Pigs must be flying.

11/17/09 Update: Shop coming very soon... I promise!
I have been intending to open an Etsy shop for almost as long as I've known about the site. Somehow I have allowed an embarrassingly great length of time to pass (measured in years, not months) while continuing to say, "One day I plan to sell my jewelry on Etsy." I don't know if I was waiting for pigs to soar past my window or the devil to wear ice skates, but the time has finally come... almost.

I figure if I post about my plans I will feel obligated to actually get my Etsy shop going very soon. I'm going to shoot some new photos of my work over the next few days--as you can see from the two examples below, I really need to reshoot! I hope to have the shop go live sometime before the end of next week. I'm going to start with some jewelry, but plan to expand to some of my photographs and possibly a sampling of handprinted paper goods. Stay tuned for the launch announcement, and I hope that you'll find at least one thing you'd like to own!

Rule Brittania.

Ever since I can remember, I have been an ardent Anglophile. As a child, I used to dream of stowing away in my friend's luggage when her family went to London every summer. I watch every British show and film I can find and read every British magazine and every book that I can get my hands on that takes place in England. I finally made my first non-armchair traveler journey to the UK in my early 20s and felt like I was dreaming. It was even better than I could have imagined! I was lucky enough to go back twice in the early 2000s while my very good friend was doing a Doctorate at Oxford University (I KNOW--super smart!). I even got to stay "on a staircase" "in college" (love those archaic terms!). It was in a 17th century building next to the college's chapel, located in the Chapel Quad (how veddy British!). It was heaven (no pun intended).

Sadly I haven't been back in well over five years, but my reading and viewing help me remember my visits. Even the food products from the UK make me happy. I've made trips to Myers of Keswick in Greenwich Village to stock up on Walker's Crisps (Prawn Cocktail is my favorite, followed closely by Cheese & Onion and Smoky Bacon) and Tunnock's Caramel Wafer Biscuits. I was so happy when my local supermarkets began to carry a moderate selection of British foods so I can get my PG Tips (on their site, check out the hilarious commercials featuring a sock monkey and his human) Cadbury Crunchie, and Branston Pickle right near my home.

So I am really loving hwayoungjung's Flickr set, British Things. It's a group of fabulous drawings of more than 100 food products from England. She (I think she?) has also written interesting little histories of each product. I don't think I'll ever get tired of looking through this set, but I just saw that she drew additional sets: American Things, Scottish Things, French Things, and Italian Thing (as hwayoungjung wrote, "just 1 for now"). I guess I'll have to expand my interest in culinary drawings... I'm looking forward to her coming additions to these sets.

Mmmm... another one of my favorite treats (image copyright hwayoungjung)

An Education.

I can't wait to see this film. The plot sounds really interesting and I am in love with the costumes and scenery. Nick Hornby wrote the screenplay, based on Lynn Barber's memoir. Superb cast, including Carey Mulligan (below), who is just too adorable.

Heartfelt thanks.

Many thanks to all of you who've sent me your words of support and advice. I know this time will pass and I look forward to when I am again gainfully employed with being underemployed (I've got a very, very part time job) as just a distant memory. I never cease to be thrilled by how supportive and generous all of the bloggers out there are. Not to mention talented and creative! Again, thank you all :)