Tea Time

Look, look, look at the beautiful treasures I received from Cris Cunningham at Enchanted Heart Studio. I love this little Tea for One pot! It'a pale yellow, and goes perfectly with the blue and yellow plate. I also received a box of note cards-love Jane Austen, however did Cris know? And a sweet little notebook, and LOTS of tea. And all wrapped in gorgeous black and white toile tissue paper.

And here's what I sent to her: A little white tea pot with a crocheted tea cozy. I added beads and charms to the tie. I included two napkins trimmed with rick rack, a vintage apron, and a scattering of my TeaThyme Wishes.

This swap was a lot of fun. It was hosted by Teresa McFayden as part of her Bellatoria Zine. If you haven't subscribed to one of her Zines yet, please check it out. She has the most wonderful ideas. And she makes all sorts of fantastic projects sound easy!!! I confess that I haven't done too many of them yet. Just seeing and reading about them makes me happy.

Thanks Teresa for Bellatoria and the swap. Chris and I had a good time, and I think we're blog friends now. Hope so

Spring Banner

Hi,

Look what I received from Linda Harre at StudioStuffGirls. I won a drawing! I've been pretty lucky lately--maybe it's time to start buying lottery tickets. She has a much better picture of this at her blog. It is very sweet, with lots of detail and pretty bird eggs. She also sent a pack of vintage wallpaper. I've been wanting to make a banner for baby Tess's room since she was born in November. Guess I'd better get a little busier.

Pass the Popcorn!!

Oh no,
John Adams, Jane Austen, and Anne Bolyn, all on the same nite, and all forcing me to sit mesmerized before the tv. I do have a project to work on, so I'm not feeling quite like such a
decadent person.
I have lots to tell you, and pictures of surprises that I've been getting in the mail, but of course the camera isn't even close to where I am. I think that is what keeps me from posting regularly--taking the pictures, uploading them, etc. etc. I can't seem to find a decent time and spot for photography. I think there is about one hour of the day when my pictures turn out decently, and I'm usually not here then. I really want to work on that. My goal is to actually hit 100 posts this year, And by that time, I hope to have enough blog friends to have a drawing.
I started back at Living History Farms this week, and spent Friday teaching Victorian etiquette to 5th graders. If you visit the site, I am back at my beloved Flynn House, plus I will be spending one day a week in the Millinery. The general season begins May 1, but now we are working with school groups and cleaning and getting the summer programs ready. I really feel that I am back where I belong. I left my full time position over 2 years ago, and have worked sporadically since then. Lots of changes, but I'll still be getting to do the things that I love. I will still be working for our family biz as "lunch lady" one night a week, but for the most part, I will finally be sleeping at night again. Already I feel more energetic. I am really hoping to get a lot more creative things finished too. I've been in a lull.............

Saint Paddy's Day

And what else would we expect on St Paddy's day but an Irish Gypsy Caravan. This is one of my favorite postcards from my Gypsy Collection.

I've Been Tagged!

I've been tagged by Cyndi! I've never been tagged before, so I really don't know how to react. I have to share 7 things about myself, some random and some weird. This is hard--most of the random, weird things I know are about my family..........
1. I love history, and have worked for several years at a living history museum. I took a couple of years off, but am going back next month. I enjoy spending my days in 1875.
2. I know how to make jewelry from hair, and to cook on a woodstove. (See #1)
3.My maternal grandmother had 5 children. My mother has 5 children. I have 5 children. All are grown now
4.I collect gypsy items. Pictures, books, advertisements, cards, clothespins, fortune telling items, dolls, caravans, etc.
5. I've believed in reincarnation ever since I read "The Search for Bridey Murphy" when I was twelve.
6.Everything I do takes longer than I think it will.
7.I've lived in the same zipcode for most of my life.
Well, that's pretty random.
Now, for seven other bloggers.
1. Rowan Willow
2.The Marmelade Gypsy
3.Vintage Moon
4.Gypsy Wagon
5.Calamity Kim
6.Gypsy Froggie
7.Purple Majic
I can't say that I really know a lot of bloggers (or that they know me), but these are some that I enjoy reading
Have fun with this.

One World One Heart Winners

We have our winners! I'll be sending a bottle of GypsyWoman's Wishes to Lisa OceanDreamer and another bottle to Staci Rose !!! They'll go out on Monday. If anyone out there would like some sample Wishes, just send me an email with your address. I also have them for sale at www.sandimoran.com or on Etsy.
I will miss having all these visitors. Hope some of you come back again.
Well, it's time for bed for me. I'll be back later today with some pictures (finally) and news about the drawings that I won.
Thank you Lisa for all that you did. This was phenomenal. I'll be reading new blogs forever. There are so many that looked fascinating.

I Won Something!!!

Kari at ArtsyMama held a drawing and I won! The prize is a goodie bag from Anthropologie (so, who wouldn't love it). I'll post when it comes. I was so excited I emailed her twice, thinking maybe she wouldn't recognize the different addy. Kari's is one of my favorite blogs. She was the hostess for the Valentine Supplies Swap. She's had several others, but this is the first I got in on. You have to move quickly for these things. Anyway, I am thrilled. It was a good day for me. I won something and got a job offer-more on that later.
Well, isn't this One World drawing just turning into the biggest thing ever. I do hope some of these people come back and visit me again and that I can get some visitors to my little blog in "real time". I've been trying to keep track of where I've been, but it gets confusing. I participated in this last year, but it was much smaller. Last year I didn't win anything, but I found all sorts of new places to visit, so that made it more than worthwhile. Thank you Lisa for all this hard work you've been doing. This was truly an inspiration.

Valentine Swap

Here's the box I mailed to Elizabeth for ArtsyMama's swap. Got it out today which was the duedate. I swear, I am never early with anything. I think it has some fun things in it. Ribbons, lace, charms, butttons, trim, beads, stickers, and Wishes I hope she enjoys it. I hope it doesn't arrive all jumbled.

One World One Heart

Hi!

Here's my give-a-way. Just leave a comment on this post and you will be entered in to the drawing for one of my Wish Bottles. Wishes are magical little messages to brighten your day. Each bottle contains up to fifty quotes, thoughts, sayings, and things that I just make up. The bottle also includes a fairy wand to help you get your Wishes back into the bottle. Remember, just leave me a note, and on February 14, maybe I'll pick you!

UPDATE: I decided to add another bottle and have two drawings. What would the VictorianGypsy's blog be without a bottle of her GypsyWoman's Wishes, I ask you!! When you win you can choose either style. Here's what the tag says on this one: To know the present, See the Past, and Foretell the Future.

Good luck and good fortune!

One World One Heart

It's time for Lisa OceanDreamer's One World One Heart Giveaway again and I'm going to play. I don't know what my item will be yet, but I'll have it posted by February 1st. The drawing will be held on February 14. Last year I posted a collaged journal. It was great to have all the visitors and comments and to visit everyone else. This is the year I've promised to be more active, creative, and involved. The last two years of changing jobs, downsizing, moving, and remodeling kept me away from blogland. I am always amazed at those who find time to post everyday, and that they have something to post about. This year, that still won't be me, but I will be better!!!

Caucus Fever in my Hometown

Everyone has deserted us and gone on to New Hampshire. Iowa is now the land of the lost and the lonely. The caucus was yesterday and after weeks and months, everything has quieted down. For months, the politicians and the press have been everywhere! We've been courted with daily phone calls, and coffee mugs, pins and pens, magnets, sandwiches, snow shovels, and bottles of water. Candidates have posed for pictures with our babies, and signed autographs. It was really pretty exciting, and I think, a good sign that people are interested in what's going to happen with our country. My candidate didn't win, but I think everything went well anyway. Iowa has had our little place in the news, and now I think we are all ready to get back to normal. I haven't been very active in politics, but find it fascinating. Many, many years ago, I spent the last semester of high school as a page in the Iowa senate. Whoops, just a little trip down Memory Lane

Memory Collage Ornaments

Before I finish with Christmas completely, I want to show these collage ornaments I made. It was our turn to host this year, and the hostess always has a little gift for the women of the family. I made these ornaments from pictures of my inlaws. The ornaments are two sided, one showing them as a young couple, and the other side after many years of marriage. I made several shapes and colors, but of course, I forgot to take pictures of them! Each was different, but all used the same two photos.

Finishing Christmas

Well, we've said goodbye to the lonely old tree. Sadly, it will be our last live one. My husband is excited that he won't have to deal with lights and needles any more, but I will miss it. We bought a very nice 7 1/2 foot Frasier fir after Christmas, but it still looks fake, fake, fake, to me.

The Stockings Were Hung

Well, they were....But Christmas has come and gone, and truly was Christmas in a Hurry. We had a lovely time. It was our turn to host the family, and our little house was overflowing with people. Lots of stockings as you can see. The bag is a German Christmas custom, although we aren't German. I bought it years and years ago from a favorite mail order company called Gerlachs of Lecha in Pennsylvania. I have no idea whether they are still around or not. I couldn't find anything about them. They published several books about traditions and holidays, and carried wonderful crafts supplies. Sigh. A little trip down memory lane.
Anyway, I use the bag for the grandchildren now, because I've run out of stockings! I hang up eleven of them now. Christmas stockings have always been an important part of the holiday for me.

Christmas in a Hurry

Well, the holidays are approaching even quicker than usual this year. I am doing bits of decorating rather than a big lavish production. Christmas is the only time I miss our old house. It did Christmas really well. Lots of places for greenery, an open stairway...sigh. Our cottage does suit us very well though. This is a picture of the front room. This is an old dental cabinet. Isn't it great? I think I mentioned before that I have an obsession with drawers. I don't wear a lot of jewelry, but this is my jewelry box. Yes, I know, it's in the front room.
At the windows are these great star lights that I found at Ikea. My signs say "It's a Wonderful Life". I keep that one out all year long. Sometimes I need to be reminded. The other one says "We have Christmas Lights". I found that one last year and had to have it because it was our first year ever for decorating outside.

Happy Days

Tess is finally home and things are getting back to normal. Thanks to all for prayers and warm wishes. It was a long and frightening week. She kept losing weight and had an infection that they never did identify. Everyday she was tested for something different. Everything looks good now, and I am ready to start Christmas. There is certainly a reason why we have our children when we are young!!!!

Finn and Baby Sister Tess

A busy month. My time never seems to be my own. I wanted to post at least once more in November! Baby Tess is in the hospital for the second time. She has pneumonia now. They still haven't gotten the feeding problems solved. She's lost quite a bit of weight, cries nearly all the time, and is just not a happy girl. I'm from a large family, have a large family, and now seven grandchildren, and we have been so lucky to not have health problems. It is just so scary when you feel helpless. I don't even know why I'm posting this, except I want this blog to be a record of what's happening.

Better news next time.

New Banner!!!!!!!

Isn't it great? I just love it. This banner was made for me by Kris at Blissful Elements and I'm so happy to have it. She also made a banner for my new Etsy store. So far I've just added one item, but I'll be getting more listed soon.
This has been an incredibly busy week. I've been trying to help my daughter as much as possible with the new baby and almost two year old Finn. She's had a few problems, but everything is going much better now. Amazing how much time and worry revolve around these precious little people. Tess is our seventh(!) grandbaby and only the second girl. What fun we'll have!

Are you sensing a theme?

Here I am, apologising again. I still can't seem to work this into my schedule, can I? I have lots of pictures to show you and lots of new things to talk about. I just always seem to get on the computer on my way out the door.
NEWS: A new grandbaby, born today. Welcome to the world, Tess Margaret. I know we will have lots of happy times together.
Other News: I will be opening an Etsy shop very soon. I'm so excited about the banner I am having made. It's a secret til it's up, but I think it will be just the thing.

Remember Me?

Okay, I know it's been about a million years. I totally dropped off the face of the earth this summer, but I'm back.
Computer problems, locked up email, poor memory for passwords, and lack of time have all contributed to my delinquency. This time I am really hoping to be a faithful blogger. I would really love it if someone comes to visit.