A Fanciful Twist

Nature Collections & Sweet Confections

If I open my eyes just so, I can see colors in this dirt laden land, that I couldn't previously see.  Colors scattered here and there in nature.  Little gifts.  Free for the taking, to put in jars, or tiny drawers or even to scatter on dark wooden surfaces.  

        

I see a varied wonderland of texture and shapes.  And, I am certain if you take a moment to go out your front door, and open your eyes just so, you too will return with pockets full of inspiration.

        

From bursts of tangerine shades and hints of violet to mysterious grays and greens...

        

I sit and inspect my findings.  Each one leading me on a dream-scape journey.  Igniting ideas yet bringing me such peace.

        

In a time of pre-holiday season madness, a calm stroll in the most seemingly mundane of outdoor spaces, might lead you to find all sorts of precious pieces of nature.  The winds may have blown a few unexpected treasures your way.  It happened for me.  I saw a vast space of sandy soil and simple trees.  Until, I opened my eyes just so, and then I could see...

   

Golden flames and mint gray swirls were the key, to start my mind off, wandering...

        

You can even save your treasures and findings in wee little jars, and seal them with a tiny piece of tree branch, much like a cork would seal a bottle.  I did that in a cabinet for the Halloween Party.  So many photos unseen, so I am revisiting a few to share with you.  My decor for Halloween wasn't very Halloween at all, but more botanical and apothecarian infusions, perfect for spells and secrets untold... (Tip:  Target had sets of those tiny glass vases in the image below in October, and most likely still has them)

        

Oh, do bring your nature collections indoors, won't you?  Perhaps you already do ;)

        

As I revisit the party photos I have to go out to the gallery to truly believe all those curiosities were stuffed in there by me.  I wish you could see it in person, it is so magical (to me at least).  I might take a video.  That might be a good idea?

Curious collections and nature tid-bits make me delighted as can be.

   

After my stroll through the garden (and a visit in the gallery) gathering leaves and eucalyptus berries, I had some fresh squeezed orange juice (we do this almost everyday).  As I stared at the orange peel heap I was drawn to sweeten up the holiday spirit creeping in with nothing other than candied orange peels.

This was the recipe I used.  It worked beautifully.  I did everything it said, including the blanching three times of the orange peels.  Although my orange peels were not super thick, it all worked out just perfectly.

Sweet candied, non-bitter delicacies.  Mister was smitten, and nibbled and nibbled.

   

I will make more for Christmas and gift the orangey treats.  They sparkle so beautifully in person and will be charming for gifting in the many jars we save.

        

I was so glad to give candied orange peels a go, and I hope you might consider it as well.  I found the whole thing thoroughly relaxing and fulfilling.  I baked beets and cooked up some maple bacon and muffins while I waited.  A delightful morning with a kitchen smelling so wonderful with all the orange confections and such.

        

We love to have berries after our meals.  I always mix a dollop of raspberry jam (my fave is Bon Maman) into my berries.  It removes the tartness and adds a whole other dimension of yumminess to the berries.

Surrounded by our nature collections picked in the morning, we delighted in berries and candied orange peels.

        

With that, I thoroughly let the holiday season find its way into our home.  A little early, but beloved all the same...

I am inspired to bake and candy fruit and create.  There is much more on the horizon.  If you have a super wonderful recipe or treat you like to make, feel free to share.  I would love to try a few new things.  I have some recipes some of you shared with me last year, that I have lined up to make.  I will link to you if I make your recipe.

I must run for now, as I am trying to finish some happy faces to share very soon.

♥,V

A Little Radish Tale

It was one of those enchanted mornings...

        

Where you are almost certain you can see fairies through the leaves.  Water from a burst irrigation hose shoots into the air melodically, under a giant apricot tree.  It has all sorts of creatures gathering...

   

There is such beauty, where water meets light at just the perfect moment...

        

Yes yes, I am certain I see fairies, don't you?  Dancing in the mist...

        

The smell of water soaking plants and dirt in Arizona, where it is always so dry, is mouth watering.  It is this fresh earthy smell.  It draws you in, it does...  

Rabbit and pup noses come alive.

   

There are some ground vines that grow on their own, that when sprinkled with water, smell the way honey and lavender taste when swirled together...

I have been cutting sunflowers to add to my fresh flower vase for two weeks.  I love to have fresh flowers in my home and luckily, Mister Lovee brings some home once or twice a week.  Although, I also delight in visiting the florist and having flowers wrapped up in old fashioned paper bundles.

   

There are about 15 more sunflowers waiting to show their faces.  I can't believe how big those little dinky sproutlings have gotten...

   

I know people grow things every day, in massive amounts even.  But in dry Arizona, for me to grow green lushness in my garden tickles me so, I can't even tell you.

I stroll around, excited for fresh lemons.  I will make lemon curd like last year.  It was a hit with Mister.  I think it is so great that he adores custards and puddings.  It pushes me to experiment and create creamy treats...

        

There is one lemon that is so amusing.  It never grew more than the size of a walnut.  And, it is ripe and ready to be picked...

   

I have been asking Mister for 10 years if I could grow a vegetable garden, and have it be protected.  Year after year, I plant a few things and lose them to the rabbits.  Mister seemed to hear me, but just shrugged his shoulders in a way.  Seemingly not too interested in the endeavor of a protected vegetable garden.

This August, as I have said many time before (not to bore you or anything), I planted some random seeds.  Cantaloupe, sunflower, pumpkin, radish and others (even though it was the wrong time of the year for planting).

They all sprouted very quickly, and I had about ten patches of earth that looked like this...

   

As you know, one funny little rabbit gobbled it all up, which was fine.  However, there was one lone radish plant that survived.

It lives under the lemon tree.

Safe and sound it grew and grew...

        

So, I wondered, when will I know it is ready?  I got on my knees, and moved some of the dirt and mesquite leaves, only to find...

        

One perfect radish.

Ready to be picked. 

Can you imagine my reaction to such a find?

Grown from one little radish seed.

   

Just like that, I made a decision, while Mister looked on from his cozy little spot on the porch sofa (yes he has a little sofa on the porch, tee hee).

Out of the ground he came...

   

Perfection.

        

I skipped about singing, "I grew a radish, I grew a radish."

In that moment, I found myself in the realization of how curious my life has been.  It's not that I am naive or childish in an immature way.  I was a serious business woman, with many many stressful responsibilities in my life.  I worked incredibly hard to be able to leave my job at 30 and find my way to this humble art place.

A simple place, where one radish can breathe the epitome of life, and gratefulness...

        

Growing things.

Amazing.

And what greatness I find in a lone radish.  I can't believe I take bunches of radishes for granted, passing by them in the store, as if bunches of radishes are meaningless...

   

I shall never again, look at a radish in the same way...

        

Just like, Little Radish Head gets a bath and is then sliced.  Mister and I share...

   

A tinge of kosher sea salt to taste.  We both make faces at each other as we chew.  Then we both say the same thing - "That is the most tender, mild and delightful radish I have ever tasted."

   

There is something indescribable about having only one of something.  Or, about having to make the best of what you have to work with.  That is what drew me to this place in the country.  Setting the table in the garden 10 years ago with found fabric and vintage jars used to hold weedling flowers as a center piece.  Mango salsa and salmon on the grill, while Mister played his guitar...

That is how a love I never knew existed found me.  Not just a love with another person, but love itself.  

A reminder of those days-

        

And that, I am still in the thick of those days.  

I am so grateful.

It has been a glorious journey.  Ups and downs and all arounds...  

With the downs you enjoy the ups all the more.

I type and listen to a very beautiful and subdued version of one of my favorite songs.  I open the door to my office to let in a little warmth.  We are back into the 80's F during the day.

As I open the door I am greeted.  I sigh a bliss sigh.  Is it that life really is this good, or more than that - is it the gift of recognition & appreciation of the little things? 

        

Which truly matter more than anything.

   

I go outside to pet my pups and stretch.  I find Mister Lovee in the garden, drawing one of his plans on white paper.  I have to show you his drawings he makes before building or creating.  They are marvelous (to me at least)...

He sees me and says, "Hey Dove, let me show you something here..."

He shows me a little enclosed vegetable garden plan he was drawing up.

It was the Little Radish Head that convinced him.  Tender and sweet.

Funny little world.

   

And just like that, we step into a new week.  Thank you for sharing it with me, and being a major part of this little world here.

♥,V

ps:  I am waiting for new Holiday cards for the shop, to arrive this week ;)

Costuming a bit of Nonsense...

Hats, jewels, gowns and costumes.  Will they be a part of your weekend?  Just a few more days to whip up any last minute ideas.

        

A masquerade ball under the glow of the full moonlight.  In the garden of good and evil.  Wouldn't that be sublime?  I know just who I would like to invite to play haunting melodies, perhaps even a harpist might entertain us?

I have a date...

        

And, my alter ego is just itching to come out for an evening of mystery and frolic...

        

I dare confess, my regular wardrobe has been accused of being a bit infused by costume.  Isn't that funny?  I had not even thought of it, until a gal made a mention one day many years ago.  It hasn't stopped me though ;) 

      

I quite love the days that women dressed in billowing gowns as daily wardrobe.  Although, it must have been quite exhausting.  Carrying around 40 pounds of ruffled frocks?

        

Last night as I was sewing up some curtains...

 

I thought about Halloween costume making frenzies.  How my Mom used to make me elaborate costumes-

   

and how Halloween was so super exciting.  I would squeal as loud as I could from the mere thought of dress-up and trick or treating.

I had my entire fluffy costume stuffed under my jacket.  I want a jacket like that in this day and age ;)

   

I adored trick or treating.  It was the absolute height of childhood dreams.  Bags and bags of candies.  What more could a kid ask for?

As I was thinking about that today, and dusting jars of this and that, I had a thought.  

   

Hear me out for a second if you will...

Sooo, I have these Nonsense Jars.  Filled with, well, nonsense :)  Junk Drawer sort of stuff.  All the bits and bobs you never know what to do with...

        

How super wonderful would it be, to have grown up trick or treating, where you give away junk.  Especially junk to put in Nonsense Jars.  Things you would sell in a yard sale or donate even.

You could give them away on Halloween, to adult trick or treaters.  Now that is what I am talking about...

        

Is that DREAMY or what?  Imagine, a neighborhood, where you go trick or treating and they give you treasure junk?  You could even bring a jar and have them pop a couple bits of nonsense into it as you travel from house to house?

      

       
 

        
 

I think it would be a blast.  You could even meet others at the end of the street, and trade if you wanted.

I would so be there, costume and all.

        

Oh my, this could be exciting.  I would gladly hang out front and hand out junk I don't want.  You could make surprise paper grab bags filled with junk you want to get rid of, and hand them out, as costumed treasure seeking adults come to your door....

Hmmmmmmmmmmm.  I like it!

        

Do you think this would be fun?  Could it be pulled off?  Imagine getting a bag of aprons and all sorts of fun stuff? 

Such thoughts.

It is crazy windy here and it got cold last evening.  It had been in the low 90's upper 80's and tomorrow, it won't even be 60' - or so they say.

All the creatures are coming out for Saturday festivities, I even heard the sound of little feet, making their way out of the closet late last night...

        

Perfect timing because I am getting less busy, as I am making HUGE progress around here.  And quite delighted at that.  It has been two months of non-stop action, and I am so ready to slow down and paint oodles of elves and cake-heads, and make art, and play with you all.

Don't forget, you can download a free Halloween card and envelope template I created for you last year, by clicking right here.

        

Oooooo, it is windy as can be!  Perfect weather for the mood.  Creaks and crashes and whirls of wind!

See you super sooooooon ;)

♥  ,V

ps: Masquerade loveliness and a magic ballroom... (Marie Antoinette Image above, borrowed from (1st-art-gallery.com)

Fairytale Dream Bursts & Truthful Fabrications...

Bursting out the front door, she set out to refill her cup with sun and clouds and summer day magic. 

      

When all of a sudden, she realized she had neglected her duties...  Oops.

      

How could she have neglected such duties?  A wee child needs love and affection.  Attention, and food, and and and...

Sooo, she set off, for a stroll in the garden.  Down the dirt path she went...

Wee one in tow.

        

It was a glorious afternoon.  Light bursts danced throughout the garden...

       

         

 She cut herbs.  Basil, Rosemary and Chinese Parsley grew abundantly in her garden...

      

She filled the pram, and squeezed baby toes...

        

They strolled and strolled, as a beautiful sunset rolled in.  The furry family member walked alongside, almost as if proudly guarding the fairy babe...

   

She twirled and danced in the meadow... (what meadow?)

        

A perfectly enchanted day...

        

A lovely afternoon, don't you think?  With a beautifully well behaved babe.

 

Cute as a button.

      

Poor little baby doll, locked up in an old trunk for years, by the evil witch who had lost her biological clock.  Some said it stopped working, others said, she never had one (insert gasps).  You've heard of her, haven't you?  I knowwww, such a horrible witch she was ;) Imagine?  The nerve.  Locking baby dolls in trunks...

   

But boy, oh boy, she sure did amuse the neighborhood bachelors with her antics... 

Although, they best be careful, or she might turn them into toads! Bwahahaaa ;)

      

I think all her antics secretly amused her more than they amused the little bachelor spies.  But then again, one almost broke his neck, trying to get a peek...

You never knew what you might see?  A pump organ in the garden, a mannequin being carried like a sack of potatoes by a not so tall gal, water balloon fights, monster bubbles, a Mad Hatter - sans his trousers.  What next?  (don't worry the Mad Hatter was wearing shorts ;)

 

She rubbed her hands together quite mischievously, as a light bulb appeared beside her head, and thoughts of the looming Mad Tea Party fluttered around...

Oh, what ideas came to her on that stroll!  The Mad Hatter joined her and the faux baby, for a walk down the road...

      

Where a couple set up a spot to sell their old treasures.  And boy, were there ever treasures to carry home...

      

After that weekend, she found herself exhausted.  She thought to herself, that people who have babies of the real variety, are truly magical fairies.  Absolutely magical beings, no questions asked.  They deserve buckets of gold and crowns bejeweled and free foot massages for life.

So, she felt guilty, rolling her plastic baby into the treasure shed.  Instead she rolled her into her private boudoir.  Where the well behaved plastic baby slept peacefully.  And never cried a peep, while the Mad Hatter and the crazy lady with the pointy hat watched movies...

 

And that was that...

But you see, she wasn't so crazy after all, she just didn't see the point in taking life so darned seriously?  She is ever so happy you don't either, and smiles brightly every time she sees your face sparkling up the road... ;)

 

On the work front - I am painting away, and yes, there are elves involved.  I am just finishing up some special orders and the elves are coming super shortly thereafter. 

♥,V

ps:  Movies I have seen over the last couple weeks.  Of course, all evoked different emotions.  Tonight I am watching 1,000 Journals and Au Revoir Les Enfants.  I'l let you know what I think...

Water (deep and beautiful)

Gran Torino (who doesn't love that man?  Mister enjoyed it so much)

Taken (edge of seat)

A Harlot's Progress (Intense subject dealing with the Painter, Hogarth, and his famous subject/pieces.  Not for kids at all).

American Avant Garde Film 1947-1986 (2 discs).  (Only recommended if you are into those types of films, read linked review)

The Uninvited (it was okay if you want a silly scary-ish flick)

The Last Days (terribly sad)

Evening (sad -great actors)

Identity (it was scary and I liked it)

Powder Blue (adult topics, good)

Passengers (I was surprised in the end, and liked it)

So, that's all for now ;)  on the movie front.

pss:  How shall I ever thank you for the Frida support?  I can't even begin to tell you what it means to me.  I can't even begin...  ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Frida Kahlo, the Butterly and Me...

Painting.  A complex word, depending on what it makes you feel when you say it.  The first time I picked up a paintbrush or filled my palms with paint and touched them to a large canvas, I felt as though I had stepped into another world.  A world where my whole being came to life with heightened senses that spun and twirled madly...

Painting, for me, was a destination more than an act.  When I entered that place, there was an outpouring of emotions and I felt my true self come alive.  I lost myself in emotions, characters, colors and other endless feelings...

Never knowing who might turn up...

      

When I started painting, it didn't matter if I was good at it or not.  The passion that burst out of me as a teenager was addicting.  I knew, I had to build my world around that "place." 

Fast forward to today.  A moment in time, where my path allows me to create freely...

Where I am totally open to "anyone" who wants to visit me in my little piece of sand on the Island of Art...

Sirens, ballerinas, bird girls - they are all free to come in and show me what they want me to see.  I am open...

Sooooo, imagine my surprise, when I felt a deep sense of a visitor in my studio last week, whispering all sorts of things to me.  A visitor who was about to take me on quite a journey.

La Maestra, Frida Kahlo...

I could see her in my mind's eye, beckoning me to paint her, telling me she would hold my hand. 

I was hesitant to share this here, because this was a very deep and personal experience for me.

      

Alas, I decided to go ahead and share my little story...

As you know, growing up in and around Mexico, Frida is very alive in the culture.  As a child, you are introduced to her, her story.  Her gifts.  So perhaps that is why I feel such a connection to her...

Anyhow, there I was minding my own business last week, getting ready to paint something else, when I felt this deep pull and heard whispers that I feel to be true.

My intended painting took a turn, and instead, I went on a journey with Frida...

Late nights.  Letting go, not being impatient.  Listening to her...

      

Waking up to paint.  Going to bed late after a long day of painting, little tunes keeping me company.  Losing sense of time and place... 

Mi rebozo, Mi rebozo, she whispered... 

      

So, her shawl was worked in...  Her arms hidden underneath it, embracing herself, and her delicate frame that had been in a body cast and through so many surgeries throughout her life due to her terrible accident...

Little by little, everything fell into place -

            

(Click on images for better view)

      

 

Coming to life... 

      

As I shared before, I had put away a lot of my portrait paintings, many unfinished, years ago.  This painting taught me I have a discipline and a patience, I perhaps didn't have 10 years ago...

   

My emotions overflowed...  

On my last day of painting, Mister Lovee stood behind me, tears filling his eyes.  As I made my last brush stroke to the ribbon, I said to him, "I can't feel her anymore..."

       

"That is because your are finished," he whispered....

         

And so, I don't know what her fate will be.  But for now, she looks on, as I fade into dreams...

      

So, that's the little story of Frida, the Butterfly, and Me...

♥,V

  

See you sooooon... ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥

ps:  A couple times a week, I will work in stories at my other blog, Through the Secret Keyhole...

pss:  If you would like to learn more about Frida Kahlo I would recommend watching this PBS film (Netflix has it), along with the Special Features on the DVD, http://www.pbs.org/weta/fridakahlo/.  You can also watch the movie Frida.

psss: Thank you soooo much for the art love on my Frida Kahlo Painting (portrait).  It means more than I can express!! xoxo