The Gypsy Wagon

Makin' Stuff

Out of the chaos that is my desk, I spent some quality time coaxing some new art out of the mess.

While working, and puttering and glueing, and hammering and glittering, I also caught up on all of season one of Friday Night Lights.  I think it's even better the third or fourth time  you watch it.

I converted some old wooden animal dominoes to these love charms:

 

And then repurposed an old French Two text book, some vintage buttons, and lace and pictures of Victorian women into the tags shown below.  I had trouble knowing when they were done - I think I'd still be down there adding more glitter and gel medium I hadn't finished FNL!

And one final image for today - something from the hub - who always knows how to make me smile!

A Post from She Who is Easily Amused

Today was the best day yet in the pre-Christmas season.  All boxes were shipped out yesterday, a lot (not all - never, ever all) of laundry was washed, folded and put away - and I had a whole day to putter with my 10 year old.  We drew knights, we made lunch, we made granola and tonight we made ginger people dough from The Pastry Queen cookbook which my parents were nice enough to send me - thanks mom and dad!  I don't have a evaluation of the ginger cookies yet - we'll make those tomorrow, but I am crazy for the granola in this book.  It was so much fun to make and it's delicious.  Each recipe makes about 14 cups, so I found my cellophane bags and designed tags on photoshop elements, and tied them on with the brown and white baker's twine that I love so much.  The photograph on the tag is a box of vintage ornaments that were at the antique show in Round Top last April.  It was a treat to find that one in the archives.  I desaturated the color a little so that the photograph would allow the text to show up, and I sent my kids out to deliver these to the neighbors.  It was a fun, easy project and allowed me to exhale and enjoy the moment.  I think it was the first day in weeks that I didn't feel like I was behind.  I have to acknowledge those moments because they don't come around all that often.  Oh - and tonight while making the cookie dough, we watched the original black and white "It's a Wonderful Life".  I don't care how sappy it is, that's one of my favorite movies.  In fact, I bought Jimmy Stewart postage stamps yesterday at the post office because I love it so much.   I hope that these last few days before Christmas are slowing down enough for everyone to enjoy this magical season.

Edited to add:  It's fifteen minutes til game time.  Go Navy!  Beat Utah!

Greetings from the Land of Seldom-Finished Projects

 

I live in the land of the Seldom-Finished Project, so when I actually complete something that I've started then I feel like I need to post it.   Mainly I think that I just need the visual reminder that it is actually possible to complete a project once it's started.    These are Halloween party favor buckets that I started oh - about six weeks ago.  I never really forgot that they were an ongoing project - just had trouble getting back to them.   None of them are alike, and they have bits of old ephemera, ribbon, scrapbook paper, baker's twine and the like on them.   Some of them are labelled for poison, and some have "Boo"  attached on twine - just to remind you that Halloween's coming.  Here's a closer look at some of the details:

 

Not only are the little buckets complete, but the Dia de los Muertos quilted wall hanging that I started last fall is complete-ish.  It could actually stand a boatload of more embellishment - some beads, more sequins, perhaps a few milagros.  In fact, my vision of it when it's really, really complete has it on the wall with things hanging from the bottom of it, and so laden with wonderful embellies that it's difficult to hang.   In the meantime,  it's done enough to hang for this year.  I'm working on a Dia de los Muertos altar, and will photograph that when it's done.  If you're not familiar with the Mexican tradition of honoring the dead on All Saint's Day.  Lots of good information is found here.  I love the idea of remembering the people from my life who are no longer with us - in a celebratory way. 

Who knows?  By the time I finish this baby, it may be able to play the maracas while mixing a margarita!  At the very least, it will sparkle and shine.

I hope October feels like a real bonafide fall month wherever you are - it was 90+ degrees here today - and I'm not getting enough sweater, blue-jean, and cowboy boot-wearin time!

Coffee Cup

This is my LIFE  - day three.

There's a Lyle Lovett song, called "I've been to Memphis" that starts with the words

The sun comes up

in a coffee cup

Waitress please, I've had enough. . .

Years ago (like 9  years ago), I couldn't get that phrase out of my head.  It demanded to be made into a quilt, and so I did just that.  I pulled out bits and pieces of scraps of browns, blues, yellows and oranges - and then went to my local fabric store and found the border print that seemed made for this. That's where I found the swirly brown print that looks just like my coffee as the cream is stirred in. 

I drew a funny little sketch and then set to work - figuring it out as I went along.  I won't say I was obsessed with this project, but I will say that I got little else done during its construction.  Oh sure, my children ate and were reminded to brush their teeth and all, but I don't remember worrying about the laundry or any other silly incidentals during that time.  Cullen was a baby then, and when my big two went off to preschool, he'd watch me sew like a madwoman until it was time to pick them up.  I didn't have my Bernina then, and my sewing machine was barely up to the task of the freemotion quilting surrounding the coffee cup.  I broke more threads, more needles and had more knots on the back of this quilt than I had before or since. And although I can't remember precisely - I bet there was some swearing under my breath as well. I just couldn't get my machine to cooperate with my vision of those lyrics. 

In the end, it was all good.  The tension is sporadic, the colors uneven and there are things I probably should have done differently in terms of composition.  But I don't care.  I love that song, and I love this quilt.  I love the sculpy coffee bean buttons that Lara made that surround the saucer.  I love that it's uneven and quirky and primitive.  But mostly I love it because it was one of those things that demanded to be made.  Lotta power in that song, wouldn't you say?!

Some Finished Projects and a Bloggiversary

First things first: 

After spending the entire week (ugh!!) down with the nastiest case of bronchitis to come down the pike, I rallied enough today to wander into my basement cave to work on unfinished projects.

I began this quilted picture years ago - like maybe 5 or 6 years ago, and sweet Laura asked me to finish it for her - last year. 

Apparently I have some congenital problem finishing projects, and so year after year, and move after move, my projects pile up and taunt me everytime I venture into the studio.  The guilt that attacks me when I accidently catch a glimpse of an unfinished project wounds me to the core - especially when I avert my gaze, and then promptly begin a brand new project.  Thank goodness I don't parent my children the way I treat my projects! 

I don't know what prevents me from project completion.  I guess I think some of them aren't finish-worthy, or some of them need to develop a little more, or I've lost interest, or I have too many irons in the fire, or whatever.  In this case, I could not get the height/width proportions correct.  I'm still not sure they're right, but I can't diddle with it any more.  It's  done.  Beaded.  Embellished.  Complete.  Now to get it to Laura. . .

I have another completed project below.  Okay - it's technically ALMOST completed.  I need to square it off, and trim the threads

and find a frame.  Ugh - that proportion thing is going to rear its ugly head again, I just know it. 

This one is the Naval Academy skyline under a setting sun.  I started this one about this time last year, and had it almost finished and then set it aside.  I don't know why. Did I think it would improved if it was shoved in the bottom of my scrap stash?  Who knows.   When I pulled it out today, I decided it was good enough. I'll trim it, square it, frame it, and I'll do something else with it. I just don't know what yet.

Onto other things. 
In the excitement (not) of my week of bronchitis, I missed my one year bloggiversary!  It was yesterday - but since I am almost always a day late and a dollar short, I'm observing this auspicious occasion today.  And I've decided to do a giveaway.

Oh don't ask me what the giveaway is.  It will be a surprise, but I promise it will be a fun surprise.  I'll prowl through my goodies and come up with something appropriate to the one year anniversary of a blog that doesn't know if it wants to be about cooking, decorating, sewing, thrifting, painting, reading or ranting.  All you have to do is leave a comment, and on Monday I'll draw a winner.  (Not with a pencil, you understand).

The drawing will be done is a most un-technical manner, as the addition of my new blog banner used up any technical know-how that I'm likely to possess for the next year or so.  (You peeps who know how to personalize your blogs ROCK.  I bow to you.  I'm not worthy to know you.  It took me three, THREE, frickin' hours to change my banner.  but I digress.  again.) 

I think only about 3 people read this, so the drawing should be easy.  Surprise me, leave a comment and I'll see what I can do about putting together a fun package. 

Oh - and college football is back. 

I LOVE COLLEGE FOOTBALL!

Go NaVy!!

Don't look Beth!

Months ago, my friend Beth had a birthday.  I didn't forget it exactly - I just didn't finish (or even start) her gift on time.

Beth came to visit me a couple of weeks ago, and I planned to have her gift ready for her.  I would have, too - if I hadn't put the darn pocket on crooked. 

I finished it a couple of days ago, and added the raw edged ruffle on the bottom - which I love, but I think will drive Beth crazy with the loose threads.  Sorry Beth!  I bought this fabric back in February when I went to Portsmouth, NH to celebrate birthdays with the February Five.  Of course I had no idea then what I would do with the fabric, but I like what it became.  I hope Beth will too.

Oh - and I didn't use a pattern; I traced around a Williams-Sonoma apron that I use, and then modified it a little to make it longer.

 

No Moss on Me

The swamp in the basement is now dry and things are back to normal - except for the giant pile of stuff on my work table.  Oh.  That IS normal.

Before the trip to Florida, I made a few things - and I got back to my sewing machine after I returned, but before the flood.  Here are a couple of pix of what I've been working on:

The pillow on the left is made from an old popcorn bag that Lara gave me.  I love the image of the little girl!  I made a piping and gave it an envelope closure with a red,white and blue ribbon closure.

The next pillow is just an applique pillow cover - again with an envelope closure.  It's not that I don't know how to do zippers, but that I like the idea of using ribbons or buttons to close the pillow cover - and there's another opportunity to get another fabric or two in there.

In the front are two more burp cloths, and a 5 ft. bunting banner.  Don't have a specific plan for it yet, but I love the colors and it filled my creative need the day I made it.

  Oh - and one more pillow!

In addition to the sewing frenzy (I swear I have art/craft/creativity ADD), I painted this silly trio of canvases for my kitchen.

The reason it's silly is that I don't ever need a reminder to eat.

It would have been much smarter for me to buy 6 canvases, and paint "vacuum" or 4 canvases for "dust".  But really - where's the fun in that. 

Maybe I need to buy ten more for the other side of the kitchen that would spell out: STOP EATING!  Just a thought.

Finally, in a nod to my creative friend Mel - who has state plates in her Texas kitchen (pix Mel??), I'm going to turn my b.o.r.i.n.g guest room into a travel themed guest room.  Several years ago, Mary Englebreit Home Companion magazine had a Florida guest room with lots of Florida plates.  I'm going to try to get all 5o states instead.  I hit the mother lode at our local Goodwill this week - after going three days in a row.  Look what I found!

The kitsch factor is pretty high - and sometimes slides right into the "cheesy" category, but they're fun, inexpensive and displayed together should make a statement.

So.  A rolling stone gathers no moss, and while I haven't been rolling terribly quickly, I can say unequivocally that there's no moss on me.

Happy Saturday!

Baby Gift

Terrible lighting today - it's dark outside and looks as though it can't decide whether or not to rain.  I wish it would because my flowers are suffering, but I would like it to wait until I finish whacking weeds and edging.  I don't want much, do I?!

In any case, one of our submariner friends and his wife have just had their first baby - and I sewed these burp rags up yesterday for her.  Every baby needs a pink submarine, don't you think?  And one is never too young for exposure to Amy Butler fabric and rick rack!  The pink is much nicer than it shows up in the photograph - sweet, but not too, too sweet and the brown grounds it.  Okay -- really it's just that I love brown and pink together. 

Should Something So Simple Make Me So Happy?

Okay - to be honest, I am not sure that this even fits into the "Making Stuff" category.  It was too easy for that.  At swim practice this morning, a girlfriend (Hi Lori!) had the latest Pottery Barn catalog.  While I need want a new sofa, I was really taken with the accessorizing and the styling in the catalog.  They've come a long way from the JCPenney style of cataloging where every item is photographed either alone with a paragraph describing the high quality naugahyde used on the item, or in a grouping where everything is matchy-matchy.  PB's photostyling looks like there's a chance that real people use these rooms - really anal-retentive organized, clean and well-heeled people, but people nonetheless. 

On one of the pages in that catalog, a shadowbox was filled with corks and placed on the wall.  I was so excited because corks?  That's something I've got a lot of! And - in my basement I had one IKEA shadowbox left.  In the course of about ten minutes I had that baby done and photographed.  Now, on to the housework that's screaming at me!

Still Makin' Things. . .

In the midst of all of the other craziness, I have been able to sneak down to my basement laboratory (you must say that as though you watched Young Frankenstein last night like I did - la-BORE-a-tory - golly, I love that movie). Sorry - digressed again - gotta do something about that.  I've managed to sew some pillows for the shop - pictures of those tomorrow; make tags with Carey - pictures of those tomorrow, too; and make this cigar box collage-shrine-thing.  This baby's going to Texas, so Lara - if you're not up for a plot-spoiler then turn away now.  This is the cutest square cigar box I've ever seen - I found it at an estate sale of a hoarder collector, and it was full of junk military memorabilia.  I haven't made a collage-y shrine before - think I was intimidated by the process.  I mean is there a RIGHT way to do this?  So - after throwing caution to the wind, and knocking back a glass of good red wine, here it is:

The thimble came from a box of vintage sewing goodies that Lara sent to me, and the spool of thread is from my grandmother's thread stash.  I have been saving those for years, and haven't been brave enough to use them for anything.  The phrase on the top of the box, which has a neat device to keep it open when you want to, says "Wild women never get the blues" over a photograph of a highkicking line of cute grannies.  The phrase on the slidemount with the bathing beauty is "better and better".    And aren't we all?

Now comes the hard part - actually getting it the post office. . .