Now you can follow Toadstool Hollow on Twitter

I have just made a twitter account for Toadstool Hollow :) If you would like to follow me on twitter you can use the link below;

-> twitter.com/toadstoolhollow

I'm also thinking about opening a Toadstool Hollow shop on folksy.com. Folksy is like etsy.com, except it's a British website, so everything is listed in £'s. It isn't as big as etsy yet, but that also means your items are less likely to get lost 5 minutes after you list them...
It would be nice to be able to sell in £'s and on a smaller site.

Yay 10 sales :)

hehe. Reached my first sales target! Just reached 10 sales :) My next target is 15! Not quite as high as my other shop, but we all have to start somewhere!

"A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step."

-Lao-tzu, Chinese philiospher

Remembrance Day

Today is Remembrance Day, and even though I was just at home I sat for the 2 minute silence at 11am and remembered those who gave their lives for our freedom. I thought about all those who haven't made it home.
I think 2 minutes of your time every year is really not alot to give. I really do not understand workplaces that do not uphold this tradition. This is my favourite WWI poem;

The War Sonnets: V. The Soldier
If I should die, think only this of me:
That there's some corner of a foreign field
That is for ever England. There shall be
In that rich earth a richer dust concealed;
A dust whom England bore, shaped, made aware,
Gave, once, her flowers to love, her ways to roam,
A body of England's, breathing English air,
Washed by the rivers, blest by suns of home.

And think, this heart, all evil shed away,
A pulse in the eternal mind, no less
Gives somewhere back the thoughts by England given;
Her sights and sounds; dreams happy as her day;
And laughter, learnt of friends; and gentleness,
In hearts at peace, under an English heaven.

- Rupert Brooke

Flanders Field WWI

Faerie Radio

I found this via Brain Froud's website and thought it might be of interest :) (just click the link below) Sometimes I feel like I could just sit online all day and just find so much cool stuff :) Especially because I don't really know anyone who is in to this kind of stuff, it can feel a bit isolated sometimes.

FAERIE RADIO

Can't believe it's November already!

I hope you all had a great Halloween? :) I can't believe it's November! This year feels like it's just flown by for me, I kind of hoped I would have accomplished a lot more by the end of this year. Guess I need to make this month and next month matter don't i?!

I've been planning some faerie paintings and sketches to sell. Trying to decide whether to just sell originals or do prints as well? Of course once they're finished I'll be sure to put them up for you to see!

New Items - fresh from Toadstool Hollow

Hi folks :) I've listed a load of new items this week and thought I would share them with you :) I've got a load of ideas for new items I'm going to start working on now, which I hope you'll like! I'd love to hear any comments or feedback :)

New item's currently for sale;

Fantasy Creature / Seahorse Butterfly Necklace

Mauve Taupe Butterfly on Chain and Ribbon Necklace

Lilac and Purple / Pentacle and Witch's Hat Ribbon and Chain Bracelet

Pretty Butterfly on a String of Faux Pearls Necklace

Black and Purple / Pentacle and Affirmations Ribbon and Chain Bracelet

My Favourite Faerie and Fantasy Artists - no.1

I studied art and Illustration for my degree. So it's not much of a surprise that I have a lot of art/design/illustration books. But I also have a lot of faerie/folklore books.....and so somewhere in the middle are the faerie and fantasy art books! (I probably spend too much money on books)

Anyways, I thought why not write a blog entry about my favourite ones? and write about a different one in each blog post? So here is my first one ;D

1) My all time favourite faerie artist has to be BRIAN FROUD. His work has been used as the inspiration for creatures in 2 of my all time favourite films; The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth. (both in conjunction with Jim Henson's Creature Shop). If you own the collectors edition DVD of Dark Crystal, you definitely have to check out the special features; there is a special documentary about the design work behind the dark crystal and you can see a lot of Froud's sketches and input.
One of his most famous art books is simply titled 'FAERIES', in collaboration with Alan Lee. If you like faerie art work or British folklore I would strongly recommend this book. It is just full to the brim with sketches, paintings and information on british folklore, on the stories, where they originate from and descriptions of creatures.
"This enchanting book explores the realm of elves, pixies, leprechauns, dryads and other mystical creatures. Nearly 200 extraordinary drawings and full colour paintings combine to produce a book which has stood the test of time since it was first published" - Kindred Spirit

Brian Froud's drawings are so unbelievably detailed and beautiful. The creatures and characters he creates are just so imaginative, it really brings them to life. Basically I would recommend all of his books :D lol. He's my favourite not just because he is an amazing artist, but because of the great childhood memories I have of his characters from The Dark Crystal (some of the external shots were filmed in Leicestershire, which is the county i live in) and Labrynth and what an impact they had on me. The ease with which he will just create an exciting new character, and the level of detail, it's just something I find inspiring.

His website -> www.worldoffroud.com







Dark Crystal Sequel News

A sequel titled "Power of the Dark Crystal", has been in pre-production for several years, and is estimated to be released sometime in 2011. Genndy Tartakovsky agreed to direct on two conditions: that the film would utilize live-action puppets as well as computer animation, and that Brian Froud would return to design the characters.^[2]

Nicole Goldman, vice president of marketing and publicity for The Jim Henson Company, spoke of the film's status on the January 14, 2008 installment of the Henson.com podcast, stating:^[7]

“

...[The film] is deep in development here, and we are as committed to it as ever. We are still planning our original vision of a film, which is a theatrical release... We are anticipating a beautiful blend of puppetry and animatronics with CG animation backgrounds as we've said all along... We're all very excited to see the film come together, and we'll be sure to update the fans to the progress as we have those updates confirmed. So stay tuned for more information on Power of the Dark Crystal![7]

”

Spirit & Destiny - UK spiritual lifestyle magazine

I've been trying to find forum posts and topics on etsy about spiritual/wiccan/pagan topics and interests. Maybe I haven't been looking in the right places but I struggled to really find any? I keep meaning to apply to join the Pagan team on etsy, maybe that would be a good place to meet like minded people? I've found some great blogs on here, that I sometimes don't get round to blogging myself because I've got distracted reading other people's!

There's a magazine here in the uk that I get that's really good, and in the recent copy there is an article about women who have met through their forum. I never even thought to look attheir website or forum! So anyway I thought I would post the link up for people who may not have heard of it, or anyone like me who reads and never really checked it out before.

www.spiritanddestiny.co.uk

New Items

Just listed lots of great new items ^_^ Here are a few of them (photos are links)


I heart Wiccans Earrings



Pentacle Candles & faux pearl Bead Earrings


Butterflies & Rose Quartz Pagan Charm Bracelet


Celtic Cross and Amazonite gemstone Necklace

More items in the shop :)

My First Sale - Yay - and interesting article by The News Of The World on the rise of paganism in the UK

I sold my first items the other day :) 2 necklaces :) Well you have to start somewhere. I was very happy anyway.
I've had a load of new charms arrive and I'm itching to get making some new things for the shop :) so watch this space!

I found this really interesting article by The News Of The World (british newspaper) on the rise of paganism in the UK, and all the comments that have been left about it. Go check it out here;
http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/fabulous/features/485161/paganism.html

x

First Post Ever ^_^

Hello *waves* my name's Emma.

♥This is Toadstool Hollow's first post, of what I predict to be very many!!! This blog is for my etsy shop; Toadstool Hollow Everything is handmade and OOAK (One Of A Kind). I make and sell Faerie, Pagan, Wiccan and Fantasy themed artwork, jewellery, felt art dolls and other bits and pieces ^_^ I hope to add new items regularly, so please check back :) The etsy shop is quite new, but I have been selling on eBay for 4 years now and have 100% feedback ^_^ I also have another shop on etsy, that sells kitsch, plastic, kawaii jewellery; Heroine Industries

♥I've had an interest in celtic/pagan history, folk lore, faeiries and wicca for as long as I can remember. I also love arts and crafts, and complete a degree in Graphic Design & Illustration last year. So it made sense to combine the two :) I hope to list some paintings and illustrations over the coming weeks, but for now here are some items I've just listed;


Cute Pagan Felt Doll




Follow Your Dreams Affirmations Charm Bracelet - wish, inspire, imagine, create, dream, believe.

Pink and Black Wiccan Rede Sign and Lavender Pillow