Little Mushrooms by Annie and Olive, originally uploaded by The Wistful Republic.

Hello, dear Flaundie. I have been horribly remiss in showing you new and beautiful things these past few days and I am terribly sorry for that. To make it up to you, here is something unbearably lovely.

Annie and Olive is the work of Bethany Fields, creator of exquisitely beautiful things. Her shop is full of quaint little felt hearts and curious little hand-sculpted mushrooms (and more!) in a variety of extraordinary colors. Her product photos are soft and dreamy, lending an extra-special touch of whimsy to each of her sweet creations.

My favorite item in her shop has to be this dear little pink-topped mushroom. This wee little creation measures just one inch tall and can be yours for $7. Available here.

70's Kitchen Beaver by Skullknocker, originally uploaded by The Wistful Republic.

Hey there Flaundie followers! Did you know that today is Blog Action Day? Well, it is! Today bloggers around the world unite to post about our pal the environment.

There are a ton of earth-conscious artists and crafters out there making snazzy items out of recycled materials. For instance, we have the fabulously-named SkullKnocker. SkullKnocker features charming Naugahyde wild things described as "skeptical two limbed creatures that inhabit small corners of living space across the northeast. prone to hugs and murderous looks." They are made from a combo of new and recycled materials that are stuffed not with polyfil but with T-shirt scraps.

The sleepy-eyed kitchen beaver can be yours for $77. Find him over hereabouts.

Das Hedgehogia!, originally uploaded by The Wistful Republic.

Alright, it's official. I am calling it. The hedgehogs have it. I am making my prediction as to the Next Big Thing In Animals and, believe it or not, it is our darling friend the hedgehog. He is starting to crop up everywhere: art, apparel, buttons, brooches...you name it, Hedgie is on it.

Above is a sampling of the best of the best as determined, of course, by me.

(a) Little Odd Forest is the quirky, colorific brainchild of one Ms. Lynda Lye, the Singaporean designer extraordinaire who runs the show. Her products are full of bright, happy colors and frolicking animals. I cannot peruse her shop unless I have money to spend. Green rebel hedgehog 1" pinback button, $1.50, available here.

(b) Kookii:Kooky is another shop full of playful, vibrant colors and an extraordinary dose of whimsy. The Merry Porcupines clutch (yes, yes, porcupines and hedgehogs are not the same thing, but I'm personally deeming that cute little critter a hedgehog so there!) is one such example of the gleeful marriage of cute and color that exists at Kookii:Kooky. Merry Porcupines wrist clutch, $26, available here.

(c) Marmee Craft is one of my favorite finds on etsy.com, featuring whimsical, dreamy color palettes and a plethora of strange and mythical beings. Exploring these works allows passage to a completely different world, a world of misty-eyed, long-necked ladies with flowers for hair and chimerical half-human half-deer hybrids. Not to mention plump little hedgehogs sitting down for a nice cup of tea. Monsieur Hedgehog print, $13, available here.

(d) Last, but certainly not least, is the dear Ms Emily Martin, the lovely lady behind The Black Apple. Emily Martin's work features delicate woodland creatures and quaint but curious little girls with dark hair and big, soulful eyes; girls who seem to have many a secret up their pretty sleeves. I personally own three of her prints (and want desperately to make room on my walls for more). My new favorite might just be the Hedgehog Family print featuring a playful family of hedgehogs in snazzy hedehog-approved garb. This little cupcake is just $13, available here.


Oh, and just in case I haven't quite managed to kill you with cute yet, I invite you to click this link.

Long live the hedgehog!

The Little Apple Brooch by Smeeta, originally uploaded by The Wistful Republic.

Smeeta's Etsy shop is home to a lovely assortment of precious little felt items. Whether you fancy cheeky monkeys, cute and colorful birdies, or a crunchy little apple, Smeeta's got the goods.

This little treat is made of felt with applique and embroidered details and a pin sewn to the back so you can clip it neatly to your shirt or bag.

Vitamin-fortified and yours for just $8. Find it here.

Red Branches and Bird by Sugarloop, originally uploaded by The Wistful Republic.

Bernadette Sipkes, the ingenuous illustrator behind Sugarloop, offers up whimsical works that make extraordinary use of negative space. Her delicate creatures come to life in exquisite bursts of color as they perch triumphantly atop the playful geometric shapes that betray an obvious love for vintage patterns and retro design. Prints are screenprinted by hand and are available in limited edition.

Red Branches and Bird print, $25. Available here (limited edition of 120 prints).

Tapir Time bookplates by Nut and Bee, originally uploaded by The Wistful Republic.

Nut and Bee may just be the most darling destination on the web. Annette Lauder, the lady behind it all, offers up a cornucopia of sweet, memorable characters in a dreamy, muted color palette. Her lively characters find their way onto a wide array of products: buttons, notepads, stickers, gift tags, and more.

Especially charming are her bookplates. Bookplates are a delightful throwback to a time when the idea of a private library was not unheard of and hopefully these cute little adornments will help to reawaken the librarian within. Who wouldn't want to open their copy of A Brief History of Time to find a pair of tapirs rocking out?

There are currently 7 different bookplate designs available in the Nut and Bee shop, all of which are unspeakably charming and affordably priced. Set of 8 self-adhesive bookplates, $4.20. Available here