A Fanciful Twist

A Teeny Tiny, Happy Weekend!!

Hi there!  I know I don't pop in enough to wish you a lovely weekend (But, I do, even if I don't voice it)!!  On this lovely day, I am painting and cooking all at the same time.  A little stir of paint, a little stir of sauce, a little choppy chop...  ;)

      

Cooking to me is so terribly relaxing.  I love everything about it...  Everyone in my family loves to cook. But, I never was "taught" to cook, per se.  I just always knew how to, in a way.

I decided to make Mole today.  No, not Mole as in the critter.  I mean Mole as in a sauce and chicken dish (pronounced Mo- leigh). 

      

Is it strange that I enjoy straining my chicken broth, in a trance like state, until it is crystal clear...  Or that, I love chopping garlic into tiny pieces.. Slowly and meticulously?

      

      

The rice is almost done... 

      

I will get my black beans ready soon... 

      

And then make some lovely homemade tortillas.

      

Saturday Morning Update on last night's tortillas...

      

      

(Ohhh Mombieeeee, check out those bad boys!! ;) 

So, tonight is P.S. I love you night.  Was it good?  I dunno...  I don't know if I am into that sort of thing.  But, if it is as good as everyone says...  Will I need a kleenex box?

I love to watch movies.  I have seen all of our favorites, which I happen to own and watch on repeat. Like Fairytale, a true story.  And, Pride and Prejudice (all the Jane Austen pieces), and Practical Magic, and Amelie, Marie Antoinette, Snow White a tale of terror...  The list goes on and on...  But, I own all the typical movies we love...  Little Women, Great Expectations, etc.  You get the idea...

Lately I have seen so many through Netflix (especially documentaries), that I don't even know which ones to suggest for some weekend viewing... 

But, for any artist out there, especially if you like photo taking, & truly on a necessary history level, you must watch Alfred Stieglitz: The Eloquent Eye  (I get all my movies on Netflix, and some of these you can watch instantly).  If you love Georgia O'Keeffe then this one is a two part bonus...

For a spooky movie, I really enjoyed:  El Orfanato (The Orphanage)  I speak spanish fluently, so it was a great one.  Spanish can be so intense and extra spooky...  But you will still love it with the subtitles.  If you like ghost stories... (you can watch this one instantly on netlfix)

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly was good too.  But very intense and very sad.  And a little overwhelming in its anxiety raising levels.  But good...   

Mr. Lovee loved I'm not there,  however, it put me into a coma.  Maybe it was just the mood I was in.  I should try to rewatch it...  I know everyone loved it...

I have a major love hate relationship with Warhol, so I really really enjoyed American Masters: Andy Warhol.  Maybe you saw it on PBS? Loved it!

I also enjoyed My Kid Could Paint that...

Joni Mitchell: Woman of Heart and Mind  was lovely...

An unusual and interesting one was, In the Realms of the Unreal.

Oh, also, I really enjoyed, Rivers and Tides.  I fell into that one on a perfect day to watch it.  So I loved it...

I own this version of Alice.  Very wonderfully bizarre.  But you can watch it instantly on Netflix...

Also, don't Miss Madame Tutli Putli.  You can watch it instantly on Netflix, but you can also see it on YouTube (in two parts.  It is only 15 minutes long).

Finding Neverland  is always a good repeat watch.  I need to buy it...  As is Chocolat...

I saw Basquiat many years ago and loved it... 

I really think that if you are an artist, especially self-taught and have not had any formal art history classes and such...  You really should be watching all the movies out there about artists.  It is vital.  The old masters and newer masters...  Mix it up...  Dive into it all, DaVinci, Bosch, Pollock, Modigliani, Basquiat, Vermeer, Chagall, Klee, Miro, Dali, Renoir, Monet, Matisse, Toulouse-Lautrec, Botticelli ...  And on and on and on...  Watch them, read them...  It will change your life...   All of them.. Get out there and jump in.  It is my hearts one true passion... 

Here is a really good artist list...

I am waiting for Picasso's two part series to get here tomorrow... So that, and painting will make up my weekend...  Hope you have a good one!!!  Netflix is a really good way to get in there and have access to alot of this stuff (on art and such) on DVD...  Have a marvelous weekend!!!!

I am back to this...

      

And this...

      

See you in a couple of days!!    xoxo, V

So much to share, so much to share...

Bonjour! Did you eat yourself silly over Thanksgiving?  I sure hope you did!  Did you have an extra piece of dessert for me?  An extra cup of tea?  3 helpings of your favorite side dish too?  Oh, thank you, I knew I could count on you!  I bet you are totally sick of all that Thanksgiving food love, right?  Well, I have something exciting to share with you!  Homeade pizza, cooking in your oven!!

      

I was going through magazines while suffering through my own stomach ache after Thanksgiving, sipping the ever so tasty alka-seltzer...  Feeling much better actually, when, in an old issue of Metropolitan home, I found a few interesting recipes.  One recipe really got my attention.  I have been in search of a good easy to make pizza dough FOREVER.  I am not a huge pizza eater.  I don't like the tangyness in the cheese and sauce of most pizzas.  It is not a fulfilling munching food for me.  I am just not into it.  If I had my dream pizza, it would have lots of fresh herbs, carmelized onions, mushrooms.  A mild cheese...  A fresh mozzarella...  The recipe I found was for a Duck Confit pizza.  Not really my taste, but the dough recipe, that really got me.

So I made the dough, and invented my own topping... (recipe at the end)

      

It was a really easy dough to make.  I learned alot.  I bake bread and knew some rules.  However, in this case, you must let your dough rise in a very warm place.  You must make sure it stays inside the oiled plastic wrap.  The higher you let it rise, the thicker your crust.  And, most wonderfully, in the second rising, when you grab your little ball of dough (you will have 6) it is so easy to simply stretch quickly into a pizza shape.  You will be surprised at how easy. 

I made my own sauce with a can of stewed tomatoes with onion and bell pepper in it (Del Monte).  I threw it all in a blender, added 5 shakes of garlic salt with parsley, and Voila!  Delicious mild sweet pizza sauce...  I used a few chopped mushrooms with a small amount of Jarlsberg on some of the pizzas, some had carmelized onions (which I carmelized), and others had fresh Mozzarella and fresh Basil from my garden.  But, the very best part?  The pizza cooks in 10 MINUTES (not including dough rising time)!!!  Yes, I know, amazing!

Mr. Lovee loved it!  A huge success!!  So we nibbled in the garden...

      

It is so much fun, to have someone enjoy your cooking so much (Mr. Lovee's hand)...

      

They were so lovely and light...  I felt like I was in Italy, under the trees eating gourmet pizza...

      

The sky was dreamy, the trees just lovely.. And, listen to this, it is finally cool here.  Actually, my fingers and toes are frozen right now, so I am happy.

      

Don't forget to enjoy your pizza in your favorite nightgown (I use my flannel nightgowns as robes)!

      

Now, I know, this post is going to be way too long, but, I must share another super EASY EASY EASY recipe for Apple Pie!!!  I felt like I didn't get to bake my own pie over the holiday, so, I went online, I Googled Easy Apple Pie, and found a wonderful recipe on Cooks.com!

      

This apple pie is so rustic and wonderful.  We decided it is kind of like mideval fairytale pie.  Have you seen the movie Legend, where Lily goes into a cottage where a woman is baking and there are all of these cakes and amazing looking foods... Welllllll, this pie fits right in!  I LOVED it!  I took some bad photos for you Legend fans!  Another movie that plays on repeat in this house.

      

      

Back to the pie...  It is crustless, but the cookie like topping melds its way down into the apples.  My important tips for the pie are, use sweet apples and peel them. I used crunchy Gala Apples and peeled...  There are nuts in the topping and they are wonderful.  Don't worry if they get burnt looking, they aren't.  Oh, and you can't really "pour" the dough over the top, so I just glopped it on with my fingers...

      

The finished product! YUMMMM!

      

Once you have baked your pie, make sure to take it with you through the hidden Rabbitwood forest...

      

When you see the magical smiling face tree, turn right...

      

And you will see Mr. Rabbit and Mr.Conehat bird having a ball.  Feasting on toasted seeds and crunchy leaves...  Mr. Rabbit found himself a little fireplace, and he even built a bed up above the ground and encircled it with peach leaves...  See you there!!! (more photos in Flickr. Sparkly birds in my shop)

      

See you soon!!!

Recipes:

Pizza Dough, (Metropolitan Home Magazine), click on recipe to enlarge, and/or print:

Easy Apple Pie From Cooks.Com:

      

Through the Secret Keyhole on a Thankful Day...

Whether you celebrate Thanksgiving or not, I think there is always reason to get together with those you love & enjoy (enjoy being the operative word).  A time to have treats and tea, cake and coffee, chats & giggles...

       

We are having all kinds of treats today.  I better start helping in the kitchen before I am uninvited!! Stay for a visit.  Mr. Bird is reading fairytales from his favorite book while Ainsley day dreams...  We are waiting for you to play the piano and share pinwheel candied desserts...

      

Enjoy!  See you in a few short days my lovely friends!!

Madness...

Has everything started getting all weird, or is it just me? Do things get strange & unusual in October naturally, or do we simply perceive them to be that way?  Do you get all crazy for baking and making stuff?  I do!!  I love the scents from the kitchen in fall and winter... Baked goods and such...

      

All the fun spooky things start peeking out... And, the famed strange things start showing their faces also!

      

For example, I go to a thrift store, and being a girl obsessed with oval frames, I see this lovely Victorian oval brass frame.  It has a poorly painted pine tree and stream painted on it...  Now, most of you know by now, that I am curious.  I pick at perfect paint, hoping to find fantastic wallpaper underneath.  And I do, luck indeed. 

However, what on earth possessed me to take a wire brush to this bad oil painting?  It was a bit lumpier oil paint than normal, and I just started with no rhyme or reason.  What ensued was the shriek only major treasure seekers would let out, when making a discovery.  There were faces under this painting...  Exciting?  Yes, until I decided to hang it on a wall.  It was like the twilight zone.  The room started spinning, and the whole thing felt really uneasy.  Am I hallucinating? You tell me??? Why would someone paint over an old oval photo?  Creepy?  I don't know?  Do you think it is safe to hang???  Will they get me in my sleep?  For now, it is leaning on the wall, where I can't see it...

      

      

The cooking is also on overload. I have to slow this down a bit though.  Too much goodness equals, well, too much goodness (if you know what I mean).  Anyhow, I made simple Potato Latkes... Mmm, the best ever....

      

Mr. Lovee was pleasantly surprised (being raised Jewish, he adores such treats).  Some were served as a meal with gourmet ketchup and fresh Basil. Soo yummy, I can't even tell you!!!  I love cooking on Mr. Lovee's gas stove.  At home I have one of those electric flat high tech stoves (not so fun)... I have to say,  there is nothing like real flames!!

      

Others were served with a bit of sour cream and a dollop of Bon Maman Raspberry jam right in the warm center... YUM!!!  Light extra virgin olive oil makes them so crispy and wonderful.  Not heavy and oily...

      

As if we had not been bad enough for one day...  I had bought one of those Halloween candy packages full of mini heath bars for Mr. Lovee... As I was watching Little Women, I got this huge urge to bake...  Soooo, I thought, there has to be a heath bar cookie right? Umm, HELLO?  Yes, there is, and it is unreal.  I simply put all the heath bars in the freezer for 10 minutes. Then took them out, smashed them to bits, and VOILA!

      

Here is the link to the recipe.  However, I will say, I baked two batches without the parchment paper lining the cookie sheet and the only difference was a little less butter in the parchment lined cookies.  Also, I used SALTED butter.  Not unsalted.  As I don't like utterly sweet desserts.  I have to say, I like them alot.  I can't imagine how sweet they would be with the unsalted butter...

      

So, Salted Butter and No parchemnt is A-O.K.  They are unreal.  You will be speechless.  Of course, you should have seen me running around the yard at 6a.m. yesterday and today... Oh my aching lungs...  Oh and, have you ever tried doing a jumping jack?  Okay I don't mean as a kid, I mean as an adult.  Oh me, Oh my, I am up to 100.  My liver feels like it will fall out and my, well, other things feel like they will fall off too... hahahaha!

As I was doing all the cooking and baking, Mr.  Lovee had gone out for some dinner ingredients, and when he came back, as my back was turned to him, I caught him doing this...  Boy is he racking up brownie points...

      

So, there have been some very busy days, with much needed goodness in between.  I can live like this.  Bliss is easy to find.  It's what we make of it.  Now, if I can just hold on to that and let my road unfold without getting all nutty, things will be wonderous...

Roses, Cookies, Movies, Books...  Ahhhh, life is good...  Even just snippets of the goodness here and there in the evenings is so important.  It refuels my heart and soul...

      

See you very soon!!! xxo

Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo...

Would you like to come in for a little story or two?  Some treats and perhaps even a super secret recipe.  I will share my recipe with you if you promise never to share it with another soul??? (Thrift store find doll, Catherine The Great)

      

Okay then.  Come take a seat in my chair that has become known as "the treasure chair."  Any treasure I bring home sits in the chair before becoming a part of my strange little family.

      

So, you get to cozy up now too.  Now,  when you wake up, emerging from your private boudoir quite early in the morning... And you find that the Mr. Lovee in your house has brought home wonderful goodies, without being asked to, without you having to give him a list even, you might feel compelled to be extra nice...(see those curtains and yellow walls? Well, they were like that before I came along.  And, yes, he did choose it all himself.  Giggly cute, right?)

      

You will want to be especially nice, when the man brings home extra good stuff.  Where on earth did they grow him, and can I get an extra one just in case?  This is too wonderful...(Just don't tell him I said that, I mean the man was a peacock in his past life, so no need to fluff the feathers anymore...)  He makes it so easy for me to never want to go to my own home.  Makes me a private boudoir,  a studio,  a little space to call my gallery.  Trust me I am thankful.  But sometimes, you just miss home.  Your big luxurious shower, your stuff.  It's just that with such goodness here, it's no shock that I stopped going home regularly a very long time ago.  (A tiny snippet of home below)

       

Anyhow, back to the reason you are here...  It got kind of chilly today.  Can you believe it, heat since May.  And really today was the first true break in the heat.  I am actually wearing a cardigan.  So, with the good behavior as mentioned above and the nice weather... I started the fall/winter regime of regular fruit crisps.  Today it was a berry crisp... (sorry we nibbled in the right side before the photo)

      

There is really no measuring in my recipe.  I created it myself over two years of trial and error. But, there might be some cookbook out there that makes it like this, who knows...

The first tip I have is, the filling can be anything you want it to be. Apples, Peaches, Raspberries, Blueberries, Strawberries.  And you can add cinnamon to any fruit mixtures that might taste good with it, Apples, etc...

Here we go.  We had some left over strawberries, so I sliced them.  There were about 20 small strawberries or so.  The way I measure it, is I only use enough fruit to fill the bottom of a pie plate.  If you are using apples, peel them, core them, and slice them rather thin. I also like using peaches in heavy syrup(drain before using). You can use a glass or metal pie plate. Your choice.

      

You will need two bowls. One for the fruit and one to make your topping mixture in.  Put your sliced fruit (use the whole berry if using blueberry or raspberry) in a bowl and sprinkle about a tablespoon or large spoonful of granulated sugar over the fruit.  Then put it aside while you make your topping. (Preheat your over to 350' F)

      

The only other ingredients you will need are brown sugar, a pinch of salt, 1.25 sticks of real butter (salted) & oatmeal.

      

In another bowl you will make your topping.  Now, this is easy, for every two handfuls of oatmeal you use, you will use one handful of brown sugar & half a stick of butter.

For one pie plate you will use, Four handfuls of oatmeal and 2 handfuls of brown sugar.  Add a pinch of salt to the brown sugar and oatmeal, and mix it all up with your hands.

      

Slice a stick of COLD butter.  Now, if you want it to be really buttery & carmelized, you can use 1.25 sticks of butter (feel free to only use 1 stick if you choose).  Cut it up into little squares and dump it in your bowl.

      

The next step is to mash the butter into your mixture really well. Mix it in until the mixture is like a lumpy dough and there are no dry bits of oatmeal or sugar lingering in the bowl.

      

Now, butter your pie plate really well and throw in the strawberries. 

      

Next put the topping on top of the fruit without squashing it into the fruit too much.  Layering it evenly.

      

      

      

      

Now, its time to put your crisp into the oven for about 35 minutes.  Make sure to put a piece of foil or another pan in the bottom rack of your oven, so that any fruit that might boil over won't fall into the bottom of your oven.

      

Let cool for 10 minutes or so & enjoy! (Mr. Lovee ate the whole thing almost!)

      

So now that you have some treats to nibble, come sit down and I shall read to you from my book.  This book was a major find.  The reason?  There is a story in this book that my Mammie and I have been searching for, forever.  My Grandmother has been telling us a story about 6 swans since my mom was little.  It is engrained into my childhood memories.  Guess what?  The story is in this book I found for one dollar.  My mom and I were screaming about it!  How exciting right?  My mom took my grandmothers giant silver lined fairytale book in a velvet box, to school, when she was in 5th grade, and someone stole it out of her desk.  That is how long the search for this story was on....

      

I am also sitting reading this with my magical necklace from MaryContrary, in my lap.  I love it!  I have worn it twice now...  Her blog is pretty darn fun, she works at Etsy in NYC, and she is just a doll!!

      

Sadly, I have to go now... But I will be back soon.  Did you have fun?? 

Back to my studio, to work...

      

Tea & Treats & Witches...

I am back from my drive into town to visit my little home.  I don't know why I have to pry myself away from the studio (and bribe myself) simply to drive 30 minutes.  I always take on the trip as if it were a 10 hour voyage.  Like my terrible 10 hour drive to Santa fe.  But, that is another story for another day...  Anyhow, I got to see my lovely mammie, as she came to visit and have her hair done (no, I am not a real hairdresser, but I am a great actress), play & have tea and treats...

      

So grab a fork and join me. You will be eating your way through this post, I must warn...

      

I do these crazy things to myself.  For instance, I decide that I am going to drive into town in my prairie nightgown.  I have this whole plan of how I am going to get dressed in the car in case I get a flat tire or something like that (so I have all the clothes prepared, right by me in the passenger seat).  I know, I should just get dressed before I go, why be so complicated?  But, no, I have to complicate everything don't I?  I just want to arrive in a nightgown, and a flower crown, and be silly. I don't know about you, but I am all about making small dreams come true (large ones too, but the small ones are easier to fulfill). Luckily, I made it safe in my strange driving attire... No flat tires, no cops, nada.

Mammie (aka mombie) and I started our visit with some fresh munching.  As, I am a huge fan of cucumber, watercress, and cream chesse sandwiches.  You can make them on soft buttermilk bread without crusts.  However, I do not eat white bread, so I use different wheat or multi-grain breads (and I love crusts).  I always wonder how such a simple combination can be so wonderful and fulfilling... So fresh...

      

My mom had brought my giant witch costume with her.  I have this 2 1/2 ft. tall witch.  She had this drab outfit on. A witches gown in brown and orange and black with matching hat.  But, not good brown and orange.  Kind of muted and drab.  And for what she cost, her outfit was a bit, well, sorry Eleanora (the witch), but it was drab + cheap.  I asked my mom if she could make a whole new costume for Eleanora, shoes and all.  She has very very pointy feet and must have custom made shoes... Mombie agreed and went on with her project... She tied up some loose ends while I made sandwiches and tea...(she also made Eleanora her very own witchy-poo size striped stockings!!!)

      

Time for treats... Little did I know, my mom had brought boxes of treats herself... What a wonderful sneaky mombie she is... My contribution below...

      

Just look at the cupcakes my mom brought. And you see that pink frosting, is not just frosting. It was hard and cold because it was pure butter and sugar and maybe cool whip? I don't know, but it was even better than it looks...

      

      

Take a bite. Don't worry, they have no calories ;)  Okay, I'll have one then...

      

Mmmmmm, yummy, are you sure you don't want some? It is really really good... I think I can only handle half though...

      

Do you take sugar in your tea? 

      

I don't really, but here, I'll put a lovely sugar flower in your cup (Mombie brought these too)...

      

I just love tea time! It makes me so happy, I could scream! AAAAAhhhhhhhhhh!

I watered plants while we had tea and mombie sewed her finishing touches.  You know, I have to confess.  I am really really obsessed about my garden. And, as you know, my little sister lives with me.  And, well, I harass her about watering the plants, umm, well alot.  Why?  Well, last winter my most magical little dwarf ficus tree got burnt to a crisp with the cold.  I was devastated... I told her we would do anything to revive him.  I was very serious about this...

      

The good news is, my parents gardener and my dad brought their power cutting tools and gave him a good trim. And look, he is growing a head of hair!!! Thank you Kristen for being an integral part of helping the plants come back to life!!!  You see, my sister is a sewing master.  But when it comes to plants, not so much. She admits she kills things... But she is doing a good job here, don't you think??

      

Alas, all good things must come to an end.. Mombie had to go, and I was going to tend to some things at home. Bye Mombie, we all enjoyed you!!! (she was playing me her favorite Barry Manilow track as she left)

      

Eleanora is so cute. She loves her new gown, and loves the color too!  So sparkly.. I visited with her while she told me all about her plans for Halloween.  I don't know about this witch...

      

      

      

Lots more went on, but I think I have bored you enough for now... I am so behind on every single thing, from art, to craft, to blogging.  But, all the orders are shipped, and my job in the real world was very hectic and needed me a couple days this week.  So, I have so much catching up to do.  I want to visit all of you.  I enjoy & yearn for days when I can read blogs and peek into your worlds, so very much!!!!

Well, in this space right now, I have glue drying and an apple crisp that wants to come out of the oven...

      

Now tell me, are you a sweet tooth or a salty tooth?  Did you know this since you were little?  I am a salty tooth who is just starting to enjoy chocolates and sweets.  But they give me a bit of a headache... Do you take tea or coffee?  Strong or weak???  So many questions...

See you very soon! ;)

Inspiration, Sanctuaries & It is not always too late to finish what you started...

In organizing the studio a bit, I happened upon little artworks that I started and then just simply forgot.  I have about 32 paintings of all sizes that are sketched or started to be painted, some even 75% completed.  It is pretty ridiculous actually...  What happens is that my attention gets taken by something else, and then voila, I am off to the next thing.

      

The bad thing about this is that you lose the creative mental space for that one piece.  The good thing is, sometimes you come back to it with renewed inspiration.  Which is what I am diligently focusing on...

Funny enough, I coaxed Dino, the little artist extraordinaire, into creating & completeing a painting for me. A trade or payment of sorts.  He obliged.  He started one day sitting at my table...

      

      

I told Dino what I had swirling in my mind in January.  He worked and worked and worked on it.... Check out the finished product which is now in my possession...

Some of my loves, which I explained to Dino are: Keyholes, Strange creatures, Fairytales, hidden doorways, forests, Cupid (see cupids arrow?)  I even talked to him about Snow White vs. the Witch and the poisonous apple....Needless to say, this is what I got, and I am overwhelmed with delightment....

      

Sometimes I like to wander my two little dweillings, searching for inspiration.  Not really actively searching, but seeing if little things catch my attention and get my mind rolling...Kitchens are so inspiring to me... Probably because I like to paint pastries and cakes....I just love my kitchen.

It is a tad small, but it is so fun to bake in and share with little people who sit at this table and wait for their first bite...I have not finsihed painting my cabinet, but heck, it has been unfinished for years...See the pattern here, unfinished objects?? I made those knobs (on top & bottom doors)...  They were sooo much fun to make.

      

So, it is officially time for me to crack that whip and finish some of my own painting projects...I am feeling inspired...

You see, I found this piece that I started in 2000.  7years ago, when I met Mr. Lovee, I purchased this piece of wood and sketched this little girl...As I was cleaning this week, she came toppling down from a shelf.  And, I was in awe, I thought, "Wow, how did I forget this...." Don't mind the hair and face paint, that will change...

      

Then I found Miss Habit.  How could I have forgotten her also?? And several more below...Oh, seems as though I will be very busy for the next few days...A long weekend of painting...

      

      

      

I am giving myself one swap gift today, to treat myself ahead of time for attacking these projects...

This little love is from Lisa Solomon of Lisa's Musings. Of course, everything she sent had such sensory alerting items...Thank you Miss Lisa, so very much.  I love them each and every one!

       

      

       

I almost forgot, I got tagged by Miss Shabby in the City...But this is a tag I can live with, so I'll play along...  You "grab the nearest book, turn to page 28 and post the 3rd paragraph..."

I was a bit unlucky at this, as most of my books are informational, no third paragraph, or, page 28 had only one little burb. It was silly how hard it was...So, I finally picked up Anais Nin's "Fire" diary from about 1934-1937...Here is what it read:

"Richard Maynard telephones every day.  The violinist plays at town hall tonight.  After three talks with me, she played as "I never played in my life before, thinking of you as a shadow and seeing your green ring flashing before me.' "

I hope you have a lovely 3-day weekend.  And, either kick your feet up and relax....

      

Or tour your own space for inspiration...  It is so important to love your space, and fill it with things you love.  Even if your space can only be in one room, or one little corner, even a shelf. Make sure to make a space you love. Your own little sanctuary...

      

Enjoy special moments. Even if they only come in spurts...They all count...

(To answer a question., the Mermaid is not a lamp. Although, it sure does look like I am using her as such. With all those lights draped on her.  She is actually an old wooden creature, about 4.5 feet tall, once used in religious processions in the Philippines.  She came here many years ago from the Philippines with her owner.   Over the years I have collected many old wooden dolls, all quite large, with wooden joints. All said to have been used in similiar religious processions, where they would be dressed up to resemble a certian saint. Funny enough,  I later found out,  my collection came from the same owner...)

A Delicious Daydream. Can You Help Me?

In my magazine reading adventures, I find that sometimes the best tips and treasures are not the huge main spreads.  But, more of the teeny little articles thrown in.  One such article threw me into a fit of desire.  I must admit.  I have not been a huge sugar girl my whole life.  I have preferred the chips and dips route. However, my mom, well, she is one of those people that will order one of each of the most delectable desserts at fancy places.  As she says, you know, "just to taste."  And I must say, once you taste really good desserts, your taste buds can really change. That is how I find myself in this desperate daydream....

      

I want, I want, I want a delicious dessert.  I was reading my April issue of House and Garden, minding my own business. When all of a sudden, I read that Mary Canales, a graduate of Chez Pannise and the pastry chef at Alice Walter's Temple of cuisine for 9 years, recently opened Ici. The following H&G article photograph prompted my desire....

        

So, I was wondering....If any of you are in the Berkeley California area, could you please please head over to the Elmwood district and have one of these desserts for me?  I promise if you eat it with me in mind, you won't have to count any of the calories????  Just take your credit card and go have as many as you want.. hee hee....

      

But wait!  I have options!  In my googling of Ici I found a great blog Bay Area Bites, that had a great post which spoke of Ici & Tartine.... Okay! Now I am on major dessert desire overload. I must get the Tartine pastry book!!! Anyhow, ppplease, go to one and enjoy yourself, then come and tell me all about it!! But, I need Details!!!! I do not really know my way around San Francisco that well, however, Tartine is located at 600 Guerrero Street @ 18th.  So, if you are close... get closer and munch!!! The rest of us are waiting for your report with breath that is bated...

       

As soon as the show is over, I am having a dessert party, even if it is alone at The Cup Cafe (above, pic taken from here), which is located in the Hotel Congress.  A wonderful place you should visit if you are ever here in Tucson.  It also houses one of the only nightclubs I will visit in town, Club Congress.

Then I am going thrifting.  As my inspirations for such are very high, after reading the 2nd article of intrigue in the March 2007 Domino Issue, titled, "Secondhand (love) story."  About Linda and John Meyers who have turned their thrifting passion into an amazing interior-design biz! My Dream! Below, check it out!  Now wait, it gets better! John does custom art, send in a pic of you, your pets, anything and he will make you a custom portrait!!!! Check it out WARYMEYERS.com.

      

      

I think I will take a short cuddle (after a warm shower, like Risa) in my cushy bed, with my new favorite calming pillow.  It is a tiny little thing that is one of my favorite possessions right now. It is 3 parts cushy, one part lavender, I think?  Whatever it is, I have had it by my nose since it arrived and I love it!!

      

Guess who it is from?  It is from the lovely & charming, amongst many other things, Bitter Betty.  My name (1 outta 3) was picked to help celebrate her blogiversary!  Happy belated Blogiversary Bitter Betty!!! Yippee! And there was more...Lucky me!!!

               

                           

I hope you are having delightful days!!!!  Thanks for sticking with me during this busy show preparation time!!! I really appreciate it!  It means alot to see your smiling comments!!! xxo,Vanessa

ps:  Grin Grin, the pieces are out of the kiln.. Oh my GOOoooddddddness!! They are fun!!!!! After the show, they will go into the Etsy shop regularly!!!!

      

pss: Another treasure in the mailbox!  Can't wait to tell you about it!!!!

Delicious Visits

I had to take a little trip South. 1hour and 45 minutes drive from the studio took me to a delightful place. You know this place, I know it exists in your world in some capacity. Maybe at a Momm's house, an Aunts house, a Granny's house or even a Godmothers house?  Or maybe it is at your friends house, were you will find delicious edibles abound...

      

The place for me that is a treat-fest is my Momm's house(oops and Dad's).  I walked in yesterday to a house full of treats...Desserts, bags of Mexican pastries, toasted Mexican breads with real butter soaked into them, blaring novelas...Perfect coffee, real cream, and...

      

While they were getting ready for us to go on an outing, a little business and then lunch at a delectable place in Tubac... I found myself tip-toeing through the treats, nibbling and nibbling...Being good? Not an option...Were those more desserts I saw there...

        

And what was this wonderful scent from this pot??? It was a cinnamon and what concotion???The aroma filled the room, and my nostrils...

      

There was something in the oven, yummy, it smelled like bread, and butter and sugar....What could it be?  I decided I could not resist this little cheescake. One bite would not hurt...

      

      

        

Wait a minute here!!  There was something really weird about this...Oh No! Just as I suspected....

      

This really was not the kind of sponginess I was looking for in my cake! Not real? What? What about the others???? So sad to report.  They were not real either...

      

I guess she knew too well what her little munchkins would do if they were real??? And these two can be partners in crime...("Vanessa Valencia Fanciful,"older girl. Kandeedo Bandeedo, opinionated baby. We are 5 1/2 years apart).

      

So, about the buttery aroma...It was an Easter treat, "Capirotada" (here are some recipes, but none like Mom's, I can get hers if you are interested).  Made around here during lent, especially on Fridays when there is no meat eating.  When I saw the pictures I took of it, I thought, Yowsa, that looks scary. But, it is un-really delicious.  It is buttered Mexican bread that is toasted, then cooled, then used as the main layering item in a huge pot with, prunes, raisins, pecans, bananas, butter, and more butter, and some liqueur, and the most decadent Mexican cheese and apricots.   Everyone who knew she was making this was lining up for a portion. I even delivered some back to Tucson.  Warm and toasty. It was so heavy coming out of the oven, we had to get Dad.

      

      

The huge breads on top were to distunguish the peanut side from the non-peanut side.  I am the non-peanut side. Dad is the peanut side.

      

            It was really really good. Especially right out of the oven...

      

I know I am sharing many pictures. But I hate it when I take a bunch and then forget to show them. So, if they bore, I am sorry. You know, people who know me are probably not at all surprised at the length of these things...

So, here is a picture Montage, the good news, I got to go to a place with real pastries.  Momm gave me shoes, we talked jewels, which she happily modeled, we lunched at Nob Hill, & we shopped in the lovely Tubac...

      

              I am off to the kiln opening at 3:45 p.m. Wish me luck!!!

Click on any pictures to enlarge!! And, thanks for putting up with me, long posts, lop-sided pictures, oh my...