Yesterday night I attended a charity concert for Japan. It was organized by Japanese musical students who study in Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory and Musical Gnesin Institute. All the performers were great and it was a real pleasure, especially knowing that this way we help people of Japan.
I was especially impressed by Japanese songs performed by the young singer Aya Simodzava. I couldn't find her video on the Internet but I found one of the songs performed by other singer. The song is called "Higan Bana" by composer Kosaku Yamada. Higan Bana means Licorice (Spider Lily, Equinox Flower).
And at the exit we all received Origami Cranes
Also I would like to share a link to another charity project. European grafic designers started the Tsunami Initiative. From the web-site:
On March 11, 2011, a magnitude 9 earthquake hit Japan. One of the four largest earthquakes in history.
Artists from the community, joined by comic book writers and illustrators from all around the world rallied around us, Jean-David Morvan and Sylvain Runberg to form the Tsunami initiative.
We want to collect a maximum of quality drawings in order to hold a fund-raising auction on April 30th at Galerie Arludik in Paris. All the money we’ll raise will go to the earthquake’s victims. The auction will be followed by an exhibition and a book due out September 8, whose benefits will be offered to an organisation for people affected by the disaster.
Feel free to spread the word!
Full collection of images could be found here Tsunami
The pattern is in German but the chart and blueprint are very clear. I used Orlana Magic yarn 50% wool, 50% acryl, 490m/100g. It took just a little bit more than 200g. Needles # 3,5 for the main part and # 3 for edging. The description is free and could be found here Modell 228/0, Damenweste aus Bamboo-Cotton
True colour is at the second picture. It is not grey but beige with rosy shade.
This winter I made mostly headwear/neckwear garments. This vest is the only one "big" thing I've done.
I still have in plans two small neck/head things to do before moving to summer knitting.
Yesterday I watched again a wonderful French film "Ensemble c'est tout". I have it in my collection and this is a movie that always helps to improve my mood though I always have tears at my eyes when watching it. It is based on the novel by Anna Gavalda (Zusammen ist man weniger allein: Roman (German Edition), Просто вместе, Hunting and Gathering) It is a story of ordinary people with their problems, pains, bagage and fears. The novel as well as a film is very simple and very kind. Both the novel and the movie are beautiful. I think I found one of the music themes from the movie. It's Antonio Vivaldi's Concerto for violin.
This is a beautiful waltz "Dialog by the Christmas Tree" from the old Russian movie Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears. The movie won the 1981 Academy Award for Best Foreign Film. At the bottom of the page is the full text of the song in Russian.
After buying the Burda Moden magazine 2/2011 issue several days ago and with current February temperatures going down to -24C (and the forecast for the weekend is -28 C *gosh!*), I can't get rid of this song. I highlighted the words that I've been humming for several days already.
- Чем же всё это окончится?-How all this will end? - Будет апрель.- It will be April. - Будет апрель, вы уверены?- Will it be April, are you sure? - Да, я уверен.-Yes, I am sure. - Что же из этого следует? - Whatdoes that mean? - Следует жить, - That we should live, Шить сарафаны и легкие платья из ситца. Sewsundressesandlight chintz dresses. - Вы полагаете, всё это будет носиться? - Do youthinkall these will beworn? - Я полагаю, что всё это следует шить! -I believethatalltheseshould besewn!
After many disappointing issues of Burda Moden magazine last year I finally got the issue that I really enjoy and want to sew 4 (!!) patterns from. All of them come from "Italian" pages. So here are my sewing spring-ish and summer-ish dreams...
First one is a fitted jaket.
#2 - matching pencil skirt.
#3 - Dress with gathered A-line skirt
#4 - Summer Coat (still need to think it over, not sure that 3/4 sleeves are practical in our climate).
Well, all these scares me a little bit, the plans look too ambitious but I can't keep dreaming ...
Here is the text of the song:
- Что происходит на свете?
- А просто зима.
- Просто зима, полагаете вы?
- Полагаю.
Я ведь и сам, как умею, следы пролагаю,
Я ведь и сам, как умею, следы пролагаю,
В ваши уснувшие ранней порою дома.
- Что же со всем этим будет?
- А будет январь.
- Будет январь, вы считаете?
- Да я считаю.
Я ведь давно эту белую книгу читаю,
Я ведь давно эту белую книгу читаю,
Этот с картинками вьюги старинный букварь.
- Чем же всё это окончится?
- Будет апрель.
- Будет апрель, вы уверены?
- Да, я уверен.
Я уже слышал, и слух этот вами проверен,
Я уже слышал, и слух этот вами проверен,
Будто бы в роще сегодня звенела свирель.
- Что же из этого следует?
- Следует жить,
Шить сарафаны и легкие платья из ситца.
- Вы полагаете, всё это будет носиться?
- Вы полагаете, всё это будет носиться?
- Я полагаю, что всё это следует шить!
Следует шить, ибо сколько зиме не кружить,
Не долговечна её кабала и опала,
Так разрешите же в честь новогоднего бала,
Так разрешите же в честь новогоднего бала,
Руку на танец, сударыня, вам предложить.
Месяц - серебряный шар со свечою внутри,
И карнавальные маски по кругу, по кругу,
Вальс начинается, дайте ж сударыня руку,
Вальс начинается, дайте ж сударыня руку,
И раз-два-три, раз-два-три, раз-два-три, раз-два-три.
When I was just a little girl….. Here I would like to digress a little bit and share with you my favourite song. I like not only the song but also the clip because it gives such a wonderful picture of feminine dress and style of 50s. It is from the movie "The Man Who Knew Too Much". It also stages Doris Day one of my favorite actresses from the Golden Era of Hollywood.
When I was just a little girl I liked drawing pictures of “princesses” in beautiful dresses. My grandmother taught me to knit and sew when I was very young. When I became a teenager and later as a young woman I tailored dresses for myself using my grandmother’s old Singer sewing machine with hand drive. It is still alive and I keep it because of sentimental memories.
In my adult years life kept me busy and I drifted far away from the wonderful world of yarns and fabrics.
Some time ago I realised that my wardrobe is very boring and monotonous and doesn't reflect who I am. I realised that I miss personal style and strive for more feminine clothes. So I started a journey in search of my style. I use different sources on my way, including books, web sites, forums and of course my favourite blogs which are a source of inspiration for me.
, 
) It is a story of ordinary people with their problems, pains, bagage and fears. The novel as well as a film is very simple and very kind. Both the novel and the movie are beautiful. I think I found one of the music themes from the movie. It's Antonio Vivaldi's Concerto for violin. 
