fantasy art and tree chatter of aquariann

EDIT: Giveaway is officially closed. Congratulations to Brenda for submitting the randomly chosen 51st entry. February may be a month past already, but its beautiful birthstone can emit strong healing and cleansing powers anytime. Amethyst is believed to be a stress reliever when worn. The gem has been known to focus energy, as well as bring clarity and wisdom to the wearer. And you could be wearing one soon! Tami of September Willow is giving away the amethyst druzy pendant above to one reader. She handpicked this particular druzy for its unusual colors - striations of brown and tan run along the top and then fade into gentle purples. The amethyst druzy slice pendant is 24 x 17 x 7 mm and hangs from a gold filled chain with lobster claw closure that measures approximately 18.5 inches. Although this handmade necklace is one of a kind, don't get stressed out if it doesn't wind up around your neck. Tami has more druzy jewelry available. Because of the raw state of the gems...

The world is still revolving, the weather is growing hotter, and my 2012 Spring Blog Hop has officially come to an end. Visit my current blog hop to join the next seasonal dance. 2012 Spring Blog Hop Participants: BeadedEmbellishments HEARTing Handmade :3 ArtDaily: SOiNTOiT The Old Block House Smiley Boy Knows Best Mokekumilei Creations Blog Cinnamon Bubbles Becky D Are We There Yet? Lizy B Polka Dots & Rosebuds Couponing & Cooking Heart of a Wizardess In the Bookcase EarthShine Pixel Berry Pie NewEndStudio Handcrafted Pretty Cruzines-The Thoughts & Art of Tori Beveridge Free Spirit Designs mainili Fantasy Art & Design The Blessed Couponer CereusArt Lost Letters

"'But I don't want to go among mad people,' Alice remarked. 'Oh, you can't help that,' said the Cat: 'we're all mad here. I'm mad. You're mad.' " - Lewes Carroll, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland 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>

See me peeking out of the rabbit hole at the Noyes Museum of Art? Unfortunately, I couldn't take any photographs inside their Alice: Into the Looking Glass exhibit so you'll have to cry a pool of tears and ride it to Oceanville, New Jersey before May 20, 2012 to experience it yourself. The exhibition houses several fascinating interpretations of Lewes Carroll's classic novels, including a few vintage books where his storybooks were adapted by other cultures. Drink Me by Victor Grasso , a dramatic photo-realist painting of Alice after she ventures to taste from the bottle, looms just inside the entrance. Alice and her curious creatures abound around the room, depicted in more paintings, drawings and sculptures. My very favorite artwork from the collection is a marvelously detailed mosaic of the Caterpillar puffing his hookah by Doreen Adams . Putting together all those pieces would have certainly driven me mad as the hatter! The entire display was wonderful, but I stil...

"Throughout the ages, stories with certain basic themes have recurred over and over, in widely disparate cultures; emerging like the goddess Venus from the sea of our unconscious." - Joan D. Vinge 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>

Don't fall off your bar stool, but I have never drank a green beer. I rarely drink beer at all, unless I'm at a restaurant that is running a huge happy hour deal. However, I do enjoy tasting the beer Ogre's been making with the homebrewing beer kit I bought him for his birthday. Sampling beers is fun, but my tummy gets too full to want more than a pint or two. I plan to take only a sip or three of Irish beer tomorrow night to toast to St. Patrick's Day. Don't worry, my martini glasses just happen to be green, so I'll still look festive while drinking pomegranate vodka cocktails! Today I got a holiday head start by hopping through the pubs of Etsy. My thirst was quickly quenched. These adorable green beer crafts didn't make my belly heavy like real green beer drafts . Happy St. Patrick's Day!! 1. Green Beer Lampwork Bead by Moonraker Lampwerks 2. Green Beer - Keylime Scent - Soap by Frosted Crossbones 3. St. Patty's Day Beer Candle by K...

EDIT: Giveaway is officially closed. Congratulations to Alessandra for submitting the randomly chosen 154th entry. The sun is shining, the birds are chirping and the faeries are fluttering in anticipation of spring. To celebrate the coming season, Chel of Viridian Muse Designs is giving away two cutely custom flower fairy dolls. The winner can choose a hair, shirt and skirt color for each, as shown in the fourth image of the best friend fairy set listing in her Etsy shop. Chel can also embellish each with a magic wand or charm on request. The flower fairies can both be made into ornaments, pins or clips - whatever the winner wishes! A single day doesn't go by without Chel sitting down to make some form of art or craft. In addition to bending and twisting fairy dolls to suit her muse's calling, she also creates watercolor paintings, sharpie marker artworks, artist trading cards, postcards, and greeting cards. Her giveaway prize pack will also include an ACEO sized (3.5...

"Gipsy gold does not chink and glitter. It gleams in the sun and neighs in the dark." - Attributed to the Claddagh Gypsies of Galway 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 used to spend hours looking for four leaf clovers with a childhood friend. Spotting one amidst the thousands of three leaf clovers always felt so magical. I wonder if there are any still tucked away in the Sweet Valley Twins and Babysitters Club books in my attic. Where do children that use eReaders instead of paper books save their lucky clovers now? I haven't seen any clover patches blooming in Delaware yet, so I turned to Etsy to find lucky charms for St. Patrick's Day. Four leaf clovers are abundant in those handmade fields! The shine from these sterling silver shamrock necklaces caught my eye first. 1. Lucky Star Four Leaf Clover Charm Necklace with Hand Stamped Charm in Sterling Silver by Pure Rox In Print 2. Shamrock Necklace, Green Swarovski Crystal Wire Wrapped Teardrop Pendant, Sterling Silver Four Leaf Clover Charm by Green Ribbon Gems 3. Four Leaf Clover Victorian Wax Seal Necklace - Fine Silver, Sterling Silver by Englady 4. Gorgeous Celtic Irish ...

Garden fairies and woodland creatures are slowly stirring from their winter slumber and slinking over to the new Fantasy Artists of Etsy exhibition . The Etsy Mini below is just a floret of the enchanted art, fashion jewelry and costume masks that are awakening to welcome spring. EDIT: Enchanted Awakenings has been replaced by another exhibition, but click on the screenshot below to view all the FAE items currently for sale that are tagged with the word "enchanted."

"The path of least resistance makes all rivers, and some men, crooked." - Napoleon Hill 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 over. Congratulations to Antonella for submitting the randomly chosen 248th entry! Jannelle grew this charming Tree Of Life pocket in her Something Else Studio for one lucky winner. The combination pocket can be worn with the 53" corded strap as a shoulder purse or strung through a loop in the back as a belt bag. Two hand-wrapped beaded dangles swing along the bottom. The 8" x 5" bag is fully lined with an inner pocket. A magnetic snap keeps the flap securely fastened to protect belongings. This one of a kind accessory is the perfect way to carry essentials at a Renaissance Faire or other spring festival. Jannelle's unique pocket design was inspired from Medieval and Renaissance times when clothing was not constructed with hidden pockets so flat bags were attached to belts, draped around the waist or over the shoulder instead. Art, history and imagination take flight in Jannelle's home studio. She designs enchanted accessories t...

The Ogre and I are dining on roast beast tonight to celebrate Dr. Seuss' birthday. We're not as crazy as a loon, or even that remarkable Foon, to see the Lorax movie on opening day. But perhaps in a weekend or two, we will go to the theater to see how much fun the creators of Despicable Me had reinventing a favorite Dr. Seuss world. Today I went from here to there, from there to here on a search for that fantasy forest. I found crafters like me that do care a whole awful lot - Truffula Trees are sprouting up all over Etsy. The Lorax is being heard! "I speak for the trees, for the trees have no tongues." - The Lorax by Dr. Seuss 1. Lorax Inspired Hat: Dr. Seuss -ish Handmade Cartoon Animation Crochet Beanie Hat by Little Popos 2. Dr. Seuss The Lorax UNLESS needle felted soft sculpture custom order by pearhug studio 3. Waldorf Inspired Wooden Lorax Toy Set by You're Inspired 4. Dr Seuss Lorax Apron Knot Dress - Available in sizes 6m 12m 18m 2 3 4 5...