Well, that's one I never saw before. It was disconcerting at first, but then all made sense, of course...
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Advertising: Perdue and Goldilocks
Friday, December 23, 2011
10 Animals, Which we are Most Afraid Of
10. Wolves
There are many people who are afraid of wolves. A wolf can cause fear even the most calm and rational person. In addition, they run twice as fast as Olympic champions, and can knock down a predator that weighs five times as much to themselves, that is to say about the man. Despite these daunting facts, the threat of human life posed by a wolf - a fairy tale. There are no documented cases of wild wolf killing a person, in fact, they fear us more than we do. For all that, do not yet test this theory in practice. 09 more animals after the break...
10 Story Building Transform the Facade 1000 Recycled Doors
South Korean Artist Choi Jeong-Hwa used 1000 brightly colored recycled doors to transform a bland 10-story building into an eye-popping visual indulgence. Jeong-Hwa is a master of using found objects to make provocative spaces, and the project is one of his most ambitious attempts to place normal things in an extraordinary way. The doors stretch up the scaffolding of the mid-rise, giving the hulking mass a pixelated charm. 02 more images after the break...
R. A. MacAvoy Returns
One Christmas present arrived a few days early for me this week. But first I must preface.
We all have them, those beloved authors who wrote a pivotal book, a comfort read, or some tome that resonated for some reason, sometimes undefinable. One of those authors for me is R. A. MacAvoy. I discovered her in my teens and fell in love with many of her books, especially The Grey Horse and Tea With the Black Dragon and Twisting the Rope. For me, they were simply different. They still are. The latter two have very definited aged technology in them, but The Grey Horse is ageless, and I admit, my favorite. It wasn't an easy read for the fifteen year old me when I first read it with its dialect which is quite easy for me now. But I was an inexperienced reader then. The Grey Horse is still a favorite--two original copies have resided on my bookshelve for years--then I purchased the rereleased paperback--then I bought it for my Kindle soon after I acquired my first Kindle. So, yes, it's a beloved book.
And MacAvoy's work was beloved although she virtually disappeared for years and years and years from the publishing scene. There has been no new book for a very long time. Every so often, I would stumble across someone else lamenting the lack of more MacAvoy. Her small library of titles have been on my shelves for years, escaping every purge although I don't reread all of them very regularly. But they were precious because they were by her.
Gushing much, Heidi? Sure. My fifteen year old fangirl still lives inside me.
Anyway, this week--a few weeks after publication!--I learned that there is finally a new R. A. MacAvoy title, Death and Resurrection
. I ordered it within minutes of this discovery. And now I share here just to get the word out. The previews have been positive and I am thrilled. But now I am debating when to actually read it. Do I wait a few more days until the pressure of the holidays has passed? Do I stay up late tonight devouring it? What do I do? Either way, since I haven't read it yet, I will go ahead and reiterate that if you want a lovely read, do pick up a copy of The Grey Horse. The original cover thrilled my heart back in its day. The current is rather plain and unassuming but don't let that deter you. It's Ireland. It's fae. It might sound cliche, but it's not. I have to be careful whenever I pick it up and open it because I tend to start rereading from that point and not stopping until I've reached the end. It does that for me. It just might do that for you, too.
And thanks for sharing your work again, R. A. MacAvoy. I am grateful....
Advertising: Hansel Sandwiches
Sleeping Beauty
Hansel Sandwiches. What a natural name to inspire fairy tale themed advertising...
Snow White
Little Red Riding Hood
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Ritemail Picdump — 65 Pics
Ritemail Picdump — 63 more images after the break...
Beautiful Rain and Wind bridge in Sanjiang
Rain and wind bridge across the river Sanjiang — Bridge of wind and rain in the Chinese countryside Chenyan (Guangxi Province) lies across the river and Sanjiang is made of wood and stone. During the construction of this three-story wonder was not used a single nail. 06 more images after the break...
Fairy Tale Music: A Preview
A few of you asked for my fairy tale playlist that I have on my MP3 players. I don't want you to think I have forgotten you, like I forget so much here on the blog. I don't have the full list to share today, but I do have an old list that is buried on the SurLaLune site which may be of interest to you now. It's on the old bookstore page at Fairy Tale Music. It is a long list, so don't think I am shirking!
I am planning a fairy tale music month here on the blog in March 2012 for Music in Our Schools Month. March has a lot of pertinent themes for the blog, but this year I am using the music theme since I haven't done so previously.
There are also song listings on the Modern Interpretations pages for each fairy tale on the SurLaLune main site, too.
And, by all means, do not forget to use the Music subject tag on this blog either to read about other fairy tale music. I have several entries about interesting projects.
So if you are curious and want a preview of some of what is to come, that's where to start. Or, if you got new listening devices for holiday gifts and want new things to fill it. I've been told that happens sometimes.
And, by all means, if any of you have fairy tale music to share, please do! This is one of my weaker categories besides graphic novels, especially manga. It's hard to do lyrics searches for songs and find the themes we seek as fairy tale fiends, so many miss my radar. And then there's the issue of most searches bringing up audiobook tracks instead of actual music. It can be a tedious process to find new examples of fairy tale inspired or simply referenced music.
It’s the Journey: “Beauty and the Beast” vs. “Cinderella” by Joanna Novins
An article comparing two popular fairy tales and their strength as romance plots can be found at It’s the Journey: “Beauty and the Beast” vs. “Cinderella” by Joanna Novins. Here's an excerpt of the article which spends a splendid amount of time praising Robin McKinley's Beauty. Why, yes, that is always a worthy activity...
The first few paragraphs from the article:
Though I’m not a gambler, I’d be willing to bet that “Cinderella” is the fairy tale most commonly retold in modern-day romances. What’s more appealing than the mistreated scullery maid who, with the wave of a wand, is provided a complete makeover, including fabulous shoes, and entrée to a ball, where a handsome prince instantly falls in love with her?
But in my opinion, Cinderella and Prince Charming are the laziest hero and heroine ever. Sure, there’s that whole grain sorting/floor scrubbing/impossible task so she gets magical help thing, but really, all Cinderella has to do win the prince’s heart is get a makeover and show up. As for Prince Charming, all he has to do is be tenacious in his efforts to find the owner of the size 5 glass slipper. Time consuming, yes, but heroic? Meh.
Nothing new for SurLaLune readers but sometimes it's nice to read about Beauty and the Beast and how so many adore the tale...
Advertising: Sky TV Spots and Fairy Tales
Frog Prince
I first featured the Princess and the Pea Sky commercial when this blog was fairly new and the ad campaign of Sky fairy tales was brand new. But I have never shared the other spots, so here they all are together. Surprisingly enough, I think the Aladdin is my favorite followed perhaps by Emperor's New Clothes. Red Riding Hood annoyed me with its editing.
Aladdin
Princess and the Pea
Emperor's New Clothes
Little Red Riding Hood
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Bargain Ebook: Graceling by Kristin Cashore for $.99
Graceling
by Kristin Cashore for $.99 is today's ebook Deal of the Day on Amazon. No, it's not based on a fairy tale, but it's been a well-received YA fantasy novel, so I thought I would share. There are now two companion books to the book which are not discounted, one's not even released yet.Book description from the publisher:
Katsa has been able to kill a man with her bare hands since she was eight—she’s a Graceling, one of the rare people in her land born with an extreme skill. As niece of the king, she should be able to live a life of privilege, but Graced as she is with killing, she is forced to work as the king’s thug.
When she first meets Prince Po, Graced with combat skills, Katsa has no hint of how her life is about to change. She never expects to become Po’s friend. She never expects to learn a new truth about her own Grace—or about a terrible secret that lies hidden far away . . . a secret that could destroy all seven kingdoms with words alone.
Christmas Tree of Plastic Bottles in Haifa
Is plastic ecological material, But at least one live Christmas tree saved ...
5480 plastic bottles left on a Christmas tree installed in Haifa.
04 more images after the break...
Release Day for Issue 112 of Fables
Fables #112 is released today and since the series is gaining even more visibility thanks to Once Upon a Time and other series, I thought I would highlight its release. Yes, this one has a Christmas theme.
Advertising: Honey Nut Cheerios and Little Red Riding Hood
Oh, I had forgotten all about this one although it came right back to me when I saw it again. Honey Nut Cheerios and Little Red Riding Hood from 1998. Works pretty well, actually, for a 30 second spot.
I am wondering if there will be a new resurgence of fairy tale inspired advertising with this current media love affair with fairy tales....
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Entwined and Other Great Bargain Ebooks
Entwined by Heather Dixon
has been marked down to $.99 in ebook format, temporarily down from $9.99. This has been one of the top fairy tale related picks of the year and is a great, great buy. I paid full price to have the comfort of reading it on my Kindle and only felt a slight twinge in my bargain hunting muscles upon seeing this price drop, but promptly reminded myself that it was worth full price.
The Merchant's Daughter by Melanie Dickerson--a November 2011 release of a Beauty and the Beast retelling--has also been dropped temporarily to $1.99 along with Dickerson's first book, The Healer's Apprentice,
that has been reduced temporarily previously but usually sits at the $8.99 price. And here are some more temporary markdowns that might not last through Christmas....
Natalia Vodianova's Russian Fairy Tale Jewelry
I shared Natalia Vodianova's previous fairy tale inspired work in my July 2011 post, The White Fairy Tale Love Ball 2011. Last week she had a party at the Guerlain Boutique in Paris to launch her new fairy tale jewelry line designed with De Beers. I can't find much on the jewelry beyond the press coverage of the actual event. (But in my searching I stumbled upon De Beers' Swan Lake Collection.) Anyway, Vodianova loves fairy tales and uses them to raise money for her Naked Heart charity which constructs playgrounds for children across Russia. She also always wears only red to her own events. Here are some images. I actually like the jewelry, most of it is understated and more to my taste. If I learn more, such as more about inspiration or piece names, I will share later!
And while we are here, the model is known as the Russian Cinderella. From Russian Cinderella sells her jewelry, but is still in the red:
The millionaire model is known for her “rags-to-riches”, fairytale story. Brought up in Nizhny Novgorod in a poor family with a disabled sister, Vodianova enrolled in a modeling academy at the age of 15 to become one of the world’s most successful supermodels.
Advertising: Cinderella and Moccona Coffee
Credits (via The Inspiration Room):
The Quest was developed at M&C Saatchi, Sydney, by creative director Ben Welsh, art director Michael Jones, copywriter Lizzie O’Hara-Boyce, agency producer Rod James.
Filming was shot on location in Montevideo, Uruguay, by Noah Marshall via The Sweet Shop, with director of photography Ian McCarroll, and producer Tony Whyman.
Post production was done at Digipost and Fin Design in New Zealand.
Music was composed for the spot by Elliott Wheeler via Nylon Studios, Sydney. Copies of the sheet music can be obtained by visiting the Nylon Studios site and emailing Mark.
Moccona is a brand of coffee produced by the Dutch corporation Douwe Egberts and popular in Australia and New Zealand. The coffee is regarded as one of the superior brands in the market. In my household Moccona jars are kept to store nuts and confectionery. The lid does look as though as it could have been formed by the sea.
This one's success inspired another romantic commercial for the product, not fairy tale related, but sweet.
Monday, December 19, 2011
Fairy Tale by Angele Dubeau & La Pieta
And since I posted about Danse Macabre and Infernal Violins earlier, I have to add another post before anyone jumps up and says, But what about Fairy Tale by Angele Dubeau & La Pieta
? Yes, if you already know Angele Dubeau and are a reader here, you probably know about her Fairy Tale album, a collection of classical music inspired by folklore played by Dubeau on her Stradivarius with her all female group of musicians. It's lovely, too. The playlist can be seen on Amazon--it's hard to copy and paste it in its sampling format, so I am not going to try since I am in a rush today.
But if you want some wonderful classical music, this is highly recommended! And for the holidays, you might also like her Noël / Christmas
.
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