Angelina Ballerina Cross Stitch - Innocent Dreams of Ballet
Julia Wigham
Even though most little girls have probably never seen a real ballet, they often dream of becoming a prima ballerina. Many 6-year-olds girls would like to be princesses, but see being a ballerina an acceptable compromise. To encourage that dream, stitch an Angelina Ballerina cross stitch for her bedroom; then watch as she pirouettes and dances along with her music box ballerina.
Little girls aren't the only ones fascinated by ballet, however. While artists throughout history haven't had Angelina Ballerina cross stitch patterns to fall back on, ballet has been used as a theme in many famous artworks.
French artist Edgar Degas was one of the first to popularize the subject of ballet and the female human figure. His final pieces in pastel were combinations of drawings done of live models in his studio or paintings done at rehearsals, waiting to go on stage and during performances.
Illustrator Helen Craig, who also dreamed of being a ballerina, focused her artistic energy on drawing. A photographer until she was 40, she worked with Katharine Holabird on illustrating the stories for Angelina Ballerina. The white mouse she drew from 1983 onwards won numerous awards and was typically depicted with no electricity and only candles and oil lamps as illumination since this was how Craig had been raised.
A nursery school teacher and mother of two daughters, Katharine Holabird began writing the Angelina Ballerina stories in 1982. So far, there have been 20 books written in the series, as well as an animated television show depicting the white mouse with big dreams
Angelina Ballerina dreams of becoming a prima ballerina and dances with Alice and William Longtail at Miss Lilly's class. William has a crush on Angelina, which is a running theme in the books. Like many young girls, Angelina is stubborn and tries to get out of trouble with a smile and a giggle.
To replicate the popularity of the book series, DMC has created several Angelina Ballerina cross stitch kits using 16 count Aida. The patterns are very popular among little girls and are great gifts to add to their collection of stitched ballerinas.
Julia Wigham is a professional author and co-owner of Patterns Patch http://www.patternspatch.com/r/) cross stitch forums. An online cross stitch club whose members get free: patterns, articles and tutorials. Come to our colorful => http://www.patternspatchblog.com/ cross stitch blogs today! Get your own completely http://www.uberarticles.com/?id=35840&b=79 unique content version of this article.
|
