Art-Full Friday: Bug Beauty

Bugs are art-full without even trying. Today as part of my "Week of Pests", I take a look at all things buggy and beautiful.  And don't forget, tomorrow you can follow our tweets as we participate in the Truly Nolen Mousecar Parade: @EmilyontheAve, @TrulyNolen, @FloridaFrecks, @ViceQueenMaria, @AmandaStewart and @Jarret23.  Monday I will be posting a recap with pics of the event, but for now- on to the insects!

Dragonflies are my favorite bugs. I love how their wings look like intricate lace. 

Photo courtesy of Dimiter Hristov.

This is an actual Katydid and not a photoshopped insect as I originally thought. Looks like Mother Nature created a bug just for me ;)

Photo seen on Veg Web.

 

Totally impressed at the patience this must have taken. This is an actual ant hill in Africa. What crafty bugs!

Photo courtesy of Trek Earth.

Speaking of artistic animals-this castle looking structure is actually a Termite Mound in Cape York, Australia.

Photo courtesy of Portland House.

 

I definitely could not talk about art-full bugs without mentioning spiders. Their webs fascinate me with their delicate strength and incredible designs. 

Photo seen on PK Photography.

Again, nature at its best. Dewdrops on a spider web make for an all natural piece of art.

Photo courtesy of LeBell.

And finally...

This statue in Japan is made of hundreds of thousands of dead bugs.

Interesting and gross and beautiful all at the same time.

Photo seen on Zichi Art.

 

Bugging Out

As promised, with only two days left until the Truly Nolen Mousecar Parade (in case you are following #MousecarParade on Twitter), today's Etsy Thursday Treasury is all about pests.

Art Nouveau Print by Kiri Moth Designs.

Buggin My Soap Line (several insect types) Handmade by Hilary.

Steampunk Insect Ring by Edme Designs

Latex Art Zen Gown by Black Lickorish

 

Matching Mother/ Daughter Ants Apron by SunnieHills0729

The Ghost of That Bug You Smushed Magnet by Paper Fruit Hair

4 Bees Vinyl Wall Decal and Over Sized Ant Wall Decal by Wilson Graphics

And finally....

My favorite cockroach of all time, from Family Guy.

"Good, Good...."

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The Mice Will Play

This week I got the very exciting news that I was chosen as one of 5 participants (+1 guest) to be a part of Truly Nolen's Mouse Car Parade!

If you live in South Florida and you see the parade this Saturday (July 24th) wave to us (and if you're on Twitter follow the event at #MousecarParade.

In honor of this event, I am dedicating the rest of my week's posts to pests - creepy, crawly, scurrying and yet somehow kinda cute pests.  And since I get to ride around in a life size mouse this weekend - today is all about Mice.

See - mice can be cute...at least in "The Pest" Series Etchings by Achiozza. 

The chicest mouse I have ever seen.  The Cosmic Mouse Ring by RFXStudios on Etsy.

 

The House of Mouse makes absolutely irresistible felt mice. I am especially taken with Anakin Skywalker Mouse (above) and Hannibal Lecter Mouse (below). 

Getting married?

Straight from the U.K., you can even have mice as your wedding cake topper:

However, if we're talking edible mice (who would ever think I would be saying that...), I think this cupcake by Martha Stewart (tutorial on Bunny Cakes) is perfect. Though almost too adorable to eat. 

And finally...

Have Your Ever Seen Such A Sight In Your Life?

Three Blind Mice caught and mounted just for you by Craft Sleuth.

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The Pear Neccessities

Over the last couple of years I have learned how to cook. I love it, but I don't have the chance to do it often.  However, after a successful vegetable lasagna last night, I have decided that this week I am going to try a new culinary adventure: Pear, Gorgonzola and Caramelized Onion Pizza. 

Pears aren't a fruit I often eat, but I love the look of them. And once I do have one I always think, "why don't I eat this more often?"  As you can probably already tell, today's post is about pears.

If you're not going to eat them, might as well wear them! Cathy at la prochaine fois makes these incredible dried fruit rings. 

Searching for something a little less frilly? Ash Hilton makes this modern, chic Pear Ring.

The steel base of Yanko Designs' Pear Tree Lamp charges three pear lights that can be picked off and stay illuminated for an hour before "running out of juice." Place them back on the tree to recharge.

 

Too cool to juice -these Buddha Pears (for sale in the UK and China) were created by a Chinese farmer. Read more about it at Just Cool Design.

And finally....

Just about the best chair I have ever seen:

 

The Prickly Pear Cactus Chair by Valentina Glez Wohlers

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Lucky Dog: Top Ten Picks for National Out of the Dog House Day

Who proclaimed July 19th National Out of the Dog House Day? I don't know. However I do know that there are some amazing dog houses out there and since I rarely feature pet items, I thought today was as good of a time as any. Here are my Top Ten Favorite Dog Houses (in no particular order).

Modern Home as seen on HomeHouseDesign.com

 

Doggy Couture Dog House from Juicy Couture as seen on PetsTrends.com.

Marco Morosini's Dog is God Trailer Dog House courtesy of Style Hive.

 

Sadly sold out - Yappy Happy's Starbark's Indoor Doghouse.

For small breeds - the Indoor Planter Dog House from My Urban Garden.

 

Modern Luxe- The Magis Dog House for sale on Plush Pod.

 

Retro Fun Dog House by Dog Online.

Dirt Insulated Dog House by Tails By The Lake.

 

Pet Palace by MacKenzie-Childs.

And finally....

Personalized Dog House Wall Decal by Graphic Spaces on Etsy.

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