Princess Annie

Rosalyn Headband

by bungalow

This year, I'm turning 42. There is nothing sexy or fun about 42. So I've decided to invite a handful of my closest girlfriends over for a princess party girls weekend, with dinner, pink cocktails and cupcakes, chick flicks and a sleepover followed by pedicures after breakfast. After all, why should the kids get all the fun, right?

When I was a little girl, my birthday wish was always to be a princess. This year, I'm finally going to be one. These sellers on Etsy must have heard my wishes from so long ago. Enjoy these items that will make you feel princessy, girly, and pink all over!

It's quite the job keeping my tiara polished, vinyl wall lettering

by SimplyStickItDesigns

Birthday Fairy Necklace 2

by KitschandKaboodle

The Crown Ring

by chrisparry



A Princess' Diary
by junesnight

Hot pink rhinestone crown pendant necklace

by funkylaundry

little princess ring

by ChiliCrab

Songea Sapphire and Daisy Cascade earrings

by katecojewelry

Grendel's Dog, from Beocat

Evil Kitty Cats Soldered Glass Art Charm Pendant Necklace Reversible

by geelizzie

Grendel's Dog, From Beocat

Brave Beocat, brood-kit of Ecgthmeow,

Hearth-pet of Hrothgar in whose high halls

He mauled without mercy many fat mice,

Night did not find napping nor snack-feasting.

The wary war-cat, whiskered paw-wielder,

Bearer of the burnished neck-belt, gold-braided collar band,

Feller of fleas fatal, too, to ticks,

The work of wonder-smiths, woven with witches' charms,

Sat upon the throne-seat his ears like sword-points

Upraised, sharp-tipped, listening for peril-sounds,

When he heard from the moor-hill howls of the hell-hound,

Gruesome hunger-grunts of Grendel's Great Dane,

Deadly doom-mutt, dread demon-dog.

Then boasted Beocat, noble battle-kitten,

Bane of barrow-bunnies, bold seeker of nest-booty:

"If hand of man unhasped the heavy hall-door

And freed me to frolic forth to fight the fang-bearing fiend,

I would lay the whelpling low with lethal claw-blows;

Fur would fly and the foe would taste death-food.

But resounding snooze-noise, stern slumber-thunder,

Nose-music of men snoring mead-hammered in the wine-hall,

Fills me with sorrow-feeling for Fate does not see fit

To send some fingered folk to lift the firm-fastened latch

That I might go grapple with the grim ghoul-pooch."

Thus spoke the mouse-shredder, hunter of hall-pests,

Short-haired Hrodent-slayer, greatest of the pussy-Geats.

-- From Poetry for Cats, by Henry Beard.

Translated by the Editor'scat.

Ninja Kitty
by simplyhibiscus

E A Poe Black Cat Horror Gothic Fantasy Art 8x10 Print
by tigerpixie

evil pink n black bad kawaii hello kitty w knife newsboy cadet punk baseball style cap hat OSFA
by JodiVonRotten

OMG, IF ONLY I HAD 65 BUCKS!!!

Atomic Pink Christmas Shadow Box Wall Hanging

by chickitout

Oooooooookay, now you all know how much love I have for paper houses (see my blog post on paper houses), but this is RIDICULOUS. It's as if this artist took a trip through my brain one night when I was fast asleep. I have been a collector of mid-century modern Christmas decor and decorations for YEARS, and swoon over mid-century modern architecture and design. Pink? Check. Tinsel? Check. Mirabou feathers and eyelash lame? Check. RI-DIC-U-LOUS!

I want to point out several key design motifs that this artist paid homage to in this shadowbox:

Note the George Nelson atomic ball clock on the wall - a classic from this era, and originals command a hefty price on today's market. Luckily, repros are available at a much more affordable price.

Note the aluminum tree - also a classic from this era. Ornaments would be hung on glittery aluminum trees, and would be illuminated from behind by a color wheel. The overall effect was an everchanging dazzling color display - LOVELY!

Note the slant of the roofline. Houses designed in the mid-20th century had FABULOUS rooflines, often asymmetrical and often giving way to large overhangs on the front, side or back.

Note the sign on the top of the house with a nod to the atomic design motif. Starburst designs were very popular during this era, and you could find that motif used in everything from dinner plates to neon signs.

What was that? How can you get this look? Glad you asked. Here are some incredible vintage finds from our friends at Etsy. (Oh, and if you were wondering what to get me for Christmas...)

ALUMINUM CHRISTMAS TREE VINTAGE COMPLETE ORIGINAL BOX
by Kleymannscloset

Vintage Japan Christmas Angel Posie Doll
by joberskitsch

Mid-Century Snowy Flocked Wreath in Original Box
by carmenandginger

Vintage Christmas ornaments - a box of 26 indents mercury glass balls for the feather tree or wreath
by pumpkintruck

Vintage Christmas Gift Wrap Wrapping Paper Christmas Paper Poodle Dog Christmas Paper
by timepassages

Large Vintage Glittered Christmas Bells
by VintagefromCrystal

How lovely to be a Woman

The Definition of Feminine -- Simple and Sassy Blank Notecards -- Boxed Set of 8

by macaroniandglue

How lovely to be a woman, the wait was well worth while;

How lovely to wear mascara and smile a woman's smile.

How lovely to have a figure, that's round instead of flat;

Whenever you hear boys whistle, you're what they're whistling at.

It's wonderful to feel

the way a woman feels;

It gives you such a glow just to know

You're wearing lipstick and heels!

How lovely to be a woman and have one job to do;

To pick out a boy and train him and then when you are through,

You've made him the man you want him to be!

Life's lovely when you're a woman like me!

How wonderful to know

The things a woman knows;

How marvelous to wait for a date

In simply beautiful clothes!

How lovely to be a woman and change from boys to men,

To go to a fancy nightclub and stay out after ten.

How lovely to be so grown-up and free!

Life's lovely when you're a woman like me!

(Except for when Aunt Flo comes to town, obviously.)

Women are powerful. Women are magnificent. Women are glorious mystical magical people. When you actually stop to think about all the things that women do in their day to day lives without blinking a perfectly coiffed eyelash at, it is truly amazing. The not-as-fair sex has nothing on us!

Celebrate your femininity - all of the items on today's blog are from members of the Etsymom Team. Want to see more? Use the search term "etsymom" on Etsy and behold the magnitude of works that these moms are doin' for themselves!

Garden Fairy Collar / Caplet
by PinkPolishDesign


12k GF Wrapped 3D Cameo Brooch with Two Ladies and a Dove
by rtanza


Ethereal - Original Watercolour Painting
by creativesque

Embrace Self - 3x4 Polaroid Image Transfer ORIGINAL in 8x10 Archival Mat OR 8x10 Enlarged PRINT

by TiffanyTeske

Beauty of Spring

by KLSreflections

The Food of Love

Goddess with harp Photogaphic Print

by dirtyfeetstudio

“I think I should have no other mortal wants, if I could always have plenty of music. It seems to infuse strength into my limbs and ideas into my brain. Life seems to go on without effort, when I am filled with music.”

George Eliot (1819 - 1880)

I've found lately more and more the need for the solace and soul-centering effect that classical music has on me. Having grown up in a musical family, and spending the majority of my developmental years as an instrumentalist, rather than a singer, I have a fierce love and appreciation for classical music, preferring the styles of music from the late Renaissance, Baroque and Romantic periods.

As we head into the holidays, I will most likely be more and more drawn to the classical CD's on my shelf. Like the sense of smell, music is very strongly linked to my memory, and classical music has the magic of being able to transport me in space and time to a much simpler time in my life. It's a great escape from the day to day frenzy of being a wife, mother, and menagerie owner.

Enjoy these items I found on Etsy using the search term "Classical Music" - I hope they give you a little joy today!

Spirito ring
by pookeh

Mozart - Beautiful Handmade Gallery Wrapped Canvas Print - Large
by fingertipsaint



I heart classical music
by cocoachuchu

Beethoven Amigurumi

by BoobiKitti

A 5th dundundunDUN button (Beethoven)

by beanforest

Etched Classical Parlor Guitar

by GypsyTradingCompany

Crazy Sexy Cute

Crochet Pattern- Bess in the cow costume amigurumi doll

by Owlishly

One of my favorite new craft projects is to make amigurumi dolls and toys. According to Wikipedia, "amigurumi" can be described as:

"The Japanese art of knitting or crocheting small stuffed animals and anthropomorphic creatures. The word is derived from a combination of the Japanese words ami, meaning crocheted or knitted, and nuigurumi, meaning stuffed doll. Amigurumi are typically cute animals (such as bears, rabbits, cats, dogs, etc.), but can include artistic renderings, and inanimate objects endowed with anthropomorphic features. Amigurumi can be either knitted or crocheted. In recent years crocheted amigurumi are more popular and more commonly seen.

"Amigurumi are usually crocheted or knitted out of yarn. The simplest designs are worked in spirals. In contrast to typical Western crochet the rounds are not usually joined. They are also worked with a smaller size hook in proportion to the weight of the yarn in order to create a very tight-looking fabric without any gaps through which the stuffing might escape. Amigurumi are usually worked in sections and then joined, except for some amigurumi which have no limbs, only a head and torso which are worked as one piece. The extremities are sometimes stuffed with plastic pellets to give them a life-like weight, while the rest of the body is stuffed with fiber stuffing.

"The pervading aesthetic of amigurumi is cuteness. To this end, typical amigurumi animals have an over-sized spherical head on a cylindrical body with undersized extremities."

Cuteness - I'm all over that. So far, I have created two monkey dolls, an easter bunny, an easter chick, a ball-shaped penguin and three peeps. The best part about this craft is that if you can crochet a simple SC, you can make most amigurumis! They are great stash-busters, too.

Here are some particularly adorable patterns from our friends at Etsy. The possibilities are ENDLESS!!

ANIMALS

Amigurumi Cute Alien Rabbit- Crochet Pattern

by crochetpattern

Bee Gurumi Crochet Pattern
by LuvlyGurumi

DOLLS

PDF Pattern - Pippi

by AmigurumiParadise

Ni Hao, Kai-Lan Amigurumi Pattern KaiLan
by CraftyisCool

TOYS

Ace, The Airplane - Amigurumi Pattern
by DeliciousCrochet

HALLOWEEN

3 PDF Crochet Patterns - Jazzy Witch, Devil and Halloween Gang - Amigurumi
by kandjdolls

THANKSGIVING

Crochet Pattern- Chester the turkey boy amigurumi doll
by Owlishly

CHRISTMAS

Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer - An Amigurumi Pattern
by KawaiiGurumi

Nevermore

Poe's Raven

by Middleburg

The Raven

Edgar Allen Poe

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,

Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore -

While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,

As of some one gently rapping at my chamber door.

"'Tis some visiter," I muttered, "tapping at my chamber door -

Only this and nothing more."

...

Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter,

In there stepped a stately Raven of the saintly days of yore.

Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he;

But, with mien of lord or lady, perched above my chamber door -

Perched upon a bust of Pallas just above my chamber door -

Perched, and sat, and nothing more.

...

"Prophet!" said I, "thing of evil - prophet still, if bird or devil!

By that Heaven that bends above us - by that God we both adore -

Tell this soul with sorrow laden if, withing the distant Aidenn,

It shall clasp a sainted maiden whom the angels name Lenore -

Clasp a rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore."

Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore."

...

And the Raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting

On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door;

And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that is dreaming

and the lamp-light o'er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor;

And my sould from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor

Shall be lifted - nevermore!

This poem has always been a favorite of mine - so dark and Sartre-esque. It seems like the worst kind of personal hell to be trapped in that deep of despair with no way out and the very devil himself unwaveringly watching... watching...

(Incidentally, the opening lines of this poem have forever been ruined for me by Blues Traveler. Thanks HEAPS, guys!)

Enjoy these items inspired by Poe and The Raven from our friends at Etsy:

crow graveyard raven photograph

by gothicrow

The Raven Clutch in Silk Nevermore by Edgar Allan Poe

by ClutchThat

Nevermore

by lkfarnsworth

RAVEN and POE dark art articulating mechanical paper doll toy ornament

by blueyeduckstudios

Quothe the Raven.......Laptop Bag
by queenbee55

Edgar Alan Poe Gothic Poetry Necklace
by HeadlessTessDIY