fantasy art and tree chatter of aquariann

Last Halloween, I whipped up a Creamy Espresso Chocolate Pudding Potion to share with the boys and ghouls at a costume party. The liqueur dessert was such a scream that I was requested to bring it again. I tweaked it a bit and added a no bake chocolate cookie crust. This easy dessert recipe is perfect for when you don't have much time to spend in the kitchen ... or just crave chocolately deliciousness. Easy as Dirt Chocolate Liqueur Pudding Pie Ingredients 13 oz Oreos or Chocolate Sandwich Cookies (I bought a package from the Dollar Tree and probably could have used less - but didn't want any leftover cookies to tempt me later) 1/4 cup Butter 5.9 oz Instant Chocolate Pudding Mix 1 cup Whole Milk 1/2 cup Godiva® Milk Chocolate Liqueur 1/4 cup Saint Brendan's Irish Cream Liqueur 1/4 cup Three Olives Triple Shot Espresso Vodka 8 oz Extra Creamy Cool Whip Chocolate Cookie Pie Crust Recipe 1. Crush 30ish cookies as finely as you can - I don't possess a food processor, so I ...

As I was strolling across the Italy Bridge in Busch Gardens Williamsburg last August, a peculiar feeling crept down my spine as if I were being watched. Roses were twisted around the railings, and as I got closer, I spied eyeballs staring back. An eerie voice floated past, singing "the dark side of the gardens, there's so much you will find ... the only thing that you have to lose, is a little of your mind." Later that night I did some digging to find that the bridge was a preview for their Halloween event, Howl-O-Scream . And two months later, the Ogre and I went back to Virginia and immersed ourselves in the ghostly spirit. The park was a madhouse - it was nearly at capacity when we arrived around 3 last Saturday afternoon. We ended up in Bavaria, their farthest parking lot. Surprisingly, it didn't take too long to hitch a ride on the tram and get greeted by the Lady of the Gardens. In addition to the sculpture above, she was plastered on signs around the park that ...

"The artist is a receptacle for emotions that come from all over the place: from the sky, from the earth, from a scrap of paper, from a passing shape, from a spider's web." - Pablo Picasso Flutter to my Wordless Wednesday Directory for a list of blogs that regularly host WW Linky Parties. Grab my button as a reminder to return next week for more photography fun! <a href="http://blog.aquariann.com/search/label/wordless%20wednesday" target="_blank"><img src="http://i532.photobucket.com/albums/ee329/aquariann/blog/wordless/125x125-wordless.jpg" alt="Wordless Wednesday" border="0" /></a>

Somebody put a spell on me! But which witch was it? Sue of The Crafty Nana lined up a series of bewitching Halloween gifts. The suspects include a bean bag doll, a fondant cupcake topper, even my trick or treater magnet! Treasuries shared by readers between October 25 - October 31 Which Witch is Which Release Your Inner Animal Black Cats- Not Just For Halloween White Witches Breast Cancer Awareness Month from the Etsy Twitter Team ...I Believe in Forest Fairies... Drinking my tears ... Día De Los Muertos How About Some Of These On Your Gift List? Black and Orange for Halloween with the BBA This Treasury is Child's Play Say It With Topaz - It's My Birthday It's a Beige Sort of Day Smiles WARM UP with the On Fire For Handmade Team

This weekend I shall be strolling (perhaps sprinting) through the dark side of the Gardens, which grows fear instead of flowers. It'll be my first time at Busch Garden's Halloween event, Howl-O-Scream so I'm dying to see what creatures await us when the sun does down. My favorite year round attraction, the Curse of DarKastle, is already a bit spooky - it lurches riders through a frozen castle as they try to escape a wicked king that morphs into a werewolf. In anticipation, I stalked around the moonlit mountains of Etsy in search of unique handmade jewelry. Wolf necklaces surrounded me with sharp teeth and gleaming eyes. 1. Howling Wolf Silver Moon Pendant by Studio Sarah 2. Necklace Gothic Victorian Wolf Girl With Pig Purse Sideshow Dark Circus Freaks Popular Steampunk Original Assemblage Art Jewelry by Cosmic Firefly 3. Werewolf Talisman. Copper Tooth Pendant by Gypsy Moon Art Studio 4. Silver Moonstone Wolf Totem Pendant by New Moon Emporium

Peer deep into the darkness of the new Fantasy Artists of Etsy exhibition . The Etsy Mini below is just a whisper of the gothic jewelry, Halloween costume accessories and fine art prints that will come gently rapping, rapping at your chamber door.

"There are nights when the wolves are silent and only the moon howls." - George Carlin Flutter to my Wordless Wednesday Directory for a list of blogs that regularly host WW Linky Parties. Grab my button as a reminder to return next week for more photography fun! <a href="http://blog.aquariann.com/search/label/wordless%20wednesday" target="_blank"><img src="http://i532.photobucket.com/albums/ee329/aquariann/blog/wordless/125x125-wordless.jpg" alt="Wordless Wednesday" border="0" /></a>

I may usually root for the dragon in fantasy stories, but charming knights can still make my heart beat all aflutter. Tara of Happy Capatiller told a tale that enchanted me. The characters included a self reconciling knight on a white horse, a damsel wearing a bustle gown with black Venetian lace and of course, my fire dragon . Treasuries shared by readers between October 18 - October 24 A Knight's Tale Caramel and Butterscotch Bonbons Red or Green? - Chile that is! Of Water, Earth, and Sky As What Caught My Eye On Fire for Coffee I see the moon... Trick or Treat - Smell My Feet Bit O' Whimsy Bride of Frankenstein Bedazzling and Becoming shades of autumn Santa Baby, I Want... Little Red Winter Theme! Gnome Mans Land Look- a- Likes

EDIT: Giveaway is officially closed. Congratulations to the randomly chosen 309th commenter, Megan! You would not believe how many patterned tights I have snagged or stabbed holes into by trying to contort the delicate nylon over my curves. Thank the fashion goddesses for Renae of Mademoiselle Mermaid - her modern leg warmer designs have improved upon the trend from the 80's and kicked them back into style. They're a much more comfortable way to decorate your legs than with pantyhose. The black and white striped leg warmers above are custom made to order, so one winner will get a pair crocheted to their very measurements. Although these leg warmers would look super sexy with a Wizard of Oz or Alice in Wonderland costume, they can also add whimsy to everyday outfits. Renae creates fabulous clothes and accessories that will light up a room, just like she does. I met Renae freshman year of college and we became fast friends - she was as outgoing as I was shy. The memories of our ...

Vampires have captivated me ever since Brad Pitt portrayed the sexy sullenness of Louis de Pointe du Lac in the Interview with the Vampire film. I was too young to have a job or I would have bought The Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice the very next day - but you can bet that set was the first item on my Christmas list that year. And wow, have I devoured a slew of vampire novels since then! I'm currently rereading one of my favorite series, Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter by Laurell K. Hamilton during my stationary bicycling workouts. Her slaying adventures distract my mind from all the calories my body is killing. I wore a vampire costume for Halloween several years ago, but I was still in the dark about the handmade world so my accessories left much to be desired. Today I waited for the sun to slip past the horizon before venturing out into the streets of Etsy. Breathtaking blood red jewelry swooped down into my vision. 1. Red Sin - Necklace and Earrings Set, Celtic, Medieval, Han...

I've been desiring a starfish necklace to add to my star-shaped jewelry collection ever since I went searching the sandy shores of Etsy last June. Patsy of Ox Original Art Jewelry channeled my brain wave and sailed this pretty pink enamel starfish necklace to my mailbox. It is too bad the ocean is so chilly during autumn, because I felt like diving for joy when I opened her carefully wrapped box. I am giddy as a guppy to own a pendant that was painted by fire! I knew very little about enameling, until I read Patsy's article about the art of Enamel . The process is fascinating! Patsy has a similar starfish necklace in her shop, as well as dozens of gorgeous creations if you want to own a unique enamel piece, too.

"I have always looked upon decay as being just as wonderful and rich an expression of life as growth." - Henry Miller Flutter to my Wordless Wednesday Directory for a list of blogs that regularly host WW Linky Parties. Grab my button as a reminder to return next week for more photography fun! <a href="http://blog.aquariann.com/search/label/wordless%20wednesday" target="_blank"><img src="http://i532.photobucket.com/albums/ee329/aquariann/blog/wordless/125x125-wordless.jpg" alt="Wordless Wednesday" border="0" /></a>

My childhood best friend was born in October, and I remember being a bit confused that she had two birthstones. Opal and pink tourmaline are both pretty, so I went spelunking the caves of Etsy with an open mind. The pale shine of pink opal earrings caught my eye first. Pink opal is a natural gemstone that is only mined from the Andes Mountains of Peru. It vibrates at a gentle frequency that is believed to calm the wearer's emotions and bring tranquility to their aura. This soothing pink crystal is often used in meditation to balance the Heart Chakra. I can see why - just looking at the color of these beautiful jewelry designs makes me feel peaceful. Speaking of pink, don't forget to enter my Breast Cancer Awareness Giveaway ! 1. I Chopped Down The Cherry Tree Earrings by Nature of Art 2. Birthstone Earrings-October. Pink Opal. Oxidized Sterling Silver Hoops by j.Nic Designs 3. Pink Opal Earrings with Rose Quartz by Edi's Little Treasures 4. Peruvian Pink Opal Spiral Ster...

EDIT: Giveaway is officially closed. Congratulations to the randomly chosen 36th commenter, Anne-Marie! Unless colorblind, you may have noticed the increase of pink products popping up in your everyday lives. That's because October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month! The amount of people supporting the cause is amazing. My favorite Mexican restaurant is even offering $2.99 pink margaritas on Mondays, and $1 of each sold benefits the Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition . Several crafters also donate to breast cancer research and programs, including all shops in my featured treasury of the week, PINK Charitable Donations . I leaped at the chance when Denise of Beaded Embellishments offered me the opportunity to spread the importance of routine breast exams for early detection. You may remember when I hosted her Swarovski Crystal Earrings Giveaway last October - she is a registered nurse at a chemotherapy unit so cancer awareness is a huge concern of hers. She uses her skills as a jewelr...

"Sometimes you get the best light from a burning bridge." - Don Henley Flutter to my Wordless Wednesday Directory for a list of blogs that regularly host WW Linky Parties. Grab my button as a reminder to return next week for more photography fun! <a href="http://blog.aquariann.com/search/label/wordless%20wednesday" target="_blank"><img src="http://i532.photobucket.com/albums/ee329/aquariann/blog/wordless/125x125-wordless.jpg" alt="Wordless Wednesday" border="0" /></a>

EDIT: Giveaway is officially closed. Congratulations to the randomly chosen 45th commenter, Sheree! Leaves are just beginning to fade from green, but soon the trees will be bursting in vibrant reds, oranges and yellows. Patsy of Ox Original Art Jewelry is celebrating fall by giving away a gorgeous pair of her autumn leaves enamel earrings in green, rust and brown colors. Enameling is the ancient art of "painting with fire." Leaf earring shapes are cut from a copper sheet and coated many times with powdered glass and fired in a kiln to achieve that glossy brilliance. Each leaf measures 1 1/8" x 2" that dangle from an oxidized, sterling silver earwire. For years Patsy labored at her easel to capture the essence of Colorado in paint. Her artistic hunger found a new dimension the moment she fashioned wire and beads into a simple bookmark. Now she uses precious materials to express her vision in ways that painters could not. Making the common uncommon; creating the unus...