Sunday Soundtrack - Blues Funeral.

If I knew I would be living anywhere for longer than three months at a time any time in the near future, I'd plaster my walls with all of Dianne's photos from Lafayette Cemetery, New Orleans. You can purchase these beauties as prints in her store.

This autumn evening, I'm really loving Mark Lanegan's latest album, Blues Funeral. Fingers crossed I can get tickets for the London date of the tour. I feel like this song in particular fits the mood of the prints - in terms of subject matter, but I also dig how the dusty pink flowers of the album cover echo those in the first photo. 

Small mercies: a "surprise" necklace.

Wearing (on two consecutive dreary, rainy library afternoons) the Dear oh Deer necklace I won a couple of weeks back on Dianne's blog.

I got back to the UK yesterday and was delighted to discover it on the doormat - with all the hustle and bustle of travelling I had forgotten it would be waiting for me.

I love it; it's even more beautiful in real life. It's times like these I really do wish I owned a digital camera, to do it some form of justice.

Sunday Soundtrack - Grunge Goodness (& Winning A Giveaway!)

I never win anything. But I just won this beauty from Dear oh Deer and am utterly delighted. Spring colours most certainly putting a spring in my step this Sunday afternoon.

Can't wait to post about it properly at some point in the near future...

Mother Love Bone - Stargazer

Throwing Muses - Not Too Soon

So into all of this right now. (I was born two decades too late, blah blah blah).

Wednesday Wishlist #4 - I want... New Dear oh Dear, CAMP and QUARRY and Et Respice Finem.

Dusty Rose - Rhodonite and Chain Collar Necklace by Dear oh Deer.

Glacier Blue - Amazonite & Chain Collar Necklace by Dear oh Deer.

Prehnite Raw Green Crystal Large Chunky Nugget Necklace by CAMP and QUARRY.

Purple Amethyst Crystal Skull Necklace by CAMP and QUARRY.

Triad // Trio of Silver Rings by Et Respice Finem.

Pillars of Creation // Purple Quartz Necklace by Et Respice Finem.

These are just a few wonders from the absolute wealth of jewelry some of my favourite etsy sellers have listed over the past couple of weeks: Dianne of Dear oh Dear, Sarah of CAMP and QUARRY and Lauren of Et Respice Finem.

All images are taken from the listings, linked to below each item.

I reckon I'll treat myself to a new jewel once I get rid of some of the work I keep going on about.

The main challenge will be choosing...

Wednesday Wishlist #3.

Beardmore Glacier blue lace agate stone necklace by Dear Oh Deer. Hand-marbled letter writing set by Over and Out Paper. Splash dyed hand painted tshirt by Two String Jane. Black patent Doctor Marten boots. Whale cotton tote bag by Rustic Country Crafts.

Haven't done one of these in a long while.

Happy first of February to you all - we can now definitively bid goodbye to the January blues; although these picks are still following a rather blue trend, I feel.

Jewelry Junkie: Dear Oh Deer's Wonderful Wish Bracelets.

(Work edging in on pleasure in the corner there...)

Dodgy webcam photos will have to be excused while I struggle to contain my excitement - look at all this beautifulness that was waiting for me when I got in today!

On Sunday morning I ordered this pretty pair from the lovely Dianne over at Dear Oh Deer, and they already made it up here lightening fast from London, wonderfully wrapped (with a sweet surprise chunk of rose quartz, too).

Before you think I'm just greedy, the Pink & White with Botswana Agate one is a Christmas present for my little sister; I can't wait to share the work of one my favourite etsy sellers with her. However, the Lavender & White with Bostwana Agate will remain round my own wrist for the foreseeable future.

I cannot overstate how lovely these little bracelets are. They're made with vintage Chadwicks wool from the 1930s, and are supremely soft and delicate - the care and skill that's gone into making them is unmistakable. The fact that they're made of wool means that one size really does fit all - so even though I have stupidly small wrists, all I had to do was loop the catch into a lose knot to have it fit perfectly. The stones are so glossy and gorgeous, and the tiny silver shooting stars just set the whole thing off.

For a better look than my PhotoBooth pictures can offer, here are Dianne's own photos of the wish bracelets, from their listings on etsy.

Pink & White with Bostwana Agate Wish Bracelet

Lavender & White with Bostwana Agate Wish Bracelet

Just look at all that delicate detail! I have no doubt many etsians will be wishing for wish bracelets this Christmas.

Getting your Christmas gifts from etsy is awesome - you know you're giving someone you care about something really unique.

Do take a look at Dianne's delightful blog for inspiration behind Dear Oh Deer, and head over to the shop to choose your favourite from all the pretties on offer. Or, if you're lucky enough to live near London, you can visit the Dear oh Deer stall at The Wonderhill Market next weekend. Get a gift for someone special... Or yourself.

Jewelry Junkie: Sadie Designs & Dear oh Deer.

I recently received two delightful little parcels of jewels through the post: one came all the way from Canada, the other from not so distant London.

The picture quality will have to be excused, as my love and I are still learning to use his camera, and are generally rather technologically impaired. This, coupled with the fact that I never know what to do with myself when put in front of a camera and am not overly enthused about showing my face... I wish I could do these jewels justice. Well, enough excuses.

Black Tourmaline & Clear Quartz Crystal Point Ice Silver Necklace by Sadie Designs. I have been wishing for this for a while, and I cannot exaggerate how amazing this necklace is: the raw crystals are so beautifully flawed, and the contrast between the two minerals is really striking. They are silver dipped, which is really special because it means you can still admire the shape of the entire crystal. The little dagger of quartz catches the light in lovely ways, and the tourmaline is so glossy, its underside cut through with a pinkish sandy shimmer. An amazing combination, and naturally unique. While I especially love her mixed mineral creations (hoping my next purchase will be the pyrite and rose quartz necklace) there's such an array of lovely stones to choose from. Follow Sarah's blog here to learn more about the inspiration behind her one-of-a-kind creations.

Amethyst & Leather - Head or Wrist Band by Dear oh Deer. This is just perfect - the suede is so soft, and the little stones are so sweet. The colours are stunning, and the stones are so carefully sewn onto the band. A beautifully unique and versatile piece of jewelry. I spent most of yesterday with this on my wrist rather than my head, but sadly every picture came out blurry. I'll hopefully show how that looks soon, but I have to say that it feels great wearing this across the forehead, and it would complete any concert-going attire (I have no doubt I'll be wearing it this way at my next one). My love stated that it made me look like the lead singer of Diamond Head. I don't know whether to laugh or cry...

Now all I need is a shirt like his.

Back on the subject of Dear oh Deer; Dianne uses a beautiful selection of semi-precious stones, as well as carefully chosen and ethically sourced feathers (now I'm craving the magpie feather one). Enjoy perusing her inspirations on her blog, here.

How could anyone not be delighted with such a gorgeous little parcel landing on their doormat? I couldn't resist photographing this - the tissue paper is especially wonderful. Made me smile as I have recently acquired a toile tote bag and duvet cover over the past couple of weeks. I love it.

I attempted to photograph the equally lovely package that arrived from Canada, but the camera utterly failed me, which I'm rather sad about. Beautiful tissue paper held together with pink & grey tape, a little floral patterned paper bag, a brown paper logo tied across with red and white string, and my personal favourite element, a little paper frog. Fingers crossed I'll get better with the camera soon, and show how lovely it was.

Etsy is an absolute treasure trove for jewelry. Both Sadie Designs and Dear oh Deer are such friendly sellers. I was never that interested in it before I was introduced to etsy, but I really think it's awesome to support small female-run businesses, and so special to wear a little work of art that someone has spent time creating for you.

Wednesday Wishlist #2.

Black tourmaline and clear quartz crystal point ice silver necklace by SadieDesignsCa, Chalkboard skull in pine green by IAmHome, Birch Bark tea light set by MiWoodcrafts, Whales throw pillow by ZenThreads, Magnesite & leather head or wrist band by DearOhDeer (whose image quality is a little dodgy, but the effort of remaking the collage is beyond me).

More etsy procrastination!

... Sigh.