Oh my goodness look how clean!!

My New Apothecary Studio is Finished!

I moved my studio down stairs to the den ,where I could be closer to everything and everyone and gave my old room to Tristan for all his wittle things...He is very pleased as you can see.:)

This is the glass door cabinet that I keep all my oils and infusions safely stored in and away from the light.

Right now this is the cleanest my work space has ever been but come Sunday this will look like a tornado blew in after filling orders !

The fireplace was an unattractive brown and ever since we moved in I always wanted to paint it, so I finally did and white seems to be more fitting . I am not too crazy about my old steam trunk being in front of the fireplace though but for now until I find a permanent home for it some where in the house it will have to stay there.

This is the desk that I sit at and fill orders for my "Midnght Gypsy Alchemy" business. I keep supplies in the little drawer under the desk and in the glass door cabinet above that I absolutely love ! You know I found this at a yard sale for $3.00 , it was brown wood but I painted it white to match . I love the lilly design on the front.

This is my computer desk /doll making station, I just move the key board when I want to sit and sew.

I keep my doll making supplies of fabric, ,beads baubles, paint and other sewing needs in the drawers . OK ,the inside of the drawers will remain unphotgraphed as they are not for the faint of heart(lol). I have such a hard time putting things back where they go and tend to stuff things in the wrong drawers, so that is a project I will work on next ..organizing my drawers!

A picture of the mantle that now houses all of my herbs, resins teas etc... in glass vintage apothecary jars that I have collected through the years.I am alway on the hunt for more as I am obsessed with jars and bottles and will soon add more to my home Apothecary .

To the left of the computer desk is my display and packaging shelf. I keep my doll creations that are ready to sell on this shelf as well as more jars of beads, buttons , pearls and packaging supplies.

Well there you have it, a little glimpse into my new studio which I am enjoying very much . There still may be some things I change and details I need to take care of like adding candles in the candle sconces on the wall and hanging up more pictures but that will be later on but for the most part I am happy with the result.

Practical Magic and home decor

This weekend I watched for the 100th time one of the most enchanting old movies in my collection .Many may be familiar with the 1998 movie "Practical Magic" starring Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman . It is one of my all time favorite movies to watch over and over besides" The Color Purple ". Well if you have seen this movie then you know how I feel when I say I WANT THAT HOUSE!!! Oh to just step into the TV and spend a day with the Owens women would be just magical ...minus the dead boyfriend who comes back of course(lol).For those who have not seen the movie, well get on your brooms and fly out and get rent it you will not be disappointed. I guarantee you to will be wanting to change your home decor and live more magical life because it will inspire you so ... I know it has for me ! I did change my kitchen to a cream, sage and white color scheme with greenery and herbs as the motifs. Oh and the shop that Sally runs ...Oh my goodness ! To a bath and body, perfume maker it is an absolute apothecary dream I am envious and would looove to own a little shop like that !

Who wouldn't loved to have aunts like those who have no problem eating chocolate cake for breakfast , make Midnight Margaritas and who saw spell casting as a fun past time, not to mention jumping of the roof and flying down on Halloween ! One day I tells ya , one day I shall live enchanted this way (ok maybe the roof jumping may not be good idea if i really can't fly ) an old lady with her herbs, a secret garden in a lovely house by the sea selling her apothecary creation to the town folks of a sleepy little town ,ahhhhh ...to dream , sounds lovely don't you think ? :)

Sneak peek at the new Studio and Halloween Inspirations

It was a busy weekend indeed as I started on a new project of relocating my doll and apothecary studio down stairs to the den . This way I can be closer to the family when working and Tristan can have a bigger room . My how baby things do seem to clutter the house fast . Just a Sneak Peek At the Progress, alsmot done , I will say "complete"in a few more days as I still need to fold and coordinate my fabric. Jeez , it is amazing how a crafter can accumulate so many baubles and beads and fabric and ribbon , now I know why my grandma's closet in her room was so stuffed with yarns and fabric. It is hard to let go of anything in fear you may use it one day to create and yet one still keeps buying more because "ooooh that would mke something pretty " :)

So needless to say have some things I never use and thought I might place them in a package and do a give away . I am sure another artists creativeness can put all of it to good use:)

I woke up Friday and was soooo into the Halloween Spirit it wanted to take my pumpkins out already so I took out some white ceramic glazed pumpkins I have and placed them in the kitchen .... this made me feel much better. You know I feel Fall around the corner though it is blazing hot outside....go figure, does any one else feel the same ? So while in the Halloween mode I woke up at 3:00 am on Saturday while baby, Tori and Shawn were still asleep and began to finish up some dolls that I had the bodies laying around for a while. I made a Halloween Masqueradeade doll , a Mandrake Witch and a Vintage Halloween Folk Art doll stand. Two Dolls I listed on Ebay Sunday and my Vintage Folk Art Doll I will list some time this morning , I just ran out of time ! I was so excited with the doll stand as this was my first time creating something with a vintage touch to it ...it think she came out quite lovely . In fact I am making more of this style because I just can't get enough of that cute face!

Well ,off I go to get ready for work, just thought I would fly by and post the happenings around here . I will have more pics of the studio as I complete it so ya'll come back !:)

Two more creations!

" Southern Seance Gypsy Doll "

"Gypsy Eye Doll "

Now both listed on Ebay drop by and see :)
http://shop.ebay.com/southerngypsiemoonart/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=&_trksid=p3686

Butterfly Spells

" BUTTERFLY SPELLS GYPSY DOLL "

now listed on ebay .

"UPON THE WINGS OF THE BUTTERFLY MY WISH IT DOES FLY

RELEASE TO ME YOUR MAGIC AS YOU SOAR UP TO THE SKY "

Southern Gypsy Style Dining

Every now and then when the southern afternoons here in Virginia are not so hot, we like to dine outside al fresco or as I call it .."Gypsy Style ". I bring out the old bed sheets, candelabras and glass bottles or vases found at local yard sales and of course my huge candle stash ... one can never can have too many candles you know .Then we bring our supper outside,sit, eat and enjoy each others company .When evening falls we clear the table and light the candles then lay old blankets and pillows on the ground and out comes the wine for me and rum and coke for my husband. Tori will have either grape juice or sparkling cider in a grown up wine glass ..she calls this "kid wine". As for Tristan, well now since he will be joining us for out door dining and drinks he will have his usual drink of choice which is a very fine warm milk cocktail ..stirred not shaken as it brusies the milk (lol!)

We try to do this as often as we can and it does not take much to do... in fact both my tables you see are make shift .One is an old storage tote and left over piece of plywood for the top and the other is an old card table just dressed in old sheets, lace curtains and linens . They do not have to match and candles of any type with old wine bottles , fresh or fake flowers make the scene because as the evening comes the soft light of the candles falls upon every thing bringing a glow of enchantment to all objects it touches. You can even hang christmas lights in the trees for a fairy light effect ;)

Be creative and use what you have, example being in one of the pictures if you look carefully you can see I have hung two lantern like obejcts in the trees which I made out of Tristans formula cans(he-he ). I just cut diamonds shapes all around the cans and hung them with string then added candles in side and ta-da... lanterns for the evening!

I do recomend having at least one evening a year dining outside gypsy style. Be creative ,there isn't a right or wrong way to do it .. it is fun, relaxing ,romantic (ooh-la-la) ...and whether you have children or not it is a wonderful and magical way to spend the evening and make some good memories.

Magic in the Air

With Summer now upon us the fire flies again began to light the evening skys like green fairy lights that dance and play in the cool mountain breezes around here. It is a very magical and dreamy time of year and it does inspire me so. I conjour images of Gypsy's with thier Caravans camped down for the night and gather round the fire side to play music, and share stories under the star filled sky. It also reminds me of a scene straight out of " Midsummer Night's Dream " or visions of Southern Ladies sitting on the porch drinking afternoon tea with the scent of Magnolias in the air . With all the atmosphere of these summer nights, it inspired me to create the latest doll "Magic Tea Gypsy Cat " now on ebay . But the inspiration did not stop there as I got a little bit of time to take some magical picture of my babies .Tori with her fairy wings and Tristan like a little wood elf resting under a hill of ivy. Though we were just playing dress up that day I was very pleased and suprised at how they came out . I hope you enjoy them !

Nina.