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!

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!

Whimsy Wednesday! Bright Colours!

Hello Hello!
Welcome to Whimsy Wednesday!
Let me start with a huge THANK YOU to everyone who visited with us at the Saint Paul Art Crawl this past weekend!
There was laughter, fun and creation adoptions! Thanks!!!
I've some beautiful, brightly-coloured materials to show in today's post that show a little of a new direction or two that I'm going!
TheHello Hello!
Welcome to Whimsy Wednesday!
Let me start with a huge THANK YOU to everyone who visited with us at the Saint Paul Art Crawl this past weekend!
There was laughter, fun and creation adoptions! Thanks!!!
I've some beautiful, brightly-coloured materials to show in today's post that show a little of a new direction or two that I'm going!
These are bits of glass!

Some are tumbled bits of glass with hand-drilled holes and some are Czech glass beads of excellent quality and intriguing colours! They all remind me of bits of stained glass and are lovely to see! I've some designs in mind for some of these so stay tuned for that! 

The second thing I've to show is some new fabric that I obtained on Walkabout today!
Isn't this fabulous!! The colours! The shiny! The whimsy!!!
Many ideas have popped to mind for this... pendants...little Faerie pouches...little purses...accents in bracelets or other jewelry....and who knows what else?!!!  I'm so excited to see what happens next!! You are most welcome to join me on that adventure!!!

Speaking of adventure!
My next BlogTalk Radio Interview is coming up soon!
Next Tues., Oct 15th at 12 Noon (CST, USA) is the October Messages From the Faeries!
Pull up a chair and a cuppa of your favorite beverage as Cheryl and I discuss the insights the Faeries have to give for the mysterious month of October!
See you Friday!
Ciao!

Magical Monday! Out of the Fog!

Hello Everyone! 

Welcome to Magical Monday! 

First, a big THANK YOU to everyone who visited with us at the Cambridge Fall Art Festival! It was a beautiful day to be surrounded by artisans of every type, nestled outside an independent Bookstore, Food Co-op and Coffee shop! We had so much fun and, it seems, so did you!! YAYAYAYAYAY!!!
 

 It was a foggy start to the morning here in my neck of the woods, which inspired me to snap a few photos! 

Title: Foggy Fields

Fog obscuring the sometimes harsh details of the "real world" has always been a romantic perspective to me. 

Title: As Yet Unknown

 

In cloaking the details, it is a reminder that life and the world are mysterious, magical and full of things we don't yet know...including possibilities!!!

Title:  Telegraph

This last photo, with the old-time apothecary-style lamp might be a view from a Writer's garret (or Doctor's) window 100 years ago....

May your days and week be full of magic, adventure and possibilities!

Also!!!

TOMORROW!

The Faerie Messages for September on BlogTalk Radio!

Tuesday, Sept. 17th at 12Noon! 

Click on the link for details and to listen in! 

Hear the practical and whimsical advice the Faeries have to share with us about the month that welcomes the Fall Equinox!

Ciao!

Magical Monday! Otherworldly Perspectives!

Hello Everyone!

Welcome to Magical Monday!

I've an exciting new event to tell you about!

Sunday at 5pm (CST, USA) I and Cheryl Patton  team 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! There will be time for folks to call in or chat in the chat room!  

Onward to the next perspective!

YAY!

Details and credits for these sentiments and photo are here!!! 

This is a time-lapse video of a city at night! I find it fascinating and beautiful and hope you do, too!!

 CLICK HERE!!

And the final perspective I'd like to offer you is during my BlogTalk Radio Interview tomorrow!

At 12 Noon (CST, USA)!!!!

I'll be chatting with Cheryl Patton about the often whimsical, always practical Messages From the Faeries, August 2013 edition!

Join us on this adventure!

Ciao!

Fini Friday! Vacation, Inspiration and Forward Motion!

Hello Hello!

Welcome to Fini Friday!

I've photos of the nifty conveyance used on our vacation and a few ideas and inspirations to show you today!

First, the conveyance!

This is a Jeep that served in the US Postal Service in it's life before we adopted it.  Isn't it lovely?

You see it here with the doors locked open as well as packed and ready to go on vacation!

I'm quite pleased with how all the packing and loading went as it involved some streamlining and downsizing.  It was a relief to easily cull through what to pack based on what had (and hadn't!) worked from previous years (we vacation at the same event every year).  This meant, too, that I was easily able to find what was wanted whilst on vacation! 

YAY!  

This a perfect fit with my ongoing intention to focus on the wanted or desired, rather than what no longer serves or is unwanted.

Onward to the ideas and  inspiration!

Ideas next!

This is a batch of loot I picked up on Walkabout a little while ago!  The burgundy tag in the middle is the metal identification tag from a motor vehicle!  It was found on the side of the road with no wrecks in sight (thankfully!).  I can only theorize that it flew off of a crushed or soon-to-be-recycled vehicle as it was hauled away.  I'm not *quite* certain what I'll do with that tag, but I *love* the idea of fashioning it into something completely different and new! 

Whee!

Let's close this post with inspiration and a new event!

I found this very old frame some time ago and have been looking for the perfect thing to do with it since.  

And now I've found it!  The inspirational thoughts and quotes have been collected from various bits of chocolate wrappers, tea bags and so forth and I love the bohemian nature of it!

I keep this on my desk and refer to it often, even as I type this post! 

Woooooo!

Now about that event....

I've another BlogTalk Radio Interview!

Tuesday, July 16th at 12 Noon (CST, USA)!
Join myself and Cheryl Patton of 1Woman's Wisdom as the Faeries reveal their thoughts about the month of July! 

This is a special synergy of insight as Cheryl brings her extensive Numerology expertise to the interview! 

Come join us! 

And with that, I'll see you Monday! 

Ciao!

Magical Monday! Space and Time!

Hello Hello! 

Welcome to Magical Monday! 

I'll start with a big Thank-You! to everyone who stopping by our booth at the Burst Into Spring event on Saturday! This was our first time at this mini-convention and we had a fabulous time! Everything was infused with cheerfulness and joy in all things growing! YAY!! 

This post features amazing art, an excellent way to enjoy the Winter Season and a heart-warming story. 

Let me show you! 

This is an absolutely amazing bit of papercraft by David Canavese!!! 

Details and credits are here.

I can only imagine how much intricate work and skill this took to create! 

Bravo! 

Still following the Star Wars and Millenium Falcon theme, we have an awesome Dad helping his child enjoy the fun of Winter!

Details and credits are here! That looks like a lot of fun!!! 

 Let's finish up with heart-warming news about Japan and saving the one remaining tree after the tsunami.... Click here for photos and details! 

I love seeing the natural world valued and nurtured! YAY!! 

I hope you are able to take those bits of joy out into your world! 

Before we part ways, I've a BlogTalk Radio Interview to mention! 

Yes! 

It is the Message From the Faeries for March, 2013! Tomorrow, March 19th, from 3-3:30pm (CST,USA)! Click here for the link and more details! 

I hope you can listen in and that I'll see you back here for Whimsy Wednesday! 

Ciao!

Whimsy Wednesday! Layering on the Colour!

Hello Everyone!

Welcome to Whimsy Wednesday!

I hope this week has been full of warmth and laughter for you-all!

I've been playing with bits of colour!

I'll show you!

Let's start with the more subtle creation first!

Title: Natural Industry

Ingredients: Czech glass, Artistic wire, metal, silver-plated surgical steel earwires (hypo-allergenic).

This is a subtle study of contrasts!  The backdrop is a metal leaf of antiqued-silver hue, graced above and below with a flash of vibrant green!  The Czech Glass leaf is comprised of striations of verdant greens, topped with a shiny, textured, round bead and suspended from hand-wrapped Forest Green wire. 

This gives Classically Understated a kick of colour!

The second earring creation I have for you is quite a kick of colour and I love it!

Title: Hot House Fruits

Ingredients: Czech glass, Artistic wire, aluminum,  silver-plated surgical steel earwires (hypo-allergenic).

 A delightful punch of colour and texture! These brilliant, cheerful and sassy earrings are sure to draw attention and compliments! I hand-wrapped the tangerine-shaped (and coloured) bead with a deep green wire and made sure to coil in a lively little leaf on the side!

All of this is suspended from a segment of infinity chain-maille weave. 

Luscious and unusual!

FYI:  These are both in my Etsy shoppe now!

So that wraps up this Whimsy Wednesday!  Hmmmm....layers, punches of colour.... I wonder if anyone can tell that we're in the middle of Winter at the studio?! *Grin*

Oh yes!  I've another BlogTalk Radio Interview!

It's in February!

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 Friday!
Ciao!

Magical Monday! Street Art!

Hello Everyone! 

Welcome to Magical Monday! 

I hope your weekend was full of rest and magic! 

I'm thrilled to say that mine was! 

This post is about the unlikely topic of Street Art! I've always loved the concept of an Art-full life and that's what this post is all about! 

Let's dive in! 

First, the illusion of warmth, cleverly made out of cardboard! 

Isn't that amazing detail?! 

Credits and details are here!

  

Next up is a cute little bit of art! Credit and details about it are here! Isn't that charming?! 

I'll leave you with a comparison of neurons versus cities... 

The first photograph is from NASA, (taken from the International Space Station!) with the rest of the details and credits here!

Isn't that absolutely stunning?! 

So that's it for Magical Monday! 

Just a gentle reminder that my BlogTalk Radio interview with a Message From the Faeries specific to January is tomorrow!

Tuesday, Feb. 15th from 3-3:30pm (CST, USA)!

Come on over, rest and listen for a bit!

See you Wednesday!

Ciao!

Fini Friday! Winging Away!

Hello Hello! 

Welcome to Fini Friday! 

I don't know about you but today has been a full day for me! 

I am very much looking forward to the weekend! 

How about we get started winging our way there?! 

This is the first of the two new creations I have to show you! They are a bit of a riff on the same idea.... 

Title: On Raven's Wing 

Ingredients: metal, silver-plated surgical steel earwires.

This is finished inspiration that started the 'riff', as it were. 

The initial vision was of a longer segment of the black feathers with the silver pair dangling at the bottom. This shorter pair grew into completion first, and I like the mystery the single ebony raven feather evokes! 

Raven is viewed differently in many cultures, yet is commonly depicted as a Divine messenger and associated with wisdom (even if that wisdom is based in deception, illusion or war). 

I wanted to continue to play with those fascinating inky wings, whilst adding some whimsy and light! And the second pair of earring creations was born! 

Title: The Butterfly and the Raven

Ingredients: Glass, metal, silver-plated surgical steel earwires.

 

The butterflies are beads upcycled from a ring found at an antique shop on Walkabout that I chronicled here! Butterflies are often seen as a symbol of rebirth and possibility. 

So, while these two initially seem a very unlikely pair, a Raven's ability to see through illusion and deception and the Butterfly's ability to rebirth and reinvent sounds like a powerful combination! 

These will be up in my Etsy shoppe by Monday!

(By the way, my Etsy shoppe has a few new Creations in it, so click on over and take a look!)

That's it for this Fini Friday!

Thank-you for stopping by for a visit!

One announcement before I bid you adieu!

I'll be on BlogTalk Radio with a Message From the Faeries specific to January!

Tuesday, Feb. 15th from 3-3:30pm (CST, USA)!

Come on over, rest and listen for a bit!

See you Monday!

Ciao!

Whimsy Wednesday! Pen and Ink!

Hello Everyone!

Welcome to Whimsy Wednesday!

I hope this second week of January finds you well!

I have Pen Creations to show you today! Let's start with the prototype first! I was playing around with different combinations of materials, this grew into completion!

Title: Faerie Pen

Ingredients: Steel and Brass Pen (Pearl White)(USA), Furnace glass (David Christensen, USA), metal.

  It was hard to capture in photo, but that big, beautiful chunk of hand-made furnace glass is actually transparent with all sorts of colourful sparklies in it! I actually purchased it from David Christensen himself, at a bead show many moons ago! He is a cheerful, intriguing person and fun to interact with! I am pondering keeping this pen for myself!

Title: A Wise Companion

Ingredients: Steel and Copper Pen (Pearl White, USA), lead-free pewter, acrylic, brass.

This second pen also uses that Pearl White blank as it's base and I wish the photographs did the pen's finish justice! The description Pearl White is very apt! The white is luminous with little sparklies of colour! Gorgeous!

I've been wanting to play with more pen creations and when I saw this white finish, thoughts of Athena and her wise Owl Bubo popped to mind!

If you don't know the legend, here is the link to a Wikipedia article explaining the myth! Happily, there was a Bubo Owl Bead (from Green Girl Studios) in my inventory! The Greek Key beads were a perfect accent and I'm really pleased with this creation!

The last photo is a close-up of that intriguing owl!

So! That's it for this Whimsy Wednesday!

One announcement before I bid you adieu!

I'll be on BlogTalk Radio with a Message From the Faeries specific to January!

Tuesday, Feb. 15th from 3-3:30pm (CST, USA)!

Come on over and listen for a spell!

See you Friday!

Ciao!

Magical Monday! Places to Go, Things to Do...

Hello Everyone! Welcome to Magical Monday!

This is one of those more comfy, laid-back Magical Mondays filled with places and things I'd love to travel and see and/or perhaps would own in my own life! Come along on this brief adventure!

Mont Saint-Michel in Normandy, France! I'd love to spend some time here! Doesn't it look like fun!?!

Perhaps these Fish Tricycles could help me get to Mont Saint-Michel?  You just never know!  I think these are incredibly colourful and fun!

And the last stop on our little adventure is to show you something I could have fun with in my own home!

Nerf Shoot to Snooze Clocks!

Hey!  Guess what I'm up to tomorrow?! 
My BlogTalk Radio Interview!  I'll be discussing Messages From the Faeries #10!

*Tuesday, August 21st 3-4pm (CST, USA)

Join me and Cheryl Patton of 1Woman's Wisdom as we discuss life, Faeries and possibly everything!
Ciao!

Magical Monday! Stone Age, Stonehenge and the Olympics!

Hello Everyone! 

Welcome to Magical Monday! 

I hope your weekend was simply smashing! 

Mine was fairly mellow and included a date with my husband, a motorcycle, a movie and dinner! Just what I needed! 

I've some nifty cool things to show you today, so let's get started! 

First up! The Stone Age (or perhaps slightly before)... A sandbox a very ambitious and awesome Dad made for his children!  

Isn't that awesome??!!  Let's head on over to the Olympics now and this exquisite photo of the Olympic Torch at Stonehenge!

This is Micheal Johnson, former American Olympic Gold Medal sprinter, holding the Olympic Torch up at Stonehenge before starting his leg of the Olympic Torch journey! (Photo courtesy of ABC News.) Isn't that an absolutely marvelous sight?

Let's end our journey at the Olympics, themselves!...

Or, at least, an Olympics of sorts! Allow me to introduce you to "The Chap Olympics".... The Chap Olympics are described as 'a celebration of eccentricity and athletic ineptitude with the emphasis on panache and style over sporting prowess' and this is umbrella jousting! For more details about and photos of the sports that make up Chap Olympics, click here! 

Don't forget my BlogTalk Radio Interview tomorrow at 3pm (CST, USA)!!!

BlogTalk Radio Interview with Cheryl Patton!

Messages From the Faeries #9!

And my only show in July.....

July 28th and 29th     Saturday 10am to 7pm, Sunday 10am to 5pm

Bean Factory Artist Market

J and S Bean Factory

1518 Randolph Avenue, St. Paul, MN (USA)