About Me

My photo
Littleton, Colorado, United States
I'm a crafty person and enjoy knitting and sewing. I've taught myself most of what I know. I've started sewing and actually crocheting at a young age with my granny. From there I've expanded to knitting and making Stick Owlies! I love to promote other artists and post random animal facts

Me!

Me!

Saturday, June 25, 2011

World Owl Mythology






Abyssinia: the Hamites held the Owl to be sacred.
Afghanistan: the Owl gave Man flint and iron to make fire - in exchange, Man gave the Owl his feathers.
Africa, Central: the Owl is the familiar of wizards to the Bantu.
Africa, East: the Swahili believe the Owl brings illness to children.
Africa, Southern: Zulus know the Owl as the sorcerers' bird.
Africa, West: the messenger of wizards and witches, the Owl's cry presages evil.
Algeria: place the right eye of an Eagle Owl in the hand of a sleeping woman and she will tell all.
Arabia: the Owl is a bird of ill omen, the embodiment of evil spirits that carries off children at night.
According to an ancient Arabic treatise, from each female Owl supposedly came two eggs, one held the power to cause hair fall out and one held the power to restore it.
Arabs used to believe that the spirit of a murdered man continues to wail and weep until his death is avenged. They believed that a bird that they called "al Sada" (or the death-owl) would continue to hoot over the grave of a slain man whose death had not been avenged. The bird would continue to hoot endlessly until the slain man's death was avenged.
Arctic Circle: a little girl was turned into a bird with a long beak by magic, but was so frightened she flapped about madly and flew into a wall, flattening her face and beak. So the Owl was created.
Australia: Aborigines believe bats represent the souls of men and Owls the souls of women. Owls are therefore sacred, because your sister is an Owl - and the Owl is your sister.
Aztecs: one of their evil gods wore a Screech Owl on his head.
Babylon: Owl amulets protected women during childbirth.
Belgium: legend has it that a priest offered the Owl his church tower to live in if the bird would get rid of the rats and mice that plagued his church.
Bordeaux: throw salt in the fire to avoid the Owl's curse
Borneo: the Supreme Being turned his wife into an Owl after she told secrets to mortals.
Brittany: an Owl seen on the way to the harvest is the sign of a good yield.
Burma: during a quarrel among the birds, the Owl was jumped upon and so his face was flattened.
Cameroom: too evil to name, the Owl is known only as "the bird that makes you afraid".
Carthage: the city was captured by Agathocles of Syracuse (Southern Italy) in 310 BC. Afterward, he released Owls over his troops and they settled on their shields and helmets, signifying victory in battle.
Celtic: the Owl was a sign of the underworld.
China: the Owl is associated with lightning (because it brightens the night) and with the drum (because it breaks the silence). Placing Owl effigies in each corner of the home protect it against lightning. The Owl is a symbol of Too much Yang (positive, masculine, bright, active energy).
Croatia: The Owl is a symbol of City of Krk on the island of Krk, and is also protector of the island of Solta, where it is called "cuvitar". (Jadranka Lukacic)
Ethiopia: a man condemned to death was taken to a table on which an Owl was painted, and then expected to take his own life.
Etruria: to the Etruscans of Ancient Italy the Owl was an attribute of the god of darkness.
France: when a pregnant woman hears an Owl it is an omen that her child will be a girl.
Germany: if an Owl hoots as a child is born, the infant will have an unhappy life.
"A charm against the terrible consequences of being bitten by a mad dog was to carry the heart and right foot of an Owl under the left armpit." (Encyclopedia of Superstitions)
Greenland: the Inuit see the Owl as a source of guidance and help.
Hawaii: Owls feature in old war chants.
Incas: venerated the Owl for its beautiful eyes and head.
India: Seizures in children could be treated with a broth made from Owl eyes. Rheumatism pain was treated with a gel made from Owl meat. Owl meat could also be eaten as a natural aphrodisiac. In northern India, if one ate the eyes of an Owl, they would be able to see in the dark. In southern India, the cries of an Owl were interpreted by number: One hoot was an omen of impending death; two meant success in anything that would be started soon after; three represented a woman being married into the family; four indicated a disturbance; five denoted coming travel; six meant guests were on the way; seven was a sign of mental distress; eight foretold sudden death; and nine symbolized good fortune. In parts of the Indian sub-continent people believed that the Owl was married to the bat.
Indonesia: Around Manado, on the isle of Sulawesi, People consider Owls very wise. They call them Burung Manguni. Every time someone wants to travel, they listen to the owls. The owls make two different sounds; the first means it is safe to go, and the second means it's better to stay at home. The Minahasa, people around Manado, take those warnings very seriously. They stay at home when Manguni says so. Information thanks to Alex van Poppel
Iran: In Farsi the Little Owl (Athene Noctua) is called "Joghde-kochek". It is said that this bird brings bad luck. In Islam, it's forbidden (Haram) to eat.
Ireland: An Owl that enters the house must be killed at once, for if it flies away it will take the luck of the house with it.
Israel: in Hebrew lore the Owl represents blindness and desolation and is unclean.
Jamaica: to ward off the Owl's bad luck, cry "Salt and pepper for your mammy".
Japan: among the Ainu people the Eagle Owl is revered as a messenger of the gods or a divine ancestor.  They would drink a toast to the Eagle Owl   before a hunting expedition. The Screech Owl warns against danger. Though they think the Barn Owl and Horned Owl are demonic. They  would nail wooden images of owls to their houses in times of famine or pestilence.
Latvia: when Christian soldiers entered his temple, the local pagan god flew away as an Owl.
Lorraine: spinsters go to the woods and call to the Owl to help them find a husband.
Luxembourg: Owls spy treasures, steal them and hoard them.
Madagascar: Owls join witches to dance  on the graves of the dead.
Malawi: the Owl carries messages for witches.
Malaya: Owls eat new-born babies.
Mayarts: Owls were the messengers of the rulers of Xibalba, the Place of Phantoms.
Mexico: the Owl makes the cold North wind (the gentle South wind is made by the butterfly). The Little Owl was called "messenger of the lord of the land of the dead", and flew between the land of the living and the dead.
Middle East: the owl is linked with destruction, ruin and death. They are believed to represents the souls of people who have died un-avenged. Seeing an owl on the way to battle foretells a bloody battle with many deaths and casualties. Seeing an owl at somebody's house predicts their death. Seeing an owl in your sleep is fine as long as you don't hear it's voice. An Owl's sound forecasts a bad day.
A person who nags and complains a lot is compared to an owl. When someone is grumpy or is delivering bad news, they are said to have a face like an owl.
Mongolia: the Burial people hang up Owl skins to ward off evil.
Mongolia, Inner: Owls enter the house by night to gather human fingernails.
Morocco: the cry of Owls can kill infants. According to Moroccan custom, an Owl's eye worn on a string around the neck was an effective talisman to avert the "evil eye."
New Zealand: to the Maoris it is an unlucky bird.
Newfoundland: the hoot of the Horned Owl signals the approach of bad weather.
Nigeria: in legend, Elullo, a witch and a chief of the Okuni tribe, could become an Owl.
In certain parts of Nigeria, natives avoid naming the Owl, referring to it at "the bird that makes your afraid".
Persia: wizards use arrows tipped with a bewitched man's fingernails to kill Owls.
Peru: boiled Owl is said to be a strong medicine.
Poland: Polish folklore links Owls with death. Girls who die unmarried turn into doves; girls who are married when they die turn into Owls.
An owl cry heard in or near a home usually meant impending death, sickness, or other misfortune.
An old story tells how the Owl does not come out at during the day because it is too beautiful, and would be mobbed by other, jealous birds.
Puerto Rico: The Owl is called "Mucaro". Back in the 1800s, the people from the mountain coffee plantations used to blame the little mucaro for the loss of coffee grains. The belief was that the coffee was part of the owls' diet, and many owls were killed.
There are old folklore songs on the subject, one goes like this:
"Poor Mucaro
you're a gentleman
you just want to eat a rat,
then the rat set up a trap,
he eats the coffee grains
and people blame you."

Romania: the souls of repentant sinners flew to heaven in the guise of a Snowy Owl.
Russia: hunters carry Owl claws so that, if they are killed, their souls can use them to climb up to Heaven.
Tartar shamen of Central Russia could assume Owl shapes.
Kalmucks hold the Owl to be sacred because one once saved the life of Genghis Khan.
Samoa: the people are descended from an Owl.
Saxony: the Wend people say that the sight of an Owl makes child-birth easier.
Scotland: it's bad luck to see an Owl in daylight.
Shetland Isles: a cow will give bloody milk if scared by an Owl.
Siberia: the Owl is a helpful spirit.
Spain: legend has it that the Owl was once the sweetest of singers, until it saw Jesus crucified. Ever since it has shunned daylight and only repeats the words 'cruz, cruz' ('cross, cross').
Sri Lanka: the Owl is married to the bat.
Sumeria: The goddess of death, Lilith, was attended by Owls.
Sweden: the Owl is associated with witch's.
Tangiers: Barn Owls are the clairvoyants of the Devil.
Transylvania: farmers used to scare away Owls by walking round their fields naked.
Ural Mountains: Snowy Owls were made to stay behind while other birds migrate as a punishment for deception.
U.S.A: if you hear an Owl-cry you must return the call, or else take off an item of clothing and put it on again inside-out.
Louisiana: Owls are old people and should be respected.
Louisiana Cajuns (individuals who share the French-based culture originally brought to Louisiana by exiles from the French colony of Acadia in the 18th century) thought you should get up from bed and turn your left shoe upside down to avert disaster, if you hear an Owl calling late at night.
Illinois: kill an Owl and revenge will be visited upon your family.
New Mexico: the hooting of Owls warns of the coming of witches.
Wales: an Owl heard among houses means an unmarried girl has lost her virginity.
If a woman is pregnant and she alone hears an owl hoot outside her house at night then her child will be blessed.
In Welsh mythology, Blodeuedd, a woman made from flowers, is cursed by her husband's uncle, turning her into an owl. "You are never to show your face to the light of day, rather you shall fear other birds; they will be hostile to you, and it will be their nature to maul and molest you wherever they find you."
 
 
References:
Browne, Vee. 1995. "Animal Lore & Legend: Owl". Scholastic
Collaborative. . "Wikipedia". Wikimedia Foundation
Knowling, Philip. 1998. "A Wisdom of Owls". Avenue Press
Weinstein, Krystyna. 1990. "The Owl In Art Myth & Legend". Universal Books Limited
 

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

June's Featured Artist- Makissima

Meet the featured artist for June!

1. Name and where you are from?
Hello! My name is Chiara and I’m an old Italian girl living in Ireland and fitting in just fine I might say.

2. How long have you been drawing/painting?
Two are the things I can’t remember: started loosing (every)thing and starting to draw. But one of my first remembrance as a child is to be in my grandma’s kitchen eating and drawing…boys, that was life!

3. What inspired you to make paintings/drawings?
Well, I think I could say that cartoons in my childhood and later Japanese comic books have been the reason why I attended an Art High School. A good kick start to draw each free moment in my life.

4. What are some of your favorite inspirations?
Sometimes I’d really love to have a precise source of inspiration or a path to follow in my creative moments. The truth is, I don’t have any. I read blogs, books, magazines, posters, advertisement, children’s books [ Yes, I like to read! :)] and some times ideas come out. Some times they don’t. They just love to do what they want, those brats!

5. How do you come up with new ideas for your artwork?
Since I reaaally love stories – everything from fairytales to mythology - I usually start my researches from one of them. For example, lately I discovered (but don’t ask me how, I seriously don’t remember it…) the “Metamorphosis” by Ovidio and started a series of watercolours about some of the characters.

6. How is your shop different from every other art selling Etsy shop?
There are a lot of colourful and beautiful shops out there, but you won’t find pure and bright colours that tell you a story as you can find at makissima!
Have a look at the list and say it yourself!

7. Do you sell on any other sites? If so what sites?
I recently started to sell a few black and white pieces on Fondelifair, a new website completely devoted to Ireland based artists and crafty people, and I must say I find it a little less dispersive than Etsy, maybe just because I love Irish people so I always feel at ease dealing with them (the United States seem so huge as a market!).
That’s the link, if you fancy to visit me there: makissima.craftblog.eu/?page_id=19

8. What are some of your favorite Etsy shops?
Ohohohoh! The most difficult question in the world! There is too many of them! To name but a few: “Meluseena”, a Cork based digital artist I admire a lot, “Damsel in this dress”, she makes gorgeous corsets and skirts and I like to dress up! For the same reason I can add to the list “topsyturvydesign” for hats and “MissVioletLace” for wigs. Then I love the sculptures in “EkaKaramelka” and “creaturesfromel”. I simply adore each pattern you can find in “thegoodewife”. Then there is “corid” and “majalin” and “tuesdaymourning” and “obsoleteworld” and “matyldabiedron” and…do you want me to continue? ;)

9. What are some of your other creative talents?
Inside the visual arts field I love to make collages, because it’s a technique that allows me to use pure and uniformed colours.
I also create small jewelry, mostly rings and pendants, out of wire and little beads, my favorites are the ones shaped like bugs such as butterflies and dragonflies. During winter I make scarves for me and my friends and in the future I’d like to try working with felt.
And of course, I’m Italian, so…cooking!
If I weren’t such a procrastinator I could have a bunch of different shops and – who knows - be rich!

10. Describe your art in one word.
Funny. I love the dark and weird atmospheres but apparently I’m still not able to pull them out of my works.
Here's some talented work from the artist!


Thursday, May 26, 2011

Learn about the Rosy Maple Moth

I have now accomplished my fear of moths! I found a gorgeous moth that I actually like. The little brown ones still bother me though! Here are some interesting facts about the Rosy Maple Moth.

http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Dryocampa-rubicunda

Extremely variable in color. Upperside of wing is yellow to cream to white with pink at the margins and bases of the wings. The amount of pink can vary from covering most of the wing to being absent altogether. Form alba occurs in Missouri and is all white or white with some pink markings.
Life History: Adults emerge in the late afternoon and mate in the late evening. Females begin laying eggs at dusk the next day in groups of 10-30 on leaves of the host plant. Eggs hatch in about 2 weeks and feed gregariously when young. Older caterpillars feed alone. Fully-grown caterpillars pupate and overwinter in shallow underground chambers.
Wing Span: 1 5/16 - 2 1/16 inches (3.4 - 5.2 cm).
Caterpillar Hosts: Maple trees including red maple (Acer rubrum), sugar maple (A. saccharum), and silver maple (A. saccharinum); and oak trees including turkey oak (Quercus laevis).
Adult Food: Adults do not feed.
Habitat: Deciduous forests.
Range: Nova Scotia west through Quebec to Ontario and Minnesota; south to Dade County, Florida, the Gulf Coast, and east Texas.
Conservation: Caterpillars can become pests by defoliating trees during occasional population explosions.
 


 
 

Be Featured For June!

If you would like to be featured on my blog please post your shop info below. I will pick one random artist each month to be featured on Stick Owlie's blog. I will contact you for an interview for my blog. I will feature your shop and promote you through Stick Owlie's FB and Twitter for 1 month. If you're interested please don't forget to include your contact info!!

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Sneak Peak!

Here's a sneak peak of what the fabric screech owlies are going to look like! These little guys also will be featured with a screech owlet wooden house! I'm trying to come up with new ideas for owlies and owlets {o,o}

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Soapdeli- May's Featured Shop

Everyone month Stick Owlie will be featuring one artist to feature in a blog post. To enter please leave your comments under the "Be Featured" posting. Each winner will be featured and promoted for one month. All winners are randomly chosen. Lets get to know our fellow artists!


1. Name and where you are from? My name is Rebecca and I was born and raised in the Roanoke Valley surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains. Flat land scares me because I've had the comfort and protection of the mountains for so long. I couldn't imagine living anywhere without mountains or at least tall building.2. How long have you been making soap? I've been making soap since I founded my business in February 2001. I started out making melt and pour soaps but then progressed to cold process soap which I make almost exclusively now.
3. What inspired you to make soap? I had problem skin and commercial soap only exacerbated the problem making my dry skin even drier and often times breaking it out. So I turned to handmade cold process soap which helped immensely with the problem. After buying them for some time I decided to research soapmaking and give a try at making my own. Things simply progressed from that point.
4. What are some of your favorite soaps? I love soaps that have a fruity scent and are filled with anything scrubby! One of my favorites though is my Exfolimint (tm) Peppermint Foot Soap because it's like a pumice stone on crack and does wonders for the rough soles of my feet.
5. How do you come up with new ideas for your product? I research top new scenting trends and take note of many of the scents around me. My favorites are often brought to life in a new shea butter soap or goat milk lotion, though I do have some regular scents I make for customers like the florals.
6. How is your shop different from every other soap selling Etsy shop? I care about every customer. If a customer isn't happy, I want to know. I never hesitate to send out a replacement product if a buyer isn't happy with the scent he or she purchased. Buying scented products online is hard because as of yet, computer monitors lack smell-o-vision.
7. Do you sell on any other sites? If so what sites I recently opened up my own shop. It offers the largest selection and the best prices on shipping. You can find it at shop.soapdelicatessen.com I am slowly making the transition to selling almost solely on my own website with just a few samplings of items on etsy for new customers who might find me there.
8. What are some of your favorite Etsy shops? Tiny Fig for sure. Her winking toast makes me incredibly happy and I love the mustache t-shirt I bought from her. I also love the teas from Tea for All Reasons, the handmade polymer clay pendants from Zuda Gay, Spiderbite's journals, and the artwork of Jessica Doyle. There are many many others I love as well and have purchased from since I found Etsy in beta back in 2005.
9. What are some of your other creative talents? I was a fine arts major in college so I've dabbled in a bit of everything. I hate product photography with a passion, but I do love portrait photography. I can also paint with oils, watercolors, and acrylics. I am in love with pastel chalk. I've also done some writing, screen printing, pottery, and 3-D design along with studying up on art history.

10. Describe your soap in one word. Cozy.


What's your soap choice?


Sunday, May 1, 2011

Money Mondays!


Link Up your Etsy Stores, Shop Websites, Photography Sites, ect. Please remember to keep it family friendly. Explicit Sites will be removed. Let's all have some fun, promote our own businesses and check out every one else!

Click on the link below to get started!
http://themisplacedmidwesterner.blogspot.com/2011/05/money-mondays-week-18-in-2011.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2Fmidwest+%28The+Misplaced+Midwesterner%29


My Blog List