A year of adventuring:

January: Vikki shared her hobby with us, I went on my honeymoon 5 years after getting married and introduced you to various family members

February: Cjane introduced a lot of you to us and then you became gypsies. Liam showed us Fiji and shared a secret, Megan and I had a tea party and she shared some wisdom, Vikki played in the snow

March: Blue Lily was our guest and we started our photography challenges. Megan started her photo tributes and introduced us to loved ones, life was changing for me

April: Naomi of The Rockstar Diaries was our guest and I explained how The Gypsy Feet isn't about foot fetishes but adventures and my little sister shared a picture of her baby with 6 toes on one foot, Megan reminded us to believe and Vikki revisted her childhood

May: Xenia of Lime Crime makeup and Doe Deere Blogazine was our special guest. Megan shared her summer play list and Vikki went to an art gallery. I introduced you to my mum and we cheered someone up. We also had a foot hater share some thoughts.

June: Jasmine of Experiment in Poverty was a guest, Megan showed us how fun mum's can be, Liam showed us where he works and Brooke of Conversations with a Cupcake gave us a recipe

July: We were fascinated by the wagon masters boots, I had a Blue Lily adventure in Seattle, Vikki had computer trouble AND got engaged, J.Peri gave us some advice (and became one of my favourite bloggers), Megan enjoyed the journey

August: Things started getting quiet around here. Lindsay of Penguin Stand Alone showed us her skillz, I had the greatest road trip of my life during a very difficult summer, we met a princess and her guitar hero, Vikki made us drool and also taught us a lesson as did Katherine, Leigh and Sarah Nicole

September: Things got quieter still... Vikki went climbing (and might have inspired a Miley Cyrus song?) and got sick, I moved state, Megan and Vikki both inspired us, Lissa shared her love story

October: I met Lindsay of Penguin Stands Alone in person and now we're BFF's, Vikki introduced us to her DNA and went people watching, Carla showed us how she scoots, my big brother took us on a tour of our hometown

November: Gussy and Dionne were our special guests, Vikki reminded us to remember, I celebrated sisterhood and a birthday

December: Gussy came back and did a giveaway, my big brother and his girl friend visited me for Christmas, Vikki had a white Christmas, Rachel showed us some beauty, Megan told us a secret, we met a beard called Marcus.

What a great year. Thank you all for being a part of our journey. Keep an eye on us in 2010, there's going to be lots happening.

Here's to 2010 and fresh adventures!

We want to see all your adventures.
Send us your pictures and stories to:
wandering_shoes@live.com

Rufflelicious Giveaway!

Remember this special guest?

Well, she's back! YES! The wonderful Gussy is offering one very lucky Gypsy Feet follower a $30 store credit to her online shop right on time for Christmas! All you have to do is leave a comment (a wonderful one!) on this post - make sure you have contact info on your blog profile or leave an email address in your comment otherwise I'll die and you'll not win a thing. No-one will and it'll be all your fault... *ahem*

How lovely would one of these be to take on your Gypsy Feet adventures?

If you're drooling over those you might want to enlist the help of Karma by following Gussy's blog, twitter and whilst you're at it follow The Gypsy Feet too. Go ahead and heart her shop as well ;)

Karma knows... Karma knows...

The winner will be chosen on Saturday.

Good luck and Happy Christmas!

(Whilst you're in the winning and commenting mood head over to Decclo for their first giveaway too!)

All Gussy'd up!

Hey all! In my journey to support the little guy this holiday season I stumbled upon one of the friendliest and sweetest Etsians ever! Get to know her through this little post (and her twitter)- read on to the very end because she's got a special treat just for you! You're not going to be able to resist... I couldn't!

My name is Gussy and I sew ruffles. I started sewing one year ago and it's been a crazy love affair ever since. I had this wild thought one night. I'd like to learn how to sew. The next time my husband, Zack, and I visited my parents I asked if I could borrow their sewing machine. Little did I know I was about to have the time of my life.

I was supposed to bring the machine back on our next visit, which was a month later, but you know what? I kept it. I kept it and secretly hoped they would be OK with it.

And they were! {whew!} 

 

Since the sewing machine was mine for a few more weeks I decided it was time to check out thirty books from the public library. I flipped through most of them, as if I knew what I was looking for. At the time I didn't, but I think deep down I was looking for myself. I spent countless nights learning how other women sew. After browsing the pages and watching many online tutorials, I had come up with a plan.

By the way, for all you curious readers out there, I really did check-out about thirty books from the library. 

I began to sew. I tried to sew in a zipper without a zipper foot, and I did it! I had succeeded. I had found a way to sew that was most comfortable for me!

A few months went by and I decided my sewn items needed a name. I thought, I shall call you Gussy. {Because my mom calls me Gussy.} And so the Gussy brand was born, and I was happy. 

Very happy :)

I started sewing a ruffle on everything I made. Soon enough all my items were named: Ruffle Gus, Charming Gus, Mini-Gus, Lovely Gus, and Shady Gus. I'm not afraid to admit there are even more items. But no need to sound absurd, right? :) 

Then I thought, What if I do my ruffles like this? And, What if I sew it together this way? And then my ruffles became even more beautiful. It's true: I love my ruffles.

And again, I was happy. 

I have a blog, Gussy has a lot to say, and it's only most-appropriate that I share my ruffles on there, right? I think so.

Do I have another job, you may be asking? I do. I work at a large advertising agency. I'm a proofreader by day, Gussy sewer-girl by night. I work a lot. I love my work. Gussy is the most fulfilling job I've had to-date. Granted I'm young... but it's the truth. 

I believe it's because Gussy is me, and I am Gussy. I am the girl that loves to sew. Sewing is this new talent that I became incredibly comfortable with. It happened almost overnight. It's for sure, hands down, a God thing. He gave me this talent. I am so thankful. 

Sewing has gotten me and my husband through many tough times: long stretches of unemployment, long stretches of being in a new city and state, long stretches of transition where I desperately need something familiar in my life.

Plop me in my sewing room with my sewing machine, my iron, and my radio-player, and I am ecstatic. 

Life is about changes, and it is about doing daily what makes you the happiest. To me, life is about the journey and the feeling of hot fabric after a recent run-over of the iron. It's about hearing my sewing machine sing to me, it's about watching ruffles be completely themselves as I sew them onto fabric. 

Here at Gypsy Feet, life is about where you wander to and the ruffles you thoroughly love while sewing along the way.

Get your own Gussy from her shop and type "Gussy15" in the message to seller box and she'll give you 15% off any one in-stock item!

Thanks for playing along Maggie, it's been a treat! - Laura

The City of Dionne welcomes you!

Here's another of my fave bloggers stopping in to inspire us.  Dionne, is a breath of fresh air. Her drawings and pictures make me feel all warm and fuzzy and her etsy shop makes me drool! Tell me you don't love her Gypsy Feet adventure picture... and I'll punch your nose!

Hi.  I'm Dionne and I am a Texifornalian (the official term for an Australian who used to live in California, who now lives in Texas).

Moving from Australia to the other side of the world was a big stage in my life.  I was fresh out of college and nervous.  I had no friends in the US, and no job lined up.  All I had was a suitcase full of clothes and Bon Voyage Cards (unread, so that I would have something to read on the plane).  I was hesitant to take the plunge, but eight years later, I can say that it's one of the best things I've ever done in my life.  This journey has lead me to sooo many wonderful things:

1. Romance and Love like I have never imagined.
2. Deep Friendships
3. Discovering myself
4. Discovering BOBA!!!!
5. Bumping into the Blogging World

There are soooo many more lovely things that have happened because I took this leap.  So I encourage you to leap whenever possible!

*The sound Scooby-Doo's feet make when he runs*

I love art. I love technology AND I love housewives and mothers. Put all those things together and this is who you get: Lindsay AKA Penguin Stands Alone. I LOVE her! (Is this getting awkward?)...

"I don't remember ever making the conscious decision to become an artist. i just WAS what i was... and it happened to be an artist. I love to draw and i love to watch people so it just made sense that i'd go to school for animation. I graduated in 2005 and have been a visual development artist, 3D artist and 2D video game artist professionally. Now i'm just enjoying doing freelance art and being a new mom while my husband goes to dental school in San Francisco."

Isn't she rad/inspiring? Thanks for sharing a bit about your journey to awesomeness with us, Lindsay. Someday Mr and I will have a family portrait by Lindsay. Someday...

An Experiment in Awesome:

Jasmine of An Experiment in Poverty is one of my favourite bloggers. I think she's great and I'm so excited that she's joining in the Gypsying! Thanks Jasmine! -Laura

summers in southern california start late. it's our penance for having brilliant weather for the rest of the year.

some might say that the beginning of summer is the fourth of july, but i don't think summer starts until the orange county fair begins.

every year, i go right before the sun sets.

every year, i eat way too much greasy food (have YOU ever tried australian battered potatoes with nacho cheese and ranch?? 'cause they're delicious.).

every year, i spend way too much money on sketchy rides that were delivered to the fairgrounds in boxes.

every year, i laugh at the poor fools who have willingly submitted themselves to the power of the hypnotist.

and every year, i have the most amazing time.

there's something for everyone at the fair. it gives everyone the chance to remember what it feels like to be a child. and isn't that what summer's all about? trying to capture the essence of childhood summers long gone, but never forgotten.

Her cupcakes bring all the who to the where?

My eyes get such a feast when I visit Conversations With A Cupcake. My eyes love it but my thighs get so confused. I drool and I giggle. Cheeky little cupcakes and a sassy, quirky baker-lady. What's not to love, really?

Tick.Tock.

Tick.Tock.

Tick. Tock.

Ding.

The day begins.

Here I go again

trying to find the

perfect balance

between

1 dapper husband

4 winsome children

18 soiled loads of laundry

1 blog

52 afterschool activities

1,000 inspired visions

3 square meals

4 cluttered bedrooms

101 sightseeing locations

15 scout badges

24 cupcakes

3 nearly completed book proposals

28,987 unorganized photos

And only one lifetime

to get it all done.

So, I grab onto the pendulum

Hold on

Hang in there

Enjoy the ride

Hoping

everything I do

(and don't do)

will even out

as my minutes turn

to days

and years

and memories.

Tick.Tock.

Tick.Tock.

Tick.Tock.

Wheeeee!

Brooke, thanks for taking time and Gypsying over here. We think you're the cat's whiskers. -Laura

Like a Deer in Disco lights...

I don't remember the first time I came across Doe Deere but I do remember the picture that made her stick in my mind. The little antler wearing deer girl. A-doe-rable, no?
I know I don't need to convince you that she's great but we all know I love a good list so here goes...

Why I heart Doe Deere:
Her make-up and tutorials.
Her blog and creativity and beauty.
Her name and her zest and her pep talks.
Her thoughts and stories.

Her tootsies and shoes!

"I'll be honest - when I first heard about The Gypsy Feet blog, I was convinced it was run by a dirty old man! But seeing how Laura is not old and not a man at all, it's ok to indulge in a little foot fetishism. ;)

My feet are different sizes. No matter what I do, the right one seems to be at least half an inch longer than the left! Sometimes I wish they sold mismatched pairs for odd-footed people like me. I love to dress up my own feet in colorful socks, shoes & nail polishes. Yesterday I bought two identical pairs of shoes in different colors: sea-foam green and yellow. I plan to wear the yellow on my left foot and the green on my right. Now, of course, I'm stuck with an extra pair of mismatched shoes - maybe I'll sell them on eBay!"

-Xenia

What are you waiting for?
Be a Deerling and go visit her!

Feet rock, especially hers.

I came across Carolyn after she was featured here.

Love this girl, love her blog. 

"I never knew feet could be so interesting, and....cute! Probably because i've lived with monster man/hand feet my whole life.

I have come to terms though and decided that my feet are the best when they are dirty and bare...cause that means i have been living ;) The dorkiest thing is that for years i wouldn't even show my feet!! Now i couldn't even care less...they take me places!! Run races, jump on beds, play footsies, and even pick up laundry. Basically, feet rock!...especially mine ;)"

-Carolyn

Going Gold!

"sometimes when i have work to do, emails to catch up on, groceries to get, lots of chores, and a million other little things i should be doing, i put on my gold shoes and i dance and prance around like i'm dorothy from the wizard of oz (except my ruby red slippers are actually gold because i like to be different.) you'd be surprised how easily a pair of sparkly shoes can lift your mood and make you feel all fancy as you scrub the tub. seriously. you should get some. "

If you haven't checked out Taza and her Rockstar Diaries you need to repent right now. I'm not even kidding. Repent or I'll smite you.

We're not blue, lily...

My tired, weary feet.  

They get this way because of my loves.

My love for photography (so much walking)

My love for my kids (chasing after them, how I chase!),

My love for dancing around the living room (shoeless),

My love for really cute yet uncomfortable shoes (will do anything for cute shoes).

We stinkin'  LOVE Blue Lily. When I told Megan Blue Lily was going to be our guest she actually died. Three times.

Knock, knock! Who's there?

Our next special guest!

Woo! Woo!

Hold your horses. She'll be here soon.

Cjane in pink!

Wander over and visit the marvelous Cjane.
She'll make you feel all cosy!
I adore her.

Who's it gonna beee?