fantasy art and tree chatter of aquariann

EDIT: Giveaway is officially over! Congratulations to the randomly chosen 87th commenter, Danielle ! The monster covers at Night Lily Design may look cute and cuddly, but they'll protect your books from evil better than a gigantic three-headed dog named Fluffy. Their creator, Kimberly, is giving one away to celebrate the release of the final Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows movie on July 15. I haven't been to a midnight film screening, but I was working at a bookstore the summer Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire was released. It was amazing how many devoted fantasy fans showed up in my sleepy beach town and lined up around the building under the moonlight to get their hands on that book as soon as possible. That was eleven years ago, before the invention of e-Book readers. How fast time flies on griffin wings! Kimberly offers covers for both mass market paperbacks and eReaders like the Barnes and Noble Nook or Amazon Kindle. Pictured above is Alphonse in all his honeysuc...

"A martini. Shaken, not stirred." -James Bond

Last week I giddily blogged that The Hub was airing Jem and the Holograms episodes again after all these years. Many of you were thrilled to hear about the blast from the 80's past, and Sabina of My Style Canvas even brought up the idea of coordinating Jem art posts. I challenge all of you to do the same! I will be unveiling the finished version of my Jem fan art ACEO sketch on Sunday, July 10, along with a Linky for others to share what they've created. Celebrate the truly outrageous animated series in any way you please, whether it be a painting, collage, jewelry, costume, fan fiction, anything! Sing out the word to fellow fans by using the social media leaf icons at the bottom of this post. My original sketch is inked with black Sakura Pigma Micron Pens onto Strathmore Smooth Bristol Paper and soon to be rolling in Prismacolor pencils . Rock on over to Sunday Sketches and Summer of Color to see more art by creative souls.

Can you believe the jeweled starfish clinging to my new MiddleEarths PreciousTrinkets pin is the only sea star in my vast collection of star-shaped jewelry? Today I strolled down a sandy stretch of Etsy in search of more underwater treasures that had washed ashore. I found these gorgeous starfish necklaces gleaming with pearls, glass and Swarovski crystals nestled on the beach, just outside the ocean tide's reach. 1. Starfish and Beach Glass Necklace by Lily-Max Designs 2. Sparkly Seashell Crystal and Pearl Necklace - Golden by luli designs 3. Swarovski Golden Shadow Starfish Crystal & Cream/Ivory Pearl Wire Wrapped Pendant Sterling Silver Handmade Charm Necklace by JBM Designs 4. Dreaming of The Sea - Bronze Necklace with Starfish and Pearl Accents by Penny Masquerade

Ever since early June when Mary Anne of MiddleEarths Jewels told me that a little island fairy had left something special for me in Azores, I've been fluttering to the mailbox in anticipation. I had no idea when to expect the surprise to arrive, since it was journeying all the way across the sea from Portugal. The day it magically appeared, I had the package open before I even reached my front door. The gorgeous treasure to the right was carefully wrapped in black tissue and waxy paper, uniquely secured together with two metallic round-head fasteners. Its vintage brass findings, exquisitely enhanced by a patina process, whispered tales of sunken ships and underwater secrets to me. The light that danced off the green gems was hypnotizing, but I finally tore my eyes away to read her beautiful note. And then I glowed even brighter - Mary Anne named this stunning design after me ! She's even offering another in her Etsy shop. This pin from her new PreciousTrinkets line can be add...

"You wanna hear about my new obsession I'm riding high upon a deep depression I'm only happy when it rains" -Garbage

The world is still revolving, the weather is growing cooler, and my 2011 Summer Blog Hop has officially come to an end. Visit my current blog hop to join the next seasonal dance. 2011 Summer Blog Hop Participants: Green Shoot Jewellery Designs Garden of Creations The Old Block House Bella Vida by Letty Natural Beauty New End Studio From Mommy to Calm Insanity Let's Talk About Me The Penny wise Chick BeadedEmbellishments At The Shores Mommy Has A Headache Blue Wave Glass Christine And Company Soap Deli News Blog Final Clothes-Out Grits and Giggles [oomoph.] Chaton's World Denise's Journal Truly Simply Pink Spirrel Monkey Julia Finucane Style 'n Decor Deals Life on the Clothesline 50Plus Single BBW Tantrums, Troubles, and Treasures Roseberry Style Finger Click Saver Mary C. Nasser Art Blog Reasonably Less The Fainting Goats Mercantile Muse Create With Joy Bellina Creations Just Winging It Treasures Made From Yarn Handcrafted Pretty Trilogy Edibles - For the Love of Trea...

I rarely leave the house without my camera, thanks to discovering Wordless Wednesday , a weekly fest where bloggers share photographs that speak for themselves. I offer a Linky every week for readers to add their own WW posts to my blog, but I didn't have the right art in my arsenal to create a button for it. Hence the inspiration for this shushing fairy sketch! Plus, won't she be perfect printed upon surprise party invitations? She's inked with black Sakura Pigma Micron Pens and soon to be quietly covered in Prismacolor pencils . Tip toe over to Sunday Sketches and Twinkle, Twinkle: The Summer of Color to see more art by creative souls.

If your social calendar is so busy that you've never been home to kick back and browse the Saturday Night Specials on Etsy, you're missing out. Every Saturday starting at 5pm EST, several Etsy shops gather together in a single discussion thread on the Original Saturday Night Specials (SNS) team to offer special sales and bonuses. SNS was originated by Willowglass back in July 2006 and the complete rules can be found on her FAQ . Now if you're a shop trying to list a sale and want a spot close to the front, you'd better arrive early with your special ready to paste and refresh the forum window like it's going out of style. Within seconds of the host posting the official thread of the night, there are pages of specials by other shops. However, I have shown up fashionably late several times, landed on page 7 or so, and can't say the night was noticeably less busy than when I make it on one of the first few. I usually do a lot more buying than selling, though. I...

The Jem and the Holograms animated series from the 80's is rocking it back on television! Isn't that truly, truly, truly outrageous? I did a cartoon quality double take when I saw it pop up on the DVR Playlist last week. My Ogre discovered it on The Hub network and quietly programmed it to record for me. He'd beat Rio in the charm department any day. Jem was one of my very favorite shows growing up. What little girl wouldn't adore watching all that glamor and glitter, fashion and fame? It must have been great fun for the artists that drew the animation cels - the characters have hair dyed every color of the rainbow and wear an amazing assortment of loud outfits. Jem may be her name and no one else is the same ... but anyone can dress in her signature rock star look with the help of talented crafters from Etsy. Just look at this outrageous costume I assembled today! 1. Halloween/Cosplay Jem and The Holograms Costume by D-JENN 2. Cotton Candy Bubblegum Pink with Electr...

EDIT: Giveaway is officially over. Congratulations to the randomly chosen 88th commenter, Natalie! Summer is right around the riverbend! Emma of Hell0Z0mbie is giving away a blue bubble memory wire coil bracelet for one reader to hold the essence of water near, even when everyday life gets in the way of swimming and sunbathing. This fun accessory features a mix of tiny sky blue seed beads, baby blue glass pearl beads (vegan/cruelty free), teal colored beads and large semi-transparent "bubble" beads. The wire will take about three laps around a wrist, depending on circumference. The design is incredibly durable and easy to wear, as there is no fussing with a clasp. Although Emma specializes in memory wire coil bracelets, she creates other brightly beaded jewelry, including earrings and necklaces. She also carries handmade paper goods, tags and embellishments for scrapbooking. How To Enter The Giveaway Giveaway is open worldwide. I will be pulling a number from my random.org ...

"Wine hath drowned more men than the sea." -Thomas Fuller

She should turn back. If any of the elders found out she had ventured this close to land, she would have to tread through a stern lecture. In mid swirl, she spied a curious circular shadow bobbing along the sea floor. Above her, stars and stripes beckoned. She broke the surface and gleefully tossed the patriotic beach ball into the air, flipping it back with her fin. It was only then she noticed a human boy standing on the shore, watching her with wide eyes. She smiled mischievously before launching it back to him on the next wave and disappearing into the ocean deep. ACEO inked with black Sakura Pigma Micron Pens and colored with Prismacolor pencils . Magnet print available on Etsy. Swim over to Sunday Sketches and Twinkle, Twinkle: The Summer of Color to submerge yourself in more art by creative souls.

The temperatures in Delaware were record breakingly high this week. My air conditioner just couldn't handle the heat and literally froze up. The condenser leak was fixed today, but yesterday before the sweltering sun went down, I sat hypnotized by a table fan and fantasized about being a mermaid. Wouldn't it be swell to stay underwater so long without your skin shriveling or ... um, drowning? Today I dove into the Etsy abyss. Several mermaids greeted me from the Fantasy Artists of Etsy team and gave me a tour of the handmade ocean. 1. A Little Mermaid Cloth Art Doll by The Fairies' Nest 2. Little Mermaid Statue "MERSHELL" Mermaid Sculpture Concrete Garden Art by PhenomeGNOME 3. Magical Mermaid Art Doll and Treasure Box by Faerie Garden Fancies 4. Mermaid Cloth Art Doll, Yeori, OOAK by Toadstools N Treestumps

"Flowers always make people better, happier, and more helpful; they are sunshine, food and medicine for the soul." -Luther Burbank

The summer solstice is still two weeks away, but we've already had a few brilliantly hot days of perfect beach weather. I usually recoil away from the ocean between Memorial and Labor Day thanks to the swarming tourists, but I can still daydream! Today I drew my first mermaid in a few years. She's inked with black Sakura Pigma Micron Pens and soon to be drenched in red, white, and blue Prismacolor pencils . Swim over to Sunday Sketches and FAT Tuesday to see more art by talented souls.

Meow is right. Last weekend I found three out of six 1992 Batman Returns collector cups from McDonalds at a yard sale. They were carelessly thrown in a box marked FREE, what a steal! The frisbee batdisc lids were long lost, but they were the designs with the best comic art - Batman chasing a villain, Catwoman jumping from building to building, and Penguin riding his rubber ducky of death. I prowled Etsy for Catwoman costumes two weeks ago, so today I summoned Batman instead. My searchlight illuminated several handmade bat signals. 1. Batman or Batgirl Superhero Cookie Favor - One Dozen by Yummy Delicous Cookies by Whimsical Originals 2. Hero Leather Cuff by Pats Design 3. Bat Signal Mini Paper Projector by Foot Candle Art 4. Batman Flask by jDUCT

EDIT: Giveaway is officially over! Congratulations to the randomly chosen 95th commenter, Brooke! The season of buds and blossoms isn't over yet! The spring leaf anklet above will bloom into a lovely addition to one reader's accessory garden. It is one of a kind, planted in the Erthe Fae Designs studio by AJ Reardon. The Czech glass beads and satiny leaf-shaped beads are strung on sturdy, flexible beading cable which holds up well to daily wear. Anklet is adjustable from 10" to 12" and fastens securely with a sterling silver lobster clasp and extender chain. The delicate hues of green and opalescent white will catch the light, whether you're wearing it with a shimmering belly dance costume or a casual pair of capri pants. AJ draws inspiration from mythology, literature, folk lore and the natural world to create a variety of steampunk and fantasy jewelry, including necklaces, bracelets, and chandelier earrings. The influence of tribal belly dance also gleams brigh...

"That's the thing with magic. You've got to know it's still here, all around us, or it just stays invisible for you." -Charles de Lint