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A Home of Love and Laughs and Treats Galore!

We made our way out of town, after securing the fortress and packing (way too many shoes and jewels).  In the dark and rain we drove.  Laughing and dancing in the car.  Telling tales that started like, remember when we first met and you said... 

I don't know what soul mates are, but if finishing eachother's sentences and giggling madly at the same things, isn't enough, I don't know what is.  Granted, we can also make eachother so angry our faces can turn a perfect shade of fluorescent magenta.  Alas, we try not to push those buttons often ;)

So we drove and drove, and arrived to a house bursting with food and love.  Shrimp cocktails and fresh pesto, with baked bread straight out of the oven, abound...

       Shrimp cocktail 

My parents are so wonderfully delightful.  And funny as funny could be.  My Mammie is a hoot and probably should get a superb hostess trophy.

  Mammie   

Dad and her together could start a comedy show.  They are so sweet, and have always made it very clear that home is home.  It is our home.  There is always an open door, and your bedroom is always there for you.  You always have a home, no matter what. 

My Dad is always available.  You got a flat?  You ran out of gas?  You sliced your leg open pretty darn deep and have to go to the emergency room (that would be me).  He is in his car on his way to you no matter where you are.  He hugs he squeezes, you beg to be let go.  You can even catch him playing with the elves you make.  That alone should earn him a perfect award, don't you think?

       Dad and elf 

Ya, I thought they were super annoying when I hit my teenage years.  But, it is all the things I found annoying about them then, that I now adore.  Funny how that works, isn't it? 

Sooo, we installed Mr. Lovee in his own private mini wing.  So he could have a little restful space of his own.  Bottles of water, candies, wait are we in a hotel?  Again, Mammie's hospitality...

       Guest room

Mr room had a lovely crown waiting for me...

  Crown  

As well as a dresser full of gifts (for no reason), which are just my kind of treasures.  Thank you Mommmmmbie!!

  Treats from mammie  

It rained & was cold our entire stay, which was a lovely thing indeed.  It was a treat to have a Thanksgiving that was cool and brisk and didn't feel like a warm tropical holiday (as usual).

The first night we were there we lost power most of the evening.  So, we all sat around a candle lit living room, telling stories, while Mr. Lovee played his guitar...

We breakfasted in the nook...

       Breakfast nook 

And got a ton of excercise by going down the super long driveaway to retrieve the newspaper.

       Driveway  

Silly me, forgot her tennis shoes.  Luckily my 21 year old brother had a pair of boy shoes stashed from when he was in 5th grade.  They fit like a glove. 

       Me in boy shoes 

I enjoyed the autumn feel in the garden, but was surprised at how much green the trees still held...

       Tree 

I collected leaves and strolled in the sprinkles, all bundled up.  Beautiful leaves a plenty...

       Leaves 

       Side garden  

We had Thanksgiving lunch at My Grandma and Grandpa's (Mammie's parents).  There was a tradtional meal, along with homemade tortillas to be eaten as they came off the wood burning stove.  (that is my Grandma, adding wood)

       Nana at stove 

How I adore my grandparents...  Mr. Lovee charms the socks off of my Granny.  He played his guitar, she sang.  He indulged in her freshly made edibles...

       Fresh tortillas  

Everyone in my family is loud and has a story to tell.  A joke, a tale...  Words are thrown in and out and all around in conversation.  It is blissful chatter chaos...

We were stuffed after that visit.  Even though we were told to eat light.  There were other Thanksgiving meals to be eaten.  We ventured home to relax, make room for more munching...

I put on my pajamas and found a cozy spot to relax...

       Time to test 

Mmmmm, relaxing...  (Not something I did much of, as planned ;)

       Cozy spot

I longed for a swim and I dreamily looked out the window...

       Cloudy   

But, the relaxing was short lived.  Before we knew it, it was time to get dressed up again, for a formal Thanksgiving dinner...

       Pretty fragile shoes  

Mr. Lovee waited patiently, while the gals shuffled around.  The table had already been set days before by Mammie...

There he is with his freshly trimmed hair, lacking about 6 inches (oops, my bad, 10 inches)...  I think he looks dreamy...

       Mr lovee cutie  

Most of my photographs were taken at night.  Hence the darkish golden glow.  I promised my family I wouldn't splash their fotos on my blog.  I don't want to become the annoying girl with the camera, that everyone dreads seeing at the holidays, hee heee... 

       Me

I myself, do not enjoy having my photo taken.  Actually, if you want to know the truth.  I get sort of royally unhappy when people take my photo without consent...  So, I will be sensitive to the members whose photos I snapped... 

Nontheless, there were smiling faces and lovely attired folks mingling...

       Home Dining

We had a scrumptious formal dinner at home.  Once again, telling tales and laughing uncontrollably...  Although, we were still full from lunch.  So, we all were woe-ing about our overfilled bellies...

       Thanksgiving dinner at home

We saved dessert for the next day...

The most outrageous fresh cranberry candied orangle peel trifle you have ever tasted...

  Cranberry Candied Orange Peel Trifle 

And some fancy form of pumpkin pie...

       Pumpkin cheesecake  

Then it was time for a walk.  We hiked a bit while there.  And had a delightful time climbing the hills & cavelings I ventured into as a kid...

       Lovee on a walk 

We came upon what Mr. Lovee called a midden.  Filled with rusty parts and domed ever so wonderfully with twigs and rocks.  A pack rat home for certain.  It is sort of hard to see its dome like quality in this photo...

       Midden 

I got on my hands and knees to show you the entrance...  So cute!!

       Burrow entrance  

The next day, we had canela at my grannies house & snooped around at my granpa's warehouse of found rusted and crazy treasures.  He told us stories, and gifted me a wonderful item.  I will share it soon!!  If it snows ;)  Oh and, by the way, Canela is cinnamon tea...

       Canela 

We really wanted to invite everyone over to sing and tell scary stories around the outdoor fireplace.  Alas, the wet wood and weather was not having it.  Maybe next time...

        Outdoor fireplace 

Soon it was time to leave...  But, I just couldn't go without telling you one big secret.  You see, there is a pantry in Mombie's house, that would blow your mind.  Every gum drop and gum ball and cookie, and chip, and treat, and baking good that you can imagine, resides right on the other side of that door.  It is a vault of edible treasures.  Would you like to visit it sometime?  hee hee ;)  I could lock you in there for a day or two?

       Pantry of dreams 

So, into the car I went.  Mr. Lovee packed my belongings, and we started home.  The clouds cleared up a bit for our 2 hour drive...

  Driving

We stopped in a village called Tubac, 20 minutes from our family home.  It is a lovely historic shopping village.  So much fun!  Quaint and charming.  There were tons of people there...

  Blue Doors

  Pottery  

  Tubac 

We returned to our humble abode in the hills at night.  It was a raining frenzy.  So much rain, Wow! And the next day, there were pink mountains and snow right at the top...  Hooray!

  Snow on top of mountain 

Oh, but dare I forget to mention...  I picked up a treasure to giveaway, at one of the shops in Tubac.  Yes Indeed.  At a place filled with milagros and beautiful 100+ year old santos...

This milagro filled cross...

  Thanksgiving giveaway

So leave a hello, and I shall drop your name in a hat.  The next time I return (2 days or so), I shall have more little creatures like this to pop in my shop.  There are still a couple of original paper dress girls waiting for a lovely home...

Okay, I must rest (I am a zombie girl)  & then head out to see the new one person swing Mr. Lovee is building for me.  I just can't get up enough speed on the two person swing ;)

See you soon, Huge ♥'s, V

ps:  I watched the most sad touching movie and the most silly ridiculous make me giggle Christmas movie!  I looove the house in Fred Claus in the beginning in the woods!  I want to live there!  And I adore Willy's little abode!!  So cute!!

Paper Dress Girls, Sugar Plum Fairies, Elves and Miniature Enchanted Cypress Groves...

Phew...  I never thought I would be writing this post.  Between creating, photographing & resizing (plus everyday life adventures in between) - a person could fall straight through the rabbit hole into a whirlwind abyss of color and creatures, never to return again... YIKES!

  Group photo Elfin

The good news is, I am here, and Thanksgiving is in a mere two days?  Scrumptious treats and relaxtion, here we come ;)

But first -   A few new originals and little guys to share with you.  I am working really hard to keep my shop stocked this holiday season.  Also, doing it with more than enough time to get you your parcel, if you find one you like ;)

So, here is what I am popping in the shop this afternoon.  Any orders placed Between today and Sunday Will be shipped out Monday, which is Dec. 1st. 

Tea Party Sojourn - 16" x 20" x 1.75" (original)  All paper dresses are made out of vintage dicitonary pages...

  Tea Party Sojourn 2 

       Tea Party Sojourn 1  

       Tea Party Sojourn 3  

       Tea Party Sojourn 4  

Blissful Daydream - 16" x 20" x 1.75" (original)

       Blissful Daydream 4

  Blissful Daydream 3 

       Blissful Daydream 2  

       Blissful Daydream 1  

Fluttering Memories -  16" x 20" x 1.75" (original)

  Fluttering through memories 2 

       Fluttering through memories 1  

       Fluttering through memories 3  

The Siren Finds Her Passion - 11" x 14" x 1.5" (original)

       The Siren Finds Her passion 4  

       The Siren Finds Her passion 3  

       The Siren Finds Her passion 2 

       The Siren Finds Her passion 1

  The Sugar Plum Fairy - 12" x 12" x 1.65" - (original)

  Sugar PLum Fairy 3

       Sugar PLum Fairy 1  

       Sugar PLum Fairy 2  

Little Tree Tale - 24" x 36" x 1.75" (original)

       Little tree tale 6  

  Little tree tale 1  

       Little tree tale 2  

       Little tree tale 3

       Little tree tale 4

We also have some new family members to share from the Enchanted Cypress Grove.  Looks like some Sugar Plum Fairies have found their way.  Mr. Lovee is devasted that they are being put into the shop, hee hee ;)

These little guys are bigger than the elves...

Olive Marguerite McCupboard  

       Olive Maurgerite McCupboard front

       Olive Maurgerite McCupboard side 

       Olive Maurgerite McCupboard back  

Hattie Tea-cake Dalhousie (pronounced, Doll-housie)

       Hattie Teacake Dalhousie front 

       Hattie Teacake Dalhousie Side 

       Hattie Teacake Dalhousie back 

Madeline Tea Biscuit Merry Garden

       Madeline Tea Biscuit Merry Garden Front 

  Madeline Tea Biscuit Merry Garden Side 1 

       Madeline Tea Biscuit Merry Garden Side 2 

Peppermint Tea Time de Forest

       Peppermint Tea Time De Forest

       Peppermint Tea Time De Forest Side  

       Peppermint Tea Time De Forest Back 

As for darling elflings...

We have, Angeline Snowflake Chandelier -

  Angeline Snowflake Chandlier Front  

       Angeline Snowflake Chandlier Back

Arnold Arnoldson Small Fry  

       Arnold Arnoldson Small Fry 1

       Arnold Arnoldson Small Fry 2  

Cornelia Louise Small Stuff

         Cornelia Louise Small Stuff Front 

       Cornelia Louise Small Stuff Back 

Cupcake de la Tea Party Doolittle

       Cupcake de la Tea Party DooLittle Front 

       Cupcake de la Tea Party DooLittle Side  

        Cupcake de la Tea Party DooLittle 

Lulua Heart Tea Treat

       Lulua Heart Tea Treat Front  

       Lulua Heart Tea Treat Back  

Prince Rupert Tree House

       Prince Rupert Tree house Front  

       Prince Rupert Tree house back  

Portugal De Berry

       Portugal De Berry front  

       Portugal De Berry back  

Annnd, a few mini Enchanted Cypress groves...

       Hearts and Birdlings Cypress tress 

       Scalloped Cypress Grove  

       Stripes and Polka Cypress grove  

So, I am headed over to fill the shop with these lil' guys... 

I will be having Thanksgiving with my familia, and enjoying myself to the core.  What will you be up to?  (I will however, be reachable via e-mail)

I hope you have a super duper lovely Thanksgiving!!  We send lots of love from the gang over here at "A Fanciful Twist" ;)

  Elves and Fairies Group Photo HAPPY 

Don't forget your free Thanksgiving place cards right here...  Print, cut, fold, slap a name on there, and voila ;)

Annnnnnnnnd, the name drawn for the SugarPlum Fairy Stocking is...  Allie of "Under the Texan Sun!!!"  Woo hooo!!  Yipppeee! E-mail me your address please!! 

I hope some of you get to make those stockings.  I would LOVE to see pictures and post them for all to admire ;) ;)

Anyhow, I am off for now.  Heading over to fill the shop. 

See you in a few days!!

Waving adios, lot's of ♥'s, V

ps:  I forgot to tell you about this months ago.  You can read an interview I did for Stampington & Co. regarding my dolls on the cover of Art Doll Quarterly in Fall 2008.  I thought I should tell you in case it disappears ;)

I also chatted a bit over at All Things Cupake, a fave place to visit!!  how can you not love it?  It is all about cupcakes ;)

Painting, Painting, Painting....

I am in a dreamscape.  One of my very favorite places to escape to, deep in the depths of my being, in a little world of its own.   Alone, creating...  Music, characters, paint, self, places, experiences and bundles of emotion pouring out at full speed...  Ideas swirling around like magical sparkles, twirling around me... 

       In the studio 1 

Who knows if the paint brush will be able to capture that which I am trying to convey.  But the experience alone (of creating), is adrenaline packed, and what I live for.   

I just wanted to pop in and say, Hey there ;)  And maybe open the little tiny peep hole door in my front door, see your smiling face, and let you peek in, while offering you a parcel of goodies, and saying - New creations to come sooner than soon.  In a day or two (or less)...

       In the studio 2

When I create, I have to disappear a little (and we had a guest).  But, when I realized I had not said hi for many days, I thought it prudent to poke my head in, wave and smile!!

I had to pry myself away from my constant companion...  My trusty, can't live without, Da Vinci Maestro Kolinsky.  When I am really good, I might find a gifted one, left by the Mr. Lovee Fairy ;)  He can be counted on for good art supplies.  And, I need replacement brushes often...

  In the studio 4 

When I am working on an art piece, I can only listen to music.  And it plays non-stop. My poor lil' Ipod ;)  It is so confused packed with 80's and folk and classical and soundtracks and dance and, well, you can imagine...   I bet yours is wacky like that too?  Late at night, I might even get in a dance mood with Hercules and Love Affair.

But, when I paint characters, I like to listen to This American Life or movies.  I listened to 5 episodes last night...  Current fave viewing/listening to flicks are -  Art City (I liked disc 3 the best), Paul Klee: The silence of the angel (the intro music gets me).  I looove Pete Seeger (The power of song), and I have seen Eugene O'Neill (a PBS documentary) 3 times.  Another repeat watch is The Eternal Children.  (If you haven't seen it, you will get to see a bit of Antony Hegarty, CocoRosie, Devendra Banhart & Vashti Bunyan)  I adore part 5.  And, I love repeat.

For some reason, I love watching this little Prada Party with CocoRosie clip too... 

Anyhow, see, get me talking and I lose track... Must get back to work for now...

       In the studio 5 

I'll pick a name out of the hat and announce it in the next post for the stocking...

Before I go, on a random note, my sis (did you see her eyelashes???) and I had quite the laugh the other evening.  I told her I was going to change my middle name.  And I had to come up with another A name, since my middle name starts with an A.  I don't dislike my middle name.  I just thought a change could be amusing...

So, there we are having the most pointless silly conversation...  And I suggested Almond.  She flinched.  

Then I exclaimed, Amaretto!!!  Like it was the best idea in the world.  And she says, umm, more like Amacrazy.  Hee hee!  Then I said Augustia.  And she said, Angustia (which in espanol means, anguish/anxiety/distress).  So, I am at a loss...

Maybe I should leave the topic (and name) alone...  ;) ;)

Can you think of a  favorite or interesting "A"name?

With that question, I am off for now....  See you soon!

♥, V

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