We have been admiring other people’s creativity
Thank you, friends and family, for these lovely gifts and cards.
Paper angel by Susan Edwards at Shoreham Art Gallery (https://www.shorehamgallery.co.uk/susan-edwards/).
We are thinking about 2022 and…
our one word theme for the year. This year’s was light and, the darker the days, the more powerful it has felt. Any light, at this time of year, is a welcome antidote to the darkness, so our fairy lights stay up all winter. It feels hard to replace light with a new word!
I’d like to gently encourage you to come up with your own word for 2022. Don’t worry if you need more time to think and choose – it’s import to get a word that feels right. You can read more about this, here, and get thinking! https://wordpress.com/post/buzzypaws.com/2096 (look for the lighthouse picture).
And on the theme of light/ dark…have a watch of this clever animation by the Film Board of Canada.
Some of M.C. Escher’s most famous designs use tessellation to create incredible patterns, you can visit the official gallery of his work to see more of these, here:https://mcescher.com/gallery/symmetry/
And, if you are feeling inspired to have a go using tessellation to create a design, then head over to this wonderful website. I love it so much, I can’t believe it’s taken me so long to use it on my pages! But here it is, at last: https://www.mathsisfun.com/geometry/tessellation-artist.html
Busby has been dealing with disappointment…
Thankfully, December’s full moon (‘when stags shed their antlers’) came and went without mishap here, and Busby has nearly recovered from his disappointment. He says, “I wouldn’t mind so much if only my ‘Which Fairy Tale Character are You?’ quiz results had not also proved a bit of a blow to my self-esteem.”
Busby’s Quiz Results
Nobody was surprised by the results, except Busby, who believes he is human. We reveal the result below:
Slideshow illustrations by Walter Crane, detail from, and illustration for, ‘Beauty and the Beast’. Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
Yes, Busby was the beast, from Beauty and the Beast. He says, ” I was initially very upset by this. Deep down, I believe myself to be a real boy, so was hoping for Pinocchio. But then I reframed it. At least, I was not Puss in Boots. I’m not sure I could have come back from that one. And it is just a bit of fun. I suppose.”
Walt Disney, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
You can take the quiz yourself, if you haven’t already done so, and see some more fabulous fairy tale illustrations on our previous blog page by scrolling down below this one or by clicking here: https://wordpress.com/post/buzzypaws.com/2749
We have been mesmerised by this clip of the Aurora Borealis…
or Northern Lights. Inspired by a painting we found for last month’s blog page ( left: Northern Lights over Iceland, by Harald Moltke, 1899 — Source), we did more research. On the way, we found this mesmerising film clip of what has been poetically described as,
“Firelight Flickering on the Ceiling of the World”
Louise B, Young
In this clip, the music has been so cleverly matched that the lights seem to be dancing. See what you think, here:
If you are feeling inspired, you can create your own artwork. One way, is by using the film clip below. If you don’t have pastels (and many of us don’t!) it’s worth asking at school if you could use up some old ends of pastels from your classroom or art department. You don’t need many colours.
We are making window art – stars and snowflakes…
Are you someone who finds that everywhere looks a bit sad in January? Or do you just want a little project to decorate your home or bedroom? Window art is a great way to do this – you just need, paper, scissors and cotton thread to make these stars and snowflakes.
The star proved very tricky, Busby nearly cried just watching me struggle. Luckily, I had this lovely one an expert had made earlier (thank you, Cathy!) to keep me going.
There are many other ideas online – basically anything repeated or on a theme would look good.
You can find an easier paper star here: https://youtu.be/aJmyK0TQFSE Why not take the one minute challenge, when you’ve had some practice(!)
You can make some tiny stars using this method, here: https://www.planetjune.com/blog/papercraft/lucky-wishing-stars-tutorial/
And, if it all feels too much, forget the paper folding and just get colouring. You can find some relaxing star mandalas, here: http://www.supercoloring.com/coloring-pages/arts-culture/mandala/star-mandalas Download two and stick back to back for an easy piece of window art.
And now to a star of a different type…
and to a change of perspective.
Prepare to marvel (or re-marvel ) at this magical dance clip from the final of this year’s Strictly. This is a British TV show where a professional dancer is teamed with a celebrity, from another field. Over the weeks, couples are eliminated until the remaining dances are of an amazing standard, but none quite so breath-taking as this one. In case you are unaware, Rose Ayling-Ellis is an actress who has been deaf since birth.
We have been baking gingerbread…
What better way to recuperate and keep our strength up for all that folding, and shedding of an origami-induced tear or two?!
Here is the recipe, tried and tested many times over the years by my daughter, Elise. The iced ones were, hmm, ‘unavailable’ by the time we took this photo. These have been decorated with edible gold spray. They were all totally delicious! https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/gingerbread_men_99096
Finally, we’d like to wish you a very Happy New Year!
To end on a cheerful and traditional note and to find out more about New Year traditions around the world, please click here: https://www.jacquielawson.com/sendcard/preview?cont=1&hdn=0&fldCard=3502243&path=393919&pmode=init
There are many cards you can view for free on the site. They are all child-friendly.
Older Readers
If you would like to end on a more reflective note, you might like this virtual Canadian university choir singing a modern reworking, by Philip Stopford, of the ancient Coventry Carol. The theme is sombre, the music delicate, the singers are in lockdown and mainly singing alone, but together they create something of powerful, haunting beauty.
I will leave you to find your own meaning, here:
Thank you…
everyone who has signed up to follow this blog – every time I see a new name, I feel great and Busby feels (p)awesome.
You can subscribe right at the foot of the blogs below or on the home page. Make sure you click on confirm subscription in the email that’s sent to you!
We will be back next month with more light and inspiration to cheer up the winter dark days. I think we will be featuring more on the Northern Lights, plus a bit more on the powerful tool of reframing.
IF you can’t wait until then, why not join our Quiet Paws Book Club? If you like our blog page, you will almost certainly enjoy the information and activities on our book club pages.
It’s free and everyone, young or old, is welcome. You just have to enjoy children’s literature. Head to the Join the Book Club page in the menu at the top to sign up.
Buzzy Paws 