a little Gypsy CaMp MaGiC...with thrifted, ViNtAgE, Christmas lights

It has long been my good intention to tell you about

 and show you pictures of our *GyPsY CaMp* 

and how it all began.

It was born of a dream and that 

dream is living still and slowly moving forward!

But the telling of that will be another time.

I do get ahead of myself but at least these

are night time shots so not too much of a spoiler..

I love LiGhTs!

Actually, our entire family is drawn to their

way of bringing a bit of sPaRkLe and a feeling

of "let's celebrate" to the most

COMMON of  days.

So, whenever we can, 

we string 'em up and plug 'em in.

Even if it's only to roast marshmallows

or to sit and 

enjoy some solitude from life's lovely, 

but sometimes loud, daily clatter...

(which for me is MUCH needed at times)

or to have a little family, jam session.

We have lights up all year 'round.

Inside and out.

And these old lights were picked up at a

thrift store for a couple of dollars 

per string. We bought several strands and my husband, 

very patiently, switched out the bulbs until we

had a couple of good strings! He's so helpful

with so many things. We are 

blessed to share so many "likes".  

 An inviting fire ready to enjoy.. 

OH OH! 

And then there are the dazzling beauties hanging

in the trees and shining forth their brilliance

that I might find my way! 

Glorious.

I do love my times by the fireside and

we've always been blessed to live in a place

where we could have a fire ring. 

One of life's simple pleasures.

  coloring the Juniper tree with shades of green and blue

and red and yellow..

Magical  Luminescence..

 Enjoying the crackling and dancing

of the flames in a few moments of peaceful resting.

And I'm so grateful.

Isn't it good to dis-engage sometimes? 

from phones..computers, radios and the tv?

And, yes, even from people..

To let your senses just rest and to hear your heart.

Some of my most profound thoughts and

revelations have come to me during these times of

refection and total quiet.

Just a thought, Dear ones..

A good fire slowly dying.. 

It's time to gather my thoughts and

 bid goodnight to this magical place.

I hope that you enjoyed your visit to our 

GyPsY CaMp and that you have a magical place of 

your own where you rest, sing, dream and gather

with all sorts of loved ones..

If you do, I'd love to hear about it! 

Thank you so much for stopping in.

May your week be blessed beyond measure.

Tamara xo

mixed media collage..vintage sheet music and gray lumber

Hello everyone..

I'm posting from my creative space where I 

dream and dream some more.

In this cozy and sometimes, very cluttered room,

I also create. It's the place where I am learning to

define the gypsy soul that dwells inside of me.

I am seeking.

I am striving.

I am in it with all my heart.

Vincent Van Gogh

My thoughts and ideas stumble over each other and try

to find a place of validation through the work of my hands.

BLISS

Here is the place where I escape one 

reality to enter another.

Both are places of contentment but they 

are usually worlds apart! 

Upon occasion, they find a way

to blend in perfect harmony.

Today, I'd like to share with you one of the few 

mixed media projects that I've done.

I love to work in this realm.

It's like a reckless abandon through

 my creative spirit.

What would life be if we had no courage to

attempt anything?

Vincent Van Gogh

These projects usually take me a long time

because I have not yet learned to fully

let my heart lead and I worry about

making a mess or mistake. I also am

learning about color, texture and balance.

And I am always open to suggestions

 and re-direction :)

I have been thinking of beginning a

sort of study of the Masters.

Any suggestions or recommendations here?

I love this quote by Vincent Van Gogh.

I long so much to make beautiful things.

But beautiful things require effort,

disappointment and perseverance.

Does it speak to you?

******

There is so much going on here 

(maybe too much) that it would be too 

lengthy to explain the entire process. 

But here is a list of the "ingredients"...

vintage sheet music

gray lumber

gesso

acrylic paint

glitter

stamping ink

hot glue

tacky glue

matte gel

alcohol ink

rubber stamps

stencils

sissix dies

paint brushes

silk

paper

brads beads

string

rusty nuts

rusty washers

carpet tacks

fabric 

lace

buttons

old bookbinding

zipper

tulle

silk

 Gesso was brushed on the sheet music

 first and then I painted over it with

a creamy white paint to soften the white.

I painted a red heart and chose my

co-ordinating colors and began to build.

I'm learning to thin paint and to use it

to splatter.. I love the look.

Expression without a box.

Still in the planning stage..

Adding some sparkle and glitz...

All finished..

Wishing you good things and 

thank you so much for stopping by.

Tamara xoxo

Art Inspiration: My Journey... Being Present in the Moment

It's been a long time since I've shared anything about my
journey as an artist.
Becoming one is a dream that I have had
since I was a young girl of seven.

I remember collecting odd pieces of sheet rock scraps
that were left over from the addition that my Dad was 
building onto our house.
I would draw on them with crayons..
a duck..
a horse..

And DREAM of becoming an artist  one day.
********************

 One thing that I've been working on for quite some 
time is to be present in the moment.
Not looking back or spending

too much time thinking about what I
have ahead of me. If I have the need to look
ahead too much and feel pressured,
then I have come to realize that I am 
over-committed. 
When I focus on the here and now,
I have noticed that I am less stressed
and the peace in my heart allows
me to truly focus.
I can  focus more on the people
  nearby and take in the beauty that
is everywhere 
  Noticing the smallest of things.
The quality of my time increases dramatically! 

In my creative space, I have become aware of
the fact that I can concentrate for 
longer periods of time when my mind
isn't focusing on so many things.
And this allows me to go to a deeper place
 of creativity which will ultimately result in the
beauty and inspiration that I wish
for my heart and hands to create.

I love this and it's so encouraging
to know that one has much control of these things.

I am still learning and have far from 
perfected this area of my life.
But I am determined.

The other day I read this article about 
information overload. 
It was very interesting as
well as scientific and  
I was surprised by the facts. 
If you are concerned about this at all for
yourself or someone you know,
it's helpful information.

I'm very grateful to God for my gifts and the heart's
desire that He has given me to use them. My resources
are extremely abundant.
I have a life that allows all of these things.
I am also grateful
for the beauty that surrounds, 
the eyes that capture that beauty,
and the ability to understand what beauty is.

This beautiful sunset is from
a recent walk that I was enjoying with 
my husband and daughter.

The words are from a worship song that
I have recently memorized and play on guitar.

I still have yet to share about our music.

Some day.

I hope you all have a peaceful week.

Loving thoughts and prayers to my blogging friends

who are going through difficult times. 

Hugs and thank you so much for stopping by.

Tamara 

From Old, Thrifted Dictionary to Cute Little Hedgehog

I hope you're all having a good week so far. 

I've been thinking of and praying for those 

poor people down south. 

I have so much to be thankful for.

I have been catching up and resting up 

 after having visitors for the weekend. 

My daughter and grand-daughters were here. 

I've also been working on some

hair accessories for the little girls

and making some shabby flower pins to sell.

We had a lovely rain and our first fire in the wood

stove. Yesterday, there were tornado

warnings just west of us. This is practically

unheard of in Arizona!

Thankfully, nothing came of that.

*********

Our youngest daughter recently celebrated her

19th birthday. Her last year of being a teenager..

she is such an old soul, sometimes I forget that she is

barely an adult. 

She really likes hedgehogs and I can understand why.

They are one of cutest things that God ever created!

She's always very happy

when I make something for her so when I saw this little

hedgehog on Pinterest, I knew I had to make it for her

and give it to her for her birthday.

I have a love for old books. I use the paper and covers

 for project and for decorating. So I am always collecting them.

I had just what I needed to make this cute little thing.

So for a little bit of whimsey, I thought I'd 

share it with you all. 

If nothing else, maybe it'll bring 

out a smile or two!

Here are the instructions if you'd like to make one.

It's super easy and it doesn't take very long!

Thank you so much for stopping by.

Your visits and comments always 

brighten my day :)

Blessings,

Tamara xo

Linking up to:
 Simply Neutrals Tuesday

Vintage Inspiration Party

Crepe Paper Streamer Medallions or Rosettes

I hope you're having a wonderful week.

Can you believe that today is the last day of September?

first day of October? 

I tried really hard to get this done 

yesterday but was a little overwhelmed with catch ups 

after being at my daughter's for a week.

As you can see, I didn't get very far.

Anyway..

Happy, Happy October!

Listen, the wind is rising

And the air is wild with leaves!

We've had our Summer evenings,

now for October eves.

~Humbert Wolfe~

More lovely weather to walk in

and fires to have in the evening.

Playing guitar and sipping 

tea or a glass of wine...

Simply Lovely

*********

I love to create with paper and any thing else that

 can be worked into my projects.

Here are some medallions or rosettes that I made

from crepe paper streamer and other bits of what I have.

You can start with a piece of heavy 

card stock or poster board and just cut it 

about 3/4 the size as you want your finished 

medallion to be.

Besides your paper and embellishments,

you will need a glue gun.

Begin by gathering a little of your 

streamer paper to make it look ruffled.

And beginning close to

the outer edge, use your glue gun to attach it

to your cut circle. Just work your way

to the center of the circle by layering

circles of whatever material you're using.

It's very easy. 

You could also use fabric, regular crepe paper

and even tissue paper. Tissue paper

comes in so many cute prints.

That would be fun. You could make

small or very large ones for decorating

bags, gifts for any occasion.

They could also be used as co-ordinated

wall decorations for a themed party!

They would also be fun and frilly to decorate a

girls room, make them out of more neutral or masculine

colors for boys and to give to children as awards.

The center of this one was made out of paper ribbon

and the tattered flower die from Tim Holtz.

I laid eyelash yarn between the flower

 layers as I glued the layers together.

I really like to use glitter whenever it fits the project.

To do edges and other small areas, I find that

the Ice Stickles from Ranger work wonderfully.

The glitter infused liquid flows nicely and evenly 

without clogging, like some of the lesser

 quality glitter glues do.

I had so much fun making these!

I want to make some 

more of all different colors for 

bags and maybe some to sell.

The options for embellishing are endless.

I glued a yo-yo that I had made in the center of this 

one and then built off of the colors.

Just plain fun! 

As always, thank you so much for stopping by!

My blogger friends are one of the greatest 

blessings that gather here.

The weather is cooling quickly this week. 
The sun now disappears behind our mountain
by 5:15 and I can smell the roast and onions
that are cooking in the crockpot.

It all brings to mind long, cozy evenings
by the wood stove and playing music or games
as a family.  
Give me AUTUMN~

Hmmmm..
(I just noticed that my picture corners are not
edited the same. I have had that problem before! :(
And I tried to be so careful.. 
I wonder what happened. 
Anyway..I'm sorry about that. It's not very
professional looking! )

Anyway...

Have a wonderful, peaceful and 

creative weekend, Dear Friends. 

Tamara xoxo