Spark Twinkle And Fade

Winter Wonderful or Things I Like About The Cold

I'm not a fan of cold weather. I would rather be warm and in a t-shirt then freezing despite my many layers. However, despite my hatred of the cold there are things about winter that I really love. Like curling up with a cup of hot chocolate and watching it snow outside, or dressing up in fancy coats and cozy sweaters for a night out. Or buying these amazing boots from Camper:

 

Black Boot with Red Button detail by Camper 

Yes I love those boots and they are on my X-mas list for this year. I may have to gift them for myself but I don't mind. I will get lots and lots of wear out of them and they aren't trendy enough to go out of style in my world. 

Another good thing about winter is that my parents are having a Holiday Open House this year. I am so excited because I will be making some cute little favors (still figuring out what those will be) and sipping on some Peppermint Hot Chocolate courtesy of Martha Stewart's website. Yum.  Plus there will be baked goods and tiny sandwiches to gorge myself on. There really can't be anything better then holiday food.  Plus I figure putting on a few pounds might keep my warm during the insanely cold months to come. If only I didn't have to drive in the snow and ice...

I am slowly but surely adding some more "wintry" themed items to my shop and posted a new one this morning. It is a snow owl pendant necklace and I really love it. I may have to make one for myself. Hopefully this week I will get a few hours to work on new stuff now that it is sufficiently cold out and moving closer to the holiday season. I can't believe Thanksgiving is only in two and a half weeks! X-mas will be here before I know it and I need to buckle down and start buying presents early. Well, that's all for me today. Time to do some work. Take care and look for Handmade Holiday part 3 this Friday featuring Etsy items for the men in your life!

 Owl In Winter Necklace available at The Sparrow Fist

Congrats Are In Order

And the winner is....Mary Jenkins! Hooray!! Thanks for the participation and don't fret if you didn't win, I plan on having more giveaways in the future.  So stay tuned!

In other less exciting news, my camera has been giving me no end of issues and so the Young Ghost Friday Grand Opening had to be postponed. No one could be as bummed as I am about it.  I was really excited about it and hopefully so were some of you.  But I hope to have the camera issues fixed this week and have Grand Opening Part II before next week when I will be crazy busy with final Strange Folkpreparations.  Of course you can check here or check the shop for current information concerning the opening. 

The weekend is over and I think I am having a case of weekend withdrawal syndrome. All I want to do is curl up on the couch with a cup of hot chocolate and watch movies all day.  Being at work on a day like today makes me feel anything but productive.  I think on cool gray days we should be able to opt out of work. Same with really nice sunny days. As a matter of fact, I wish that work in general was optional but I could still afford to pay my bills and other nice things.  Sigh.  I did get some cute things over the weekend worth being cheery about. Like this super comfy sweaterfrom Target.  I know it looks pretty boring but it is really nice on-and did I mention it's comfy. Perfect for this morning which was quite chilly.  If the current temperatures are any indication, fall has arrived. I look forward to days cuddled under blankets with hot drinks and movie nights.  Bliss.  The only thing that makes the chilly days unpleasant is when it's gray all the time and I have to walk across campus in the cold.  No. Fun.  I would love the brisk air if I didn't have to spend much time out in it.  I can enjoy it just fine from the warmth of indoors. 

Well I must be going. Take care and I hope that all of you have been spared any damage or injury from the hurricanes. 

**A quick shout out to the wonderful Corra at The Mayberry Sparrow for the sweet custom stamp!**

I Heart Rosemary Woodhouse

This morning was quite cool and I actually got to wear my pretty light weight coat that I have been dying to wear since June.  I bought it on clearance at BR for mere pocket change (well, not really) and I have been waiting with much anticipation for the first evidence of cool weather to put it on.  It is not heavy enough to be a proper coat but that's fine because I can never have too many coats.  I already have my eye on this pretty from Anthropologie.  So great with these boots , no? I swear, fall/winter clothes are going to put me in the poor house... 

Speaking of pretty clothes, for as long as I can remember as soon as the weather cools I start getting a little obsessed with the style of Rosemary Woodhouse.  Who you may ask?  Rosemary Woodhouse was the character played by the iconic Mia Farrow in Roman Polanski's Rosemary's Baby.   Now it's not that she wears a lot of cold weather outfits in the movie, I think it's because I associate the movie with Halloween, Halloween with fall ect. See, there is a method to my madness after all.  Anyways, since I have been looking for some Mrs. Woodhouse outfits for myself, I figured I could share some of my finds with you. 

 

Rosemary's Baby

Mia and Roman on set

 

Chloe Patent Leather Low Pump

 Heidi Merrick 'Janie' Coat

 

Vanilla Peach Babydoll Dress by Maisy Brown

Kinder Dress Available At Mod Cloth

 

Orla Kiely Leather Bag

***Some of you may have noticed that the Ghost shop was not updated despite my assurance that it would be.  Well besides being busy as all get out, I want the shop opening to be fun and perhaps have a giveaway or two as well as some other specialness.  Be patient.  It's coming VERY soon.  Promise.***

**All items and photos are the shops own unless otherwise noted**

On A Mental Holiday

Even though it's only Wednesday, as far as work goes, it's my Friday.  I will be on a mental holiday for the next five days to prep for school which starts in a week and a half.  It will be so nice to have some time to sleep, watch movies and craft.  I am really looking forward to the rummage sale my other half and I will be going to on Friday as well as yummy muffins at my new favorite breakfast spot.  Expect photos of my rummage sale finds (if I indeed find anything worth photographing) as well as some new items for the shop. I can't wait. 

Speaking of school, I am sure many of you have been searching for that elusive object: the very functional yet not boring bag to carry your books.  Well search no more.  I present to you Moop.    Wendy Downs is the creator and maker of Moop bags.  Each bag is handmade from original patterns so don't worry that you+everyone else will be carrying the same bag.  Plus, the bags are made from high quality (and very durable) canvas so no fear of those heavy text books causing your bag to fall apart.  Genius.  I am rather partial to the Blue Grey Duffel Bag . 

Have a great week all may your days be filled with pretty things and nice people!

 

Blue Gray Duffel

The Fraulein Tote

***All photos and items are the artists/sellers own and used with permission***

Flapper Girls and Carnivals

Besides loving the fashion and style of women and girls in the early part of the 20th century, I find myself more and more interested in the films of that time.  I was always one of those people who thought early film was boring.  But since my other half and I have been watching a lot of amazing old movies, I thought it made sense to start actually learning about film.  So I picked up this book because I wanted to start pretty close to the beginning of the whole "moving picture" story.  And I liked the cover.  So far (I am only about a chapter and a 1/2 in) it is pretty good, if not insanely detailed and dry.  But as someone who likes reading textbooks the dry part isn't phasing me.  I hope to read at least a few film books in the coming months to add some context to some of what I am watching.  And since I think there must be a hundred hours in a day instead of 24, I am also taking up French.  Wish me luck. 

As you know, my day is never complete without a dose of fashion, so let me introduce Desira Pesta.  Ms. Pesta is a true original and for that I tip my hat.  Every item she dreams up is made by her from pattern to seam. Using top quality materials she weaves little dramas with her fabric making the pieces as much art as they are wearables.  At the moment I am swooning over her 'Carnival Dress' and already have visions of me wearing it dancing in my head...

 

'Carnival Dress'

'Bastion Top'

**All photos and items used are the artists own work used with permission**

Wonderful Etsy Shops And The Things They Sell

I love Etsy.  I have sold my wares there for over a year and it has been so fun meeting so many nice people and finding so many handmade goodies.  In my dreams, I quit my day job and sell crafts for a living.  In reality, I sell crafts as a more part time gig and work my "real" job to pay the bills. But I digress.  I am always finding so many sweet things that I really need to own so I thought I would do a little feature on some favorite Etsy sellers.  One of my most beloved shops is Pillbox Productions.  Kristen makes retro head wear, quirky cuffs and lots of other delights made from fabric and paper.  Pretty much everything she makes is constructed from vintage materials making her quite Eco friendly too.  I can't begin to tell you how her happy her new paper party hats make me!  Ms. Kristen also has a blog called Crafty Peeps filled with her crafty musings and neat photos. You should check it out.

Liza Rietz hails from Portland (a creativity mecca of sorts-who knew!) and churns out some of the loveliest cloche hats and clothing.  The colors are moody and the details, like little cascading pleats, make every item look so special.  You can also get items custom made which is a plus for someone like me who is quite petite and never can find anything that fits just right.  Ms. Rietz also has a shop in Portland called  Liza Rietz and a Broken Spoke , a collaboration with John Blasioli who also has an etsy shop, called (you guessed it) A Broken Spoke.  I swear my next vacation is going to be to Portland.  And I will be sure to save my pennies for lots of pretty things.

And finally (because I could list a million shops I love but it would bore you) in the top five of my favorite Etsy shops I bring you Belle and Boo.  Besides the fact that the shop name is totally adorable, the real payoff is that the items sold are just as sweet.  Filled with totes, tags, prints ect. all featuring sweet images reminiscent of children's book illustrations from the 40's and 50's.  And although the illustrations have that vintage quality, they also somehow look very modern.  Puzzling I know. 

Take care and may your week be filled pretty things and nice people.

**Please note: all items used are the sellers own, including photos used unless otherwise noted. Thank you!

Little Lost Giclee print by Belle and Boo

Home Sweet Home hat by Pillbox Productions

Ruffle Bib Dress by Liza Rietz