Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Whimsical Wednesday: "I would be a mermaid fair..."


Mermaid from rochelle31

 "I would be a mermaid fair;
I would sing to myself the whole of the day;
With a comb of pearl I would comb my hair;
And still as I comb'd I would sing and say,
'Who is it loves me? who loves not me?'"
~from Alfred Lord Tennyson's

The other day a friend of mine happened to mention how much she loved mermaids when she was little. It made me start thinking about my own mermaid-loving days and how I always pretended to be a pretty fish-tailed girl when I was at the pool. Of course, no one understood that being a mermaid meant I didn't have to go up for air as often, and I hadn't really bumped my head, or gotten stuck, or been pushed under, or any of the other million and one things the silly adults were always worrying about. And I wasn't about to tell them. That three- to eight-foot-deep space under the surface was my own whimsical sea where anything was possible. The diving rings transformed into coral bracelets and the little weighted eggs we dove for during swimming lessons magically turned into pearl-laden oysters. They were lovely evenings, and I think the most beautiful sunsets I have ever seen were those filtering through the water above me. I dreaded having to climb out of the pool onto the hard, chilly concrete. In the water I was wrapped in perfect peace, it was a place where time stood still and gravity didn't apply, overflowing with rich imagination and pure bliss.
Mermaid Seafoam Comb from TreasuredDetails

These beautiful moments are harder to create as adults; it's much more difficult to abandon all our cares and for a bit be whoever we want to be and see the world in any way we want to see it. Lately, though, I have been focusing on enjoying these small moments as they come, being grateful for the lovely memories they create, accepting the unpleasantnesses and moving on, and viewing the world through the most aqua-colored glasses I can muster.



Mermaid Tags from jaxg12

  
Sea Maiden Necklace from BeadCoutureBySteph

"Souls of Poets dead and gone,
What Elysium have ye known,
Happy field or mossy cavern,
Choicer than the Mermaid Tavern?"
~ from John Keats' "Lines on the Mermaid Tavern"
  
Sweet Mermaid Dish from notengomiedo

Siren Song from clairelafaye

"Thou rememberest since
Once I sat upon a promontory,
And heard a mermaid on a dolphin's back
Uttering such dulcet and harmonious breath
That the rude sea grew civil at her song,
And certain stars shot madly from their spheres,
To hear the sea-maid's music?"
~from Shakespeare's "A Midsummer's Night Dream"

Mermaid Dream from shopvintageme
 
Vintage Mermaid Salt & Pepper Shakers from fadedvioletvintage
 "Here all is pleasant as a dream;
The wind scarce shaketh down the dew,
The green grass floweth like a stream
Into the ocean's blue..."
~from James Russell Lowell's "The Sirens"

Saturday, March 26, 2011

oh rats! & Rescues!


oh rats, i forgot... from dutchdoor
 "I've a grand memory for forgetting." Thank you, Robert Louis Stevenson, for this great quote! And it's just what I was searching for becaauuse...

I forgot yesterday was Frabjous Friday! *gasp* I have been so busy this week, and then my mom, my son and I went out of town, that I just remembered. Good grief. However, there is other news.

I started an Etsy Team earlier this week and would love for you to check it out-


I'm really excited about it :) The purpose of the team is to bring together people who have adopted a pet through the humane society or rescue organization -or- those who have independently rescued and adopted an animal in need. Any kind of animal. Furry, spiny, feathered, it doesn't matter :) I hope the team will be able to raise awareness about animals in need of loving and caring homes as well as responsible pet ownership.

I put together the following collection of items, the proceeds of each item being either partially or entirely donated to a charity or organization dedicated to helping animals in need.
  
Cat Burglar Postcard from TwoStrayCats
 
The New Puppy Necklace from OneEyeCatDesigns
 
Boston Terrier Screen Printed T-shirt from littlebluefeather 
 
Classic Cameo Earrings from walkonthemoon
  
Mary Lou Photo Print from uberjoi 
 
Keyhole Screenprint from AlisaBobzien

 I truly hope you'll stop by the team's cozy little corner of Etsy, and maybe check out an item or two that could help change the life of a critter in need :) Make sure to leave your thoughts below & bye for now! I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Honoring {the Life & Reign of} Gloriana

On this day 408 years ago - Thursday, March 24th, 1603 - what I consider to be one of the greatest reigns of all time ended: that of Queen Elizabeth I of England. She was a truly amazing woman and queen, with talent, and skill, and the confidence to use them to her advantage. I've always admired the fortitude and intelligence she demonstrated throughout her reign, as well as the ideals regarding gender that she stood for.

"Though the sex to which I belong is considered weak you will nevertheless find me a rock that bends to no wind." Queen Elizabeth I

I am aware of her all-too-human faults, but she led an undeniably amazing life and is so fascinating to study. If you're interested in learning more about her, one book I would definitely suggest you read is Elizabeth: The Struggle for the Throne by David Starkey (a fantastic historian & author) who in this particular work narrates Elizabeth's life from birth to her accession to the throne in 1558.

In case you're interested, I put together a treasury in honor of Queen Elizabeth's life and reign:




"My care is like my shadow in the sun- Follows me flying - flies when I pursue it." Gloriana

Queen Elizabeth had such a rich personality and extremely varied interests. She is definitely a person I would love to have met :)

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

A whimsical day to go for a ride (& and a few other tidbits)


Keep Calm and Pedal On
from CantonBoxCompany
Greetings! Wow, what a week! It's supposed to be spring break here but I honestly think this has been the busiest week of the semester yet! It has been crazy. And between all of the homework, my Etsy shop, and trying to spend as much time with my family as possible, my kitten, Keats, has been sick. I took him to the vet today and the poor little guy has epilepsy. Thank goodness it is a very manageable condition, though, and all we have to do is give him one little pill a day. *Phew* I can't even express how relieved I am that he's going to be okay :)

The weather has been gorgeous and it occurred to me (after Queen's Bicycle Race popped into my head :D ) that it is the perfect day for a bike ride! If only we had bicycles. Rats. BUT, a lack of actual bikes doesn't mean we can't enjoy these wonderfully whimsical bicycle themed lovelies I found in honor of Whimsical Wednesday! I have always thought of bicycles as having a certain whimsicality all their own. Each one has its own distinct personality, and it seems to always directly reflect the personality of its owner. I particularly love vintage bicycles. They have so much spunk and spirit. I hope you get the chance to go on a bicycle ride soon with someone special, but in the meantime, enjoy these fun & whimsical finds!
 
Le Petit Bike Necklace
from luckyduct

Vintage bicycle coptic stitch journal
from SteelPetalPress


"Every time I see an adult on a bicycle, I no longer despair for the future of the human race." H.G. Wells
The Duke Of NY riding his bike.
from matteart
 
Vintage Button and Bicycle Ring
from SelmaMae

Paper Couple on Bikes
from papercutsbyjoe
"The bicycle, the bicycle surely, should always be the vehicle of novelists and poets." Christopher Morley 

BIKE tshirt
from boygirlparty

Let's Ride
from NanLawson

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

A Sunshiny Day


Salutations! Today was lovely. We opened up all of the windows and my son ran around the yard like a wild man. Then he brought me some flowers :) It really is the little things that make a day wonderful, you know?

I just listed a couple more little items in my shop and now I'm watching Lover Come Back, an old Doris Day/Rock Hudson movie. Ahh, just the right amount of cheesiness. I really want to watch That Touch of Mink soon (I looove Cary Grant) and Daddy Long Legs (I also have a soft spot in my heart for Fred Astaire). Who are some of your favorite old movie stars?

 <<<The bea-yoo-tiful flowers Gabriel
        picked for me earlier :)


And now for a couple sunny favorites: 

Daisy Poms from PartyPoms

Bright Sunshiny Day from farouche

Sunshine Yellow Owl and Flower Hairpins
from WhitePicketFences

"Good Day, Sunshine" baby quilt
from moonspiritstudios

Sunday, March 20, 2011

A quiet weekend (of making messes :)

Hello! I know it's been a bit since I was here last. I've been going to class, procrastinating on homework, and mainly spending time with my husband and little man. I've also been doing what I like to consider "artful experimentation" (which is basically just making a mess on my dining room table ;)


I finished my first collage last night. I'd never made one before and yep, I made a big ol' mess, but it was fun! I used pictures and words cut from books that were on their way to the recycling center (don't worry, they were already in horrid condition), scrapbooking paper, and if I wanted to print something out, I used blank pages from one of the old books.

I told you I make a mess :)
I started another one earlier today (with the help of Sonic Happy Hour, of course :) and I think I have found the perfect poem by Lord Byron to put on it.

What kind of crafty things have you been up to lately? Well, back to making messes for me! :)

Thursday, March 17, 2011

A Day of Silence

 There will be no blog posts tomorrow in order to acknowledge and raise awareness about the recent devastation in Japan. This is also out of respect for the victims of the disaster and to help raise funds for the shelter of those who may otherwise have no safe place to go.

There is no pressure to do so, but if you are able to donate any amount, go to Shelter Box USA. They are a non-profit whose purpose is, "To provide humanitarian relief and aid in the form of equipment and materials that provide shelter, warmth and comfort to people displaced by natural or other disasters."

You can find more information about Bloggers' Day of Silence at Utterly Engaged and For Japan With Love. Thank you for anything you may do to try and help the people affected by the recent natural disaster. No matter how big or small, or the nature of your gift, it all matters and will be remembered.

May love & laughter light your days...


{Claddagh ring - Peridot from nellyvansee}
May love and laughter light your days
and warm your heart and home.             
May good and faithful friends be yours,
wherever you may roam.
May peace and plenty bless your world
with joy that long endures.
May all life's passing seasons
bring the best to you and yours!

I hope you are enjoying this one day a year when everyone is Irish! I particularly love St. Patrick's Day because my great-grandmother was from Ireland and I enjoy seeing all of the flags, and shamrocks, and lots and lots of green. Speaking of which, don't forget to wear green today - you don't want to get pinched like I did! - and maybe a clover or two for good luck.

Also, here are a few pieces that are sure to brighten your day and warm your heart :)

{Vintage St. Patrick's Day Scraps from TinselandTrinkets}


{The Castle in the Field from 3LambsDesign}


{4 Leaf Clover Mug from AddledHillPottery}


{Luck of the Irish Necklace from SilkstoneDesigns}


{On the Globe Series: Ireland from buckscountyframes}

Happy St. Patrick's Day, friends! 

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

A Squirrelly Whimsical Wednesday indeed

Hello! I hope you are having a wonderful day thus far, but don't worry if you're not because it's about to get whimsical :) I saw these adorable little critters the other day and was so enchanted by them I felt immediately inspired!

Meet:  Bon Bon & Belchick! Tweed woodland squirrels in love
from sleepyking

Inspired to do what, you may ask? Why, have this Whimsical Wednesday's theme be squirrels, of course! They're cute, and cuddly, and I love their big black eyes and quivering whiskers, and how they'll sit in one spot looking quite innocent and then *zip!* they're gone! I also admire their industry and fortitude, considering the stockpiles of nuts they gather for winter and the horrid weather I've seen them scrambling about in.


Cup cake tree from smallx2
Alright, before I try to fashion myself into a mini-Aesop go ahead and pull up a ladder, harvest a cupcake or two, & enjoy a few more delightfully squirrelly selections.


Little Brown Squirrel Pin
from Vegancraftastic

Whimsical Squirrel Notecards
from whimsywhimsical

Squirrel Silhouette Necklace
from roiaobrien
toggles
from wonting
The Squirrel Tree
from thepoppytree
And now, to end with a delightful poem.

Whisky, frisky,
Hippity hop;
Up he goes
To the tree top!

Whirly, twirly,
Round and round,
Down he scampers
To the ground.

Furly, curly
What a tail!
Tall as a feather
Broad as a sail!

Where's his supper?
In the shell,
Snappity, crackity,
Out it fell.

(Anonymous)

I don't know about you, but I wish I could go "Whisky, frisky" & "Whirly, twirly"! Well, I hope to see you around soon! Have a perfectly whimsical Wednesday!

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Stylish Blogger Award! :)

Hello again! I am delighted to say that Cait from Book Geekery has given me the Stylish Blogger Award! I met her through the English Geeks of Etsy Team, and she has been so nice and has an awesome inventory of literary inspired items in her Etsy shop, also by the name Book Geekery, which you should definitely go check out.

When you receive this award, apparently you are supposed to a) thank the person who awarded you, b) include seven facts about yourself, c) pass the award on to other bloggers, and d) notify them of winning the award! (This is fun!)

Seven Facts:

1) Today is my one month Etsy-versary.
2) I have an intense desire to be creative but always just make a mess :)
3) Cats are my favorite animal.
4) I'm allergic to wheat & chocolate.
5) I absolutely love Modernist fiction (particularly Virginia Woolf & Sinclair Lewis, among others).
6) I would love to write a great novel someday.
7) I want to live a full life & be able to see my children, grand-children, and maybe even my great-grand-children grown, but I don't want to outlive my husband because I don't think I'd be able to live without him.

Who I'm passing the Stylish Blogger Award on to:


Thank you again to Cait from Book Geekery for thinking of my little blog! This makes me happy :) And I'm so excited to pass on this award to the blogs above! I'll be messaging you ladies to give you the scoop! Have a lovely evening, everyone!!

A Gorgeous Day to *Pounce!*

It is gorgeous outside today! My son, Gabriel, and I went and played in the yard for I-don't-know-how-long, running around, chasing his bouncy ball, swinging, him trying to break into the old shed, and just exploring in general. All extremely important activities for a 21 month old, of course. We topped it all off with a picnic lunch. Then he went down for a nap. A long nap :) It's amazing how well playing hard and getting dirty makes you sleep, and thank
goodness for yard sale finds because this child knows how to ruin clothes. We had lots of fun and I’m looking forward to a whole entire summer of mornings like this.

While Gabriel was resting his sleepy little eyes I made a new treasury using Pounce, Playfully Romantic – Pounce Edition. It features all new shops still waiting for their first sales, but how they haven’t had a sale yet, I don’t know. Check it out and let me know what you think! Well, that’s all for now. I hope the rest of your Tuesday evening is beautiful! :)

Monday, March 14, 2011

An energetic Happy Birthday to you, Mr. Einstein!! (& a few theoretically relative selections)


No one would take Albert up on his bicycle race
challenges  after  he  decided  motion and rest are merely
relative and there is no such  thing  as  a  false  start.
 Guten Morgen, everyone! It's a beautiful rainy morning and the start of a brand new week. It feels like just about anything is possible. To make it even better, it's Albert Einstein's birthday!

You may know Mr. Einstein as the physicist absolute genius who developed the two Theories of Relativity (General & Special), explained the photoelectric effect using his theory of quanta, and confirmed the atomic theory of matter. (And I thought I was busy!)

He was born on March 14th, 1879 in Ulm, Germany to Hermann and Pauline Einstein, started attending school in Munich in 1885 and graduated from the Eidgenoessische Technische Hochschule in Zurich with a diploma degree in 1901. 1905, however, was Mr. Einstein's Annus Mirabilis, his Miracle Year, during which time he wrote several papers that would have a completely unforeseen affect on the way science is studied and perceived, including the light quantum paper, the Brownian motion paper, and the paper introducing the Special Theory of Relativity. During that same year Mr. Einstein submitted his doctoral thesis, "A New Determination of Molecular Dimensions", to the university in Zurich and was awarded a doctorate. It was the work he did in 1905 that ultimately prepared the way for him to win the Nobel Prize in 1921.

A dynamic personality: Mr. Einstein knew how to have a good time.
Throughout all of his academic pursuits and achievements, however, Mr. Einstein managed to have quite the lively personal life. He met Mileva Maric while they were both students in Zurich; they had an affair during the first few years after the turn of the century and ultimately married (against both of their families' wishes) in 1903. Their marriage was rather tumultous, though, and the bit in their vows about fidelity evidently didn't bother Mr. Einstein too much. He was, apparently, quite the ladies man. Their marriage ended, for all practical purposes, in 1915 while he was trying to complete his General Theory of Relativity. Mileva took their two sons and left for Zurich, leaving him in Berlin with Elsa Einstein (his first cousin maternally and second cousin paternally), who nursed him during a period of illness. After Mr. Einstein's divorce from Mileva was made official in 1919, he and Elsa married. (Yes, he married his first cousin and I'm not even going to try to figure out how they were cousins on both sides.) Elsa had more patience regarding his still frequent flings, however, and their marriage lasted until her death in 1936.


I won't torment you with a picture of the real thing...
 Mr. Einstein passed away in 1955 at the age of 76 and was cremated, though not before his brain was removed (without his family's permission) by Thomas Stoltz Harvey, Princeton Hospital's pathologist. He lost his job almost immediately for refusing to surrender the brain, though he managed to keep it in his possession. Dr. Harvey hoped to preserve the brain until science and medicine could explain what had made Mr. Einstein so intelligent, leading him to distribute small bits of it to various reseearchers over the years towards this end. The brain was in Dr. Harvey's possession until 1996, when he finally passed it on to Dr. Elliott Krauss, the chief pathologist at Princeton Hospital, where much of it still resides.

Albert Einstein has, of course, served as an inspiration to a great many people over the years, and here are a few items inspired by his humor and personality that are sure to inspire you throughout your day!

mustache on a stick - einstein
from sarahedesigns
  
Albert Einstein Onesie
from ohbabytees

Imagination is Everything - Einstein
quote linocut print from thebigharumph

  
Theory of Relativity Formula Belt Buckle
from bmused
 
There are two ways to live your life...
- Einstein Wall Words from OldBarnRescueCompany
 
Theory of Relativity handwritten Tee
- Womens from nonfictiontees
(Men's here)


I hope you enjoyed today's celebration in honor of Mr. Einstein's birthday as well as the Einstein-inspired mini-treasury! I apologize for the terrible jokes, and hope I haven't run anyone off :) Auf Wiedersehen, and I hope you all have a beautiful monday!!