Fini Friday! Buttoning Up Inspiration!

Hello Everyone!
Welcome to Fini Friday!
Happiest of Thanksgivings to those who celebrated it yesterday or will celebrate it this weekend!!
Warmest wishes for a Bountiful Fall to those who don't celebrate the uniquely American holiday of Thanksgiving!

This post is all about what is inspiring me today!
Come along for the ride!
These are photos of two button drawers in a quite old treadle sewing machine!
I love gazing into them because of all the now-unusual contents!
It is as if I step back in time as I sort through the buttons, needles, beads and etc. with delight!
I can imagine many a scene in my head as to where these buttons came from...where and on what gown that shiny bit of trim was to be used....what happened to that other earrings..
What stories do you see?
Feel free to leave a comment below to share!!

I've news to share about my December schedule!!!

Holiday Geek Expo!

DoubleTree Hotel - 2nd Floor, Atriums 4&6

December 7th& 8th    

Saturday    10am to 6pm

Sunday    10am to 5pm

7800 Normandale Blvd.

Bloomington/Minneapolis, MN 55439

Women's Art Festival!

Midtown YWCA

Saturday Only!

December 14th     10am to 5pm

2121 East Lake Street

Minneapolis, MN 55407

BlogTalk Radio Interviews!!
December Message From the Faeries! Tuesday, December 10th 11:30 to 12:30 (CST, USA)! 
And!!!! Welcome to Being Human!!! December 22, 2013, 5:00pm to 6:00pm (CST, USA)! 
I'll post the link for this as soon as I have it! 
Whew! 
Have an excellent weekend!!
Ciao!

Whimsy Wednesday! Giving Thanks!

Hello Everyone!
Welcome to this Whimsy Wednesday!
For those of us in America, this is the day before Thanksgiving!! I love this holiday for it's focus on gratitude and the sharing of bounty!
My wish for all who read this is laughter, joy and magic tomorrow and through the rest of 2013!

In keeping with this theme of gratitude, I've some abundance to share today!

This is a wonderful bit of loot that I received in the mail from Rings and Things.com! This was completely unexpected and out-of-the-blue and such a wonderful little package to receive in the mail!
I believe I'll use the notebook to record bead supply lists (among other things!  Doesn't it look so handy?!  I love that the pen is secured in sturdy elastic!  Recycling is near and dear to my heart (and eco-friendly practices is one of Sprite Creations' priorities!) and I love the durable covers on either side!  YAY!
The roll of leather to the right of the notebook is an Olive Green, which will is a fabulous sylvan colour I can't wait to play with!  Many of the metal bits scattered around are raw brass and just waiting for resin...alcohol inks...riveting...bending or shaping, especially texturing by hammer....OOOOOOooooo!!! So many options!! Wheee!!!
I have to say, the one shape that amused me the most is the bottom-right-most bits of metal!  Those are, indeed, described as "Ninja Throwing Stars" !!! *giggle with maniacal glee*  And the last little batch of tiny heishe beads are grouped just below the notebook between the stamped metal hearts.  I'm not quite certain what I'll do with these yet, but ideas are bubbling around in my head even now!!!
THANKS RINGS&THINGS!!!!!
If any of these materials intrigue you, hop on over to Rings and Things.com and take a look! 
They have so much goodness, you might spend a while browsing the possibilities...just sayin'!!!

So! 
Have an excellent Thursday and I shall see you on Friday!!!
Ciao!!!
Legalese: I have received the following products free of charge from rings-things.com and I am honestly reviewing them. I have not been paid for my endorsement as it pertains to the products received: notebook with pen, heishe beads, green leather, all raw brass shapes pictured above.

Fini Friday! Showing Off the Skulls!

Hello Hello!
Welcome to Fini Friday!
Today has been a happily busy day for me as I prepare for my show tomorrow (amongst other tasks)!
I've a new creation that has grown into completion and will be available for adoption tomorrow!
Let me show you!
You may remember this Fini Friday post and the collection of beads and ideas introduced...
Here is what the yellow skulls grew into!
Title: As Yet Unknown
Ingredients: Howlite(dyed) stone skulls, vintage Czech glass, glass, leather (lead-free dye), sterling silver, aluminum, base metal.
I loved the idea of creating a multi-layer leather bracelet along a Day of the Dead and/or rainbow-faerie-skull theme!  
I also wanted to incorporate motion, texture and meaning into the creation.  Motion (and therefore the bracelet doubles as a fidget toy- YAY!) is found in the collection of beads on either end of the bracelet...whilst texture abounds in the colour-rich, faceted vintage Czech beads and smaller, shiny foil-lined beads.  
The knots provide a different contrasting texture and the silver double-heart toggle clasp echoes the overall shiny and light-ness of the creation!  The heart clasp also softens the effect of the skulls and evokes the Day of the Dead inspiration.

A few updates and news before I close...
I and Sprite Creations will be returning to the Arts Fest in North Branch (MN, USA) this Saturday! 
Spot 5E in the Middle School Cafeteria (same as last year) is where you'll find me from 9am to 4pm!  (I'm in the yellow area on the diagram!)

There is food, arts and crafts of every kind and truly something for everyone! Seating is just across the way from me to rest your weary shopping bones! 
Beat the "Black Friday"/Winter Holiday shopping rush and feel good purchasing local, hand-made goodies and supporting independent artists and craftsfolk!  

$1 admission gets you all of this and a shuttle from the High School to the Middle School and back again!

See you there!!!

Also!!
The November Message From the Faeries has been rescheduled! 
We had a few technical difficulties and so the interview has moved to Tuesday, November 26th at 12Noon (CST, USA)!  
Join Cheryl Patton and me as we discuss the whimsical and practical tips and tricks the Faeries have in this gracious month of November!

Ciao!

Whimsy Wednesday! Improvements and Insights!

Hello Everyone!
Welcome to Whimsy Wednesday!  
I've a small completed project to show you as well as an recorded interview that is wonderfully whimsical!
Let's get started!

First! The completed project!

This is a suitcoat that I've had for quite some time.  One of the buttons fell off a while ago and I hadn't gotten around to replacing it.  It was high time that happened and so I looked around for its replacement!  I found the perfect buttons, taken off a vintage faux fur ladies jacket, and sewed them on!
And here they are!  I love those buttons because they echo the pin-striping of the jacket and draw attention, but not too much!


And now, for a link to that interview I mentioned above!
This is an interview in 2010 with Benoit Mandelbrot, the Father of Fractals.  He himself seems quite whimsical and yet a profound thinker, to me!  The other reason I'm sharing this with you is that he says some insights that really resonate with me and might with you too!
"Sometimes declaring a problem impossible is also a great advance."
"A formula can be very simple and create a universe of bottomless complexity." 
These two quotes are my favorite insights from the interview!
Feel free to leave a comment and let me know yours!

A few bits of news for you before I close this post...
I and Sprite Creations will be returning to the Arts Fest in North Branch (MN, USA) this Saturday! Spot 5E in the Middle School Cafeteria (same as last year) is where you'll find me from 9am to 4pm! 
There is food, arts and crafts of every kind and truly something for everyone! Seating is just across the way from me to rest your weary shopping bones! 
Beat the "Black Friday"/Winter Holiday shopping rush and feel good purchasing local, hand-made goodies and supporting independent artists and craftsfolk!  

$1 admission gets you all of this and a shuttle from the High School to the Middle School and back again!

See you there!!!

Also!!The November Message From the Faeries has been rescheduled! 
We had a few technical difficulties and so the interview has moved to Tuesday, November 26th at 12Noon (CST, USA)!  
Join Cheryl Patton and me as we discuss the whimsical and practical tips and tricks the Faeries have in this gracious month of November!

Ciao!

Fini Friday! New Beginnings!

Hello Everyone! 
Welcome to Fini Friday! 
I hope you have exciting plans for the weekend! 
I've new projects at their beginnings to show you today! 
 
This is a photo of two bits of sleeves that I salvaged from a T-shirt with a Faerie on it!  These were added to the shirt to create a layered look, yet the shirt fit better (and I liked it more) without the added sleeves.  Those swirls and circles on the sleeves are really quite lovely and I'm not one to simply toss a useful thing aside! 
So! I'm going to turn these into arm warmers!  
What are arm warmers?  Very much like leg warmers (if you remember those), except for the arm!  The cuff will have a hole for the thumb to slip through.  Eventually, I'll find a way to secure the other open end, but I'll leave it hemmed for now.  I'm going to experiment with what works best before taking that step!  If you're still in the dark about what I'm up to, try an internet image search for arm warmers!  You'll find lots of ideas quickly!

This?  This is a workbench that has had all of this stuff on it for far too long!
I've decided enough is enough and I'm taking the space back!  Stay tuned as I show you how this progresses and what happens next!!!
Along the lines of what happens next... let me tell you about the

November Message From the Faeries! 
Tuesday, November 19th at 12Noon (CST, USA)!  Join Cheryl Patton and me as we discuss the whimsical and practical tips and tricks the Faeries have in this gracious month of November!
Ciao!

Whimsy Wednesday! Fluevogs, Faerie Sightings and Fun!

Hello Everyone!
Welcome to Whimsy Wednesday! 
A while back I mentioned that there would be some changes to this blog as I expanded the focus to "an uncommon life" (that would be mine!).  This is really about sharing more in the hopes of inspiring more!
Without further ado, let's get into this blog post!
Sunday I was honored to return to the Minneapolis Fluevog Store to offer Faerie Readings and assist in helping celebrate their 1st Anniversary!!!
There were puppets and jugglers, cake and wine, MN Roller Girls and excellent live music! 
It was so much fun!
THANK YOU so much to those who joined us in partying as well as those who graced my little table for a Reading!
It was a privilege to assist you with your life questions!  It was also gratifying that the feedback was unanimously positive!  The comment I heard the most was some form of "This is spot-on!"  or "This is so accurate!"  The highest compliment came from a self-pronounced skeptic who gave praise to the accuracy of the information!  YAY!!!


Onward to more whimsy and the uncommon life theme!
I, like many of us, often have songs that pop into my head.  This has happened my whole life and the songs often speak to a current thought, mood or offer a flash of insight into a current challenge.  Indeed, I think there really is a soundtrack to my life!
So! Here are the snippets of the most current songs in my Internal Jukebox, as I like to call it!
"Heart and Soul" - Huey Lewis and the News

You see, she gets what she wants
'Cause she's heart and soul

She's hot and cold
She's got it all,

Heart and soul
Yeah she's heart and soul
She's hot and cold
She's got it all
She's heart and soul

  

And "So Alive" - Love and Rockets 

I'm alive, oh oh, so alive
I'm alive, oh oh, so alive 

Don't know what color your eyes are, baby
But your hair is long and brown
Your legs are strong and you're so, so long
And you don't come from this town

My head is full of magic, baby
And I can share this with you
The feel I'm on top again, baby
That's got everything to do with you

Of course you can find both of these songs on YouTube, if you're curious about them!

Finishing up this post, let me tell you about the 

November Message From the Faeries! 
Tuesday, November 19th at 12Noon (CST, USA)!  Join Cheryl Patton and me as we discuss the whimsical and practical tips and tricks the Faeries have in this gracious month of November!
Ciao!

Fini Friday! Open and Closed!

Hello Hello! 
Welcome to Fini Friday! 
I've a finished creation to show you today that is a bit different than jewelry! 
Let me recall to mind this Fini Friday post featuring the new materials acquired. Now! 
Let me show you what has grown into completion!
The bag open....
And the bag closed...

Interesting details include the stitching along the bottom. 
I hand-stitched the bottom with a pattern that developed as I was stitching. Once the bottom was done, it reminds me of basket-weaving! 
The side is finished with an cross-stitch, with the fabric left unhemmed. It intrigues me to think that the edges will fray over time (only to the point of the stitches, of course) and I'm looking forward to seeing how that adds dimension and detail to the bag! 
Other bits I love are finding the perfect ribbon to use as a drawstring!  That fiber strand flows beautifully between the rich golds and browns into vibrant green and back again!  YAY!!!
So there you have it! 
The fini of this Fini Friday (and this creation!)

Before you go, I've an event coming up this Sunday to share with you!
Sunday, Nov. 10th from 12noon to 6pm....
1st Year Anniversary Celebration - Fluevog Minneapolis Store!!!
Click here for the Event Page on Facebook!
Click here for the Minneapolis Fluevog Store webpage!
I'll be offering Faerie Readings!
There will be Live Good Music, puppets, MN RollerGirls, nibbles and beverages, door prizes and exclusive VOG stuff!!
It will be fun! 
Come help us celebrate!
Ciao!

Whimsy Wednesday! Changes on the Wing!

Hello Hello!
Welcome to Whimsy Wednesday!
I've a sneak peak at a modification project for you today!
You might remember a mention in this Whimsy Wednesday about a new set of wings!
Here they are!

I've had time to run them through a few test flights and now we to modify them!

Here are some of the modification materials!
What will be done with these?
What happens next?
Stay tuned and I'll share with you how this all grows into completion!


Also!  There is a custom creation in the works!!
I can't tell you a whole lot more about it, except that it uses these as inspiration!

Yes!! A custom creation with Faerie Dust Bottles!! Woohoo!!!
I'll be certain to share more details when I can!
In the meantime, I've an event coming up this Sunday to share with you!
Sunday, Nov. 10th from 12noon to 6pm....
1st Year Anniversary Celebration - Fluevog Minneapolis Store!!!
Click here for the Event Page on Facebook!
Click here for the Minneapolis Fluevog Store webpage!
I'll be offering Faerie Readings!
There will be Live Good Music, puppets, MN RollerGirls, nibbles and beverages, door prizes and exclusive VOG stuff!!
It will be fun! 
Come help us celebrate!
Ciao!

Fini Friday! Spookiness Fini!

Hello Everyone!
Welcome to Fini Friday!
I hope your week had been full of mystery and fun so far!
I've a finished creation (just on the cusp on Halloween!) to show you today!

You might remember mention of ideas, plots and plans a few Fridays ago...
A photo of that beginning...

 
And here is the Fini! 
Title: All Hallows, The Old Way
Ingredients: Czech glass, Artistic wire, metal, surgical steel earwires(hypo-allergenic). 
Can you spy which beads and charms took root in the beginning and which wove their way in later?  
All Hallows is one of three days of ancient Christian celebration spanning Oct. 31 to Nov. 2 (See Wikipedia for more details!).  It is a day to celebrate saints and martyrs both known and unknown.  A celebration similar to this and around this time of year spans several cultures and there is much lively debate as to the beginnings of these holidays.
I leave it up to you, Dear Reader, to decide what you like best. 
As for me, I love the ancient symbols of wisdom, life, death, intuition, mystery, Faerie, stars, and so much more woven through these!
Have a most excellent weekend!
See you Monday!
Ciao!