wise
I was trying to look up why owls have come to represent wisdom on Wikipedia, and I came across the movie Hedgehog in the Fog. Has anyone seen it? My library doesn't carry it, so I'll have to satisfy myself with YouTube.
Enough to make me resurrect my abandoned hedgehog.
*swoon* I so adore your softies.
Posted by: Shelagh | April 23, 2007 at 10:18 AM
Love that fabric in the center. Fantastic colors. Great work!
Posted by: Chelsea | April 23, 2007 at 10:25 AM
your owl is adorable and thank you for introducing me to "hedgehog in the fog" - sososo charming!
Posted by: meg | April 23, 2007 at 10:37 AM
lovely wise owl. :) recently gracia (of high up in the trees and hammer and daisy) linked to this movie. such wonderful little russian movies. hope you have a nice day!
Posted by: shari | April 23, 2007 at 10:40 AM
I love this owl. The scarf is so cute. What a cutie.
Posted by: Sally | April 23, 2007 at 10:51 AM
The Greek Goddess Athena was the goddess of wisdom and owls were one of her symbols. Doesn't really explain much but an early reference.
Posted by: Kailla (in Portland) | April 23, 2007 at 10:52 AM
Oh Steph! Norstein is my favourite movie maker. I think we bought the Dvd in Canada. You must have it. For your children, for yourself, for your friend. Everything he does is so true. You'll adore it.
Posted by: Caterine | April 23, 2007 at 10:58 AM
That cartoon is one of my favorites! It is included in a great DVD collection called Masters of Russian Animation vol.2 which I highly recommend (and it's available in the states).
Posted by: Holli | April 23, 2007 at 12:24 PM
your owl is adorable. I love that you wrapped a scarf around her neck, too!
Posted by: eydie | April 23, 2007 at 12:36 PM
love his/her flowered chest and the scarf
Posted by: Pammc | April 23, 2007 at 01:27 PM
I've seen it - but only on YouTube! If you haven't already, search for "Russian animation" - really amazing stuff. I don't know if I've already posted this, but here it is anyway: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yj7IsjdnN1Y
Posted by: Kristen | April 23, 2007 at 01:41 PM
Fantastic movie. And I'm so happy to hear you'll be bringing back Mr. Hedgehog. He reminded me of one of my favorite Beatrix Potter characters--Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle. Cousins, perhaps?
(You're creations are beautiful, by the way.)
Posted by: Andrea (scout.) | April 23, 2007 at 01:53 PM
Does that scarf come in a larger size? Your owl is wise and with great fashion style too!
Saw this Mother Goose rhyme in a book [doesn't really answer your question though]
"A wise old owl sat in an oak.
The more he heard, the less he spoke;
The less he spoke, the more he heard.
Why aren't we all like that wise old bird?"
Posted by: Rachel S. | April 23, 2007 at 02:46 PM
He's so, so adorable. So very, very. I love his frayed scarf. And I agree with a previous commenter, I think the wise/owl association has to do with Athena, the goddess of wisdom who sometimes traveled as an owl. It might go back farther than that, though.
Posted by: Julia MacRobbie | April 23, 2007 at 04:46 PM
Oh thank you! I loved that. Your owls are so adorable, and the hedgehog of yours.. love it.
Posted by: Erin Earls | April 23, 2007 at 09:30 PM
ha! Hedgehog is still my favorite!
Posted by: peggy | April 23, 2007 at 11:07 PM
I love that owl! I'm obsessed with them myself. I've made several owl pieces (in bead form) and people love them. Maybe they are wise because they look and listen more than anything!
Posted by: cynthia thornton | April 23, 2007 at 11:27 PM
i do love your owl! (except the feet remind me a little of tarantula legs, which creeps me out a bit! Prob only my overactive arachnophobia, tho' ;)
Posted by: kylie | April 24, 2007 at 01:14 AM
it's so so so beautiful and poetic!
these animals are your own crations or do you use some books? I would like to make so pretty things.
garance
Posted by: garance | April 24, 2007 at 02:06 AM
Ah, yes... I fell hard for that hedgehog too ( http://gracialouise.typepad.com/high_up_in_the_trees/2007/01/january_is_begi.html ). I purchased my copy of Norstein's Complete Works through Russian dvd ( http://www.russiandvd.com/store/product.asp?sku=41319 )... have you discovered Fox and Rabbit (1973) and others yet? You are in for a real treat. A real treat!
Great, great, great creations as always.
take care, gracia
Posted by: gracia | April 24, 2007 at 02:18 AM
Wise...and adorable.
Posted by: Tammy | April 24, 2007 at 07:01 AM
I love your animals and pinecones and mushrooms (which, by the way, I'm wondering how you make them stand up...I tried a couple and they just fall over, even after adding lentils to the stem). But I have to point out that owl talons are arranged two toes forward, two backward (woodpeckers are like this also) as opposed to the three forward, one backward like most birds. Just something to think about...
Posted by: geminimama | April 24, 2007 at 08:03 AM
truly adorable! Thank you for inspiring me!
Posted by: amy sahba | April 24, 2007 at 10:42 AM
Hedgehog in the Fog is one of my all-time favorite animated films!! And Your owl is amazing! : )
Posted by: Marjorie/marmeecraft | April 26, 2007 at 08:51 AM
re: hedgehogs
you probably know about these books already, but have you heard of Jan Brett's "Hedgie" (and other animal) stories? (http://www.janbrett.com/booklist.htm)
Janbrett.com (page takes a few tries to load for me for some reason)
& the russians were the best at animation - one of the neat discoveries i made when i took russian in school/college!
love the owl!
mari
Posted by: mari | April 27, 2007 at 06:24 AM