Project 12 Update - Weeks 3 and 4...and 5!

Is this summer flying by as quickly for you as it is at my house?? I have been keeping my commitment to Project 12 - my issue has been getting myself organized enough to blog about it! In the last few weeks I've incorporated my daily creativity time with getting ready for my first time as a vendor at the McMinnville Public Market (see my post below.)

One of my big weekly projects was making over my dressform (her name is Shirley). She was a garage sale find (ironically from the home of my high school geometry teacher) and has been needing a new look. Since my time was limited I decided to put her major makeover on hold and just give her a great "weekend look" for her debut at the market.

From Plane Jane to Fab Shirley with a few easy renovations: I ran across some Smash Tape in the scrapbooking section at Fred Meyer and figured it would be great to cover her industrial looking legs. Its easy to use and will peel off with no problem when I want to change her up again.

I love polka dots! And I am sure I've never met a Shirley who doesn't either!

Her cute little skirt has been sitting in my stash for a while. I love the swirls on the fabric. I had already cut into it and removed the zipper so I attached some of my sparkly black ribbon and closed the raw edges on the back to make a super cute little apron, then added a fabric flower for good measure. I'm seriously thinking about using it for the holidays! In fact, there were a couple shoppers at the market who wanted to buy it, but, alas, Shirley had nothing else to wear.

All dressed up with somewhere to go!

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McMinnville Public Market

My first time at the McMinnville Public Market. A very fun day with great people all around! Designing the space was a little daunting but for an inaugural effort I thought it turned out well.

Scarves and altered bags.

Finally putting my vintage suitcase to good use.

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Today's Gratitude

"Without leaps of imagination, or dreaming, we lose the excitement of possibilities. Dreaming, after all, is a form of planning." -Gloria Steinem

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Scrappy Cuff Bracelet

I've been wanting to try this for a while. Got the idea from the book Sew Wild by Alisa Burke and while this is a first attempt it gave me a lot of food for thought. Lots of decorating possibilities!

 

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Another purse gets the Gypsy treatment!

I loved the colors and texture on this purse when I found it. Flowers and a little stamping were all this makeover required!

I am digging the buckle and overall "carpet bag" vibe. This purse totally has a story!

One more week until Gypsy Soul Designs sets up shop at the McMinnville Public Market! If you're in the McMinnville, Oregon area stop by and say hi!!!

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Today's Gratitude

"Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and famous? Actually, who are you not to be?" - Maryanne Williamson

I love, love, love these toes and I love this quote! I want to teach this attitude to my kids so I figure the best way to do that is to live it everyday!

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Summer Lovin' - pattern & texture inpsirations

In an effort to enjoy the awesome weather lately, get the kids outside AND get some work done I took my most portable items out on the patio. Its been fun to paint and prep new bags outside in the fresh air.

A dollar store flip flop (never worn) makes a good textural pattern that creates depth when other things are painted and sewn over it.

Stencils, that same tape from Lowe's (still don't know what its intended use is) that I used in my art journal a while back and stamps. I have discovered a new love affair with Fabric Medium (it dilutes acrylic paint and helps it go into fabric instead of being stiff on the top).

Painted scraps of lace make awesome texture and design. This piece was used about five times and now that it needs to be retired I am keeping it around because the colors are pretty and I am going to stitch it to something.

My two favorite stamps as of late.

A canvas bag in the beginning stages. You'll be able to see the final product later this week!

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Be True - A tote bag

 I've been on a roll and having fun experimenting with these bags.

 Free form stitching for the message - I am becoming addicted to letting loose with the free form!

I love the purple flowers on this one and it doesn't show in the picture but the fabric pen I used sparkles!

Fun design on the strap.

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Flower Fancy

 This is a simple, quick Gypsy Soul (re)Design!

Flowers just make life better. 

Pretty, pretty.

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Project 12 - Week 2 update!

 Running inspired art journaling.

 Words to live by!

The first time I was called a "runner" was a big deal!! Hard to see here but the dictionary words I chose were "Athena" and "Athlete." Very meaningful to this former couch Olympian!!

So, week two of Project 12 was full of surprises and a camping trip! Again, art journaling was a quick way to ignore the disorganized chaos around me and just focus on color and release. I took the basics and prepped journal pages while we were gone.

The rest of the week was spent using small pieces of time organizing the sewing studio after it was destroyed by hauling in the new sewing table AND my amazing hutch. It took me a long time but I am happy to say as of the wee hours of July 4th I am ready for creativity! I can't work in a disaster so forcing myself to take 12 minutes a day (and some days it was ALL I had) has payed off in just over a week. It feels so good and I can't wait to get crack-a-lacking!!

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Why this is NOT a food blog!

 In my annual quest to be a perfect wife and make my husband feel special on his birthday I typically achieve some new level of domestic disaster and this year did not disappoint! This pan was once stainless steel and was once silver...until I lit it on FIRE! My dear husband, the foodie and amateur gourmet chef did not marry me for my cooking skills. I did however make a nice dinner - the clean up was less fun.

 My hubby's wonderful new espresso pot - it was his gift. I promise not to set it on fire!

A buttery lemon raspberry cake straight from the pages of Sunset magazine. Their picture was soooo much prettier but it did taste good. (No flame broiling on this one!)

I have been busy busy but the studio is almost put back together after moving in my new hutch and I promise there will be some great new projects on here ASAP as well as my Project 12 update! Have a wonderful and safe 4th of July!

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