A Fanciful Twist

A simple recipe, to cure a complicated ailment...

So...  I have been doing this super silly thing (in my head) lately.  Everytime my day becomes even a tinge un-busy, I convince myself that, I neeeeeed some excitement in my life....  I go around, racking my brain.  Wondering what this thing is that will bring me some excitement....

      

I go through the obvious things that might bring excitement...  New love?  Oh goodness no...  New Hair color?  New hair length?  Umm, nope nope (but red hair could be fun? oh ya, already tried that once, for 24 hours, until my hairdresser opened her front door and helped me)...  New pet?  New town?  Vacation?  New outrageous shoes?  What???  What off the wall thing could I do, to attempt to bring my life some form of excitement?

I am not talking about the feeling of being sad.  I am talking about, everything is A-okay, but I sure would looove some silly fun and exciting happenings.  You know, something out of the ordinary... 

Chances are, anything I choose, will bring me more drama and less excitement.  I'll end up frantic (the hair choice), overwhelmed (moving), in a state of buyer's remorse (new "outrageous" shoes)...  Is there any practical thing that could fix my burning desire???  A Discotheque, perhaps? (only if JT's meeting me there)

      

Just when I almost gave in to one of the above, I found the cure.  I found it, I found it!!!  Yes, I can cure your need for excitement too. I can I can!!  The recipe calls for, glycerine, dawn soap, Light Karo Corn syrup, distilled water, a car, and 5 emergency dollars!!!

I am sorry that it isn't as easy as painting your nails some groovy color...

      

So here is how it all began.  My rat tail and I went outside to see what we could conjur up for excitement. 

      

When the lovely weather whispered the answer...  In I ran, in search of tools to make the tools, and soap to make the concoction. 

      

I went online and found this!!  Bravo!!!  This is it, I knew it, I knew it!!  Monster Bubbles!!! Yes yes yes!!!  This is just what the doctor ordered!!!!!

Only, this is one of those times my cooking skills "Could Not" save me.  You can not substitute dark corn syrup for light, and you can't use well water, instead of distilled.  You just can't. 6 attempts at a formula later (plus two bottles of dawn and soap everywhere).  Although,  I almost had a monster bubble, twice...

I realized, I had more of a monster MESS on my hands than lovely bubbles...

      

This is where the car + the 5 bucks comes into play.  Wash off as much bubble mess as you can, jump in the car, drive like a MAD woman to the store and buy a GIANT bottle of commercial bubbles.  Woo Hooooo.

But wait.  Why did I ever think I could photograph this, and blow bubbles at the same time??

      

          

This is where you start longing for rest and relaxation more than excitement.  And, you see how this can take the place of coloring your hair in a whole new brilliant color??  You get the same effect. 

You wish you had never conjured up the idea.  But in this case, it is only soap.  Not hair!!  Not a new more complicated boyfriend/husband, not a botched vacation where you sit in the airport for 64 hours.  No!!  It is only soap...  See how this works?? Same frustration.  Same loss of the need for excitement.  But, it is only SOAP!!!  Wooohoooo!!

And if you are lucky, you might even get a lovely shot...

      

So, after that one, lovely & satisfying photograph...  You decide, that is it.  No more excitement for me.  Unless of course, John Travolta calls.  But, in the real version of things, no more.  I am done.  Fulfilled.  Next thing on my list...

So, I take my self shopping...  And, think I deserve anything I want.  So here is what I choose...

      

My room smells like apple, grape, and original bubble gum blissssss...

      

Now, tell me, does this ring any bells???  My friend Honor always says, people will tell you exactly who they are if you just listen...  But why don't I listen to the royal title people when they tell me that I am the great Bubblewick???  Isn't this all making perfect sense now???  Remember this?

      

        

The only problem is, you have to make sure noone gets into your stash.  And the pitter patter of little feet, warned me...

      

My wee one is after the bubble gum...

      

How do explain to her that she can't chew bubble gum?  That dolls, simply can't?  Please give me some advice ;)

Now, here is the deal.  For a little blogging excitement, tell me some wacky thing you might have done in the name of a change or excitement, some time in your life.  And I will put together a wackylicious gift bag for one of you!!!!  I will draw names in a few days!! ;)

Off I go for now.... xoxo, V

PS: I do hope that you might try one of these formulas...  I might try it again soon (with the correct ingredients this time).

pps:  the carnival photo was found in google images and I believe (after searching),  is by Adam Gageik Goetz.  It was listed on photos.net 

Going Cuckoo, and other things...

Warning, this post is going to be very very cuckoooooo.  Are you prepared for the antics of an electricityless girl?

      

It all started one crisp lovely day, when the pup and I were making our way...  Through the garden of cactus, of love and of folklore, when tracks not belonging, marred the garden floor...

      

She looked at me, as I looked at her...  Both wondering what could be happening?  We heard a loud sound, and we flinched just a bit, while I cried, dear ole Lovee, but he was nowhere in sight...

Then, much to our dismay, what did we see?  The man with hair like the boys from Kiss, called Mr. Lovee, was doing an operation, on our very lovely little ground.  What was goin' on?  We cried out loud???

      

"Well lil' darlin', we're finally upgradin' the power."  (he doesn't really talk like that, but it sure would be romantic if he did) Oh thought me, and baby (the dog), with glee, that means yippeeee, hooray, A/C!  "But wait, it gets better, it's better than that, you can run all your kilns, bake pots back to back."  Only one little glitch said he to me... What thought I, eyes big as a tree... "You ain't gonna be playing with your little friends inside of that there machine."  What?  You mean, umm, no computer?  "Umm nooope" said he, "Maybe as long as a week."

Well I frowned and I huffed and I puffed all about.  But, but but.  Then said he, standing straight as could be.  "Fine, I don't have to do this for YOU."  "You can just boil and simmer this summer in 125 degrees."  Oh, no it's okay, I exclaimed.  I understand.  (Ya right)

So, I went on with my business, not much caring, but the trenching took days, no electricity, and the sound was blaring.  I acted real nice, takin' him coffee and tea.  And, I even was sweet as sweet as could be...

      

But, days and days later, I just could not bear, to be goin' around with big poofy hair (no electricity = no blow dryer, and most of the time I don't care).  I know I know, I should be happy I have hair at all...  But big poofy hair, it makes me feel tall.  And I am used to being real short, short as a mouse.  Hmmm, if only I could be tall... (oops sorry lost my rhyme...)

The nice man, the one with hair like the boys from Kiss, was truly being eagerly missed.  He worked every day, all work and no play... And the trench just grew bigger, more problems along the way.  "Oops he exclaimed, more than once a day, first it was the telephone cable, and then, who knows what else.."

      

The trench just kept getting longer and longer, and deeper, and wider, until it wrapped around the whole neighborhood (not really).  But, it did wrap around all the way down the side of the house too...

So, the girl, with poofy hair, in three layers of white prairie gowns, made herself busy, like a good Victorian girl would do.  She tredged along in the dirt, her layers of gowns and slippers like a nutty clowns...  Wondering what she should do...  The creatures in the yard mocked her from day to day... First it was Fluffy and Muffy, both causing her grief...

      

Then it was Fluffy alone (and this is true), he would pounce onto her bedroom door, just to get her attention...  And then pose as a statue...

      

First to the left of the Buddha, then to the right... 

      

As this went on, all morning noon and night...  She finally tired of Fluffy's mind games, and skipped on along...  Wondering what to do next... 

A few days came and went, and still, only spurts of power were allowed.  Check your e-mail as fast as you can and then, poof, it's out again...

So, she created a plan, to catch her own shadow... That kookie crazy shadow of hers... But it snuck right away, wearing her clothes, three layers of gowns and don't forget, slippers like a clowns...

      

Then her sneaky little shadow decided to try, to steal the dogs, oh me oh my!

      

But no luck, the duck was too alert, I mean dog, oops.  And, the pup ran away, before the shadow could cause her any hurt...

So, the shadow thought, in her best Eeyore voice, "Oooh, well, I guess, I could use this time to clean the house..."  Instead, she went to the store, walked around, but found it a bore...  Then went back to the country home, and played with her favorite gnome...

Then, she sat and she pondered, talking to her favorite hairbrush. The one that came all the way from her dearest friend in Pair-us. (I mean, Paris, hee hee)

      

She thought it had worked, she had chanelled her friend, Miss Tara, Paris Parfait, is that you?  Is that you my dear friend?  She conjured a plan, her and her hairbrush.  She would pack a bag and head for Paris.  Alas, there was this huge problem, she refused to board the plane.  So Miss Tara, for now, I made that plan in vain.  To surprise you, you see... At a quarter to three.  To call you from the airport so you could go rescue me :)

Maybe next time, she thought to herself.  Then got lost for hours, playing with treasures her friend had sent her long ago...

      

Which she cared for and loved, and thanked the elf above (I don't know who the elf above is but, let's just go with it...).

Anyhow, the days went along, the power in dissaray...  And the girl did not clean but continued to play.  Then she thought of a magical thing she had found right before, her plumbing exploded and flooded the floor...

She ran to the hiding place, where this thing lived, unpacked it and hung it, and behold, it ticked and it ticked...

      

And she sat, and waited and waited, for the wee little bird...  To hop out and say, it is time, have you heard??

      

      

      

But the whole thing happened so fast, darn and blast! (oops)  She couldn't quite capture the wee little bird, but you can imagine, he was quite handsome...

And then the news she had waited for, the power would be turned on, yippppeeee, let's explore...  A life with more power, to bake you a giant clay flower...  Only there was just one thing...

The man, known as Mr. Lovee, with the Kiss band hair, and orange under----(just kidding) :)  Took her to the new power center.  He said, well, I know it looks bad, and it is right in front of your gallery/shop, but...

Before he could go on, HER JAW hit the floor.  And her face turned as red as a bright bursting berry.  She shook and she hollered and stomped all about.  OH NO no no no!!!!  This can't be no no no, remove it right away!!!

      

All of a sudden, her anger transfered to he, and his blood boiled and steam came right out of his ears.  His eyebrows flew right off his face, and his teeth got all pointy and fierce.  He spun all around in anger and rage...  She realized, what happened. He had worked oh so hard, taking days out of his schedule to trench and to dig, so she could run her kilns back to back, and have a/c and live in peace and spoiled glee. 

So, she said, wait wait wait, I actually like it.  It is like a canvas.  I can paint it pink, I can write A Fanciful Twist on it.  He looked at her all perplexed.  Wondering, what was next?  No I am serious, she said.  It had to be, and it is just fine.  No big deal.  Then she took her hand in his, as he sat in a chair, face to face, him with a bit nicer glare (than 10 seconds ago that is).  And she said...  Now Mr. Lovee, I have a question, is this big beautiful grey metal box filled with power, a gift from you?  He nodded, yes, his face tired, but less and less stressed.  Then she said, " Well, then, if it be, that this big metal box, is a gift from you, then I love it all the more, and would hate to see it go."

Then the man said, "Well, that is good because you don't have choice."  :) :)   She gave him a hug, and brought him a nice hot cup of coffee, as he sat, looking defeated and exhausted.

She scurried away, and knew she was wrong, what was she thinking acting like she lived at the primadonna prom??? 

So, she went in her studio (getting out of his way), and thought to herself, I'll make another shamrock brooch and play...  And so was born a new idea, 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!

      

So, there you have it a, a very merry cuckoo week.  And, now hopefully, getting back to normal!!  Can't wait to make my visits!!  I feel so out of the loooop!! (it has been like that alot here lately, eh?) xoxo, V

Is this really happening? {oh yes, it is}

My mind keeps asking itself those four words.  Even though, I know, yes, there is something chaotic happening in my world. I understand that I just have to deal with it, be practical, be calm.  But, all of a sudden, I think of the situation, and my heart beats a bit faster, and my brain floods with thoughts, and a tinge of panic electrifies my whole body.  Then slowly, the feeling, fades away...

What is this all about?  Let me ask you this question (particularly to those who own lots of items)...  Have you ever thought about what you would do if you had to move really quickly?  If you had to pack 15+ years of belongings.  Do you dread it?  Hope to the heavens that it won't happen?

      

Well, I have to say.  I was NOT prepared for what happened on Friday morning.  You see, for a long time, we have been noticing that floor tiles in our house are really really warm (this is my in town home, not the studio countryhome).   

My sister (we share this home) was complaining about not having hot water.  At first I didn't think much of it.  But, then it got so bad, my wonderful mother and father came to town to fix the issue.  They decided to get a new water heater (even though ours was only 5 years old).  The next day, my sister warned that there still was no hot water.  My father once again, came to town to try to figure things out.  Nothing, no sign of what was happening.  The neighbor tells my father that she had a major plumbing issue, and her whole house flooded.  Upstairs, downstairs.  She had to have new carpet, new walls, new ceilings, new everything.  We cringed....  And, then went on with our lives...  We had lukewarm water.  We hoped for the best...

      

The next day,  my sister found water seeping out from under my piano.  I rushed home, my parents met me there.  WE promptly started moving furniture, while my dad cut holes in the drywall...  The family plumber was on his way...  We knew it would not be good... 

The Good news?  The water does not seem to have reached my bedroom.  The bad news?  Our plumbing runs underground.  WE have the ever dreaded polybutelene pipes that noone ever wants to have, ever.  We never knew.  We have owned the place since 1993, without any issues.  It was never disclosed.

Our house foundation is soaked, our pipes are rotten.  The protocol, the only thing to do?  After much huddling around, discussing this ever so carefully.  The fact is evident, the entire house has to be replumbed.  It is the easiest solution.  We can not open up the floors.  WE have to make the old plumbing dormant and put in all new pipes.  The Plumber would start Monday.  That meant.  Time to pack all of my belongings.  Everything.  As ceilings and walls will be cut open. 

So, that is where I have been.  Packing all my life's treasures...  All my belongings.  The one wonderful thing.  I was able to place lots of things on my bed (all my clothes, as I had to empty out my jam packed walk-in closet), as that was going to stay.  It would just have to be covered with plastic...

      

At first I was devastated.  But then, I thought to myself...  How can you feel devastated?  You are able to save all of your possessions...  Nothing is ruined...  Then my heart broke for the people of the Katrina tragedy...  I was just feeling sorry for myself.  But, what about all the people losing homes in floods, in fires...  No time to save anything...  I am soooo lucky!!

All there was to do was pack, and not think about it too much...

      

I didn't want much help, as I needed to know where all my items were going.  And certain treasures needed to be in certain places...  Plus, I have soo many breakables... 

      

And, I want to be able to find things easily when it is time to move back in...

      

I was taking photos, in case I decided to share this with you.  Part of me thought, just move on, talk about something else.  But the other part of me, needs to talk about it, just to relieve the whirlwind stress of the last couple of days...

Moving big furniture, lots of art...  Making sure everything was safe...  Well protected...

      

The most wonderful part of this whole fiasco, was finding treasures that were lost deep in my closet.  I have lived in this house since I was 18 years old.  I pretty much own everything I brought to Tucson when I left home (and much more).  Oh, it is soooo exciting to find treasures I thought were lost...  Jewelry I mourned about, was found!!  As well as, all the rhinestone stuff and dresses from my Mexico discoteque days. So willllld!!!  Horrid Huge platform shoes made me smile from ear to ear! I got them for .50 cents in the late eighties...

      

The nostalgia of it all, made me appreciate the fact that all was not lost.  I can't tell you how I keep repeating those thoughts in my mind.  Thank God that things are okay.  All it was was an inconvenience, really.  And, hopefully, the re-plumbing will go smoothly (crossing fingers big time!)

      

I played dress up during breaks, and wondered, why I ever paid hundreds of dollars for shoes like this, brought back from London...  How did I walk in them???

      

Yesterday already seems like a blur...  As it was my biggest packing day...

      

And, I have to say, one thing I appreciate about my personality is, I have the ability to let go of issues.  I don't like to hold on, I like to move on.  No point in dwelling...  I need happy in my life...  So, as I type this blog post, I feel just fine.  I feel remarkably better, and just a little tired...

Mr. Lovee and I moved the last of the big stuff out yesterday...  While I sat on an empty safe, I played my piano to my hearts content...

      

All the while, my life sized mermaid looked on, before being plastic wrapped :)  I am so touched at how my family always come through.  My sister and brother and I are so blessed to have the parents we have.  They are understanding, they take good care of us.  I could never express to them, the profound love and gratitude I have for them...

Last night, when I got to the country home, I took a hot shower.  And felt so bad for my sister who has not been able to have one in a long time.  I also sat down to read all of the comments from my last blog post.  Mr. Lovee walked over to me, I looked up at him, huge lump in my throat, and said, "they made it all better."  Mr. Lovee said "who did?"  I pointed at the screen.  At all of your comments.   Because, well, they fill my soul.  They do, they do :)

It is wonderful to have this country place, where I have my studio, and where, my art world will not be affected.  I will have a few busy days this week, but I will see you very very soon!! xoxo  Vanessa

      

A Cackle, a Winner, a Warlock, No good excuses & POOF!

I was all spooked out, when real life got even spookier!!! I mean really weird things are happening.  Lights are going off and on, alone.  I heard kittens in my studio, loud ones... And, my radio that was unplugged, turned on...  Okay, white lie... The radio was plugged in, but it still turned on on its own. And it was off. I mean totally off...  The lights in my bathroom, have been going off and on by themselves since a family member passed away.. Hmmm....  Verry Verry Intristink.  Coincidence? You be the judge... Hee heee....  The girls are so excited about all the paranormal activity... They can hardly stand it!!

      

So, the girls and I are doing "giveaway choosing duty."  Mr. Lovee is out at Monday night with a bunch of hot 60-something years olds.  No, really, I am serious.  One of them said he'd come and pick me up and take me away and pack up all my stuff.  Mr. Lovee offered him money... Well I oughta!!!!  I told Mr. Lovee, I am like mold, almost impossible to get rid of... hahahahaa.  He laughs, nervously.  (joking)

Anyhow, everyone is waiting with bated breath around here to see who the giveaway winner is...  So pile up in the chaise and lets draw a name!!!!  I want to get some new fun pillows soon.. Alas time is not on my side these days, but soon!!  If you see any in the internet shopping world, let me know... Bright and fun pillows...

      

So Mr. Warlock says the winner is.....

      

Oh no, I felt so guilty just choosing one.  I get all anxious for you!!! Anyhow, it went like this....  The magic was brewing all around...  As I dropped all the hand-written names in...

      

Into the pot, they get twisted and turned...

      

And the first name I pulled was.... Wait, I couldn't do just one, I had to do three...

      

But, I couldn't stop there, I decided to pull 5.  I decided 5 is a good number, I think it is my lovely friends lucky number??  So 5 it is...

      

So, there you have it.  5 winners.  Cherie, Joy, Marjorie, Mary & Dave.  FUN!!!  So, each one of you will get a fun goodie bag!! It will be silly, Halloweenie, Kookie, and Spooky. A little treat... (e-mail me your addresses, please)

I am so so sorry for those of you who didn't get picked.  However, I will have another giveaway soon, so keep playing, please!!!

I have to say, things are getting a little crazy in my world getting ready for my show.  It seems the pottery process is sooo slow. So many steps, glazing twice, 2 weeks in between.  Paper dress girls, prints, cards, real-job, art-job, jewelry-making, cleaning up gallery... Oh my!!!  I love the madness though. 

Anyhow, I want to ask you all to forgive me for being so slow in visits right now.  I love your comments (I live for them really) & am sure all of us who blog adore visitors... So, please be patient with me. I could use all the good vibes I can get.  I promise to be back to normal after the show (it is in 2.5 weeks or so).  I don't mean to be a blog hog, but I looove your comments!

Now, I leave you with a story.... Twisted Sistahs

      

I just adore having holiday themed books, that I can whip out during different times of the year. Love this book!!!

      

Have a lovely week!! I will be back very very soon!!!  Now, tell me, any spooky things happening in your world????? xooxox

Poof!  I am off on my broom....

Random Thoughts...

I think I stayed at the bloglandia ball a few days too long.  I am soooo tired, I wore the soles off of my shoes dancing.  My house guests are gone, and I have been roaming outside, devouring the lovely change of weather.  The yard feels so romantic and mysterious these days...

      

Oh, and I have been having tea with John Galliano.  Oh, okay, you caught me in a white lie...  But, I really do need his fall collection.  The whole collection.  Maryam said, this is so you, and I said, you are so right on! Just look at the borrowed photo below.  (style.com)

      

I could so use her doll as well.  Remember I told you Mr. Lovee had convinced me on a gift, one blue melancholic Sunday?  Well, here you have it. An antique baby carriage.  No, don't worry, I have no announcements. No babies for this girl.  But, I do love the carriage for all of my dolls.  I still have all of my childhood dolls in a giant trunk that travelled on the Mauretania, one way,  from New York to Paris (obviously it then came back to me here).

      

I am having such a hard time getting back into the swing of things.  I have been working a bit more than expected at my real job (thank goodness I am self employed, it makes life so much easier, as my life can get pretty kookie sometimes).  And, I have been shopping.  While Mr. Lovee was away for several days, I dragged home a treasure.  I will share it soon.  Boy, am I in trouble (or so I think)...

My days have consisted of tea with my dearest friend, early in the morning, working, packaging, cleaning, raking acreage, and the list never ends does it?  Do you feel the same way??  While my one friend was here, we talked until we were slurring our words, late at night,  and then simply fell asleep in mid conversation.  Girlfriends are the bestest of the best!!  I will have more guests soon.  Then the 6th annual Witches party.

I have also been a naughty girl visiting every Halloween place in town.  Here are two bad camera phone photos.  But, the Martha Stewart Halloween treasures at Michael's are just awesome! (click photo to enlarge).

      

I have been shopping a little much and just look at all the treasures I brought home.  Yipppeeee!!!

      

      

I know, exciting, exciting!  You should come over and create with me! What would you make first?  Oh, and I can't forget to ask you, hasn't the moon been unreal????

      

Our sky did something amazing this afternoon. Look at this, totally unaltered photo...

      

I wanted to have the scarecrow finished by the time Mr.  Lovee got back, but no luck.  I was not fast enough...  Tonight, baby (she came with that name, I am not some insane chic)  and I contemplated how to get the giant bale over to the other side of the yard... (while I decided to sip a Pumpkin Ale that I had left over from a gift basket I made.  Pretty okay for a non-beer drinker)

      

Then we gave up... We'll ask Mr. Lovee for help tomorrow, when he is not so tired. Although, I am way to stubborn to ask for help... Hmmmm.

      

I went inside & decided to frame a print from my extraordinarily talented friend, Marjorie,  a fellow cottage industry proprietress.  She is MarmeeCraft.  Her work is just unreal, whimsical and Victorian and sublime. 

      

This print is titled, "Halloween Party" and is a limited edition. Don't you love it?? (my pictures are a bit dark, as night fell quickly this evening...)

      

Well, off I go.  My body clock is so messed up.  I have been waking up ten to 5:00 a.m. every day for 2 weeks now.  So, 9 p.m. rolls around and I have had it, I need toothpicks to hold my eyelids open.  See you soon!!  Life is almost back to normal & I am making special time to visit all of you, my dear Bloglandia friends!  Your visits are more than inspiring. xoxoxoxo

My Crystal Ball Tells Me...

First it tells me, it's not crystal, it's mercury.  But that is okay, I can still see a message shining through...  Do I see the word Giveaway?

      

Secondly, the magic mercury ball tells me that a bunch of you are getting very very excited for October...  Seems like the broom-sticks are getting polished and the hats are getting stitched...  Spooky season is just around the corner.  I know it is only August, but, in the Arts and Crafts world, October 2007 started being planned on November 1st, 2006.

      

Needless to say, October is one of my favorite months of the year. And, if anyone of you want to invite me to a place where leaves turn and Halloween is a spectacular event, then let me know, and I will start packing my bags.  My poor little soul yearns for big trees and orange leaves... Alas, the desert gives us a very low key Autumn.

Every October, I throw a witches party for girls only.  We get out the fancy stuff and go all out!  It is sooo much fun!!! I just can not wait!!

      

Spooky houses, candy, bobbing for apples... Do you love all that too?  My Halloween fun is all silly and child-like. Carmel and Candy apples galore...  Perhaps I am getting carried away... I mean we have two whole months... EEK, it is soon!!  I had this dream once, of  Halloween, where everything glittered...And so many details, oh, it was wonderful.. I have to re-create it before the memory gets too far away...

               

I almost forgot!! The next post is my 100th. Soooo, I am having a giveaway.  I will include fun things + prints from my "AFanciful Twist" shop, and a treat... All you have to do is leave a comment in celebration, and then promise to send me back a small treat.  Like a postcard or something... Just so I know you received your Giveaway Treasure.  We'll put the names in a hat, and Mr. Lovee will draw a winner on Wednesday...

Warning, Today's Woes:

Soooo, I am off to rest a bit.  You see, a creature stung me last night at 2:38 a.m. In my blissful sleep.  I am sorry to say, it was a dreadful Scorpion.  My first sting was 4 years ago.  I thought someone had broken into the house.  My first thought was that I was being attacked with a sledge hammer, and that my elbow had been shattered.  Thank goodness, that was not the case. However, it was a scorpion sting on the elbow.   The pain, in my case (all cases are different) feels like breaking bones. 

This sting is on my left middle finger left lower side.  I also thrashed my left ring finger earlier in the day pulling weeds around this horrid thing.

Barrel Cactus. Cuts like Bear claws.

          

It took out a wee chunk.  Not to be graffic, but, that is why I am slow in posting, and lazy lazy lazy.  Oh, and if you think wrecking two left fingers in a day isn't bad enough, a skunk crawled onto the roof, who knows how.. And sprayed into the cooler at 4:56 a.m. Can you imagine?  The house was a pit.  It is funny now, but it wasn't early this morning.  I am almost back to normal. Ha. Poor manny of mine.  Taking all the bedding off of my bed in my private suite, only to have me, insist on sleeping in his part of the house, on the couch.  Oh, and as I was going to sleep, I heard a bunch of noise. It turned out, my manny was killing another scorpion. YIKEsss!

Get me outta here!!!

A Sick World (A Sick Girl)

Where have I been? I went into town for a couple of days, and I caught a cold. But, let's have a little chat anyway, and choose a cozy nook to sit in... Okay, a little space in my kitchen sounds good....

      

Let me just get cozy.  A treat for you and a treat for me...

      

So, I caught a cold.... I think I am just pushing to hard.  I have a real job, an art job, a jewelry job, two homes, a Mr. Lovee, two parents, two siblings, and lots and lots of stuff to do in between (oh and Baby, the yard sale dog).  I thrive on all that action though, so don't worry too much

I have been slow in visiting my friends (that would be, you).  The one thing I swore I would not do. So much for that.  Yes, I feel guilty. It is inherent.  I have no control over it....

Okay, Back to, a bit of what I have been up to. I'll make it quick, as my little space on the couch, with lots of vitamins and kleenex awaits...

See this lady?? With the foils in her hair? She is my wonderful mom.

      

One day this week, I spent the day with her, doing her hair. She only trusts me with her hair.  So, I do it every few months.  It was also part of her birthday gift which is coming up on Tuesday (do not tell her I put this picture of her on my blog).  I decided to stay at my "in town home" for one night, where I have no computer use.  Unless Kristen let's me use hers....

By the way, my mom's hair turned out very cute. She does these adorable hair do's on herself...

      

I then vegged a bit on the sofa. Douglas, Kristen's son, sat on my lap, while I watched television.  My sis pulled up a seat and sat right next to me. Showing me things on her laptop.  It was nice...

It is dark, but there is Douglas, on my lap, to the right....I took the photo in B&W so, I couldn't revert to color...

      

My whole family was at my house.  We laughed and talked, and ate, and ate, and ate.... YIKES. It has been a summer of too many good treats.  Anyhow, just as the action was ending, I caught a bug. Or perhaps it was festering in me...

I am too sneezy to search for more photos in my camera (which I took a lot of), I will share those next time. So, I will leave you with a tale that I shared with a lovely lady recently. She found it amuzing. So, here you go...

As, I lay in bed sick, chewing bubble gum, blowing bubbles... I find it might be the appropriate time to share a story about me... I never learn, do I??? (I asked my mom to refresh the story when I saw her this week)

      

      

On a day much like this day, 26 years ago ( I was 5), I had decided I wanted a pack of strawberry Bubblicious bubble-gum.  I also decided once my mom and I got home, that I would like to put the whole pack in my mouth. 

My mother did not agree with this. She hid the gum in the kitchen.  But, I was quite sly, and knew exactly where she put it.  I then created a plan.  I would beg to sleep in the family room on the sofa.  So, I did my routine, she let me sleep on the couch and my plan was in action.

I waited until it seemed everyone was asleep and I tip-toed to the kitchen.  I found the gum. I took it back to the couch and I promptly unwrapped each one, shoving them in my mouth.  I remember thinking it wasn't as fun as I thought it would be, but hey, I won, right? 

I chewed and chewed and gagged a bit.  And then, I fell asleep.  Yes, with the gum in my mouth.  It was a huge wad, I mean huge wad of gum. Think about it, it was huger than huge in relation to a twerpy 5 year old...

The next morning, I woke up and I knew something was not right.  I tried to get off of the couch. My mom chimes in at this point, saying, I was screaming like girls do in scary movies.

The gum, had fallen out of my mouth, and between my legs.  WHAT??? Yep... It was stuck in there and my legs were sealed shut.  A disaster for sure. I couldn't get up. I couldn't move. 

Now, I don't know why my mom did this, but she took me, hobbling, into Sears.  Sears????  She told a woman what had happened.  The woman gave her some super secret tips, and we were off... Was Sears known for this? Is there something I do not know???

Next thing I know. I am in the shower, my mother handing me a giant jar of Peanut Butter.  I am to take the peanut butter, and put it all over the gum, until the gum starts to fall off.  Gum and Peanut Butter???? OH NO!!!!

But, it worked.  Thank God.

So, why am I sitll chewing bubble gum in bed???

Some things never change....

See you Soon!! xoxoxo

Missed Chances, Art, & Phobias

So there I was.  Standing in the woods, alone. Woods, Desert, work with me here... It was dusk, a beautiful time to be outside in the summer.  The special dog pond (plastic blue swimming pool), green and dirty.  I decided to scrub it out.  Tipping it was the first challenge... I got all of the water out and washed it really really good.  I hung the water sprayer in a tree, to water the trees and plants while filling up the pool. How's that for great use of water? 

Before I knew it, it started getting really really dark, and I couldn't see a thing.  See me there?  I told you, dark.

      

I stumbled around, through the low hanging trees and giant girl-eating aloe plants. Up the porch and to the front door.  I grabbed a flash light and headed back to turn off the water. I thought I heard that scary movie breathy sound, ch-ch-ch-ch, hah-hah-hah-hah, over and over. You know like from Friday the 13th and Halloween.  Michael Meyers in the bushes???

Just then, I got this feeling, like, something magical might happen. Like, I was going to make a life altering decision.  Like, my path was about to change... I wasn't scared anymore.

I had to put the flashlight down, to be able to turn the water nozzle off.  As I approached the blue pool, I saw a black blob in the water.  I ran in and got my camera (see, I always think of you), threw it around my neck, and ran back out.  I aimed my camera, the green light flashing in the distance in order to focus.  It was so dark, so I pointed and clicked, without knowing what I was taking a picture of...

I heard a loud voice, like that of James Brown say, "Kiss me Baby, Kiss me."  I rattled my ears, thinking I was officially going nuts.  I heard it gain, "Kiss me Baby, Kiss me."  What?  I was scared now. I thought, for sure there is a weirdo in the bushes.  I grabbed my camera.  Fumbling in the dark, trying to see what it was I had photographed...

"Lo and Behold," there he was.  I had been waiting for him for 26 years.  Longing... Wondering when he'd come... My mother and grandmother, telling me all about him... The moment had finally arrived, there he was.  What to do???? 

He looked just like I thought he would... Shiny moist skin, plump and happy.... But, I couldn't do it.  I just couldn't. 

I didn't kiss him...

      

I just could not bring myself to do it. I realized then and there, that the dream, the idea, the fantasy of my Prince, was more special to me, than the Prince himself. 

I was content with the dream. I will remember those words forever, "Kiss me, baby, Kiss me."

I took one last picture and walked away.... Good-bye Prince.  I am sure you will find someone else to kiss your royal tush, wash your capes, massage your toes, take your white horse to the vet... I am sorry, I am just not that girl.  Wipe your own crown.  And, off I skipped.....

      

I then went inside, composed myself, and framed a few of my creations, the canvas print versions, so you could see how cute they look all framed up...The prints (unframed) can be found in my shop.

      

      

      

      

      

On another nut-cake note, I am having a hard time leaving the house today.  I feel paralyzed and slightly Agoraphobic. Does this ever happen to you?  I have so much to do, that I can't do any of it and the thought of going into town is making me sick...

      

Swirling amongst the madness...

Just when I scoffed at Mercury in retrogade...  I blinked, and my life was encased in a vessel full of water.  Drowning and being shaken all around.  I am officially living in a snow-globe.  Are any funny and strange things happening to you?  Let me kow...

I decided to create in order to avoid some of the madness.  All the creations turned up in the loony bin.  I mean,  in my SHOP.

      

All of the prints versions, of the cards above, are also available. They are on canvas and they look indescribable in person.  They are so lovely on this canvas....

This is a short post, as Mr. Lovee is away, and I am trying to have a Miss Potter weekend. Starting now. 

                  

Also, I have driving school all day tomorrow, which I am so excited about?  Ya sure. Off I go, showing my exquisite driving skills.  The truth is. I got a ticket, and in AZ, if you want it to be wiped off your record - and you have not had a ticket  for a long time- Then, you get to take 8 hours of driving school as punishment.  Oh and pay $200.00 USD

      

A funny new print int he shop.  Funny enough, it has a history.  Ask me if you would like to know???

              

      

(Vintage photos taken from google images. The Beatrix Potter picture was in google images, and is from the Beatrix Potter website.)

Hablando de pajaros y otras cositas...

Speaking of birds & other little things...

Come in to my abode, let me tell you some silly stories before you are off to your next stop...

      

Perhaps the stories are not all that silly.  Here is the storyteller for the day.  She is known to scare a certain friend who calls her, Miss Stigmata.  Miss S is a gift from my Momm-bee.  I think Miss S is going to whip me into shape. As my art endeavors have been very slow this weekend...  She sits on the mushroom... Watching, waiting...

      

Wait, I need a sip before I can even get started.  It is so lonely to have a Mr. Lovee who does not enjoy a glass of wine.  I am at the point where I am such a lightweight that, only a few drops touch my lips and I am fluttering.... Join me, let's open one up and sip for a sec... Friends have offered a few bottles as offerings, to The Wooden Mermaids brother, both from the Philippines...

      

Back to the story, which at this point, seems like it might be a serious story. But really, it isn't.  It is a story that happened by chance...  You see, I was about to write a new post, when, my attention got taken away. I decided to visit a few friends first.  When the comic irony to my life, was the topic over at The Black Apple. Birds.  Birds?  Is this a coincidence.  I was about to tell you my bird story...

Frida wanted to join in... Can you hear her now... "Hablando de Pajaros (speaking of birds)... Oh, Freeda, thank you for joining us, in spirit...

        

You see, it has been made very clear by a few folks, including Emily (whose bird themed collection is quite lovely), that the bird trend has really seeped in.  Along the way, many of us have amassed quite the bird collection.  Some are ready for it to go away, some always had birds and always will.  Others don't much care, and yet others have barely started letting the birds flutter in.  All being A-okay as far as I am concerned.  Where are you in the bird call? 

      

As for my place in the bird call, birds are everywhere in this Hippie world I live in.  First of all, some of you have seen the crazy bird feeders I make. Bird feeders all over this yard.. All shapes and sizes. My first time here, at Mr. Lovee's, I was astounded at the bird books and diligent bird feedings in Mr. Lovee's world... I thought, No biggie .  Birds everywhere was fine.

Then, one little afternoon, I was poking around the bathroom I claimed as my own here.  I had, a few years back, painted a thick white coat of paint over an atrocious blue (hospital quality blue).  And I noticed not too long ago, one little corner was bubbling up a bit .  Well, too bad Sulu-Design was not here. She would have helped... You know what I did right?  Yep.... I couldn't help myself...

      

I peeled.  Under the paint, I found this hazy matte & chalky film covering some wallpaper... I got out a srubby thing and bleach. After scrubbing quite alot,  I found a wallpaper, that looked like this...

      

I thought, cute.  What next?  I was standing in a bathroom, that was once pleasantly white.  But now, I have this 1970's colored bird wallpaper. 

So, I did as any artist would do....  I took paint to it.  I now have this...

      

It is so funny.  I use to have this friend Carla in elementary school.  Her mother was the kookiest lady ever.  She used to ask us to paint on doors and walls (not colors, images), to change the ambience.  I always wished for that, but my mom would have my head before that would have ever happened in the world I grew up in...

Now, Mr. Lovee let me do this, painting on walls.  Only guess what?  I am stuck with it forever.  He loves it.  He is over the moon about it.  Trend or no trend.  I am living with birds in my Catalina bathroom for a very long time.  Oh well.  hee heeee.....It is funny. 

Oh, and I got the Anthropolgie shower curtain up.  The whole house smells like the shop.  I love it! What is that smell???

      

You can see from this shot above, the walls are not finished.  I have yet, another unfinished project.  You silly girl, did you think I had completeled this bird brain project?  Another thing to add to the list....Oh, forget it... I am burning the list... I mean really, whose life schedule am I on anyway? 

      

      

      

      

      

Okay.  Whew, Liberating.  Now I have nothing to do! YAY!  So, I suppose I will scadaddle back into the studio, as my Gouache paints are probably totally dry...And, my oils are getting chunky...Why must I put so much paint on my palette?

      

      

I love popsicles in summer!  Oh, and, I have some incredible trea