Holy Moly long time since last blogged! New shops I like...

Yes it has been quite a while since I last blogged. Sorry sorry... I know. I will just say this - college courses with two week exam cycles, gull bladder hates me, family is crazy, my hair is blue now. Ta da. So that the excuses are out of the way. Let me introduce several new shops and artists I've discovered over the last several months that I kept meaning to tell everyone about.

1) "A Pagan Dollhouse" with the whimsical gypsy dolls by artisans Carolina Gonzalez And Fernando Abisaab.
Their magical Etsy shop is Gypsy Minis: http://www.etsy.com/shop/gypsydeluxe
Their blog: http://apagandollhouse.wordpress.com/

2) "Rustic Miniatures" on Etsy has just the cutest and very well made natural wood furniture sets. There's a lot of that out there but these pieces have a distinct sense of craftsmenship. Linda and Mabelline make furniture in many scales including the larger sizes for Blythe and Barbie.
Rustic Miniatures on Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/shop/RusticMiniatures?ref=seller_info

3)"Marfulhuz Miniatures" on Etsy. I love her mushrooms! Little tufts of fungus sprouting from logs and chopped brown mushroom caps ready to go into a boiling kettle. She has some cute ghostie potion bottles and other goodies as well.
Find these delightful minis at: http://www.etsy.com/shop/MarfolhuzMiniatures?ref=seller_info

4)"Mrs Tiggywinkle Dolls" by Tiggy on Etsy. A costume designer by trade, she makes the most beautiful porcelain dolls. Her Tudors especially caught my fancy. These can be purchased fully finished, in a kit with everything included, or just the doll unclothed. Visit her shop at: http://www.etsy.com/shop/MrsTiggywinkleDolls?ref=seller_info

5)"Copper Fairy Studio" also on Etsy. A magical selection of paper goods including books, scrolls, and fantastic fairy wings that she will create in any scale! I simply must have a pair... or two.

Visit this shop at: http://www.etsy.com/shop/copperfairystudio

Well this is just a fraction of what I've been finding here and there. If you collect fantasy or spooky miniatures, there is so much if you are willing to look for the little treasures! That's the fun of it really, for me. The discovery and sharing it. By the way, hope you like the new look of my blog. I used the free backgrounds and also the graphics packs to make my own banners by Itkupilli... love love love her stuff! Check out her countless beautiful free graphics at http://blo64rt.blogspot.com/ and her Etsy shop at http://www.etsy.com/shop/Itkupilli?ref=seller_info

I'm being followed by an Art Thief: Is she following you?

Hmm... that is selling well, people like that. Wow, it's sort of expensive and I could make that way cheaper. I'll just move this little piece here instead. Oh the original artist is offended? Hey I made this with my hand so it's handmade. Look angry miniature artists, you don't own the idea of a 'magical mandrake table' or other WITCHY concepts. I'm making money and you can't stop me!

Now I'm going to start following all of your blogs and mass advertising my shoddy knock off work and you can't stop me! You can't stop me haha! In fact, I'm going to advertise my work as original, ooak, and truly an expression of my own inner creativity...

Uh-hum... Most of us figure this out as children.

The picture above was taken and submitted to DeviantART by 'skullberries' at http://browse.deviantart.com/?qh=§ion=&q=dumb+girl#/d2m8k3z I give her credit, no matter how simple the idea is- because it's HERS! If I were to like this idea so much that I would take a picture of the word dumb tattooed on my own lip, I would be COPYING !!! Then if I were to try selling it on the very same sites she advertises on I'd have just the biggest pair of testicles EVER!

I know who you are.

In fact, we ALL know who you are.

I know how you have blatantly made poor quality copies of work belonging to other miniature artists in the Spooky & Fantasy genre.

I know that you have decided to follow my and many other miniature art blogs recently.

I know that you dress yourself up as a witch.

I am a Witch, lady... and I am pissed off. I do NOT appreciate you following my blog or pretending to be an original artist.

You have been warned many times in a friendly manner to stop copying other people's work. You have responded with nastiness and distain. You have NO INTEGRITY !!!

Just remember, whatever you do to others will come back to you, whether you call it Karma, Threefold Rule, or the Golden Rule. I support my community of miniature artists and original handmade art. You have lost your place in this and are a tainted HACK.

http://browse.deviantart.com/?qh=§ion=&q=art+theif#/d1b3otc

-An article on how to approach someone who has stolen your art:
http://news.deviantart.com/article/22971/

-Your full legal rights as an artist can be found in the BERNE CONVENTION FOR THE PROTECTION OF LITERARY AND ARTISTIC WORKS (Paris Text 1971)
http://www.law.cornell.edu/treaties/berne/overview.html

-10 Big Myths about Copyrights:
http://www.templetons.com/brad/copymyths.html

NOTICE !!!

I only personally follow blogs of original artists that I respect. Just because someone is following my blog, does not mean I support their work or want to be associated with them. As a collector and a creator myself, supporting the artistic community in all mediums is very important to me. I cannot stop someone from following my blog, stealing my pictures, or even physically copying my work. However, I can refuse to buy their work, follow their blog, and put the word out about them in my own artistic guilds and groups.

If you are visitng my blog as a shopper and collector, please consider the fine artists I have provided links for. Their work is a bit more expensive than mass produced items because they put so much time and thought into making them. Unique, One of a kind, Original

This actually means something.