Reading old entries in my Turkey Gypsy Blog

This blog was written in 2012 not long after my, now husband, proposed.  I re-read it today and it touched me so deep.  We are struggling but making it.  Some days I get so stressed I can't breathe.  Reading my words from 2 years ago has given me a peace I needed today.  I am sharing it here and hoping it effects someone somewhere.  If you are interested in reading my other Turkey Gypsy entries you can do so at www.blogger.com/turkeygypsy, I have a whole post on changing my name that makes me laugh, cause I am thinking of using "Junk Drunk Love" as a potential new blog.  I seem to be great at starting new things but then my ADHD takes over and squirrel!

Find your Joy and God will do the rest.

As I said in my very first entry, I am terrible at journaling, (or blogging,) its one of those things I have always wanted to do but never developed the discipline for it.  To be honest I just don't have discipline for most things.  I think it is my free spirit, do things my way, attitude.  Its not a bad thing.  Of course I learn most lessons the hard way and I have a lot of unfinished projects but I also have a ton, and I mean ton of experiences I would have never had if I worried about my routine or doing the same stuff everyday.

It always amazes me what a difference a day and a prayer can make.  When I started this blog I was in a real free fall with my life.  Dream career gone, big comfy salary gone, job market in the toilet, etc.  I had no idea what I was going to do with myself much less my career, my house, my truck, the stock pile of now useless junk from my previous life, etc.  I worked three jobs, I sold stuff I didn't need, I recycled cans, anything to help my ends meet.  THEN it hit me, actually Joyce Meyer told me, to let go and let God!  Yes, I had heard it before but I wasn't listening then and I was now. It was not my job to worry and fret, it was my job to get up everyday with a thankful heart and do all I could to be JOYOUS!  WHAT?  That's all I have to do, trust God and be JOYOUS?  Could Oprah have been right all along?  I love JOY its one of my favorite feelings, nothing in the world can top it!  Pure joy is so easy to find in the smallest of things.

Here is some of my favorite simple JOYS!
*My lab when she does just about anything
*My niece when she says, "I love you Aunt Kym" for no reason.
*My boyfriend when he kisses me on the forehead.
*Planting a flower and watching in grow.
*When my bosses wife calls just to see how I am doing
*A phone call from a dear friend and having time to catch up
*Sending cards to friends for no reason.
*Reading blogs, magazines or a good book for an hour without interruption.
*Playing in the creek.
*Holding the cat while he purrs himself to sleep.
*Seeing the girls play softball.
*Cooking a big Sunday dinner and having someone volunteer to do the dishes!

I could go on and on but you get the idea.  I am learning to find JOY in the simplest   of places.

Some many things I want to share but I am thinking I will hold out till my next inspiration or should I say "blogspiration."

Wander freely and find your JOY!

Junk Drunk Love

I love all things rusty and old.  I love industrial items, old farm items, rugged wooden signs, old buckets, stuff my grandparents hated cause they were clunky or hard to use.  I am lucky as all my grand parents lived threw the depression and on into the next century.  They all loved modern conveniences and thought we were soft. Little did they know all things old would be new again and that the economy would fall so hard that  we would gain an appreciation for hard times.

I think not having a lot of disposable income has opened my mind to being more and more creative with what I have on hand.  I have learned to feed 3 people, sometimes 4, 3 meals a day on about $100 per week.  I have learned to take full advantage of free activities for the kids.  We are spending more time with our church family, visit local friends and play board games at home.  Things that used to be my afternoon time waster are now a luxury, like long lunches with friends, spur of the moment road trips, movies, concerts, even a long country drive is a splurge.  But I digress.

My love of junk has always been in the back of my mind but marrying Jackie brought it all to the surface.  He introduced me to auctions, flea markets, thrift stores etc.  I had been to some of these places before but never with the eye he has.  He knows about old glass, old tools, old stuff in general and I am in love with it.  I have made some crazy purchases but they almost always work.  I have a basement full of future projects and JUNK all over my house.  You can go in any room and find something interesting to talk about.  I am full blown Junk Drunk and in Love!!

I think tonight we will use some leftover yarn and jute to make a pom pom garland for Zoe's room.  I let y'all know how it goes.

Hopefully I will post some of my other projects soon but no pressure.

Be Joyful and Live Loud!
Kym

Washi Tape stand

Just like most crafters I am in love with Washi tape.  I have rolls laying around my space and rolling on the floor.  Today, while sitting in my finance's racing shop I had an idea.  Here I am surrounded by all kinds of metal and in love with a master fabricator, ding ding, light bulb!!  I can have something original fabricated!!  Now my washi tape stand is real.  

 He painted it flat black but I wanted to Jazz it up so I used Zebra Washi Tape and ta-da!  I am already trying to think up more storage tools he can fab for me..

Be Happy and live loud.

Kym

Mini Albums and Scrappin' in the City.

Good Afternoon!!

I wanted to give some blogger real estate to Scrappin' in the City.  If  you are in the  East Tennessee area you should visit the City Chicks!  They Rock.  I often call SITC my happy place.  I enjoy shopping there but I love taking classes with the City Chicks.  Check out the class calendar on their website, www.scrappininthecity.com  They have a wide variety of paper crat related classes, they have all day crops and cozy retreats.  Sara Preston and her City Chicks make me feel welcome every time visit.  

Last night's class was one of my new favs.  The 5 and dime mini album using the Farm House Paper Company's product line.  It was a real 'walk down memory lane' kind of book.  I have taken a few photos to share with you but they don't reflect just how vintage and sweet this book looks.

I just fell in love with the front cover.  The stacked chip board pieces give it depth and dimension.  The memorabilia style of the book brings back memories of hot rods, drive ins and cruising with friends on Saturday night.  I haven't decided what pictures will call the album home but you can bet there will be cars.

   The book, itself is quite sturdy.  

It will hold up no matter how many times we look through its pages.

The paper patterns and the embellishments worked perfect.

This is only a sampling of the pages. 

 Each one has little surprises and different uses of the themes colors. 

 It is FABULOUS!

If you love paper craft projects check out the the Farm House Paper Company and the ladies at Scrappin' in the City. 

Camper remodel - Before

This project is turning into a real labor of love.  This cozy little camper is stealing my heart little by little.  I can't wait for our first trip.

Photo One is from the door as you enter.  The dash needs a repaint and the chair could use a cover, the finance says he will handle the driving area, so I am going to clean it and leave it.  I am thinking he is going to paint he dash black clean the seat.  Its a really comfy seat so I doubt he changes it.

Photo Two is the sitting/dining area.  We will set up our cooking area outside so I can do this up as a sitting area only.  Plus it converts to a bed for guest.  My niece, Zoe will make good use of that.  The fold down table is going to get a coat of paint or maybe some decoupage with help from Modge Podge and magazine covers or movie posters if I can find some cool old ones to use.

Photo Three is the closet and the sleeping area.  Well sort of the sleeping area.  I have the mattress sitting on top of the cabinets so I can clean and paint the platform it rests on.  The bed does not fold up and hide so it will need a pretty comforter and some nice pillows.  Plus we want to be comfy when we sleep.  Luckily the mattress is new, comfy to sleep on and double bed size.  Instead of a box spring it we use a futon mattress for extra support.  The old has to be replaced, its got issues.  The closet in the picture is roomier than it looks.  I am planning to paint all the paneling a buttermillk color and use red in the seams of the wood for a striped look.  

Photo Four is the closet and drawers.  All the cabinets are getting a coat of the buttermilk paint.  I am being more creative with the doors and drawer fronts.  Navy blue with white stars and a distressed finish is the plan.  I have room for two valances and I am looking for something Americana to add extra special accents.  I am excited to get this project moving.  We are planning the maiden voyage for September 19 to the 21st, 

Redneck Rumble here we come!

First step is using Kilz on all the paneling.  I will update y'all on my progress in a day or so!

Hummingbirds in the Attic is born

I have wanted to start a blog about things I love about life and living.  Most of my interest are related to family and nesting.  I read several blogs, always with a twinge of "hey, I really want to do this too."  So here I am starting my plunge into a homestyle blog.  In the months I have been thinking about this I have been pondering the name.  The name is important, its how people find you and how they come to know you.  I have seen some wonderful blog names.  I even came up with about 50, most of which were already taken.  I am amazed at how large the blogger world has become.  I even found a few new ones to follow during my name search.  I wrote ideas on scraps of paper and prayed for the perfect name to drop in my lap.

Finally it came to me in the middle of the night, "Hummingbirds in the Attic."  Hummingbirds are a symbol of joy, joy is my favorite word.  I love everything old, worn, shabby, rusted, vintage, treasured, antique, heirloom, all these things you can find in an attic.  It seemed simple to put my joy and love together.  So its "Hummingbirds in the Attic."

Now I have a name so what's next?  Organization does not come natural to me so I have to work at keeping things in order.  Of course my dyslexic short attention span helps me dream up some creative stuff and I wouldn't change it for the world.  I got myself a little notebook I can take everywhere and my cell phone has a great camera.  I am making notes on all my ideas and snapping photos like a crazy person.  As soon as I figure out how to put them on my blog I will share, share and share.  For the mean time you can view my TUMBLR blog, "Hummingbirdsintheattic."

My first blog project is remodeling our camper.  We have a box van converted into a cozy little camper.  It has paneling and wood cabinets, brown carpet and cushions.  I want to jazz it up with some color and character.  I have run several themes through my mind, (and past my finance) finally to settle on Americana.  Jack loves all things auto, especially rat rods and fast cars.  I can incorporate that in with stars & stripes accents.  Using the red, white and blue theme will be charming.  As a bonus I have to supply the camper with the items we need without going overboard.  Storage is minimal.  Every space will have to be utilized and organized.  (There's that word again.)

If you have space saving tips and suggestions please comment, I need all the help I can get.

Until next time I wish you much joy and love!