Updates...

My pretties, you've kept me on my toes these last few days - it has been NUTS around here!  And yes, that's a great thing... however, when my cup overfloweth with love from my peeps, it does affect the turnaround time on orders.  Right now due to order volume between my website and the Etsy shop, TAT is approximately 48-72 hours.

In other news, I am working on some new additions to the line-up that will be released in the next few weeks.

Fleur Orange - Sweet, creamy orange blossom with just a hint of green leaves. 

Elation - Pink grapefruit, strawberry, kiwi, honeydew, peach and clementine... all with a heavy dose of vanilla and white musk.  Think kinda sorta Dreamsicle.... but better!

Epona - Jasmine sambac, hay absolute, bulgarian and moroccan roses, and just a touch of beeswax absolute.... this one smells like a hillside meadow warmed in the summer sun. Comprised of all natural essences, no synthetics here!


And... the re-release of a couple of favorites from the vault....

Persephone Undone - A rich, fruity floral that is most assuredly not an innocent fragrance, this one is all decadent, ripe, voluptuous woman. It has received rave reviews from local retail clients and is one of my personal favorites.  Notes of ripe red pomegranate, apple and black raspberry layered over a soft musk, embraced by a warm and decadent blend of amber, vanilla and sandalwood. At the heart you'll find notes of jasmine, neroli, lilac and the tiniest breath of lavender.

Hesperides -  In Greek mythology, the Hesperides are the evening nymphs who inhabit the lush garden in the Arcadian Mountains where the tree that bears Hera's golden apples abides. This is my personal interpretation of them. It's a not-so-innocent blend of honeysuckle, sweet pea, and apple enveloped in a rich base of amber, vanilla, and cedarwood. Subtle nuances of sandalwood, champa flowers and violet are rounded out with ylang ylang, patchouli and musk. This has been a hit with local retail clients as well.

So, lovelies.... until next time - remember, there is still a sale running in the Etsy shop at the moment... use code FAN20 for 20% off your order total, excluding shipping!  :-)  Be sure to check out the new website and let me know what you think.  I am working on diverting as much traffic through the website as possible and hope to build it to the point where it is my main venue rather than Etsy - I will continue to offer sales, coupon codes, giveaways, etc  - but working toward all of that being sponsored through the website as opposed to Etsy.  I need you guys to help me get there.  :-)

Thanks, dahlings!

XOXO,
Tina

Yes... Another Sale!

Alright sweet tarts... I'm running another sale. This one in the Etsy shop.  Use coupon code FAN20 at checkout for 20% off of  EVERYTHING currently listed in the shop. 

I am trying to drum up some extra cash for a very special reason... well, a very special reason to me. 

A year ago in February I lost my beloved Hoot - my barrel racing horse.  I owned his dam, was there the morning he was born, raised him, trained him, ran barrels on him for years.  He was a part of my everyday life for 15 years and when I lost him I was absolutely devastated.  To the point that I've pretty much had no interest in riding or really having anything to do with our horses for the last year, which is really saying something for me.  Oh, everyone is well taken care of - I just have had no interest in riding or doing anything that way, it just made me sad.    I go up every morning to do chores and I still somehow expect Hoot to be there like he always was to greet me with a nicker at his gate... and every morning, when I look over at his corral, I have a little stab of heart break all over again.

Approximately three years ago, I sold a mare that I was very attached to to my best friend because I knew she'd have a wonderful home and she was the perfect match for the family.  This is the only other horse I've ever been as attached to as I was Hoot.  Well, a few weeks ago, my friend offered her for sale back to me because she'd purchased another horse and couldn't keep everyone.... so I KNEW I had to find a way to make it happen. 

So, here I am... trying my darndest to drum up some extra sales all in the name of bringing Blu back home.

And here is Blu.  :-)

Paradise Found...

One of my most popular scents... now available in the convenient 10ml roll on size. 

Paradise Found... Make your escape to the islands now! Creamy Tahitian vanilla comes together with whisper-light tropical florals & a hint of citrus & coconut, all on a bed of soft white musk.

Sweet, creamy, & addicting.This is a fresh, lovely twist on tropical florals & coconut - minus the "Hawaiian Tropic" effect.

What customers are saying about Paradise Found:

"Paradise Found is absolutely divine. I'll definitely be purchasing more in the future!"

"LOVE! It arrived fast and was beautifully wrapped. Smells divine and NOT like sun tan oil like so many others of this kind."

Blended in a proprietary base of sesame, rice bran, sweet almond, jojoba, & apricot kernel oils, it will arrive suitably packaged for gifting in a gorgeous floral embossed gift box tied with ribbon. Perfect for gifting someone else or simply for treating yourself to something fun and unique.

Let's Try This Again....

Okay, lovelies... let's try this again.  I was a offering a coupon code for a 20% discount on perfume oils as a grand opening celebration for the new site - but there was a glitch with the promo codes.  The glitch has been addressed, so I'm offering the code again. It will be good until midnight, May 14th.

Visit the new site here - Midnight Gypsy - and use coupon code GrandOpening20 to receive 20% off on both the 7.5ml screw-top bottles as well as the 10ml roll-on bottles at checkout. 

Please let me know what you think of the site... I think it looks pretty darn nifty, if I do say so myself!

Retailr makes it EASY to set-up a really professional looking shop that is easily customized to your specific tastes.  They have several different plans to choose from, their prices are very reasonable, and tech support is amazingly fast & friendly... I just purchased my own domain and pointed it to my Retailr shop - quick, easy, and love the results.  So if you're needing a website solution with a shopping cart integrated - give them a look! 

Brand New Website!

Okay, me little lovelies.... I am so excited that I finally have the new website up and running! It looks pretty spiffy if I do say so myself. 

In celebration, I'm offering 20% off all full-sized perfume oils.  Just use coupon code GrandOpening20 at checkout. 

You can find the new site here - Midnight Gypsy. 

Remember, the coupon code applies only to full sized perfume oils and is only valid through the new site, not the Etsy shop.  ;-)

Happy shopping!

Wildling...

Wildling... a truly sumptuous melding of crushed dark berries, sweet candied figs, and vanilla with soft florals and moss. A complex, earthy amber and a whisper of musk bring it all together.

For those of you who are fans of Pomona.... this is her wild, untamed sibling - blackberry stained lips and moss in her hair.... all the same notes as Pomona, but with the addition of amber and candied figs with vanilla. These notes add complexity and depth to Pomona's light, bright, and fruity composition.

Presented to you in a 7.5ml amber glass vial, it will arrive suitably packaged for gifting in a gorgeous floral embossed gift box tied with ribbon. Perfect for gifting someone else or simply for treating yourself to something fun and unique.

Be sure to give it a little shake before applying to pulse points as some absolutes & other essences may settle in the bottle. This is perfectly normal.

Your perfume oil is blended upon order, so please allow 24-48 hours for your lovelies to ship.... and keep in mind, they only grow more beautiful the longer they are left to "marry".

Need samples? Check out this listing: http://www.etsy.com/shop/MidnightGypsy?section_id=8019149

Mere Mortal Men...

Artorius, my sweetlings, is a magnificent concoction - a true creature of pure primal magnetism, a bold and unabashedly masculine brew. Deep, dark, rich and utterly divine, this hypnotizing blend is a melding of the finest grade of fossilized amber with precious frankincense and sandalwood, earthy cedar and a healthy dose of smoky oakmoss and vetiver. Just the tiniest titch of black pepper and patchouli round things out a bit.

Comprised of completely natural ingredients.

Artorius... or Arthur as he's more commonly known, was the legendary man who led the defense of Britain against Saxon invaders in the early 6th century. Since most any factual accounts of his life have been lost to the mists of time, his story is primarily composed of folklore and literary embellishment... romanticized and "purdied up" for general consumption over the last many centuries.

Knights in shining armor, the fair and delicate Guinevere, and a glittering castle known as Camelot... these flights of fancy are not for me. Nay, I prefer the notion of men in world-weary leather trappings astride horses, brandishing hand-forged weapons... dirt and grit and grime and guts and heart, fire-scorched earth and smoke-darkened sky. THAT, my pretties, for me, is Artorius.

Did I say Artorius is unabashedly masculine? Well, he is... but ladies, don't be frightened away by Artorius' bold demeanor... his scent is equally at home upon the skin of ladies who possess a certain, shall we say, "sauciness", about them. Rich, buttery amber and smoky oakmoss are just as at home on the ladies who like some "sultry" to their scent as they are on the gents. When I wear Artorius on my wrists, I can't stop myself from constantly pressing them to my face for another deep whiff.

Blended in a proprietary base of sesame, rice bran, sweet almond, jojoba, & apricot kernel oils and presented to you in a 10ml amber glass roll on bottle, it will arrive suitably packaged for gifting in a gorgeous floral embossed gift box tied with ribbon. Perfect for gifting someone else or simply for treating yourself to something fun and unique.

The Latest...

These antiqued silver tribal style shields have been accented with black jade pear briolettes hand-wrapped with anti-tarnish silver wire and Czech wine colored faceted 6mm glass rounds wrapped with sterling silver ball end headpins. They hang from antique silver finish leverback earwires.

The overall length from the top curve of the earwire is approximately 3.5".

All components are lead and nickel free.

Your earrings will arrive suitably packaged for gifting in a gorgeous floral embossed gift box tied with ribbon. Perfect for gifting someone else or simply for treating yourself to something fun and unique.

You can take a stroll through my entire shop by entering the front gate here: http://www.MidnightGypsy.etsy.com ♥





The latest perfume oil addition is Skinny Dip , a sweet, girly blend of delicate vanilla musk with a touch of sugary sweet cotton candy. Reminiscent of county fairs, bonfires and bare sun-kissed summer skin. This is perfect for you ladies who love musk but would like something a bit lighter for warm weather wear. :-)

***Skinny Dip is available right now in LIMITED EDITION 10ml frosted glass roll-ons that will only be available throughout the spring & summer. As of September 1st, 2012 the packaging will be 10ml amber glass roll-ons.***




As always, I have lots of new blends in the works so keep an eye on the shop for new additions.

Til next time -

XOXO,
Tina

Surprise Sale!

In celebration of moving into my new studio and just a general celebration that spring has finally sprung, I'm running a sale in the shop!

From now through April 14th, use coupon code SURPRISE25 at checkout to receive 25% off your merchandise total.

You can browse my shop here, Midnight Gypsy.

Questions? Don't hesitate to contact me directly at MidnightGypsyLuxe@gmail.com, or post a question in the comments here.

You can also find me on Facebook.

XOXO,
Tina

New & Exciting Things Are Bubblin' Up Here....

It's been awhile since I've updated the blog. I've been a busy little bee these last few weeks!

Spring had sprung here for about a week - but now it's snowing today and the wind is howling. Summer is so short here, and it never fails that Mother Nature allows spring to pop in for a bit early in the year, teasing us with the warm breeze and budding trees before blanketing us in a final snowstorm or two. Eventually, she relents and allows the warm weather to stay.... even if it is only for a few short weeks before fall is upon us again here in the mountains of Wyoming.

I'm really excited to announce that I've officially moved into my new studio space. It's still a little rough around the edges, but it sure beats being relegated to a tiny corner space in our home office.... which usually translated into my projects being spread out all across the counter tops and table in our kitchen. Few things kill my creative process more quickly than being in the middle of a project and needing to stop, pick up, and put everything away so that I can have the kitchen back in order to cook supper for my family and put it on the table.

I now have plenty of table space of my own to spread my projects out on and, best of all, if I need to stop and leave something in mid-process, I can do that for however long is necessary until I can come back to it and everything is still right where I left it. No dragging things out only to have to turn around and pick them up and stow them away until I have time to drag them back out again and pick up where I left off. This has made me feel SO much more creative, less burdened and frustrated, which has already translated into a much more productive me. I'll post a couple of photos below.

The paint is fresh and the trim is not up yet, I also still need to paint around the windows - but that's alright! Like I said, still a little rough around the edges, but I'll get the trim up as time allows, for the moment I'm just relieved to be moved in & (mostly) organized.

You can see the chimney from where the old wood cook stove use to sit in the kitchen there next to my wall cabinet, it's a bit of an eyesore at the moment. It was covered with old fireboard that I pulled down so now you can see the glue tracks on it. Eventually (hopefully sooner than later) that will be remedied by stuccoing it.

You can also see that the wall where the chimney is is still covered in old brown paneling. That will eventually be covered with sheet rock, textured, and painted to match the rest of the room. There is some old ductwork up along the top of the wall that needs to come down before that happens. I was just in such a rush to get moved in that I didn't want to wait.

The studio is inside an old farmhouse that was built in 1905. It has been added on to, remodeled, & remodeled again over the years before we purchased the property. The wall cabinet you can see here was painted in a black and white holstein pattern.... I had to remedy that. LOL! It's hard to tell from the photos, but I gave the trim a sort of marbled effect. Looks pretty neat when up close and personal. This shot was taken from just inside my front door.
The walls are heavily textured, which is difficult to see in the photos, and I used two different shades of green - Night Hush for the accent wall, India for the others - that are just gorgeous in person. The art work I have to go on the walls in here is going to look great against these colors... not to mention, the colors are very soothing yet inspiring for me. That's always a plus in a creative space.

This view is looking across the room from the back corner. The table in the middle of the room was a "junk shop" find. It's a nice old heavy folding style table that someone had built a wooden top for at some point in time. It had been painted gray and was quite weathered and chippy with peeling paint. For $20 it was mine, I loaded it up, brought it home, sanded down the worst of the chippy paint and then gave it a sheer wash of color that matches the cabinets. I took the main color used on them, thinned it with water and brushed it on one section at a time and then wiped it off with a rag. It gave it a pretty neat finish.

The space is still a little bare... I have to get some shelving up on the walls and have a couple of stand alone cabinets that will be going in here for added storage, along with the artwork to go up on the walls. There is also trim to be hung, curtains to be made, a "skirt" for the table, and I also have a tall beautiful hardwood desk coming that will sit in one corner for additional workspace.

All in all, I'm just VERY excited and relieved that most of the work is done and I'm moved in. Now it's down to the fun part of adding more bits n' baubles to truly make the space mine. In the spring & summer months, my garden is right outside the door .... the lighting in this room is perfect, I can hear my wind chimes tinkling from their post on the deck as I work... it's quite peaceful. Perfect. ♥



Now... on to some new items I just listed in the shop.

Relic - These antiqued brass tribal style shields were given a verdigris patina then hand-burnished to take the finish off the high points, revealing the antiqued brass beneath and leaving the patina in the recessed areas.

I've accented them with hand-wrapped turquoise howlite teardrops and rounds. They hang from antique brass finish leverback earwires.

The overall length from the top curve of the earwire is approximately 3.5".

All components are lead and nickel safe.





Totem - I've wrapped a lovely little handful of glossy black rooster saddle feathers with anti-tarnish silver and a Bali style cap and strung it from 20" of silver plated rolo chain. A sweet little silver bird swoops above, flanked on either side by a turquoise howlite pendant wrapped with anti-tarnish silver wire and a dainty little silver plated locket. Finished with a silver plated lobster claw clasp. Any dark spots you see on the silver are simply reflections.

The overall length of the feather portion of the pendant is just shy of 6".

All components are lead and nickel safe.



And last, I'm now offering 10ml amber roll on bottles in all my scents. I'm working on getting pictures taken of everything and getting them all listed in the shop. I'm still debating on whether to switch entirely over to 10ml roll-ons, or offering both the 7.5ml screw top bottles and roll-ons as well. Decisions, decisions! Here are a couple of pictures of the new bottles. You can find these listings in the shop here - Screamin' Mimi - and here - Seraphim. Don't see the scent you want in the roll-ons? Check out this link here.





And, on the perfumery front, just a couple of quick notes. My Absinthe Sucre is a very popular scent for me, but it is a very rich, sweet, heavy fragrance. One that, for me, lends itself well to cool weather wear. After having a few people express an interest in a lighter, fresher Absinthe blend I do have one in the works. I'll keep everyone posted.

I also have a new musk-based scent that I need to get listed in the shop, Skinny Dip. It's a vanilla musk with a very sweet "cotton candy" note to it. Makes me think of county fairs, bonfires and sun-kissed bare summer skin. So far the reviews on the testers I've sent out have been great. Look for it to debut in the shop within the next week or so.

As always, I typically have lots of new blends in the development stages that I'm constantly tweaking on to get them just right before sharing them with you... another one I'm excited about is Edain - inspired by the goddess of horses in Celtic mythology. It's a lush blend of hay absolute, jasmine sambac, and wild rose.... among other notes. Keep your eyes peeled for it!

And whoooooooooo.... I think this is the longest blog post I've ever made! :-)

XOXO,
Tina

Elysian...

Elysian.... a truly sublime blend of pale honey, creamy Shea flower, & Moroccan rose absolute. Sweet & faintly floral, the honey & Shea flower float serenely upon a breathy whisper of the finest Moroccan rose absolute, bringing the depth of crimson rose petals & earthy green foliage to this delicate blend. The rose is quite subdued, lending just enough richness to help ground the lighter notes a bit.

The Elysian Fields were, according to the poet Homer, located on the western edge of the Earth by the stream of Oceanus. In the time of the Greek oral poet Hesiod, Elysium would also be known as the Fortunate Isles or the Isles (or Islands) of the Blessed, located in the western ocean at the end of the earth.

"And they live untouched by sorrow in the islands of the blessed along the shore of deep-swirling Ocean, happy heroes for whom the grain-giving earth bears honey-sweet fruit flourishing thrice a year, far from the deathless gods, and Cronos rules over them." ~ Hesiod,Works and Days

Blended in a proprietary base of sesame, rice bran, sweet almond, jojoba, & apricot kernel oils and presented to you in a 7.5ml amber glass vial, it will arrive suitably packaged for gifting in a gorgeous floral embossed gift box tied with ribbon. Perfect for gifting someone else or simply for treating yourself to something fun and unique.

The Latest Addition To The Lineup...

Bombay.... Deep, exotic, sensual. Warm & hypnotically spicy, this fragrance works with your unique chemistry to create a personal scent that's all your own.

Red musk is the ultimate in decadent sex-appeal-in-a-bottle for men. You'll catch just the faintest hint of patchouli in the background, lending an earthy finish to this uber-masculine musk scent.

For those of us ladies who like musk on our fellas, this one is swoon-worthy.... and for those ladies who love red musk scents for themselves, check out this listing - red musk tempered with honey, florals, & resins:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/85751411/epicurean-perfume-oil-red-musk-sweetened

Etsy Treasuries...

I love being featured in Etsy treasuries. Having curated a few myself, I certainly appreciate the time & effort the curators put into making their selections & am always flattered when someone chooses to include my items. I really should post treasury inclusions more often.

This morning, my Wayfarer perfume oil was included in the "Aromatherapy Thursday - Patchouli - Part 2" treasury curated by Colleen Roush of ButterflyInTheAttic. You can check out the treasury here.

Have a great day, everyone!

Your Choice...

Use this listing to choose any of my 18 perfume oil blends in a 4ml amber roll on bottle...

All of my perfume oils are available in both the 7.5ml screw-top amber bottles as well as the 4ml roll on bottles. This listing is for perfume oil in of your choice in a 4ml amber roll on bottle. If you'd like more than one, please select the quantity you'd like from the drop-down after you've added this listing to your cart from my Etsy shop. Just be sure to leave a note in the "Comments To Seller" section to let me know which scent(s) you'd like.

You can visit this link to view all my blends & their descriptions in order to help you make your selection :-) -
http://www.etsy.com/shop/MidnightGypsy?section_id=10505135

Blended in a base of jojoba oil & presented in a 4ml amber roll on bottle. These little beauties are perfect to toss in your bag or slip in your pocket for touch-ups. They also make classy & thoughtful gifts... stocking stuffers come to mind. ;-)

And remember.... coupon code HOLIDAY25 is still active. Use it at checkout for 25% off your order. ♥

Hearth...

Hearth... The word conjures, for me, the image of a large wooden table covered in food, mugs of ale, & sweet treats with family & friends gathered close while a hearty fire roars in the fireplace nearby. This scent seems to epitomize that for me... chestnuts roasted over the fire, caramelized sugar & butter, a bit of rum, & a dash of sweet vanilla cream. This scent is delish... when I wear it I absolutely want to lick my wrists! Definitely a rich, decadent, buttery gourmand scent!

AND - the sale is still running! Use coupon code HOLIDAY25 at checkout to receive 25% off your order total (excluding shipping). ♥

Surprise Sale!

I'm running a surprise sale! Use coupon code HOLIDAY25 at checkout in the shop for 25% off your order (excluding shipping).

Enjoy! ♥

Seraphim...

Seraphim... This is a darkly angelic blend of soft white florals scattered over a bed of the blackest bourbon, dark vanilla & egyptian musk. Vanilla with a bite!

Blended in a base of fractionated coconut oil (or jojoba depending on what stock I have on hand) and presented to you in a 7.5ml amber glass vial, it will arrive suitably packaged for gifting in a gorgeous floral embossed gift box tied with ribbon. Perfect for gifting someone else or simply for treating yourself to something fun and unique.

Be sure to give it a little shake before applying to pulse points as some absolutes & other essences may settle in the bottle. This is perfectly normal.

Be sure to use the coupon code BF25OFF at checkout to receive 25% Cyber Monday savings on your merchandise total. This sale includes all perfume oils & jewelry currently listed in the shop!

Cyber Monday Savings!

For the remainder of "Cyber Monday", use coupon code BF25OFF at checkout when ordering from my Etsy shop to receive 25% off your order total (excluding shipping). Please pass this along to friends & family as well.

Enjoy!

Tina ♥

Screamin' Mimi...

Screamin' Mimi.... Screamin' Mimi.... She's a wild-haired rocker chick with a weakness for bourbon, wild cherry suckers, carnival midways & (shhhhhhh.....don't tell anyone!) boy bands.

Sticky sweet cotton candy with vanilla musk, cherry lollipops, a bite of chocolate.... and a splash or three of bourbon.

Don't let Mimi scare you... she's a little loud & rough around the edges at first, bourbon being the first thing you smell straight from the bottle - but she's a sweetheart under it all. Before you know it she'll have you banging your head in adoration of her beguiling vanilla cocoa musk dry-down.

Cakes & Ale...

Cakes & Ale... Sweet, sugared pumpkin cakes with heavy cream and hot buttered rum.

Crushed ginger & clove warm this blend up a bit, but the spice notes take quite a backseat to the cream, pumpkin flesh & rum. This is a decadent, buttery gourmand scent that will make your mouth water.

Be sure to take advantage of my Black Friday/Cyber Monday savings by using coupon code BF25OFF at checkout! ♥