Feelin' it Friday: Animal Totems in my Pocket.

Something a bit different this week, rather than a particular store I'd like to bring to your attention a new 'craze' I've noticed on the Etsy which has caught my eye - Animal Totems. Has anyone else noticed this lately?

My favourite book In The Whole World is The Amber Spyglass by Pullman, so naturally I really, really like the idea of a tiny animal daemon in my pocket to give me support throughout the day. You know, because I can't carry Charlie Munchers, my actual daemon around with me in a papoose like I want to. He has to stay at home, eating cardboard boxes. Le sigh.

Anyway - check these out!
1/ leaping pinto by SongandBranch 2/ narwhal by  HandyMaiden 3/ le kiwi bird by leanimale 4/ grey linen whale by adatine.

Thanks.

Grateful, every day.

Busy Times!

I've been slightly absent on the Blog front of late due to a huge burst of creative energy that has suddenly arrived this week causing me to make a bunch of new stuff for the shop instead of .. you know.. mucking about on the internet.

And just in time as well. This Saturday I'll be selling down at Wonder Hill Market at the Miller in London Bridge. I'll be there from 11.30 with a bunch of new epic lush OOAK feather and stone earrings I've had floating around in my head for a long time and have finally sat down and worked out the logistics (they are a bit of a fiddle to make but its so much fun!) - I'm so happy with them and can't wait to see what the good people of London think. I'll also be showing off a few other tit bits I've not had a chance to list in the store yet - check that wolfie out up there!

I'll be listing the 2 items above in store on Sunday if they don't get snaffled up at the market, but if you would like to bags one before then please get in touch. I only have 2 pairs of the Quartz earrings above.

Market dates in full for Christmas are::
Wonder Hill Market // 26th Nov @ The Miller on Snowsfields Road, in London Bridge.
Barboot // 2nd Dec @ The Haberdashery Crouch End (WEATHER PERMITTING)
Wonder Hill Market // 17th Dec @ The Miller on Snowsfields Road, in London Bridge.

(PSST I'm also throwing a 10% off on everything in store with the code BLACKFRIDAYNESS at check out all weekend you guys!)

Damned Good.

Incredible artwork by Evan B Harris
[website / flickr ]

Clothes Swap LIVE!

When we moved into the new flat, I had to cut down my wardrobe a bit so boy could fit some clothes into out dresser. I know, its unfair, sigh, lament. It left me with a pile of clothes I quite liked but hadn't worn in a while. Rather than take all of these to a charity shop, I thought I might see if I had some friends interested in coming around and rummmaging, bringing some of their unwanted clothes, a 'swishing' party I believe it is called.

I absolutly can not recommend holding a swishing party with your friends enough. What fun! After a few hours of sitting around drinking wine and cackling over womens magazines [Kirsten Stewart: Can she act or is she boring? Discuss.] while waiting for stragglers to make their way in, we piled everything into the middle of the room and using a complex ROTATE system we sifted through the pile, tried things on, fashion paraded and generally had a fantastic time.

More importantly, everyone went home with a [substantially smaller] pile of clothes to add to their wardrobe for FREE and I have a large bag to donate to charity. Everyone is a winner, literally. Such a wonderful way to get some new clothes you might never have thought to buy or even try on in the shops and all for nothing.

More importantly its easy to organise and people leave lots of cake behind. Hurrah!

In this 'economic climate' it really is a fantastic thing. This is totally going to be a regular occurance methinks!

Now if you will excuse me, I have to ponce around the house in my new bohemian wardrobe and Lady Mary Crawley jacket eating cake. Fnahhr!

Feelin' it Friday: Faunfare

Lets step away from Etsy this week and head over to my friend Helena's beautiful perfumery, shall we?

Helena of Faunfare is one of the first friends I made on Etsy. I can't remember how, but we ended up partaking in a trade, which in turn resulted in hours spent debating to logistics and politics of Etsy, and generally becoming friends whilst brainstorming and bouncing ideas for shop stuff off of each other via email. I've enjoyed watching her store change shape over this time and am so pleased she has re-opened it with a new line of fragrances for you all to sniff!

Look at it. Her photography is impeccable and I promise you the delights inside those bottles smell divine. I recently ran out of some samples she sent me and I've been sat here deciding which to pick next.

Listen to this - A shining spectre stalks through the silent forest, trailing neither shadow nor breath in the cold night air. His silver forms weaves through cedar, cypress, and fir, until he disappears beyond the bare hills, leaving behind the scent of damp moss, bracken, and skin. 

I have no words. Beautiful.

Scents are a hard thing to buy online, I've come a cropper of a blatant case of misinformation before now and am pretty cautious these days, but with Faunfare I know I'll be safe. So you should buy some. You will smell delicious.

Special Orders for Christmas

Looking for something special?
Maybe something from the store with your own spin for a friend?
Maybe you want to reserve something OOAK currently listed?

Please get in touch ASAP! Time is running out for shipping worldwide in time for Christmas.

Final custom orders for Worldwide must be made before 1st December, UK orders must be in by the 15th.

Bird Watch // People Watch

St James' Park is brilliant for watching people getting excited about birds.
(and I really want that girl in the first pictures coat!)

New for Winter

You might have noticed a bit of activity in the store this weekend, as winter bits and bobs started to creep onto the virtual shelves. I've already shared the new wish bracelets which are going down like mulled wine on bonfire night - more of those to come my dears fret ye not - but I wanted to do a quick post to tell you about this pair of necklaces as well.

I'm not sure if any of you have noticed, but I like cold icey places. Being from the south, Antarctica is my poley continent of choice - and thus both of these are inspired by my recent readings on the subject.

Beardmore Glacier is a good faceted chunk of glacial blue lace agate on a silver chain.
Aurora Australis sees a trio of faceted rose quartz stones on a delicate gold chain - the colours of a winter sunset.

Worth mentioning that both of these are very limited editions, I have just 4 of each. I'm always happy to reserve if you need to wait until payday, please let me know ASAP!

I will of course be bringing these darlings along with a collection of made-for-the-occasion wish bracelets and some feathery treats down to the Wonderhill Market on the 27th November at The Miller in London Bridge, I'm so excited to be selling at Wonderhill again - come down and say Hi!

Rememberance

ummm....

So this guy is called Clive? (view large)

Heart of the Great Alone @ Buckingham Palace.

Despite being incredibly hungover when we went, I very much enjoyed the Heart of the Great Alone exhibition in the Queen's Gallery at Buckingham Palace the other weekend. I mean, obviously. Half Ponting and half Hurley it was a great presentation of Antarctic photography on display for the first time to mark the 100th anniversary of Scott's trip to the pole.

I'm a huge Ponting fan so seeing a lot of these photographs big and up close rather than on a computer screen or in a book was a big deal for me. Some of the photographs previously too small to see certain details, depths I'd missed before. The contents of the shelf behind Scott in that picture, the faces of the men in this picture. The flag flown at the pole by Scott and his team when they got there... the original bound copies of the South Polar Times. The only disappointing part was the lack of paintings by Dr Wilson, I had expected there to be more.

The best part of this exhibition (apart from Oates) was that my ticket is open for a year so I can keep going back. I have an actual waiting list of people to take along. I'll be returning to visit the Captain again soon.

::winter wishes::

A few months ago at the North London Vintage Market, I took a photo of a bowl of vintage wool cards and thougth nothing more of it. A few days later while looking through the photos I performed a classic forehead slap and instantly regretted not buying them.

Fortunatly, at the next market, there was the lovely seller from the previous month, wool cards in tow. And thus, I crafted these new wish bracelets as a wee experiment. And how well they turned out! Going down a storm at the October Barboot in Little Paris and people demanding to know when they would be on store over twitter.

And here is the first batch! All one of a kind with beautiful Botswana Agate nuggets paired with the Chadwicks wool and carefully selected silver charms. The wool is so delicate and soft, perfect for winter wishes and best friends.

Check them out over on the Dear oh Deer store now - and don't forget to get your Christmas orders in before its too late!

Feelin' it Friday: AHC

Lets talk about Debbie Carlos again. Shall we? Yes lets.

Not only does this girl kick a-r-s-e with her incredible photography and posters, she's only gone and opened a jewellery store as well. And its only gone and become one of my favourite little jewellery stores on the big bad internet. Look at it! All the things it has to offer, filling your heart with joy. Everytime I see something new from AHC pop up on one of my various dashboards I do that thing where you squeal and clap your hands. You know the thing. Its a great thing.

Damnit Debbie why are you so GOOD!

For Christmas I would like this.
Thank you please.