A Fanciful Twist

Happy Halloween + a Little Baker's Magic

HAPPY HALLLLLLOOOWWWEEEEEN!!!

It is 5:35 p.m. as I type.  The sun is setting, and Halloween is almost in full swing.  We have been nibbling treats, and about 5 minutes ago the re-plumb of the love shack was completed.  Just in time for us to dress up and run around under the trees.

Hooray!!

 

I made homemade toffee apples, and Mister contributed sugar cookies, candy corn and mini cupcakes to our party for 2.  Matty is invited, but of course, he gets doggie treats ;)

 

Black and orange.

I LOVE that combo ;)

BOO!

Guess who got a new head today?

I know some of you wonder how his head stays on for 365 days.  I really didn't know myself, until I tried to take off last year's head earlier today.  It was hard as a rock.  Fossilized really :)

It rarely rains here, so there is no real chance for pumpkin head sogginess, I suppose. 

 

I am so excited to be here because, I have wanted to share some campfire magic with you for ages.  Some of you may already know this trick.  But, Mister and I think we have the perfect combo for making magic... 

(be very careful, & note, only fire cautious adults should try this.  I am not responsible for any mishaps, okie dokie?)

 

You might recall some fire flame magic conjured up on New Year's?

 

What you will need to make magical sparkly tender poofs of twinkling color in your flames are the following ingredients.  I make about this size batch...

In one large bowl mix, 3 cups granulated sugar & 1 cup flour.

That's all.

You can make less, but I recommend following the 3 parts sugar to 1 part flour ratio. 

If you don't have flour, use straight granulated sugar.

And then, get ready to make magic :)

Gently toss your magical mixture into your campfire, and quickly stand back... 

Then watch, as your flames come to life...

Little sparks of purple and blue show their faces, in a much funner way than I could capture on film... 

 

Toss a hearty handful in, you never know who or what might emerge, with your magical touch...

 

Twirls and dances, and swirls of flames...

As you toss your mixture in, it will sizzle, and little sparkles of lavender and gold will flutter.

And faces, so many faces...

 

If you are lucky, you just might be greeted by a dancing fairy, like below...

 

Followed by a screaming goblin...

You just never know, what this baker's magic will bring.

What will you see?

What will you conjure? 

 

Ooooo's and Ahhhh's, as tender natural fireworks emerge, is what you will find here...

When you least expect, a fluttering creature might jump out of the flames, and fly into the night sky. 

Maybe an alien child might try to make contact? 

And then, morph into a butterfly...?

The magic happens in the blink of an eye.

It's sparkly, and beautiful.

A trick, and a treat, all in one :) 

 

Give it a whirl, if you haven't tried it before.  It's magical, it's twinkly, it's fun galore.

I must fly off myself, I have a costume waiting...

And another campfire planned, with marshmallows and Hebrew Nationals (btw, that's a hot dog brand, in case you didn't know, tee hee), and more magic for this fine evening!

Have a marvelous Halloooowwweeeeeeeeeeeeeen!!

 

From all of us over here at, A Fanciful Twistling, to you!

Love, V

Happy Hauntings ;) 

ps:  Going out dancing?

pss:  I have had this in my head for weeks. 

And this...

The Night before Halloween...

All Hallows' Eve, it's almost here! Can you believe it, the most enchanted day of the year, is well on its way?!  So, let's hold our breath, and jump in.  For it's but once a year that we get to celebrate this day of such frolic and play, and if I do say, it slips through our fingers faster than one can take off their beard.  That is, if you are dolled up as the bearded lady (or bearded fella) for this costumed affair.

(The bearded lady happens to be one of my faves, by the way) 

Mister Fur and I step in, quietly, so as to not spook any baby ghostlings. 

 
The pumpkin babes we grew are shivering, as frightened as can be...

For tomorrow, one will be chosen for the spookiest task of all...

 

They whisper, as the guardian makes sure none sprout feet and run away...

 
For it is but once a year, that King Scarecrow chooses a head, that he will wear for the next 365 days.

 

Who will it be, who will it be?

When October 31st finds it's way, and skies turn amber swirled with grey, we shall know...  

 

For now, all the children, witches, frogs and owls have arrived for the yearly festivities.  Warlock Lovee has gone out for some pizza pies, and has agreed that tomorrow, we might share a bit of real magic.  As in, show you how to make a little magic that we have taught ourselves.  Are you up for it?

 
We have stacks of bone chilling movies, (which the warlock loathes, and I love as long as they are not too gory).  I love haunted houses and such. Amityville is on the list.  We saw The Changeling last weekend, and oh we also have Night of the Demons eeeee! (ps:  I didn't like it the demon flick, 10 minutes after putting it on, I torched it ;), but we did watch 1981's Ghost Story)  If it is too scary, we have Charlie Brown as happy back-up :)

 
The kettle corn is ready, and the candy apples too.

To welcome midnight, with crunchiness and goo.

 
I love tonight.

I love tomorrow.

But I especially love that we can conjure up this sort of magic whenever we want.  Although, Halloween does lend itself to extra mischief and mayhem, don't you think?

 
October 31st.

How did you get here so soon???

I must slurp up each morsel of magic that looms.

 

See you beyond soon ;)

 

♥ ,V 

 

ps:  Do you have a costume?  What is it???  I think I want to play "Sick" from real world chores and be Shel Silverstein's, Peggy Ann McKay :)

If I was a Pumpkin Girl

Do you ever dream of a place.  A place so safe, so kind, so easy, so pleasant?  A place where going door to door, selling pumpkins, or baked goods, or handmade wears would be considered lovely commonplace?

A place where folks wouldn't tell you to get off of their property.

But rather, welcome you kindly?

 

A place where folks would be glad to see the pumpkin girl every autumn?

I think about that sometimes.

How times have changed.

How we have changed.

 

I know that somewhere out there, there is a safe little village, where such a life exists...

Maybe you live there now?

If I was the pumpkin girl, who went door to door selling my pumpkins, I would wear a huge smile after such a long hard summer of tending the beautiful squash babes.

I would look forward to little children screaming, "look daddy look, the pumpkin girl, the pumpkin girl!" 

 

I would watch them choose their favorite, maybe 2, maybe 3.

I would have pumpkins for carving and pumpkins for baking...

And, after all my pumpkins were sold, say after a week of visiting homes in my village...

I would ride around in the evening, with a jug of hot cider in my front basket, and Matty in the back.  And we would look at all the different candle glowing faces, that folks would had carved into their pumpkins....

Pumpkins we had grown.

Pumpkins we loved sharing.

And, I would smile.

:)

If I was the Pumpkin Girl.

 

Halloween loooooms.

Frolic and merriment tip-toe through haunted corridors..

My jack-o-lantern candles are flickering.

What about yours?

 ♥ , V

ps:  All of these pumpkins were grown by me.  Most have been eaten :)  Some I can't part with.  Others, we'll see... bwahahahaaaaa

Pretty on a Thursday: Nature Break

I think we need a little nature break, after the major oogie spooky real tales we shared yesterday, don't you?

A simple and quiet stroll through my garden...

 A bit of fresh air sound good?

The white cosmos blooming this fall are huge, as are most of the other flowers around the garden.  I wonder why?  I can't explain it, but I like it ;)

Purple zinnias.

Nature colors shock me good.

I planted rows of all kinds of zinnias and marigolds in spring, that are now blooming.

Most got gobbled by rabbits and sucked into the earth by gophers.  But those that made it are plentiful.  I think I have decided that I can't live without marigolds and zinnias in the garden. 

Although, I feel the same way about dahlias too...

 

And salvia.

And herbs.

And passion fruit.

And nasturtium.  (I love eating the spicy leaves)

And morning glory vines.

I never knew that morning glory vine flowers would bloom hundreds at a time, and the size of my face too...

Aren't they just lovely?

A blue flower always knocks my socks off.

I mean, smurfs.

Smurfs I tell ya.

Huge lovely blue nature.

A salvia & black eyed susan nook...

3 ft+ marigolds.

They are so generous.

This is their season.

There are also 4 ft. yellow flowers everywhere I turn.  I have to wade through them throughout our property.

Weeds say some.

Treasures, I say. 

Then I follow that up with, achooo achoooooo :)

I also have to stop and marvel at the Alice Dupont Mandevilla, which has bloomed several flowers everyday, all summer (in record heat) and now through fall.  The blooms always make me think of Somepinkflowers...

 

Oh and, last night, two furry children came over with our beloved pipe magician. 

Lady, and Gurley Man.

The first time Matty met Lady and Gurley, he went nutzz.

The second time he bit Gurley.  He didn't draw blood, but still.

The third time, last night, I asked Mister Lovee to please let me handle the fur baby to fur baby contact ratio.  I sat with all of them, loved them and hugged them all, fed everyone treats, had them all sniff each other, and then......

Before you know it, Gurley and Matty were running around like old pals.

Lady found them all quite boring.

But the boys had a blast.

Matty looks like a runt next to his HUGE cousins.

They are just massive creatures.

And yet, Matty still bullies them around.

I love my Napoleon :)

Makes me want more, soon. 

I need more fur in my garden.

So does Matty.

He was so sad when they left.

But, they will return on Sunday.

So, that was a stroll in the gardenia.

Take a marigold with you before you skip off...

 

♥, V

ps:  Everyone and everything has been cloroxed to oblivion.  Now to prepare for mass work here on Sunday. Yay?

pss:  Random Song Fun:  If you think of a song, any song lingering in your head right now, no matter how random, what comes to mind right away???  Mine is this....  My fave part is the 1:53 - 2:30 mark.

Never Never Land

It's funny you know, the way you can make plans and watch them explode.  Last night I was diligently working on a tale I have been itching to share forevah, when I heard an odd gurgle in the office bathroom pipes.

It was 9 p.m.

All of a sudden, madness ensued, right through the never used shower drain.

At 1 a.m. there was still havoc.

Plungers and snakes sound familiar?

At 6 a.m. we were still working on it.

 

I have been trying to share a certain tale with you for 4 weeks, and every time, something crrrrazy happens.  Once it was a snake, literally, another time it was an ankle, a third time it was time itself.

Now, it's nasty specimens flying out my drain in buckets full.

I wish they had been fish.

I told myself, it's just fish.

My life is so glamorous.

It is now 2:36 p.m.

I am waiting for a pro plus plumber-

Who owns the most heavy duty commercial drain snake ever.

Or, so I hear :)

I will tell you this...

Whether I have to brave Netherworld or high water...

 

I will be back for a fun chat before you can blink 1,000 times in a row. 

Lest a rogue rare tornado whisks me away.

But right now, I have to go wash all my rugs.

And my floor.

Thank heavens for a garden shower.

I need one.

 

♥ , V

 

ps:  Tell me one of your most unexpected rotten life things.  Won't you?  I am sure you have one.  You must?  Matty loves to jump on me when I am wearing white and he has just been in the mud pool.

pss:  6:38 p.m.  The Plumbing King just left.  He is super cute and super sweet, and part of our family.   Anyhow, turns out our love-shack was plumbed by oompa loompas who thought it would be funny to put in three arms, and fittings going backwards 30+ years ago.  Pipes will be cut and re-done on Sunday.  Yes, on Halloween.  OH MY!  I say, let's bulldoze it already :)  We can build teepees.  I love teepees.  Actually, I love the loveshack, in all its luv-shackness.  I don't want anything bad to happen to it, unless we choose to tear it down, you know what I mean?  ♥ Thank you for sharing some of your tales.  You rock!

Free Printable Masks & More

Something fun, something colorful, something for Halloween dress-up this way comes...

Actually, I really think these can be used for any time that you need a mask, not just Halloween.  I have 4 to share, and one is a blank mask that you can play with as you wish.

First up is Owlie.

All you have to do is click on the link below, for a printable version of Owlie Mask.  Give it several seconds to open.  It is a large file.

CLICK ON THIS LINK FOR OWLIE MASK PRINTABLE 

I printed mine on really nice durable card stock, then, simply cut it out (eyes too).  Card stock is best, but you can use whatever you have available. 

On the blue side flaps of the mask, I drew some black dots where you might want to punch your holes, and tie ribbons to each side.  Note that the holes might not be where you need them based on the size of your head, so, after you cut the eyes out, hold the mask up to your head and make a note of where you will want to attach your ties. 

Tie one to each side, so that you can then tie the mask up behind your head.

And, voila...

 

You can carefully cut the little nostril holes out, for more ventilation, if you'd like.

Right after I drew Owlie, I was inspired to draw a half mask.

I am calling this one simply, Fanciful Mask.

 

You tie it on to your head the same way you would Owlie.

CLICK ON THIS LINK FOR A PRINTABLE PDF OF FANCIFUL MASK

 

After I made the mask above I thought you might LOVE to create your own look for a mask, so I drew up a plain template, that you can doodle and color, and glitter up as much as you want.

Simply print it out, and then go crazy with your own ideas.

CLICK ON THIS LINK FOR A DO-IT-YOURSELF MASK

It is soooo funny. 

I could not help but make a cupcake mask (below), however...

I never ever thought that a cupcake mask could be sort of spooky.  After I put it on for a tester, Mr. Lovee said, that is one ominous cupcake head ;)

And, it sort of is, in a way.

I would glitter this one up for sure.  That would be fun!

 

I think it would be hilarious to pair this mask with a pepto bismol pink sweat suit flecked with bright paint, with a note on the back that says, cupcake thief.  Wouldn't that be such silly fun?

CLICK HERE FOR A PRINTABLE CUPCAKE HEAD MASK PDF

I hope you think these are funny :)

Oh, and a wee reminder, I have oodles of Halloween printables and tutorials in the Free Treats section of my right hand sidebar.

A Halloween card and do-it-yourself envelope, cupcake toppers, and spider webs...

So there you have it.

A little Halloween treat, for your tricks ;)

Back soon, with a tale I have been itching to share for 7 months.

 

 

 

♥, V

 

ps:  Guess who's in the house again?

 pss:  Florence so inspires me for a dress-up fest in a week.

psss:  Please give all the pdf's time to open.  Some might take 60 seconds +.  I saved the files large, so they would print super clear.

Skelly Love

Hi, hi, hiya!  I am sooooooo happy to be here.  I can not even begin to tell you where my roller-coaster life took me ;)

 

I have had such a looooong week.  I have been stuck in 24 hours (over the course of  a three day period), of license renewal for my previous career.  I like to keep things in check just in case I one day need it again, and per law, you have to do yucky school things to keep your license in order every two years.  It was brutal, awful, horrible.  Alas, I have to be prudent and keep things in check.  Needless to say, oodles of quizzes and tests later reveals that ~ I am soooooo glad I get to spend time here with you, and I don't want to ever leave ;)

The only way to pop myself back into whimsy world was to go on a doodle binge...

 

I don't even know how this doodle began, but it kept going and going, until...

 

It got super full of all sorts of things that make me smile, and then bursted with color...

Much to my surprise, a colorful skelly illustration found its way out of my pencil.

Doodle bright :) 

Skelly Love.

 

My sis gave me approval that she liked it, as she is the skelly pro.  She owns more skull love than anyone I know. 

I printed one out on canvas, and framed it up...

 

Mister Lovee thinks I should try a black frame.  But, being the girly gal I am, I chose a white viney frame, and hung it in the sleeping nook.

 

I turned it into a formal print, and ~

Skelly Love, can now be found in my shop.

With that, all I can say is, I am sooooo ecstatic to be back! 

Yippppeee YAY!

But, is it really the last week of October?

(I made some caramel apple cake (2nd try was perfection) to help me get through my week.  I am using a bit of this lovely gal's apple brownie recipe, and a lot of my own messing with ingredients, including adding caramel.  I will let you know more details on the recipe soon, if you want to know it?)

Sorry for midnight photos, but it is the best time for caramel apple cake :)

 

My month blew by so fast, with all its crazy busyness, that I am just blown away.

I sat and hugged my warm jack-o-lantern last night for a long time.  Just to try to absorb the rapidly passing days.  Sheesh...

 

They say time goes by faster as you get older, but this is just nuttzz, nuttzz I tell ya...

Father-time has got to slow down :)

Will someone, with more authority than I, let him know to slow it down a bit?  Please??

Oh, one more thing...

I have to give special props to kind Mister Lovee for all the gifts and flowers, and treats he surprised me with this week.  Most of all, for his all around niceness.  He really helped me get through it.  It was a bit much to have to add all those classes to my days, after the party and the rest of the never ending madness, ya know?

 

He put a heart locket charm bracelet on me, and told me that "the universe" had sent it.  Isn't that funny?  I cherish anything he gives me so much.  But mostly, I cherish him.  Puke puke sappy, right?   I know ;)

So with that I will say....

I am so delighted to be back.  That rotten real world renewal school stuff makes me appreciate this little happy world here, even more. 

Also, I have a TREAT for you, soon.

I might be back with it later, but if not, in the morning for certain ;)

 

, V 

Thank you! + The Great White Pumpkin {a little video}

Heloo heloooooo!  I wanted to first and foremostly, say thank you to everyone who was a part of our 3rd annual Halloween bash!  Heartfelt thanks to fellow partiers, guests, and everyone who peeked in!  That also includes silent guests ;)

I am a firm believer that one of the greatest gifts of life, is that we get to actually enjoy our childhood, once we are all growed up. 

I think it is easier for me to appreciate my childhood now, because I don't take myself as seriously, and I don't fuss about what anyone thinks about my lifestyle.  Do you feel the same way?

I could never understand who it was that made us think that we couldn't be ourselves, and be young and free forever? 

We can.

We do have that choice.

We might not have control over the numbers and the years, but we do have control over our minds.

All we have to do is, believe...

But then again, I know you already know that ;)

 

I say we should always try to believe in ourselves, in our dreams, and in our thoughts.

We should all feel happy for each other, and nurture each other...

Which I do think happens when we gather for this sort of fun, don't you?

Thank you for sharing your believing, and for hanging on to a golden thread of imagination.

You are lovely!

I made you a silly little gift, below...

 It is extra squeakey, I know, eeeks!  Squeaky headache ;)

Happy Halloween Month!!! 

 

♥ , V

 

ps:  The names drawn from the proverbial hat, for my giveaway, in order were:  Angie of Vintage Office Type, SusanG of Pieces of Fate and Wende of Creative Art & Edibles.  Hooooray girls!!  E-mail me your snail mail addy's, please.....♥

pss:  A lovely gal asked me some questions, and created a little interview....

psss:  I have so many fun things to share in my next few posts.  I am just itching to share, itching I tell ya.  I will be back real soon ;)

♥ Halloween Party 2010 ♥ {updates below}

Twinkling lights and birdling flights, candles flickering and a scent, a scent so intense and delicious, it exquisitely delights!  There is a party in the woods, I can see it from here.  Let's follow a path through the trees, to where a warm glow draws us in, to a place of magical merriment!

I hear music, do you? 

I smell something lovely too...

What is that decadent aroma?  I am entranced! It is like the fragrance of golden cake baking, and bubbling rose sauce.  Or is it warm caramel, and apples?  It is unlike anything I have ever smelled........

Wait, what is this?

A note left for us?

"Beware of the old woman in the woods?"

Hogwash! 

I don't think we have anything to worry about, do you???

Oh look loooook, we are drawing near!

What is this place? Oh dear, oh dear, what excitement!

A little stove, warm and precious!

With goodies baking! 

Yes yes, I knew my nose was not playing tricks on me.

The scent of roses, but more than just that.  I have smelled this scent once before, as a child.  My grandmother said someone was conjuring a love spell, and I should pinch my nose.  But how can we? It is too delicious, I am mesmerized...

You can smell it too, can't you?  It is sweet like honey, with a tinge of rose dew...

Oh and, a pot of tea, waiting for you and me. 

I wonder if it is okay to sip? I can't see anyone around, and would hate to infringe.  What shall we do?  Shall we enjoy a cup?  Or run as fast, as fast can be?

I think we should stay at this marvelous party in the woods.  It is almost like we have entered Hansel and Gretel's world.  Don't you think?

Oh!  Ambrosial scrumptiousnessssss, I am fainting at this sight! 

Caramel apples, baked to perfection! 

And wee cakes, soft and warm...

Heavenly!

Let's have some! I simply can not contain myself.  Let's dance and nibble, and we can leave golden coins as payment. 

What's that you say? 

You think we should be polite and wait?

But but, are you not entranced, as I am?

I must bite into another one.... Mmmmmmmmm..... warm... cake... 

Candy crunch and tempting swirls... 

Glowing stars, star light, star bright!

I twirl, eating my cake, as I look up at the sparkly stars..

Oh look, a table set, just for us... 

Would you like some green potion?

You aren't scared, are you?

Oh my gooooodnessss! 

I had gotten so carried away, I had not noticed the signs!

It seems that we have come upon a fortune teller's party!

The autumn air feels like bliss, and the colors around us, sail me away in a dream-like mist...

Spells & Incantations!

Oh me, oh my...

But where could this fortune teller be?

Has she transformed herself into a bird or a flower?

Is she watching us, as we peek into her fairy bower?

Pumpkins, and marigolds, and every spell under the moon!

I think she is more than a fortune teller, don't you?

I hope she is kind, and not cross that we nibbled some of her treats, and delighted in swaying and dancing in her woodland retreat...

What treasures, what curiosities.  I don't even know where to look...

Oooooo, is that a spell book?

And such shades of marigolds, saffron, lemon and golden squash.  I certainly would like to buy a few, wouldn't you?

And look, a skull.

Ooooo, spooky, I'd say.

With flower garlands, blessed in bombay!

I feel myself falling.

Is this a trap?

Filled with edible treats and treasures divine?

Have you been entranced too?

Oh looook!

Tea leaf readings, oh my, oh me!

And amulets, oh amulets!  I'd like to buy two or three.

And amber and rubies!!

 And and and...

Did you notice, it is getting darker? Perhaps we should move along?  But this party is smashing, and most glorious fun!

Let's lose ourselves in fall's pleasures, here take another candy apple, but give me a bite first... 

I am going to stand by the warm stove, while I munch and dream...

Although, the roses are dangerous, the scent is making me feel so in love.  It really must be a love spell brewing!

 Perhaps I should do as granny said when I was a young girl, and pinch my nose?  I can see love floating in the air, can you?

What a marvelous time I am having.  It's just like a Halloween dream...

The sun is fading as fast as can be, and the cerulean sky is glowing through the trees...

WAIT!

Oh my goooodnesss!

I heard something.

Like the crunching of leaves, and a tune like wind blowing through rickety eaves. 

Hide, quick, go go go, hide behind the trees... 

I think maybe, we had too much fun!

What did that note say again?  The one we decided to overlook?  Beware of who???

Oh me, oh my!  Who is that??

My knees are knocking.

Shhhh, shhhhh!

What was that? What did she say? She is looking down, but I think she said she can see us??? Eeeeeeeeeee!!!

I think she said....

"Come out of the darkness, and have some sweets my pretties..."

Why are we scared?  She doesn't seem mean, she is offering us sweets.  It looks like a new batch of goodies appeared out of nowhere.

"Go on, take one," she says... 

O, o, okay....

Thank you Ma'am....

You take one too... Go on...

The cake she gave me is unlike anything I have ever beheld.  It has roses and vines growing right out of the center.  I must taste it, I can not resist...

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!!!

There is no description on earth, for this delicious specimen... 

Before I can blink, she is offering jewels and fortune tales, as well....

Come with me, inside, she softly sings... 

A fortune, for you and for your friends... 

She caresses her crystal ball. Talking to it as if it was her pet...

I can't help but look around in sheer amazement at her caravan, and all the trinkets she has collected...

She snaps her fingers...

I look up, and she rubs some oil on my wrists, from an emerald bottle...

"Now you and your friends, make a wish," she says...

Anything you would like, anything at all..... 

She wants us to close our eyes and make our wish...

Okay, let's do it now..

On, 1, 2, & 3.....

I see great frolic, gaiety and revelry!!! she cackles.

But you must leave here at once, before I turn you, like everyone else, into a tree branch or a trinket!!!!

I run, and trip and tumble...

You drop your bag of loot, and rip your gown on a candelabra.

We run as fast as we can, into the woods, and turn for one last glimpse...

Then, just like that, the old woman's festivities through the trees, become a tale, a dream...

 And vanish, into the autumn breeze....

 A memory, written in the leaves!

Bwahahahaha!!!

Haaaapy Haaaapy Haaaaapy Halloween Madness 2010!! 

Let the parties continue!!

On my way to your soirée, as soon as I wake up, on Saturday!

Update: Saturday, 10:34 a.m.

Hi friends and heloooo!  I am here, I am here, hooooray!!

What wonderful partiers and spirits a flutter!  I have completed most of my chores this morning (post office trip etc.), and am here to play!  I have conjured my most wicked self, albeit kind too ;), don't worry...

I am doused in glitter and sparkles, my favorite, I must say.

I hope you are in costume too?

Please tell me this is true ;)

I am sipping something warm, and I must confess, munching a caramel apple for breakfast.

Naughty naughty! 

I am two bites in...YUMM!

 

I am jumping on my broom, and making visits all day and night.  I'll be there, I promise, I am currently in flight ;)

Update:  11:32 p.m.

Hi friends!  What a wonderful day I had visiting you!  Thank you for all of your hard work and participation!  I am blown away at your photos, and tales, recipes and videos, vignettes, and art and all the treasures and collections so many of you have shared!

I am so tired I could faint.  And I will, in about 5 minutes.  I visited everyone who left me their link in this post today (Oct.16th).  If you have not added your link in comments, that's okay, I can visit you tomorrow.

I am an exhausted happy Halloween infused girl! ♥

Update Sunday October 17th, 6:48 p.m.

THANK YOU for all of the fun!!! It was unreal!!Truly!

I am officially hopping off the party trail ;)

Hope to see you for our 4th annual Halloween Extravaganza next year!!

You all shared so much magic.  It was wonderful!

 

♥ Much Love, V ♥
 

ps:  Pretty pretty please, if you are hosting your own party, leave your actual party post link in comments.  The comments will serve as an archive of all of your parties.  I will also visit you through your comment link.  Thanks so much! ♥

pss:  I will draw 3 names next week, for a giveaway.  All you have to do is leave a comment on this post to enter.  The items are, (in order of names drawn):

1) A Spells, Herbs Miracles and Magic Poster as seen in my shop, as well as some extra goodies.  

2) My Fortune Teller Poster that you see in this post, which I designed for the event, plus extra goodies. 

3) A surprise parcel of some of my cards and stickers, & other lil' treats.

Twinkles, & Sprinkles & Halloween Flutters!

I shouldn't be here, no no siree.  But I couldn't help myself, I tried, believe you me.  Alas, there are things happening in two's and three's, and I had to spill the proverbial beans!  Are you bored silly?  Or Excited to the T??  I'll tell you what, some sparks of inspiration flew in just in time...

 

Magical shoes sent by my sister, from an era when you could visit the theater with an actual dime.  The note attached read,"These reminded me of you..."  And I had to chuckle, for imagine having such shoes remind someone of you?  Eeeks, hahahaheeheeeeheeeheeeee ;)

 

As soon as I put them on, curious things, yes curious things indeed, began to happen at bat wing fluttering speed!

A butterfly landed on my thumb...

Then, two hawks yelped above my party planning festivities, looking at me, as though I looked good for eating.  Maybe with some rum punch sauce, or perhaps roasted with oranges and greens, YIKES!

 

Although, I think the hawks might be the witches.  Yes, the witches.  Nail crunching, squinting, wringing hands...  Eeeeeeee!

And then, wait, you won't ever believe this...  A spider came down and sat right beside her. Her being me, and the spider being he....

And dare I mention that, he came with a tale.  Not a tail, but a tale!!  A tale written by the most lovely little fairy, Linda Diane.  A beloved soul.... 

Simply click if you'd like to read, about precious Thelonius, the spider. 

How neat!

 

 

He fits in quite perfectly, into our kooky little nook...

Oh and did I mention that GIANT morning glory flowers, 2 dozen or more, have taken over the enclosed secret garden?

All over night. Ooooooooo!  They have climbed way up, and all around...

It's the shoes, it's the shoes.  I know it must be true.

So I best put them on, and head out into the woods, and prepare to greet you sooner than soon.  I hope you can make it to the party ;)

  I am making wishes on stars, that we have a wonderful fête.  I am so so so excited for party time.  I can't wait to visit all of our fellow partiers.

What a wonderful place, this virtual land, that let's you and me and us, dance in circles, holding hands ;)

Shoes on, broomstick polished.  Puppy dressed as a black cat, and away we goooooooo!!

Caaaaaaaaaackle!

See you soooooon!

Thank you for playing with us!  It means the wooooorld, to our wee little hearts ;)

 ♥, V 

 

 

A Little Spooky Pre-Party Family Folklore...

You may or may not have read, the tales I have shared over the years, about my grandparent's tattered lil' enchanted home, complete with double attic and tiny passageways?  Or ghostly apparitions, and curious collections up rickety stairs?  It is a home that sits high high high upon a hill, on a cliff.  To get to their home, you must make the descent down what seems like a hundred stairs. 

 

There are stairs everywhere.

Stairs to get to down to their house, which halfway down, turn into two sets of stairs. One going straight ahead, and another more gracefully swooping to the right, leading you to a path that will curve you to the front yard.

Once your arrive at the house, you can go inside.  Or, you can peer over the wall...

And see the family's abandoned playground, and below that a long drop down the cliff, to a stream.  Where my Mom and her siblings and cousins used to play, although it was forbidden. 

 

At one time, when my Mom was little, all of the houses on this cliff were mostly occupied by her family.  Great-grandparents and aunts and uncles and so many cousins, I can't even begin to name them.  Plus her siblings, which were 6.

 

 

And of course, wouldn't ya know, the family had witches.

My mom's great-aunts.

You can imagine the stories I heard growing up.  My grandma is a storyteller beyond words.  A fascinating beautiful woman, who would tell tales that gave me chills until, well, now.

Maybe this added to my imagination?  I don't know?  But what I do know is that, I can spook the bloomers off of myself if I simply recall the endless tales told, under the stars...

Of course, any child's imagination would run wild, if when they visited the family playground, down even more garden stairs, at the edge of the cliff...

They were greeted by the real witches cottage.

 

My ideas and the places I dream up, are very real to me.  When I was a child I was constantly told tales, fairy tales and spooky tales, that were followed up with proof...

Which made me a believer of everything fanciful, fantastical and otherworldly, early on.

We were always forbidden to go in or near the witches house...

I can't help but visit it, every time I go to see my grandparents.  When I am there, I can feel swirls of cool air surround me.  I feel like someone touches my ear, and slowly tugs at my hair...

The witches were very jealous of my grandmother, and did mean things to her.  She was, and is, so lovely.  They even gave her an eye-drop tincture when she was young, telling her it would make her eyes sparkle, which of course, did no such thing.  Instead, it caused her to lose her eyesight for some time.

I could tell you tales upon tales....

Maybe someday I will.

But for now I will tell you this.  It is at this time of the year, as autumn envelops us, that I remember crunching through leaves, to get a peek into the witches cottage... Thinking I could really see them...

Over the years, the cottage has crumbled, I can't even see the fireplace through the rubble.  And I wonder...

What treasures lie beneath?

My grandfather asked me if I wanted him to pull out what he could?  But I said, No no, it is too dangerous... 

Plus, secretly, I wouldn't want to upset any witches, would you???

Between you and me, I think they still roam the place...

I will tell you this...

As a girl, I would swing on my stomach, and look at the cottage doorway, having to rub my eyes in disbelief at what I saw.

For, somewhere in the darkness, I was certain I could see a bone chilling apparition.

My cousin saw it too.

Often.

And maybe, just maybe, you can see her as well, in the doorway, in the darkness, while you swing, swing swing, on a squeaky old swing, as the leaves rustle, and your little arm hairs stand on end...

Yes, just maybe, you can see her too....

 

We would run up the stairs, and slam the little gate... Heaving, and breathing with vast fear, and we were certain we could hear her say..... 

We will geeeeeeet yoooooouu.... 

 

Granny says that the witches will appear, at this time of the year, to anyone who is willing to open their eyes, and truly see...

Shall we invite them to the party??

I dunno....

You decide.

I have to go prepare though.  A little witch magic would come in handy.  I have not started my party planning yet.  But that is not unlike me.  I like to let the inspiration simmer, and then explode.  I also like to go with the flow.  I don't like to think things and ideas up.  I sort of ask them to come find me.... 

They best turn up today though, or I will be in big trouble ;)

Party just around the corner...

OH! Cool and spooky nights, and Jack-o-lantern flickers do delight!!

 

I LOVE this time of year.

Don't you?

 

Yumm!

 

 

, V

 

 

ps:  More family tales from older post, here...

pss:  All links to Halloween and Mad Tea Parties can now be found in my left hand side bar, in one place, for ease of finding them.  In case you want to peek at old parties. Love, V

Of Crisp Autumn Air...

Crisp autumn waves, and a breeze, how it can tease...

Warning us, taunting us, with a taste of what is to come.

Collect your ingredients, it whispers...

 

Beckon the magic, the kind that is true, to twirl through the leaves and find you.  It appears with the last flicker of the sun, where day meets night, and trees delight...

In spying the witches brew, slowly ignite...

It builds through the night, with a force led by dragon's breath, swirled with 300 year old mermaid light...

 

The Taran- Tula family has arrived just in time...

 

For in less days than 6...

 

We hope to meet.

For cackles and enchantment, and maybe some spookiness too.

We are all a flutter, preparing.

The festivites are trying to escape Through the Secret Keyhole...

Soon my pretties I tell them...

Sooooooon...

 

, V

 

ps:  I am getting so excited!  I need a day of parties and parties and parties, don't you?

A Curious Autumn Tale...

She was walking through her garden, when all of a sudden she walked on a soft spot in the ground, almost losing her shoe...

It wasn't a soft spot, in the way a gopher hole absorbs your foot into a vacant hole in the ground, but more like the feeling that there was something hidden under the dirt. 

So, she decided to dig up the dirt with her hands, and see what it was...

 She moved the dirt and started to pull a piece of fabric out of the ground.

It wasn't odd to find curious objects on her property.  Last year she dug up the remnants of a greenhouse, locks and hinges +.  Another time, she dug up bicycle parts, and an ornate object that she still can't identify. 

 There were hidden treasures found every so often...

Remnants of the lives of the curious folks, who once worked and owned this very land.

As she pulled the fabric out of the dirt, she realized it was a very old canvas money bag.

 

She looked down in amazement...

Then, she carefully peeked inside the bag.

There was fabric tied up in an old woven ribbon.

Her heart was thumping fast.  She lived for this sort of thing.

She had so many tales of venturing into abandoned houses as a child, and roaming ghost towns.  Her heart raced, in the same way it did when she entered a dark old basement in an old ghost town house, when she was 9....

She couldn't believe what she saw.

How long had it been there?

 

An old doll.

An old doll with secrets and stories. 

She seemed to have something she wanted to say.

What could it be?

She further inspected her discovery...

An old hoop skirt...

And fabric, that literally turned to dust in some places, as she touched it.

A tattered and torn piece of paper fell to the ground...

It read:

"To whomever it might concern ~ Please care for my doll lovingly"

It was signed, Augustine.

Curious?

Little hairs on arms tingling?

The girl was speechless, and lost in a cloud of wonderment...

She sat silently, as tales raced through her mind.

She wondered where on earth this doll came from, and who, in what year, and for what reason, buried it?

Then she recalled her fortune, found in her modern day Chinese take-out fortune cookie, just the day before...

 

Curious objects found this girl often.

She welcomed them.

And then, under the crisp beautiful autumn afternoon sky, she baked trays and trays of succulent pumpkin muffins...

And, winged it with invented cream cheese frosting...

(cream cheese, powdered sugar and a dash of salt).

Then, she properly welcomed Augustine's doll, into her home...

 

Note:

Recipe used for pumpkin muffins was this one here...

Changes I made.

1)  I made my own pumpkin spice with this recipe, and tripled it for the muffin mixture.

2)  I used 2 cups granulated sugar, and one brown sugar (instead of 3 granulated).

3)  I used "3" cups of my own pumpkin mush from my home grown pumpkins, as a sub to the 2 cups canned pumpkin ingredient.  They were moist and lovely, and cooked in the same cook time, per recipe.

 

BTW:  It took me 7 mid sized pumpkins, to make one bowl of pumpkin mush :)

 

 

,V

 

ps:  Have a super lovely little weekend!

Elves and Witches and Ghosties...

Imagine trying to get a bunch of chatting elves, to quiet down, and pose for a photo?  Elves have soooooo much to chat about.  I can't even begin to tell you ;)

 

The ghostlings were rather cooperative. 

They are so excited about Halloween, all you have to say is candy corn, to get their attention....

The witches threatened to put a spell on the elves if they didn't quiet down about cakes and cotton candy, and the elfin county fair...

 

It worked, because the elves soon calmed down and smiled in their own charmingly cute way, for a delightful group photo. 

But then again, I am their mama, so I am partial, tee hee...

 

And with that, I can finally share that, the handful of things I worked on this summer are finally coming to fruition...

 

Which means that all of these wee creatures are in search of a home.

 

And are all in my shop  as of 5 seconds ago, looking to be adopted...

YAY!

I have been so busy this summer, and boy oh boy, it feels good to finally be finishing up groups of art projects that I have been working on, so I can finally share tid-bits.

Now I need a vacation :)

(Only, I don't like to travel.  I did a lot growing up, but now I like to stay home.)

 

^_♥ ,V

 

I can't make my giant hearts on the new Typepad.

But, little or big, a heart is a heart, and means the same thing ;)

 

ps:  Look at my new friend.  I put him in a nook in the garden (not close), and he keeps finding his way into my office.  3 times this week in fact.  Cute little horned toad.

Which is not actually a toad, but a lizard...

Cutest little belly ever!

I scooped him up and put him back in the garden. Again.

Hope he wasn't trying to give me a message that I couldn't hear... 

Growing Pies.

I have so many tales to share, and chatting to do.  But, sometimes, some things are worth stopping for.  You know, taking time to breathe-in the moment.

 And to ask...."  Is that really my baby puppy?"

He was so tiny one year ago (below).

 

I was taking some memory photos of the last of the pumpkins I grew this summer, in the first photo above, before they start to to vanish.  I am about to turn most of them into pies and cakes.

I was so overjoyed that Matty joined in the photos.

Then, I went inside and looked at the photos, and I thought...

When I look at Matty in person, I see him as a puppy.

But, when I see him in photos I think, who replaced my puppy with a big boy dog?

7 days from today, will mark the day he came to live with us 1 year ago.

Where does the time go?

He had a busy year.  Good, sad, happy, and always an abundance of love from us.  He squeezes himself in between his Mommy and Daddy whenever he can.  He is always a warm bundle of fur, right in between us.  We sit down side by side, and he jumps in the middle.  So sweet.  I am glad he knows we love him.

I don't care if he is spoiled. :)

I love this older post that shows his wicked side ;) 

It is official, I am one of those crazy dog lovers who are just nutttzzzzz in love with fur baby love.  Who then proceed to annoy the rest of the world with it. 

Soooory ;)

I am obsessed.

I looooooove love love love love Matty.

 

I know, it's annoying.

But, you still sort of like me, right?

Maybe, a little?

I promise to talk about something else soon :)

On that note...

Guess what?

There is a boy party in my garden tonight, and between painting, cleaning, fixing up the gypsy garden, and making pies for the boys with some of my pumpkins - I am going plain mad. 

 

So, I decided to take a moment.  Even though I have ten thousand things to say...

 

And breathe, and silently visit you, while I sip coffee. (ya right, real silent, tee hee)

We are keeping the ugly square pie for us.

Yumm.

 

Back sooner than soon.

 

♥,V

 

ps:  Can you guess how many mid-sized pumpkins it takes to make a large bowl of pumpkin mush?