A Fanciful Twist

Should I stay, or should I go? (A silly little story)

It really shouldn't be questioned.  It shouldn't be an ordeal...  When your beloved one, phones from the office...

      

And proceeds to ask you out on the town.  Shouldn't you say yes?  Shouldn't you just look forward to dolling up, gettin' a chance to don a lovely frock?  Shouldn't you squeal as you hang up the phone.  A date??? 

      

I certainly loooove to play dress up, and go out for a bit of magic...  But, it seems that lately, I am more inclined to stay in.  Beckoned to play in the studio by a bit of this...

      

      

      

As much as I loooove my creative time,  I had a huge feeling that this one time, I shouldn't say, "let's stay in..."  I had a feeling, we needed a fun night...  I had to put down my oil sticks. Wash out my paint brushes and enjoy a beautiful evening, out...

      

The books will still be there tomorrow...  The paint will be waiting...  But a night with your beloved, you must plunge into sometimes...

      

So, I decided to take the day off yesterday.  Play dress up.  Find something nice to wear with what I have with me.  You see, my entire wardrobe + shoes + accessories are at my home in town.  I just have a few faves with me at our country house...

Truth be told.  This girl, that used to play dress up every day, her whole life, hadn't been doing much of that for the better part of a year.  I have not been to a shop or a mall (don't like malls anyways), in a year.  Oh wait, white lie.  I went to Anthropologie twice in the last year... 

I don't know what is hip or new.  I never much cared about that anyway, because I dress to the beat of my own tune...  My sis will attest to that ;)  (What is she wearing???  hee heee)

I just wanted to feel pretty.  A far cry from the regular prairie girl gown covered in paint, and no shoes...

Soooo, with the few treasures I have at the country house, and the few frocks that have traveled here with me, I decided to give a go at consulting me crystallll ballll..... (any excuse to play, right?)

      

      

At first I was getting nothing.  No signs, no help with what I should wear, where we should go.  Nada...

Then all of a sudden....  Presto!!!  Magic!!

      

The crystal ball said I needed a hair cut.  My hair has arrived at the waste line.  Fun to have grown it a wee bit longer than normal.  However, it was just too long.  And getting too straight.  Curly it bounced up a bit and doesn't look soooo long.  But blow dried, it was looking a bit over the top long...  So I hacked off three + inches.  Made a layer go back to it's ear length and not chin length...  And, gave myself a a too short pedicure...  Now it was time for the attire...

So, what look was I going for??  And what price of pain was I willing to go through??  Was I willing to go, extra silly shoes (by silly I mean, tall, delicate and impossible to walk in) and giant squash blossom?? (new hair below, still longish)

         

      

        

Or was I going for black puff sleeves and lots of coins??  A bit gypsy romance...

      

Or was I feeling a bit over the top??  An up do?

      

With vintage flair??  A bit of vintage AB Swarovskis with a bakelite drop??  Ooolala ;)

      

Or do you think??  Carved bangles??  I am always going to be a bakelite, lucite & carved bangle lover...

      

      

Maybe I should wear these??  Although, they are impossible to buckle.. Don't you hate shoes like that???  The buckle is too stiff...

      

Oh ,wait, I have my vintage Kimono...  Oh no, I save that for realllly fancy occassions  ;)

      

Just then I have a brilliant idea!!  I have this wall hanging with these fabulous leather slippers... 

      

I wonder if they fit?????  OH me, oh my!!!  This is fun!!

      

Hahahaaaaaaaaaaa!!!  They fit!!  Isn't that soo funnnnny?????  I could pry them off and wear them!!  Oh my goodnesssssss, I had a good laugh about that!!  Who knew they were my size?? 7.5, hee heeee!! 

I have my favorite green and gold Anthropolgie shoes...  Although I never wear them anymore because they are quite frail from over-usage...   But perhaps?  Just out to dinner??

      

All of a sudden, I am exhausted from playing.  I have no make-up on yet (which is why you are getting no face shots)  and, Mr. Lovee is saying he will be home to get me in 15 minutes.  What??? 

I throw on my favorite flouncy black skirt...  A new top (online shopping is still being done a tiny bit), a thin cardigan, my long necklaces... a sleek side ponytail, long earrings...  And these...

      

I race out the door... Hop in the car (and remember to bring my camera).  We decided that since we want treats from a few different places, that we will go to all of them.  I look at Mr. Lovee and ask, remember me?  He charmingly smiles... 

We have Margaritas, something we never do (or, I have one, Mr Lovee hates them). Actually, this Margarita on the rocks, is the size of my head.  I grab my camera.  It is still "on" from dress-ups.  The battery is dead.  I am sad.  But perhaps, I am simply meant to enjoy the evening...  I don't have my cell, so I can't use my camera phone...

We laugh, we chat, we whisper...  We joke...  We laugh hysterically some more...  We talk.  We reminisce...  We are the only ones in the restaurant.  One that is normally packed.  We are shocked.

We go to Vitello's for dessert...  Cappuccino, cannoli & bliss.  I am getting loopy.  Some lovely people who own a piece of my art, are having wine and dessert there.  It is lovely to see them... 

I remember we have Mr. Lovee's camera phone.  I then take these for you ;)

Bad Camera phone shots...

      

      

We get home.  I am not used to anything spiked.  I am exhausted.  I am thristy.  I am not 23 anymore.  Still young, just not 23 young. 

So, in the morning, my 32 year old face has, I had a giant Margarita last night, written all over it.  As does the inside of my head.  And has only one dream in life...  COFFEE.  Or tea...

      

So, tell me, are you a stay in kinda person?  Or, a jump at the chance to go out and play, kinda person??  Do you want to come play dress-ups at my house??  Just, no Margaritas, k?  I like Shirley Temples better...

Well I best be on my way.  I am quite certain I have bored you silly... Annnnnd, I have to finish packaging the wee elves!!!  Who are eager to arrive at their new homes!!  Thank you new homes!!  You make me soooooooo delighted!!!  See you sooooon ;)  xoxo

      

Oh PS:  On a random note...  Last night, we had to stop at the grocery for a few supplies...  When all of a sudden as we drive through the plaza, I see the SUSHI CAT!!!  In the window of a new place!!  I SCREAM!!!  THE SUSHI CAT!!!  Mr. Lovee almost crashes...  Ooops!  But, you know, that decorative big cat that is seated atop most sushi bars??  I saw him!!  That means, in the humble wee village, in the middle of Arizona and nowhere...  We are going to have a SUSHI BAR!!!  Woo hoooo!!  No more driving into town for that!!  I will have a sushi place, 2 minutes from the studio ;)

Behind the Curtain...

The following is a true story, of sorts.  You see, Faun boy and I had been working frantically for weeks.  Staying up until 3a.m.  Helping the actors get their hair and make-up decided upon.  Making sure the gowns were just right...  Preparing for a new show at "A Fanciful Twist Theatre." 

Faun boy was so excited about our music for the new show (Thanks to the lovely Betty for the amazing music find, and for thinking about Miss Valencia).  He wanted to show you earlier, but again, we were making costumes and wigs...

      

Opening night came.  Faun Boy and I were so busy working, we heard the music start...

      

The actors took their places.  Faun boy and I ushered people in, got them striped cones filled with popcorn and sparkly fresh shirly temples (with extra cherries).  We ran up and down the aisles like lunatics.  Beautiful people seated in their amazing frocks, and hair piled up like cathedrals. 

      

I tried to sneak a peek from backstage, as I bustled around, still it was all like a blurry dream.  I am beginning to wonder if it even happened at all...

      

Oh, look at those lovely gowns!  How I wished we weren't so busy, shuffling people around...

      

Once we had everyone seated and the show began, faun boy and I were in charge of helping the actors.  Making sure everything was going smoothly.  I could see bits and pieces of the show, but the lights were so bright, and with the movement, everything was distorted...

      

I could hear the audience, they sounded more than delighted.  They clapped, they laughed...  They oo-ed...  Then I heard the sound of a standing ovation.  I ran as fast as I could to the back of the theatre, to get a look.   Just as I was trying to focus on the actors...

      

The curtain dropped.  It was over and I missed the entire thing.  Faun Boy stood in a corner sulking.  Alas, we had to get our energy back, because we had to see all the guests out and lock-up.  I moved quickly, trying to get to the actors to congratulate them...

      

When I finally got backstage, the entire company was gone.  Poof, as if they had never been there.  I ran outside and caught a glimpse of the last tail light of the caravan, as they pulled away.  I was heart-broken. 

I sat in the empty theatre and sighed. 

      

The good news was, the theatre company was off to do a wonderful performance.  I received a postcard from The Duchess.  She assured me that all of us would get a peek into what they were up to, in the future...  So I bid them farewell, and hoped to see them soon, anxious for their marvelous tales...

So, with that, I hint that the next blog post (St. Patrick's day) will share some new dolls.  Not these dolls (as these really have gone on a voyage), but others I am working on.  I will share some photos and then pop them into my shop.  Meet me here Monday, green edibles and all!  Does green tea count too? Oh yes, I think it does!!

Don't forget to e-mail me if you made the Shamrock brooches.  I will link to you in the next blog post.  I know some of you have let me know already, so thanks for that!!  xxo, V

ps:  Don't forget to print out your free St. Patrick's day cards.  You can find them in the above link, or on my right hand sidebar!! ;)  See you sooooooon!

pps:  Also, thank you for the finger well wishes!!  I am much better, still healing a tad bit.  And, I have to say, your attire for the Tiny Tea Party, well, SWOoooon!  I am going to have to re-read many times to make the promised drawing decision!!  Exciting!!  Will let you know soon!

Which way did she go, which way did she go...

I bet you didn't even notice that I escaped.  I knew that if I left you playing in the magic yellow dollhouse, you wouldn't even notice, and shazam!  It worked!!  Where did I go?  I got lost through my very own Secret Keyhole...

      

Oh goodness me, I sure needed to get lots of things done.  And, I have to say, if you are with me on the next idea, do let me know.  But, was last week the weirdest week or what?   In all of last week, lived the weirdest days in the history of weird days.  Bizarre, bizarre I tell ya.  Throw that in a punch bowl with the realization that I had laundry pouring out of my ears...  Couple that with things like finding hidden cups of coffee here and there under mounds and piles of randomness in the studio, making me realize, I needed to escape.

I needed to take care of some of these things, catch up with life...  And, in the interim, I did some fun things too.  It all started with a trip through the"Mirror on the wall."

               

So, through the mirror I went, and found a new perspective.  I have been itching to share this with you!!  As I have this whole new outlook on the topic of piles and piles of magazines...

I am one of those people who keeps magazines for say, one or two treasures I find within that issue.  I mark some pages, I even make notes sometimes.  Less and less over the last couple years.  Now, with again, less and less time, I simply toss the magazine in the faves pile.  But, as I was on a HUGE mission to clear out the studio, and get with the program, I all of a sudden lost the need and desire to have piles of magazines everywhere. 

I shuffled through pages, doing the things I never allowed myself to do.  Literally ripping out the things that caught my eye.  I worked quickly.  Feverishly.  I found pictures of pillows, and colors, and tea pots.  Things I just always found interesting.  Things I wished I owned... (I even found old drawings I did, stuffed in almost every magazine)

      

As I was working along, ripping out pages, tossing the rest,  I had an epiphony.  I thought, even if I owned the items I was covetting, I might not enjoy them as they would be in cupboards and such.  And, then I thought, what better way to enjoy the items I don't own that are in magazines, than by cutting them out, and decoupaging them onto something!  Then it would be a little like owning them?  Yes, silly but it tickled me.  So, I found myself cutting out colors and images, and making a pile... (I even took out pieces of fabric I kept in a box)

      

I started making a collage...  But not just any collage, something I could actually enjoy and see, everyday...

      

My collage grew and grew, and became more and more exciting for me...

      

I was tickled that I could use all of these little pieces of paper and fabric treasures...

      

I fell more in love with each piece I added.  That is the beauty of collage.  You get to tailor it to those things you love.  And, oh my, there is an over abundance of what to choose from in all of our magazines!!

      

What a simple pleasure, I tell ya...

      

But, better than that, this whole collage would live in the most charming little place.  A place that was intended to be used as a home for the one treat I was going to share today... 

On the front of a tiny vintage metal cabinet door lived this new collage... (the picture below is kind of blurry because I was losing daylight) Click on photo for a better, less blurry biew...

                             

You see, on this cabinet, sits a sweet new meeting place, for you and me and faun boy and the rest.  It is our very own Patisserie...

      

Remember this little house?  Wee mouse boy was working on it once.  It was blue and beat up.  So, since he took off with wee mouse girl and they are all happy happy, I decided to turn it into my dream, a Sweets Shop!! 

      

With a seat right in front of a charming little window, just for you!!

      

So, I say, if you can't own a real french pastry shop, you might as well, own a miniature?

      

So, there you have it, living happily on it's new decoupaged cabinet.  I know, I am easily pleased.  But, it was so fun, and I encourage you to try it.  Put all your fave images on a piece of furniture!!  Then you can enjoy them always!!

               

I also revamped some of my shelves.  They so needed to be cleared off, and dusted.  And once I did that, I couldn't just leave them bored...

      

So, I had this glass box, and in this glass box, I placed a Mad Hatter my mom gave me for Christmas.  He is a barbie collection character I think?  I have Alice too.  So, I thought to myself.  Look, I could keep him in his plastic box forever, orrrrrrrrrr, I could display him and make a diorama with him and a part of the packaging insert... 

      

So I did...  I used my own table, bird, stumps, fungi, pewter tea-set, moss, and cakes.  I think it is wayyy fun.  I love it now.  And, I can enjoy it.  I am on this kick for getting rid of things I don't need or want, and using the things I enjoy.  I mean, why am I saving all this stuff in closets and dark corners?  No more, I tell ya, no more...

      

Knowme was very good at keeping me company and overseeing the whole thing.  He loves that he gets to sit on a happy bright shelf now (instead of rolling around the soon to be office).

      

I had wayyy too much fun cleaning shelves and rearranging.  Funny, though, why do rooms feel so much lighter after you dust and vaccum?  I love that feeling!!

      

The other thing I am working on is tidying up my sewing nook, as well as, going through hundreds of bags of "treasures" I bring home.  I have some, well, nevermind, I won't confess how long I have had them sitting around :)

The next thing I would like to do is finish this giant painting (I will show you a snippet).  It is my gift to my studio.  To add a little magic and fun...

      

You see, before I showed my face in the blogosphere, I did extra large scale modern art for years.  Once upon a time I was in interior design, and I also did huge abstract pieces for homes in some of my design work (I still do a bit of that).  Also, when I started painting at 13, I started with large scale canvas.  So, I guess I am used to that, and I am being drawn back to it a bit.  But, I will always do varied sizes.  I so enjoy the 12" x 12" and such.  It is fun to get into a smaller painting like that...

I have several projects I am working on right now, so I better get back in the studio. 

One IMPORTANT thing I wanted to also say.  If you happen to make those shamrock brooches I shared with you, please let me know.  I will do a Saint Patrick's day post and list links to everyone who makes their own.  I will do that post a day before Saint Patrick's day.  Make sure you e-mail me and let me know in advance (soon).  I would loooove to link you!!  (Miss Karla already made some)

      

See you soooooon!! xoxo, V

      

While I am in the studio working away...

While I am in the studio working away, lots of thing are happening in the magic yellow dollhouse...  For instance, the girls proclaimed that days would not be boring and regular anymore.  Of course I tried to explain to them that, in fact days would never be boring and regular for them because they lived in a giant 3-story yellow house with a faun and elves for brothers...  With trees growing in playrooms, and birds flying around freely.  They looked at me as if I were insane...  Oh sure, I'm the frootloop now?

Anyhow, Heidi Marie (was that the name Mr. Lovee gave her?) said, No Silly, I mean, we must wear cone hats everyday, and serve tea and treats at all hours.  And, we must be able to ride our pets to and fro... (don't we do that already? Sans the pet riding part?)

             

Well, sure that sounds okay, I said.  As long as you don't hurt your pets, and you make sure to do your chores.  The chores part was ignored...  I asked the girls kindly, if I were to help Nana make them super cushy beds with lovely bedding, would they help out around the place so I could get back to work (Painting, dollmaking, etc).  They nodded ridiculously profously.  So, I trusted them...

I went to work...

      

Sewing, stuffing little pillows.  Making box springs for beds and duvets, and so on...

      

There was to be tea at every hour, cone hat wearing extravaganza's, everything.  In exchange for their assistance so I might be able to get to work. 

As I have very exciting treats (shop stuff) baked, baking, and waiting to be baked. Plus painted, drying, and waiting to be painted, to share with you...  So, as you see, I have lots of secret wonderousness up my sleeve...

Nana made up the beds with the lovely new bedding and fluffy wonderful pillows I had sewn up...

      

Everything looked like it was going according to plan.  The elves were taking naps, the girls were being wacky, but good.

      

And, then I went to check on the other kids in the nursery.  Umm, hellllllo? Faun boy jumping on the bed with Fiona?  Toys scattered everywhere?  Owl boy jumping on the bed with Faun Boy and Fiona??

      

A bird that doesn't live with us, playing checkers...

      

What is this I exclaimed?  A Mad-House???  Again, they all looked at me as if I had come from another planet.  And then I realized, this issssss a mad-house.  It was always a mad-house.  There are no major rules.  Except those Mr. Lovee has to follow, like leaving trails of coffee and such...  Okay, he has no rules either, but don't let him know...  Who really cares if some strange bird is playing checkers in the nursery? 

I sat back and thought, oh what a relief!  We don't got no stinkin' rules roun' here!!!  Yipppeeeee!!  No chores, no curfews, no nagging.  Then I had to look in the mirror and say, No Vanessa, really, there are no rules! Pinch Me Eunice, pinch me!! (I call my sister Eunice)

The biggest gift, is realizing there is still a kookie kid living right inside of you, who still likes to jump on beds, and slurp hot chocolate really loud (with extra whipped cream) and yes, is still astonished that there is NO parental supervision.  Ahhh, ain't life grand...  Have you had this experience too?

Well, I guess I better get back to work for now...  Toodling along...

      

See you very very soooooon!!  V

Sparkly, lucky, happy day!

I have been up to so much sparkly fun.  I just can't wait to share it.  I hope you enjoy it, as much as I did.  I had this idea swimming in my head, so I tried it out today, and voila, I think it is a whole lot of fun, and oh so easy!! 

      

You see that shamrock brooch there?  Well, I invented a fun and super easy way to make it.  I created a PDF cutout for you!!  Not only that, I have some FREE PDF Saint Patrick's Day Greetings for you too!  I always want to think up ways to say thank you, and add some easy fun to our lives...

I decided to created all different sizes and colors of shamrocks, and layer them... You know, how once a year, you are in your car and realize it is St. Patrick's day, and then you wish you had something cute to throw on?  Without having to dress in all green?  Well, here ya go...

      

There were very fancy ways to attach the shamrocks to eachother.  However, I decided, if you are going to make them with your kids, or whip one up for yourself to wear, it should be super duper easy.  Especially if you are going to make more than one, maybe for friends? 

The PDF file you will be able to print out (especially good on nice thick white cardstock) is shown below...Make sure to Click here for printable version.

      

Here is how to get started...

      

I made two brooches.  One with really silly bright colors, and one with some wonderful fine glitter.  Some glitter I had, and some is part of Martha Stewart's wonderful glitter selection. Plus, I used a bit of the vintage sterling silver glitter too. Only a little though, I am very stingy with my vintage sterling glass glitter ;)

First I cut out all of my shamrocks...  (meanwhile the hot glue gun heated up)

      

Then, I started layering them, adding a tiny pearl of hot glue in the center.  Layer biggest to smallest...

      

Once all layered, I give them a firm push in the center, to make sure they are really stuck together.

      

Then, I give each shamrock, starting with the top one and working to the bottom one, a little fold, to make them a bit more 3-d...

      

Once they are all folded up very gently, and look like this, I am ready to attach a safety pin to the back. 

      

My advice, attach the safety pin before you embellish... I found that the center of the upper backmost shamrock is the best placement for the safety pin... I used a smallish safety pin, so it would not hang off the edges.

      

You can use those specially made brooch back pins that you can get at any craft store.  The kinds that simply have to be glued to the back of the brooch.  However, I chose a simple safety pin, because I wanted this to be easy, easy.

So now for the fun part!  Glitter!  I looove glitter!  You will need some Elmer's glue (or any craft glue) and a small paintbrush. 

      

Make sure you have all your glitters out too.  I also used Mica flakes on the super colorful brooch.  Get out any fun stuff you want to use!  I started embellishing, with the middle, but you can start anywhere you'd like... 

      

      

You will then simply, use your paintbrush to paint glue on the petals of the shamrock.  I painted the glue on, and glittered little by little.  With each individual petal.  As, the glue dries fast, and if you do more than one petal at a time, you might not get good glitter coverage...

      

You will notice that the color of the flower shimmers through, even if you cover it with silver or gold fine shimmer.  In person, you can still see hints of the green, which is really pretty...

      

As you work along, your brooch will start to look like this...

      

Once you are completey done, let your shamrock brooch dry really well.  The drier it gets, the prettier the glitter sparkles.  You can also add a giant stone to the middle of your flower, or a button...  Anything really, even an old rhinestone earring that you just have one of? 

      

Now wasn't that so super easy and fun???  I know, they are a little, well, let's face it, alot sparkly, but they are so much fun to make!  I was thinking that if you didn't want glitter, you could draw designs on each shamrock with different pens and markers?  Or use each shamrock to outline each size on different papers, then glue the papers on to each shamrock and then simply assemble it, so you have a collaged shamrock.  That could be really really fun..  You could use doilies even.  I have to play with that idea too!

By the way, I did later play with the collaged brooch idea, and included it at the end of this post ;)

I know, you are going to think I have totally lost it.  However, I also have some Free St. Patrick's Day cards for you.  I know it seems early, but really it isn't, time goes by so fast.  Before you know it, you'll barely be printing them and it will actually be St. Patrick's day.  So, I am giving you a head start.  I love sharing Free cards!  They are sooo much fun to make!!

They look like this...

      

      

      

      

Click here for your printable PDF file of your very own Free St. Patrick's day cards.  From me to you!! 

      

You will also be able to find the Free Brooch PDF and the Free St. Patrick's day PDF in the right hand side bar.  SO you don't have to look for them later...

Okay, I better go before you come hunt me down for the longest blog post ever!

Also, the winner of the Valentine post drawing, as chosen by the random number generating machine, is Jenn Lui!!  Yippeee for you!!  E-mail me Miss Jenn!!

See you soooooooon!!! V

Update:

Here is an alternative to sparkly brooches...  Collaged brooches...

A new idea I thought up for making those fun Paper Brooches...

      

Cut out all of your shamrocks that you have printed on cardstock (printable PDF here)....  Then take pieces of paper, and trace each shamrock onto a different piece.  So that you can make a collaged paper brooch...  Then cut out each colorful paper piece, and glue it to the appropriate shamrock, and assemble as before...

      

And even try using those pin backs I spoke of before (or use a safety pin)...

      

      

And, use some of your button stash for a center...

      

Voila, isn't this soooo pretty!!  I love it!!  A wonderful alternative to no glitter!

      

Have a blast!!  Can't wait to see what you make!! V

Sailing the Woodland Seas...

I could not bear to make you dwell in the last post's plumbing any longer.  You are so kind to me and quite wonderful.  So, I am here to tell you another {sweeter} story of what happened yesterday afternoon when I arrived to my country-home.  A storm was rolling in, winds and rain. Perfect for story-telling.

There was a paper bag with filled with random loot from the local thriftventure place.  I had almost forgotten all about it.  But, when I opened it, a positively lovely sight to see indeed!  There was a huge previously unseen love, in the bag.  A "Wee Mouse", waiting for me to discover him.  A "Wee Mouse" with a Big story... 

You see he was a brave, optimistic, wonderful little fellow.  He loved music & dancing.  He loved scurrying through dewey patches of newly growing grass. Tender and soft.  Alas, his happiness was taken away by an evil witch, who caged him and banished him to the Treacherous-Wood-Pile-Mountains forever...

      

He was so sad about his fate.  He thought he had outsmarted everyone and everything.  He knew how to steer clear of danger, how to find safe food...  He was determined to figure a way out of this predicament...  He had outsmarted Mouse traps for years, he could find a way out of this, for certain...

      

One day he found a way to escape from the cage.  He would have to do this while the witch was not watching.  He had also heard an airplane crash right at the top to the Treacherous-Wood-Pile-Mountains.  Believe it or not, he knew the ins and outs of airplane wiring, and knew he could make this airplane run again.  Every night he would sneak out of his cage and work a little bit on the plane.  While the witch slept ;)

One day, he was ready.  It was time to try to make the plane go, he would push it down the side of the mountain and hope it would fly...

And, it did, oh it did!!!  He was free!

      

He wanted to travel to the Fairytale Forest Theater...  To meet new friends.  He always dreamed of being on stage (he could tap dance like no other mouse in the land)!!  Yes, that is what he would do. But first, he wanted to find the Enchanted Fungi Forest, that his great-grandmother spoke of...   

      

Where gnomes built paper houses, and shroom-nog ran like a stream...

      

He built himself a boat.  And sailed the winds of the Woodland Seas...

      

He had not arrived to the Enchanted Fungi Forest when I last spoke to him, but he urged me to share something very important...

He whispered to me, that we are never ever too old to dream, to let our inner-child out to play.  He warned me of witches that roam the land, wanting to cage & squash happy spirits.  Then he exclaimed , his hand on his heart,  "Noone can take away your child-like qualities, your love for fairytales and dreams, unless of course, you let them..."  I whispered back, thank you Mr. Mouse, you are so right.  I will never forget that. 

With that, a great wind came, and a book appeared, "Wee Mouse" jumped into the book, winking at me.  Was it all a dream?  Was he simply a character visiting me from within the pages of a book of fairytales, with a message?

      

I hope I do get to see him again one day.  I hear he is still sailing the Winds in the Woodland Seas...

      

Nothing like a "Wee Mouse" to brighten our week, right?  See you soon, xoxo

Let's have some fungi lovin' fun!!

What a whirlwind week, phew!  But, I had to stop in really quick and share something I made for you.  I was going to wait until next week, but I just can't!! ;)

      

This is part of my thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts and ideas with me, here at "A Fanciful Twist."  I can't tell you how much that means to me (more than you can know).  And so, since that very very sappy mushy over the top time of the year is coming (embracing the mood starting now), I figure it isn't too soon to start preparing.

      

I think you guessed what I am talking about right... YEP! Valentine's day!  I have some ideas to share... But first, let me break down and give you your very own FREE Valentine set.  From me to you.  I looooooved making these.

      

If there is any time to go over the top with an idea, to the point of nutcakey, it is this time.  So, I went FUNGI crrrazy.  It's all about the fungi...  Under the photo below is a link for you to get your own printable PDF version.

      

Click here to get a printable PDF file. The file looks a bit fuzzy on the screen, but prints more than crisp and lovely.  I printed mine on heavy cardstock and they look yummmmy!  I have made three sets for myself.  I think it is good I am starting this soon in making them, or time would get away from me for certain.

Feel free to make as many copies as you would like, they are free for you to use.  I think they are perfect for kids, for adults, for office sharing, for girls, for boys.  "I Like You" boy's sweatshirt tells us he has been to a "shroom-fighters" concert, hee hee.  I know, so silly, but fun right?

You will find terms like:

      

Here are how the ones I printed for myself look, cut-out...  I like to use my scalloped scissors on some of them.  But mostly, I just cut them out real simply, leaving a small white border around the shape.

      

I hope you enjoy them to pieces!!  Happy early Valentine's day.  I will also put a link in my sidebar, so you can get more easily, when you run out :) 

A few more things to share...  WE did the Mr. Lovee Thriftventure drawing!!  I wanted to choose three people.  But, since Mr. Lovee has to go out and search for the treasure himself, I could not very well ask him to do three.  If I do that, he won't play with us anymore... 

He chose the winner straight out of "Feed Me's" mouth ( yes, I am the nutcake who made this bowl)...

      

I looove this bowl.  It is gross, but I looove it...  Now, does that man-jewelry say Arizona, or what?  Well, actually, we got it in Santa Fe.  I wish it fit me!!  But, it is tooo big.  I know, Arizona-over-the-top-wacky-fab (in my opinion at least ;)!

      

Whose name did he pull???

      

SaraH, of HeartBreak Art! Yipppeeee!!  Send me your addy and we will get you a sweeeet thriftventure.  I can't waiiiit to see what Mr. Lovee chooses!!  This could be very interesting!!

Before I go I want to share two little tid-bits...  First of all, I found such a charming blog this week. Hoola Tallulah  Well, she found me and then I found her back.  Her blog is cute & crisp & colorful & funny & real & includes children and chickens, brambled goats and gardens & brocantes & yes, FRANCE.  Oh and, she makes fairy-cakes and has geese in a lake by where she hangs her clothes to dry :)  What?  Yes, what can I say, fun fun!  Can I have some fairy-cakes? (Tallulah 's photo below)

      

Also,  I got the most lovely comment from a wonderful visitor.  It will make you swoooooon!  It has to do with the balloon wish post. 

      

Here is a snippet of how it read:  "I live in the middle of godforsaken Nowhere in Texas and have to drive 30 miles for the simplest groceries. So....  I spend a lot of time alone. I was walking in the woods last week and saw a deflated balloon in a tree deep off the path of my woods. I happily, knee-deep in chilly mud made my way to the stumpy little tree, and the pinkish-red balloon was just shreddy and ribbony. However, in my heart of hearts, I just KNEW it might be one of your balloons! Although it wasn't, it cheered me up just as much as if it HAD been one. It was just a bursted old bit of rubber, but I ambled out of the thicket with a lighter heart and humming a bit of something nice...maybe Mozart. Anyhoo---I had brambles in my hair, but the rest of my day felt more magical and full of possibilities....."
-Laura

Is that swooooooooooooney wonderful?  My heart is so full, I am sooo touched.  OH, you lovely people!  I am so glad I joined the blogosphere.  It is pure magic!  What ever would I have done without you? 

ps:  I have a philosophy about Valentine's Day.  You see, I don't think Valentine's day has to be about romantic love.  I think it can be about passion for life.  About giant boxes of chocolates and the love we have inside.  The love for family and friends.  The love for fresh air and good waves in life.  There are sometimes, that I spend holidays like Valentine's day alone.  Days that you would expect to share with friends or loves.  But, I find, that when you are alone, and you take time to dress up and bake a giant heart shaped flourless chocolate cake (even dropping it off for a neighbor as a kind gesture), you actually live the day, and it becomes so much more meaningful. When I throw my Halloween witches party, it passes me by, because I am so busy getting ready for it.  So, why not delve into a holiday like Valentine's day in a peacful way, on your own terms.  What about loving yourself?  What about a free indulge day.  What about feeling good, instead of sad?  I don't know, I am just saying... What about it?  Who said that we have to be loved by "someone" on February 14th?  Even if we have a beau, we should take time to love ourselves, and reflect on that very important love in our life.  The person we see in the mirror...

I don't know, that is just me...  See you soon!! xoxo

Donaldina Dollhouse Trumpette + New Postcard Love

You can imagine why I am towing that name today can't you?  Let me preface this story by telling you a huge secret.  A secret which is sure to make you think I am way off my rocker.  You see, every so often,  I have this strange dream where I am finding a treasure somewhere.  The next day, I go to the place of my dream and in an eerily exciting way, the treasure is there. (revisiting a drawing)

          

That is actually the very way I acquired one of my pianos.  My 1924 Baldwin (which sounds like Tori's piano in Bells for her) in fact.  (not my painted pianola that you have met, but another playable creature, there is a photo somewhere in this mad blog, but I can't find it).

That leads me to today's story.  So, there I was asleep, minding my own business.  When all of a sudden, a dream of a dollhouse, one that had been recurring for a year or so ( I know, I shouldn't be having these as I already have a dollhouse awaiting a makeover, and a couple other smaller ones).

        

Only this dream told me that today was the day to go to this special place.  I got up and went for a walk & upon recalling the dream, became obsessed with getting to said shop.  Once I got there, I looked all around calmly, and then, all of a sudden, peeking from way behind some stuff, I see it.  A new home for my woodland creatures, and the girls, and oh everyone...  I grab someone, asking if this is really the price, as it was a gooooooooooooooooooood price.

        

Then I thought...  How can I be such a greedy dollhouse owner.  Noone buys property like this...  Am I insane.  No no, can't pass it up, no way, no how!  So, I bring it home, I gloss the floors, paint the attic white...  Then rearrange for hours, huge furniture has to be moved in the real life house, to get this house to fit in.  And, now the question remains, what to do with the other house? 

See wee bunny boy is crying in the old house here, he doesn't want to move...

      

I try to tell him, "lovely, the new house is going to be good."  It has so much wonderful wood, and I painted the banisters, like I did the attic, in white for a fresh feel.  I glossed the floors and...  It is noo good, he is inconsolable.

His sisters and nana however, they are ready to move in.  They are soooo excited!!!

      

Faun boy is perched at the front door, waiting for a photo op...

      

Although the house is very yellow, it makes me swoon everytime I look at it...  My heart overflows!!  Ready to see the whole thing?????? (It fits just perfectly on my old white dressing table)

      

Oh, I am so in love with it.  I can't believe noone else snatched it up! (one thing did happen though, a lady actually cried after I bought it, because she wished she had seen it)  I know it was waiting for us!  I just know it!! Faun boy wants you to see his favorite place...

Come on in...

      

Look at Faun Boy's fave spot...

      

He has claimed the third floor as the playroom.  Little does he know, it will also be the school-room :)

      

So that is the new house.  What do you think?  It will be very very "Little Women."  No electricity like the old house.  Lots of wood.  I can never part with my old dollhouse though.  We will have to find a place...

Now, in other news, as if that wasn't exciting enough...  An order I placed a long time ago just arrived.  You see, the order was lost.  Yes, lost for over a week.  But it is here now.  In the form of new satiny lovely postcards for the shop!!

There are 4 new styles.  The first one is especially exciting because I realized, it would make a lovely Valentine's day card.  But is not totally intended for Valentine's