Store Spotlight - Umay Designs

I decided a while ago that I wanted to make regular posts highlighting cool and interesting shops online, so I thought it was about time I did so. There are so many amazing, talented artists and crafters out there, I love discovering them, and so I want to share that excitement with you. I thought I'd begin with a small business I mentioned in a video recently, Umay Designs.

I've been following Umay on Instagram for a long time, and was finally lucky enough to own a piece for myself. Based in Turkey, Umay Designs brings you unique, handmade, "wearable forms of nature and art". They also make decorative items for display, but my personal favourite pieces are the large, outstanding crystal pendants, that do look like something plucked from nature.

Some pieces are like a little slice of enchanted forest, with tiny mushrooms, flowers, or encased spores, while others feature skulls or blood and are more macabre. Those are, naturally, my favourites. Each piece is tremendously detailed, and most certainly made with love and care, and to last.



The piece I have is now one of my most prized jewellery pieces. It's so different from anything else I have, a proper treasure. I wish I could own a whole collection of their fascinating pendants. The pricing is fair given the amount of work that goes into each unique piece, and I expect you'd be very unlikely to run into someone who is wearing the same thing. I recommend following Umay Designs on Instagram, so you can keep up with all the cool new things they keep creating. I'm so impressed by their stuff, I thought you might be too :) Their stuff is perfect for anyone who wants to weave a witchy or magical vibe into their style, for crystal collectors, or they would make an amazing and special gift for someone. Visit their store on Etsy.


Thanks very much for reading, you can share this article on Facebook or Twitter. I hope I've introduced you to something new to fawn over, and from now on I'll be bringing you regular, awesome finds from all over the web. Cheery-bye!

Drunk Shopping Amazing WGT Haul!

Shopping while drunk is both dangerous and brilliantly fun. I did a lot of it at the Wave Gotik Treffen festival recently. Here are the things I vaguely remember buying, plus where you can find as much of it as possible online :)

Watch me:

The stuff I showed you that I was able to find online...

• Collar and headpiece came from VideNoire
• Tattered skirt from Lucyfire
• Shredded mini dress by Poizen Industries
• Velvet tail jacket by Intermoden, I can't find the item anywhere unfortunately!
• Only a few scents from Parfume Noire are available online, but apparently you can email parfume-noire@t-online.de to ask about other scents. They have so many!
• Applique-trim mini dress by Punk Rave, becoming rare but still available on eBay
• Looking Out top by Banned

Outfit, Jewellery, and Makeup I have on in this video...

• Phosphorus Bones necklace by Restyle
• Nyx Liquid Suede lipstick in Stone Fox, thanks for sending me this Stephanie from Canada, I love it!
• Dress by Darkstar from MysticCrypt on eBay
• A plain black bolero I found on eBay which simply isn't pretty enough to match the collar oh woe
• Gazelle Skull ring by Restyle, sold out everywhere but still available on eBay

The music you can hear is...

• She Past Away - Rituel
• Merciful Nuns - Karma Inn

Get Ready With Me for a Dinner Date!

Let's get ready for a date! I think it's important for couples to go on dates even if they've been together a long time. Also join us on the date, plus the party we went to afterwards in Herford. It was such a lovely night! Below the video is a list of everything I was wearing or using, and where to find them online if possible.

Watch me:



Clothes:

• Blazer from Punk Rave
• Singlet top with lace bust, good for layering, bought locally
• Tattered Skirt from Punk Rave
• Victorian Granny Boots, brand unknown, but I found similar ones here
• Henna Gloves by Restyle
• Tattered Fishnet Gloves bought locally
• Plain black stockings, bought locally

Jewellery:

• Necrogram Skull Ring by Alchemy Gothic
• Bat Wings Ring by Restyle
• Twin Skulls Ring from Dresslink
• Chunky Skull Ring bought at the Amphi Festival
• Alter Orbis Skeleton Necklace by Alchemy Gothic
• Inverted Cross Necklace found on eBay

Makeup:

• Skin Base Foundation in Pure White by Illamasqua
• Essence Velvet eyeshadow in You're the Greytest
• Tako white eyeshadow by Sugarpill
• Bulletproof black eyeshadow by Sugarpill
• Lumi loose powder by Sugarpill
• Lipstick in Black Velvet by Essence
• Clear Lipliner
• Clear Matte Powder
• The Blackbuster eyeliner pen by Lóreal
• Waterproof Liquid Liner by Essence
• My Mermint teal eyeshadow by Catrice Cosmetics

Have a lovely week! xox

Where I Buy my Clothes, Jewellery, & Boots

I'm so often asked where I get my stuff from, which is definitely flattering, so I made two separate videos and tried to list, as best I could, where I buy most of my cool and pretty things from. Hopefully you'll find them helpful!

I know there are loads of other good places to shop from online for Gothic and Alternative clothing, accessories, jewellery and so on, and I'm hoping to make a list of as many of these places as possible for this website.  I've always thought such a thing would be useful, so I'm going to make one for everyone else. Ok! Here you go, hope you enjoy these and find them useful :)


Where I Buy My Clothes:

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Where I Buy Jewellery & Boots:

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My Engagement Ring Arrived!

It's a sad story sort of, my original ring decided it wasn't going to stand up to a lifetime of being worn every day. It was silver and onyx, and unfortunately after 2 months, the band had bent, and because the ring was a bit too big, it fell off, hit the ground, and a shard of onyx came off. Bwaah. I hadn't really planned on wearing it beyond the wedding day anyway, but I kept being told that the engagement ring is supposed to be worn forever along with the wedding ring. So.

 Anyway, Mr Owl replaced it with a very beautiful ring I had spotted online. It arrived in the post yesterday from Germany, along with a handwritten, very sweet, very apologetic postcard from the jeweller to apologise for the "huge wait". She said she's been overwhelmed with orders and has even had to hire a helper. I'm not surprised! Her stuff is lovely.

So it finally came and OMG IT IS SO FUCKING PRETTY. It's silver with black spinel, a very hard stone that will certainly never shatter. A little silver skull sits on either side of the stone. I'm so grossly happy with it. It was made specially for me by Kipkalinka Jewels.

Shinies

I've been planning to take photos of some of the more attractive parts of our apartment, but since I have yet to get around to that, I thought I'd take a few snaps of some of our jewellery. We have... a fair bit I guess.

From left, the brooch I bought for my yet-to-exist wedding dress. The tombstone locket and bat skull cameo are both from ReStyle, and my current favourite item, the ankh locket is from the Crypt of Curiosities. The conjoined twin cameo is from Horribell.

Some of these rings I've had for years, unfortunately I couldn't get a totally clear photo with my one lens. Some are mine, some are Mr Owl's.

On the left is a spiked owl skull pendant I bought for Mr Owl as a present for no reason other than it needed to be his, from Horribell. The one in the centre is from ReStyle, and the epic Jack the Ripper necklace is from Alchemy Gothic.

This doesn't really illustrate just how many spiked collars and cuffs we have between us. Many. A stupid amount really.

I'll get more photos together as soon as I can! xx