I woke up one morning wondering...
Is Alice coming to Fanciful, Arizona this year?
It's been ever so hot, and although I long for a tea party, I simply couldn't find the perfect time.
And plus, I couldn't feel Alice wanting to come out and play.
Normally I get a jolt of inspiration for my tea parties just like I do for my art.
I never know when it's coming, it just appears.
But it's been sooooo hot, too hot for a tea party.
And while I normally host in crazy heat, this year has been more intense temps.
Like 115'F & pure sun.
And so, I wondered if Alice would turn up for our 10th annual tea party?
Slowly, characters started to appear just after that wondering.
I roam antique stores, quietly unknowing, what will speak to me?
And then there they were.
The tea partiers themselves.
And yet, outside, still too crazy hot.
I woke up one morning recently, unable to hit the hills because for some reason the heat is really wiping me out this year. If I don't wake up early enough I have to wait until evening to do anything outside.
So, this one morning I made a cup of tea...
Walked into my cool studio and sketched on the blank canvas.
Then I mixed up paint...
Beautiful thoughts swirled.
Mister Fancy pants sang in the background.
Fresh blossoms hummed.
And in one hour, there she was on a large canvas.
Alice.
And she told me...
It's okay, have your party any time.
Be free, be you, do what makes you happy.
Art does that.
If you make art too, then you understand.
Your art tells you what to do.
Sometimes when I'm really stressed out and confused Art says to me...
Paint 3 paintings.
Then you will know.
Your answer will reveal itself.
And it really does.
You explode in so many emotions when you paint, that when you are done, you have this beautiful clarity.
Maybe not always like that, but some version close enough.
A peace lives within the wave of creativity.
Sweet Alice reminds me of so many good things.
Of a whimsical heart, in the power of believing.
Of fairytales and endless hope.
How time stands still in that creative space.
A portal to a place where everything magical lives.
Your deepest dreams and heart waves meet you for tea any day.
As for our annual tea party, I think we'll wait until it cools down.
Halloween is very near and I'm not going to have parties back to back because you all will be overwhelmed and I'll combust :-)
So, Alice and her friends say to wait until the time is right.
I've gotten so many emails and messages asking about the parties.
Alice is always there, so perhaps we'll wait until spring.
But it doesn't mean we can't wear our fanciest frocks and partake in sweets.
Why no no no.
Not with all those tiny blossoms and pretty pastels fluttering about.
We must always partake in the enchantment.
Ask ourselves, what our heart wants.
Then follow it.
On the theme of change from the last post, I was just thinking...
How hard we are on ourselves.
How we think, if we get older or take a different journey for a while, that we have lost ourselves.
I see so many friends feeling that way, as I have too in the past.
It's a natural thing for sure.
But, we are never lost. We are always there.
We only think we are lost.
I've been shown this soooo many times in my life.
The space where your joy and magic lives is ageless.
Just because you get older or grow up has no bearing on partaking in your youness.
The question is, what do you have to do to get back in if you feel you've lost your way?
If your muse feels lost, if you can't conjure up the frame of mind to create?
What do you do?
You go to your canvas.
To whatever it is that you love to do and makes you feel like you.
And even if you can't create, you take yourself to that space and you allow yourself to feel whatever feelings come to you.
If you feel sad and frustrated, you feel it.
Cry, have a fit.
Purge.
Sometimes you have to purge and release to get back to the place.
Even taking yourself there is part of the journey to getting back.
Maybe you won't paint/create that day at all.
It's okay, you still broke a barrier.
Even though you might not know it.
The other thing is to create anything if you can.
It doesn't have to be good.
That's the key.
Creating is an exercise in sanity.
It grounds you, you practice mindfulness and so many other things.
Whether it be flinging paint, crocheting, dancing, sculpting, baking, cooking.
Sometimes it's fun to be creative in a different medium, just to get the creative juices flowing.
It's your creating that keeps you ageless and sane.
And will always get you back to you...
All you have to do is plunge.
xoxo
Love, V
A wonderful song form Tori Amos' new album...
.
ps:
This is a filter free unaltered image below.
The sky did this the other night.
And then I just knew, it was time to go for it!
This hallloweeen, this is halloweeeeen!
I know it's too soon for some of you, but fellow Halloween lovers, you get it, right?
Halloween for me is a time filled with so many wonderful memories.
Making candy, dressing up.
All of our family would get involved.
It reminds me of fairs with cotton candy and kettle corn.
Sparkles and autumn crispness and laughter.
Bobbing for apples and filling bowls with candy corn.
Endless good memories <3
