Meaning Behind the "Brand"

I've been working with a dear friend recently on the "branding" of Garage Gypsy; it's been an interesting, dig deep kind of process.  I'm not sure how I feel about the word "brand" because to me it just feels and sounds so commercial, but I've been wanting to address it for a few reasons.  Garage Gypsy has been my little baby since it was discovered and brought to life in 2009.  It's aesthetic and mission has basically been an extension of myself, which is wonderful because it's real, honest, and organic, but for that same reason it always feels like there's a bit of aesthetic chaos lingering in the clear waters.   In order to really solidify the voice of Garage Gypsy, I figured a bit of branding work was necessary to establish the world in which my creations will live.  So far it's been an extremely fun and challenging mission for me.  That being said, I thought I would share with you some of what's been established during the journey thus far :)  

In one phase, I had to come up with a list of key words that really described Garage Gypsy.  This is what list came to be..

JEWELRY     HONEST     BEAUTIFUL     EXPRESSIVE     ELEGANT     ETERNAL     FUN     INDIVIDUALISTIC     FREE     CELEBRATORY     CONFIDENT     WABI SABI.

And in another phase, I had to look for images and designs that would give off the vibe of these words.  Essentially creating a mood board for GG.  This is what I came up with.. 

AND THERE WE HAVE IT.

The world of Garage Gypsy ;)

Hope you enjoyed!  I'd love to hear your thoughts, feedback and any advice you may have when it comes to this subject matter - as this area of things is constantly a learning process for me. 

[xo] the garage gypsy

GET UP and GO Secrets

Hey guys!  I don't know how many of you out there are night owls like me, but if you are then you might relate not only to the challenge of getting yourself to bed at a reasonable hour, but then up early with actual MOTIVATION to be productive.  I am what you might call a night person with the dreadful desire to be a morning person.  I get these energy kicks that roll in at 2am, but I know that I feel my best when the sun is up and I have a full tank of sleep in my noggin.. and only good can come from feeling good! (thus my desire to change)

In October of last year I discovered the Accidental Creative while stocking up on podcasts for my subway hauls into Manhattan after recently moving from the west coast to Brooklyn.  I instantly fell in love and since committing myself to earlier mornings, they have become just as essential as my Flat White in the morning (a ritual I established while living down under in Melbourne). Uh, not much beats a good flat white. ;)  

Anyways, it's time I spread the word and share one of my favourite episodes (of MANY) by Todd Henry of the Accidental Creative, THE POWER OF A MORNING RITUAL.  Because..

What you do first thing in the morning often sets the tone for the rest of your day.

Another thing I finally started making use of are the articles and "cheat sheets" on the website.  
I guess you can never be reminded of some things too many times ;)


Here's the Cheat Sheet from this episode:

Get up at the same time each day. If possible, set your alarms in advance for each day in order to establish your plan. (I use the Gentle Wake app on my Pebble Watch, but you can use any smartphone for the same purpose.)


Happppppy last day of February!

Who's ready to kick off March?  I don't know about you, but I sure am ready for some springtime, my first NYC winter has been wonderful (I've loved all the snow!) but I'm pretty sure my body isn't made for this cold and it's craving some serious sunshine!! 

Last weekend I was hanging out at Rough Trade and bought The Districts' new record album, A Flourish and a Spoil, and I've been listening to it non-stop all week.  They're bloody awesome.  I'd recommend checking them out on Spotify or buying the album, only 300 copies were made on purple coloured vinyl.   http://thedistrictsband.com

Who Is Garage Gypsy?

She.. 

1) loves adventure, and yearns to see the world..

2) might be part rock star, at least in her mind..

3) has a slight obsession with clothing, jewelry, anything that makes her feel pretty..

4) loves a good cup of coffee.. or tea (actually both)

5) likes to smell the roses..

6) and feel the ground beneath her feet.. (life is always better with a bit of sparkle)

7) could live at the beach during the winter..

8) and in Paris during the summer, reading books (and magazines) all day..

9) is a dreamer..

10) and a doer.. and she's not afraid to get her hands a little dirty.. (or her clothes, once in a while)

...eats pizza in bed... every blue moon.

(photos from various sources)

[xo] the garage gypsy

back on the map!!

OOh my, its been quite a long minute since my last post.  It's pretty crazy to look back at the last post and think about what life was then.  It really wasn't all that long ago, but things have deeefinitely changed and it was an interesting and exciting trip that led me to where I am now.  Due to the crazy summer of traveling through Europe and then landing in Australia, Garage Gypsy has been on a slighhht hiatus - at least in terms of production.  That's all about to change verry soon though.  In less than a week we move into our new office in Melbourne, and then the fun begins!  Things will be headed in a very new direction for SPRING SUMMER 2014.  The new collection has been strongly influenced by traveling through Europe and my temporary move to Australia!  

Tons and tons of photos were taken while I was backpacking through Europe, and while it was a tough edit, here are some of my favs from some of the stops :)

[MADRID]

[TOLETO]

[ALICANTE]

[BARCELONA]

[AVIGNON]

[NICE]

[VILLEFRANCHE]

[EZE]