Perhaps it was the books I have been dipping into lately
tales told of the old ways of the Scottish Gypsies/ Travellers 
Perhaps it was remembering a dear friend who is soon off on a
Perhaps it was remembering a dear friend who is soon off on adelicious, horse drawn, gypsy caravan holiday around Ireland
Perhaps it was coming across the work of Helen Musselwhite and her delicate piece entitled "gypsy caravan".
Perhaps it was "gypsea tea" a delicious blog by a like minded lass
that led me to les-verdines , gypsy inspired lovelies to sigh over.
Perhaps it was the oh so sweet, long ago murmur of a memory
Perhaps it was "gypsea tea" a delicious blog by a like minded lassthat led me to les-verdines , gypsy inspired lovelies to sigh over.
Perhaps it was the oh so sweet, long ago murmur of a memory
grandma singing the "wraggle taggle gypsies" song to me
(the song that led me to fall in love with the gypsies
gypsy clothes , gypsy songs, gypsy travels).
Perhaps all these things and more inspired my gypsy within
who loves to dance bare foot under the moon
to walk in the wild open places,
to wander under the cool green trees
Now that was very inspiring and much fun!
ReplyDeleteRuthie, a delightful post. Helen's work is amazing and I'm going back to read about the Scottish gypsies; it's the first time I've heard of them!
ReplyDeleteCheerio for now...
Beautiful colours.
ReplyDeleteWouldn't it be a delight to have one's very own gypsy caravan in which to escape on a sunny afternoon?
This post is so lovely
ReplyDeletewandering in and out of fantastic pictures, memories, blogs and dancing barefoot.
Thank you.
Spirithelpers
My Dad, who is of Scottish descent, always said he heard there were gypsies in the family.
ReplyDeleteI didn't realize there were Scottish gypsies. I have to send my Dad the link to your post!
(Oh, and beautiful images, Ruthie) :-)
Lovely, musings, Ruthie. makes me think of one of my favs The Wind in the Willows. Have you seen the movie, Gypsy Caravan? Or the one with Gogol Bordello and Eugene Hutz? Not necessarily dreamy movies, but an interesting peek into the Gypsie psyche, and passion.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the mention Ruthie! And naturally, I adore this post! I must read the books you mentioned. When I traveled in Ireland several years ago I remember hearing about the Irish gypsies or Tinkers. I'm very interested to read about Scottish gypsies now.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the congrats on the job too! I'm excited, but nervous as well...
Thank you for sharing your magic. You see such beauty in the things you encounter x
ReplyDeleteSplendid little stars - it was inspiring for me to do too, am off to sketch more gypsy things x
ReplyDeleteAlaine - thank you, it is a fascinating subject , the latest book i read "jesse's journey ( first of her trilogy, her own true life story) is so poignant, as it really markthe end of an era x
Pamela Terry & Edward - it would, if i could have just a tiny one, i would tuck it away in the corner of the garden & folks would find me there, amidst an array of glorious rich colour & a tapestry of wonderful memories, day dreaming x
Tammie Lee - thank you
The Garden Ms M - how intriguing, you may have some of that scottish gypsy blood! do you ever feel an urge to dance barefoot under the moon x ;-) x
Richard - i adore the wind in the willows, i have not seen the gypsy caravan or the other though, i shall have to look into this!!! thank you
Lauragrace - you are very welcome - your place is so lovely & feels like home x x
Jasmine - your such a sweetie, thank you x x
Hello Ruthie
ReplyDeletethat was a lovely post with very interesting links
I want a gyspy caravan now...they would make a great studio...
I love your gypsy spirit dance...
Happy days
It makes me want to camp outside (but it's raining) I remember reading a magazine article about those gyspy caravans in Ireland - the pictures were absolutely dreamy. There is something really attractive about the gyspy way of live (proper gypsies, though, not modern-day travellers!)
ReplyDeleteWould you like to join in a give-away over at my blog?
What fun! I can just hear that song while she dances. She makes me smile.
ReplyDeleteKat
I think your gypsy captures that spirit!
ReplyDeleteThe inside of that gypsy caravan looks absolutely gorgeous, such wonderful rich colours. The Gypsy Rover was a song my mother taught me when I was small and I've always loved The Raggle Taggle Gypsy-O. Lovely post.
ReplyDeleteA magical post Ruthie!
ReplyDeleteI think you are a gypsy girl at heart.:)
I would love to have one of these gypsy caravans. They are like works of fine art. Stunning paintwork and designs!
Do you remember the gypsy in the chocolate Flake advert?
These caravans remind me of that, all so dreamy and romantic.:)
Jo.x
P.S.
ReplyDeleteYour Gypsy girl painting is wonderful too with her long flowing hair. The colours are lovely.
See you again soon.x
Aah, love your red-haired gypsy. When I was a girl I read a book that featured a peddler with a gypsy wagon (or caravan), who sold buttons and ribbons, etc. out of drawers in the back. Oh, how I wish I could remember the name of that book. And gypsies make me think of tinkers. Am I right or wrong? When I finally learned about my Scottish ancestors I found out that I had a great aunt Teenie who loved to talk Gaelic with the tinkers when they came round.
ReplyDeleteLove all the gypsy-ness. :-) (especially that lush interior).
ReplyDeleteHave you seen "Into the West" with Gabriel Byrne? Some lovely gypsy references there.
whimsical and wishful and wonderful.
ReplyDeleteOO delwyn, what a wonderful idea!! sigh if only. hope you are getting around much better x
ReplyDeleteKitty - yes i would love to join in a blog give away x
Kat_Rn & art 4sol - thank you. she makes me smile too, though i am working on a better version, im not so happy with her! & i have the song running through my head still
Rowan - oh yes thats another of my faves, thanks to my grandmother x thank you
Joanne May - i am! x thanks x
Julie - ooh i wish you could remember too, it sounds a wonderful tale. In scotland & ireland a tinker was a travelling mender of metal household items. what a wonderful name aunt teenie x
tlc - thanks for that, no i haven't i shall go discover more!
soulbrush - thank you x
Oh Ruthie this is a lovely post! My mum used to sing that song to me a lot. She was intrigued by the gypsy culture too and I think quite fancied herself as one! Strangely, a close friend of mine recently found out her own mother was a Romany gypsy but they didn't find out until she died - she'd kept it secret because of the stigma. Her mother had been adopted as a teenager because of a tragedy in the family and from then on was brought up in a 'normal' family. My friend's now met her real cousins who are still living the nomadic life! Have a lovely summer Ruthie! :)x
ReplyDeleteoh gorgeus post, for me it was a peom i read as a girl, 'last night the gypsies came, nobody knows from where' im going to have a look at the links you've given us!!! fliss xx
ReplyDeleteWhat a gorgeous blog. Your postings of Kit William brought back memories, my daughter and I read and re-read those books, they are so beautiful.
ReplyDeleteJessie - what an amazing story, i think its terrible that the gypsie folks have suffered so much stigma etc.
ReplyDeletefelicity - things from our childhood can have such a deep seated influence on us cant they. i remember that poem too!
Milly - thank you.
Hi, Ruthie, I finally came back here to see if you answered me (thanks!). My great-aunt was Christina, but always called Teenie. Here's another snippet I remember from that long-ago book. (BTW, set in America around 1820s-1840s). These two sisters had "horrid" mustard and black checked wool dresses which they hated, so one fourth of July they set firecrackers to the mustard squares. Instead of getting rid of the dresses, their mother made them re-weave each and every burned square!
ReplyDeleteRuthie, Love to read your contemplations, so I left you a challenge. Go to my blog to pick it up.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous! Anita
ReplyDeleteMy Irish mother-in-law used to sing gypsy songs to our boys when they were little. I am not sure if it was about those same raggle, taggle gypsies.
ReplyDeleteIt would surely be good to dance barefoot under your moon, like your lovely illustration.
Just what I needed today, some gypsy dust.
ReplyDeleteLove Renee xoxo
Julie - what a tale, now i shall have to hunt down that book, now i am really intrigued!!
ReplyDeleteAcorn moon - how lovely & thank you
Renee - so glad you liked it x
Adam McNaughton was inspired by this book to write a song by the same name...Yellow on the Broom.
ReplyDeleteThe version by the late folk singer Arthur Johnstone is worth hunting out..
blueskyscotland - thank you! i shall have to hunt these out, i am intrigued!
ReplyDeletei never knew or read of gypsies as a child, there was no grandmother to sing a song of gypsies....and yet, i have always loved them. i discovered them by myself, and i know, i have been a gypsy before.
ReplyDeletei think i will write a poem of gypsies.
thank you, for inspiration.
Dear Sandra ~ I was oh so luckt to have a Grandma who did these things for me. I do so know what you mean about having gypsy in you x
ReplyDelete