A Fanciful Twist

A Happy Halloween Indeed!

The sun began to set, on that special magical night...

   

Everyone took their places, dressed in their haunted best.  Anxious for squeals of young tender voices...

   

Friends arrived for barbecue and caramel apples.  There was pumpkin pie and lemon tart.  Yummy salad with strawberries and other scrumptious morsels along with fresh delicious bread brought by a guest.

The chiminea roared with a warm fire, as very cool air descended upon the day that had been rather warm.

The greeter was so proud, happy to have such a task for this splendid spooky night.  He stood tall, and smiled as big as he could.

   

He felt handsome and confident with his fresh pumpkin brain...

   

Dressed in his hand-me-down best, he cleared his throat, practicing what he would say to little children, as they tried to run away...

        

In the garden the adults munched and laughed and told tales of all sorts of things.  They laughed quite heartily in fact, and howled with delight.  Mister Scarecrow looked on in hopes of having his own fun, but there was not a child in sight down the sleepy little street...

        

Oh, how he longed to give one of them a fright.

Night set upon him, as he and his brother told jokes.  Meanwhile, the adults played in the gypsy wagon and in the witches cottage.

Time ticked on, and soon the guests had been playing for hours, and it was time to go home...

        

It was clear, it would be the 10th year, that not one trick or treater had stopped by, for Mister Pumpkin-head Scarecrow to spook and make cry.

So, he has decided to keep waiting, out there under the full moon. 

While showered and flannel pajama laden adults, get ready for part two of their halloween evening.

Scary movies at midnight.

So we say, Good Luck Mister Scarecrow ;)

For us big kids, it has been a delightful Halloween night, and our guests were a sheer delight.  But I completely forgot to take photos.  Oh well...

October is coming to a rapid close.

I think it is safe to say, it has gone by in the bat of an eye, but left magic dust floating for us to spy ;)

   

I hope you had a lovely Halloweeeeeeeeeeen!  Cheers to a great spoooooky season, and now, on to November we go!

♥,V

ps: I can't wait to hear how your evening went.  Were there spoooky yummy morsels of overflowing trick or treat bags and glittered faces???

All Hallows' Eve...

It is outrageously chilly here, quite cold in fact.  Our bird bath was frozen solid yesterday morning.  Strange occurrences at the time of the year where anything can happen...

As the sun was setting, I could see the witches at work through the trees, as sparks from spells and cauldron fires filled the night sky...

   

Shiny red apples prepare to be glazed in delicious layers of candy and caramel...

        

Beware of the old woman offering perfect red precious apples (I love this in French) -

Ahh yes, my pretttties...

   

We, over here at AFT, are making sure that our teeth are in perfect taffy munching condition.  Make sure to make your sweet tooth extra happy...

   

Yumm yumm ;)

I am carving a round ghoulish head...

   

Perrrrrrfect pumpkin brains indeed!

        

I do quite adore the scent of the candle burning inside the pumpkin head.  How we must savor every morsel of this spooky mysterious day, don't you think?

Now, beware of who you meet out there, under the full moon...

        

I am keeping that in mind while I stir up some melted chocolate...

        

And get a few ingredients together...

        

To dip and sprinkle my homemade caramel apples with.  Ooooooh, aaaaaah...

        

May the creepy wonderful magical swirls of All Hallows' Eve dance around you.  I am in full spooky swing, and loving every moment of it.

My best friend and I will be up to some major tricks, don't worry, he is harmless.  He says, he can't wait to hide behind a tree and wait for you to skip by...  EEEeeeek!

Don't worry, he just wants to invite you to the circus...

      

I promise -

Sweet ghoulish dreams, as we delight in a Saturday Hallllooowwweeeen!  

        

See you extra sooooooon.  Are you wearing your pointy shoes?  Will you be costumed?  I can't wait!

 

♥ ,V

 

Costuming a bit of Nonsense...

Hats, jewels, gowns and costumes.  Will they be a part of your weekend?  Just a few more days to whip up any last minute ideas.

        

A masquerade ball under the glow of the full moonlight.  In the garden of good and evil.  Wouldn't that be sublime?  I know just who I would like to invite to play haunting melodies, perhaps even a harpist might entertain us?

I have a date...

        

And, my alter ego is just itching to come out for an evening of mystery and frolic...

        

I dare confess, my regular wardrobe has been accused of being a bit infused by costume.  Isn't that funny?  I had not even thought of it, until a gal made a mention one day many years ago.  It hasn't stopped me though ;) 

      

I quite love the days that women dressed in billowing gowns as daily wardrobe.  Although, it must have been quite exhausting.  Carrying around 40 pounds of ruffled frocks?

        

Last night as I was sewing up some curtains...

 

I thought about Halloween costume making frenzies.  How my Mom used to make me elaborate costumes-

   

and how Halloween was so super exciting.  I would squeal as loud as I could from the mere thought of dress-up and trick or treating.

I had my entire fluffy costume stuffed under my jacket.  I want a jacket like that in this day and age ;)

   

I adored trick or treating.  It was the absolute height of childhood dreams.  Bags and bags of candies.  What more could a kid ask for?

As I was thinking about that today, and dusting jars of this and that, I had a thought.  

   

Hear me out for a second if you will...

Sooo, I have these Nonsense Jars.  Filled with, well, nonsense :)  Junk Drawer sort of stuff.  All the bits and bobs you never know what to do with...

        

How super wonderful would it be, to have grown up trick or treating, where you give away junk.  Especially junk to put in Nonsense Jars.  Things you would sell in a yard sale or donate even.

You could give them away on Halloween, to adult trick or treaters.  Now that is what I am talking about...

        

Is that DREAMY or what?  Imagine, a neighborhood, where you go trick or treating and they give you treasure junk?  You could even bring a jar and have them pop a couple bits of nonsense into it as you travel from house to house?

      

       
 

        
 

I think it would be a blast.  You could even meet others at the end of the street, and trade if you wanted.

I would so be there, costume and all.

        

Oh my, this could be exciting.  I would gladly hang out front and hand out junk I don't want.  You could make surprise paper grab bags filled with junk you want to get rid of, and hand them out, as costumed treasure seeking adults come to your door....

Hmmmmmmmmmmm.  I like it!

        

Do you think this would be fun?  Could it be pulled off?  Imagine getting a bag of aprons and all sorts of fun stuff? 

Such thoughts.

It is crazy windy here and it got cold last evening.  It had been in the low 90's upper 80's and tomorrow, it won't even be 60' - or so they say.

All the creatures are coming out for Saturday festivities, I even heard the sound of little feet, making their way out of the closet late last night...

        

Perfect timing because I am getting less busy, as I am making HUGE progress around here.  And quite delighted at that.  It has been two months of non-stop action, and I am so ready to slow down and paint oodles of elves and cake-heads, and make art, and play with you all.

Don't forget, you can download a free Halloween card and envelope template I created for you last year, by clicking right here.

        

Oooooo, it is windy as can be!  Perfect weather for the mood.  Creaks and crashes and whirls of wind!

See you super sooooooon ;)

♥  ,V

ps: Masquerade loveliness and a magic ballroom... (Marie Antoinette Image above, borrowed from (1st-art-gallery.com)

Lovely Magical Autumn Days...

While I was at the city house for the weekend, seems my yearly visitors moved right into the country pad...

        

You should hear the commotion here.  It is F a Bulous.  Dancing, beats, witches. Yummmmy...

   

I never listen to pop music, not ever.  I used to, when I used to cruise 8 hours a day in my rabbit convertible in the early 90's (when I was a teen) - But now, I am out of touch completely.  

I listen to NPR and all sorts of fun stuff streaming from Europe etc., but no popular music. 

However, the silence this morning caused me to do the oddest thing.  I am live streaming 102.7 KIIS FM out of Los Angeles.  

It was her idea, I swear...

        

And so, I am listening, and on comes a song - and I find that I know it.  Although, I have never heard it before.  I rack my brain, why do I know this song right here??  Then I realize why.  Is it me or is there a hint of Cyndi Lauper's Time after Time in the background (at 1:40)????

Anyhow, Miss Witchie above is trying to convince me that she was Fergie 300 years ago.  Hmmm, could be?  tee hee ;) 

Anyhow, where was I -

Ah yes, witches in the country.

Well, the magic spell candy tree, might lead you through the forest, but beware...

        

You don't want to end up looking like this do you?

        

I love the time of year when nice little ladies...

   

Turn into...

        

We are just putting on our garments and drying our striped stocking on the line.  Are you?  (Thanks to Mammie for making my witch lots of outfits, she made every detail of this outfit and Miss Fergie Witchie Poo loves it ;)

   

All sorts of fun up our sleeves for this week.  We are totally immersed in the season. Packing all the magic into 6 days is our goal.  Total magic submersion.  Join us?

        

Mmmm, there is excitement in our bellies, and the scent, oh the scent of the season is alive.  One of them brought home an orange pumpkin spice broom, and it smells divine! I am sensitive to smells, but this is just lovely, not yucky at all...

        

I just love love love love looooooove this time of year, love love love!!!

   

My legs are bopping around madly, I have to go dance!  I have that Black Eyed Peas song under my skin (in a good way).

I love being the age I am.  I don't care what is cool or what is not.  Age is irrelevant.  I conjure up my 83 year old self some days, and others I am merely 6.  I am carefree and happy and life is good.  Right in this moment it is good.  It doesn't matter if I have stresses or anything.  In this second in time, it rocks...

Period.

You can be ageless.  What is age?  It is the amount of time you have been on this earth, but for heaven's sake, it shouldn't define us, much less define our spirit. No way!  I can't stand when someone says that someone else looks old.  We are all going to get old eventually.  Unless you leave the earth before you get a wrinkle or two, you are not age immune ;) - And, it's no big deal.

So let it all go.  Come on, go dance, won't you? Shoulders, hips, head..............

Any worries you have, at this moment, are gone ~ YAH!

Remember that feeling of having a crush on someone?  That giddy youthful feeling that we sometimes think we lost.  We do have it, it is alive somewhere in there!  I love conjuring those feeling through music.  A giddy crush on life, what a concept!

In the movie Awakenings, when Leonard is awakened through medication from his living coma, he wants to scream to the world that we have forgotten, we have forgotten how good life is...  I always think about that right here.

Okay now, must go dance, do chores, play, do work ~ etc...

        
  
I will try to have lots of spooky fun this week to share...

 

♥ ,V

 

ps:  Fab gnome costume ideas in the Disney Family Fun Halloween Magazine, Oooooooh!

        

pss:  While I was at my city house this weekend, I opened an old CD player and guess what was in it?  Blast to the past! I love that 1:12 mark...

psss:  Memories from last year - I am going here for Hallowwwweeen celebrations this year again.

Pumpkin Heart, Pumpkin Brain, Pumpkin Love.

Pumpkin Carriage?  I am Cindersoot of my little world.  I run around dirt laden lands, carrying this here and that there, and cleaning this and rearranging that.  Stopping to paint & make clay creatures a little here and in the midst of doing that remembering another thing I had to do, and so off I run to do that.  Insanity.  But good insanity that keeps me on my toes.

Luckily, some nice fella gets me.  I mean really gets me.  And leaves me treats on the stoop to my new home office space, so that I might stop and breathe and enjoy the last week of October.  What?  When?  Where?  October?  I thought it was July?

        

But wait, before I babble incessantly about nonsense, let me say the few things I have on my mind that I want to share.

First of all, the virtual Halloween party was a delightment and I am so so so humbled by the amazing participation and fun party posts I got to see.  I can't ever thank you enough.  I just can't.

But I can sure try ;)  T  H  A  N  K   Y  O  U !!

      

It is all a big blur, sort of like real life parties are, haha!  It took me from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sunday to try to make oodles of visits.  If I didn't visit you it was not intentional.  I tried my bestest, I did.  Next time we have a party, it will be a two day event (or more).  One day to visit 300 people is a little more than crrrrazy ;) ;) 

Speaking of crazy, this month has been so crazy busy.  Where has it gone?  I make sure to squeeze in time to enjoy my little world.  It is so important, and I hope you set a little time aside for that as well?

The oodles of sunflowers I planted from seeds (you got to see the seedlings growing a few posts ago) are blooming, and it is still a bit warm here, cooling off at night.

Growing is such an amazing thing.

   

       

Whether it is growing flowers...

   

        

Or, growing babies (furry baby in this case)...

        

        

Or even growing love (actually these two act as if they never have lived without each other)...

        

        

Growing in every way.  Just a lovely thing indeed...

These two play, and they both hold their mouths open just a tinge, but never bite.  Funny little furry games...

   

They search for rodents together.  Yucky yucky, and they succeed!  Eeeeks.  The rodents are trying to take over our world here.  We are trying the peppermint oil technique these days.  Alas, we are sure they are running a full fledged "speakeasy" in our crawl space...

   

Oh and, the pups even lollygag on warm days together...

       

Lazy days...

Papa and puppy.  Oooooooo, lovely little love.

        

A man and his pup.  Oh, you should hear Mister talk to Matty.  Nothin' sweeter in the world (or at least in my world), me thinks...

        

A little fur baby love, just for you.  Matty snippet from almost two weeks ago.  He is growing too fast for words.  This was his discovery of flowing water.  He loves water and goes in the dog pool all the time.  (nevermind my annoying voice)

And while Matty plays and Baby snoozes, a pumpkin vine that almost died, thrives...

   

   

I wonder if it might ever gift a tiny pumpkin?  Either way, I love this vine.  Grown from a found old seed.

Oh and, I have been forgetting to tell you, so I took a little video so you would believe me ;)

        

Even though I roam around alone most of my days, I am always in the company of much chatter.  Might I add, this isn't even a crazy chatter day.  This is a regular birdling coffee club day, right outside our windows.

This goes on all day, every day.  I just looooove those birds.  Cuties! (more close-ups at 53 seconds and 2:02)

It is important to appreciate and embrace your life.  Just as it is.  Don't you think?

   

I must be off for now, but I will be back soon.  I was in town all day today and doing a bunch of things at my other house.  Now I am back in the country and sleepy, and getting ready to enjoy every last day of October to the fullest, beyond fullest...  

♥,V

 

ps:  Don't forget to have candy corn and caramel apples and candy apples and and, fresh kettle corn and all that good stuff.  We have one more week to treat treat treat!

A Hauntingly Magical Celebration

It's time to let the celebration begin! 

Magic is abrewin', and we're just waiting for you to join in...

(all spell and potion labels you see in this post are carried in my online shop here)

 

Tales and gypsy wagons, ghosts from old photographs, cottages in the woods and witches casting spells are all part of what make up this year's magically haunted festivities...

   

Characters from the past greet us, and lead us down dark winding paths, urging the telling of secrets. 

 

You see, the night I shared the gypsy theater wagon with its potions and spells (right here) I invented a wee tale, in order to avoid revealing a vast and spellbinding secret...

 

I was told by the old woman at the gypsy wagon, who was selling spells and incantations, that I would find the answer to my wildest dreams- 

 

 If I followed a dark path into the woods, to an old cottage.

  

It was very dark, and I walked alone down a path in chilly darkness, until I could see a glowing light in the distance.

I was certain that I was unexpected, and had a feeling I should run, but I seemed entranced by the light...

 

I can not describe what I saw.  And, the only way for you to believe me, is for me to take you down the path with me.

Will you come with me to prove that I wasn't dreaming?

Down the dark path we go.  You can almost feel the spells and magic fluttering in the wind, while gentle cold whispers of ghost's secrets dance around your ears.

We are here.  Go ahead, take a peek through the window...

 

Oh goodness me, the witches are busy this evening.  I see a girl from 1893, trapped in the crystal ball. 

Can you see the witches? 

I can. 

I am told they are invisible to those who don't believe.  Let's be brave and sneak in as soon as the witches leave to tend to their giant cauldron in the forest clearing.

I think they are gone now.

Shhh, quietly, come with me...

  

The candles flicker as spirits dance, while in the distance the witches chant...

 

Gather around, shall we try our own spell? 

 

Please don't forget, not a soul we should tell...

 

You look at me wide eyed as can be, and start to notice, I don't quite look entirely like myself.  My eyes grow dark as night, as my hair changes shades.  I look at you out of the corner of my eye and raise my left eyebrow so high, it sends chills down your spine.

I snap my fingers, and orbs of magic fill the air.  Can you feel me standing, right behind your chair?

 

Yes, you guessed right, this cottage is mine ~ and I will cast a spell for you for a mere Transylvanian dime...

   

Wait, are you sure I am me?  Or am I a 300 year old witch, pretending to be V?  

  

You'll never know my pretty.  But I will tell you this, the last man who crossed me, was turned into...

 

A dancing puppet ;)

 

Alas, that is another tale for another night. 

(my sister brought me the puppet man from London by Lindsey Carr)

On this night, we shall twirl and play, because truth be told, you can't fool me, I can see those shoes you're wearing are extra pointy ~

 

Come on, don't be shy, we know you are wearing your exquisite striped stockings ;) 

So, light a skull and make wish, then set it free into the night sky.  For tonight is the night that wishes really do come true...

 

Who shall play us a tune as we mingle?  Come now, let's dance around the room...

 

And twirl in our spooky layered frocks!

 

Let's welcome the ghosts of all those faces in photographs on the wall...

   

But, be warned...

 

It's nights like these, where anything can happen...

 

 

Do share your spell, for that other-worldly brew.  The one that makes us 15 years younger with each sip, won't you?

 

Come with me, and I shall teach you how to turn into a bird. 

 

You can't imagine how handy that can be, for over hearing conversations and such.

Let's consult the great book... 

   

Oh, what do we have here?

 

A lock of hair from the man someone loves.  Beware of love spells, I say...

   

Oh me, oh my!  What is that, that I hear?  Is it the real witches, getting near? (They won't like to know that we have been snooping around their spells)

  

Or have the faces in the photographs come to life? 

  

I think we must hurry up, and try to hide.  I do think that when the witches are not around, the photograph faces serve as the witches eyes...

  

We have got to get out of here, can you hear them cackle??  Quick, take a pinch of this, and a pinch of that, and put it in your satchel.  We stayed too long engulfed in dance and play! 

 

Just touching these magic ingredients is making me feel strange.  I feel quite sleeeeeeepy, don't you?

We sneak out just in time, but I can only get as far as a tree, and find myself in the deepest sleep...

The next morning, I awake and find myself in a mossy little cove with a beautiful cherry blossom tree hovering above. 

Why, I knew it was just a dream.

There is no such place, as where we dreamed we had been.  Witches and ghosts, hogwash, silly tales...

 

Come with me.  I will take you back to the cottage.

Go ahead.  Look through the window and tell me what you see...

 

Oh my goodness, it was not a dream at all!

The spells are alive, the cottage is real!  In fact...

 

Spells and magic await your fancy ~

 

 

Although, there is one thing the old gypsy woman said, through a bit of a scary giggle...

 

I must try to remember her words...

  

I think she said that, once you enter this hauntingly magical world...

  

You might never be able to leave...

(image below can be found as a card in my shop here)

 

 

 

Even if you want to...

 

 

So, of spells and incantations~

  

You must beware...

  

Or you might find yourself... 

  

Entranced, beyond compare...

 

But for now, we cast a spell to be incandescently merry...

 

As we take flight, to other hauntingly magical party destinations...

  

My friends, it has been my honor and pleasure to host this year's magically haunted event (in my transformed gallery).  How I wish you were really here to frolic and play under the starry Arizona sky, and see the gallery in person.

 

Thank you ever so much for your participation and moral support ;)  Here is a link to last year's event in the garden, and Shroom Nog toasts to hopes for another haunted celebration in 2010 ;)

Pointy hats and pointy shoes, blackened feathers and witches brew, Bwahahahahaaaaa!  It's time to PLAY!!!  Midnight Margaritas!!!

You can visit my on-line shop for many spooky goodies and images seen in this post ;)

 

♥,V

 

ps:  Everyone is invited to this party, whether they hosted an event or not ;)  But, if you did host an event, do leave your party link with your comment, because it will stay here for blog eternity, and the sidebar list will disappear in a week or so.  Love, V     

pss:  Hi friends!!  It is Saturday, 11:35 a.m. and I am finally here!  I went to bed at 4 a.m., so my broom is now just getting dusted off....  Let's Party!!  I am off to start my visits with those who have commented, see you sooooon ;)

psss:  UPDATE ~  Hi there!  I have updated this post with more spooky photos.  Last night as I was working on photos the power went off for a mere split second and I lost much work for the festivities.  However, I spent the better part of today recovering them, so you could truly enjoy the celebration (I might add more as the weekend unravels).  I need a cocktail now ;)

pssss:  Happy Sunday!!! As far as I am concerned, the party is still on today!!  I am armed with coffee and orange juice and making visits! 

BOO!

Taking a short break from party prep to say hellllllooooooo ;)  I have officially gone mad -

 

If you are getting ready for the party, I hope your Halloween party prep is going wonderfully.  I am behind in everything under the sun, except shipping out orders (I take that very seriously, tape and all). 

For today, I want to tell you a little story.  It has to do with my new furry baby.  You see, when we brought him home Mister Lovee was very worried because Matty was, in a way, reactionless.  He didn't cry, he didn't bark, he didn't act scared.  He was just still and quiet.

I went on line, reading all sorts of puppy advice.

Most people wrote tips about how puppies take a while to creep out of their shells, and that they are mostly confused and scared.

So, I went with that.

2 days after having Matty he was running around playing, taunting Baby and having a ball. 

The other day, I was about to catch a cold (I have not had one for 3 years, and averted this one too, yay!) and was attempting to take everything out of my gallery (boxes stacked to the ceiling) to use the space for my party prep. 

While I was sneezing and working like a mad woman, I heard a loud splash and crash.  I thought, what is Baby (big dog) up to?  I walked over and it wasn't Baby, it was Matty.  He was swimming in the big dog pool!  He was jumping all around and being crazy as can be.  He was wet and filthy, and happy.

   

He is officially out of his shell.  Cracked wide open.

The timid little creature he once was...

 

Don't be fooled by that face (and heartbreak hotel eyebrows) friends. 

It.

Was.

All.

An.

Act.

"Haaaa haaaaa, I fooled them!"

 

I am just waiting for him to take out a couple of Cuban cigars and have his other pals from the neighborhood over to play cards.

Actually, in all honesty, he is a lot of fun, not tooooo bratty, and still not a barker.  He listens, he goes out for potty, he walks himself to bed every night.  He is smarter than smart.

But, he has his own 100% full fledged personality, and it's his way or... 

"Let me out of here, I want to go swimming again......."

 

And it is hilarious!

But, I dare say, he seems too smart to be a puppy.  What's up with that?

"Grrrrrrrr, I ain't afraid of nuthin' "

 

He acts tough until he hears the coyotes and then he leaps in my arms like a proper furry baby.

"I love you Mommy, will you pick me up now?"

 

This is funny, this puppy world.  I had no idea. (my Mom thinks I have fallen over the edge, into puppy love insanity)

  

"I am so done with this photo shoot..."

 

And he is off...

With that, I must be off too, and back to my party prep.  Thank you for hanging in there with me while I have been so busy!!  I hope we have a blast this weekend with the party visits!

 

♥ ,V

Of Crisp Air, Rabbit Ears & Roosting

Before baby puppy came to live with us, and even before I shared some art, I had snippets to share that were almost lost in the way that October unravels so quickly.  You see, Autumn did in fact move in with crisp air and cool enough nights for roaming under the moon in flannel gowns. 

   

You could almost see her arrive, of course, you certainly could feel her.  Autumn with her auburn and golden hues...

   

There was rain and clouds (early last week) with the arrival of dear autumn.  A delightment for a place that is always sunny.  This summer brought a scant amount of rain and little wild growth, hence the reason why bunny (or shall I say, "a" bunny) feasted on my garden.  Which, quite honestly, I am happy about helping him fill his belly. 

Anywhoo, I am delighted fall came in with a bucket of droplets...

    

Peach leaves take on the most intense mandarin shades...

   

While other colors in the garden overlap, as your eyes mix them into tangerine hues...

   

We look on, enjoying the moment, lost in thought...

   

While I waited for my part of the project, and Mister Lovee worked on building my tiny wooden counter in the office kitchenette, my mind exploded...

    

So, I painted and painted this one day, and then drew on the painting, and painted s'more (when I should have been doing one of the things on my list)...

   

Until the sink was ready to be installed in my lovely wooden counter (a sink which I searched and searched for and couldn't find, so I ordered with fear from a random online place, and it arrived super fast with no shipping costs, and in perfect condition, YAY!).

    

It was time for me to whitewash and seal.  Progress being made, yipppppeee (yesterday I actually got water connected to my sinks).  But I won't mention the septic backing up into the shower and that chaos from the night before.  I plunged for 1 hour, like a mad woman, while Mister went to get a snake, and while he was gone I fixed it! (huge scorpions came out of the septic, eeeeks!!)  I still can't believe I fixed the problem, what a work-out it was!  Although, I was praying like a mad woman while I was plunging (can you visualize this?), so maybe someone else with more power fixed it?  haha!  Plumber love ensued the next day, to make sure that doesn't happen again ;)
 

My office and sitting room is on its final touches.  Won't you be glad when I don't talk about it anymore? haha!

While Mister had been out working on my counter (weekend before last), and hand rounding corners on the hardest wood in the world to round, baby and I played where Mister was working (this was before we had puppy).

  

And, I got this huge wave of warm overwhelming feelings.  I made Mister stop and I said, you know, today is one of those perfect days.  A day to look back on way in the future, filled with memories of working out in the workshop, and me and baby playing.  It was a lovely full of love feeling that I have stored away in my memory bank forever...

   

Simple loves.  

Simple moments.

Oh and, silly rabbit.

   

Yes, this is the lil' garden eater.  I do say, he seems to be quite friendly towards me, and I dare think he is this same little guy I saved early in summer, what do you think?

    

He loves to munch, he munches all day.  Mesquite leaves and mesquite beans go right down, yummy nibble nibble...

   

He taunts me, I tell you, he even sticks his tongue out when I am trying to take his photo.

   

I have this big metal ship in my garden, and he always peeks his head out through it, I want that photo op!!  I will try to get one, it is so cute!

I always try to have my camera with me, because you never know what you might see out there in the jungle ;)  

Like birds flying above, proving that autumn is really here with their same arrival every year.  I love the day they arrive, they look like sharks in the ocean...

   

There are so many, the photos can't even capture the amount of flyers in the sky...

   

They always roost in the same huge tree...

  

   

You can hear their huge wings flapping, as they make their way to their same spot...

   

   

One after the other, they land on branches.  

   

Some even fall out of the tree and catch themselves halfway through the air...

   

Quite the sight, if you ask me...

   

You never know what you might find, if you always have your camera hanging on your shoulder ;)

   

I guess I had better go check on mother and the cats...  Oh wait, that was me channeling Little Edie ;)  I should say, I guess I better go check on Mister and the pups...

Oh and, thank you oooodles for the puppy and big sis love!  I have been kissing them so much for you, that I just had to leave you with this song...

Off I skedaddle for now, much party planning to do today, YIKES! 

   

Is the party really in 4 days?  No, c'mon, really???  Last year's party  feels like it was just yesterday! WOW!

Okay, off I go....

♥ ,V

ps:  Puppy Matty is showing some extra bratinski traits, oh me oh my!!! SO cute!  He is playing with big sister super well, and bouncing all around like a good furry baby ;)  Thank you again for all the puppy love.  I cuddle and squeeze and kiss a plenty.  Does he have to grow up???

Baby love, Oh Baby love...

You can't plan life. Wait, you "can plan life" but be prepared for unexpected twists and turns.  Is that how that saying goes?

You see, amidst the building chaos (which is beyond nearly done), the busy days, the fact that I have not even planned what I am doing for the Halloween party (I know I know, but a little magic will take care of that) and all other else in our crazy world, something wonderful happened...

We put a desire into the universe a few months ago, and somehow, it found us.  I saw a sign twice and ignored it, but on my way back from the post office (my main priority) a few days ago, tired and drained, I remembered the sign.

I drove to it.  I called a number.  I was totally re-energized.

A nice woman gave me her address just down the street from me.

One baby left.

Already chosen for us.

I fell in love instantly and said, I have to go talk to Mister, but will return soon.

5 minutes later with Mister in tow, he met the fur baby (German Shepherd mix) and fell head over heels as well.  There was 20 bucks exchanged (I know), a tiny trip for a vaccination and voila, we had our second fur baby.

  
 

Meet Matty, short for Matisse. 

He is named not just for the artist (because his black tail looks like a paintbrush), but more so, because as I was holding him the first time, a line from the movie, Hope Floats, rushed into my head.  It was where Bernice says "I just don't want to be known as Bernice Matisse."  I love the two children in that movie, and for some reason, holding Matty made me think of that line.

So, you can say he is named a bit after Justin Matisse as well ;)

    
 
Matty was the last to find a home.  His five sisters had already found homes, so he was perfectly picked out for us ahead of time.

We were allowed to take him over night, and told that we could bring him back if it didn't work out.

Mister Lovee adored him, but he was a bit concerned because Matty had no real reactions at all at first.  He didn't bark, he didn't cry.  He was emotionless.  He didn't even move an inch in the bath (he was sooo stinky - like dirty geese).

  

I said, I think he just needs time to come out of his shell, he is just a baby and is probably totally confused.  Mister agreed to agree.  Although, I am glad there isn't a human baby involved because he showed a fatherly worry wart side I had never seen ;)

And so, it seems I was right.  He made it through his wee trial period and we kept him (although, I knew we were keeping him no matter what). 

Matty is coming out of his shell beautifully. 

 

He is loving his new home.  He and his big sister (who we have had for 8 years and got at a yard sale for free) are getting tons and tons of love and attention and play time with their humans.

I am up at the crack of dawn to take him outside to play. 

Matty seems very healthy and he grunts like a little pig when you pick him up or rub him vigorously. 

We still have not heard him bark.  Which is just fine with me.

He is so cute I could scream!  Do click on this photo below, that short little body makes me swoon right out of my skin!

   

Oh yummy cuddling squeezing lovely moments I have had.  Yummmmmmmy puppy love.  He even went for a ride or two...

    

He has heartbreak hotel eyebrows.  They are always heartbreaking, even when he is happy.

His Daddy loves him soooooooo much...

   

And stops to hold him and talk to him with such meltingly delicious words that I could just roll around in the dirt in fits of bliss...

   

Matty helps me tend the parts of the garden, like this pumpkin vine, that survived the rabbit food festival (I have a whole other rabbity post ready, but will share it later).

  

And glorious abundant basil, whose flowers I must prune today...  
 
 

I have one radish bunch (in the background) and a couple watermelon plants that probably won't grow (wrong season).  All I did was pop a few real seeds from a watermelon I was eating into the ground, and they actually grew.  As did a bunch of other fruits and veggies, which were appetizers for the bunnies, as you well know ;)

  

Anyhow, while in the garden, many hummingbirds came to fly around little Matty...

    

And cutie looks on at them, ever so calmly.  

   

Big sister has been so patient and kind to Matty.  She sort of gets annoyed but more in a "oh jeeez, why can't I just get some alone time" way.  She sometimes puts her paw up like "stop" I am not in the mood.  She only lightly yelped at him once the first day.  Other than that, she has accepted him very kindly indeed.  She has always kept her young pup attitude and vigor, so I think that will be overall helpful and great.

So, it seems all is well. 

I think that Matty is bribing her for friendship with puppy love secrets...

   

He kisses Baby any chance he gets, and I think the blondie gal is starting to soften up.  She has been a lone furry child for so long.  There was much running and playing early this morning.  More than the other days, which is a good sign for certain.

 

I guess you can say, we are very happy campers in our neck of the woods.

   

Sunsets and puppies and sappy over the top love looms in the clouds...

   

This is a perfect secure spot for furry creatures to live.  We are more than delighted to give Matty a home, and feel so lucky to have found him so serendipitously, right in our own little neighborhood...

   

Oh, guess what?  The pups and Mister are standing at my office screen door.  I promised Mister Lovee breakfast 3 hours ago.  A quick blog post said I.  Ya right, when have I ever had a quick blog post?  haha!

So, that is where my life is right now.  I am going to wrap up a few unpacking and settling into my new home office loose ends.  And then, party planning shall ensue.  I have no idea what I am going to brew up.  EEEEEks!

Much love from our happy home to yours!!

♥, V 

ps:  Please please don't hesitate to e-mail me if you don't see your name on the party list.  No one is left off intentionally, and it is most certainly a mistake if you are not on it.  And please check your link to make sure all is working ;)  Spoooookinessss looooms!!! Bwahahhahaaa!

pss:  I wanted to say that, I now understand why doctors encourage certain patients to get pets.  A doctor did not advise us to get a pet, but Matty has been such a reason to get up early and run around the yard and enjoy life in its moment, even more than usual.  He has brought excitement to our other fur baby and to our lives as a whole.  So, if you have space in your home maybe you should adopt a pet? ;)  Clean puppies smell like heaven (as do human babies, but I don't think I could handle one of those).  Baby Love!

Secrets of an Avant Garden Wonderland...

I have so many things to tell you, that I am certain I am at least 14 blog posts behind.  I was going to visit you with a bevy of other tales today, but the girls below forced me to share them instead.  They were getting sick of waiting and waiting...

 

Hmm, what to tell you first.  Okay so, you know how I have secret obsessions about things?  And I get totally obsessed, sometimes for years. 

Well, this very thing happened with the pages of...

 

The 2007 issue of Elle Magazine.   

Yes, I have been pouring over a series of pages in said issue everyday for two years.  They fill me heart and soul.

Want a peek?

Wild and Flowery, Avant Garden goodness.  Just look at these rooms...

  

Over the top yummy.  Sigh.

I love these pages.  Did I tell you I look at them everyday (for two years)?  Oh sorry, I did already say that ;)

 

  

So at the end of July, after obsessing on these pages for years and being too white wall loving to paint my own walls with a yellow floral pattern (although I wanted to so badly), I decided to take my passion out on canvas...

Hence the creation of Avant Garden Wonderland - A Tea Party (large 24" x 30" x 1.5")

   
It began with walls I dreamed of having in my own home.  And bubbled over with a lush passionate tea table...

 

A pretty girl awaits her guests as the clock strikes...

  

Her very own wonderland.

  

I had the most difficult time trying to do the colors justice on this piece via the computer screen.  It is so much lovelier in person (to me that is).

  

So you see, I want to live in this room...

  

I just placed Avant Garden Wonderland - A Tea Party in my shop this afternoon. (she has found a loving home, so I will add her in canvas print form to my shop right away) 

But I am not done with flowers, they are still pouring out of my soul. 

    

Although, the piece I started below is so huge, I don't think it can ever be for sale for shipping reasons...

 

I had to paint in the midst of all of the building chaos here or I would have gone crazy.  My only normal is in the arms of Arthur, otherwise known as Art ;)

So, what else do I have to tell you?  Oh yes, more secrets.  A year ago I sent some gals off to Somerset Holidays and Celebrations, and the 2009 issue is now in print.  I love this magazine with its varied ideas and types of art.  Just delightful!

  

  

Miss Cupcake Macaron Fête has found a home, but she is available in canvas print form in my shop.  My Mom always says, "I want to be her."  Isn't that funny?

 

Two of her sisters got to dance in this issue as well, and both originals are now in my shop...

 

Miss Soirée Bliss (12" x 12" x 1.5")

  

  

  

And Enchanted Garden  (16" x 20" x 1.5") 

 

  

Scurrying through the Enchanted Garden, pink skies and billowing clouds embrace her...

  

  

It is so much fun to finally get to share the girls with you.  I have to just not think about things like magazine love, while the issue is being created.  That way, I don't get over excited and spill the beans...

Actually, I store things so far back in my mind, that I forgot to say that if you just happened to be in Surrey England September 26th to October 4th, you could visit the Chobham Jazz Festival, which my painting titled The Harpists Bliss got to be a part of...

  

She was asked out of the blue, to be the programme cover this year, and all of us over here in the studio were ever so excited for her...

 

Alas, I am 2 days late, because the festival is over.  See, my brain storing is not so great ;)

Anyhow, I have so much to say, but I have to go because I get to put things in my kitchenette in the office today (after one heck of a weekend with the counter building - I will tell you about it soon), and I spent 7 hours getting this post ready and popping the girls in my shop, so I need to go off and skip before I freak out from sitting for so long.  (I wish you could hear the birds, they are insane today)

Plus, there are monkeys hanging from the chandeliers.

Imaginary monkeys of course, but monkeys all the same ;)

 

 ♥  ,V 
 

ps:  I have a little interview over at Craft Nouveau today, if you want to take a peek ;)  The girls over there were so nice, it would mean the world to me if you could spare a moment to give them some craft love.  xoxo (the interview posted is a hair shorter than my ramblings, so if anyone wants to read the rest, I can post it, you let me know?)

pss:  All the dresses in my art pieces are made from Vintage dictionary pages.  In case you are wondering how to get to my shop, all you have to do is click here: www.afancifultwist.etsy.com

The Owens Women & More than a Little Practical Magic

There is one place I love to escape to at any time of the year (within the realms of my imagination, that is).  However, at this time of year, it feels extra magical to spend a little time in the house of my wildest dreams...

   

I am certain that most of you have seen and love the movie Practical Magic, based on Alice Hoffman's novel.  Not just for the story but for the house and the incredibly delicious decor and architectural detail of the home.(image below is a movie still)

   
You can imagine my excitement when my friend, Miss D, told me she ordered a magazine lot of goodness knows how many old Victoria Magazine issues, just to get her hands on the October 1998 issue.  But even better was that, she lent it to me in May, and I returned it to her on the 4th of July. 

Of course, I snapped a few shots all those months ago with the plan to share it with you at this time of the year.  

        

I don't have every inch of the article to share, just a few lovely snippets to inspire the soul.  Don't forget you can always go to the Practical Magic fan site, Amas Veritas, for tons of details about the film.

I have been watching it for years and years, and never tire of it.  How could you, with that dream kitchen alone?  (image below is a movie still)

   

Let me share a bit more of the article from October 1998's Victoria Magazine below...

 

Oh that greenhouse! Dreamy, no?

        

I could stare and stare at these images for hours...

        

The one thing I can't get over is that, the inside of the home was actually built on a sound stage, can you believe it?  And the actual home built on San Juan Island was a mere shell.

   

Amazing.  I want this house.  Ooh, yummy dreamy love house!

        

There was also a tiny cottage that we didn't see in the movie...

   

You can kind of see the cottage roof in this movie still below...

   

I have a huge map of the San Juan Islands that I acquired rather serendipitously one day many years ago, maybe it is a sign???

        

        

I also quite love the shop Sandra Bullock opens in the film, I would love a shop as such.  Sigh.  And those stairs, oh those stairs!!!(movie still below)

   

Shall I tell you a true little tale that sort of has something to do with this post, but not really ;)

   

Okay here is some pointless trivia.

When I was a kid, I lived in a Gingerbread like house, with my parents, in a heavily child populated neighborhood (this was before I had siblings).  My Dad used to take me hiking into the desert hills, to a piece of land he bought where he was going to build his dream home. 

Anyhow, when I was about 8 (my sister was about 2) my Dad and Mom built the house way out in the desert hills.  So we left the kid friendly neighborhood, and we moved out to the middle of nowhere in the desert hills, amongst mines and such (which quite fascinated me, but that is a whole other blog post).

There was one mean kid who lived out there and only 3 other houses in this dirt road laden far away place that we went to live in.  However, my Dad had a keen sense because over the years, people found that spot to be a sort of desert paradise, and started building their own homes in this area.

When I was a young teen, one of the people who built a home in this remote neighborhood I grew up in was Griffin Dunne's lovely Mother (who has since passed away).  Griffin Dunne happens to have been the director for Practical Magic.  See how that works ;)

His mom had an amazing fashion show when I was a teen (at her home), showcasing all of her costumes and such.  Griffin Dunne and his daughter both happened to be there. 

So you see, that is my pointless information for today ;)

   

Now I am totally inspired to work on my potions and such, aren't you?

Brew away, brew away!  The party is only days away~

    

I must be off to make some toast, and keep out of trouble >:)
 

♥ ,V

(last 4 images are movie stills from the movie, Practical Magic)