How did I know you were fellow ridiculous fancy things lovers?
Somehow I knew it deep in my heart.
I just knew you'd understand.
Ever since I can remember I have loved fancy things.
And by fancy I mean sparkly, intricate, sweet, floral, jeweled, dreamy, etc.
Many times old, many times discovered in glass cases.
My godmother wore rings on all her fingers and it was almost more than my 10 year old heart could handle.
The first time I went into an antique store I almost fainted.
All my senses burst open, it was everything to my attic, fairytale, fancy things loving heart.
The scent of old books, the sparkle of antique crystals...
And so, I've spent the last 25 years collecting all manner of things, including (but not limited to) fancy ones.
It just makes me happy, plain and simple.
The hunt is extra fun.
But more than that...
It's my inspiration for what I love, making art.
It just opens my heart up to go out hunting for treasure and it inspires my creative side in ways I can't describe. It's almost cathartic for me. Just go out and look around, enjoying the moment.
When I was 11 my parents let me paint my walls and my furniture in my room.
I started DIYing and upcycling in the late 80's as a kookie kid looking to express the feelings deep in my soul.
This explosive feeling to make something, to let my feelings explode out of me like fireworks.
I started painting on large scale canvases at that early age.
I called it painting my feelings.
And it took me places I couldn't have dreamed of.
Portals through paint and music in the background, bliss.
But it all began with first painting and altering my surroundings.
It was the first step in my creative journey.
Boy did I paint everything up in my bedroom.
And it is always a doorway for me.
I still find myself hunting down furniture and painting it.
Like the furniture in the backdrop of the photo below.
The hunt was incredible for that cabinet and the decision to paint it pink was inevitable.
My sister drove with me to the middle of nowhere, for an old cabinet with its original fancy key!
And of course, a whole table and chairs painted teal and gold was no small project.
(and reupholstering the seats)
Now you know why I've been so busy, and I still have a roster of projects I'm working on.
But it's all part of my creative expression and the end result is only one that can make you happy.
It's being true to you.
Even if your truth is pink and teal.
With fairy lights thrown in for good measure of course.
What's a tea room without a little Marie Antoinette peeking out.
I've always said, I'm going hunting for fancy things whenever I head out to antique.
But it wasn't until I saw Beauty and the Beast that I said, I NEED all the ridiculous fancy things.
I was being funny of course, but now I always say that.
I need ridiculous fancy things :-)
It's part joke and part truth I'd say.
The joy in the hunt is finding something you see as priceless, and it ends up being 7 dollars.
Sometimes 2.
I'm obsessed with little porcelain birds and of course pretty tea cups, actually all pretty things tea related, as you may already know.
Sometimes you pay up for something really special that you know you will never find again.
And other times you get deals deals deals.
It's the colors and shapes that really inspire me.
And so I magpie it up, smash it all together in a cabinet, and everyday I am inspired when I peer through the glass.
It's like this fancy lamp...
To some it might be simply ridiculous.
To others it might be ridiculously good.
Or even ridiculously fancifully fabulous!
To someone it was a thrift store donation.
To another person pricing it, it was worth 48 dollars.
With lamps half price on the day I came around.
To me it was the most incredible find everrrrrrr.
Mainly because I love frilly things.
Silly things.
Pastel things.
Gold things.
Porcelain things.
Fairytale things.
And lambs?! Oh yes.
Flowers.
Floral clothing.
Flowers in their hair??!!!
Sold sold sold.
Ridiculous fancy things.
You inspire me so!
Now I own the domain ridiculousfancythings dot com.
What ever shall I do with it?
Time will tell.
The inspiration these collected abandoned treasures bring me is everything.
I find treasure hunting utterly relaxing.
Fulfilling.
I once tried to be zen and gave all my stuff away.
That was around 1998.
A youngster in college but I had some gooood treasures I tell ya.
I still regret it, but I also say c'est la vie at the same time.
(mostly miss my original art work I donated)
Such is life.
(and boy have I made up for that zen purge, haha!)
I admire people who can be stuffless.
But I like my stuff so I'll keep it.
And I respect those that don't want any fancy things.
Because what is life without a variety of tastes and likes?
We're all different and that is beautiful.
If someday I have to go live in the woods with nothing (my mind thinks these things might happen you see), I suppose I'd collect acorns and dried seeds and fruit pits to make jewelry with. And treasure covered in fancy moss??!! Oh my, yes!
So it seems, I'm not partial just to over the top fancy things you can only buy in the store.
I'm open to nature's ridiculous fancy things too.
Hello trumpet flower trees, hello giant dahlias, hello wisteria, hello - well you catch my drift.
Speaking of drift, even some drift wood is fancy if you ask me.
I brought a piece back shaped as a heart from the ocean last summer.
So now, tell me...
What's your favorite ridiculous fancy thing?
Inquiring minds want to know?
xoxoxo
See you soooon!
Love, V
ps:
I watched Under the Tuscan Sun in the background (one of my faves) whilst working on this blog post.
Gosh, what a mood lifter.
Watch it again, so fun & uplifting <3
Beautiful soundtrack too.
