ULLABENULLA

The Swineherd...

I am enchanted by with this sketch by Mstislav Dobuzhinsky.  So simple and whimsical...  

Via Olga's Gallery

Russian Myths and Magic...

Konstantin Kalynovych is another Russian Illustrator whom I adore.  His work is as finely drawn is Durer's with wonderful surreal overtones and true fairy tale imagination woven in.  One has to look many times to catch all the details he has created.  Whimsical plays on reality stir our imagination - ice skating on a neck ruff, origami birds flying through the woods, and bigger than life shadows leading the way.  Delightful!!!

Link via Visual Arts Blog

Fairy Tales Seen Through Russian Eyes...

I absolutely adore the fairy tale illustrations of Russian artist Gennady Spirin!  

Kathy Viksjo writes in The Times on June 7, 1998: "He incorporates Raphael’s rich color—deep gold, blue and crimson reds—together with the Italian master’s classical compositions, into many of his illustrations. The microscopic precision of his super—realism recalls Flemish great Jan Van Eyck, while Spirin’s unbelievable graphic facility is like that of German Renaissance artist, Albert Durer…Even at first glance, viewers intuitively know that this is one of the masters of our time…Spirin is like a magician, using his paint brush as a wand."

His lushly detailed images evoke deep feelings of wonder, romance and idyllic sensibilities!  

Images via Children's Illustration Blog.

Beetle Wing Tea Cozy...

Truthfully I would rather wear this as a Hat then put it over my teapot - but thats just me...

Via Hampshire Museum.

Wearable Papel Picado!

I absolutely adore it when art techniques cross and create something totally new and unexpected!  Just look at these wonderful dresses by Latin designer Ronaldo Fraga! His models look like a cross between Minnie Mouse and Papel Picado with a little Frida Ethnicity thrown in just for fun!  I would love to do something like this in felt - an apron perhaps?  or a jumper?  

Link via Pretty Portobello.

More images can be found HERE ON FLICKR.

What To Wear To The Insect Ball!

Jill of Trend de la Creme with her ever sure eye for what is IN and COOL, recently found these fashions by Mary Katrantzou (which were inspired by vintage perfume bottles).   Jill's 'trend finding' eyes found these dresses reminding her instead of the Southeastern United States - Lubber Grasshopper, best known for its unique coloration and markings!  Now we ask - which came first?  The perfume bottles or the Grasshoppers?

Insecta Fantasia...

Jennifer Angus has made an Art-form of creating wonderful installations using hundreds and hundreds of dried insects!  Her sense of design is whimsical, creative and truly original.  Originally from Canada, she now teaches in Madison, Wisconsin.  Most of her insects come from Southeast Asia, and non are endangered species.  She 'recycles' - reuses her insects for each new exhibit and encourages viewers to get involved in Rain forest Preservations Projects. 

Now I am fantasizing about having a wall with a 'Dancing Insect Ball' in my house - time to start collecting!!!

Images via FLICKR

Fairy Chatelaine - Class Sample!

Popular during the 1700s and 1800s, chatelaines are decorative clasps from which dangle chains holding various special items -often keys or sewing and writing tools. The Fairy who misplaced this chatelaine lost many treasures: the tip of the Ice Queen's wand; buttons for a princess's gown; the key to the castle; a magic golden fish to wish upon; the Sorcerer's miracle elixir, and the Little Mermaids looking glass. I will show you how to craft all of these wonders and more, from Apoxy Sculpt, a incredibly versatile medium for sculpting and transforming found objects. A vintage German doll's head is the keeper or clasp, holding all the treasures together with silken cords.

Fee: $95.00 includes materials but bring any special charms or vintage jewelry you would like to incorporate.

TUESDAY, October 27, 10:00 am to 5:00pm

Call 510-204-9801 to sign up!

This class is held at:
CASTLE IN THE AIR
1805 Fourth Street
Berkeley, California

These Old Shoes...

I am filling in at the CASTLE again today, scuffing my feet in glitter in dresden,  and thought I'd leave you with these wonderful shoes!  If a good days work leads to mice in the toes, I'd be happily surprised - wouldn't you???  

Available at Ruby Lane.

returning...

via the always poetic and beautiful blog Abundance...

Frog Inkwell...

Fairytale like inkwell from Tiffany & Company via Chintz of Darkness!

Turtle Tower...

Delightful sculpture by Frank Fleming

French Wedding Chair Class Sample for the Castle!

The Castle In the Air class schedules for the Fall are finally here, and I truly believe this is the best selection of classes we have offered yet!!!  My first class this new session is a delightful Globe de Mariee known as a French Wedding Chair.  These highly collectable antique treasures were created to hold the brides wedding bouquet after the ceremony and kept as a treasured keepsake.  Filled with symbols such as 'rectangular mirrors' marking years of engagement, 'oak leaves' for longevity of union, 'roses' for love, grape clusters for prosperity, and 'diamond shaped mirrors' for how many children the couple desired - these charming chairs tell wonderful stories on their own.  My miniature version is approximately 10 inches tall and created of wire, Dresden trim, and hand dyed velvet.  Castle Class Description follows:

  

Ulla has designed a magical wedding chair resembling those contained in Globes de Mariee, or Wedding Globes. Popular with the French bourgeoisie in the 1800s, Globes de Mariee are now highly collectible. The elaborately decorated chair contained within was fashioned to display the bride’s coronet and flowers after the wedding. Ulla’s version has a tufted velvet seat and a fanciful back featuring traditional motifs crafted from Dresden paper trim. The Dresden looks just like the ormolu of the originals. This is a truly delightful and joyous piece! Fee includes materials.

$95.00
Instructor: Ulla Milbrath. Limit: 10 students.
Thursday, September 10, 10am-5pm

Please call 510-204-9801 or go online HERE to sign up!  Hope to see you there!!!

 

PAPER SHOES, SHOES, SHOES!

Just look at these crepe paper confections above.  Don't they just sing and dance and make your mouth water?  Yesterday Nancy and I taught 'Paper Shoes' at the Castle. What a glorious day...  The morning was spent fashioning truly delightful shoes - as only Nancy can style.  Like fairy cobblers, each student ruffled glorious creations that speak of 18th century rose gardens bursting at the seams!  Nancy truly excelled in her premier teaching experience!  After lunch, we changed centuries when I taught everyone how to make regency inspired round toed slippers and medieval pointed slippers.  The day was filled with laughter, sharing and sweet sweet inspirations!  I'll let the photos speak for themselves...

    

vision of wings...

via a touch of vaudeville

Otherworldly Fields Of Light...

These stunning images were created by Lighting Master Bruce Munro.  Inspired by a visit to the Red Desert in Australia, this installation consists of 6,000 acrylic stems - through which fibre optic cables run, each crowned with a clear glass sphere.   On one hand his vision evokes a magical alien encounter, never to be forgotten, and oh the other hand, a fairytale like quality - as if we have just jumped through the rabbit hole, and found a new world!  Stunning!!!

'Over The Top' or 'Too Cool'?

OK, how many of you are thinking like me "OMG, this is amazing!" and "I WANT ONE!"???  Be honest!  This 'La Belle Au Bois Dormant Coach' can be yours too for a mere $75,000.00 from Posh Tots.  Personally, I want mine in the Living Room, for those times when nothing else but pampered, indulgent and over the top dreamy will do...  

The Stag and The Stag Beetle...

I wish I could recall where I found this LINK to these wonderful Russian Illustrations!  Dense with details, they remind me of The Unicorn Tapestries.  I am imagining a story about a stag and a stag-beetle, perhaps finding friendship in their mutual similarities - seeing the world through one another's eyes and becoming richer from the discovery...

See more illustrations HERE

Sea Nymph

This wonderful painting by Sir Edward Burne-Jones.  Long lost, and from the height of his career it came up to auction at Christies recently and sold for 2 Million!  How lucky we are that it is now in public view again!!!

Read more on this facinating painting HERE!

Castles In The Garden...

Finishing up a two day class at the Castle today, in the NEW CLASS ROOM, so I thought these Asian Vogue photos would be appropriate!  Wouldn't you love to have a castle or two to stand in your garden???

via