One of the best things about running this blog is having to chance to discover other blogs out there. I’ve found so many kindred spirits in this way. One of my favorite finds was in Jessica Marie’s enchanting blog, Folk and Fairy. This ethereal little pocket of magic showcases all manner of fairy tale and folklore related eye candy. Just spending time scrolling through the enteries makes me feel as if I have been spirited away. It is a must read for any mori or grimoire girl!

Jessica, thank you for spending time with us here in Wonderland and for sharing your magic with us!

————————————————–

The Wonderland Ten

Name: Jessica Marie

Blog Name: Folk and Fairy: Clever Finds for the Faerie-inclined

1. What made you decide to start a blog?
I was really inspired by Ulla Milbrath’s blog Ullabenulla – particularly her ‘Fairytale Style’ section. At that point there were very few blogs dedicated to those who wanted to bring fairytale style into their lives, so I decided to start the kind of blog I would want to read.

2. How would you describe your blog in 10 words or less?
Clever finds for the faerie-inclined!

3. How did you come up with the name for your blog?
I made a list of all of my favorite words that had to do with this kind of style. In the end, Folk and Fairy sounded nicest together, and made a lot of sense: to me, the connotation of the phrase “fairy tales” is more polished and glittery, whereas “folklore” reminds me more of a patchwork, rag-and-bone kind of thing, and I value both of these concepts when it comes to faerie finds.

4. What’s your favorite thing about running your blog?
Finding the pretty pictures…I’m sure that’s obvious! I could spend all day looking at ballgowns, gypsy caravans, and jewelry. I love it when I have too many things I want to write about. And I’m going to cheat here and add that finding like-minded bloggers/artists/writers is also such a reward.

5. What advice would you give to people out there who want to start their own blog?
Do it today! There is no reason not to be giving people your own perspective on whatever your passion is. I’ve met so many interesting, worthwhile people who seem to know exactly what I mean when I gush about these things – and yet we all have our own voices out there in the blogosphere.

6. List one of each of the following categories that you would recommend as a source of inspiration:

Book: Tales Before Tolkien: The Roots of Modern Fantasy edited by Douglas Anderson is my go-to compilation of short stories that pre-date the present-day ideas of Faerie. I’ve found some of my all-time favorite stories in that book.

Movie: Stardust! Oh, Stardust is so beautiful. I love the styling and design and overall look of that movie. Everyone in it is made stunning. I give it a million gold stars. (Of course I love the book too.)

Blog: This is not fair, but I will rise to the challenge! Shelley Noble’s Notes from Halfland is one blog I am always amazed by. I admire her craftiness and her drive and I *adore* her good taste. Also, I believe stop-motion animation originated in Faerie so I think that Shelley might actually be part Fae.

Artist: I am an Arthur Rackham girl all the way, although I sometimes cheat on him with Edmund Dulac (especially in the hot summer months when I need more depth of color).

Music: I am devoted to Kate Rusby. Her voice is sweet and rich and she sings of times long ago, of lovers, of death, and of everything magical. My favorite album of hers is The Girl Who Couldn’t Fly.

7. Where’s your favorite place to daydream?
On the edge of sleep…I would love to say outside in a tree, or at the opera or something, but I am too easily distracted. I’ve never even been able to read outdoors; there’s too much magic happening.

8. What stores do you like to shop at?
If I had my druthers I would own the entire *Free People* line for every season. However, I am serious about the ethics of my clothing – not only environmental ethics, but simple labor ethics as well. So I spend a lot of time in thrift stores and consignment shops, though every so often I’ll buy something online that was handmade or splurge at H&M or Target.

9. If you could have an item from any story, what item would you want to have?
I would love to have the star-glass given to Frodo in The Lord of the Rings, which contains the light of Eärendil. It’s of the utmost importance to have a source of Light in life’s dark places.

10. And lastly, it wouldn’t be Wonderland without a tea party… so what type of tea would you like?
Oh, I betray Faerie every time the issue of tea comes up because (I’m sorry!) I don’t like tea, though I am always open to suggestions. I’m afraid my tea party might end up being a hot chocolate party instead, but that is still a delicious party. Promise.

JSK: Dear Celine’s “Summer Breeze” chiffon JSK in mint
Bolero: Dear Celine’s “Summer Breeze” chiffon bolero in pink
Stockings: Offbrand (Macy’s)
Shoes: Offbrand

The jewelry features a rose bracelet, rose & pearl hair corsage and a white lace collar featuring a rose in the center. The bag is from a tea house shop down in Florida called “Lavendar & Lace”.

For my hair, I curled large chunks of it into big sausage curls with a hair curler, then used my fingers to break them up into smaller, poofier curls. From there, I pinned then up with bobby pins, and arranged it so the curls swept over the side, I finished it off by adding the rose & pearl hair corsage and viola!

This is my first mint colored piece in my wardrobe. And I love it! I debated a while on which color to go with. My instinct kept going for the mint. There was something so fresh looking about it. I was just drawn to it in spite of the voice in the back of my head trying to remind me that I didn’t have any mint in my wardrobe. But luckily, mint goes very well with both pink and white – two colors I have plenty of in my wardrobe to mix and match with it. Plus I also picked up two adorable Baby the Stars Shine Bright mint hair bows to match.

The outfit fits wonderfully and does indeed feel like wearing a summer breeze with all the diaphanous chiffon. My only reservation is that they made the bolero a tad too small from my given measurements (it was a custom order), but it still is very nice otherwise.

I’m very happy with this coordination and am looking forward to having another excuse to wear it out soon. I’m glad I went with the mint.

Dream today.
Just take a moment, close your eyes and let the escape happen.
For just one moment allow yourself to be the hero or heroine of your own story.
Slip into a fantastical world where anything is possible.
Reach out and surround yourself with every delight you can imagine.
Breath it in.
Make it real.
Fill it in the fibers of your heart.
Let it seep under your skin and through your fingers.
Then believe in it.
Even just for a moment.
Take the time each day to feel that magic.
Seek to achieve the dream.

Hello everyone, I wanted to update you on a new project I am working on. It’s a new blog that I am maintaining with my husband called The Princess & The Warlock. This new blog is designed to be a geek resource guide to all manner of hobbies and interests in various geek subcultures, though it is heavily geared toward the gamer community.

What does this mean for Pretty Wonderland? Well, I will still be maintaining Pretty Wonderland as well but due to the amount of time and energy that goes into maintaining two blogs, I may be cutting back the frequency of posts here. In the past, I’ve aimed to get out 2-3 posts per week, and that may now drop down to only once a week. But again, I’m still keeping Pretty Wonderland.

The reason I took on this new project is because, while I adore Pretty Wonderland, it doesn’t give me the chance to fully express my other areas of interest. There is so much I have to say on topics that aren’t quite suited to Pretty Wonderland. Furthermore, my husband has also wanted the opportunity to start getting his ideas out there as well. We decided that working together on this new blog might be a fun new project for us.
The Princess & The Warlock may not be for everyone. As I mentioned, it’s geared more for gamer geeks, but I do plan on touching on lolita subculture on occasion as well, so I hope that you will pop by on occasion and check it out.

Much Love,
Princess Crystal

As promised, here is my report from the photoshoot I participated in with Carolyn of Ophanim, Aly from Amaranth Opulent and Lindsay of Lolita Nouveau and Lolita-n-Cream

We all met up at Harkness Park in located in New London, Connecticut. It was a beautiful summer day, perfect for taking pictures. The different park gardens all offer an array of different flora, which gave us some great backdrops. It’s definitely a place to check out if you are in the area.

I first got to model some beautiful hats from Ophanim. My favorite being this amazing pink bonnet.

Pink Bonnet by Ophanim

Ophanim has a number of different styles including half bonnets, full bonnets and tricorn hats. Having the chance to see them up close and get to wear them, I can vouch for their excellent craftsmanship and impeccable detail. They sit well on the head and Carolyn has created a wealth of different styles and colors to please everyone.

Rose Necklace by Amaranth Opulent

Next, I got to try on a few pieces of jewelry from the new Amaranth Opulent. The staple of Amaranth Opulent is that the jewelry is crafted from eco-friendly material and often features local pressed wildflowers. The jewelry is light weight and has a sophisticated vintage elegance. These pieces are perfect for mori girl and classic lolita ensembles. I fell in love with so many pieces, especially the rose necklace as seen above.

Cameo Skirt by Lolita Nouveau (Rose hair corsage by Ophanim)

Last, I got to try on a Lolita Nouveau cameo skirt. The one I modeled was in cream with the cameo detail in gunpowder. The skirts come in a variety of colors and their simplistic elegance make them easy to dress up or down. They also feature a few crystals around the cameo print giving a extra touch of sparkle. It was very well made and I was delighted by how comfortable it was to wear.

Carolyn, Aly and Lindsay are truly gifted artists and not to mention very sweet and fun young ladies to be around. It was a pleasure to spend time with them and an honor to model their works. We here at Pretty Wonderland are proud to call ourselves fans of their work and plan to add some of their pieces to our upcoming holiday wishlist.

The designers – Caroyln, Aly and Lindsay

Hello my lovlies.
Sorry for the recent lack of posts.
I am currently running a very hectic schedule and nursing a sick prince back to health.
Hopefully I’ll be able to bring you some new posts by the beginning of next week, if not sooner.
In the meantime, check out F*ck Yeah Lolita! and Miss Lumpy for a look at our recent photoshoot.
I’m looking to make a full report next post, so please stay tuned!

Much Love & Wishes,
Princess Crystal

I recently read an article that struck a chord with me. It discusses the modern feminist mindset of privilege=well being, particularly in regards to popular literature coined as “priv-lit”. It’s a very interesting read and one that made me examine my own fashion culture.

In online fashion communities, there is a certain self-imposed pressure to maintain a level of involvement by posting pictures decked out in your best attire. It creeps in over time. You start to bring a camera everywhere you go. You obsess over matching your outfit for the occasion. You spend more time and energy into snapping shots rather than being involved in conversation. We feel the need to spend money on our wardrobe, gear and living spaces to reflect our lifestyle, as if these objects make us more legitimate. I think many girls believe that it is a way to connect to the culture and thus a way to connect to themselves, but I’m starting to see how this desire to parade like a peacock can actually hamper true happiness.

It hit me even before I read the article. I noticed how distracted I was on outings with my friends. I realized that I continued to force myself into layers of frills and lace even if it was too hot or too uncomfortable for the place I was going. Later, I would get home and realized that I never felt truly relaxed with my friends or my body was soaked with sweat because of being out all day dressed in all my petticoats. I would scroll through online shops ordering tons of cute stuff to make myself happy. Filling my life with pastel, sparkly goodness. I wanted to deck my entire life in pink satin ribbons, twinkling sugar coated candies and brightly colored carousels. I felt the urge to “keep up”. I felt I had to show my devotion to my lifestyle ideal, even if it meant spending my way to get there in this rough economy.

Due to hard financial times hitting me, I’ve had to suspend my indulgence spending. There are so many pretty things I want out there. But I realized as happy as I know it would make me, it was only a quick fix. I realized I needed to look inside to find my bliss. Joy isn’t found in a brand jumperskirt. It’s found inside. It’s really a shame how many girls there are out there wanting to be involved in the fashion to feel like a princess but can’t because of finances. As if wearing a pretty dress has anything to do with filling your life with beauty. Beauty can be found all around you if you are willing to look for it.

The moment it really hit me was this past weekend when I went to go for my little walk in the woods that I previously posted about. My initial plan was to deck myself in my best mori girl attire and wander the woods looking like a woodland princess. But then I realized that I didn’t want to go to the forest to show off my style. I wanted to climb trees, take a long walk and wade through the stream. Dressing up for such a physically demanding activity was highly impractical. I wasn’t there for a fashion show, I was there to let go and really experience nature. So I opted for jeans and a shirt. Simple and practical. At one point I crossed paths with two deer. My instinct was to draw out my camera, but I stopped. Doing so would likely frighten them away. I wanted to enjoy the moment. I have my memory. I didn’t need the picture. So I stopped and just watched them. It was beautiful. I was in the moment.

I think in the hard times we are facing, we need to remind ourselves that our purse and attire should not determine our happiness. If you want to indulge in your inner princess or forest faerie, there are ways to do it without spending money. Examine the little things that often get ignored. Don’t force yourself to worry about looking perfect for every single time you go out. Let yourself go and just enjoy the moment.
Here are some tips for how to still feel connected to your inner princess without the distraction of money and apparel.

* Take a walk in the forest and read under a tree.

* Spend a day lounging on the couch watching your favorite movies.

* Bake and decorate cute desserts for friends and family.

* Take up a craft like knitting or jewelry making and make yourself something nice.

* Invite a friend over for a casual cup of tea and catch up.

* Wander your neighborhood and observe your environment with a careful and open eye.

* Perform a sock puppet show for a loved one.

* Print out a star guide and take a night out to find different stars and constellations.

* Look into volunteering for a day at a local charity or hospital.

* Visit a local museum, art gallery or zoo.

* Organize a scavenger hunt with friends.

* Collect seashells on a local beach.

* Start keeping a pressed flower book with notes about where you found the flowers.

Sometimes taking the time to do low-key, casual activities without the pressure of dressing up, can be a much needed relief. It helps us appreciate the little things in life and reminds us to take a step back and feel connected. You don’t have to be dressed up to prove your commitment to your favored fashion or yourself. Just be committed to appreciate life one day at a time.

I took the key. The one you left me in the hollow of the tree. I took it and went into the woods. Perhaps the gate would be there. Maybe that was where you wanted me to go. Maybe that was where you were all hiding.

I didn’t take a map. Why bother? I wanted to be lost. No. I wanted to be found. By you. Afterall, you left me the key, didn’t you? You must want me to join you. So I left the world behind and traveled deep into the heart of the forest. Alone. Without regret or fear. I gave my heart to the wild and wood.

But I couldn’t find you. You stayed hidden. Even the trolls under their bridges remained out of sight. Yet your laughter stirred through the leaves, urging me farther down the path. And so I went. Farther and farther until I strayed. Spider silk crowned my hair and thorns graced my porcelain skin with your scarlet kisses.

Still you stayed in the whispers and the wind. A faint trace of hope carried aloft by your promise. Was it a test? Did I fail? I searched all day. Under rocks and in the trees. I called out but you didn’t answer. Have you forsaken me?

Why do you continue to hide the door? Please let me come to you. I wish to say farewell to the world of sharp metal and synthetic bliss. I wish to stay with you, in the cradle of willow and dew. Hold me here in your thrall for I am yours.

Is this all a cruel game of your design? Knowing how much I wish the escape yet refusing my entrance to your world? I shall not be daunted in this quest. I will find the door. The key stays at my heart ready for the day you are revealed. The day I will follow, the day this stolen child will finally be allowed to come home.

“Real isn’t how you are made,” said the Skin Horse. “It’s a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real.”

“Does it hurt?” asked the Rabbit.

“Sometimes,” said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful. “When you are Real you don’t mind being hurt.”

“Does it happen all at once, like being wound up,” he asked, “or bit by bit?”

“It doesn’t happen all at once,” said the Skin Horse. “You become. It takes a long time. That’s why it doesn’t happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don’t matter at all, because once you are Real you can’t be ugly, except to people who don’t understand.”
The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams

“Magic is always impossible,” said the magician. “It begins with the impossible and ends with the impossible and is impossible in-between. That is why it is magic.”
The Magician’s Elephant by Kate DiCamillo

“The unicorn lived in a lilac wood and she lived all alone. She was very old, though she did not know it, and she was no longer the careless color of sea foam, but rather the color of snow falling on a moonlit night. But her eyes were still clear and unwearied, and she still moved like a shadow on the sea.”
The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle

“There were thousands and thousands of forms of joy in the world, but that all were essentially one and the same, namely, the joy of being able to love.”
The Neverending Story by Michael Ende

“Whatever comes,” she said, “cannot alter one thing. If I am a princess in rags and tatters, I can be a princess inside. It would be easy to be a princess if I were dressed in cloth of gold, but it is a great deal more of a triumph to be one all the time when no one knows it.”
A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett

Princess of Glass by Jessica Day George is the sequel to another book I have previously reviewed, Princess of the Midnight Ball. This sequel, however, follows the journey of Princess Poppy, one of the younger sisters from the first book. It’s not necessary to have read it first as this story really stands on its own, but I certainly recommend reading the first one.

“Hoping to escape the troubles in her kingdom, Princess Poppy reluctantly agrees to take part in a royal exchange program, whereby young princes and princesses travel to each other’s countries in the name of better political alliances—and potential marriages. It’s got the makings of a fairy tale—until a hapless servant named Eleanor is tricked by a vengeful fairy godmother into competing with Poppy for the eligible prince. Ballgowns, cinders, and enchanted glass slippers fly in this romantic and action-packed happily-ever-after quest from an author with a flair for embroidering tales in her own delightful way.”
- From Goodreads

This is a very unique and interesting re-imagining of the Cinderella story that is unpredictable and contains non-stereotypical characters, while still maintaining the center of magic and romance that defines the original tale. In a surprising twist, the “Cinderella” of this story plays a more antagonistic role, but a sympathetic one. I’ve rarely seen an author be able to take such a well known tale and truly make it new.

I was worried I wouldn’t like Poppy at first since everyone always makes the Spunky Heroine so sassy that she becomes annoying, but Jessica Day George really handled the character well and avoided her from becoming a loud mouthed brat and instead gave us a tough, but lovable heroine who has her own vulnerabilities.

I highly recommend reading this one to anyone who loves fairy tales. I think many girls can easily find a connection with Princess Poppy. Please let me know if you check it out and tell me what you think.