Etsy Love

I adore Etsy. I think the idea of Etsy is brilliant and I love the many incredible things you can find there.

In this post I wanted to share with you two of my favourite Etsy shops. These are not my only favourites, but just two of the shops that I love. I have previously mentioned two other Etsy shops that I adore, Frostbeard Studios (mentioned here) and Sara R Rocha's shop (mentioned here). Today I'll share with you one shop that belongs to an amazingly talented illustrator and another shop that belongs to a very skilled crafter.

The first shop is the illustrator Morgane Carlier's Etsy shop, that you can find here. The new banner to my blog is made by Morgane and I got it through Etsy, and I could not be happier with it. It captures me in one image and in my mind it is perfect!

Morgane's art is quirky, happy and girly! Just the things that I like! She's got a unique style that brightens the surroundings! Apart from the beautiful blog banner, I have also got a Mary Poppins print in my home from Morgane and a tote bag with the most yummy-looking sweets illustrated on it.

Morgane is a total professional. She is sweet and works efficiently and quickly. I have only ever been way beyond happy when I have purchased from Morgane. And I have even developed a relationship with the exquisite Morgane, and I can now call her one of my darling friends. You can find Morgane's shop right here. Morgane's website is here and Morgane's instagram is @morganeca.

The second shop I want to introduce you to is The Mad Girl Shop belonging to the lovely Madison Steward. Everything from delicate cross stitching to brooches and scarves can be found in The Mad Girl Shop. Madison is such an expert knitter, and makes the most beautiful scarves and ascots, one of which I had to get as it has wonderful leaves knitted in it and it is in my favourite colour, mustard yellow. It is the most perfect autumn ascot, I want one in every colour.

The ascot is incredibly well-made and I am astonished by the handiwork that has gone into it. The beautiful dainty leaves are astounding, and it's warm and comfy too. I also have my eyes on these incredible Hogwarts scarves that Madison knits, that look so nice and pretty. The HP fan within me has a beating heart for anything to do with her house and Madison's Ravenclaw scarf is flawless. You can find Madison's shop, The Mad Girl Shop, right here and her instagram is @madisonsteward.

Dress: River Island (old, similar from Mod Dolly here)

Ascot: The Mad Girl Shop

Have a lovely Halloween weekend!
Much love.

Natural self

I had planned these photos of this gorgeous Poppy dress and Deer Arrow brooch set for a blog post, but this post will be so different from what I originally thought. I hope it doesn't take away anything from the lovely dress and brooch set.

My day started in an interesting manner when I was given a "compliment" on an instagram photo. I was told I don't look good in makeup, and the person who said this also said that he preferred "my natural self". Although the person had intended it as a compliment I found myself taking offence. First of all, saying I don't look good in one way is much more of an insult than a compliment. Secondly, this person preferred "my natural self". How I decide to look is a matter that is only decided by me. His sentiment for my natural self is completely irrelevant. It's my face and I'll wear makeup on it if that is what I want to do. See the actual "conversation" just below.

However, this sparked a thought that's been bothering me since. Where do people, and especially men, get the idea that they have a say at all in what I decide to look like? The discussion with this man turned to feminism, and I came to realise that this is a feminist issue.

I'm very privileged in that I live in a fairly gender equal nation. I'm not saying feminism is not needed here in Sweden, but in terms of gender equality there are places that are much worse off than Sweden. I tend to forget that all places are not like Sweden. So when the person asked me if I was a feminist and told me "I must drive my boyfriend crazy" I was strangely irritated. I am not used to comments like that. What bothered me were a multiple of assumptions that this person made:

1. Why am I assumed to be heterosexual? The spectrum of sexuality is varied and colourful. I could be anything for all you know! For the sake of this post I will share this: I do not identify as heterosexual!

2. Why am I assumed to have a boyfriend? Why do women always have to "belong" to a man? Why can't I be single? And not unhappily single and looking, but single because I don't want to belong to a man or another person! Single by choice! It's a thing - believe me!

3. Why is my assumed boyfriend assumed to not be a feminist? Feminism is not a fight for women, it is a fight for people who think that all people no matter gender or anything else should have the same social, political, economic and personal rights as the next person. It is very much a fight that men need to take on as well! If you believe in equality you are a feminist whether you like the term "feminist" or not!

And that's only a part of my thoughts. I'm rambling now, and I haven't digested the comments yet, but I needed to get my instant thoughts down somewhere before I exploded.

Moving on to this gorgeous dress by Poppy that I managed to get on sale and am so in love with! I adore the enormous skirt that is perfect for twirling and dancing around in. I love the summery stripes that make me think of hard sweets and ice lollies. I paired it with a beautiful handmade brooch from Deer Arrow's collaboration with the illustrator and my friend Morgane Carlier. The wee teapot and cup make me so happy! Which I definitely need now.

Dress: Poppy

Brooch set: Deer Arrow

Thanks to anyone who stayed with me through this long post and my ramblings. Much love to you all!

Cute and quirky

The lovely illustration above is by the very talented Amy Rose. Isn't it just so cute!! She's enhanced my cuteness to a point where it will decay teeth - I love it!!

Amy and I got to know each other on instagram (Amy's instagram is @amyrosestudios). I was already a fan of her work when I decided that I needed to own her girly, quirky and sweet art to brighten my room. I'm a proud owner of two of her illustrations and they hang beautifully on my wall like pastel-coloured dreams. I'm also saving up for some more illustrations and a macaron brooch (or two...).

Illustrations by Amy Rose, here.

Amy takes sweet characters and makes them even cuter (I don't know how she does it - must be magic). Her art is happy and colourful and I adore it!

I wanted to talk a little more about the illustration she did of me (because it is just so cute I might pass out)!! Amy totally surprised me with the illustration, she was inspired by an outfit that I wore a couple of months ago (IG people will have seen it, but I'm adding some photos here anyway). I can't describe the happiness she brought me by illustrating me, it totally warmed my heart, and I remember I was having a bad day that turned completely on its head when she surprised me.

Dress: Miss Patina

Earrings: FemmeDeBloom

Amy does custom work, as well as having so many beautiful prints in her etsy shop. She definitely made me feel joyful, bubbly and excited. So I suggest you take a look at her stuff if you want to feel that way too. This is not a sponsored post, I just wanted to share this lovely illustration everywhere I can! Haha!

Life with a Dash of Whimsy

Print: Sara's etsy shop

I've met many great people through instagram, I've made friends that I consider to be really close to me. One of the friends I've found is the illustrator Sara (@sararrocha) from Lisbon. She is the sweetest and kindest lovely lady you'll ever come by, and her art mixes real life with fantasy. I have personally added some of Sara's amazing art to my wall at home, and I am also the owner of four lovely brooches made by Sara, through her etsy shop.

Brooch: Sara

Dress: Zalando (sold out)

I first got into contact with Sara because of our mutual love for the film Amélie. Sara makes the most darling Amélie brooches (that I am wearing in a photo below), and I knew the second I saw it that I needed it. That's when I also saw the rest of her astounding work. Sara turned out to also be a complete sweetheart, and I am now happy to be able to call her my friend.

Amélie Poulain by Sara.

Brooch: Sara

Cardigan: ModCloth

I recently got some new pretties from Sara, that have gone up on the wall and on my shirts. Her brooches add the right amount of whimsy to any outfit.

A wandering Alice.

Brooches and print from Sara's etsy shop.

Brooch: Sara

Scarf: Knitted

Blouse: ModCloth (sold out)

Print from Sara's etsy shop.

Customised portrait by Sara.

Blue Persian by Sara.

Because it is fun to know more about the artist behind the art I asked Sara some questions, and you can read her answers below:

Q: Tell us a little about yourself.
A: I have a passion for little pleasures that make me happy, like drawing overtime in the company of my boyfriend (who's also an artist) and my cat. I also have a passion for cakes, dresses and shoes. And I love to research for new art supplies, new books and films. Drawing and painting are some of my ways to express myself and to make people smile.

Q: Have you always illustrated and where did you learn to illustrate?
A: I have always loved drawing and sketching - ever since I was little! I started working more enthusiastically in the last few years. I learned to illustrate on my own. I'm a self-taught artist.

Q: Did you always want to be an illustrator?
A: I have always been creative. Since I was a child I have been obsessed with drawing. But apart from illustration I'm also a professional lawyer, it allows me to afford my art work.

Q: You have a very special and unique drawing style, when and how did you develop it?
A: I have developed my main style all my life. I don't stop creating, I wish I could spend more time drawing and giving life to all the projects I have in mind.

Q: Where does the inspiration behind your art come from?
A: Everywhere. A lot comes from my daily life, cinema and literature.

Q: When did you start your etsy shop, and how come you opened a shop?
A: I started my etsy shop last year. I had been thinking about starting this project for a while but the support I have found in my boyfriend, family, friends and the amazing community from the social media was very important for me taking the step.

Q: What are your goals for your art?
A: I hope to continue to show my artwork to a wide range of people and to be part of wonderful projects such as doing an exhibition and publishing a book illustrated by me, someday.

Illustration by Sara.

Marie Antoinette by Sara.

Sara's art reflects a colourful and charming world that is slightly brighter and slightly quainter than reality. Her unique and sweet art embellishes the world, and brings a creative and fanciful flair to any day.