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Saturday Selections – It’s a Jungle out there!

This week’s addition of Saturday Selections is inspired by the rainforest… which my garden is looking increasingly like.  It’s been raining a LOT here recently, and it seems that every weekend we’ve wanted to get outside and tidy up the garden, it’s rained.  This weekend the sun is finally out, and when I wandered out into the garden these are some of the images that greeted me:

Jungle garden collage photographs

The grass is knee high.  There is a huge vine choking *everything*.  The insects are out and about and LOVING it.  It’s not going to last though, because I’m determined to get out there today and tomorrow and tidy it up!

Until then, let’s celebrate the beauty of the rainforest with these wonderful Etsy finds:

My first rainforest favourite is this ‘Rain Forest Rivers’ bracelet by Karmelidesigns.  I love the combination of earthy greens, coppers and blues.  It features a  Pietersite nugget, rhyolite, yellow citrine, deep blue dumortierite, and small black onyx beads, a few antiqued copper spacers, and a stylish toggle clasp.

Matching perfectly with this bracelet is this beautiful Tropical Rainforest Necklace by Aquasphere.  It also features the earthy beauty of rhyolite.  This volcanic stone’s mossy greens, browns and grays are a perfect match to the rainforest.

Tropical rainforest necklace featuring Rhoyolite by Aquasphere

Of course, once you’re decked out in rainforesty-goodness for your neck and wrist, you need to have something pretty for your ears as well!  I just love these Rainforest Blossom Bouquet Earrings by Eighthnote.  The flowers are pretty and feminine, and I love the way they hang together.  The shades of green and blue are perfect for the rainforest and look beautiful together.

Rainforest Blossom Bouquet Earrings by Eighthnote

Long before I had ever heard of Etsy, I was posting my artwork on deviantART.  I love the support other artists give with their comments, and am inspired by the work of the wonderful artists who also submit their art to the website.  One of my favourite artists from deviantART is Angela Vandendogard.  I’ve admired her work for years and was delighted when I came across her store on Etsy, Jellybeans.  This print titled Rainforest is a great example of her beautiful, whimsical style:

Rainforest print by Angela Vandenbogaard

I hope you all enjoyed this little trek through the rainforest – hopefully by the next time I post, my garden will be looking less like a jungle and more like a garden again!

UPDATE:

Jungle bin

I think the rest of the garden will have to wait until after bin day.

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A Belated Friday Favourites – Merry Christmas!

You would think that now I’m on school holidays I would have gotten my act together and had my Friday Favourites published on time… but you would be wrong.  So this is more like Saturday Favourites (but that doesn’t have the same ring to it!).

I’ve been busy working on a commissioned piece so that’s my excuse 🙂

Next Friday as you know is Christmas day, and I will be busy cooking up a storm (or setting things on fire) in the kitchen – so I won’t be posting a Friday Favourites.  So this week I’ve decided to do a Christmas themed set of red and green items.

First up this week are these beautiful Christmas Cards by Moonmum (who is a fellow Aussie!).  I love the fact that these are something a little different to what you normally see on Christmas cards.  The birds are cute and the stitching really adds another dimension.

I know it’s probably a bit late to be thinking about Christmas cards now, but Moonmum has lots of other cards in her shop for all occasions which are just beautiful, so make sure you check it out!

Next up are these cool Amoeba Kelly Green earrings by Under Glass.  These unique earrings would be lovely for any time of year, not just Christmas!

Time for another red item – This wonderful bracelet titled “Blooming Garden” by Blue Dove Studio.  I think this bracelet would go perfectly with my red Christmas dress – but like the earrings it’s not Christmas themed so would be pretty at any time of year.  I just love the antiqued brass branch charm in this bracelet.

Next up in my little red and green pattern (did you notice?) are these lovely Green Holiday Earrings by AZ Bead Girl.  I just love the little diamantes!

Finally, I have to break my red-green-red pattern because I just couldn’t resist including this beautiful soap by Aniselle Bath & Body.

Isn’t it just gorgeous!?  Would be wonderful to have in the bathroom as a handsoap around Christmas time when guests come around.  The soap is Sage and Pomegranate with Olive oil and Goats milk, so it sounds like it would smell and feel as lovely as it looks.

Well that’s it!  My last Friday Favourites for 2009!  I should be back with another blog post before Xmas though – I’m hoping to do a painting for Monday Artday if I get to it in time.

Have a lovely weekend!

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Friday Favourites – Rainbow!

It’s Friday again (Hurrah!!), so that means another edition of my Friday Favourites.

This week’s selection is inspired by my most recent painting, ‘Colours of Nature’

I’ve picked out something in each of the rainbow colours of this picture.

My favourite RED item is this beautiful red pearl necklace from Fine Heart.  It would be perfect to go with that red Christmas Day dress, don’t you think?

My favourite ORANGE item is this signed art card print titled “Alone at the End of the Day” by Fine Art Prints by Amy Giacomelli and Natalia Skye.  I love the colours and think the birds are just so cute!

Now, I have to admit, YELLOW is not my favourite colour.  In fact I didn’t have any yellow items in my favourites list!  I went on a yellow things search and was immediately taken by these beautiful ‘love knot’ earrings by Wing by Sea.  The citrine stone is lovely.

My favourite GREEN item is this wonderful original watercolour entitled “Listening In” by Ali Herrmann.  I love the beautiful soft green she has used.

I just love BLUE, and have a lot of blue things in my favourites list (as you can see from my last edition of Friday Favourites!).  My favourite blue thing this week is this stunning pair of earrings in blue and silver by Chaton Designs.  They are such a pretty shade of blue and are on sale at the moment too!

Last, but definitely not least, is PURPLE.  I am just loving everything purple at the moment, but especially this pair of earrings entitled “Magenta Tears” by LunarBelle.  They are such a gorgeous colour and I think they’re very elegant.

I hope you’ve enjoyed my rainbow edition of Friday Favourites!  As always, please check out the other items these wonderful sellers have on offer.

Don’t forget, I am hosting a giveaway of a $25 gift voucher, to be drawn on the 12th of December.  Grab your entry now – you never know your luck! 😀

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Four Friday Favourites

Welcome to my second edition of “Friday Favourites” – this week I’m lising four of the items on my Etsy favourites list.

My first choice this week is this stunning Lace Noir Vintage Olga nightgown, from TiaLey Vintage.  I’ve been eyeing off this one for a while 🙂  Almost looks like an evening dress, not a nightgown!

The next item on the list today is also a nightgown (I have a lot of these in my favourites list – wish I could afford to buy them all!).  This nightgown from Haute Country Vintage is in the most gorgeous shade of blue – I just love it!

I hope my husband is paying attention to the Christmas present hints here! 😀

Next up is this beautiful turquoise and sterling silver bracelet from Julie’s Jewels.  I love the colour of the turqouise, and I think it would go with so many outfits – you could wear it with casual or more dressed-up clothes.

Last, but most definitely not least, are these stunning Versailles earrings by feminesque.  I love the colour and the swirly shape.  The matching necklace is just as beautiful.  These are definitely one of my favourite Etsy jewellery items!

Well, that’s my Friday favourites for another week!  Please check out the stores mentioned, as they have other lovely things available too!