A Fanciful Twist

Studio Blossoms & A Tale About a Curious old Cabinet

Hello friends!

I've been trying to get here for 3 days to tell you all my stories.

I had garden chores and endless things -

But here I am, with an extra long post for you today.

The tale of the very old cabinet is one I've been wanting to share for months.

Since I have spent the last 1.5 years going to zero stores, I have found other internet related ways to bring treasures my way.

There is a once a month antique shop in Tucson called Gather Vintage.

They travel everywhere looking for treasures, and I have purchased many items from there over the last 5 years or so.

A few months ago I saw this tattered old cabinet with many drawers roll through their Instagram account.

I loved it in its, highly patina aged, wood glory.

Then I saw other local Instagrammers who refinish furniture posting it, and I thought, I better save it soon before it is sanded or painted.

So, I called them up and bought it on the phone sight unseen, and had someone pick it up for me.

I will tell you the whole story about the curious cabinet after I run up to the secret garden, and pick some flowers for the studio.

Greeted by my beloved butterflies as soon as I enter.

This one fluttered up to me and flapped its wings against my nose and cheek.

I nearly fainted, it was sublime beyond words.

I will never forget that feeling, for as long as I live.

It wasn't just the feeling, but the sound, of life and wings.

The giant cosmos are starting to bloom and will do so until the last frost.

They are so tall, it feels like I'm walking through a corn maze.

One thing I am smitten with are the curious buttercup shaped cosmos this year.

They might be from the Floret Flower seeds I planted, but I'm not entirely certain.

Okay, we have our flowers, so let's head back to the tale...

Nothing like nature's colors for a little inspiration.

Purples and pinks and...

(I do a lot of paintings that I never share, they are more about painting my feelings and color therapy for me, and I enjoy it sooooooo much! Just a really important outflow of my busy mind and feelings that balances me out - and has since I was 11 years old)

So, the curious cabinet arrives to my house, and it is wonderful.

Also, a bit rickety and sooo heavy.

But most interesting of all....

Are the bit and bobs written and tacked onto the drawers.

So, I started by having a helper put casters on it for me.

Actually, it was too deteriorated and I just happened to have a heavy duty piece of wood, so he mad a new base and attached the casters for me in less than an hour.

Then I needed to clean it, and by clean I mean scrub it down with soap and water.

The drawers were filled with 100 year old thick soot and mummified spiders, as was the outside.

Then there were all the measurements jotted down on the drawer faces with chalk, which I was madly in love with.

I did not want to lose the integrity of it, so I purchased some oil based permanent chalk marker, which is used commercially on roads and such.

Then I carefully went over all the writing on the drawers, following the exact lines.

After that I scrubbed it down, even washed the little paper tags tacked to the drawers as carefully as I could.

There were about 27 knobs missing on each side, as the cabinet opens from each side.

(I should have taken videos or photos when it first arrived)

So I went on eBay and found a bag of old knobs.

The gentleman would not let me buy them until the auction ended in 6 days.

(insert impatience, haha)

I was the only bidder and got the whole bag.

The knobs looked so worn and stained, they looked like they had always belonged on the cabinet, more so than some of the knobs that were already on there.

When I asked about the history of the cabinet, I was told that it was found in some old barn somewhere in Arizona.

If you remember me talking about some of my Arizona road trips years and years ago, you know there are some wonderful old places here.

I'm one who really loves and appreciates old things, especially when they have memories of the past attached to them.

Something really interesting is the scent of the cabinet.

It smells so good, like a wooded forest.

When I first walk into my studio I can smell it, and it is a scent engrained deep into my memory.

I can't describe it, like I've smelled the scent before, but it smells so good.

It's not a chemical scent or fake scent sprayed on, but more of the natural scent of wood and time.

You might know the scent I speak of - I love it so much.

Above you can see the casters we attached to it, and the board I stained in the same shade of brown.

I have been using the drawers to help get me get organized in this studio, and it has worked wonders.

I use pearl pins to tag the drawers with a sample of what I have put inside.

For example, I tacked a butterfly to the front of the faux butterfly drawer.

And a star to the stars drawer, etc. tec.

Something interesting was that, when I was editing these photos I noticed that the drawer below has two V's on it.

Likely just a random mark or scratch, but meaningful to me.

There are 3 drawers missing, which the fellow who put the casters on can make for me.

I'm not sure how old this piece is, but it is made purely of wood, no screws.

It is made almost identically to some of the old drawer cabinets I have at the country house studio.

Those were made from old wooden cheese boxes - similar concept, but sit on a counter.

I am sure this was used for a couple generations at least.

I did find some square nails in a drawer, so that gives some idea.

I think maybe a grandfather made it, and then his son used it, and then his son, and then it came to me.

Where the 3 drawers were missing, I just tacked on some book pages and card stock, which I prefer more than having actual drawers.

And so...

That is the tale of the gigantic, old, and very curious, cabinet.

I love it so much.

I am happy to be the keeper of it for as long as I get to enjoy it.

I can not ever see myself painting it.

When I showed it to my close people, they thought it was too tattered, they were all pretty much not for it.

But for me, it's functional history, and it makes my heart skip a beat.

I love old treasures so much.

I remember the fascination running through my entire being, upon finding old treasures, when I was younger.

What a wonderful feeling that was.

I am so happy to have that appreciation engrained deep inside of me.

My grandfather loved old things, and every once in a while I'd be the lucky recipient of a thing or two.

I will cherish them forever and ever.

I am the keeper of so many old things for people I do not even know.

And some that I met briefly, like the dining table and cabinet that belonged to a gal's grandparents, that I cherish and use daily.

I use the cabinet as my library and the dining table as a huge credenza for my giant urn and books.

And the old mirrored armoire door my grandfather saved and gave to me (which I have hanging in my tiny garden cottage), because everyone forced him to get rid of the actual armoire, but he salvaged the door for me.

And all the china dolls I find, that were loved a hundred years ago.

And the old mirrors, flaked and bubbled exquisitely.

Well, I could go on and on about all the things, and I reckon you love old things too.

I cherish every morsel, old tattered wood is like rare gold to me.

I remember when I was around 17 years old, I had this HUGE urge to go to the Goodwill.

My family had never taken me there, I didn't even know it existed, until I happened upon it by accident.

And then, when I discovered the Salvation Army, I just couldn't believe my eyes.

I started collecting way back then.

Antique stores, estate shops and sales, thrift stores.

They have given me a wealth of treasure that is irreplaceable, unique and filled with old stories.

When I started treasure hunting it wasn't as popular as it became a few years after.

I could still buy stunning 1970's platform shoes for 25 cents in 1999.

And people would literally give you their old treasures, from their exquisite historic homes, during yard sales.

What a time, what memories!

Per usual, I have veered tremendously.

I know there is a huge chance you too are a lover of old things.

I'd love to hear about some of your very favorite finds that you cherish.

I'm so happy I collected all the tea things, tea cups and such, when I did.

People often ask me where I buy my teacups and teapots, especially in my mad tea party posts.

I always think to myself, oh if only I could take you with me back in time, through 25+ years of treasure hunting.

One tea cup at a time :-)

It's a wonderful adventure isn't it?

Of course, life isn't just about things, but it's a fun hobby.

Ah well, I suppose it's time for me to sign off.

That is the tale of the curious old cabinet.

I will continue to fill the drawers and show you what I put inside <3

 

See you super soon!

 

Love, Vanessa

 

 

ps: 

Speaking of old things, that reminds me to share a tale very soon, about an epic project I was beginning in winter 2019 - right before the pandemic. I hope to be able to work on it someday soon. I'll put a post together about that.

 

pps:

I'll share an old post of my country house studio, where you can see some of my old table top drawer cabinets, which I mentioned above.

The yellow one's drawers are made out of old wooden cheese boxes.

My country house studio here.

 

 

Welcome September {Atelier et Jardin}

September, of Studio and garden...

My two most happy places.

The rain, well, I shan't repeat myself over and over -

But the rain has created this space I tend and wander around in at first light.

Sometimes, I pop into my studio first, turn on the fan and the music.

Then I make my way up the stairs to the rolling hills of the hidden garden.

Checking pumpkins and flowers and vegetables.

I hide under the very full arbor before making my way through, and back to my place of creating.

Amongst bits and bobs.

This and that's, for making that and this.

I'm not sure how the little clay face man turned up there, I thought he was somewhere else.

He seemingly turns up everywhere though.

I love the morning hours in this studio.

Yesterday I was in my country house studio, they are so different in their light and feel.

And yet, so similar.

But today we are here, in my studio down the stairs and through the courtyard from the secret garden.

I spend a couple hours inside, but the fluffy clouds and dappled light on a mild first of September, beckon me back outside.

And so I go...

I toy with collecting a bunch of the pumpkins that were ready over a month ago...

But it will be bittersweet, and although there are others growing, it will mean summer is coming to a close.

Of course, it will be warm here for a good while, up until Halloween.

And we will have butterflies right up until it gets chilly.

You can always count on the butterflies, it seems.

But the days of summer become numbered.

I planted a whole bed of dahlia seeds in spring thinking, dahlias seeds? This is impossible.

But, lo and behold, there are in fact dahlias from seeds.

These are surprise dahlias, as I have no idea what color or type they will be until they bloom.

Could this crimson one be any more perfect for today?

I decided to run back to the studio and grab some ribbons for typing up things.

I always use fancy ribbons in the garden, strange but true.

I could use twine and such, but I'm a rebel :-)

And so, I go back.

I do this most of the day.

Into the studio, into the garden, doing some chores, and back into the garden again.

This morning there were hundreds of male squash blossoms, I meant to pick a bunch for cooking, but then I forgot.

I got busy with other things, so hopefully there will be more tomorrow.

September September...

I know you so well.

You are etched into the map of me.

Bobbing zinnias and orange globes.

Intense color.

And hidden gems.

I am squeezed out of foot paths...

Gifted along the way...

Hunting with my inner squealing joy.

Perhaps the streets of my internal body map are made of pumpkin vines.

And the excitement in my belly really is made of butterfly wings?

Fairy tale nonsense, but anything is possible in a fairy tale, you know.

A garden is a close as you can get to a real life dream I think.

It's another world, the gift of spring and summer.

The place of endless life.

Even the okra are flowering.

The rain drops fall on my shoulders of this real life dream space.

Although, I'm still not certain I am awake.

Thanks to the rain of course.

How could I ever thank the historic rainfall for quenching our parched desert back to life?

For validating the dreamer.

In every single way.

For caterpillars and seeds, that are now butterflies and dahlias.

For corridors of plants in this Thumbelina storybook path.

Zooming out farther and farther...

To appreciate life.

Fragile and strong all at once.

The cosmos fall over, and then determined to live, root out through their stems and anchor back into the earth.

Anything, everything they must do, to never let the butterflies down.

Now, that is love.

Like tales from the pages of a favorite book.

Like pastel thread sewing its luck all around.

Patching itself together.

With leaves for umbrellas.

Magic in jars, almost overlooked...

And somehow...

A photo begins to turn into a painting.

Is it real?

Yes says the camera.

It is real.

I'm not sure I make any sense, because I am dealing with things that are so unbelievable.

Stories from the garden.

And then relating them back to you, through my photos and fairy tale sensibilities.

There are those of us, and if you are here I know I can include you, who are mesmerized and amazed by the natural world.

Flying creatures, growing things pushing up through the earth.

We are fascinated day after day.

As though, we hadn't just seen it the day before.

We continue to see the magic in it all with fresh eyes, over and over.

I am a fly on the wall of everything that is happening all around me.

I wonder who they think that I am?

Just some strange girl, taking their picture.

A sort of paparazzi?

My imagination runs away with me...

Whispering petals and gossiping Snout nose butterflies.

Whining to each other about who got more of the mint sap.

Who knows what all goes on out there.

But you see...

How can I just work in my studio all day, when the hive of sound from the garden is calling me all day long?

It's a wonder I get anything done at all really.

Although I did pull an all-nighter, designing new cards and restocking inventory, which should all arrive on the 9th.

So, Halloween favorites will return, along with florals and new Holiday cards as well.

I've been baking blackberry cobblers lately, they seem to be a hit with my little posse.

I know I said I was thinking about it in the last post, but I have, and it is grand.

And the rain, so much rain.

We needed this epic rain fall, because even the cacti were disintegrating from the dry weather the last couple of years.

And now everything is green and full, flowers all over the desert, bring endless winged creatures.

I was driving to the post office through tunnels of American snout nose butterflies.

I could hardly believe my eyes, thousands if not more.

The earth is getting quenched and giving life to the creatures.

We are so very grateful.

I hope you are doing well in your neck of the woods.

Days spin by, things happen everywhere.

I try to stay grateful and busy in my little space on this spinning planet.

Growing life for creatures of the earth, and flinging some paint as often as I can.

Also, staying up wayyyyy too late crocheting.

What have you been up to?

Sending you lots of positive vibes.

Remember, you are lovely.

 

See you super soon.

 

Love, Vanessa

 

 

ps:

In honor of the date...

One of my dad's top 5 songs that we exchanged this morning -

September morning...

We are the sappiest of sappy.

When we start sharing songs at the dinner table my mom says, ohhhh nooooooo!

Haha!