Inspired by an Elephant

elephant t-shirt i made and wore at the benefit

Certain animals hold symbolic meaning in individual cultures. For example, some Native Americans view coyotes as harbingers of bad fortune, while Chinese lore sees the crane as a carrier of departed souls. Across cultures and history, elephants have symbolized many different things.

Hinduism

In Hinduism, the elephant deity Ganesha, also known as Ganapati or Vinayaka, represents luck, wisdom, protection, good fortune and blessings.

Buddhism

Many Buddhists consider the elephant to be a symbol of grace, and therefore it is the only animal selected to carry relics in religious processions.

Judaism and Christianity

In the Torah (also known as the Old Testament), a creature is described that, according to 17th-century poet John Milton, could only be an elephant. The animal, which the Bible calls a "behemoth," is portrayed as both powerful and gluttonous.

Recently a dear friend of mine got very ill and a bunch of us friends pulled together and organized a benefit to raise money for her never-ending medical bills. She loves elephants so much....we decided to make that the theme of the event and there was a call to all artist here in Boise to produce an elephant to be put up for auction in our silent bidding portion of the evening.

Since I make bags and purses....I of course had to give it my best shot and I came up with my neutrally harmonious elephant shoulder bag (pictured below). The friend that we were having a benefit for was celebrating a birthday the following week so I also made her a bag in shades of red.

elephant bag made for auction

elephant bag made for my dear friend

Branding :: Define your brand identity—your product's "personality"

Branding is not just a function of marketing, it’s a function of business. And that’s why the first step to creating a business is to develop your brand. Entrepreneurs often flounder for years, struggling for incremental growth because they created a business without a brand.

The branding process itself is not that complicated, simply a matter of asking yourself some basic questions. The hard part is discovering the deeper meaning behind your answers, and "drilling down" to find what’s makes your business a interesting brand. Below are the questions I answered, followed by my revised answers after I drilled down.

What are your Values?
1. Personal relationships
2. Creativity
3. Flexibility

Drilled Down Values:
1. Generosity – Giving back.
2. Personal Relationships – Not just a customer relationship, but being available on a personal level.
3. Design Excellence – What I sell will meet lasting design principles.

What is Your Mission?
To offer handmade accessories made with recycled materials.

Drilled Down Mission:
My goal with Fusskerfuffle is to offer something special, unique well-loved and guilt-free

What is Your Vision?
For everyone to have one-of-a-kind products for themselves, but they don’t use any new natural resources.

Drilled Down Vision:
To have a home based business that provides a viable income for my family and flexible enough to allow creative growth over the years.

I also filled in Marty Neumeier’s “Onliness Statement:”

Fusskerfuffle is the only independent design business that: makes handmade bags, purses, and wallets that give the buyer a guilt-free form of whimsical expression.
** this is a tough one. i will probably change and improve on this statement a few more times till it really gells with me.

What is Your Brand’s Promise?
To create items of comfort and reliability.

Drilled Down Promise:
To give you a product that tells a interesting story.

What’s Your Tagline?
I haven't arrived on a final tagline yet, it’s a work in progress. So far that progress is

"Woe to the hubbubbery!" (translation:: "Down with the boring!")

revisiting bags that I have made and given away as gifts...

blue dahlia

emerald clutch

deer gina

red ginger

phaedra blue

Why don't you throw a clothes swapping party?

There it is....mocking you. A sad reminder of bad judgement or wasteful retail therapy. Sadly, that miniskirt is never going to fit you again. Not today, not five hopeful pounds from now and even if it did fit....it's not your style!

Time to let go and embrace some closet therapy. Just in time for fall, why don't you throw a clothes swapping party? I did! Unload clothing and accessories that you don't wear anymore (or never did) and get some new (used) ones.Here's how: (I grabbed a lot of this info off of DIYlife.com and mixed in my own two cents). My swap was very, very, unstructured...I've been to very formal ones and personally I like it kind of crazy...so sorry Millie, there were no hangers or garment racks provided...she was a good sport about it :O)

The Event

Get together a bunch of girlfriends and have everyone bring in gently worn items and accessories they don't wear anymore. It's obvious (I think) but I'll still state this: The items should be clean and in good condition with no major damage. Remember, these are your friends and you want to keep them. (if you're in my group of friends...some of the items thrown into the swap may have pins/needles in them from failed attempts at sewing a dress, top, whatever....do your best to remove the pins before you go).

Announce the event and make the most of your style-swapping extravaganza. Send out invitations (I e-mailed/text/facebook) ahead of time and set the mood at the party by creating a theme. For instance, a black-and-white clothing swap in which every item brought to the party is black or white. A few other ideas are vintage, retro, glam or athletic. My event was centered around finally getting a DVD copy of "Dogs in Space" on eBay. I guess I could have made everyone dress up like Michael Hutchence? Hhmmm. It helps to have some music playing while everyone 'shops,' then add to the festive atmosphere by supplying some simple snacks and drinks! Mine was a potluck of hors d'œuvre, wine, etc..yummies. Don't forget a full-length mirror (I forgot...well, I offered the one in my bedroom but no one took me up on it so it may not be that essential), which is an essential part of your party and have a bathroom available to change in for any friends that may be shy.

The Clothes and Accessories
This part is simple. Anything you haven't worn in the last two years or anything that you simply can't fit into, you can bring to a clothing swap. It may just be time for someone else to have fun with your old miniskirt.

The Rules
Display each item so everyone has a chance to see what's available. Everyone can take turns picking out the item they desire and try them on. You may want to have guests pick a number out of basket as soon as they arrive, in the event there are some really good items that more than one person wants. (as you can see from my photo...we just threw everything down into a HUGE pile on the floor and dove in!! it was great!)

The best part is that you'll have your girlfriends there to yey/ney your pick and give you (AND they will!) their opinion.

The Leftovers
Don't take things just to take them. Nobody should have to bring home something they don't want ... the idea here is to empty out your closet and clear yourself of things you no longer need. Just pack up whatever remains and donate any left over clothing to a charity such as Goodwill, Salvation Army, or a woman's shelter. (The day after I donated 8 big bags of clothes, etc...to a local charity...totally awesome!)

So, weither you have a organized swap or clothes dive like mine...it's fun, social, and serves a purpose....throw one today!!

the great american icon...the jackalope

The jackalope is a rare and fierce creature.

It's an aggressive species, willing to use its antlers to fight. Thus, the jackalope is also sometimes called the "warrior rabbit."

The jackalope is the product of a male jackrabbit and a female antelope. Jackalopes possess an uncanny ability to mimic human sounds. In the Old West, when cowboys would gather by their campfires to sing at night, jackalopes would frequently be heard singing back, mimicking the voices of the cowboys. Jackalopes become especially vocal before thunderstorms, perhaps because they mate only when lightning flashes—or so it is theorized—which explains the rarity of this species.

When chased, the jackalope will use its vocal abilities to elude capture. For instance, when chased by people, it will call out phrases such as, "There he goes, over there," in order to throw pursuers off its track. The best way to catch a jackalope is to lure it with whiskey, as they have a particular fondness for this drink. Once intoxicated, the animal becomes slower and easier to hunt.

Jackalope milk is particularly sought after because it is believed to be a powerful aphrodisiac—for which reason the jackalope is also sometimes referred to as the 'horny rabbit.' However, it can be incredibly dangerous to milk a jackalope, and any attempt to do so is not advised. A peculiar feature of the milk is that it comes from the animal already homogenized on account of the creature's powerful leaps.

The town of Douglas, Wyoming, has declared itself to be the Jackalope capital of America because, according to legend, the first jackalope was spotted there around 1829. A large statue of a jackalope stands in the town center, and every year the town plays host to Jackalope Day, usually held in June. Jackalope hunting licenses can be obtained from the Douglas Chamber of Commerce, though the hunting of jackalopes is restricted to the hours of midnight to 2 am on June 31.

The jackalope is now most commonly sighted in the states of Colorado, Wyoming and Nebraska. However, the jackalope does appear to have a European cousin, which in Germany is known as the wolperdinger. In Sweden, a related species is called the skvader. Legend has it that the jackalope also bred with a camel to form the jacamelope.

The Western Jackalope (Lepus Tempermentalus)

Size: Males to 24", Females to 20" Weight: Avg. 6 to 8 lbs. Binge up to 12 lbs. Horns: Up to 12 inches across; 2 to 3 points common Coat: Tawny-brown, lighter on chest and underside Disposition: Secretive, easily agitated Habitat: Grasslands and KOA Campgrounds Range: Western North America into Canada Diet: Grasses, beenie weenies, smores

Mating Ritual: Only during intense lightning strikes Population: Less than 10,000 (2000 Census) Predators: Taxidermists and tourists Status: Endangered to threatened Traits: Sure footed and agile; nocturnal; opportunistic; crude ability to mimic campground chatter; fondness for whiskey and Harley Davidson oil lines; will attack if cornered or provoked

Reportedly, jackalopes are extremely shy unless approached. If you encounter a jackalope, quickly fall to the ground, and remain calm and still while humming the Roy Rogers song, "Happy Trails to You."

** all information was gathered at jackalope.com

bohemian chic

Also known as boho-chic, the bohemian style seems to cycle in and out of fashion pretty regularly. I remember it being trendy with broomstick skirts and peasant blouses. Then, caftans and fringe were the thing. And, all of this was just in the last 10 years. That’s not to mention the 60’s and 70’s when this look was super popular. Except then, the look was referred to as ‘hippie style’. So, why do we call the style ‘bohemian’?

Bohemianism first emerged in the early 19th century when artists began to move into gypsy neighborhoods in Europe. The term ‘bohemian’ refers to untraditional, antiestablishment lifestyles. For clothing, dressing bohemian means expressing your creativity and individuality. The look can be quite messy with its many layers and accessories. Some fashionistas have claimed that to pull off this look, you have to perfect that messiness by maintaining an overall balance. In other words, don’t overdo it.

Peasant Girl
Peasant girl boho is the ultra feminine version of this style. Long, flowing skirts, angelic headbands, lace and embroidery characterize this style. Go for lighter colors and floral patterns.
Rugged Bohemian
The rugged boho style often includes distressed denim cutoffs, cowboy boots and a tunic of some sort.
Bohemian Luxe
The super chic version of the bohemian trend is the luxe look. Basically a glammed up version of the basic boho style, bohemian luxe includes maxi dresses, a mix of more modern heels and accessories and darker colors.

Personally I like the 'Rugged Boho' look...it's comfy and fits my personality. Never could pull off the long skirts and dresses....I guess it's too feminine for me. So I've posted photos of some of my favorite items...again, I don't care for the caftans or super bright colors so there are no photos of them here.

the universe has a way of balancing @#*% out

*WARNING this is a somewhat long post*

~ oh, and look to your right...see anything missing from my shop? yeah, that's right, i sold a bag! yay!

so let me fill you in on what happened last wednesday and the 24hrs that followed. after a long day at work, i was hoping to get into the tub for a quiet bubble bath when the doorbell rings. it's my neighbors from across the street and their kids. they look worried and proceed to tell me about the folks that lived at the end of our street who have disappeared/moved out and left their dogs behind. they then tell me how they've been feeding them for the last week hoping their owners would come back for them but now they're not sure what to do. since i used to work at the humane society and i still work with animals, my neighbors often come to me when there's a lost dog, trapped cat, whatever. anywhoo, i told them that we should take them to the shelter in the morning. the kids then asked me, "what about the guinea pigs?".  "oh, great, how many are there and where are they?" one kid said 4 the other said maybe 6 but they all said that they're loose in the back yard. so, i grabbed a dog kennel and headed over there. the 3 dogs were very happy to have company and were sort of helpful in helping me find 2 guinea pigs. while the kids kept looking for the other piggies, i went into the house (door was unlocked). completely empty except for a random chair, box, etc. kind of weird cause their cars are still parked in the driveway. so i left a note on the front door that i was taking the dogs to the shelter, fed the dogs and i brought the gpigs to my house. when morning arrived i took the 3 dogs and 2 gpigs to the shelter in my tiny vw beetle. the dogs, i'm confident will get adopted because they've all got great personalities and for the time being they will be kept together. i also filled out a report with animal control and they will notify the police or whatever it is they do. however, i didn't leave the gpigs because i was told they don't have adoption fees for them and they usually get taken by folks who feed them to their snakes. so, yup, you can add 2 gpigs to my menagerie. but wait, that's not all. so i go about my day, a little stressed, but looking forward to the monotonix show at the VaC. until i get to my last petsitting appointment....jessie the great dane is laying on her side in the middle of her yard...on closer inspection, she's barely breathing and half her head is very swollen!! i've got to get her to an emergency vet but....i'm driving my vw beetle and she's not going to fit!!!! thank god their neighbors were home! they had a truck and i needed help carrying what i'm guessing is a good 150+ pound dog. i won't go into the details of the er visit but by the end of it i was so pooped!! there was no way i was going to make it to the show. plus, i had my own animals i needed to tend to. can you hear the tiny violin? poor pixie, huh? oh, and i forgot to add that i got ring worm on my thigh from the gpigs.

so here they are - howard moon on your left and vince noir to your right.

the neighborhood kids camped out in the vacant yard for a day or two but no signs of the other gpigs...if there were others.

and you know what...the little violin stopped playing and the gifts started flowing in! the 2 gpigs for starters are cute cuddly gifts. AND look what i got from my friend grant olsen -----

isn't it cool?!! it's made from a windbreaker jacket and has a very groovy interior lining. all my stuff fits in it - it's sturdy and i like that i can wear it while riding my bike. it's also very marvel comic like which makes me feel like a super hero when wearing it! hee-hee. to see more of grants creations :
http://www.facebook.com/samuel.pony?ref=ts  or his etsy shop http://www.SamuelPony.etsy.com

i also got a surprise package from kambuchick with more tea and spiced sugar!!!! AND my kinies ruffled waist purse (a.k.a. fannypack) came in the mail!!!

.

it's a very versatile piece...you can throw it over your shoulder like a purse or have it in the front, back (looks like a bussell), side, etc... you can get yours at the kinies etsy shop .

wrapping it all up, i'd say it was a pretty eventful few days!