I've decided to try out a new internet shop venue called zibbet. I still love etsy, but it's good to try new things now and then, right? Check it out at http://www.zibbet.com/TypsyGypsies

The first 5 customers will each get a free gift with their purchase!!

WELCOME TO TYPSYGYPSIES'S SHOP

The Typsy Gypsies feature out of the ordinary hand-sculpted jewelry.
Each and every one of our items are thoughtfully constructed by Wendy (the good witch) always with attention to detail and good craftsmanship.
I generally use PREMO! clay for my projects, but will also use Sculpey III. Each piece is lovingly made, thoroughly cured, then glazed with polymer clay glaze to give it a finishing gloss.

Since each piece is handmade, every one is unique. I feel that each of my pieces is destined for a certain individual. I don't know who that person is, but it will eventually find their way to them. I like to think about this as I create, imagining who they will go to and the journeys they will take.

Pointy little Satyr horns!

After attending Beltania earlier this spring, and seeing all the fantastic, imaginative, and colorful costumes festival goers had put together, I'm inspired.  My newest obsession is with polymer clay Satyr horns, also called faun horns, pan horns, etc.  I love the colors the polymer clay gives these pieces!  Of course, I add some fairy sparkles, and a dusting of magic powders to some.  Once you wrap the dark elastic around your head, and adjust the horns placement, you are ready to let your imagination take flight!  Or provide your little faun with a pair and see where they are transported.  My spoose wore a pair all around Salt Lake City a while back.  People LOVED it!  Many second glances and flattering comments.  <3 p="">

Imagination Kit!

Check out more designs at our Etsy store!

We are finally home from our trip! 

An elephant seal resting on Waikiki Beach 

at Cape Disappointment, Washington State.

Saltwater State Park, Washington State

Iceberg below Sawyer Glacier

Jellyfish at the pier. Victoria, BC.

The Ruffians (Earl, Michelle, and Fred)

 looking at underwater life. Victoria, BC.

We had a fantastic time but are so glad to be home again.  I'll be getting back to my crafty projects, creating listings on Etsy, working on our website, and looking for a house to rent!  Yay!!

#typsygypsies  #thetypsygypsies

Today I've been working on getting my online store ready to launch. I've been listing my items on etsy.com, and it's good, but I'm looking forward to a little more autonomy. The only thing is, I can't believe how much work it is!! I've done websites before, but I am serious about making this work well. Therefore.... much, much time to be invested. I will let you all know when we are up and running. In the meantime, here are some photos of the jewelry I have been making and will have in my store.

Hammerin' copper

Today I needed to finish off some clasps for my chunky primitive necklaces.  A few months ago I found this spectacular bag of beads at the local thrift store.  They are big and chunky, some of them are a little imperfect, but still wonderful.  I bought some leather strips (aka shoelaces), arranged beads on the leather, knotting them into place, now all that remains is a clasp!  I've finished a few of these, but had a dozen or so waiting for their clasps.  I use copper wire to create the clasp.  I create copper coil by wrapping my wire around a metal rod.  This is what I use to attach the clasp to my leather.  I then cut and arrange the clasp pieces.  Each necklace gets a hook, and an eye.  Next step?  Because the copper wire is kinda soft, I take it out to my handy dandy steel plate, get out my trusty hammer (thanks, Dad) and give each piece a few good whacks.  The results are sturdy copper clasps for these primitive necklaces.  To see some of my finished work that is available for purchase, check out my shop on etsy.   www.typsygypsies.etsy.com

 

Over the last few years there have been ups and downs for the Typsy Gypsies.  We've been to some festivals, made some money and lost some money, done volunteer work at Strawberry Valley Visitor Center, and spent time at Mom and Dad's house. Oh, we also went on a mexican riviera cruise!  That was awesome!  Things are going good, but we are hopeing to make them spectacular.  In June we are heading to Oregon to volunteer at Newberry Volcanic reserve.  I'm also looking for ways to promote sales of my jewelry.  I LOVE making beaded and wire wrapped jewelry.  Putting all the pieces together in beautiful arrangements is so pleasing.  Now I just need to find a great way to market my designs.  So far I'm using etsy.  If you are interested, take a look at www.typsygypsies.etsy.com

Boquillas Canyon

I love birds. 
All of them.  Even the vultures. Our adventure in Big Bend National Park is giving me a chance to see many birds that I've never seen before, new additions to my life list.  After laundry on Tuesday we wandered around the Rio Grande Village area for a while and got to see and photograph golden-fronted woodpeckers.  We also saw white winged dove and roadrunners while we were there.  Next we took a leisurely stroll up Boquillas Canyon.  No bird sightings, but bats, bats, bats!  Across the river is Boquillas village, in Mexico.  Before 2002 visitors to the park could take a mule ride across the river, spend some time in the village, toss back a little tequila, and re-enter the US with no problems.  Now-a-days this is no longer possible.  It has really created financial hardship for the people of Boquillas.  Now they wade across the river, leave their handi-crafts and a container for money in strategic areas, with a request for "help for the Boquillas school children".  You can buy a wire sculpture or walking stick for $6.  Of course, this is all highly illegal.  Get caught with the "contraband" and it will be confiscated. Up Boquillas canyon we saw a money container with a sign written with a marker on a rock asking for tips for "the singin' mexican.... Victor".  Unfortunately Victor was nowhere in sight, and there was no music.  I wish Victor well, and hope that when they finish and open the new crossing at Boquillas in the spring that he and his community prosper.

Rio Grande Village

Laundry day.  Living out in the middle of NOWHERE, you have to drive a long way to find a washer and dryer.  Almost 50 miles.  But there IS free wifi at Rio Grande Village, so we are happy.  A delicious meal of home baked bread with cheese and a diet Pepsi for beverage on the drive down sure hit the spot. After laundry we will hit the Rio Grande Village Nature Trail in hopes of doing some spectacular birding.  We saw road runners down here last week.  Today I hope to see a Pyrrhuloxia.  Or something equally delightful.  Then latter we hope to go up to Boquillas Canyon.  One more day off, then it's back to the mines (or in our case, the visitor center).  Yes, we are working on Thanksgiving day.  We are going to Natasha's for a little turkey that evening, but it won't be the same as the spread my sista puts on at her house!  We will miss you guys, Chelle!

Sunset over the desert, Nov. 20

Let the adventure begin!

So much has happened.  I won't start at the "beginning" as that would be too much.  I'll start at the right now.

Earl and I are on the road, experiencing the great "what's out there".  The first stop on our voyage.... Big Bend National Park!  We have been here since October 30, and are committed to stay until the end of January.  We have taken on the role of "VIP", aka Volunteers In Parks, at the Persimmon Gap visitors center.  Talk about remote!  We are almost 100 miles from the nearest grocery store!  Needless to say, we have to plan ahead, something we are not always known to do all that well.  Here in the next few days we will travel to Stillwell to do laundry (luckily that's only about 6 miles from here, at a campground).  While we're there we will pick up some of "Nan's Burritos", handmade burritos made by Nan herself.  Tasty!  It's a nice place to loiter for awhile as they have free internet on the front porch of the "Stillwell Store".  Don't go looking for bread and eggs though.  That's gonna require a trip to Alpine, or Marathon at the least. 

Well, it's the end of the day.  A busy day in the visitor center.  We had 125 visitors today, the 3rd highest number since we started manning the visitor center on November 1st.

Hiatus . . .

Wow, it's been a long time since I posted anything! Sorry :o)  Much has changed over the last few months. Earl and I are as dedicated as ever to beginning our adventure!  We have been out looking for a "Vardo", or gypsy wagon, to traverse this beautiful country in. We're looking for a class C motor home with a diesel engine, but we're on a budget, so we will see what's affordable when the time comes  We still have a house to sell, and a whole house full of clutter to get rid of.  I'm off to (hopefully) sell some of it this afternoon.  We would both much rather sell what we can than just ship it off to the DI as a donation.  Well, till next time . . .

Lee Marvin - Wanderin Star

On the phone with my sista a few minutes ago, she mentioned this song from "Paint Your Wagon". I love that movie!

I was born under a wanderin' star.


Wheels are made for rollin', mules are made to pack.
I've never seen a site that didn't look better lookin' back.

I was born under a wanderin' star.

Mud can make you prisoner and the plains can bake you dry.
Snow can burn your eyes but only people make you cry.

I was born under a wanderin' star.

Home is made for comin' from, for dreams of goin' to.
Which with any luck will never come true.

I was born under a wanderin' star.

Do I know where hell is, hell is in hell-o.
Heaven is good-bye forever it's time for me to go.

I was born under a wanderin' star, a wanderin', wanderin' star.

Mud can make you prisoner and the plains can bake you dry.
Snow can burn your eyes but only people make you cry.

I was born under a wanderin' star.

Home is made for comin' from, for dreams of goin' to.
Which with any luck will never come true.

I was born under a wanderin' star.

When I get to heaven tie me to a tree.
Or I'll begin to roam and soon you'll know where I will be.

I was born under a wanderin' star.
A wanderin', wanderin' star.

I can hardly stay awake. ZzzzzzZzzzzz

I've had tooth trouble since last winter, and finally had it fixed yesterday. Have you every had a "surgical extraction"?  Yikes!  If you want all the sordid details, read on...... Last winter I had to have a cavity filled. It was the end of the day and rather than take his time, the dentist (NOT Bateman) did a half assed shoddy job of it. Broke the tooth while drilling, said "oh, that's bigger than I thought" (RED FLAG!!), slapped some filling material in, and called it good. It's bothered me ever since, and when I went in last month for my 6 month exam I was told there was a bunch of decay UNDER the filling, and root anomalies.  No way was I letting this guy do more work on my teeth!  So, I made an app. with Dr. esterday I had my appointment for 7 in the morning, thought I'd have a quick pull and be off to work.  No such luck. Decay and dissolving of the root means a no save.  Dr. Bateman was going to try to save the tooth through root canal, but drilling made it clear that the tooth had to go. He tried to wiggle the tooth loose and keep the root from breaking off, but it's just not turning out to be my day. The root broke, and now I'm faced with "surgical extraction", as mentioned earlier. This involves an incision in my gum, then drilling the bone away from the offending root until it can be loosened and removed with a "root pick"! Once complete, sutures are put in place and percocet prescribed. Remember I had planned on going to work after the extraction. Well, that's a no go. The good doc. says to go home, lie down, and keep my blood pressure down. Put ice on my face and hope for no swelling. I have to go back today and have everything checked. Then in two weeks the sutures come out. At that point I have to decide if I want an implant, a bridge, or nothing. Any suggestions??  Aesthetically I imagine an implant is the way to go, but financially I think I'm gonna have to go with nothing. Hmph. 

Anyway, did you want to know how the adventure is progressing?  I've found a realtor, but she's in Hawaii until next week. Earl and I have talked about each of our contributions to the adventure, how our money will be invested, etc. This is a huge endeavor, and is going to take time. I expressed to him my desire for lists, We will have to get one started ASAP.

“The most essential factor is persistence................

“The most essential factor is persistence - the determination never to allow your energy or enthusiasm to be dampened by the discouragement that must inevitably come.”  James Whitcomb Riley

Never give up, Never give in.

OK, so, the discouragement has started to come. First externally from people who I thought were supportive, then internally when I think of all that must be accomplished to achieve the end goal. Perhaps the most daunting is the idea of selling my house. Not the actual ACT of selling the house, but the idea of it. Of everything that must be prepared, hiring a realtor, sorting through things to keep vs. things to discard, deciding where to put the stuff that is kept. Wow, so much to think of. Luckily I have my sweetheart by my side keeping my feet on the ground and my head above the horizon, my eyes to the future. 

A brilliant wreckage

Is this all there is? No, I shreak, I want more, ... and less. For years I've trudged through the morass of daily living, clocking in, going through the motions of whatever exquisite drudgery it is that I 'm required to do on any given day, and clocking out. Then there is the teeth-gnashing commute that can take anywhere from twenty minutes to an hour and a half each way. This way of living generally gives me 3 to 4 hours of time in the day to live, which is not nearly enough, and as a result my succulentness has slowly started to dry up.

So, what do I want more of? More opportunity for being amazed and astounded, more sunshine and rain, more exhileration, more creativity and time to act on it, more opportunity to experience.

And less? Well, less kowtowing to people who neither give or deserve respect. Less reciruculated air in my lungs. Less mortgage, utilities, and connection to the grid. Fewer time constraints.

For several years I've wanted to jump into the deep end of the pool, abandon reason, and reasonableness (is that a word?), leave the 9 to 5 world and head into the great unknown. It seemed at the time that I was getting messages from all over the universe to make the leap. One of them came one day as I listened to NPR. I heard an interview by the writer Sue Monk Kidd where she read an excerpt from her novel "The Mermaid Chair":

"At forty-two, I had never done anything that took my own breath away, and I suppose now that was part of the problem--my chronic inability to astonish myself. I promise you, no one judges me more harshly than I do myself; I caused a brilliant wreckage. Some say I fell from grace; they're being kind. I didn't fall. I dove."

Well, this doesn't exactly describe how I feel about my life overall. I used to take my own breath away all of the time, and was frequently astonishing myself. The problem has come over the course of the last few years. I used to be footloose, now I am fettered by job and house. I used to travel when and where I chose (within the bounds of my meager coin purse), now my travel is dictated by a corporation who binds me to a windowless cinderblock building most of the time.

Well, the time has come. I've found a soul mate who yearns for the same things I do, wants to live free and (for the most part) unencumbered. Of course there will be much preparation and planning, but we're up to the task. And so we begin.