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! Treasure Trove!

Hello Everyone! 

Welcome to Fini Friday! 

I hope your week has been lively and your weekend full of fun plans! I've shinies and loot to show you today! 

This is a cache of treasures from a good friend.

They were originally from a dear relative of hers who was downsizing her jewelry collection. Aren't they marvelous? I love the eclectic collection of styles, shapes and colours!  I don't have any concrete ideas just yet for this menagerie, but I find it all fascinating!  The faceting on the clear glass beads winks demurely at me.  The baby blue beads have a soft allure to them.  The more rough red beads to the left and multi-coloured milifori beads to the right are a bit bohemian and organic.  The silvery chain and matte white beads are interesting in an architectural and textural way....Hmmmm..... It will be fun to create with these!! YAY!

My last batch of loot for today is these golden beauties!

The chain to the left and top is a wonderful Greek Key design with three different styles of Goddesses every so often.  Aren't they lovely?

The brooches to the right are secured together by that fabulous chain.  I love the geometric designs, swirls and, of course, the Keys!

Hmmm.. there seems to be a theme to this trove - keys!  How apt, since they are treasures already unlocked!

So that's it for this Fini Friday!

Just a quick reminder... I've an exciting event this

Sunday at 5pm (CST, USA)! I and Cheryl Patton will be teaming up for a special show Welcome To Being Human! Many times, people feel (especially in the various Healing paths) restricted in their ability to experience and express the entire range of human emotions and actions.
Often, we are offered a "barrage of rainbows" or not allowed to "go negative" during stressful times.
Where did this impossible pedestal we're on come from and who put us up here, anyway?!

Listen in while Amy and Cheryl chat about accepting our role of being human!

Do join us!

Have a fabu weekend!
Ciao!

Fini Friday! Studio Life, Loot and Gearing Up!

Hello Hello!

Welcome to Fini Friday!

I hope your week has been full of warmth and joy!

I've had a pretty varied week, myself. Now is the time to herd paperwork into order as I close out 2012 and work/play with creating or tweaking better systems for me here in the studio. It is a time to pause and reflect on what worked, what didn't and what worked well. The goal, of course, is to move in the direction of everything working well!

So! I have a little bit of studio stuff, a bit of newly acquired loot and a finished creation to show you today!

First, a photo of something I'm very proud of!

A clean desk!

This is the desk from which I usually edit photos, post everything from Blog entries to creations in my Etsy shoppe to Internet marketing and etc. As you can see, I have lots of lovely bits of art all around me. Some of it is spiritual and beautiful and some of it is whimsical and cheerful! One of my current favorites absolutely is the little "Pop-up" notepad you see in the far corner! It has an image of a mischievous kitten eyeing some cheeky goldfish with a "no cats" sign in their bowl! It helps me to smile! The goldfish also have an oyster with a peal inside in their little aquarium world and this reminds me of the wisdom that can be gleaned even from irritating circumstances! 

Onward to the loot! 

This was a modest haul, yet full of interesting materials! I don't know if you can see it, but the larger glass "pony beads" were labeled "magic beads" and I love the way their colours change in the light! The open-work metal bead at the top right has so many possibilities! I fell in love with it because it reminds me of intricate filigree work! I'm am also really looking forward to working with that leather ship's wheel as well! Of course, the charms are all quite charming (HA!) 

YAY for loot! 

Let's wrap up this post with a finished creation!

You may remember that I showed you some of the components of this creation last Fini Friday and now it is fini! 

Title: As Yet Unknown Ingredients: Plastic automobile hose, Popcap pendant (gear sticker, non-toxic resin, metal), bearing, aluminum, metal. 

The two photos are included for a few reasons.  I wanted to show how the necklace opens and closes.  One end of the hose is slightly flared and so the other end tucks into it quite nicely!  I also wanted to show you how the Popcap pendant gear reflects the light in different circumstances!  Oh yes! And did I mention that there is an actual, diminutive fear suspended from the necklace as well?  There is!  Isn't that awesome?!

Before we take our leave of each other, I'll mention that I've another BlogTalk Radio Interview!

Tuesday, Feb. 19th 3-3:30pm (CST, USA)

A Special February Message From the Faeries! 

I'm not giving any hints, so hop on over for a listen that day to hear their message!

See you on Monday!

Ciao!

Fini Friday! Loot and a Show!

Hello Everyone!

Welcome to Fini Friday!!!

 I hope your week has been grand so far!!!

I'll be a little more succinct in this post as I'm in the midst of last minute preparations for the Saint Paul Art Crawl - which starts tonight at 6pm (CST, USA)!

So! I have photos of more Loot that was found and acquired on Walkabout at the end of September!

 One of the Faeries seen in this photo has already found a home in her own Faerie Wreath!  (You can see that here)!  What you see in this photo is what I love creating with most...all sorts of intriguing, mysterious, inspiring or whimsical charms and images!

The photo on the right is of a second assortment of nifty materials I also love to create with!! Lampwork cats, owls and cute yellow duckies snuggled right next to luminous vintage Czech glass, faceted beads of wonderful colour and texture and all sorts of fun finishes and shapes abound!!! And how could this not be a batch of Sprite Loot without stars??!!!!! YAYAYAYAYY!!!

These are some of the new shinies I will play with soon!! 
For now, please join me (if you are in the Mpls./Saint Paul, MN, USA area) in celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the Saint Paul Art Crawl!!! Starting tonight (Oct. 12th) from 6-10pm, tomorrow from Noon to 8pm and Sunday from Noon to 5pm!  I'll be on the 3rd Floor Atrium of the Lowertown Lofts Artist Coop! 

It would be grand to have you celebrate it with us! 

Whee! 

Ciao!

Fini Friday! Woodland Critters Fini and Loot!

Hello Everyone! 

Welcome to Fini Friday! 

I hope this week has treated you well so far! 

I've a finished creation and shinies to show you today! Whee!!! 

First up is the finished creation!  If you remember, I was working on creating a bracelet with leather and a collection of "Forest Critters" buttons on Wednesday.... I'm pleased to say that there were no set-backs today and the bracelet is fini! 

Title: Forest Critters 

Ingredients: Leather lacing, plastic buttons

I'm so pleased to be able to use the porcupine button as the clasp! Just slip him in-between the forest brown and green leather lacings on the opposite side and voila! He'll keep his compatriots (Deer, Owl, Fox and Beaver) securely dancing around your wrist! Very fun! 

I traveled to a Gem show this past weekend and have some of the loot to show you today! 

I've ideas for the chalk Turquoise skulls to the left in the photo. I'll probably whip up a few pairs of earrings for Halloween and/or the Goth at heart. It was also suggested that the beads look like owls when turned upside down...so you can bet I'll be playing with that as well! 

I'm looking forward to working with all the fabulous chain shown here! I'm particularly pleased to be able to debut the matte black leaf chain at the far right. This is a new finish for this type of chain and I've ideas for it already! That piece of metal that is reminiscent of a shepherd's hook is a bookmark blank!  Now to attach shinies!!! YAY!!!  I'm really looking forward to creating Steampunk and Neo-Victorian wares with the rectangular beads with the scroll designs.  And sparklies in the middle are just fun!  Stay tuned to see what grows into completion with those!!  Woohooo!!!

So there is a little bit of what I have to celebrate!  I hope this weekend brings much for you to celebrate, too!

Speaking of celebrating... I and Sprite Creations will be helping the Downtown Saint Paul Artists celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Saint Paul Art Crawl Oct. 12th, 13th and 14th in the 3rd Floor Atrium of the Lowertown Lofts Artist Coop! 

It would be grand to have you celebrate it with us! 

Whee! 

Ciao!

Whimsy Wednesday & Fini Friday! An Ocean of Possibilites!

Hello Hello!
Welcome to Whimsy Wednesday and Fini Friday, all in one! I'll be out and about and away from the computer starting tomorrow through this weekend so this post will serve double-duty!
I'll be showing you the loot I picked up on Walkabout this last weekend for the Whimsy Wednesday portion of the post. I found lots of nifty stuff, including tie tacks, keys Swarovski crystals, cookie cutters and more!

Did you see that camera tie tack? Isn't that awesome??!!! And aren't those keys pretty? I intend to paint resin on the tie tacks and perhaps also the keys... though that remains to be seen! The owl and crescent moon cookie cutters will be used to make pendants out of polymer clay and the Swarovski crystals? Well! You'll just have to wait and see! Soooo many possibilities!!! Wheeee!!

And for Fini Friday, I've a finished creation to show you!
Last Fini Friday, I showed you two creations that were in the growing stages and I'm happy to announce that one has grown into completion!
Title: An Ocean of Glassy Calm
Ingredients: hand-crafted Popcap Pendant (hand-coloured and hand-poured non-toxic jeweler's grade resin, sea glass (hand-picked by me from Monterey Bay, CA), recycled popcap), recycled chain, recycled glass, Bali silver, permanently-coated copper wire, anodized aluminum, pewter.

I'm really pleased with how this turned out! It is all ocean inspired... toggle clasp that reminds me of the rope used to secure a ship to the star-shaped Bali spacers on the recycled glass (legend has it sailors would often set their course by the North Star) to the sea glass shards submerged in sea-coloured resin!
And!!! It is now listed in my Etsy shoppe!!
So there you have it mateys! A post to satisfy the treasure-hunter and sailor alike!
Have a fantabulous weekend and I'll see you on Monday!
Ciao!

Whimsy Wednesday! Faeries, A Plasma Lamp and Walkabout!

Hello Everyone!
I took a little time to go on Walkabout today and collected some nifty things along the way! I trust you'll see the whimsy towards the bottom of this post, if not before! Let's start with a photo of some of my findings and I'll explain from there!


I loved the wonderfully warm colour of this bracelet and intend to weave wire (and perhaps other things!) through it to embellish it and make it truly a Sprite Creation! The green basket you see the two pairs of earrings suspended from is another object that I acquired today! I think it is a fabulously fairie accent and hope to use it much more for the purpose of that which you see here! A display!!!
Let me take a moment here to note that the pair of earrings on the left are titled "Fairy Cloak", whilst the ones on the right are "A Window Into A Fire Sprite's World" and both are conveniently available for adoption in my Etsy shoppe! Shiny!

The second photo is the plasma lamp alluded to in this blog entry's title! It is in the shape of a dolphin and I intend to place it in my studio! The timing on this find is perfect as I'm intending to use these winter months to re-envision and re-organize my studio and I'm sensing that the overall theme growing into fruition will be "Faerie Mad-Scientist Lab/Studio"!

Isn't that just awesome??? Woohooo!!!!
So!! I'll see you on Friday, yes? YES!
Ciao!

Fini Friday! Merry!

Hello Everyone!!!
I've been out and about doing the last little bits of shopping for Winter Holiday celebrations this weekend and picked up a little bit of loot for the studio as well!!

I'm going to pause here before showing you those shinies to let you know that I've listed a few more creations in my Etsy shoppe! Do you remember this post? I've listed Celebration In A Twinkling from that post, as well as one other pair of earrings just now. So! If these strike your fancy, click on over and adopt them!
P.S. It is too late for these to arrive before Christmas, especially since I will be on the interwebs only infrequently this weekend (for obvious reasons), so please keep that in mind!

OK!! Onward to the loot!!!

Don't these sparkle and shine??? These are all Swarovski crystals!!! I love the vibrant, soft colours and the flower and butterfly shapes!! They remind me of Spring!! Wheeeee!!!

And now, let me take a moment to wish you all a MERRY! whatever Winter Holiday you celebrate! May your holidays be filled with beauty, joy, wonder and love!
And with that, here is a photo of my Christmas tree, complete with presents!!!
I have 2 favorite parts of Christmas/Yule... finding the perfect gift for a loved one and seeing the happy expressions on that loved one's face when they open that perfect gift! So you can imagine that a tree filled underneath with gifts is a warm, happy sight to me!


Merry!!
See you next week!

Whimsy Wednesday! On Walkabout!

Hello Everyone!!!
I was on Walk About today and so the timing of this post has been pushed back a little bit a little later than usual!
Incidentally, if you are in the Sauk Center, MN (USA) area, there is a fabulous little shop there called Heaven and Earth Essentials, which is connected to Main Street Antiques and has intriguing and beautiful things in every nook and cranny. More info is on their website here. I've already drunk some of the Firefly Chai that I purchased from Barbara, the owner, and YUM! is the best word I have for it!
Here is a little photo of my bag 'o chai goodness!!!



And, of course, no Walkabout would be complete without the finding and purchasing of bead-y goodness! I did, indeed, find a small bead shop during my adventures today and wanted to share a photo of my modest bit of loot with you!



Most of this is Czech-pressed glass and I'm looking forward to creating with them... especially as I have a few ideas boiling and brewing inside my head even now!

How does this tie in to the whimsy of Whimsy Wednesday? You-all are able to share in the whims and whimsy of my Walkabout (of course!)by seeing what I bring home and hearing about my adventures!

And with that, Good Night!
See you on Friday!!!

Fini Friday Loot Photos!

Hello!!!
Here you are-checking back in with me on this beautiful Sunday afternoon! Thanks for stopping by!
I have photos of loot to show you!!


The above is a over-view of the goodies! Much of it is fiber.. ribbons and lace and sequins, oh my! However, you can see a few nifty toggle clasps on the right-hand side there as well as some of my new photo-display backgrounds that lay underneath it all!
I love the colours and patterns of those backgrounds and feel they will add interest and beauty to my creation photos.
I'm thinking of playing with a bit of pigmented resin on the clasps as well as creating a multi-layered necklace with the flower-shaped sequin ribbon and the antiqued lace that lay twined together near the middle of the photo.
Here is a close-up of those clasps and of much of the loot.



The white and multi-coloured sequin ribbon in the middle is actually a bit stretchy and that seems to be slated for bracelets or perhaps a choker...
And the black ribbon with grommets definitely evokes some sort of punky/Halloween inspiration!

So there you are! A peek into the inspiration and beginning side of creating for me!
Check back here often to see what they grow into!
Bye for now!

Fini Friday!! Loot!....Photos on Sunday!

Hello Everyone!
Just a quick note as a place-holder here and with more photos and details coming up on Sunday! Thursday and today have been chock-full of unexpected but happy events and so I have acquired LOOT!!! I haven't had time to snap photos of it to show you! I have ideas and inspiration surrounding much of the loot and I'll share that with you along with matching photos on Sunday!
In the meantime, have an awesome weekend!!!
Ciao!

Fini Friday! Modding Displays Fini!

Hello Everyone!!!
I hope this post finds you-all well and already enjoying your long Labor Day weekend!
I want to take a moment to Thank all of those who have made this celebration of Labor Day possible.. past and present!

So! Remember Wednesday and the modding of the displays? I promised to show you the finished bracelet display and so I shall!!!
A few details first... I wanted to play with textures a bit with this display and so I used silver spray paint on the grey suede. I also experimented with spray distances and how the paint looked when the paint is sprayed in the same area for differing lengths of time. I found that spraying the paint for a relatively long time in the same spot results in the paint pooling in what looks to me like a puddle of molten silver metal! With that said, here is the finished display!


I'm pleased with how it turned out!

One other little thing I wanted to throw in here before I return you to your regularly scheduled Labor Day weekend!
I've been travelling out and about today and come home with a little bit of loot! I'm anxious to see what a little bit of resin can do with these!


There are three pins in the middle (the circle of roses has matching earrings) and two necklaces... I might just stamp something into the pendant of the necklace on the right! Hmmmmm... yes.... I'll have to play with that a bit more...... And with that, I'm signing off! Have fun!! See you next week!!

Whimsy Wednesday!

Hello Everyone!
I have loot to show you today! I procured these materials and components during CONvergence, which was the first week in July.
The first photo is of two spinny latches and two elegantly decorated rings. The spinny latches are normally designed to use with fabric, but I foresee using them as clasps somehow!



And the big rings? I'm not sure yet.. maybe paint with resin.. maybe texture with something else.... we'll see!!!

The second photo is of a batch of grandfather clock gears, cogs and assemblies.



At the top, you can see an entire cable and pulley assembly (Isn't that fabulous!?) and along the sides you'll notice a gear (with sprocket!) assembly on the right and a chime assembly on the left. I believe that the chime assembly would create the music that you'd hear as the grandfather clock struck the hour. The rest are assorted gears, nifty things and chain!

I love seeing the internal workings of clocks and machinery and am looking forward to using these in my designs soon!

If anyone is asking how this is whimsical.. it would be the fact that I get to play with such useful and utilitarian parts intended for something completely different and use them to create fabulous jewelry and Sprite Creations!!
WHEE!!!!!

See you Friday!!!

Fini Friday!

Hello Hello!!!!

I've been out and about most of the day running errands and collecting nifty things along the way!!!
While what I'm mentioning here is not strictly finishing creations, I did bring home materials and tools to help me finish some, start others and help make others looks pretty in photos!
Speaking of photos.... let me show you what I mean!



Isn't that an intriguing little cache of objects?
Let's progress from left to right on our tour.
On the left is a small tray with a mirror for the bottom. This will most likely be used for displays at shows, possibly also for creation photo ops!

A tiny cabinet is next up, with a few shinies spilling out from each drawer. The chain and flowers I will use for future creations. Indeed, already I have a few ideas! The tiny cabinet can be sanded and painted or stained and I've a few ideas for using it as a display, but also as a creation itself! Perhaps a few Faerie treasures in it .... hmmmmm... we'll have to see what happens next!!!

We continue on to a block of alphabet stamps. I plan to experiment with these both with images on paper and in clay!

The silvery "C" shape you see is actually a bracelet form! One of the balls unscrews and so larger-holed beads can be popped onto the metal and then secured by screwing the ball back onto the form. I'll have to see what I have in my oodles of beads for those with larger holes! This will be fun!

And lastly, the wonderful leafy and scroll-with-flower backgrounds you see will likely be used to help with creation photo ops... but you never know where gorgeous textures like these will pop up around here!

So, there we have it!! A fabulous start to a long holiday weekend says I!!!
Have an amazing weekend and wonderous holiday!

Shinies and Loot!

I'm back from my mini-vacation to Hastings and Supercon!
We made good use of the hot tub, snacky-things, fabulous company and general relaxation that is Supercon! YAY!!!
And! Of course I created Shinies and came home with loot!!!
First, the loot!
I picked up a bit of steampunk bits and parts, intriguing pendants, fun charms, cats and pith helmets, just to name a little of what you'll see below!
Photos!





I was pleased to renew my tradition of donating Creations to the Art Auction at Supercon. This is a fun challenge for me as the Auction rules state that all art needs to be made at the Con.
I managed to finagle a few photos of the 4 pair of earring creations I submitted and here they are!




Stay tuned to see what I do with the lovely loot you see above!

I Can Haz Loot!

Hee hee!!! 

Beautiful, fascinating tiny, tiny! watchparts!!!! 

Soooo very cool!!! 

I was out and about today and happened to acquire this stash of watchparts!!!! 

YAYAYYAY!! 

Happy Sprite! :-D