October 19, 2009

Today is my day!


And so, Day 6 of the POEtic Exchange is the day my gifties are to be opened. I stitched the fuzzy gifts into old book page packaging and painted the number 6 on to black feathers as a hint of what will be found inside.....

Felted Raven Adornments with shiney threads and bright beads, such things a Raven would covet.

And this bird is more than just a necklace.... it is also a pouch... a little place to hide your shiney, rusty or natural treasures found as you fly through your day.


Although they do not look sinister, the pouch makes them a little mysterious! Don't ya think? I hope all the POEtic girls like their gift from my Tell-Tale heart. hee hee



Edgar Allan Poe
The Raven
[First published in 1845]

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore,
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.`
'Tis some visitor,' I muttered, `tapping at my chamber door -
Only this, and nothing more.
'Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December,
And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor.
Eagerly I wished the morrow; - vainly I had sought to borrow
From my books surcease of sorrow - sorrow for the lost Lenore -
For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels named Lenore -
Nameless here for evermore.
And the silken sad uncertain rustling of each purple curtain
Thrilled me - filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before;
So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating`
'Tis some visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door -
Some late visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door; -
This it is, and nothing more,
'Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then no longer,
`Sir,' said I, `or Madam, truly your forgiveness I implore;
But the fact is I was napping, and so gently you came rapping,
And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my chamber door,
That I scarce was sure I heard you' - here I opened wide the door; -
Darkness there, and nothing more.
Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing,
Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before
But the silence was unbroken, and the darkness gave no token,
And the only word there spoken was the whispered word, `Lenore! '
This I whispered, and an echo murmured back the word, `Lenore!'
Merely this and nothing more.
Back into the chamber turning, all my soul within me burning,
Soon again I heard a tapping somewhat louder than before.
`Surely,' said I, `surely that is something at my window lattice;
Let me see then, what thereat is, and this mystery explore -
Let my heart be still a moment and this mystery explore; -
'Tis the wind and nothing more!
'Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter,
In there stepped a stately raven of the saintly days of yore.
Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he;
But, with mien of lord or lady, perched above my chamber door -
Perched upon a bust of Pallas just above my chamber door -
Perched, and sat, and nothing more.
Then this ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling,
By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore,
`Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou,' I said, `art sure no craven.
Ghastly grim and ancient raven wandering from the nightly shore -
Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night's Plutonian shore!
'Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.'
Much I marvelled this ungainly fowl to hear discourse so plainly,
Though its answer little meaning - little relevancy bore;
For we cannot help agreeing that no living human being
Ever yet was blessed with seeing bird above his chamber door -
Bird or beast above the sculptured bust above his chamber door,
With such name as `Nevermore.'
But the raven, sitting lonely on the placid bust, spoke only,
That one word, as if his soul in that one word he did outpour.
Nothing further then he uttered - not a feather then he fluttered -
Till I scarcely more than muttered `Other friends have flown before -
On the morrow he will leave me, as my hopes have flown before.
'Then the bird said, `Nevermore.
'Startled at the stillness broken by reply so aptly spoken,
`Doubtless,' said I, `what it utters is its only stock and store,
Caught from some unhappy master whom unmerciful disaster
Followed fast and followed faster till his songs one burden bore -
Till the dirges of his hope that melancholy burden bore
Of "Never-nevermore."
'But the raven still beguiling all my sad soul into smiling,
Straight I wheeled a cushioned seat in front of bird and bust and door;
Then, upon the velvet sinking, I betook myself to linking
Fancy unto fancy, thinking what this ominous bird of yore -
What this grim, ungainly, ghastly, gaunt, and ominous bird of yore
Meant in croaking `Nevermore.
'This I sat engaged in guessing, but no syllable expressing
To the fowl whose fiery eyes now burned into my bosom's core;
This and more I sat divining, with my head at ease reclining
On the cushion's velvet lining that the lamp-light gloated o'er,
But whose velvet violet lining with the lamp-light gloating o'er,
She shall press, ah, nevermore!
Then, methought, the air grew denser, perfumed from an unseen censer
Swung by Seraphim whose foot-falls tinkled on the tufted floor.
`Wretch,' I cried, `thy God hath lent thee - by these angels he has sent thee
Respite - respite and nepenthe from thy memories of Lenore!
Quaff, oh quaff this kind nepenthe, and forget this lost Lenore!
'Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.'
`Prophet!' said I, `thing of evil! - prophet still, if bird or devil! -
Whether tempter sent, or whether tempest tossed thee here ashore,
Desolate yet all undaunted, on this desert land enchanted -
On this home by horror haunted - tell me truly, I implore -
Is there - is there balm in Gilead? - tell me - tell me, I implore!
'Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.'
`Prophet!' said I, `thing of evil! - prophet still, if bird or devil!
By that Heaven that bends above us - by that God we both adore -
Tell this soul with sorrow laden if, within the distant Aidenn,
It shall clasp a sainted maiden whom the angels named Lenore -
Clasp a rare and radiant maiden, whom the angels named Lenore?
'Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.'
`Be that word our sign of parting, bird or fiend!' I shrieked upstarting -
`Get thee back into the tempest and the Night's Plutonian shore!
Leave no black plume as a token of that lie thy soul hath spoken!
Leave my loneliness unbroken! - quit the bust above my door!
Take thy beak from out my heart, and take thy form from off my door!
'Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.
'And the raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting
On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door;
And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that is dreaming,
And the lamp-light o'er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor;
And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor
Shall be lifted - nevermore!

21 comments:

  1. The first pic won't post in the right orientation for some strange reason. Blog weirdness I guess.

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  2. Get use to blog weirdness....it happens all the time! ; D

    I love, love, love my raven pouch. I can't wait to were it for Hallows and imbue it with the energy of the night. You are going to have to teach me this felting craft. I love how you create such yummies! xoxoxoxo

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  3. woooooo hoooooooooo mija's ARRIVED!!! GOING TO GO ADD YOU TO MY FAV BLOG LIST!!! AND YOUR RAVEN POUCHES...OMGOODNESS!!!! DROOL DROOL!!!!

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  4. I LOVE your Raven pouch!!!!!!!!! Poe would have been impressed!

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  5. Hi Mija,

    Love your new blog ~ now I can come visit and enjoy all of your beautiful creations & see what you're up to!!
    Karen Ouellette

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  6. OMG -- she's finally blogging! Yay for Mija! Welcome to Bloglandia... looking forward to hearing more from you!

    ~Lisa MB

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  7. Oh those are so cool!
    I loved your post on FB- "The late freight"
    :o)

    Welcome to blogland Mija!!!
    :o)

    Amber

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  8. Welcome to blogland sweet Mija!!! It will be so wonderful to "see" more of you!!

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  9. These pouches are exQuisite! Welcome to blogland.

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  10. FABULOUS Pouch, Mija!! I saw Kelly showing hers off on Facebook yesterday :) They are BEAUTIFUL !!

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  11. Now when you receive a "blog" award you won't have to hem and haw about it! LOL Love the banner you created from one of my all-time favorite Mija art pieces. Welcome to bloglandia Mija..I'm headed over to my art blog to change your picturetrail link to this one..woohoo! Hugs, Carol

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  12. Congratulations!
    I always enjoy your art and your philosophy and your bindies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  13. Lovely to find you out here in Blogland! So sorry to not have seen you at AnS this year.
    xoxo

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  14. Your Ravens are just wonderful! I bet they loved getting them!

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  15. Happened along here, wandering about tonight, but Poe raven bags are too cool, I will be back!!

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  16. Your pouches are just wonderful, Mija, and so are the photos of it - it´s even nicer to see a few of them together like in a raven carrousel!

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  17. Hello! So happy to "pop" over for my 1st visit by chance.. or was it?

    I am new to your art and am excited to see more. GORgeous raven pouches and thanks for posting the entire poem ~ a perfect halloween treat! - vicki xo

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  18. it's never too late to join bloglandia! fun birdies you created. the others will love them. no bird fan here, but i like ravens.

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  19. HI MIja,
    I gave you a blog award and now you can pass it on!
    You rock Mija!
    Hugs,
    Jen
    http://artisticallydesigneddiversions.blogspot.com/2009/11/blog-award.html

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  20. So wonderful to find your blog. Felt, ravens and poetry. Who could want more! I will visit again xJ

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