(according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary)

We all know the latest craze in home decor is antique-looking furniture. Whether you want to update something you already have, take on a new project or buy a piece that has already been done for you, you can find inspiration with any of these talented locals that specialize in specific types of repurposed furniture.

“The Teachers”

Photos by: J. Alan Paul Photography
By: Amanda Ahrenholz

What it is: When Eco Chic Boutique opened two and a half years ago, their goal was to provide customers with eco-friendly choices. “Whether it was organic cotton, chemical free skincare that’s locally made, it all fit into the eco-friendly model somehow,” said owner, Maria Bosak. Not long after the store started, they were looking for another way to bring people in. That was when a friend mentioned finding older items to fix up and sell. “We had bought fixtures for the store; a dining room table and a hutch. We fixed them up, just to use as display pieces, and people would say, ‘Is that for sale?’ So we put prices on the few pieces we had and they sold, and then a few more and they sold, the furniture quickly became our top seller.”

Who it is: Owner, Maria Bosak, has a true passion for repurposing furniture and it shows in all the pieces in the store. The original idea for the store was brought on by this idea of everything being eco-friendly and soon evolved into a one-stop-shop for your repurposing needs.

What they have: Eco Chic Boutique’s main staple is their unique furniture, which is given new life by the very people who work there. This is the place to go if you are just starting your repurposing journey. Eco Chic has everything from brushes to paint, to stencils and fabric. All five of the employees at the store, including Katie Murry and Ethan Grefsrud, do repurposing, so they are able to answer any questions you may have. Now, all you need is a piece of furniture (they find a lot at auctions) that needs a little TLC — and remember, “…nine times out of 10, all you need is a fresh coat of paint.”

Where it is: Eco Chic Boutique is located at 4955 17th Ave. S, Fargo. Find more information about Eco Chic Boutique by going to beingecochic.com, stop into the store or check them out on facebook at facebook.com/beingecochic.

Bosak’s 5 Essentials to DIY:
1. Screwdriver
You will need to remove hardware, so a screwdriver will be essential.
2. Paintbrush
A good quality paintbrush can make a big difference.
3. Sandpaper blocks
Sandpaper will be helpful when you want to make something look distressed.
4. Chalk paint
Eco Chic uses Chalk Paint ® decorative paint by Annie Sloan, which you can apply without priming or sanding.
5. Apron
Bosak says to get an apron to keep your clothes clean while working.

“Custom Creations”
Photos by: J. Alan Paul Photography
By: Amanda Ahrenholz

What it is: AllisonNicole’s is a gorgeous boutique that has plenty of eye candy and a lot to offer. Repurposing is just one of these many things that AllisoNicole’s brings to you. Three years ago, Allison Comstock opened up with the intention of bringing a twist to the modern cafe, having a catering service, clothing, floral shop and home decor for customers to feast on. This opened up the opportunity to repurpose furniture for custom orders and give new life to old pieces that had personal meaning.

Who it is: Interior designer and owner, Allison Comstock has a love for repurposing dressers, side tables and nightstands. She also has experience in upholstery.

 
What they have: There may not be many pieces of repurposed furniture for you to see in the store, but AllisoNicole’s can custom repurpose any of your items on a custom order. The chair pictured here was an old item that had been in the family and was so damaged that it was about to be thrown away. Allison fixed it up and brought it back to life. Not only do they do custom repurposing orders, AllisoNicole’s has a fragrance and body care line out of Minneapolis, called Thyme, a full service floral shop and a nice selection of women’s clothing. So, if you have a piece of furniture that you love, but don’t have time to “bring it back to life,” let AllisoNicole’s help you out.

Where: AllisoNicole’s is located at 4571 Washington St. S, Grand Forks. Find more information about AllisoNicole’s by going to allisonicoles.com, stop into the store or check them out on facebook by searching AllisoNicole’s Interior Design and Floral.
Pull quote: ”It’s always been a love of mine… bringing things back to life.”

Comstock’s 5 Essentials to DIY:
1. Sandpaper
Using sandpaper can give an old piece a fresh start.
2. Q Tips
Having a few Q Tips handy will help you get in those small places that you can’t reach.
3. Gel Stain
There is less mess with gel stains compared to normal stains.
4. Stencils
Using stencils will give a piece a new twist.
5. Spray Paint
Spray paint can usually get into places that brushes can’t and goes on easily.
“Industrial Chic”
Photos by: Caitlin Abrams
By: Amanda Ahrenholz

What it is: ReDOUX’s doors have been open since November 2012. Since then, ReDOUX has been putting out creative, one-of-a-kind conversation pieces. Their goal is to provide reasonable and affordable reclaimed, rustic and industrial furniture and home decor for anyone who walks through the doors. ReDOUX started with a booth in the antique mall in Detroit Lakes and proved to be a success, so owner, Annie Poitra moved and opened shop in Fargo.

Who it is: Owner and creator, Annie Poitra has a passion for creating custom furniture out of rustic or industrial pieces from things you can find just about anywhere. “It has always been my passion and hobby… it’s kind of my artistic outlet… I always heard that old saying, ‘Find something that you love to do,’” and she did just that. Although she is the sole designer, reclaimer and shopkeeper she gets lots of help from her husband and eight children.

What they have: ReDOUX has everything from tables, hardware, metal and wood to restoration pieces and unique home décor. They hope that when customers visit, they can relive good times, “I love people being able to walk into the store and it brings up nostalgic memories.” Everything in ReDOUX, repurposed or not, comes from places throughout Minnesota and North Dakota.

Where it is: ReDOUX is located at 5 8th St. S, Fargo. Find more information about Redoux by stopping into the store or check them out on facebook at facebook.com/redouxfargo.

Poitra’s 5 Essentials to DIY:

1. Chalk Paint

Redoux uses Annie Sloan Chalk Paint and says it cuts down on painting time.

2. Hardware

Poitra says that updating old hardware by adding a coat of metallic paint does the trick.

3. Sandpaper

Either a palm sander or sandpaper can help clean up a piece and remove any dirt from being outside.

4. Scraper

Poitra says a scraper is essential to distressing a reclaimed item.

5. Water-based Sealer

Use a water-based sealer to add shine and keep the look of rust without making a mess.

“Inspiration Central”

Photos by: Caitlin Abrams

By: Amanda Ahrenholz

What it is: The Studio is celebrating their first year in business and in case you didn’t know, it’s a fun, cozy, eclectic place to find furniture, home decor and much more. When owner, Leanne Sucrow was looking for a place to open shop, she needed a few things, “a studio space to work as well as a place that, every once in a while, we could open up shop.” They have over a dozen vendors, one of which includes Sucrow’s own The Green Room, which contributes to this shop’s unique style. Some describe The Studio as “walking into Pinterest” and it is truly that. 

Who it is: Leanne Sucrow is the owner of The Studio. She is an interior designer and also creates one of a kind pieces that are available at The Studio, under The Green Room name. “I go into something thinking that it will evolve… if you have passion and are willing to evolve, that just makes you more successful because you are more open minded and an out of the box thinker.”

What they have: Being unique and eclectic, The Studio offers many different types of items. They have coffee tables, end tables, pillows, fabric, chairs, nightstands, lamps and much more to catch anyone’s eye. During sales, The Studio has many different vendors, located in their “Vendor Market” within the shop. The Studio offers an array of vendors so that “those who do well in other areas can bring their talents to the table.” This is the place to go if you are either looking for pieces to experiment with a do-it-yourself project, find some inspiration for an upcoming project or just want to pick up something that has already been redone. The Studio is always looking for new talents to add to their roster.

Where they are: The Studio is located at 11 8th St S, Suite #3, Fargo. To find more information about The Studio or The Green Room, stop into the store or check them out on facebook at facebook.com/studiofargo or facebook.com/withinthegreenroom.

By Elizabeth Huwe

Hollywood seems to think all courthouses look dark, cold and generally unpleasant. Obviously, they haven’t seen Cass County Courthouse’s new expansion. Chances are, you also haven’t seen it… yet. Take a look around the west addition and get to know what a beautiful building a courthouse can be.

By The Numbers:

$16 million – Final cost of the addition project.

70,000 square feet – Added to the courthouse, including a secure parking garage.

400 – County employees who work in the courthouse.

600 square feet – The smallest courtroom in the original building.

About 2,000 square feet – The size of each of the three new courtrooms.

Steve Skoblik, project architect from Foss Architecture and Interiors, said it was an extra challenge to ensure the new branch would maintain a cohesive look with the rest of the courthouse. This is the third wing to be connected to the original building, which was finished in 1906.

“We kept the same roof-line as the rest of the complex,” said Skoblik. They also decided to use windows and bannisters which complimented the flow of the main courthouse instead of being totally random.

“I also wanted to use the windows to bring a lot of natural light into the public areas of the courthouse. That was something I really strove to get.” The new addition created three more courtrooms: one on the second floor and two on the third.

The “wood” ceiling is actually made up of lay-in, micro-perf metal panels with a wood-grain pattern. These panels were used in the courtrooms, as well as the public areas to improve the acoustics. Fabric wall panels were also installed in the courtrooms to reduce echoes. Screens were installed along the walls so everyone can see the documents and videos being shown to the judge. Skoblik said the original plan had been for a square ceiling, but the arched ceiling looked nicer and opened up more of the space. Separate rooms were placed along the main courtrooms for reporters and other media staff. This way, the reporters can get the information they need and leave, without disturbing the proceedings.

The walkway over 10th St., which connects the courthouse to the annex building, was another key piece of the addition project. Now, it is much easier for the public and county employees to go between the two structures. “It’s nice not to have to risk your life walking across 10th St. anymore, especially in the winter,” said Heather Worden, an administrative assistant at the courthouse. “Some of us have started walking on our lunch breaks now that there is more space. Through the halls, across the walkway, and around. Just to get a little exercise.”

The addition was built where the old sheriff’s residence and jail used to be. Preserving the whole building didn’t work, so some materials were reclaimed and incorporated into the new construction. Blocks of brown sandstone were taken from the exteriors of the jail and sheriff’s residence. They were then used to create the fence pillars around the staff parking lot.

Heritage Homes makes the process of home building easier.  With their woman-centric design, they take your needs and personality into consideration when designing and building your home. They do all of this in hopes of saving their customers from a few headaches.

Heritage Homes has a different way of thinking. They start with gaining a deeper understanding of their clients, which usually starts with the females.

In order for Heritage Homes to do this, they have clients take a personality quiz.  This understanding of purchasers has allowed Heritage Homes to provide personalized livability for each and every family and buyer that they work with. Pretty cool, huh?

The personality quiz breaks someone up into one of four different categories. The test will tell you if you are either a Claire, Maggie, Margo or Elise. Here are some of the traits of each personality:

Claire – Formal, quality is important, detail oriented, a planner, status-driven

Maggie – Casual, too many choices, likes flexibility in everything, carefree/fun-loving, energized by others

Margo – Doesn’t dwell on details, risk taker, doesn’t need approval of others, likes to get to the point, loves innovation

Elise – Practical, sees purchases through the eyes of everyone in her household, risk adverse, likes structure and procedures, predictable

After one’s personality type is identified, Heritage Homes believes there are four lenses in which people base their home’s design. These include entertainment, de-stressing, flexibility and storage. What’s an important design feature to have in your home?

Do you need extra space for hosting parties? Or, what about a custom tiled shower that sprays therapeutic mists for relaxation? Do you need extra storage facilities for all of your kids’ hockey or soccer equipment? All of these features and more can be included in your home.

At the end of the day, we all have different standards of livability, but Heritage Homes has created a process that produces a home that meets all of your wants and needs. What else could you ask for when it comes to your own home?!

Fun Fact: Heritage Homes assisted Extreme Makeover Home Edition in building three homes in Moorhead, Minot and New Orleans – they are the only company that has gone outside of their state to help with the home building process at Extreme Makeover.

Homesteading in the City is a movement focused on reducing consumption and promoting more self-reliance in urban settings. Some components of this would be organic gardening, canning homegrown crops, drying homegrown herbs, creating your own compost for fertilizer from kitchen and yard waste and utilizing nutrient-rich rainwater instead of city water to hydrate your crops and other plants.

Maximizing the usability of small spaces through container and perimeter gardening are great ways to increase the amount of crops produced when space is limited. Decreasing reliance on resources and becoming more self-sustaining through acts like recycling and re-purposing, using alternative energy sources and embracing simplistic living are also ideals of Homesteading in the City.

How can you embrace this movement on your little homestead this season?

1. Food Preservation

- Food preservation includes things like freezing, dehydrating and canning your homegrown goods. You will be thankful in the months to come when you’re enjoying your bounty in the form of sauces, pickles, jellies and dried culinary herbs. This is a great lesson in self-reliance as well as a fun activity that can be shared with friends and family (plus, there are extra hands to help clean up the mess!)

- Herbs are simple to grow and dry.

- Sage, thyme, dill, bay leaves, oregano, rosemary and marjoram have very little moisture. Using the air-drying method works best on these varieties. Simply use a sharp knife to cut the herbs, remove dried or dead leaves, remove the lower layer of leaves, rinse and dry the bunch, tie herbs together at the base and store to dry in a roomy paper bag; be sure to puncture a few holes in the bag to let it breathe.

- Basil, mint and tarragon are high moisture herbs and are best dehydrated using a food dehydrator or cool oven (leave oven empty at around 150 degrees for 15 – 20 minutes, then turn oven off and place herbs on a cooking sheet to dry as the oven cools completely.)

2.  Rainwater

- Harvesting rainwater to hydrate your indoor and outdoor plants is an excellent way to provide extra nutrients. Rainwater is jam-packed with all the good stuff your plants are craving. Reducing reliance on city water resources is also an added bonus.

- This can be as simple as setting out a five gallon bucket on your deck or other outdoor space. When it’s time to water, simply fill your watering can from the bucket!

3. Composting

- Composting kitchen waste is one of the easiest things you can do to turn your garbage into a free soil amender.

- Metal garbage cans work well, plus they won’t rust, just remember it needs a lid.

- Simply create 25 – 30 drain holes around the bottom sides and bottom of the can, around 1/4 inch.

- Identify the corner of your yard with the best drainage. This will be a prime spot to create a hole around 14 inches deep to plant the can in. Compact the soil around your new compost bin and start throwing the good garbage in!

- Create alternating layers of dried leaves, saw dust, etc. and vegetable based scraps (no dairy, meat or bones.) Your compost bin should fill in about four months, depending on your habits.

- To harvest, scoop the composted material from the bottom of the can, leaving any unfinished material in the can. If the mixture is too wet, mix with soil before utilizing.

- Use your nutrient-rich compost as an amender or to top-dress your flowerbeds. Share the wealth with friends; a little goes a long way!

By Andrew Jason 

The Red River Zoo is in our backyard, but how much do you know about what’s going on there? Well, here’s what you need to know. 

In 1999, the Red River Zoo opened up with the mission of fostering “awareness and appreciation of wildlife.” Fourteen years later, their mission remains the same but they have definitely grown in their capabilities to do this.

“We focus on education and conservation, that’s what we strive for,” said Marketing Manager, Sam Bruers. “When you come to the zoo, you’re experiencing wildlife and conservation at its finest. You’re learning about these animals that’s impossible to see other places.”

That mission of conservation and education brought almost 90,000 visitors to the Red River Zoo last year. With roughly 85 cold weather species housed in the Zoo, the diversity ranges from Tarantulas to Golden Eagles to Chinese Red Pandas to Gray Wolves.

However, the Zoo extends its reach beyond the perimeter of their facility. The Zoo is very active in education programs that extend out to the community. Some of their programs include Zooniversity, a summer camp for kids in grades 1 – 6 and Junior Zookeeper Program, an opportunity for kids age 11 to 17 to receive an opportunity to see what it’s like to be a zookeeper. Leila Goulet is the Education Director for the Red River Zoo and stays very busy with this job.

“I’m in charge of all the educational programing when we have special events. I also have a group of volunteers called the Wildlife Explorers. That basically gives teenagers the chance to volunteer and participate in events around the zoo and learn what it’s like to be a vet. It’s basically a career exploration program.”

The list of programs that the Red River Zoo does is long and can be found on their website, redriverzoo.org. Education isn’t their only goal though. They are heavily involved in the conservation of animals. Especially in breeding rare cold-climate species. In fact, they’re so successful with their breeding program that they have bred over one quarter of the Chinese Red Pandas in North American zoos. It doesn’t stop with the pandas; they also breed Sichuan Takins, White Naped Cranes, White Face Sakis and more. Having a successful breeding program is very difficult. They can’t just buy Barry White CDs and candles then hope they get lucky. There’s a science to it that Executive Director, Lisa Tate explained.

“First of all we have to find two animals that are compatible for each other. That is done through a Species Survival Plan Coordinator… They do genetic tests to make sure they have a very high level of diversity so we get the most two diverse male and female that we can. Sometimes you have to try a few times. Just like us. You can’t put two people together and expect them to like each other. Once we find a pair that likes each other’s company and tolerates each other, we have to be able to provide them with the proper enclosure, proper diet… Another big thing that we think contributes to the success of our breeding programs is that the Red River Zoo has primarily cold-climate species. So a lot of the areas that our animals come from have a very similar photoperiod to what we have here in North Dakota. So, in the winter, the days are obviously shorter but how the sun rises and sets creates a photoperiod for animals. There’s a chemical in their brain that triggers when breeding should occur. No studies have been done on it but that’s a theory. One of the theories is that the climate and the terrain mimics the same kind of environmental conditions that would occur in the parts of the world these animals come from.”

While the Red River Zoo is a great place to visit, it’s also a great place to call home if you’re one of the animals. The Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. This means that the Red River Zoo meets all the standards for animal care, conservation efforts, guest services and educational programming.

It’s evident that the Red River Zoo has come a long way and by no means is it slowing down. With an otter exhibit coming soon, the Zoo has plans of growing and they hope that Fargo-Moorhead is along for the ride.

Fast Facts About The Red River Zoo

o   The Zoo employs 11 full-time employees and during the summer months it goes up to about 40 employees.

o   The Red River Zoo is home to about 85 species and close to 650 specimens.

o   Last year, 90,000 people visited the Zoo.

o   64 percent of visitors to the Zoo are tourists.

o   In 2012, volunteers donated over 6,000 hours of their time to the Zoo.

o   The Zoo is open daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

o   More information on the Zoo can be found at redriverzoo.org.

o   There are 1,800 members of the Red River Zoo. Memberships are an integral to the Zoo’s survival.

Have you ever wondered how much it costs to care for the animals at the Red River Zoo? Wonder no more! Here’s a list of the expenses of raising some of the different animals at the Zoo.

By Joe Kerlin

Family has always played an important role in Addie Onchuck’s life. If you would have told her this time last year that she would be crowned the winner of Fargo Star, she would probably tell you, you’re crazy. But what she would say next is that her loving family and especially her mother, Stacy Onchuck, would be right be her side.

Since she was a little girl, Addie had dreams of becoming a country singing star, but never pursued her dream. All that changed a year ago when she went through one of the toughest times in her young life.

Addie loves staying active, and one of the many activities she involves herself in is basketball. She had a road bump in her career in December, 2011. She hurt her knee a game into her junior year and had to undergo major reconstructive surgery.

“It’s tough when you see your child, with that passion, and then that happens to them, but it kind of transferred over,” said Stacy.

That passion transferred over into music. From singing in choirs and on the tractor with her father, Dan, to playing piano, she had all the talent necessary to succeed.

“I was the mom that made her kids play piano,” said Stacy with a laugh. “When I grew up, my mother had me singing and taking voice lessons and a lot of the members in my family sing and she loves to do it.”

That talent almost went to waste when Addie almost decided not to try out for the Fargo Star, waiting until the last minute to enter.

“I almost missed it,” said Addie. “Last summer, I did a talent show for FFA and I had a guy who plays piano for me. I called him up Sunday and asked if he would please play for me quick. We made it and uploaded it so it was done that Sunday night before the deadline.”

Stacy always pushed her kids to be go-getters, telling them “you’re never going to go anywhere unless you go and look for it on your own.” Inspiring her daughter to sing pushed Addie’s confidence so much, she eventually became comfortable performing in front of large crowds after her knee injury.

“I started singing National Anthems and I got to sing the anthem for boys’ basketball, girls’ basketball, baseball, football, volleyball games,” said Addie. “Then I got to sing at the State Class-A Hockey Tournament at the Ralph (Engelstad Arena) this year. It was amazing, I’m going to UND next year so it was a dream.”

The dream didn’t stop there though. After submitting her audition tape, Addie waited patiently for her name to be announced as one of the finalists. The call came as she and nine others performers prepared for the big stage at The Hub.

“There was so much good talent there and so many people in the crowd, I honestly didn’t care if I won, just the experience was awesome,” said Addie.

Backed with an ample amount of support from the crowd, she went onto the stage and performed a fitting song: “Like My Mother Does” by Lauren Alaina. She delivered a knock-out performance and won the seventh annual competition.

“It was like a shock, I didn’t know if I heard it right,” said Addie. ”… And then I saw my mom was sitting there and she was bawling, of course, and it was really cool.”

Addie did a better job controlling her emotions on-stage, but in the crowd below, her parents couldn’t contain their happiness.

“I had tears instantly roll down my face,” Stacy said. “And dad, he had tears coming down his face too.”

Music can be therapeutic and helpful through all walks of life. It can lighten the mood; cheer you up, or in Addie’s case, open the door to a brighter future.

“It’s funny because I always tease the kids, ‘everything happens for a reason,’” said Stacy. “So then she made the comment, ‘Mom, maybe it was meant to be’ because then she started doing a lot more singing.”

The story of Addie and the Fargo Star isn’t done either. To go along with her new 60-inch television that she received for winning the Fargo Star, she also has the opportunity to perform with the band, Post Traumatic Fuck Syndrome at a concert at Bluestem Center for the Arts this summer. She also gets to record her music at the Video Studio Arts.

Singing will always be rooted back to family for Addie who will remain close to home in Grand Forks next fall so she can still watch her 16-year-old brother Brody play basketball.

The Fargo Star is just the beginning of a long musical journey for Addie. The sky is the limit for this rising star.

About the Fargo Star

The Fargo Star is a competition to find some of Fargo’s best talent. The Fargo Star is put on by the Forum. A live competition was held at the Hub on March 23. That is where Onchuck was crowned the winner.

By Amanda Ahrenholz

In Grand Forks lies a very unique and eclectic store, Hennessy’s Home Furnishings Staging and Design. Behind these beautiful wooden doors, Hennessy’s has just about anything you could ever want for your home, old or new. It is a consignment shop, thrift store, interior design store, estate and auction all in one. We guarantee you won’t find another place like this anywhere else.

The brains behind this hands-on operation come from Tamara Hennessy. She is a real estate agent, home stager, interior decorator, re-purposer and, definitely an “entrepreneur at heart.”

Repurposing

Hennessy’s Home has a ton of home décor from local vendors as well as pieces that Hennessy herself has created. For her, “Repurposing was inspired over the years… I’m a farm girl at heart… “ She searches tree lines, barns, cabins and old houses to find things to bring back to life. Often she finds things in the Art District in Northeast Minneapolis and South St. Paul, MN.

Pre-Owned Items

The pre-owned items in Hennessy’s Home are mostly consignment items. The longer the item is in the store, the more motivated the seller becomes. This is when you can find lots of deals on everything from antique cameras to furniture. She also gets a lot of items from estate sales and auctions.

Interior Design

When you walk into Hennessy’s Home, you will see many varying paint colors on the walls as well as different fabrics and ceiling tiles. They offer a unique interior design service where they do everything from paint to re-doing your kitchen cabinets. “Most people see furniture distressed, but you can take it much farther than that, like distressing kitchen cabinets, or everyday things. It adds a lot, I go beyond finishing a piece…” She also stages kitchens, living rooms; just about anything you can think of, it is no task for Hennessy.

Find them on Facebook by searching Hennessy’s Home Furnishings Staging & Design.

By Amanda Ahrenholz

Stevie Famulari is an environmental artist and professor whose focus is set on landscape architecture, food arts and fashion. A native New Yorker, she is still full of style and spunk, Famulari knew what she needed to do to push her latest fashion creation to the limit. We spent a little time with Famulari to see what “Fortune Favours” is all about.

Famulari is not your average designer and artist, she sees design in a different way, “I think that my design is about creating space for experiences to happen. Whether that space is ephemeral like a snow sculpture, permanent like a wetland, temporary like a food piece or the space of a human person, like when you put on your favorite pair of sweatpants that you lounge in and just feel relaxed. Clothes create a space for you, even if it’s an emotional space. To me they aren’t different in design. Design is about creating spaces — 1/4 acre spaces, human spaces, 20 acre spaces. It’s about creating a space for you to experience something.”

After some unexpected life events within the last year, Famulari needed a hug, not a physical one, but one that she could relive over and over again. When she stumbled upon a great piece of leather that she fell in love with, she decided to make a motorcycle jacket that would do just that, provide her with a hug. Her friend Jetbd’s body was painted and then he hugged the jacket, leaving hugs in paint behind. “Whenever I wore this I would be embraced in the hug from a really good friend, to be embraced in his hug, to have the armor from the elements and to have the warm sweatshirt from your favorite, favorite sweatshirt.”

She could think of nobody better to help her with this project than her good friend, nicknamed Jetbd (And no, we did not spell that wrong) and after creating the first piece, an unexpected series formed. “I actually had no intention of doing a series…I wanted to create something that would protect me from the elements, protect me from life.”

From this, Famulari has created a new fashion line, purely based off of the idea of human connections. Each piece is handmade from leather and then painted in a way that reflects either a person’s view or a relationship with that person.

There are currently 12 pieces titled, “Fortune Favours” in this series and she is creating three more of the series “Steviana” to add to the “Leather Series,” totaling 15 pieces, which was featured in “15 Minutes of Fame” at the Spring Gala on May 4 at the Plains Art Museum in Fargo.

Although the 12 pieces of Fortune Favours belong to Famulari, you can have your very own made by placing an order and engaging in a conversation with this creative and daring artist. For more information, visit steviefamulari.net.

1. Hug with Jetbd

A short leather motorcycle jacket that features six hugs. Jetbd, a good friend to Famulari, was painted and then he hugged the jacket. You can see the six individual hugs on this jacket from her dear friend.

2. Spooning with Jetbd

This long leather coat is lined with blue silk, and adorned with spikes to showcase Famulari’s personality. It was painted by Jetbd spooning the jacket, with Jetbd’s body painted and she lay with him.

3. I Am

Inspired by faith, this warm winter jacket explores spiritual thought. This jacket also has rivets of words in braille that spell “Yes!,” “wings of trust” and “wings of love.” Layered with traditional and contemporary practices of faith, this jacket was inspired by her former father-in-law who was a priest, the hands of a Reiki master, and another layer for balance.

4. Time with Amy

A leather hoodie was painted by her masseuse, Amy Waswick, who physically massaged it with her calming hands. It displays how she sees other’s energy.

5. Borrowing Jetbd’s Arms

This bold, brightly colored, violet women’s bustier showcases how Jetbd has lent his arms to her in times of need.

6. Cindy Unfiltering

A stunning, long, red leather and gold silk lined coat was painted by Cindy Schwab, a healer, that expresses how she sees people’s energy. ”… this is by a Reiki master, this is how she sees people, not the red, but that’s how she sees people’s energy, that they glow.” A Reiki master is someone who practices techniques for stress reduction and relaxation by “laying on hands.”

7. With Ease and Grace

This leather dress tells a timeline of Famulari’s life in the eyes of Amy Waswick, her masseuse, showing how Famulari has changed through the time Amy has known her. “A dress had to happen because I don’t have a leather dress… She has known me for a while… That’s a timeline of a transformation of who I was when she first met me which was broken, faded, nice, but very faded up through a rich, deep, solid timeline. That’s how she’s seen my life and my future in the time she’s known me.”

8. Overlighting

Working with a master numerologist, Wes Hamilton, someone who connects to the energy of numbers and reads energy through them, this men’s shirt displays how he sees energies. “The energy rises from the earth upward, and energy comes from above downward–both meeting at the heart. From the heart the energy radiates outward, like wings, and spreads down the arms to others.”

9. Dialogues with Steve

An acupuncturist, Steve Spader, painted this open-back leather shirt. He was focused on what happens when universal energy meets human energy. “The acupuncturist, this is the way he sees energy, he believes that there is white light in a universal kind of way and when it hits a human body it turns into colors”

10. The Souls of Friends

This men’s fur lined coat represents one of Famulari’s favorite couples, Jeff Wakowski and Jeff Wyant. The painting on this coat is an enveloped hug, one from the front, one from the back.“…this is a man’s coat, lined with fur, awesomely warm. This is a couple, a couple who’s my favorite couple, Jeff and Jeff, they’ve been together 28 years and they are one of my favorite examples of how couples do couplehood well. They smile, they respect each other, they laugh… they are awesomely great people and after 28 years they are still awesome together.”

11. Stronger As I Open

An example of a dialogue with a friend, Keith Huff, and his realization about death and people, this comfy hoodie is a dedication to his grandfather. “…he was talking about his grandfather and had a moment of realization…I said that he got to choose a body gesture it was the first and only one I was painted for so I got painted and hugged him in a very specific way when he realized how much his grandfather meant to him…this was a dedication to his grandfather.”

12. This piece is the closing of the Fortune Favours series. It is all of the pieces left over from every other piece, stitched together and is left virtually unpainted.

“The 12th is the scraps of every other piece, with 13 spikes, which unsnap to a slit, there are 13 scars…which I don’t think scars are bad they just show your past. It’s not painted except on the inside where there is a gold streak and it came through to the back, not intentionally but when you wear it you have no idea of it. And I figure all the light comes from within rather than being on the outside, I know I have that life within me, and I don’t need to show it, but I choose show it.”

Around every corner, seems to be a new diet. Many times the word diet is misconstrued and is associated only with a person attempting to lose weight. However, a diet is the food and beverage choices that an individual intakes daily.

While we are all trying to find a diet that will appropriately fuel our lifestyle and help us maintain a healthy weight, sometimes we jump into a diet without knowing the facts or realizing that not only is it a diet change but also a lifestyle change. Nutrition specialist, Julie Garden-Robinson helps us breakdown what makes up five popular diets and the facts that should be taken into consideration before diving into one.

Paleo: Cavemen of the 21st century 
While this diet works well for some, nutritionists are a bit skeptical about this diet due to the large amount of protein from red meat and fats consumed. It is basically based on the hunt and gather concept from our ancestors. Anything that can be hunted, fished or gathered can be eaten and promotes “whole foods,” which are greatly beneficial. All grains, legumes and dairy are off limits.
Paleo kitchen: Meat, poultry, fish, eggs, nuts, veggies and fruits. 
Who? Elite athletes, may aid in lowered risk of cardiovascular diseases.

Vegan: Taste buds gone green 
Hold the meat, eggs and dairy! While this originally sprouts from living a cruelty-free lifestyle, it also promotes many health benefits. However, maintaining a vegan lifestyle comes with some risks, such as suffering from certain deficiencies like calcium, B12 and iodine. On the other hand, going vegan can help with lowered cholesterol and the risk of certain cancers, illnesses and obesity. In order for this diet to work effectively, a great amount of meal planning and discipline is required.
Vegan Kitchen: Egg and dairy replacement products, veggies (load up on these!), fruits and soy products. 
Who? Similar to those listed under Vegetarian.

Vegetarian: Go ahead, call me a veg head! 
If going completely vegan seems a bit daunting, opting for vegetarian is a good happy medium. If done correctly, the vegetarian diet is considered one of the healthiest lifestyle choices when it comes to eating. There are many variations within this type of diet that can be modified for different lifestyles. These include: lacto veggie (dairy products included), lacto-ovo veggie (include dairy and eggs) and pescetarian (includes fish.) When planning a vegetarian plate, it is most important to make sure nutrients, such as protein, calcium, iron, vitamin D, etc., which are normally found in animal products, are somehow being consumed.
Vegetarian Kitchen: This varies depending on what type of vegetarian. Staples include veggies, fruits, soy products along with fish, dairy and eggs accordingly.
Who? Anyone looking to clean up their diet. Especially for those with a high risk of heart disease and individuals with type 2 diabetes.

Mediterranean: A vacation for your taste buds
This diet is used for US Dietary Guidelines… enough said. It focuses on unprocessed foods (duh, this is a good focus for any diet!) that are plant-based. Because this diet has been around for ages, there is plenty of supportive research to show the health benefits. It also has been associated with lowering the chances of developing heart disease, diabetes and high cholesterol. It is beneficial for almost any body type and is easier to follow than some of the more disciplined diets.
Mediterranean Kitchen: Lean meat, red wine, pasta, rice, veggies, whole grains, legumes and fruit.
Who? Almost anyone.

Gluten Free: Grains, cereals and bread are for the birds! 
Gluten free, just as sugar free, cholesterol free and fat free, sounds good but doesn’t exactly mean it’s healthier. A gluten free diet is necessary for those diagnosed with celiac disease or wheat allergies, other than that it is not beneficial in any way to those who do not have gluten allergies. Gluten is found in a protein composite found in things like grains, cereals and breads. There is no research that supports that a gluten free diet aids in dietary benefits or weight loss.
Gluten Free Kitchen: All meat, veggies, fruit and dairy are naturally gluten free so there are no restrictions for those. Gluten Free prepared foods (pasta, crackers, bread.)
Who? Celiac disease or allergies to wheat.

Zone Diet: Get in the Zone!
It goes something like this, 30 percent protein, 30 percent fat and 40 percent carbohydrates per meal. What does that mean? Basically a slab of protein that is palm sized along with lots of veggies, whole grains, beans and some fruit. While it receives mixed reviews from the world of nutrition gurus and may be difficult to follow for some, it claims to allow your body to function at it’s highest efficiency. The origin of this diet is from a highly popular diet book called Enter The Zone by Dr. Barry Sears, PhD. As many other diets, it claims to help with weight loss but also aids in lowered risk of health related issues.
Zone Kitchen: Eggs, lentils, beans, veggies, fruits.
Who? High Blood Pressure, Elite Athletes and those with Heart Disease Family History

It’s dirty, messy, fierce, challenging and no walk in the park. The four mile course, held at the Red River Valley Fair Grounds, consists of fire jumping, mud trapping, tire walking, barbwire fleeing, water treading, gravity defying, car hopping obstacles and much more. 

Fun or Glory?

Brought to Fargo by the new, local company, Hard Charge, this obstacle course allows you to race for “Fun” or for “Glory.” Participants can pull together a coed team, all female, all male or run it individually. Both courses are filled with the same 20 to 25 thrilling obstacles and challenges. 

Those participating for “Fun” will enjoy the course with no timer or “course marshals” and finish off the fun in the beer garden. For individuals racing for “Glory,” they will be timed and marshaled to ensure they finish each obstacle. If they are not able to complete an obstacle, they will pay for it with penalties such as burpees, pushups, high knees or other such treats. They too finish in the much deserved beer garden.

Want to become a television star? 

Hard Charge could make your dream come true. They will be producing a reality TV show based off of each race. It will highlight the top male, female and coed “Glory” racers. Aside from that, it will also include a piece about each city’s local children’s hospital and tie in a little bit of inspirational racing stories. “We want to really legitamize the sport of obstacle racing, so that’s what the TV show is about,” explained Director of Public Relations and Marketing, Lindsay Babb. Don’t miss the Fargo episode which will air on June 22 on KVLY.

Can’t get enough of Hard Charge? 

Check out the races in some of the other cities they will be popping up in, including locations in Illinois, Iowa and Nebraska. “We have seven or eight on the schedule for this year and next year we hope to go 12 to 14,” explained Babb.

Here’s your chance to play in the mud and get down and dirty without having to explain yourself. Be sure to sign up now! So, will you be charging for “Fun” or for “Glory” on June 15? Your mom may think your crazy, but it’ll be worth it. Prices go up on May 18.

For more information and to register, go to hardcharge.com.