Tudor Style on Etsy

Handpicked on Etsy
The royal House of Tudor reigned the British realm from 1485 to 1603, starting with the Henry VII and ending with the death of Elizabeth I. Tudor dynasty intrigue, romance, betrayal and treachery reads like a work of dramatic fiction and has ever since inspired historians, novelists, playrights, and film makers to revisit the era. Influences from Tudor architecture and court style have survived through modern times, seen everywhere from residential facades to chunky furniture to costume jewelry. Recent films and the series, The Tudors, has sparked a trendy revival, and Etsy designers offer some evocative creations in all price ranges -- perfect to add a romantic touch to holiday attire or give as gifts. Click on the pictures to go directly to these Etsy listings. Prices range from $13.75 to $62.00.
From left to right, today's featured Etsy artisans include: duchessa, KiraFerrer, MiladyJewels, etherealcreations, treasurecast, justbedesigns

Fairies and Nymphs: Unreal Creations on Etsy

Handpicked on Etsy

The artist is like a magician, using not a magic wand but special skills and imagination to transform materials into objects of charm, romance and mystery.
Enchanted creatures inspired today's featured artists to create these examples of modern day romance that celebrate the supernatural beings who dwell in woodland forests. Pagan lore of woodland fairies, nymphs and sprites not only infuse modern day children's tales, but are embraced by grown-up women who use a touch of fairy dust or tattered silk and lace to reveal their inner sprite. Click on the pictures to go directly to these listings. Prices range from $14.50 to $5000.00.
From top left to bottom right, today's Etsy artisans include: catherinavonisenburg, zeng, moosupvalleydesigns, mulberrymud, stelladesigns, catherinavonisenburg, destinationhome, amandarosestudios, emilygrayjewels, EnchantedGypsy

Romance Part II: Goose Bumps,Tredipation and Awe

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Today I look at romanticism from the perspective of "trepidation and awe" in which artists invite nature to thrill, titillate, raise goose bumps and send a chill up the spine. 18th Century Romantics weren't merely having a bit of fun with the occult or spooky. They were taking an intellectual stand against a clinically scientific, rational way of viewing and categorizing the world. Emotion, precisely because is was not rational, was embraced by these artists as a source and goal of the aesthetic experience. Endeavoring to elicit strong emotional responses to their works of art and literature, the Romantic Movement not only addressed melodramatic themes of love, yearning, loss and sentiment, but also themes including supernatural powers, and nature's power to evoke a mood, a sense of foreboding or wonder, or literally wreak havoc with a poisonous flower or its stormy turbulence. These aspects of nature would remain mysterious and out of our control, despite scientific advances in our knowledge and understanding of it. Today's compelling selections struck me as being modern-day expressions of similarly romantic themes. Click on the pictures to go directly to these listings. Prices range from $1.00 to $94.95
From top left to bottom right, today's featured artists include: ImagineStudio, judemcconkey, shelostit, magickmermaid, BillyCurrie, twistedsisterarts, lancerika, ara133photography

Romance Part I: Idealization on Etsy

Handpicked on Etsy
Romance is associated in common culture with love and idealization, though it actually imbues the arts in more complex philosphical and intellectual ways. In 18th Century Western Europe, scientific advances and the Industrial Revolution inspired a Romantic Movement in the arts, born as a protest against the environmental & socio-cultural impacts of mass production and the rationalization of nature. Naive folk art and handmade was embraced as 'noble,' and artistic themes included trepidation and awe associated with wildly untamed nature -- I'm saving those motifs for another day. Today, I focus on the sentimental side of romance. These selections from Etsy artisans include images of scenery portrayed in an idealized way, and handmade creations reflecting a nostalgia for Victorian Era style. Click on the pictures to go directly to these Etsy stores. Prices range from $12.00 to $1210.00
Today's featured artisans include, from top left to bottom right: dgordon, The7thMagpie, TravelingChariot, sarahseven, bonheur, garyhellerphotograph, starwillowstudio, ambersky