Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore,
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door....
Edgar Allen Poe was one of my absolute favorite 
poets when I was growing up. In fact, come to think of it, he still is.
Maybe that's why I like today's piece so much. The first time I saw it, it immediately reminded me of Poe's "The Raven" and it's one of the very first pieces on Etsy that I ended up making a favorite.
This piece is by Kristin Forbes-Mullane, a very talented artist that runs the KFM Gallery on Etsy. She offers original paintings, illustrations, jewelry and more in her shop and the gallery is filled with beautifully unique pieces with true depth to them.
Kristin is a native of Phoenix, AZ and grew up loving anything having to do with art, especially drawing and painting, which she started at a young age. Her love of art was inspired by her father, who, as an artist and graphic designer himself.
These days, she's all about taking beautiful, peaceful images and making them dark and mysterious. Take a browse through her gallery and you'll see that she especially enjoys using religious icons and old family photos as inspiration for many of her pieces to create effective, emotive imagery.
YOU CAN CLICK ON THE PICTURE ABOVE TO VISIT THE KFM GALLERY AND TAKE A LOOK AROUND OR, IF YOU PREFER, CLICK RIGHT HERE.
I am a big fan of dragonflies.
The dragonfly represents change and, as a creature whose habitat is in or around water, the dragonfly symbolizes the subconscious "dreaming" mind and thoughts. It's a symbol of the subconscious rising to the surface. The imagery of the dragonfly conveys a message. It's is there to remind us that we must take a look at these rising subconscious thoughts and ideas, and examine how we can apply them to our lives in ways that affect positive change.
Dragonflies and autumn hues, in my mind, go together like caramel and apples or tea and honey. So it was no wonder when I saw this piece made by Elizabeth over at Paperbella on Etsy that's featured in my post today, that I instantly fell in love with it. So simple and yet so intricate... and absolutely beautiful, it reminds me in a very basic and elemental way of the dragonfly's meaning in our lives.
Elizabeth's Paperbella shop is filled with a variety of beautiful and symbolic mobiles. She has butterflies and lotus blossoms, sea creatures, swans and much more! Some are in earthy, muted colors while others are filled with a colorful vibrancy that's both eye-catching and beautiful.
Whether you're looking for seasonal, nature themed, abstract, animals, botanicals or gifts for girls, boys or baby's rooms, you're sure to find a selection to make you smile in this wonderful shop.
And, as a special gift for our readers, Elizabeth is also offering you all a discount for our readers! Just use the promo code "meandering musings" in your buyers notes, and she's offered to knock 25% off your purchase price. Yep, ¼th the price knocked off, just for mentioning our blog! It's a terrific deal, so be sure you don't miss out on it!
TO VISIT PAPERBELLA'S SHOP YOU CAN CLICK THE PICTURE ABOVE OR, IF YOU'D RATHER, CLICK RIGHT HERE!
Oooph! Oh boy did I ever oversleep today! The bed was just so cozy and warm, and I was soooo very comfortable. And, of course, my cat was playing snugglebum. (What cat doesn't like to snuggle up to your bum once they figure out they're not allowed to sleep on your face?)
Anyway. I feel all sleepy warm and cuddly 
today, so I thought today would be the perfect day to feature one of the cutest pair of slippers I've ever seen.
I found these little slippers on Craft Gawker, actually. And I have to agree with them that the picture is spectacular! They're hand felted for a little girl, made in dream pastel colors from 100% merino wool and decorated with felted pompoms. She really needs to make some more of these! She also has a felted scarf over there that I'd just love to have.
The shop in question, of course, is Daimblond's Boutique. It's filled with a variety of different pieces from felted items to jewelry and more! The owner, Elena, is a Moscow born university educated designer who is currently living in France. She loves to experiment with different materials and her shop has some truly unique pieces that show just that.
YOU CAN CLICK ON THE PICTURE ABOVE TO VISIT DAIMBLOND'S SHOP OR, IF YOU PREFER, CLICK RIGHT HERE.
Today's feature is a wonderful jewelry artist who is just starting out on Etsy.
Designs by Tahra is a fresh, new shop that opened up just this last December in 2009 and is filled with a small but absolutely gorgeous collection of pieces that are both unique and stylish.
Tahra West, the shop's owner, contacted me in e-mail recently asking for some advice and when I followed the link to check out her shop I was both pleasantly surprised as well as.... well, tempted. She has some wonderful pieces in there with a very unique inner vibrancy to them.
As a mother who home schools her children and loves to cook, I can't even imagine how she finds the time to make such beautiful pieces but I predict future success for this creative woman's future and I bet when you take a peek, you'll agree!
So head over to Designs by Tahra today, take a browse around and give her some hearts or leave a comment here to help encourage an up and coming jewelry designer that's sure to make others take notice.
TO VISIT DESIGNSBYTAHRA'S SHOP YOU CAN CLICK THE PICTURE ABOVE OR, IF YOU'D RATHER, CLICK RIGHT HERE!
Yesterday was time to rest, today we're back in business, and we're starting back off with a big bang. At least, he is in my opinion.
I love men with talent. Women with talent too but today we're focusing on men. One man in particular.
Today's feature is an extremely talented and diversely intelligent award winning Australian photographer based out of Sydney by the name of Michael Garbutt. (He's also pretty darned -fine- too, but shhhhhhh don't tell him I said so.)
I ran across Michael Garbutt on the Etsy forums, where he often hangs out in the Business Topics section giving out excellent advice based on his own experiences both on and off Etsy.
His shop, Michael Garbutt Fine Art Photography, is filled some of the most beautiful prints I've ever seen. And let me tell you, that's saying a lot because I've seen a LOT of prints.
And, as if I wasn't tempted enough by his 
photographs alone... he also offers product photography tutorials! I haven't bought one yet, but you can bet my temptation meter is rating way up at its max. The only thing holding me back is the fact that I might just buy out his entire shop if I get started clicking "buy" on all those "I want" items in there!
So be sure to give this talented and intelligent guy the attention he richly deserves. Take a visit to his Etsy shop, browse through the gallery he's set up there of his works or stop in at the Etsy forums to give him a warm hello and take a peek at some of his advice!
YOU CAN CLICK ON THE PICTURE ABOVE TO VISIT MICHAEL GARBUTT'S SHOP OR, IF YOU PREFER, CLICK RIGHT HERE.
This is not a gift I would suggest you give to just anyone, but when I saw it? I couldn't help but feature it!
It's been said now and then over the years 
since I was born that I was born with an extra mean gene or two. Most (yes, honest... I swear) people think I'm sweeter than butter frosting, and most of the time I am. But, like most women out there, I too have my moments.
So, when I saw this necklace in a treasury on Etsy, I couldn't help but laugh at the variety of reactions someone could get by giving it as a gift!
The necklace is by Bonny Jewelry, a beautiful shop filled with lots of shiny little treasures to browse through from classic pieces to the eccentric like the one here that caught my attention. She has great photographs of her jewelry to browse through and a variety of pieces and styles to choose from, so be sure to check her out!
YOU CAN CLICK ON THE PICTURE ABOVE TO VISIT BONNYJEWELRY'S SHOP OR, IF YOU PREFER, CLICK RIGHT HERE.
poets when I was growing up. In fact, come to think of it, he still is.
