Shadow Lore Reveal - October 31 & full reveal!

La Llorona, Náhuatl folklore

This tale can be traced back to Aztec roots and the goddess Cihuacōātl. Over time versions altered by colonialism portrayed La Llorona as a monster instead of powerful mother figure. Still today scary stories borrow from a weeping woman at a crossroads motif. Through all variations, La Llorona weeps sorrowfully mourning her lost children, and always near a body of water.

Read online: https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Legends_of_the_City_of_Mexico/Legend_of_La_Llorona

The full reveal is below, on three bases! (top: Brontë yak/silk DK; middle: Ursula yak sock; bottom: Solnit sock)

The inspiration for this year's countdown came partially during one of those bleak midwinter days in Pittsburgh where everything is a dismal, muted shade of gray-brown-caca. I came across a Smithsonian article that mentioned the art of Mary Blair, who I hadn't been very familiar with before. Faster than you can say bibbity-bobbity-boo, I had my paws on a book of her illustrations. And always interested in learning about where these not-so-sweet little stories really came from, I couldn't wait to dye up a palette inspired by her whimsical color combos and the darker origins of fairy tales.

You can find more of the books I referenced during the development of this collection on the main Shadow Lore page. 

Thank you so much for counting down through story and color this year!!  I can't wait to see what you'll stitch up with this year's countdown.

All photos used in mood boards are from Pexels or Unsplash and created by humans. AI is not used in Ex Libris Fibers product development, creation, or promotion; thank you so so so much for supporting slow but worthwhile human handmade/brain-powered work!