Paper Doll + Playlist

creations at the start

I have been thinking a lot about birds. Blackbirds in particular. Ever since hearing about the legend of Saint Kevin and the Blackbird I haven't been able to stop thinking about birds. I notice birds so much more than I used to now. And I always make sure to learn their names. 

A couple days ago I spotted two Black Pheobe's dancing around on a fence by the sea.  I had no idea that there were birds called Black Pheobe's until then. And it seems that I never saw them until that moment either...but that's probably not true. They have been dancing before me all along I am sure. But now I have new vision.  Bird vision. 

Kate Bush has bird vision. Bird voice. Bird ears.

"the day is full of birds"

Her son speaks these words in the opening of her album Aerial: an album full of birdsong.

I recently asked the Kate Bush Fan Club on Facebook to help me list all the times Kate talks about birds in her songs...Here is the list so far:

• lark 

• mistle thrush

• woodpigeon

• chaffinch

• robin

• blackbird

• siskin

• ravens 

• pigeons

• swallows

I will also add the goldcrest to that list. Europe's smallest bird that Kate wrote about in her 2021 Christmas message. For our Baby Bushka December shows last year, I made some needle-felted versions of this tiny bird for our merch table. It has sparked a whole series that I hope will keep me busy as I learn and discover the world of birds.

• Paper Doll: Knight of the Blackbird Braille. (blackbird braille is one of Kate's 50 words for snow) Even if you don't print, cut and paste this little doll together...I hope you enjoy diving into the ritual costume of this fantastic lady knight. This is just the beginning of a whole world of knighthood I plan on crafting for anyone interested in birds, music and new-folk-ritual to connect us to the eternal network of life. Link to file: http://www.natashakozaily.com/s/bird-knight-2022-11-28-at-73017-PM.pdf

• While you're making your doll, you can listen to this playlist I created and named after a book thats on my bedside table right now.

Tweet tweet tweet,

Natasha