Dumpster Diver

Imagine my surprise when I went to take the trash out, to find a man inside of the dumpster going thru the trash. Although I've seen it many times, people going thru the trash looking for cans or whatever, it always takes me aback . Going thru my trash still seems like going thru my personal stuff without my permission.

My first thought was go to another dumpster because I'd be disturbing him(like I'm in the wrong for wanting to throw away my trash) and as I came back I thought , If he can dig thru my garbage, I can take his picture. At first I tried to sneak and take it from afar using my zoom,but as I got closer,he smiled at me so I asked him if he was looking for cans and he said yes and continued to look. He was going thru a bag,moving it to the side and then going through the next one.

He looked neat and clean,look how white is hat is and he had a garbage bag full of cans already.

I can't say I've never dumpster dived. Once in a hurry to straighten up before going to work I inadvertently threw a bag with two boxes of new contacts in the dumpster. But I retrieved them with a chair and a long broom handle. I hope there is never a reason I would have to climb all the way in.

Until next time, Peace and Love,The Gypsy

Cathy's Extra's

Recently I attended a gem show that comes here once a year. It's not very large and they mostly sell gems.

This year I was surprised when I came across a booth with brass stampings and filigree! If you've visited my store you'll see I use a lot of brass. I had to contain myself and breath because it's so easy to lose yourself and spend a lot of money.

Cathy had so many beautiful stampings,charms and findings. She had items with a blue or green patina and those are my favorite. Also she had fabulous jewelry made from everything that she has to sell.

I have a few of the pieces I purchased pictured along with the jewelry I've made so far. A filigree bracelet with Turquoise accent stones,a cuff made from the picture stamping of a Heron,and a filigree ring with pearl dangles.

The best part of the experience was meeting Cathy. With a booth full of people she found time to ask me several times if she could help me ,she found the items I'd seen in her pieces but couldn't find. Her customer service was excellent! Sweet and helpful!

Here is her website: www.cathysextras.etsy.com

also www.filigreeandme.com

Enjoy and until next time Peace and Love, The Gypsy

The HairStylist Perfect Gift

Christmas is coming! One of many good reasons to shop early for your beloved Hair Stylist.

Although a random" just because gift" will go far also! Trust me... I'm a Hair Artist myself and I love when my clients surprise me with gifts!

I've added and will keep adding unusual Gypsy style jewelry for the Hair Artist and Nail Tech to my stores.

Right now my focus is charm style necklaces, but I do have business card holders and cigarette ID cases. I will be adding rings and maybe bangles as soon as my imagination gets pumped up and running!

Combs,brushes,blow dryers,mirrors and shears along with rhinestones and crystals will adorn the jewelry.

If you see something you like grab it up whether it's for a gift or for yourself, the styles will change although the concept will be the same.

HairStylists Rock!

Check out both of my stores for different styles!

www.thebohemiangypsy.etsy.com

www.thebohemiangypsy.artfire.com

Check out some of my latest styles and until next time.

Peace and Love The Gypsy!

Truly Honored

Last week we had a new stylist start working at the salon. His name is Dan and he moved into the vacant station next to me. I was having a conversation with my client about my jewelry and Dan asked me if I every used old jewelry.

He then told us that his mom passed away when he was 11 in 1970. He said he was given his moms jewelry box. He said he tried to give it to his aunt but she didn't really wear jewelry. He's kept it on his dresser ever since.

When I came to work on Friday a big bag of goodies was waiting for me on my station. I am so honored that Dan would give me his moms jewelry that he has had for 40 years after only knowing me for 4 days.

I've made a few rings with some of the broken pieces, but some of the pieces are so pretty I'm not sure if I want to reassemble them. I also think it's something about knowing the history of the jewelry that makes me want to keep the pieces as they are and on my dresser for 40 years.

In any case, I really feel special, and here's a few of my favorite pieces. A blue and white beaded necklace and bracelet set, turtle and frog pins, and a pair of creamy bead pearl earrings.

Thanks for letting me share,Until next time,Peace and Love-The Gypsy.

Bohemian Gypsy Vintage Locket September Giveaway

Welcome to September and my first of hopefully many,(if everything goes well),giveaway! Yea!

The item that I will be giving away is a beautiful vintage locket from my exclusive collection Vintage Re-Visited. This item has not been seen in any of my shops,on line or off. It is from my line that I will be premièring at my upcoming Christmas shows.

The brass locket and the crystals that adorn it-are vintage. The crystals are rose and Topaz AB in color. They sit in a thick raised filigree setting in the shape of a cross.

The locket measures 1.75x1.5 inches. There are two compartments inside to hold pictures.

The chain,also vintage, measures 18.5 inches and is actually two different chains on both sides. The closure is a spring ring.

Now for the rules, as a new blogger,followers would be a great motivation to keep blogging so,

For a chance to win this gorgeous locket you must sign up as a follower of my blog between Sept 1 and Sept 25. I will put all the names in a jar(I promise) to pull the winner. I will contact the winner on Sept 26 and the locket will be in the post on Sept 27.

I thank you in advance for your participation and good luck!

Until next time ,Peace and Love, The Gypsy

Better Late Than Never-Not Always

The down side of being creative is sometimes your ideas come to late. That has been my situation this week. I came up with an idea for some necklaces using pewter ransom letters. I first used the letters a while back designing some shadow boxes for my daughters co-workers at her salon. Then I thought I was oh so cleaver to use the scrap booking letters to make my "Held Captive " line of jewelry. The down side was each pack of letters only had one of each vowel, which left me with a lot of unused letters and a lack of enthusiasm
.

Now months later I've envisioned a line of hair and nail pendants using the ransom letters, so I go to the store and to my dismay the line that carries the letters has been discontinued-OH NO! I found one pack in the clearance bin, so I have been all over town(buying all kinds of goodies that have nothing to do with what I'm searching for)in the Arizona heat from store to store and to no avail.

So here's my limited addition pendants,if you love them grab them,Christmas is a coming. They will be spread out between my Etsy store and my Art Fire store.

Until Next Time, Peace and Love-The Gypsy

Wire Queen aka Michelle S. Hawkins

I recently had the pleasure of meeting Michelle S. Hawkins aka Wire Queen. I see why she's called the Wire Queen. Her work is royally beautiful! She sculpts wire designed jewelry in 14k Gold and Sterling Silver.

I've been to her web sites and the pieces are much more beautiful in person!

Here are a few of my favorite pieces. I really love rings and she has some unusual designs. She will also custom make any size if you don't see it listed.

First I love the oversized tablet ring called "Chinese writing stones"

My next favorites are her "spinner" rings. These rings have round stones or crystal that sit up on the setting and will spin if you give them a swipe. The ones pictured are made of Amber,Australian Crystal and New Jade.

I've also pictured her best selling ring the Cowrie shell ring,beautifully caged in Sterling Silver.

Here's Michelle's info, check her out, buy yourself a "I deserve it" piece of jewelry.

www.wirequeen.etsy.com

www.michelles.artfire.com

www.wirequeen.efreeme.com

www.wirequeen.blogspot.com

Until next time,Peace and Love, The Gypsy

I I am so happy to have a write up in the August issue of NAIL'S Magazine. They did a feature on ETSY sellers with nail related products. Everyone has wonderful stuff so check them out!

Until later,Peace and Love-The Gypsy

Antique Shopping

I love going to the antique stores. I usually go once a week. I go looking for pieces that I can use in my designs, but sometimes I see pieces that make me what to change my whole decor.

This bedroom set would make change a whole room! It is gorgeous! Lucky for me that they don't deliver and I live up stairs. Even the string picture of the rooster caught my eye.

I did come across some great finds that I will show you the before and after. I haven't decided if I am going to sell them in my shop or keep the for my Christmas Craft shows.

Although I don't smoke I love these ashtrays for your purse! These were very tarnished and were missing crystals. I polished them and added vintage crystals. I left some of the wear so they would still have a vintage feel.

This cigarette holder is so great I'm trying to figure an alternative use for it so that I can keep it for myself. this is the first one I've come across and I haven't started working on it yet, but when I do you'll be the first to see it!

Until next time- Peace and Love- The Gypsy!

IS IT Me Or Have I Been Tricked ?

Just yesterday I received a package of goodies I had been waiting for, aqua blue vintage crystals in a gold setting. To my horror and surprise that were very damaged. I ordered 10-10 were damaged.The gold foil on the back that gives the crystal the reflective shine was missing in great chunks as you see in the photos.

I took pictures and wrote the seller to ask if I'd over looked the part in the description that said they were in that bad of condition. I've bought vintage before but it was always "new" vintage.

This is the reply I received: "The missing foil is mentioned in the description.They are new in the sense that they've never been used. Any damage has occurred over time as they get jostled around in their package". I was offered a refund or exchange.

I go to the site to read the description: " The stone has crisp faceting and foil back that reflects the light for a dazzling effect. There is a slight bit of foil missing but the stone is sparkling and beautiful! I just went back to the site to quote what she said exactly, and she has changed the description to tell of the missing foil as a straight fact.

Even so ,even stated, the pictures on the site were misleading, having a back ground close in color so that only after knowing can you see the missing foil. How could you in good faith send these out?

Is it just me, or was I tricked?

Until next time,Peace and love,The Gypsy