Fini Friday! Ageless Play!

Hello Everyone! 
Welcome to Fini Friday! 
There was an unexpected delay in posting this week! It has been a rollercoaster of a week for me - so much going on! 
So! Let's get to showing you a new creation! 
This is the start of the finished creation I've to show today! 
And here is the Fini creation! 
Title: Ageless Play 
Ingredients: Popcap Pendant (non-toxic, hand-coloured resin, Swarovski crystals (Fire Opal), stickers, popcap, metal), aluminum, reclaimed chain, lead-free pewter (USA).  

Isn't that just a wonderful interplay of textures and colours?!  I love the Fire Opal coloured Swarovski crystals in the pendant!!! Other details include the accenting firey orange and red jumprings from which the fanciful clasp and intriguing pendant are suspended.  I just love that chain, don't you?! YAY!!!

Here is a close-up of that unique pendant!
Now you can really see the sparkly golden flecks of the pigment I mixed into the resin!  The scrapbook sticker in the background is a relief design of the original playing cards.  A Jack of Hearts, to be specific!  Isn't that fun!
So! Stay tuned to see what happens next with us!

Do bear in mind that whilst Sprite Creations is on hiatus from confirmed shows, we are available for home Sprite Creations shows as well as shows via Skype!
Feel free to visit my website or contact me for more details!  

ALSO!
I've ONE more BlogTalk Radio Interview in 2013!
Welcome to Being Human!!! December 22, 2013, 5:00pm to 6:00pm (CST, USA)!
Ciao!

Fini Friday! Baling Out!

Hello Hello! 

Welcome to Fini Friday! 

I hope your week has been fabulous and your weekend looks to be even better! The Whimsy Wednesday about a week ago was all about local colour and had a bit of baling twine introduced at the end. 

I vowed to do something jewelry-like with that twine and I have!!!! 

YAY! This post is all about showing you what grew into completion! MMmmmuuuahhahahahaaa! (Evil Laugh)! 

So! Here is a photo of the raw (stringing) material...

Isn't that a beautiful shade of blue!

So vibrant!

The twine is fairly thick (as beading stuff goes), so large-hole beads were needed.

That narrowed down my options a bit.

I opted for a more classic colour scheme, since I wanted to show off the rather unorthodox stringing material.

And here it is!

Title: As Yet Unknown

Ingredients: Baling Twine, Acrylic, lead-free pewter, aluminum, metal. The Necklace... The Clasp.... 

And a view of the necklace with the clasp worn on the side... 

Whilst pondering the finishing of the necklace, I knew I wanted to use an attractive clasp so that the necklace could be worn in different ways (I *love* building options into my creations!). The heart (actually TWO hearts!) clasp fit the bill perfectly! It is not only lovely, but is also a fitting tribute to the United States' Heartland, which produces most of the food for this Nation and some of the planet!

Other nifty details include an alternating pattern of silver and blue linking both ends of the clasp to the twine, echoing the overall pattern of colour.  

And those acrylic beads!  Perhaps you can tell from the photos, but the sunlight transforms them into little orbs that seem to glow!  WHEEE!!!!!

So there you have it!

All sorts of fun and frolic to start off your weekend!

Before you go, let me announce my next BlogTalk Radio Interview!

Tuesday, August 19th at 12 Noon (CST, USA)!!!

I'll be chatting with Cheryl Patton of 1Woman's Wisdom about Faerie Wisdom specific to the month of August!

It would be so much fun if you could join us!

Have a grand weekend!

Ciao!

Whimsy Wednesday and Fini Friday! A Special Selection!

Hello Hello!
Welcome to a dual edition of Whimsy Wednesday and Fini Friday!
Just a little housekeeping detail: I'll be on blog-vacation after this post!  I'll see you again next Wednesday!
This post is all about some of the hand-picked Sprite Creations that are awaiting adoption in the CONvergence Art Show over the long holiday weekend!
This convention is a fund-raising event for a non-profit organization that you can learn more about here.
So, let's get started!
Title: Co-Exit, With Chocolate!

Ingredients: lead-free pewter, Czech glass, Jeweler's bronze, Artistic wire, aluminum, copper.
I had so much fun creating this bracelet! The charms, from left to right are: something that reminds me of a temple bell in some exotic land, the yin-yang (a symbol of balance), a lotus flower with a star above it (lotus flowers are sacred to Buddhists), the Tree of Life (sacred to many forms of Pagan and Old World belief systems), spirals and stars (sacred symbols in all aboriginal legends across the globe), Celtic-style cross (an ancient mix of Christian and Pagan/Nature-based Worship), and a chocolate Kiss! Yup! There is the chocolate! Need I explain the whimsy in this piece?
A few other tidbits(HA!)...Copper has been a sacred metal in cultures that span the globe. The lock and key clasp includes a heart-shaped key. This symbolizes the key to living harmoniously with all belief systems is through an open heart. And finally, the colours used to suspend the charms match those associated with the seven Chakras of the body.
So! That's my suggestion for world peace - an open heart and chocolate!

Title: Elvan Fire
Ingredients: Popcap Pendant (Swarovski Crystal, paper, hand-coloured non-toxic resin, popcap), Earthenwood Studio gear link (ceramic, USA), lead-free pewter (USA), light bulb pendant (Zoa Art, USA), anodized aluminum, metal.
The firey teardrop in the Popcap Pendant is a Swarovski crystal!  The gear link is hand-crafted by Melanie of Earthenwood Studios! I love her work!  The light bulb pendant to the left of the Popcap Pendant is from Zoa Art in South Carolina (USA)! I adore the work of this husband and wife team so much! It is sculptural, architectural and sensual all at once!  This necklace creation is Elvish, Steampunk, Dieselpunk and absolutely unique!  The pendant, link and clasp are secured with jumprings woven in a mobius or infinity chainmaille weave using golden yellow and true red colours!  There is definitely a story to this creation! I can feel it!

Title: Her Majesty's Money 

Ingredients: Resin-encased (hand-coloured and painted with non-toxic resin) faux paper currency, Swarovski crystals (Sapphire and Crystal), Czech glass, Jeweler's Brass, surgical steel earwires(gold-plated). 

The idea for both of these creations was to pair them with Swarovski crystals in colours of jewels worthy of royalty. Gold, too, is always favored by the wealthy. And that is metal colour common to these two creations. 

Of course, the Queen Mother (featured on this faux bank notes) would have Diamonds (the closest Swarovski gets to diamond is crystal) and Sapphires! Also, whilst there is some 'frippery' to the design, it remains elegant and simple. 

Just like the Queen would want! 

Title: Investments 

Ingredients: Resin-encased (hand-coloured and painted with non-toxic resin) faux paper currency, Swarovski crystals (Ruby), Czech glass, Jeweler's Brass, surgical steel earwires(gold-plated).

These bank notes focus on a gentleman of stature and repute and so the creation needed a bit more lavishness and adventure! I wanted the earrings to be elegant, yet "dripping" with rubies" (which is the colour of the Swarovski crystals, by the way!). 

Also mixed in the design was the desire to convey a more inquisitive, and worldly mindset (indicated in the metal wire-work and mixing of metal tones). 

These are for those who seek their fortunes in the world, rather than those who rule the world with their power and fortune. 

And I've one more creation to tempt you with (though there are more Sprite Creations and so much more fabulous art in the Show!!!!)....
Title:  Keyper of Time
Ingredients: Gold vermeil, hand-crafted porcelin, old watch parts, hand-crafted brass, vintage glass and chain, metal.

 This necklace is a mix of found objects and objects d'art!  I'd been looking for a design to show off the vermeil box and oval bead and come upon this idea for something Steampunk Royalty would wear!  Mixed into the golden palette are many tiny watch gears, some lovely, textured and patterned porcelin ceramic links from Earthenwood Studio, Swarovski crystals and more!

The colour palette is classic and rich, yet this is an intriguing tapestry of subtle textures and contours!

And there you have it! 
The end of this post and the start of my vacation!

If you're intrigued about CONvergence, click here for more details. 
I'll  see you next Wednesday!

Ciao!

Fini Friday! Ideas in Motion!

Hello Hello! 

Welcome to Fini Friday! 

I hope your week has been fabulous so far! 

This post is purely about ideas! 

 I've others percolating in the background as well, yet these are the those that took their growth a bit further today! 

I've had the basic idea and materials for this creation for some time. This idea is centered around the gorgeous natural tigereye pendant, wrapped in sterling silver, and the hand-rolled copper beads that you see to the right. Added to the mix more recently are the petite, twisted link sterling silver chain and scattered here and there are various accents and charms that may (or may not) be in the final design.   This is intended to be a lushly-spare design...lush in that it will likely be multi-strand, yet spare in that the focus needs to always be on that stunning gemstone pendant!

The second idea I've to show you centers around the Popcap Pendant created with hand-coloured, non-toxic resin, Swarovski crystals (Fire Opal), a vintage crystal and scrapbook stickers (in an old-fashioned playing card design).  Though suspending the pendant from that unusual and fabulous chain would be quite enough... I'm pondering the possibility of drawing in some colour (with the coloured jumprings in accent colours), adding whimsy with the jolly roger flag or horse shoe charms, and/or perhaps the old game token...finished with toggle clasp, which echoes the shape of the pendant.  The filigree might find it's way in there... only time will tell!

As we come to the end of this Fini Friday, let me give a  little heads-up...

I'll have Sprite Creations in the CONvergence Art Show over the July 4th weekend! 

If you'll be there, stop on by and see all the fabulous, fabulous art! 

If you're intrigued about CONvergence, click here for more details. 

The CON is members-only, however it is no problem to register at the door! 

See you Friday! 

Ciao!

Whimsy Wednesday! An Elephant at Play!

Hello Everyone!

Welcome to this Whimsy Wednesday!

I hope your week has been filled with magic and many things that encourage you to smile so far!

I'm happy to have a whimsical new creation to show off today!

Title: An Elephant at Play!

Ingredients: Hand-carved Elephant(Boxwood), Sandalwood, Rosewood, Bali and Sterling Silver, Hand-dyed fiber(USA), Fray-check.

I hand-picked this elephant because of its simple and utter joy and playful pose...as well as the detailed carving!  The elephant has feet!  And foot pads! And the most delightful, twirling, upraised trunk!  So many details that are hard to capture via photos.  Perhaps you'll just have to see it in person! *grin*

So, today seemed the perfect day to create something with this charming fellow!  The position of the trunk reminds me of elephants playing in the water and lo! The idea of what to suspend our elephant from was borne!

Here is a view of the creation on a mannequin!

Though playful, I wanted to include more details in the form of materials and a "foundation" if you will, of the spiritual or sacred. Some of these details include star-shaped Bali silver heishi, sterling silver(thought to help with intuition), sandalwood (a wood sacred to many religions including Buddhist, Muslim, and Pagan) and Rosewood (also sacred in many traditions). 

The necklace portions is hand-dyed fiber procured directly from the artist (who resides in Idaho, USA) and finally, the spiral clasp (Bali silver) is a sacred symbols dating back thousands of years and across every culture.
So there you have it, a bit of whimsy and myth; sacred and playful, all at once!

Don't forget about my next exciting event!!!

I'll be a Faerie Reader at Fluevog and Opportunity Partners Charity Event this Friday, June 21st from 5-9pm! 

This is an RSVP only event and Charity Fundraiser, so click over here for more details and to get your name on the list!

I'll be offering brief 5-10 minute Faerie Readings at the Minneapolis Fluevog Store! 

It would be wonderful if you could join us!

See you soon!

Ciao!

Substitute Saturday! Time, Rainbows and News!

Hello Everyone! 

Welcome to Substitute Saturday...which is Fini Friday a day late! *grin*

Life is busy in new and interesting ways over the past week! 

For instance...We've had a cat whose health has been variable for more than a few weeks now. Last night it took a downturn. 

Rest assured we are doing all that we can for him, yet ultimately the decision is his whether he will stay with us or leave. 

And so it is with all of us, yes? 

Bet you didn't realize there would be philosophy involved in this post, huh?! 

Yup! Sure is! 

All part of "the package"! 

So! 

What do I have lined up for you today? 

Let's start with the Rainbows! 

 These are a few of the things I've found on Walkabout recently! I love the colours, shapes and textures, don't you? 

These are actually cute Fairy-esque skirts, so you may (if you visit with me in person) chance to see them on me! 

I love finding things for myself and others that create a more fun and unique life! 

Whee!! 

And now, about that Time word in the title! 

A new creation that features a Popcap Pendant created with scrapbook stickers, vintage rhinestones and pearls, Czech glass, non-toxic resin and more! 

Working Title: Las Vegas Glamour 

Ingredients: Popcap Pendant (vintage rhinestones and pearls, Czech glass, scrapbook stickers, hand-coloured non-toxic resin, glitter, metal), Swarovski crystals, vintage rhinestones, beads, glass and chain, lead-free pewter, metal. 

The idea behind this creation is the mixture of depth, grit and life that can be found even in midst of the faux (faux jewels, the faux glamour of gambling) and it's allure. 

And perhaps one can find real magic even betwixt and between false or imitative, yes? 

Let's wrap this up with some of that promised News! 

I've a new event and creative home in the Minneapolis/St.Paul area (MN, USA) that I'm excited to share with you! 

Healing Gallery Open House 

Saturday, June 8th 

from 1 to 7pm 

Sunday from 1pm to 5pm 

Details and address are here! 

I'll be there Saturday only, yet I encourage you to stop by whenever you can that weekend! 

It is a beautiful space and the art is absolutely gorgeous! Marian is a very talented artist and healer! 

ALSO!!!! 

*Edited with an update*

I and my Sprite Creations will be available at the Healing Gallery through this weekend only.

My Sprite Services will continue to be offered at locations that best suit each person and situation, and by appointment at BellaLuna Boutique, rather than at the Healing Gallery.

Thank you!
*Now back to the blog as it was*

There is much more to come as my behind-the-scenes 'work' continues, so stay tuned! 

Thanks so much for stopping by! 

I'll see you next week! 

Ciao!

Fini Friday! Progress!

Hello Everyone! 

Welcome to Fini Friday and the end of many folks' work week! 

In true Fini Friday style, this post is chock-full of creations in various stages of growing! 

Come walk with me and I'll show you! 

I've been playing with resin with different projects and so the next steps of growth are unfolding! 

On our first path, we are witness both a re-acquaintance and rebirth! You might remember this post where materials gathered on Walkabout were shown. 

I've brushed resin on the first side of those faux bank notes (among other things) and here are the results! 

The resin is hand-coloured with pigment and settled very nicely over the paper! The next steps are to encase the other side with resin, then pierce the paper for hanging! 

Stay tuned for that! 

Whilst we're on the path of progressing to the next growth step, here are a few more creations that received a bit of resin this week! 

 I found this distinctive necklace on Walkabout and wanted to add a Faerie touch to it! 

The pendant in the center is a paper illustration of inner watch workings secured to a wood back that I've wrapped in brass filigree. 

It is my hope that the resin will not only add beauty, yet also durability to this pendant-creation! 

As we near the end of this Fini Friday path, we're going to take a slight jog over to a creation that is beginning to grow...with a button that was brushed with golden-coloured resin a little while ago! 

I absolutely love that the Pegasus is a button! 

The suede cord, fiber and feather pendant are all materials I'm toying with weaving into this creation! As always, you are welcome to share your thoughts, dear audience, with me in the comments section! 

So! At the end of this Fini Friday path, let me mention a few upcoming events!!! 

Saturday, May 18th only! 

Spring Psychic Faire at Lake Harriet Spiritual Center! 

Many of you have seen me at this Faire offering my Sprite Creations jewellery and creations. 

However! For the first time ever!!! I'll be offering Faerie Readings during this fundraising-event! 

There will be good food, hand-made art of all kinds and wonderful insights offered, so consider joining us! 

I have another Faerie-inspired BlogTalk Radio Interview!!! 

Tuesday, May 21st from 3 to 3:30pm (CST, USA) with Cheryl Patton of 1Woman's Wisdom! 

Join us to see what insight the Faeries have for the month of May! 

See you Monday!
Ciao!

Whimsy Wednesday! Sharing and an Experiment!

Hello Hello!

Welcome to Whimsy Wednesday!

I hope your week has been grand so far!

I've been experimenting with wire and beads today, among other things, so I'll start this post with that!

Working Title: Summer Jewels

Ingredients: Czech glass, vintage acrylic, Artistic wire.

I love the opportunity to play free-form with wire and this idea popped to mind a few weeks ago... the mixing of the greens. This is a bit of a mono-chromatic palette for me, yet I think it grew into beautiful completion!

Next up is a very sweet creation that grew out of a pendant I found on Walkabout. Details are here!

Title: Sharing

Ingredients: Czech glass, vintage acrylic, hand-wrapped "yarn" wire ball, metal. 

I created the wire "yarn" ball by wrapping scrap portions of wire into a ball and suspending it from a matching wire from the silvery chain. This creation is really all about that precious kitten pendant! 

I included things kitten-friends would share...such as admiring a butterfly, a ball of yarn and perhaps a lunch of fish! The heart-shaped clasp is the final endearing touch on this simply charming creation! 

This will be up in my Etsy shoppe by the end of this evening! 

And that's a wrap for this Whimsy Wednesday! 

Have a comfy rest of the week and I'll see you on Friday! 

Ciao!

Fini Friday! Mystic Colours!

Hello Everyone! 

Welcome to Fini Friday! 

We've had a bit of snow and a return to Winter this week! I hope all is well with you and yours during this week-long adventure! I've a finished creation to show today...one that has been quite a few years in the growing! 

Working Title: Mystic Colours 

Ingredients: Popcap Pendant (metal and turquoise Kachina charm, hand-coloured, non-toxic resin, Popcap), Sterling silver, wood, pewter, acrylic, copper wire, metal. 

I was gifted the Kachina charm many years ago by someone who wanted to see it reinvented into something more. It has a cabochon of turquoise in the center of it. More information about kachinas can be found here. Kachinas are usually deities, ancestors or spirits that visit the Pueblo North Native Americas for any number of reasons. There are many types and kinds of kachinas including those who bless with rain, a good crop, prosperity and so forth. Kachinas are also represented with carved dolls and dancers who don ceremonial regalia during sacred ceremonies. More information on these aspects can be found here. 

I've encased this kachina in a non-toxic resin that I've hand-coloured to match it's turquoise cabochon. The bail is hand-wrapped from green Artistic (copper) wire. Some believe that copper is a conductor of the spiritual as well as electricity, heat and etc. 

Many cultures, including many North Native American tribes have sacred Medicine Wheels, illustrated with four sacred colours. This creation is loosely based on that idea. 

The meaning of the colours varies with each tribe and belief system, yet red is usually seen as a promise of wealth, a good life and etc. 

Yellow is often seen as representing the sun and it's blessing upon both crops and people. 

Blue is often thought to represent thought, spirit and good intentions. 

Green almost always has some connection to growth and life. 

The clasp is composed of sterling silver and enamel in the shape of a star and quietly decorated with spirals.  Spirals are seen as symbols of death and rebirth as well as life in most cultures.  Stars, too, have been valued and worshipped in most cultures across the globe! 
The placing of the vessel-shaped metal beads, the inclusion of wooden beads and much of the composition of this creation was intuitive.  I placed the beads where it felt "right", drew upon colours and materials that felt like they belonged.

This is a gorgeous, mysterious, mystic creation and I'm so interested to meet it's person!

Let's take a look at a few upcoming Sprite Creations events!  

Next Tuesday, April 16th at 3pm (CST, USA)! 

I'll be returning to BlogTalk Radio with Cheryl Patton of 1Woman's Wisdom! We'll be chatting about the April Messages From the Faeries! 

What do the Faeries have to say about this boisterous month? 

Tune in to find out! 

Also in April... I'm so pleased to be a returning Guest Artist at the Lowertown Lofts Artist Co-Op during the Saint Paul Art Crawl! 

I'll be in the 3rd Floor Atrium Friday, April 27th; Sat. April 28th and Sun. April 29th! Click the links for details! 

Fini Friday! Balloons, Bank Notes and a New Creation!

Hello Everyone!
Welcome to Fini Friday!
I hope this week has been full of warmth and joy!
As with many of the other Fini Friday posts lately, I've a finished Popcap Pendant creation (first shown to you here) to show today!
Let's start with some raw materials I gathered on Walkabout yesterday, though!
These are scrapbooking supplies that I brought home recently!  They are heavy paper stock balloons and faux English bank notes.  I'm pondering possibilities that include painting them with hand-coloured resin (and thus sealing them, making them far more durable) and earring creations! 
Stay tuned to see what they grow into!

On to the finished creation!
Title: Elvan Fire
Ingredients: Popcap Pendant (Swarovski Crystal, paper, hand-coloured non-toxic resin, popcap), Earthenwood Studio gear link (ceramic, USA), lead-free pewter (USA), light bulb pendant (Zoa Art, USA), anodized aluminum, metal.
I've included a photo of the clasp as well!  The firey teardrop in the Popcap Pendant is a Swarovski crystal!  The gear link is hand-crafted by Melanie of Earthenwood Studios! I love her work!  The light bulb pendant to the left of the Popcap Pendant is from Zoa Art in South Carolina (USA)! I adore the work of this husband and wife team so much! It is sculptural, architectural and sensual all at once!  This necklace creation is Elvish, Steampunk, Dieselpunk and absolutely unique!  The pendant, link and clasp are secured with jumprings woven in a mobius or infinity chainmaille weave using golden yellow and true red colours!  There is definitely a story to this creation! I can feel it!
I'll close this by wishing you a week-end of good times, good friends and many, many smiles!
See you on Monday!
Ciao!

Fini Friday! Circles and Symbols!

Hello Hello!

Welcome to Fini Friday!

I hope your weekend has been as full of sunshine and warmth as ours has!

In true Fini Friday tradition, I've a creation that's grown into completion to show you today!

This post is similar to last Friday's post, as the finished creation is part of the Popcap Pendant series first introduced in this Fini Friday post.

Let me show you!

Title: As Yet Unknown

Ingredients: Popcap Pendant(hand-coloured non-toxic resin, stickers, old watch gear, popcap), black onyx scarab beetle, lead-free pewter(USA), Czech glass, anodized aluminum, metal.

I love introducing flashes of colour to an otherwise monochromatic palette and so it is with this creation!

The brilliant blue and vibrant violet rings are woven in a mobius-strip (or infinity) chain maille pattern. Infinity is the first of the symbols I'll introduce you to, in this creation. 

 Other symbols are the black onyx scarab beetle; sacred in Egyptian mythology for its connection to the sun god Ra. Black stones are generally thought to give protection and grounding. Did you spy the four-leaf clover charm dangling in front of the pendant? Yup! It is there! And is another symbol of good luck and prosperity! The circles are most obvious in the shape of the Popcap, the clasp, the jumprings and the design inside the Popcap Pendant. 

Did you note the old watch gear in the center of the pendant? Hee hee!! I love creating little details such as these! There is even a bit of faceting on the inter-connecting bead-links of that intriguing chain! I've included a photo of how the necklace looks clasped around the neck!  

I really enjoy working clasps into more unusual locations and having it in the front makes it easier to put on and take off! 

So! That's it for this Fini Friday! 

Have a fantabulous weekend and I'll see you on Magical Monday! 

Ciao!

Fini Friday! Sweetness and Passion!

Hello Everyone!

Welcome to Fini Friday!

I hope your week has been grand so far!

This post will be a bit shorter than usual as I'm making the final preparations for my first show of 2013!  Yes! In spite of the snow, we intend to be at the 10th Annual Burst Into Spring event in Cambridge, MN (USA)!

I had so much fun creating earrings with the Honey Bee Mood beads you saw on Wednesday, I decided to create one more pair!  Here they are!

Title: The Sweetness of Life

Ingredients: Honey Bee Mood beads, Czech glass, lead-free pewter(USA), metal, silver-plated surgical steel earwires.

I'm so pleased with what these grew into! I love the bit of sunny yellow that shines through those gorgeous dark teal flowers! And it's neat that the illusion of the Bee drinking from the flower is made! YAY!

This second creation is an earring and necklace ensemble. The ceramic links and pendant are hand-crafted by Melanie of Earthenwood Studio. They've been languishing around the studio for quite a while and I'm thrilled that they've grown into completion!

I adopted the two round links and Passion pendant together because they evoked a sense of weaving Passion into life in the style an Old World (or perhaps Fairy World!) tapestry. I also love the idea of Passion growing!

Let's start with the entire ensemble: Title: Passion Grows Ingredients: Earthenwood Studio ceramic links and pendant, artisan glass, lead-free pewter(USA and other), metal, surgical steel (silver-plated) earwires (earrings), steel cable neckwire (necklace).

And the focal of the necklace!  I adore the accent of matte black leaves that form a sensuous fringe around the generous slices of fiery artisan glass! What a luxurious feel!

Our last photo is of those fabulous earrings!  I've always found keys mysterious and intriguing and love the idea of giving people the key to their own locks.  I thought it was fitting to use a heart-shaped lock, since what is Passion without Heart?  More of those matte black leaves add an organic flow!

These creations (and more!) will be available for adoption at my first show of 2013!

Burst Into Spring!

It is in Cambridge, MN, USA and details are here! 

It would be grand to see you there! 

In the meantime, I'll see you tomorrow or Monday! 

Ciao!

Fini Friday! A Rosy Life!

Hello Hello!

Welcome to Fini Friday!

I hope this week (so far) has not been too arduous and that you have many fun things planned for your weekend!

I'm pleased to have two new creations to show you today that grew out of materials that have been languishing far too long (in true Fini Friday fashion!)!

Let's start with the earring creation first!

Working Title: Tree of Life

Ingredients: Bone and wood, Czech glass, lead-free pewter (USA), metal, surgical steel earwires.

The focal pieces of these earrings are bone and wood cunningly fashioned into a tree of life design! I love mixing metals and had fun mixing the shiny silver with a bit of warm copper, mirroring the contrast of bone white (HA!) and dark wood! The Czech glass accent bead is a beautiful combination of shimmering metallic-matte and clear copper! I also love throwing in many different textures into what seems, at first glance, to be a clean and uncomplicated palette! WHEE!!!! The Tree of Life focals have been with me since last Fall and this is the first creation that's grown out of them! 

This next creation grew out of materials that have been lounging about for more than a few years now! 

Let me show you! 

Working Title: The Rose Garden 

Ingredients: hand-carved Jasper rose, Rose Gold-plated brass chain, hand-made brass clasp (Thailand), wood, metal, Jeweler's Bronze.

 

I brought the hand-carved Jasper rose home many years ago.  I selected it because of it's beautiful shape as well as the small streak of yellow at the bottom of the rose!  The chain is has a hefty elegance to it.  It is brass over-layed with Rose Gold.  If you look closely, you can see that there are vines in raised relief twining all along the links of the chain!  I adore creating with fabulous little details such as that!

 

Here is a view of that same necklace on dress-maker's dummy!

 

So that's it for this Fini Friday!

Before I go, I'll mention my first show of 2013!

Burst Into Spring!

It is in Cambridge, MN, USA and details are here! 

It would be grand to see you there! 

In the meantime, I'll see you Monday! 

Ciao!

Whimsy Wednesday! Out of the Cocoon!

Hello Everyone! 

Welcome to Whimsy Wednesday! 

I hope your week has been full of good cheer so far! 

Like many people, I'm turning my thoughts towards Spring and my first show of this year! 

The title of the show is Burst Into Spring, organized by Master Gardeners, and I'm taking that as inspiration for a new batch of creations! 

Let me show you the start of it! 

Title: The Joys of Flight Ingredients: hand-carved and painted wood dragonflies, anodized aluminum, repurposed acrylic butterflies, sterling silver. The hand-painted wooden pieces in these and the necklace I'll show you in a moment are repurposed. I fell in love with them as soon as I saw them and knew I had to play with them! I love the colours, the textures, everything!! The idea was to update them with punches of colour. The green jumprings are woven in a mobius-strip pattern and bring out the verdant shades of the leaves behind the dragonfly. The lilac-coloured butterfly softens the colour palette and adds interest and becomes a companion to our dragonfly! These are so lively!!! 

Title: As Yet Unknown 

Ingredients: hand-carved and painted wood dragonflies, hand-dyed fibers (USA), anodized aluminum, Swarovski crystals, sterling silver, lead-free pewter clasp.

Everything that was mentioned above for those fabulous dragonflies holds for this beautiful wooden Monarch butterfly! 

The anodized aluminum is woven in the same chain maille style and the colour themes are along the same lines. The gorgeous fibers that comprise most of the necklace are hand-dyed from an artist in Idaho. 

The tiny butterflies seen here are Swarovski crystals to give a bit of sparkle and additional texture! Also! It is rare to see just one butterfly and so our Monarch gets companions, too! 

This necklace is especially long, roughly 32 inches, as I wanted to give the option of draping and tying it as a scarf. The pretty and petite clasp (with another sparkly butterfly!) will weight the ends and hang beautifully down the back! I've included a view of that lovely, lovely clasp!  

All in all, a post filled with whimsy, wings and definitely a coming out of Winter cocoon! 

My first show of this year, as I previously mentioned, is Burst Into Spring! 

It is in Cambridge, MN, USA and details are here! 

It would be grand to see you there! 

In the meantime, I'll see you Friday! 

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!