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Fairytales, fantasy, and children's classic litQuail Bell's premiere fashion show takes place this fall! The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
Put a smile on any fantasy geek's face!By Ani Mikaelian QuailBellMagazine.com Well, we've gotten past July. That means the holidays are less than half a year away, and you better start saving up. At least this time you don't have to frantically brainstorm, too. This year when you’re stuck on what to get that “fantasy geek” friend of yours, never fear! This list is full of unique inklings:
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Haven't seen it yet? Taste suspended bliss.By Jeremy Clemmons QuailBellMagazine.com The purgatory imagined in Peter Jackson’s The Lovely Bones – based on the best-selling novel by Alice Sebold – is one of immensity and awe; a limbo of roving vistas and coruscating foliage, evoking comparison from Chytilová and Monet, to acid trips (the film often screams, “This is the ’70s!”) and “What Dreams May Come.” But it’s also a place of death. It harbors all of the memories and clues to its inhabitant’s brutal rape and murder, even if we can’t see, or feel the impact of either.
Our story begins in 1973 by introducing us to Susie Salmon, (played with considerable effort by Saoirse Ronan) a typical 14-year-old girl, replete with schoolgirl crushes and an insatiable love for photography. “I want to be a wildlife photographer,” she pronounces early on. She is survived – will be survived – by her adoring friends and family: her father, Jack Salmon (Mark Wahlberg), mother, Abigail Salmon (Rachel Weisz), and two younger siblings. Add to that an advice-giving grandmother (Susan Sarandon) who, granted, serves said advice alongside a glass of scotch and a pack of cigarettes. Little does Susie know she’s being watched by her plotting and reclusive neighbor Mr. Harvey (Stanley Tucci) — a character conceived as having one too many comb-overs and thickened mustache hairs to be considered anything other than a serial killer (apparently, profiling was still in its early days in 1973). Which is what he is. Susie is raped and murdered at the hands of Mr. Harvey one fateful night, and she ascends toward heaven, leaving behind the aches and pains of death for her family to cope with and disentangle. The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
Death's GodsonBy Christine Stoddard QuailBellMagazine.com Mediaeval Baebes - the UK storybook group whose talented tributes to the Middle Ages has earned it the attention of the BBC and Billboard alike - welcomes a new lady to their coven. Her name is Tanya Jackson.
Tanya has adored music ever since she was a child and even busked around Australia as a teenager before returning to London. Past musical projects include The Woodlarks, a folk guitar/vocal duo, and T Mandrake, a nine-piece soul/pop fusion by Cream lyricist Pete Brown. In addition to performing for Mediaeval Baebes, Tanya sings for the London Bulgarian Choir. Here are four quick questions that Quail Bell couldn't help but ask this fair maiden: The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
Birth and Death of Otherworldly Immortals & MonstersBy Josephine Stone
QuailBellMagazine.com Hesiod's Theogony is an epic poem that describes the creation story of Greek mythology, covering the birth of early and later gods, goddesses and monsters, with narration of tales of deceit, revenge and love. The different levels of creation in the Theogony range from the existence of Chaos (the Abyss), Gaia (the Earth), Tartaros (the underground), and Eros (desire), to the rapid, and sometimes spontaneous birth of the immortal and mortal population that will set the stage for the majority of the poem. The coupling of the first and early gods, their offspring, and the way they are treated, thrive, or die all represent various societal anxieties. The birth of certain gods and creatures stem from incest, a fear of the unknown, as a form of model behavior, good and bad relationships and as representation of levels of civilization. In direct relation to the negative or positive aspect involved in the creation of an immortal or otherworldly being is their outcome, some suppressed or killed as an example of the fear of patriarchal succession. There is a trial and error method to any creation, and in Hesiod's Theogony a range of gods, goddesses and monsters exist along the branches of the family tree first sprouted from Chaos. The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
Give Yourself WingsBy Doe Deere QuailBellMagazine.com We are very pleased to present a tutorial from the make-up queen and inspirational female entrepreneur, Doe Deere (with her own make-up company Lime Crime)! This wonderful make-up scheme was inspired by Does' favorite Butterfly, The Blue Morpho. Butterfly wings have beautiful iridescence about them that translates wonderfully into makeup. All you need is some high-shimmer eyeshadow and a brush for blending!
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Cold War-era origin film is HOT.By Josephine Stone QuailBellMagazine.com A revival of the X-Men series has begun with the new release of the First Class prequel. The film, loosely based on the short series comic of the same title, sheds light on some new faces with the introduction of James McAvoy as a young Charles Xavier, Michael Fassbender as Erik Lehnsherr, who later becomes Magneto, and Jennifer Lawrence as Raven Darkholme/Mystique. Despite the amateurism of the cast, powerful, captivating performances make the 2 hour, 11 minute movie fly by.
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Enchanted CanvassesBy Julie DiNisio QuailBell Magazine Alright, let’s be honest with ourselves: fairies are not actually real. However, at 320 Hull Street in Richmond, VA, fairies come to life in painter Terry Lynn Smith’s art studio and gallery. Smith began painting in 2002 when she started taking lessons at John Tyler Community College. She experienced this creative surge when she became very ill with a staph infection that caused to her lose some function in her muscles and hands. This former government worker said, “When I got sick, I wanted to do one last thing – learn to paint.” This late-in-life artist paints within two genres: fantasy/fairies and surreal. She went on to say, “Once I started painting, I couldn’t stop.” Terry Lynn Smith’s medium of choice is either oil or acrylic paint. The names of her art galleries reflect her interest in the fantastical and surreal, such as Faerytopia, Essence of the Soul, and Feelings of the Soul. However, a gallery entitled Eyes of the Soul truly represents Smith as an artist. Smith’s paintings often feature women with exaggerated and beautiful eyes. When asked what she focuses on in her art, she replied, “I try to capture mystery and expressiveness in the eyes. I think that you can really see a person when you’re looking into their eyes.” On her website, Eyesofthesoulart.net, Smith has written this about her paintings: “I wanted to paint humans in a surrealistic way, representing the face in an emotional, unique, and evoking way.” With the daily pain Smith experiences, she uses painting as her escape. “Painting keeps me focused and makes my life easier,” she said. When asked about her free time, she good-humoredly responded “What free time?” In essence, though, she spends her days visiting her doctors and taking art classes at John Tyler Community College in Central Virginia, as she has been for nine years now. Reflecting a true devotion to painting, she spends an astounding five to six hours a night perfecting her craft.
At the close of the interview, the artist fondly said, “I’ve created a dream here." Clearly she has created a dream for both herself and viewers of her art. The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
Tricky But Worth ItBy Sandra Scholes QuailBellMagazine.com The Victorian bustle is just one of many bustle types and can be adapted to wedding dresses, or gowns, or even specialised dresses. It the style most commonly used when making wedding dress bustles. The current method I outline can be difficult for the beginner, but is still workable.
You will need several things to start with before you even decide to work on that dress: * A dress with a lengthened skirt back * A ribbon that matches the dress * Covered buttons or hooks that also match * Essential sewing equipment and supplies * Dress form The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
College SportsBy Matthew Marinello QuailBellMagazine.com When organizing a meeting with Britni Puccio, the Captain and President of the Virginia Commonwealth University Quidditch team, I expected a fairly low-key one-on-one run-in at the local coffee spot comprised of straightforward Q&A’s. You can suspect my surprise when I was greeted with six enthusiastic and involved team members/officers. The official ambassador for the VCU team, Emily Wells, expeditiously explained, “most teams have adopted wizarding world words as names – we are the Wizengamots; University of Richmond (UR) is the Acromantulas.” The interview had elapsed not but a few minutes, and some heavy Potter knowledge had already been dropped–I knew I was in for a treat. Any outline previously planned flew straight out the window, as everyone had everything to say about every single topic – mentioning the 7th book epilogue whipped up a 20 minute whirlwind of opinion. The team practically interviewed themselves, as the group energy carried the roller-coaster of a conversation. Needless to say, the colorful crew radiated an electric kool-aid love of Harry Potter which left me totally beside myself.
For those unaware, the game of Quidditch has been transcribed from JK Rowling’s Harry Potter novels and translated to the real/physical “Muggle” world. Many forms of muggle Quidditch have been conceived since the release of the first book; however, (DNA replication terms aside) the crossover failed to gain popularity until Alexander Manshel instigated his own adaptation of the sport in 2005, at Middlebury College in Vermont. An intramural Quidditch league, the foundation for what would later become a renowned intercollegiate association, was subsequently formed, and Manshel named the first official Quidditch Commissioner. The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
A Folksy DebutBy Ani Mikaelian QuailBellMagazine.com Twenty-ten might mark an important year for you by whatever means, but it is nothing short of memorable for the two females behind London’s Smoke Fairies. The duo consists of Katherine Blamire and Jessica Davies, a pair of best friends who have gone through a tale of epic proportions to get to where they are today.
You may say Jack White is defined with the role of fairy godmother transcended with masculinity, having picked up on the music positively and was compelled to record with the two of them. Throughout compilations of A-Sides, B-Sides, an EP, and providing backing vocals for Richard Hawley’s current EP, False Lights From the Land, they are proud to announce the completion of a debut album. Through Low Light and Trees, with what has been revealed thus far, is one of attributes for a more modernized blues feel. With breathless vocals surrounded by a cinematic of instruments, there is really no predicting how your reaction would be to such a combination. The group is proud of their progressive ways, taking on forms of seasons, coming and going, but equipped with the intentions of staying. With a record release date of September 6th, 2011, Smoke Fairies have been kind enough to offer up a free track to download, which goes by “Strange Moon Rising” just to sink in the hook to gain your attention. I was able to get in contact with Katherine and Jessica, and this is what they had to fill me in on. The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
Polka-dotted ReverieBy Luna Lark Photography by Stephen Palke QuailBellMagazine.com I met heat with heat, slurping down steaming bits of bulgogi, kimbap, miso soup, and kimchi on a summer's day. Having only eaten there twice, I could hardly call Mama's Kitchen a personal haunt, yet the ambience was achingly familiar. My mind skipped to childhood hours spent in Korean and Vietnamese shopping centers in Northern Virginia. I remembered the spices, the Engrish, the string-heavy music. It had been too long since I had enjoyed a hearty Asian meal.
A moment before the chopsticks hit my lips, my body had seemed so airy. Perhaps I had spent too many days subsisting on phoenix feathers and wishes. The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
Suck it, Epcot.By Olivia Blackwell
QuailBellMagazine.com Cue John William’s sweeping Harry Potter theme; release the parchment-toting owls; inhale the sweet smell of frothy Butterbeer. I had arrived. To my right was Hogsmeade in all of its quirky and crooked chimney glory, and to my left was the towering and formidable Hogwarts Castle. And everywhere in between was everybody and their mother. Let’s start at the beginning, shall we? The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
How'd you think Goldilocks did it? By Doe Deere QuailBellMagazine.com Hello Deerlings! In this tutorial, I’m going to show you how to style your hair like this: The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
Tests of Odysseus’ Growth in Book XII By Josephine Stone QuailBellMagazine.com Throughout the progression of The Odyssey, Odysseus changes from a flaunting, jeering man on a journey for spoils and battle-credibility to a man whose main goal is to be with his family; from wearing king’s robes and armor to beggar’s rags; from easily seduced to showing some form of restraint; from rushing into a fight to gliding his ship past confrontational monsters. However, not all of these changes in Odysseus occur fully, and despite his different reactions to greater, destructive women-figures he still does not show complete compassion or equality to his men. Odysseus learns, with the help of the female monsters, that his immature actions for glory cause many of his men’s demise. The impermanence of his self-control seems to be directly affected by the final loss of all of his men, such as when it seems his leadership skills have finally passed the tests presented by the immortal and female monsters on his journey home and he is seduced into Kalypso’s Eden, perhaps weaker at this point because he is alone. After many years of reflection and him becoming jaded to paradise Odysseus fully realizes his main goal of getting home to his family and can progress on his own. It is these trials and the loss of his men that allows Odysseus to morph from fearless leader to faithful husband and father. The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
Coeur City: Richmond, VABy Cirita Rae Eversley QuailBellMagazine.com "Love can exist anywhere--even in the greatest filth, the greatest stink, and the greatest darkness--because love lives in memories and memories are ubiquitous. Nobody can completely escape nostalgia." -Luna Lark The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
Fetish FairytalesBy Christine Stoddard
QuailBellMagazine.com Talk about your upbringing and your early childhood interests. If it's not too Freudian, how did those experiences influence you to pursue your career in erotic performance? Did you consider other career paths? I'm an only child and an army brat, so my family moved around a lot and I never had many close friends at any given time. As a result, I spent a great deal of time alone with my books and my imagination. I don't know how much that influenced my current work, though. I've considered many other career paths, such as paleontologist, social worker, civil rights activist, writer, historian, FBI agent, and coffee shop owner. Maybe one of these days, I'll try to explore those ideas again. The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
Brain...foodBy Matthew Marinello
QuailBellMagazine.com From the pages of a Z-day survivor’s journal: Three days in….most of the humans died last night, and now a horde of zombies, thirty strong, are stalking the grounds…five of them are milling around just outside my door. Here’s the thing: I have a midterm exam in fifteen minutes. I cannot go out the front (that would be suicide) and I cannot miss the test (yes, I considered it). Since my dorm is located on the first floor, I decide to shimmy out the window – the drop down is not an issue. Immediately as my feet touch the ground I am met with a bone-chilling cry, the zombies had spotted me and their shouts of “BRAAAIIINNNSSSS” sent me sprinting. To my horror, the initial cries are answered in the distance, and more calls for BRAAAIIINNNSSSS echo back. I’ve only seconds left to live. One lunges in my direction, I dispatch him with a single-shot Nerf pistol, and abandon the dart (there’s no time!). I whirl my sock flail like a helicopter blade, mowing down the scum in front of me, but more arrive and I am soon surrounded. The circle tightened. I can see their eyes now, bright and wide, ready for the kill…it’s the middle of the day on a Wednesday, and passer-bys avert their eyes, not wanting to witness the impending massacre…the lead zombie shakes his head and grins. Suddenly, I LUNGE, stun the zombie closest to me and make a break through the gap. Outstretched arms miss me by mere inches. I arrive at my midterm on time and out of breath. The week is only half-way over…” The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
It's Not Her Fault.By Jenny Davis QuailBellMagazine.com Our model Helen Georgia Stoddard is wearing a total of three different dresses: a black and white one from Ross ($7); a blue vintage one borrowed from the photographer's sister; and a white one with flowers from Forever 21 ($10). Check out her sweet, whimsical look! The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
Turn of the CenturyOpulent jewelry by Creative Chaos Design with further dark elegance achieved using Lime Crime Makeup. The Breadcrumbs widget will appear here on the published site.
The Manchild Chronicles |
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