A Fanciful Twist

Sweet Inspiration

I was raised by a strong & amazing woman who taught me in many ways, to find inspiration within myself.  To grab a hold of my inner flame, and own it.  She is a woman who believes in setting the table fancy for yourself, even if you are eating alone.  She believes in fluffy bedding and ironed sheets, and firmly believes that having dessert or candy as your main course is completely acceptable.

My Mom.  A woman who knows just where to find the light.

        

So today, I set my table for a party for one, with sweets galore.  And, although I prefer savory to sweet, there are those moments where sweet totally hits the spot.

 

There is no way that a smile can be held back with candy hearts in all those colors.  Don't you think?

        

Sweet Inspiration...  

  

Giant Marshmallows in Vanilla and Strawberry. 

       

Chalky little Smarties?  Fill me up buttercup.

       

Cherries and ribbon candy and... 

       

Did I mention that the marshmallows were Giant?  Easily twice the size of a standard marshmallow.  Even the bag said "Super Gigante Malvaviscos." 

        

I'd say that sweetness is definitely in the air.  (My friend just stopped by, and I sent her off with 4 sheets of my Free Valentine's, cut and ready to be shared at her salon with the other gals.  I miss passing out Valentine's.) 

On another note, if I must be honest, I am in the midst of snooping around Mister Lovee's record stash (I can't stop dancing, must be all the sweets).  I am obsessed with his record collection.

        

The Mister Lovee part of the house can be so much fun.  Especially when you find out that the upright bass Blues player has been hiding your favorite Kate Bush Album amongst the Sam Cooke records and countless others, for all these years.  Not only that, but he has some other treasures in there to keep me pretty entertained. (btw, if you like Sam Cooke, Portrait of a Legend is excellent, we listen to it all the time)

And, although I have this very Kate Bush album in my car's cd player right now (every song is good), for some reason, nothing sounds as exciting as vinyl...  (Have your heard Tori's version of Running up that Hill? I love it.)

       

Vinyl and Treats.  A perfectly sweet inspiration day indeed!! 

       

Off I go, on my record snooping adventures....

See you super sooooon ;) 

♥ ,V

ps: Milo has arrived at his next destination!  YAY!

pss:  I think perhaps you should dance around your computer chair to this song today.  Won'tcha?  How can you resist it?

Hello Valentine Week! {Bake Sew Sweet}

I bet you didn't know I was making you a treat this weekend, did ya?  I couldn't help myself.  I have Valentine of the brain so I made you a brand new set of Valentines with a Bake Sew Sweet theme. 

All you have to do is~ 

        

Click Here for your FREE PRINTABLE PDF

                      Just print, cut and pass them out to your friends ;)

        

Easy as pie...

 
 

As I shared a few years ago, my yearly Valentine's celebrations are about self love and doing fun girlie things for myself.  

For me personally, Valentine's day it's not just about two people submerged in lovebird day.  I see it more as, LOVE yourself time.  And if there is romance, that is just extra icing, on your already over frosted cupcake ;)

   

So, I am starting my week with my nails painted red, and preparations for my yearly Valentine cookies in action (which I have been making every year for 9 years).  Although, with the creations on my to do list, I am sure my red nail polish will last all of one day, haha! 

      

 And, while several cake heads bake and paint dries, I am going to make a little something for a special little lady...

       

Lovely little day, I tell ya.  Nevermind that all my flowers are clashing ;) 

       

Oops, clay is ready, must run for now!

Oh and, not to be redundant, but the Fungi Valentine's are still available along with all the other free treats in the Free Treats section in my right hand sidebar.

Click Here for Fungi Valentine's Printable PDF

        

Happy Valentine Weeeeek!

        

See you super duper soon!!

 

♥ ,V

 

ps:  I forgot how much I enjoyed this little tune, which I listened to alot this weekend, after not listening for ages.  Delightful!

pss:  Nail Polish is from Walgreens.  Best inexpensive nail polish ever (doesn't need clear glass polish over it at all)!  Sinful Colors brand, in Ruby Ruby #369

A Wish, A Tale & Something For You

I wasn't sure how this tale began, until I started typing.  Then I remembered, it was the gremlins invading my printer and computer this week, that sort of stirred up some magic.  Go Figure.

        

You see, for the first time, instead of kicking and screaming at the gremlins, I tackled the squirting ink and crashing computer in a sound and calm manner, and then walked away for some soul time.  It was such a peaceful gesture, and felt really good to keep calm and carry on as they say...  Who knew?

      

I decided to put on a pretty frock and have some one on one time with my favorite creature.  I was composing a little tune, when thoughts started floating around.

Thoughts regarding a coincidentally common topic I have been having with my girlfriends. 

The topic being, Spark.

        

More specifically, a person's inner spark.  

That gorgeous tingle in your soul. 

That space where you feel love and joy and bliss and creativity, and more.

   

Do you know where your spark is? 

Is it with you now, or is it on vacation? 

One thing is certain regarding spark.  I heard this from a viable source.  Losing your spark is not possible!  Isn't that great news?  It can be hidden, but not lost.  And even better news for the day, it can be found!  This can even happen several times in a lifetime, with no negative effect upon your spark.  I know, greatest news ever! 

        

So, as I thought these thoughts I strongly came to feel that my spark is intertwined with imagination and creativity and kindness and love.  I feel my spark tickling me when I am painting, or even when I am chatting happily with a stranger at the grocery store.

I even feel my spark come to life when I find a penny, or help someone out.  My spark gets its strength from many sources.

Sometimes, even a little reminder that there is whimsy and hope and goodness can make my spark glow.  In many ways, it's that spark that makes us feel alive, and reminds us of who we are.  Don't you think?

As these thoughts continued to swirl, I went about my week...

 

A little idea kept tugging at my heart strings as I was strolling around the garden.

   

How could we share a little of that spark with others?  A little bit of that whimsy and magic?  I set out to find the answer...

It was then that I spotted a tiny bit of moss in a vast desert landscape.  Green fuzzy lovely moss.

   

I bent down, and touched my fingertips to the moss.  Delightful.

      

And that is when I saw the oddest thing.  There was a key on the ground, right beside some tiny pots I made years ago.

Only, I had never seen this key before.  Ever.  Honest.

   

I knew then that, whatever it was that I was searching for was near...

The sun became brighter and brighter as I strolled along.

        

Bees buzzed around, and that made me feel that lovely feeling of spring time mixed with hope.

   

The sun seemed to get brighter and brighter.  I had to cover my eyes...

   

I walked past one of the old workshops, and continued down a path, where I came upon exactly what I had been in search of...

        

A message.  A wish.  A reminder.  Maybe even something to liven that inner spark?

  

What was it exactly, you ask?

 

Well, it was a Wish Ticket of sorts.  Something to keep for yourself or share.  That's what it says ;)

See -

        

I decided to pass some on.  Maybe even, leave some to be stumbled upon.  Roll it up, Crinkle it up, snail mail it, tack it to a wall.  Here is what I did with some of mine...

Car Windshield...

  

Hidden...

   

On an old Truck...

        

On a gypsy wagon...

        

On someone's gate (who I know will just love to receive this)...

        

Oh, and in a cafe too...

If you feel compelled to share some of these wee wishes yourself, please please do so.

Click on this link for a FREE PRINTABLE PDF 

3 wishes per sheet, from me to you. 

Print as many as you'd like.

(give the pdf a good 60+ seconds to open)

 

I sent one of these to my Mombie Mom and she said, "Where did you get this?  I am so excited, what a great reminder!"

I replied.  "Twas the fairies..." 

And it was ;)

So, that's the 411 around here.  Much more on the horizon, or at least hoping there will be if I can get all my clay fired and my paintings completed ;)

See you sooooooon! 

♥,V

 

ps:  Yummy February Anthropologie Circus love Catalog.

      

Bon Voyage!

It's time for a little yellow bug who has been here for just over a month, to set sail, and go on to his next destination. 

      

You have met him before, his name is Milo, and he is on a grand adventure to visit a long list of loving people.  He is quite an amazing little bug, I tell ya.  His love for life is palpable!

        

He even has a sort of  life soundtrack he has claimed as his own, including  this song that he has been playing non-stop since he arrived.  Yep, he is a HUGE Celine Dion fan.  He thinks it is stinky that people make fun of her.  He always says, in his bugaliscious accent, "I love that gal, she's got real charisma!"

      

You might remember, we had a wonderful time with Milo during the holidays.  However, we did so many fun things that we have forgotten to share most of them.  So before time slips away and Milo is gone on the next dream-ship, we decided to chronicle his visit with a proper Bon Voyage Post...

Milo spent a huge amount of time visiting the "A Fanciful Twist" carnivale grounds.  He even made friends with...

   

And rode the carousel so many times, we stopped counting...

   

He even went to visit the Bertazzon Carnival ride makers.  I think we need one here at the country pad, don't you?

Can you spot him there?

 

We did so many fun things that at the end of the day, he would arrive at his room in the 4 story Doll house Manor attic, and fall right to sleep.  His antennas glowed with happiness ;)

   

Oh and, did I mention, he doll house hopped?  Sometimes he stayed in the house above, but other times, he stayed in the Big Yellow Doll house with all the little children and Nana.

      

There are several doll houses on the premises, so Milo had a blast house hopping!  I just adore doll houses don't you?

I tell ya, Milo and the places he went, and faces he visited with were so exciting.  He certainly visited with a wide range of folks. 

There were saints...

 

And famous gals...

       

"Mona Lisa, Mona Lisa, bugs have loved you...." 

Oh, and he adored Mister Magician, and even learned a couple tricks to try on his voyages...

  

Did you know that Milo adores antiques and vintage treats?  He had a heart to heart chat with this fellow about times long past...

        

I have to say though, I think the absolute highlight of Milo's' visit was going to the top of the mountain for some hearty skiing.  He didn't say so, but I could tell he loved the fast downhill snow laden festivities!

   

As you can see from these few snippets, it was a jolly good time!

So, it was over many tears shed...

        

And Banana Cream pudding, to make it all better...

        

That we bid sweet Milo adieu, and entrust the Mice Loves to sail him through the skies, to his next destination point...

        

And, on the waves of moonbeam glow, Milo's adventure's continue... 

   

Lots of love, and super special thanks to one of the most incredible gals on the planet, Miss Deborah, for letting Milo out of the closet (literally).  Thank you for sharing him with us!!
 

So, whattaya think about that?  You want to come visit and do some of the things Milo did?  I'll put you in a swing carousel all day if you want ;)

♥ ,V

See you sooon ;)

ps:  Thank you for all your well wishes about my fall.  Just a little ache here and there, but I am feeling almost perfect.  In fact, I am going to ride my bike around the yard, right now! And today is the first day my tooth hasn't felt a little strange, YAY, knock on wood!

pss:   The following photos were borrowed from the following places.  Carousel ride - Seattle Observer.  Mona lisa - Wikipedia.  Carousel Swing - Bertazzon-America Carnival Ride Makers.  Ski photo - My News Letter Builder dot com.