fantasy art and tree chatter of aquariann

"Honesty is like an icicle; if once it melts, that is the end of it." - American Proverb The strange weather this year really confused my burning bush shrub. Now it's growing mysterious icicles. 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!

Remember Mitch, my adopted felted mushroom sculpture ? I was cheerfully chosen to give his creator, Shana of Woodland Whimsy , a gift for this year's Fantasy Artists of Etsy team's Solstice Swap . After perusing her list of likes, I picked out my purple unicorn bookmark , steampunk unicorn magnet and fairy card to send. But I heard Mitch clearing his throat and knew he had a more creative gift idea in mind. He posed prettily as I drew him playing hide and seek in a patch of orange fungi. He was about as successful at blending in as I was at following the poem rules when writing a cute limerick. There once was a mushroom named Mitch, Shaped from felt rather than stitch. He liked to hide in fungi, But his eyes shone the lie. That silly shroom didn't mind the hitch! Mushroom drawing is inked with black Sakura Pigma Micron Pens and colored with Prismacolor pencils onto ACEO sized Strathmore Smooth Bristol Paper . Colored pencil fantasy art is linked at Sunday Sket...

EDIT: Giveaway is officially closed. Congratulations to Eugenie Wu for submitting the randomly chosen 140th entry. I've daydreamed of discovering a dragon's treasure cave many times. Would I make it out with a sparkly souvenir or barely my life? Olya of oBo Creations was kind enough to give me the thrill without the danger - she let me choose a hand painted pendant from her shining studio in Switzerland. She's now allowing other curious souls to explore the depths of her Etsy shop. One lucky adventurer will even win a $25 gift card to buy her unique handmade jewelry, like the fashion bracelet above! While admiring her awesome designs, it's hard to believe that Olya never studied art or came from an artistic family. She wasn't interested in crafts or painting until she became seriously stressed at her job and decided to paint an Easter egg to unwind. The egg looked nice, which surprised her … and the accomplishment made her feel good, surprisingly good! Creati...

"As we give love, so shall we receive love. As we give strength, so shall we receive strength." - Raphell Sims Lakowitz This beautiful fountain sculpture by Bruno Lucchesi memorializes Raphell Sims Lakowitz , from whose loving leadership flowed a new way of helping mental health patients. Stroll through more of my Brookgreen Gardens photos or better yet, visit South Carolina yourself! 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!

Valentine's Day is less than a month away so you better tell the love of your life what you want! Wanda of Gemstones On My Mind shared several Valentine gift ideas for women. Lovely items from the Saturday Night Specials team include a stained glass heart suncatcher, love spell sugar scrub cubes and my red daisy magnet . Treasuries shared by readers between January 15 - January 28 For the Love of Your Life Year of the Snake Scented Red Romance Bridal Bliss Old time vintage Heart's Desire Kind of Blue Variations of coral and teal Friendship Gifts ♥ me . . . . ♥ me not . . . ♥ me Blowing Bubbles Looking for Spring Wind and Rain Snuggle Weather Love is in the Air by Lin I'll give you all my love! L is for Love Queen of Hearts A Glimpse of Red Green with Envy Put a Bow on It Bring the Outside In in love Love Blues (rustic) tinted love Romance a Paris Purple Passion This is a HALF- HEARTED Treasury List A Little Bit of This and That Chick Mag...

Did you know the average lifespan of an adult butterfly is less than 40 days? Fortunately, Rebecca of Winged Art by Athenianaire captures their ephemeral beauty indefinitely. Don't worry, she doesn't kill butterflies to make her unique jewelry. All exotic insects are purchased after natural life from legal conservation farms in their native lands, as was the Pink Clearwing Butterfly from Costa Rica in the bottle necklace to the right. The farms use the revenue to conserve land and breed local species to help dying populations thrive. In addition to supporting the farms, her shop funds projects in her local NH community that allow children access to butterflies, moths, and other insects. In 2012, Rebecca created and donated a 3' x 5' display of over 70 species to a children's museum. She also began a program of rearing and releasing local moths (4 species including cercopia and luna moths) and Monarch Butterflies. Children get to work with the lepidoptera from egg...

"In my world, everyone's a pony and they all eat rainbows and poop butterflies!" - Dr. Seuss I have seen horse sculptures made out of many materials (you may recall the disco horse I found in Las Vegas:) but this cute little pony at Brookgreen Gardens, SC is the first I've seen shaped in succulent plants! 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!

EDIT: Giveaway is officially over. Congratulations to Elaine Douglas-Rioux for submitting the randomly chosen 733rd entry. Even if you don't usually like surprises, you're going to love this one! The lovely ladies at Life is the Bubbles are giving away a pretty prize box filled with something special, something ... magical. The mysterious handmade accessories inside are valued at $45. And if the winner wishes hard enough, the item they desire the most just might appear in a magic puff of sparkly smoke instead! That sounds like a hope that would only come true in a Disney story, right? Not so! Brandy and Kathy craft under the belief that with a little bit of pixie dust, Life can become Magical. Their unique designs are sure to exist happily ever after in any girl's jewelry collection. <a href="http://blog.aquariann.com/2013/01/jewelry-giveaway-45-prize-box-by-life.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i532.photobucket.com/albums/e...

"I Think That I Shall Never See A Poem Lovely as a Tree. Poems Were Made By Fools Like Me, But Only God Can Make A Tree" - Trees by Joyce Kilmer The sculptures and stone signs at Brookgreen Gardens, SC are stunning. 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!

Don't be blue that the holiday season is over! Branch out to 7PM Boutique , WireQueen Jewelry , Life is the Bubbles , oBo Creations and Beadmask for wonderful winter jewelry instead. 7PM Boutique's blue topaz bracelet is a cool accessory, especially for those winter babies born in December. The birthstone is known for its soothing properties - it'd be great to wear to a work presentation or a first date that has butterflies bumbling around in your stomach. The blue stone is encased in 925 sterling silver links that measure 25.82 x 12.76 x 7.36 mm. Entire bracelet measures 8 inches and closes with a toggle clasp. Wirequeen Jewelry's blue flower brooch will add a touch of soft to a business woman's sharp tailored suit. Or if you're not required to wear professional work clothes at your job, use it to embellish your winter jacket like I do! The white flower is trimmed with blue and glitter. A pearly center surrounded by a decorative golden circle adds a v...

"There's more to see than can ever be seen More to do than can ever be done There's far too much to take in here More to find than can ever be found" - Circle of Life by Tim Rice Happy New Year! May your life be filled with love, laughter and wonder. 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!