A Fanciful Twist

Baby of our hearts ~ Always and Forever

Our beloved furry girl has left us...

 

At home, on the little lawn, under a beautiful blue sky ~ with Mommy and Daddy curled around her, holding her, whispering to her how much we love her ~ she closed her eyes and found peace...

 

It is so incredibly difficult for me to type these words...

 

Baby stayed until our Mad Tea Party, where we took pictures and had fun.  She wanted to be here, with us, every moment, but her body couldn't fight any longer.  The details are just too heartbreaking to share.

There are no words to describe our love for her.  The beauty of her soul, and how she led us by her paw, to a place deep inside of ourselves...

 

Baby opened our hearts to a depth of love and to a connection, that only a furry loved one can take you to - if you are willing to let yourself fall...

To fall into deep love, to fall into selfless caring, to fall into silent understanding.

 

I never knew of that place, until Baby took me there.

 

She opened my eyes to furry creatures, to loving them and seeing them, in a way that I couldn't see until she showed me.

 

We met Baby at a yard sale almost 10 years ago, and I remember the day perfectly. 

"I love your dog" I said to the woman having the sale. 

"She isn't my dog, we just feed her," said the woman.

Then the woman said, you can have her if you want. 

I asked what her name was.

"Baby," responded the woman... 

So, I worked on Mister Lovee for 2 weeks (he says it was less), until he said yes.  We were not pet people then, we didn't know what we were doing.  We brought Baby home (she was about 1 year old), and she was wild, destroying so many things and digging up so much industrial irrigation, that we had to take her back.  We were sad, but at the time, we felt we had no other choice. (something that we would never do today, as evolved furry creature lovers)

2 months later, after Mister Lovee and I had gone out to dinner and to a movie, we returned home to find Baby sitting in front of our gate.  She had found us.

She stayed.

And, she never destroyed a thing again.

Mister Lovee says that Baby chose us to be her family, and she chose this place to be her home.

 

She protected me, she guarded our home, she was kind, she was gentle. 

She was an angel.

I will miss everything about her.

It was a terribly difficult weekend for us, Matty whimpered and sighed heavily, abandoning his rambunctious self for several days.  All we could get ourselves to do really was cry and sleep, and talk about how much we love Baby...

 

She was a integral part of our little family, and as far as we are concerned, will always be...

All of our tears and pain, are only because we loved her so much.  And every tear we shed, is worth having known her...

 

Mister Lovee, Baby and me - what a beautiful life we enjoyed together...

 

Of course, the journey of our little lives without Baby continues, and we have precious Matty to love.  All three of our lives will forever be touched and enhanced by the gift of love we were given, through knowing Baby.

 

Baby had a beautiful funeral, and is buried to the right of the sanctuary, under a billowing mesquite tree, not far from the great big apricot tree.

The evening she passed away, the sky gifted such beauty...

An incredible sight really...

 

In her last 6 months, she taught her little brother Matty, so many lessons.  She would stop him with her paw, from leaving the yard.  She would block him from nipping our friends.  She taught him the ins and outs of this property, and how to catch lizards.

There are such amazing endless tales.

We are all healing our hearts, and have started the healing by creating a beautiful garden around her grave.  Mister put in irrigation and we planted several plants. 

And Matty, is guarding sister's resting place...

Every evening as the sun sets, the light that shines through the tree above her grave, fills me with so much emotion...

 

Baby...

We will always love you.

 

And, somewhere in time, I know, we'll meet again...

 

 

But for now, we hold you in our hearts, with glowing ardent love.

 

And, we pray, that you are at a perpetual  pup party in the heavens...

 

♥ ,V

 

 

You've got to, laugh a little, cry a little, until the clouds roll by a little...

 

That's the story of, that's the glory of love....

 

 

ps:  Friends, I am so sorry about being absent from the Mad Tea Party.  I have received notes from folks asking me to visit them, and I just have not been able to.  I am so sorry.  I feel very guilty, being the hostess and all, but I hope you all had a wonderful time.  I used every last bit of energy I had to post the party, as I didn't want to cancel it, knowing how hard you had all worked.  I will try to visit over the next few weeks.  But for now, we are healing our hearts.  Much love, Vanessa

Mad Tea Party ♥ 2010

Somewhere, hidden in a place where dreams come to life, there was a tiny girl hosting a Mad Tea Party, and anxiously awaiting your arrival...

 

 

The thing is, she had forgotten how to get to Wonderland on a whim...

 

 She wanted so very much to host a Mad Tea Party for all of her friends.  "She" being Alice, of course...

 

 Alice pondered about how exactly she would get herself and all of you, her friends, to Wonderland...

 

Just then she heard a familiar voice.

 

 

It was Mister Toad himself!  He knew exactly how to get to Wonderland, and to the Mad Tea Party.

 

 

"Why, it's simple, all you have to do is believe..." said he.

 

 

Of course I believe, whispered Alice, from atop a giant toadstool.

 

 

Just as she uttered those words, something quite magical began to take place...

 

 

 

Reality morphed and swirled amongst dreamscapes...

 

 

 

And just like that, the doors to Wonderland burst open, as a Mad Tea Party warmly welcomes you, and you, and you, and you!

 

 

Wait, wait, whose that? I hear laughter in the distance!

 

 

Why, it's the Mad Hatter, doing a drive by...

 

 

 

Welcome my friends, it's time for tea, I'll sound my horn and scream yippeeeeee! 

 

 

Oh, YES!  Let the festivities begin, don't walk, skip, run and twirl in!!

  

Time to nibble, and sip, and chat, and catch up - for it's been a year since we last did formally meet (in the Mad Tea Party fashion, that is)...

 

 

There are so many treats, no time to waste!

 

 

Grab one, grab two, oh grab ten, why don't you? Please please, do!

 

 

 

Alice and I are so overjoyed to share today with you!

 

 

Just be warned, about what you choose to nibble...

 

 

 

As you well know, some wee cakes might make you grow very tall...

 

 

 

And, little potions, might make you grow Thumbelina small...

 

 

And then there are others, which...

 

 

 

I have not tried at all, and wouldn't know what to expect.  Are you brave enough to dare drink?

 

 

Oh oh, and did you see the time?

 

 

 

Time for a round of confections divine!

 

 

 

Oh, and what does that cake do?  Go on, try it, come on, I'll pay you (with gum-balls that is)...

 

 

 

What fun I am having, and Alice is too, are you??

 

 

Oooooo, I spy a little cake!  I must take a bite!

 

 

 

What on earth is that, under the giant bell jar??

 

 

 

Okay okay, I'll test it out, and 1, 2...

 

YUMM!

 

 

 

Red Velvet BLISS!

 

But wait, where's my tea?  I need something to wash it down, jeez Louise!  Make it hot, and add some cream.  Please?

 

  Oh, how rude, I should be serving you.  It seems I am channeling the Queen of Hearts ;)

 

  Okay, you can have yours first ;)

 

 

Wickedly delicious, I say...

 

 

 

Look, the sun is going down, and things are starting to glow...

 

 

 

Nightfall and fairies, and...

 

 

 

I think I hear more voices coming down the path?

 

 

 

Who is it?  Is it you?

 

 

 

Oh, it's someone carrying a tray!

 

 

Why it's my lovely sister, here to share a rare tea, poured from her beautiful...

 

Shipwrecked tea-set...

 

With Mermaids and Seahorses for handles, oh my!

 

 

But wait, what is the Mad Hatter up to, cackling and carrying on?

 

 

 

I think he might have nibbled the laugh until you faint cake... 

 

 

Too much sugar sure makes people act wacky, doesn't it? 

 

 

But wait, he is running off, with flowers in his hand, no less...

 

 

OH YES!  He is greeting our honorary guest, author of The Mystery of Lewis Carroll, delightful Jenny Woolf!

 

 

It gets better - Jenny has provided us with a couple copies of her book, to give away, YAY!  So, I will draw two names from those who leave a comment, sometime in the next week.  I will let you know if your name is drawn ;)

 

 

Thank you for being this year's honorary guest Miss Jenny, I love your book, filled with insights and details into who the man behind Wonderland itself, was all about.  Brilliant!

 

This seems like a perfect time to dance, don't you think?  What songs would you choose for this party??

 

 

 

I quite enjoy dancing alone, but it seems, someone else has to have a dance partner (and it ain't me)!

 

Silly HATTER!

 

 

 

I thought he might run off with the paper towel dress girl.  But, he said he thought she was a little too plastic ;) tee heeeee!

 

Hey, who just let out that giant hiccup??

 

 

Seems some ribbity fellow has gobbled up a bit too much sweet goodness...

 

 

 

What a ton of fun I have had here with you.  I really needed this little party time.  It has been quite a week here, I tell ya...

 

 

 

And, as the clock ticks, I find that I can't wait to run off and visit you in your own virtual Wonderland...

 

 

I will skip quickly, as not to be too late...

 

 

Down the rabbit hole...

 

 

 

 

Through the garden...

 

 

 

And, down a little path I go, on my way to visit you!

 

 

 

I will find a little grassy spot under a tree, and get some rest, before I reach my destination...

 

Thank you for being a believer of wishes come true and of dreams life-sized and enchanted-full!  And for knowing that, no matter what happens in life, good or bad, you can always find your way back...

 

 

 

To your very own Wonderland, through the looking glass, and deep inside your creative heart...

 

 

 

In a place where magical lands live on forever.

 

 

Cheers to continuous Mad Tea Parties, and to believing!!

 

 

 

Much love, from our wacky little world, to yours!

 

 

♥,V

  

  

Note to all Party Participants:

Please leave a comment here, with the link address to your party post.  That way, I can easily make a page with all of your party links, over the next few weeks.  And also, your party links will then be available here forever.

 

ps:  I will get some hearty sleep (it's 4 a.m.), and be back to make visits soon.  Please try to leave your party posts up for several days (if you had a party on your blog), as it will take folks a few days to blog hop.

 

pss:  My handmade Alice doll (in the images above), and postcards and prints of this event are available in my shop.   Candy Jar Wonderland Labels are now available here...

 

Update:  Dear friends, your parties are so beautiful and so touching, thank you for all the hard work you put into this event.  You are truly wonderful folks. 

 

I know you might be wondering why I am slow in visits to your parties.  I just want you to know that, there has been a turn of events in our household, and I am trying my hardest to make visits, but I have a heavy heart at this time.  When I am feeling up to it, I will share more in depth details...

 

Please do enjoy the Mad Tea Party season to its fullest, it is a lovely time.

 

Love, your friend, Vanessa

 

Twinkle {A Party on its Way}

I was preparing my bloomers and gloves you see, for that special occasion rushing towards you and me...

 

 

When I heard voices in the distance. 

 

Faint voices, hidden voices, tiny voices.

 

I went outside and looked around quizzically...

 

 

And right there, in the middle of the garden, I saw little fabric garlands, streaming from foxglove to foxglove.

 

A tiny voice said, "Hello Dearie, so glad you could join us..."

 

I felt myself falling, the way your belly drops when you are riding a roller-coaster.

 

I was getting smaller...

 

And smaller...

 

And smaller...

 

 

 

But of course, I thought to myself...

 

Wonderland in the Midst.

 

Shrinking girl.

 

Makes perfect sense ;)

 

So, I tiptoed towards the chirping happy voices...

 

 

 

And then, I caught of glimpse of them.  Oh, my lovely little friends. 

 

Friends I had lost touch with.  Friends who in part, guided me to the little world I choose to live in, where imagination reigns! 

 

Faces I had forgotten.

 

My heart skipped a beat...

 

 

You know that feeling you get, when you see lovely folks that you used to work with (that you liked), or old friends that you have lost touch with (whom you enjoyed), and you get this deliriously giddy feeling in your soul?

 

And, just like that, you realize that you missed them, and you didn't even know it?

 

Well, that is how I felt when I saw my little friends...

 

 

 

You might remember them from long lost travels and adventures over the past few years?

 

If not, that's okay, they are overjoyed to make your acquaintance ;)

 

Thanks to Wonderland, and all it inspires, we get to mingle and sip tea and go mad. 

 

A year, a whole year, has past since the last fête. 

 

Can you believe it??

 

And now, we get to do it again.

 

That is the true magic.

 

 

Just a few more days my friends!

 

Time is slipping, and enchantment is around the bend, in the fairytale forest...

 

See you there...

 

(image above from Alice music video -link above - Avril Lavigne and Dave Meyers)  

 

I can't wait, can you?

 

♥,V

 

 

ps:  If you are not on the party list (left hand side-bar), and you want to be (or vice-versa), please e-mail me.  I am bound to have made a mistake, so if you are not on the list, it was not intentional.  Simply let me know and I will pop your name right on there ;)

Madness is a Flutter...

I am going mad, yes positively mad.  Making this, and painting that.  Baking this, and stitching that.  But, I have help you see...

If you can crawl past the giant sunflowers, and their Jack and the Bean Stalk ways, you can get a peek at my helper.

Through the cottage window, a sparkle and a twinkle...

Why, it's Magic.

I am talking real magic, of the most fantastically imagined variety.  Magic that lives where spider webs hold secrets...

 

In the little silver building, that used to be used for canning (many many years ago)...

 

But now holds, skin tingling goosebump magic galore. 

If you believe, that is.

 

Through the Mystical Peacock door, is where you will find me.

Up to my eyeballs in orbs, preparing for mad tea, which is on its way in only one week, meeeeeep!

 

I know just what mixture I need...

 

To help make enchanted madness, out of weeds...

 

Oh, and did I mention that the flamingos have arrived, just in time for croquet?

 

Time does fly, but I just can't wait, Mad Tea, Mad Tea, in less days than 8.

Are you ready, to play & dance the night away?

Just remember, try not to be late, late, for a very important date ;)

I am up to all sorts of nonsense, and don't tell Mombie, but I have been sleeping with all sorts of things in my bed (fabric, dolls, paper etc.), and paint dripping down my arm... 

 

All for the love of a Mad Tea Party!!

Off to prepare, and skip to my lou, I am so excited, zip-a-dee, do!

 

♥ ,V

 

ps:  This year's party feels very enchanted forest to me, and this video I happened upon, inspires that feeling- don't you think?

Summer Mornings

Spring, morphing into summer bliss, filled with lovely moments...

 

Big hats, so many to choose from, all scattered from room to room.  Yet, I always reach for my favorite, and head out for more apricot picking...

 

A tart recipe from Orangette leads to baking (incredible crust too)...

I choose my ripest apricots (and nibble a few in the process).

Yumm.  Easy.  Fresh.

Day turns into evening. 

The dough is in the fridge, and soon it will be time to prepare the tart for baking (when it was time, the dough rolled out like butter, simply incredible).

Meanwhile, we play in the hidden garden. 

We are thrilled with our wildflower mix this year.  I keep every package, of every seed I plant, in a big folder.  Of course, the big wildflower-mix box, got thrown away.  Mister brought me the box on a whim, so I don't know where he bought it.

Isn't that funny? 

Garden Irony.  I like it.

In our own secret garden, Little Mister Matty Matisse and I, canoodle.

 

He fills our lives with furry sparkle glow.

 

He is precious. 

He helps balance our feelings.

 

On a hot day, with the scent of childhood memories surrounding us, we turn our heads up side down as we roll around.  The grass is like a big furry green monster.  I love it.

 

Summer skies.  

 

The fresh and moist grass reminds me of the park, and of being 7 years old. 

 

The drip of the sprinkler. 

The scent of sunscreen and tropical fruit.

He looks into my eyes. 

I wonder what he sees? 

 Love?  Kindness?  Joy?

 I hope so.

We play. 

No worries..

No place to be..

 

But here, in this moment. 

Him and me.

As evening descends upon us, I go inside to bake my apricot tart. 

My proper tart tin is at the city house, so I make do with a pie plate. 

It works...

 

I decide to sprinkle a handful of extra sugar on top of my tart.  The fruit is ripe and sweet, but for some reason after baking, it became very tart.  Maybe that's why they call it a tart ;) 

(nothing a little extra sugar sprinkled on top can't fix, and it does)

We go to bed. 

Windows open. 

Crickets chirping us to sleep.

And then, another summer morning warms us into waking.

We have something to look forward to...

 

I whipped heavy cream with sugar, to dollop on our apricot tart.  There is something quite special about an apricot tart, made with apricots you picked from your very own great big apricot tree, isn't there?

 

Blissful summer morning indeed.

 

I always sit with my legs off the ground, criss-cross-applesauce.  I don't know why.  I suppose it isn't very proper of me ;)

Did I mention you should run and make this crust? 

It is really incredible.

 

Simple summer days, are days to love.

 

Sleeping with butterflies, ain't half bad either.  Lucky girl.  They fluttered all around her...

And now, I am going to work on things (so many things I wish I could share, but I can't ruin the surprises, since the party is right around the corner) under my new canopy of colors in the sleeping nook.

 

MaraMay is the artiste behind this scrumptious and amazing paper garland.  She has an adorable shop.  I may be addicted to her garlands (I am)...

 

 Isn't it divine?  The work involved is amazing!

Just the touch my little cozy nook needed.

Now, I must be off to paint and make things, and oooooh, eeeeee, I wish I could show you the goodness, but one must save some fun for the party ;)

 

♥ ,V

 

ps:  About my wildflowers:  One thing I do know (after some investigating) is that our wildflower mix came from Ace Hardware.  I think it was this cottage garden mix, because the flowers on the cover, are quite exactly what is growing in our garden.  I watered it every day, and it grew and grew, and is growing and blooming more every day (and I am still watering it, bright and early).

pss:  Pumpkin LOVE!

5 a.m. {Garden Twists & More}

We are back in the garden today, the place you would find me if you were visiting in the flesh.  As you may know, everyday for the last 3+ months, I have gotten out of bed at a time that is considered "crazy early" by my standards.  Although, it seems my standards have changed, because if I happen to open my eyes at 6:20 a.m., I am annoyed at myself for sleeping so late.  

At 5 a.m., the garden is waiting, and I have plenty of work to do...

 

Right at this moment, as I am typing, something odd has come over me.  I was going to keep this post simple, but all of a sudden, I feel compelled to type what it is, that is going on here, at A Fanciful Twist...

 

You see, I believe in paths.  I believe in learning and growing, I believe in feeling, even if the feelings are not always over the top happy.  I would rather feel, no matter how raw, than not feel at all.

 

It's funny, you know, for 10 years I have tried to grow things at the country house ( I have told you this before).  The country house already had 40 year old roses, and trees and other beauties growing. 

But, I wanted to grow my own seeds.  I wanted to watch them flourish...

 

Granted, years ago I was not that savvy about what country gardening required, or what the earth at the country pad required. 

 

But, I tried for many years, and only got a little sprig here or there.  And then, this spring, I started early, and seeds became my passion.  I watered and believed, and made huge garden dreams with my pups.

 

And now, my garden is holding my hand.  My garden is embracing me.  Embracing my little family here...

 

Little characters in my mind, tell each other stories, as I roam our land. 

For example:

Two little gals sit in the grass, one visiting and one gardening.  The visiting little girl asks the gardener girl, "Why are you planting so many seeds and spending all your time in the garden...?"

And the gardening little girl says, "I am filling my voids with seeds and seedlings..."

The visitor asks, "What are your voids?"

And the little gardener girl replies, "I am not sure yet, but I am preparing myself..."

 

And just like that, the garden becomes a sort of Mister Miyagi, and teaches me so many things.

 

Would you care to hear a tiny bit of what I have learned, in my little garden?

It's not just lessons, but also, reminders with real life examples.

So, the journey of the last 3+ months, and tons of hard labor (with bruises and cuts galore) goes like this.

 

Hello 5 a.m.

 Pups and I head out to check hundreds and hundreds of seeds that I planted.

I check out everything.  I find out where the gophers have been, and where the rabbits have been, and I wonder with slight fear, what precious growing creatures might be missing.

Sometimes, pumpkin vines you have been nurturing like crazy, go from this...

 

To this (4 pumpkin vines down, note the gopher hole)...

 

At first when I started losing plants to gophers I would totally freak out.  But now when I find this, I sulk for a second and then I have to just shrug my shoulders and say "ooooh weeeeel," in my best Eeyore voice. 

At this point I feel like, anything that survives is just blessed luck.  I learn to let go a little bit more with each loss.  3 months hard work, gone in 2 seconds.  And, it's okay.

 

So, every morning it begins again.  Early morning comes, and we venture down the path, headed out to a handful of garden areas, where watering time ensues.

I have gone through several different gardening persona's over the course of seed, to seedling, to hearty plant.  I have been the cave girl gardener.  Using anything I could find to build my garden, while carrying tons of rocks around, to build paths and borders.

I have also been, the blair witch gardener.  Where I mask all my growing spaces with scary curved branches and tons of creepy brush.  It has been quite funny, in a way.

In early spring, at the same time the garden was starting to show signs of life, we found out that Baby had a tumor.  I cried and cried and felt jolts of loss pain.  I curled in the dirt (exactly where she is in the photo above), my body wrapped around hers.  If I made the slightest jester to move, she would grab me with her snout and bring me back to spoon hugging position. 

 

We needed a second opinion, so we tried a new vet.  She was awesome.  We had renewed hope.

 

We continued cuddling in the garden, watching the sky...

 

My garden began to really flourish.  Random wildflower seed delivered (and continues delivering) superbly interesting blooms...

I had all but given up on wildflower mixes and dreaming of surprise flowers that might bloom. 

That is.. 

Until this year.

 

I guess you can say, my foolish determination cup, is refilled ;)

 

I suppose foolish determination might be here for a long time, after-all.

 

Last week, just as the huge apricot tree way out back, began to offer us fruit that was ready for picking...

 

We got the dreaded call, rottenly, while Mister Lovee was on a business trip.  Baby's biopsy came back.  The results are less than good.  I felt terribly awful.  I held on tight, to a wave of peace in my soul. 

I cried and cried. 

Then, I thought about the garden, and the lessons it has taught me over the last 3 months.  I thought about life, and loss.  About the beauty of it all.  About how tender and fragile everything is.

I made a decision...

 

I let go.

I have no control over anything really, so there is nothing to hold on to.

The only thing I can control a tiny bit, is how I decide to live.

I choose to live a happy life. 

Baby has had a wonderful life here.  She changed me, and she enhanced my life beyond words.

And, more importantly, she is still here, she still has a life to live, and I want it to be as good as it has always been.  No matter how long she has...

So, for now it is pure love, and parties and living.

The other day, we met under the apricot tree, her and me...

And a friend even joined us...

For apricot picking. 

While we were picking apricots I thought, life doesn't have to lose is luster because yucky things happen.  We don't have to stop twirling, and feeling free, because sad waves visit us.  I think that, as long as we allow ourselves to feel, and leave the doors to our heart and mind open, then goodness can find us. 

Ebb and flow, ebb and flow.

 

I am sad that Baby has to go through this.  I am sad that I will lose her sooner than I want to.  But I would be sadder, if I had never known her.

So, I feel happy that she is here now.  And that we get to pick apricots together, and roll in the dirt like dogs :)

 

Life is sweet.

 

It has so much to offer.  Perception is key...

I love that time does not stand still.  It moves.  It flows.

And just as quickly as we lose 4 pumpkin vines, another flourishes...

I decide to give it a hand.  Taking pollen from a male flower, and delivering it to a female...

And just like that, a baby pumpkin begins to grow.

Life.

It's a kooky little adventure isn't it?

Maybe we are not always open to change...

But, when a 10 ft. cactus falls over unexpectedly, 5 seconds after you were kneeling right under it, you can't be sad about losing the beloved cactus, but be happy that 5 seconds saved you from a 300 lb. head smash.  Change happens, eeks!

All I could say was, "Timber?"

My garden is teaching me lessons.

Big ones, little ones, all different sized ones.

I am listening, living and loving...

(tiny flowers buds, from a blooming radish, who knew?)

 

♥ ,V

Paper Doll Garlands & More {A Tutorial}

Don't you just love paper doll garlands?  I simply adore them.  They are so much fun to make and so easy.  They are one of those super fulfilling projects because you get a handful of joy, from one cutting...

 

The only thing is, they are one of those projects you probably learned in grade school, and then completely forgot how to make (ie: keeping the paper doll chain in one piece).  At least, that is what happened to me a few years ago.

Several years ago my sister reminded me about the crucial factor in making these.  And now, I teach everyone I know, especially the kids in my family.  We all sit around cutting like crazy, although it usually ends up just being me and my Grandma obsessing on it all day.

 

I keep all my paper cuts I make with my Grandma.  These are from the last 2 or 3 years...

Anyhow, I thought we should make some fun garlandy stuff today, what do you think?

You see, I save a lot (and re-use a lot) of the packaging paper that comes with things I order.  For instance, sometimes I order 6 cartridges of ink on-line, which gets shipped to me in a HUGE box, with tons of crumpled brown kraft paper surrounding it (silly).  So of course, I have to recycle it by using it in craft projects...

Keep in mind that, you can use any paper you want.  Even printer paper works for practice.  But for today, I am going to use a long rectangular piece of brown kraft paper...

After you choose your paper, fold it like an accordion, also known as folding it like a fan.  One fold towards you, one fold away from you.  Fold back and forth until your paper looks like this  ...

Now, here is the most important thing to remember about a paper doll garland, or any garland you would like to make using this technique. 

You must make sure that, four corners do not get cut through, to the edge.

For example, I am drawing a very simple girl, and I am extending her arms and her legs to the edges of the paper. 

 

And here is the crucial point, as I alluded to, you must make sure that no matter what you draw, there are four sides that do not get cut.  In this case, I will not cut out the hands, or the feet, through to the edge.

I have circled the four places on the drawing below, where you must not cut to the edges of.  In this case, it is the hands and the feet that you will not cut through. 

To make this even clearer, I have marked the exact places you will not cut through, in neon green.

 

Those points (hand and feet) will hold your garland together...

 

And voila, paper doll garland happiness!!

 

What fun, and so crazy easy.

 

Trust me, it can get addictive.  You might find yourself trying to make all sorts of things.  But remember, four corners can't be cut through to the edges, no matter what you are making.

 

One of my other favorite things to keep around, is that cardboard packaging used for things like popcorn, popsicles and crackers...

 

First of all, it is really sturdy, but thin enough that you can make garlands, and cut through lots of layers without that much difficulty.  Also, you can paint it and glitter it, and it stays sturdy...

 

Really good stuff.  Just cut it open and use the uncoated side...

Fold it up, draw, keep four corners in tact, and who knows what wonderful stuff you might make...

 

I drew a wonky little star, making sure to extend four corners, that I will not cut through, to the edges.  After I cut it, a little devilish grin came over me.

Why you ask?  Well, because all I could think of was some Princess of Power character, and how I just know, we all need a little Princess Power in our lives.  Don't you think?

So, I punched holes in the edges, and tied a piece of ribbon to each side...

 

Then I coated it with craft glue. 

 

 And, covered it in sparkles.

I did this with the ribbons on because I am impatient, and also, so I could hang it to dry from one ribboned side.

I think that is pretty nifty, don't you??  A little space age style ;)

 

Slap it on your head, and call yourself a Princess of Power.  Don't be shy, come on, try it, you might like it ;)

 

You can make any sort of garland crown.  The sky is the limit!

Make sure you practice not cutting those four crucial corners...

 

 

Don't worry if you mess up from time to time, and end up with all sorts of interesting creations...

Now, go over to your printer, pull out a piece of paper, and cut away.  Practicing on printer paper is the best...

Yippeee Yay, to easy fun!

I am in such a crafty mood.  I best be careful what I decide to paper cut.  I am eyeballing my rug right now.  But don't worry, I will show control ;)

 

♥,V

 

See You Super Soon!

ps:  To achieve the color on the Paper Doll Garland in the first image, I simply spray painted a light coat of hot pink onto the garland.  After it was almost dry, I sprayed on a thin coat of spray paint, below the heads, in Robin's Egg Blue.  The purple gradient happened on its own, Hooray ;)

Feathers & Wings

Okay, it's time to come clean and tell you the truth.

I live with an angel.

No no, not that kind of angel...

I was going to make a sappy list of why he is an angel.  Of why we love him so much.  Of how great he is.  But the things is, he balances all that with a hearty dose of rotten and aloofness.  Which, makes him a rather interestingly lovable creature.

He likes to teach lessons.  Like how to do certain things a more efficient way, and how to use tools properly.  Things like, how to live a more balanced life, and what is important versus that which is just pointless pond scum, and has no importance.

Or even, how you could tweak your painting to make it better.

Things which the girl he lives with doesn't always accept with open arms.  But admits that, most of the time, his lessons are good. 

Just don't tell him I told you that.

But, the best part of being the kind of angel he is, is that he lives whimsy. 

And, he wears wings without flinching.

That says it all, don't you think?

 

Although, he is more like this kind of angel... 

 

Now, I better go get dressed and get out of here before he sees this post ;)

See you beyond super soon ;)  

 

♥

 

 

Love, V

 

ps:  Oh and, he quite enjoys the same music as Michael, and eats bags of sugar (candy) and smells likes baking cookies.  Go Figure... 

pss:  He might not even know he wears those wings.  He sort of zones me out when he is playing solitaire, and I get away with all sorts of things ;)

psss:  I am in trouble for posting just got out of bed hair ;)

In my Garden {3 posts, rolled into 1}

Thank you for stopping in for a little stroll through the garden.  It has taken me two weeks to edit all these photos (there are oodles here today), so that I could invite you in for a proper virtual garden visit...

Gardening and painting are really my two loves.  My garden is a bit shabby (as in literally shabby) cottage, but I do love it so.  Especially since a green garden in the desert is not very common...

So, here is a proper garden post, and a little tour, with more photos than you bargained for ;)

Sometimes, I wander around my garden and feel like, I am getting to enjoy some of the hard work of the little old lady that lived her about 20 years ago (although Mister did a ton, and added a corridor of trees and shrubs years ago).  She planted the coral, blood red and pink frosting roses.  Mister Lovee said she was mean and rotten, and made everyone miserable on our sleepy street.

But, I like to think it was because, she could only communicate with the roses...

Mister Lovee says that the old lady's husband was a quiet man.  He was more than shy and silent, and quite curiously introverted.  He built all the canning facilities that were here (as well as the greenhouse that is almost gone), and all the cabinets and closets in those rooms.  He did such a good job, you practically have to blow up the shelves to get them out of their sockets. 

He worked quietly and meticulously. 

I even heard a fairy whisper in my ear, that it was he that tended to the roses all those years ago...

 

I wonder if he saw all the magical things I see around here too? 

So much goodness lives here.  I am so glad my path wound me around, to this place... 

With its, lucky spring-time abundance.

 

 

 

And, blessed abundance.  

 

And even a hearty dose of, pinch me, abundance... 

As spring faded into more summer weather, trees started to gather leaves...

 

Under billowing clouds, I pruned roses every morning for a month at 5 a.m.  I thought that rose season for 2010 was complete.  But, now I see that the rose bushes are going to gift me another wave of roses.

Sigh...

  This is too good to be true.

 

 

I sure hope I deserve all that rose love ;)

 

Anyhow, let's continue our stroll through the front garden...

 

And over to my hidden garden...

 

The front garden and this garden are separated by giant oleander bushes.  This is my enchanted beloved little garden right outside my office/playroom door, which leads to my gallery on the right...

 

I have 8 garden areas, filled with sprouting goodness, that I planted this year.  I will show you a few snippets of them, but not all, for fear of boring you silly ;) 

(now you know where I have been spending all my time lately)

In this little hidden garden you will find~

Furry Flowers...

Butterflies...

Love.  In petals and fur...

 

Huge growing red velvet sunflowers.  You can tell they will be red velvet from the dark veins...

 

The only sad news is that, I am losing huge chunks of my garden, including life size sunflowers, to gophers.  They are attacking with a crazy force.  I lost a 6 foot garden length of sunflowers, that were just sucked into the ground by gophers over the course of one afternoon. 

Mister says we have about 8 gopher families living in my moist garden soil, since everywhere else is dry, and therefore too hard to dig in.  He has lost huge trees and healthy climbing vines to gophers eating roots.  But in my case, they are just sucking my garden down into oblivion. Or, into their bellies.  One or the other...

 

They cause our concrete slabs to cave in due to underground tunnels, and they cause me lots of grief from time to time.

I know people say, embrace them, don't worry about them.  All I can say is, it is easier said than done.  Unless they are harassing your garden, they seem cute and adorable, don't they?

I have been planting almost everything in chicken wire and caging others.  Who knows what will happen.  At least I got this far. I actually, had to replant most of my garden the first time around, 3 months ago, as I lost most of my seedlings to critters. 

Luckily, my worst downfall and my most valuable trait, saved this year's garden with sheer-

 Foolish Determination.

Oh, but the spectacular news is that, these little guys went from this...

To this... (8 ft in the background already)

 

Oh and, this giant dwarf sunflower below...

 

Gets huger every single afternoon, as my skin gets toastier. 

I just love this time of the year... 

I love planting from seed.  It is the most miraculous feeling.  Seeing a tiny seedling turn into a life size sunflower.  90% of my garden was grown from seed.  I have worked tirelessly on it, and I am gob-smacked at the results.  It has taken me 10 years to see results like this in the country.

In previous years, my city house garden was my greatest joy.  So, I have brought most of my potted plants from there to here.  And many have been put in the ground here.

I am also trying to grow roses and ivy from cuttings (I followed all the rules).  The ivy is coming along.  The rose cuttings are still alive in the soil, after two weeks.  Time will tell...

Oh, I veered majorly, what a surprise ;)

I was telling you about my hidden garden...

And how you will find things growing in there, like Passion Fruit vines (which have already gifted us ripe fruit)...

And, Alice Dupont Mandevilla...

 

Oh, all sorts of precious little flowers fill the space (actually the one below is pretty big).

Cosmos everywhere... 

 

Tender little creatures...

 

There is a carnation patch in the main front yard garden that I love.

 

 

Even the cacti give precious flowers...

   

 

Oh and, don't you just love Foxglove and Delphinium?  I am enjoying some cut flowers from the garden, inside...

 

 

They are actually growing in a little garden I planted under a big mesquite tree, just behind my gypsy wagon...

 

 

One of the moments I have been waiting for the longest, is starting to unfold.  It's the blooming of the wildflower seeds I planted months ago.  Slow, but worth it.

I am collecting all the seeds I can from dried blooms, for next year's planting spree...

I just adore dried herbs, don't you? 

I planted 3 small lawns from seed, and they all grew.  I tested two kinds of grass seeds, and found it all quite interesting.  I had a little grass seed left over, so I made Mister his own lawn love path...

We waited a couple of weeks... 

And then, like magic in the desert, there was grass (with a lot of love & water that is, although I believe in water conservation, so our indoor use water, like the washing machine, all filters into the garden).  Mister's little lawn love path looks like this, and the pups love it. 

Oh, oh oh, but the best part.  I saw lady bugs for the first time since childhood.  There are a couple huge ones in my super tall flowering parsley. 

 

Aren't lady bugs just awesome? 

I heart ladybugs, a lot.

You will see more of another secret garden soon, where the flower below lives.  Soon like, maybe when there is a wild party, or somethin'... 

Below is (to me) one of the most exciting areas in my garden.  This space houses some of my pumpkin and gourd vines (there are others in other places).  Oh and, there is some Nasturtium growing that I planted from seed as well.  It's the lily pad looking plant (I am eager for it to bloom)...

I have pumpkins growing on both sides of the front garden. 

Mister says that if I grow one pumpkin (if, being the operative word) -  

At the end of the season, it will be the 500 dollar pumpkin, due to time invested, water usage (which I am being rather frugal about anyways) and energy.  One 500 dollar pumpkin is all he is predicting.  Umm, very funny... 

I sure hope he isn't right ;)  I have everything ready to hand pollinate as soon as some girl flowers show their faces.

Oh and, my snail vine is blooming.  I LOVE snail flowers, so unusual...

Notice how many times I have said "oh, and" - I should be fined for that ;)

I have always grown huge hibiscus plants at the city house.  So, I had to have one here... 

But beware, for when you are gardening, you might get attacked by that pure wonderful Matty love I have told you about...

He is soooooo sweet when he is sweet.

And, I feel so over-joyed that he loves me so much... 

Don't worry, he doesn't bite down on me hard at all, he is just playing... 

He is a sweety love muffin.

And maybe, just maybe one day, he might consider liking someone other than me and his human daddy.

He is getting socialized.  He went on a long outing today with me and Baby, in the car, and we made some visits to Granny, Grand Pappy and Uncle Adam.  He is getting better socially.  Slowly, but surely...

(I hope)

Little rascal!

And, as a last little tid-bit, I planted my first tree at the country house.  There are lots of trees here already, but there was a space in my hidden garden, that really was screaming for a tree.  So, I did a ton of research, and talked to an awesome woman at a nursery, and I finally settled on a Live Oak tree...

It has been in the ground about a week or so.  And guess what? 

A yellow belly (bellied) finch already moved in. 

Swoooooon...

So, there you have it.  3 blog posts in one.  The longest blog post ever, and a little stroll through my garden... 

I hope you enjoyed it a little and that it didn't bore you beyond silly.  Although, silly is good.  Isn't it?

See you sooner than soon!

 

♥

 

Love,

V

 

Holi {The Festival of Colors}

For a couple of years now, I have been having a recurring dream...

  

It is always the same.

I can hear music and joyful shouting.  Then I feel a cloud of dry air (like powdered chalk) surround me, and I panic for a second, not able to breathe.

 

But then, very quickly, a calm washes over me...

I open my eyes a tiny bit, only to feel my eyelashes heavy with fuchsia dust...

I see a man lost in the moment...

   

And then, there is this happiness that fills the inside of my being, and I start to dance, while colorful powder rains, in abundance...

   

  

Sometimes, I wake up from a dream, to find my dream morphing into reality (like the giant lobster sized scorpion dream).  And then, like a shock wave, I grab myself and say,"Oh my goooodnessss!!  I dreamt that last night!!!"

Every year, new and incredible photos emerge from people's experiences at "Holi - The Festival of Colors..."

   

   

   

The first time I saw these images, I almost fell over.  They were almost like stepping into my recurring dream (described above). And I thought - perhaps I have traveled to Holi, through dreamscapes?

   

I don't know about you but, I have a crazy active dream-life.  Mister Lovee does not.  Isn't that curious?  He says that he never dreams.  Ever.  (He has only shared one vivid dream since I have known him)

Do you have a vivid and active dream life?

   

Many of my art visions tap me on my shoulder while deep in dreamland, and I hold on as tight as I can to those visions, while spinning through the clouds, traveling towards waking (whilst hoping to have brought back a smidgen of memory)...

I was a very serious sleepwalker as a child.  I would walk through screen doors, and more wild tales.

I studied dream analysis when I was young teen, and recently saw a fascinating dream documentary.  The brain is so amazing and mind bogglingly wonderful, isn't it?

Still, I can't help but wonder, if in all of this, the message to me is to get over my long distance dream phobias, and head to Holi next year?

   

Possibly Maybe?  Wanna come?

All photos from http://www.pixcetera.com/blog/2010/03/01/holi-the-festival-of-colors/ (photo credits (not in order): Manish Swarup AP, Daniel Berehulak Getty Images, Bikas Das AP, Anupam Nath AP - follow above link for more images and details)