Six Swans a-Swimming...

The Six Swans

By the Brothers Grimm and Cornerstoregoddess

Once upon a time, a King, for a set of unusual reasons, agreed to marry a witch’s daughter. Because he didn’t trust her around his seven children (whose origins remain mysterious), he hid them deep in the forest, which would bring social services to his moat door today. His wife had assorted witch powers, handed down through her mother and, for an unusual set of reasons, made six shirts of white silk and sewed a magical charm into each. The next day she paid a visit to the safe castle in the forest.

When the children saw someone approaching, the six boys ran outside, probably bored senseless from being confined to a safe castle. The queen threw the shirts over their heads, which sounds like a potential Olympic event. And, bring magical and all, as soon as the shirts touched their skin, they were turned into swans.

The Queen didn't realize that her husband also had a daughter, who had no doubt stayed inside being responsible. And when she realized her brothers were gone, and possibly swans, she ran set off to rescue them.

After walking miles and furlongs and other units of measure, she came to a small hut. Inside she found six small beds. Taking the tale of the Three Bears to heart, she crawled beneath one and fell asleep. At sunset, she woke to a rustling sound. She peeked out to see six swans fly in the window.The swans then blew (or honked) on each other and their swan skins dropped away, revealing her six brothers.

Her brothers warned her that the hut belonged to vicious robbers who would kill her, and, being unarmed swans, they would be unable to protect her. They could only retain their human form for 15 minutes each night, and then it was back to Swan Lake.

In order to set them free, she would have to take a six year vow of silence. And during that time, she was to sew six shirts of starwort. If she spoke even one word, the spell would never be broken.

With that they turned back into swans and flew out the window.

The sister spent the rest of the night hiding in a tree and wondering how to sew with starwort. By morning she had a plan, and began to gather starwort, and sew.

She did not speak or laugh. She just sewed.

One day, as she sat sewing in her tree, the King of that particular forest was out hunting. He coaxed her down, took her home, and tried to find out who she was and what she was doing. She, of course, did not answer.

The King, touched by her beauty, and perhaps her silence, promptly fell in love with the mysterious maiden. He dressed her up, fed her fabulous meals, dressed her in beautiful clothes, showered her with gifts, and married her. During all that time, she spoke not a word.

The King’s mother was not as smitten as the King. After a year, when the maiden gave birth to her first child, the King’s mother stole the baby and smeared blood on the maiden's face, claiming she had devoured her baby. The King did not believe this and protected his bride, who just kept sewing.

A year later she bore a second child. The King’s mother used the same tactic. But when the third baby disappeared, the King had no choice. She was to be burned at the stake.

Execution day, coincidentally, was the last day of the six years of silence. The shirts were ready, except for one, which was still missing a sleeve. When the maiden was led to the stake, she took the shirts with her. She climbed onto the pile of wood. Just as the fire was about to be lit, she looked up to see six swans flying toward her.

Using a trick similar to that of her father's wife, she threw the shirts to them. As soon as the shirts touched them, their swan feathers fell off and the brothers were returned to their human form. The youngest son, who was hitby the shirt with only one sleeve, had a swan’s wing where his arm should be.

The wept and honked with joy. Finally their sister spoke. She told the King that she was falsely accused, and told him what his mother had done. The wicked mother brought the babies out of hiding. As punishment, she was burned at the stake, which had handily been constructed earlier that day.

But the King and the Queen, and three children, and six brothers went straight into therapy and lived happily ever after… and often went to the lake to feed the swans there. Because sometimes a swan is an ugly duckling, and sometimes it’s your brother, and sometimes it’s just a swan. You never know.

The six swans on this bracelet could be anything.

A Creepilicious Giveaway

Looking for some creepy or spooky art? Grimvisions creates unique one of a kind, hand made, original sculptures and figures. And right now they're hosting a giveaway, so take a look!

A Tail of Three Kitties

In Dickens' "A Tale of Two Cities," handsome hero and former aristocrat Charles Darnay becomes a victim of the French Revolution's wrath despite the fact that he's a good guy, and Sydney Carton, a sleazy British lawyer, tries to redeem himself for his past sleaziness by ultimately substituting himself for Darnay on the guillotine. Oh yes. Darnay's wife, Lucie Manette, is the daughter of a doctor who spent 18 years in the Bastille, lost his mind, and made shoes.

This set - a choker necklace and matching earrings - features three lampwork glass kitties: Charles, Lucie, and Sydney. Though it might appear they are guillotine victims.



They are, in fact, members of the charm world, who can exist with only heads. Each is the guardian of a large Chinese crystal.



In the Charm Revolution, Mewie Catoinette was said to have uttered the phrase, "Let them use Chinese crystals," when the poor charms could not afford Swarovski crystals.



These three kitties were brave soldiers in the Charm Revolution. Lucie spelled out secret messages in catnip. Charles fed the revolutionaries tuna. And Sydney slept in the shoes that Dr. Manette made.




They're all really very nice, and now attempt to lead sedate lives with frequent naps and time spent with grandkittens. While currently in my ebay store, they would prefer life decorating someone who knows all the words to "La Marseillaise," or at least a few. (Hint: Allons enfants de la patrie, Le jour de gloire est arrivé OR Arise children of the fatherland, The day of glory has arrived).



Marchons!

I'll See You on the Dark Side of the Moon

Pink Floyd, in Brain Damage, sang:

And if the cloud bursts, thunder in your ear
You shout and no one seems to hear
And if the band you're in starts playing different tunes
I'll see you on the dark side of the moon.

The world of charms prefers to avoid apocalyptic weather conditions. The skies are made not of clouds and oxygen and hydrogen, but of gemstones and beads, and the moon, in its many phases, can be fashioned from silver or glass or even clay.



The clouded dark sky of this bracelet, brought about by the weather god charms, was created from disks and rounds and plates of sky quartz and blueberry quartz, lapis, purple chalcedony, labradorite, and violet jade.



Three phases of the moon shine amongst them: a waxing crescent with a comet, the full moon, and a waning crescent.








At night, while you sleep, the weather gods may tiptoe out and change the sky for a new day. Who knows what gemstones the future holds?



Available here... unless the weather gods changed the sky again.

Zebra Hiding Places and Battles Against Recession

A sneak peek at this week's goodies, while I dream up stories for you:

At the Charm Zoo

All the animals at the charm zoo are quite small, though dense, being made of sterling silver and all. Though mammalian in appearance, they are, in fact, reptiles in that their body temperature is dependent on the temperature of their environment.



The charm zebra is part of a very small species. They are only two species know, and often their stripes are not visible, and therefore nonexistent. There is the "walking" variety, seen here, and also a running variety (seen elsewhere).



Monkeys make up a large segment of the charm family as they can be found in many varieties. This monkey is of the "seated on an invisible monkey chair" variety, but other members of the species can be found . These include the "swinging" variety (as if from a branch, and not as if in a 60s R movie), the "hugging the knees" species, the "hanging upside down" species, the "mischievous smiling species", a "look at me, I'm your ancestor" species, and even a species where three monkeys pose together, each covering part of the face. Being charms who neither speak hear, or look, this species is a puzzlement to the other monkey charms.



The rhinoceros charm is also part of a very small, and possibly nearly extinct, species. Valued in some cultures for their horns, the charm rhinos are in less danger, as their horns are very small. The only variety of charm rhinos is that of the "standing with horn looking pointy" variety. In the charm world, they are very shy, which is why the rhino on this bracelet cannot actually be seen. It is hiding in the bead veldt, an area filled with wooden beads, recycled glass beads, hand-painted African beads, and pressed glass beads.



Elephants are a more varied species in the charm world, and are in great demand among charm rescuers. Though it is said that their sense of hearing is remarkable, this seems unlikely. None are known to have participated in a conversation to date. A remarkable number of varieties of the species can be found, from the "standing on hind legs elephant" to the "walking in an elephant parade" elephant to the "showering with the trunk" variety. There is even a variety that has shown political leanings.



The panther charm is another rare species, often confused with the leopard charm, jaguar charm, cheetah charm, lynx charm, and irritable house cat charm. The panther charm is often placed in the wrong ecosystem in a bead zoo, and will be found with African beads rather than rainforest beads.



All the charm species get along very well and thrive when attached to more sterling silver, from which they can derive their nourishment. Their zoo is currently on tour and can be found here.

Garden Party for Ghouls

(sung to the tune of "Garden Party")




I went to a garden party to reminisce with all the ghouls
Hadn’t seen a bunch of them since April Fool’s.
When I got to the garden party, they all hollered “Boo!”
Swilling ectoplasm, in the ghosts all flew.

{Refrain}
And it's all right now. Time to haunt some homes.
Spook out all the attics and the catacombs.




Bats came from the belfries. Ghosts came from the tombs.
Witches came from covens, filling up the rooms.
Dracula woke from his nap. Said he had a thirst,
But the bats were at the bowl, quenching their thirst first.

{Refrain}
And it's all right now. Time to haunt some homes.
Spook out all the attics and the catacombs.




Spiders spun their wispy nets. Owlvis hooted loud.
Skeletons were dancing all throughout the crowd.
“I Aint’t Got No Body” was their sad refrain.
Grab some bones and make your own; time for Ghoul Soul Train.

{Refrain}
And it's all right now. Time to haunt some homes.
Spook out all the attics and the catacombs.





Someone opened up a crypt. Out stepped Bert the Bat,
Drinking Type O cocktails, boozing with the cat.
Spiders danced the eight step. Pumpkins rolled around.
Witches limbo-ed ‘neath their brooms. Pumpkins smashed the ground.

{Refrain}
And it's all right now. Time to haunt some homes.
Spook out all the attics and the catacombs.




In my ebay store.

Owlvis Makes His Debut

I just put together a slide show with my newest offerings. Take a peek while I ponder amusing tales for you.

A Tale of 11 Maneki Nekos

This little neko went to market.



This little neko stayed home.



This little neko ate sushi.



This little neko ate none.



This little neko loves ahi.



This little neko brings wealth.



This little neko curls at your feet.



This little neko brings health.



This little neko brings fortune.



This little neko brings fame.



This little neko brings happiness.



No two are the same.





These nekos suggest you follow them to my ebay store.

Another to Beat the Economic Recession Red White and Blues

Technically this wasn't a bracelet made to beat the economic recession blues. It has some pricier bits on it, making the cost of materials higher. But it fits the theme and the style.

1. It is handmade. 'Tis a far far better thing to give and receive handmade, as opposed to mass-produced.




2. It's jammed with flowers.




3. Although there are no hearts, there are peace doves. And peace doves have a lot of heart!




4. It will make you or its recipient smile. We all need that.




5. It's full of surprises.





6. Low cost. Free shipping. Need I say more?



7. Gilda approves.





8. It's right here.