The Vintage Gypsy Magazine Fall Edition October 2021

Vintage Gypsy

Live Life Inspired ISSUE 24/OCTOBER 2021

"Sunglasses 25 cents" Memoir of a Gypsy Minded Soul by: Author Suzie Morwood

Air; An Artists Journey into the Creative Process From the Be Brave Studio

ling b u Do n Dow ats E t es arv with H A's on d in P e & Bak x a J f ke Che e Bur n e l r A

My Red Chair Story

The Power of Photographs and Handwriting by: Karen Pidskalny

Cover Art by Birgit Raduenz

Love Note Our Cover Story Birgit Raduenz wears many hats !

She is a wife, mother, sister, daughter, gardener. She is a lover of nature, the healing arts, music and dance.

Drawing and Painting is a passion for Birgit, that can be seen on every cover and colouring page of the Vintage Gypsy Magazine.

Art By; Birgit Raduenz

Another year of Vintage Gypsy Magazines is completed and with that the end of an era for the printed version. I am feeling a bit melancholy as we move into a paperless world, and yet I am also very proud of how far we have come and the evolution of this community.

Change is inevitable and constant, and we must learn to evolve and grow and embrace new paradigms. It has always been my dream to offer the magazine for FREE and as we move to a completely digital platform that dream will be recognized.

Not only is paperless, environmentally friendly but, the digital version of the mag will allow us to reach a wider worldwide audience, and this is worth celebrating. Growing in this way benefits the storytellers, the poets, the advertisers, and all the readers. I do hope that you as the reader will continue to read and share the magazine with your friends, sisters, and all the women in your life.

Our Stories Matter… That hasn’t changed!

Shannon Kelly is the Chief Editor and creator of the "Vintage Gypsy" Mag. She is a storyteller, a community builder and a humanitarian. She believes that we all have a story to tell and that each story is unique and important. check out the full story @vintagegypsymag.com

Her love for painting and sculpting started at the age of 16 when she started her apprenticeship at the Royal Porcelain Manufacturer in Berlin, Germany. Her love for Celtic lore and design inspire her to transform clay into art.

No Matter what hat Birgit wears, she always finds inspiration to create beauty in the world.

“It is all of these hats I wear that make it possible for the art to flow from my hands into form and shape.“ -Birgit You can see her work at the Mann Art Gallery gift shop and Shananigan’s coffee and dessert bar in her home city of Prince Albert, SK. or view it online on Facebook and Instagram at: FinxiArt by Birgit Raduenz Contact her at finxiart@gmail.com .

@finxiart

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In This

Edition

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Are You Limiting Yourself with Your Stories

by Shannon Kelly................................................................page 6  unglasses 25cents S Memoirs of a Gypsy Soul Suzie Morwood.................................................................page 11 Doubling Down on Harvest Eats With Chef Jax & Baked in PA's Arlene Burke..............................................page 18

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My Red Chair Story by: Karen Pidskalny..........................................................page 29 Air An Artists Journey into the Creative Process with Tracy Buechler from the Be Brave Studio.................page 36

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36 Copyright © 2015 by Vintage Gypsy Ent. All rights reserved. This magazine or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher.

Printed in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan Canada ISSN 2371-8749 (Print) ISSN 2371-8757 (Online) Contact US: Vintage Gypsy Ent. 338-15th Street West Prince Albert, Saskatchewan Canada S6V 3R2 www.thevintagegypsy.ca

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Coloring Page by Cover Artist Birgit Raduenz

ARE YOU LIMITING YOURSELF WITH YOUR STORIES You know that you were Born for more and so do I. But did you also know that the universe is ready and waiting to help you tap into your divine feminine potential. All you must do is say YES to YOU!!

You were not born into this world to suffer and live a life of hardships. YOU are a Divine Child having a human experience here on this earth and it’s supposed to be easy and carefree and you are indeed supposed to live a life of manifesting every adventure and beauty that you can think off.

Our societal conditioning has taught us that life is hard. That you must do and be a certain way to succeed and be happy. Money is hard to make and you must work extremely hard until you retire or Die, one or the other. These are just stories; we have been told. Stories of Lack and scarcity passed on through generations of hardship by our parents and grandparents and the driving force of our society. But the Great News is, we can change these thought patterns!!!

You are here to live your best life, whatever that looks like for you.

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I used to watch people on the streets and in restaurants while they laughed and chatted and think that they lived a life much better than mine.

I assumed that they were happier than me, smarter than me, and worth more than me.

All around me was evidence that this was true: my shabby bank account, my junky car, my thrift store clothes.

I would sit and try to imagine what it would be like to be someone else, one of those happy people who had it all.

I wondered what it would be like to be someone who could afford to go to the movies and go out to eat, someone who bought new clothes and shoes, or someone who had a good job that payed really well.

Even imagining this seemed too hard. I always felt as if life was stacked against me.

Have you ever felt like everyone else was doing better than you? Have you ever felt like the deck was so stacked against you that you would never catch up? Like you were just here playing the cards you were dealt. I understand that feeling. I had it for much of my adult life.

I was always a dreamer , but I was unable to make those dreams a reality because the story I told myself was that I wasn’t enough.

As long as I continued to tell myself that story, I would continue to be not enough.

The current state of your life is a direct result of the stories you tell yourself, and what you really believe is possible—not what you say is possible, but what you believe deep down in your core.

My story about not being good enough showed itself in every aspect of my life, my job, my family, my social life.

Our Subconscious mind works overtime to keep us safely tucked away in our comfort zone of lack and not enough. And it is ultimately FEAR that holds us back, Maybe not FEAR as in I am afraid of snakes or spiders, but Fear of the unknown. Fear of becoming that divine woman we have always dreamed of being. Fear of our own greatness and potential.

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We are afraid because we do not know who that woman is, because we have never been her. YET! Until I was able to open my eyes and change my story, my life was not getting better. You receive what you are telling your subconscious mind you deserve. I was telling my mind that I wasn’t good enough and that’s what I saw all around me.

I had to dig deep into my stories, recognize how I had adopted them in my life. I had to face my fears and move slowly and cautiously out of my comfort zone. I kept myself motivated to change by continually tapping into and visioning the woman I wanted to become. I connected with her daily through meditation and journaling.

I changed my story, and I believe you can to.

You dear Goddess have the potential and the capacity to create your life and live it by design. All it takes is consistency and a desire to create change, and perhaps a little support and encouragement along the way.

If you are ready to change your story and your life, start by visioning what you wish your life to look like. Vision yourself living that life. See that woman you wish to become, the woman who has it all. Who is that woman, what does she wear, how does she carry herself. What would your life look like if you could become her now and live from a place of passion and confidence every day?

Be Relentless Be Courageous Be Her And watch the shifts begin to happen.

Watch and feel your stories begin to change.

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"I delivered balloons to a backyard wedding dressed in a Raggedy Anne costume and had to sing Frere Jacques in French three times so maybe this makes me bilingual."

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I have been asked many times why I wrote a book and better still my memoirs. I had attended a workshop on the topic and began writing. I continued working on the book for about 2 years until I finally completed “Sunglasses 25 cents” in May 2021.

I thoroughly enjoyed the writing process and only had previous experience writing papers in university and high school.

I wanted to leave a legacy of my life for my family.

I received a lot of encouragement from others and most recently from my editor of this book who kept saying “just keep on writing and you will eventually finish.” that is exactly what happened. Thank you, Leslie Pryce Childs.

The biggest question I get asked; “Where did you get the title?”, the answer is… “you will have to read the book.”

I was going to call it Gypsy Sue but decided on “Sunglasses 25cents.” I have always considered myself a Gypsy soul and have had many agree after reading the book.

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I was born in Nova Scotia, Canada and lived there until I was 15 years old when my family moved us to New Brunswick where I completed my high school. After high school I travelled by Train to Edmonton to see this part of the country.

Here I met and married my husband.

Several years later, about 10 to be exact we moved to British Columbia. We are the proud parents of two lovely daughters who are both grown adults and have made us very proud with their life choices.

After retiring prematurely to New Brunswick, I found myself returning to Nursing full time for a while, and later to part time. I loved working.

My mother was a great motivator for me, at least she encouraged me to pursue more studies. I didn’t want to pursue more studies in Nursing, so I branched out and did a master's in theology. I was always curious about the bible. I grew up in a Christian home but did not read my bible as much as I could have. My mom then encouraged me to get a doctorate, so that’s what I did. I now have a Doctorate in Counselling and Divinity and have a private practice in my home.

Mom and I were trying to pass the time by delivering phone books. We got paid but it was very little, and it was very cold."

There are many memories I did not include in this book (but the next book is in the works). The most memorable was when I was about 9 years old and it was just my parents and me, my brother was too little to come camping. We were camping near St. George, New Brunswick. We had this lovely big white canvas tent and the three of us were fast asleep and one of us, maybe it was me woke up floating in the tent. It was a tent with no bottom, and we hadn’t trenched it well enough. The three of us had probably never moved so fast in our lives. Up, dressed and stuffed everything in the trunk of the car. We stayed at a motel that night. I still chuckle about that.

Looking back, there are many things I would do differently when writing another book and I did face a few blocks while writing this memoir, well maybe more than a few, there were days I just had no idea what to write. My dear friend Leslie encouraged me once again to not focus on not knowing what to write just write everyday so that was what I did.

What I’ve discovered on this writing journey? It takes a lot longer than you think to write a book ready for publishing.

And writing this first book has certainly given me the confidence to know I can do it. You can to and I encourage it. Everyone should write their story if only for a legacy to leave for family and publish it too.

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Here’s a few pointers from this newbie author to get you started.

1) do your research 2) Commit to writing every day at least 2 hours.

3) Stay open to change and ideas from other writers and non-writers.

4) Chat with other writers about publishing and ask about self-publishing.

5) Have fun and let the words flow I am currently working on a couple of other books, and hoping to the next one complete and published an January 2022.

I would love for you to read “Sunglasses 25 cents” and please share your thoughts and feedback.

Susan Morwood currently resides on the East of Canada. She is a published author and an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker, Family Consultant (Regulation 7) and family relationship specialist in private practise. She is a humanitarian, a lover of words, and a Gypsy soul.

www.susanmorwood.com

JOIN THE REVOLUTION

www.besafestaylit.org

DOUBLING DOWN ON HARVEST EATS FEATURING

CHEF

JAX

AND

BAKED

IN

PA'S

ARLENE

BURKE

JACKIE THOMS

Jackie Thoms is a rebel in the kitchen.

She loves in your face flavors that explode in your mouth and have your taste buds screaming for more.

She believes cooking should be simple, spices and fresh herbs can turn ordinary into extraordinary!

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PEACH FREEZER JAM This recipe is to honor my mother, who I lost this year. She loved canning, baking and gardening and I am proud to say that she passed on the love of all those things to me.

One of her favorites was peach freezer jam, made only with the very best free-stone peaches. These peaches only appear in the grocery stores once a year in the fall, and do not last for long. I would not recommend making this with any other peaches, as the flavor will not be as good. The best part is no canning necessary, and the jam lasts in the freezer for months. Please enjoy.!

2 cups ripe, freestone peaches, about 3-4 large peaches, peeled and pitted.

3 cups granulated sugar 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice 1 pkg fruit pectin, 1.75 ounce 3/4 cup water

1. Rinse 6 half pint jars under hot water and allow to dry inverted on a clean kitchen towel.

2. Sterilize the lids in boiling water for 5 minutes 3. Make a small cross on the bottom of the peaches and blanch in boiling water for a few minutes to loosen the skin of the peaches. Remove and plunge into ice water to cool down. With a small knife, peel the skin off the peaches, slice in half, remove the pit, and dice in large chunks.

4. In a food processor, pulse the peaches until they are finely diced, but not pureed. You can chop them by hand if you do not have a food processor.

5. Measure 2 cups of peaches and add to a mixing bowl.

6. Add your sugar, one cup at a time, stirring between each addition until well combined.

7. Stir in lemon juice and allow mixture to sit for 10 minutes.

8. While your peaches are resting, in a small pan over medium-high heat, whisk together water and pectin.

9. Bring to a rolling boil and allow to boil for 1 minute, while stirring constantly.

Do not cook this mixture for more than 1 minute, so set your timer.

10. Add the hot pectin mixture to the peaches and stir until all the sugar has dissolved. This will take several minutes.

11. Pour jam into jars, leaving a 1/2 inch space on top.

12. Cover with lids and allow to sit at room temperature for 24 hours before freezing. The jam will last in the freezer for up to 1 year.

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SRIRACHA REFRIGERATOR PICKLES This is a pickle recipe for those who do not want to get into the whole canning process. They are quick to make and are seriously addicting. I like to slice the cucumbers lengthwise, but they can also be sliced into rounds. I like to let them sit in the fridge for at least 48 hours before enjoying.

Brine: 1 1/4 cups rice wine vinegar (unseasoned) 2 1/2 tbsp kosher salt 2 tbsp sugar 2 cups water ( I like to use distilled water, not tap water) 4 tbsp sriracha sauce 2 pounds of cucumbers 4-6 cloves garlic 2 dill heads

1. Sterilize your jars and lids in boiling water and set aside to cool slightly.

2. Add vinegar, salt, sugar, water and sriracha to a large mixing bowl, preferably with a spout for ease of pouring.

3. Add the garlic and dill to the bottom of the jars and fill with cucumbers.

4. Pour over brine and top with lids.

5. Transfer to the fridge. I like to give them a shake once a day to distribute the sriracha around.

6. Enjoy!!

EATING IS A NECESSITY. BUT COOKING IS AN ART.

ARLENE BURKE Arlene lives in Prince Albert, SK with her husband and dog. She runs her own home based baking business and can be found at www.bakedinpa.ca .

"Harvest is upon us and my garden has done well despite the dry summer. Fall always means being busy in the kitchen to preserve the garden goodness for the winter. I grow cucumbers for pickles and relish, tomatoes for spaghetti sauce and salsa. I always have lots of beets, carrots, peas, beans and onions for soups and stews.

I want to share with you three of my favourite treats to make in the fall. Two of these recipes stem from my German family roots."

www.bakedinpa.ca

Arlene would like to send a special thank you to the talented photographer Tara McDermott with McDermott Images for the amazing photos.

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BEET BORSCHT I grew up eating my Grandmother’s Beet Borscht, and I loved it!! I make it every year, but I don’t actually have a written recipe, because it is just something you learn to make “to taste”, meaning how you like it. So I can give the basic outline for this wonderful soup and then you take it away and make it how you like it!

4 medium beets 3 medium carrots, diced 1 large onion, diced Approx a quarter of a cabbage finely chopped Beef or Vegetable broth (1 container or approximately 4 cups) Beef or Vegetable stock powder Approx a Tablespoon of butter Bay leaf Approx a teaspoon of sugar Pinch of dill (optional) Salt and Pepper Vinegar I wash the beets and put them into a large soup pot, cover with water and boil until tender. Remove the beets from the pot and immediately dunk into cold water to remove the peel.Save the beet water the beets were cooked in, and to that add onions, carrots, bay leaf and broth. Simmer for approximately 15 minutes until vegetables are tender. Add the cabbage and the diced beets, butter and sugar. Add some salt and pepper, add some vinegar, and a small pinch of dill (as these items are added until the soup tastes to your liking). For myself, I like quite a bit of pepper and vinegar.I sometimes find I need to add more soup stock powder (I always use beef, but offer the suggestion of vegetable stock for those who want it kept vegetarian). I have experimented with this soup by adding a can of tomato paste, but I do not often use this option. Continue to simmer the soup while you are adding your ingredients.If the soup tastes bland try adding more stock powder or vinegar. In my version, I probably add close to a ½ cup of vinegar! Once it is to your liking it is ready. I prefer to have mine served with a dollop of sour cream.

APPLE CAKE 4 medium Apples ½ cup Butter ¾ cup Sugar 2 large Eggs 1 tsp of Lemon Juice 1 ¾ cups Flour 1 ½ tsp Baking Powder ½ tsp Salt ½ cup Milk Icing Sugar

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. 2. Grease bottom and sides of a springform pan. Beat together the butter sugar, eggs and lemon juice until creamy.

3. Blend in the flour, baking powder and salt.

4. Slowly add the milk in portions, stirring in between the additions.

5. Spread the batter in the springform pan.

Peel and core the apples and cut them into quarters. Slice the quarters on the back side with 4 slashes without cutting all the way through, as this causes them to open up as they bake.

6. Arrange the apple quarters all over the top of the cake, going around the circle and one or two in the middle so the cake is covered in the apple quarters.

7. Bake for one hour until a toothpick inserted in the centre comes out clean.

8. Cool on a wire rack and then remove the cake from the pan.

9. Dust with icing sugar before serving.

CRANBERRY LOAF

½ cup Butter ⅔ cup Sugar 1 Large Egg 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract 2 cups of Flour 2 ½ teaspoons Baking Powder 1 teaspoon Cinnamon ¾ teaspoon Salt ⅓ cup Orange Juice 2 teaspoons Grated Orange Peel 1 cup of Whole Berry Cranberry Sauce ½ cup of Chopped Pecans (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. 2. Beat butter and sugar together until creamy, 3. Add egg and vanilla and blend well.

4. Stir in the flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt.

5. Add in the orange juice, orange peel and cranberry sauce, stir until well blended.

6. Add the chopped pecans if using.

7. Spread into a loaf pan and bake for one hour or until a toothpick inserted in the centre comes out clean.

8. Cool for a few minutes on a rack and then remove from pan to finish cooling.

9. For the glaze, combine together cup of icing sugar, and 2 Tablespoons of orange juice to make a thin icing, drizzle over the cooled loaf.

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Gypsy Writers Collective

UNDO, UNRAVEL, UNLEARN, UNBECOME & UNLEASH YOUR MUSE THE GYPSY WRITERS COLLECTIVE IS A SAFE AND SACRED SISTERHOOD FOR YOU TO EXPLORE YOUR INNER WORKINGS, UNBECOME YOUR MISCONCEPTIONS AND FULLY AND UNAPOLOGETICALLY UNLEASH YOUR MUSE! Join us today https://www.vintagegypsymag.com/gypsywriterscollective

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MY RED CHAIR STORY The Power of Photographs and Handwriting

The power of photographs and handwriting captivated me early in my life, but it was many years later when I would recognize their magic and the role in my profession

I

discovered the power of photographs when I was just a young girl around the age of four or five. My grandparents lived in the same farmyard as my family. When family would visit, they gathered in my grandmother’s kitchen.

In my grandfather’s bedroom was a magnificent dresser with a curved door, little shelves to display trinkets and a long drawer at the bottom stretching the full length.

The drawer…home for boxes of photographs. I remember my grandmother taking those boxes of photographs and setting them on the table during family visits.

The stories began to float across the room, the ones I remember most were of family who no longer lived here or had passed on.

I would sit and listen to the stories that were being told, shared with those who did not know, or to clarify facts in the stories. The photographs were the evidence to accompany the story being told.

I would later sneak into the house, open the drawer, and browse the photos. I would try to recall which story went with which photograph and sleuth who the people in those photographs were. On occasion getting caught my grandmother would say, “be careful these photographs are to be treasured.”

My mother began making me a scrapbook. It had my baby photos, keepsakes, events of my life and photos of me with family. She would include quips, dates and/or facts with the photograph. I enjoyed looking through my scrapbook and when I learned to read, enjoyed the inscription of my mother’s handwriting. It held my memories to as far back as I could remember. My life was not only captured in photographs but also documented in handwriting, the story of my early life.

The power that photographs and handwriting captivated me early in my life, but it was many years later when I would recognize their magic and the role in my profession.

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GOOD CAMERA EQUALS PROFESSIONAL A few years after I was married, I bought my first SLR camera. I wanted great photos of my life but before I knew it, I was capturing great photos of other people’s lives. I did not think of photography as my profession but along the way it became that. I stumbled along for many years, trying to figure out how to run a business, continue to grow as a photographer and be successful. It was rewarding and frustrating all at the same time. I fell into the professional photographer role and not with confidence but with trepidation. The journey as a professional photographer took me on many paths before it took me to my beginning and it’s why.

BACK TO MY ROOTS Digital photography has created a plethora of paths in photography. Images replaced photographs by the millions. More people see images then photographs as images can be shared in a milli second. Photographs are tangible, physical, and touchable. Images are abstract and theoretical. I came to this realization the day I had finally printed thousands of photographs from several years of my family’s life.

I placed the stacks of photos sat on the coffee table for family to grab a stack and begin the journey of remembering, laughing, sharing stories, or listening to stories the photos shared. This was the day; I knew I had to go back to my beginning. Not only to photograph people but to share the photographs, not just images from their session.

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"Photographs are tangible, physical, and touchable.

Images are abstract and theoretical. I came to this realization the day I had finally printed thousands of photographs from several years of my family’s life."

IF A PHOTOGRAPH IS WORTH A THOUSANDS WORDS, WHAT IS HANDWRITING WORTH?

Remember the scrapbook my mother made for me? I continued with my own story in my scrapbook, adding photographs, embellishments, and my own handwriting. Years later I would take up scrapbooking to the degree of an obsession. In my scrapbooks I not only would create pages from my photographs included a journal. I would share facts, tidbits, stories of the photographs. I would handwrite my journaling for several reasons. I did not like typing, I really don’t mind my handwriting, and I think I have rather nice penmanship. I liked when I would fall into my memory journaling with feeling and emotion in my words creating the story of my page. I felt that my handwriting expressed who I was.

One of the other things I have treasured in my life is the handwriting of my ancestors. Whether it was their signature, written recipes, a card given to me or a saved grocery list. I just thought this was the perfect accompaniment to a photograph of them. If I treasured their handwriting, then my handwriting holds the same importance too.

RED CHAIR STUDIOS Around the same time that I remembered my roots, this magical red chair came into my life.

She, yes, the chair is a she, breathed creativity to my new photography journey. I immediately began incorporating her into my sessions. My Red Chair travelled with me around the city and the countryside, plopping her way into place.

Her home is in my studio. I enjoy sitting in her, cup of tea in hand, dreaming of what we will do next.

This is what we have come up with.

My Red Chair Story is about you. It is a photography session that captures images that are delivered as photographs or as an album. It includes the opportunity for you to write your story, a story, a recipe, whatever you like in your handwriting to keep with your photographs or album. I am excited to share my passion of the Red Chair Story with you.

I invite you to come and experience the magic of the red chair.

Book your Consultation today and lets get your story started

www.kmpfoto.com With nearly 25 years of photography experience, creatively inspired photographer Karen Pidskalny brings to life the stories in her photographs. Her portrait photos are rich in colour and personality of the people she captures. She is an educator who loves to inspire groups of people or one to one. She has become a sought after portrait and event photographer who also specializes in large group photos. To be photographed by Karen is an experience all enjoy.

She specializes in women and the relationships that are important to them; their special some one, their children, family, pet or friends.

"It all begins with an Idea!"

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AIR An Artists Journey into the Creative Process From the Be Brave Studio -36-

"And all about him was the wind now. A pervasive sighing trough great emptiness, as though the prairie itself was breathing in long gusting breaths, unhampered by the buildings of town, warm and living against his face and hair."

W.O. Mitchell, (quote from Who Has Seen the Wind)

Air! Wind, breath, atmosphere, this really took me out of my comfort zone. I really did have to catch my breath. But as can happen when air grabs hold and spins a tornado, often things don’t land back in place or anywhere near where you wanted them to be. I was offered some opportunities that ended up drifting away or really didn’t hold air, I do think air showed up fast and lifted me up so I could take a birds eye view of my surroundings offering me a perspective I had not seen yet.

Air made me mad sometimes, it really can get under your skin, relentless, blowing dirt in my eyes. I had all these great ideas of the art I wanted to make, wind chimes, spinning boxes, huge kites, blown away, I wanted to be like a super model with the fan placed perfectly in position, moving air just right making everything appear perfect, when actually the fan is blowing smoke, covering up reality.

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Take Me Way 12" x 36" Acrylic Mixed Media & Embellishment 2" Deep Canvas

Destination Unknown

3' x 3' Acrylic Mixed Media & Embellishment 2" Deep Canvas

Late one night I sat cross legged on the floor of the studio

The 3 paintings I created are a story of my journey

remembering the time I was convinced to jump out of an

through air, I want to remember how I felt in the

airplane, I was so scared, but I did it anyways, why,

beginning, the dresses represent moving from one place

because my ego needed more than my desire to live

to another being elevated into the future gently not

needed, I never wanted to feel that way again yet here I

pushed or pulled. I loved using the iridescent paint over

was trying too hard feeling that old hot breath down my

the white dresses and radiating it from the moons,

neck, not good enough, fear and failure, I was blocking the

whether being guided by a kite or lifted by balloons I want

wind by getting in my own way. That night after the

my journey to be kind and compassionate, I want to lay on

smoke cleared and the fear subsided I let myself feel the

my back and watch the wind move the clouds into all sorts

air and slowly. I was gently lifted, a magic carpet ride,

creatures that bring me great joy. Painting over the

nothing urgent, nothing to fear, safe yet high above

existing art and working on the patches felt as though the

looking with wonder at the beauty of the night sky. I

sky’s the limit, taking me to other galaxies, yet yearning

pulled out some old canvases that had been originally

for home, looking back at Earth I remember how much I

painted as part of a challenge, the challenge was to try

love her and want to be connected to all her glorious air.

and paint like Mark Rothko, color field paintings that are way harder to do then they look. I let that magic carpet be my guide, enjoy the ride.

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Tracy Buechler is a Canadian contemporary mixed media artist, art educator and creativity coach.

Being drawn to art to express her own experiences she discovered that a curiosity and a common yearning for all things creative and soulful drive us to live our most inspired lives.

"I make art every day, I teach with a joy that brings beauty from sorrow, my spirit soars watching others light up connecting to their own creative practice, and I build communities."

www.tracybbrave.com

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Fin d Y ou r W Joi ild n t he Ca ra va n

e s a Ple le c y Rec

Connect with us on Facebook and Instagram @thevintagegypsymag or visit us at www.vintagegypsymag.com Photo Credit: KMP Photography This beautiful Mag was printed by Rhonda at PA Fast Print