BEAUTY AND THE LIGHT

BEAUTY AND THE LIGHT

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Images from Pinterest, Gypsy Purple, Zza Zza Bellagio

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L  O  V  E       L  O  V  E        L  O  V  E        I  T

The month of February, with the outside looking cool, wintery white and gray, it had me longing for spring, with its fresh, bright colors and textures.  An early “spring fever” had me desperately wanting to redo my living room, putting more color where neutrals and too much beige were living.  (How did that happen…I am not a beige person!)   Inspiration for a transformation was easily accessed by looking online at beautiful BOHEMIAN INTERIORS.   Yeah, for pinterest!   Oh boy, out came the turquoise paint, new window treatments, a new rug, some pillows, and within a week our surroundings went from blah to comfortably colorful. 

Having recently been attracted to the artist, Augustus John, and his colorful impressionistic painting style,  I decided to be very brave and tackle a large painting for the living room…..something similar to his impressionistic style.

This is the result, now hanging on our wall.  I have named it….. “GYPSY GIRLS”.

MORE INSPIRATION FROM THE

 BOLD AND BEAUTIFUL

Coveting this chandelier and day bed

Wish I had a brick wall!

Something red in every room…..a must have!

oh yes, plants and tall ornate mirror would be nice

a dreamy outdoor patio

something funky and unexpected 

for those who can or want to, paint some art on the walls

eclectic finds for embellishment

fresh flowers, books and a fireplace

pillows and fringed anything, always a good thing!

Bohemian style…anything goes really, it’s all about surrounding yourself with things you love and that make you happy.

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Images: pinterest, gypsy purple, bohemian girl

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Do you wish you could have a more OPEN HEART, be more LOVING to everything, everyone, especially to yourself?    I wish that as well.

OPEN HEARTED

Do you wish to be more OPEN and TRANSPARENT with your feelings, your thoughts, and to care less and less about what others may think, when you do?         Me too.

TRANSPARENCY

Will this be the year you are BRAVE enough, to peel back layers of self protection, open yourself up to all possibilities, stop being invisible to yourself and to others?   I dream that dream for all women, for all people.  

Sometimes it is difficult to look within ourselves and change old ways of being….

But when we do, that’s when our DREAMS become REAL, that’s when we experience LIVING FULLY 

NOW, this year, it’s time for us to GROW, STRETCH OURSELVES

FEEL, DEEPER LOVING

AND MORE CREATIVITY, LIMITLESS IMAGININGS.

REALLY WITNESSING ALL BEAUTY IN LIFE

 INTENSE WITH COLOR,  SEEING CLEARLY, THE ALMOST INVISIBLE.

WE CAN TRANSFORM OURSELVES, AS WE STRETCH OUR WINGS.

THAT’S THE MAGIC OF LIFE!

AND WHEN LIVING IN THE LIGHTNESS OF BEING,

WE WILL FEEL PEACE, BECAUSE AT THE CORE OF OUR SPIRITUAL BEING,   WE ARE  PEACE.       WE ARE  LOVE.

 WE DREAM THIS DREAM TOGETHER.

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Images from Pinterest

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As you can tell I am completely enamored by the creativity that goes into making such fantastical head wear.  Can’t help but drool over this kind of art!

SERIOUSLY!  HOW IMAGINATIVE IS THIS!

AFTER WANDERING INTO THIS VISUAL FANTASY LAND,   IT”S OFFICIAL,  MY HAT AND HEAD DRESS MAKING SKILLS, ARE DEFINITELY ABOUT THIS LEVEL………

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IN MY STUDIO………….OH MY, I DO HAVE STUFF!!!!!        EVEN A CROWN TREE!

A TABLE FULL OF GLASS DOLL SCULPTURES, ORBS, AND SPIRIT VESSELS!

OH DEAR, AND MORE HATS, CROWNS AND MANNEQUIN HEADS………..

DREAMCATCHERS, SOME BIG DISCO BALLS.  AND A LITTLE BIT OF MAGIC!

I CALL MY CREATIVE SPACE…… the “SANCTUARY STUDIO”.

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NO MATTER HOW WE HUMANS ALTER OR CREATE ART…..NATURE DOES IT THE BEST, SIMPLY BY BEING………………….BEAUTIFUL.

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She was loaded to the brim with all things whimsical, beautiful and colorful!  All things glittery and glamorous!  She attracted wise women, like moths to a flame!

In no time we were surrounded by happy, giggling, delighted (and delightful) women, who tried on crowns, swirled in crinolines, draped themselves with beautiful scarves and jewellery!  The afternoon was spent “crowning” women, laughing and non-stop talking!

Women were invited into the Gypsy Queen to experience its ambience.  Listening to women being awed by the beauty inside the little trailer, was one of my favourite things of the day…..because sharing the Gypsy Queen as an INSPIRATION FOR CREATIVITY, was the main reason I wanted to create her in the first place!

Well now the Gypsy Queen has had her first outing, and is ready for more adventures. It was on this day in September, that we three girlfriends,

had so much fun, that we have given birth to the idea, that we,  (Janet,  Darlene and Leah), want to create together, more Gypsy Queen special events and road trips!    See you down the road!

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HER STORY:

I begin by saying, that the dream of having a little refurbished Boler trailer, started when I thought of using one as a travelling art studio that I could sell my art work from.

I have always been fascinated by gypsies and their romantic looking little caravans.  Gypsy caravans represent the dream of a lifestyle, where one has the freedom to go anywhere, at any time, with no strings attached.

THE RENOVATION…. PHASE 1:

In the early part of June, this year, after some hunting, we were fortunate to find a 1973, 13 foot Boler.  It was in desperate need of some TLC, not to mention, some major fixing!  But it was love at first sight….. even though she was dented, rusted and grudgy inside.  She seemed to be sitting there patiently waiting for someone to notice that she had great potential to become beautiful inside and out!

I had a grand vision of what she could look like, but first, we had a lot of work to do.   Dick had the most difficult job …… that of fixing the exterior with all its  bumps and multiple bruises.  He spent hours scraping, filling and sanding; fiber glassed holes where vents use to be; removed old windows and cut openings for new ones; installed new door hinges, windows, ceiling vent, new lights, new wiring, and a new hitch!  He replace underfloors, installed a new wood floor and built a beautiful cabinet.

SCRAPING PAINT OFF

FIBERGLASS, FILLING BIG VENT HOLES  AND MULTIPLE SCREW HOLES

FILLING HOLES AND SANDING AND SANDING!

PRIMING FOR THE FINAL PAINT JOB AND MORE SANDING!

BUILT IN CABINET

FINALLY READY FOR THE TRIP TO THE PAINT SHOP

Dick assured me he enjoyed his laborious tasks, even though it was frustrating for him that he couldn’t work a full day, due to the hot summer weather.  He did an AMAZING job!  Unbelievable, considering what he had to do.   My husband is my hero, he always helps make my dreams come true…..

PHASE 2:

HOME FROM THE PAINT SHOP,  A ROYAL METALLIC GOLD!

While GYPSY QUEEN was getting gorgeous on the outside, I spent time gathering fabric and trim for embellishing her interior.  I had piles of fabric, and choosing what fabrics go where, became a little daunting.  Fortunately, I had my best sweetiepie friend, Leah, helping me get clear on a layering design.

MOUNDS OF LUSCIOUS FABRIC!

First task in the interior, was to glue the paintable wallpaper to the ceiling.  This was a difficult job because Boler trailers are all roundness and angles.  Thank god, daughters Kim and Anni helped me with that!  It sometimes took 3 pairs of hands to accomplish some sections!

CUTTING FABRIC PATTERNS FOR THE WALLS

FABRIC AND MILES OF TRIM TO THE WALLS

PAINTING AND ANTIQUING THE CUPBOARD

 ART AND COLLAGE IN THE CORNERS

And now for the best part, the finishing touches…….upholstery, pillows and ruffles!  Miraculously and thankfully, my best friend Janet, offered to sew everything…..no easy task as I always think MORE is always better!   She did an amazing job of bringing to life, the exact feel and look that I wanted for the GYPSY QUEEN.   Absolutely Beautiful!!!!

THE ROUCHING BEGINS!

FINISHING TOUCHES

And so here she is, GYPSY QUEEN, in all her glory……. beautiful, romantic looking, luscious and serene.  She’s lovely to sit in with daughters and girlfriends, talking and sipping on something cool and sweet.

GYPSY QUEEN is ready to travel…..and soon will have her debut at a Wise Women Festival.

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CAN YOU TELL I KINDA LOVE FANTASY FASHION, AND DRESS UP?  A BIT OF A REPEATED VISUAL PATTERN THAT SEEMS TO HAPPEN ON MY BLOG.  BUT IT’S SO CREATIVE, EXILARATING AND FASCINATING TO ME………I CAN’T SEEM TO STOP POSTING THIS KIND OF INSPIRED CREATIVITY! 

INSPIRATION AND THE MAGIC COMING TOGETHER TO CREATE  WONDERFUL!

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