fantasy art and tree chatter of aquariann

EDIT: Giveaway is officially over. Congratulations to Damla for submitting the randomly chosen 287th entry. Don't cry about fall weather chasing away summer flowers - mums will bloom brightly soon enough! And depending which way the wind blows, you could win a $25 gift card to WXdruid Chainmail this autumn. Choose one of Jennifer's scale flower hair clips like the orange and red hair accessory above, and you can wear it any season you wish without it wilting. Two flower sizes, as well as a butterfly shape version, are available in several different color combinations. Or if traditional chainmaille jewelry is more your climate, her Etsy shop has pages upon pages of jump ring bracelets and necklaces. Speaking of weather, Jennifer is also a meteorologist! She chose her shop name because WX is an abbreviation for weather and the druids in Dungeons and Dragons cast the best weather spells. Isn't that cool? <a href="http://blog.aquariann.com/2013/08/chainmail-je...

"Bloom where you are planted." - Mary Engelbreit Hundreds of orange begonias lined the conservatory during my spring trip to Longwood Gardens, but these particular petals caught my eye. 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!

"I was obsessed with Batman as a kid. I did the film in part just to be near the Batmobile. But I also think [director] Christopher Nolan made a very fine, intelligent film." - Cillian Murphy Holy fuzzy fruit, Batman! I went to Middletown's Old-Tyme Peach Festival last weekend and was giddily surprised to see the 1966 Batmobile gleaming at the car show. Back in college, I chose the super hero car as the subject of one of my very first graphic arts projects in Illustrator. I'm still proud of my original digital drawing (second Batmobile picture above) even though I ran out of steam by the time my pen tool reached the wheels. I am much quicker ten years later - it only took me a few minutes to trace around my photo of the old school Batmobile so I could blur out the background in Photoshop. 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 photograp...

Are you as enchanted by purple as I am this week? First I had to share my fuchsia flower photo , and am now featuring a matching Treasury Island team daydream by Meredith of Patchwork Crafters . Her whimsical gift ideas include purple bearded iris photo print by c. creativity photography, magenta flower hair clip by Bada Bloom and my purple unicorn magnet . Treasuries shared by readers between August 20 - August 26, 2013 Fantasy Dangerous Damsels of the FAE Back To School Funner Side of Fantasy Fall is on its way! Summer at the Beach Tuesday Smile Before The Rains Kick Off Fall With Gray and Yellow Find Your Adventure - And Get Outdoors Peridot A Drop of Cranberry Come Celebrate My Anniversary, Birthday, Cats and Cookies! We Belong Triple Treasury Be your own kind of beautiful Rainbow's End Let There Be Light

EDIT: Jewelry giveaway is officially over. Congratulations to Ellie Wright for submitting the randomly chosen 706th entry. Are you still reeling from Shark Week? Swim your way to the top of the food chain and you could be the winner of a $25 gift card to Designs by Tamiza ! Her Etsy shop is more colorful than a tropical reef. She has pages upon pages of beautiful beaded jewelry to explore. I was ensnared by her lampwork bead necklaces, especially the plum purple pendant above. The shiny silver foil accents remind me of exotic fish flesh. Plus, once you've caught one of her pretty pieces, you don't have to worry about it coming unhooked. All of Tamiza's necklaces and bracelets are clasp-free. <a href="http://blog.aquariann.com/2013/08/beaded-jewelry-giveaway-necklace-lampwork.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i532.photobucket.com/albums/ee329/aquariann/blog/giveaways/125x125-tzteja.jpg" alt="Jewelry Giveaway" bo...

"I was very against pink and purple when I was young, because they were girls' colors. But that was only because I didn't want people to write me off for what I can do. When I got into my 20s, I decided that was stupid." - Danica Patrick I wasn't fond of the color pink or even flowers when I was young, either. As you can see from my trips to Longwood Gardens , I've long outgrown the silly phase of not wanting to be considered too "girly." 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 Mona for submitting the randomly chosen 39th entry. Is winning free jewelry in your future? I don't have to be a fortune-teller to perceive one of your accessory wardrobes will be wealthier soon. That's because Tayci of Occult Happenings is giving away a $25 gift card to her Etsy shop. She carries a variety of natural shell and gemstone jewelry, such as the beautiful blue shell earrings above. Or if you really do want to know your future, Tayci offers tarot readings to help guide people on their path. She uses a Leonardo da Vinci deck to reveal strengths and weaknesses in career, relationship and other important life choices. Magick mojo bags are also available to attract love, luck or another positive energy into your world. <a href="http://blog.aquariann.com/2013/08/shell-jewelry-giveaway-win-free-tarot-readings.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i532.photobucket.com/albums/...

I haven't watched a celebrity awards show in years. I do, however, daydream of wearing some of the red carpet fashions I see woven around the internet. And rolling around in the elaborate swag bags that get gifted at the parties. I felt a spectacular shred of stardom when a pair of metalwork dangle earrings by Lisa Burek Jewelry arrived unexpectedly at my door. She created several variations of the design especially for celebrities to receive at the 2013 GBK Golden Globes! Mine are crafted completely of antique brass, but she can custom make them with any combination of copper and silver, too, as shown to the right. Each strip of metal is hand hammered, oxidized for patina and sealed with a protective wax. They're entwined around metal circles and measure approximately 2 inches from the top of the earwire. Use coupon code "LBJ15" during checkout to receive 15% off hammered metal earrings or anything else in her handmade shop. Disclaimer: I received these free...

"I'm tired, it's raining, and I am not a waterlily." - Russell Page It was raining and I did get tired by the end of my last Longwood Gardens trip, but seeing the waterlilies in bloom was worth it! This day-flowering Nymphaea water lily was strangely named "Director George T. Moore" so I researched it when I got home. The pretty purple tropical flower was produced by hybridizer George Pring in 1941 and named after the director of the Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis, Missouri at the time. 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!

Have commercials about back-to-school sales ruffled your feathers yet? They bothered me when I was still a student, but Halloween products couldn't arrive in stores early enough! I have no shame about blogging about costume options already. Branch out to Life is the Bubbles , Beadmask , Purple Peacock Jewels and Athenianaire for bird jewelry and costume accessories. Life is the Bubbles' Tiki magic bottle necklace will transport your mind to a tropical paradise where the "birds sing words, and the flowers croon." The fun piece of jewelry is inspired by the Enchanted Tiki Room, one of the oldest attractions in Disneyland. The bottle is securely corked so the colorful glitter doesn't hula away. A bird charm swings along to its cheery song. The pendant hangs on a 19.5" chain that closes with a heart toggle clasp. Beadmask's masquerade bird mask will make you stand out from the flock at the next costume party! The handcrafted leather mask is painted i...

EDIT: Giveaway is officially over. Congratulations to Tina Ivanisevic for submitting the randomly chosen 879th entry. Books, flowers and pirates are a few of my favorite things ... and Kim of Peaches and Pebbles has combined all three into one paper rose necklace, upcycled from pages of Treasure Island . Stroll through her Etsy shop to see which of your favorite things she's crafted into jewelry and you just might win a $30 gift card to pick your own prize. Have a favorite animal? Adopt a glass jar necklace with a miniature pet inside. Or perhaps a favorite dessert? Feast your eyes on a chocolate donut ring or rainbow cake bookmark. She crafts the cutest things! In addition to being a jewelry artist and a caregiver for her mother who suffers from Multiple Sclerosis, Kim is also aspiring to be a published fantasy author. She writes about her hunt for a literary agent on her A Blackbird's Epiphany blog. Just imagine, someday crafters could be upcycling her wonderful words ...