A Fanciful Twist

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

The Bloglandia Ball

I awoke quite early this morning to a tender yet brisk breeze that I have longed for, for 4 months.  Finally a bit of relief from the heat, in the morning and in the evening.  The most magical time to awake... as a moon the size of a giant cake glowed with an orange ring around it.  It lingered in the West sky...

      

The roosters crowed, a few stars danced around, bringing my heart and soul to life.  I have fallen in love with early morning hours.  Creeping around the yard, as silence looms all around, the birds still snuggling in their dreams...

      

I danced in my own private world (or so it felt that way),  such a lovely morning indeed... My toes love their fairytale slippers (flip-flops) from darling Shabilitta.

      

The tickle that added excitement was the fact that today is the Bloglandia Ball, hosted by the wonderful Elizabeth Bunsen.  Proprietress of the magical blog titled, Be...Dream...Play...

I quickly scurried into the house.  Time to make my dress for the ball.  I have guests (which is why I have not written a new post for several days, naughty me).  So I whipped up my gown, as everyone slept. I am quite pleased, as I might even wear such a dress in the real world...

      

Stripes and Polka Dots, my favorite!  A deep purple silk sash and a wild jeweled collar... Oh, and don't forget the vintage jewels right in the middle...

      

The dress has already begun its own dance...

      

Spinning and twirling about...

      

What a fine day for a lovely ball!  Thank you Miss EB, for hosting such a delightful event!!! Now, don't forget to visit the beautiful hostess!!

My friend Carolyn and I have been up to sneekiness.  In the depths of twilight...

      

Under a full moon...

      

I dragged home a huge bale of hay... Why you ask?  It is time to create this seasons Mr. Scarecrow...

      

Stay tuned on how that goes.  I almost hammered a nail through my finger last night!!  I have Guests here for a few more days.  And, I will be in the pottery studio down at the museum of art tomorrow! Yipeeee!  Any ideas on what to make?  More bird feeder heads for sure! xxo

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! ;)

The Curious Playroom...

I have been living in my very own playroom down in the studio... Strange and interesting things happening in the depths of my imagination.  A little girl, telling me stories of how she escapes through a doorway in her playroom's checkered floor... Through a secret keyhole, and into "The Curious Playroom."

      

I will be adding her to my Etsy shop this evening...

      

She is a paperdoll that I drew on cardstock and decoupaged to a canvas background I painted.  I then built her dress out of vintage dictionary pages.  I painted the tree, canvas, ship and floor, right onto the canvas.  The house and the doorknob-keyhole are decoupaged images that I painted over.

      

I am so in love with this little sweetie.  She is such a character.  Telling imaginative stories that make your heart flutter...  She would look so lovely framed, and is the perfect depth canvas for framing. I can just see her now in a fairytale type frame...

The next piece I have to share, is a Super Bake Girl Silhouette.  I hand drew her, and cut her out of heavy black card stock. Not perfect in every way, but quite charming. Of course, I am a bit biased.. Ha hee...

She is titled, "Sneaky Superbake Girl Silhouette."  I really love the color of these old music sheets.  They came out of this beautiful big red fabric music book. I know, how could I have taken it apart?? Anything for art right? I also added a bit of a brown wash...  Very mysterious...

      

She has the scalloped edges that most of the SuperBake girls have. And, she is on that super thick canvas.  There is a light crackle in the black scallops.  Happens often when there is a glue residue. I really enjoy the effect.

      

The last piece for this evening falls into the Halloween mood.  It is titled "Delightful Flight."  There is a sparkly moon, covered in ultra fine iridescent glitter.  There is black glitter on a bat and the background is covered in mica flakes... But, the star of the show, is the Witch herself... Both her and the bat were silhouettes that I drew and hand cut. The entire piece is sealed with matte/satin varnish.

The background started with many layers of music notes, sheer papers and a bit of paint. She was so much fun to make.

      

I love the blue peeking through in the background. 

      

Here is one last shot, so you can see the sparkly mica. I must get more mica, it is just wonderful. Not overly sparkly. I love that!

      

I am off to add these to my shop... Then off to bed.  I will be going into the real world tomorrow to do some fun things.  I am going to do my mammie's hair & perhaps bake the cake that is on the cover of the Country Living magazine... Oh, and visit my in town home, which I do miss...

      

You all will have to help me find some fake warts because, my wart was a rogue zit. So sad!! It is totally gone... Got any warts for me???

WOooooHOooooo HEEEeeeee YAaaaaaaaaa!!

Okay, I know I said I would be back with some new art pieces.  However, something major has happened & I am making an impromptu visit to Bloglandia.  It is here.  The reason that I know the Halloween season has arrived.  There is nothing we can do. The season can no longer be put on hold.  Everyone is in the mood. No more waiting.  I know you are still hot, it is still hot here too.  You think it is hot where you are?  It was 103' here today. And I am still having to jump in.. So come on already! JUMP!

Here is the story of what happend on this curiously wonderful day!!! And, how I was forced, full force, into the Halloween mood. 

I was hanging around this afternoon after my trip to the real world, minding my own business... When all of a sudden, I heard a noise & felt a pain...

      

I ran to the mirror. The pain was on my chin. YIPPPEeeeeee!  My witches mark had arrived!!! Yay!!!

      

You see.  I told you I was a witch.  I am morphing.  I am a good witch though. Spreading light and love.  ;)

Then after the find I heard this loud crashing sound. It was like metal breaking through the walls...

      

I knew it!! The Pirate ghost ship with the yearly loot was here.  Yippeeee woo hooooo!!!! Is this exciting or what??? The skeleton pirates are here, and they only come here during the Halloween season. So you see, It is here!!!

      

Oh, this is just too good to be true!  Look at all the loot!! (that is my ship, it used to be in the yard, it is now inside...  I want Mr. Lovee to make it hang from the ceiling. Is that too much to ask?)

      

I could not have been happier!  I ran to the mirror to make sure that my witch's mark wasn't just a rogue zit... Hey, looks like my nose is getting pointy too!!! Well, maybe I am stretching it.  But it will get pointy, I just know it. It has too!!! For my witches party!

      

Well, the chin visitor is questionable.. But, let's stick to Halloween Witch's mark, k? (I have not had a zit in years, what is up with that???)

I was at Barnes & Noble today, picking up some gifts for a lovely creature, and I was standing facing the magazine stands, feeling like, Halloween just might pass me by if I don't get into it now.  Every magazine was screaming my name.

      

Well, they are all off to Paris... But, I am keeping the socks... And, I refuse to remove them (they are the same socks I have worn on Halloween for 5 years, impressive, but perhaps I should get a new pair?)...

      

As I was taking this photo, I glanced to the left, and what did I see??? But an orange light peeking in and toying with the Halloween in me!!

      

You see. For all these reasons, I am jumping into the Halloween spirit.  Starting now.  Will you come and play along with me??

You don't have to dress up as a witch.  You can dress up as anything else. Like Wonder Woman?  Your pillow case lovin' friend thought she was in fact Wonder Woman, once upon a time... See her little shortie self there on the right... Yep, that is me. The only time in my whole life I have had short hair... Dorothy Hamill hair...

      

Cheeeeese! See you soon!!!

I best comply...

I have been tagged.  I am it. So here we go.  7 things about me, weird, interesting, unusual.. Who knows...  Perhaps I'll bore you to death?  7 things nonetheless....

      

1)  I collect things.  Things I think are fantastic and throw the average person into freak-out mode.  I walk into a strange old shop... Lots of very very old religious icons and such.  I see this. It says "Beware." Others glance away, I exclaim "I'll take it." 

      

It is supposedly a box created by a strange artist who lived in SanFransisco & New York in the 60's.  He used to make these strange boxes, and sometimes, leave them on the street for people to grab. Sometimes, they exploded.  I forgot the name of the artist and what the boxes were called... But, it hasn't blown us up yet.. And, it is glued shut... Should I be afraid?  I love it...

2)  I have alot of books.  Books everywhere you turn. Magazines too, but books, ALOT!!!  Books at the "in town" house...

      

Books in Catalina (my space in the country where I have my studio, gallery, and loftish space. OH! and Mr. Lovee).

      

More books in Catalina...

      

Books still in bags, books by the couch...

      

      

There is more where that came from. But, I feel like I am looking pretty freaky already, and I am only on #2. 

3)  This next one has been brought to my attention by my sister.  She found herself quite disturbed when she tried to hop into my bed and veg with me...  I sleep with weird things in my bed.  I think you might have already heard this.  But, if you can't find the scissors or the screwdriver, simply look in my bed... I know, I'll die from a self inflicted stab wound one day... C'est la vie...

      

4) I have had lead in my left hand and in my right finger since elementary school... I have no recollection of how it got there.  I just know I have it.  Actually, the only thing I remember is trying to get it out once... Disaster...

      

      

4)  I have to sleep 8+ hours a night.  I must sleep alone, in the dark, in the middle of my bed.  My pillows must be positioned like the top of a pointy roof, or else.  I am evil if bothered during sleep.  My sister recalls being punched when my mom would send her to wake me for breakfast as kids.  I slept through the huge california earthquake in the 90's.  We were on our yearly retreat to spend a couple weeks at the Hotel Del Coronado in San Diego.  I felt so at home that, I stayed in bed.  I was sleeping. Thank goodness the place didn't collapse on me.. Sheesh...

5)  I am still recovering from growing up.  I don't mean mentally, I mean physically.  Granted, I was not made to be a very tall person.  However, I used to have a Saturday morning ritual of running to the television room with my pillow and watching T.V.  I would cozy up on the couch, and get into my pillowcase with my pillow, like a little sleeping bag.  One day, I went to get in and the pillow case was too short.  I had grown.  It was the most disturbing thing...  I still snuggle in, but only to the top of my legs. Too bad I can't get all the way in.  That would make me really small though...

My sister is answering the last two for you...

6) In high heels & by myself, I manage to get a bed, an armoire, a dresser and a chaise lounge into my car.  With precision.

7)  Very often, people think that my name is an invented stage name.  A drag queen got angry at me once, and told me he was going to steal my name???  He shouted on the street, that he thought of it first and I couldn't use it.  What?  Hahahaha!

I was tagged by Sarah & Dave. Hope I played right guys!  If any of you want to play this game, you can leave me 7 things about yourself in my comments.  That would be soo fun!  Or play along on your blog! ;*

Okay, back to work I go...  So busy with a bunch of projects...  New pieces at the next post!  I have a show coming up soon. YIKES!  And a witches party to plan, oh my!!  Into my dungeon...

      

See you soon!!!

A little love...

You girls are so much fun.  You inspire me, you fill me with laughter and humor me with my silly stories...  I love my little space here. I enjoy very much visiting with so many of you, either through your blogs or through e-mail (or both).  I don't mean to get all sappy, but what can I say?  It's the truth... 

      

I love creating special little spaces.  Mr. Lovee built me a second work bench.  I have decided I will not be painting the surface.  I am leaving the wood he chose... It touches my heart strings...

      

I put a television and dvd player in the studio.  When I spend 14 hours at a time making jewelry it is good to have a movie in the background. However, while painting I really just stick to music.  I can't stand a movie on while I am painting.  I don't know why?

      

I am smitten with my new work bench.  Mr. Lovee is the bestest ever.  Who knew that the way to my heart would be through a work bench?? No flowers or candies, thanks, but no thanks. But, um, how about a workbench?? Haha!

This is a picture of the opposite side of the studio, in case you were wondering...

      

I am trying to recover from a strange food poisoning of sorts since Friday. So, I will keep this short.. But I am working on some new art pieces.. So exciting, and I did have a few visits from some cackling gals this weekend... You will soon find out...

I was chatting with the wonderul Lisa Oceandreamer about Melancholic Sundays.  How I always get a bit of a tinge of sadness on Sunday's... So, I was thinking, I might have to turn Sunday blog posts into "Sappy Sunday's." Do any of you get funny Sunday evening feelings? 

I will leave you with the lovely Emilie Simon (French). This video reminds me a bit of what my girls might look like if they came to life...  The lovely Beth (who has a wonderful new website) and I are so in love with Emilie.  We are like, song swappers. Always going back & forth sharing music loves...

       \

See you soon!!!!

Paths & Lifetimes

I never really understood, when people older than me would refer to times in the past as, "other lifetimes."  I would ask questions like, "did you really dance under the pale moonlight in your birthday suit?"  And the response would be "that was not even me, it was another lifetime..."

Funny enough, I am starting to refer to times in my past as other lifetimes. Seemingly so long ago, that the experiences are mere memories. The events not even tied to me. 

I was rushed into one such memory today.  Prompted by the most interesting find.

I was thrifting not long ago and came across this book.  I usually buy most art books that I find.  I just adore them...

      

Only this book held secrets. Secrets that someone never new of.  The book must have been taken off a shelf and tossed into a junk pile... It contained two love letters to a woman named Genevieve.  The only thing was that, Genevieve was married... One of the letters was simply tucked insde.  There were also little articles taped into the book here and there...

      

      

The second letter was taped to the inside back cover.  The letters were from a man who stated how much he adored this woman.  Yet he understood she had a life and would not cause her any problems.  He admired her cooking, her words, her intelligence.... Wow, I thought, what a secret to be tucked away in a book.  A book that gets into the hands of some kookie girl in Tucson, Arizona in the year 2007.

      

I love such finds.  They make my imagination soar.  I always think that I am the best person to find such items. As I relish in them.  Adoring each find.

I was looking at this book yesterday evening again. Which is probably why my mind held on to the thought and I woke up with a memory of something that happened to me. Something so ironic, it throws me into a fit of butterflies in my stomach.

That leads me to a story that goes something like this...

In 1994 there was this 18 year old girl named Vanessa Valencia.  Only, she was a different Vanessa.  One from another lifetime ;)

                                           

She was fun-loving and quite the party girl.  She didn't pay much attention to the boys her own age. However, there was one boy that she knew since elementary school.  He was a doll and she always had a bit of a distant crush on him throughout the years.  However, once she got to be in highschool, she didn't much pay attention to him.  She was in her own little world oblivious to the world around her... 

There was an incident that caused him to give her a greeting card at a very busy event.  The girl handed the card to her mother, without reading it,  and went on with the night...  She had contact with the boy throughout that night, and he acted so funny.  She wondered why he was acting so strange.  However, the night continued to unravel, there was a huge party... She forgot the whole thing.  The school year was finally over, and so was highschool.

She went on with her life.  Not even looking back at the past.  Not even thinking about her life in that little town. She wanted nothing of it.  She wanted to move on, have new experiences and forget all the people she once knew...

One day, in her second year at University, she was desperate to find a piece of information to use for a speech she had to give in her Speech& English class.  She sat on her bed, doing her toes, putting on coat after coat of lipgloss... Reading an old issue of Vogue magazine...

      

She never got rid of magazines and had piles of them. As she flipped through the pages of this older issue..

      

A big envelope appeared.  She looked at it perplexed. It had never been opened.  She quickly ripped it open.  It was a big sparkly card.  Handwritten on the inside were words that went something like, "I have been in love with you for many years. I am using this evening to tell you that, I love you.  If you have any feelings towards me, give me a sign tonight."

She read it over and over. Shocked, shocked, shocked!  What?? What??? How could this be? How could she have not seen this for two years?  She called her mother.  Her mother said, "Oh Sweetie, you didn't want any of your cards that night, so I put them in a magazine for you when I got home."

It was the most ironic & unbelievable thing that had ever happened to her...

Today as I walked early in the brisk morning, I thought about that girl. The girl I used to be.  All the different paths I had been led on.  I struggled to try to remember that night 13 years ago. His face.  I remembered he had grabbed my hand, and I thought, "Wow, this is weird." But the rest of the night was blank...

Boy, did I have a story for that speech class the next day.  It was about irony and paths... So many keys, and so many doors... And the clock ticks on... Other lifetimes, other people. People we were, people we will become...

      

Do you ever stop and chuckle?  Do you feel memories swell in your throat?  I love thinking about these things.  I have no regrets and I can peacefully lay in the grass, looking through the tress, up at the sky...  Thinking and chuckling... Happy and delighted that I am where I am.  On this little path I am on...

      

To let go, or not to let go...

Psst, come on in, jump into my little world... You have to go through the secret passage way in the library and then let yourself tumble down, as the floor opens up and your feet giveway...

        

Oh thank goodness!  You made it.  I was getting worried there for a minute... We have been waiting for you.  Eager for our little intimate chats about little life things...

      

Here, put on your head dress.  And take some pearls... Oh, you say you want a spot of tea as well?? and some treats??? Okay, you sit here... While I get tea ready.... How about some espresso??

      

You know, I was wondering?  When did people make that sad decision to let go? To let go of their youthfulness?  Of their silliness. To become grouchy and mean and rotten little people?  I am constantly floored at the growing rudeness I face in shops, in restaurants, in the real world.  It really scares me and sends me home in shock.  My mom and I talk about this and remind ourselves not to stop being silly. Not to care what people think. Not to let people's unhappiness seep in...  But sometimes, it strikes when you least expect. 

Oh sorry, I got so carried away,  I almost forgot about your tea... Here you go, take a cup of your choice...

        

The story that prompted all of this goes like this...  I normally ship things from the regular US post office, where people are nice and wonderful.  However, one day recently, I found myself at the privately owned local shipping place.  I was being treated so poorly.  I was prepared to pay their $96.00 to send a personal package.  I was prepared to deal with a bit of rudeness.  But, there was a limit.  I was being yelled at and barked at.  So, I walked over to my package, took it off the scale and then...  I stood up straight and said "I am sick of being treated poorly every time I come here, I do not deserve this, and I refuse to ship anything from here."  The woman started yelling mean things to me as I walked out. 

I thought?? What have I done to deserve this?  Even if she is having a bad day, I still do not deserve this.  Not to this extent.  It took everything in me to be strong... To not let her bad attitude seep into me, tainting a bit of me...  Bawling out of anger and disgust with the whole thing, I promptly drove down the road to a UPS store I had never been to.  I walked in, tears streaking my face and the people were wonderful to me.  They said they had heard about that shipping place in Catalina.  They weighed my package. I expected it to cost the $96.  I take out my debit card and the woman says, "That will be $23.00"  I was floored!! I thought, not only was I treated poorly at the last place, but they were blatantly overcharging.   

You know, I refuse to lose my happy streak.  To become so scorned and tainted by other people's bad attitudes that it affects my well being.  I am not unrealistic though... I know how life works...  We can't always be over the top bubbly and happy... But, why not a little?  Why not share a little bit of light and love wherever we go?  I am not trying to be corny, I am dead serious.  How ever will anything change if we don't make little changes internally? 

I refuse to let my silly youthfulness go.  Not today.  Not tomorrow.  I will find myself, like I did at 6a.m. today, on a walk, repairing little pieces in me. Talking to myself, reflecting... For now, I will cross my arms, and refuse to let go. 

      

And, I will continue to do an Irish jig in the street, everytime this comes in the mail...

      

Especially when the topic is about Halloween and the inside looks like this... Yippeeeee!!!

      

How do you feel about all of this nuttiness?

(photo of child taken from my copy of Amercian Junk, older hard cover)

Oh where oh where has Miss Fanciful been...

Can I call myself Miss Fanciful?  I open e-mails so often that say, "Hello Miss Fanciful," that I am beginning to forget my real name. Speaking of e-mails, I opened an e-mail a few days ago with some really fun news.  Issue 13 of Carpal Tunnel Magazine just came out. It is full of wonderful treasures, and there happens to be a little piece about me in the art section.

      

Can you spot "The Siren's Sojourn" in the above photo montage?  Angel D'Amico is the creator of Carpal Tunnel Mag.  She is an amazing person.  Quite the artist.  I own one of her handbags, which is incredible.  Check out her site at http://www.angeldamico.com/. 

So, that is a good bit of excitement for little ole me.  As for where I have been.  I have been doing some major cleaning.  Vacuuming more dust than any girl should have anywhere near her. Mr. Lovee built me a second workbench, so that made some rearranging happen.  I also spent a whole day at my friend Carolyn's home.  She fed me the most delicious shrimp dish and then dessert and hard core Russian coffee.  Then dessert again and turkish delight. 

      

      

What a wonderful day I had with Carolyn. We played dress up and laughed so hard we both were doubled over in laughter fits... Going to my friend Carolyn's meant that I had to comb my hair for once this summer.  I have been walking around with overgrown haggalicious weeds.  I think Mr. Lovee had forgotten me.  He saw me with my hair tied back and was like, "well well, don't you look lovely."  He is like a debonair sitcom guy. Too funny....

      

Oh no!! Caught in whipped cream action!  I have also been spending some much needed time in this plaza.  You see, for many many years, there was no such plaza anywhere near Catalina.  But, just last year we got...  A grocery store, a coffee shop, Subway, and.........

      

YAY! Blockbuster.  Literally 3 minutes down the street (by car of course).  Seems so weird to have such amenities in the middle of nowhere.  Although, our little village is rapidly becoming a suburb, YIKES!  At first I rebelled against the new plaza.  But, I have to admit, it is pretty darn convenient.

Oh, I also discovered the Catalina library. Which by the way, has movies!!! Which you can check out for free. Did you hear that? Free.  You must go to the library, it is wonderful.  I had not been to the library in 15+ years.  I am overjoyed. 

See you in a few days!  I still have treasure secrets to share!!!