A Fanciful Twist

After-Party Refueling 101 + Giveaway Fun!

A little refueling in the Magical Cypress garden, was much needed after the Mad Tea Party.  I hope you all had as wonderful a time as I did!!

      

I was one noodled out girl after that!!  ;)  Although, it has not been all magical garden toodling time.  I went into town, for a little work, a little visit with Mombie & a little fun...   

      

I have to admit, I also munched on a little of this.  Yay for a new sushi place in my village, and take-out...  I brought it home and delved into pretty pages and, Yummy yummmmm! (my favorite)

      

And this...

      

I also managed to haul some bedding out of hiding.  You see, I am not a creature of much change.  But, you all know how I love bedding and towels...  So, I can't pass up something fun and pretty in that department. 

But, this is just silly!!  In Decemberish I picked up three different bedding sets at Anthropologie (including the one below).  I just couldn't say no...  You know how mesmerizing it can be in there, right?? ;)  The lighting, the eye candy, the scent...  It wins me and my pocket book over, every time!! 

Anyhow, I have not bothered switiching the three back and forth.  I have kept the same one on since then (the black and white).  So, I thought, time for bright and happy...  And, out it came...  It was like a new gift that had been hidden deep in my closet for months!!  ;)

      

That and some reading, equals some serious after-party refueling time at the house in the country...

      

The studio is still half a wreck.  I did pick up a little ;)  And, I have some projects I am finishing up.  In fact, one for a really lovely lady is almost complete!  Then I will share some of them with you.  As I realized the other day, how bad I am about telling you projects I am working on and such...  I also am still harboring a few secrets that will burst out of me soon enough! ;)

For more immediate exciting reveals...  What about naming the Mad Tea Party giveaway winners??  I used the random number generator and let's see... 

Who is the new Snail Girls' Momma???

      

Too-tooooo rooooooooooooo!!  Miss Stephanie at Rodrigvitz Style!! Yippeeee!!  You are the winner and a brand new, cheeky snail girl Mammie!!  Can't wait for you to tell us what their names are!! 

The second drawing was for...  The magical fairy ring & the party bird...

      

      

        

They go to, Miss Cindy at Yapping Cat Studio!  Yippeee wooo!!  Magical Glitter fun!

And, the two winners of any canvas print from my shop and a multi-postcard pack, go to...

      

Miss Tricia of Kooky Handbags & Miss Collette of A Bird in the Hand!! Yay lovely ladies!! Choose any print from my shop!!  Let me know which ones they are, and I will pack them up right away ;)

For all the giveaway girls...  Please send me your addresses, so I can send out your treasures right away!! ;)

I wish I had gifts for everyone...  Maybe one day, who knows??

For now I must be off to visit with the Witchies.  Maybe borrow a magic broom to clean up the ribbon and paper laden studio floor...

        

I must also bid Adieu to the last of the party guests... Phew... ;)

      

Sadly, the doors to the party are closed... 

      

Luckily, I am the keeper of the magical party keys...  So, I will lend them to you anytime, so you can venture back in ;)

      

It was a marvelous time.  I thank you for your participation from the bottom of my little heart!!  I can never gush enough about how wonderful you made it!!  It was quite a busy day for me indeed, but I loved every moment of it!!

So, with that, from a little broken street in the middle of nowhere, I send all the party love a girl can muster!!

      

Off I scadaddle for now!  See you sooooooon! xoxo, V

Last call for inspiration & random thoughts {all aboard}...

I will preface this post by saying, I do not have the perfect ingredients for inpiration stew.  However, I have been asked several times in the last few weeks, where I find little bits of my own inspiration...

Let's have a seat and talk about this a little, shall we?  I bet we have alot in common...

      

The first thing that pops into my head is that I surround myself with things that I love.  Books, sparkly things, shiny things, colorful things, sacred things, cute things, happy things, all the things that bring me joy... 

      

I also turn my sleeping place into my sanctuary.  That way, anytime (day or night) that I need an escape, I always know I will have a special place to refuel.

          

When I was a teenager my mom told me, to make sure that when I started earning my own dollars, to always save for nice sheets and really nice towels.  That was some of the best advice she ever gave me... 

I had a friend who was getting divorced...  She stopped by my house (in town) one day, and she asked to use my restroom.  When she came out, she said, I know this might seem weird, but, "your towels"  they are so white, and so nice.  I told her about my mom telling me to make sure I had nice sheets and nice towels.  As it is a small luxury that brings so much joy.  Everytime I see that woman, she tells me how after our visit, she went out and bought herself some nice sheets and towels.   She said that doing that for herself,  made her feel so wonderful during the dark time of her divorce...

      

Another thing about inspiration (as I am not the inspiration guru, but I know what works for me), is that I never go out seeking it.  When I feel like I need a refuel, I just relax, put on some music, play with things I love...

      

Let them infuse me with their tactile quality, their color, their meaning...

      

Many times, just sitting down with a simple treat, changes your view...  You give yourself time to just be, while you notice its complexities, and it opens doors into your imagination...

      

And, you know, you really have to be your own best friend.  You have to be nice to yourself.  You can't bully yourself or be the world's worst meanie, to yourself.  I used to be guilty of this alot, until something shifted...  Now, I am my own granny who spoils my own self :) (most of the time) 

Sidetracking here...  Yesterday I had to clean my room.  Noone said I had to, but trust me, I had to...     I started talking out loud.  Saying "I hate cleaning, I am NEVER doing this again, I hate it, I am not doing it, why do I have to do this, I hate it I hate it I hate it..."  And pretty soon, I was making myself giggle.  I can't tell you how freeing that was for me.  To actually say those words.  I dunno, call me strange, but it started lifting things from my soul, and refueling me instantly.

I use the word refuel instead of inspire, because, to me, they are vastly different.  Sometimes, I know what my heart wants me to create, or where it wants me to start...  So, there it is, I have the "inspiration" for what is going to come out of my fingertips next...  But, what I have not done is rested myself, filled my heart and soul with pleasure.  To refuel I have to take time out.  Walk away from the computer.  Go outside, take a deep breath.  Make some tea, snuggle up, look at magazines...  Listen to music, read...  Just get peaceful and allow good energy to fill me...

During my refueling, I find myself at the piano a lot. 

      

I have been playing piano since I was a very wee little girl.  I still own the piano I learned on, La Pianola (my parents let me take her when I moved out at 18).  But, she lives at my house in town.  And my Baldwin lives at Mr. Ireland's for now...  So, in the country I get to play several toy pianos or a two tier vintage organ.  But mostly it is my trusty ole keyboard I keep in the "shipping" room that keeps me sane.  This is the one place (while playing music), I am almost sure to find my muse, time and time again...

      

Although, there is nothing like playing La Pianola.  Nothing...  Oh, how I miss her...  I must go visit her soon...  I usually just play my own songs.  Or (you'll understand this if you are a piano player) I end up playing those songs you have known your whole life that drive everyone insane :)  Today was a black key refueling day...

By the way, the summer issue of Vogue Living is grand!!  Lots of pretty flowery things!!  Good refueling mags...

      

Here is a peek...

      

      

      

And, one of my favorite ads right now, I mean favorite, is this, Osborne and Little ad...

      

Please let me wake up in that forest!!

Oh, one other thing, sometimes, when I play my favorite music, and clean up my studio, a bevy of muses swing by for tea...  And, I have to write everything down on my chalkboard just to keep up with all the inspiration...  So, I think just being in the studio piddling around allows creative energy to flow...

From the looks of this studio...

      

If I am lucky, all this cleaning might lead to more creating ;)  Anyone want to help?

      

Before I can even happily tackle that task, I must jump...

      

So, in conclusion (I feel like a fifth grader giving a speech :) it is safe to say, you have to get out there and dive into your own life, revel in it, eat strawberries (if you are not allergic) and talk to yourself, to refuel :)  Watch movies, go out for sushi (or whatever you like).  Or just hide under your extra lovely sheets :) Do what you love to do ("but do it now & don't wait for later" is my motto)...  And I know, the inspiration flood gates will open...  But first, refuel, refuel, refuel!! 

      

I betcha anything, the inspiration is already there, it is the refueling you have not taken the time to do for yourself...  Go baby yourself!!  Today!

See you soon!! xoxo, V

ps:  I would love to hear what you do to refuel, or what inspires you???  I know, others want to hear what you have to say!!!  Everyone's ideas are valuable!!

A Strange little place...

Hi there!  I am writing to you from the strangest little place in the world.  I am hidden in a room (not my own) with permission to buzz into the blogosphere for a teensy moment (from an unusual computer).

Update: It is Monday and I am still trying to move back in. I never expected this to be soooo insane, it is sooooo Twilight Zonie!! I need chocolate, hugs and margaritas!!!! Sorry for Saturday's post below, still up... Let's just pretend EB's party is still on!! See you in, well, I don't know when, soon I hope!!! Thanks for the good vibes!!!

      

The photo above is a luck photo.  It happens to be living in this computer I am using.  Alas, this kind computer does not allow me to make rounded corners, or fix color in photos.  So, you can say, this is a raw sort of post, hee hee...

You see, we are trying to move back into the plumbing fiasco house this weekend, so I am away from my computer.  We have several new walls & new ceilings.  All fresh and painted and completely replumbed!! YAY!!!! 

However, we would never forget to have major limes in coconuts, for the Polar Festival...

      

Life is scheduled to be back to larger doses of normal (was it ever normal?) as of Monday!!  Wish me huge amounts of luck, and party your hearts out with EB at Be... Dream... Play... 

Baby (pre-named), my wonderful yard sale dog, is racing through the Snow Queen's Land, trying to get to the Polar festival in time!!

      

She knows she is close, she sees everyone gathering...

      

Oh yes, a little further down the road, and we seem to have found the party! I think it is taking place in that glowey snow cloud, up above...

      

Lucky me, I happened to have pictures of our last snow, saved into an old e-mail.  And I thought I wouldn't have any snowey photos to join in the Polar Festival, from a remote computer!!  Yipppeeee!!!

Off I run for now. Oh, and, don't forget you can still get your Free Valentine's, and, I will still be taking taking names up until early morning hours of Feb. 13th for the One World - One heart giveaway (drawing on Feb. 13th, winner announced on Valentine's day)!!!

See you very very soooooon!! xoxo

ps:  Any tips on how to convince myself to get rid of things I just don't need anymore?  I need a little help easing into this...

Swirling thoughts...

It is raining hard in the desert today.  Darkened skies, bring many many smiles.  I type as Mr. Lovee plays his bass...  As you know, it does not rain often here.  All my life, rainy days meant stories and pancakes.  We yearned for rainy days in my family...  Time to sneak around, peek in bookcases...

       

I curled up in a cozy corner and decided to look at my grandmother's album, I already have many of the pages memorized, as I look at it often.  Yet, each time, I find faces and people, places, I had not noticed before...

Funny little children make me smile.  And, I wished that all of a sudden color would come to the photo below, the carousel would start going, and the music would come through.  Like a movie coming to life...

      

Of course, my grandmother makes me swoon everytime I look at her.  She is and was so lovely.  I think of her, still living in the same house, sitting at home sewing on her very old sewing machine, to this day...

      

She is such an amazing woman.  She sings and dances, tells tons of stories.  Fairytales a plenty, and lots of scary stories as well.  Ghosts and great great great grandmothers almost buried alive.  They live in the most unusual place really.  In such an old house at the edge of a cliff.  She is my Grandma (French, Nana Josephina, my mammie's mammie).  She cooks on that wood burning stove I have showed you.  She is so amazing to me, because she is refined and glamorous, yet real and gets dirty and cooks on her wood stove...

She always had birds and a huge fluffly white cat.  But I never had seen her with a dog.  I love this photo...

      

I don't know why, but looking at these photos, makes me miss everyone.  Even though they are all still with us.  There are definite heart string tugs going on...

Oh, this photo I had to share.  So classic and giggly too!!  Could those girls really have been that serious?  My Grandmother told me who they are, and I forgot...

      

I keep a photo of my grandmother by my bed, some of you have seen it (it is somewhere in a past post)...  I just love her so much.  I don't see her nearly as much as I should.  She is only 2 hours away.  I should make more time, I really should.

I will share more photos another day, as there are hundreds.  The best part, the thing that stands out the most, is how all the children, in group photos, really do look like the little rascals.  They are so terribly funny, and so adorable. 

As I look at all these photos, I can't stop thinking of Corey Amaro.  One of the main memories I have of first reading her blog was about her father, and her family.  Huge prayers to her and her family, and to her dear sweet father.  Also, Constance has informed us that it is darling Corey's birthday.  May she feel all our love and support...

I am about to get working in the studio today.  So many ideas swirling about, I can't contain myself!!  And, I love that I can hear the rain on the skylight, and see water drops outside my windows...

      

I will be participating in One World-One Heart (An event put on by sweet Lisa).  I will announce my giveaway for the event in my next post.  Also, I am sending out all my other giveaways to winners this week.  I got a little behind with the chaos you all are aware of, but we are now on track.  Back on the ship to all of our dreams...

Huge hugs to Miss Casey, Miss Carol and Miss Debbie for the "Make my Day award."  So touching!!  Especially when they all help make my day!

For today, I am changing the rules a bit, everyone who comes here today, gets a "You Make My day Award", and if you e-mail me your address, I will send you a surprise postcard, via snail-mail.  Just in time for Valentine's day! Yay!!!

For now, Hi-ho hi-ho, it's off to work I go....

      

See you sooooooon!! ;)

      

Little loves...

I have been practically non-existent out in the blogosphere this week.  Wow, it has been a wild week.  With all the moving and packing and work and glitches along the way...  But I had to stop by and have tea and treats with you.

I truly thought that while packing, I might want to get rid of things, that they would feel like a burden.  But instead, I was like a kid in a candy store.  Treasured items were refound and secured in safe places.  Like my Grandmother's album (which was safe and now even safer), with photos that are truly incredible...

      

What also happened, was that, I moved in really slow, numb & calm paces (while packaging fragile items).  And through the packing process, I grew to love all my treasures even more, and appreciate them, and value them more.  I can't wait to unpack them when all the plumbing is done.

      

Little creatures & treasures sometimes come marching into my life.  And,  I almost always embrace them completely.  But sometimes, when you get home after a day in the real world and you have to make dinner and ten million things are happening, you forget about teeny tiny purchases.  I am finding things in hidden spots.  You see, I am one of those people, that hides things for protection, and then forgets all about them...  Case in point...

The teeny tiny little loves...

      

Of course, these loves were easy to put away in a very safe place and forget about.  They are so fragile and so teensy.  They make me smile so much!!  I just wait for them to start talking to me.  Can you just hear the Donkey telling the cow, "Come on, hurry up." hahaaaaaa

        

Teensy things are lovely indeed.

On another note, I was thinking today, about handling things well (as you were all so very very nice to me, encouraging my positive attitude about the unexpected plumbing fiasco).  About taking deep breaths.  About letting yourself go through the motions.  And, I realized, there is something I allow myself to do all of the time.  Something that is so relieving for me.  I allow myself to cry.

      

I cry lovely little tears in abundance sometimes.  I crawl into my big white bed and let the tears out.  When heavy things happen what do you do?  Do you get enraged, do you fly off the handle?  Do you swallow it all and go for a long walk. 

Don't get me wrong, I don't just start crying in a public place like a mad woman (unless I am in a cafe with a friend and we are talking, and crying together and laughing together...).  But I do leave the situation right away and get in my car, or walk down the street, or like I said crawl in my bed and weeeeeeeeeeeep.  I never realized until talking about it, how much I loooooove to cry.  I don't love the sadness that made me cry, but I love the emotional outlet. 

I am a pretty sentimental girl :)  And, if I feel full of emotion, the tears will roll out...  I don't think it is a bad thing.  I think we shouldn't supress our feelings... Again, that is just me...

Do you like to cry?  Send your letters to crybabies dot com, we will read your letters on the air.  JUST JOKING.  I don't even know if crybabies.com exists (and sadly, I don't have a radio show, waaaaaaaah...)  Hahaaahaaa! See you soooon!! xo

Today's Menu: Little bits of simple niceness, mixed with Sweet Kindness, Sprinkled with overlooked goodness & garnished with bliss...

There are so many things I want to share and say sometimes.  What I was going to share with you today, went right out the window after a stroll through the yard and tea at the Gypsy Theatre. 

      

I woke up knowing I would have some daunting tasks that I had to prepare myself for.  Still lots of paperwork to get through.  And, the 3rd return of a printer, and so on and so forth.  What I decided last night was to set my alarm clock so I could get up a bit earlier and have some "me" time before the dreaded tasks.

I made some tea and strolled through the garden...  I  found myself at my little porch outside of the gallery, known between me, the bunnies & birds as the Gypsy Theatre.

      

As I was sitting there, I started thinking of all the incredibly kind and wonderful people I have met here.  The astounding generosity.  I realized, there are things I have not shared that are ever so important to share.

Things as silly as the ice star Mr. Lovee wanted me to send all of you weeks ago, on a cold Arizona day...

      

To things that we see everyday, and think of, that impact us greatly.  Like the ribbons still tied around our tree in memory of the Coble children...

      

Not only are there huge things that impact us... But there are special everyday things we all do.  All of us have one or two.  They are things that are part of our lives that we take completely for granted.  Things we notice that make us let out a little swoon.  Like places we pass by, where we see the same little old man in the window, everyday.  Or, the scent and moisture seeping out of our favorite dry cleaners, on a busy street...  Or, the first breath you take when you open the door to Starbucks or any favorite coffee place.  Or even, the overwhelming sweet smell that jolts you back to the 80's (in my case).  When your first boyfriend lent you his jacket at a football game or at the carnival & it was swathed in Drakkar Noir. 

Well, today's little life findings that made me swoon were more on the lines of finding Moss in a dry desert garden...  Bending over to run your fingers across it while saying "Ohhhh, I looove moss...."

      

And then stumbling upon it again in a crack in the concrete :)  Double Swoon!

      

But then we go on, not realizing how that little jolt of loveliness is quite essential to getting through the day.  Yet those things, are things we would hold onto, things that we might even refer to over and over in our memories if tragedy hit, and we were trying to remember the good times...  When Mr. Lovee had his bad accident, I would roam the yard, praying for some sense of normalcy.  Will we ever be able to go to a coffeee house, and sit and laugh and sip as we once did...  His 3 month recovery felt eternal...

I thought of that today, standing in front of the metal contraption I use to call Mr. Lovee when I can't find him in the yard...

      

One day he walked me over to it.  He took the pliers that are balanced right on the bar, and said "when you can't find me, don't scream LOOOOOVVVEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE.  Just do this."  With a quick motion, he swung the pliers into that big round bellish thing, and RING RING RING. Yikes.  That's loud.  But it works!

      

So, you see, today, as I was roaming, I realized how important the little things are.  And how things we do, can change people's days as well.  For the better and for the worse. 

Speaking of acts of kindness that change people's lives.  Have I got one for you.  You remember my friend Carolyn?  Who lost her son and then had to have major eye surgery in November?  Well, she is still house bound. And, I will tell you what, there have been some crucial acts of kindness from strangers and friends, that have helped her get through this...  We received a paypal donation from someone very dear to my heart, that I know through blogging.  I had told her about how our office was taking a collection for Carolyn.  A fund to help get her through the workless months... Every bit counted, I'll tell you what... That was so amazing, Thank you Miss N...  The people who donated at the office were incredible too.  The outpouring was jaw dropping!

Also, one of our very own fellow bloggers did something that was quite remarkable... 

One day I get an e-mail from the ever darling, Polly over at Counting Your blessings.  She says to me, you know, my mom and I choose someone every Christmas to donate 12 gifts for the 12 days of Christmas to.  And, would it be okay if we choose your friend Carolyn this year?  Lump in my throat - but of course it would be...

      

Like Clock work, a few days before the 12 days start.  A giant box appears.  Filled with wrapped gifts...  Gifts that truly, I mean truly, made a huge difference in Carolyn getting through the head down for 14 days in a row thing.  Being in that horrid contraption.  Everyday she looked forward to it.  And, may I just say, the gifts were beyond thoughtful and really really really good.  Which was a HUGE bonus.  The act was huge in itself, but then for the gifts to be phenomenal?!? 

Carolyn kept asking me if I had told Polly all the things she likes and such.  She thought I had something to do with the gift choices because they were just tooooooo perfect.  Nope, I had nothing to do with it at all.  It was all Polly.  So Miss Polly, thank you, from the bottom of my heart.  Thank you.  You are an angel!!!

Carolyn is such a trooper, if you knew her in real life, you would understand how valuable those 12 days of gifts were to her.  To feel loved & less alone.  She has the best sense of humor too. 

She said that depending on if she was happy or sad, she would give me the following funyun faces...

      

So the way I look at it.  After today's inspirations hit me, and all these memories and little loves came flooding in...  I realized, you can change your little day path.  You can even, find your own personal picnic place in your own world and shake things off.  Delve in and hide, even for just minutes...  It changed my whole outlook on my day...

      

So, when you are in my neck of the woods, and the Gypsy Theatre beckons, be prepared to get all mushy and moss loving.

      

Oh, and when the Gypsy tells your fortune, and speaks of you finding gold...  Remember to ask what kind of gold...

      

And in a sweet PS:  I told Mr. Lovee to bring me back a treasure from his real world thriftventures last week.  That night, I sheepishly asked...  Did I get a treasure??  He replied "the treasure is in your room, you have to look very carefully to find it..."  I searched and searched.  Things looked very normal...  Until I peeked into the dollhouse.  And, a tiny little girl we had never seen, was sitting right in the children's room.  Swoooooooooooon.

      

With that, I say, Happy Day!  Would you like a thriftventure find from Mr. Lovee?  Leave a comment describing what kind of things you love.  Mr. Lovee will draw a name and send you a lovely thriftventure treasure. We will name the recipient in a few days at the next blog post...(example:  I love kitchen stuff, I love random trinkets, I love bird stuff, I love blue stuff)

See you sooooon! xoxo

Psst, Psssssssst!! Your Wishes, Yes, Wishes!!

Ooo Eeee, Okay, how can I contain myself while I type???  I am not, NOT, supposed to be here right now.  I am frantically creating in the studio & trying to get a shop update together.  Which should happen in a couple of days.  I am also itching to visit you & catch up.

However, do I have news for you?!?  Your wishes, they are soaring, and they are going to come true, I can feel it!!

      

Today I made teeny tiny wishes out of the wishes you all left on the last post  (and a few others), and I mixed them up with glitter (which is still in my hair and on my face and neck :).  I packaged all the wishes up, and got ready to send them off.

I have to say, I learned a whole lot about wishes today.  I learned that you can begin to form them, you can envision them, you can even begin to make them come true... 

      

But just when you think you have it all planned out and they begin to happen...

      

Wishes can get stuck...

      

And, sometimes you have to sit and stare at them, and figure out a new way to make them happen... 

      

Oh sure, it is easy to give up.  Easy to say, I am wayyyyy down here, and those wishes are wayyy up there, and there is no way to get them down. 

      

But, you can also stop and think about people you could ask to help you.  Or, what if you are helping make someone else's wishes come true... Would you work harder to get them down if they were for someone else?  And, if they were for you, would you allow yourself to call on people to help make them come true?  Or would you simply give up?  Maybe with a boost here or a boost there the wishes could happen?  Some people have the tools we need to help make wishes come true...

Could something that seems way too hard to reach, really be one little tug away (with the right helper, or the right tool, or a nice request for help)... 

          

And, another question...  Will we be ready when it does happen? Or will it happen so quickly we will be unprepared...

      

Nonetheless, we continue to wish and dream and hope.  Tugging & pulling & grasping & biting our fingernails at the outcome...

All of a sudden, the wishes are set free, & they begin to soar again.  We have faith in them once again...

      

Just like that, they continue, on their journey...

      

I really felt your wishes today, all bundled up in that package.  Floating away quickly, I was swooning, jumping up and down.  I was saying "G'bye wishes, hope you get there..."  Knowing in my heart, they would...

      

It was so fulfilling to physically set the wishes free...  My heart felt so overjoyed...

      

I watched them until they disappearred into a perfectly cloudy day.  Perfect weather to carry them off on their voyage...

When I turned around, the mountains had turned as pink as the balloons carrying your wishes.

      

And, I knew, just then, your wishes would come true...

      

What a Crepe-ee Day...

Hellooo Hellooooo.  I am on a creative flow... In the studio working away.  But I came up for air to simply say, " It has been a downright fitful, crepe-ee day!"

      

A fitful day in the sense that... Well, I had a fit this morning.  Yes. I have those occasionally.  Think of it, like the little girl, I mean, the lovely little girl... You know the one with the bows in her hair.  Who is trying on shoes with her mom at Buster Brown.  Think 1979.  She has an angelic face, and golden curls in her very long ponytails.  Her mother slips a red leather shoe onto the tiny foot, and asks "do you like these sweetie?" And the little girl turns pink, then red, then purple, then Aaaahhhhhhh." F-i-t.

      

The doll girl freaks out, screaming, "I hate these shoes, I hate these shoes." Ponytails fly out of her hair.  And, her mother, trying to do anything to get the munchkin to calm down, starts asking questions. "Do they hurt, do the red shoes hurt?"  "I'll get you a cookie? A pretzel? An Icee?  A lollipop."  But all the little girl can do is throw herself on the floor and kick and scream, stopping only for a long breath followed by, yet another wail... (photo by Jill Greenberg. From the "End Times" Exhibit)

The truth is. The little girl didn't know why she had a fit then, and doesn't know why she has them now.  (Only, now that she is a bit older than 4, the chances of hormones playing a part, is a bit higher)

Well, that is what happens around here occasionally.  The girl throws a fit.  And her manny tries so hard to make her feel better.  Even offering to drive her back to that little old town village to purchase that unnecessary treasure.  (Which they did, details to follow in next post)

But, she decided.  No, I will not fall into fit-dom.  I will make Crepes...  Crepes served with regular and white peaches.  Peaches that have been cooked in brown sugar and butter...(it is so fun cooking at Mr. Lovee's.  He has such a down home array of cookware.  Like cast iron pans, and heavy duty glass saucepans.  Tres interesante for cooking, I'd say)

       

And, so it was a  fact. The crepes saved, the crepey day...

Pour

      

Tilt pan around and around (with mits on), to even out thickness.  Wait 20 seconds.  Flip with tip of fingers. (Have some with raspberry jam too)

      

      

Make some artsy ones for fun....

      

Now, stay for a few, while I get back to work...  I am running back to the studio.  I am so annoyed at myself for not having the paintings I have completed ready for viewing today....  But soon, sooner than soon... xxo

Oh, and look at tonights sky from the front yard... Halloween is a comin'...

      

Has it ever happened...

Has it ever happened, that you are skipping through life, delighted and at peace... Humming along, when all of a sudden you feel yourself getting sucked into one of "life's little cracks?"   The kind where your favorite shoe slowly starts to slip into an abyss, and your knees turn to water... The kind that makes you feel like the thread of a long balloon, is slipping out of your fingers...  You might find yourself  in shock, other times in dismay... Those times that feel like, only one little grey cloud has formed  in the sky, and you know it is just for you...

      

It seems that many people that I love and care about are going through times just like this.  Some are work related, some health related, others are relationship related.  So many life things swirling about...

Many people out there, right at this very moment, feel like they are spiraling down into some unknown place...

      

I for one am a purveyor of trying to see the hopeful side of things.  Of keeping the faith.  But, sometimes life just throws you a curveball.  And, I try not to discount a person's feelings.  The term "get over it," does not sit well with me.  Sometimes a person doesn't have it in them to be strong.  We all need a little nest that we can hide in and sob...

      

You just might wake up to find a little unexpected cloud. When these things happen to us, are we ever prepared?  Do we have a place to crawl into to feel warmth? To be held in a protective cocoon?  To have "numb" time.  I feel helpless sometimes, in that I can't help my friends.  I lend an ear.  I lend my time and my heart... And maybe, that is all a person really needs?

There aren't just the stairs that seemingly lead downwards...  There are stairs that lead you upwards... The destination point, might seem unknown as you start to climb... But, after a bit of a childlike fit, I always try to climb... Searching for a happy space once again...

      

One thing I love is that I can call on my family. Even when I don't realize that I need them. I might take that impromtu visit to my parents house.. And as I enter the house, I hear my dad holler, "I just bought some Pan Dulce." (Spanish sweet treats.)  He follows that with "just because you were coming..."  And I think, "Why this is a cozy little nook, I so needed this..."

      

As I head for that first sweet buttery treat filled with a smooth mild cream cheese, I think. "Boy my dad is funny." And I realize that my mom has not only set this on her usual pewter tray, she has used thick pink doilies.  I am blissfully aware that the Pan Dulce, the doilies, the coffee brewing...  These are snippets of love...

      

And, as we stand around chatting. Taking little pieces here and there (My mom repeating  "get a plate"), I know this is my lovely cloud on this very day. Above all, I know that this is where I am totally safe. Safe to be me. Safe to cry. Safe to share.  And, I realize, this is something special...

      

We continue to nibble, never taking plates.  Sharing stories back and forth.  Loving each moment.

      

It is lovely to have a little place to go to, when in need of a friend or family member.  Some of us, like to cope alone. Retreating to a quiet space to read or write.  Others enjoying a group of people, to sing and carry on with...  I for one, am simply glad, that I have found you and you have found me... And, on occassion, we can just open up like this and chat...

      

Curious, Curiosities, Curiosidades

There once was this funny little girl.  She would whisper for hours with her dolls, practically crawling inside of her magnificent dollhouse. 

      

She dressed her dolls in jewels and gowns... Dreaming of times and places she could have never lived in...  Her mother referred to her as Contess Frangipani.  She dreamed herself as Cornelia Sweetflour... But her real name would always be Vanessa Valencia Cola Pestilencia. 

She announced proudly to boys and then men, that she would never give up her name.  Joyously encouraging that they might take on hers...

          

She dreamed she would always be the same little girl. Only wishing to be older so she could have treasure chests filled with jewels... She dreamed this while sitting in the grass, under big trees, plucking leaves off of flowers & nibbling on treats... She made her own wishes into the wind...

      

She grew up in a little village that surrounded a very very old wonderul church.  The church had beautiful stained glass windows, and sky high ceilings, with dark wooden beams and medieval designs... Two giant angels, hovered way up above ... Sometimes she'd visit alone.. A wonderful escape. When noone was around she would find peace & relish in the wonderful scent of an old beautiful church... Candles and incense...

      

She was fascinated with fountains and old garden statues... She knew that when she grew up she would have statues like the ones in old cemetaries, strewn throughout her garden...

      

She wanted to be a bit like Miss Havisham (some of you know her as Miss Dinsmoor), sans the whole, left at the alter mean hag thing.  Going more for the old gowns and collapsing old, mansion  effect... Still, always the dream of a perpetual dress up party loomed... And jewels, jewels, jewels...

      

Oh life was not all perfection for the little miss.  She had the regular school tauntings, and the usual teenage angst... But she had a mother who sent her off to school with sandwiches shaped like hearts, and freshly baked delicacies...  Of course, she didn't realize the tenderness of her mother's doings until she was a much older girl. But the memories were blissful... (Oh, and she had a father too, who would drop anything he was doing to fulfill the munchkins every whim - almost-  he also had a paddle that said, "heat for the seat." But that is a whole other show, as they say)

The girl worried all of the time, that she would forget her youthful desires.  Fountains and statues, jewels and perpetual dress-ups... Curio cabinets filled to the brim!!!

      

She went off to University and got a degree, she went through lots of loves and had some horrid jobs... But the good news was... She never did forget that little girl inside of her... And, years ago, when she was ready... She schlepped home a fountain, and a bizillion other treasures...

      

Oh, the love of the sound of a trickling fountain...

      

The girl still plays dress up, and has quite a ball, alone in a drawer, like those days in the dollhouse.  But now, she has many jewels that suit her fancy (and budget, afterall she is a single girl making her own way in a great big world).  The good news is that when she comes home with that huge piano (she already has 3) and a bag (s) of loot.. She has noone to yell at her, or ask to see the checkbook. heehee.  Although, Mr. Lovee might slightly over-react at the amount of loot she hauls to Catalina.

      

You might be asking yourself, Why today's tale?  The purpose is quite simple.  To remind you to try to never forget that girl inside of you. No matter what age you are. No matter how many kids or husbands, you've had, or haven't had... There is still a girl in you, who might want to play dress up... Who might want to eat chocloate croissants in bed and listen to weird old music (one of my faves). 

      

A Girl who might have a heavy heart and need to be reminded of the precious person she holds inside.  The outside really is only a tattered case, for a magical violin... It is inside that the song still plays...  You are never too young to know this, and never to old to remember this... No matter what age.  Now is the time to play & above all, to nurture your soul...

Do something silly, have a ball of your own... Play dress up!  Wear you favorite jewels to the grocery store.  I know I do...

      

And for those of you girls, who are still quite young... And feel like you are running out of time to get things done... Rememeber there are no rules for when it is time to find the perfect man, no rules on when to have babies or when to find the perfect job.  Take a deep breath, dance around, embrace your age and who you are... You'll look back and be glad that you did...

We all change from day to day. Who you were at 25 will not be who you are at 35, and so on...  Don't rush the choices. By golly, we have so many of them!

I know for me, I am still a girl inside.  That girl who used to dream.  The little girl in me, thanks me everyday for keeping her around... Although, sometimes, we go a little overboard with the collecting...

      

Just a few days ago, I thought of my wonderful mom, and her love of all things dress up.  How she has kept her "girl" alive. She is funny and youthful.  She has helped me to know how to nurture myself, and supports all my crazy choices...I missed her lovely heart shaped sandwiches, dolls, jewels and pink galore... So I jumped into the car and drove out of town, off to visit her and my dad.  I warned noone. Hence my disappearance  ;)  I knew, when it was time, for their always "little girl," to make a much needed visit.