Heidi Anne Heiner's Blog, page 45

Crafty Friday: To Grandma's House by Melissa Schaschwary

Today I am sharing To Grandma's House by Melissa Schaschwary available from Ravelry. I love this reversible caplet which allows you to be Little Red or the Wolf!

Description:

Perfect for this year’s holiday knitting!

Every sweet Red Riding Hood has a big, bad wolf hiding inside.
This reversible caplet appeals to the gentle, whimsical child, as well as the adventurous spirit who’d rather to bare her ferocious teeth. And who says you can’t be both? There is nothing more fun than living a fairytale to its fullest.

And yes, there is an adult version coming soon!

Fairy Tale Gift Shop Discoveries at the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya

As I mentioned last week, I was blessed to go on vacation in October--mine and John's first vacation in four years, almost to the day. We were LONG overdue. Our vacation was long and eventful and occasionally I saw fairy tale things.

One of the best sightings was on our first day of the trip when we were in Barcelona at the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya. The gift shop had lots of fun things in it. I was so tired and jetlagged at that point that I also didn't care about taking pictures and the gift shop staff didn't say me nay either. So here are my photos for my own reference and where I found them later online for more information and better pictures.

It was an amazing museum, too, by the way. I really was exhausted and John ended up sleeping on a couch for a bit because his body just shuts down on him. He wasn't bored, just couldn't keep his eyes open anymore.



These Build Your Own Bobble Head - Fairy Tales were something new to me and looked like fun. If I was still working in a library, I would have snatched these up and assembled them for a display in the children's room. I had a few fun displays back in my day.


This Prince Philippe with the frog prince is by Djeco Toys--apparently made by France's Papo which I see has many fairy tale themed items--some I've investigated before. I will research and share more in a separate post soon! The Djeco site has that animated stuff you are forced to load and watch before you can really see much which is followed up by mystery meat navigation which I don't have time to mess with today. Or any day for that matter. Sells and informs absolutely nothing to anyone. 


These Shrinkables - Fairy Tale were perhaps the most tempting but on the first day of a trip, I was very reluctant to add ANYTHING to my luggage. Fortunately, I found these online and now have them in my wishlist for a possible splurge someday in the future. These reminded me of the Shrinky Dinks I loved when I was in 4th grade, many moons ago.



Again, I am a school supplies and stationary junkie, so I wanted these Fairy Tale Color Pencils and the erasers pictured above them, too. But I practiced self control yet again!



Finally, there were a few pieces from the UK's Tyrrell Katz brand. With further research, I've learned these are part of the Princess line and include many items, such as the backpack at the top of this post and more. The museum didn't have the Tyrrell Katz Princess Beaker, which is a good thing because I bet I would have bought that to hold pencils on my desk. Which may have convinced me to buy the Fairy Tale Color Pencils and then the self mastery would have been sliding down that slippery slope of indulgence. I ended up with room in my luggage by the end of the trip, but I didn't know that at the beginning! And since international delivery is very cost prohibitive for a beaker, I think this will remain as an image in my files instead of a pencil holder on my desk! 

New Book: Tower of Thorns: A Blackthorn & Grim Novel by Juliet Marillier

Tower of Thorns: A Blackthorn & Grim Novel by Juliet Marillier was released earlier this month. It is the sequel to Dreamer's Pool: A Blackthorn & Grim Novel which has been on my reading list for too long. It is tempting to think maiden in tower tales have inspired this one but I won't know until I've read both books.

Marillier has been wonderfully writing under the influence of fairy tales and folklore since her debut book, Daughter of the Forest (The Sevenwaters Trilogy, Book 1), which was when I found her for my own shelves. Daughter of the Forest is still my sentimental favorite since it retells the Six Swans fairy tale so wonderfully and inspired me to add the annotated tale to the SurLaLune site. Although specific tales may not be the full impetus of her books, they definitely make appearances with nuance and plot devices.

But all of the reviews are leading me to believe that this series may rival for my affections. I have now moved it up my own reading list.

Book description:

Award-winning author Juliet Marillier’s “lavishly detailed”* Blackthorn & Grim series continues as a mysterious creature holds an enchanted and imperiled ancient Ireland in thrall.

Disillusioned healer Blackthorn and her companion, Grim, have settled in Dalriada to wait out the seven years of Blackthorn’s bond to her fey mentor, hoping to avoid any dire challenges. But trouble has a way of seeking out Blackthorn and Grim.

Lady Geiléis, a noblewoman from the northern border, has asked for the prince of Dalriada’s help in expelling a howling creature from an old tower on her land—one surrounded by an impenetrable hedge of thorns. Casting a blight over the entire district, and impossible to drive out by ordinary means, it threatens both the safety and the sanity of all who live nearby. With no ready solutions to offer, the prince consults Blackthorn and Grim.

As Blackthorn and Grim begin to put the pieces of this puzzle together, it’s apparent that a powerful adversary is working behind the scenes. Their quest is about to become a life and death struggle—a conflict in which even the closest of friends can find themselves on opposite sides.

*Publishers Weekly

New Book: The Golden Braid by Melanie Dickerson

The Golden Braid by Melanie Dickerson is officially released this week. As you can guess from the title and cover, this is a Rapunzel retelling. Dickerson is an inspirational fiction writer who has written numerous fairy tale retellings now.

Book description:

The one who needs rescuing isn’t always the one in the tower.

Rapunzel can throw a knife better than any man. She paints beautiful flowering vines on the walls of her plaster houses. She sings so sweetly she can coax even a beast to sleep. But there are two things she is afraid her mother might never allow her to do: learn to read and marry.

Fiercely devoted to Rapunzel, her mother is suspicious of every man who so much as looks at her daughter and warns her that no man can be trusted. After a young village farmer asks for Rapunzel’s hand in marriage, Mother decides to move them once again—this time, to the large city of Hagenheim.

The journey proves treacherous, and after being rescued by a knight—Sir Gerek—Rapunzel, in turn, rescues him farther down the road. As a result, Sir Gerek agrees to repay his debt to Rapunzel by teaching her to read. Could there be more to him than his arrogance and desire to marry for riches and position?

As Rapunzel acclimates to life in a new city, she uncovers a mystery that will forever change her life. In this Rapunzel story unlike any other, a world of secrets and treachery are about to be revealed after seventeen years. How will Rapunzel finally take control of her own destiny? And who will prove faithful to a lowly peasant girl with no one to turn to?

The Gnomist Film with Some Extra Fairy and Gnome Doors

For your weekend viewing pleasure, as I gear up for new upcoming posts:



Great Big Story's description:

Deep in the forest of Overland Park, Kansas little gnomes made a home. But how did they get there? This is the feel-good story of paying-it-forward, one little house at a time. A Great Big collaboration with our friends at CNN Films.

I don't have any trees on my property to add a fairy or gnome door to, but whenever I come across them in searches--like Fairy Door Amazon Search Results--I wish I did. But I was thrilled this summer when a fairy ring appeared beside our house. It prosaically disappeared with the next lawn mowing but it was fun while it lasted. Besides, it's never really wise to keep them around anyway...fairies are not always--or even usually--our friends, you know.

A few of my favorites:


Miniature Fairy Garden Double Door Tree Accent

Giftcraft Miniature Fairy Garden 4" Enchanted Forest Pixie Door

Top Collection Miniature Fairy Garden Mystical Gnome Home Door

SurLaLune Blog News Report with Questions for You

Howdy folks! Most of you didn't know that I have actually been traveling for the past several weeks. Or I should say I was. I returned home last week after three weeks away and now the posts I created ahead of time have run out! I have more books to post about and will be doing so. I also have a few posts to share with discoveries from my trip. There wasn't much folklore related on this one, but there was enough to share a few posts with you next week or the week after.

What would you like me to post over the holidays? I often have a contest this time of year to give away a few books when people share their own fairy tale related holiday wish lists. I enjoy those posts. Are you interested in doing that again? I wasn't planning on it but then I see things like the watch above--Whimsical Watches Women's S0150014 Polar Bear Royal Blue Leather Watch--when I am shopping and I get little happy thoughts. Because if you are a fairy tale aficionado you know that watch made me think immediately of a favorite fairy tale, East of the Sun and West of the Moon.

So yes to a contest? And do you enjoy the "shopping" posts I usually do this time of year? I haven't been following movie news as much but there has been much going on there, too. I am hoping InkGypsy's time and personal resources open up a little bit more so she can return to regular movie postings. She does it so much better than me! Blog keeping is not easy. This one is now 8 years old and SurLaLune proper turns 18 in December officially (although it was in the works earlier than that).

And on other notes, I am working on two new SurLaLune titles that are nearing completion. Kind and Unkind Girls is in the final editing stages and a collection of Cat tales will also be available sometime in the near future, I hope. So the blog has to be fun and short so I can devote time to the books. Otherwise nothing gets done around here since I have to work the real job, eat, spend time with family and occasionally sleep.

Red as Blood, or Tales from the Sisters Grimmer: Expanded Edition by Tanith Lee

Stop! Do not run away from this unfortunate cover! There's a fine book hidden inside! That is one of the most unfortunate covers in my recent memory.

Red as Blood, or Tales from the Sisters Grimmer: Expanded Edition by Tanith Lee was finally released in ebook format last year and I missed it! My wish list for ebook reprints is growing steadily shorter!

The original editions had covers that looked like this:


 
Red as Blood, or Tales from the Sisters Grimmer: Expanded Edition by Tanith Lee is a must read and own for fairy tale fans. I think if it had stayed in print more readily over the years it may have been discussed academically nearly as often as Angela Carter. No one's going to beat Carter in academic hearts but Lee has the power to offer strong alternatives. Now that is in ebook, hopefully it won't leave print again.

This anthology is where you can find Lee's short story, "Beauty," long considered by fans and many scholars to be one of the best Beauty and the Beast retellings around.

Don't just take my word for it. Another fan of the story is Jerry Griswold. He discussed and identified it as one of his favorite retellings of the tale in his The Meanings of "Beauty & The Beast" A Handbook. The story is also reprinted in Griswold's book so you can own it there, too, but all of Lee's stories are worth a read.

I agree with Griswold that Lee's "Beauty" is an amazing rendition of the story and has been on my short list of favorites since I first read it years ago. I had a xeroxed copy of the story for years before I was finally able to buy a used copy of the collection thanks to the internet. Yes, I read the story long before I ever dreamed up this SurLaLune bit of mine, a library edition that I couldn't check out indefinitely as much as I wanted to.

Tanith Lee died earlier this year, too early due to cancer, but she should always be remembered for her body of work, from which this anthology is my personal favorite.

According to Wikipedia back in 2012:

Red as Blood, or Tales from the Sisters Grimmer is a short story collection of dark fantasy retellings of popular fairytales by British author Tanith Lee. Contrary to what the title may suggest, it not only includes retellings of fairytales by the Brothers Grimm, but also by Charles Perrault, Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve or Alexander Afanasyev. The title story was nominated for a Nebula Award and a World Fantasy Award. This collection was also nominated for a World Fantasy Award.

Book description for new ebook edition:

What if Snow White were the real villain and the "wicked queen" just a sadly maligned innocent? What if awakening Sleeping Beauty would be the mistake of a lifetime -- of several lifetimes? What if the famous folk tales were retold with an eye to more horrific possibilities? Only Tanith Lee -- "Goddess-Empress of the Hot Read" (Village Voice) could retell the world-famous tales of the Brothers Grimm (and others) as they might have been told by the Sisters Grimmer! This special edition, put together for the 30th anniversary of the original edition, adds a new Grimmer fairy tale written especially for this volume!

Table of Contents:

1.Paid Piper- Asia: The Last Century B.C. (retelling of The Pied Piper of Hamelin)
2.Red as Blood- Europe: The Fourteenth Century (retelling of Snow White)
3.Thorns- Eurasia: The Fifteenth Century (retelling of Sleeping Beauty)
4.When The Clock Strikes- Europe: The Sixteenth Century (retelling of Cinderella)
5.The Golden Rope- Europe: The Seventeenth Century (retelling of Rapunzel)
6.The Princess And Her Future- Asia: The Eighteenth Century (retelling of The Frog Princess)
7.Wolfland- Scandinavia: The Nineteenth Century (retelling of Little Red Riding Hood)
8.Black As Ink- Scandinavia: The Twentieth Century (retelling of The White Duck)
9.Beauty- Earth: The Future (retelling of Beauty and the Beast)
10. The Waters of Sorrow *NEW TO THIS EDITION*

New Book: Winter (The Lunar Chronicles) by Marissa Meyer

Winter (The Lunar Chronicles) by Marissa Meyer is released this week which is cause for happiness and sadness. Happiness because it is a new book in a popular, beloved series. Sadness because it is the announced final book in the series. Thanks to this series there has been a surge in science fiction fairy tales, too, for which I have been very grateful.

Book description:

Princess Winter is admired by the Lunar people for her grace and kindness, and despite the scars that mar her face, her beauty is said to be even more breathtaking than that of her stepmother, Queen Levana.

Winter despises her stepmother, and knows Levana won't approve of her feelings for her childhood friend--the handsome palace guard, Jacin. But Winter isn't as weak as Levana believes her to be and she's been undermining her stepmother's wishes for years. Together with the cyborg mechanic, Cinder, and her allies, Winter might even have the power to launch a revolution and win a war that's been raging for far too long.

Can Cinder, Scarlet, Cress, and Winter defeat Levana and find their happily ever afters? Fans will not want to miss this thrilling conclusion to Marissa Meyer's national bestselling Lunar Chronicles series.

Bargain Ebook: Silver Birch, Blood Moon, Short Story Anthology

Silver Birch, Blood Moon edited by Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling is on sale in ebook format for $1.99, down from the usual $6-7 range. I didn't own this one in ebook yet but it's been on my shelves for years in hardcover and paperback. I miss the original cover art by Tom Canty on these ebook editions, but the content is the same and that is what I need most.

Book description:

Twenty-one darker, deeper, more adult takes on some of our favorite childhood fairy tales, from acclaimed contemporary fantasists

Long ago, when we were children, our dreams were inspired by the fairy tales we heard at our mothers’ and grandmothers’ knees—stories of princesses and princes and witches and wondrous enchantments, by the Brothers Grimm and Hans Christian Andersen, and from the pages of 1001 Arabian Nights. But, as World Fantasy Award–winning editors Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling remind us, these stories were often tamed and sanitized versions. The originals were frequently darker—and in Silver Birch, Blood Moon, they turn darker still.

Twenty-one modern Grimms and Andersens—masterful storytellers including Neil Gaiman, Nancy Kress, and Tanith Lee—now reinvent beloved bedtime stories for our time. The Sea Witch gets her say, relating the story of “The Little Mermaid” from her own point of view. “Thumbelina” becomes a tale of creeping horror, while a delightfully naughty spin is put on “The Emperor’s New Clothes.” Author Caitlin R. Kiernan transports Snow White to a dark, gritty, industrial urban setting, and Patricia Briggs details “The Price” of dealing with a royal and unrepentantly evil Rumpelstiltskin.

Rich, provocative, and unabashedly adult, each of these tales is a modern treasure, reminding us that wishes have consequences and not all genies have our best interests at heart.

New Book: Fairy Tales for Little Folks by Will Moses

Fairy Tales for Little Folks by Will Moses is a new release. Moses has previously illustrated Hansel & Gretel and Raining Cats and Dogs: A Collection of Irresistible Idioms and Illustrations to Tickle the Funny Bones of Young People and Johnny Appleseed: The Story of a Legend to name a few. He has a unique folk art illustration style that brings a different touch to the tales. Page down for some illustrations.


Book description:

Five best-loved fairy tales by a renowned folk artist

Any parent or grandparent longing to share these timeless, well-loved tales with a favorite child will welcome this enchanting collection from acclaimed folk artist Will Moses.

Five tales are included: Little Red Riding Hood, Snow White, Beauty and the Beast, Rumpelstiltskin, and Puss in Boots. Each one is profusely illustrated with vignettes as well as a lavish double spread that incorporates all the key events of the story.

This handsome volume, full of fascinating detail and plentiful charm, is destined to become a family treasure.