A Joyful Week

My apologies for being behind a week! (Look at me assuming I have tons of loyal readers who are just beside themselves with longing for my overdue blog!) I was out sick for a few days and got behind on my projects, my blog, and my life. :)



Grandma, Thanksgiving 2008

 Feeling much better now, and just in time! Thanksgiving is just a couple of days away and I'm sad to say my first year back in Texas won't be the same as before. This is the first year we'll be celebrating the holidays without my Grandma Joy. (Pictured left. The extra eyeball in the background belongs to my goofy brother, Andrew.) She was one of my closest friends and will be dearly missed. I am thankful I have so many wonderful memories of her.

I'm also thankful for all of you. My friends and family who have supported me in this crazy endeavor of mine; and my customers who continue to trickle in day after day and encourage me in this labor of vintage love.



Imported Green
Turquoise &
Copper Necklace
$100



Features

This week in Art, I'm featuring a necklace by artisan Nancye Briggs, who creates the most unusual and eye-catching copper-wrapped jewelry. The earth tones in this remind me of the season and of my grandmother, who worked with her hands and tended to her gardens with passion and grace. The piece features a smooth coil frame wrapped around six chunks of quality imported green turquoise with copper spacers. She created a two-clasp closure to lengthen or shorten the chain as needed. Versatile and Beautiful.

Les Wilk Ascot Dress
$45

In Vintage, I'm thrilled to show off this gorgeous Les Wilk Ascot dress. My primary reason for choosing this dress over so many other items in the store is the overwhelming response it has received in the shop and on the etsy site. It's flirty, it's adorable, and perfect for Thanksgiving Dinner! I wish I could have convinced one of my gorgeous customers this week to model it for me. She paired it with some black knee-high riding boots and I fell in love all over again! A little about the designer: Les Wilk was the Resident Director of Texas Woman’s University’s Southwest Institute of Design in the department of Fashion and Textiles. He spent many years designing for other labels before finally starting his own fashion design company in the 60's. He was known in the fashion industry as the "King of drop-dead dresses". With a moniker like that, who wouldn't want to own a vintage Les Wilk dress? This lovely little number I like to call Katherine features a "brushstroke" plaid print, ascot tie, cloth covered buttons, and a lovely gray slip under a fully twirlable skirt. I added a little funk with this waist cincher belt, but you can simplify the dress with its matching belt.

I realize this week shoppers will be inundating themselves with lists of Christmas gifts to buy and they'll be forging out into the wild frenzy that is known as Black Friday. Myself, I'll be here, manning the desk at Tipsy Gypsy, holding out for the few, proud shoppers who are opting for a different kind of shopping experience. I hope that as you prepare yourselves for your shopping excursions that you will be kind to one another and that you'll give back to the community and support local, small businesses. Tipsy Gypsy will be participating in Small Business Saturday, November 26. Earn 20% off at the counter with this coupon. (To save paper, you can just show the img. from your phone.)


Just in! (As in, while I was writing this blog!)
New wire wrapped rings and bracelets from local Slaton artist, Jennidawn Fox! I can't believe how funky these are! I'm in love and already wanting to take them home.

Have a great week everyone! Happy Thanksgiving! Be thankful for your loved ones! Eat some pumpkin pie! Always be a steward for Mama Earth!