A lifelong obsession with Baba Yaga. Stellarbaby posted this print, which of course I bought immediately ~
I would love to build a Baba Yaga cabin on my land, chicken feet and all. Sometimes that me wants to come out, the long grey haired eating rabbits with bare hands sitting in the woods by a fire with a cauldron, muddy and gnarled roots growing into the earth, chicken footed cabin a mere extenstion of my being. I could use some of that right now, actually, bramble-caught and thorn sewn back into the earth. This concrete world makes me heavy and sad.
Anyway.
One of my favorite books from wee-time is this 1966 version, illustrated by Blair Lent.
Whee! Off to steal some babies!
I think I could have some witchy bone fences, scalloped trim, and sunflower shutters.
Into the soup pot with you!
Psychedelic witchcraft cabinet. Yes please.
Russian Wonder Tales : 1912
Old Peter’s Russian Tales : 1916
The Russian Grandmother’s Wonder Tales : 1906
Siberian and Other Folktales : 1925
laura
1 year ago
i was longing for that print! <3
i saw a granary in scandinavia that was an exact baba yaga’s hut, feet and all. a little disconcerting. once when i was really young i had a nightmare of her zipping around in her cauldron. i still have problems with airborne weirdness.
Sasha
1 year ago
my partner Amber and her hunny Graham are obsessed with Baba Yaga too! Graham has plans in the works for a play… if it ever comes off we will send you an invite post haste!!!! Love these pictures…. I am sure I am speaking for the both of us. Amber’s lil tot watches the animated Baba incessently!!!
verhext
1 year ago
Cute!!
When I was involved in this project:
http://www.divasdelosmuertos.org/
I wanted to do a Baba Yaga puppet-play, but — NO TIME FOR ANYTHING EVER. Ay.
Lady Lavona
1 year ago
I love Baba Yaga too! I want that psychedelic witchcraft cabinet too! I saved a wierd little Baba Yaga house in my favorites a while back, complete with real chicken feet!
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=21607468
“Sometimes that me wants to come out, the long grey haired eating rabbits with bare hands sitting in the woods by a fire with a cauldron, muddy and gnarled roots growing into the earth, chicken footed cabin a mere extenstion of my being. I could use some of that right now, actually, bramble-caught and thorn sewn back into the earth. This concrete world makes me heavy and sad.”
Me too!!! I totally see myself that way someday though…after menopause, I’ll just commit to being a wise old crone. I think of Susan Weed or even Kiki Smith…even though I don’t think they are quite that old…but you know what I mean…
verhext
1 year ago
lavona: maybe i’ll turn my land in vermont into a crone-haven! we might need more than 5 acres, though.
sometimes i’m ready for it right now.
Angeliska
1 year ago
Yes, one day we will be the Baba Yagas.
I love that how as young wee ones we were already so old and identified with the terrible/wonderful crone witch more than the hapless tadpoles.
I’m almost ready for the iron teeth- it’s a plan.
The cackle is pretty much perfected, but where’s my flying butter churn or mortar + pestle? Forget buying a car, girl! Let’s get on that, okay? What will it take for us to master the arcane power of turning our kitchen implements into flying crafts? xoxoxo A.
jess
1 year ago
entirely off-topic (i need to learn how to e-mail, yikes): i am a ding-a-ling and just now realized that you commented on my blog long ago…also amazed, because i tried out the very perfume you mentioned (tom ford) just a few days ago and fell into big ecstatic silly love with it. weird! also, i love your blog and have been reading from the start (i am a perpetual lurker, sorry about that)! and lastly, thank you for linking me! xo.
Violet Folklore
1 year ago
Yes! I share your Baba Yaga obsession. I found the Blair Lent book at the library a few years ago and strongly considered pretending I’d lost it and paying the fee, because it’s hard to find. I will surely be buying it online though, probably for my daughter’s 4th birthday.
My love for that book inspired my hubby to use some of the images in his design for our invitations and website to our underground restaurant: http://www.TheBlackSunflower.com
~Amber
verhext
1 year ago
Amber: that’s so funny – your link isn’t working, but for my old clothing line, I used a tree and bird from the book as well. !!!!
Marcy
1 year ago
I could see the Baba Yaga house as depicted in your print as a tattoo with the thorny vines and the house done in black. That would be amazing.
nath
1 year ago
these are wonderful.
ruby
1 year ago
whoa! no way! i had this book as a kid and loved it to pieces except it was called “alice nizzy nazzy” she was a mexican witch that ate naughty children, i assume this is the original story that has since been adapted. wowwee!