Vintage Suitcase Makeover Into Shabby Craft Show Sign

Hello Everyone..

I've been getting ready for the craft show this weekend.

I have been so busy but I wanted to share

with you all this little project

I found this vintage 60's suitcase at a thrift for 

2 dollars. It was an ugly blotchy gray.

I have misplaced the photo of it's original color.

But here it is primed and ready to paint.

 The name of my business is 

The Shabby Gypsy.

I had ordered this Genie font

stencil and thought it would be perfect for

the lettering style that I wanted.

I had originally wanted to hand paint it.

I even drew the letters on but decided it would 

take too long as I'm still learning

the hand-lettering techniques.

Well then I had to figure out how to get the pencil

off! I tried erasing it. But that didn't 

work very well. So I tried

the Mr Clean Magic Eraser. 

It was a life saver!

I just rubbed the pencilled letters

with a baby wipe to moisten the writing

and then rubbed the Magic Eraser 

over it. I had it all off in ten minutes!

I was so thankful!! 

 Here's the work in progress.

I had a lot of fun making the shabby flower.

Here's the finished sign.

I used Calypso Sky acrylic paint for the

lettering. I then dry-brushed the letters with a little

bit of Vintage White. After that dried,

I brushed the letters with some tacky glue and

glittered them up a little.

I also used a  flourish stencil and glue to put

a pretty glittered area in the top right hand corner.

This was a fun project. And now I have a sign

to use.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend.

I'll be back with some photos of my projects next week.

I made some Christmas ornaments and

did some paper crafting.

Thank you for coming by.

Blessings,

Tamara XO

Grow Your Blog 2015

Hi.. My name is Tamara.

Welcome to my blog and thank you for 

stopping by.

I've never done anything like this before so I'm

a little unsure of how...

but I'm looking forward to being a part and

excited to make some new

"blogger friends" and share the goodness.

Thank you to Vicki and her helpers

  for giving me the opportunity.

*******

My blogging journey has been rather

slow-paced. I have a very large family. A mix of 

wonderful, adopted children and 

wonderful, birth children! And

though I love the connections I have made
through blogging, 
most of my time

has been happily immersed in family

life and church ministry.

We're a home-schooling family and 

the youngest will graduate this spring.

And with this exciting event,

there opens a door 

into a new season in my life.

It's very bittersweet.

(We do still have precious, little ones 

running about.. 8 grand children

and another coming in April!)

Just mentioning the blogging friend 
connections that 

I've made isn't enough.

I am very grateful to all of those in the

blogger world that have 

been so kind, 

and are so talented 

and inspiring. 

It's been so fun, encouraging,
educational...and well... just
 a real pleasure to get to know some 
 other creative souls to share interests
and passions and friendships with!

(I have spent so much time reading 
and watching artist/craft videos that I feel
that I've taken at LEAST a 101 course! :)

I 

HAVE

LEARNED SO MUCH

 from these wonderful, 

 gracious folks!

It really has taken me a long time to 
"find my style" and get to know myself.
I have learned so much and I'm
still learning to follow my heart
and listen to the little whispers
that lead me. This journey of crafting
has truly opened up my life in so many ways.

(I have an ongoing series called "Art Inspiration" where I share
more of my thoughts about my journey.)

It's been discouraging at times
and the encouragement that I have found from 
other bloggers..artists.. God and my family 
has been priceless.


I'm so thankful that I have a supportive husband
 that sees the beauty in what I do.  What I make
and the entire journey itself. He's so sweet.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I've always enjoyed writing and

 the name of my blog reflects my belief

that there are beauty and blessings everywhere.

 And as I try to focus on the

 positive things, I hope to encourage people

and bring inspiration to others,

if even in some small way.

What do I like to write about?

There are many things that I 

find inspiration in..

Music

Nature

Handmade treasures

Art

Photography

People
Faith 

Books or 

just words..

(my list could go on and so I'll

 say "just life in general")

I love life ...even in the hard things,

inspiration can be found..if I'm willing

 "There is such 
beauty and inspiration in 

the every day." 

I have to work each day at making choices
that allow me to take them in.

{The tricky part is having enough time to write 

about all of the things that i find 

interesting and inspiring!}

And one of my 

blog goals for 2015 is to...

add pages...

and write more..

(I guess that's two)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

There's another part to my blog....

and that's about 

making beautiful 

and inspiring things.

My main thing seems to be 

shabby and vintage.

But I love paper...string..rust..

chippy wood.. wire..

fabric, glitter... and more.

 Up-cycling or re-purposing.
However one wants to say it. 
It's a fun and satisfying way to create.

I love to thrift store shop and once found a 

beautiful wedding dress 

with a gorgeous hat...

for... a dollar..

I am learning to make all sorts of things..

weathered wood signs..

jewelry... paper crafts, 

 altered things..
 bottles..books..clothes 

and sticks.

Furniture re-dos 

and so much more.

I really love the neutral colors 

and very soft pinks

but there's 

somewhat of a gypsy in me also.. 

I love traveling and those beautiful,

vibrant, flowing, Bohemian colors!

(This will shed some light on my 
"venture" name.) 

I have been selling a few things here and there,

and now that I have more time,

I have given my venture a name.

The Shabby Gypsy

Here are some photos of some of 
the things that I have made ..
I apologize for the quality of some of the 
photos.. I am still learning.

 An altered matchbox. 
(a not so good photo)

 An altered antique bottle.
Another not-so-good photo

An altered book.

 My first attempt at a mixed-media journal.
It was a lot of fun but I was advised by a very sweet,
licensed artist friend of mine that it's 
too busy. There is too much to focus on! 
Very true.

I find myself very 
drawn to nature.

the quiet..

the beauty..

 and all the little
lessons of life.

The following are some photos of 
some of my wanderings.. 
and findings..

I live in the beautiful White Mountains of AZ.
It's not always this green. These were taken
after the summer rains.

And then..here are a few of my other projects.

My husband is excited to retire 

so we can do this full time.

But that won't be for several years yet!

So.. for the time being,

 I will be working on my projects

 as much as I possibly can.
Enjoying my family and life while

 learning more and being open to the

opportunities that I have.

 My creative space is a work in progress
and I hope to have it 

ready for Karen Valentine's next

"Where Bloggers Create" party in July.

Here is the link to last year's party.

Well, thank you so very much for stopping by.
I hope you enjoyed your visit. 

(I hope I did ok and that it's not too long.)

Blessings to you,

and I look forward to our "meeting!"

Tamara xo

To Define and Re-Define : It's A Learning Process

Hello all. It's another too gorgeous day here at our mountain. home. The weather has us all wishing for flakes from heaven. Charlotte is even wearing her snowman earrings. We resort to anything that we have with snowflakes and add it to our prayers. We like to think that it works. ;)

*******************************************************

 

My thoughts have been focused a lot of on my vision

 and goals for the......

 dream that is being fashioned and defined
in my mind and heart.

I am inspired by..so many things


Nature..

Words..
Music..
Textures..
 

Soft neutrals mixed with a touch of  beautiful,

cornflower blue and faded pinks.

 

 Soft, textured flowers and frayed edges that

look worn and loved by the passing of time.

And paper..
Pearls and lace draped and gathered with ruffles together with
 time-weathered barn wood.

I'm learning to understand .....

what's in my heart and how to let it spill
out from my hands and create.

 

 

It's inspired by:
 

 the richness of life ...the abundance of beauty...
hope..
 experiences... 
people's stories
and lifestyles..

  

The other day, on Amazon, I ran across a book.

It was called:

 

Rachel Ashwell Couture Prairie: And Flea Market Treasures

I LOVED it! 
I stopped to think and it made me
laugh; it made me see
how long it has taken me to settle on just WHAT it
is that delights my heart and inspires me.
 
My life has been so full of homeschooling, putting my heart and
hands to work in our busy home of 11. My husband and I also lead
 praise and worship at community events and in our church. And teaching Sunday school
in the mornings, and wrangling the youth
at our church kept us hopping for sure!

It was all very fun, fulfilling and
I learned so much!

Gratitude fills my heart when I think of how God
allowed us to be used in these ways and for how
it enriched MY life. The time was blessed
though sometimes crazy!

But you can understand, I didn't have much time to
think about the things
that were waiting to be created or decorated!
Though, we did encourage the children to work with their hands and 
nurture the gifts and talents that they had
Our life itself was a tapestry of
creativity as each day unfolded in our rambling,
country home.


 Now the season has changed and I still
want every area of my life to be a star shining with....

~Beauty...
Encouragement... Blessing...
Inspiration~

but through another means.


****
When I first began realizing my dream of designing crafts and
 decorating, I was intrigued by the Primitive
designs. I was drawn by the rustic look... weathered wood...
the homespun and stained fabrics.
The kind of historic charm and homey warmth
that comes with it all.
And just plain country.

 Though there are some
fabulous artists and it's full of warmth, 
Primitive just isn't me.

I'm sure my tastes and style will continue to transition as God
and others inspire and help me to define and re-define
who I am on the inside and out.

It's been (can be) discouraging at times feeling like I
would never quite find the resting place.
But there are some things I've learned:

*Always, ALWAYS enjoy every step of the way*

*Remember that everything I'm experimenting with
adds to my knowledge*
(Or, it's ALL good.)

*It's never too late to begin something new or change directions*
(Life is an ever-changing progression of seasons.)

*Always take time to encourage others*
(Whether a heart is seasoned or brand new,
each one is uplifted by a little sunshine.)

*Be grateful for every seemingly small accomplishment*
(Don't let the numbers influence me. This is about beauty
and a genuine, creative spirit.)

*Show appreciation to those whom I have learned from
and continue to be an encouragement to me.
They are so gracious. BLESS them!* 

***************

I'm excited about what's to come and thankful
for the privilege of the all that's gone before.

I hope you are inspired and fulfilled ..
Wherever you are in your pilgrimage.

Blessings and a hug to you,
Tamara