Antique Hotel Key Rack

Hello boys and girls, today;s theme is: If you can't find it or oxford it, then make it!

Having a wall in my entryway that was conspicuously empty, I though long and hard about what to put there. I wanted something fun and interested, something with more visual appeal than a simple mirror. Inspiration hit when I saw an antique reproduction of an old hotel key rack. It was fun and shabby and fit in perfectly with the feel of my house. Then I saw the price tag.. and after I picked myself up off the floor I decided that I would make my own, and you can too!

1. The frame: I use a plain brown frame that I had lying around the house, since you are going to pain it, it can be from any garage sale, re-store or good will that you happen to spot it at. The only thing you need to worry about is that the size and shape fit the area where you will be hanging it. (I have a light switch to the right of my blank wall, so I decided to hang my fame vertically instead of horizontally, both ways will work, just make sure you put your hardware on before you paint!!! I use a couple saw tooth hangers on mine

2. Paint: This can be your favorite color, something to go with your furniture or something more ambitious. I put several different colors of paint on my frame, then a layer of crackle medium, followed by a coat of white paint. The resulting white finish has a nice distressed quality with bits of color peeking through.

3. The boards: I "procured " the red weathered board in my key rack fro a falling down fence on my father-in-law's property. I encourage you to choose barn wood or some other weathered boards since they give such a nice textured appearance to your finished project. I am always asking people for misc. chipped and weathered boards from old buildings, fences, etc. and stock piling them for when inspiration hits.

4. Turn your now painted frame over and affix boards to the back of the frame, I use nails and upholstery tacks nailed into the frame. Make sure you set the boards as close together as possible ( if chop saws scare you, use a hand saw) remember that you don't want them to be perfect, so if your boards have holes, etc, that's fine, the wall color will just show through and make it more interesting.

5. The mirror: Mine was from a dollar store, no kidding. I found one that was the right shape and size, took it out of the plastic frame it came in and super glue gel it to the boards ( put glue on both services, let sit for 10 mins, then press together, allow to dry for 24 hours)

6. The hardware: The hooks are simple everyday white cup hooks from the store, they come in several different colors so you can pick your favorite. the ceramic number plates I picked up at Hobby Lobby, any numbered tags will work, my numbers are random, but if you want to be neat and tidy you can number yours in order. These I also super glued to the boards (see step 5) and after they were dry tapped small black tack nails in to the holes for show and to add interest.

7. That's it, I added some old keys that I had around the house and hung it on the wall. I love that it is something different than what everyone else has and I get constant compliments on it, and so will you!

They Don't Have To Match

Today's Lesson: Rebelling against the idea that all your dining room chairs have to match.
Join me as I rise up in the face of monotony, smirk at the tone on tone dinner set, and laugh in the general direction of beige.
Today I liberated myself from the months of effort I had put forth trying to find a set of chairs to go with my antique harvest table. I searched, I priced, I gasped, I cried. I determined that in order to have a set of 8-10 dining room chairs that would even come close to going with my much beloved table (and would hold up to the abuses of my family) I would have to give an arm, a leg and possibly a kidney. No wanting to re-mortgage my house in order for everyone to be able to eat at the same time, I took a radical turn to nuttyville. I have begun to surround my table with mis-matched chairs, every one a different color, with a gypsy-patented distressed finish. I let the husband and the kids help pick colors and I am happy to report that it looks great! It adds a touch of fun and whimsy to the house, which I think all of us could use. I added a bench to one side and am currently on the prowl for a couple more interesting and single chairs that I can work my magic on.
So voila, I have magically turned a headache into a fun scavenger hunt (that won't break the bank)....go forth and rebel!

What A Weekend

Wow, what a great weekend! I hope that everyone had as great a weekend as my family did! I know today is back to work for most of us, but I wanted to make sure to thank some very important folks:

My father Kyle-Army
My Grandfather Leonard-Army
My Great Grandpa Edward-Army
My Uncle Leonard Jr-Marines
My Cousin Michelle-Marines
My Brother In Law Chris-Air Force
My Father In Law Rick-Air Force
My Brother In Law Eric-Air Force

And to Everyone One Else who has sacrificed and is still sacrificing to protect my freedom and my family, God Bless!

Lowcountry Lemonade

Try it out for your Holiday Weekend festivities!


Its a Lowcountry Lemonade time! You will need:
Blue Curacao
Peach Schnapps
Lemonade
Sugar
Garnish


Wet the rims of serving glasses and twist in a plate of sugar to line rims.
Mix Peach Schnapps and lemonade in equal parts, pour into glasses over ice. Add a drop of blue curaçao to each glass and mix.  You can add a flower to each to garnish, little umbrellas, or swizzle sticks with ribbons. Sip and enjoy!

The Right Tool For The Job

Fresh idea for table centerpiece! Take one old toolbox which you can pick up at flea markets, antique fairs, re-stores, etc. (I found this one at a antique show for $5) Stain whatever color you wish, I chose a dark stain to go with my decor. These boxes already have a wonderful patina with their worn handles and dinged corners so don't worry about making it look perfect, it's suppose to look like it worked hard in it's former life. After the stain has dried, make sure you hit it with a coat of clear spray sealer, will save you from any stains on your table if the box gets spilled on. I added smooth river rocks and reindeer moss that I found at our local dollar store (I stood an empty playing cards box in the end compartment and hot glued the moss to it making sure the box did not show through. The cast iron horse is something I picked up at our Re-Store, thought it was neat and put it in my "things to make things out of" pile. You can use any decorative things you fancy. I have a soft spot for things that are old and rusty and have character. The 3 candles were on clearance at Menard's and I always recommend getting the battery candles with a built in timer. My completed center piece glows with flickering light every evening automatically, which makes this Gypsy very happy indeed.....

Top 10 Successful Gypsy Yard Sale Tips

Tried & True Tips from the Gypsy Queen of The Yard Sale:

                                      (to the doubters out there: my last one had total sales of over $700)

1. Use your Family-
       Not in a bad way, but in a good way, the more items you have in your sale, the better! So put some stuff out from your mom, sell those tools for your dad and let you sister put her kid's toys in the sale too. Each person gets a different color sticker: yours are white, mom's are pink, you friend Julie's are green, etc. They make enough different colored dot stickers these days that this is an easy thing to do. Tell folks this when they ask to join your sale so they can pick a color. Make them clean & price ALL their stuff BEFORE it gets to your house (Trust me on this). The important thing to remember is this: EVERYONE will ask you to sell their stuff for them, so you must stand firm on the rest of these rules to preserve your sanity!! If they don't want to follow your politely phrased requests, they can have their own sale!


2. Everyone Pays to Play-
       If your friends and family have things in your yard sale, you must, must, must politely stand firm on the rule that everyone must help out in some way. They need to commit to working the sale with you for a day, or put time in the week before helping you to organize and put stuff on tables, or help tear down, or help to watch kids or put out signs, you get the picture. Even if it is just paying for the newspaper ad or helping to make signs, requiring them to physically help with the sale is a must. I speak from experience when I say that spending your weekend selling everyone else's stuff for them while they are out enjoying themselves and then just drop by to collect their cash will result in mass amounts of resentment, even if it's your best friend. They will try to make it seem like they are doing you a favor by having their stuff in your sale, "it makes it bigger, more appealing, etc," do not let them get away with this!

3. No Crap!-
         This is a very important rule for a successful yard/garage sale. If it's stained, broken, missing parts or so beat up that you would not be caught deal using/waring it in public, don't try to sell it. Yes there are some dumpster divers out there they would possible pay 50 cents for your piece of crap if they happen to show up at your sale, but you will lose more folks to slow drive-bys and automatic turn-offs by having junk in your sale. Think about it, if it looks like piles of doo-doo, people will keep driving. If they do get out of their car, nasty clothes, broken toys and other assorted junk will make them think anything they buy from you is defective, full of bugs, or not properly cared for. Make sure everyone else knows about this rule, you are going for a neat clean sale full of quality stuff, trust me, folks will be impressed and will spend more (and will tell others who will stop by on day 2)

4. No Dirt!-
         Everything must be clean. Get yourself some Clorox wipes and some paper towels. Take 10 mins to wipe off your tables, go over toys, dust off the stuff you drug out of the basement. It's extra work, but a quick clean will make everything more sellable! (Tweens are great to get to do this and they work cheap)

5. A word about set-up-
        Borrow tables. If you can't then make them out of sawhorses and wood or old doors from the Re-Store (I bought some for $1 each) If you don't have sawhorses, use the big plastic totes that we all have in and around out house as legs to put boards/wood on to make knee-high tables. Toys can go out on the lawn or driveway on a clean tarp.

6. If it works for the stores, it will work for you-
        I have gotten more complements on my yard sales then the window decorators at Macy's. You know why? Because when I am hauling everything out, I group like things with like. You are already hauling it all out there and setting it up, so it takes no extra time to have one table be for holiday items, an area for "man stuff" like tools, sporting goods, lures, etc. A kid section with everything kids related, etc. If you have stuff that lights up, run out an extension cord and plug it all in ( I have sold more Christmas surf in 80 degree weather this way) Put "works" in big letters on anything that folks might ask "hey does this work?" Make sure you prices are easy to see, put descriptions on anything they might be confusing to the easily confused (hey, just because you know they are bread basket liners, doesn't mean everyone else will) If the tables look nice to you, they will look nice to buyers, if it looks like you couldn't care less about you stuff, they won't care either.

7. Prices-
      Here is the deal, if you have something that is worth decent money, put it on craigslist or eBay, do not try to sell some priceless antique at your yard sale. A yard sale if for bargain hunters, therefore everything at your sales should be a bargain. Prices should be less than what something is worth! I don't care if it cost you $50 when you bought it 20 years ago, something is only worth what you can get a person to pay for it! If you can't bear to give a shopper a break on a price, that item should not be in your yard sale, period. Remember, you have already made the decision to get rid of the stuff in your sale, you don't want it any more! So you are trying to get rid of stuff that is cluttering up your life and your home, making a couple bucks in the process. This is not your full time job, your yard sale is not going to make you rich. If your goal is to pull a fast one on shoppers and bilk them, go work for the government. When you price your items, set them at a price that would make you (if you were shopping at your sale) say "wow! gotta have this" so folks will hand over their cash. There is nothing better than the sound of someone asking you "can I just start a pile? I'm still looking but I can't carry any more in my arms" $5 in cold hard cash right now is better then overpricing something that might be worth a little more, but never gets picked up. Mark stuff down a buck or two the 2nd day of your sale.

8.  You are The King of Your Castle-
      Be friendly, smile, be nice, but remember, it's your house. If someone offers obviously insulting offers for things, smile sweetly and say "I wouldn't go that low right now, but maybe at the end of the sale tomorrow." or "That's worth a little more because....(it's brand new, it's signed, it's an antique, you get the idea). Then smile again, if they are serious they will up their offer, but some folks are just jerks, don't let them bully you. It is totally fine to give a young couple a better deal on some furniture than you would give a seasoned yard sale professional.  Do not let anyone use your bathroom, have a discreet sign taped up by your cashier table saying "all sales final" & "not responsible for accidents" to protect yourself from the guy who comes back the next day for his money back or the idiot who trips over his own feet. If someones kids are going ape-s*@t at your sale and touching breakables or fishing lures or bumping tables or picking up expensive items,  speak up! A firm "Hey guys, can you please not do that" loud enough for the crappy parents to hear always does the trick for me.

9. Be Generous-
      Always have a free box! People love them, even if they poke through them and take nothing. Make sure you throw some stuff in the box throughout the sale. I always put some books, curtains, candles, small toys, Santa hats, weird do-dads that I not sure what they are, etc. in mine. Duct-tape a piece of paper to the box that says "FREE BOX" and put it at the end of your driveway/wherever your sale starts. Basically anything you even thing about pricing for 10 cents should get tossed in the free box. If it's not worth a quarter, it's not worth your time. Making change for 10 cent items is a pain so do yourself a favor, forgo the lure of making 10 cents and earn yourself some yard sale karma instead. And if an adult is buying an armful of items and they have a kid with them clutching some small misc. item or toy, say "you can just have that honey" every once in a while. You won't miss the quarter and their smiles will be worth it.

10. All the little things-
Make signs: use boxes or printer paper boxes from work and bright yellow poster board from the dollar store. Duct take the poster board to the side of the box, write yard sale in big block letters with a sharpie, add an arrow. Put a brick in the bottom of the box and your sign will be eye catching and will stay put all day. All you signs should be the same color.
Early Birds-if you don't mind then you don't mind. I however put "no early birds" and they still show up an hour early. Make them wait, they are all dealers and folks that own stores anyway, they will wait, smile and tell them what time you intend to be ready. If they ask if they can come in and look around while you set up, tell them no.
Ads- I know it hurts to fork over the dough but you really need to have an ad in the paper, it will pay off in the long run (split the cost with everyone selling in the sale) Also post on craigslist, Face book, etc. Almost all new stations have online classified sections where you can post events and yard sales for free.
Keep it to 2 days-I prefer Friday & Sat. they traditionally get the most traffic, but if you can't take Friday off, be prepared to pull the plug Sunday late afternoon (you will be sick of it by then anyway) The marathon, never ending, every weekend yard sale will just make you look trashy and will cause your neighbors to key your car.
Nothing back in-If it's in the yard sale, you don't want it, so don't under any circumstances let any left over stuff back in your house! This includes stuff for other people. If they want to stop by before you pack up and pick through left overs let them. But when it is time for tear down there are 2 piles: really nice stuff that you can put on craigslist to sell & donations. Give it away! All of it, it will help those in need and the feeling you get when that truck pulls away (call ahead of time, Salvation Army and Goodwill will send a truck to pick it all up) will be worth the small pangs of "this is so cute, I can't believe no-one bought it"

Update: Crazies

To all those crazies that arrived at my yard sale an hour and 15 mins early: you need to remember to take your meds or get a hobby or something, because wow! you're all a couple tools short of a full shed...

Day one of the Gyspy Sale

Let the annual Gypsy family yard sale begin! Getting kids off to school, bribed husband (dirty things) to put out signs for me on his way too work, and I get to drag out the tables full with not only my stuff but my parents stuff and my sister's family stuff. Needless to say, it's a lot of stuff! Should have a lot of folks about, thanks to the newspaper ad letting them know we have lots of sporting goods. Nothin' brings them a-runnin' like man stuff in a yard sale! Yet another reason it's good to have a dad in the 'biz. Wish me luck, there are always some crazies, will report back at the end of the day, taking my kids bat out with me just in case......

Bringing Outdoors In

I am in love with succulents and you should be too! Today's project: The indoor low maintenance garden. I just finished an example of this for my dining room. While on my Gypsy travels, I am always looking for interesting things to serve as containers for unusual planters. I found a pair of old rusty farm conveyor grain cups for $4 each at a local re-sale shop. Here are my tips for making you own piece of green in your home:
1. Use anything! if it has spaces that are at least an inch deep you can plant succulents in them. Be creative, anything from a coffee cup to an old boot will work! My favorite to plant is Hens and Chickens and mini cacti. You can buy them for only a couple bucks apiece or transplant them from your garden or the garden of a friend.
2. If your container is rusty or has a flaking finish (mine usually are) make sure you spray a clear coat of spray paint on all the surfaces and let dry before you plant. This will preserve the grungy finish but will keep rust off your floors and walls.
3. Use cacti potting soil. I picked up a bag at our local Home Depot for $4 and it has enough soil for several projects. Put a thin layer of gravel or pebbles at the bottom of the container then fill 3/4 of the way with the cacti soil.
4. Transplant you plants in the the containers then add a bit more soil to fill to the top, press gently with your fingers to make sure the plants are seated (most succulents will root themselves as long as you have a decent shoot to place in the soil. They will seat themselves as long as they have dirt or rocks to grab onto)
5. Water, then hang. Succulents are famous for their low-maintenance lifestyle. You only need to water them occasionally when they are really dried out. I am wanted in 3 states for murdering houseplants, but even I can keep succulents alive.
The more interesting the container, the better the end result. Get ready for compliments and jealousy from friends and family...enjoy!

Shut Up & Strut!

I'm calling it, it's official, everyone needs to get a grip & own their own lives. 
If I heard one more in-depth discussion about mom vs. mom and what makes a good parent and how everything is everyone else's business I am going to go full Matrix. I am offering some Gypsy reality to the masses today: no ones owes you a hug! 
You are not issued a pat on the back for every choice you make, and you certainly do not have the right to cry foul and vent your indignation when the world judges you for your choices. Lets all let go of the should and could and firmly grasp ahold of what is- in every society there are activities, actions and decisions that will place you outside of the "norm." If you choose to step outside of general societies' comfort zone, then there are realities that you need to face. It's as simple as that.
I encourage everyone to push the boundaries, listen to your gut, make a few waves, I know I do. But here is the deal: you cannot then bitch when you are judged by others. I don't want to hear you wax poetic on the subject of folks judging you as "right" or "wrong," I refuse to listen to soap box speeches about how in a perfect world we would all be free to be our own unique and beautiful butterfly without having to deal with haters. It simply is.
If you rock a purple mohawk and a nose ring, some folks will cross to the other side of the street. If you adhere to a parenting philosophy that makes the evening news, you are going to generate some backlash. If you choose interpretive dance as your major, you'll get some chuckles......
Deal
That's it, just deal. No drama, no complaining about how every single person on the planet does not agree with you and wave a glitter covered poster board cheering you on when you step outside your door.
Strut, be who you are and do as you wish without desiring the approval and validation of others. If you are brave enough to step over the line of the status quo, then I expect you to be brave enough to look judgement in the eye and laugh. Do it for yourself, not for the world, because the world does not care. It grinds on & grinds up & grinds through us all. So please, before you draft your next detailed & demanding speech on how I should react to your choices, do us both a favor,

Shut up & Strut.....

Quote of the Day

She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.

Proverbs 31:25

Amazing Kids

It still manages to catch me by surprise when my kids are even more awesome than I suspect. As their mother I am my children's loudest cheerleader and staunchest supporter. But every now and then even I am blow away my what my kids accomplish. My oldest boy is what I call a "natural hunter." He loves to be outdoors, is interested in all things hunting and fishing and spends hours practicing his aim, hunter safety and other related skills needed to, as he puts it "get meat on the table." He is responsible, level-headed and has cooler nerves then most grown men I know, especially when it counts. Yesterday he shot his very first wild turkey! 21.7 pounds, one clean shot-turkey on the table. Congratulations to my amazing son, who has once again showed me how it's done, we'll save you a drumstick....

Why I hate your Nook

I hate your Nook. Sorry but there is no way of getting around it. It is great that you love it, if you think it is the best thing since sliced bread, but me...not so much. When you whip it out to show me and expect me to ooh and ahh about how light and space saving it is and how it can hold so many books and you can download them in an instant and you can even read stuff for free and blah blah blah.....I smile and compliment you on it and say "gee that's great" but a little bit of me dies every time I see one being toted about. Now before you sacrifice me on the alter of progress, let me explain. I love technology! I have worshiped at the alter of the IPhone, jammed in the land of digital music, I no longer have a land line in my home & I love my Mac so much it makes me feel borderline dirty. My hatred is not rooted in logic, it is rooted in love. My love affair with books has been going strong since I was in kindergarten. Over the years, no matter where I am, what happens in my life, or where I travel, a book was my constant companion. Childhood summers spent in a treehouse with the Babysitters Club, getting busted in class reading Shel Silverstein instead of paying attention, having my vision broadened in my college Lit classes, curling up with a good book & my husband after the kids are down for the night. So many of the puzzle pieces of my knowledge come from books. From how they made butter in Little House on The Prairie, animal instinct in Watership Down, madness in The Yellow Wallpaper, the charm of The Walrus and the Carpenter, the wisdom of Frost to the guilty pleasure of Sookie Stackhouse. There is a love story, poem, tragedy for every day, every mood, and every personality. I have wandered the stacks of many libraries in my lifetime and can instantly call to mind the smell that only hundreds of books can have when grouped together awaiting discovery. Good, Bad, Terrible, Trashy, Amazing; every volume sits patiently, whispering to the passerby, cajoling you to choose them and become a different person, in a different time, a different place, a different universe, if only for a moment. Books can reveal a great deal; about yourself, others, the world. My unfailing devotion to the written word is the birth place of my hatred for the flat plastic rectangle called the E-reader. I get why you have one, but it will never in my heart replace the rumpled and dog-eared novel on my shelf that I re-read every summer like you would re-visit an old friend. I can forecast the death of the library in the glass of your convenience. I worry that the image of the young child curled up on the sunshine filled window seat with the beloved books of his mother's childhood spread around him will fade into the past. I fear the weight of a good long book, along with the craftsmanship of it's creators will crumble and fall to what ultimately amounts to more screen time. You say I should be happy because "reading is reading" and time marches on. I say to each his own; enjoy your convince,  I will continue my affair within the stacks.........

To Yard Sale or Not To Yard Sale?

Like being a cat person or being a dog person
Like being a reader or hating books
There is the line in the sand drawn between those who love themselves a yard sale and those who would no more stop and paw through someone else's things than they would run through the streets naked.
Why the distinction? Is it as simple as being raised with folks that loved to stop and look, or is it the idea that buying new is always the best way to go? I must admit that I am a yard sale junkie, learned at my mother's knee. When the kids were little it was a way to get things for a bargain and thus survive without moving to a box under the overpass. Now it is the thrill of the hunt, the chase, the thought that somewhere out there in someones garage is an item that I would love to own, and if it's 50 cents then all the better! I have emerged from my bargain cocoon as a fully fledged junker Gypsy maven. As my re-made, re-purposed, and re-invented furniture and decor have become the objects of envy and lust, I find myself increasingly motivated to replace the store bought mundane trappings of my home with things I have crafted with my own two hands. I highly recommend the experience, even if it's only a single object; actually creating something helps to fill up the soul.............................and by the way, I'm a dog person

Can you see me behind this 8 ball?

I am so far behind the 8 ball, I have fallen off the table. Do you every wonder how those calm, unruffled people do it? Do they really have everything under control or are they just carrying a flask in their pocket? As my readers know, I own my own business in addition to substitute teaching, having a husband, 2 kids and a very large dog (the fluffy & often ridiculous Sleven). When I throw in everything else that comes along with my life, I have days like today when I think "hey, running away and living in a van down by the river doesn't sound so bad." And no matter how many sweet inspirational quotes I read on your Pinterest board, I still feel like pulling a Bukowski (google him). The best I can come up with is to surrender to this day and challenge it to a re-match tomorrow.....so goodnight sweet prince

The Evil Broken Toe

Ode to My Broken Toe:
Poor broken toe, life has driven you crooked
Banged on chairs, stubbed on on tables
Ever the victim of the dropped item....
There is no hope, no relief, no cure for your sorrow
The indignity of being cursed then taped to your brothers
Forever flat, eternally squashed
Your only companion
A dark hearted toenail

Talent

tal·ent

   [tal-uhnt]  Show IPA

noun

1.

a special natural ability or aptitude: a talent for drawing.

2.

a capacity for achievement or success; ability: young men of talent.

In my line of work (Marketing & Promotions) I often deal with the specter know as "talent." At ELM&P we help a lot of folks with a lot of things. We are currently working on a promotion/product video for a customer and he would likes to supply the "talent" for the shoot. My business also puts on a large annual Expo every year for another client and the media always have to be told who the "draws" or "talent" are and when they will be there. What makes us talent? Is it a way with people? The ability to be relaxed and gracious in front of crowds and fans? Is it the ability to organize a Expo so all the details fall into place or is it the ability to thing up a new idea or product? Is it all of these things? None of them? Make sure you are the "Talent" in your life.....

The 2012 Tattoo

I was just having a discussion with a friend of mine on the subject of the tattoo in the year 2012. Now most of us can remember a time when having a tattoo was the sign of a rebel, a bad guy, a biker, or a girl you would not take home to mom. Then in my college years, it seemed that everyone and their brother was going out to get some ink. Grandmas were suddenly sporting brand new butterflies, frat boys all had their Greek letters and some barbed wire on their arms, and every 19 year old girl with some nerve got a fairy or a tweety bird in an unfortunate location. Now that I am a wife and a mom I wonder about the tattoo and if it has finally become an acceptable part of life today. My opinion is thus: I personally have 3 larger tattoos on my person and am planning a 3rd. They are all black and grey, have all been designed & drawn by myself and all have personal significance to myself. I love tattoos, especially on men, I find them very attractive and I don't regret any of my art. However, here is my plea to those who are going under the needle: Even as someone who has upwards of 7 hours of work on her, you would never ever know that I even have a single one. All of my art is placed so that in my day to day life as a business owner, PTO member, Soccer Coach, whatever, they are covered unless I choose to reveal them. My tattoos are an important, personal part of me, not a pubic art show. Having visible tattoos should not effect how you are viewed or treated, but lets be honest folks; the dude with the neck tat and the gal with the huge rose on her chest or the snake wound around her foot and leg are going to look a little nutty whether it is a board room or a wedding. So go forth and ink.........just think carefully before you do