Odd Find on Etsy

I was poking around etsy instead of cleaning (I know, Bad Brianne!) and I found something very interesting.
Now, this shop is ONLY for open minded people (females? I’m not sure it would interest guys, unless they were very sweet and wanted to find anti-cramp things for their ladies). I really admire this person for what she is creating. It’s very fun for feminists and people who appreciate the female body in general. Not in a derogatory or sexual way.
Anyways, if your interested, follow the link and take a peek.
Mature – VulvaLoveLovely

Alright, Now I really am off to clean. It’s getting late.
This was worth not cleaning for though. IMHO. <3
Happy Crafting Everyone.
xo-Brianne

psst!
I don't even know how to tag this one! xD

Edited: March 31st, 2010

There’s a Ghost in My House

Hello all! Happy thing a day number 10.
I forgot to post my thing a day yesterday, so I am posting it today.

I went back to polymer clay for thing 9 and 10.
A cute little bunny for day 9 and a sweet little teal kitty for day 10.

I also wanted to post some etsy stores that I really like.

My favorite store is all organic. Lotions, soaps, sugar scrubs, chapstick. It’s all amazing! The sugar scrub works wonders on my dry skin.
click

The next one is a gorgeous Alice in Wonderland Steampunk necklace. It is so bright and eye catching, I know Amanda with love it too!
click

This etsy store has a lot of Alice in Wonderland themed items and some very cute fairy themed items.
click

So yeah. That’s it for today.
Happy Crafting everyone!

xo-Brianne

Edited: March 10th, 2010

Teal goodies

Quick blog post about teal things I’ve found on etsy that I love. Just click on the photo to be taken to the etsy store where you can buy that item.

Edited: March 4th, 2010

Cute new stockings

poppy longstockings actually! I ordered these from Etsy seller poppyswickedgarden and loved them a lot! First they’re really well made and warm. Second, she’s a doll. Really. And third, aren’t they just neat looking?

I could probably wear these all the time! Poppy was having a 30% off sale to help raise some funds to pay her medical bills and despite the influx in orders, these shipped out pretty quickly. I love how cute these are and that my legs weren’t frelling cold. They’re a little long if you’re short like me (I’m only 5′ 3) but that just means I let them bunch a little around my knee. I think they’d look nifty with a steampunk outfit I’m working on or just with the new skirt and shoes I picked up the other day as well.

Edited: February 1st, 2010

Caring Touch Massage in Blue Springs

I went to Caring Touch Massage awhile back and loved it so much I swore I’d write about it on my blog. I forgot. Oops. So here it is now. Caring Touch is based out of Blue Springs, Missouri (that’s a link to her google location) and is run by the lovely Ms. Erin.

She was lovely. Truly. I had the best massage there. The massage room was relaxing and Erin has a wonderful sense of humor. Due to some issues she’s had with men wanting a “special” massage, Erin has you fill out a form with information stating she doesn’t do that type of massage and what will happen if you request one. Being me, I could help but say “Hey, while you’re down there…” when she was working on one of my legs. It made me laugh so hard I almost cried. Luckily Erin laughed too.

It was a really relaxing experience and one that made me feel much less haggard then when I went in. I’m glad I was given the opportunity to go and hope to do so again in the future.

She was even nice enough to send me a long long long email detailing how I can make my yard prettier with plants that even I shouldn’t be able to kill… I haven’t been able to test out her recommendations yet, but it was nice to see that she’d take the time to write out all those instructions!

So, if you’re in the area and need a little pampering, I highly recommend her

Edited: January 8th, 2010

Shop Of the Week : Yarn Coture

I’m really digging this shop of the week from the Etsy Twitter Team. She makes the lovliest knitted things don’ you think?  You can read her entire interview at the etsy twitter team blog or go to her store on etsy.

http://www.twitter.com/yarncoture

Edited: November 30th, 2009

Cranberry Cake Recipe

This is one of my favorite things to make this time of year. I forget where I found the recipe, but it’s delicious. It calls for kirsch which is difficult to find in my area. I talked to the liquor guy at Parker’s (a local grocery store and the liquor guy is AWESOME) and he recommended 99 Black Cherries instead of kirsch. He said it’s about the same flavor, easier to find and only $17 instead of $44. Given that you use so little of it, I didn’t think the substitution would matter and it doesn’t. I tried a bundt pan this year and that was a fail… I’ll be putting whipped cream on the top to hide the mutilation for extra yumminess…

On a side note… I need new light bulbs. I really don’t like my eco friendly ones because my house looks very yellowy in person and in photos. It’s really starting to bother me and I don’t know if I should just try another type or if that’s just how they are. I hate the ones I have though. HATE

Cranberry Cake
makes 1 9×13 or 1 10″ springform cake

3 eggs
2 cups sugar
3/4 cup unsalted butter, slightly softened and cut into chunks
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon almond extract (optional)
1 tablespoon kirsch (optional)
2 cups flour
2 1/2 cups cranberries (1 bag)

Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a 9×13 pan or a 10″ springform pan.

Beat eggs and sugar together for 5-7 minutes; the eggs will increase in volume quite a bit, streaming into ribbons when you lift the beaters. They will also turn pale yellow. Add butter and flavorings and beat for 2 minutes. Stir in flour and fold in cranberries. Pour into greased pan.

Bake 45-50 minutes for a 9×13, or a little over an hour for the springform. You made need to tent the cake with foil in the last 15 minutes or so to keep the top from browning.

Cool completely before serving.

Optional pecan topping:
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 cup pecans, toasted

Heat the butter in a pan over medium-high heat. Add the sugar and stir. Add the toasted pecans and cook for several minutes, stirring, until the butter and sugar mixture is shiny and smooth and the nuts smell toasted. Spread over the cake batter and bake as above.

Edited: November 25th, 2009

Shop of the Week – MindyG’s

This week’s shop of the week is MindyG. She makes some amazing items like this super cute bracelet. It’s made out of spoon handles and I think it would be very steampunk and/or vampire lover ish. It’s just very victorian looking to me. What do you think?

Edited: October 12th, 2009

Shop of the Week – In my Head Studios

34-year-old artist Vickie Porter, owner of In My Head Studios, has a passion for paper. “I love everything about paper-the way it feels, the sounds it makes, the colors and textures. It has dimension, and I try to use that in my work.”

A self-professed perfectionist with an eye for detail, Vickie’s exquisitely crafted pendants create miniature spaces that call to mind old letters, or the box of special treasures you had as a child.

Says Vickie, ” I have to make art like I have to breathe! I intentionally keep a messy desk so I can be inspired by the play of papers together. I have WAY more ideas for art than time to do it in!”

Using scrabble tiles and upcycled vintage dominos as the base for her pendants allows Vickie to “create something new from something old” and the addition of beads, dangles and charms give the beautiful pieces texture and movement.

I love Vickie’s work. Vickie is in charge of the Etsy Twitter Team and she’s just been awesome to work with the last couple months. Aside from being an amazing team leader, she makes awesome stuff as well. You can check out the rest of the above article at the etsy twitter team blog or you can check out her items at her store.  She does great work though and I’m sure you won’t be disappointed in your purchase should you make one

Edited: September 3rd, 2009

Want to win FREE stuff?

You can if you visit the Etsy Treasure Chest from now until September 13.  There’s a lovely post about my stuff and the ways you can enter to win one of three prizes. Exciting no? I’ll be updating with tons of prints between now and the end of the contest so you’ll have even more choices should you win!

Edited: August 25th, 2009