Hello!!! Welcome to Magical Monday!! I hope your weekend was fabulous! As I was gathering inspiration for this post, I noticed a theme. Much of what caught my attention are mechanical things, things involving building and so forth (hence the title of the post!). This is probably only natural as I continue to refine and reorganize my own studio and a bit of the environment around me! Perhaps it is also makes sense in that, for many cultures, Winter has been or is a time of restricted outdoor activity, so thoughts naturally turn to how to improve those things close to heart or home. With that said, let's take a look at the first goodie I have for you today! This photo has been titled Making A Bridge, though I can't seem to find whom to credit for the photo nor any information about which bridge is being built and etc. The original link to it is here. There is not much that I don't love about this photo...including the working man standing casually on two cables very very high above a big bunch of water!
The second goodie I have for you is a video! It is a bit long at just under 17 minutes, but is smartly made and clips right along. Of course, I LOVE the subject of the video and am so impressed by the lady who is featured in it! Here it is then, for your viewing pleasure: One Woman's Quest to Build Her Own Tardis!
So delightful! YAY! Perhaps *I'll* attempt to build my own Tardis now!!! Hmmm.. where did I leave those tools?..... Ciao!
Hello Everyone!! Welcome to Fini Friday!!! I've a lot to show you today! Let's start with updates on the Studio Reorganization! It was brought to my attention that I might do a lot of sitting as I play through my day. I didn't think this was so, and I pondered what I do and how I do it as I worked through the next day. It's true! I do a lot of sitting! This prompted brainstorming on how to change and improve my workspace. I'd scored an old school (literally!) workbench on a garage sale a while back and had been storing it. Now is the time to integrate it into my studio space, as it is the perfect height for standing work! And here it is! The top/work surface The front, with the cabinet open. I'm surmising that this was a work bench in an art class, given the wooden guides along the bottom and the color codes in the cubbies near the top. Isn't this just wonderful? As an added bonus, because of the very solid construction, I now have a work surface that I am confident can stand up to stamping (leatherwork) and pounding (metalwork) that have been on my list of things to play with! Woohoo!! I'll post photos of it in it's final destination. For now, it is in good location for cleaning! How does this tie in with the title of this post? AND! Speaking of cleaning up... the door on the cabinet needed hardware so as to make opening and closing it easier and I just happened to have the perfect thing on-hand! Voila! A cobalt-blue glass knob! This is a reproduction of the vintage knobs, but I love it just the same!
And with that, I'm going to show you a few creations that are still growing into completion to finish up Fini Friday! These are both centered around the Popcap Pendants that I've shown in earlier posts and both have an ocean theme to them. Let's take a look! The pendant on the left was created with bits of actual sea-glass that I picked myself from Monterey Bay and along the Big Sur in California. That's also the majority of the bits of sea glass you see surrounding the pendant. The drilled glass beads you see towards the top are all recycled glass. I'm not certain where this is all going, but I love it so far! Whee!!! The pendant on the right has 2 Czech glass shells submerged in the hand-pigmented resin and will be more whimsical and playful, with fish and other ocean denizens swimming through and around! I think we can all see how deep blue ties in with these creations! So, there you have it! Fini Friday is fini! Have a fabulous weekend!!
Oh!!! P.S....if you remember a few pairs of earrings I introduced on Wednesday? Well, In the Immortal Words of Socrates... is now up in my Etsy shoppe!!! Click on over if you're interested! I'll see you on Monday! Ciao!
Hello!!! Thanks for joining me on this Whimsy Wednesday! I've two new creations to show you and a little walk down Memory Lane! The walk down Memory Lane is part of the inspiration that named one of the new creations. So let's get to it!
Title: Moonlight Weaves Through Ingredients: Czech glass, Swarovski crystals, metal, surgical steel earwires (hypo-allergenic). The design of these literally fell together as I gaze on the cat and moon beads that landed side by side when they were put into the same flat file drawer after the finish of various other creations. The Purple Velvet and White Opal Swarovski crystals reflect abyssal, vibrant hues that coordinate and deepen the air of half-glimpsed mysteries.
And now, for that jaunt we spoke of earlier! Title: In the Immortal Words of Socrates Ingredients: Czech Glass, Swarovski crystals, metal, surgical steel earwires (hypo-allergenic). As these earrings grew into completion, they reminded me very much of a Gothy-Neo-Victorian (perhaps almost Steampunk?) poison bottle. I don't care to dwell too much on "dark beauty", as it were... and there are quite enough homages paid to vampires and the like 'round the 'Net and popular media right now, so I focused on bringing some whimsy to these gorgeous gothic belles. And a scene from the movie Real Genius sprang to mind... A little background: One of the main characters in the movie has been faced with a major challenge in his life and is out on a roof-top contemplating dark thoughts. Another of the major characters finds and joins him, offering commiseration and companionship. The last part of the clip is the most relevant to this creation's title as it is an ironic, sarcastic nod to the great Greek philosopher Socrates and the legend that tells of him drinking hemlock to end his life after being imprisoned for speaking out against his government. It seems almost everything can be found on YouTube and I did, indeed, find a clip from the movie that contained the exact scene I was looking for! Clicky!
So, there you have it!! I'll leave you to wander your own way home from Memory Lane and see you on Friday! Ciao!
Hello Everyone! It is snowing, with big, beautiful, fluffy snowflakes here in my neck of the woods! This is the stuff that wonderful winter photos and Thomas Kincade-esque tableaus are made of!
I'm excited about the nifties I have to share with you today! The article about these Rainbow Eucalyptus trees crossed my path last week and I knew I had to show them to all of you! An interesting article chock-full of fabulous photos is here. The photo below will give you a small taste of their gorgeous colours! The photographer appears to be Vicki Santillano and you can find the photograph and more of her work here! WOW!!!
This last nifty I find quite amazing! I love to see what amazing things others create and this is really cool! I give you...Jell-O Origami! You can find the blog post about it here. In reviewing the post, it looks like the Jell-O is not actually folded, but glued instead. Really, though, I still find it amazing! Take a look at what else these innovative people are doing! And there you have it! Inspiration on a Monday! Before I sign off to see you on Wednesday, I wanted to remind you of my BlogTalk Radio Interview tomorrow at 3pm CST(USA)! I'll be returning to Cheryl Patton's 1Woman's Wisdom Radio Show and we'll be chatting about the third Message From the Faeries! Not sure what that message is, but are intrigued?!! Stop by and take a listen or ...look us up in the Archives! Details are here! See you Wednesday!!!!
Hello Hello! I'm so glad you've joined me here for Fini Friday! I have new things I'm so excited to show you! Below is a photo of a window display inspired by dressmaker's dummies of old! It made it's way from a friend's home to my studio, where it lends a sense of grace and old-style elegance! Isn't it fabulous? I love the leafy tapestry fabric!
As fate would have it, I had just finished a necklace creation that suits it perfectly and the two together are gorgeous! So, you know I'll show you photos of the necklace on that dummy/display below, right? RIGHT!
Title: Slipping Through Time Ingredients: Popcap Pendant (garnet, pearl, acrylic "crystal", vintage rhinestone, hand-coloured, non-toxic resin, popcap), Swarovski crystals, garnet, vintage glass pearls, vintage rhinestone, vintage glass, Czech glass, copper-plated brass, brass, lead-free pewter, metal. Aren't they positively handsome together? Below are closer looks at the necklace and the pendant... So, there you have it! Two lovelies that go great together! By the way...you can find this necklace in my Etsy Shoppe right now! Have a fantabulous weekend and I'll see you Monday! Ciao!
Hello Everyone! Welcome to Whimsy Wednesday! The weather here is reminding us that it is Winter and I am happy to see the snow! We've had a mild winter so far and I find that I miss the snow a bit! With that in mind, let's swim on over and see what watery creations are floating along waiting for our visit! Title: WaterFlowers Ingredients: Czech Glass, coloured copper wire, surgical steel earwires (hypo-allergenic). I love the blues and greens in these earrings!! There is a bit of fancy wire-working involved in suspending those glass drops that look so much like droplets of water! Yup! That's all free-form wire-wrapping! Whee!!!
This second creation still fits with our water theme, yet the water is in a little different form.... Title: Waiting For Spring Ingredients: Swarovski crystals, Czech glass, metal, sterling silver, silver-plated surgical steel earwires (Hypo-allergenic).
You can find these here in my Etsy shoppe!! Aren't those gorgeous? And definitely Faerie-inspired!!! The jonquil leaf that completes the earrings with an ethereal beauty shining through are an excellent match to the butterflies fluttering at the top of the earrings! And speaking of butterflies...they lend a little nuance of whimsy as they alight on the icy, silvery leaves!! So, there you have it! Water and Ice, Flowers and leaves and butterflies! A fitting whimsical post in the middle of winter! Stay warm and see you on Friday! Ciao!
Hello Everyone!! I've found a few bits of inspiration to share today that seem to span two different worlds, yet to me are really all about creating and living the life you want!
This first photo needs no inspiration explanation for any Sci-Fi Geek or Star Wars Fan!
It is true that this room is made of awesome and win! and that the owner(s) have definitely created a home that celebrates their passion and interests! Yet, it is also true that The Rebellion, Luke, Leia, Han and so many others in the Star Wars movies fought and strived to create the lives they wanted.
The video link here is the second bit of information I have for you and is about a mother of 4 children who found something she loved and used it to change her life and those of her family in healthy and inspirational ways!
Let's go out and create a bit more of what we want in our lives, yes? YES! See you Wednesday!
Hello Everyone! Iiiiitttt's Friday!!! Woohooo!!!! I've a full weekend of fun stuff ahead and I hope you do, too! In true Fini Friday tradition, I have creations that have grown into completion and some that have journeyed farther along that path! Let's get to it, shall we? You might recall a few Whimsy Wednesdays back, I went on Walkabout and showed a few treasures I picked up along the way... I'm excited to share with you the completed copper cuff bracelet! Take a look! Title:MerWorld Adornment Ingredients: Upcycled copper bracelet, Czech glass, brushed copper, permanently-coated copper wire (USA). Isn't it gorgeous? I'm so pleased with it! (If you love it too, it is up for adoption on my Etsy site here!
And now... a little glimpse into those that are still growing! As some of you may know, I have a lot of fun playing with a non-toxic resin I have in the studio and especially mixing glittery pigments into it and pouring into recycled popcaps! Well! I have a batch to show you that are complete in that the pendant tableau has been created, resin has cured and so the popcap/bezel portion is complete... and yet there is one more step that is needed for them to become pendants. Let's look at the little vignettes before I disclose the next step! These are hard to photograph as the resin drys to a glass-hard finish, but hopefully you can get some idea of the beauty in each cap! The finishing touch is drilling the caps with my Dremel and threading various appropriate jumprings through the holes so the caps have something to hang by. Hopefully you can see the little round rings at the top of each pendant! This is where the chain, ribbon, cord or whatever these pendants will be suspended by are woven through. Voila! Now they are pendants and ready to be adopted as-is or interlaced into a necklace creation! Check in here again to see what happens with them next! Have an excellent weekend! Ciao!
Hello Everyone! Welcome to Wednesday!! I don't know about the weather for you-all, but winter has arrived for me! The weather in the Midwest is so changeable!! 50 degrees (Fahrenheit) yesterday and about 16 degrees right now! I was actually missing the snow, so I'm happy to see this!
Let's start our adventure with the namesake of this blog first and then show you the more beautiful whimsy-creation last! So! First up on our tour... More Squinkies!!! I think the safari reference will become pretty obvious in a moment! Title: Lions and Tigers Ingredients: Squinkies(rubber), Bali silver, metal, hypo-allergenic surgical steel.
Aren't they adorable? Doesn't it look like they are plotting something?! Heeee!!! Incidentally... these are up for adoption in my Etsy Shoppe!
And our final destination is something very Faerie and whimsical... including a bell! Title: A Map to the Forest Temple Ingredients: hand-made Popcap Pendant (moonstone, green aventurine, fabric leaf, glitter, non-toxic resin, popcap), Swarovski crystal butterfly, fine and lead-free pewter (USA), Czech glass (some is vintage), acrylic, metal.
And a close-up of that nifty Popcap Pendant! Let's spend a little more time on this creation for a moment, shall we? I love that the Swarovski butterfly adds more sparkle as it hovers above the pendant! You should really see the moonstone orb glow in the pendant in person! The photos don't do it justice! The star tucked in the top right of the pendant is green adventurine....reputed to bring luck on adventures and games of chance while also bearing the power to assist in healing the Earth! (Good for trying your luck at finding any temple!) The birds nest is cast in fine pewter and is from Green Girl Studios (in South Carolina, USA)! The glass bead reminiscent of a murky jewel just down from the lovely little blue-bell flowers is vintage Czech glass. The metal charm on the top right always reminds me of a prayer box! And the bell has the most wonderful, full and mellow tone to it! The clasp is the leaf and tendril you see on the left hand side below the metal blutterfly! And the two gunmetal links you see the Popcap pendant suspended from are created with filigree metal-work! All in all, just the sort of creation a Faerie might use as a guide to a Hallowed Ground! Well, that concludes our safari!! I hope you enjoyed the journey! I'll look to see you back here on Friday! Ciao!
Hello Everyone!!! We've made it to Friday!!! YAYAYAYAYY!!! Remember when you were younger than you are now and you loved to play with marbles and dream about fantastical creatures such as dragons, unicorns and faeries? Well, that's what this post is all about! Both of the creations I have to show you today fit this criteria as well as the theme of Fini Friday, since they have been languishing for some time and have now grown into completion!
Let's take a gander at the necklace first! Title: As Yet Unknown (Although "Losing My Marbles" seems an obvious choice...) Ingredients: Glass marbles, coated copper wire, anodized aluminum, leather (lead-free dye), sterling silver, metal. Each one of those marbles is wire-wrapped by hand and each has a different design of wire that encircles and secures them! The marbles are woven together with jumprings in a mobius design and in rainbow colours! Last little details include a leather cord (dyed with lead-free dyes) and clasped at both ends with sterling silver cord ends as well as a vibrant violet ring as part of the clasp! A friend of mine gave me the marbles last year and I'm so pleased to have been able to play with them!
Okay!! So there is the reference to childhood... how about the creatures of fantasy? Do I have a treasure for you (literally!) First, a bit of background...I found the beautifully intriguing Czech glass beads at Let It Bead in Monterey,CA some years ago. It is an enchanting little bead shop and Kris, the owner, was bursting with knowledge and creativity! I need to go back there soon!! But I digress! So, these lovely beads have been lying in wait for the perfect design and they always reminded me of dragon scales! But to embark upon a design worthy of their mysterious gorgeousness took a bit of time! However, I believe I've done it and they've grown into beguiling beauties! Title:Dragonscales Ingredients: Czech glass, lead-free pewter(USA), black copper wire, surgical steel earwires (hypo-allergenic). Incidentally! These are also listed in my Etsy shoppe!
I hope you enjoyed this brief journey with me and I look forward to seeing you on Monday! Ciao!
Hello Everyone! Welcome to Whimsy Wednesday! And the first one of the New Year! Whee!!! As I mentioned in Monday's post, one of my two words for 2012 is Stretch! And I've already been doing just that!! YAY!!! One of my nieces received a whole slew of nifty scrap-booking and paper arts stuff and invited me to a card-making class with her!! It was so much fun to play with the inks, stamps, glitter, embossing powder and embosser, texture-thingees and so much more! She is an excellent teacher and I'm pleased to say that my first endeavor turned out quite nicely! See below!
And where are the wings alluded to in the title of this post? Well...! That's the next creation I have to show you! Remember my post a little while ago about Squinkies? I found some Faerie Squinkies and decided to create some earrings for me! And here they are!
The photo on the right makes it a little easier to see their sweet faces, while the photo on the left gives you some idea of their beautiful colours!
Also! Before I flit off until Friday... the two Squinkie earring pairs (Just Horsin' Around and Stepping Out) are now listing in my Etsy shoppe! ...Just in case you were interested!
Hello Everyone!!! As you can tell from the previous Friday's post, I'm eyeing things around the studio/lab and all things Sprite Creations to see what works, what doesn't and what needs added, changed or removed. It just seems like a natural time of year for it! A few years ago, I noticed a few artist friends were choosing a word as a theme for their year ahead, and I adopted that idea! After some deliberation, I've chosen two words for 2012. The first and main word popped to mind right away and is something I've been playing with integrating into my life for some time. It is THRIVE! 2011 really proved that the more I do that feels joyful, inspiring, and fun, the more successful I am in all life aspects! So, I'm going to build on that wisdom and move on up to Thriving! The second word was given to me by the cats we have around our farm. And that is Stretch! Our cats seem to do a lot of stretching (effortlessly, I might add!) and I always physically feel better with even a mere 5 minutes of stretching. However, I'm going to take this beyond physical movement and look for ways to stretch in all life aspects! With that in mind, I'd like to introduce a few changes to you... The first is more of a house-keeping notification...I've always posted this blog entry here and on Live Journal. However, after watching the slow decline of participation in this service, I've decided to end Sprite Creations' connection with LiveJournal and update both here and Tumblr! This change is effective today! Click Here to seek me out on Tumblr! I'm excited to learn all that it can do for me!
The second announcement regards blog entries. I've been feeling as if it is a long time out-of-communication from Friday to Wednesday with you-all, but I also needed balance blog posting with creative time and other tasks. Whimsy Wednesday and Fini Friday work very well for me, so those will continue. Starting today, I'll be posting on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays! Mondays will be titled Magical Mondays and will consist of me posting a few visual shinies (and details about those shinies) inspire, uplift or brighten my day and that might do the same for you-all! What a fantabulous way to start out the work week, yes?
And this being the inaugural Magical Monday post, I have something pretty nifty I want to share with you! The video is a bit long at just over 7 minutes, but the craftsmanship with these Legos and their arrangement is just awe-inspiring! Have a look!
