An Early Gypsy Friday

(click to view larger image)

I have not abandoned Gypsy Fridays, but I suddenly can’t wait until Friday to do a gypsy post. I have had these images lovingly set aside for months now and I’m very happy to finally post them.  I love the above photo fiercely. I could look at it all day. There is something heroic about that gypsy woman that makes my heart sing. I wonder what kind of a woman she was? She seems like someone who could discover a little bit of  joy in everything, even the in the hardest of times.

I doubt the little ladies in the image above are gypsies, but I would like to think that they see the absolute wonder in that beautiful wagon they are posing with. The workmanship is extraordinary. I can’t wait to have wagon of my own to write and dream in. I always imagine having a wagon anchored in my backyard to serve as a creative studio.

(For when I’m not off traveling of course! )

{image sources unavailable. please let me know if you know anything about these!}

Gypsy Flight

I curated my first treasury!

{Please view it here at Etsy!}

Gypsy Friday V

The Ghosts Project

This is otherworldly! Get thee here now and listen to “Rajadevi”.

That’s it: I’m pulling out my violin this weekend and teaching myself something.

Gypsy Friday III

{helen musselwhite}

Gypsy “Friday” II

This is the post that should have gone up two days ago for the second installment of Gypsy Friday.  I am so excited to post about the gypsy band Ando Drom. I received a wonderful email from a reader in Romania, Agi, regarding some of the gypsy photos I have collected here at Gypsea Tree. She has used a few for some YouTube videos she has created to accompany the music of Ando Drom. Thank you Agi for introducing me to this beautiful music! Gypsy inspired musicians such as DeVotchka, Beirut, and Gogol Bordello are among my favorites and Ando Drom is such a wonderful new discovery. I have linked one of the pieces below and more can be found here. I hope you will have a listen.

Gypsy Friday the First

I have wanted to do a regular gypsy-related series of posts for a while now and I have decided that they will be the occasional “Gypsy Fridays”. I hope you enjoy it. All of these stir something deep inside of me and I wish I could join some of these campfires for an evening or two…

{source- unfortunately does not contain original links}

Inspiration

I’ve been very busy indeed the past week or so, but I happily managed to get this little tree for our apartment. It smells so lovely and there is such magic in the soft glow of Christmas lights in the evening. I love this time of year and try not to think too much about how fast it seems to be flying by.

So many blogs have been posting wonderful wish lists and gift guides this season. I’ve been thinking about doing one myself. Naturally it will probably be very Etsy-themed. (Sometimes I think I will need to start another blog and call it “My love affair with Etsy”…)

A few weeks ago I received a very sweet email from Sarah who had discovered Gypsea Tree and gave me an enormous compliment when she told me that she found inspiration here. When you visit her lovely little shop Crooked Thorne Jewelry you will see why I felt so honored. Her work is certainly inspiring to me as well! Below are a few of my favorites.

Part of the description of these bangles are as follows…

“These beautiful bangles have been handmade and aged to look like they just slipped off a Gypsy’s wrist!”

Oh how I love them!

This one is also positively bewitching.

I also love this stunning swan necklace.

Crooked Thorne also has a tempting give away of free gypsy jewels! You must visit!

Thank you for the inspiration Sarah!

{all jewelry photos via Crooked Thorne}

Gypsy Musings

I hope that you all had a wonderful weekend. I had a perfectly relaxing time spending my four-day holiday weekend with family. Lots of food, knitting, conversation, and sleep. Just what I needed. I’m rejuvenated and ready to head back to work and craftiness. I’m so excited it’s the holiday season and I’m starting to come alive with creativity again.

As I wind down from this lovely weekend I’ve been reflecting a lot on the things that make me so very happy and that I am grateful for…

~You!  Thank you for visiting here and leaving words of kindness, encouragement, and friendship. These things mean a lot to me and I’m so very thankful for you!

~My family whom I love dearly and am so very lucky to live close to and be close to. My little brother is back from Iraq and out of the military. He will be home for Christmas this year for the first time in 3 years!

~Having a job. It’s not my dream-job by any stretch of the imagination, but when I get sullen about it I remind myself how fortunate I am to be employed.

~Music and books. Where would I be without them?

~Daydreams…

Someday I will have my gypsy wagon, but until that day I am content and happy to have Gypsea Tree!

Thank you.

{images via Life Image Archive}

Follow the Gypsy

I’ve made a few changes here at Gypsea Tree and I hope you will like them. I’m now keeping all blog links in the tab above called “Other Places to Wander”. If you would like to be added to the list please leave me a comment or send me an email. I would be delighted to link you.

I’ve also made it a little easier to follow Gypsy Tree. Towards the bottom of the right column there is now an option to join my gypsy campfire. I hope you will!

I’ve also added tabs of what  books I’m currently reading and what music I’m listening to. I’m always interested to know this about others so I thought I would add it here. I hope you have a lovely weekend ahead…

Autumn Muse

What have I been doing instead of blogging? Well, a few things. Fall is my creative Muse. Perhaps that is a rather grand statement for my humble offerings, but I do love it all the same.

The beginnings of a warm cozy winter blanket…

Embroidery thread I “borrowed” from my mom. Some of it even belonged to my grandmother and still has the 10 cent price tag.

My little gyspy doll for a very special friend of mine. There just may be more gypsies to come!

Among other projects I’m determined to read the full manual for my camera so that I can take better pictures. So many things to do, so little fall.

What have you all been spending your free time with?