The Blue Castle Badge

What's that silver glint on the lapel of the boy you just passed on the street? What's this blue enamel pin on the blouse of the woman standing next to you in the cafe line? Why, it's none other than the Blue Castle Badge, the official sign of noble and noteworthy individuals!

The Blue Castle Badge is awarded to those who have accomplished one or more of the following achievements:
* They have sent a real, paper letter to Castle in the Air illustrated with some of their own artwork.
* They have sent a real, paper letter to Castle in the Air telling us of a good deed they have performed.
* They have been mentioned favorably here on the Castle in the Air weblog.

Scores of people have already earned their Blue Castle Badge. Maybe you'll be the next!

Send your letters to:
Castle in the Air
1805 Fourth Street
Berkeley, California 94710
USA

By participating, you understand that Castle in the Air may use your letters for promotion or as a basis for store merchandise and may display your letters in the store or online. All of us at Castle in the Air understand that your privacy is very important, and we will always do our best not to reveal your personal information.

Grandville's Laurel

Not long ago, my dear friend (and my girls' pediatrician) Dr. Wolffe surprised me with a gift he knew I would love. It was an edition of Les Fleurs Animees, or The Court of Flora, by the inimitable illustrator J.J. Grandville. I was delighted, of course, but had to sheepishly admit to Dr. Wolffe that I was such a Grandville lover that I had an original edition from the nineteenth century! It really was beside the point though, because in Wolffe's thoughtful gift I now have a copy that I'm much more comfortable enjoying without worrying about it falling apart in my hands.

Grandville is most famous for his tete-de-bete -- animals in human clothing -- and his similarly anthropomorphic flowers. Les Fleurs Animees is, of course, about the latter, with full color plates and allegorical commentary by Taxile Delord. But I thought I'd share this particularly heraldric selection from the book. It's Grandville's picture of the Laurel, and the story that goes with it -- a conversation between a marquis and a colonel, with a closing thought by Delord -- is on a timeless subject:

"It becomes you to talk of love," said the marquis, "you who never made love to any but the burgher's dames in the small towns where you were garrisoned. You ridicule little attentions and pretty verses, because, old fox, halbardier, and pander that you are, you never experienced their charms."

The colonel grew angry in turn: "A fine woman, like a citadel, should be carried by storm."

"No, delicate attentions win the favor of the fair."

"To vanquish the most obstinate, one needs only to show a brow wreathed with laurel."

"Not so. It is with a belt of myrtle that we must bind the Loves."

Gallantry and bravery have gone out of fashion. Ridicule has done them justice. To whom should one be gallant? To women who smoke, who drink of grog, who ride horseback, who fence, and write novels?

Slaying the Dragons

"Saint Michael the Archangel,
defend us in battle,
be our protection
against the malice
and snares of the devil."
-- Pope Leo XIII

Last summer was particularly hard for me, with many family and other personal issues coming to a head at the same time. I've always relied on art as my shield against the "malice and snares," no matter in what form they arrived. But when things got too tough, I realized that art by itself wasn't going to cut it. I needed some armor.

George the Dragonslayer is the patron saint for my family and for Castle in the Air, vanquishing fear with his decisive sword. Even though I was a fearsome fencer in college, these days I've dropped my sword in favor of my paintbrush, or perhaps...magic markers? Trying times call for a bit of magic, no?

Inspired by George's heavenly counterpart, the Archangel Michael, I took up my markers and forged some divine armor from a dress. The magic flowed into my new linen hauberk, with wraparound Dragonslaying heraldry! As soon as I put on the dress I knew I'd have the strength to face the world again. It's come in handy a few times since last summer, too!

Keep Going!

I'm working on a few secret projects that have to do with heraldry this week, so of course I've been looking at the Cammell coat of arms, along with collections of other families' crests.

I've always loved my family motto: "Perseverando." To me, it means that no matter what life throws my way, the best thing to do is to keep carrying on and trust that better days are right around the corner.

Mr. Marsh spotted a crest for a double-barrelled (two-part) name combining Chisenhale with his own last name. He said that he remembered seeing his family crest hanging on the wall when he was growing up, so he recognized the horse's head and the crosses on the shield in the coat of arms. Even though it seemed to us that the horse was getting a bit overwhelmed by what we could only assume were the Chisenhale parts of the crest, Mr. Marsh said that it would be all right, because of the Marsh family motto: "Nil Desperandum!" We had a good laugh over our respective family mottoes -- they seem like two sides of the same coin!