fantasy art and tree chatter of aquariann

Everything is green again, and my grass is growing jungle fast. I don't glare at it as much this year, now that my Ogre has moved in and can cut it down in half the time as I can. Now I can spend more time gazing at treasuries. Mimi Michele Jewelry grew a collection of handmade items from the Treasury Island team. My Peridot dragon magnet sprung up between a thawed out polar bear and a starflower photography print. Treasuries shared by readers between May 31 - June 6 chocolate and vanilla Committed My Bonnie Lies Over The Ocean Old, New, Borrowed, and Blue Passionate About Purple Summer Sunshine What's the Scuttlebutt, Sailor Girl? Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny All Things Aqua! Love built this house Coupon Craze June 2011 The Last Waltz Romantically Inclined Romance Color Code GRAY

A year ago, I held a human brain at Bodies...The Exhibition in New York City. My own mind won't soon forget that experience - being face to face with what we look like beneath our skin is really quite bizarre! Today I examined Etsy for handmade items depicting the most important and intriguing organ of the human body. Wear one of these unique necklaces and you'll prove that two brains are better than one. 1. Stamped Brain Square Pendant Necklace by Pet Zombie Creations 2. Zombie Food - Brain Organ Sterling Silver Necklace by Markhed Design 3. Zombie Brain Silver Locket Necklace by Cosmic Firefly 4. Neuro Necklace (Grey Brain Matter) by Beat Black

“Never say there is nothing beautiful in the world anymore. There is always something to make you wonder in the shape of a tree, the trembling of a leaf.” -Albert Schweitzer

Recent spring storms have turned the sunset skies a strange array of shades at once. Last Thursday the mix of clouds in all directions looked like they floated off the set of a Neverending Story movie and into my neighborhood. Julie of Mermaiden Creations captured the magical twilight hour before the fall of a full moon night in a Fantasy Artists of Etsy team collection. Amongst the hues of purple glimmers a gossamer filigree leather butterfly mask, a Book of Shadows hand painted keepsake box, and my unicorn bookmark. Treasuries shared by readers between May 24 - May 30 Fairy Seas-- from the Fantasy Guild Glorious Red & Black Just because they are pretty! Everyday Upcycles On our way to the picnic Lemon with a twist of lime Reckless Romantics Love in Breukelen April Showers Bring May Polka Dots Tree of Life it's simply magical! Stay Cool with Hot Stuff for Summer Pink Lemonade Dream at etsy

The weather rained on my faraway fairy parade last weekend, so I scampered to the local comic book shop to take advantage of their buy 2, get 1 free sale instead. I ensnared several issues of Gotham City Sirens , a series which stars sexy femme fatales Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy, and of course, Catwoman. I'm a fan of all three characters, but Catwoman was one of the first comic titles I started collecting so she's stolen a special sliver of my heart. I even made my own inexpensive Catwoman costume based on her Batman Returns incarnation for a Tim Burton-themed Halloween party two years ago. This week I sunk my claws into an Etsy search to find what quality designs are available to women that want to channel their inner feline villain. Aren't these handmade creations purrfect? 1. Catwoman Handmade Black Leather Mask by Masker of Disguise 2. Catwoman Batman Returns Latex Cosplay Costume (re-creation) by Dame Fatale 3. Goth Stitched Punky Catwoman Hat by Cattywampuss 4. Juli...

“Everything is blooming most recklessly; if it were voices instead of colors, there would be an unbelievable shrieking into the heart of the night.” -Rainer Maria Rilke

I'm a big fan of referral programs. Getting rewarded for recommending a product I'd suggest to friends free of charge anyway is like the added bonus of cream cheese icing on a carrot cake. Now that Anafore has created the Anafore Ignite App for Etsy shops that makes it easy for sellers to conduct their own customer referral programs, I hope to take advantage of many more. Participating sellers no longer have to send out discount coupons by hand. With some technical wizardry, Anafore has made it nearly effortless for small businesses to boost their sales by offering referral bonuses. The hassle of sending out emails, tracking forwards and rewarding referrals is done automatically. The seller has full control over the discounts offered and can customize the emails. The app also provides a link that customers can share on Facebook and Twitter and tells the shop owner where the links have been shared. I haven't bought from a shop that uses the app yet, but here are testimonia...

EDIT: Giveaway is officially over. Congratulations to the randomly chosen 187 commenter, Kathy Detweiler! The NewFire lava earrings above will be a hot addition to one reader's jewelry collection, just in time for the summer solstice. Mary Anne of MiddleEarths Jewels is giving away a pair of these unique earrings from her breathtaking home across the sea on a volcanic island of Azores, Portugal. The black earthy lava stone tipped with blazing fire opal and copper Swarovski crystals are certain to melt gazes with their steamy magic. Mary Anne taps inspiration from her surroundings and Tolkien's magnificent imagination. Her pieces often include vintage, dismantled jewelry and castoffs, anything old and forgotten but rich in faded memories of other times and worlds. She upcycles these treasures into extraordinary designs that revitalize their original beauty. How To Enter The Giveaway Giveaway is open worldwide. I will be pulling a number from my random.org top hat after 11:59pm...

I need a way to appease the rain and thunder gods (except Thor , already got him covered with the $13 I spent ogling his movie on Wednesday night) so they don't storm on the 2011 Maryland Faerie Festival this weekend and thwart our Sunday day trip. I've been twice and both times I've gleefully glimpsed Sweetie the Unicorn to add to my fantasy collages . Today I journeyed to Etsy to find her magical kin galloping majestically around the grounds. 1. Unicorn - Posable Felt - Soft Sculpture by House of Trouble 2. Unicorn Fantasy Resin Cameo Necklace by Lithia's Creations 3. Wearable Faery Tale Fantasy Art Glass Ring, The Unicorn by Faery Dust Art 4. Gold Unicorn Horn Costume Wig with Ears for Cosplay / Renaissance Festivals / Halloween / Dress up by Objet d'Art Designs

“Nature will bear the closest inspection. She invites us to lay our eye level with her smallest leaf, and take an insect view of its plain.” -Henry David Thoreau

I'm usually a vodka girl, but yesterday's Cinco de Mayo celebration called for tequila! I vamoosed from work to Tijuana Taxi , where I happily indulged in a sangria-flavored margarita and 75 cent tacos during happy hour. Today I'm in more need of a siesta than a fiesta, so I bar hopped around Etsy instead and discovered handmade mixes that are as intoxicating as the real drink. 1. Margarita Candle Your Choice Of: Soy OR Gel Type by Candles By Chris 2. Hand Painted Lime Margarita Set of Glasses and Pitcher by Lynette Sadowy Studios (She's offering 10% off in her Etsy shop if you mention my blog!) 3. Hola Margarita Jelly made with Jose Cuervo Tequila - Get your Fiesta Going by DaSweetZpot 4. Sky Blue Cocktail Rim Sugar. Drink recipes and directions included by Dell Cove Spice Co.

“Garden fairies come at dawn, Bless the flowers then they're gone.” -Author Unknown

Roanne is the creative hands behind Ms. Veronica's , an Etsy shop named after her grandmother. Her store is stacked with simply lovely silkscreen printed cards and hand-sewn books. She just released flour sack towels decorated with a mums illustration for Mother's Day and hopes to expand her fabric products soon. Roanne says that she tries "to have a timeless quality to my items because, like fashion, a well designed, classic piece is always ‘in style.’ I've always done handmade, crafty presents for my friends and as a Graphic Designer and Fine Arts student, my life is immersed in art and design. I see my shop as a great opportunity to introduce others to what I enjoy so much; to the quality and love in a handmade piece. There's no easier or cost effective way to do that than with a greeting card." Traveling is one of Roanne's favorite things to do, but her cards cover even more ground! For every card she sells, she donates one to Operation Write Home , a ...

EDIT: Giveaway is officially over! Congratulations to the randomly chosen 15th commenter, Cathy of The Total Book Nerd . Who says you can't sport scarves in warm weather? Annie Dee's Designs carries cool crochet chain necklaces that are light weight. Annie is giving away the fun accessory above to brighten up one reader's spring wardrobe. It's crocheted with super soft yarn in several shades of green, white, yellow, and orange. The multiple chains of various lengths are secured on the side and can be worn laying freely or twisted to add extra depth. The chains measure 26 inches (66 cm) around with a 13 inch drop. A delicately pretty organza and tulle flower, adorned with 3 orange glass beads, blooms as the focal point. Annie also creates a multitude of hair accessories for women, children, and babies, including headbands, hair clips, bobby pin sets and fascinators. Most of them feature whimsical flowers, grown from high quality chiffon, satin, and organza fabrics. How ...