Shivers of Delight

I love when I get a card in the mail that is clever or beautiful enough to keep on display for longer than one might think appropriate. I've even been know to frame a card that I really liked. LovePop cards fit right into that category, except that instead of framing them, you'll want to keep them on a shelf.  They have a large range of designs, but here are a few that I think will make you shriek with delight. Drogon and Daenerys- Game of Thrones The Night King and Viserion - Game of Thrones Skiing Yeti Day of the Dead Vampire Skeleton Bear Sugar Skull There are a gazillion creative designs in this shop. You'll find something for everyone.

All I know is that it's coming soon. Artist Renee Lawter has created a character named Karma. According to Lawter, "Karma's Kreatures is a story about a little inspiring kick a$$ girl whose health is connected to the deterioration of the environment." Karma goes on a journey with her mother and meets all kinds of interesting kreatures that only she can see. I don't know whether this will be a book or a movie, but it sounds -and looks- interesting. You can find these prints at KarmasKreatures . Making It Rain  The Fantastic Filters Karma Planting the Seeds The Great Gumball Incident From Above: A Miyazaki Tribute The Bunny Hugger I'm not sure that all these illustrations are from Karma's Kreatures, but they're all so charming I wanted to add the all!

You need to be prepared for when the really big snow arrives. I suggest a pair of claw gloves. You never know when you'll need to claw your way out of a snowbank. Claw gloves could also help to show pushy shoppers that you won't be messed with. That fingerling is yours. (By the way, I have no idea what a fingerling is, but I noticed lots of parents are looking for them. I thought everyone was getting excited about potatoes.) Crochet Monster Gloves from MaryOriginals Upcycled Brown Monster Paws from KendallMade Gloves with Claws from SnippetFairy Fleece Yoda Gloves from BlueVapor Dragon Fingerless Mittens from HotScones Furry Cat Gloves from ThePrincessKittyCo Any of these fancy mittens would be fun for a holiday glove exchange or Secret Santa gift.

The darkness of winter brings its own kind of magic, and the dolls created by Emilie seem to belong to another world that may just open its doors during the winter nights and let us in. It's a world I wouldn't mind filling my dreams. The shop is called LightLeafStudio . Noël Christmas Fantasy Dragon and Fairy Troll Ornament Myla Witch Maylyn Half Dragon- Half Elfe Matilda Dia de los Muertos Ornament Magical Mouse Carie I think I can feel a spark of magic just looking at these dolls!

I like Greg Wojdak's story about becoming a jewelry designer. As it goes, he couldn't quite find a design for a ring that he wanted and drew a sketch for a goldsmith. After friends started requesting his rings, the goldsmith taught him the art of jewelry making and he eventually opened his own shop. That's my condensed version (you can read the actual story in his bio ), but it shows you that you never know where life will take you. Isn't that a heartwarming Christmas story? Where is the Christmas part of that story, you ask? Well, now you're supposed to buy a ring to give to someone as a gift. Your move. His shop is called CustomRingsPL . Bronze Small Skull Ring Bronze Sugar Skull Ring Bronze Armageddon Skull Ring Serpent Skull Ring Badass Skull Ring Tripple Hiroshima Skull Band There are over 40 different rings in the shop along with pendants, bracelets and earrings made from bronze, silver, and gold. Maybe you need to buy one to fill ...

I'm hoping for something Rotten for Christmas. That's MarthaRotten , of course. I've featured this wonderful jewelry shop in the past, but as the gift-giving holidays approach I want to make sure you don't forget about Francine and Pete Yorko's jewelry for the darker souls on your list. Skull with Antlers Ornament Skull Snowflake Ornament Planchette Bangle Jackalope with Gardener's Skull Necklace Skull Hair Pins Skulls with Crystals Bracelet Kitten Skull Ring All the MarthaRotten pieces are hand crafted from lead-free pewter. The details are lovely and there are many different designs available. I'm confident that there is something you'll love in this shop.

Yep, I've just finished reading another book about Lizzie Borden and the murder of her father and stepmother. Published in August of this year, See What I Have Done  by Sarah Schmidt, is a fast-moving, fictional account of the days surrounding the murders. I know what you're thinking because I said it myself: "Really? Another book about Lizzie Borden? What is there new to say?"  The novel sat on my nightstand for several days because I just couldn't get up the energy to go through it all again. But then I decided to read just the first page. After that I couldn't put it down. I liked this book very much. Each chapter is relayed through the viewpoint of either Lizzie, her sister Emma, the servant Bridgett, or Benjamin - a fictional character that adds a twist to the story. Benjamin is used to explore one of the existing but little discussed theories of the murders that they were orchestrated by Lizzie's Uncle John. We know in fact that Uncle John arrive...