Gypsy Forest

exciting little bits....

I'm excited to tell you I recently joined this amazing group of handmade artists.....

 

 

The Natural Kids Etsy Team

 

After feeling my way around the group and getting to know some of the other creative shop owners over the last month, I can only say wow. What a kindred group of artists. If you are looking to support eco friendly small businesses you can take a peek at our offerings on etsy. The team website shares a really beautiful seasonal gift guide throughout the year and a collaborative blog written by members of the team. Take a peek at the new Spring Gift Guide or our incredible selection of Shops. I'm so happy to be a part of this group and in the near future I will be contributing to the team blog, so I hope you'll follow me over there from time to time and check things out.

In other shop news, I've added a few new quilts and I'm working on pulling together some tutorials for my bags. Both the sling style and drawstring ones that were quite popular. I'm also considering a reversible skirt tutorial exactly like the one in the shop? What do you think? 

I'm celebrating my two year anniversary as a "shop" owner this month, which is pretty exciting. My humble little space also just had it's 100th sale. I'm a little giddy and a lot of bit grateful and so I've decided to offer a 10% off coupon later this month. February 15th-29th. I'll post about it again when it's closer and share the coupon code. {and hopefully I'll have those darn tutorials together by then!}

On another note.... while I know most of you are here for my banter and recipes.... what do you think about post card sets? I've been thinking of offering more grown up items in the shop and this came to mind. I would pull together collections of my photography to share in themed bundles. Outdoors, food and such. I'd love to know your thoughts on this. 

Wishing you all a happy little weekend.

 

just good

We just got in from a 9 hour road trip to pick the biggest boy up from school for winter break. My oh my that is a whole lot of driving in one day. It is however the perfect opportunity to finish up hand sewing the binding on a quilt! As soon as we arrived in the door, the last of the ornaments were placed on the tree, including the star. Which is the job for only the biggest boy.

As I sip a cold beer and type these words, I am listening to all four of my children laugh and talk down the hall. Gratitude does not begin to cover the feeling in my soul.

Before I forget to tell you all (again), I had the honor of being featured in an interview over on Clean. Rachel is an inspiring mama and writer and I'd love for you to take a peek at the interview and of course drop your name in the hat for a giveaway! 

Also, the shop has been updated and has some beautiful new fabrics in it.

 

 

And now, there is a cute guy with a guitar on my patio. He's singing old Pearl Jam songs under Christmas lights. I can't quite think of a place I'd rather be.

Have a lovely evening~

 

been working....

Some little bits of the week's work.

New project bags sewn up & added to the shop..... these sold out in a flash at Squam Art Workshops & I've been meaning to get them back into the shop. I've also been working on a new batch of kid sized bags and a few pairs of board shorts have made their way into the shop as well!

 

 

 

On the home front some laundry soap was made (with this recipe), we've named it "Nancy's" as it resides in a recycled yogurt container. We've made it with tea tree & peppermint soap and we love it. I use one TBSP per wash in our HE washer. Some was put aside for the big boy who is heading out next weekend. I was ridiculously happy when he requested a bag of Nancy's to take with him. Silly, I know.

 

 

 

And the garden got a makeover.... or well, it got robbed if you ask one of the kids. I pulled up all the tomatoes and greens that had finally wilted and given up in hot Louisiana heat. This means I need to get some seeds started over the next few weeks.... I am dreaming of chard. Any other chard fans out there? Man do I love that stuff. I think you could sneak chard into just about every meal with lovely results. Though my recent favorite is a handful cooked in a bit of butter topped with a spoonful of chipotle mayo and a farm fresh fried egg served with whole grain toast. That's the kind of breakfast that can keep you going, you know?

 

 

All these random bits of life & work reminded me of a favorite quote I pulled out towards the end of reading this book. (By the way, it's an awesome read!)

 

"When working within an ecosystem (as opposed to an office system), the work is never done. Life is always going on. Weeds grow, children express their true nature, the pump for the solar hot water burns out, windows stop closing correctly, chickens wander in the road or poop on your outdoor furniture, and the best toys have a quirky trait of preferring floors and kitchen tables to shelves and window sills." ~Shannon Hayes Radical Homemakers

 

I love this ecosystem.

Happy weekending to you.

 

been workin'

I know, I know..... you all ready saw these toes... but they're cute enough to see again, right?

These are the new organic cotton reversible skirts. I really think they came out just gorgeous! They've got a super comfy elastic waist for easy wearing and they'll fit f-o-r-e-v-e-r and of course they've got good twirl factor as well. They come in size 12 months to 10 years.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some new organic spindrift quilts too! These are sewn up with all organic cotton & batting. They are the same size as the original (seen here eons ago, oh my) and just as soft. The colors are just so great, I have really been enjoying this line of fabric.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loads of lovely lavender sachets also in the shop. (That's almost a tongue twister!)

 

 

 

 

I'm now offering gift certificates & custom slots as well.

 

 

 

 

And last, but not least some new tenderfoot bags in the shop too. The new bag is now reversible and bigger. But the price didn't change. 

 

 

There are a few things on sale in the shop here.... some discontinued bags and some fabric and more. 

 

A {huge} heartfelt thank you to all of you who support handmade.

 

handmade friday

I've been working on several (think dozens) of sets of lavender sachets. Small 4x4~ish in size sewn up with organic cotton fabric and stuffed with organic lavender. This was by far one of the most relaxing projects I've worked on. The entire room smelled so heavenly.

 

 

 

 

These little sachets have so many uses. Tuck them into suitcases, drawers, closet shelves or in the car. If they seem to lose some scent you just need to squish them up a bit... they last quite awhile. I've also heard of folks tossing them into the dryer to lightly scent freshly washed clothes, I need to try this with our bed sheets.

Another great use for lavender sachets is to toss them into your knitting bag and let them keep your knitting smelling of fresh flowers. What? You don't have a knitting bag? Well, take a peek at these......

 

 

Linen drawstring bags, fully lined with a lovely little patchwork piece on the front. These can be used for anything your heart desires to put into a pretty little bag and cinch closed. A sack lunch, a gift for a friend, storage for a game or your current knitting project. Oh the possibilities!

The Sachets & All Purpose Bags will debut at the Squam Art Fair & be available in the shop in June.

 

Happy Friday & have a wonderful weekend!

 

handmade friday

Oh has it ever been one of those weeks.... the kind where you know dark chocolate and coffee got you through it. I think we're all looking forward to the weekend.... some relaxing time and some sleeping in are in order. And maybe waffles and whip cream too. Definitely.

I thought you'd like to see some colorful photos of this small pile of new quilts I've been working on. I can't really decide which one is my favorite. I love completing a stack of these..... there is just something about a stack of quilts. *swoon* 

 

 

 

 

 

Wishing you all a wonderful Weekend!

 

some rather exciting news....

Over the past few weeks, especially during my quiet month of March, I've been working on making some big changes to the shop. I have long wanted to use organic textiles in my sewing, however purchasing these fabrics at retail meant charging a price for my handmades that was very out of price range for most of us. Over the past few weeks I scraped & saved and sold off some unused crafting supplies in a huge destash sale to buy........ bolts. 

 

 

Gypsy Forest has officially gone wholesale!

And even better, organic. I'll still be sewing with my previous stash of fabric too for awhile, but things will slowly be going green in the shop and there will be lots of all organic handmades to choose from. Having yardage also means customers can easily request custom orders as well.

But the bolts.... I mean BOLTS! Wow. After a week of sewing with them I can say that I do love the change of having so much of one print. The first bolts in are all from Cloud 9's Nature Walk Collection. These fabrics are made using low impact dyes and organic cotton and they have been a wonderful company to do business with as well. You can read a bit more about their business and why organic cotton is better for all of us right here.

 

 

More bolts are due in sometime in May & I will share them with you just as soon as they arrive. 

But that's not all, I'm participating in my first ever Art Fair at......

 

 

    

 

 

Yes really, at Squam. Even as I type those words it all seems a little too surreal. My mom & I will be attending the workshops this year and I offered to donate a quilt for the fundraising raffle. Elizabeth admired my work and suggested I participate in the fair and my mom has graciously offered to assist me in any way... and there you have it. It all fell together in such a way that I still wonder if it's all real. If I'm dreaming, please wait until mid June to wake me up, okay? 

And so, in order to keep my sanity I will sadly not be updating my shop until after I return from SAW. All of my sewing time will be to fill a suitcase full of goodies to offer at my table. I will however be showing all of you a sneak peek of the goods each Friday until then, sort of a little show & tell each week. I hope you enjoy it.

And for any of you that might be thinking of heading to the Squam Art Fair I would love to meet you, do stop by & say hello!

 

~Shop Talk~

Spindrift Quilts

I am quite happy to be a sponsor for the winter edition of Rhythm of Home. This online publication is always a wonderful wealth of creative folks and certainly an inspiring community to be a part of. Today over on the Rhythm of Home Blog you'll find a little write up about the Gypsy Forest Shop and also a shop giveaway! You can enter until Friday, good luck friends :)

 

Pollywog Britches & Autumn Tenderfoot Bags

And the name is:

Pollywog Britches!

  
   

A mix of my hubby's suggestion and Rachel's suggestion.

{which means Rachel, you are getting a much coveted jar of wild picked blackberry jam, I know full well you will savor every bit of it!}

And if I had enough jam to share with you all, I certainly would.... perhaps we should organize a homemade preserve swap.... now that would be fun!

Along with the new linen britches, there are some limited edition autumn Tenderfoot bags......

   

 

      

Thank you all for the great suggestions. Sharing shop happenings with all of you is great fun.... thanks for sharing the excitement in the debut of the Pollywog Britches..... and not that I'm trying to sell you stuff, because I see this space as being more friend than business based...... but if you did have your eye on a little something from the shop..... in the "message to seller" type in the code : GYPSYPAL15 to receive a 15% discount off your order. The coupon is good through Monday 9/20. Discount will be refunded via paypal.

There should be some perks for being my pal, right :)

Happy Weekending!
 

just a little excited here.....

  

With a squeal of excitement I would like to give a sneak peek of the newest addition..... there will be linen pants for little ones in the shop by Friday! {and a restocking of the usuals as well}

    

We've had fun naming things in the shop as of late....

Tenderfoot Bag

Terra Sling Bag

Spindrift Quilt

Any suggestions for the linen pants? I am thinking something gypsy or sailor related.... 

You know like, Vagabond Baggies..... maybe?

Leave a comment if you have a fun idea....... 

If we're inspired by your idea we'll be sure to say thank you with a little something just for you!