Past Pieces: Classic Necklace Picture and tutorial

 This was a tutorial I did a few years ago on a piece I redid a few years ago.  This actually was two necklaces that I redid and mixed together.  The final product took me a little over two weeks but it was worth the time.  I later sold it at my first convention.

Random Photo Wednesday !

Oh goodness I forgot this one was on my phone.  I saw this at a mall a few years back and the placement of the toys next to the cut outs cracked me up.

Favorite Author Week: Gail Carriger

A book I have been waiting months to come out recently released.  Prudence by Gail Carriger came out the other night.  The sequil/spinoff of her popular steampunk book series: Souless. 

So I thought it would be a good opportunity to begin sharing some of my favorite authors and their works, begining with Ms. Carriger.

I stumbled upon Ms. Carriger’s first book Soulless in the series by the recommendation of a friend who I ran into at the bookstore as we were discussing books.  She recommended this knowing of my love of reading and steampunk.  At the time I had been making jewelry for about a year or so and was learning as much about the steampunk culture as I could.  Book wise aside from some of the classics like HG wells and such, despite my love of reading, had been limited to art books and books on the steampunk culture itself. 

I had noticed the Soulless series before but had been hesitant to read it for a few different reasons.  One I wasn’t sure how I would like the mix of fantasy and steampunk together.  The other was the influence of vampires and werewolves into the books.  Don’t get me wrong.  I have been a big fan of werewolves and vampires since high school, (Vampire Chronicles) it’s just at the time I discovered Ms. Carriger’s works the Vampire/Werewolf revolution started by Twilight and shows like Alpha and True Blood left me a little…well burnt out.  Especially on the tragic angst filled vampire or werewolf hero with a human woman swooning over him.   But the book came recommended so I gave it a chance.  And I am so glad I did.

To start with...  There are no angsty vampires or werewolves (some angst scenes for sure but that makes it good.)  Within the world of the Soulless series vampires and werewolves instead of hiding in the shadow, live openly in society.  This creates a delightful mix of society fancy Vampires and stern, gruff werewolves who work in the military and police, and one awesome lead female.   The series revolves around Alexia Tarrabotti an Englishwoman born with an interesting condition: She has no soul.  This gives her power to render a supernatural creature temporarily human at her touch.  She gets into all sorts of scrapes aided by the stubborn and occasionally loud Lord Maccon (One Word: Scottish Wearwolf.)  All while trying to maintain a good face in English Society and to be home by teatime. The moment that Alexia first spoke in the book admonishing a Vampire for attempting to bite her before they have been properly introduced, I knew that I was going to like her.  Alexia is the type of no-nonsense, stubborn, treacle tart loving woman with parasol swinging skills that I one day hope to have.   I purchased the rest of the series (All five books were already out by then thankfully.)  And finished them within a little less than two weeks.  The problem with it that being that it left me hungry for more.  Happily, little while later I discovered that Ms. Carriger had another series out in the Young Adult section.  

The funny part about finding the second series is that I didn’t notice the author’s name when I first picked it up.  I had finished the Soulless series almost a year prior and hadn’t noticed any news about another series.   The Soulless series also was in the adult sci-fi section so I was not expecting to see any work of hers in the Young Adult.  I also have the bad habit of not looking at the author’s name right away.  It was the title that caught my attention.  Etiquette and Espionage.  Upon reading the synopsis I was interested enough to take it home and give it a try.  This particular series follows Sorophina as she attends finishing school upon Mademoiselle Geraldine’s Finishing Academy.  What makes this series so interesting is that along with learning how to curtsy and pour the proper cup of tea they are also learning the art of how to properly assassinate one without mussing one’s gown or hair.  As I read the first few chapters I began to feel that the style of writing as well as the world that the book seemed to be located was familiar.  Werewolves and vampires mixed into society, steampunk gadgetry and strong minded Englishwomen brought back an air of familiarity.  It wasn’t until Sarophina is greeted by one Elder Madam Lefoux (whose niece plays a heavy roll in the Soulless series) my suspicions were confirmed and I looked at the author’s name.  I hit google and sure enough not only did the books have the same author, the Finishing School Series was a prequel.  Taking place twenty years before Soulless.  Despite being a prequel however this series tells its own separate story outside of the Soulless story line.  This creates an entirely new story while putting in enough cameos of familiar characters to make me happy.  Especially when one of my favorite characters shows up in the second book.

Ms. Carriger’s books are a wonderful mix in humor, adventure, strong female leads, steampunk, food, zany adventures, mad scientists, secret societies, gossip, flamboyant vampires, Scottish werewolves, (I know I’ve already pointed it out but it’s worth pointing out) dirigibles, tea and parasols with weapons in them.  Everything a girl could want.

And if that wasn’t enough there is Ms. Carriger herself.  You get a good idea of her personality by reading her biograph.  

“New York Times Bestselling author Gail Carriger writes to cope with being raised in obscurity by an expatriate Brit and an incurable curmudgeon. She escaped small town life and inadvertently acquired several degrees in Higher Learning. Ms. Carriger then traveled the historic cities of Europe, subsisting entirely on biscuits secreted in her handbag. She resides in the Colonies, surrounded by fantastic shoes, where she insists on tea imported from London. Gail's books are published in over a dozen different languages. She has received the Prix Julia Verlanger and the Elbakin Award from French readers.”

If that’s not enough to convince you of what a wonderful and unique person she is then just head over to her blog here. There she gives you dose of daily Parasol and everyday steampunk tips.  I look forward to any updates on her blog or twitter. 

Ms. Carriger has captured my imagination with her series and shot to the top of the list as one of my favorite authors.  I look forward to the day that I will have the opportunity to meet Ms. Carriger so I can shake her hand and thank her for recruiting me into the Parasol Protectorate.

Photo Sources:

1.) http://www.gailcarriger.com/images/books/PPA1Prudence/PrudenceCover.jpg

2.)"Soulless by Gail Carriger 1st edition cover" by Source. Licensed under Fair use via Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Soulless_by_Gail_Carriger_1st_edition_cover.png#/media

/File:Soulless_by_Gail_Carriger_1st_edition_cover.png 

3.)http://www.gailcarriger.com/images/home/gailphoto.png

4.) http://www.gailcarriger.com/images/books/FS1Etiquette/FS1ARCcovermed.jpg

Random Photo Wednesday

Today's random photo: Snakes on a plane.  These were added to all of the airport signs not too long after the movie came out and the city has yet to change them.  And I mean they were added to ALL the signs.  I thought it was pretty funny.

Lazy Blog

So today I had a bit of a busy day and carpel tunnel is acting up, so today is going to be a bit of a lazy blog I'm afraid.  I'll try to post a longer one tomorrow on top of random photo Wednesday but until then I can at least give you some pictures of my latest pieces on etsy which just came on sale tonight including: Eyepatches!!!  

All of these pieces are available for sale on etsy and there will be more soon to come.  Until then.  Enjoy!

etsy.com/FaybirdsFinds/shop

I Had A Bad Morning Yesterday

Yesterday I had a bad morning.  It started out simple enough with me going to cut my hair.  We were having a surprise party for my dad later that day and I had a plan all set out.  I would go to my normal beauty shop Fantastic Sams around ten or eleven get my hair done, spend some time with my fiance Robert before leaving to go to my grandparents house where the party would be.  As you can guess things did not go as planned.  The first hitch in the plan was my not realizing that Fantastic Sam's closed on Sunday.  No big deal.  I could run up to the mall.  There were a few hair places there I'm sure one would be open.  Well I got there and neither was open however the first place I stopped by had a sign that they would be open at noon.  That would be fine I would still have time to cut my hair and be on time for the party there would just be a little less time to spend with Robert.  So I stroll over to the Starbucks in the mall which was nearby to kill some time over coffee and a pastry.  At this time I begin texting back and forth with my best friend who is also having a rough morning (I'd rather not go into details for her privacy.)  enough that I am getting slightly anxious for her.  Noon comes around so I get up and go back to the shop...its still not open.  I see another lady waiting as well.  I decide to give it a few minutes to see if maybe they are still doing set up or perhapse a team meeting that went a bit over.  After about five minutes I look over at the other lady waiting, we lock eyes and she points at her watch and shrugs.  I shrug back thinking I am glad that I don't have an appointment.  We can see a person moving around in the back but she never comes forward to let us know it'll be a moment or to open so we can come in and sit.  At 12:15 I am done waiting and walk over to the other shop in the mall which has their doors open at least.  There was a 30 minute wait before me but they were all military gentlemen so the lady told me it may take less time.  I was slightly concerned because I was not sure how long it would take to cut my hair but decided to chance it and sat down to wait now stressed and slight anxiety turning into heavy anxiety.  I took out my skratch pad I always keep on my for jewelry ideas and began to scribble. (A stress reliever for me) 

Finally my name was called and a sweet lady named Jasmine sat me down.  That is where things began to turn around.  She and I had a fun conversation that started with her asking about my sketch pad and if I liked art.  We talked about disney, food, family and all sorts of things as she washed and styled my hair.  (I swear she had magic hands.) I soon began to feel better and calm.  We were done with enough time to meet up with Robert and drive to the party where I spend the rest of the day celebrating with family.  My father was pleasantly surprised. We had cake, I played with my two year old niece and nephew Cal and Lux and played pass the baby with Lux's new two week old sister Veda.   Later on that evening I made Robert some lasagna and he set up World of Warcraft on my computer so we could play together. (For the Horde!!!)  

So yes I had a very bad morning.  But the good thing about that bad morning is that it turned into a wonderful day.  It was a nice little reminder for when you go though bad times that they will eventually get better.  And those bad times help you appreciate the better all the more.  Whether it is a bad morning or a bad year.  Just remember that something good is coming. 

Past Pieces: Feathered Skeleton Key

Another older piece of mine.  One of the first I've ever made in fact. That's right folks this is the one that started it all. (Apologies for the less than quality picture.  I did not have the best quality camera at the time.)  I may have mentioned this earlier but the reason I began making jewelry in the first place was because I began to fall in love with the Steampunk style a few years ago.  However at the time steampunk had not reached the revolution and popularity that it celebrates today.  As a result steampunk type jewelry was not easy to find.  The only places I could find anything similar was online for a price.  So I decided I would give making my own necklace a try.  I had done very little jewelry making before that, although my mother had been making and selling beaded jewelry at work for a year now.  My first necklace as you can see was very simple and easy.  I simply took apart an earring that had lost its mate and attached it to an old skeleton key I had convinced my Mamaw to give me when I was a little girl.  (My pack rat nature and fascination with the old fashioned showing even then.)  I then attached a cord to the necklace and it was done.  (Simple I know but like I said this was my very first piece.) I then realized that I liked making jewelry and continued to do so.  My mother soon convinced me to try selling some of my extra pieces at the market where she sold hers and a few years later I sold at my first con.  Soon I was learning different techniques like wire wrap and resin alchemy.    And I've even branched outside of jewelry by making goggles, hats and most recently eye patches and cyborg eyes.  A single necklace made to imitate something I kept finding online has opened up a new world for me.  A necklace that I keep to this very day and still wear.

etsy.com/FaybirdsFinds/shop