Thursday, March 31, 2011

The Blue Fairy Book


 After following From Me to You, Francine  and I decided that it would be a good idea to make a gif (pronounced with either a soft or hard g, not sure which one). This, however, turned out to be a very difficult task due to google not really liking gif's. Anyway, after about 50 emails and much perseverance we (and by "we" I mean Francine) figured it out. My first idea for the gif was to have a book turning its pages on its own to look like magic. In my mind this looked beautiful and I thought it could be accomplished until I sat there posing for Francine and realized that something was going to have to move the pages of the book. Maybe it's just because I'm the person moving the book in this photograph, but I get a little bit tired when looking at myself move the pages over and over. However, I am not disillusioned with the whole gif thing, and I actually really love the result.
The Blue Fairy Book is one of my most treasured gifts from my late Grandfather. It is edited by Andrew Lang with illustrations by Charles van Sandwyk and was first published in 1889. The compilation includes some stories that we are familiar with such as "Little Red Riding Hood" while others seem rather obscure, with names like "The Brave Little Tailor." Interestingly, most of the stories have been translated by women. I wonder if that was a common form of work for women in the late nineteenth century? I should ask my friend Larissa, whose a bit of an expert at these types of things. I really enjoy just sitting and looking through the pages of this beautiful book, all the while thinking of my wonderful Grandfather. 
I'm wearing a lovely Nadinoo blouse in one of my favourite prints by Liberty of London and a black kilt by aa. The idea of the outfit, however, came from this amazing bow that I saw on Francine the other day. I basically told her immediately that I needed it for a shoot. Thankfully she was generous enough to lend it to me, and then take the photographs.
And I suppose that's all I have to say for today. Have a lovely weekend.

25 comments:

  1. Nice gif. You're right about the translations. It was much more common for women to translate than publish original works, since it was generally more palatable for women to support the genius of men than to create genius of their own. Women with money were generally highly educated, which at the time meant fluency in a number of languages, like French, German, and Latin. It is still the case that translations are considered "derivative," but in my opinion they are inarguably creative and originary.

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  2. Love the gif. Still looks magical to me! As does the print of your top. Beautiful.

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  3. Oh I love the gif, you look so pretty! A stop motion book flipping by itself that actually looks right is not easy to do, and I tell you this as an animator ;D
    And I agree with you, your friend's bow is utterly adorable :)
    Ale

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  4. Larissa: I'm glad I'm right!

    Bri: I'm glad you think it looks magical : )

    Ale: I'm so happy that you appreciate how difficult this was, haha.

    Steffy: I think we can all agree that that bow is amazing!

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  5. Ahh you are so so cute. Like you I love Nadinoo too, and that blouse looks amazing on you! xx

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  6. i love the colored fairy books! it was my goal as a young teenager to read them all, however i bareley had time to skim the brown fairy book. i love your vintage inspired haircut and the symetrical bow tie! =)

    http://pinkchampagnefashion.blogspot.com/

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  7. well done on the gif!
    i really like the blouse too, great print :)

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  8. gorgeous blouse... and amazing photos.

    http://wardrobexperience.blogspot.com

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  9. Very lovely blouse and very interesting blog!
    June

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  10. I like that you are turning the pages of the book. Very cute outfit, especially the bow <3

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  11. All those emails and hard work paid off. That gif works amazing. The blue fairy book looks darling and I love that you are sitting in front of the window like that.

    your blouse and bow is amazing.
    xx

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  12. I'm so hopeless when it comes to these technical things, your gif turned out great. That book looks simply sublime.

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  13. Thank you Hila, and yes I'm also not very good with the technical things .

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  14. That is beautiful, and YOU are beautiful. I love your short hair and red lips. Yay!

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  15. How did I miss this delightful post!? I'm wearing that same blouse today and loving it, think it's cause it reminds me of youu.. x

    Planning in my head a trip to New York or Toronto very soon, will start saving!

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  16. That's nice Nadia, I also think of you when I'm wearing this beautiful blouse.

    Can't wait to see you when you come!!!!

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  17. You're sbeautiful!
    I love yor blog! :)

    I add to follower & I invite to my blog: ikarmani.blogspot.com
    xoxo

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  18. I like the gif. Still looks magical to me! I love that you are turning the pages of the book. Very cute outfit. The blue fairy book looks very nice. I find reading your blog very interesting.
    Individual Voluntary Arrangement

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  19. I love love love this outfit. you're such a quirky dresser

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  20. Lovely blouse ! I am a big fan of this print too and of Nadinoo too !!

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  21. That blouse is perfect on you!
    And please, please keep at it with these animated gifs! They're so great!!!

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  22. I love both bows. The one on your chest as well as the one on your wrist :)
    Aww, the brave little tailor? Is it the fairy tale where the tailor kills 7 flies in one go? 'Das tapfere Schneiderlein' in German ;)

    http://ascentofrosewood.blogspot.com/

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  23. haha, yup you've got the right story!

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