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Sunday Selections – Pretty in Pink

I know, I’m a day late with this one – I was having a very lazy day yesterday.  I’m hoping to make up for it with lots of painting today.

This week’s Saturday Selections (well, Sunday Selections) is inspired by the colour pink.  Pink and I have had a chequered history.  I loved pink when I was little, and then as I grew older I decided I hated it – I think I was rebelling against the whole ‘pink is for girls’ thing.  Now that I’m older still I’m loving it again – so here are a few of my favourite pink items from around Etsy:

First up is this devine lace tunic by Lirola.  I have been eyeing this one off for a while now – I just love the pretty fabric and the applique embellishment!  I think this top would be great worn with a pair of jeans, a pretty necklace and heels. I will be snapping this one up myself just as soon as I can afford it!

Lace tunic by Lirola

I’ve been really into wearing bracelets lately, something I never used to bother with, but there are so many pretty ones around that I just can’t resist.  This is one of them – it’s called Monet, Iris’ Sterling silver lampwork bracelet, by Kajulee.  I love the mottled colours in the lampwork beads, and the Swarovski crystals they’re paired with make a beautiful match.

Monet Iris' Sterling silver lampwork bracelet by Kajulee

Isn’t this ‘Poppy’ scarf by Tutus2 so pretty and feminine?  It is made using vintage silk kimonos and japanese silk, and is one of a kind.  I love the idea of using vintage materials to make new handmade objects, and this scarf is a great example of that.

Poppy Kimono Silk Scarf by tutus2

Last, but not least, is this gorgeous necklace by Rue de Bijoux.  It’s called “When she visited the Patisserie diet was the last thing on her mind” – isn’t that a fabulous title?  All of the jewellery at Rue de Bijoux has great titles like that – the shop is worth looking at just for that,  but it is also filled with beautiful vintage inspired jewellery.  This pretty necklace is one of my favourites:

When she visited the Patisserie diet was the last thing on her mind by Rue de Bijoux

Be sure to check out all the other lovely items these sellers have in their shops!

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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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Friday Favourites – Silver White Winter

I know it’s not quite Friday yet, but I thought I’d post my Friday Favourites now as I don’t know if I’ll get a chance tomorrow.

This week’s selection is inspired by this painting:

It’s actually stinking hot here right now, so I’m a little envious of my northern-hemisphere friends and their white winters 🙂  To get me into a cooler frame of mind, I’m featuring beautiful items in blue, white and silver.

First up this week is this sterling silver necklace with interchangeable amazonite and pearl pendants, by Emily Wiser Jewellery.  I love that you can wear just the white or just the blue pendant, but I think they look great together.

You may have noticed that I am very taken with swirls, and they feature heavily in my artwork.  Bearing that in mind, I’m sure it isn’t difficult to guess what caught my eye about this beautiful necklace, titled “Romantic Getaway” by Beach Glass Gone Wild!

The next blue and white beauty on my list is this gorgeous vintage vanity fair robe in periwinkle blue, from Fine Vintage Apparel.  It’s just too pretty for words!

This Silver Snowflake necklace from Inbal Jewelry and Design is just lovely.  It would make a lovely addition to a winter outfit, but I think it is so pretty I’d wear it all year round.

Last, but most definitely not least, is this stunning card featuring artwork titled “Buckwheat Branches” by IsabellaFlora.  The card is blank inside so it could be given for any occasion – it’s just beautiful!

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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!

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Wearable Art

This weekend I’ve been working hard on a new venture – wearable art.

I’ve made a few pendants already.  Each one features an individually painted work of art.

"Evening Rain" - Wearable art "Pink Morning" Wearable art "Twilight Tree" wearable art "Spring Day" Wearable art "Autumn Tree" wearable art

If you’d like to purchase any of these pendants, they are available at my etsy store.

I’ll be making more of this type of pendant, so stay tuned!