Showing posts with label Etsy Treasures. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Etsy Treasures. Show all posts

26.5.15

invisible tides


I spent weeks wracking my brain to come up with a birthday gift for my mother.  Nothing seemed right.  I asked her (several times) whether there was anything she wanted, and she insisted that she couldn't think of anything.  Then, in a flash, I remembered necklaces I'd seen last November at an art fair at my son's school. That evening, I rushed past the tables set out with lovely things -- then about-faced for a close-up look at these necklaces.  They are created with the tiniest, most intricate fronds of seaweed, and I only had a moment to gaze before I ran off to volunteer at the book fair. Eight months later, these seaweed pendants popped into my head as the perfect gift.

My mother loves the ocean, so I suspected that these tiny seaweed fronds, caught under glass, eternally swaying in an invisible tide, would appeal to her.  And I had to tell you about them, too, because, really, they are rather amazing.  A few weeks ago, when I visited Cassie (the woman who creates this jewelry) in her home, I spent a very long time marveling at the colors & shapes she captures;  some of the seaweed looks like miniature trees from Japanese ink paintings, while others look like veins and capillaries carrying life-blood, and still others just seem to float on imaginary, dream-like oceans...

And not only does Cassie create pendants, she also has seaweed-art mounted in frames to hang on the wall, and preserved between panes of glass to hang in the window.  If you would like to see more of Cassie's designs, her etsy shop is HERE.

1.2.12

Introducing Purple Petunia (and a Valentines Give-Away!)


Dearest all,

In December I stumbled onto the most wonderful etsy shop and simply had to share it with you.  The shop is called Purple Petunia where Valerie Frandsen Goates sells the most exquisite ceramic bowls and figures, wee fairies and wooden gnomes.  While everything in her shop is delightful, it is her "surprise bowls" which have captured my heart.  Imagine handing your child a tiny bowl containing a small, delectable snack. And beneath the snack, in the bottom of the bowl, is hiding...

 A dainty bunny... 

 
 A funny little hedgehog... 

or a wee little mouse!

When I asked Valerie whether she would mind if I featured her darling bowls on my blog, she generously offered as a give-away this beautiful red & white bowl with a tiny white bird hiding in the bottom.  It could be a perfect Valentines gift for a favorite child -- or keep it for yourself as a lovely place to keep safe a pair of earrings or a treasured ring.  To enter the give-away just visit Valerie's shop here  then come back and leave a comment with your favorite item from her shop (also, please be sure I have a way to contact you if you are the winner.)  I will draw a winner for the give-away via random number generator in one week, Wednesday February 8th.

Additionally, through the month of February Valerie will offer a 10% discount in her etsy shop if you use the code Bloom10!

Thank you, Valerie, for your generosity and for creating magical treasures to charm the eye and delight the heart!

Congratulations to #8 "Crazy Estonian."

10.11.11

2.11.11

Gnomes, Gnomes, Gnomes!

When I first saw these "chore-gnomes" over at Melissa's blog Wild Faerie Caps and in her etsy shop I thought to myself, "brilliant!"  Are you as tired of reminding your little one(s) to do their chores as I am? Is that responsibility chart not quite working? Wouldn't a crew of funny little gnomes be a jolly reminder of what needs to be done?!

Their hats are made from hand dyed 100% wool felt. Watercolor paints brighten their tiny, wood burned designs and each gnome glows from a good rub with homemade beeswax polish. Best of all, they're clearly made with such love...

In my house, taking the recycling from the kitchen down to the garage is Little Mr. B's favorite chore-to-ignore, so this little fellow makes me laugh (I keep imagining a squeaky little gnome-voice persistently offering reminders, "Little Mr., please take down that recycling!")

And then, of course, there's this fellow, who would come in handy for providing some oft-necessary reminders about tooth-brushing (in his very squeaky little gnome-voice, of course!)

Melissa has also created beautiful Weather-Gnomes which you can see in this post at This Cosy Life.

 And now, drum-roll, please... Melissa is offering a glowing Autumn-Gnome as a give-away (don't you love his tiny knit cap?!)  To enter the give-away, do visit Melissa's etsy shop, have a look around then leave a comment below (and be sure I have a way to contact you if you are the winner.)  In your comment, please mention your favorite item(s) from Melissa's shop and also, if you wish, mention which chore in your house is the least (or most) favorite!  I will choose a winner for the give-away in one week via random-number generator.

Good Luck!

This give-away is now closed.  Congratulations #17. With a rustling of leaves, the little autumn gnome will be drifting over to Leisa's house...

 
P.S.  Please do visit Creative Friday over at Natural Suburbia and The Nature Table at The Magic Onions for more lovely & creative ideas...

7.4.11

Softearth's World (& a Give-Away)

Have you ever visited Marie of Softearth's World? She creates magic with soft New Zealand wool.

Thanks to Marie, my springtime mantelpiece has come to life with little doves nesting beneath a pussy willow bower...

And Crystal Gnomes guarding the light of hearth & home (doesn't the round shape of these little gnomes make you want to pick one up and cradle it gently in the palm of your hand?)

Another of my favorite creations by Marie is this Koru fern princess (she has not yet joined the celebration of my springtime mantelpiece, but perhaps someday soon...) Here is her story:

Deep in the New Zealand bush, a little Koru forest princess dwells. With her beautiful unfurling fern frond, she sways in the gentle breeze and smiles. When the trampers walk by, they cannot detect her, though they comment on the beautiful ferns laid out on the forest floor.

KORU- The Koru is the Maori name given to the new unfurling fern frond and symbolizes new life,growth,strength and peace.

When I mentioned to Marie that I planned to feature some of her creations on my blog, she generously offered to turn my blog-post into a Springtime Celebration Give-Away!

Please leave a comment at the end of this post if you would like to win a Spring Fairy, garbed in green...

Four Dew-Drop Children...

And a bevy of Rainbow Birds (or as Marie says, "Out of the sky and under the rainbow flew these rainbow birds!")

Don't forget to leave a comment if you would like these treasures from Marie's Soft Earth Art Etsy shop to join your Springtime nature table (and please feel free to re-post about the give-away on your own blog, if you wish!) Comments for this give-away will be open for one week.

Thank you, Marie, for offering this generous give-away, and thank you to everyone who has stopped by my blog today to say, "Hello..."

Tuesday, April 12, 2011 UPDATE: A winner for the give-away was chosen by random number generator. Congratulations to Jen of SewnNatural!

15.3.11

Visits from the Tooth Fairy

A Spell for Summoning Fairies

Sit where the cat sits. Cross your toes.
Close your eyes. And smell a rose.
Then say under your breath:
"I believe in Fairies, sure as death.

Gadflykins! Gladtrypins!
Gutterpuss and Cass!
Come to me fairily
Each lad and lass!"

(From Lady Cottingtons Pressed Fairy Book)

In addition to our wee Bloom getting his first teeth, our Little Mr. B. has been losing his baby teeth and getting a set of new ones. Hence, the tooth fairy has been a frequent visitor at our house. Up until now, this has been a perilous proposition for our dear local tooth fairy. She has had a choice, you see, of coming down the chimney (rather sooty) or using the cat door (perilous, indeed.)

So, I solicited the help of a marvelous and magical maker of fairy doors...

Nothing, however, gets past this cat. I'm afraid, the tooth fairy is still going to have to brave the dangers of our lurking kitty on her next visit (I suppose the spell for summoning fairies does, after all, say to, "Sit where the cat sits...")

3.1.11

Happy New Year

Sprites... sprouts... and a happy new year!

3.6.10

Peter's Chair

There is a wonderful book by Jack Ezra Keats called Peter's Chair. It's about a little boy who has a baby sister. His parents have painted all his old baby furniture pink, but when it comes time to paint Peter's chair, Peter decides he's had enough. He picks up his chair, grabs several other prized possessions and runs away.

Here he is on the sidewalk with his prized possessions (that's his mother leaning out the window, inviting him to come back inside for a snack.)

The outcome of the story is very sweet.

In a fit of sadness, I gave away our copy of Peter's Chair when we abandoned hopes of adopting. We are overdue for a reading of Peter's Chair around here. Last night, I was sorting through a basket of stuffed animals and pulled out a soft, velour ball with a bell inside. When I suggested to Little Mr. that we might set this aside for the baby, he clutched it in his arms and slept with it all night... I've reassured Little Mr. that he can play with the stuffed ball (and all of his old baby toys) as long as he likes. I also added that, when he was ready, he might have fun playing with the ball with the baby...

In sorting through boxes of baby clothes, I've unearthed more of Little Mr.'s baby toys.

And then, there are some lovely new ones recently added to our collection!

All in all, things are going fairly well regarding Little Mr.'s anticipation of the new arrival. He's worried the baby is going to cry and make a lot of noise. Generally, when asked, Little Mr. will say he's not looking forward to the baby. I think this is good. I would worry if he were excited then, once the baby got here, found himself disappointed. Going in with a negative attitude, I sense he will have an opportunity to be pleasantly surprised by the love and attachment I hope he will feel.

Interestingly, over the past few days Little Mr. has asked several times for us to read him the book Baby, Come Out! It's about a baby who refuses to be born until she's lured out with a promise of a kiss. We love this book!

19.4.10

Sprites

Have I ever mentioned that I love Etsy? (Yes, I believe I have!)

A few weeks ago these little sprites made their way to my home. Over at the Syrendell Etsy shop you can find sprites painted or unpainted... I opted for unpainted. This morning I dressed up my sprites in their finest for spring. A grass green coat for one and bright cerulean coat for the other...

They are now ready to parade through spring and off into summer...