Introducing: The Black Pumpkin

Well, I'm officially on my way with my own Etsy shop! I've just spent the last couple days ordering my business cards, banner (for TwiCon), magnets, shop displays, stamps and woven labels, etc. now that I have my official logo looking all pretty and darkly perfect! Thank you to Jim and Kirsten for putting it together for me. I truly couldn't have done it without them as I am Illustrator and Photoshop challenged. (A problem I hope to remedy soon!)

If you would like to follow all my handcrafting, Black Pumpkiny adventures, you can follow me on my new shop blog here: http://theblackpumpkin.blogspot.com

I've got hand sculpted pendants, Twilight prints, Twilight dolls, pillows and ornaments planned to sell at TwiCon. As I make these I will be posting little previews for you on the blog above. It will be the debut of my shop at TwiCon and I'm so excited! Then I will post those and more new goodies after I get home around mid to late August.

Hope to see lots of you there!

~b

Looking for some Medievalishly Cool Vampire Jewelry?

Then look no further! My good friend Beth from Archress Arts has just the thing for you!

Recently, she featured a picture of my BFF Kirsten and I in our gothic vampire garb while attending the Vampire Ball at the Salute to Twilight Convention in San Francisco this past Feb. on her blog here, where she blogs of the new Twilight merchandise tagging controversy over on Etsy.

Both Kirsten and I bought necklaces from her specifically for our Vampire Ball gowns and you can view them on us in the picture on her blog as well as in the many pictures I posted here. We absolutely adore her jewelry and think you will as well!

I chose this necklace because of the accents of red I wore with my black dress and MOSTLY because the little red drop beads reminded me of drops of blood....coming from my neck. >=) Muwahahaha!

For those of you attending one of the many Vampire Balls coming up this year and I think her jewels would be the PERFECT addition to your gown. Just that final touch to make you look more vampy. ♥

Again, you can visit her shop here: Archress Arts

~B

New Moon = Little Red + The Wolf

As many of you know, I'm always on the lookout for Twilight related items for sale on the net. Last year, before Etsy exploded with Twilight sellers, I went searching for anything with apples on it because Twilight = Apples to me and I did find a few very cute clips, jewelry and prints that I partook of. There were also a few Snow White-ish things I thought were very appropriate...the irresistable apple you just have to bite.

Poisoned Apple from beyondthepoisonapple

Snow White by NebulousKingdom

Applehead Girl print from theblackapple


"Encounter with an apple" by artandghosts





This year, with New Moon in production, my thoughts have turned to a new fairytale.... Little Red Riding Hood and her Big, Bad Wolf.

I just bought this brooch from eyeofthetiger



"Waiting for Wolf" by RusticGoth



Jointed Paper Doll Set by woolandwater



"Oh the dreams" by strangefacination


Catherine Hardwicke made a little side comment in her Director's Notebook about how cool she thought it was that all the trainers for the wolves used in the flashback sequence of Twilight were female. She said, "We've come a long way since Little Red Riding Hood, baby." So of course, this got me thinking about Jacob and his wolfy self, how one can compare him to Little Red's Wolf. He's after Bella just like the Big Bad One was after Red Riding Hood. Sure, he doesn't chase her through the forest or eat her family, but he IS after her. He knows the cat's away and now the wolf can play. He's not afraid to indulge Bella's dangerous fantasies.

Afterall, I like to think of Little Red + The Wolf as friends. She in her red hooded cape taking a stroll through the forest with her canine pal tagging along at her feet.

brooch by mapetitepapeterie


"Seremonia" by artandghosts (Ya'll gotta check out her AMAZING work on her blog too!)


"My, What a Big Heart You Have" by HidenSeek

Or some lovely pieces in black and white...

Red Riding Hood and her Wolf silhouettes by Fables and Foxes




Charm necklace by adorapop


Papercut by Elsita (in an apple, no less!)

Cutesy stuff for kids....or the kid in all of us.

Clips by vickiesuniquebows

Small pouch by simbiosisbyjulia

Stamp set by nikoart

Brooch by humblebea

Button hair clips by CuckooBoo

My personal favorite, Tori Amos as Red Riding Hood. Does it even get better than this? The piece is part of a series entitled "A Sorta Fairytale", which features female musicians as fairytale characters or mythological creatures. LOVE THIS!!

Tori as Red Riding Hood by JenLightfoot

And what if Red and the Wolf were LOVERS?

Red Riding Hood, featuring Christy Hemme by Jason Beam

Knit hats by WeeBeeUniquebyJulia

And last but not least, the picture that started my Riding Hood obsession for New Moon...

"Secret Lovers" by Lisa Falzon (aka meluseena on Etsy)

Am I tempting anyone else to be as obsessed with this as I am?

*evin grin*


~B

Unicorns, Skully, Faeries, Edward, Jacob and Mike - Oh, MY!!!

Otherwise known as..... "So You Thought You Knew Me?"





Much to my initial horror, my fabulous spotlight helper over at TwilightMOMS.com, Lisa314, and all the other admins chose to spotlight yours truly as TwilightMOM of the Month for June. If you thought you knew me before, think again. The standard interview I made up for all our TwilightMOMS of the Month gives the reader a VERY in depth look at the featured mom from as early as her elementary years to her present situation and her dreams for the years beyond. I chose answers thinking to myself, "what would I love to find out about others that I already know about myself?" gleefully chuckling in my head because being the interviewer, I would probably never have to actually answer these questions myself. Think again, Britten! o_0

314 is in so much trouble but I love her because she was more than generous with the praise so she is mostly forgiven. =)



So! For those of you who I've known since elementary school, jr. high or even high school, believe me....it will take you back! There's past boyfriends mentioned, colorguard, games we used to play in grade school, funny adventures we used to have...

Check out those Buffy Season 1 bangs! LOL!

For those of you who went to college with me, there's the whole Skully thing. I know you're going to LOVE that one!

Believe me, I totally went for it and spilled the shish. Even my closest friends probably didn't already know EVERYTHING I gave up. Curious yet? Go take a look-see...

Spotlight interview at TwilightMOMS.com

Oh, My Jacob Wolfiness!

THE TWILIGHT SAGA: NEW MOON trailer


Truly amazing! My Kirsten and I were discussing how we love the coloring of this movie...so much more warm and yellow-orangy like the new title...and like Jacob's wolfy coat. =)

And I didn't think I would get to see my Jasper in all of his ferociousness so soon! Me likey! ♥

The Italy Fountain/Reunion Motage!

Put to music...this is beautiful!! Just imagine what the real thing will be like...


Do I have to mention this is a big, fat spoiler? I don't think anyone will heed it though. *snicker*



Video by soglamssochic.

** For those of you who missed out on my Edward Journal give-a-way, you can still order a replica of the journal. Just click the link on the top of my right side bar to order -->. Then you might want to send it to Rob to have him sign it as Edward! Wouldn't that be AWESOME??

If I Could Marry A Shower Curtain

and wasn't already married, I would marry this one I just bought with my b-day discount from Anthro...

Don't you think it looks fetching with my master bath paint?

It's a little wrinkled from being stuffed in the cute matching bag it came in, but I think a few steamy showers will do the trick.

I think I have a serious thing for flamenco ruffles lately...

My current purse - U.O. Winter '09

My ball gown


And if I could marry any of the New Moon set pics, it would be this one:

and any of the others over at Just Jared.

*sigh*

Laaaaaaaaaaa! Finally!!!!

I can't believe I did it. Actually I can because I worked on making my checkout on Etsy lightening fast! And that is what you have to be in order to partake. Fast, fast, fast!

You see, Emily Martin of The Black Apple updated her Etsy shop today with dolls and original paintings. She only updates her store every 2-3 months or so and when she does, all her customers and fans are waiting and watching hoping to snag one of her sought after crafty lovelies.

Why?

Well, first, because they are super adorable and sweet! There's something about the faces of her little gals and guys that suck you in. The more you look at them the more you LOVE them! Secondly, because I'm in awe of her sense of style and color. She's peculiar, vintage and cozy cottage all rolled into one. And thirdly, because all of her original paintings and dolls sell out within the first 5 minutes of her shop updates. Yes, you read that right, FIVE MINUTES!!!!! It's pure insanity.

Emily posts on her blog the date and time of the update so that you can be ready. I blocked out the whole day today to make sure I wouldn't have any conflicts. About 15 minutes before the update, I logged on to Etsy. My palms were sweating as I was refreshing the page every 10 seconds to see if something had been posted to her shop yet. Then at about 3:01 everything was posted and guess what?? I was so fast I got not one, but two dolls!!!

Sweet Spring Cleaner by Emily Martin
(to help me dive right in to all the spring cleaning I need to get to)

Helpful Hannah by Emily Martin
(who can hold a multitude of small things for me, like my pen when I'm working)

I am sooooo happy about this!! I've tried to get one of her dolls now for the past 4-5 updates with no luck but today was definitely my lucky day!! They are my B-day and Mother's Day gifts from Andy (but if you ask me, I did all the hard work. Hahaha!), but I will give him the points anyway. =)

I can't wait to see what the dolls' packaging is like. Emily once placed one in a pastry box that she gifted to a little girl - you know those boxes with the see-through windows in the top? I've been saving my cupcake boxes from a new cupcake store I found in town for some of my softies that will be available in my etsy shop soon. The designs are still in the works but they are going to be quite quirky and cute, if I do say so myself. ♥


~B

Have a Delightful Mothers Day!

"Bella and Nessie" by Shielou

This heartwarming pendant is for still up for grabs in Shielou's shop here. Isn't it darling?

♥Happy Mother's Day to all my peeps!! ♥

~B

Birthday Request

How in the WORLD did I not know about this place?




And to think how close I was at Christmas time...this is tragic!




They have cupcakes.
Bubblegum flavored cupcakes.
Enough said.

Even Twilight cupcakes because hello? Utah...




And they are too kind to offer calorie free gifts like this FABULOUS apron....Twilight colors, in fact. LOVE it! So Stepford Wife-ish...





So consider this my birthday request...

CALLING ALL FRIENDS AND FAMILY IN UTAH - I'm asking, no ORDERING all of you to go to The Sweet Tooth Fairy in Provo and have a cupcake or other sweet treat for me tomorrow, May 1st, in honor of my birthday. (and if you can't go tomorrow, go during the weekend). You'll have to pay for it yourself (sorry) but consider it your gift to me. After you go (and take lots of pictures for me, I hope ♥) send me an email with your pictures and details of your experience. I want to know which cupcake or other confection you had and how it tasted. I want pictures of you eating it and pictures of everything in the store including any and all cute architectural and decor details. Remember, I will be experiencing this vicariously through you since I'm all the way over here in Cali and have no plans to either go visit or move permanently back to the Mother Ship any time soon. Although, this one shop might be reason enough, right? I mean, aside from the whole getting to be with tons of friends and family, of course. =)

I'm dead serious and expect to see lots of emails in my inbox this weekend. Please send to feyavanya@pacbell.net

because you love me THAT much ♥.

Little kiss x, big hug O, little kiss x,

~Britten

ETA: p.s. Wouldn't one of their cupcakes look so cute on one of these petite cup cake stands from vesselsandwares on etsy? Just sayin'.....