captured in time

you gotta hold dear the people in your life that surround you with

big happy smiles filled with laughter

this past Sunday the boho ladies gathered at lake peigneur

to take pictures of our collections available online and at the local bayouBAZAAR

thanks to our lovely and talented friend, Gwen Aucoin, for taking the photographs
and a sincere thanks to our beautiful models
Julie who is always full of spirit and light
and Grace who surprisingly it was the first time she had ever done such a thing
she was a pure natural, a perfect fit

shop bayou bohemian

shop gypsy rig

shop LaceyDU

shop native owl

unfortunately I was not very organized and had too many things to choose from 

with too little time and too much going on that I felt inspirationally challenged

but the experience was special and I look forward to more

gatherings to capture our vision and inspiration of the moment

I learned a very important lesson that I hope to truly grow from and do differently next time

>>> organization truly pays off <<<

honestly I consider myself pretty well organized on a normal everyday

but going into this day I definitely was not I had to many choices

while my sweet friend and fellow boho Jamie was indeed and she set an impressionable example

she had all her three choices of cloth and jewels draped on separate hangers

ready to go and I truly feel the captures show this

I will be ready next time 

we are all growing and learning with everyday and every experience

there will be so much beautiful creation to come from this connection

I feel it deep in my heart

playing with light

so just last week I mentioned here how I was having some trouble getting clear pictures in low light

they were always so blurry and my shutter speed was often times soooo slow I would have to turn my camera off and on. well my shutter opened and closed super fast and the blurry is so much better

my sweet sis-in-law the pro visit her here gave me a few pointers that I finally tried

and I am so pleased with the results

something to do with the Tv setting

I am not a photographer and all of the lingo is a bit over my head

but baby steps taking all of the information in small doses and applying it to figure it out hands on

works much better for me

here's to practice...a little can go a long way

of course I still have a long way to go but I am happy with my progress

here is a look around our bedroom

this was where the old wall heater was

now its a shelf made of salvaged fence boards

worn on my wedding day

I made it from the bouquet of mini roses my hubby brought me on our first date

a few pieces from my growing collection of vintage clothes

for my shop and bohoMERCANTILE

a thrifted shelf that resembles a navajo design

this shot is my favorite of the night

i love you

gunne sax and feathers

to catch our dreams

I like the warmth of the yellows and reds that the low light creates

many more hours days weeks years of practice then maybe...

<<<>>> I hope you learn something new today <<<>>>

a message to remind us

shop update coming soon ::

hoping to have a few in the shop this week

this months bayouBAZAAR is this Friday

I will have several vintage skirts and much more vintage clothes available at bohoMERCANTILE

so folks if you happen to be in or around Cajun Country come and visit us

and enjoy some local lovin'

if you can't make it out visit us at bohoMERCANTILE.com

and you can always shop the bohos online

bayou bohemian

gypsy rig

laceyDU

native owl

how-to create that aged hangtag

how to and pics found here

MICROWAVE PRIMITIVE HANG TAGS

It works great, and you don't need to turn the oven on.

2 cups of hot water
1/4 cup instant coffee (dry)
2-3 tea bags (let seep for a bit)
3 Tablespoons imitation vanilla scented oil is optional and amount depends on strength desired.

Mix together. Soak tags in coffee mixture for 5-10 mins. Lay on paper plate lined with paper towels. Microwave in intervals of 40 sec, checking to make sure they don't burn. You can stamp on them or write on them. A really great look is old time pictures applied with decoupage. If you want you can sprinkled lightly with real cinnamon before microwaving.

SUPPLIES:
Cardstock paper
Strong brewed coffee (suggest instant)
Vanilla extract
Cotton string
Scissors or paper cutter
Sponges or large cotton balls (optional)
Cookie sheet and wax/baking paper
Hole-puncher with a grip handle
Reinforcement Labels

INSTRUCTIONS:

Cut tags to any size you wish, for instance, 1-3/4" x 2-3/4", round off the tops or leave them straight across. Punch a hole in the top center of the tags or place a reinforcement label where you think the hole should be and punch. Apply round reinforcement labels to both sides of the tag. It is easier to punch the holes first then apply the tabs.

Cut sections of string about 12 inches long for tags measuring 2" x 4" (cut less or more length depending on the size of the tag you are making). Fold the string in half and enter both cut ends through the hole leaving the closed end on the opposite side of the tag to loop. Grasp the open ends taking them over the top of the tag through the loop. Gently pull the loop snug and tie a knot in the open ends. Leave about 1/4" excess string behind knot and trim even. You may use ribbon, cloth, jute, or any other material of your choice in place of cotton string.
Make a cup of double or triple strength coffee and add 2 tablespoons of Vanilla extract. Allow the coffee to cool enough to work without burning your fingers. Have a cookie sheet ready and lined with wax paper. Plain white paper will work, as well. If you place, the tags directly onto the metal dark specks will appear on the tags. That is why you should line your metal cooking sheet.

Dip each tag into the coffee mixture including the string; place the tag flat onto the cookie sheet repeating this step until you fill the cookie sheet. Bake for 15 - 20 minutes at 250 to 275 degrees. The edges will naturally curl but will flatten to a certain extent once again. Do not turn the tags over while they are baking. Baking makes, the tags brown more and helps preserve the vanilla's scent

Let's get grungy!! Tea bag trick!
I want to share this quick tip with you. Do you have lampshades that need that fast prim touch? Take a few tea bags (may need more ready depending on the size of the shade) Throw a cup of water in the microwave on high to get nice and hot, let your tea bags steep and gently wring out a little to get excess water off. Simply dab or blot your tea bags directly onto your shade! Yes, it's that simple. You can do as many layers as you'd like depending on how dark you want your stain.

I totally copy and pasted this from this lady

I sincerely hope she does not mind 

but I am so excited for this how-to and want to be able to 

source them at any time if even waaaaaay later

I am excited to try this and share my experience 

I honestly can't think of a tutorial that I have seen and had no idea of already

and was this excited to actually experience for myself

<<<>>> stay tuned folks <<<>>>

hmm...

"Imagination is more important than knowledge."

- Albert Einstein
found here

found here

feathers

unknown source

to simply reuse

found here

so simple and such a great use of all those jars we accumulate

I have posted a very similar something here

up/recycling at its finest

found here

images of bohoMERCANTILE are bright

and inspired with this work

nomad jewels

all found here

not so simple jeweled decoration for body and soul

elaborate stories of travel to the far corners

stories told by gems and rocks not words

put a smile on your face

this surely brought me to smile

for those moments when you feel like you have a huge load to carry

somebody always has it harder...really...can you imagine

click here to see original post and more pictures

appropriate on a day I am feeling a bit bogged down

though more emotionally than physically

these pictures helped me to look on the brighter side of things

our humble abode

collected and gathered

vintage and handmade

rocks and flowers

feathers and glass

new and salvaged

I believe its the special little touches

that make a house a home

ps. I was working with my camera and low light. I really need work with that as you can see.

It so hard for me to get a clear picture in low light.

pss. I just got some pointers for such shots from my photographer sister in law
whom also sold me her awesome pro camera she had grown out of
the one I am using and learning and growing on
check her beautiful work out here 
I am excited to practice with the new info I learned!!!

moon love

found here

found here

design studio dreams

clicking through these shots I found here

gets me excited to work in my studio space

it's rather small and cluttered quite like this space
of designer Karlee Slater more about her can be found here

I especially love the large collection of kraft paper patterns hanging

I'm dreaming of cotton and hemp dresses and skirts

inspired by days of olde with respect for the true lady

with simplicity and comfort always in mind

that go-to piece you can just throw on 

yet still look cute and stylish while being comfortable

like these samples I made from a vintage pattern many many moons ago

I still want to make more using 

this hemp/cotton fabric and hand-dyeing to create a beautiful colored collection

colors that are just a little odd and different those seem to be my favorite

I find them to be so appealing and beautiful

these are dreams that remain close to my heart

not far fetched at all and quite attainable and realistic

<<<>>> stay tuned folks <<<>>>