There is something softer in the air these days. If you didn't know better, you would think it was spring. My nook in Arizona feels like spring (to me), through October. My flowers are blooming profusely, and I make my way outdoors before the sun comes up, to collect tomatoes (we still have many growing), and chilies, and bell peppers. I then water and trim everyone. A whole new batch of pumpkins are also growing. But as the warm days fade, evening tells the tale of an autumnal visitor. A handful of orange leaves appear on the peach tree. And so, the season finds its way...
I love harvest golds, and oranges, and browns, and moss greens. All the colors of the earth. The shade of rich soil and cloudy evenings, mixed with bursting flames. From persimmon to mandarin, and everywhere in between. You can almost smell the colors...
A couple of weeks ago I painted one of my white dressing tables chocolate brown. I took a paint palette and plunked orange and brown and black and yellow acrylic paint on it, mixed it all up, and slathered....
I love the change. The richness in the dark shade.
It reminds me of places I have never been. Other times, journeys. I suppose, listening to Jean-Yves Thibaudet whilst painting, does allow the imagination to flow. Mmmmm, Stars and Butterflies....
His music coaxes me into gently lighting a candle, and admiring ever step of such act...
I stole a couple of pumpkins from my harvest collection of things I grew this summer. A scattering of orange globes. Of tiny curiously striped globes...
Can you steal something from yourself? Hmm, not certain ;)
I love sealing little splendorous objects under a cloche/bell jar. It tells a story of sorts...
Under the glistening glass.
We wonder why?
Why is that object so special that it sits under glass?
And then, a story grows in our imagination...
Earth's adornments.
A pumpkin for the soil, a shoe clip for the girl.
A brooch from a trunk of inherited treasures?
Found in a mansion. Fog, lanterns....
Stories.
Fictional, true, who cares I say? Either way, they keep the mind twirling in curiosity. Fantastical pleasures of tales and places. All created by gathering a couple of baubles and placing them on your old dressing table. Pretty nifty, I'd say ;)
A spider to warn of the looming season of magic... (thank you Linda Diane, we still love him so!)
There is something about loving your space, no matter how grand or how tiny. Dressing it up, and taking a moment to enjoy it. A little nook to fill the soul with glee.
Warm shades, sprinkled with delicious color...
I think I am loving my chocolate brown dressing table. A nice change indeed.
I thought this photo below was so pretty, until I saw the face. And now, the candles will always be eyes, and the wee pumpkin a nose, and the edge of the dressing table a mouth. Once I see a face in something, there is no turning back. The face lives there forever. Does that happen to you? Faces in wood grain, faces all around you?
Autumnal faces guide the way, into fresh adventures...
Following the path into autumn. Slowly, but undoubtedly...
Last night I baked old fashioned peanut butter cookies, and today it has been pure clouds and breeze. Such a treat. Beautiful. These are the most beautiful days to dream.......
I am so looking forward to our Halloween Party, aren't you? I simply can not wait. It is always such a super fun way to kick off a week+ of Halloween madness!
I have been collecting so many seeds for next year's planting. Bulbs have arrived. The dahlia tubers that gifted the dinner-plate sized flowers in the photos above are from White Flower Farm. The zinnias in the garden are beyond amazing. Gifting so much each day. And, they are every where. In every flower bed, in every pot, standing tall. How can I ever thank them?
The roses too, so scrumptious. I planted 8 new rose bushes this year (plus about 30 other plants). We have those 35+ year old rose bushes that are beyond grand (plus a few I planted years ago), but I wanted to add some. They bewitch me at the store, and all of a sudden I turn into the crazy rose lady ;)
It is something extra to look forward to for spring. My wildflower seeds for planting in fall have arrived as well. So exciting!
Can I share a secret with you, I never planned on having zinnias. I bought two large packages, one of the large type and one of the lilliput zinnias. I had in fact, spent a small fortune on all sorts of interesting seeds, that never grew. I just planted zinnias everywhere on a whim, with my own seed mixture I concocted from ordered seeds. Who knew? I now vow to always plant zinnia seeds.
It truly is a sort of spring and fall going on here.
Well, off I go. Have to check on my boys. All 3.
Love, V
ps: I have no news of my friend's Coco girl, she is still missing. But, I will share as soon as I get word either way. If she is found I will let you know right away. Thank you so much for your lovely hopeful thoughts ♥
pss: If you noticed some funny things going on here today with my banner and such, it was because I was using some custom html gibberish to make it possible to share larger photos with you ;)
Your dressing table came out lovely. It looks so rich and old and stately. Plus, it goes nicely with the change of seasons.
If(when) I ever have a garden again, I plan to fully embrace the zinnia. Yours are so beautiful, and I'm inspired to try growing some of my own.
You mentioned peanut butter cookies so casually, but now I have a huge craving for them...
Posted by: Lisa | September 30, 2011 at 03:49 PM
Ooouuu I love the chocolate brown dressing table! It looks like it's from an Edwardian manor house. Your baby pumpkins are precious, I have always wanted to grow pumpkins. I feel like there is just something delightfully whimsical about stepping into your garden surrounded by thriving pumpkins of all shapes and sizes. I would feel like such a magical person. Like Cinderella, or Hagrid in Harry Potter. Not that I'd want to feel like Hagrid but you catch my drift. His wee hut is DELIGHTFUL.
Posted by: Jenn | September 30, 2011 at 03:53 PM
Flowers and change can make life magical! Your chocolate brown dresser looks lovely and adorned with such colorful autumn treasures! Ohh Yes, there is just something about a smiling face that one cannot deny!
I am wishing for some cooler weather here in Phoenix to make me want to dance with the falling leaves! Every day is a blessing and so I am off to Michaels craft store to purchase some decorative paper to make some Halloween pin wheels and maybe some masks.
Enjoy the weekend Vanessa Dearest and hug’s for the Boys!
Posted by: Kelly | September 30, 2011 at 04:20 PM
Oh, I wondered if Mr. Thelonius Holmes III, gentleman spider extraordinaire, just might make an appearance here again this year. I thought I spotted him in your last post, and I was happity!
Your chocolate brown dresser is richly beautiful, Vanessa! It's so fun to change things up. I love all your autumn decor with the gorgeous zinnias and pumpkins. And I do enjoy that fun face. Now that you have noticed that the edge of the dressing table suggests a mouth, you just may have to create various and sundry new faces with the changing of the seasons. It can be your special challenge. ; )
Posted by: Linda Diane | September 30, 2011 at 05:29 PM
Everywhere I go on blogs, I'm just seeing these GORGEOUS fall flowers! Yours is lovely as ALWAYS!
Posted by: rebekka | September 30, 2011 at 06:41 PM
Wonderful post, Missy V. Wonderful!
Posted by: Jackie aka the poop lady | September 30, 2011 at 09:03 PM
The dressing table's new colour is gorgeous! Nice change...
Posted by: Roselie | October 01, 2011 at 02:19 AM
Oh, Vanessa! Gorgeous flowers, magical words, autumn coziness. Your dressing table is gorgeous! I must try dahlias. I can't get my mind off of Coco. Please keep us posted. I hope that sweetheart is okay!
Posted by: Melanie | October 01, 2011 at 05:39 AM
Vanessa, your photos are always so beautiful and magical! I've wanted to plant flowers for so long...you really inspire me! Also, the face. I am so glad you said that - I see faces in EVERYTHING - my shower curtain (not the liner - if I saw faces there then it is probably time for a new liner! lol), the patterns of rag-rolled paint on one of our walls, the wood grain in our wood floor, everywhere. I thought maybe I was just odd. Maybe I am, but at least I'm not alone! teehee!
Also, your dresser turned out beautiful! I have a few pieces of furniture I've been thinking of changing the energy of by repainting in some delicious color! Have a great weekend!
Posted by: Donna | October 01, 2011 at 12:25 PM
Makes me feel better to know that other people see faces too :)
Lisa
Posted by: lisa skiles | October 01, 2011 at 01:54 PM
I love how you have the nerve to just do something crazy and paint your dressing table a completely different color than what you're used to! I would spend hours debating and hesitatntly begin, so I admire your courage!
Your pictures are lovely (as usual) and I too am getting into the mood of Halloween and autumn! Can't wait to pull out the sweatshirts!
Hugs and hexes,
Jessica
A Woodland Fantasy
Posted by: Jessica | October 01, 2011 at 04:32 PM
Always a treat to come here to visit....to sip and chat and take in all the beauty that is your fanciful world!
Posted by: Cameron | October 01, 2011 at 07:10 PM
Thanks sweetie! I am always so inspired after I come here! :)
I need some pumpkins and fairy dust!!!
Posted by: Lucinda Keller | October 01, 2011 at 07:27 PM
Magical post, and a magical dressing table adorned for fall! Just gorgeous! The dressing table looks so dramatic dressed in it's fall colors! How fun was that!
I too see faces, and you are right, once you see them they never return whence they came : )
Hugs,
Terri
Posted by: Artful Affirmations | October 02, 2011 at 07:22 AM
It was very nice to see your pictures today, mainly because I needed to see the beautiful colors. I love fall, but I absolutely dread winter. Winter is now in sight. Your pictures are a reminder to enjoy the colors of fall while they are here, for they are indeed rich and beautiful. But I have to confess. As much as I want to, I simply do not like spiders. Not even your beautiful spider under the glass. They simply give me the heevie geevies!
Posted by: William Charlebois | October 02, 2011 at 07:33 PM
Iove the chocolate brown dressing table! Love the pumpkins! You have such a knack fir making the Internet a warm and cosy nook. :-) xxxooo!!!!
Posted by: Gilly Bean | October 02, 2011 at 08:12 PM
Lisa, the peanut butter cookies were AWESOME!! I ate so many I should
be ashamed!!
Oh please do plant zinnias. They really are wonderful, and just when
I ht ought last week, that I had more flowers than I could imagine, I awaken to
triple to amount. They were resilient in the insane hot summer, and now
will last until frost. So, that means much more time with them. I so
recommend them.
Zinnia Giants Mixed and Zinnia Lilliput are my faves. You can get a
huge package at home depot of each.
Posted by: A Fanciful Twist | October 03, 2011 at 10:21 AM
Lovely Kelly, I am so trying to be better at change. I am not a
creature of much change. I like things the way I like them.
Including where I keep my toothbrush etc ;) But, I am finding, change is
good, especially when you know you can change it back anytime. Makes it so
much easier for someone like me ;)
Your Halloween pinwheel making sounds
scrumptious!!!
Posted by: A Fanciful Twist | October 03, 2011 at 10:24 AM
Donna, you are so funny!! Faces, not in the liner ;)
hahaa!
I have faces in my ceiling too!! Oh, we are mad ;)
Posted by: A Fanciful Twist | October 03, 2011 at 10:25 AM
Miss Linda Diane, life would now be incomplete without Mr. Thelonius Holmes
III We LOVE HIM! Thank you infinity, for sending him to us
;)
Posted by: A Fanciful Twist | October 03, 2011 at 10:26 AM
I lovelovelove the chocolate brown you painted that dresser! It was meant to be brown. ^-^
I see faces on tree trunks... sometimes more than one! I love to look at plants of all kinds & see what might be peering back at me. <3
Your posts about gathering seeds for next year have got me gathering seeds from all my flowers... One of my favorite things to do now is while I'm out around town, I gather seeds from all different kinds of dried up flowers... I'm going to plant them in the Spring & see what I get. I'm so excited, I could pop. =D
Just one more thing I love about not having a car anymore. I get to collect mystery seeds as I walk! ^-^
XOXO
Posted by: Annalee | October 03, 2011 at 10:31 AM
The gold trim is what makes the dresser POP in my opinion. What a lovely vision you had for it. Just wonderfully done. Everything on it looks simply delicious. I enjoyed these visuals. Now I need to find something to dress up my corner of the world! Thanks for sharing! *smiles* Norma
Posted by: Norma Conway | October 03, 2011 at 11:50 AM
Thank you Norma :)
The dressing table already had a gold trim, and I just worked with
it. I agree, it looks even better on the brown, than on the white.
But now, I am itching to paint it again in a few months ;) See, give a
girl who hates change, a little change, and she wants more ;))) haha!
Posted by: A Fanciful Twist | October 03, 2011 at 12:51 PM
Awesome Autumn shared by you. Many thanks for making a truthful effort to explain this. I feel fairly strong about this and would like to read more.
Posted by: http://www.mesudar.co.il | October 09, 2011 at 12:18 PM