Unique Holiday Gifts by Local Artists

If you are looking for a special handmade gift,

check out this great work by local lady artists.

Holiday Art Sale

featuring

Pottery by Lesley Witt

Jewelry by Connie Kuhnz

& Purses created by Molly Diers.

Here is Molly as my lovely assistant.  Although it looks like she thinks the whole event is verging on catastrophe.

Holiday Art Sale

Where & When

2212 5th Street NE

Minneapolis, MN 55418

(click here for map)

Saturday December 5th

10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

& Sunday December 6th

Noon – 4:00 PM

Molly Made

Peek at Molly’s handmade purses at mollymadepurses.blogspot.com

Horse Hair Pottery by Lesley Witt

“The horse hair firing method is taken from the Native Americans who used this technique to honor a favorite horse or celebrate the birth of a horse.

I start by throwing my shape on the wheel. Once the piece is trimmed and dried, I coat it with many layers of terra sigillata, a slip of extremely fine clay particles. A hand buffing with a cloth creates a  glassy sheen. The piece is first bisque fired to 1900 degrees. Allowed to cool, the pot is then brought back to the kiln and refired to 1000 degrees.  At peak temperature, the hot piece is removed and I apply the horse hair by hand. The cinging hair on the heated surface creates the distinct look without the use of any glaze.”

For more information about the sale, contact lesleywitt@hotmail.com.

Fierce Fab Clothes for $1

If you live near the Twin Cities and love finding interesting and unusual clothing then you seriously need to head on over (run don’t walk) to the CostumeRentals annual pre-Halloween sale.  Everything from vintage dresses to leotards to crazy costume pieces and masks.  $1 !!!

This afternoon I stopped by for a sneak peek (I used to work there part-time) and I must say the ladies really outdid themselves this year.  There is at least twice as much as in years past.  There are leather jackets, hats, belts, bags & purses, a ton of ties, at least 50 pair of men’s pants (slacks, jeans and a few spiffy plaids), some very used but unique stage shoes, and a rack of wedding dresses (perfect for your zombie bride costume).  Also a rack of petticoats and crinolines which would be just smashing with combat boots, dahling.  There are modern clothes as well as period pieces.  I spent $7 dollars and am especially thrilled with my new oh-so-80s little black dress. (Argyle or striped tights?  Decisions, decisions.)

Costume Rentals Annual Pre-Halloween Costume Sale

October 1, 2 & 3 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

855 East Hennepin Avenue
(look for the red awning over the door)
Minneapolis, MN 55414
Phone: 612-375-8722

Pothead

Umm … my pothead costume from last Halloween isn’t actually for sale, but there are equally strange and delightful items.

Costume Rentals is a combined project of the Guthrie Theater and The Children’s Theatre Company – they house over 30,000 costumes which are usually only available for rent.  But you can buy stuff -

 THREE DAYS ONLY

Half-pint truly

Some of the sizing is absurdly small (22″ waist – who has that?  Oh yeah, actresses) but that is in no way everything.  Go soon for the best stuff!

SaraSally the Flashing Elf

  Tell ‘em SaraSally sent you – they’ll get a kick out of that.

Aim High Lil’ Pretty Woman

From the Minneapolis-St. Paul Star-Tribune

Beauty school birthday parties on a budget

When preteen girls as young as 5 get their first manicure, pedicure or updo at birthday parties held in Twin Cities’ beauty schools, it’s all about making them feel special and beautiful. “It’s a girly thing,” said Becky Carver of Nail Tech and Beauty School in Oakdale. Prices range from $8 to $20 per kid. Painting flowers and hearts on their nails is popular, although at Nail Tech they can also request up to three different polish colors, including Pompeii Purple, Sonoran Sunset and “I’m not really a waitress” red. Here’s a list of schools hosting the fun. Check Variety on Sept. 15 for a list of beauty school bargains for adults.

I guess you’re never too young to slut it up.