And the Winner Is

Using my trusty gypsy cards, I picked Marie as the winner. Her blog is called Art from the Heart. I hope she likes the Vagabond Bag. I'll post photos of the goodies inside in a few days, so I don't spoil the surprise!!

Today's Wish:
This time, like all times, is a very good one if we know what to do with it.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Tick Tock Tick Tock

The countdown to the day of fabulous prizes is almost over. Here in VictorianGypsyLand, the drawing will be held tomorrow evening. You can still enter until 8 pm Central time on Monday, February 15. Then I will draw and let you know.
Lisa ended up with over 1,000 generous gifters. I didn't get to visit nearly that many blogs, but I have been trying. There are so many wonderful writers and artists, I am overwhelmed.

By the way, Happy Valentine's Day. I sort of skipped it. One good thing about my life right now....there is so much room for improvement.
And so, on to the bottle of Wishes:
Your only treasures are those you carry within your heart. Demophilus
Well, now, that's a pretty good one for February 14! I'm spending a lot of energy lately trying not to focus on material things. Paring down my treasures and concentrating on what is really meaningful to me, so this one made a lot of sense. Even though I love material things. Sigh.

One World One Heart

It's that time of year again. Lisa's creative blog giveaway is here for the fourth time and I've been a part of it for all four years. Read all about it here and get involved if you can. It's a lot of fun, and I always find so many great new blogs. Just leave a comment on this post and you will be entered. Drawing for the winner will be held on February 15.

This year, Lisa is having a magic carpet ride. Just the thing for us VictorianGypsies. I'll be giving away one of my Gypsy Vagabond Bags. And it will be filled with gypsy treasures. Not sure what, because it's a surprise. Be sure to visit. You'll find all sorts of new blog friends and be glad that you did.

Inspiration and Whimsy

I need a little inspiration when it comes to pictures. I never seem to have the ones I want for the things I want to write about. I've spent a lot of time this week looking for the perfect photo. It's a picture of the group of Senate pages taken the last time I worked at the Capitol--in 1967! And would you believe it, they are still wearing the same style of blazers, and wearing the same nametags. Sometimes my life seems to be a cycle of deja vu! I love my new job, and am so sorry it is only temporary. My only problem is the wardrobe deficiency. But I am working on creative accessorizing. As for the picture, I knew exactly where it was before the big move, nearly four years ago. If I find it, I will post it, just for the amusement factor.
Wish for Today: "Do what you can, with what you have, where you are." Theodore Roosevelt

Another Employment Adventure

Here's a picture of our Iowa Capitol building. It was started in 1871 and finished in 1886 and is a beautiful building. Beginning tomorrow, I'll be spending a lot of time there for the next three months. I'm going to be working at the switchboard for the 2010 Legislative session. Behind the scenes, yes, but I think I will really enjoy it. (Because of budget cuts, I will only be employed at Living History Farms for six months a year from now on. That would be lovely if I were independently wealthy or a lottery winner, but no such luck.)
Since I've spent most of my recent years living in the past, a suitable wardrobe is a bit of a problem. I'm really not used to dressing for business, wearing make-up, and leaving the house, oh, so very early in the mornings. It will be good for me, I'm sure.

And Ringing In The New

Happy New Year! Resolutions, anyone? As for me, I have been making the same ones every year forever. (Lose weight...Clear out clutter....Exercise...) This year I am going to concentrate on feeling grateful. My last year was all about a sense of lack, of having less and doing less and being less. So in 2010 I am going to see, and do, and feel the abundance that is my life.

For years I have been making "Wishes", little messages in bottles. They are a mixture of quotes and sayings and things that I just make up. My plan is to pull a Wish out of the WishBottle whenever I write here and just see what it says.
So here is my Wish for January 1:
"An Everyday Wish:
Take the time to play today."
And I did. We spent some time with Finn and Tess while their parents went to a movie. Who better to play with than two and four year olds with new Christmas toys?

Ringing Out the Old

Obviously, the birthday month idea didn't work out! I've been gone for ever so long, but I had to say goodbye to 2009. It wasn't my best year ever, though it is starting to pick up a little here at the end. I'm back. I'm anxiously waiting for 2010, because lots of good things are ahead this year, and soon the past will be a mostly (un)pleasant memory. I'm wishing lots of good things for all of us in this New Year and hoping I will have blog friends again.

The Festivities Begin

Here it is the very first day of my birthday "month" and I got a present in the mail. My dear Silver Bella friend Jodie of everything vintage made this beautiful necklace and gift box for me. My pictures don't do it justice. It is gorgeous, and of course, I love my gypsy lady. What a thoughtful and wonderful birthday gift, and two weeks early! I am such a procrastinator that I buy my belated birthday cards ahead of time. I always know I'll need them. Thank you dear Jodie for starting my month off in such a great way.

Look at this great box. It's tied with rayon seam binding! (Sorry about that picture. Of course the dangling jewel should be dangling, not pushed over to the side.) She is so clever. And I am so lucky.

My Birthday Give A Way will be posted in a few days--but sign up anyway. What's a birthday without surprises?

Memory Lane and a Give A Way

Can you believe this was my favorite book when I was in the 5th grade? Last week a friend and I were talking about books we'd loved as children, and I got very nostalgic about this one. I couldn't remember the name-just that it was about a gypsy girl named Miranda and a horse. Started looking and there it was on Ebay! I think this was the book that started my gypsy fixation. So I just finished reading it again.I was a bit disturbed because she was sixteen and fell in love with and got engaged to a 26 year old. Eww-hadn't remembered that part.

We're still looking for "A Hatbox for Mimi". Anyone remember that one? I know, I know I'm old.

Speaking of, July is my birthday month, and I'm thinking of all sorts of ways to celebrate it. So starting now, I'm having a give a way on July 15 for anyone who posts between now and then.

Waterlogged at Walnut

Yesterday two of my non-blog friends and I took a little roadtrip to Walnut, Iowa for a day of antiquing, junking, eating and laughing. Well, we had a lot of fun with the eating and laughing, but the junking was a real disappointment. The day started out great, so we left our umbrellas in the car. Big mistake. It didn't take long before the weather changed and we were just about as wet as we could be. And just imagine all these wonderful treasures hiding under the tarps. The sale lasts three days, but I could only be there for the first day. So just think of all that money I saved!

A Perfect Day

Lovely Miss Lindsey came to visit us to celebrate her 8th birthday yesterday. Weeks ago, I got this letter from her. She had designed her first dress and was confident that I could make it for her. I haven't sewed clothing in ages, but finding the fabric was definitely the hardest part. Orchid with blue polka dots. (Next time, we'll pick the fabric first!) Lindsey has been planning the perfect day for weeks, and everyone cooperated. A coconut cream pie from Grandpa. A Hello Kitty birthday cake. Roses and marshmallows from her Dad. A party with all her aunts and uncles and cousins. And then spending the night with us with a bath in the bubble tub, and time for crafting in my craft room. A perfect day and she planned it all in advance! My daughters and I decided she's got the right idea and we are now all planning our perfect birthdays. (Mine's next month, so I'll be first) Today we asked if she would have changed anything. She said "Yes, we would have all gone bowling."

Oh, and now she's forming her own company LDKC (LindseyD Kansas City) She's the designer, and I'm just supposed to make it all happen.......

Actually, it was all lots of fun, and she's just a sweetie who never asks for anything, until all these birthday plans happened. She said it was her best day ever, and we know she won't always think we're perfect.

Silver Bella Vendor

I'm so excited! I've been accepted as a vendor for Silver Bella in November! More about it later, but I just had to get it up here now.

Some Junky Fun

I recently went to Junk Club. Whatever is that, you well may ask. Well, it's an absolutely lovely nite out making things from junk. This month's project was a planter made from an old tin drawer. We painted it, and then made a marker, painted half way with chalk board paint, and decorated with a piece of chalk and an antique key, and some twisty wire. My picture is bad, but you can see the real thing here, at Old Crow Farm. How cute is that? And she even fed us. They have these projects once a month, and it's getting harder to get in. Don't know if I can be at the next one or not. But I'm trying. I love the old metal junky things that they sell, but I have to be really careful about what I buy. My husband doesn't like, understand, or care about this look at all. A few years ago, he painted every junky thing that I had...... white, while I was at work one day, thinking he would surprise me. And he did.

Things are kind of rocky here, since he is still semi unemployed. He is spending a lot of time at home, and I never seem to be here at all. He's finished all sorts of projects. I never know what I'll find when I come home. He took all the old awful WWII linoleum off our kitchen floor. What a mess, but the original 1918 wood floor looks fantastic. Now he's been working on the old windows, which has turned into another major job. He's refinished the steps to the attic. Even though I liked the old paint, the wood looks nice. And the steps are a lot more solid than they used to be. A zillion projects--inside and out. I can't even think of them all. He's remodeled our son's kitchen and attic, and stripped wallpaper, and refinished more furniture than I can remember. I keep trying to get him to hire himself out as a handyman. Seems like a good idea to me, but he isn't co-operating. And I think I'll just stop here.

Skipping Thru May

Well, it's pretty obvious that's what I've been doing. Skipping, that is. Here this month is practically over, and I've barely been here for it, so a quick update on what's been happening.

First of all, I haven't posted all the wonderful treasures I received from ArtsyMama. This was the May Basket swap and she sent me the best bunch of goodies. Lots of vintage lace, cards, art boards, one with a pocket. I loved these! Just oodles of stuff. All great. I mailed her a May Basket made from coiled vintage fabric. Don't know if I'll make another one of these. It wasn't easy getting that cone shape! I've been making small gypsytreasure baskets though. I really like these. They are embellished with charms, beads, and buttons, and can hold your treasures. I have some on my etsy site.

I can't quite get my pictures where I want them, so hopefully, you'll know which is which. I'm out of time, so more to come later. Pinky promise.

A Busy Weekend

Had a very busy weekend. First, a First Communion for my granddaughter. She was a beautiful and very grown up seven year old in her pretty white dress and her mother's veil. I cried.
And then a funeral for my aunt who was the eccentric of our already crazy family, and a reunion with my sisters who live far away. I cried again.

Long Live the Queens

Thirty two years ago three friends and I decided that we never got out-so we started Craft Nite and have been getting together once a month ever since! The group has grown, and now we each host it about once a year. For me, it's about the only time I really cook anymore. Yes,we have dinner, gift exchange, and a craft. Sometimes we even have a theme. This month the theme was England, and so, of course, we had to make crowns. Here we are, modeling our crowns and doing the Queen wave.

I've never posted a real picture of myself, so I'll let you guess which one I am! Lucky for me, none of these royal ladies ever read my blog, so they won't know I did this. Really, we usually look better.

Words I Live By

A Happy Easter Greeting

Yes, I do know it was yesterday, but here's where we were. This is a beautiful, gorgeous and very traditional church in Kansas City. It's called Our Lady of Perpetual Help, more commonly known as Redemptorist and was built in 1912. Breathtaking.

Oh, and the kids. As you can tell, they don't stand still very often. These are the Kansas City Grands. Tom is 9, Lindsey,7, and Joey is 5.

Excuses, Excuses

"I don't like to write, but I love to have written." Michael Kanin
I don't know who he is, but this is a quote I just came across on Rebecca Sower's beautiful blog, right after I read a few "where are you?" posts on my forlorn little journal. Thanks for caring and for getting me back into motion. Actually, I am just running out the door, late, as usual, but I will be back later today with something...and pictures.

If You're Irish...

If you're Irish, come into the parlor,

There's a Welcome here for you
Well, it wasn't too easy getting Finn and Tess to sit still and smile for a little Irish picture, but here they are. They are spending the night with us, while their parents are out celebrating the holiday in the grand old Irish way.

Finn has the greatest hat. Underneath his shamrock jacket, his green shirt says "Wee Little

Troublemaker", and he showed up ringing my doorbell early this morning wearing his green frog wellies. Tess's shamrock bow didn't stay in her hair very long.

My husband's family is pure and total Irish. I'm only a little bit Irish, but our children and grands all turned out 100% green. So this is a big holiday around here. Funny thing is, we're the ones who stay home now, while everyone else goes out to party.