Favorite Books

I have so many favorite books but I have chosen two to elaborate on.

I received The Forest Lover as a birthday gift one year and I must say I am glad to have gotten it.  The Forest Lover by Susan Vreeland  is a study about Canadian artist Emily Carr.  Although fictionalized, it is based on real events surrounding the artist.  The  story is about Carr's desire to be recognized in her field.  She is concerned for the tribal peoples of a Victorian Canada, whose culture is dying out.  She camps out in the wilderness of Northern Vancouver in order to paint these people and the totems that are being removed by a white society.  I found this story entertaining, heart wrenching and fun.  Her persistence to succeed prevailed in the end!  Photos of Carr's real paintings are placed throughout the book.  This book was so fabulous I have read it twice!

The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver is about an evangelical Baptist missionary who in 1959 moves  his family from Bethlehem, Georgia to a village in the Belgian Congo.   The story is narrated by five women of the family: Orleanna, wife to missionary Nathan and daughters Rachel, Leah, Adah and Ruth May.  The women tell of how they are each growing and changing in this foreign land along with each one's point of view of their relationships between them selves and the people of Kilanga.  
I love the daughters thoughts of this new world around them. They now barter for food, sometimes go hungry and curse their dad's name for bringing them to such a place of political unrest.  Wonderfully written and easy to read...I found it hard to put down.

Other books include: The Birth of Venus, The Heart is a Lonely Hunter and five Quarters of the Orange.

I am always looking for great reads, please leave a comment on what book you are reading!

Favorite New Etsy Shops!

I would like for you to welcome two new shops to Etsy! Opened June 23, 2010, PrettyLiLGirls Boutique is proudly owned by a single mom of three. The bold creations are inspired by her beautiful little girls! Flowers in fabulous colors make up these whimsical headbands/hats. Check out this wonderful shop for more items. Custom orders are welcome! So affordable.  
http://www.etsy.com/shop/PrettyLiLGirls






Laura Gourmel has a shop that opened in May! This shop is simply named LauraGourmel . Laura is a French creator from Montreal. She creates characters from her own "strange" universe and incorporates them into her dolls, embroidery and jewelry. Please welcome Laura to the Etsy family! www.LauraGourmel.etsy.com

A Twist on Dolls

I put out a post for some one who would like to be featured on Glazed Earth Favorites blog and the response was great! I could not choose just one so I chose two.

Designlab 443 is a freelance graphic designer from St. Louis who shows off her creations on Etsy. Designlab 443's tagline is "Making the world cuter one plushy at a time". As one of my favorites I chose "Itty Bitty Me Gnome". Using new and recycled materials these dolls are customized for you. Send in a photo and choose your colors and any other embellishments you may want: buttons, etc... Dolls are roughly 6" to 10" tall. For more of Designlab's Soft Sculpture's check out her Etsy shop!
http://www.designlab443.etsy.com


Super Cooper Creations is headed up by a thirteen year old student from Illinois. Cooper uses several varieties of media when she creates. Her Etsy shop is filled with knitting scrapbooking, dollmaking and clay work. One of her favorites is "Pink Angel". This lovely doll is created with silk fabrics, organza and ribbon. Pink Angel's hair is made of feathers and her face is handpainted using colored pencils and markers. Doll stands 13" tall with a wingspan of 5".
To see more super creations visit her Etsy shop at:
http://www.SuperCooperCreations.etsy.com

Good Smelly Things

Welcome to my blog! I have started this blog to discuss my favorite things. Whether it be art, music, food and just all around good stuff! I start this blog (my first blog) with a few of my favorite items from etsy. For those of you not familiar with etsy, it is an online shopping mecca. If it is handmade, handcrafted or even vintage you will find it on www.etsy.com

Several months ago a friend had a boom in sales from her etsy shop. I was asked to help out with labeling, packaging, etc... As a gift for helping out I received a bottle of Androgyny by For Strange Women. This has got to be one of my favorite scents ever. Androgyny is a perfumed oil made with essential oils of vanilla, patchouli, jasmine, rosewood and other chemical free ingredients. What I love about Jill's shop is that everything is made free of chemicals and vegan. For Strange Women has many more perfumed oils with great names as Moss Ivy, Astral Projection, Cleopatra and my fave Sweet Androgyny. This shop also includes bath salts, lip balm and Victorian/pagan adornments. http://www.ForStrangeWomen.etsy.com

Just used this again today! Another "good smelly thing" is from Harvest of Peace, the Peace and Calming scented bath bomb. The gentle fragrance comes from essential oils of tangerine, orange, patchouli and ylang ylang. This bomb helps to "calm tension, uplift the spirit and promote a deep sense of peace and relaxation". One thing I really love about this scent is after using it in the tub the whole bathroom smells sweet. Other great bath bombs are listed in her shop, along with Egyptian Musk Body Silk (body lotion), Oil free Moisturizer (which is also a fave) and other potions to delight the senses. Everything in HoP is also chemical free, all natural, organic and the highest grade of essential oils are used.
http://www.HarvestofPeace.etsy.com

Don't forget to come and visit me at: http://glazedearth.etsy.com