A Murder of Crows, that is…
Another Rainbow Hare Roll with three roomy zipped pockets for Jewellery, Sewing supplies or Arty things. Or perhaps to keep your tricks and tricks and lotions and potions and secret spells and charms!
To begin with there was no question of a murder at all.
It started with a cloth doll, who seemed to be in want of a bird, just after I had met the lovely Nicky from Mrs Sew and Sow in Lewes and purchased some black wool felt. And it doesn’t look remotely murderous – especially in the garden among the flowers.
Then, in April, whilst I was making some felt hares, I rediscovered the black felt so, of course I made some more black birds (if I’d had enough felt to make twenty three, this would be a very different post but I didn’t have that much felt!).
Now, usually, if you see more than two crows they’re rooks…So had my crow turned into Rook, or had it become an accessory in a Murder? And how did a flock of crows ever come to be known as a murder anyway? I’m wondering if crows are so unsocial that only a major feast (a battlefield or murder perhaps) could distract them from fighting each other off…If you have any other ideas, fact or fantastical, I’d love to hear them.
So, Crows or Rooks, I’ve finally got around to turning my black felt birds into hanging decorations, giving each a stuffed wool felt heart with two small bells.
| 380. The Twa Corbies (SCOTTISH VERSION) |
| AS I was walking all alane | |
| I heard twa corbies making a mane: | |
| The tane unto the tither did say, | |
| ‘Whar sall we gang and dine the day?’ | |
| ‘—In behint yon auld fail dyke | 5 |
| I wot there lies a new-slain knight; | |
| And naebody kens that he lies there | |
| But his hawk, his hound, and his lady fair. | |
| ‘His hound is to the hunting gane, | |
| His hawk to fetch the wild-fowl hame, | 10 |
| His lady ‘s ta’en anither mate, | |
| So we may mak our dinner sweet. | |
| ‘Ye’ll sit on his white hause-bane, | |
| And I’ll pike out his bonny blue e’en: | |
| Wi’ ae lock o’ his gowden hair | 15 |
| We’ll theek our nest when it grows bare. | |
| ‘Mony a one for him maks mane, | |
| But nane sall ken whar he is gane: | |
| O’er his white banes, when they are bare, | |
| The wind sall blaw for evermair.’ | 20 |
| GLOSS: corbies] ravens. fail] turf. hause] neck. theek] thatch. |
Ravens certainly seem to enjoy a more illustrious reputation, and are, of course, guardians of the Tower of London.
Or maybe they are just a decoration for Samhain/Halloween.
On Saturday, Rebecca, my wonderful Making Christmas co host, will be presenting a Halloween themed brainstorming post over at Making Rebecca Lynne. No one brainstorms like Rebecca so be sure to pay her a visit and link up your updated lists and your Winter makes from this week. If you haven’t signed up for Making Christmas, 2013, yet, you can find out all about it here :)
And lastly, because it’s Thursday, a little random something from pinterest :)
RAINBOW HARE 
Lucy @ Charm About You
So fascinating! I adore you have latest roll though i have to admit i usually find crows creepy – that may well be because of the film 'the Crow' and what happened to Brandon Lee. Your felt versions are lovely too though and perfectly spooky!
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mammafairy
these crows/rooks/ravens are beautiful! As is that lady in blue. And the roll looks so sophisticated, lovely!
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Nat at Made in Home
I love that roll! Amazing fabric!
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Issabella The Cat
I think it was in the Neil Gaiman comic The Sandman one of the characters asks about a Murder of crows to be told – They join together in huge numbers to each share a story, as crows do value a good tale. They watch on in number as one stand out and speaks his part, if the tale is satisfactory the next crow will take her turn, if not the flock will turn in its entirety on the poorest story teller and kill them hence a murder of crows.
Your crows seem to sweet to do something like that though!
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Celtic Thistle
Great post Janine! Next up – a blessing of Unicorns maybe or a Parliament of Owls ?
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Yvonne@thatssewcreative
Those crows are awesome!
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Susan Owenby
I love all the little birdies! SO cute. :)
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Soma Acharya
It is intriguing that a flock of crows is a murder. What a fantastic post, Janine! I loved reading it. The lady in the blue and the blackbirds are beautiful. The roll looks lovely, very unique!
-Soma
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Benta AtSLIKstitches
Great random facts, and fab collection of birds. My favourite collective noun is for polar bears – a hug of polar bears!!
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Live a Colorful Life
LOVE this post. So I found a set of alphabet cards from an artist whose business name is A Smack of Jellyfish. Isn't that awesome?
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Archie The Wonder Dog
They’re fantastic! A belated hooray for finishes *waves (black) pompoms*
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