fantasy art and tree chatter of aquariann

I couldn't resist the siren's song at the Art of the Belly dance festival last weekend. Jamberry consultant, Kristin Beno, lured me to her booth with free samples and a smile. Swimming away without buying the Mermaid Tales design to match my lake blue sequin hip scarf would have sunk my spirits! After fishing through the Jamberry nail wraps in my collection, I chose Sapphire Sparkle as an accent nail. Want to be a guest blogger for my Manicure Monday when I don't have new nails of my own to show off? Please fill out the form on my contact page if you're interested in a free feature. Or if you've done a mermaid manicure in the past, comment with the link and I'll add it to my featured finds below. Mermaid Scales Nail Art Finds:

Guest Post by Kimberly Carman of Kiss My Tips I had a dance photo shoot last Tuesday as Rio of Satori Dance. Not only did I receive my years-awaited, much-anticipated, new dance costume just in time, but I also realized that the August Hostess Exclusive style is a perfect match! I added Silver Floral as an accent nail for extra shine. The belly dance costume is made of holographic royal blue sequins stitched down with deep purple iridescent beads so it shimmers between the two colors. Twirling around and flourishing my hands with my fancy new skirt was fun! Kimberly Carman is an independent consultant with Jamberry Nails. Her company Kiss My Tips was started in September of 2013 and growing FAST! Jamberry has been a company for 3 years and has shown outstanding growth. If you'd like to know more about the company Jamberry Nails, purchasing the wraps, hosting a party or the ins and outs of the business opportunity, visit kissmytips.jamberrynails.net or contact kissmytipsnai...

"If we seek the real source of the dance, if we go to nature, we find that the dance of the future is the dance of the past, the dance of eternity, and has been and always will be the same ... The movement of waves, of winds, of the earth is ever the same lasting harmony." - Isadora Duncan I was delighted to catch Aubergine's multicultural saga of story, song and dance at the Maryland Faerie Festival 2013 last weekend. The talented belly dance troupe is founded and directed by Nina Amaya, shown above in a swirl of shimmery belly dance wings. Flutter to my Wordless Wednesday Directory for a list of blogs that regularly host WW Linky Parties. Grab my button as a reminder to return next week for more photography fun!

by AJ Reardon of Confessions of a Dance Pants Addict When Aquariann asked me to write a guest post about belly dancing to celebrate National Dance Day, I knew I wanted to do it. I just didn't know what I wanted to write. There are just so many aspects one could go over, but the truth is, most of the more intellectual subjects have been covered by people who have danced longer and studied harder than I have, so I'm going to keep it simple and personal - I want to talk about why I love belly dance. As a student and performer, belly dancing makes me feel amazing. There's just something about being able to move my body in ways that previously seemed impossible (rib slides? I can move my RIBS?), while being decked out in an elaborate costume. And for a shy, self-conscious, and at times clumsy girl, there is nothing quite like knowing that you're holding the attention of an entire room just by moving with the music and smiling. As an audience member, my fellow dancers captiva...

EDIT: Giveaway is officially over! Congratulations to the randomly chosen 95th commenter, Brooke! The season of buds and blossoms isn't over yet! The spring leaf anklet above will bloom into a lovely addition to one reader's accessory garden. It is one of a kind, planted in the Erthe Fae Designs studio by AJ Reardon. The Czech glass beads and satiny leaf-shaped beads are strung on sturdy, flexible beading cable which holds up well to daily wear. Anklet is adjustable from 10" to 12" and fastens securely with a sterling silver lobster clasp and extender chain. The delicate hues of green and opalescent white will catch the light, whether you're wearing it with a shimmering belly dance costume or a casual pair of capri pants. AJ draws inspiration from mythology, literature, folk lore and the natural world to create a variety of steampunk and fantasy jewelry, including necklaces, bracelets, and chandelier earrings. The influence of tribal belly dance also gleams brigh...

Tomorrow I am attending my first belly dance festival, Art of the Belly , in Ocean City, Maryland! I've only ever seen belly dancers perform live during class, Renaissance faires and fairy conventions, so I'm twirling in excitement to gaze at so many graceful souls in one place. To get my toes wet so I don't drown in sparkles tomorrow, I shimmied around the Fantasy Artists of Etsy troupe in search of what shiny handmade accessories they have to offer belly dancers. 1. Tribal Spiral Dance Sterling Silver Chandelier Earrings by Mermaiden Creations 2. Wacky Wavy Braided Headband Wig Extension (Modeled by Kimberly of Night Lily Design ) by Puppycatmeow! 3. Lakshmi - Chainmaille Belly Dance Belt by You've Got Maille 4. Steampunk Automatic Dance Accelerator Anklet by Erthe Fae Designs

Get up and shake your rump! That's right, today is the first National Dance Day , thanks to Nigel Lythgoe, the executive producer of So You Think You Can Dance. The NappyTabs duo choreographed the routine below to let anyone celebrate the event, whether it be in a huge group or alone in a living room. I dance every day, even if it's just to practice my shimmy while brushing my teeth. I'm no professional - just a girl that likes to shake it like a salt shaker. I am thankful to have discovered two amazing women that offer classes in Delaware's Cape region, hip-hop with Sasha Westray and belly dancing with Viviana Matthews . Both styles are extremely fun ways to exercise and clear your head. If you haven't been enthralled by So You Think You Can Dance yet, you must get "outta your mind" and see my favorite hip-hop routine ever, choreographed by Tabitha and Napoleon and rocked out by Alex and tWitch. Then follow my lead, because I'm getting out of thi...

Last Sunday my knight nobly saddled up the Mustang and drove me almost three hours to the Maryland Faerie Festival in Upper Marlboro. For once, the weather behaved for me. The first time we made the journey, back in 2008 , there was such a heat wave that several of the vendors got sick and went home early. Then last year it was pouring when we awoke, so I reluctantly stayed home and danced around the house in my fairy splendor instead. This year it was sprinkling in the morning, but the sun was bright and shining by the time we arrived. We stopped for lunch at La Fontana and devoured a sinfully delicious Sicilian-style pizza. That took a little longer than expected, but we flew in just in time to see most of the Faerie Fashion Show on the Honeysuckle Stage, which is where most of the photos in my collage are from. Unfortunately, being fashionably late meant I missed the Faerie Lore in Other Cultures talk by Featured Guest Artist Giovanna Adams . I did get to say hi to her at her bo...