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???