nine new designs (and bringing one back that fit the theme!). You can read more about them by clicking on the link to take you to the Etsy listing.

[Unlock Your Story]

[Storybook Story Beads]

[Goose the laid the Golden Egg]

 

[Tales They Tell]

[Imagine]

[Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo - brought this one back because it fit the theme!]

[Love Is...]

[Fairy Tales Do Come True]

[Happily Ever After]

[Write Your Own Happy Ending]

All of these are now available in my shop as limited edition. I have some of each created, and will make more upon request for a limited time. 

On the Vintaj blog they will be kicking off the theme of Storybook today with the chance to win over 75 pieces including some of these pendants, one of their largest monthly prize draws ever. They will be posting an interview with me as well as a studio tour (do you think they want to see the beautiful way my studio is intended to be? or the sweat shop that it really is?). Best of all they will be showing off what they have made with these pieces to inspire you. I have already seen a few and I am delighted. I will be making some to share as well. Maybe they will consider giving me that internship one day after all ;-)

I am very honored to have been chosen for this opportunity.
Thank you, Vintaj, for helping me realize that fairy tales do come true!


To thank you for sticking with me on this long post, and to celebrate this honor, I am offering all of my blog readers FREE SHIPPING in my Etsy site through May 15th. Domestic, international are all welcome! Must use the code at checkout to get the discount.

Use the code: VINTAJFREESHIP.

Your turn...

What do you think of when you think of the theme "storybook"?
Do you have a favorite pendant from this series?

What is your favorite fairy tale?

What do you think... should I frantically clean up my studio and show you how lovely it can be, or would you rather see the chaos that I am usually working in? ;-)