The Artful Gypsy

Everyone is Beautiful

I found this video...and I agree...everyone IS beautiful!   As a photographer, I've trained my eyes to look for beauty and I've gotten very good at finding it...just like the video says.  I also believe that it's of the utmost importance to know the true benefit of a kind word and a positive affirmation.  We have multiple chances every day to make an impact in other peoples lives....those we know and those we don't.  And the most fundamental and simple act of kindness available to us, is to find the beauty in another, to seek and find their positive attributes, and to extend a kind word or affirmation to let them know that they matter in this world.  Your compliment or acknowledgment can be the one thing that makes their day worth while.  It can be just the catalyst they need to believe in themselves and pursue their aspirations.  And sadly, it may be the only positive thing they've heard in a long time.  Or perhaps it's you that just needs a gentle reminder of the things that make you special and worthwhile.   So why not challenge yourself to pay forward a little kindness each and every day....as like attracts like!  And never forget that true beauty radiates from within!

The Lucky Ladybug

Ladybug, Ladybug, fly away home,
Your house is on fire, and your children all gone
All but one, her name is Ann,
And she crept under the frying pan!

This was my Mom's version of the old nursery rhyme.  It was read to her by her Mom, and she read it to me.  I read it to my children, and I hope that they will one day read it to theirs as well.  It seems as though nursery rhymes aren't as popular as they once were.  I wonder why?  They don't really teach them in school anymore, so they are only passed down through books or by oral tradition.  My Mom taught us many nursery rhymes when we were young...but Ladybug was always a favorite of mine.  Although it does seem rather tragic if you really think about it, but I like Ladybugs, so this one appealed to me.   Lil' Miss Muffet and her creepy Spider however...did NOT!

So why DO we like Ladybugs?  Well at first glance, they are rather decorative by design.  Their brilliant shades of red and orange with black spots, make them stand out beautifully amongst the green foliage.  And on top of being a pretty bug, they are also good garden helpers...eating other bugs that cause damage to our plants and vegetables.  Attractive and helpful....what's not to love?  But some of our fondness for the 'little lady', actually stems from Ladybug Lore.  Yes, it seems there are many wide held beliefs about the Ladybug all over the world.  For instance, in my own family, we always say that if a Ladybug lands on you, it brings good luck.  In England, finding a Ladybug means you'll have a good harvest.  In Sweden they believe that if a Ladybug lands on a young maiden's hand, she'll soon be getting married.  And in France, it's believed that if a Ladybug lands on you when you are sick, she will take the sickness with her when she flies away.  So it's no wonder why everyone loves the Ladybug.

We were in north Georgia one year, enjoying the scenery at a state park...when all of a sudden Ladybugs started appearing everywhere.  In a few brief minutes, there were millions of ladybugs flying around and landing everywhere.  We weren't sure what to make of that phenomenon, but a local resident told us that they swarm or migrate once every year.  And apparently that was our 'lucky' day...as we were witness to an incredible act of nature.  I'll always remember that day.  And I'll always love the Ladybug for one other reason as well.  One of the last times I spent with my Dad before he passed away, involved he and I and a Ladybug.  I was at his house with my kids for a visit.  And I had my new camera with me.  So while my Step-mom watched the kids, my Dad and I wandered around his yard, and down by the lake he lived on, to find some photo opportunities. 

And as 'luck' would have it, while we were on the dock, a Ladybug flew up and landed on the old wood of the railing.  I was excited to have a pretty red Ladybug to shoot.  But I couldn't get it to stay in one place long enough to get a shot in.  So I enlisted my Father as my photographer's assistant...and we spent a good hour or more carrying the Ladybug around from place to place in the yard to photograph it.  Dad was responsible for corralling the bug to keep it in the right place, so that I could shoot.  If you knew my Father...you'd know why this was so funny and so unprecedented for him.  But he was as serious about his job as I was about mine.  He even started suggesting new locales and backdrops.  In fact, the close up photo of the spotted Ladybug below on the leaf and wood, was one of his own 'set designs'!

That day will always stay in my memory because it was one of the few times that my Dad and I spent quality time together doing something so silly and spontaneous.  We laughed when the Ladybug would escape and mess up my shot, because I kept playfully threatening my Dad that I was going to have to fire him if he couldn't perform the very basic tasks of his new job as photographer's assistant and Ladybug handler!  I laugh even now, because my Dad was a big, strong man with big hands...and to watch him become so enthralled with that tiny Ladybug was a rare and simple pleasure.  Ladybugs have always been around me.  They land on my family and I quite regularly, and we are always thrilled to be the recipients of some good luck.  And speaking of 'Ladybugs'...I wanted to dedicate this entry to my dear friend Melissa in California who is expecting another little 'lady' of her own soon.  She and her daughter have nicknamed her their 'little ladybug'.  And I am very thrilled for Melissa and her family, as I anxiously await the arrival of the little 'Ladybug'!  :o) 

The Optimist Creed

"As for myself, I am an optimist....
for there seems little use in being anything else."

"I can't change the direction of the wind,
but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination."

The Optimist Creed

Promise Yourself-

To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.

To talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person you meet.

To make all your friends feel that there is something in them.

To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.

To think only of the best, to work only for the best, and to expect only the best.

To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.

To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.

To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile.

To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others.

To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble. 

The Bohemian Way

What is Bohemia?   I will quote and paraphrase a lot here from a book I love, titled "The Bohemian Manifesto", by Laren Stover, because I don't think I could possibly explain it any better than she did in that book.  And I will attempt to illustrate my vision of 'Bohemia' through photos.  But I preface this explanation with the understanding that there are no hard and fast rules that govern Bohemia, so this is merely a glimpse into what is first and foremost, a state of mind, and a way of living life beyond convention.  It is also more than just an attitude. It's a freedom of ideas, clothing and behaviors that lay gently outside the norm.  

And just who are the Bohemians of the world?  Well, we are artists, gypsies, philosophers, dreamers, vagabonds, mavericks and yes, even radicals and deviants.  I consider myself to be a bit of a Bohemian.  Maybe not quite the vagabond type that likes to wander from place to place, because I rather enjoy having a place to call home.  But I'm a Bohemian just the same, for many reasons....perhaps a 'Bohemian Lite'.  Oft times, Bohemians defy definition due to the unmistakable quality of being 'free spirits'.  But it's usually those same 'free spirits' who set the trends, invent the art, start the movements and break the rules.  Bohemians creatively integrate ideals, clothing and philosophies into everyday life with a certain "je ne sais quoi" all their own.

A true Bohemian is a connoisseur of texture, color and sensation. 

We experience exhilaration by....

observation, creation and the experience itself. 

We find poetry and art in everyday things....

like the form of silhouettes against a sunset....

the hunt for vintage treasures at an antique fair.....

the succulence of flowers in the rain.....

the play of light on colored glass.....

the art of random objects.....

or beauty in the contours of a face.

We see enchantment and infinite possibilities all around us.  We love to create an 'effect,' and we cherish the 'presentation'.  We dislike authority and loathe the status quo.  And our idea of hard labor is selling poetry, art, photographs, music and plays.  We live in splendor...the splendor of the creative mind....and it requires free thinking, ingenuity, and moxie! 

To delve a bit deeper, Bohemians have an aesthetic that is sometimes misunderstood by mainstream society.  We enjoy mixing antiques and flea market finds into our homes.  One man's trash is another man's treasure.   We surround ourselves with things we love and that have sentimental value, as well as things that inspire us creatively.

Candles, incense and eclectic music are staples in a Bohemian abode, as are art supplies and animals....possibly all intermingled in a creatively chaotic way.  Since we often keep unconventional hours...we also tend to prefer unconventional forms of lighting, such as sunsets, twilight, street lamps, star light, neon signs, moon light and candles.  Many a musician, writer and artist has stayed up all night....choosing the manifestation of his creative visions over food and sleep. 

And our clothing can sometimes be as unconventional and free flowing as our attitudes and ideals.  Whether we style ourselves like a Gypsy, a Dandy or a Beatnik....it is usually put together randomly and creatively, but far from the sensibilities of the fashion police.  You almost always see Bohemians wearing hats of every kind and jewelry, scarves, or flowers in their hair.  Long hair, facial hair, unkempt  hair, tattoos, piercings...it's all game for exploration.  For Bohemians take great pride and delight in being different and unique.  Not for attention...but rather for distinction or rebellion.  And we thumb our nose at being defined,  refusing to conform to others' expectations. 

 

We are quite content in our eclectic, creative, vibrant worlds of art and poetry and imagination.  In fact, it's quite possible that no one other than, 'other Bohemians',  really understand us at all...and that's the way we like it!   It's a fact that Bohemians have been around since the beginning of time, and they'll be here until the end of it.  And it is this Bohemian lifestyle that remains a harbinger of something mystically lacking from today's corporate-fed society.  I encourage you all to do something creative (anything at all) and embrace the Bohemian within today.  Namaste!

The Summation of Me

This is the summation of Me.

It is written by Me and about Me. 

It is heartfelt.  It is true. 

 

 

THE SUMMATION OF ME

I am weird, I am different, and oddly unique.

I defy explanation and casual stereotypes.

I am fleeting, aloof, and enigmatic!

I am never at all times in the world, or of the world...

     ...but I manifest as the mood strikes me!

I emerge when other souls need me.

I am what they need and want me to be...

     ...and yet not what they think I am!

I am divergent and dichotomous by my very nature.

I give and I take from the experience of life...

     ... with much joy and verve.

I impose high expectations on myself and others.

I have an inborn knowing of what is...

     ...and an outward longing for what is not!

I am restless, yet content.

I am outwardly expressive...while being ardently introspective.

I proceed with caution and engage with reckless abandon.

I shine like the Sun and phase with the Moon.

I bridge the gaps in my world between fact and fantasy.

I am powerful and strong, yet malleable and yielding.

I am the expert observer, the universal detective.

I am not at all what I seem...yet I hide nothing.

I am at once driven and focused, yet multi-directional.

I am a soul with a keen intellect and a deep felt passion for life.

I walk a solitary path while seemingly at one with the masses.

I become what others need, yet I never change who I am.

I am a magical soul entity.

I cannot be explained.

I can only be conjectured at best.

I am just what I have always been.

And everything you imagine me to be

The Magic is in the Details

Have you ever noticed that some folks are 'big picture' people and some of us are 'detail' people?  In all fairness there is a catch to leaning too heavily in either direction.  For instance, the 'detail' folks like myself, have a tendency to get so wrapped up in the wonderful details we love so much, that we fail to be able to see the bigger picture.  You're not able to see the forest through the trees, the old saying goes.  And likewise, the 'big picture' people are sometimes so far sighted that they fail to recognize and appreciate the small details that make life beautiful.  Of course optimally, we should all strive for a perfect balance between the two.  In fact, that applies to everything in life.  Balance is the key to happiness, fulfillment and success.  But I'll save that for another post.  Today I want to touch on the importance of the 'details'!  Being a 'detail' girl myself, one might be quick to assume that I am taking sides here or showing some partiality.  And you'd be absolutely right!  But only for the sake of this one blog today and how we can apply that principle to photography.

So my challenge to you is this....first and foremost, find something that you find attractive or interesting and photograph it.  And don't discount the simple things, as they often become the most beautiful when you pay them a little attention.  When I was at my son's school for his Easter party, I went out to put my purse in the car.  My car was parked across the street in a somewhat dry, grassy field of what looked at first glance to be dead grass, weeds and dirt.  But as I was looking at the ground to watch where I was stepping, I noticed these delicate little daisy flowers.  Okay...so most people would identify them as weeds true enough.  And if I had only looked at the 'bigger picture' I might have never noticed the softness of the little daisy heads, or how they danced and swayed in the breeze.  And for some strange reason they brought to my mind an image association of delicate feminine girls.  So I decided to give them their 'shot'...to pay them a little attention, and see them through a lens of 'gratitude' for the beauty they possessed.  I wondered to myself if anyone else would ever come along and photograph them or even notice them or admire them, let alone appreciate their beauty.  I figured I was probably their only suitor, and that I noticed them for a reason and they were meant to be photographed.  (I should also humorously note here that the teachers grew concerned as they spied me from the playground looking down into the grass.  They asked my husband if I was okay, and had I lost a contact or something?  Ha...I didn't even attempt to try and explain that I spent the last 10 minutes photographing their 'weeds'!) 
Okay, so here is my first shot....

Pretty enough...a shallow depth of field focusing only on the flowers closest to me while giving a nice soft focus blur to those in the background.  This shot speaks to me of Spring.  An array of blooms wild, free and unkempt.  This also has a bohemian vibe to me.  But as always...I want to dig deeper, unearth more, and get closer to my subject.  So I shoot again and this is what I saw next.
I'm beginning to get to know them better now.  The room is not so crowded anymore.  I'm starting to grasp some recognition, and those who aren't important are fading ever more into the blurry background of oblivion.  The grass and leaves are starting to become a painted background.  And I can now see some definition in their sweet little faces.  Should I be reticent and stop here?  Perhaps I've seen all there is to see I think.  But sometimes....LESS IS MORE!  So....I zoom in closer.
Oh wow...look what I've uncovered.  That mass of weeds is looking more like ART to me.  And one little lady seems intent on stealing the show does she not?  And what about all that empty space you ask?  Well space is at a premium these days and everyone wants more.  A flower and a photograph are no exception.  And did you notice how the green of the grass and leaves has faded into a lovely backdrop that now shifts the focus onto the 'star' of the show?  Here is where 'cropping' comes into play and can become your friend or your enemy.  If I'd left that flower in the center of this shot...the outcome would not have been nearly as effective, artistic or pleasing to the eye.  When we shoot, we have a tendency to want to center everything right smack dab in the middle of the frame.  But try to think outside of that box and shift things over a little. 

What could be done with this image now that I've left all that blank space over there?  Well, besides aiding the eye in focusing on what is the most important element in the shot....it also provides a space for something else. But what?   A hand written sentiment of love or congratulations perhaps.  For I see one of those enclosure cards you get at the florist when you send someone flowers, with the perfect place to sign your name.  Or a place card perhaps, to adorn the table for Easter brunch.  Yes...this is the shot that pleases me most.  I feel I have captured the essence of their beauty as I saw it.  BUT....what if?
Yep!  You knew I couldn't stop without pushing the envelope didn't you?  There is a saying that I saw credited to Mick Jagger, but have since seen it attributed to many others as well...and that is "anything worth doing, is worth overdoing"!  And I am a happy subscriber to that philosophy of life.  So for good measure I zoomed in one more time.  Just like the bear that went over the mountain.  Do you remember WHY he went over it?  TO SEE WHAT HE COULD SEE of course!  Why else? 

And here I finally get to know my subject as intimately as my lens at the time would allow.  I can see her full regalia of petals....the layers of her petticoat, if you will.  And I can see her core...her heart....the center of her aura!  I can even observe where the 'cycle of life' takes place.  Where she feeds the bees who pollinate the flowers and so on and so forth.  I have an appreciation for this lovely flower (or weed) that I never would have had if I didn't take time to pay attention to the DETAILS!  I uncovered a beauty in them that thereby allowed me to create yet another thing of beauty in a photograph and art.  So in essence...I've come to understand this as the beauty in the world being multiplied by the small act of appreciation and gratitude for what each living thing uniquely has to offer.  I could have discounted that dusty old field as an eyesore, something not worthy of being seen and appreciated, because at first glance it appeared to merely be plain and shabbily dressed.  But the magical secret is that the beauty was in the DETAILS! 

Warning:  I love quotes and use them often.  And I find two of my favorite "magic' quotes applicable here because magic takes so many different forms....

"The universe is full of magical things, patiently waiting for our wits to grow sharper."

"That's the thing with magic.  You've got to know it's still here, all around us, or it just stays invisible for you."

On an ending note, which of the 4 shots do you find to be most pleasing to your eye?  As I'm sure you are aware...all art is subjective, so to me it's always interesting to know what others think.  For the record, although I do love the intimacy of the final shot, my personal choice is still #3 for all the reasons I listed above and ones that I didn't include.  Here's wishing everyone a weekend filled with magical details!

Under a Gypsy Moon

What do you envision when you think of a 'Gypsy'? You know...what would the picture in your mind's eye look like if you tried to describe it? When I close my eyes, I see a clearing in the woods. The clearing is carpeted by a thick mossy ground cover, surrounded by trees, next to a river. Wild thyme grows underfoot and sweetens the air.  Evening has fallen and the moon in the sky is a full round glowing orb.  Oh how I adore a full moon, so full of feminine energy and promising mystery.  The light that shines down from a full moon is the most magnificent light of all, because it illuminates the earth in such a magical way. The moonlight falls on the ripples of the water and shines like glitter in the night. One can easily find their way down the wooded trail to the Gypsy Camp when the full moon offers to lead the way. 

This particular night is in mid Summer. I know this because the delicate, sweet scent of jasmine wafts along on a soft balmy breeze that tickles the skin.  Through the trees, I spot the flicker of fireflies darting to and fro among the branches....a sure sign that Summer has arrived.  An owl bellows out from deep within the woods, and if you listen closely, you'll hear the faint sound of laughter and music above the cricket symphony. 

Up ahead in the clearing, there are several Gypsy Wagons circled up around a blazing campfire. The wagons are colorful even in the darkness, and they have lights and lanterns strung about them in a most enchanting way.  I am drawn ever closer by my curiosity and delight, as if being pulled along by some magnetic energy.

Gypsy men are sitting around the campfire, cheerfully playing their instruments. I do not hear the traditional old world Gypsy sound however.  Instead, there is more of a Gypsy Jazz vibe to the music.  Something akin more to the playing of Roux and his band of water gypsies in the movie "Chocolat".  I hear what sounds like Django Reinhardt playing Minor Swing on his guitar, and maybe an occasional violin or tambourine. It has more of a 30's French jazz feel to it. The men laugh and play long into the night...their chords drifting away on the breeze, up into the surrounding town nearby.  But the music can only faintly be heard in town....just enough to peak the curiosity and make one eager to investigate the merrymaking down by the lake.

Then there are the Gypsy women...oh, those exotic Gypsy women.  How they enchant us all.  They are flamboyantly dressed with their flashy jewels, noisy coin belts and scarves of many colors and patterns.  They dance their frenzied, yet alluring dance around the flames in an air of reckless abandon, with the ruffles of their skirts twirling madly about them.  It's as if their gyrating hips lull everyone into some strange hypnotic trance.

The bewitching trail of their perfume hangs fragrant in the air, and seduces with its heady scent of spice, incense and musk.  Their long curls hang loose around their shoulders, while their bells and trinkets jingle and sparkle in the most beguiling way.  And their faces are set aglow by the light of the moon and the crackling fire.   Oh how beautiful the skin looks when it is softly caressed by moonbeams. The sweat of the dance glistens on their bare shoulders and bellies.  They are one with the music, they are one with the night.

Over to the side sits a Fortune Teller's tent.  And inside, is an elderly Gypsy lady called Madame Zelda.  She is something of a legend in town.  No one is sure if she really exists.  But she is here tonight to work her magic.  She is the matriarch of this Gypsy clan, and many full moons have risen and set since she was a young Gypsy maiden joining in the 'dance'.  Her head is covered with the traditional gypsy scarf, and her face is wrinkled and weathered by the years. She is the wise woman and the 'Fortune Teller' of this Caravan, and her tent takes on a colorful glow as though illuminated by fairy dust and magic. 

Madame Zelda will be working hard this evening to earn some coins for her travels.  Her crystal ball and tarot cards are laid out for service, and her tent smells of burning candles and spicy incense which trails out the opening to entice those who eagerly await their turn inside. 

Her chair remains filled all night with the curious townsfolk who have dared to sneak off down to the river in hopes of gleaming a glimpse of their fate and fortune. This evening is filled with music and dance and drink and revelry. Inhibitions are left at the door.  And we all do as the Gypsies do tonight!

I am the red haired Gypsy, dancing barefoot by the fire. My toes have rings, my fingers have more.

My skirts are colorful....adorned with stray bits of lace and ribbons and buttons. My peasant blouse falls off the shoulders and my vest is laced up tight. My crimson curls cascade down my back and my head scarf ties to the side. My eyes are wide with energy and delight. Beads of sweat form on my skin as I dance and dance and dance. I honor the earth, the fire, the water and the wind....I dance my dance for the Moon, and I dance my dance for ME!  The stars, the moon, and the music have cast a powerful spell on me now.  I give in to their ephemeral delights.  No worries of yesterday or fears of tomorrow...only the sheer enchantment of this very moment permeating my soul.  The night seems endless and euphoric.

The first pink rays of the sun begin to peek over the horizon, as moonlight still illuminates the darkness. The world will soon yawn as it rubs the sleep of night from its bleary eyes. And when dawn begins to break, the magic Gypsy spell will be broken as well.  I too begin to awaken from a most peculiar slumber, to find myself curled up in the grass next to a dying fire of embers and ash.  The smoke is heavy as it mixes with the early morning dew, and the air smells vaguely of pine, smoke and perfumed incense.  The remains of the fire smoulder on, but there are no Gypsies to be found.  I rub my eyes sleepily, and attempt to recall the events of this magical night.  I am quite certain that there was a Gypsy encampment right here where I lay.  But where are the brightly colored Gypsy wagons, and Madame Zelda's tent?  And how did I get out here? 

Just then, I spy something over in the grass.  In the waning moonlight, I catch a glimpse of something shiny on the ground by the trees.  Indeed, there is something sparkling there in whats left of the night's magical moonlight.  I bend down to find a large, ornate ring that must have fallen from the slender fingers of one of the dancing Gypsy women.  And there is magic still dancing around the ring, like electrically charged fairy dust. In fact, I begin to realize that this may be the only tangible proof that the Gypsy Caravan had even traveled through this town last night.  But surely someone else must have seen them, everyone was here.

Weren't they? 

My attention is again drawn down to the ring.  I pick it up and hold it in my hand.  I can feel its warmth and its magic tingling in my palm.  And all at once...reality seems obscured.  Did I by chance fall asleep in the grass when I laid down to rest, and wish on the first star in the evening sky?  Did I even really dance with the Gypsies beneath the full Gypsy Moon last night? Or was this just some kind of hazy intoxicating Midsummer Night's dream?  You know, the kind that leaves you feeling dazed and confused when you first awaken....unable to distinguish between reality and fantasy.  A dream so mesmerizing that you yearn for it to be real.  Those are the best kind of dreams to have. 

And perhaps it wasn't just a dream. Maybe we can, as some people believe.....travel out of our bodies during our dreams and live out paradoxical lives and fantasies. Maybe we can glimpse snippets of past lifetimes in the same manner. Or maybe we are sending ourselves subliminal messages of our hearts true desires, and we should pay heed to them and chart new courses for our lives as a result.  Then again, maybe it WAS but only a luscious, lingering dream......but if it didn't really happen.....then where did this ring come from?  I think I shall slip it upon my finger and see if there is any Gypsy magic left in it for me!

The Rites of Spring

In the Spring, the Gypsy in my soul begins to stir.  After all the magic of Autumn and Halloween have blown out of town like colored leaves on a cool breeze, and after the hustle and bustle of the Christmas holidays have finally waned and left me exhausted, cranky, cynical and usually sick....I begin my winter hibernation.  I always seem to get a case of the seasonal blues about that time.  It's depressing to see the world outside so barren and gray.  So I remain indoors, spending as much of the winter as possible in my fuzzy PJ's and socks, until the first buds spring forth on the flowers and trees.  Hark...the coming of Spring has finally arrived, and with it come the 'Rites of Spring'!  What are the 'Rites of Spring'?  Well of course it is a famous musical masterpiece by Stravinsky.  But I'm referring more specifically to a 'state of mind' or of nature's cyclical 'rebirth' at this time of year.

Many different religions mark the coming of Spring with various holidays and festivals.  The Christians hold Easter celebrations of 'death and rebirth', the Pagans celebrate Ostara and revel in Beltaine frivolity, and the Hindus hold a carnival-like festival called Holi, dedicated to Krishna or Kama, the God of Pleasure.  But the 'Rites of Spring' itself...are those of the return of light and warmth to the earth, of growth, rebirth and fertility.  Mother Nature has awoken from her long winter's nap.  She is refreshed, rejuvenated, frisky and fertile!  And romance is in the air, both literally and figuratively.

 

It is at this time, when the days grow longer and the sun begins to warm my face again...that I know Spring has arrived, and it's time for me to emerge from my self imposed cocoon.  I feel that gray funk begin to lift as the birds and the bees and the butterflies and squirrels return to our property.

The trees are budding and the flowers begin to bloom.  And with the return of the flowers, my creativity that has all but withered away through the dank Winter months, also begins to return.  Actually, it is more of a 'rebirth' I suppose, like in nature... as it never really leaves.  But it hides away in the recesses of my soul and hibernates along with me.  Then when Spring arrives, everything about me emerges fresh and renewed.....happy, optimistic and inspired.  And the Gypsy in my soul begins to stir. 

There is a magical place here I call "Gypsy Grove".  It's a quaint, lovely spot where the Gypsy in my soul goes to commune with nature, be free and wander.  And although nature abounds in Gypsy Grove at all times of the year, the Springtime finds it fervently brimming over with life.  The sounds of nature are almost amplified to my ear.  Even the vibrations of the trees are palpable. And Gypsy Grove is alive in technicolor splendor.

I often find myself with a front row seat to a most magnificent symphony of crickets and birds.  Have you heard that crickets have 4 different types of songs they play depending on the 'mood'?  A courting song is in order when a female is near, and it's more quiet....dare I suggest romantic even? And one has only to spend a short time in Gypsy Grove, to see that romance and fertility are indeed alive and well in nature.  And no better time than Spring to discover that 'romance' is not just reserved for us humans.  The crickets play music, the birds sing love songs, and even the squirrels share a passionate kiss and embrace.

Yes, Spring is the season for 'Lovers'!  Many a poem was penned from the fertile inspiration of Springtime beauty.  Many songs of love bestowed upon fair maidens with flowers in their hair and Spring moonlight on their skin.  The heady scents of the flowers in bloom help to set the mood...weaving a fragrant magical spell with their seductive perfumes.  And lovers steal away down a moonlit path to kindle some passion of their own!  Ahh...Love and Romance...the Rites of Spring!

 

Who is the 'Artful Gypsy'?

My name is Wendy, although I'd prefer to go by Gypsy Moon or Madame Zelda perhaps. That's because of the 'GYPSY' in my soul. Hence the name of my blog, "The Artful Gypsy"! Note here, that I said 'in my soul,' NOT, 'in my blood'! Unfortunately, I cannot lay claim to having any real genetic connections to Gypsy ancestors that I am aware of....as my heritage is Nowegian Viking and Scotch-Irish as far as I know. But I won't rule out the possibility of being a Gypsy in a past life perhaps....if there is such a thing. I'm also not talking about the true, hard life of the wonderful Rominy people, but rather a fanciful notion of an Artistic, Bohemian, Gypsy, Witchy, Hippy Chick. I like to draw bits and pieces of inspiration and style and ideals from all of these foot-loose, fancy free, magical archetypes, and then I fashion a completely unique vision of myself to let loose on the world.

As for what I do (besides daydreaming), I am a professional Photographer and Graphic Artist. I specialize in Lifestyle Stock and Portrait Photography. As an Artist, I tend to enjoy almost ANYTHING that is creative in nature....from crafts, to interior decorating, to poetry, to party planning, and most artistic things in between. All of these things satisfy my soul's purpose...which is to CREATE. My biggest and most fantastic creation to date however....is my 2 wonderful children. And of course I must acknowledge my fabulous co-creator on that project...ha! Having these children allows me to continue to perpetrate my own personal brand of wonder, whimsy, magic and fantasy on the world through their young and curious minds. Minds still capable of believing in the unseen.

It is my personal mission in life to help keep the magic alive in the hearts and souls of mankind. It seems as though we have collectively turned our mortal backs on all things magical and mysterious. We take ourselves far too seriously to suspend reason long enough to really appreciate and enjoy the excitement and wonder of BELIEVING! But for those incapable of believing...I hope to succeed in at least luring them into IMAGINING the POSSIBILITIES!

And that is what my blog will be about...always imagining the possibilities, always believing and never losing our sense of wonder and magic. I will share photos and art and stories and poems and ideas and dreams and discoveries and creations.....in the hopes of imbuing the world with the joys of 'Enchantment'! I wish for this blog to serve as a written record of the eclectic, fanciful, playful Gypsy that I was while here in this earthly realm. And I hope it adds a ray of hope and positivity to someones day along the way.

 

I also endeavor to share the bliss of living life in the NOW....completely submerged in the moment. And of the ability to find joy and beauty in everything, even the smallest and simplest of things....like color and pattern. To pay attention to the subtle nuances and the slightest details that so often go unnoticed by the masses. We must all follow our bliss and find our own joy...even when others may not 'get' us. I believe we each have the ability to create our own happiness, and that is a wondrous gift indeed. Which reminds me of one of my favorite sayings....."If you don't like something...change it, and if you can't change it, then change the way you think about it." That speaks to me of CHOICE. My choice, is to be happy, and I stay happy by always operating out of gratitude. It's an easy and satisfying choice available to us all. As is the willingness to just IMAGINE and BELIEVE!