I’ve decided that each month I’m going to have a giveaway from my Etsy shop, some months it will be jewelry, some months a holiday hat, sometimes hand warmers or a custom piece, you get the idea. My first giveaway is going to be these fabulous earrings made by yours truly. Huzzah!

Beachcomber Earrings: Pink Pearls, Vintage Chains and Glass Beads, Sterling Silver Beads and Which Freshwater Pearls and Pink Shells hang from Sterling Silver French Hoops. Oo La la!

The contest will run until 10am ETS on Tuesday, August 10th.

Comment on this post with your favorite Ragamuffin piece and your email address to enter the drawing.

You can also increase your chances of winning by:

• Twitter about this giveaway! (include @Ms_Ragamuffin on the tweet!)
• Add this site on Google Friend Connect
• Blogging about this giveaway – leave a link!
• Adding Ms_Ragamuffin on twitter
• Adding Ragamuffin Design on Facebook
• Creating an Etsy treasury with a Ragamuffin Design piece in it – again, leave a link!

Every time you do one of these things leave an additional comment on this post.

Best of Luck – I’ll let you know who the winner is next week <3

I am going to be in Tokyo for 3+ weeks! I’m going to a conference as well as the Judo World Championship (sweet!) but that’s as far as I’ve planned. I have no idea where I’m staying! Hooooooooo! If you know of any fashion or travel bloggers based out Tokyo or have any travel suggestions yourself please pass them along!

photo by cocoip

So I’ve spent about a quarter of my life in a community that is about 76% male, prior to that I took the “engineering” track in high school and my main sport was beating people up. Needless to say, I don’t have a lot of female friends. Shocking, I know. My many male friends have recently brought to my attention the 1983 Action Fantasy movie Krull, which features cyclops, horses with flames coming out of their hooves, British soap stars, and numerous other absurdities that make the hearts of boys around the world flutter. So I actually sat down and watched the movie. And I will admit to all you fantasy nerds out there that is was not, in fact, that bad. In some places I even enjoyed myself. It was certainly a hell of a lot better than Red Sonja, which makes me weep. However, it was no Beastmaster.

Clearly you can see where my loyalties lie, and for that reason perhaps you can understand how freaking excited I am over this ring by Rabid Fox. OMFG a Beastmaster Ring!

Also, yes, the fact that I am seriously considering spending hundreds of dollars on a “beastmaster” tribute ring is proof that I am nerdier than the most fervent of Krull (or Red Sonja) fans. Let’s just accept it for what it is and move on.

I really enjoyed the photos from this Etsy blog post on making your own bridal bouquet. I figure the directions could come in useful even for those of us not walking down the aisle in the foreseeable future and either way, pretty colors!

I wonder if she did her nails just for this photo shoot – when I worked at a nursery/greenhouse my hands were always stained by dirt, stems and flower petals. I’m impressed with her manicure.

So maybe you notice that I changed both the url and the title of this blog? Maybe you’re totally oblivious and didn’t. Either way I’m about to explain to you all about La Quaintrelle. First off, I must thank the lovely Maryam at at My Marrakesh who was nice enough to lend her French grammar skills, merci!

A quaintrelle is a woman who emphasizes a life of passion expressed through personal style, leisurely pastimes, charm, and cultivation of life’s pleasures. Quaintrelles are not female dandies; rather, they share the same philosophical underpinnings of dandies, developed within feminine nature and styles. – wiki

Does that not sound fabulous? I certainly aspire to be a lady who lives a life a passion! Over the next couple weeks I’ll be revamping the blog to make it a little bit more organized and hopefully enjoyable for you. Hurrah!

In the mean time check out this wonderful photoshoot by the amazing Aiko 273, featuring a fantastic pirate hat from Apatico, which absolutely embodies the meaning of quaintrelle.

No, this is jessica’s closet.

If these shoes had a headline, it would be something like “Fabulous Burberry Shoes Make People Want to Have Sex with You: Good Luck Walking in Them”

So I found these amazing Burberry boots last Fall (I think)…and have yet to wear them. They were so fabulous I couldn’t pass them up, regardless of the fact that I can’t walk in them. At all. As for stairs? Please, don’t even mention the word to me while I’m wearing these. I’m simply restricted to handicapped accessible locations.

Even if I could walk in them (which I can’t) it’s not like a 3rd year PhD student often finds herself as a social function that may call for couture thigh high leather boots. Le sigh. Le woe. So far the only time I can come up with wearing them is as part of my Kitana Halloween costume. Oh, Burberry, I’m so sorry!

However, I suspect they’ll be meeting ebay before Halloween, since I can’t really kick ass if I can’t walk. Seriously, is there some secret to walking in these that I don’t know about? I figure for them to be sold out there must be people out there in the world who can do more than teeter around in them.

p.s. I’m not actually topless, I have a bikini. I don’t wear clothes in the summer.

Okay, so my trip to Washington was not exactly a “weekend vacation” by myself, but I think it does count. I mean, spending two weeks by yourself in a hotel room is pretty intense. Especially when that hotel room does not have internet. Seriously, can you even imagine such a thing? For the purposes of this post I’ve chosen to focus on to focus on my adventure to Forks, WA – because it was just plain freaking weird.

I would first like to say that I did not go particularly out of my way to get to Forks. Yes, I have read all the Twilight books. No I am not a TwiHard. I simply think of books like these as a vacation for my overworked brain, since they require no mental exertion to understand. At all. And come on, you have to admit they’re pretty funny. Moving on – While i was in Washington Forks was simply nearest town with a legit grocery store and restaurant to where I was staying, so going there was kind of inevitable. First I drove through the town, gawking at the absurd names of all the stores, which regardless of what they were selling seemed to be centered on Twilight: Twilight Lounge, Twilight Cafe, Native by Twilight, Dazzled by Twilight (this town supported not just one, but TWO Dazzled by Twilight stores!). It took all of five minutes to get through Forks so I turned around at the Visitor’s Center. And that was when I saw it:

Yeah, that’s right. Someone took a random red truck, gave it a “Bella” vanity license place and parked it in the Visitor’s Center. Good lord. At this point I decided to go to the grocery store…which was the only store and town…and which was also a hardware store AND a clothing store if you can imagine that. All in one. Wow. I bought about six shot glasses that said “Take a Bite Out of Forks” for friends at home, as well as one shot glass that said “Run with the Pack” for my werewolf loving friend. The cashier asked if I was buying them for younger siblings, I said no, they’re for my mom and friends. Awesome.

I actually left without taking any pictures because I was feeling a bit shy about the whole situation. I mean, a 26 year old woman standing alone and taking pictures of Forks, WA is just sad. But about 10 minutes down the road I said” Fuck It, I’m never going to see these people again!” and turned around and went to town with the photos. A “Dazzled by Twilight” Tour Group was even nice enough to take my photo with the Welcome to Forks sign. Aw. However, the best pictures of this trip were taking of a store front display. Jesus Christ.

Let’s take a closer view:

Are you serious? This is freaking terrifying.

How…what…that’s deep.

This photo! It’s just so realistic!

So yeah, that was my trip to Forks. On the way home I managed to get pulled over for speeding by a very attractive police officer. Perhaps the only attractive person in Forks? He certainly did not look like he belonged there. And he was awesome enough not to give me a ticket, hurrah!

Oh! I almost forgot! So I did go into that Dazzled by Twilight store. In fact, I went into both of them. Holy Bajeesus. I mean really, oh my god. I have never seen anything more ridiculous in my life. The store was made to look like a forest – there was fake grass all over, random tree trunks going to the ceiling, branches, leaves and even a little stream. I’ve also never seen so much Twilight paraphernalia in my life. Also, that shit is expensive! Crazy expensive! I asked the girls who worked there what the most ridiculous item they carried was. We eventually agreed on a shirt that said “Edward can break my headboard, bite my pillow and bruise my body.” Even more disturbing is the fact that apparently a lot of parents bought it for their prepubescent daughters. That just gives me the willies!

p.s. this is the shirt I got! lololol

Though I haven’t posted any beauty reviews in a while, I can assure you that I faithfully remain a product junkie. My summer look consists of being very lazy and waterproof, since I am either in the pool or sweating my ass off somewhere. On that note, here are my Top 5 Beauty Products for summer.

Benefit Dandelion -  Someone once tried to tell me this was an all over face powder, and I think that person is crazy. Instead I use this as a go to blush. I love this stuff. If you are having issues with spending $28(!) on a blush, take heart, it lasts forever. I mean, seriously years. And I use it ALL the time. It’s in a little box, so you don’t have to worry about it cracking, and it comes with its own handy dandy blush. This is a big sell for me because I am always running late and just throw my makeup bag in the car so I can apply my spackle later on…unfortunately, I often end up with a thing of blush and nothing to put it on with. Not the case with Dandelion, which comes with its own handy little brush that fits right inside. Hurrah! Another added bonus: this blush gives you such a natural flush that you don’t really need to worry about over applying it. Score.

Sephora Professional Clear Natural Mascara – I’ve said it a million times before, and I’ll say it again: The only physical characteristic from the Italian side of my family that I managed to inherit was excessive body hair…which goes hand in hand with my crazy uni-brow old man eyebrows. While I’m electrocuting the hair off my face to deal with the uni-brow, I use this sweet ass gel to tame the hair that’s left over, because there’s still a lot of it. I kind of like MAC Brow Set a bit better, but not $5 more better.

MAC Mineralized Skinfinish Natural – I totally dig this stuff, but I’ll be honest, it really only works as a foundation if you already have pretty decent skin, otherwise I’d suggest using it as a finishing powder. I apply it with a Kabuki brush and occasionally a sponge where I need a little extra coverage. It leaves a lovely sheen without looking sweaty, which I find to be a fairly unique characteristic in “mineralized” products. In general, this is a really nice product for evening your skin out without wearing an actual foundation – which I cannot handle. It also stays in place amazingly well – I discovered this by wearing it to karate and judo, where it thankfully did not run all over my face or smear all over someone else’s pristine white gi.

Mascara – I really like Cargo’s LashActivator and Smashbox’s Lash DNA, but neither hold up to water or extreme summer heat very well. I’ve been trying a lot of waterproof mascaras lately. I really like MAC’s Loud Lash, but sadly it looks like it has been discontinued. Thus the search begins. First, was Tarte’s 4 Day Lash Stain. I had high hopes for this, especially because it’s one of Sephora’s top sellers, but frankly I found it pretty disappointing. It still rubs off under the eyes every morning, but because it’s a stain it’s kind of hard to wash off the skin. Additionally, it also flakes and clumps, which sucks if you wear contact lenses. Surprisingly enough, I’ve been using the waterproof version of CoverGirl’s Lash Blast Mascara the most. It doesn’t smudge as much as the stain and it washes off easily at night, so there’s no pulling on the lashes. Unfortunately, I find the formula a bit thin and runny, so I’ll keep looking around.

Benefit Benetint – Love this product, need to use it more. Benetint is so versatile and perfect for a day at the pool. Seriously. It works great as a blush if you use it sparingly, and since it’s a stain it’s not going to rub off if you start sweating or decide to hit the pool. It’s also a great lip stain that you can use on its own or as a base with a gloss over (I LOVE Fresh Sugar Lip Gloss, especially in Shag). I have only tried the original Benetint, but I’m considering giving Posietint a shot. This color is a less intense pink and has a bit more peach in it, making it perfect for summer tans.

What else do I bother with in the summer? Not much else. Again, MAC has discontinued my favorite brow product, brow powder, but happily I have a stash. I may also line my inner upper eyelid with a black pencil, but I haven’t found something that wears well but washes off easily. I often find myself washing the same eyeliner off for 3 days in a row. Le sigh. Suprisingly enough, though, when it comes to eyeliner I find myself choosing CoverGirl Perfect Point Plus over both MAC Powerpoint and MAC Eye Kohl.

These adorable earrings from Foundling bring back some of the enjoyment I previously derived from the phrase “Oh, my!” before Usher’s ingratiating “Oh My Gosh” came out. Now I cannot say “oh, my” without adding 50 additional “Oh”s. Goddamit.

Well, I’ve finally gotten around to posting on a more regular basis. Hurrah! Here is an interview that the lovely Crystal of CAPow of was kind enough to do with me this past Winter/Spring. Crystal is a crafter and an artist and her etsy shop includes both her photos, paintings and prints, as well as handmade goodies. Go there now! Many apologies to Crystal for taking so long to get it up!

A little about Crystal…

Where do you live/how long/like it?
I currently live in Albany. I’m originally from Greene County NY, and lived in Boston for 4 years while attending Emerson College, then lived in Brooklyn for 3 years before returning to the area. I’ve been back for almost 4 years now, and I’m happy to be here.

Family life? Kids/Pets/Significant Others, etc?
I live with my awesome boyfriend, our two cats (Styles and Miyagi), and a roommate.

Describe yourself in 10 words or less.
Stretched too thin, not enough time to create!

What are a few of your favorite things?
My cats, blogging, vintage cameras, researching photography techniques, shooting pictures of anything and everything, crocheting, sewing, painting, music.

When not creating, what are you doing?
If I’m not being creative I am either at work, at the gym, or asleep. I live and breathe to create!

Favorite quote or saying?
It’s recent, but amazing: ‘If you work really, really hard, and you’re kind… Amazing things will happen to you.’ – Conan O’Brien

So what exactly do you do…?

So how long have you been creating?
I’ve been creating for as long as I can remember. My mom has always been really crafty and taught me how to knit, crochet, and sew at a young age. I’m pretty sure that as soon as I could grasp objects she had crayons in my hands. I’ve been seriously photographing for almost 15 years.

Why did you start?
It was just innate. It’s something I have to do to be happy.

What are the items you have handy at all times?
I always have a journal/ sketchbook on me, a digital camera, and my iphone.

Where do you get your materials?
I get most of my materials from local art stores, and occasionally other etsy shops.

Can you tell us a little of your process?
When I’m photographing something, I try to compose the image in the lens so that there is minimal work to do in editing unless I want to add effects. I do like to play with my images in photoshop, but those steps in the process are my trade secrets

How do you decide what to do next?
I just go by what inspires me in daily life on blogs I read, in other etsy shops. I like the spontaneity of photography.

Do you have a dedicated work area/room?
I used to. We live in a 2 bedroom apartment and the second bedroom used to be a dedicated sewing /  art studio. For the past several months we’ve had a roommate living in that space, so it’s severely effected my creative process and ability.

Is this your full-time job? Hobby? Fun?
I would LOVE for this to become my full time job, it’s my dream. For now, it doesn’t even come CLOSE to paying the bills, so it’s just a hobby. But I keep working at it, hopefully someday I can live the dream.

Where do you get your ideas for new items?
Usually it’s just seeing an interesting image and capturing it. Sometimes I will see a different craft that will spark a new idea or two. I try to read as many creative blogs as I can so that I always have new ideas flowing through my head.

Where do you find your inspiration? Do you have an artistic philosophy?
I don’t have an artistic philosophy. Life is my inspiration.

Do you have a best seller?
I’ve sold quite a few copies of my “Yes” print. It’s popular for weddings, engagements, and just positive people.

Do you have a favorite piece?
My current favorite is one I took this winter of candy hearts. The heart in the foreground says “Ask Me.” Yes, that is a hint!

What other times of crafts do you do?
I crochet, sew, knit, paint, and draw.

What do you see yourself doing in 5 years?
I would love to be out of debt and working on my art full time.

You’re pretty new to Etsy but has been hugely successful! Do you have any idea why or any suggestions to give to other designers?
I think it’s very important to read the forums, engage other sellers, become an active member of the community. I’m also in the camp that believes in renewing items regularly. But above all, you need to embrace the community for the community to embrace you. Get yourself out there, make a blog for your shop, join twitter, post in the forums. You can’t be easily found unless you put yourself out there!

Crystal makes stalking her easy! Find her at:
Windshield Diaries
CAPowCAPow on Twitter
and on Facebook

Editorial Note: This interview was done a few months ago, I’m pretty sure Crystal’s best selling item is her Hometown Hearts Series, which is going like hotcakes!