This is a segment of an ongoing series called, "Gypsy Girl Life" that spotlights members of our creative team and friends of the Gypsies sharing how they live and what inspires them.  The first in the series was Renee Camacho back in Nov 09... if you missed it you can read it here.  Today we have creative team member Rachel Carlson joining us (of the Heart Pillow fame) from Colorado.  Rachel is as sweet as they come so sit back, grab a cup of coffee or a Diet Coke and find out what inspires Rachel.  Just maybe you will find some inspiration too.

Gypsy Girl Life:  Rachel Carlson

gypsy (lowercase)
3. A person held to resemble a gypsy, esp. in physical characteristics or in a traditionally ascribed freedom or inclination to move from place to place.

I tend to like the aforementioned meaning of gypsy best because it describes my love of traveling by car and the fact that YES we have moved from place to place.  We love to take road trips.  I find a lot of inspiration on the road.  This past summer’s road trip afforded for the perfect photo op:

I’m reminded of my favorite 97% sticker:
"Like a band of gypsies we go down the highway"

Who wouldn’t want to travel around the country visiting summer outdoor markets, antique shops, thrift stores and the like.  I really wish I had stopped the gentleman in the vehicle to hear his stories of travels and adventures in his van.

Speaking of markets, that is one of my favorite things to do with my friends in the summer.  Good junk is simply fun to find.  Not sure if it’s the hunt or best bargain at the end of the day. 
I think it’s mainly about having a network of friends that I enjoy doing this with.  I’ve also dragged them along on thrift adventures or early breakfast dates.  Some of them kicking and screaming too.  Okay, maybe not kicking.

Above:  Some vintage luggage from Paris Street Market here in Colorado.  I have a suitcase similar to the one on top.  Luckily my friends also help pull me away from tempting pieces too.  Not sure if that is a good thing or bad thing.  The hubby would plead the latter.  Ha.

Some of my favorite ‘at home’ spaces:

My collection of spools.  Some of them gifts.  Some of them must-have purchases – really what am I suppose to do with this many spools.  I like my vignette of spools just fine.  My paper inspiration board hangs from above: I use pages from magazines for inspiration too.

I also work with fabric.  So of course you need a space for that too.  Unless I’m on the go with sewing club dates.  Luckily I managed to tuck it into a space measuring: 6 x 8 feet. One wall has an inspiration board:

The other wall has a fabric ladder:

Can you tell what I like most about fabrics?  Do you see a repeated pattern?  No surprise there huh.

A view from outdoors and the lady that waters the pond.  This is a great space in the summertime.

Let’s not forget what inspires me online:
My favorite blogs to name a few:
Seven Gypsies - naturally
One Lucky Day
Jenni Bowlin
Fresh Vintage
Design Sponge
Love.Obsess.Inspire
Maya Made
I heart Linen
Sew Liberated
Portabellopixie

These are the ones that I peruse over a cup of joe in the morning before I hit the ground running or falling depending on how you look at it – for those of you that know my background.

Thank you for letting me share a little of my gypsy life with you.
Creative cheers,
Rachel

Linen Heart Pillow

We do not usually post the product challenge photos from our gypsy design team until mid month, but Rachel Carlson has thrown down the gauntlet on this challenge.  Talk about a creative use of the Venice stamp!  ...and just in time for a day of love!

LINEN HEART PILLOW  

by rachel carlson

 

supplies used

Venice Stamp Set
Palette Hybrid Ink Pad
Acrylic block
Linen fabric
Fiber fill
Sewing machine
(can easily be hand sewn too)
Fabric Tac fabric glue

 

Cut 2 hearts out of linen.

Any size is fine.

You can also make different sizes for a set.
Don’t forget there are different shapes of hearts you can try!

Use Palette Ink Pad, Venice Stamp Set and acrylic block

 to stamp a scene on both sides of linen. 

NOTE: I made sure that I went over the edge of the linen so that
it appeared to be going around the pillow.

Heat set ink on linen with iron.

 

Put right sides together and stitch or hand sew

all around the heart (I used 1/4" seam allowance).
Make sure to leave an opening on one side of heart
so you can flip the heart inside out.

I like to call these ‘tee pees’.  Cut tee pees all around the edge of the heart playing close attention not to cut the stitch.  It is very important to cut away at the top of the heart where the dip is, so that it shows the shape best when fabric is pulled through.  Flip the heart inside out.

Fill the heart with stuffing, fiber fill or other.  Making sure that you use special fill for those people with allergies if you are giving as a gift.  They will be thankful for that.  

Optional stuffing:  Flax seed for a hot heart.  The kind you place in the microwave that is.  Makes for a warm heart for sleeping at night or for back pain or for keeping your toes warm.  You can use dried lavender for a sachet and even put cording at the tip of the heart center to hang.

The possibilities are endless.

Blind stitch or whipstitch to close the pillow or you can add use Fabric-Tac to seal the opening. I used the Fabri-Tac because it bonds instantly and has a clean edge.

Back of pillow

Happy heart making.
Just in time for Valentine’s Day
Creative cheers, Rachel

Remember, you have till tonight at midnight to make a comment to win one of 5 sets of Venice stamps we are giving away.  We will be posting photos of projects from the 5 winners of the stamps on the 7gypsies blog at the end of the month.  Is this your chance to show off what you can do? 

(read the rules in the last post for more chances to win gypsy products and be seen on the blog!)

January Product Challenge

A Year in Review

Rachel Carlson

I always get excited for the NEW YEAR.  I don’t make resolutions.  Instead I’m simply going to hold myself ‘accountable’ in the NEW YEAR.  I want to simply enjoy and survive.  I decided to document the year 2010 in ‘snippets’ if you will.  Small pieces of memories tucked away for safe keeping.  Be it a ticket stub to my favorite movie, a random photo or note to myself.  A thought/idea, photo, etc that captures the ENTIRE month.  This way I don’t overwhelm myself.  And I will have a tidy portfolio in which to keep everything.

I know you are not surprised that I used the Barcelona paper again – ha.  It’s SO hard to cut into this paper, really it is.  This is what I used to cover the inside of the portfolio. 

I was very excited to use the Large Clear Stamps:  Gypsy Year for this project.  A perfect use for each month.  The Take Note Stamps can also be used throughout the project (on back of paper bags) for that small note to yourself about the month that you are documenting, etc.

The Disclaimer stamps can also be stamped on the ‘snippets’ of memories that I will enclose in the paper bags. 
*Notes to keep in mind when adding the Paper Bags to the Portfolio:  Stagger each paper bag so that they will not bulk up.  It also lends itself to a layered look.

I stamped the linen with Palette Ink which works well on fabrics.  Do not forget to heat set after you have inked. You can also refer to Paula’s awesome fabric tutorial on tips/tricks here.

I used red embroidery thread to frame the top piece of linen.  I then used Therm O Web - Fabric Fuse to fuse the two pieces of linen together.  Fabric Fuse works great to fuse fabric to fabric but also fabric to chipboard and paper (and also girl scout badges!)

I used Victoria Paper Tape to hold the 7gypsies paper bags to the portfolio, using the paper tape as a ‘hinge’ so that I could layer each paper bag on top of each other.  Paper Tape works so nicely because you simply tear and stick.

Here are a few photos of the months and how they open up one by one:

The bottom of the portfolio holds a little space for a few simple notes – I love this vintage epherma!

I tied the whole Portfolio closed with a Small Book Belt because I anticipate filling up those paper bags with ‘snippets’ of a new year.

You can follow me all year long to watch my portfolio fill up with memories here.
Cheers to you in the NEW YEAR!
Creative cheers,
Rachel

Christmas Project #14

Friendship Tea

 Rachel Carlson

In the spirit of holiday entertaining...every year I make my friends "Friendship Tea".  This year I decided to put the tea in an extra special tin just for holiday giving.  Although it was VERY hard to cut my favorite Barcelona paper - Manresa but I took one for the team - pout.

The Friendship Tea is very easy to make and fun to give.  I have friends that actually look forward to my Friendship Tea every year...and wait till they see their tins this year!  IF I can actually bare to give them away...

Product used:
Barcelona paper - Manresa
Victoria paper - Jubilee
97% Complete sticker- Merry
Red bird brad- Chelsea Brads
Gaffer Tape - stitches

Friendship Tea - aka Russian Tea
1 cup Tang Beverage Mix
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup Instant Tea powder
1/2 cup instant lemonade
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

Preparation
Combine ingredients and store in a tightly covered jar. To serve, combine two teaspoons of tea mix with one cup hot water, or for iced friendship tea, use one tablespoon per glass of ice water.

cheers to tea!
-Rachel
ps: Rachel's Friendship Tea was featured at Todays Mama...congrats Rachel!

Note to Self: Send Rachel more Manresa paper.

Christmas Project #13

Holiday Gift Tags

Rachel Carlson

I KNOW you are still wrapping presents, you are, YES you are.  I LOVE tags, I just do, all kinds.  7 Gypsies makes it so easy to alter an already printed tag for some vintage holiday paper packaging.  OR you can have them on standby for those last minute gifts you need to give the doctor, the mailman, the milk delivery guy, etc.  I used a lot of scraps for these tags but also some staple products that you should have on hand for these types of projects.

  Products used:
Vintage Tags

Shaped Vintage look tags
Large Clear Stamps:  97% Certifiable - Oval
Various Brads
Various scraps of yummy 7Gypsies paper

and ONE MORE from 

Renee Camacho

 The monogram set is just PERFECT for unifying present tags and keeping them clean and simple at the same time.  AND the kids will know exactly who’s present is who’s as soon as they see their initial!

Supply list for Tag:
Monogram: classic alphabet
97% certifiable Round Clear Stamps
Other: cardstock, pop-dots, rhinestone, black ink

Christmas Project #7

Maybe we should have said "projects" since we have two for you today!  First is a fun idea using the Photo Display stand from Rachel and a sneak peak of a project from Debbie.  

Holiday Tree Gift Book

by Rachel Carlson

A simple project for a quick gift to document an upcoming holiday tradition.  My sweet friend purchased our tree tag to cut down our own tree this weekend – Dec. 5th.  Her family will also cut theirs down on the same day.  I made this book for her to document her family adventure.  Now I have to make one for us!

OH MY GOODNESS! If you haven’t purchased the Photo Display Stand, you better.  It is THE best way to display a holiday project for all to see ‘in the now’ and very easy to switch out projects along the way.  I can’t wait to see what project will go in here next!

Products used:
Gypsy Journal Pages
Green Velvet Brad from Nottinghill collection
Binderie Punch – it went through all SIX pages of the journal pages
Barcelona Paper
Savannah Flock Paper – great for the holidays!
Paper Tape – Polka Dot (Victoria collection)
D-Rings – medium - black

A little BONUS PROJECT for all you gypsy girls that collect bits and baubles...you know who you are!  Debbie Crouse posted this project on her blog...we just had to give you a glimpse.  Fabulous...what a clever idea! You can see the rest of the project, including why and how she made it HERE.  Be sure to scroll to the last picture to see what it does...yes, it really does something!  Clever, clever girl...that Debbie.

Christmas Project #2

A Gypsy Tea

Rachel Carlson

Just a few peeks at "a gypsy glee tea" that I will be hosting in my home.

Tea and cookies will be served to my close friends along with handmade gifts.

Who doesn't need a break before the holiday rush?

Invite

victoria 6x6 paper variety pack, hudson valley ribbon

Place Setting

Cut outs of the bird cage - victoria 6x6 paper variety pack(Pandora paper)

I tied two pieces of a tree branch with wire and made a hook to hold the bird cage.

Paper cones for tiny cookies

victoria 6x6 paper variety pack victoria brads victoria naked paper tape to close up the cones-(you can see a bit of yellow in the picture above) I will add tiny cookies (family recipe) in cellophane bags and put in cones to go with the tea.

party favor pockets

victoria 6x6 paper variety pack, naked pockets, paper tape

I added a package of mulling spices for tea/wine and a cinnamon stick - yummy!

When the ladies come over next month, I can hardly wait to see everyone's expression when they see the little details of gypsy love!