Jack & Ella Designs

A Foggy Day

2011-08-22T11:10:00.000-07:00

The Journey, 12 x 8 print

I stared into the valley: it was gone—
wholly submerged! A vast flat sea remained,
gray, with no waves, no beaches; all was one.

And here and there I noticed, when I strained,
the alien clamoring of small, wild voices:
birds that had lost their way in that vain land.

And high above, the skeletons of beeches,
as if suspended, and the reveries
of ruins and of the hermit’s hidden reaches.

And a dog yelped and yelped, as if in fear,
I knew not where nor why. Perhaps he heard
strange footsteps, neither far away nor near—

echoing footsteps, neither slow nor quick,
alternating, eternal. Down I stared,
but I saw nothing, no one, looking back.

The reveries of ruins asked: “Will no
one come?” The skeletons of trees inquired:
“And who are you, forever on the go?”

I may have seen a shadow then, an errant
shadow, bearing a bundle on its head.
I saw—and no more saw, in the same instant.

All I could hear were the uneasy screeches
of the lost birds, the yelping of the stray,
and, on that sea that lacked both waves and beaches,

the footsteps, neither near nor far away.

The view from my office window this morning was of the remaining marine layer of fog over downtown San Jose. It seems like it should be fall or even bordering winter here - certainly not what you'd expect for the middle of August. We've had a very unusual summer if you could even call it that - we've had very few days of real California summer weather (which is fine with me, as anyone can tell you, I hate the heat and burn in the sun).

We are apparently due for a minor heat wave toward the end of this week. In the meantime, enjoy these beautiful offerings from our friends at Etsy inspired by the beauty of fog:

Potion Bottle: Swamp Fog
by NchantedForests

Roses in a fog
by 0juracoquet

Ink And Snow-Fine Art Photo Locket Necklace-Grande Edition

by heartworksbylori

The Fog - 8x12 Original Signed Fine Art Photograph

by OreadImages

Lost - 20 x 30 print

by LabyrinthineNature

Balmoral Fog Silky Sock Yarn

by TheKnittedLoop

Moonstone Hoop Earrings

by rachelungerjewelry

And of course, I would be remiss if I bypassed the opportunity to illustrate fog's beauty on our most beloved (and fog-soaked) of landmarks:

Golden Gate in the Fog

by breathofanangel

Coming Up Roses

2010-02-23T15:58:00.001-08:00

Happy New Year!

Well, it really has been a while, hasn't it? Time marches on, three year olds give up taking naps, life gets a little hectic and nuts, and blogs fall by the wayside. My apologies to all the wonderful Etsy sellers that I could have been featuring in the meanwhile since our last posting in November.

The new year has brought many new exciting opportunities, including a number of performing gigs, which have rejuvenated me beyond anything I can meaningfully express. I have the great fortune of being able to share the stage with my dear friend Ric Iverson, after a 10 year span of not performing together, in Symphony Silicon Valley's upcoming musical-in-concert, The Most Happy Fella taking place in mid March.

But possibly the most exciting opportunity yet has come in the offer to play Rose in Gypsy, which will go into production in May of this year. I am so blessed to be able to follow in the (very large) footsteps of my beloved Broadway diva idols in taking on this powerhouse role, and I look forward to every minute. For more information about this production of Gypsy, please visit www.hillbarntheatre.org

So to celebrate a re-emergence from the winter of my hiatus from the stage, I have found these exquisite items from our friends at Etsy, using the search terms "roses red rose". Enjoy!

Bordeaux Carved Lucite Rose and Freshwater Pearl Necklace

by Vintage Gracie

Smell the Roses Cashmere Extra Long Flounce Scarf

by devilmademedoit

Red Chiffon Flower Handbag
by mojospastyle

Adeline-Black French Style Pure Wool Beret with Hand Felted Rose Brooch
by Crafts2Cherish

Womens XS Silk Blend Sweater (Upcycled Bolero) - Spanish Rose
by enchantedcreations2u

Red Gingham Rose Bouquet (six)

by gwyllion

Let It Snow!

2009-11-30T14:16:00.000-08:00

Winter Rabbit, by LycheeKiss

Ahhhhh Christmas!!!

This is my favorite time of year. Every year on the day after Thanksgiving, our little house goes through its glorious transformation into Christmastown. My husband takes great pride in the exterior lights and yard display - the largest and most elaborate in the neighborhood. By the time he's done setting everything up, the effect is magical... and blinding.

The inside of our house gets a holiday makeover as well, and my favorite room to decorate is the bathroom. Our blue and white bathroom is bedecked in snowflakes and white garland with a Rudolph snow scene display in the plant window, and candles in mercury glass votives. The crystal snowflake nightlight casts an etherial blue glow, and the whole room smells of mint and vanilla.

I am all about the snowflake - here are some exquisite "snow" themed items from our friends at Etsy - enjoy!!

Snowmen Christmas Card Set 3x5, by gigiphillips

Winter Chapel, by JeanKnee

Groovy Christmas Kitty, by LowellandSon

Silver Gift Tags, by JeanKnee

Ivory Cream Christmas Stocking, by rikrak

Snow and Chartreuse Glitter Felted Acorns, by truLuxe

Snowgirl Mini Handmade Wooden Ornament, by thepoppytree

Princess Annie

2009-11-16T14:48:00.000-08:00

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

2009-11-06T14:28:00.000-08:00

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!!!

2009-10-28T16:02:00.000-07:00

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

2009-10-27T15:13:00.001-07:00

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

2009-10-26T13:49:00.000-07:00

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

2009-10-23T19:25:00.000-07:00

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

2009-10-22T09:22:00.001-07:00

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

Days of Wine and Chocolate...

2009-10-21T18:45:00.001-07:00

LUMINOUS CHERRY BARK note cards set of 6

by twistedlight

Some days, there just aren't enough of either...

(...and that's all I have to say about that.)

Alas, there is no wine in the house, and only M&M's as far as chocolate goes. So I did my own search on Etsy to see if I could find something to give me a "fix."

Somehow, these lovely offerings from our friends at Etsy aren't giving me the heady intoxication I was hoping for, but they sure got my mouth watering - ENJOY!!!

Leather pin/ brooch ChocoRed flower
by VitalTemptation

Burgundy Brown Ruffled Restyled Leather Jacket Size 8 to 10
by stacyleigh

Dark Chocolate Covered Cherry Beaded Handwoven Gold filled Earrings
by PookieandPierre

ORCHIDEA leather bag
by FERUTOBags

Honey Floret - Vintage Steampunk Necklace Copper Enamel Flower
by bionicunicorn

Demi-Sec - champagne citrine, smoky quartz and crimson garnet cascade earrings

by beakee

BITTER CHOCOLATE WITH CHERRY SHORT SCARF
by UnderReconstruction

The Falling of Leaves

2009-10-20T17:08:00.000-07:00

Autumn Road - Fine Art Photo Greeting Card, by JMcGuinness

The Falling of Leaves
by William Butler Yeats

Autumn is over the long leaves that love us,

And over the mice in the barley sheaves;

Yellow the leaves of the rowan above us,

And yellow the wet wild-strawberry leaves.

The hour of the waning of love has beset us,

And weary and worn are our sad souls now;

Let us part, ere the season of passion forget us,

With a kiss and a tear on thy drooping brow.

All of the photos in todays blog post are from JMcGuinness on Etsy, a husband and wife photography duo in Connecticut (and no wonder - they have GORGEOUS foliage pics - this is just a small sample of their beautiful work). They specialize in nature, animal, landscape, architecture and still life photography, and donate a portion of their sales to animal rescue.

Please visit their shop on Etsy for more outstanding work - for a Californian who has never experienced a "real" autumn foliage display, they are a slice of heaven!

Fall at Wickham Park

Leaf on Water

After the Rain

Look to the Rainbow

2009-10-19T07:55:00.000-07:00

Print - Rainbow Connection, by CameraforKitty

I woke up at 5:30 this morning. No particular reason, just couldn't sleep. I tried reading a book for a while, but when it seemed that it was a lost cause getting back to sleep, I got up and donned my robe.

After feeding the animals and pouring a cup of coffee, I finished some work on a custom order and played around on Etsy and Twitter for a while. It was then that I looked out the kitchen window and noticed the rainbow.

We don't see a lot of rainbows around here, so it was a rare treat, and being the only one in the house awake, it was something that was just for me to enjoy.

Now, I'm not preachy or anything, but I like the bible verse about the rainbow:

"God said...I set my rainbow in the clouds

and it shall be a sign of the Covenant between me and the earth."

(Genesis 9:12-13)

I've always loved the lyrics for the Rainbow Connection (see photo above from CameraforKitty) - also very spiritual.

It was the perfect start to the day today - I couldn't have asked for a better gift. I hope your day is touched by a rainbow in some way. Happy Monday, and have a wonderful week!

Wool Wrapped Stacking Bangle, by mysticfibers

Googly Glitter Cocktail Ring, by PoPkO

Retro Rainbow Pin, by BraveMoonman

RAINBOW COLORED DAy oF thE DeAd Skulls, by pinkee

Sleep/Eye Mask, by maceme

Happy Rainbow Cloud - LARGE Resin Necklace, by FashionCandy

Jane Austen Day

2009-10-17T18:37:00.000-07:00

Jane's Dames - Mrs. Darcy Bracelet, by jackandella

Jane Austen Day
(with apologies to Oliver Wendell Holmes)
by Annmarie Martin Symons

It chanced to be Jane Austen day
on the Sunday movie station
with Sense and Sensibility,
Pride and Prejudice, and Persuasion.
I abandoned all my housework –
left a sink of dirty dishes
to pine, ah! bitterly I wept –
for a man in knee-length breeches.

I watched him striding ‘cross the glade,
Alas! Too late my birth
for my own Mr. Darcy as portrayed
by that devil, Colin Firth
in a sopping shirt – I nearly died!
Soaked clean through to the stitches
“Take me, take ME!!” I faintly cried
(Those breeches, oh those BREECHES!)

That night I saw him in my dreams –
How changed from on the TV!
The rift of space and time collapsed
to bring my Darcy to me;
That handsome rake was mine, all mine,
no hint of Liz in sight –
and so, alone, sufficed to say
we spent a lovely night.

By morning light, two hundred years
flashed forward in a blink,
and I awoke a modern wife
with dishes in the sink.
But though my fate is here and now
my aching heart still twitches –
and I’ll search for Darcy in my dreams,
my love, in knee-length breeches.

Mr. Darcy (The place where Mr. Darcy proposed to Elizabeth, Stourhead), by marymaephotography

Mr Darcy cross stitch wall art, by thetimeisnow

Jane - an art doll with handmade leatherbound book Pride and Prejiduce, by MothtoaFlameStudio

Jane Austen-1 Inch Button, by Goobeetsa

Mr. Darcy Proposal Mug, by Brookish

Saucy Riding Boots and Mr Darcy Pride and Prejudice Locket Charm Necklace , by hoolala

Jane Austen Wine Charm Set - Jane, Bingley, Lizzy, Darcy, by ripka

You're a great friend, but if the zombies chase us, I'm tripping you.

2009-10-15T18:25:00.001-07:00

Zombie Girl Cosmetic Kits, by glittersniffer

Let's hear it for zombies! I love the idea of zombies, especially like the ones in the original Night of the Living Dead movies. How could these slow-ass seemingly blind zombies actually find and catch up to the remaining humans? It boggles the mind. You have to be a special kind of stupid or an extreme klutz to be captured by a zombie.

And I wonder also - why do they eat brains? It doesn't seem to net them anything - they don't get stronger or faster from having eaten them, they just keep on groping around until they come across their next hapless victim. And if they were to avoid being killed by the two people in the movie that actually have any brain cells to rub together, would they eventually digest and poop out the brains? So many questions go unanswered...

In honor of Halloween, and in honor of our zombie friends, who have gotten ZERO press since the whole vampire-chic thing began, enjoy these cerebralicious items from our friends at Etsy:

Zombies Versus Townspeople Halloween Checker Set, by PsAndQs

Severed Human Zombie Foot, by UncleScabby

Zombies Hate that I am so Awesome Kids Shirt, by tinaseamonster

margaret makes the other zombies a tad uncomfortable, by zombunny

Zombie Apocalypse pinback button 6-pack, by BarrelOfMonkeys

And another by tinaseamonster, but being a knitter, I couldn't resisit - this is hilarious!

Zombies are Crap at Knitting Book mark in Sleeve, by tinaseamonster

All I want for Christmas

2009-10-14T12:56:00.000-07:00

Silver dipped pinecone - necklace, by junedesigns

Surfing through the pages of Etsy every day is like visiting thousands of lovely boutiques without the gas money and parking hassles. As I've been browsing the listings in search of goodies to share with you all, I have been able to bookmark some of my very favorite items - and it's never too early to start a wish list for Christmas!

I have coveted silver/gold dipped pinecone necklaces for about 5 or 6 years now, but have never found one that was large enough in scale, yet dainty enough to not be ridiculous. The one listed above by junedesigns is PERFECT in every way. Elegant in simplicity, it is just gorgeous!

Another thing I absolutely love is the scent and color of pink grapefruit. I found these beauties while searching around on Etsy, and have cheerfully added them to my Christmas list:

Grapefruit Paradisi 2x3 Pillar Candle, by purplesuncandles

AIMEE - Earrings, by ClairePearse

As a fan of 19th century classic novels, I am particularly drawn to anything having to do with Jane Austen. Here are a couple items that I just SWOONED over:

Jane Austen shadow box bracelet, by poetsummer

Jane Austen Book Handbag, by spoonfulofchocolate

I have been searching for a long time for a ring that has both turquoise and aquamarine - turquoise for my birthstone and aquamarine for Jack's birthstone. It would be awesome to find one that also has opal (Mark's birthstone), but so far no luck. I found this lovely ring in LvoffStudio's shop:

Turquoise, Aqua, Sleeping Beauty Turquoise Sterling Silver Ring, by LvoffStudio

But most of all, I want a Kindle. SO BAD. Imagine being able to download books in seconds and carry up to 1500 titles at once! It would be like dying and going to heaven. (I know, I know, this is not an Etsy item, but it's at the top of my wish list for Christmas, so there.)

Kindle Wireless Reading Device (6" Display, U.S. Wireless, Latest Generation), from Amazon.com

Soon it's gonna rain...

2009-10-13T14:36:00.001-07:00

STORM WATCHER, by lewfoster

What a storm, eh folks? You know, I don't think I've seen this much wind and rain since December 14th, 2002. Know how I know the date so precisely? It was the very day of my wedding to my dear husband Mark. The rain and wind started first thing in the morning, and was so furious that it was actually raining sideways. SIDEWAYS. The storm caused such a hardship for some of our family members that they were unable to attend, as they had to travel so far. Some folks barely made it to the end of the ceremony. Our reception hall was without power for most of the afternoon, and they had to set up in the dark (which fouled up the seating arrangements, which is a fiasco I care not to expound upon).

There is an Irish superstition that rain is lucky on your wedding day. If that's the case, then Mark and I should be set for LIFE. Seven years - so far so good!

Days like this make me want to curl up on the couch and watch Merchant Ivory films (hopefully the power will stay on through all this wind!). Enjoy these items from our friends at Etsy, inspired by "rain"...

Why does it always rain on me
by lunetmuse

get off my cloud earring
by sirenjewels

PDF-Amigurumi Happy Weather Mobile Pattern
by AmyGaines

Crystal Rain Earrings

by LizardiBridal

Raindrop - silk-lined clutch bag
by redrubyrose

The day It Rained For Romance Art Deco

by JANETLILY

RAINY DAY WITH MY UMBRELLA silver necklace
by LycheeKiss

The Hostess With the Mostest!

2009-10-10T08:58:00.000-07:00

Miss Spooky Pant Apron, by AnniesAttic

Hostessing the perfect party is an art, which I have YET to really master. Usually something or other falls through the cracks, no matter how much planning and preparing I do in advance. Paige, however, is an ARTIST when it comes to hostessing a party, leaving me wondering if she's really a 1950's hostess with the mostest reincarnate. Every detail is expertly executed, every guest feeling like an honored attendee - no drink glass is ever empty at a Paige party.

In April of this year, Paige's mom Mary Ellen turned 70, and to honor the event, Paige threw her a wonderful suprise party at her house with a "Spring Chicken" theme (Mary Ellen's birthday being so close to Easter this year). For the event, Paige and I put our skills together to whip up delightful little easter chick hostess aprons for herself, daughter Ella, and myself to wear at the party, and they turned out REALLY STINKIN' CUTE! (I will post photos of the finished apron on a later post, as I haven't had time to iron it and shoot it yet - more on that subject later).

I have been a collector of vintage hostess aprons for the past 7 or 8 years, and have a lovely little collection that I display in my kitchen at various times of the year. My favorites are the ones in my Christmas collection - my entire kitchen is done up in vintage mid-century Christmas kitsch, and it is the only time of year that my kitchen feels like a lovely place (more on THAT subject at a much later time.)

In honor of my husband's 38th birthday, I am hosting a barbecue party at my mom's house this afternoon. This is a beer and ribs party - nothing I can get frilly and hostessy with, so no apron for me today, but I am hoping I can channel the hostess goddess within to make sure that everyone has a good time.

Enjoy these lovely hostess aprons from our friends at Etsy - they make me want to run out to an estate sale!!

black and white polka dots with CHERRY APPLIQUE hostess apron, by loverdoversclothing

RETRO TO HELL with HOUSEWORK APRON, by VintageDove

VINTAGE CHRISTMAS APRON, by SWEETKATHLEEN

Sweet Candy Cane Christmas Vintage Apron, by SerendipityTreasures

This is SHARKS TERRITORY

2009-10-08T10:11:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited, because I have the honor of singing the national anthem tonight at the home opener for the San Jose Sharks! Doubly excited because they usually only call me in for games against Canadian teams (I know their anthem), and TRIPLY excited because it's my husband Mark's birthday, and he and his friends will all be there at the game!

Here are some vicious bits from our friends at Etsy using the search terms "hockey mask". Enjoy!

Halloween Hockey-mask, by nakittaa

Jason Friday the 13th Leather Keychain, by leatherprince

Hockey One Necklace, by andreacorson

Tshirt - Tokyo (men), by AkumuInk

And I think I have to get this sock yarn - dragoneyarnes makes colorways for 14 different NHL teams! (This one's the prettiest, if I do say so myself...)

San Jose Sharks Sock Yarn, by draygoneyarnes

Paper Houses

2009-10-07T17:05:00.000-07:00

Gingerbread House, by thesaltboxcollection

You know what I love? Paper houses. You know, the kind like your grandparents had (well, not mine, but I can imagine) lining the mantelpiece at Christmas. These little confections were crafted of cardstock, mica snow, glitter, bottle brush trees, chenille pipecleaner santas and snowmen, and colored cellophane in the windows that would glow if you put a light behind them. I would love to have an entire village of glittery paper houses and stores and churches, all in pinks, whites, blues and greens - and then I'd sit and make believe I really lived in this frosted little wonderland.

I did a bit of surfing on Etsy to see if I could find paper houses, and was suprised to find that there aren't many listed. I did, however, find a great seller who has a number of adorable ones, including the gingerbread house above. The creator of thesaltboxcollection started off by repairing a few inherited vintage paper houses, then went on to creating a whole new village using the same time-honored techniques. The result is a charming mix of buildings that leave me wanting more and more!

Enjoy these items by thesaltboxcollection on Etsy!

Village Schoolhouse, by thesaltboxcollection

Mail Pouch Barn, by thesaltboxcollection

Pink Farm House, by thesaltboxcollection

BLOGTOBERFEST! Day 5 - "flocktoberfest"

2009-10-05T08:51:00.000-07:00

Needle Felt Bird Ornament, by moonforest

Jack & Ella Designs has entered a challenge on Blogspot to update/post every day of October. The event is called BLOGTOBERFEST, and is hosted by TinnieGirl, a crafty girl in Melbourne, Australia. If you have a moment, stop by her blog for information about giveaways and promotions that are going on by other Blogtoberfest participants throughout the month of October!

Today's post is "Flocktoberfest," and is dedicated to birds. As I mentioned before, I have mad love for birds, and enjoy surfing through the listings for bird items on Etsy - there are thousands! - and every day I find a treasure that I never knew I couldn't live without.

Enjoy these beautiful (and bizarre) items from our friends at Etsy - Happy October!

Blue Bird Nest Soap Set, by LoveLeeSoaps

Fly to your nest for soon it will be night, by Juliesparklybits

Snowfall Tree - card set of 8, by InkDropDesign

Free at Last Bird with Bird Cage Vinyl Wall Decal, by LeenTheGraphicsQueen

...aaaaaaaaaaand seriously. Really? I don't think I'll be able to sleep tonight:

Robin Danny Boy, by therunnybunny

(if you think this is creepy, check out the rest of therunnybunny's shop - you ain't seen NOTHIN' yet!)

AAAAAAANNNNND she's over it.

2009-10-04T17:18:00.000-07:00

oh, boo-frickin-hoo sign, by gotmojo

Okay, for those of you who have been reading the blog these past two days and have wondered, "What in the (insert favorite expletive here) is wrong with Annmarie?" I would like to state for the record that I am now officially over it.

Done with the gloomth psycho-betty sturm und drang.

Done with worrying about things that are out of my control.

I only can say that life sure throws you curve balls from now and then, and you gotta be ready to SWING, sister! You have to be willing to surrender your fear and have faith. Spring always follows the winter, etc. etc., blah blah blah. Maybe some of it was PMS, I don't know...

ANYWAY

Here are a few goodies from Etsy that illustrate my new mood - enjoy!

Suck It Up And Get Over It, by figure22

Happy Place Found hand painted glass, by geekdetails

PUT ON YOUR BIG GIRL PANTIES AND DEAL WITH IT, by pizzazjewelry

And my new personal favorite - this is SO ME!!

I'm Wearing My Big Girl Panties And They Are Starting To Bunch Sign, by icehousecrafts

(plus, icehousecrafts is vamp friendly - we love that!)

We Wear the Mask

2009-10-03T12:19:00.000-07:00

Day of the Dead SUGAR SKULL GYPSY Mask

by illustratedink

We Wear the Mask

Paul Lawrence dunbar

(1872 - 1906)

We wear the mask that grins and lies,

It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes,--

This debt we pay to human guile;

With torn and bleeding hearts we smile,

And mouth with myriad subtleties.

Why should the world be overwise,

In counting all our tears and sighs?

Nay, let them only see us, while

We wear the mask.

We smile, but, O great Christ, our cries

To thee from tortured souls arise.

We sing, but oh the clay is vile

Beneath our feet, and long the mile;

But let the world dream otherwise,

We wear the mask!

A Kind Of Pale Jewel
by TotusMel

Sweeney Todd vs. Beethoven, Adult Mask
by Masquefaire

The Golden Sprite Mask
by MeddlerandMeddler

Art Nouveau swirly leaves leather mask in black
by TomBanwell

The Gardener

2009-10-02T13:31:00.001-07:00

coeur, by labokoff

The Gardener

Rabindranath Tagore

(1861 - 1941)

Your questioning eyes are sad. They seek to know my meaning as the moon would fathom the sea.

I have bared my life before your eyes from end to end, with nothing hidden or held back. That is why you know me not.

If it were only a gem I could break it into a hundred pieces and string them into a chain to put on your neck.

Ecstacy Necklace, by theresamink

If it were only a flower, round and small and sweet, I could pluck it from its stem to set it in your hair.

Water lilies hair pins, by Likron

But it is a heart, my beloved. Where are its shores and its bottom?

You know not the limits of this kingdom, still you are its queen.

If it were only a moment of pleasure it would flower in an easy smile, and you could see it and read it in a moment.

If it were merely a pain it would melt in limpid tears, reflecting its inmost secret without a word.

But it is love, my beloved.

Its pleasure and pain are boundless, and endless its wants and wealth.

It is as near to you as your life, but you can never wholly know it.

We Make a Good Pear, by TimelessTrinkets

Two Birds On A Branch Charm Pendant, by ArtsNcharms

"Poppy"

2009-09-30T14:00:00.000-07:00

Handmade large flower brooch - BIG POPPY BLOSSOM

by JujaCrafts

“Okay class, today I am going to break you up into pairs to work on a short scene. You will have until the end of class today to work with your scene partner, and we will start performing them tomorrow. You can hold book or not, it doesn’t matter. The point of this exercise is to connect to the emotion in the scene. What are these characters trying to express? How are they feeling? What other emotions are hidden beneath the surface? I will be coming around the room if you have questions, or need some help with your scene.”

Eva stuffed her purse and books under her seat and took a long hit from her Kleen Kanteen. As Mrs. Suter started a numbered list on a yellow legal pad, the class broke out in nervous, excited whispers about who would be partnered with whom, and the shock of only being given one class period to prepare before performing in front of the class.

“I hope we get picked to do our scene together,” Poppy whispered. “If I get stuck with Doug again, I swear to God, I’m gonna barf.”

Poppy and Eva had grown up together and had been best friends since kindergarten. Poppy was popular – pretty, smart, funny, captain of the pom squad and an amazing dancer. She started ballet class at the age of three, and was going to start training with the Royal Ballet that summer. Poppy wasn’t part of the popular kids’ clique so much as she was her own clique. Everybody loved Poppy. Her parents owned property in the affluent neighborhood of Lindenwood, and it was no secret to anyone in Raven Park that they were loaded. ‘Old Money,’ they called it. The Fieldses were heirs to one of the Silver Kings’ fortune, and although Poppy’s father, Daniel, never needed to work a single day in his life, he pursued a career in Venture Capital, and made a fine name for himself financing a number of now very profitable dot com companies in the valley. Poppy’s mother, Emelia, had studied early childhood development in college, with an emphasis on children with developmental delays. Having gone on to receive a Master’s Degree in clinical social work, she now donated her time to a learning facility for children with autism. Poppy was an only child, and her parents doted on her. For her sixteenth birthday, Poppy’s father surprised her with a new Volkswagon Beetle (convertible, naturally) – candy apple red with a tan interior. This exciting new gift did not come without its own set of rules, however. Poppy was not allowed to drive the car to school, and they were very strict about the laws pertaining to teens driving on provisional licenses. They needn’t worry, though. Poppy was a good girl. Her biggest vices were makeup, shoes and gossip. She had the 411 on everything happening at RPHS.

“Yeah, me too. You don’t suppose that little chat Mrs. Suter had with Doug last semester has changed anything, do you?”

“The ‘you need to shower and brush your teeth every day’ chat? Not likely,” Poppy said with a delicate sneer. “I don’t think he’s seen a bar of soap since the seventh grade.” Poppy rooted through her purse and checked her cell for messages before shutting off the ringer. “Ryder has been blowing up my phone for the past two days, and it’s starting to get annoying. He sent me a text last night at 2:30am! My dad’s going to freak when he gets the bill.”

“Have you talked to him at all?” Eva asked.

“NO! He needs to chill out. If he’s going to get all jealous and act like an infant whenever I so much as say ‘boo’ to another guy, then he can just suffer.”

“True story.”

It was at this time that Mrs. Suter started dividing up the class into pairs for the scene work. “I’m going to pair you all up with someone you have never worked with before. Expand your horizons – new people and new experiences make for more honest performers.”

Poppy and Eva simultaneously groaned under their breath. Not only would they not be doing a scene together, but Eva now had the added dread of being paired up with Doug and his halitosis.

Poppy Glossy Lip Tint
by FlourishBathBody

Red Poppy Ring

by tigerlillyshop

Leather Poppy Wristlet- Red

by tmStudioDesigns

Ruffled Poppy Pillow in Deep Red

by dedeetsyshop

Magenta poppies clutch purse

by jenniferladd

Mod Bird and Poppy Necklace
by MDsparks

Owl Be Seeing You

2009-09-29T12:59:00.000-07:00

Owl Winner 2, by nayarx8

I have mad love for birds (in the wild - not as pets, they poop everywhere). Birds are the physical manifestation of my soul - they are beautiful, they can fly, and they sing when they talk. Every summer, several pairs of tiny birds build their nests in the eaves of our front porch, and we get to hear the sweet frantic chirping of baby birds when they are demanding their breakfast.

Owls, in particular, have always been very special to me. They are very stately creatures - the royalty of the birdie kingdom. There is something very old-soul about owls, and whether the moniker "wise old owl" is accurate or not, these birds' very nature implies a certain level confidence and intelligence that we can only wonder at.

Enjoy these lovely owl items from our friends at Etsy:

Autumn Hoots lampwork owl pendant neckalce
by dkjewels

Owl and Lace Pillow, by TrackandFieldDesigns

Late night Operator, by DistrictThirty

I wonder if these guys were separated at birth... ;o)

Twit, Twoo - Owl embroidered Cushion, by angharadjefferson

Eastern Screech Owl Winking, by StevesPhotos

Baby Burrowing Owl 5 x 7 Print

by NaturesCall

And I LOVE this pillow - see the owls? Genius...

Funky Wood with Funkier Modern Owl 20x20 pillow

by Pillowphyte

FANG-ASS-TIC!

2009-09-28T16:59:00.000-07:00

TRUE BLOOD inspired Fangtasia HAND PAINTED women's jeans

by ink4yoursole

Okay, I know it's been a few days since updating the blog - the sole reason being the hunt for the new-to-me car (which we finally found - an '05 Ford Five Hundred, which I LOVE).

I used to do painted jeans a while back - I started out making them for myself with mostly poems or lyrics written on them, but then branched out into adding color, pictures, etc. I did some custom ones for friends and people in the biz - Crazy For You and Wizard of Oz jeans for Paige, Hot Mikado jeans for Gia, Phantom jeans for Amy Lyn, Tapestry/ROCK jeans for Dolo, Dreamgirls/Brooklyn jeans for Ramona, and a pair of Evita jeans (naturally) for myself.

Today's find started out as a search for "painted jeans" on Etsy, and although most of what I saw didn't thrill me, these jeans are GREAT! Obviously, I love the subject matter, and I love how great the graphics look - Well Done!

Visit ink4yoursole's shop for more handpainted goods (shoes too!) by clicking the link at the top of this post. Enjoy!

Driven to Abstraction

2009-09-23T10:08:00.001-07:00

I Think We're Being Followed - GICLEE PRINT

by shawnaerback

I had an entirely different subject in mind for today's blog when I ran across this abstract painting by artist Shawna Erback. I was planning on discussing the upcoming release of New Moon and featuring fellow Twilight sellers on Etsy, but upon browsing with the search term "moon," I came across this seller's store and stopped dead in my tracks.

This painting is from Erback's Chronicles of a Journey series, "a modern allegory that takes the viewer on an emotional adventure with a girl and her pet. I paint a story of love and hope which envelopes the viewer with passion, remembrance and contemplation." (excerpt from Erback's Etsy profile).

Her paintings are exquisite, enchanting and at once heartbreakingly haunting. Even though you never see the face of the little girl in the paintings, you can feel how she views this bizarre and macabre world through bright innocent eyes. The overall effect is so uplifting - I'm going to be riding this high all day!

Erback's work reminds me of another abstract painter that I have loved and followed over the years, artist Ora Tamir. On our second Christmas together, my husband Mark gave me a large giclee painting of hers entitled "The Unexpected," that I had seen and fallen in love with at Tapestry in Talent in San Jose. I have been unable to feature it as of yet, but am planning to design our master bedroom around it.

The Unexpected - Giclee on Paper

by Ora Tamir

Perhaps I could add some of Erback's works to our bedroom plan and create our own little abstract art gallery. I'm inspired - I hope these artists can do the same for you today!

FALL in Love!

2009-09-22T09:27:00.000-07:00

Autumn Leaves print, by sarahsetsy

Today is officially the first day of autumn, and I couldn't be happier! Fall is my favorite time of year - the weather finally starts cooling down and turning crisp, the trees turn heartbreakingly beautiful colors, and Starbucks starts making their Pumpkin Spice and Gingerbread lattes.

Celebrate the autumnal equinox in style - decorate your home with fall colors and spiced candles, get out your favorite throw blankets and cozy sweaters, and relax over a yummy latte or cup of chai tea to some lovely classical piano music. Ahhhhhh, heaven.

Here are some beautiful items to get you in the mood from some of our friends at Etsy - all on sale TODAY!!

Pumpkin Soaps by thesoapseduction

Orange Pumpkin Scarf/Boa by kiamichi7

Autumn spice necklace by sparklecouture

Autumnal Fire Stacking Set by CreationsbyCat

And this seller, who has the most ethereal and lovely costumes I've seen in quite some time - BEAUTIFUL!!

November Fairy Costume by TheBohemianGoddess

Sing out, Louise!!

2009-09-21T09:38:00.000-07:00

Sing Out Loud Every Day print

by pleasebestill

This delightful little print is by a seller that is featured today on Etsy, and I couldn't help but to share this with you!

Jen Renninger is an artist living in Tampa, Florida, who has had a great amount of success with her illustrations in magazines and other publications, and who now is selling her beautiful works of art online through Etsy. The one above immediately spoke to me this morning, and I would like to remind all of my dear readers that regardless of what life throws at you from day to day, remember to take the time to nourish your soul (or sing out, as it would be in my case!).

Please visit Jen's shop by clicking on the picture or link above, and enjoy her other lovely works of art - I hope they inspire you, as they did for me this morning.

SING OUT LOUD EVERY DAY!!!

MY NEW CAR!!!

2009-09-19T17:11:00.001-07:00

Camaro RS, by bombfactory

(Nah, just kidding, but wouldn't that be AWESOME??)

Today my husband and I left our son at grandma's house to begin the daunting task of finding a new-to-you car for me, to replace the Cherokee that he rolled last weekend (remember the trip to the Tahoe National Forest? I know I do...).

It takes a LOT of work to look for a car to buy - even more when you are restricted by financing parameters. Do you shop at a dealer so that you are confident in the quality of what you're buying, or do you go with a private owner to get the better price? And even being pre-approved for a loan through our credit union, it is still a big job. We were out for four and a half hours today, and so far we haven't seen much that floats our boat. We test drove a Dodge Magnum (damn sexy car!!) and a Nissan Altima, and looked at a few others, including the Dodge Caliber, Mazda 3, and the PT Cruiser (cool on the outside, feels cheap and uncomfortable on the inside).

So home we came, sans new-to-you car, to do more homework and more surfing on Craig's list. I am hoping to have this matter settled ASAP - managing with one car is doable, but it takes a bit of work!

So, even though I'll never end up with anything NEARLY as cool as these, here are some of my pipe dream cars - enjoy!

I Win (Dodge Viper), by bombfactory

(Pontiac) GTO, by LibertyImages

And anyone who has taken the "How well do you know Annmarie?" quiz on Facebook knows that this is, and forever will be, MY CAR!!!

Racing Red (Ford Mustang), by chicalookate

A Day at the Doctor's Office

2009-09-18T16:27:00.000-07:00

Heartbeat Tumbler, by soule

Today was "D-Day" - the day I scheduled to take Jack to the D-O-C-T-O-R. He hates the doctor. Hates. HAAAAAAAATES the doctor.

The day started early with a trip to Jack's cardiologist for a 2 year checkup on the tiny murmer that he has. He started hollering waaaaaaaay out in the parking lot, and really turned up the heat when we got inside. They stuck stickers on him and plugged wires into them to get an EKG, and then they took an ultrasound of his heart. Now mind you, none of this process hurts the kids, but the way Jack was carrying on, anyone out in the waiting room might think the doctor was biting off his fingers and toes one by one!

And if that visit weren't enough to poop him out, I threw a double whammy at him and took him to his regular pediatrician for a checkup. Again, the drama in the waiting room and the hysterical fit in the exam room. I could barely hear what the doctor had to say, but this is not a new occurrence - he has been screaming his way through doctor's appointments since he was less than a year old. He got a flu shot, and now I'm sure he hates me.

Monday is the dentist. Wish me luck!

Oh, BITE ME

2009-09-17T15:48:00.000-07:00

Today, we are happy to share with you some of the new designs we have featured in our own Etsy shop, Jack & Ella Designs!

These bracelets are from our new line of jewelry inspired by Charlaine Harris' books, and by the HBO series that is based upon these stories, True Blood. These bracelets are made with silvertone chain and shrink plastic, and are sealed in enamel to protect them from the elements. The first one show below, the "Bite Me, Bill" bracelet, has already been featured on various fan blogs and websites:

We are also gearing up for the November release of the movie New Moon, and have a line of jewelry dedicated to the Twilight Saga. Our #1 seller, the Lion/Lamb bracelet has been selling like hotcakes since the release of Twilight last year, and continues to sell as quick as we can make them:

We love to do custom orders - the possibilities are endless! Come on by and view our lines of Mother's and Bridal jewelry that are customizable with birthstone colors and MORE.

Mention you saw us on this blog, and receive a special gift with purchase. See you soon!

Knit Wit

2009-09-16T14:37:00.000-07:00

A few years back, my sister in law, Shannen, taught me how to knit. At first, I was miserable at it, and it was pretty frustrating to keep my stitches loose and even, even in stockinette. But with a little practice, I was soon following simple patterns, and even took on (sometimes not successfully) more challenging projects. Yarn became an obsession, and trips to my local knitting shops became for me what bookstore jaunts have always been. I could spend all day petting the various yarns in wool, cashmere, silk, soy, flax, linen, cotton, alpaca, mohair... the list is endless.

I'm still a novice compared to these sellers, but my skills are improving! Someday I might just make something for myself that actually fits (besides socks).

Victoria Coat by designbynihan

Snow Drifts Spiral Scarf by AngelAndFairyDesigns

The Wicked Autumn Hat by Sloanester

RIONA hand knitted cardigan coat by ovejanegra

and this little "bean cozy", that I just ADORE:

LiL Acorn Baby Beanie by ForStitchesSake

There are two really great yarn shops in my area that I enjoy visiting: Bobbin's Nest Studio in Santa Clara, and Yarndogs in Los Gatos. Make sure you have enough time to really enjoy your visit, and if you happen to find any cashmere on clearance, let me know...

Itsy Bitsy Spider

2009-09-15T16:44:00.000-07:00

When my son was a baby, he had colic. BAD. Somewhere around 7pm began the "witching hour", when the 4-5-6 hour wailing session would commence. Few things worked to soothe his frazzled little nerves, but despite all the bobbing, tummy drops, car rides, etc, sometimes the ONLY thing that would calm him down would be a cutesy rendition of "The Itsy Bitsy Spider." Is it because, as William Congreve said, "Music calms the savage breast?" Maybe so, if your mommy is a professional singer. But it worked... sometimes...

Halloween is in the air, and I'm reminded again of spiders. Spiders, my crafty little housemates who build their mansions in the corners of my rooms. I once heard some legend about how it's bad luck to kill a spider, because the spiders are what keep the moon in its orbit. Something like that anyway, but to this day, I can't bring myself to swat one. (However, should a daddy longlegs suprise me in the shower, sorry daddy, it's you or me.)

Here are some great spider items I found today on Etsy. Enjoy!

Witches Promise - Off the Shoulder Dress

by iheartfink

Retro Thirties Pinup Gal Trapped In Spiderweb

Cigarette Case or ID Holder

by sweetheartsinner

Extra Long Black Skull and white tutu skirt

by SistersOfTheMoon

Pink Spider Webs Vintage-Inspired Net Lace Hostess Apron

by flappergirl

And these lovelies, which remind me so much of Melissa Marr's books (Wicked Lovely, Ink Exchange and Fragile Eternity). There is a part of me that would love to wear faery wings like this every day!

Moxie Fairy Wings - Goth - Cobweb Spider Wings

by OnGossamerWings

What are YOU going to be for Halloween? Drop me a line and share your fun ideas!

Hey there cupcake!

2009-09-14T09:51:00.000-07:00

Seriously, after a long weekend of wine and treats, it's time to head back to the gym to see how much damage control I can muster. But even as I sweat and groan, my mind will be on my favorite delicacies, most specifically - CUPCAKES.

Is there anything more perfect than a cupcake? Not only is it a delicious treat, it's a miniature work of art. And what gelato did in the 80's, cupcakes are doing in the new millenium. Every day it seems that more and more cupcake cafes are popping up, making this guilty little pleasure, once only able to be savored at children's birthday parties, a mainstream delight.

Here are a few calorie free ways to satisfy your sweet tooth from our fellow Etsy vendors:

CUPCAKE Shabby mini cottage sign, SignsByDiane

Sterling Silver Stamped CUPCAKE Pink Brown Pendant, E. Ria Designs

The CHLOE Vintage Inspired Blue Cupcake Apron, Boojiboo

and this little delight, which nearly made me snort coffee through my nose:

Cute as a Cupcake----Custom Sizes 12 mo - 5T, sweetplume

If you live in the SF Bay area, there is a lovely little cupcakery in San Carlos that you must visit! Vanilla Moon Bakery at 872 Laurel Street, offers beautifully crafted cupcakes, whether you're looking for something special for a wedding or party, or just walking in off the street.

Enjoy your cupcakes - I'm off to the gym...

Fauna

2009-09-13T17:19:00.000-07:00

Between last night and today, I have logged over 10 hours in the car heading out to and from Jackson Meadow Reservoir in the Tahoe National Forest to fetch my husband and 3-year old son after a day's 4-wheeling adventure went awry, resulting in a complete roll and totaled Jeep. Thankfully, the only injuries sustained were minor cuts and bruises to my husband's head and elbow, but it was enough to freak me out completely.

I wish I had a bit more time and presence of mind this morning as we were packing camp to leave to appreciate the scenery of Jackson Meadow Reservoir. The lake there is gorgeous, and it is surrounded by hilly terrain covered in evergreen trees. The weather was crisp and clear this morning, and I did see one or two chipmunks scamper by.

I chose these delightful little creatures for you today to enjoy, and hope that you all have the opportunity to encounter some of the wonders of the wilderness soon (without the added aggravation that we experienced this weekend)! All of these images are by lauri on Etsy:

The Corn is as High as an Elephant's Eye

2009-09-12T10:34:00.000-07:00

Last night, my mom and I had the priviledge of seeing my dearest friend and business partner Paige perform the role of Laurie in Oklahoma.

I had never seen Oklahoma before, and in the most jaded and catty theatre girl attitude always thought, "Oklahoma, oh BARF." I couldn't have been more wrong.

It was SUCH a good production, and I enjoyed every minute of it. The casting was superb - many friends of mine from various other shows I've worked on in the past, but this time given such great roles for them to really stretch their wings with! I'd like to give a shout out to my favorite performances from last night:
Gennine Harrington (Ado Annie), Steve Perez (Will Parker), Joey Montez (Ali Hakim) and Lisa Cross (Aunt Eller). Special notice goes to Michael D. Reed for his performance as Jud Fry - what a voice, and masterfully portrayed. You had my mom and I saying, "Wow, he's good!" (And believe me honey, we KNOW.)

But the show would have been nothing without the brilliant performances of Paige Cook Perez (Laurie) and Tyler Bennett (Curly), whose grace, ease of character and natural chemistry made their love story an enchanting romance. And did I mention that they sang the poop out of it? Yeah, that too... ;o)

The production was directed by Nancy Fitzgerald-Metzler and choreographed by Jayne Zaban, and they both did a magnificent job sculpting this cast into the confection that it is - BRAVI!

If you live in the SF Bay area, and want to see a wonderful rendition of Oklahoma, it plays through the end of September at Hillbarn Theatre in Foster City.

Go. Don't barf. Just go.

ORANGE you glad...

2009-09-11T10:20:00.001-07:00

Feeling very orange today - inspired by a beautiful treasury I saw on the front page of Etsy this morning. I decided to do a bit of surfing through the Etsy pages myself with the search term "orange", and came up with these goodies...

Orange Chalcedony Earrings

by JCGemsJewelry

Fire in the Sky 8x10 print

by consideringnature

Autumnal Romance Ring

by vividcolors

Reclaimed Wool Sweater Brooch

by thejunebride

Silhouette and Japanese Beads Vintage Necklace

by mtuent

And because this little guy was too cute to resist (and is a perfect portrait of me before my morning coffee:

Terrorables Radtard the Bear

by theringleader

Thank you so much to all these sellers for quenching my thirst for orange in such unique and beautiful ways! I hope it makes your day bit more JUICY!

- Annmarie

Southern Gentleman and His Lady - By JeweledAmbrosia on Etsy

2009-09-10T09:29:00.000-07:00

Jeweled Ambrosia is a shop on Etsy that is a collection of beautful composition jewelry pieces, a lot of which are inspired by the Twilight book series by Stephenie Meyer.

I originally became acquainted with Lisa and Jeweled Ambrosia when she was so kind as to feature one of my jewelry items on her blog: http://www.littlelovables.blogspot.com/. She has since been one of my favorite sellers, and we have even traded items in our Etsy shops.

Southern Gentleman and His Lady is a necklace inspired by the character Jasper in Twilight, and is a gorgeous and elegant statement piece for anyone's jewelry wardrobe.

09/09/09 SALE AT JACK & ELLA DESIGNS

2009-09-09T09:42:00.000-07:00

Today, we are promoting our own Etsy shop, which is having a 09/09/09 sale! All items in our shop are $9.99 or less TODAY ONLY (sale ends 12:00am PST 09/10/09). Stock up and save on all our designs, including mother's jewelry and bridal party jewelry.

We are also still running our Weekly Twilight/True Blood Giveaway. Visit our store at jackandella.etsy.com for details!

This made me pee just a bit...

2009-09-08T13:47:00.001-07:00

I was doing a search on Etsy with the search terms: "etsymom" and "bird", and came up with this delightful little confection by Quirky Clips. I have long been a fan of Coco and friends from Sloane Tanen's book "Bitter With Baggage Seeks Same".

Ms. Tanen uses these little chicks in various sizes and colors and creates dioramas to put them in various (sometimes sick and twisted) situations. For those who have never experienced her books, you are in for a rare treat. The children's books are darling, and the adult books are sardonically hilarious and just plain WRONG. (Which I love...)

Quirky Clips is part of the Etsymom Street Team, and hosts a variety of darling hairclips and accessories crafted from felt and other goodies. Lauren is mother two two young daughters and creates these treats for girls of all ages! Thanks for making and posting this ring, Lauren, you totally made my day!

Flying Witch Pendant - by paulasstressart on Etsy

2009-09-06T19:35:00.000-07:00

Even though it was a gorgeous summer day today, on which my husband, son and I spent the day at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk (culminated by Mexican Chocolate ice cream at Marianne's) - my heart is longing for fall and for the crisp weather that makes you want to curl up in your living room, drink pumpkin spice lattes and eat your weight in candy corn.

I found this wonderful dichroic glass pendant on Etsy by one of the members of the Etsymom team. The Flying Witch Pendant No. 22642 is a fantastic little gem in tonics of orange, yellow and green, like only dichroic glass can do, and it makes me wish that I could bust out my Halloween decorations now! My husband insists I at least wait until the end of September... :o(

For more of Paula's beautiful wearable works of art, visit her Etsy shop at paulasstressart.etsy.com

Houndstooth Folded Notecards - punctuationstation.etsy.com

2009-09-05T09:18:00.000-07:00

I am taking this opportunity today to do a promotion for a new member of the etsymom team.

Kellee is a SAHM to two children - a 5-1/2 year old girl and a 2-1/2 year old boy. Her Etsy shop, Punctuation Station specializes in elegant and whimsical custom notecards and invitations for all occasions.

The hallmark of gentility is a well written note - why not splurge on a beautiful set of personalized stationery to let your friends and business relations know that you care enough to send the best?

The Decision Maker - from Adorapop on Etsy

2009-09-04T15:51:00.000-07:00

This necklace has been one of my favorites for a while, and I wish I had the $60 to spend on it, because it sure could come in handy! Who doesn't need a little assistance in making some of life's more difficult choices? Adorapop's Etsy shop has loads of lovely treasures made into delicate necklaces with Victorian and Steampunk flavors. Visit her shop at: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=26682

Etsy Twitter Team Shop of the Week: Beautiful Bridget

2009-02-03T15:46:00.000-08:00

Beautiful Bridget is this week's Etsy Twitter Team Shop of the Week, and is home to beautiful crochet designs - hats, scarves, neck wraps and more. Each exquisite item is hand made by Kimberly Ferrugia, and each is unique and truly one-of-a-kind.

Please visit Kimberly's shop at http://beautifulbridget.etsy.com/

GingerDead and other oddities

2008-08-30T11:11:00.001-07:00

I was surfing around Etsy today, and found GingerDead - a poet and artist with a dark and juicy sense of humor. I love how she combines comic art with haiku, and anybody who loves dark chocolate and strong coffee is good in my book.

Visit her sickly whimsical designs at GingerDead.etsy.com