A Fanciful Twist

Evening Secrets

Soooooooo, guess what?  Remember when I was trying to figure out what those oodles of giant plants were in my garden?  There were so many suggestions, and quite frankly, every photo I would pull up on line, looked like every suggestion, haha!  Then I got a note from Nicky in the UK, who said she was "almost 100% sure" that I had lots of Evening Primrose growing in me garden.

Hello Evening Primrose!

 

Well, she was correct. (Thank you Nicky!)

The secret is finally revealed by the evening primrose itself.

Last week they began blooming.  Most have yet to bloom, and just seem to be getting taller.  A couple are almost as tall as me, but don't seem near blooming yet.

I can tell that some of the plants will have tons of flowers blooming on the way.

The shorter plants, that are splayed out 3+ feet, are the ones that are blooming...

Now I await the blooming of the super tall ones. 

So, now we know.

Evening Primrose it is.

Fun fun fun!

 

The extra tall ones are behind Miles in the photo above.

Or you can see them here.

 

I am also finding them growing in 5 parts of the garden not shown (I will take photos as they bloom), exactly where I sprinkled all those seeds last year.

So, that's inspiring isn't it?

You never know what will turn up year after year.

Especially here, where little grows, unless you water every day.

The best news is that, it is that time of year where the days are hot, and the nights are still cool.  Which means, we all await the evening with grand anticipation.

 

The sun hits the west side of the garden, and I know delicious skies will envelope us as the sun sets...

Oh, and something else.

Let me veer for a second.

I was on a hunt for some new floral, pretty garden cushions, for snuggling in my old chaise once the sun sets.

I went everywhere.

I mean everywhere.

And then, I passed a newish shopping plaza with a massive...

Wal-Mart.

I saw letters that said Outdoor Living.

I called my Mom and asked her to look and see if they had any pretty cushions online while I was in Cost Plus World Market.  She started sending photos she was taking from her computer to my cell phone.  So funny! 

I liked them, so...

I went to the Wal-Mart garden section.

It was empty of people, and nice, and BIG.

I almost fainted.

The prices were astronomical.

(in the low sense, compared to other places I had been).

Lots of plants and treats.

I was floored.

It felt like, I was the last one to hear some sort of grand news.

Did I mention the prices?

Well, lo and behold, they had pretty pretty garden chaise cushions.

Nicer than anywhere else I had been, for half the price.

Pinch me?

Where have I been?

Do you all go to Wal-Mart?

Big box stores and malls are my phobia.

What if you can't get out?

But, I am still floored at the good prices.

I had no idea. 

Not bad quality on the garden stuff either.

Slap me silly!

I bought a cushion, but told Mister Lovee about other cushions and umbrellas they had.

And then...

He proceeded to come home that evening with a car full of cushions, umbrella etc, on his way home from the office.

What a guy!

My garden is happy.

I feel sorry for my old huge green umbrella that was sent over to the other side of the garden though.

Isn't it silly to feel sorry for inanimate objects?

But I do.

Although this one goes with my 3 big red umbrellas me thinks.

Okay, enough about umbrella nonsense.

What was I saying?

Oh yes...

So, while we wait for the sun to set...

 

I marvel at how the hues of the landscape change.

They go from yellow to bright pink, to a sort of sepia with glistening sparks of sunshine...

 

And just as the sun says good evening, all the colors sort of wash away, and everywhere I turn becomes that fabulous shade of twilight blue...

 

Which makes certain flowers extra blue...

Especially the hydrangea...

And then, everything starts to turn a purple hue, which I adore, just as the sun officially sets...

I am sure you know where I am headed next...

When we have mild beautiful nights...

Yep, you guessed it.

Gypsy nights ensue...

I took everything out of the gypsy wagon, I mean everything, and dusted and vacuumed.

And now it's pure

Yumms.

 

Another season in the Gypsy Garden begins...

 

With hopes of grand tales and happenings.

That's where I will be in about 20 minutes.

Gather some reading material, and/or music, and off I go.

Happy Happy Weekending to you!

 

ps:  Something Sweet

 

Miles is as soft and squishy and lovable and hilarious as could be.

A growing baby boy.

Everyday he gets a little bit bigger.

(already bigger than his big brother)

Yikes!

pss:  Let's not forget big brother himself.  The family/garden protector, guardian, little brother's best friend, love-boat and all around...

"Quirky muffin cakes, don't mess with me strangers, or else" 

Matisse. 

Matty.

Where Women Create {The Business of the Studio}

We are back from our weekend adventures, with tales to tell too.  However, I am going to save those for next time, as I came home to find something fun to share!

The Summer 2011 Issue of Where Women Create...

The exciting news is that I am in this issue, in a section called

"The Business of the Studio."

(The pages are much more clear and lovely in person, my camera was in weird light)

This is so exciting, however, the most fun is the reaction from my family.  As you know, I spend 95% of my time looking like a dirt mouse.  I am always in the garden, or covered in paint.  My life is a whirlwind of country house chores, running my own little business and never ending things to do.  These days are far from the seemingly glamorous life I once led ;)

(Last night I was trimming mass amounts of a huge mesquite tree, with a hand saw, for pete's sake. Haha!)

It's quaint and work filled, but full of love and goodness.

So, when I get a call from my sister, who is screaming in a paper store in New Mexico because she just glanced at this issue in a rack in said shop, and had no idea I would be in it...

Well, it is the most heart fun thing ever.  

I truly believe that sharing with people who care about you, is the best part of the whole thing.

It is a wondrously surreal feeling, to see yourself published anywhere.

It is really heart thumping and whirlwind twirly feeling.

And also, it makes me feel sort of, shy in a funny way.

 

I am not shy.

Or maybe I am, in a round about way?

Nah, my family would teeter on saying I am overbearing and loud ;) and maybe even, pushy?

Eeeks.

But, there is also a part of me that hides in closets at certain parties... 

So maybe I am?  I dunno.

Either way, I am delighted to get to share some snippets of the issue...

 

My behind the scenes is pretty buzz busy all the time.  I know it seems like sometimes it's a hair quiet.  But tricks and treats are always brewing.  And if they aren't, then by golly, we'll brew up another potion to keep the fun going ;) (right now we have a heck of a busy behind the scenes, with mass projects to finish up)

 

The entire issue is pretty snazzle razzle dazzey!

I am entranced reading articles, and peeking into studios.

Isn't that so much fun?

So, if you would like a copy of your own, lots of grocery stores have it in their magazine section.  Safeway has it for sure (if you have a Safeway grocery store), and you can order it from Stampington online, or check into most craft and book stores.

I am a thankful girl, who doesn't want to take one morsel for granted.

I hope you can sometimes hear me, whispering a thank you your way, for being my friend via the ether-net ;)

Want to hear a funny random tale before I go?

So, about 15 years ago, some boy gave me a bundle of orange lilies.

They dried up in a vase in my house (the city house), and so, I took them outside and plunked them in a pot, for lack of knowing what to do with them.

The next year, they grew and bloomed in that very pot, all from those dry stems.

I was floored!

THEN...

My sister would tell me every spring or so, that the flowers would bloom in that same pot.

Fast forward 14 years later (last year), to a dry pot, with nothing in it but old dirt, that I went and picked up at the city house, and brought to the country. I put some new soil in it, on top of the old stuff (stirred it around), popped in some seeds and began watering regularly.

I had forgotten about those lilies.

I mean, why would I think that in dry old soil, 15 year old lilies would turn up again?

But they did!

 

And bloomed yesterday...

In a curiously magnificent shade of red.

I am speechless.

Who knew such a thing could happen?

Like I really needed something to further fuel my garden obsession?

In the last two weeks I planted a bunch more, two trees, 6 shrubs, and a partridge in a pear tree!

Sunday, my granny and I dug up things in her garden for me to bring home.  3 tiny trees, violets and more.

I look at it as adding to the future of my garden.

And, helping the earth in my own little way.

Am I delusional?

 

Do you see a hedgehog cloud?

I better be off, I can tell I am in a veering mood, and I might end up with some long wacky blog post ;)

Love, V

 

 

ps:  You can peek at more photos of the studio, and more of my living spaces, here...

Happy Happy Happy!

A very special day is on its way...

 

It's a lovely, precious

most splendiforous

wondrous

Mother's DAY weekend!

My wish would be that all moms would get to sleep in as late as they want...

 

And that, all the treats of your heart's delight would find their way to you!

Plus, that about 5

 of your top 10 wishes

would absolutely positively

actually come true!

 

I am on my way to see my own Mombie, and my Gran, plus I get to see a bunch of other family I heart, as they will all gather to celebrate the moms in our lives.  Mister will stay home, and keep things in order.  (he is on water garden weekend patrol)

 

Have a super lovely Mother's Day weekend!!!

(that includes moms to furry and/or feathered babies)

 

Much love, from me, to you!

 

Love, V

 

Camille & Midnight Tea {a painting}

She was the sort of gal you immediately felt fond of.  She was caring, compassionate, kind, and yet reserved in the slightest way.  In fact, folks might say that she was reserved in a way that made her a tinge mysterious...

She lived in the tiniest little village, bordering one of those sublime fairy tale forests.

Where fireflies and deer danced in the late night hours...

 

And so, it wasn't unusual, to see lovely Camille,

scurrying through the village,

and into the forest

in the wee hours of the night.

 

She loved putting ribbons and flowers in her two braids that she tied atop her head.  And, she was known to almost always be wearing the daintiest of pinafores.

 

When nights turned to spring and summer, and even fall, Camille would often put together a gathering in the forest for the much anticipated....

Midnight Tea Party.

 

The butterfly and firefly society were always the first ones to show up.

The fireflies guided her way, and kept the little soiree illuminated, with the aid of the moon.

 

And so, that brings us to

Camille & Midnight Tea...

She is one of my newest paintings.

Here are two photographs of Camille hanging on a white wall...

 

 

Camille & Midnight Tea.

18" x  24" x 1.5"

She is now available in my online shop.

(Camille just found a delightful home.  There will be lovely canvas prints soon)

Back to the studio I go.

It is Mother's Day gift making time!

Are you all sorted out on your gifts?

Any fun ideas?

As a Mom (if you are a mom), what would you LOVE to receive for Mother's day.  I mean, within reason of course ;)

 

 

ps:  My Mother's Day coffee filter corsage idea is still available right here.

pss:  Silly ME, I forgot, Feliz Cinco de Mayo!!