Friday, April 1, 2016

Gypsy Fayre–April 2016 Challenge at Our Creative Corner

This month of April 2016 I have the absolute privilege of hosting the challenge over at Our Creative Corner. I have always a deep fascination with Bohemian/gypsy culture and sometimes consider myself somewhat of neo-Bohemian with a gypsy soul.

This month's challenge invites you to let us see your gypsy nature.  

Gypsies are wanderers, purveyors of exquisite things, mysterious things, free-spirited bohemians curating the beauty of life and sharing the wonders with you as the travel along.

So for the challenge let your creativity run wild and free like a gypsy 
I want you to create interesting items you might imagine finding at a traditional Gypsy Fayre.
You may create whatever your gypsy heart desires, but it must....
contain at least 3 colours from this featured colour palette 

or
show us how your project is inspired by this gorgeous ode to the gypsy soul!



The sponsor this month is


What do you think?  Do you have the soul of gypsy?

Play along with the rules of the challenge like with your gypsy soul and you could be the curator of some fabulous gyspy loot too from them.  Remember to submit your project at the challenge page on

I always imagined that Gypsy carts would have loads of bright colourful and interesting accessories.  

Every month I try to get out to a little gathering of Bohemian free-spirits and neo-hippies in the province that I live in, I thought it would be an awesome idea to wear the OCC April challenge theme to get some extra publicity for the OCC blog as well - as it happens that at these events there is a lot of trading and sharing and communion of creative energy and colourful souls.

I created a collection of Gypsy
accessories in the form of a headdress, earrings and a ring.
The entire collection was created out of odd bits and bobs I had in my collection of trim, wool, yarn, feathers, ribbon, beads and shells I picked up here and there on my gyspy wanderings and tradings.



To create the flowers – I cut 5 to 6 little petal shapes out of organza ribbon and threaded them, and the pulled the thread taut so that the ends bunched together and pulled the petals into a flower shape.


I stitched gorgeous rich coloured upholstery beading onto a long headband elastic and added a few metal belly-dancing discs for gypsy interest.  This was the front of the headband.



For the back, I wanted it to be an effervescent effusion of colour and joy and sparkling interest.




I used an embroidery hoop to keep a length of fleck yarn taut and added various lenghts of interesting embellishments to it. 



I braided, knotted, drilled holes with my Dremel through pieces of shells and mother-of-pearl that I had picked up sometime or the other.





 
I sewed on two loops to the sides of the headband elastic where it would sit just behind my ears and two clasps onto either end of the back part of the headband to make it easier to attach the back part of the headband to the elastic.


For the ring – I made another organza flower and added a few feathers to a ring base.


Finally for the earrings – I pretty much bundled a few feathers together, tied them up with fleck thread and did some fancy wire designs to attach it the the earwire.


That completed my project and it was all ready and it was a hit at the “Harvest, Zuvuya” gathering. 


–and here we are, gypsy camp all set up and ready to flaunt our gypsy nature.



 Thanks and that’s it for now – looking forward to seeing your gypsy creations at Our Creative Corner

10 comments:

  1. Oh wow - I soooo loved this post Candice... reading your steps to creating this GORGEOUS adornment, seeing you at your 'gypsy fayre' as a family and then the BEAUTIFUL pictures of you wearing your INCREDIBLE projects - WOW. It just doesn't get any better. I am smiling BIG. HOW in the world you did all of that is beyond me.... even though I read it - I still just have to say - I would have any idea how to attempt making what you did on that grand a scale. I mean - it's not just some little head adornment/earring set. YOU made the SET of ALL sets - the OVER THE MOON version - THE BEST of the BEST girl. It is just soooo seriously STUNNING. And I just have to say... the entire set looks SPECTACULAR on YOU. You are already just sooo beautiful that when you put on all your wonderful pieces - you looked totally like an exotic gypsy from days gone by. WOW... can you tell I just love this post and your creations???!!!!! FOR SURE I DID!!! Plus - I really enjoyed playing with you on your Gypsy Fayre theme too. Big Hugs. j.

    ReplyDelete
  2. It's fantastic, Candice! I love this profusion and you wear it so wonderfully. It's rich and light at the same time. And i love the egyptian eye!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Wow Candice! What an exuberant burst of gypsy colour, I love the effect you created. Funny we both used embroidery hoops. Hugs Jan X

    ReplyDelete
  4. Absolutely love this,wonderful to see a splash of colour! Thank you so much Candice for leaving such a lovely comment re my house girl creation too ;)
    Hugs
    Donna xx

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hi Candice. It seems like forever since I've visited your blog. Guess that is because it HAS been! So sorry about that. I totally love your interpretation of the gypsy theme. That headdress and accompanying jewelry is so creative. I totally love everything you've made and it looks fabulous on you!! Where did you ever come up with those ideas? Whatever it was, your did a fantastic job of bringing them to life. Lovely colors and creations!

    ReplyDelete
  6. So nice to see you visit me at my blog :)
    Your gypsy attire is beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Well you are just the cutest thing! So fun!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Just wonderful - a great theme, and it's prompted some brilliantly inventive creations from your team mates... as well as this fantastic frothy bohemian headpiece. Amazing!
    Alison x

    ReplyDelete
  9. So much fun and whimsy! Yes, absolutely Gypsy, bohemian style and you look beautiful wearing it!
    Jackie ")

    ReplyDelete
  10. Dear Tincan your lovely gypsy style head decoration, earrings and ring looks so wonderful to your black hair. Three wonderful gypsy artworks you have created. I love this style and it is this year very faishionable, also the Bohemian style.
    It was very funny to visit your blog and to create also something in gypsy style. Thank you for your dear comment on my blog.
    I am excited what we will do next. Nice to meet you here.
    Dear Greetings
    Sabine

    ReplyDelete

It makes me happy when you stop by the Tincan deli - I love interacting with other bloggers, crafters and anyone else who is up for a chat. If you leave a comment I am going to come over to your blog and visit there for a while!!!>