What Are They For?
"What are they for?"
"Erm, nothing."
"Aha?"
"Yes... they are just the result of... hm... I just wanted to try the different fabrics..."
"And which is best?"
"Best? I didn't mean to find out... I was just playing... Ack!"
I better tell you about them...
Them? The owls I made, as Lucy guessed right.
As I mentioned two weeks ago I suddenly felt the urge to do something with my beloved woolen fabrics when I came across them while reorganizing my stash. These fabrics are just too beautiful and I really love them. Some are soft, some are rather itchy (you know I appreciate a certain itchiness), all are a delightful haptic encounter.
A very soft one... who could resist?!
One that's a bit itchy but still quite snuggly...
And here one with strong itchy character, straight forward, honest and trustworthy... the very fine chap who wins you over with his absolute frankness...
Best way to find out about the level of itchiness is to rub the fabric in question over your cheek or lips, eyes closed - yes, it is a very sensual endeavor... my love for wool.
By the way, did you know mangetsu means full moon in English?
I chose this name when I made my first steps in this virtual world around ten years ago. You know, as a child I was a sleepwalker, still cannot sleep well in nights of full moon and you might guess by my blog's name I have a certain affiliation going on with that fellow up in the skies.
Looking at the things I brought home from our recent trip I suddenly remembered the reason that made me want to visit Hokkaido several years ago: Murakami's A Wild Sheep Chase, one of my all time favourites.
However, I think we have a serious case of woolstruckness here :)
Could be worse.
Enjoy your weekend!
PS: The pattern is a rough version of one I found in a book about crafting with Chirimen Crepe, I will look up the ISBN tomorrow.
Edit: Here we are on the day that followed that tomorrow I was talking about... thank you, thank you thank you for all your sweet and kind words about the woowls, such a pleasure to see you liked them so much!
Oh, and you googled Kurt Lowcos... :)
I definitely will give you reason to think with future owls...
The ISBN of the book with the owls' pattern is 4-529-03967-6. It's a nice book but I wouldn't recommend it for someone who doesn't want to make tsurushi bina (a mobile for Hina Matsuri) since a good part of the book is about that. The pattern really is extremely simple (scroll down to the WIP photo four posts ago, please, you see how the body is constructed) and it should be easy to come with your very own owl pattern if play around a bit.
Already Monday here in Japan... have a good start into the fresh week!
Oh Alex they are lovely !!
Wanna swap 1 or 2 with me ?
I would send you whathever you like from Canada ;o)
Posted by: karen in toronto | February 17, 2007 at 02:36 AM
They are adorable. Are you going to make a new banner for the blog with the owls?
Posted by: Francesca | February 17, 2007 at 02:54 AM
I love A Wild Sheep Chase, too. Murakami was my first foray into surrealism and I still love his books. Nice owls!
Posted by: eireann | February 17, 2007 at 02:55 AM
so sweet..each with their own character!
Posted by: julie | February 17, 2007 at 03:25 AM
Owls!! I never would have guessed. They are adorable and yes, very snuggly looking. Love the photos too.
And Kurt Lowcos? You had me stumped with that one too. I could'nt figure out who that was. Googled him and everything.
Thanks for the fun Alex!
Posted by: myra | February 17, 2007 at 03:29 AM
the owls are very cute -- have a great weekend, too!
Posted by: Amelie | February 17, 2007 at 03:54 AM
Loved this post. Loved everything about it.
Posted by: Megan | February 17, 2007 at 04:42 AM
I love those owls Alex. They are so cute:-)
Posted by: Marie-Louise | February 17, 2007 at 05:40 AM
I'm in love! They're beautiful!
Posted by: Lynn in Tucson | February 17, 2007 at 05:56 AM
BTW, do you know the poem by Baudelaire, "Les bienfaits de la lune?"
http://poetes.com/baud/bbienfaits.htm
...I can't believe I remembered the title. It's one of my favorite poems. I can still remember the "frisson" I got the first time I heard the last line.
Posted by: Lynn in Tucson | February 17, 2007 at 06:00 AM
I love your owls. I have a similar pattern - and fabric - waiting for the right moment. Soon I think, soon. Have a nice weekend.
Posted by: Mette | February 17, 2007 at 06:35 AM
Love them all tucked into their box. They truly do take on different personalities, depending on the wool. Lovely work.
Posted by: Jennifer | February 17, 2007 at 06:54 AM
Ohhh! I have visions of a row of these cute lil' guys on a window shelf!
They are so adorable! Look at their fat little bellies!
Posted by: Taryn | February 17, 2007 at 07:26 AM
What a hoot! I especially love the shot of the owl pow-wow under the yarn moon.
Posted by: Cristina | February 17, 2007 at 08:20 AM
what a delightful post and your owls, lovely!
Posted by: sarah | February 17, 2007 at 08:30 AM
Oh.my. How charming!
Especially nice photos, too.
Posted by: Jan | February 17, 2007 at 08:42 AM
love the owls (and I'm so envious of those wool fabrics, they're just too gorgeous). And "a wild sheep chase" is one of my Murakami favorites as well :)
Posted by: Tania Ho | February 17, 2007 at 08:59 AM
fantastic :D is it just me that would spend all day making anagrams with them?
Posted by: soph | February 17, 2007 at 09:22 AM
they are the best alex! THE BEST!! and i had to laugh at myra's comment because i google mr. lowcos too. your photos are perfect too. love it all.
Posted by: stephanie s | February 17, 2007 at 10:35 AM
a tiny herd of woolen owls! so wonderful, & your pictures are really charming.
Posted by: daria | February 17, 2007 at 12:11 PM
amazingly precious!
Posted by: jennifer | February 17, 2007 at 12:13 PM
i love the process you used. the owls are perfect and the images you took capture so much. Alena would love to have an owl like this. maybe i will attempt something like this....some day.
Posted by: christina | February 17, 2007 at 02:09 PM
your welcome! really lovely lovely post. .
love your lettering. .
Posted by: janelle | February 17, 2007 at 02:38 PM
I figured Kurt Lowcus was an anagram, but I didn't un-puzzle it to Woolstruck. I love the owls -- they are sooooo cute! And I didn't see them coming from the cones either. And then, I was loving the owls and the photos, and I realized that you had wonderful little comments on each of the photos... Well, I'm swooning now. All those little guys looking longingly at the wool moon -- it's poetic.
Posted by: Kristin La Flamme | February 17, 2007 at 03:07 PM
Alex, they're ao quaint and quirky! I just love them....and the photos capture them perfectly! What are you going to do with them? Let me know if any of them need a new home...
Posted by: mariannealice | February 17, 2007 at 03:25 PM