Aethelynds

Years ago I became the beneficiary of the estate of a distant relative, an old, widowed aunt I had only heard of through bits and odd ends of family gossip. To my great surprise, the epithets I'd heard used to describe Aunt Aethelynd were actually quite accurate descriptions; when I'd overheard her described as a "scaly beast", it was in fact because she was a dragon.

Once I'd gotten over the shock of having inherited the estate of a dragon, I could not wait for the chance to inspect the hoard of gems and jewels and precious metals that awaited. I imagined gold and silver in heaps on the floor of some dusty cave.

I was wrong. Aunt Aethelynd lived in a tidy cottage with a simple tin roof and a neatly manicured garden all around. (It is my understanding that the roof had at one time been made of thatch, but as dried grasses are highly flammable and dragons are somewhat prone to belching fire, my aunt was forced to switch to metal to avoid igniting her domicile after a spicy meal.) The tin roof was just about the only metal in the house. All of the jewels and trinkets I found in her attic lair were items that struck her whimsical nature - fairy doors, boxes and lockets fitted with glass dragon's eyes, and boxes full of the most colorful faux-finery I have ever seen.

Well, couldn't very well leave it to continue gathering dust in her attic, and as I am not a dragon, I could not envision spending my life carefully combing through my treasure every day to make sure each piece received all of the attention it so richly deserved. So, I have decided to share my Aunt Aethelynd's hoard with you.

Each piece is one-of-a-kind, handcrafted with love. It appears that most of the items are made with polymer clay and resin, although I have to admit I have only opened the first few boxes. I have no idea what creativity will spring forth from the next box until I open it.

I hope you will check back often as I anticipate that it will take the rest of my lifetime to unpack all of the treasures in Aunt Aethelynd's attic.