A Fanciful Twist

Wishes + a New Year

There is a place you can go.  A place safe from fear and anger.  A place free of doubt and anxiety.   It is a place that is easy to get to, down a heathered path...

        

You can get there, if you want to.  If you wish to.  If you allow yourself to turn the key,  for it is a place that lives inside you, inside me.  It is a place where wishes live, and where wishes come true.

      

You see, sometimes curious things happen.  You make a wish, even when you don't realize it, and day by day something beautiful grows and builds.

      

We tend to think that if something loses it's life, that it no longer has strength and power.  Perhaps we do that with wishes as well.  We wish, but do we hold on to our wishes?  Do we believe that they grow in vibrancy, even if they are not fresh and new?

        

It seems in fact, that they do.  There is vast beauty in the weathering of things, even wishes.  We ardently embrace old weathered metal and peeling paint on wood.  But, what about wrinkles on faces?  Streaks of white hair?  And what about those old wishes?  Have you let go of them?  Have you stopped believing?

Are they forgotten because they are 3 weeks old, or 30 years old?

It is never too late for wishes to come true. 

      

Be it quite grand or quite small, encrypted or screamed out loud, this is the post where we will collect our wishes.  Yours and mine, and then set them free next week.  Free to come true...

   

So, with that, I will make the first wish to add to the giant magical tea cup of wishes (in comments). 

No wish is too grand, this is true.  But I ask, if you got everything you wanted in life -if you had it all, what would your wish then be?

Wishes abound!! 

I shall set your wishes free, on their maiden voyage to the wish keeper in a few days.  You can leave as many wishes as you'd like ;)

Much Love and Happy New Year!!! ~ Vanessa

♥

 

ps:  I was crocheting, and making last minute gifts for my Grandmammie's birthday party tomorrow, when I felt a whisper.  It was the moon beckoning me into the bitter cold, to show me what 2010 had in store for us all... 

It was magical.   

      

I whispered the words to a favorite song, into the night sky...  Calling Moon and Moon... 

Let's Make Paper Hats!

Hi everyone!  It is so good to visit with you again after the madness of the holidays.  I have been a busy bee, with lots of things on my list that I want to do.  One of those being, making paper hats for New Year's festivities.  My Granny turns 80 on New Year's day, so I thought, she might enjoy a paper hat herself...

Now, the goal here is to make your paper hat as wacky as possible, using as much throw away holiday scrap as possible...

    

My base for my wacky hats are brown paper grocery bags.  I love those Trader Joe's paper bags that have all the clip art on them because you can use them just as they are, without having to cover them up...

  

I start off by making a heap of paper junk, that will quickly transform itself into endless supplies...

  

Then I take a paper bag and cut the ends off.  Cut the bottom amounts off depending on how tall you want your hat.  Then cut the bag open to make one long piece.

  

Take a tape measure and measure your head.  Or take a ribbon (to use as a measuring tape) and tie it around your head adding two inches or so, so that you have some room to overlap your paper bag ends when you tape them together.  Then cut the ribbon, and voila, it becomes your measuring tape.

At this point, your bag will be open like a sheet of butcher paper.  Now, take your tape measure or your ribbon (with the extra two inches) and cut your bag at that length.  Then test the bag around your head to determine where you are going to tape it shut.

    

Then join those ends, and tape them together inside and outside.  (I use heavy duty, clear packing tape)

    

Now the fun begins.  Cut into the top and make crown points, or anything you wish.  Get creative, go crazy.  It can't be ugly, because no matter how wacky it is, putting something on your head elevates it to a whole other level ;)

  

    

See, you can make more than one at once, fun fun!

  

At this point, you can do anything your heart desires.  Glitter, birds, moss, anything!!  Embellish to your hearts content.

  

  

Paint glue on anything, like leaves, and then dip them into sparkles...

  

  

Test your hat as you glue things on it (I used hot glue for the non-glitter embellishments.  Please be careful & also, don't test it on your head until the glue cools)...

  

Make sure you like how all your little bits and baubs look.

    

I am in the process of making several more hats.  I might even try a top hat and a few man hats, so the boys don't feel left out on New Year's.

I have a bunch of wooden utensils, so I silver leafed one and put it on the pointy hat...

  

Then Miss Mannequin thought she should get to wear it for the day...

  

But then, she got greedy and couldn't make up her mind...

    

Don't you think you should look for some scraps and get your hats started?  I think you should.  I want to see how wacky of a hat you can make ;)

I am off to finish up my others... 

  
  

♥  ,V

 

ps:  I will be collecting wishes from you this weekend after I write a proper "wish" post in a day or so.  Then we will set them free next week.  Like in 2008 and 2009 .  Remember? 

     

Let's start thinking about what sort of magic we want to wish for, for 2010.  No wish is too grand.  You can share them in the next post if you'd like, and I will find a fun way to insure that they get to the wishmaker...

Psssst, Guess Who?

Hi, it's me Milos!  I survived my first human holiday excursion!

   

As you can tell, I changed my name.  It is technically Milo, but I am calling myself Milos for now (pronounced Meelos), because I am feeling rather worldly with all my traveling these days.

        

Auntie V, Mister Lovee and I just returned from part 1 of our holiday trip to Dadley's and Granny Bon Bon's.  I had a blast.  We even went to see Nana Josephina, Grandpa Pedro and all the cousins and Aunts and Uncles (and plus ones). 

        

I was so excited to tell you all about it, but Auntie V is already making art and working on a fun commission while washing and cleaning, all at the same time. 

So, I figured out how to use her computer, so I could share my holiday adventures.  You know, solely from my perspective.  Maybe fill you in on some secrets and stuff.  I also got a hold of her holiday pictures.  Want to take a peek?

        

It all started with a car ride about two hours away to Granny Bon Bon's (aka Mombie) & Dadley's.  We had a beautiful Christmas Eve dinner.  Then, Granny let me stay at the Inn in her wee village.  I think I scared everyone at first.  Can you spot me in the photos below?

        

I was having a great time.  Minding my own business.  Being my personable self.  Letting the family listen to music and sing while Mister Lovee played...

        

And, that is when, drama found me.  I promise, I wasn't in search of it.  It has a way of finding this bug, all by itself...

You see, I saw an angel.  Well actually, she was a fairy, but to me she was an angel...

        

I felt my heart fall out of my chest and hit the moss.  This was no ordinary fairy.  She was gentle and quiet.  Only problem was, she was also totally disinterested.

Hmmmph.  My heart was broken.

But, I had to snap out of it.  It was Christmas Eve, and we were supposed to be jolly, and celebrating the life of a babe...

   

I tell ya, it was beautiful, being there in the manger.

Sigh...

Just as I was feeling good about myself, being a good bug you know, I spotted them...

The shoes that were worn by the kind of woman I needed.  They were gold, they were tall, they were audacious.  

They were leopard print.

That woman in those shoes was just the kind of woman I needed to whip me into shape...

        

I sat on the tip of one of her shoes, and spilled out all the sonnets I knew.  I gave my heart to her.  It was melted, it was like chocolate fudge on a sundae.  

But, that is when I noticed, she was carrying her one and only beloved in a red blanket.

Her heart belonged to another.

Snoop Dog's little Brother, Dougie Fresh...

        

The girl in the gold leopard stilettos told me that she could love us both.  But you and I both know, that never works.

So, I decided to leave love behind again.  And go to bed, wait for Santa, and ground my heart.  I must attempt to control that fluttering wandering heart of mine.

I went to sleep and dreamed of Roweena Rabbit, and how I told her I loved her.  But, she was so far away.  She would understand if I gave my heart to another...

Wouldn't she?

Anyhow, on Christmas day (after we opened gifts and such), Auntie V had champagne for breakfast with her siblings.  The girl who used to dance in discotheques, and suck up drinks that were on fire (through straws) with names like Cucarachas, couldn't even handle one Mimosa.  It's true, that she had had two previous nights of no sleep at all.  But still...

        

So, while she slept, Mister Lovee and I went hiking and peeked in at old mines and such.  I didn't take the camera with me.

When we returned, Granny Bon Bon was cutting 4 inches off of Auntie V's hair, while auntie V hiccuped from the champagne. 

Auntie V and Granny Bon Bon adore each other, and make a wonderful comedy show, I tell ya!

Granny was saying things like, "Why do you have layers in the back of your hair?  Did you have layers cut into your hair? Your hair was solid down to your waist on Thanksgiving!?" 

And - Auntie V (who loathes layers in the back of her hair, but likes it on others) said things, in her pitiful girl comedy tone like, "please don't traumatize me anymore than I already am (insert hiccup), I can do that to myself bad enough, without help from anyone." 

Then they both laughed like school girls.  Auntie V severely dislikes cutting her hair when not necessary, but it seemed, some layers had snuck in.  So Granny gave her a blunt 4 inch trim, which remedied the layers just like that.

Bliss.

Auntie V was in 3 nightgowns, standing outside Granny Bon Bon's fancy 4 head complex shower without a door thingamabob, hosing herself and everyone else down, attempting to wash her hair without getting fully into the shower.  All this while Granny Bon Bon screamed because she was getting soaked too. 

Auntie V ended up taking a whole shower in the end, even though she had already had one and blow dried her hair the night before. 

It was hilarious.

All was well in the end, and no one could even tell Auntie V had cut a smidge off her hair.  Of course, she could. 

Girls are so weird.  I mean, who really cares about hair?

Soooo, with that, we headed to Nana's.  Time for some real authentic eating.  I tell ya, those people put lime and chili on everything.  Even their candy has chili on it...

        

So, there I was sitting with Nana by the warm stove, enjoying my steamed taquitos and my tamales, my buñuelos and my menudo - 

        

When I saw a face so soft, I dropped to my knees.  My heart pounded, I couldn't speak.  She scooped me up and said "Aweee, what a cutie."  Then she squeezed me. 

It was love.

Pure love.

   

Sweet love.  

I asked her, if she could love me, care for me.  Maybe, put me in her great big doll house to sleep in a warm bed?

She looked at me as though I was insane.  She said, "But my doll house is full??!!"

I asked her, if she was in love already?  Then she said the worst words I had ever heard.

She said "EWEEE, boys are stinky!!"

She was too young for me.

She didn't understand.

I sat and wept.

I wept on a curtain of black silk.

I leaned on a warm tree.

But then I realized.  It wasn't a warm tree, it wasn't black silk!  It was the hair and the arm of a lovely maiden.

It was...

   

The woman of my dreams.

I was sure of it this time.

I had been confused before.

But, this time, it was for keeps.

She was Auntie V's cousin.  She was high spirited.  She was witty and funny and baked 22 different cookies for the holidays.  She was a keeper.

She agreed to love me back, just like that.  Her exact words were "Aha, sure, oh ya, I'll love you Mister Bugaboo..."

I can count on her love, can't I?

   

When it was time to go, she kissed me and said, see you soon.

But will I ever see her again?

Will I have to suffer from a love sick heart my whole life???

Tell me.  Am I one sick bug?

As we drove away, far from the village where Auntie V grew up...

   

I thought, maybe I should just mind my own business and take up crafting?  This love business is way too complicated.  Auntie V crocheted two hats on Sunday, and I didn't see her sticking her nose into any love business or anything like that.  She just crocheted away...

So, I made a garland out of real stars that I plucked right out of the sky.  I think I love crafting.  It might really keep me out of trouble...

        

And so, that's what's goin' on around here...

How have you been?

Oops, here comes Auntie V, don't tell her I was here...

Love, Milos (aka Milo)

   

ps:  Auntie V is working on some really fun things.  I heard her say that she can't wait to share them.

A Very Merry Holiday to you!

A little visit, with hot chocolate and whipped cream, wishing you all the magic that this beautiful season has to offer.

      

 From pink snow on mountain tops...

   

To sleigh rides while singing merrily along...

   

May you find yourself in warm cozy spaces, marveling at twinkling lights bouncing off of paper snowflakes...

      

Wherever you may be, under the Christmas moon ~

        

May the moon remind you that, no matter how big the world may seem, and how far a loved one might be, we are all still setting wishes free under the same brilliant moon glow...

   

And with that, may a bundle of treats find you - 

        

So that you may share them with those you love.

   

In this house, Mister Lovee and I have had a beautiful time baking (oh so many) cookies and singing in the kitchen for two days.  We dispersed most of the treats.  We made so many batches of candied orange peels we wanted to faint.  We searched for gifts for loved ones at antique stores, and then I spent hours finishing up some created gifts for family... 

I can feel the tingle in the crisp air telling us that, the time we anticipate all year, is ever so near...

I have had not enough time to contact all my beloved friends, who I think of fondly and are never forgotten.  Just know, you are on my mind.

May you have lovely holidays.  Merry Merry Merry Christmas my friends!!

        

See you soon!  Stay safe and make sure you eat lots of treats, and make many memories...

♥ ,V

V

Holiday Swirls & Last Minute Treats

I am shocked that the holidays are upon us.  I am not sure where the time went, or how the time warp happened, but it did (to me at least), and so here we are.  Time to stop and breathe and enjoy the magic of Christmas, before it slips away...

   

I want to share some of my holiday freebies from the last couple of years (I should have done this last week).  Just in case you want to make some last minute treats, or print some free gift tags.  As a reminder all my freebies are available year round in the "Free Treats" section in my right hand sidebar.

Remember last year's "No Sew Stocking" project I shared?  

        

Post link with ideas, here. And, get your Printable PDF Here. (give it at least 40 seconds to open)

If you want some serious last minute inspiration, you must run over and visit beloved Nathalie of Kennedy & Friends.  Look at what she made with my free stocking template (above).  Swoonilicious, right?

     

She added her own silhouette twist, and sewed hers (tips on her blog).  A perfect example of how you can run with your own fabulous ideas.  I adore her blog, I want to move right in...

As for free gift tags, here we go ~

Click here for the Printable PDF for tags below, give them a few seconds to open~ (as featured in this blog post)

        

Click Here for the Printable PDF for the handmade gift tags below...

        

Below are some fun lil' gift tags I shared a couple of years ago as well.  Get your Printable PDF here.  Again, give it 40+ seconds to open.

        

Annnnd, if you are in the mood for last minute green craftiness, here is the link to the tutorial for the fused plastic bags ~

        

Tonight I must make a paper flower chandelier for a little someone in my family, and then...

        

Back to crocheting some gifts.  I pulled out a bunch of my yarn.  I have a huge trunk and two cases full of delicious yarn.  I was a super avid crocheter, until about a year and a half ago, when I got busy with other things.  But this winter, I think it is time to finish the great wall of blanket.

 

Tools, check... 

  

Longest blanket ever, check... 

        

But first, must make some gifts for my family. 

        

More details about what the lil' crochet flowers will become, after I gift them...

  

I love squeezing yummy soft yarn.

   

Oh, and a couple friends asked for these... Eeks, talk about last minute crafting! ;)

        

I am also getting ready to make candied orange peels, and Vania of Fantasy Whispers' yummy little muffins, which floor me because they use NO flour, but bake up like real muffins that would have used flour.  Bafflingly wonderful, and healthy too!  I think it must have something to do with the fiber and texture of the dates.  (mash up your dates real good)

        

Recipe - 

        

Soooo, that's the 411 around here.  Must get my fabric back from the bandit, and get to work.  By the way, Matty really is a fabric bandit - oh the tales I have yet to tell.  He took half of my gypsy wagon fabric to his bed the other day.  And he collects branches and flowers and things, and puts them all in his bed.  And then stares at them and cuddles them...  He is SO CUTE!

   

        

Remember his short little legs?  Oh goodness, I miss that babyness, must go cuddle now...

  

Growing up... 

   

Holiday madness, puppy love, crafty goodness, Bliss!  Oh, and today is my 400th post.  I just noticed that.  Fun!

  

Must get busy...  See you super soooooon!

♥ ,V

ps:  I Beyond loved American Photography, A Century of Images (rent it from Netflix if you can, it has meaning on many levels, as well as to us as bloggers - and how we share photos and life.  Delightful, fascinating and moving!).  I think I will watch Wings of Desire while I craft today.  It is about an angel who falls in love with a circus performer.  I will let you know what I think ;)

A Simple Winter Tale...

Morning light seeps in and sleepy eyes open in the secret sleeping nook...

        

Winter mornings in the desert feel like fall would in colder places.  Crisp and cool with mere tinges of cold here and there.  Some nights drop to freezing, but not all.  And sun shines almost everyday, warming the ground in the most delightful way.

So, it is natural that in a place that undoubtedly is lending sun rays, you are motivated to want to see what is going on outside of the the secret little sleeping nook...

        

The warm light glowing outside the nook curtains, tells of a spring-like December day awaiting your visit.

A tiny peek into life is taken, after a night of journeys through dreamscapes untold...

        

Little shoes are put on, as groggy steps out the front door loom.  It's interesting, what you can see with fresh morning eyes.  When they are willing to look closer.  To see what this incredible place called earth has to offer...

In the most seemingly mundane spaces, wonderment exists.  All we have to do is be willing to open our eyes to see, just so.

   

The giant apricot tree has finally turned warm shades of golden, and calls out, come play under my branches...

A dreamy escape.  There is total disregard for dirt, as laying under the tree seems so much more important.  So necessary for the sheer enjoyment of the dance between azure, and cerulean, sunflower and saffron...

        

It is moments like these, where time stops.

   

Music rustles through the trees.  Winter weather will not truly visit the desert until January, and so today brings an authentic feeling of Autumn.  Curiously, one day before the Winter Solstice arrives.

At closer look, the most stunning waves of crimson sap puddles, linger on the tree's bark...

   

Giant cabochons made of the same sweetness of the tree, silently sit like a vast treasure, undiscovered...

        

I don't notice until some time has passed, that hidden on the other side of the tree, love has joined me.  She sits in the sun, drying a wet coat from morning splashes in the pool, it seems...

        

And then, a trot of little paws tells me, another slice of love has decided to join me...

        

Love does seemingly live under the golden apricot tree...

   

As I look up through the tree, sprites gather in shades of...

Pale Lavender ~

   

Caribbean Sea~

   

And Fire ~

  

I drift away in thought, and for a moment, I am certain I can hear Lisa Lynne's harp in the distance... 

After some times passes, I hear the voice of a woodsman (aka Mister Lovee). He has arrived to trim my beloved tree.

   

Which in the photograph above, looks like a fake back drop, don't you think?

Just like that, Mister Lovee Woodsman sends me off, in search of a new-old treasure he has placed on my wagon.  And so I go, with thoughts of baking cookies dancing around me...

        

The gift I find is a lantern.  So that I may see by night, the glowing magic that awaits, if I open my eyes just so...

As cranberry,white chocolate and pecan cookies bake, sending heavenly aromas adrift, I stop and think ~ what a lovely simple little day.

And, I am thankful for the gift to recognize splendid little moments.  Moments that are fleeting, and golden...

Do you find yourself making sacred collections of such little moments that take place in your world as well?  I would love to know of such moments.  Did you have one today?

For now, I must be off to make homemade french fries, but I will see you super soon with a treat ;)

♥ ,V

V

The Littlest Visitor ~ Milo

I was asleep, dreaming. Stars glowed in a pale warm sky.  Was I floating?  I saw a face in the distance.  Darcy?  Was it Darcy walking towards me?  Heart beating, faster and faster...

        

I heard that familiar tune playing over and over in my mind (I have seen Pride and Prejudice 7,890 times and never tire of it).  In that dream state, I felt a love so mind blowing, it was one I had only been able to touch in my dreams.  Of course, real world love is wonderful.  But dream love, dream love is the kind of love storybooks are written about...  Dream world love has no real world infusions.  Just sticky disgustingly mind blowing Cinderella love, castles included...

So, there I was, Darcy in the distance...  A breeze kissed my cheeks. Stars glowed.  Music played, and the story was getting really good.  Suspense unraveling...

When all of a sudden I heard another familiar sound.

Only this time, it was the sound of my low grade intercom gate buzzer.

Two dogs barking their brains off.  Not to mention the new dog in the back distance that has woken me up for 2 days in a row with non stop barking for hours.

I realized I had been dreaming. 

I could still hear the music though, it was coming from outside. 

Who's there?

        

I heard tires on asphalt.  I stumbled outside to see what was going on.  The music was coming from a tiny spot in the distance.

As it got closer, I realized that it was...

        

MILO!

        

He is such a romantic!  Or was it Cori who gave him that glorious soundtrack for his travels when he left her abode?  Whatever the case may be.  I guess, it wasn't Darcy ;)

Although, Milo is even more delightful.

Milo is here after visiting not only Cori, but Rhonda Roo, Marie, Ariadone, KJ and still has a handful of places to go all over the world. 

Lucky for us, he is spending the holidays at A Fanciful Twist.  Isn't that exciting?  

The second he arrived in a travel case full of remnants of his past visits, I decided, he needed a new outfit.  Poor guy has been traveling mostly bare bug.  And, he didn't want to have to wear his Halloween sweater (cute as it may be) all winter...

First he got a party hat...

      

Then a snazzy pair of lil' pants ;)  All handmade by Auntie V...

       

Of course, he needed a coat to go with his snazzy pants.  Funny, how people's personas change when they put on different outfits.  Mister says, Milo's Mama might not be too happy with the whole disco fever around here ;)  

        

Then again, Mister Lovee doesn't know Milo's hot Mama.  She is fabulous!

As you can imagine, many of the fanciful creatures came out to have a Welcome Party for Little Milo Bugaboo.  Notice any treats or treasures you have sent throughout the years?  Carousel from beloved Paris?  My magic egg from lovely jewelry maker?  Ornament swap treasures?  And many of my own creatures.  All joining for a great big party.

        

As we were all partying by a tree, I heard a voice.  I was at the far back end of our property, where I can't see anyone, and I "thought" no one could see me.  Then I heard a voice.  At first, I thought it was the tree talking to me.

voice:  Hey you, what are you doing?

me:  Silence

voice:  Girl, what are you doing by that tree?

me:  Me? (in my pajamas)

voice:  Ya, you, what are you doing by that tree?

me:  Playing with my dolls and taking pictures (private hermity side emerges)

voice:  Is it true you guys have a studio or something over there?

me:  Umm, uhh, yah, well, yes.

me:  I can't see you???? (squints in the direction of the voice, holding her hands above her brow to block the sunlight)

voice:  I can see you, and I have a new puppy

me:  Oh, that's cute (I know I heard it all morning, it woke me up)  

voice:  It is like your dolls, a puppy maltese

me:  cute!

voice:  So, can I come over?

me:  The studio is not open.

voice:  When will it be open?

me:  I'll let you know...

I called Mister Lovee who was utterly amused at the story.  She seemed nice.  We exchanged names.  I still never saw her.  I hope I wasn't hearing voices.  Milo wanted to ask her if we could have dinner at her house ;)

Luckily my gypsy garden bath and such are in the front yard, just in case I am visible in the way back yard.  Although, I never see a soul back there (there are two houses in the acreage distance), and it is tree and shrub covered.  So, I think maybe it was the tree talking to me...

Anyhow, after that meet and greet, all the creatures and I kept partying on!!  It was lovely, under the glow of the iridescent sunlight...

        

You can imagine, the tale doesn't end here.  The places Milo will go!

Oh and, feel free to share your ideas of what you think Milo should partake in while at A Fanciful Twist headquarters ;)  (Or should I say, A Fanciful Twist Madhouse?)

♥ ,V

V

Little Faces & Impromptu Sales...

Hi there!  I have been trying to get here for two days, alas I was covered in paint and glue and having so much fun with new creatures and art (officially in my shop) that I got carried away.  The process of filling the shop and taking photos is longer than I expect every time, but fun all the same ;)

I have been fluttering in a theater where dreams come to life... (I just put the Original below, in my shop)

        

        

       

       
 

        

One of my favorite pieces, yet so difficult to photograph.  The photos don't do it justice because you can't see all the sparkles and texture.  

Anyhow, I also disappeared because a certain Magician stole my heart...  A charming gentleman by the name of, Oliver Tobias ~

        

But before I start sharing faces, let me mention.  For starters, I am having a Print Sale, buy 2 get 1 free, and the rules are at the top of my shop announcements.  I don't have sales often, but every once in a while there might be a little party time sale of sorts...

As for new faces (I won't chat too much because I have to finish dinner and practice some new songs with Mister) but here they are, itching to meet you ;)

A little bunch of Gnomes with names like Ludo Pilnab and Yon Bleenickle ~ not to mention their deer, who have equally magical gnome forest names ;)

        

       

Then a sculpture take on my illustration of the tiny girl hiding in a magical tree stump...

Adeline Eudora ~

  

And a mushroom forest...

   

Oh, almost forgot, a tea pot girl, Little Miss Cordelia ~

        

You will also find a couple of elves and theaters and other fun stuff.  If you have a moment, take a tiny peek, won't you?  ;)

        

Those are the faces and curious creations for the day.  I will be making many more treats, more often.  Or at least, that is my plan ;) 

I have a ton to say, and tales to tell, I will be back sooner than you think.  I have a tiny house guest to tell you about!  Mischief I tell ya, mischief!!

You can get to my shop by clicking here ♥

I hear a guitar and a mandolin, must skedaddle...

 

ps: Art Poster Calendars on their way ;)

pss:  Don't stop, Believing...  (I know, I am so stinkin' corny)

It's Clear...

It is very clear, you see, that you and I might be quite kindred indeed...

        

Although, I thought we had a few things in common, the more I type, the more I share, the more you share, the more I realize that for the most part, you get me, and I get you.  And we love many of the same things and ideas.

Perhaps all it comes down to is that, we all just want to voice and live the same thought, which is...

I want to be free, to be me - 

   

All I know about this little life, is what works for me.  Mostly I feel my way around this fairytale world with my eyes closed, bumping into things.  Carving out a path with a sand shovel...

But some how, on that path, I bumped into you.  As we together carved out a little world in the virtual woods, that feels quite cozy it seems.

Silly stories, and enchanted creatures.  Paper and glue.  Paint and seashells.  Where DIY rules and where junk shows its true face as treasures that gleam.

What I am trying to say is that as time goes by, I feel like we are so lucky to have this world filled with folks who understand the creative world that we live in, and how precious it is...

   

Plain and simple.

Thank you for being you.  For peeking in here.  For playing, and sharing your true colors.

This week marks my third year in this virtual land.  I hope there are many more to come!

Below is a party in a picture (nevermind that it was from this event ;).  It is meant as a little sporadic party for you.  Thank you over the moon for your kind birthday wishes.  I was so overwhelmed (with joy) from the lovely vibes dancing around me.  I hope I thanked everyone, I sure tried to.  If I didn't, I meant to, truly.  I can't ever thank you properly, or share how I felt this weekend, but it was deep...

   

Here's to a continued world of enchantment, created by all of our imaginations grouped together, much like the imagery in the video below. 

I have enjoyed watching this video all year, I hope it makes you smile too ;) ~ It gets even better middle to end.

I will be back real real soon with some fun sharing.

♥ ,V
♥

Speechless Little Birthday.

I am speechless today.  The kindness coming my way is beyond words.  I am entering 34 with puffy eyes from buckets of tears of joy and a touched little heart, rotten and spoiled as it may be ;)

        

It seems that some fairies were sneaking behind my computer screen, and managed to throw me a beyond surprise party over at Roo's Treehouse.  I figured it out after I cried a bucket of salty ocean waves around my ankles after reading the words at Deborah's (thank you for the glorious  snowflake!) and Cori's.  Then I went over to Roo's, which led me to Karen's and Stacy's and Di's and Jamie's, and Debbie's and and Lisa, and Laura's (who was one of the planner elves!!), and Maggi's and Lulu's, and Komis Couture's,  and now I am going to visit and catch up with others fairies (who I will later name, once I see who those other sneaky sweet peas are), who left me a note at Roo's and who also went out of their way to make my day beyond special...  ( I will update the names of those sneaky wonderful  fairies in a pss below)

I can't thank you super duper wonderful souls enough (even those who silently visit).  I am moved and overwhelmed and touched beyond words.  All I hope is that I can be half as nice as all of you are!  I feel like such a rotten girl.  But that's probably because I carry around all this inherent guilt ;)  I could feel guilty for stealing gum balls, even if I didn't steal them ;)

Thank you so much, for taking the time to join me here at A Fanciful Twist, and to share words and ideas and vibes that are invaluable to me! 

Anyhow, I have a little thank you, for you...

        

Thank you over the moon!  Know that you are always welcome here.

        

Being 33 was so so so so so super fabulously wonderful.  It was just as good as being 17.  And I thought nothing could top 17 ;)  This past year was a gorgeous year.  The best year a girl could hope for.  A now, on to a new one...

I baked myself a crown cake yesterday.  I found this old heavy tin in my friend's antique store, that I thought looked like a crown.  Who knows what it's for actually.  Anyhow, all seemed to be umm, what's the word, explosive?  Oh goodness how I laughed when I checked on my cake.  I had to roll around the kitchen floor in fits of shock and laughter.  I used a very delicate butter cream recipe, and I had forgotten it always has glitches.   But I sure remembered when I took a peek, and I don't think I will forget next time ;)

So, figuring it couldn't get any worse, I left it in to finish cooking, and let it spit out the batter it didn't want ;)

        

And in the end, it was A okay.  

  

A crown cake, just for you!  Don't choke on the jewels, pleeeeeease!!  ;) 

   

Oh goodness, I must run because Mister took the day off, and my family is driving here to go out to dinner and I have to find out what is in that HUGE gift box! (and I have to go to the post office)

THANK YOU for helping make my day so special!! I awoke to balloons and flowers and bliss...

        

Oh and, I stayed up way too late watching Snow Cake, and then wrote a little life thoughts list for my journal.  I have decided to share my list, which are ideas of my own, that I try to follow.  Ideas for living a peaceful fulfilled and happy life, I guess you can say... (psss, I borrowed #26 because I always think of that movie line)

I started creating these ideas for myself when I was in the depths of my dark angst ridden days (early twenties or so), and had to find a way to get inside of my soul, and pull myself out of the darkness so I could enjoy the ride...

(click for better view, and on the next screen, simply click to view larger or smaller)

        

See you super soon!

♥ , V

ps:  Thank you Miss Kaerie Faerie for my fairy in the photo montage above (and for being a secret partier), and Miss Mandy for those cutie clothespin soldiers!!!

pss: And more secret partiers, oh thank you girls!! Mary, Charlotte, SueAnn, Stephanie, Constance, Paris Parfait, Amy, Sarah, Chris and, I am off to see what other fairies left a secret message so I can thank them properly.  I am so touched, that my heart cup runneth over and I am in a dazeeeee!

Let's Make Cotton Ball Garlands + Visits from Fairies & Snippets of Life

I was putting up my plushie white tree, thinking, I would love a white felt ball type garland with just a tinge of color here and there.  I immediately thought about taking cotton balls and wrapping embroidery floss around them...

        

I went to my stash, pulled out some delicious colors...

        

And, before you knew it, I was smiling from ear to cotton ball loving ear...

   

So, here are a few tips in case you want to make your own.  I used extra large cotton balls for my garland...

        

Then, I cut a piece of embroidery floss that was about 26" long.  You can use any length you want really.  But I found 26" a good length for going round and round to my liking...

Make sure you leave about 3 - 4 inches of extra thread at the end (like a tail), so you can tie your ball when you are done.

   

Then simply start rolling your cotton ball up, round and round in all directions.  Making sure not to tie up your 3" tail.

   

When you are almost at the end of your thread, simply tie the end piece up, with the 3" tail you left at the beginning.

You will have a little knot on the top now, where you tied the ends together (make sure to double or triple knot it).

        

IMPORTANT NOTE:  If you are going to string your cotton balls onto thread to make a garland, you will not be able to insert a needle through the center of the cotton.  It will be too dense.  You must insert your needle underneath your knot, like so...

   

Then simply trim the tails off.

What is extra fun about stringing these under the knot, through the top of your cotton balls, is that you have the option of sliding them close together and they will alternate directions all by themselves...

        

You can also choose not to string them up on a garland, and hang them like berries instead...

        

Or do both ;)

I hope you try these, they are so much fun, and so easy, and so fulfilling to make.

Now, in the fairy news realm.  Some of my beloved fairies are showing their faces this birthday season BIG TIME!  So much so, that I cried bliss and touched to the core tears today, as I quite felt like today was my birthday (even though it's on Friday).

You see, there are these two crafty and artsy fairies, who are super talented, and whose work I see every day in my house...

Krista Komis, together with her lovely Mom Sandy (I love Mom and Dot teams, don't you ?) Have a business called Komis Couture, and they make things like -

        

   

They added huge amounts of magic to Halloween Day with the parcel below.  Did I mention Krista and Sandy make incredible jewelry??  I know.  Amazing.

   

Can you believe that cameo piece?  I am in love with it. 

These girls are so lovely and kind.  They have such giving hearts, and I could never ever express what my and Mister Lovee's faces look like, when we open one of their packages. 

So, you can imagine how I felt yesterday when I opened a box filled with this, and it was from Miss Krista and Miss Sandy...

   

Pinch me!  Swoooon.

Of course, I won't peek at all (and that is the truth, I am good at being patient) until Friday.  I can't wait!!

I feel a bit greedy, but mostly I feel lucky ;)

        

As I was showing Mister these goodies this morning, we heard the dogs go bonkers because Fed-ex was visiting us...

With a great big box of fresh cut dream boats sent by a fairy who I was friends with via the virtual world, before she started blogging.  Her name?  Why, it's Roo (of  Roo's Tree house) of course! (never mind my handwriting done with my mouse ;)

        

Roo is a really special soul.  So special in fact, that you have to e-mail her to believe it ;)  She is clever beyond this planet and on to the next.  She is so so special.  When we first became friends, we talked about things we both love. 

Including bunnies in the sky.  So, I made this for her ages ago, because it really epitomizes what she is like.

  

Bunnies really do appear in the sky in Roo's world.  And they stay for tea, and they tell long tales ;)

I am one who adores words, kind gestures & positive vibes. Those elements are gifts in themselves.  So I am always blown away to actually receive parcels in the mail.  It is icing on the good vibes cake.

I am so, so touched.

        

Thank you doesn't feel sufficient.

So, Mister (as well as I) shed a couple real tears, as an effect of how touched we were.  And he didn't even make me delete this.  ♥ (wipes tears with a hanki...)

      

I shared with him too, btw. 

   

So this morning, with a heart full of joy and thankfulness, I set out to bake.  This mornings eggs were so stunning.  The yolks were enormous, and the shells, so thin with such glorious bisque tones...

   

I made oatmeal, raisin and pecan cookies.  I used giant oats Mister gets at the natural grocery store, so pretty.  These cookies are so outrageous.  You know how every so often, you bake something, and the brown sugar and butter caramelizes just ever so perfectly?

Well, that was today's cookie luck.  I sent cookies to my dear sweet Yodi and Mandy at my old job, and to my friend Dick and his Mom.  My friend Dick (Mister Lovee's friend for 30+ years, and band mate) stops by at least once a week.  He sings like a bird, and is so kind.  I video tape him all the time, and have yet to share.  So, we piddled on the piano a little today and then he was off, cookies in hand...

       

I looked through the photos from Luminaria Nights, where I was with my family this past weekend.  I loved this shot driving down there.  There is a HUGE tree that sits atop a mountain, and I couldn't get a clear shot, but I do quite love this...

        

It was so cold.  I had to buy shoes because my heels were hurting from my feet being so frozen.  We found a little thrift shop (so random) and I got hearty walking shoes for 6 bucks.  Dad paid, and then hollered, "Happy birthday My Love."  He did this loudly, so that all the gals in the shop heard him and giggled madly...  Real funny ;)

   

Lovely shops and galleries...

Then we saw Santa, of course ;)

   

We had the most unreal dinner at Melio's and lights lights lights...

   

Then I reveled today in watching Mister and the pup playing and chasing each other around (Mister is on the floor too, but you can't see him).

        

I sipped coffee made in my coffee press, and watched birdlings fly around...

       

While other winged creatures taunted each other, and practiced karate moves on one another...

        

I was mesmerized by ice formations in the garden.

   

And then, I spent a huge amount of time in Mister Lovee's man chair (of the reclining variety, yes, we have one of those), cuddling with my heart's love of all loves.

Poopsie of my madly in love heart (otherwise known as Matty Matisse).  Although, today we played Little Women, and he had to be the youngest ;) (Do you think he will forgive me for this?)

       

I am so in love with this furry baby.  Canoodling with him is like, like, like.  I don't know.  Free creamy endless, delicious hot chocolate coming out of the tap or something... 
 

 -I just ran outside to give my friend cookies, and guess what she said?  "Ummm, that is some ensemble you got on there, my friend."  Then we both giggled. 

What a funny little day.

A funny little day indeeeeed.

Let me know if you make cotton ball garlands.  I have photos to share of folks who made clothespin dolls and fused plastic.  So much fun I tell ya.

See you super soon.  I am about to fire myself from this blog if I keep inundating you with these long posts, goodness!

 

♥ ,V

ps:  I have listened to this on repeat for two weeks now.  I just adore Carol of The Bells, and performed this way make me so delighted.  Those steel drums make my knees wobbly.  I looove them!

Gypsy Love in my Little World

I am sorry I am so late.  I went down a winding road to visit my parents with Mister Lovee, and was in a magical (yet frozen) luminaria village of lights this weekend.  I will share some luminaria night photos, later this week.

I also found myself playing a bit too long in the gypsy wagon today, and sitting around making dried flower garlands (plus Mister needed me to do some graphic-art work for him)...

   

As promised, today marks the gypsy garden tour.  So, come on in and let's rock the casbah...

   

October 2008 marks the date that I created our outdoor gypsy-ish living space,details in this blog post here with lots of photos.  We almost never get rain, so it seemed a perfect idea, and we loved it so much we decided to keep it alive all the time...

        

   

        

I highly recommend doing a little outdoor living.  It is so much fun, so magical and freeing.  

As you might recall, as spring of 2009 rolled around, I was ever eager to soak in a gypsy garden bath, and so, with a little bit of insanity motivating me, I did.  Much to my Mother's (what is the right word) dismay?  I reassured her that, rabbits and pups don't care about crazy girls bathing in the garden, and no one else could see me ;)

There are lots of photos of those adventures right here...

        

I am able to get hot water too, which makes things extra fun out there under the trees.  The gypsy garden happens to be in my front yard, but we are on a large property surrounded by trees and shrubs, plus I put up giant tablecloths as my gypsy garden walls, so no one can see me (everyone here is on acreage so your neighbors aren't too terribly close and are scarce anyways)...

I especially love the garden by night, with the chimenea burning bright.  Some of those images shared here...

      

        

Spending time outside has been crucial to my well being.  Remember when we were kids and we loved to play outside, and it invigorated our souls to run around with our friends and be out until our Mothers had to holler at us 500 times to come inside?  I sort of feel like that when I am out in the gypsy garden.  The fresh air brings magic...

   

The first weekend I came to the country house (10 years ago), I felt attached to it.  Like a piece of me, of my body map puzzle, clicked into place.  A missing void was filled.  I never take for granted, how lucky I am to share this spot with Mister Lovee.  My humble soul is ever so thankful.  And, it's funny, our property is very simple & humble itself, but that makes me love it even more...

   

There is a post with shots of the Gypsy garden that gives perspective to how it is situated, right over here.

Some of my favorite moments are having friends over to sit and play music in the garden.  Our main outdoor fun all happens in the front garden.  I have to say, you don't need anything but random scraps of fabric and twinkling lights to start your own gypsy garden or tent, even if it is in your living room ;)

 

   

The fun thing is that, visitors like the gypsy boys (who visited in this post), get into the whole gypsy mode too.  I am certain you can conjure that sort of magic up with your family or friends as well, if you feel like you need a little gypsy fun.  It transports you to a super wonderful place.  It's like playtime for adult-children.

      

      

The thing that I have to pinch myself about all the time, is that I have a Mister in my life who listens to what I like.  And, he quite likes almost all of the things that I do.  So it makes things really easy and light -hearted.  That's how the gypsy wagon came to be, Mister thought it would be fun to get rid of me a couple hours a day, by giving me a play house on wheels ;)  

It worked.  In August him and a little old guy (the seller) surprised me with a little wagon that had much potential.  That story is in this post over here...

 

(finally a place to put all those suitcases I have collected ;)  How about a road trip??  

        

I spent some sweltering nights in that wagon, being drenched in moonbeam glow, this summer....

        

One night, I decided to just decorate the inside of the wagon with whatever I had.  You can read that post right here.  Mister joined me and played some tunes, and before you knew it, just 20 steps from the gypsy garden, we could sit in an enclosed gypsy wagon and have a blast...

      

And then of course, lots of you lovelies played with me this October for Spells and Magic and even a video I made in this post... 

 

(the labels below can still be found in my shop)

    

Wasn't that so much fun?  I loved those nights, filled with spookiness and enchantment!

   

And now, here we are today.  And I am ever delighted you decided to stop in...
        

I had a lovely day, riding my vintage Schwinn around and collecting garden treasures to make nature love garlands.  I also used some dried flowers I already had...

        

        

It makes me want to put up a nature treasure tree for the holidays.  

Oh, are you going to stay on for tea?  I sure hope so, come on in.  You can see my gallery from here, and you can see my two huge kilns in front of the gallery, under the stars.  They are covered with tarps, but you can still tell there are two huge monsters there ;)

   

   

As you can see (from the garments hanging in the tree above), I have been rather naughty, collecting Antique Victorian frocks to make up for my missing one.

- Lined up like this, the frocks make me want to drift into a story about 3 gypsy sisters who might live here in some sort of story world, traveling in the wagon...  Any ideas?

   

Let's discuss this over that promised tea...

   

Would you like the cute cup?  Okay, if you insist, here you go...

   

   

Oh, I think someone has just joined us.  Looks like a pirate is sneaking in ;)  Is that your beau?  I didn't invite him...

        

It's so cozy in here, I am so glad you joined me for tea ;)

        

   

Let's get dressed up and have a real big gypsy party, wouldn't that be fun???  I have this antique wedding gown from lands far away that I could wear.  A dear friend gave it to me 2 years ago, as she thought I would be the only person she knew who would appreciate it.  Swwwwwwwoooon!

        

        

I keep it in an air tight box, but pulled it out for our little visit today.  Although, the thought of a gypsy party has my brain wheels turning!!!

Thinking thinking...

      

I have to go now, because my brain is getting out of control with party ideas (and I have to go hug my furry babies).  Also, I have to go wash my hair, since starting in 9 minutes, marks my Birthday week.  Yes, I take a whole week to celebrate being dropped to the earth from my cherubim bliss in the sky, don't you?  Oh wait, isn't that where I met you?  Yes yes, I knew you were familiar ;)

      

Anywho, I am going to be 34 on Friday.  Which is beyond exciting because one of my favorite numbers is 7.  And as you know, you get to act the age that your double digits add up to.  I get to be 7 for a whole year, YAY!  Annnnd, you get to have as many items as you want dealing with your birthday number.  But you have to really believe this one, to make it come true.

        

So, this year I am getting, 34 gumballs, 34 shoes, (not pairs, but just shoes), which will add up to 17 pairs.  34 slices of cake, and 34 kissessss!!

In my world age is meaningless.  The only thing it's good for is for assigning a number to the aforementioned treats ;)

        

How many do you get this year???  Aren't you excited?  Just beware of what you ask for. You don't want 34 boyfriends, or 34 spins on the tilt-a-whirl.  Or 45 or 56 or 62 or 23 or 87.  Trust me.  I know these things.   ;)

See you ever so sooooooon!  It is party week which means, treats for you toooooo ;)

      

♥ ,V

 

ps:  Too see all of the posts about the gypsy garden - click here, or click on Gypsy Love in my right hand sidebar under Categories.

pss:  Have you seen the old film, An American in Paris?  The design style in the opening shots of the characters' apartments is so fabulous!  And in many ways, so now, regarding what we are seeing in design.

psss: I am also at my other blog today ;) 

A Peek Inside Week: A Little Gallery

Hi there!  I am all caught up on life (which is why I was gone for a day or so), and about to get ready to have some fun this evening, but not before I take you to my humble little gallery, which is a free standing petite metal building that sits about 20 steps from my office door...

        

Again, yet another space that was used many years ago (30+) by the previous owners for supplies for canning and gardening.  It is a fair size, and fits a handful of people who can browse around comfortably...

        

I have not done a show since 2007 (I have done so many in my lifetime, I am not sure I am up for them for a while), but I still use my gallery, especially for fun stuff like the Halloween party.  You can see oodles of photos of the gallery turned into a Botanical Apothecary Shoppe, of the Witches Variety, right here...

       

        

In 2005 I was still deeply into my highly colorful art, and had been doing lots of enormous scale custom pieces for homes for a few years by then.  So, that colorfulness (which I am being drawn to again) was a huge part of my first shows here in the gallery.  I have been doing work as an artist for 15+ years (even while having real world stinky day jobs), although I only started my blog 3 years ago.  Many tales to tell one day on that front...

Anywho, I opened my doors to the public via the gallery in 2005.  And since then, the gallery has changed and evolved.  Here are a few older shots...

        

       

  

My last show held some of the pieces that are more familiar to some of you.  That was Spring of 2007 I believe.  Or maybe it was Fall 2008.  I can't remember, my mind fails me these days ;)

        

        

People ask why I have not been a part of the local art tour and other shows as of late.  And the answer is, I found it very challenging to try to make art to sell in my on-line shoppe and have the entire gallery stocked for shows.  I also found a certain amount of trauma to my soul letting people come over and wander through my property.  Mostly you get lovely visitors, but sometimes you get a couple people snickering negative comments about your work or how they could do it themselves, right in front of you.  It's okay if they don't like it and/or could do it themselves, but to snicker about it while being invited into your own property feels pretty yucka-yucky.

I found doing shows in my own home, much more emotionally draining than doing the oodles of trunk and craft shows I have done over the years, away from home.  Has anyone ever experienced anything like that?

Nevertheless, it won't deter me from doing them in the future, I have learned so much about what to expect, and what not to let bother me.  It's all about creating an invisible soul shield, you know what I mean?

 

Then everything else is smooth sailing.  Of course, there were endless positive things about the shows.  So many lovely wonderful faces who stopped in year after year.  Love them!

People stop and munch on treats and drink coffee, and dance to the music, and tell you they are taking your work back home, some near and some far away, and you feel your heart fill with delightment.  That's the good stuff I hold on to.

   

You learn things about yourself through shows and such, if you open your eyes and ears, and listen to yourself.  You learn what your limitations are.  You learn what you are willing to do and not do.  And for me, I gained something I wish I had had my whole life.  I took on this persona who just simply refuses to do anything she doesn't want to do.

I can't be coaxed into doing anything that the 5 year old girl in me doesn't want to do.  And that is huge for me, because my whole life I was the "yes" girl.  But for me, through shows I got to a point where I was so exhausted, that I learned much about myself, and learned how to say no.  That truly is a huge step for me, and what I find to be a good thing.

I find that sometimes we are so afraid to say no and be honest about it, that instead we suffer ourselves.  So, I think it is good to find a comfortable space inside of ourselves where we can say no, and tell the truth about why the answer is no.  Many times my answer is,"No, I can't do this or that because my house and bed are too cozy, and I am in my pj's and I don't feel like leaving, sorry ;) "

But wait, I see I have veered to a completely different place, as usual ;) -

In the future, I am going to try to pull out some video of the art shows.  I spent all evening and morning searching for those videos on discs, and couldn't find them, but I will one day, and I will share them with you..

   

You can see lots more Gallery photos by going to my right hand side bar, and looking under the "categories Section" for A Strange Little Gallery, or click here for now ;) .  All the Gallery posts ever written live there.

This coming weekend will be the last post of the home tour week, and I have some new shots of the Gypsy Love spaces to share Saturday or Sunday.

        

Thanks for a super fun week!  You guys are a blast, I giggled and swooned so much reading comments.  I especially giggled madly with the handful of concerns about the dust (and act of dusting) my houses and outdoor living spaces might hold ;)  I never thought about dust until now, I mean I love to use windex and bleach sinks and toilets (tma), so I probably dust without thinking about it.  But more truthfully, I guess the answer is, I don't care about dust ;)  Or combing my hair, or wearing mismatched socks.  I know, aren't I rotten?  I guess the Pipilara in me is alive and well.  Dust, what dust?  Tee heee...  ;) ;)

You are so much fun!!  What on earth did I do with myself before blogging existed and I didn't have my fanciful friends???

♥ ,V

Now, wrap your silk scarves around your head and put on your layers of billowing skirts and blouses, and if time permits, meet me here later this weekend for some Gypsylandia fun! ♥

A Peek Inside Week: The City House

Thanks again for stopping by during my little open house week.  It is so much fun to have you over for such a personal visit.  If you missed the office reveal and country house tour: part 1, simply click here...

        

Today I am taking you to the city house, which is a gated two story little place, that sits in the city of Tucson, Arizona.

        

Come on in through the private gate to my front yard that leads you under my overgrown arbor, and into my secluded and very private courtyard.  You can sit on the green wooden bench that lives under the umbrellas...

        

I love courtyards.  I think they are so sweet and dreamy.  A tiny garden space to read in or listen to the fountain in...

   

That is not our cat, but he lived in our garden for a short time, then left one day.  Let's go inside, shall we?

Let's start in the sitting room...

   

As I said in the post below, I believe in surrounding myself with what I love.  I adore Jen's at Indie Fixx's description of my decorating style.  She has gotten closer than I ever have in describing it.

    

In putting this little home tour together I realized that I have never ever wondered if something will work with something else in my house.  I just buy what I like and want.  Is it obvious?  Since I have always had an eclectic style, I don't know if it is just a big mish-mosh, or not.  All I know is that it makes me happy ;)  

(I like to put a big mirror in front of the fireplace during warm months.  The fireplace is behind the black chair)

   

I adore little nooks and shrines filled with treasures.  They don't have to be religious shrines, I just love creating little spaces that hold things that lift my spirits and bring a sense of beauty and peace to me...

        

  

         

Almost everything I bring home ends up coming home with me because of its story or history.  That, or I simply feel a deep connection to it...

 

   

       

   

As you can tell I love bright white.  I don't know what it is, but I have to have brightness.  I think it keeps me from feeling gloomy or sad.  Maybe that's it?  

  

        

I do adore color bursts here and there.  I have many of my colorful paintings hanging that I did many years ago during my abstract art days (which I am being drawn to again, I must admit). 

I also love going into homes that have colorful walls.  I have tried color on my walls in my own home, but it didn't feel right in my own space.  I even love looking at really dark rooms, like black walls or tapestry covered walls with baroque furnishings and white curtains etc.  Maybe one day, if I win a Victorian Mansion I will do dark walls in one room ;)

      

When I was 11 years old I started painting furniture.  There are many pieces I painted about 10-15 years ago that still live at the city house.  Once day, about 5+ years ago, I saw the bench above by Luon St.Pierre at Bohemia, and thought it really complimented my own painted pieces.  I love that bench.

I painted the mermaid on my bookcase as well.  The other side of the bookcase is painted with the  mermaid from head to torso, and the side you can see has her tail painted on it.  I also painted scenes on the lower doors, but they are blocked by the bench. 

The large wooden mermaid on my black piece of furniture happens to be part of one man's collection (unbeknownst to me when I purchased the first piece), which I acquired over time from an antique store.  The mermaid was part of the collection that had the two wooden santos that are at my country house.  They all come from the Philippines and were used in religious processions.

I also love collecting other artists work.  Like the sculpture below by Gonzalo Espinosa, which is a winged man on one side and a woman on the backside...

  

Anyhow, let's leave the sitting room for now, and move on to the little dining area, shall we? 

   

I forgot to show you at the country house, but I have a wall with what others call scary clown paintings.  And, I have one of my circus guys hanging in the dining/piano area at the city house. 

        

This is my piano which I painted about 13+ years ago.  That piano was given to me by my parents when I was 3 years old.  It was a beautiful creme and gold French looking thing.  Oops ;) 

Although, my Mom likes it better this way, and she is the one who encouraged me to paint it in the first place...

   

       

      

I love to incorporate things like antique chairs and funky silly pillows.  I think the whole juxtaposition of it all, thrills me...

 

I just love collecting treasures.  Notice how I have used the word "love" one too many times in this post already ~ Oh well, I love to love I guess ;) 

   

The deliciousness of collecting interesting things has its hold on me.  Don't you love the anticipation of searching for the ultimate find?  I sure do...

Many years ago I painted a whole series of heart paintings and I kept this one below.  I have two in my canvas storage that are left to be completed from 15 years ago, and I am itching to work on them again.  They are heavily textured, which is much more visible in person...

      

Sooo, on to the next room - we won't be going upstairs today, but let me take you to the master bedroom, which happens to be on the 1st floor...

This is my happy little bedroom, filled with flowers and wacky things...

 

I just don't get tired of this Anthropologie bedding.  I got it years and years ago, and it still makes me smile...

  

  

      

   

   

        

On the left side of my bedroom is a tall piece that goes with my nightstands.  It houses my television, and stands in front of a wall of windows, which I forgot to take a picture of.  There is also a nook on that side for...

       

  

And this is the powder room.  Talk about getting personal ;)  Although, no closet shots for today.  My bathroom had a double sink, but when we gutted it, we got rid of one sink so that I could have more usable space.

 

Is it time for dress-up yet? 

      

Well actually, I think it is about time for treats, don't you?

        

I think one of my favorite places in a home is the kitchen.  I love to cook, and I love nothing more than huddling in the kitchen and cooking while people sip wine and chat with me...

        

A kitchen can be such a warm fun place, don't you think?

        

I think it is extra fun to find ugly pieces of furniture with potential.  I painted that kitchen curio cabinet in the far right, that I got at a rummage sale for 40 dollars about 8 years ago.  It was so ugly, but painted it worked just fine.

   

The table has tall chairs, but I moved them for the photo.  My friends usually sit there, while I chop veggies and create some sort of edible treat...

   

As the sun goes down, and the city house tour comes to an end, we light candles.  Don't you love how candles make your house glow?

   

   

   

You can see more city house garden night photos in this blog post...

        

Thank you ever so much for peeking inside the city house.  Two more posts to come, for our tour this week.  I hope you will stop back in ;)

        

 

♥,V

  

ps:  There are two art dolls in my shop looking for special homes ;)