Ask Baba Yaga: Can You Help Me With Work And Money?

Vasilisa by Viona Ielegems

Although I wouldn't go so far as to use the word 'fearful', 'constantly worried' does apply so I'm eager to see what Baba Yaga has to say about this one.

Today's timely question and answer (via poet and oracle Taisia Kitaiskaia* of The Hairpin):

(Originally posted at The Hairpin HERE)

"Look where I am."
So... figure out the basics, realize I have what I need to live right where I am, use that and stop worrying so much? That's pretty grounded advice. It would seem I have sensitive ears to that endless, loud river though. I wonder if Baba Yaga could recommend any sort of sound proofing aid? 

What do you think of Baba Yaga's advice?

Want to ask Baba Yaga a question of your own?

You can!

There's now an email address where you can send your questions

directly to Baba Yaga herself.

AskBabaYaga AT gmail DOT com

To encourage Baba Yaga to continue imparting her no-bones-about-it wisdom (ok, there may be some gristle in there... bones too), I suggest we not to leave her box empty... 

Thank you Baba Yaga (& Taisia).

* Taisia Kitaiskaia is a poet, writer, and Michener Center for Writers fellow. Born in Russia and raised in America, she's had her poems and translations published in Narrative Magazine, Poetry International, and others.

May Gibbs on Creating Fairy Tales Out of the Australian Bush

The AFTS is close to wrapping their second annual conference and has been discussing May Gibbs' gumnut folk (among many other wonderful things). I recently saw this little presentation in which May Gibbs talks about how these beloved and iconic Australian bush fairy tales and creatures came to be.

Note: there have been a number of efforts to have Snugglepot & Cuddlepie (& friends) made into a movie but nothing has gotten past the development stage yet. I have a feeling things will get moving on this front again soon though.

Enjoy!

Timeless Tales Issue #4 is LIVE!

Although mythology isn't really our focus on here on OUABlog, it is a big element of our partner, Timeless Tales', business. They alternate between publishing retellings of fairy tales and myths and have just released their latest issue. 

All the stories for this particular issue have the theme "Perseus and Medusa". Here's a look at the main cover (above) and just a small sampling of the many mini-covers they designed for each individual story (below). It's pretty neat and you're guaranteed quality stories and a good read, (we're talking a good 75+ pages here!) , along with the option of audio, as well as a variety of (good) surprises.

Here's a quick note from TT's editor herself, Tahlia Merrill Kirk:

Here I am again, standing on the other side of a release date, thinking, "why do I do this to myself?". Give it a week and I'll remember the answer. It's because I love seeing writers teach me something new about a well-worn tale. 

Each theme presents its unique challenges. For Puss in Boots, the challenge was how to overcome the cliche of talking cats. For Twelve Dancing Princesses, it was often the problem of having a short story with at least twelve characters (twenty-six, if you include the princes, king, and witch). Perseus and Medusa's greatest obstacle, I learned as I read through submissions, was the snakes. I've never had so many writers treat an original element SO literally. Not even with Puss in Boots did writers seem compelled for their cats to wear actual boots. 

At first, I grumbled about my submissions' lack of creativity. Must Snow White die by an apple or must Cinderella's slipper be glass? Of course not, so why did no one send me a Medusa with eels for hair or baby alligators? (Mostly joking on the second one). 

And then I found the stories that gave the snakes a purpose. Like the "multiple slithering ids" which coo a Gorgon's darker thoughts in Elaine Pascale's story "Love in the Time of Athena". Convinced that their importance could not be denied, I even stuck a cobra on the cover. 

So suffice it to say that you'll find plenty of scales in this issue. However I tried to pick stories where the hissing hair wasn't mere window dressing on Medusa. And of course, there are some notable retellings that are completely snake-free, like the Russian themed "Long Live the Personal Revolution". I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I did. 

Tahlia Merrill Kirk

Editor of Timeless Tales Magazine

www.timelesstalesmagazine.com

Happy Winter Solstice Down Under Fairy Tale Folk - Today (21st June) is the 2015 AFTS Conference!

Program cover, titled 'Spinning stories into golden matter', is by Debra Phillips

The 2nd Annual AFTS Conference

Transformations:

Spinning Straw into Green & Gold!

Right now, on this Winter Solstice morning Down Under, Australian fairy tale folk are getting ready to walk into the NSW Writer's Center on the East Coast of the country and gather for the 2015 Annual Australian Fairy Tale Society Conference.

Although things may have appeared quiet here and elsewhere, there's been a lot going on behind the scenes. We have speakers, authors, artists, live music, exhibits, book signings, storytelling performances and more! To see what's going on, take a look at the program below, and there will be live 'reporting' on the AFTS Twitter account HERE, as well as the AFTS official Facebook page HERE.

If you want to add comments, ask questions, or are there in person and want to add your own pics to help those folk who are following remotely have a taste of the event, please add #aftsconf2015 to your posts and/or tweets so everyone can find them!

And for Aussies, either local or abroad, (and for those who've met Aussies and heard some of our yarns), the AFTS wants your input! We're collecting Aussie folklore and fairy tale lore and stories (and versions and twists!) for our growing collection, to preserve them for the future and study and work with them in the present.

Art Classics Stories - Teaching Art With Classic Fairy Tales (& Fairy Tales with Classic Art!)

A few of you may know that one of the things I do is teach Art on a voluntary basis at my son's elementary school. The weeks where I get a little erratic with my posting times and frequency, are usually my 'art weeks' as I call them. They are the weeks where I do my last minute run around town and country to gather materials, prep everything (times as many kids as I will have), create my video resources (in which I usually try to sneak in some stories and pop culture they will relate the art and lesson to later), do my real time lesson trials until I smooth out the bumps and other random things, make sure I've covered all the nationwide art teaching standards and have worked in at least one or two connections to their other regular school subjects and lessons, along with a bit of science, a dash of history (not just art history) and every day practicality... and then, despite being process focused and not display oriented, I still have to put together a presentation that presents everything we did in the best light possible...

It's intense, crazy, draining, and worth every second when I see a kid begin to believe they really are creative, or discover how art is applicable - and helpful! - in every day life. (This past week-plus has been one of those!)

You may have guessed I'm not one of those who is good at taking a basic paint-by-numbers sort of lesson plan and being happy with that. I'm not. I'm a big believer in immersive learning and multidisciplinary approaches to hands-on experience and teaching, in being about process not product, and most lesson plans I come across simply don't take those into account. I'm always on the look out for different resources that are useful for tying art into other subjects, to connecting art to everyday school, and for combining it with stories and showing how it's useful in daily life.

The books I'm posting on today are one of these gems. These are classic stories, mostly fairy tales, that have been retold and 'illustrated' in the style of art masters, to teach, not only the story, but about the style of art.

I nearly fainted with delight the first time I saw these!

Here's the description of the series:

Art Classic Stories (with CD (with CD)

These are unique books that combine classical art with the most loved children's stories. Each book features a famous artist, with story illustrations in the artist's style. The exquisite pictures capture the children's eyes and guide them to the world of art. They offer a different aspect of art and using a delightful story format that makes it enjoyable as well as educational. These books can be used in reading tutorials, discussion class, art immersion courses or even for drama. 

• A delicate rhyming style to capture the essence of the story 

• The delightful tales of classical stories 

• The exquisite pictures to showcase the specific technique used by each artist 

• Discussion of the story and the art, which can take comprehension to a higher level 

• Moral lesson sections 

• CDs with Narrative voices (adult and children) and come with sound effect, excellent for play and dramatic lessons 

• Suitable for children from Elementary, Year 1 to 3 

And I'm going to say these are suitable for use well beyond third grade - for creative teachers at least. 

Here's the lovely list, sized so you can see how the art style is adapted for the story and which artist is matched with which fairy tale:

           

 

           

 

           

 

           

 

           

 

           

 

           

 

           

 

           

 

           

 

           

 

           

 

           

 

           

 

           

 

(My only complaint is they seem just about impossible to track down separately - and afford, yikes! - but I shall persist, if it takes me many iron shoes and climbing ranges of glass mountains!)

I did manage to find the Munch Musicians of Bremen book, for just a few dollars (minus the CD unfortunately), and am dually impressed. From what I've been able to see online and by the example I have, these have been wonderfully produced.

If you see these, snap them up! They're definitely in the treasure-resources category.

 

Note: If any of you come across any of these books and feel like donating to a good cause, I'll happily take the donation, put them to very good use and you'd be assured of enriching the lives of many kids.(Just email me at fairytalenews AT gmail DOT com.)