Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Happy Jerry Day!


In remembrance of Jerry Garcia’s legacy, Gypsy Rose would like to share with you what The Grateful Dead means to us. 


Gypsy Rose’s founder, John, started this crazy idea off on tour with The Grateful Dead. In 1985 in Hershey, Pa, at John’s first Grateful Dead show, he immediately knew that he belonged there. Or in his own words, “I found what I was looking for.” He would sell bajas and psychedelic shades at shows for enough money to get to the next gig. Not only was the energy from the music incredible, but the vibes of the people who were a part of the scene glowed with kindness and respect. John felt a strong connection between himself and the “dead head” scene. What ever chance he could get, he’d see The Grateful Dead. Even if that meant travelling up and down the East Coast. The Grateful Dead flowed throughout John’s life, especially when he decided to start his own retail/wholesale catalog. John couldn’t get enough of the music, the scene, and the vibes that The Grateful Dead inspired. He wanted to spread the kind spirited messages that they shared with their audiences each performance. John was dedicated to keeping peace, love, and unity alive in this ever changing world. And today, Gypsy Rose is the outcome of John’s devotion. When Further or the Grateful Dead cover bands come to play in John’s area, he attends their shows, while sharing the enjoyment with his 2 children.



The Grateful Dead touched all of our hearts in the best way possible, through the pleasure and connection of music. They have a song for every emotion of life, whether it be bliss, grief, joy, triumph.. Their music soothed our souls with sweet words of life’s love, hardships, and happiness. The Grateful Dead not only started a jam band revolution, but started a movement of kindness, peace, and understanding for all. Although Jerry has passed, their songs can still be heard ringing throughout music festivals and radios everywhere. The great vibes of the people who follow/followed The Grateful Dead are present today, and always will be. We couldn’t do what we do without The Grateful Dead, and we most certainly couldn’t do what we do without you!!! For that, We are forever Grateful! “God Bless The Grateful Dead!” They are not the best at what they do, they are the only ones that do what they do.




Monday, July 30, 2012

Back To School!

Hey now! It's that great time of year again when the summer's heat is at its peak, only to decline and turn the leaves beautiful shades of gold, brown, and red. This post is for those of you (dreading or) heading back to high school or college! Or for those of you just looking for some cool new stuff! Gypsy Rose has lots of fun goodies for school! Here's a list of some of our favorites!


This bag is perfect for carrying notebooks and supplies! Check it out HERE 
You'll surely make a funky first impression with this Guatemalan Jaspe Bag! You can find it HERE!

 Spread peace around campus!! Get it HERE!

You can find more of our awesome bags HERE!!

This Fleece Lined Hoodie will beat that autumn chill! Check it out HERE

You can never go wrong with a Baja! Get It HERE! 
 These wool booties with fleece lining are great for lounging around the dorm on those chilly days! Check 'em out HERE!

 Lookin' for something to dec out your dorm room with? This batiked tapestry will shine in your dorm room! Check it out HERE!

Check out more of our tapestries HERE!

These friendly bobbin' turtles will keep you company while crammin' for an exam! Check 'em out HERE

Bored in the Dorms? Test your friends or family with this rock trivia game! Check it out HERE!

Best way to kill some time in between classes?! Hacky Sacking! Get yours today HERE


We hope this "back to school" list will help you get in the groove of expanding your mind and heart! :) 
Peace and love always from the gypsies at Gypsy Rose!!











Friday, July 13, 2012

Gypsy Rose Survey

Hey friends! Gypsy Rose would really appreciate it if you could take this simple 10 question survey for us! Thanks!!
Click here to take survey

Monday, June 18, 2012

An Interview with the Gypsy behind Gypsy Rose!!

 Hey y'all! Interested in meeting the Gypsy who started Gypsy Rose? Here's your chance! We interviewed Gypsy John, the man himself, to give you more of an in depth peek into how Gypsy Rose started, and who started it. So without further ado, We hope you enjoy reading this interview! :)

Q: What inspired you to create Gypsy Rose?
A: "I didn't go to Gypsy Rose, Gypsy Rose came to me"

Q: What were the beginning steps to creating Gypsy Rose?
A: "I started on tour with the Grateful Dead, selling bajas and psychedelic shades out of a backpack for enough money to pay for my next concert ticket, gas money, and camping costs. When the vending police came to tour I decided to put a small catalog together to earn cash for tour. The catalog was a photocopied flyer that I typed up. I also placed ads in Relix magazine and Rolling Stone magazine. The rest was the grace of God."

Q: What were your expectations or ambitions for Gypsy Rose in the beginning?
A: "Zero..(he laughs jokingly).. it was more of a hobby. I had no business plan. Like I said, Gypsy Rose came to me, I didn't come to Gypsy Rose."

Q: How has the scene changed since you were on tour?
A: "The scene is still positive but nowhere near the same as the Grateful Dead tour. There's still (and always will be) beautiful people with beautiful vibes, and sparks of energy in the music."

Q: Who influences and inspires you in your life?
A: "The Buddha, nature, my family and friends, art, and anyone with a positive outlook."

Q: What's your favorite food?
A: "(giggles) Aaaah I love food! The spicier the better! I also like ice cream, black licorice, and macaroni and cheese with Tabasco sauce (of course)"

Q: If you could meet anyone in the world, who would it be and why?
A: "(As he swings in his tree, admiring his freshly planted wild flower garden) I'm not big on meeting celebrities, unless they're real human beings. I would have to say the Dalai Lama. It wouldn't be as much to speak and meet him, but to be in his presence."

Q: What do you like to do in your free time?
A: "I like to garden. I like to create. I like to make salsa. I love finding shells and sea glass on beaches. I enjoy going camping and admiring nature. I love to spend time with my family and friends. I also like to trash pick and dumpster dive, creating art from the treasures that come to me. One man's trash, is another man's treasure. I find good homes for discarded items. I love to travel and to explore our world. What a wonderful planet for us to be stuck on! With that said, I would like to encourage everyone to explore our world! It's a great place! Whether it be in your backyard, this beautiful country we live in, or this amazing world that surrounds us!"

Q: Whats one of your favorite stories about Gypsy Rose?
A: "Using a Baja box for my children during work hours as a crib/play pen on the farm where we started off, the same farm where I grew up."

Q: What's one of the most trying moments of Gypsy Rose?
A: "The day we moved off of the farm and into the warehouse we are located now. That was the same day Jerry Garcia moved from this life and onto the next. I was torn between the commitment I had to the people that counted on me to keep Gypsy Rose rolling, while mourning a loss of a dear friend that I never personally met, but was in my heart like a brother."

Q: What are your expectations or ambitions for Gypsy Rose now?
A: "To keep the vibes alive, continue to spread positive messages through the products we offer, the people we deal with, and the audience we communicate to."

Q: What would you like our customers to know about Gypsy Rose?
A: "(He says with deep, sincere eyes) We care."

Peace & Love from Gypsy Rose!!

Friday, June 8, 2012

Help Save Our Oceans!

Happy Friday friends! For those of you who didn't know, today is World Oceans Day! 
 Now, you might be asking yourself what is World Oceans Day? Well, World Oceans Day is an unofficially celebrated day dedicated to protecting our gorgeous shore lines and water ways! Not only is this day about protecting our great big blue, but it is also about celebrating the mystery of the ocean and appreciating all that it has provided for us, such as tasty seafood! Did you know that a living organism called Algae, lives in our oceans and provides 70-80% of our oxygen?! This is even more of a reason why you should help protect our gorgeous seas! World Oceans Day was originally proposed in 1992 by Canada, but was officially recognized by the United Nations in 2008. This day has been coordinated by the Ocean Project and World Ocean Network (amongst other environmental advocates). These organizations have been working hard to spread awareness about pollution in our oceans, dwindling fish populations due to overfishing, and how you can help!  World Oceans Day is an opportunity to appreciate the ocean and join the cause to protect it! Today, Gypsy Rose will share some ways how you can help protect the beautiful seas we all love!

1. Save the Whales! Sure, this sounds like a cheesy bumper sticker, but whales play a huge role in our oceans ecosystem. Whales keep the oceans food chain at a balance. Due to humans hunting these gentle giants, Greenpeace reports that "The blue whales of the Antarctic are at less than 1 percent of their original abundance, despite 40 years of complete protection." When there is an imbalance in the ocean's food chains, this will impact everything on earth. Whales eat zoo plankton, and zoo plankton eat phytoplankton. Phytoplankton remove carbon from the atmosphere. We have enough carbon in our atmosphere as it is! If whales don't eat zooplankton, we'll have overgrowth and lose our essential carbon cleaning phytoplankton.

2. Advocate for our Oceans! The ocean cant speak for itself, so lets speak for it! WRITE A LETTER TO PRESIDENT OBAMA HERE and urge him to protect our seas! Advocate in your communities and spread the word about our endangered ocean! There are plenty of organizations that help our shores such as GreenPeace , Ocean Conservancy, Oceana, Save our Seas, and plenty others! 

3. Do not support off shore drilling.  Offshore drilling greatly threatens marine life, and marine life habitats. When there is an oil spill, the oil poisons the oceans so that life for sea creatures is nearly impossible. Fish that do survive, especially filter fish, carry oil toxins in their bodies which can make them deadly to eat. So be careful when eating clams and mussels. Not only does it threaten the oceans, but it threatens the land as well. Once there is an oil spill, that oil can be evaporated into our atmosphere and can infect our soil and ground water. 

4. When enjoying seafood, be sure that you are eating sustainable seafood. Fish populations are decreasing every day due to demand, and not enough supply. HERE is a list of sustainable seafood recipes that you can try at home! And if you can, stop eating seafood all together!

5. If you are lucky enough to live along a coast line, go to the beach and help clean it up! Not only can you enjoy the beachy atmosphere, but you can set an example to other beach go-ers to clean up!

6.  Did you know that plastic constitutes for 90% of all trash floating in the ocean? This is why properly recycling and reducing our use of plastic is extremely important! Please be conscious of your consumption of plastic!

Everyday should be World Oceans Day! Keep advocating for our big blue seas! We hope you enjoy today!!! We also hope these tips were helpful to you and your community! Peace and love always from Gypsy Rose!


Tuesday, June 5, 2012

ATTENTION ALL ARTISTS!

We're still seeking a cover for our 2012 Fall Winter Catalog that's coming out. Artwork must be 8" x 11" vertical/portrait not landscape and include the words: "Gypsy Rose 25th Anniversary" and "2012 Fall/Winter". We are looking for a cover that represents what Gypsy Rose has stood for these past 25 years - Peace, love, respect for our environment, music, and happiness!

All entries will become property of Gypsy Rose. Thanks and have fun! Our deadline for the catalog cover contest is July 30th, 2012.

Please submit your work to:
Gypsy Rose
Dept Cover
PO Box 2869
Warminster, PA 18974

Monday, June 4, 2012

GIVE PEACE A CHANCE!

43 years ago, on June 1st, 1969 John Lennon and Yoko Ono (Plastic Ono Band) recorded "Give Peace a chance" during their "Bed-in Honeymoon". The song came about when a reporter asked John what he was trying to achieve by staying in bed. John responded to the reporter saying, "All we are saying is give peace a chance." John liked the phrase so much that he put the words to a tune. He sang the song numerous times during the bed-in. Finally, and thankfully, the song was recorded using a simple setup of four microphones and a four-track tape recorder rented from a local recording studio. Dozens of journalists attended the recording session, including some celebrities such as Timothy Leary, Derek Taylor, Richard Gregory, Allen Ginsberg, and others.

Soon enough, the song became the anthem of the anti-war movement. On October 15, 1969 "Give peace a chance" was sung by half a million demonstrators in Washington, D.C. at the Vietnam Moratorium Day. They were led by the renowned folk singer Pete Seeger, who interspersed phrases like, "Are you listening, Nixon?" and "Are you listening, Agnew?", between the choruses of protesters singing, "All we are saying ... is give peace a chance".


What a timeless masterpiece! To this day, "Give peace a chance" can be heard ringing from the streets of peace movements everywhere! We hope you rest easy, John. You are greatly missed. Promoting peace is not only about the big things you do through out your life, but also the small things, like a bed-in peace protest or making someone smile. Gypsy Rose promotes peace by fair trade, supporting peaceful causes, and spreading the word of peace!!  
How do you promote peace in your life?

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Looking for Festival Gear?

Hey y'all! Getting pumped up for the festivals this summer? Looking for some sweet rags to wear? You're in luck! Gypsy Rose has tons of cool threads that are perfect for groovin' out! Here's a list of some of our festy favorites that we know you'd look awesome wearing!

^Say no to soggy bottoms at a festival! This is a one of a kind creation by Gypsy Rose! It is a water resistant wrap skirt that will keep your behind dry when the chairs, ground, blankets and benches are wet! Great to wear over your pants or skirt, or by itself! Think of it as a raincoat for your bum! Click HERE to order!

 ^Lookin' for some twirl? This skirt has it! This item is handmade and all pieces are made from various printed material. You will probably not see the exact skirt in the picture, if you order, because they are all unique! You'll be spinning freely in this great skirt! Click HERE to check it out!


Want to minimize the clothes your bringin' camping? This patchwork, silk like dress can be worn like the photo or as a skirt! Check it out HERE

CHECK OUT ALL OUR SKIRTS HERE

^Worried about getting chilly at night? Worry no more! These Himalayan brushed capes are perfect for cool evenings! The only coolness you'll feel is looking cool! Click HERE for more info on these comfy capes!

You'll be one colorful cat in this stonewashed Dashiki! This Dashiki is great for any occasion, especially fests! CLICK HERE to see!


Protect yourself from hot summer rays with this funky rayon tye dye floppy hat! This hat is stylin' and will keep your face and neck from getting burnt! Check it out HERE

CHECK OUT OUR HATS AND ACCESSORIES HERE

 This striped Mexican falsa blanket is great for kickin' back and enjoying some sunshine and live tunes! Click HERE to order :)
CHECK OUT ALL OF OUR BLANKETS HERE

You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one! These Lennon glasses will make your world a whole lot more colorful! Check em out HERE

CHECK OUT ALL OF OUR SUNGLASSES HERE

Lookin' for something to do in between sets? This Flyin' high whiz disc is loads of fun to throw around while you're waiting for the next performer! It is essentially a woven fabric frizbee! Click HERE to order

WANT MORE FUN STUFF?  CLICK HERE

Want to dec out camp with some tapestries? This tapestry not only promotes peace, but it also looks wonderful while doing so! Check it out HERE

LOOK AT MORE OF OUR TAPESTRIES HERE!

We hope these items will enhance your festival experience! If you still haven't found what you're looking for, check out our website HERE or click HERE  to order a free catalog! Have an item to recommend? Let us know!

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

It's Festival Time Again!!

How's it hangin' folks? We hope your Memorial day weekend was spectacular!

It's that festy time of year again and Gypsy Rose would like to promote some of this summer's fests! Good vibes, kind heads, and groovy jams are just a few fun things that can be found at a music festival! There is nothin' like camping out and waking up to see amazing live music all day!  If you have the time and the cash to go to a festival this summer, please do so! 




  On the East Coast 

1. Allgood Music Festival - Thornville, OH - July 19-22 - OFFICIAL WEBSITE
 Who's Playing -The Allman brothers band !, Phil Lesh & friends!, The Flaming Lips!, Bob Weir and Bruce Hornsby feat. Branford Marsalis!, Dark Star Orchestra!, Soja!, G. Love! + plenty more! Guaranteed a great time!

2. Mountain Jam Festival - Hunter, NY - May 31-June 3 - OFFICIAL WEBSITE
 Who be playin' - The Roots, Steve Winwood, Lotus, Keller Williams and the Travelin' McCrourys, + many more!

3.  Moe Down - Turin, NY - August 10-12- OFFICIAL WEBSITE
Who's Jammin' - moe., Umphrey's McGee, SOJA, Galactic, + others!

4. Gathering of the Vibes - Bridgeport, CT - July 19-22 - OFFICIAL WEBSITE
Who's gonna be there - Phil Lesh & friends, Primus, Bob Weir & Bruce Hornsby
  w/ SPECIAL GUEST Branford Marsalis, 7 walkers w/ Bill
Kreutzmann, Mickey Hart Band, Yonder Mountain String Band, Zappa plays Zappa, Dark Star Orchestra, + loads more! This is a Fest you don't wanna miss!

5. A Bear's Picnic - Laurelton, PA - August 16-20 - OFFICIAL WEBSITE
Who's Playin' - Mickey Hart Band, Melvin Seals & the JGB band, 7 walkers, Cabinet, + many more great bands! If you like the Dead (which we're sure you do!), you gotta check out this fest!


6. The Peach Music Festival (presented by The Allman Brothers) - Scranton, Pa - August 10-12 - OFFICIAL WEBSITE
Who's playing - Warren Haynes Band, Tedeschi Trucks Band, O.A.R., Dark Star Orchestra, The Wailers, + more!



 In the Midwest & South


1. Bonaroo Music festival - Manchester, TN - June 9-12 -OFFICIAL WEBSITE
 Who you'll see - Radiohead, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Phish, The Beach Boys, The Roots, Flying Lotus, Soja, The Shins, + too many more!

2. Pitchfork - Union Park, Chicago - July 13-15 - OFFICIAL WEBSITE
Who's gonna be there - Feist, Hot Chip, Flying Lotus, Beach House, Real Estate, + even more!

3. Lollapalooza - Grant Park, Chicago - August 3-5 - OFFICIAL WEBSITE
Who's playing - Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Black Keys, Black Sabbath, Dr. Dog, Sigur Ros, + so many more!

4. SummerFest - Milwaukee, WI - June 27-July 1, July 3-8 - OFFICIAL WEBSITE
Who's who - Steve Miller Band, Ziggy Marley, Sublime w/ Rome, Jimmy Cliff, The Dirty Heads, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Beach Boys, 311, The Roots, Aerosmith, + waay many more!

5. Jerry Garcia Birthday Bash - Terra Alta, WV - August 2-5 - OFFICIAL WEBSITE
Who's Celebratin' - John k Band, Reflections, Tiger Rose, Tommy Garcia, + more to be jammin'!

In the West

1. Desert Rocks - Green Valley, UT - June 7-10 - OFFICIAL WEBSITE
Who be Jammin' -The Wailers, DeadPhish Orchestra, JGB feat. Melvin Seals, The Williams Brother band, + some more!

2. 4Peaks Music Festival - Bend, Oregon - June 22-24 -OFFICIAL WEBSITE
Who's groovin' - Marvin Seals & JGB, Poor Man's Whiskey, The Mother Hips, Hot Buttered Rum, + more!

3. High Sierra Music Fest - Quincy, CA - July 5-8 - OFFICIAL WEBSITE
Who will be there - Galactic, Toots & the Maytals, Lotus, Greensky Bluegrass, Railroad Earth, Papadosia, + a bunch more!


4. Northwest String Summit Music Fest - North Plains, OR - August 9-12, OFFICIAL WEBSITE
Who's playin' - Yonder Mountain String Band, 7 walkers, New Riders of the Purple Sage, Greensky Bluegrass, Fruition String Band, + more!

These are just a few of MANY summer music festivals going on this year! If you decide to go, please remember to be safe and responsible. Please feel free to let us know about more festivals to add to the list! We'll be happy to do so!

Friday, May 25, 2012

Recycling Plastic is Fantastic!

Hey there! Have you ever wondered what to do with your plastic shopping bags? So have we! Did you know the U.S. goes through 100 billion plastic shopping bags annually? Only 1-3% of plastic bags are recycled world wide.
That is boat loads of plastic that could be re-used and recycled!

Protecting Our environment means monuments to Gypsy Rose. We try our very best to be as earth friendly as possible. This post will give you some ideas of what to do with your plastic bags!

1. One of the best alternatives is to reduce consumption! The best way to consume less is to invest in clothe bags. Clothe bags can be found at most stores, including Gypsy Rose! Check out these alternative shopping bags-  LIVE SIMPLY TOTE BAG, TAPESTRY TOTE, COEXIST BAG

2. Take your plastic bags with you to the store to re-use them to hold your goods.

3. Find a location that has bins where plastic bags are properly recycled. You can go HERE to find a location near you.

4. Plastic bags can be used as packing material for fragile items or mailed packages.

5. One of our favorite recycling tips is to re-use the bags as water balloons! What a fun idea for this summer! Just be sure to recycle the aftermath when you surprise a friend!

6. Turn your plastic bags into art! Click HERE to view some creative ideas of what to do with your plastic!

7. Did you know you could make yarn out of those plastic bags? Check out the simple steps to do so HERE!

8. Find out if your local curbside recycling program accepts plastic bags.

9. Use the bags to organize your stuff! You can hang the bags off of hooks and use the bags to store craft supplies.

10. Go to http://www.plasticbagrecycling.org to find out more info about what you can do with your plastic!

We hope this was helpful! Please spread the word to your friends!! You're welcome to share more great ideas with us! We'd love to hear from you!!!

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Happy Birthday Mr. Bob Dylan


"All I can do is be me, whoever that is." - Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan's 71st birthday is today. Bob began his career at a local coffee shop a few blocks away from the University of Minnesota. Since then, his career has accelerated to be one of the most influential song writers of our time! Bob has influenced the music scene for five decades now.
In 2008, the Pulitzer Prize jury awarded Bob Dylan a special citation for "his profound impact on popular music and American culture, marked by lyrical compositions of extraordinary poetic power."  Last month, President Barack Obama named Bob Dylan as a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the highest civilian achievement award in the U.S.Not only is he a song writer and musician, but he has published three books. He has also had paintings and drawings exhibited in major art galleries. How amazing is it that this classic song writer is still on tour!! He is truly dedicated to his work, and we are truly glad he is! With that said, here's a classic for you to enjoy :)


Wednesday, May 23, 2012

The Beginning

Hey friends! Hows it shakin'? Gypsy Rose has joined the bandwagon and created a blog! We made this blog in hopes to connect with you, our wonderful customers and fellow companions. Our ambitions for this blog is to spread awareness about conscious living, share stories, and fun ideas!

Believe it or not, Gypsy Rose has been around since 1987. Who would have thought this crazy catalog idea would work, not us. It seems like yesterday Kaye and I were touring with the Grateful Dead peddlin’ Bajas & psychedelic shades, goin’ from town to town and show to show. Boy have times changed. In the early days this little catalog was nothin’ but a single black and white page with about ten items on it. Kaye and I ran it in a spare bedroom between our real jobs. Since then we ditched the 9 to 5’s, the catalog has grown to about 84 pages.We’ve got a big warehouse!
The Gypsy Rose family has grown to 24 hard workin’ great folks. Even though it’s been hard work, it’s been a lot of fun. And although we miss our old tour days and the “Dead Scene” dearly, we had a great time and are Grateful we had the chance to experience it. Through the products we sell we are trying to keep it all alive, and spread its message for peace, love and respect for our brother and earth. We know it’s not the same as tour, but it’s a good reminder of great days gone past. Hopefully a new generation can catch the meaning of it all through our contribution.
Since day one of Gypsy Rose, our priorities have not changed. Numero Uno is to satisfy you the customer, with quality products at a fair price with good service and prompt delivery. We also continue to fight for our environment and protect its inhabitants, big and small! We donate a percentage of our profits to charitable organizations that are trying to make the world a better place. We print our catalog on recycled paper with soy ink, recycle all of our computer paper, junk mail and old catalogs for packaging and we re-use as many old boxes as possible, so don’t be shocked if you get a Sam Adams box at your door with a Gypsy Rose label on it.
As always we welcome your comments, suggestions and ideas. Please feel free to contact us for any specific needs you may have. You are the reason Gypsy Rose has lasted, and for us to keep on truckin’ we need your input good or bad. Although we really like to hear the good, we need to hear the bad so we can serve you better in the future. So if you’ve got a gripe, let us know-our feelings won’t get hurt. Have fun flippin’ through our new catalog; you’ll find lots of new cool things mixed with our old favorites. We look forward to hearing from you soon!!