A Fanciful Twist

Somerset Studio + Sharing a long kept secret...

Hi there!  I am sooo happy to be back, I can't even tell you.  I had a wonderful holiday, as I hope you did as well.  I have sooo much to share, such fun treasures and thoughts.  However, I have been waiting to share this little secret for so long that my head might pop off my body.  It has to do with one of my favorite magazines ever, Somerset Studio.

      

In late July of 2007, the paper dress girls were asked if they would like to be featured in an issue of Somerset Studio.  I adore Somerset Studio magazine.  I remember while attending the University of Arizona (which I later graduated from),  other artsy friends and I would pour over the pages between classes, ever so excited & inspired.

In August I shipped off 5 of my creations and did a pretty good job at keeping the whole thing to myself (the girls were slated to be in the January/February 2008 issue).  I was not asked to keep it quiet, but I am superstitious that way. 

Last week I start getting e-mails from blogging friends who had received their subscriptions.  I didn't have a copy, so the wonderful Kristen sent me some scanned photos, Thank You sweet Kristen!!!  Borders finally got their shipment last night, as they were sick of me calling and asking, "Are they there yet?"

      

I am so pleased with the quality of the girls in the magazine.  And I have to say, this issue (as they always are) is pretty spectacular, so I feel extremely blessed to be a part of it. 

      

      

What you will find in this issue (amongst other wonderful things) is the only public copy of the Marie Zine, a collaboration put together by some of our most admired artists.  Details about the Marie Zine, here (scroll up when you get to the link)...  Plus, a wonderful story accompanying the creations of Sally Jean Alexander, also see her blog here.  Some wonderful green treasures from Kristen Robinson, and a ton more.  So, if you can, get a copy, or subscribe!  Somerset Studio/ Stampington and Co. are up to so much goodness, it is wonderfully magical sensory overload!  Served up in the most perfect way!! 

The girls are hanging out, feeling happy...

      

While I am unpacking and making some sense of the mess in my room + Christmas gifts.  Boy, do I have fun tales for you!!!  Oh golly!! But I will save them for the next post.  Let's just say, hours and hours of ghost stories & bunnies & ships makes for a magical holiday season! 

Now, tell me, how are you?  Fill me in!!  xxo,  Vanessa Valencia      

PS:  Canvas prints of the girls in Somerset Studio,  can be found in my Etsy shop, A Fanciful Twist.

Happy Holidays!!

Looks like it is time to say, Happy Holidays!!  Oh, I do sincerely wish you the warmest visits with loved ones!  May you have the most pleasant and dreamy holidays!    I am getting ready to leave for a few days, but not before the Curious playroom has another great party... (click on any image to enlarge)

      

I am just loving creating these dioramas. So much fun, especially making the little creatures and the cakes!!  Next year's major project is renovating my 3 story childhood dollhouse with a hidden attic.  Talk about fun!  I will need your help with this one!  But, the creatures are so excited for their home to be renovated.

For now though, the characters are having a wonderful time!!

      

We put up a new tree and a garland along the fireplace.  Oh, teeny tiny things are so charming and cute.  I just loved making them.  But, be careful, knock one thing over and ten go down like dominoes.

      

It has been such a wonderful year.  So many things have happened.  The thing I love the most is being able to share creative fun right here at "A Fanciful Twist." 

We adore the 3 DuBuhDu sisters (I adopted them into our little family this year).  They would like to share some holiday fun with you also...

They went into the enchanted woods in search of St. Nicolas today.  Through the gnome village they travelled, in their snow sleigh.

      

There he was, such kindness exuding.  The girls were delighted to visit with him. 

      

The gnome village is such a wonderful place to visit, filled with magic and happiness.  The littlest guy is inviting you in for that famous shroom-nog. Care to taste??

      

The sun is starting to go down, so all of us would like to sing you a few Christmas carols...

      

It sure is chilly with all the snow ;).  We hope you will join in the Christmas caroling with us.  We can't wait to see you in the new year!  So many exciting things to come, we can hardly contain ourselves!!

      

As soon as I get back I will share some new paper dress girls in my shop.  I am also going to share some little elves and other woodland creatures, even mushrooms!  For now, delve into a Sea of your very own Dreams...

      

Don't forget to get your last minute gift tags in the post right below this one.  May your Christmas be filled with light and love...(revisiting the Christmas spirit)

      

I am going out of town to spend Christmas with my family!!  See you soon!!!

A Little Gift for You

I bet you all are scurrying around getting ready for the big day.  Can it really be this time of the year already?  It seems so far away all year and then rushes towards me in the end...

That said, I am sorry this wee gift is coming to you so late.  I thought it was a great idea when I saw others sharing such treats.  So, I made some especially for you.  What are they?  Why, free funny little gift tags!  They look like this...

        

All you have to do to open a printable PDF version is to click HERE.

I printed some of my own from the PDF file to make sure they worked.  Starting from left to right, I used fancy card stock, regular card stock and plain old paper.   So, as you can see, they will be cute whether you have time to get some card stock or not.

      

Punch a hole in a corner, add twine or butchers string or ribbon, and voila.  Or you can just stick them on to your package with tape.  I cut some of mine out with wavy scissors... 

      

I am sorry I was so slow in getting you these free Happy Holiday tags!!!  I hope you can still use them!!

      

I will be back once more before I go out of town for the holidays!!  See you soon!!  I am under piles of craziness! How about you??

I braved the real world {during holiday insanity}...

Why is the real world so overwhelming?  People are so bizarre in the shops and in their driving skills.  We are lucky that I am here right now with the traffic jams I faced today.  I could still be sitting at some red light.  Why did I brave the big bad world?  I'll tell ya why, I had a realization that Christmas is (choke, gasp, freak out) 5 days away?  Is this correct?  No No, come on, really?? 

I am not ready.  I just am not.  Period.  I was going to make all my gifts.  YIKES!!!!!!!!!!!  I know, I was all into the spirit before we even had turkey.  But time slipped away from me.  Is this what they mean about time going by really fast as you age????  All my feelings aside, I had to get with it, so I hit the shops and really spent more on crafting stuff, than I would have spent on real gifts.  My floor looks like this...

      

Am I insane?  Am I really going to accomplish this in two days?  I have to get ready to travel out of town.  It is only a few hours away, but still, it is away...  Packing and making and and and.  I feel like Faun Boy.  Only I neeeeeed Shroom-NOG!  I can do it, breathe, think positive! I can I can!

Okay, you know what, I am not even going to think about it... I am going to get cozy... And, perhaps come up with a new gift plan...  I need to disconnect from the real and get back into the fairytale... I think I should visit my little friends...

      

Hi little creatures, what are you up to... Oh they are having sooo much fun!!  Wait until a few days, when they show you what they are doing!!!

      

I am feeling soooo much better now!  You know what else I think I need to do...  Put on some tea, find a book...  YES!  Let's escape!

      

Hmmmm, okay, this one, oh wait, did you say this one?

      

Okay got it!!!  Yay, just my favorite thing to do!  Oh wait, all these calm vibes you are sending me, seem to have made me remember some cozy head gear I made last winter!  Could I gift them, now where to find them? Oh yes!!! Brilliant idea!!!

Hmmm, this one doesn't feel half bad... All that hard work.. Maybe...

      

Maybe I should just keep it??  I kinda like it...  Oh no, back to square one...  What, you don't think I should keep it?  Okay okay, I'll gift it...

      

Well, I think I deserve some tea now... As this blog post is getting a little weird. Don'tcha think?

      

Shhh, don't tell anyone about the hidden sugared Ginger...

      

Oh and, I picked up some fun things for my dollhouse renovation that is underway... Ooo, it could be good if it all works out...  Keep your fingers crossed!  Now, I must say, it is sooo gooooood to be home!!!!  Ahhhhh, now this is bliss...

      

I will be back with big fun before I go in a couple of days!  Oh and, I decided that I will hold off for my shop update.  I don't think there is a major rush right?  I have 6 pieces ready...  But, I think everything is too hectic right now to inundate you with a shop update... See you real real soooon!! (to answer a question, I don't wear fake eyelashes, but I do wear lots of Voluminous black mascara by L'oreal, it is good stuff!)

When the girl is away the Elfin will play...

I got back from my voyage, crept in ever so quietly, trying not to make any noise with the keys to the secret keyhole...

      

I knew something was up.  I saw a trail of glitter, not wider than a quarter of an inch. It started at the doorstep, and continued through my room.  Of course, just as I suspected, it led me straight to the curious playroom...

It seems we have some new members in our family, in the form of elves.  Although, I don't think they had a hard time convincing the others, they may have been responsible for a Christmas bash.  I peek in and what is the first sign of havoc?  Little Jeremy on a mushroom, partying. Yes, I know, out of control.  Then two new faces...  The elves... Oh, don't let their innocent faces fool you...

      

I get closer and notice the whole gang.  Oh, they have toys and treats.  They even put up a Christmas tree.  I guess Auntie Louie sent them a Mark Ryden Christmas card, that got them so excited, they threw a party.. OH Auntie, did they clear it with you? 

You can imagine what fun they had without me harping about using too many sparkles or being to loud... Where on earth did they find that tree???

      

You know, it is not that I don't want them to have any fun...  It is just that something can always go wrong.  And the fact of the matter is that, well, noone else can hear them but me, so how ever will they call for any help?  Wouldn't ya know it, all of a sudden Faun Boy starts to get all fuzzy...

      

And, down he goes.  As I always tell them, someone always ends up getting hurt in the end...  Looks like there was a bit too much shroom nog served.  Thank goodness I turned up just as they were all huddled around Faun Boy, not knowing what to do...

      

A glass of water and he was just fine, don't worry about him too much... I think I'll let them party til they all drop...

It is sooo good to be home.  But, I am sooooo behind, I feel like my head is going to explode.  I have so much to do.  My goodness... Whirlwind world...

Treats for my shop update are almost ready.  I know, I am later than I wanted to be...  Oh, but these new pieces are dear to my heart. 

As for my voyage...  Thank you for all your wonderful wishes for my friend Carolyn.  It was a long drive back home after her 5 hour surgery.  She was so sick from the anesthesia.  The drive from the other side of town was crazy long.  We got every red light.  She had to start her face down ritual right after we left the hospital.  So, she ended up huddled on the floor of my car, behind the passenger seat. Sick and miserable. It was a rough night.  The next day we awoke beyond early to head back out to the other side of town for the morning after visit.  She can not see with the eye, but vision should return in 8 weeks.  She looks like she was in a boxing match and lost.  But, she is such an amazing sport, black eye and all.  There are so many visitors and so much love.  I have so much more to share on that front that is just astounding.  It has to do with how some of you touched her so profoundly!  Much more sharing to come...

I took this photo in her secret garden...  As a thank you for all of your kindness... 

      

Now, off to make some sense of my crazy world.  Anyone want to come help me clean up the Elf-fest mess??  See you sooooon!!

The Happiest girl this side of the Mississippi, plus a small voyage...

If I were on a stage (which I mostly wish I was, of course with Fergie's body and Whitney Houston's lungs circa 1989)  then I would sing you the most loveliest song in the most difficult key.  Even now, while typing, my lips get all quivery.  You see, it was one year ago almost to the date, that I started this little blog.  I would wish, just wish that maybe I would get one comment.  That someone would read my blog... 

You can imagine how I feel with all that birthday love.  I feel like a wee creature, looking up at all of you, with a giant tear filling half of my eye, like a cartoon character...  I am touched beyond words.  I am so delighted you popped into my virtual birthday bash... (below, Marie Stillman, Messner Ansaldo showing madonna Dianova his enchanted garden, 1889)

      

Not only did you pop in, but your frolicked and played.  This is just the kinda world I love!  A place where we are free to be silly in every way! (below: Thomas Webster, Sickness and Health, detail of pl. 207)

      

If anyone ever appreciated the blog love, I guarantee you, my appreciation is beyond that.  I love getting to know so many of you.  I love everything that I can share and learn and be a part of through "A Fanciful Twist."  So, thank you, thank you for sharing in the fun,  and truly for creating so much of this.  Sometimes this little art world is really lonely, and strange. Tucked away in a room painting & creating into the wee hours of the night... 

Then, I come to this little world, and this is what I feel like happens....All of us visiting and carrying on... Our special place within the blogosphere... Sharing all we can... (Below: Richard Doyle, The Fairy Tree, c.1865)

      

I am also so very touched at the love you sent for my friend who just lost her son and is now having an eye surgery.  That surgery is tomorrow.  So, I will be taking a wee voyage...(below: John William Waterhouse, The Lady of Shalott, 1888)

      

Off I will go, with my little over-night bag, to stay a couple of days and take care of my dear friend.  I will be with her the first few days, then other friends will stop in to look after her...  As I said, she lives alone, so it is imperative I be there for her.  And she has to be in that awful head contraption, face down for an increasing total of 14 days(22 hours a day, what??), EEK!  I hope I can be useful... (below:  Louise Jopling, Blue and White, 1896)

      

I am a tad bit apprehensive, as I like to be prepared and I don't think you can be totally prepared for things like this...  But, I will sit with her, make sure she is well, make her some tea... Make myself useful.  Tomorrow, I will take her to the hospital... 5 hours there they predict... Then the next morning 7a.m. (yikes, gulp, yikes) on the other side of town for a post-op appointment.  Oh goodness...  I hope it all goes well...

The good news... I will have internet there!  So, while she sleeps, I can peek in.  Or, perhaps I will be too busy.. Either way... Any shop orders placed on Dec. 13th & 14th, will make there way to the P.O. on Saturday the 15th of December... So, I am sure not to fall behind.  Also, art pieces for the shop update are coming along... I have been working on several...  I am hoping to update the shop by Monday... Hoping being the operative word... Here is a sneak peek at a piece that is in its early stages...

      

The exquisitely talented doll maker, Christine LeFever has tagged me for 5 random things.  I always forget to do these, however, this time, I have not.  So here I go... Short and... (oh, not so short afterall)  read on if you'd like, then I have to say Adieu for now, and see you soon!!! 

A Very Merry Little Birthday...

I know, I have no shame.   I love my birthday.  I don't really care what age I am turning, just as long as I am alive, I can wear silly shoes, outrageous jewels if I want, out of control hair...  But most of all, I get to create and paint and to top it all off, I get to share it all here with you! 

For the past 3 nights I have been going to bed hours after midnight.  Why you ask?  Well, I have had some little visitors fluttering about in my imaginary world and had to bring them to life...  It all started with the need for thumbelina sized girls. 4 girls, sisters...  I made them, they are not that cute as I had hoped, but I love them all the same...  I was not very good at making their clothes, but that is okay, I still love them...

      

They were happy to be posing for a photo...

      

What they didn't know was that a birthday party for me was underway deep in the forest with wonderful woodland creatures...  I took out my polymer clay that I had had for 8 years and not used, which surprisingly was in perfect condition.  I made a bunny boy, a faun of sorts, cakes, a bowl of ice-cream, little plates, tree stumps, mushrooms and a tree.  I was out in the cold and watery dark weather early today searching for branches for my little tree...

      

Oh, you can imagine the magic unfolding at this little fest (I know I have gone as mad as a hatter)...  The little creatures were minding their own business, when two of the little fanciful girls turned up... Cornelia in blue and her sister in pink polka dots, (named by Mr. Lovee) Heidi-Marie ( I know, the man is full of surprises).

      

Oh, what a joyous birthday party!!!  Would you like ice-cream with your cake?

      

We almost forgot to sing Happy Birthday!!!  Okay, here we go, with my two layered angel food cake, decked out in strawberries soaked in my favorite Bon Maman raspberry jam! Oh yummmmmmm!

      

And what do we see to the right?  Why, it is a marvelous gift from Miss JOY!!  I don't think she even knew it was my birthday today and that I would receive it today!  Haaaa, Wonderful!!!  I love that little match set, with clowns and dancing people all around.  I lit my candle with one of the matches.. And all of these little sparks like tiny fireworks danced about... Thank you Joy!!

Mr. Lovee gave me my gift at midnight...  It is the most wonderful lock, and it works!!  Yay! (more to come) Looks like he was in my studio borrowing some tissue paper.. hee hee

      

Then a surprise giveaway came my way, oh swoon, from the Mosaic Queen herself!!!  Incredible! Thank you!!!!

      

And then, there are the gifts for me from me.  Actually, they are gifts kind of from my parents because they entrusted some lovely green stuff with the banker to be telegramed my way! yay, they just could not figure out what to get me... SO, Voila, I get to get my own wonderful treasures!!

My favorite doll right now.  I remember my grandmother or someone having one when I was little.. Well, now I have my own... A 3 in 1 fairy tale doll.  First she is "Little Red Riding Hood..."

      

Flip her inside out in one swift move, and she becomes the grandmother!! Oh fun!!

      

Flip grandmother's bonnet over her face, and turn around, VOILA, the WOLF!!!! Oh, this makes me smile ear to ear!!

      

I got my Little Red Riding Hood flip doll for quite a reasonable price at Miles Kimball.  But, I do have to say, it took 3 weeks to get here and my online order was never confirmed and they were rough with me on the phone...  So I called back just a few days ago, finally got a sweet girl, and was told the items would be here soon... Then Last night, on the doorstep they were...(Guess what, I was getting you the link when I noticed the price of the doll is gasp, cut ALOT to $4.99, OH GOODNESS!!! Shop HERE!

Then of course, it would not be a party without a visit to the NPR shop!  Look at these treats for me!! I can't wait to listen!!

      

Then of course, good thrift ventures on your birthday are wonderful...

      

I have to say, the best part of my birthday is the fact that I feel ageless...  Some of my best friends look incredible are artists and are soo totally interesting and they are 64 and 72.  They are hip and fabulous women...  I really don't understand when we got hung up on age?  It really is only a number.  Our bodies and faces might change, but, we can exude our youthful selves through that.  I know a woman named Penny from pottery, whose 9 year old self peeks out while she talks to you...  It is incredible.  Age is one thing I will never worry about.  People say, oh ya, thirty was really hard for you wasn't it?  And I think, where did they get that? Thirty was marvelous.  So, I woke up today at 32 to a wonderful rainy day, with SNOW falling in the mountains.  It is gloomy and perfectly wonderful.  I LOVE this weather!!!  What more could a girl ask for?

The huge mountains are not visible at all...

      

On another note, I was not going to put up a christmas tree at Mr. Lovee's and my country pad because I have my own Christmas Branch that is up all of the time here...  However, I decided to not throw away all the little less than fave ornaments I have and the fake little tree that is older than old...  Normally we buy a real little tree and then plant it.. But, I had this one in one of our storage rooms...  I thought, I am going to put up a pittiful little tree...  But it turned out okay, and I used some pinecones EB sent me!  They made the tree soo happy!! 

The colors go perfectly with Mr. Lovee's guatemalan textiles and pre-columbian sculptures.. And although, he is a menorah guy, he embraced his very own Chrismtas tree quite warmly...  It feels so good to put up a perfectly delightful Christmas Tree from items that I was ready to throw out.  Is that weird?

      

So there you have it.. My Neverending, Birthday blog post!!! 

      

Thank you for helping me celebrate!! It was hard to write this blog post with a bad internet condition due to the weather!! Sorry I was soo late!!!! xxo

ps:  I have several new paintings almost ready... I wanted to share them today, but my plate is a little full... Next time I hope! 

pss:  Thank you Miss DubuhDu Designs for such doll making inspiration!!  I had not made any dolls for 8 years... You must look at her dolls, I have 5!!  And I need more!!

Little Tradition Cups Runneth Over...

This is the perfect time of year to stop, reflect, and think about traditions.  Not only are traditions prevalent in my world, but there are also cultural traditions that are embedded in the world I grew up in.  Jill at Follow your Bliss is having a Celebration of Traditions today, so I thought I would join her and share a bit about traditions that are still alive within my family...(bunuelos below)

           

I have to say, some things never change.  You see, my three siblings and I are not married people (and have never been married).  I am the oldest, then there is my sister Kristen, and then my brother Adam.  We have a mother and a father who have been married longer than each of them care to remember, hee hee.  Of course, none of us live at home anymore, but, we all hop in our cars and drive to our parents home, for the holidays.  It is so wonderful and quite funny how when we get to our parents home, it is almost like we never left.  WE all have our rooms there, we all play and carry on. 

      

My dad plays his Christmas music.  Bing Crosby always, and on repeat.

I think I could sing you melikalikimaka backwards.  Anyhow, the traditions are a plenty, but there is one that has been excatly the same our whole lives...  Santa always visits us & leaves our gifts while we sleep.  ALWAYS.  I used to be the one to wake up first and wake up my brother and sister.  But, last year, the munchkin boy woke up first, which woke up this munchkin girl, we grabbed our munchkin sister and to the living room we tiptoed at 5:30 a.m. 

      

On Christmas eve we always have an outrageous formal dinner in my mom's dining room after mass.  Mass is in the most amazing Catholic church in the village I grew up in.  It is quaint and majestic all at once.  Sometimes my mom's youngest sister & her husband, come over with their children for dinner.  The town lights from my parents house are marvelous.  Way in the distance, the lights you see are in Mexico...

      

On Christmas morning when we wake up, there are gifts cookies candies! But best of all, candied ham, scalloped potatoes, rolls and such are left over from the dinner before.  The whole thing is a deja vu moment over and over every year. I love it!!

      

I am in the country right now, so I don't have all my pictures of us as kids with me...  I will share a few someday...  Needless to say, we have the same Christmas day that we had as children.  I think that highly influences our creative sides.  We all have a love of magical and childlike things.  But it is mainly because our childlike selves have never been squashed.  As a matter of fact, that side of us is constantly nurtured...  A blessing in itself...

      

After we open all of our gifts we sit around eating and talking.  Drinking coffee...  Exchanging gifts Santa did not bring...  Last, we get dressed and go to my Grandma and Grandpa's house (mom's parents).  Where we have been having the same Christmas there every year since birth.  There is  Menudo and Tamales abound.  My grandmother Josephina (people call her Pini), makes her own Menudo and Tamales.  She is so chic yet will do anything in the name of making her traditional food.  There will also be a huge pot of amazing beans on this stove she cooks on...

      

She has a regular stove and such, but she prefers this stove.  I will always remember her, putting on her mit, to lift the wood trap with her special cast iron tool, slowly putting in pieces of wood from a pile my grandfather had made for her...  Through that little white oven door you will always find mexican buttered breads, ready for dunking in your menudo, or for slathering with beans...

Oh, and as you can imagine, my mom has been in her studio creating away, and I hear the tree is red red red this year!!!  (Photos of tree above are from last year)  She has a fun crazy studio!  I guess you know where the love of creating comes from now... 

She says she has been decorating for a whole week non stop!  I can't wait to see it!!!  I will make sure to take many more photos this year to share!!! ;)

      

That is the tip of the iceberg of the Holiday tradtions in this family...  The kids from yesterday might be grown up, but they still play.  Blissful holiday tradtions make us all so content...  I hope the children in our family today, have as many memories to bottle up as I did...  From the looks of it below, they will.... (don't worry, it is the gift opening that has her exhausted, she was not sampling the wine, I hope!!!)

      

PS: Party here on Tuedsay December 11th.  My Birthday!  Bring a cake, bring glitter, bring streamers, but by golly, bring yourself!!  Help me celebrate!! 32 years!

Miniature Cardboard Houses Make me Happy!

I had to come back and share some sparkly fun with you all!!!  I was asked recently to be a part of a week of creative inspiration over at Melissa Michael's amazing blog, The Inspired Room.  It just so happened I had been making a little treat for myself that led me to what I would share. Melissa just posted this, so you can read the full story at her place.  It had to do with a longing I woke up with one day last week. 

      

I wanted so much to be able to go to a real toy store.  A store with handmade toys and treasures.  Real puppets and such... However, some lovely vintage cardboard houses, found locked away in an antique stores glass case were just the inspiration I needed to conjure up my own little house... read full story here...

In the studio I went to create...

      

I ended up with a cute, made by me, creation!!!  I even made my own little gnome girl, so much fun!!

      

I can't wait to make another one!  How can glitter make me soo very very happy???

       

My holiday mood is becoming reinvigorated!!!  Let me know if you make one!  Maybe if several of you make one, we can have a tour of gnome homes right here at A Fanciful Twist!!  That would be a blast!! See you very soon!!

To Joyce's we go...

So, when things are all gremlined out, there comes a point when the little girl or boy living in your heightened imagination goes, "How long are you going to put me through this?  I want to play, I want to paint, I am sick of you and your whining & crying, let me out of this cage you evil witch!"

       

You sit back and think, that little munchkin is right.  I need to break free.  But how?  I decided to muddle through things the best that I could. For the first time, ever so slowly.  I am so used to jumping into issues, all aggressively, forging through it like the man my dad taught me I could be (whenever a man wanted to creep out of the body of a 5' 2" girl with long hair).  However, as one of the March sisters would say, " I am exhaustified of being the boy..."  I am way too tired of fighting big companies.  After a long two days of working on everything, we decided to simply get a new lense for my camera, and that fixed the main problem.  Then, HP came through (after 6 months of torture with this printer) and they are sending a new printer!  YAY!

So, as they say, there is a light at the end of the tunnel.  And, although I truly wanted to cozy in my bed and watch Pride and Prejudice on repeat...  I got a call from my talented artiste friend Joyce Anderson.  Maker of this wonderful creation! Which I own, purchased at a show...

      

She was calling to invite us over for dinner at her and Tom's home.  Why of course, I sluffed off the stay at home mood...  And, I even decided to bring, drumbroll, a Chocoflan!

What is this strange concoction you ask?  Why, it is a flan and a chocolate cake, all rolled into one...  So, the day started with some baking and salad making.  Joyce knew I would bring the salad...  But not the chocoflan, that was a surprise!  My recipe for chocoflan is written on the most hard to read nastiest piece of paper ever.  If you are interested in it, I will perfect the measurements and share it...

It is the strangest way to make a cake...

      

The basic idea is you are going to have your flan (mexican custard)  and your chocolate cake all in one...  Only this is flan made from scratch, not from a box...

      

You mix your ingredients seperately and you throw them all into one really hard to find pan.  This one my mom got in Mexico... We can't seem to find this size again (5 year search).  We might have to special order?  This recipe is specific to this size...

Anyhow, you then drizzle your flan syrup into the pan, then you pour in the cream liquids and then you pour in the cake over that!  Can you believe it, it always floors me!!

      

      

You place the cake pan in a large pan of water, cover with foil, and cook for almost 2 hours...  And what you get.... The cake and flan separates in the cooking process.  Once cooled and flipped, you get a flan on top of devil's food, chocolate cake.  It is not ultra sweet, which is what I love... 

      

The next step is to take the cake to Joyce's.  Off we went, in the rain to visit our lovely friend.  Stepping into Joyce's house is like visiting somewhere far away...  It is warm and fresh, all at once...  It is chic and cozy as well.  But the best part, it is filled with art.  She is a potter, who works in high fire clays.  She loves to raku and is quite the master rakuer.  I met her through the Tucson Museum of art, she has been a potter there for many many years.  Myself, about 6 years...

Joyce's creations are all over her home, in beautiful vignettes.  Her husband, Thomas Prinster (who has many other prestigious titles) does photography and some of his work is around the home as well.  Really incredible photos.  So, I thought you might like to peek in with me??? 

      

One of the things I love about potters is that, their serving bowls and plates are all this wonderful stoneware.  You eat off of art, you sip out of art... It is just astounding really.  Joyce takes this to another level though.  Her serving trays, her plates, all of it, are made by her.  And every piece is more exquisite than the next...

      

      

While dinner was having its finishing touches and Joyce was getting ready to serve the main course, with the most incredible vegetables I have ever seen...

      

I asked if it would be okay, and not toooo obnoxious of me, to take some photos to share with you.  I swear, I feel like people are going to frisk me and make sure I don't have my camera, before I enter their homes.  I asked them very honestly if they would mind terribly.  They adamantly expressed that they did not mind at all... Thank you Joyce and Tom!!!  Look at Joyce's torso and vessels!  Amazing!

      

This is one of Tom's pieces...  It is so enchanting... It is a nude of Joyce in the woods.

        

This piece below was one I fell in love with.  The story behind it is that, Joyce's father had started the painting.  He passed away, so one of Joyce's daughters finished the painting and gave it to Joyce as a gift...  It has the most tear jerking words written on the back from Joyce's daughter.

      

It was time to endulge, but in the hoopla and excitement of it all, I forgot to photograph the main course...

      

For dessert Joyce made the most daintily delicious pears.  They tasted so interesting, like a rare dessert you only get to have once in a lifetime.  Pears in a custard and chocolate sauce... But they were light and fragrant and fresh. There was this flavor, almost like a slighty perfumey liqueur that was ever so delightful...

      

Then the chocoflan...

      

We were all so full at the end... 

      

We laughed, we chatted, it was all too fun.  Sadly it was time to go home...

I am sitting here writing this blog post thinking about all of the ups and downs of the last week.  And, now everything is okay.  There is a calm.  I have to thank Mr. Lovee for his profound kindess to me...  I was outside and it was drizzling the other day, and I saw these two quail, run from the rain and hide under my car, I watched them.  As soon as they got under my car, they squished up to eachother for a brief moment, before they were on their way...  It melted my heart...

      

I am one happy little quail today...  I have to also thank all of you, ever so heart felt thanks, for being a part of this funny little blog, and thank you for venting at Nana's with me in the last post.  I really really needed that!!!!  It was wonderful! xoxoxo