A Fanciful Twist

A Victorian Christmas Tea Party

Tea with the Victorians is sure to be delightful.

I have washed and set the table again after my birthday party and we are now ready for a proper Christmas tea.

The Victorians have arrived by carriage and we are all set.

I had to allow the antique porcelain dolls to celebrate the holidays as well.

And so, I created a little vignette for them in Christmas corner.

This is where my champagne pink tinsel tree stays up year-round and Christmas cabinet houses many of the ornaments. 

I made this papier-mache mannequin many years ago and still love her to this day.

In 2020 I decided to reupholster my dining chairs with this pink fabric I had stashed away for over a decade.

It was a huge job, but well worth it.

This tree really celebrates all of the holidays.

Not just Christmas but Valentine's Day and Easter spring to name a few.

It's all about tea-time and sweets as well.

I put it up several years ago and loved the glow it added, so I decided to leave it up forever.

It just makes me happy.

I've been a collector of antique porcelain dolls for as long as I can remember, so I'm glad to let them in on the Christmas fun.

I probably should have been doing this for years, poor things, haha.

Everything's ready for Christmas magic now.

All of my gifts are wrapped and cards are written.

It's time to bake a few treats and just enjoy.

The weather has turned quite wintery, which sets the perfect mood for the festivities.

I think I've run out of time to share all the nooks and crannies, so I've included a few extra snippets.

The little tree below has a few of my own ornaments with my illustrations on them.

They were made and sold by a company that licensed my work to make giftware a few years ago.

I really enjoyed creating this display and am quite partial to it.

I love the softness and colors, but I also love seeing so many of my dearest antique dolls together.

They seem so happy all "dolled" up for the holidays.

Christmas cabinet below is actually where I house my colorful Fenton glass.

However, over the years it morphed into becoming Christmas cabinet.

It was a safe place to house some of my oldest and most fragile ornaments.

Most of them are on the tree now, but this year I emptied the cabinet, dusted everything and reorganized it.

When it's time to take down the tree, there will be new space for some of the fragile ornaments that I like to look at year-round.

I like to use the antique Limoges France porcelain for special occasions.

I started with one piece many years ago, and slowly would find extra pieces.

I mix in other pink and gold pieces outside of that pattern with it all the time.

Then, about 3 or 4 years The Queen's Hamlet (an antiquities dealer) found a huge set with many pieces and I purchased them all from her.

Despite our best efforts, we cannot figure out the pattern name.

It's the question I get asked the most and can never answer it.

I wish I knew too.

Giant Pegasus keeps watch of the house from Christmas cabinet.

He also has a permanent home there.

I suppose that this space is simply the holiday corner of my house any time of the year.

Anywho, let's sit and have treats.

The table awaits us.

With twinkly lights and fancy characters.

Swans and candles are always found here and there...

With bird cages and curiosities to guide the way.

No real birds are ever kept in the cages, but I have thought about letting butterflies fly around my house.

Oh and, there is this one Texas wren that always comes into the house if the door is open, he is very curious indeed.

But I digress, because today is supposed to be all about the Victorians...

And their lovely Christmas tea party.

This almost feels like it should be a permanent home for them, don't you agree?

With the candlelight glow...

(don't worry, I only light the front candles in the candelabras for safety because of curtains, etc.)

And the wintery light coming in.

Glittered stars and old ruffled dresses are definitely the theme of the day.

As it rains outside, we are warm inside, enjoying this holiday season.

The carriage might even be older than the dolls.

It has beautiful old fabric inside, and I often wonder who it belonged to over a hundred years ago.

I believe that sort of thinking is what started my love of antiques when I was a young girl.

Thinking about times long ago, and how people disappear but their treasures stay behind.

Filled with journeys and tales they cannot tell us about, but we can imagine.

People often ask me, what is going to happen to all of your treasures one day?

My thinking is, I only think about enjoying them in the present.

If something is valuable enough for a museum or another's collection, they can go there someday.

But I truly do not mind if my treasures go back to the antique stores they came from, for someone else to enjoy.

I do not worry about what will become of this or that, I just bask in enjoying them in the present day.

10 ft. unicorn included :-)

(as a sidenote, the ceramic cat under the tree below belonged to a gal at the antique store, and when I purchased it, she said, this was always in my grandmother's house. So, I often think about her grandmother, who I didn't even know, and how I am the current protector of her beloved cat.)

It's getting quite dark and rainy as I type.

I hope you are sipping a lovely tea right now.

I do quite enjoy an orange spice tea on these chilly days.

I do not partake in caffeine due to an allergy I have to it, but I love herbal teas.

And I love the scent of a pot of coffee brewing, so I always prepare some for guests.

Santa is resting at the pink Canterbury cottage, before he begins his epic journey on Sunday.

I will enjoy this rainy day, as snow falls on the mountain.

What perfect timing for Christmas.

I will be baking two kinds of cookies today, using my mom's recipes, and also my yearly baklava.

I have no recipe for the baklava, I just make it by heart.

There is nothing quite like the scent of the baklava syrup boiling on the stove.

Oranges, sugar, cloves and cinnamon sticks are the epitome of the scent of the season.

I think that one of my hereditary blessings was being good at cooking and baking, and having this sort of internal measuring intuition.

If you have that too, it's just in you.

Friends ask me, but how do you know?

I don't know, I just know, haha!

I suppose I was just preprogrammed this way :-)

Well, it's down to the wire for Christmas makings.

Do you have any last-minute things on your list?

I am so glad you took a little moment to stop in here for our Victorian tea party.

I have my favorite Vince Guaraldi Charlie Brown Christmas music playing in my mind all day.

I hope you enjoyed your visit to A Fanciful Twist.

But more importantly, happy holidays to you and yours.

Merry Christmas!

Stay safe and well, and I will see you again very soon.

 

The 12 days of Christmas begin on the 25th, so I will be back with more to share.

 

Lots of love, 

 

Vanessa

 

 

PS: These are the ornaments that were made by BPlus Printworks a few years ago, along with some other giftware, using my illustrations.

Here are some of the other gift items I shared in an older blog post.

I forgot to photograph the mugs and things that were Nutcracker related.

As for the ornaments...

I have a few sets, but never offered them for sale because they are too fragile for shipping.

I love them so much.

The company that made them sold them to gift shops worldwide, so every once in a while, someone far away will contact me and show me their ornaments or journals etc.

It's so much fun to have a little piece of your art floating around in the world, making people happy.

This is my first year putting my own ornaments on my tree, even though I've had them for many years.

I had never opened the package :-)

 

 

Old World Christmas & Magical Toyland Nostalgia

Welcome to a little Christmas tour at my home this holiday season.

The magic of Christmas really got me this year, and I was deeply inspired to pull out all of my old collectibles.

If you have not seen me in a while, that is why.

I searched through every workshop, shed and closet at both homes to bring all my Christmas treasures out this season.

In the interim, I did a lot of organizing and have pretty much been busy every day since a couple weeks before Thanksgiving.

I thought it was time to pull everything together, and as I did, my Christmas heart just expanded more and more.

Memories of childhood and all the dreams of Toyland flooded me with nostalgia.

I decided to fill the bottom of my tree with many of my Christmas collectibles that I have been collecting for a lifetime.

I am normally all about a pink Christmas, however, this year I felt a calling to times gone by and I craved hints of red satin and velvet.

As you know, I love my smaller tree (6ft.) that I flocked myself in 2009 I think.

It has a special place in my heart, so I still use it to this day.

I have loved every second of my carousel turning round and round under the tree...

And all my cuties sandwiched together.

I never want to take this down now.

I feel like I'm living in an elf's workshop.

I can't wait to share some other surprises I have for you in a couple of days.

I ribboned everything this year.

From horses to tree branches, to candelabras.

Everyone got a ribbon.

I just sink into a cozy spot and warm up by the fire.

I cannot begin to describe the feeling I have in my soul.

It's almost like I'm living out my childhood dreams.

I even took a bunch of my old dollhouses out of our workshop at the country house.

I already have a handful set-up that I keep forgetting to share, but I brought out others that were calling my name.

I light candles and stay up until the wee hours, just moving tiny things around my dioramas and dollhouses.

I promise to share a bunch more in the coming days.

I meant to be here 2 weeks ago, but with the amount of organizing and digging I've been doing, then setting up everything pretty in the time for my birthday last week, time is the one thing I have not had much of.

Although, now it is time to enjoy.

The next 10 days will be all about enjoying and sharing.

And then on the 25th begins the actual 12 days of Christmas.

I was so tickled when I found my very heavy cast iron train, which was covered in dust, inside one of the dollhouses I have not yet taken out of the workshop.

You see, I have 2 large dollhouses and one 10 ft. long dollhouse set-up all the time at house 2, but there were half a dozen others in storage at the country house.

My whole family has dollhouses and renovates them.

I can't wait to share my mom's dollhouses with you in a couple of weeks.

Anywho, I digress...

What I was saying is that, I have greatly enjoyed uncovering and rediscovering my treasures.

I have had fun mixing old and newer treasures together.

I think from now on all my Christmases will be about Toyland and nostalgia.

I realize that time is of the essence, and if I want to enjoy all these silly wonderful things, now is the time.

And so, all the Santa's and rocking horses and elves have come together...

With favorite ornaments and all manner of characters.

And fairy tales and storybooks a plenty in the evenings.

The red velvet ribbons really make things feel Christmasy.

The funniest story is that, for years I have had some rolls of thick red silk ribbon hanging around, as seen on the tree bow below.

They are always in my way, because I had sort of banished red from my life.

But when I decided to add red this year, I went hunting for them, and where I had about 10, I could only find 3.

So now, I am keeping my eyes open for the others.

That's why it's a good idea to be organized and not get rid of things that are useful.

The banished red ribbon has now taken center stage.

Funny how that happens.

Every morsel of this tree speaks to little Vanessa.

I truly am completely tickled by it.

Funny enough, I found a photo of myself the other day at 5 years old, playing with a bundle of toys.

I thought to myself, this Christmas is for you little Vanessa.

She'd be sooooo delighted to see all of this.

I remember standing outside the window of Geppetto's toy store as a child and just marveling and wishing to live in the entire vignette.

I suppose that explains a lot about who I am today, haha!

Lover of whimsy and collector of memories.

My child heart is still burning bright as ever.

Still believing and dreaming...

I never really outgrew that, but I think it is also partly hereditary.

My mom and sister both keep the love of dollhouses and whimsical collectibles burning bright.

And even my dad delights in the magic of it all and helps with my mom's dollhouse renovations.

They were just here for my birthday party (December 11th), that I also dubbed as a family Christmas party.

Both my mom and my dad walked around peeking at little details and swooning.

I love that about them.

When I was decorating, I did it a bit for them as well, because I knew they would marvel at it with their fanciful hearts.

I even found my sweet Mother Goose in an old suitcase.

I swooned and hugged her tight because I had been looking for her forever.

So, this is where you will find me, playing under the Christmas tree with...

Mister Theodore Laurence, who waits for packages at the front door.

My dear Teddy, how I love thee.

The most rambunctious loveable boy ever.

Plays with toys all day long and destroyed his BarkBox delivery yesterday, whilst I spent 14 hours editing these photos to share with you :-)

So, choose a seat and cozy up.

Stay a little while for fairy tales and any hot drink you desire.

It's a child's old world Christmas ambience this year, that's for certain.

I want to play with toys and tiny things all day long.

I have a big Ferris wheel too, but I couldn't fit it under the tree.

Although, I think I will find a space for it after all.

I hope you have enjoyed your visit to A Fanciful Twist...

Through the Secret Keyhole, at Christmas.

I have many more delights to share with you over the next few days.

I cannot wait to photograph and share the next post with you.

I hope to return in two days.

I really am deep in the spirit of Christmas this year.

I loved setting up my antique nativity and hanging ribbons everywhere.

This weekend I will bake gingerbread for certain.

The weather is chilly, the fire is warm.

There are still pumpkins growing in the garden, but the vines are starting to dry.

The leaves have finally turned yellow and crimson on certain trees.

I stay up late wrapping little gifts and writing heartfelt notes.

All the while, listening to the carousel go round and round under the tree.

 

I do hope you are well in your neck of the woods, and that my virtual letter and photos find you well.

I cannot wait to meet up with you again here in a couple of days.

See you very soon!

Love, 

Vanessa

 

 

 

 

 

Of Halloween Magic and Fanciest Frocks

Hello and welcome to our Halloween soirée.

We are setting the table for our yearly festivities, with costumes and sparkles aplenty.

Owl wanted to have center stage and some of our old favorites came out for the mysterious festivities.

I made a few more sculptures for the night of tricks and treats.

We have made scrumptious delights, such as caramel apples and buttery witch fingers.

This evening we have given a nod to one of our favorite fairy tales, albeit the Halloween version.

With fancy gowns and pumpkin carriages.

As well as Cinderella's little mouse friends.

Don't forget to light the black flame candle...

As little pirates and friendly spiders begin to arrive.

Masks are always welcome, as well as sashes of sparkly stars.

Spooky offerings, owl candles and always candy corn, adorn the table.

Would you believe that the real pumpkin I made last year, with pearled golden insects, waited the whole year to attend the party again?

It's still in perfect condition.

Now that is some kind of real magic!

We are dancing about, as we toss sparkles into the air.

Overjoyed for one of our favorite times of the year.

Delectables and cute faces are waiting for you to jump in.

We hope you brought your fanciest frock!

Before the night poofs away.

And carriages turn into pumpkins once again.

What fun we have had celebrating a Cinderella Halloween.

There's so much magic brewing at this time of the year.

It fills our little hearts with a glee we can not begin to describe.

We intend to dance the night away, carve our Jack-o-Lanterns and make spiced punch.

I have caramel corn crackling in the oven and candy apples boiling on the stove.

I hope you enjoy the day and do a twirl or two in your living room.

I must run because my sister is here for our Halloween party.

We've been up to so much mischief, I can't even tell you.

It's wonderful to have a sister who loves Halloween as much as I do.

Cackle Cackle!

 

I bid you Happiest Halloween wishes and shall see you very soon!

 

Magic, Wishes, Stars and full moons forever!

Love, 

Vanessa

 

 

PS: Feel free to visit many of our previous magical Halloween parties right here.

 

Merry Christmas Wishes

Dear lovely friends...

I am wishing you a warm and delightful Christmas from my neck of the woods <3

I can hardly believe that the time is here.

I have baked and baked my heart out this season.

From gingerbread cookies to lemon bars, baklava, thumbprint cookies, and not to be forgotten,,,

The fruitiest Christmas cakes ever.

Six to be exact.

There are baubles here and there.

And my old 6.5 ft. Christmas tree, that I hand-flocked over a decade ago, is still enjoying the limelight.

The scent of endless gingerbread is what Christmas dreams are made of...

Especially when you get to nibble them with a big old book in front of the fire.

I stuffed a 40 ft. long antique gold garland through my tree this year, and it made it crazy gold.

Stanley Tucci is keeping everyone in line...

Whilst I deliver my confectionery to and fro.

I hope you are warm and cozy.

Possibly maybe, enjoying a huge mug of delectable hot chocolate with marshmallows.

Or whatever hot beverage you fancy really.

I look forward to the madness of this weekend, but also to the calm after Christmas.

During that beautiful quiet time of winter.

Where I intend to make many snowflake garlands and paint in my little fishbowl during golden hour.

There's always something wonderful to look forward to.

Especially when you have a lot of hobbies that you enjoy.

I have a long list of things I love and long to do.

Especially finishing a blanket that I have been working on for a few years.

Clink clink in teacups and take care of yourself.

Have a safe and lovely holiday.

 

All my love,

Your friend, 

Vanessa

 

 

I started this blog in the few days after Christmas in 2006.

I can't even believe how quickly the time has fluttered by.

I look forward to seeing what the next year shall bring <3 <3 <3

 

 

Free Printable Christmas Tags, From me to You!

Hello friends!

It's Christmas time, down to the wire.

I was frantically hunting for gifts tags just now, when I remembered...

I have oodles of printable tags that I have made for you throughout the years.

I thought, if I needed some, you might too.

Nothing better than sharing a few of my illustrations for you to print at home.

And so, here is a Christmas gift tag round-up.

Just make sure to click on the pdf link to get the printable version, below each image.

 

Let's begin with fox, deer, mouse and swan <3

CLICK HERE for the printable link for this one.

I love this one so much.

I just printed it and looks so good.

 

 

Next, we have Mushroom houses, creatures and elves!

CLICK HERE for the printable pdf of this one.

This one is so fun, festive and colorful!

It looks scrumptious printed.

 

And last, but not least, we have really fun elves and green polka dots!

CLICK HERE for pdf of this one.

The colors are so rich and fun of this one.

 

I printed a couple of all of them for myself.

I hope you enjoy these.

And don't forget, in my right-hand sidebar under "printable treats and ideas," you can always access the link with all of my tutorials and free printables I have shared with you throughout the years.

CLICK HERE for all tutorials and printables.

 

I am scurrying around, doing all of my own gift wrapping and last minute everything.

I will be back with another post, but I just wanted to pop in really quick to share those.

 

Lots of love,

Vanessa

 

 

 

 

Twinkling December Magic...

Every day we get a little bit closer.

With baubles and shimmering stars strewn everywhere.

 The magic of Christmas is definitely upon us.

Clowns and puffs of tulle...

Bobbing in cool and cloudy winter light.

It's been so chilly here, that the twinkle lights are more welcome than ever.

The fairy light sparkles in the house are so beautiful in person, quite difficult to convey in a photo.

With giant unicorn casting a wonderful illumination glimmer through the whole house.

Christmas corner stays up year-round.

Cloudy days make the Christmas trees all the more lovely.

Here are a few little close-ups if you fancy a peek.

All my favorites are happily dancing from tree branches.

A huge strand of antique gold tinsel garland has been stuffed in this year.

Teddy and I have had daily cozy cuddles in this spot, right in front of the fireplace.

The dining table is our favorite place to sit this season.

Some green and baubles are what decided to grace the table this year.

It has been a very busy December, but Teddy knows just how to relax from the hustle and bustle of the holidays.

Here are a couple more up-close tree peeks.

I will take a full photo this week, when it is not so cloudy.

I have been baking, making, painting and packaging all month.

The fairy of the secret rose garden decided to pay us a visit this month.

I sat down to paint something else entirely, but she insisted on emerging.

The two large roses look like they want to form a floral owl face.

What a whirlwind of a month, and to think it is already the week before Christmas.

I'm honestly not even recovered from Halloween being over, and time is just giving me whiplash.

I will never get over how fast time files by, especially when you are having fun.

I have had a lovely birthday party with my family that I made tons of food for.

Then I had another fun family visit, which was just delightful.

And there has been all the Christmas cake making, and shopping for gifts, and taking care of my boys.

Oh and, making sure gifts get to Ireland in time...

Well, with all of that, and making many gifts too, I have been deep in the spirit of the season.

It's been very chilly here, and it is citrus season, which I am wonderfully drowning in.

I send everyone home with buckets of citrus.

Matty is cuddled up in the coziest way right now, snoring at my feet as I type.

It is definitely time for orange spice tea right about now.

I hope are doing just lovely in your neck of the woods.

Staying warm and cozy yourself.

I will see you again in a couple of days.

I am off to steep tea.

Lots of love, 

Vanessa

 

ps:

Some pics of the Christmas cakes being made.

I made 6, and this is the recipe I used.

The cakes are all done and aging in the fridge.

I am using one of the cakes as our tester, and I just checked it whilst it's in the Triple Sec aging phase, and it is incredible.

It needs 1 - 6 weeks to age.

However, it's only been aging a couple of days in the Triple Sec cheesecloth, and it is already wonderful and could be happily served.

It is not a standard fruitcake, but more, a cake of many delectable fruits, if you will.

I hand chopped dried figs, tart cherries, peaches, apricots, golden raisins, dark raisins, prunes, candied ginger, and a ton of grated lemon and orange zest, just to name a few.

The dried fruits soaked in rum for 30 hours, and the cake batter itself was super easy to make.

I really recommend it.

I will share more pics soon :-)

 

Halloween Magic and a Midnight Soirée

Our favorite time of year is here.

With colorful leaves, caramel apples, carnivals and dancing around the crackling fire.

Costumes and twinkling lights sparkle up the night, as we set our table with delight.

We light the candles and fill the table with sweet treats just for you.

The master of ceremonies is Jack the cat.

He looks like he's up to pure mischief.

Golden mice and sparkly stars are tucked in everywhere...

Just beware the poison mushrooms.

(made by Calamity Kim)

They are actually guests as well, not for eating.

And Mister owl is keeping his eyes open for anyone who samples too much punch.

Enter the sparkle and magical mayhem if you dare!

With singing fairly lights and antique clowns, you must beware.

Sarah Blank's little bunny sculpture decided to hide in a Jack-o-Lantern cup and popped his head out at the stroke of midnight.

He gave us all quite a fright!

Do be careful or you might get turned into a doll's head in a teacup by the local witch.

You can see, she's already given some visitors butterfly wings, such as Mister Bun.

Now, open your caramel apples and take a bite.

They are known to remove 3 years off your age with a maximum of 12 bites.

Open your little purse and fill it with candy corn too, as they are also known to have some sort of magical powers.

It's never too late to practice some spells and open some surprise crackers.

Dare I tell you that this little giggling face below set himself on fire, in a big ball of flames.

Yes, it's true!

I have no idea how the entire table didn't go up in a fiery disaster.

I quickly grabbed a giant pot and some potholders and shuffled him right in and took him outside.

Then he took a good bath and was allowed back at the party.

Although, perhaps I should have exercised more caution :-)

He thinks it's all a big game of Trick or Treat!

One of my little witches I made years ago was more than unamused at everyone's antics.

In fact, she was positively bemused.

Spider thought it was quite hilarious, but that's only because he could get away so quickly.

And the clowns thought that whole thing was absolutely entertaining, to say the least.

Alas, here we are, tickled pink and orange, having the most delightful of Halloween times.

Under the beautiful lights, as the sun makes its exist for the night.

Take another sip and eat a few more treats, as it's almost time to go dance under the moonlight.

We hope you had the most marvelous of times.

And will hold a place for you at the table...

Whilst you take your yearly flight.

Under the starry starry night!

So overjoyed to have had you as our guest.

At our home where Halloween is celebrated year-round, kept alive by a little candlelight flame burning in our pumpkin hearts.

I am sorry my blog was down for over a week due to the Typepad crash of 2022.

But I am so happy to bring you the pumpkin holiday festivities, no matter the delay.

I hope you had a wonderful time, and I can not wait to see you again next year.

Be careful as you make your way through the haunted woods.

Don't talk to any ghosts that you don't know on your way home.

And leave a trail of candy corn, so that you might find your way back here for next year's Halloween.

 

 Lots of cackles and love, from me to youuuuu!!

Heheheheeeeeeee!

Vanessa

 

 

ps: Something fun to listen to whilst visiting the party.

Also -

If you would like to visit our parties from years past, please click here...

 

 

 

Of Halloween Stars & Cozy Autumn Fireplace

Cozy October is the most wonderful time!

I am here trying to enjoy every morsel.

Apple crisps on repeat, watching the glorious moon, and doing some delightful crafts.

I've been making star garlands for years, but I didn't have a large one for the super tall mantel.

I put on some scary movies and just drew stars onto cardboard, cut them out, painted them in kid craft glue and dunked them in glitter.

A truly enjoyable time.

I don't know why stars are so magically fun to make and hang, but they just are.

And they are perfect for Halloween and Christmas.

My little guy is finally being treated with the love he deserves.

I got him in 2001 I think, for a party, and then left him outside for years and years.

Until he was aged to absolute perfection.

Boy is he ever.

So well-aged, that I may have to seal him so pieces of him don't keep falling off.

I was in the mood for a calm and cozy Halloween vibe this year.

I didn't go super crazy and I'm really enjoying the overall feel of it.

I had ordered the moon and star pumpkins form somewhere this summer, if only I could remember where?

I loved them in orange, but I kept envisioning them in pink with glitter accents.

So, I painted them in acrylic craft paint, and I really love them now.

I added some light brown staining, which isn't overtly obvious, but made them have a little more depth of color.

All the twinkle lights and spooky magic of the season is just my most favorite.

I've really been drinking in the wonders of October.

Fireplace, tea in the dark, with only the candles and twinkle lights illuminating.

Absolutely the best.

I brought out a few of my favorite books.

I've never used the witchcraft book, but I got it in the creepiest little hole in the wall bookstore when I was in my 20's.

I just adored going into that bookstore.

There was a little chair in the way back corner, with twinkle lights and paper ships hanging from the ceiling.

I thought it was the most magical place I had ever been in, surrounded by the scent of old books.

It's long gone now, but I love the vivid memories I have of it.

I had a wonderful weekend at the country house, reading ghost stories and making ML some rice krispy treats.

Of course, tending my gardens a lot, and Halloweenifying gypsy wagons.

I have all my supplies ready for my mom's caramel corn, next on the menu for this coming weekend.

If only this deliciously magical month could slow down a little.

I love it too much, I can't get enough.

The weather is sublime, the garden is in a second spring.

There is so much relief from the hot summer.

The sky is stunning at night.

Please don't go so quickly Octoberrrrr!

I hope you are having a delightful month as well.

I have so many harvests happening.

I've never had such huge endless tomatoes.

I am convinced it was all the rain this summer that got them to set so much fruit.

The flavor of them, just incredible.

I'm bringing in huge baskets full daily.

I normally despise tomatoes, but when I grow them myself, I do enjoy them.

I have made salsas, and pomodoro, and salads aplenty.

Oh and, tomato tarts too.

There are soooo many chilies, and still zucchini and pumpkins.

I have yet to roast my first pumpkin of the season, have you?

I've also been working on clay sculptures, but it seems I hardly have time in my life these days.

My day begins, and I am busy busy, and then it is over in the blink of an eye.

I remember when I was a child and days were soooo long.

I know that scientifically time goes faster as you get older, but this is just nonsense :-)

You'll have to fill me in on all the wonderful things you are getting up to this month.

What are your favorite must-do's in October?

It's definitely time to bake some pumpkin bread.

I just realized I have not had anything pumpkin flavored this month yet.

I must get on that tomorrow.

I hope you are doing just lovely in your neck of the woods, and I hope to see you soon!

 

Lots of love from me to you!

 

Happy pumpkin times!

Love, Vanessa

 

 

 

Holiday Décor Magazine 2022 & A Little Halloween Magic (Giveaway Update)

Hello friends!

I am so excited to share some fun news with you today.

After keeping this news to myself for so long...

I can finally share my Halloween feature in the current issue of Holiday Décor Magazine.

Halloween High Tea?

Why yes, please.

I am so delighted with this feature.

I really feel that who I am, and my vision of fanciful whimsy, was really captured in this article.

I am only sharing a few snippets, as there is so much to see.

But I just had to share a few tidbits with theeee!

And, because I feel that we must celebrate...

I have decided that we should probably...

Have some sort of giveaway, don't you think?

This is the cover of the magazine, in case you see it on newsstands, and you want to take a peek.

Here is a link to the magazine.

It covers every single holiday from here to New Year's.

To celebrate with our own fun, I've decided that I will have a magazine giveaway to kick-off the season.

I could not do just one, so I will randomly choose two names from comments.

Trick or treat?!

All you have to do to enter is leave a comment sharing what your favorite treat is.

Is it sweet, is it savory?

Is it a combination of the two.

Whatever it is, share it in comments, and I shall randomly choose two recipients in a couple of days.

I can not think of a more wonderful way to kick of autumn and Halloween.

Makes my heart just cackle, I tell ya ;-)

 

Leave a comment, join in the fun.

I'll be back here sooner than you can work out your own potion spell for good luck.

 

🖤 🖤 🖤

 

Love, Vanessa

 

UPDATE:

Per random number generator, numbers 17 & 35 won a magazine!

That's Lauren and Patricia Vitale.

YAY gals!

Please email me your snail mail address so that I can have a cope sent your way!

Yipppeeee!

 

My email address is VanessaValencia (at) aol.com

 

 

ps: In my next post I will share the questions I was asked in order to write this article.

It was a very fun interview, and I really went into depth with my answers.

Hope you might enjoy something like that.

 

 

December's Magic is in the Air...

Hello December, and hello friends!

I finally got some baubles twinkling up my house, after being so crazy busy the last month.

I got really busy a few days before Thanksgiving, and then it just never let up.

Cooking, cooking, cleaning, cooking, birthday soiree, etc etc :-)

The weather has turned very chilly, there is snow on the mountain, and the holiday season is finally here.

All the little events I hosted for family have come & gone, and now it's making last minute gifts in front of the fire kind of days.

Well almost, as I'm happily shipping orders and making a few art pieces, still.

My little 5.5 foot tree I hand flocked a decade ago is still holding up.

I do love a really vintage/antique sort of tree, dripping in tinsel.

Of course, I love a simple tree as well.

I didn't put up all my smaller trees, but this guy below got really dolled up with all my favorite ornaments.

I put it up in the same spot as last year, mainly because I really enjoyed the ambience next to the fireplace.

This tree really doesn't look that small in person.

It was supposed to be a 6 footer, but really it's 5.5, which is perfect for me.

I just need a step ladder to do the top.

I made oodles of ribbons with vintage pink velvet, and found my package of old school silver tinsel.

My antique tinsel tree below, always makes me so happy.

Truth be told...

I put him away covered in baubles every year.

Then all I have to do is pluck him off the shelf, unwrap, and place.

Easy easy, I love it!

My Christmas branch is in a giant ancient urn, and I just placed some glittered stars and snowflakes on it this year.

It's all aglow, so wonderful, especially on these unusual cloudy days we're having in the land of sun.

I'm loving this weather so much.

It feels really Christmasy.

Here are a few close ups of my tree for you.

All the little cuties, bringing me joy.

The baubles of the holiday season really make the days feel so twinkly and cozy, don't they?

Giant urn looks really light and festive in person, although really hard to photograph.

Trays of dried flowers are always everywhere.

It's inevitable, what with the endless garden blooms and all.

And so, we turn on the candles, light the fire...

Plug in the fairy lights, kick up our feet, and sip a hot drink in front of the warmth.

Can you believe it's this time of the year again?

It comes so quickly, it's all a blur to me most of the time.

I need to make some time to be still.

However, I will confess that I've been working on some really detailed clay sculptures to share in my shop.

I hope I can finish them today, there have been so many steps and layers to dry.

I've been working on them the last couple of weeks, maybe in the next 2 days I can get them done.

I hope you are well, I'm sorry I fell off the planet.

I juggle so much at once, sometimes it just happens.

Is it super chilly where you are?

Or maybe spring turning to summer?

I hope to be back in a couple days with pics of my sculptures.

Stay cozy wherever you are, and let me know how you are doing, won't you?

 

Love, Vanessa

 

 

Happy Halloween from our Gypsy Camp ♥

Happy Halloween dear friends!

Today we would like to take you with us into a tale, a place in time, that we've conjured up for this year's festivities.

We invite you into our old-fashioned vintage Halloween town!

Truth be told, Mister Lovee really put most of this Halloween magic together, including the guests and setting.

I took out all of our vintage pumpkins and props, and even found a sign I made many years ago.

We'd love for you to come along with us on a little adventure, won't you?

If you were walking down a wooded path, and happened upon such a place...

A place that brings back all the childhood memories of simpler times, with home grown pumpkins and bobbing for apples, I ask...

Would you venture into this fairyland, where Jack-O-Lanterns glow under twinkling skies?

Would you be too afraid and run away?

Or would you be utterly intrigued to find out who lives in such a place?

Would you be so enchanted that you might stay?

Perhaps for a dance around the fire?

With fairy lights and glowing faces.

Would you sing and twirl 'round the cauldron?

Take a sip of the Witch's hot cider?

Or is it more of a punch?

Made of herbs and berries from around the garden?

You will not know unless you try it.

Go on my pretty, do not be afraid, on this once a year pumpkin holiday.

But wait...

Did someone dare to enter this enchanted place, and who could it be?

But of course, trick or treaters are always the brave ones.

I fear they have not realized whose gypsy wagon they have come upon.

They can not see that this is the home of the elusive Michael Meyers.

Or that he is standing right behind them, eeeek!

But have no fear, Micheal (err Mister Lovee), is changing his ways.

He is giving out candy this year, but perhaps you should beware?

The costume winner of the year was the boy dressed as a dog.

Don't you agree?

Please fly in on your broom, and join us in the merriment of All Hallows' Eve!

We shall be here all day and night, twirling under the stars with our sweet friends.

If you stay all night, you might just be here in time...

In time for day break, when the whole scene turns into fairy sparkles that float way up into the sky.

Only to return at this time next year.

Thank you for joining us in the magic of the season!

I hope you have a wonderful day!

Now I must run and dust off my 300 year old witch hat, and get on my pointy shoes, tout de suite & Trick or Treeeeeeeat!

Cackle cackle!

 

Love, Vanessa

 

 

I'll leave you with a snippet of Mister Lovee's Halloween song with images from some of our past Halloween parties.

 

 

 

ps: If you would like to go back in time, here is a post from a previous Halloween in our Gyspy Garden.

And here is a link to all Halloween Party posts from the past.

 

pps: I have been meaning to tell you the most incredible story about the blue wagon for a very long time, I promise to in November <3

 

 

Come in for a Sip of Halloween Tea...

It's not Halloween without a little tea party now, is it?

We have sweets and treats a plenty, and an endless selection of tea.

Cauldrons of magic and cackles galore.

We've saved a spot just for you!

Twinkles abound!

And stars all a flutter, waiting for you to wish on.

Who dares to take their sip from the elusive witch hand?

I knew it would be you ;-)

Lighting all the candles and putting on the kettle...

With spooky tales from old book pages...

And magic floating about, for you to catch in your trick or treat bag!

That's what's going on here.

We're just taking our seats...

Hurry now, here you go, next to the pink ghostling.

With enough treats to keep you up all night, reading scary stories by candle light.

Popping popcorn and dancing under the moonlight.

That is what is really truly going on here tonight, all the way to Sunday at midnight of course.

I have been enjoying October waaay too much.

It has been a delight of secret garden enchantment and twinkle lights all around.

Running through garden paths under crescent moons, and staying up in the gypsy wagon camp under the milky way.

I love Octobers!

I will immerse myself in the last 4 days of this glorious month, enough to get me through to next year.

I shall return in a couple of days with photos from our gypsy garden Halloween.

Wouldn't want you to miss the fun we've been having.

But for now, we clink clink, as Halloween tea is just beginning.

Now what shall you choose, and do describe your frock!

 

See you in a couple of days <3 <3 <3

 

Looooove, 

 

Vanessa

 

ps: Here is a link to all of our Halloween Parties throughout the years

 

pps: Join us through dream waves at midnight tonight, as we light the cauldron in the gypsy garden.

(I'll post a little in stories on Instagram too, before I post my photos this weekend)

Hope you'll fly in on your fairy wings!

 

 

 

Of October Dreams and Halloween Sparkles

I've been having so much fun this October...

Sparkling things up (truth be told, I began in September) and enjoying the twinkle lights.

I made tulle pom-poms that are pretending to be ectoplasm on the tree.

Then I hung a few stars and antique mercury glass clowns, which seemed appropriate for the festivities.

And then my mannequin, who has a personality of her own...

Decided to wear all the jewels, and then wanted a giant pink tulle bow on her pointy hat.

She tossed in a garland of glittering stars for good measure.

Butterflies and ribbons always do the trick on the old dress I made her several years ago.

(out of antique dictionary pages)

She's so fancy, err fanciful, isn't she?

And so, we sparkled everything up the best that we could, and blew some balloons for pumpkin holiday, you see...

So many pumpkins are having a birthday this month, I can hardly keep up.

All freshly born in the garden.

And so, we must celebrate!

Because for us it's a celebration of magic, and magicalness galore, indeed!

I think Miss Witch is happy with her attire, or at least I hope she is.

I don't want her pulling my toes at night again, tee hee.

Eeeek!

Ghosts and goblins gather on pink buffet.

And Jack-o-Lanterns bob around, as if to say...

Meet us through the October looking glass, if you dare.

And, we absolutely do, don't we?

So, we put on our lucky moon amulet...

And venture through, where witches are busy...

Writing cards to friends like you.

(all cards in my Etsy shop here)

Which ones shall we choose?

As we make our way through the magical Halloween mirror...

A reflection of the enchantment we seek.

At least, I do, how about you?

And so, here is where we shall gather, as the sun begins to fade...

Put on your fancy hat and join the twirling witch brigade!

Because things get extra sparkly as the sun goes down -

Captured stars twinkle all around...

Illuminating her paper gown.

We sip tea as caramel bubbles in the cauldron for dipping apples...

And write our notes, most sincere.

Hoping that you have jumped in through the old secret mirror...

And are peeking around the corner, whispering, we are here!

To join in sipping pumpkin spice tea and having candy corn macarons.

Oh what fun we will have, chattering all night long.

Dancing under the moon and singing our favorite songs.

Now, tap your nose 3 times, and hopefully with that you will be here.

I mean, if you believe in magic that is.

Because, as we know, believing is the first step...

Cackle cackle!

I hope you have enjoyed my little tale my friends!

Mid October is here, must gather all the joys of this month as best as we can.

Twinkling fairy lights and pointy shoes abound!!!

I shall be back very soon.

I have endless tales to share, alas, I've been enjoying my month a bit too much it seems.

But I promise to pop in quickly as quick can be!

Lots of love from my witches cottage to youuuuu!

 

Magic, sparkles and wishes foreverrrr,

Love, Vanessa

 

 

 

 

 

Christmas Snippets

Christmas magic still fills the air...

As it is only the 5th day in the 12 days of Christmas.

I always feel that, the certain kind of cozy twinkle light ambience that surrounds us on the days right after Christmas truly has to do with the fact that a baby was cozily sleeping in the manger, only a few days old.

I've deeply embraced the importance of the 12 days of Christmas.

Of really appreciating the true meaning of Christmas.

Not just decorating trees in October and taking them down on the 26th.

But really respecting the true meaning of why we do it at all.

Which I suppose you can do with our without your tree up :-)

But that's just me, no judgment.

I respect what everyone wants to do, but for me, it's just become incredibly important to respect the true meaning.

I put my antique manger up on the 25th and I will share some photos in a couple days.

This is my little bunnies and spools tree below.

I intended to be here sooner, but with the passing of Miley things just changed.

Your heart needs time <3

I tucked snippets of Christmas into a bunch of little nooks and crannies of my house.

No real theme really, just things I love.

Carousels, whimsical creatures, candied fruit, stars, sparkles, candles <3

Enjoying festive plates and fancy cutlery is always fun during the holidays.

My sister made me the most darling sugar village last year.

Some pieces started to come apart 11 months later, they almost made it.

But others are still standing so I tucked them in here and there.

The weather is extremely wintery as I am typing this post.

Perfect for keeping the magic of the season alive.

I tucked some little treasures in my built in bookcase shelves.

Santas too, I just love collecting Santas, do you?

I'm a true lover of dolls and little knick knacks and things.

When my sister comes over she looks in my little tin boxes, and always comments at the menagerie of little things I tuck in here and there.

I'm so glad I turned my fancy glass cabinet into a Christmas cabinet, because things will just go back in there, so I don't have to be sad to put them away.

I just peek in and enjoy them year round.

But for now, it is still Christmas at my house.

And Santa can now put his feet up and enjoy his hot chocolate.

I think Santa likes to celebrate the 12 days of Christmas too, since he's ever so busy during the holidays :-)

I'm listening to Davie Bowie sing As the World Falls Down from the movie Labyrinth right now -

It makes me want to put on my slippers and robe and just sit in front of my dollhouse and move things around.

I truly think adulthood is when you get to live out your best childhood adventures.

You don't have to ask anyone if you can buy a china doll, and you can be as messy as you want creating and crafting.

You get to do whatever you want!

How fun is that?

I am really enjoying today, the twinkle lights are on and I am in no rush for anything.

I want to savor each morsel of my days, they go by fast enough.

(although I have been enjoying doing a lot of dusting and organizing)

I hope you are cozy in your neck of the woods and that you are having a lovely holiday season.

I think I have fixed my computer woes, and if I'm lucky it just was an over zealous virus protector.

It has been making my blogging and photo editing life impossible.

I tried so many things, moving files to external hard drives etc., until I just decided to test that.

It was making programs impossible to use.

But I may have handled it, yippeeee, and if that is that case I can now come here more often.

I think these days are a perfect time to cozy up with a book and just forget everything going on outside for a while.

Lots of love my friends!

 

Thank you for your messages in my last post.

It has been a heartbreaking thing, but I'm doing ok.

I almost washed away in an ocean of tears like Alice.

But I'm okay today

<3 <3 <3

 

See you sooooon <3

Stay cozy and warm until next time.

 

 

 

A Little Christmas Magic

The Christmas goose has made a bed of ribbons and sparkles to lay her fancy eggs in.

I had decided that this year I would have a really natural Christmas.

Just greens and garden findings.

But then...

Something came over me and all that went out the window.

I dragged my little old tree out of the wine cellar.

A tree I bought for nothing and flocked myself about 12-15 years ago.

The shape is so traditional, and in my heart I really was feeling a pull toward and old fashioned Christmas.

A little whimsical, a little Victorian.

A lot sparkly.

With carousel horses, and too many ornaments for one tree.

I found Miss Goose several years ago hidden in an antique store.

She was absolutely filthy and the owner told me she had dug her out of the attic of a 97 year old man.

I felt compelled to take her home and clean her up.

So, this year she decided she wanted to be right in the center of Christmas.

I thought she deserved it after being cooped up in an attic for who knows how many long years?

We set out together to fill the tree with a bazillion ornaments, antique tinsel icicles, bead garland and more.

The tree is about 5.5 feet tall and full, really subsantial looking in person.

And, even though she's not that tall, I thought she'd be adorable sitting on an old little table.

I'm so happy to be using my old little Christmas tree.

I topped her with my dupioni silk ribbon that I have dragged around for years for my decor.

The room is twinkling and joyful.

I'm so glad I just let the Christmas spirit take me where it wanted to go.

I feel like a child in an old fashioned shop.

I am still working on other areas that I will make sure to share.

I must take some better photos of Miss Goose's ribbon nest and sparkly eggs.

I've been upcycling a lot of my pieces, which I love doing so much.

The little trees on my mantel were in red glitter bases and I mixed pinks and golds and simply reglittered them.

I used different shades of pink candles, soft and bright which I thought was fun.

And I made a tree skirt from fabrics I had.

I'm just using all sorts of things that I already had on hand.

Digging through my studio for this and that.

My favorite lace ribbon I keep hidden in my sewing nook at the country house is on the carousel horse.

And, I did cut evergreens to put around his neck, so I did use them in the end :-)

I'm not sure if I will add anything to the corner trees on the mantel.

For now I'm just enjoying everything as such.

It's a little bit of a Christmas wonderland to me.

I hope you enjoyed peeking in.

My computer needs to be replaced as it is very difficult to even write a blog post these days with it.

Perfect in time for Santa.

But I really want to share tid-bits through the season.

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

Are you pulling out all your oldies but goodies for your holiday decor?

Vintage tinsel is one of my favorite things ever.

I promise to be back soon with even more pics.

But for now gingerbread is calling my name.

 

See you soon.

Lots of love!

 

Vanessa

 

 

 

Christmas Cabinet of Curiosities

It's time to crack open the Christmas cabinet...

Or maybe I already have :-)

My poor colorful glass collection has slowly become overrun by holiday baubles.

I love seeing them here throughout the year.

So, now I get to shop in my own cabinet of curiosities...

Picking out this and that for my lil' tree.

It's gotten quite chilly which adds to the Christmas vibe for certain.

So, I invite all my little creatures and friends to jump out of the glass...

And into the season!

I did plan to go simple this year, honestly.

(insert impish grin)

I thought, I'll just take some greens from the garden and some dried flowers and berries.

(ya right, I know that's what you're saying right now)

But then I'm not sure what happened.

And now, it's bauble crazy over here.

Although, I do love how the Christmas spirit just overtakes a person and before you know it -

Whamo, there are elves hanging from the chandeliers and an every 5 minute star confetti machine going full blast.

POOF!

All over your house.

Carol of the Bells is on repeat, oranges have baked on low for hours.

Hot chocolate is bubbling, the dogs are snoring, the fireplace is warming.

I've already watched about 10,000 bake off challenges in the background and picked up some tips along the way.

Mini mince meat pies are a go, and all the custard pies and Thanksgiving fixings have disappeared as though it never happened.

Can someone please hold me back from buying a lifetime supply box of Christmas cookie cutters from Ebay?

Oh wait, toooooo late.

Too late friends, just too plum late.

But wait, did someone say plum?

Plum pudding perhaps?

:-)

I have vintage gold tinsel garland coming out of my ears, so I can't hear you anyways.

But this is precisely how I get myself into these pickles guys and gals.

My mind veers and I come up with brilliant ideas I must do.

Alas, the older mind also forgets these incredible ideas and doesn't recall why 7,000 bags of powdered sugar arrived.

(And then just stare at it from my window while it's in quarantine for days ;)

Just kidding, don't panic, I did not order 7,000 bags of powdered sugar.

(he he)

But it feels like it sometimes, haha!

I'm like, what was I going to do with this again?

Luckily then I remember, but some day I won't.

(ok, so maybe sometimes I don't, but then I'm sorta crafty so I invent other uses)

Especially if I'm sampling the nog.

(which I never do in truth, only because it doesn't agree with me, but I would if it did)

I'm kookie from fighting with my computer for 5 hours to get here.

So, without further adieu I say, let's get this bauble party started!

Although, I know you already have.

I'm not sure if you read the paper but -

Some people actually lost their marbles completely and put up their trees before Halloween.

Can you even imagine that?

GASP!

(Btw, the paper means the news printed on big sheets for reading, if some youngsters don't know what "the paper" is)

Done gone and lost their minds I tell ya.

Before Halloween, no joke!

Teeheeeee.

Maybe I did partake in those shenanigans, but maybe I didn't.

Okay, I really didn't.

But I easily could have, it's a slippery slope I tell ya.

The holidays have been extra important this crazy year, so I'm all for whatever the heck everyone wants to do.

As long as it's good, and light-hearted.

And Christmas trees most certainly are.

I mean, what an amazing thing, that is just a norm now.

Hey, I have this bright idea, let's cut down a tree....

Put it in the house!

Then, let's cover it with lights!

And then spend like, nine hundred at seventy three dollars on all sorts of wacky things to hang on it.

YESSSS, the whole world is in!

I mean, how brilliant is that?

That practically the whole world is into something like that.

(or at least half of the world, or 3/4th's of the world)

It's just too good really, in my humble opinion.

Anyways.

That's all I got to say about that.

I'm leaving now....

Byyyyyeeee!

Toodles for now.

See you tomorrow.

No seriously -

See you tomorrow!

Are you shooketh?

:-)    :-)    :-)

xoxoxo

 

 

 

 

ps: I really am making myself laugh with my nonsense, you should know this.

My sister says no one laughs at my jokes like I do.

Ha!

 

 

 

Happiest Halloween Wishes

Pumpkin holiday is officially upon us.

I snapped this pic with my phone during the beautiful sunset.

I try to do all the things I love on Halloween.

Make candy or caramel apples, stroll down the garden paths...

Pick my pumpkins that are ready...

Enjoy my decor, light candles...

Have tea amongst the Halloween pretties...

Visit with my dolls ( I made this witch years ago)...

And then when night falls...

I like to light up the twinkle lights and my big old pumpkins I've had for 20 years or more now.

And simply enjoy the beautiful evening.

It was perfectly warm tonight, comfortable and no chill, perfect for enjoying the blue moon.

I was my same witchy self, my favorite costume every year.

And I found the perfect black and white filter to work its magic on me, cackle cackle.

I am not ready for October to end, but the good thing is that only means that I will still look forward to Octobers to come.

I just wanted to pop in quickly to wish you a Happy Halloween.

How could I not on this lovely night of magic.

 

I'll see you ever so soon.

 

 

Love, Vanessa

 

 

ps: If you love Bryan Ferry, here is a great version of I Put a Spell on You, live.

 

pps: Several people told me they had issues trying to leave comments in the party post below, or simply could not. I'm so sorry about that, I know Typepad previously had some issues with the comment section, I guess it was not resolved in time for our party. But thank you for trying <3 <3 <3

 

 

Let the Halloween Costume Tea Party Begin ♥

It's time for our Halloween evening festivities to begin my friends!

The goblins tried to keep me away but I persevered and here we are!

Golden, pink and orange confetti drifts in the air...

As you step in to your wildest wonderland of Halloween celebrations.

Magic fills the room, here just for you ♥

Choose the most enchanted tea cup you can find.

I heard there is a tea cup that even sings in the softest hauntingly beautiful tune.

Telling fortunes and casting only good spells.

Come into my tea room of mystery and mischief...

Hosted by Mrs. Pumpkin herself, dressed as the queen, emerging straight out of my late night painting sessions.

All you need is 1/4 teaspoon of magic to last you the year, go on now, don't be shy, drink up my dear!

Insects fly in and are instantly turned into gold...

While the invisible witch shows us only her hand, dare you take a teacup offering from where you stand?

There are sweets and confections a plenty, for one and all...

And karaoke with a Pumpkin Queen is quite a ball.

She can sing full opera and set free the most beautiful sounds.

But beware the pink pumpkin of journey's untold.

For one mere lick is certain to send you back 200 years in time, and we still do not know the remedy for your return, oh my!

And if you attempt to sneak away with one of the 24k golden insects, well...

You can tell what happened to the other guests (jack-be-little pumpkins), I'll say no more.

:-)

Everyone wants to be around Mister Pumpkin, as he leans over and whispers the most utterly decadent tales you could ever fathom.

About the time he grew in a pumpkin patch, and watched the witches fly over the moon.

Memories from being just a wee pumpkin babe himself.

And the time he sat at the foot of the bed in Marie Antoinette's bedroom.

Watching her try on striped stockings and pink satin ruffled shoes beyond any imagining whilst preparing for her masquerade ball.

Of course, who would even notice a pumpkin listening you see.

The tales and secrets they have piled up from here to thee.

But get a pumpkin and a China head doll together, and this Charlotte girl will tell you tales that will send shivers up your spine.

The endless attics she's been in and the dolls that come to life at night, before she was finally invited to dine at our yearly Halloween soiree!

Poor dear, I'd say, let her have all the shroom nog she can muster.

Now, allow Mrs. Pumpkin Queen to bestow a good spell on you before the season is over...

That you may carry Halloween in your heart forever more.

That you will never grow up, nor lose that magical spark deep in your heart.

That you shall be able to tap into Halloween any day of the year.

A time of make believe and frolic.

Of twinkling lights and golden leaves.

Take your vial of fairy dust, and hold it near and dear.

In hopes that we will meet up year after year.

And never forget, the creativity within you.

Be true to you no matter the day.

Be strong, be brave, be creative, be imaginative...

Nothing can ever take that away.

It is yours forever my dears, says Mrs. Pumpkin Queen.

For Halloween can only exist with the power of your greatest imaginings!

As daylight falls, the party kicks up into extra spooktacular gear.

We dance and twirl and toss sparkles into the air from ear to ear.

Listening to the giggles of melting candles (they do that you know), and savoring the flavor of caramel apples.

The song of your heart.

The Halloween joy, the memories, the air, the scent, the magic, the mystery!

May it live within you every day of the year my friends.

A love for creativity and imagination is what keeps the Halloween inspiration alive in us Halloween lovers.

Now dance under the blue moon this coming week.

Set all your wishes free into the night sky, and know that your kindred spirits see them take flight.

And above all, believe, never loose that, not ever.

Wrap it in rosemary and rose petals and hide it deep in your heart.

You are lovely and wonderful, my fellow Halloweenie.

Cheers and clink clink to candy corn sappiness which is me.

Thank you for being a part of this year's tea parteeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

(insert mad cackle of joy)

Mrs. Pumpkin Queen thanks you and hopes that you make wishes regularly ♥

 

My kindred friends, this party is for you.

May it add just a little light and love to your days and last week of October!

 

Love from the bottom of my heart,

 

Vanessa

 

♥

 

 

 

ps: I am here I am here, the technology goblins crashed my computer all night and morning, but I am here!

Sorry for the delay, but let's dance the night and week away!!!

 

 

 

A Costume Tea Party, of the Halloween Variety

I would like to personally invite you on an adventure with me...

Up the attic stairs and into a wonderland of costumes.

Finding just the right ruffles and lace gloves to prepare for a Hallowen fete.

A tea party if you will, of the costumed variety.

Witches, warlocks, fairies, cats, dragonflies...

What ever your mystery may be, join together to clink tea cups with me, won't you?

On Saturday the 24th of October I will be sharing my festivities with you.

(details at the end of this post)

All you have to do is say yes, and be here when the clock strikes midnight taking us into the 24th of October.

I am knee deep in the magical old trunk, searching for the perfect frock.

Sparkles, and lace and hats and old brooches, oh my!

A tiara, and mask, ribboned dancing shoes...

Hugest pearls, sparkly heels and a mask do delight!

What is your mystery costume of choice?

A billowing dress to twirl in under the moonlight?

Bangles up to your elbows?

A tutu, a jack-o-lantern a wand and a dream.

What more could you need really?

Oh I know, a tea cup with your favorite mystical punch.

I mean tea :-)

But wait...

The hour is closing near...

The light is changing, golden hour signifies the sun setting and the perfect hour for...

Magic and mischief of epic proportions.

Grab your top hat and join me, won't thee?

For what is life without a little celebration of sparkle and wonderland madness for October?

Oh that enchanting light...

Signifying evening time, when all the fairies take flight.

And so, yes it is true, a Halloween party for you will be happening this Saturday.

A virtual tea party of course, hosted right here on my blog.

If you have participated in past years then you know the hauntingly magical steps to take.

To view the Halloween tea party simply show up here on the 24th and I will share my own tea party through photos and videos.

It is open to everyone.

If you would like to have your own blog tea party at the same time (which you would share on your blog & link back to me), simply post a link to your party in the comment section of my party blog post on Saturday and I will add your link within the body of my post.

Then the party will be there to enjoy until the 31st (well forever really).

That's all.

Either be a guest who wanders through clinking tea cups virtually or host your own blog party and post your link on Saturday and let your friends know by linking to me.

Easy as pumpkin pie with cardamom icing.

I'd love to know if you plan to join in.

I simply can not wait my dear fanciful friendlings <3 <3 <3

 

I know it's quite short notice, but the month just blew by so quickly.

And sometimes, the best things are done at the spur of the moment <3

 

See you on Saturday, with a Halloween extravaganza <3 <3 <3

We will party all Saturday evening and beyond.

 

Lots of love,

 

Vanessa

 

ps: later this week I will post the most outrageous giveaway on my Instagram account, be sure to check in <3

 

 

Candy Colored Pumpkin Painting

The best way to soak up this magic of October is to craft and create.

Paint at night, craft in the day...

And so that's just what I did.

I normally paint real pumpkins, and whilst there are still Jack-be-littles growing in the garden...

I decided a great way to save myself time every year is to just paint fake ones.

This came to me when I was cleaning up my studio closet and found bags of ugly plastic pumpkins I had found online a couple years ago.

(I am certain a google search would find you some too if you fancy)

And so, I decided painting them was just the thing to do this year.

I picked my favorite colors of acrylic paint and ...

Carved out a little spot with my Halloween friends.

I positioned myself right in front of my holiday cabinet.

It used to be only for my colorful Fenton glassware.

But then I started putting some of my most fragile Christmas pieces inside too.

And, before you knew it, it was a super full Christmas cabinet, which is a wonderful way to enjoy your treasures year round.

This little tree gets decorated for every holiday.

Up until yesterday it was still in Christmas-Valentine's-Easter-Springsummerware.

Add a few bats and black butterflies and voila, it's a Halloween tree too.

Who knew that could happen so easily?

:-)

Here are the less than lovely plastic pumpkins before paint...

Amazing how a little paint can go such a long way.

Pink and orange is one of my favorite color combos ever.

And so, we listened to the last episodes of The Haunting of Bly Manor...

And painted our hearts out.

Well technically, I did all the painting.

It was so much fun and just the sort of project I needed to slow me down.

I often have so many things going on at once that I don't take the time to really just be still.

And being still doing a crafty project is not only a great practice in mindfulness, but it slows time down a little.

Lets you be present and enjoy the magic of the season.

All you need to paint your own pumpkins is any acrylic craft paint of your choice.

I choose matte paint because it instantly takes away the fake plastic look.

I have lots of fun to share the next couple weeks.

I will be sharing a Halloween party post too.

If you would like to join in I'll share more on that tomorrow.

My autumn and winter vegetables are growing so lovely and it is still warm here.

This is likely what contributes to the month feeling so short.

Because it really still is summer here.

But soon, a big shift will happen from one day to the next.

I do know that November 1st is one of the most floriferous days as far back as I can remember.

This morning I picked the most gorgeous roses, what a treat.

And not a trick either ;-)

 

Well, I am off to put the last of the finishing touches on my Halloween table.

I shall return in no time at all, it will be so quick you will be utterly amazed I tell ya.

 

Have a lovely day my friends!

 

Love, 

 

Vanessa

 

 

 

 

 

Love is in the Air...

Everywhere I look arounnnnnd!

Pink and red and sparkles, my favorite :-)

Little bits and bobs of amour turning up here and there.

Doodling into the wee hours of the night.

Pen doodling is crazy because it's not like you can erase, you just have to go with the flow.

A great exercise!

So now I'm...

Hanging sparkle hearts from branches.

Truth be told, I did this the day I took down my Christmas décor around January the 9th or so.

(hee hee)

Pinnnng, gotcha!

Watch out for cupid, he's trouble I tell ya.

We're happy around here.

Miles is feeling so much better, sweet guy, and the weather has been delicious - with a rain day thrown in for good measure.

So of course, we are extra happy on this lovely Valentine week <3

I feel like there are so so many things I want to show and tell you.

But then I also am relishing in just living in the moment.

Copious amounts of cheesy hearts included in that.

And teensy Valentines too.

I love February, our spring is just around the corner and it feels like such a refueling month.

I turned one of my skinny tinsel trees into a Valentine's Day tree, below...

I feel like I should just leave this one up and change it with the seasons.

Lovebirds tree <3

Oh oh, I also almost forgot to show you something uber magical!

Can you spot it up in the air?

Yep, that's a winged unicorn hanging out in my house :-)

He's 7 feet tall, and I saw him being taken down from a Christmas display a couple days after Christmas.

I had to buy him on the spot.

Pegasus is proud with twinkly lights and just tickles my heart!

The lights just sparkle off and on in the perfect twinkle.

Somehow I got him up there myself too.

Yikes!!

Anywho, love is all around.

Getting ready to make my linzers for about the 24th year in a row.

And digging up some love appropriate treasures here and there.

All in good fun <3

Meanwhile this guy, or gal, holds court above my cabinet, teeheeeee!

I love Valentine's day.

I know a lot of people do not like it, but I have said this before - 

I always make it a me day.

And I love hearts and pinks and ruffly doilies, so I think it can very easily be converted into a me day.

I know I'm lucky to have a whole bunch of people I love.

Especially my Matty and Miles <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

But I don't rely on anyone for my personal joy.

I make the magic happen myself and am tickled silly as I do it.

When I was buying that unicorn the sales man said, wow, your little girl is going to love this, is she here with you?

I said, she's gonna LOVE it, and you are looking at her, I'm my own little girl :-)

He had quite the belly chuckle and then said, you know I do that sort of thing myself.

I got so many looks wheeling it out of the store and to my car.

Do whatever the heck you want for yourself my friends.

Don't wait for someone to do it for you, grab that joy and run with it.

Right now my best joy is doodling at night whilst watching (listening to) mystery tales on t.v.

I'm obsessed, especially when Miles is laying on my toes.

The best!!!

Soooo, with that I say, Happy Valentine's Week!

Lots of love from me to you!

xoxoxoxox

 

ps:

Don't forget the well of free printable Valentine's I've made you over the years, woo hooo ;-)

Click here for a round up of them all <3

 

pps:

Miles is doing so much better my friends. It's like a miracle.

We are overjoyed and thankful for these gifted days <3 <3 <3

I post oodles of videos of him & Matty, and random life snippets, in my daily stories on Instagram.

 

A Little Christmas Magic (Part 2)

Baubles and twinkle lights and Christmas carols, oh my!

The time is racing by so quickly I don't even know what's happening.

And with all life's twists and turns, I sort of jumped off the carousel for a minute just to simmer in the moment with my furs and those I love.

Miles is feeling better with some medicine and I am just relishing all the moments with him and Matty.

I've done oodles of holiday decorating.

It's done my heart so good to just keep adding baubles everywhere I turn.

I've listened to endless hours of Christmas music, bought oodles of gifts.

Mostly online, truth be told.

And I got out a huge box with lots of treats shipped off to family in Ireland.

I'm so happy when I accomplish tasks that I know are important.

I felt like I was really racing through time, then when the news about Miles came in, I just stopped.

He's blissfully cozy and doing so well the last few days <3

It all of a sudden became really easy for me to decide what were the most important things on my list.

I slowed down to a complete stop.

I sat in front of the fire, I roamed my gardens.

And most importantly, I have been totally present in my time with the boys.

I have enjoyed all the holiday twinkle beyond measure.

And I don't intend to take it down for a good while.

Especially while it's still cold and fireplace season.

I'm getting ready to bake some mini tarts and cookies.

Tomorrow Christmas celebrations shall begin around here.

A little flurry of activity will hit, so I decided I should take the day to edit these photos and share them with you.

I have put up several smaller trees as my big tree bit the dust.

And to be honest, I am quite enjoying it.

This nutcracker below is one of my most treasured ornaments for some reason.

From where I sit in the living room this is my view every evening.

Baubles, candles, fire, twinkle lights - just bliss.

Such beautiful moments.

I love how the world becomes so festive, it just swells my heart.

Christmas magic all around.

I had such a hard time choosing photos, I promise these are not repeats, but just different angles.

How can one choose one bauble photo from another I ask?

:-)

The boys have been enjoying the fire too.

All cuddled up, yawn yawn.

I cherish every single minute with them.

I got this little tinsel tree at an antique market years ago, I wish I had bought the pair, what was I thinking?

I gave it so many of my antique mercury ornaments to wear this year.

And I hung big glass ornaments everywhere, even from the chandeliers.

I was really into using a lot of white this year...

White wreaths, little trees, garlands...

They really added brightness to my holiday vibe.

Mister Goose insists on wearing the longest ribbon everrrrr ;-)

Oh oh, and look at this little gnome village my sister made me for my birthday!

Isn't it beyond adorable?

It sits on my dining table, I just love it.

Now I will go through all my linens for table setting.

I hand painted all these branches in the urn with chalk paint.

I tried to spray paint them but they just absorbed the paint completely.

The chalk paint really did the trick.

I also did the funnest little project you can see below...

So, those little shelves in the background were actually covered by black mesh speaker covers and the shelves were black inside.

Since I don't have speakers in there and do not intend to, I painted the super ugly shelves in about 20 coats of white chalk paint.

And VOILA!

I now have little book shelves on either side of my television cabinet.

Who even knew I had shelves there?

I'm tickled about that.

Here's my little shadow looking extra shy <3

I have had these antique statues of Mary and Joseph for over 20 years.

I was so delighted to put them out this year.

Actually, I put out almost everything I had save for a couple bins.

I love this because...

Now I can get all news bins and put things away more organized and safe than they were before.

That way next year it'll all be ready to go.

But for now I savor each last sprinkle of magic dust.

And it will stay a good while after Christmas.

I am in love with this beautiful time.

The moments and memories.

Extra dear and special to me.

Living in the moment and being utterly present.

I can't wait to smell gingerbread baking tonight.

To celebrate with those I love.

The twinkle lights create such sugar plum dreams.

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

I wish you light and love and good thoughts always!

Magic, wishes and stars forever!

 

 Love, Vanessa

xoxo

 

 

 

A Little Christmas Magic (Part 1)

Hello there.

I decided to pop in with some photos from my home before I lose myself in the season and life happenings.

This is one side of my décor (part 1) and I'll share the other side in a few days.

I love seeing other's holiday magic, don't you?

Especially when I'm on a walk and folks have their trees twinkling in the window.

Just love that.

It's like everyone creates their own little slice of wonderland.

Below are some snippets of my christmas this year.

I had a hard time choosing photos so there might be too many :-)

I decided to create my own winter wonderland.

The lighter I kept things, the more magical it felt to me - 

Pinks, golds, creams and whites did just the trick.

(I accidentally took these pics before I put the big pink ribbon topper on my little tree in the background)

There are also pops of red plaid and colorful ornaments here and there.

I used all my favorite figurines and winter pieces I've collected over the years.

I slip covered each dining chair and added little grapevine and green wreaths.

I tied them with an antique ribbon I had been saving for years.

I left some pretty simplicity in some areas, which really spoke to my romantic heart.

Especially since some areas are overstuffed with things, such as this menagerie of antique mirrors.

Oh and, lots and lots of candles.

I like mixing up all colors and styles of candlesticks and candelabras.

Silver, gold, porcelain, all.

Swan figurines have always been a part of my collections and work beautifully with Christmas décor.

The mirror in the backdrop use to be copper and is actually built into the wall.

I decided to paint it distressed white and add wooden filigree around it.

I also added some antique brass candle sconces which illuminate it perfectly.

I'm a fan of pink and red plaid, so I decided to create a really cozy seating area at the head of the table using those colors.

I took away one of the captain chairs and replaced it with this lil' settee.

Whoever gets to sit there will be extra cozy.

Warm super soft blankets and pillows to squish into really hit the spot.

As I was decorating my buffet I decided to fill it with the things that I love.

Extra ornaments on tiered trays, bottle brush trees and all the tinsel and ribbon spools I had left over.

I think they are such pretty little props and fillers.

For some reason my pics don't look as sharp when I load them onto my blog, but if you click on them you can see a sharper version of the image.

I really love the pink, white and gold with pops of fresh green peeking out.

The magic of Christmas is just so beautiful.

I love how everyone jumps in and gets into the spirit of things.

Just enjoying the twinkly lights as the sun goes down fills my heart.

I stacked all my favorite gold mirrors in here and lined my buffet with sheet music.

This music is actually really special because it is composer sheet music, hand done, just amazing!

Each note written in by hand.

On the right side of my dining area I decided to put up my tall skinny tinsel tree.

It just has fluffy feather poofs on it in pinks and whites, with a black and white striped ribbon to top it off.

Next to this little tree is another little credenza filled a few of my very most favorite things.

Tea cups and pretty frilly plates.

I hung baubles from all of the candelbaras.

I wish I could leave them up all year.

I mean of course I could, but that would take the fun out of putting them up next year.

Christmas baubles just elevate everything and make it all better.

My little thrift store Santa I've had a few years is my favorite.

I feel like my mom had him in the 80's, he's so familiar to me.

I picked him up for a song, thrift stores always have great Christmas finds outside of the season.

I just pick things up and store them, then I'm always excited to refind them when the holidays roll around.

I had never purchased white ornaments, but I brought home a few and I love them to pieces.

Perfect for a winter wonderland feel.

Swan is wearing my bauble wreath proudly I think :-)

I bet all of us love the twinkle magic that emerges in the evening?

When things get extra golden and fairy lights twinkle like no other.

I just love to sit still, music playing, fireplace on, sinking into the beauty of the season completely.

Little porcelain ladies dancing in the light with feathers and baubles.

The beauty of still moments, sun going down...

Your own kind of golden hour...

With Santa, in the warmth of the holiday season.

What a beautiful time of year.

Fills my heart with joy.

(I'll share a bunch more in a few days)

I've learned over the years to find my own kind of magic within.

To take part in the things that personally bring me joy, like my very own traditions.

Cutting snowflakes, tossing baubles about, lighting my candles.

Drawing in front of the fire, peppermint, tea, gingerbread, cinnamon.

Things that are yours no matter what is going on in the world around you.

I'm learning that holidays can bring all sorts of feelings and memories.

But I'm on a mission to celebrate the lives of those I love, including my own.

That means taking a moment to embrace the good in everything, even hard things.

Celebrate the good, I guess that is one element of what Christmas means to me.

Gratitude and goodness.

 

Thank you for peeking in, I'll be back in a few days with part 2.

 

Love, Vanessa

 

See ya soon <3 <3 <3

 

 

ps: I have a lot of little clay pieces and paintings I wanted to have ready by now, alas life has kept me busy in unexpected ways. I hope I can still bring them in time. If not they might be New Year creatures <3

 

 

Swirling Holidays & Inspirations

The holidays are swirling all about.

Boxwood begs me to take a few cuttings so it can hang out with pumpkins.

Somehow November and December vibes are intertwining everywhere you turn.

And if you happen to go out shopping you might just get bitten by the holiday bug - it happened to me.

I ended up going home with two plaid pillows and a throw, oops!

I've slowly been taking out a few baubles to see what direction my décor wants to take this year.

I like to set a few things out that inspire me and see where that leads.

It's a mixture of Thanksgiving and Christmas, which is odd for me because I usually do not decorate for Christmas until December 1st.

It seems every year things get sooner and sooner - I mean Halloween seems to happen in August now, haha!

But I am enjoying getting infused by the holiday spirit here and there.

Plus, the time goes by at the speed of light, so I can see why people like to start early.

I like to just forage for bits and pieces I have - kind of the same way one would crack open spices whilst preparing an impromptu meal.

Just gather a whole bunch of odds and ends that I'm in the mood for and toss them on the table.

It's super fun to make a little heap of pretty mess.

Sort of like an inspiration pile.

I love the droopy evergreens from my trees.

I actually let them overgrow all summer, with the sole purpose of trimming off what I need during the holiday season.

Gold paper leaves and stars always hit the spot.

I have a cabinet filled with some of my favorite vintage baubles.

I love when the insides wear a bit, it just creates such a beautiful dimension.

I'm loving my white walls.

I had two venetian plaster walls (in a buttercream color) in my house and one day I woke up and was done.

I normally always love white walls but it was hard for me to part with the yellow, they were done so beautifully.

Alas, one day I just decided it was time and I have not missed them at all, poor walls.

My whole house was white except for those two accent walls - 

Oh and I painted the mahogany wood mirror gold and then gold leafed it and heavily distressed it.

You can't really tell how distressed it is from here, but there are closeups in my Instagram feed.

Nothing like doing big projects during the holidays.

Why does that always happen?

My parents are doing a major garage clean up starting today, and I'm like, why now?

It's funny how we tend to do that.

The busier we are the more we pile on.

I'm either beyond relaxing or doing 500 things at once.

I have almost zero middle ground, how about you?

So, I still have some pumpkins bobbing around.

I'll likely roast them for Thanksgiving pie baking at the country house.

I can't wait!

I love those holiday baking days the most.

Some music, warm oven, baking up pretty things.

Cold days and baking are just too super cozy aren't they?

It's still a little warm here so I'll enjoy it because one day, out of the blue, it'll just freeze at night and all my gardens will go to sleep.

I have lots of projects going on at both houses.

Building an adorable little back door for my tiny gallery that I used to do shows in.

It turned into an office for a handful of years (too many) and now I have it back.

I'm having so much fun playing my pump organ that's in there.

It'll be my little shop for my online art business.

The peach trees are turning orange leafed and the pecans are ready for picking.

There are dahlias and zinnias in all my gardens and a huge wave of butterflies have arrived, just as they always do in November.

I think they are just passing by on their way to Mexico somewhere for the warm winter?

The bees have been very pleased with me for months, with clusters of them gathering on zinnia, mint and basil blossoms.

I will make sure to keep them happy year after year.

I had not seen this many bees in ages, so delighted!

Well, I'm going to paint a big cabinet and might begin tonight, so excited.

Hope you're doing peachy out in your neck of the woods!

Fill me in if you'd like.

I'm answering comments in the comments section, I just wish there was a way for you to get a notification.

I'm also saving any comments from going to spam, so rest assured I'll find your comment and post it if it doesn't show up.

One thing I am really missing is that bar at the end of my posts featuring other posts you might like from within my blog.

The service is gone, and I can not seem to find anything comparable.

So many folks told me they enjoyed that, I am still searching for another option.

Miles had a bath and is so silky snuggle soft, he always wants my attention when I'm typing so off I go my friends!

I'll be back soooooon!

 

Love, 

 

Vanessa

 

 

The Eve of Halloween...

Somehow the day is upon us so quickly.

Black butterfly shadows flutter to and fro.

And fairies decide to join us for the festivities.

They bring swarms of beautiful friends to dance amongst the fairy light.

Pumpkins get stacked, whilst -

The butterfly queen dusts her frock.

The most magical time is here, with wind and cold weather, brrrr.

A fairy tale Halloween is exactly what hits the spot for this year's season.

Twinkles and stars and believing indeed.

Time to get out the teacups and tea pots for witches pumpkin spice brew!

Caramel apples and nougat delight!

I truly can not believe it is here.

The time goes at normal speed and then switches to fast forward for the month of October.

At least, that's what the goose always says.

For now we are in our sparkliest costumes and pointiest shoes.

Vite Vite, there is no time to snooze!

The pumpkin king will make his grand entrance at midnight it's true.

And he'll only reveal himself to believers such as you.

So pull on your wings and black tights for the night.

Make sure your fairy dust vile is tied on tight.

Hop on a broomstick and wish on a moonbeam.

Everything magical is here for those of us who continue to dream!

 

Happiest Hallooooooooweeeen Eve my friends!!

Cackle cackle!

Love, V

 

 

 

 

Of Fairy Tale Magic...

The garden, filled with autumn flowers.

Sparkling at golden hour...

With tales of fairy tale magic so vivid I am inspired to follow.

To fill my home with some of it for the season, in a way that will last and easily morph into others.

Pink and orange dances together...

With twinkling fairy lights to illuminate the way.

Butterflies continue to appear throughout...

With saffron wings on leaves and all shades of dried peonies of spring.

Butterflies land right on the Fairy Queen herself.

She's come to stay a while and is enjoying wearing a paper dress of antique dictionary pages I made a few years ago.

And so it seems, this Halloween will be left up to said Fairy Queen and all of her curiosities.

What sort of tales she shall tell us this autumn season, I can not wait to hear.

I woke up the other day with a longing for a fairy tale feel this year.

I was being beckoned by talking geese and butterfly wing whispers.

It all evolved in an instant and there it was.

To fill my surroundings with inspiration is what I love to do.

No rhyme or reason, just a need I have always had.

It brings such joy and light into my life - to simply ask what I feel like I need right now.

This year it's all butterflies it seems.

The answer is always quite clear if you open yourself to it.

And all that matters is that it brings you joy.

(That's the most important part)

Follow your heart and listen carefully, it will always tell you what you need.

Often we choose not to listen, but when we do...

<3 <3 <3

 

October is racing by, take time to enjoy the season.

That's my motto.

What sort of fun are you up to?

 

I'll be back super soon with another holidayified area in my home <3

 

Love, V

 

 

 

 

Welcome October Magic

Hello fellow October lovers <3

The bug has bitten me, Halloween is trickling out of the box...

And onto my mantel.

I'm not entirely sure that this is my final look, but it's what is happening right now.

I have a few other areas that are getting spookified as well.

But right now I'm all about my favorites, butterflies.

In fact, recently I was thinking about raising butterflies and just letting them fly freely all over my house.

My sister seemed to think this was impractical on my part, what do you think?

For now we have paper butterflies.

Of course Mister Pumpkin Head insisted on having his photos taken.

Cheeeeeeeese! (snap)

I antiqued this dandy table recently so I thought it would be perfect for taking tea in front of the fire as needed (seeing as how it's so cold and all, teeheeee)

I went digging in closets looking for my favorite pillows for the occasion.

The thrift store had some great scary story books to add to what I already had.

I have had the Edgar Allen Poe book since I was around 13 years old.

I truly can not believe we are on the 7th day of October already.

It spins so fast it's mind blowing.

I'm having a delightful time enjoying my décor thus far.

How about you, have you started too?

The magic really begins when the sun starts to go down.

All the candles and fairy lights glow and the fireplace adds just the perfect kind of orange hue.

Nothing like the sun going down hour -

To really set the mood of autumn enchantment.

I just cherish this beautiful time of year so much.

The shift between summer and autumn is like a back and forth dance until the cool sticks.

Warm days and cool nights are happening.

You can taste autumn in the air in the early morning hours.

My roses are all starting to bloom again, they think it is spring.

Then one day in a few weeks I will awaken to a light frost on zinnia petals - 

freezing everyone in time.

I've been feeling a swirl of nostalgia the last couple evening out under the stars.

Not a bad feeling but a beautiful feeling.

The cool air brings memories of times gone by.

As you get older the memory bank becomes vast - 

You think about all the people you love, the memories.

The times that seemed not so long ago now seem ever so long ago.

Then I am reminded that now is the time to make more memories.

And so I do.

I think of things I want to do still and next.

I sit with my bestest Hatter and we discuss some extra fun things to continue over at the country house.

Then, we go up into the mountains with a tow truck man and pull out something I've been dreaming about for 15 years.

Just like that, we start this new project over at the country house.

I can not wait to show you next time.

And so, we always have today to make more memories and keep enjoying.

That's just the inspiration I need to keep gluing butterflies to my house, haha!

Thinking up fun things to make your soul happy.

That's what life is all about.

Isn't it?

 

Happy October, here we goooooo!!!

 

Lots of magical wishes my friends!!!

 

See you super soon, 

 

Love, Vanessa

 

 

<3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

 

 

ps: This is my new go to soundtrack for this Halloween season

 

 

 

Easter Fancies for You {Tutorials & Freebies}

Easter is rapidly approaching isn't it?

Perfect time to select some fanciful Easter freebies and tutorials to share.

Revisiting some faves can be so much fun.

These pressed sugar pretties are made using the same technique for panoramic sugar eggs.

Click here for my panoramic sugar egg tutorial. 

The tutorial will show you how to press sugar as seen here, as well as make panoramic eggs.

You can then use that basic skill to add food coloring to your sugar and press sugar into any sort of mold or tin or tea cup you'd like in order to come up with fun shapes.

Just click on the link above for an easy how to.

It's addicting and oh so fun I tell ya.

Okay so, next let's plunge into some free printable freebies.

Let's begin with these cutie egg wrappers.

They are free and printable, simply Click Here for Printable PDF .

I drew these little cutie heads and love sharing them with you.

Humphrey is a hoot isn't he?

:-)

Simply print, cut & use.

You can use standard printer paper or card stock.

Next we have doodle eggs filled with confetti and sparkles.

Click here, for tips and the tutorial to make some of your own doodle eggs.

What about some more cutie egg head wrappers you ask?

These are a singing trio!

Simply CLICK HERE for your free printable pdf.

Give the pdf several seconds to open.

Easy right?

I just used everyday printer paper for mine.

But you can use anything you want, such as card stock.

Then just cut them out and stick the bands together on the back with tape.

Easy as pie!

And what a cute treat for egg recipients, don'tcha think?

You can also use them to wrap around plastic eggs.

Or doll them up even extra with paper and glitter as you see below.

These are elfin Easter egg wrappers.

Click here to access the elfin style below.

 Where I come from you will always see cascarones on Easter.

What are cascarones you ask?

Basically hollowed out and washed/dried egg shells, that you fill with glitter and paper confetti.

That are then decorated.

Traditionally broken on people's heads for fun in Mexico, during Easter.

Here's a style I like to make.

If you would like to make a cone cascaron, which I grew up with, and sparkle it up all pretty, click here for ideas and tips.

 And last but not least, we can not forget panoramic sugar eggs.

The tutorial to make these can be found right here.

They are incredibly fulfilling to make.

Mine have kept perfectly for years now.

The peeking inside is really magical.

I highly recommend giving them a whirl.

Like I said at the beginning -

You can use the panoramic egg technique for pressing sugar to make all different types of shapes.

The sky is the limit!

Fun fun!!

Now hopefully the Easter bunny will stay up long enough to make his rounds.

But I seriously doubt it.

:-)

Hope you enjoyed the freebies and tuts.

I sure love sharing with you & hope even one person gets a use out of these treats.

That would make me extra happy.

Time to start feverishly crafting my friends.

And ~

Happiest Easter Wishes to you and yours <3 <3 <3

Loooove, V

 

 

 

 

Happy Happy Love Yourself Day!

Hi there!!!

Guess what, I'm throwing you a party today!

The message is self love.

The vibe is all things sweet.

The feeling is, be good to yourself.

I loooove Valentine's day.

I adore it, it knocks my socks off.

But only because over 20 years ago I decided that Valentine's day is a me day.

I love hearts and swirls of pinks and red.

The guy at the candy store asked me if I was having a party, I said, why yes I am!

Little did he know, tee heeee!

Me me me meeeeeee!

That also means a party for you you you youuuu!

(you should have seen the sweet tooth hatter's face when I told him he could have all the candy, childhood dreams come true right there, haha!)

I love setting my parties up and photographing them, it is such a fun creative outlet.

A perfect fun thing for me to do on Valentine's day.

That's the one thing I've always loved about our yearly tea parties, it's that setting them up and taking pictures of them really immerses you in the moment.

Mindfulness is crucial in this crazy life.

Take some time for you.

We do enough self loathing.

How about some self loving?

What if you could believe that everything in your life is just as it should be?

Perfectly imperfect.

I'm just happy to be here - the journey is short enough so I intend to enjoy it.

Good-bye fretting.

Good-bye worry warting.

Hello LOVE.

The way to love your life is to love the good and the bad.

The way to love yourself is to love the good and the bad.

Acceptance.

The way to feel better is to SING!

Embrace the moment, find your joy for the day.

Happiness is contagious.

Be a lover not a hater.

Falalalalalalaaaaa!

Hope you enjoyed your party.

Now I gotta run, I have to continue with my funnnnnn!

Happy you day!

xoxoxo

 

 

 

And then it was January....

Hello there my dear friends <3

I hope you had lovely holidays.

Mine were a busy whirlwind, I literally just spun in the flurry and quickness of it all.

Travels and guests and travels and guests.

I thought I'd do a little holiday wrap up, an homage to the sparkle of Christmas of sorts.

And a clink clink to a new year.

I decided that the only way for me to truly love my Christmas tree was to fill it with only things I love, each and every thing. Not like, fillers here and just a couple things I love there, but to consciously only choose one and each thing I love to place on the tree.

I had a white tree that was then flocked, and in the end it made me very happy, as I can tend to be a reluctant Christmas tree lover in my own home.  So, I guess I now have found my peace with it all.  

It's just like collecting treasures, only collect what you love, as they say.

But the sparkle, that's my favorite part.

I keep up fairy lights (as most of you do too) year round, because of that lovely sparkly glow. But the holidays just seem that more magical.  Love the bokeh of that image above.

So, my tree was happy (for me) in the end and added a lovely measure of light and color that I shall miss.

The living trees will stay up until it is time to plant them.

I have two 3 footers and two 4.5 footers.

I have a tree growing at the country house that I planted 18 years ago, when it was just 2 feet tall, and it is now over 20 feet tall.

Well, I just let out a sigh.

A good sigh.

All the wonderful little things in life...

Growing trees, holidays, people we love.

Lovely meals and laughs, and a bit of drama of course too.

New year's table in colorful hues...

And me giggling non stop after drinking some champagne.

It was like I had taken laughing gas, I couldn't stop, it was bizarre :-)

Gumballs for all, fortune cookies everywhere.

It was a lovely time, followed up by snow and pretty mountains.

A real treat in our desert lands.

We do get a real, albeit short, winter here because of the higher elevation.

From December to February.

I do have a little holiday blues just because I loved the excitement of the season. But I'm not crying in a corner at all, because I have so many fun things that I want to do next.

Sprucing up my décor...

Working on some paintings, and new sculptures on my work bench.

These things make me so happy.

It is sunny today and I am in my country house office.

I've been sending out very Valentiney orders, I looove decorating for Valentine's, do you?

And, I'm planning my garden seeds and happenings at both houses for the quickly approaching spring.

Should I grow another vegetable garden in the land of endless gophers?

I'm just not sure.

It would undoubtedly have to be all above ground.

These are the things on my mind these days my friends.

How are you out there?

I miss us, here, in bloglette land.

Social media is easy and quick and you get to connect with people more easily.

Which I love.

But there is a sense of something I can't describe.

Maybe because it all happens so fast, and there is so much to see and the whole place is so saturated with beauty that you spin in a sort of lalaland that sucks you in, and you've seen so much but still are left wanting and you don't know if you are coming or going? How is that possible? I do not know, haha! Am I wrong? Do you get what I'm saying?

I enjoy it enormously, but there is something I can't put my finger on...

What could it be?

I think my blog is home.

And home may be a place to be again.

Could that be it?

Sometimes you gotta go see everything so that you can come back and enjoy home again.

Create an appreciation within yourself, or something like that I suppose.

Anywho…

I best be off.

 

Love love love, from me!

xoxoxo

 

Happy New Year!

Magic and wishes and stars forever to you!

(insert a bowing curtsy)

 

Wait until you see the pics I'm taking right now for my next post...

If you love dollhouses, I'll see you soon <3

 

 

ps:  I love when she turns into a flower about a minute in...

                          

That Holiday Light...

Hello my lovely friends.

Time escapes me on these beautiful autumn to winter days.

Golden hour is sublime, the air is chilly, the garden slowly shifting in the high desert.

The roses hold on.

They love the cool air after the hottest summer.

(summer lasted until October here)

They want to stick around, even some zinnia and basil have held on - until last night that is

Last night the garden baths froze.

Tomorrow the garden will look different.

Just in time for sugar plum fairies and holiday elves.

Baubles are turning up on the mantle in place of the citrus.

The table gets set over and over.

Pumpkins and holly collide.

The laughter of family and friends fills the air.

The end of dinner parties look like this...

Pilar candles almost down to bare wick.

Empty glasses and shoes kicked off.

We laugh until we can't laugh any more singing and playing games.

Such lovely times.

I recuperate in the sunlight.

The garden is cool but bright.

And it's time to bring some green in for holiday décor.

Volunteer mums are everywhere, perfect color to kick off the season.

I collect my favorite baubles and head into the garden to create.

Sparkles and light fill the space...

I grab my tools and walk into the hidden gardens collecting cuttings from trees.

I love turning fresh tree cuttings into wreaths. They are easy to form and will dry into sturdy perfect shapes. Some cuttings will intertwine easily without any wire, but you can use wire too, they make green florists wire, but any wire will do really.

You can hang a favorite bauble from the center of your little wreath, tie a ribbon, or just leave it plain, which is beautiful as well.

I love silly baubles!

Here are several completed tree cutting wreaths below

It must have taken no more than 20 minutes, most of the time spent clipping my cuttings.

Now to hang them and delve into the holiday spirit.

In my mind it is still September.

How it is now mid December I will never know.

I am just grateful for warm cozy spaces to share with loved ones.

My living spaces are warm and happy with twinkle lights.

I am glad you peeked in to clink glasses (and teacups) as well <3

Cheers to you and me, so glad you are here.

Just in time for golden hour.

That spectacular beautiful wonderful light.

I love watching for it every afternoon.

It is so important to take time to be mindful during this crazy season.

Making little wreaths, baking and sitting by the fire reading help me to be present and savor the moment. What are your favorite things to do to stay grounded during holiday madness?

I've been working on some clay sculptures, I hope I can finish them in 2018 ;-)

xoxo

Love, V

 

 

 

♥ Magical Halloween Wishes ♥

 How can it be, that our favorite day of pumpkin holiday magic has arrived so soon?

Golden leaves and candy corn flickering flames...

Warmest glow of candlelight...

Sweet ole owls all in a row.

(for good luck of course)

Magical flickers of wax and wick...

Fairylights do just the trick…

And sparkles, of course!

For what is a trick and a treat without sparkles?

We follow the warm autumn light into the Halloween house.

There is more enchantment than hauntings, I can assure you.

The adult children aged 30 or more, put on their costumes and dance with cackles galore.

The kittens are rowdy.

The mushrooms sing songs.

The geese carry the crows, always on their back.

Of course, you know this, I know.

You have just the psychic knack.

Butterflies warm their wings...

And polka dot tea cups come out in droves, clink clink!

The characters gather under the lighted candelabra...

To beckon you in for a night of delightment and tales that may make you shiver.

Hot cocoa and a cozy fire to warm you back up.

And caramel corn to give you the energy to dance all night long.

The magic is there for the taking, just reach in and grab it.

It's just waiting for you to take the leap.

Make a wish on the count of three.

Close your eyes and feel a tap on your shoulder.

Don't worry, there are no ghosts around here from Boulder.

(we're in Arizona but hey, that rhymed, tee hee!)

Although I can not speak for how the hand print in the fireplace got there.

It's been there from the day I moved in you see.

So perhaps you know the tale, and are prepared to tell me?

Either way, have no fear.

The fairies are around you, they travel far and near, to light the path on All Hallows' Eve, for only one night a year.

Tis' here, tis' here!

And if you truly believe, they just may grant your wish.

So tap the tips of your toes on the edge of your bed as you drift off to sleep...

To let them know that you'd like to meet.

In dream land, in fairytales, in places of the heart.

If you're here then I know you understand this tale I tell...

As I curtsy and thank you for being so swell!

I pinky swear to be here every Halloween so long as I live...

To share these spells.

Good spells only.

Garden witches galore.

Waiting and hoping that you share some of your own folklore.

Now run off and beware of the imps.

And don't forget, the trolls and elves live for the tricks.

So check your locks and brush your teeth.

On this one and glorious yearly Halloween!

Cackles to you, from my broom stick up high!!!

I shan't say good-bye but instead I'll say....

I shall see you up in the moonlit sky!

Happy Halloweeeeeeen my friends!!!!

 Magic, and stars and wishes to you!!

Love, V

xoxo

 

 

 

 PS:  Our dearie, The Mad Hatter, sent you a gift this year my pretties!!

He wrote a Halloween song just for youuuu!!

This is a snippet of the song, we have it on cd, I'll post the rest sooooon!

xoxo

 It's called Every Halloween!

 

All the photos in the video below are by me & taken mostly from our yearly Halloween festivities♡

 

 

Welcome Autumn Magic

October, oh how I love you.

The weather changing, the leaves turning, the rain and breeze swirling, the twinkle lights glowing and pumpkin pumpkins everywhere.

A time for magic.

I have been trying to just immerse myself in every single day this month.

I'm not sure why it slips out of my fingers so very quickly.

I think the only way to really hold onto it is with photographs.

But the best part of the photographs is the gathering of random bits and bobs for the photos.

Stealing some leaves from the garden.

Sprinkling fairy dust around.

Autumnal mindfulness.

Zinnias grew like bean stalks, huge and strong this year.

Endless zinnias.

How I love their fuchsia petals with orange and blue and black and gold.

Sparkle, twinkle, hocus pocus...

And lighting candles...

Something I just adore doing.

The ritual of lighting the match and slowly bringing it up to the candle.

And then the golden glow only a candle can impart - true magic.

So I was thinking...

Instead of having a formal party this year, because I feel like we are all just too busy and life is so chaotic...

There must be an easier way - this is the thought that swirls through my mind these days.

And then I thought, of course there is!

I decided I would simply post my own Halloween post in a few days and if anyone happens to do a post I can link to it in a special spot at the bottom of my own Halloween post.  Easy as pie.

Doesn't that sound snazzy?

Right now I'm simply thoroughly enjoying these last days of October (insert tears).

I don't want it to go away so quickly.

Alas, there is nothing as sweet as the thing that is slipping through your fingers.

The thing you can not grasp.

SO the best thing to do it close our eyes and smell the air.

And remember the moment.

Memories are like a gift from our brain.

It's like, an attic in our mind.

Here, shuffle it here.

I'll keep it for you, forever...

October always.

Pumpkin holiday.

Cardigans.

Fire pits.

Caramel apples.

Smiles.

Happy happiest wonderful smiles.

Why do we love autumn like this?

 

I LOVE you Autumn.

Don't go.

 

Let's pinky swear to really enjoy these last 7ish days or so.

Deal?

 

Love,

Meeeee

Cackle Cackle!

 

 

 

 

 

Christmas Magic ♥

Hello my lovely friends!

It's been all a flutter around these parts, oh me oh my!

And here we are, in the depths of Christmas Magic.

Baking and gift collecting a plenty.

The weather shifted a bit to cool and clouds.

The sky was unreal this evening.

It was pink and golden and lavender with pink clouds.

Like a fairytale dream.

We've had rain and I've even worn my fluffy faux fur, too fun!

We had still been in summer up to about 2 weeks ago.

Crazy place.

But now...

The moody weather sent me off with my bits and bobs into my country house gardens...

In search of some kind of enchantment.

I did find a slice of it and came in to share and wish you the most loveliest of holiday seasons.

Perfect time for carols on tattered piano keys.

Tiny piano treasure, I'm so in love.

Found it buried in an antique store a month ago, it's just so special.

It has tales it wants to whisper to me.

I beckon it, come on, please tell.

Time for red ribbons and wreath making in the garden.

As many of you know (from IG) I've been missing because of an Italian villa that found its way into my life.

It happens to be just handful of minutes down the road from the country house.

I will enjoy both places and swirl with the flutter of life happenings that have ventured my way.

For now I am swimming in what feels like a full ball gown, in a sea of Christmas tidings.

How bout yourself?

Sooooo much going on.

But I am reminding myself to not get into a dizzying tornado of holiday madness, and to just enjoy the season.

My dear friend of many years came over and did my hair.

Then we made baklava, my yearly thing.

I made her a huge tray to take home.

We ate sushi and salads and talked about life.

There were laughs and tears and memories and hopes and dreams.

Friends are so good.

We should always keep looking forward to goodness.

Hoping for wonderful things.

Believing that something wonderful is just about to happen.

And, it will.

Just wait and see.

Maybe it's happening now?

 

So many beyond warm Christmas wishes to you and yours!!

 

Lots of love, 

Vanessa

 

 

 

 

 

I'm reading Little Women again, a little every night.

Oh how I love those girls.

I will hold onto the March girl in me forever more.

No matter what.

How about you?

xoxo

 

 

 

ps:  For some reason my photos are downgraded when I upload them into my Typepad account. If you click on them you can see the original clear image.  Not sure what that's about <3

Hello There♡

Happy Thanksgiving weekend my friends!

I'm sorry I've been so busy, but you won't believe the tales & adventures I've been on. I'll be sharing more soon.

Promise.

This is my first attempt at blogging from my phone because I am away from my computer. Phone pics too, imagine that?

I have no idea how this will all look when I hit publish. I just really wanted to pop in and wish you and yours a wonderful holiday.

I found some pretty growing things to snap.

 

I may just explode with the amount of crazy  fun happenings going on.

 

Funny how life twists & morphs and can just amaze you at every turn.

 

I've found myself living something quite like a Jane Austen novel, in the most lovely way.

 

But some things you sometimes keep to yourself, to protect the magic bubble.

 

Oh me oh my.

(Pride & Prejudice) 

 

Funny life♡

Gotta love it.

 

Find me on instagram at afancifultwist for more regular updates & videos in my stories. It's a fun tool when I'm so busy to just keep in touch with eachother.

 

I'm getting a lap top tomorrow so I can stay more connected. Should've done that a lot sooner.

 

How are you out there in your neck of the woods?

 

 

Lots of love,

Vanessa

 

 

 

A Halloween Celebration♥

Hello there!

It's still Halloween in my home.

Won't you join in the fun?

I intend to marinate in this magic a few more days.

I can't handle how cut and dry November 1st becomes.

No no no, not for me, I need a little more.

My mom gave me the most charming menagerie of circus characters which worked perfectly for my décor this year.

Sparkles and sweets galore.

Oh Halloween, how I love you.

Twirler in the midst!

My dining table is soooo happy right now.

Dancing and silliness abounds!

What must she see in her crystal ball?

I always love a zebra, don't you?

Twinkle lights and glitter everywhere!

It isn't Halloween without the green hand right?

Owls and crows and berries oh my!

We always need a really rude sweets eater to seal the deal, wouldn't you say?

:-)

And little white pumpkins to brighten the day.

Witches and black cats, candy corn and caramel apples...

Owls and bats...

And don't forget Boo!

The favorite word in our costumed acts!

I'll never get enough, oh no sireeee!

Give me this mayhem and magic more than once yearly, please oh please!!

A curtsy and twirl and magical sparkly swirl!

We loooove Halloweeeen!

Oh my fellow Halloweenies, how I love this time of year.

I'll have Halloween all weekend before I am fully prepared to change décor.

It's been more than busy around here, as you know.

I've had crazy personal real estate dealings (my previous career which I still keep a toe in for fun). Don't worry, the country house is not going anywhere.

And, so many other things which I am going to tell you all about soon.

I promise.

It's all good, but different and sooo unexpected even for me.

Like a crazy dream, this little journey.

The twists and turns of life you seeee.

But for now we have circus magic and Halloween bewitchings a plenty.

I still have black painted nails and a jack-o-lantern by my bedside.

The wonderful fairytale like quality of autumn is certainly here, what a thing.

The blessing of seasons, how lucky are we?

 

Love, V

 

 

 

Ooops, I almost forgot...

Our winner for a copy of Country Sampler magazine is...

Number 1, how crazy is that?

Linda!

It must have been caramel corn luck :-)

Please e-mail me your snail mail address ♥

 

 

Merry Christmas + a Gift from me to You (Printable Freebie)

Merriest Christmas Wishes my friends!

Oh my, it's so near.

I've had so much fun decorating and really celebrating the season.

I decided it was important to take a moment and stop to share a little gift with you.

I started this blog in December of 2006.

Can you believe it?

I'm sure those of you who still peek in know how thankful I am to know you're there.

That I'm not talking to myself 10 years later :-)

I could never repay you for being a part of A Fanciful Twist.

But, from time to time I can make you a little treat or two.

So, how bout some free printable fun holiday gift tags?

This is what they look like below.

4 on a page.

You can print as many as you'd like.

But you must click here and wait up to 120 seconds for the printable version to open.

Click on this link for printable PDF

Just a little something from me to you.

Remember you have to click on this link to get the printable file to open.

It will take a little while to open because it's a high resolution crisp file for printing.

I print mine on high quality card stock for best results.

However, I tested them on everyday printer paper too and they are still cute.

Just choose a higher quality printing level if you want them to look extra sweet.

I realize this looks like my Mister Matty but it is supposed to be a fox :-)

I like to cut mine with scalloped scissors and then just punch a hole in a corner and add a ribbon or string.

Or simply tape them directly to your gift.

You can write on the back side or front.

Voila.

Easy as can be.

As for regular life tales...

I'm in the throws of holiday madness.

As I am certain many of us are.

There's so much I'd still like to do in the baking department.

And making department.

But, I may have plum run out of time.

I'm just finishing some big crafty gift projects.

I'll show you after Christmas in case there is a sneaky peeker on here ;-)

(aka Mombie)

We're scheduled to have snow here on Christmas day.

Normally we get snow in February so this could be a big treat.

I have so many places to go and so many things to do in the next few days.

I hope you are safe and warm and happy.

May you have the most blessed and merriest Christmas season ever.

 

Lots of love,

Vanessa

 

 

ps:  Click here to visit lots of other projects and ideas for Christmas.

Including other styles of printable gift tags.

 

pps:  If you are going to have time to relax over the holidays and you love documentaries, I've seen a few over the last few months, I won't name them all but here's a few below.  I like to put on Netflix or Amazon while I'm working or at night before bed. Some I've found interesting were...

Burt's Buzz (Burt's Bees).

Sour Grapes

A Year in Burgundy (watched this summer and loved).

My Friend Rockefeller.

Author: The JT Leroy Story (on Amazon, still watching it).

I love art documentaries the most but I've seen them all over the years, wish more would pop up.

Happy watching!! :-)

 

Christmas Magic in the Air ♥

It's happening isn't it?

The magic of Christmas is all around.

Dancing on fairy lights.

Twinkling about.

The sparkle.

The enchantment.

The whimsy.

It's here.

I'm having a ball overdoing just about everything I can get my hands on.

The mantle is loving the pinecones we made a couple posts back.

And the nutcracker is holding court.

I had an amazing weekend, well 4 days really.

Celebrating birthday times with an infusion of holidays lights, shopping, dining, cakes and antiquing galore.

I started last Thursday at the Irish dance Christmas show.

And then overdid the fun all weekend and ended it with an antique market.

Where he was waiting for me.

I couldn't wait to dress up his antlers.

Oh, I am so very in love.

He sparkles in person too.

I actually ended the weekend in prayer in a candlelight mass on Sunday night, oh soooo touching.

I'm so grateful for all that is so good in life.

Just a lovely time.

So, where was I?

Oh yes!

My tinsel tree looks ca-razyyy.

But I figure, if you are going to go over the top, Christmas decorating is the time to do it.

All my handmade vintage ornaments now have a home.

I haven't settled totally on my mantle décor yet.

But this is happening now.

Some years I go all fresh.

Others I go all sugar plum candy.

I suppose we know what this one is.

The pine cone candles are working so well.

I just love them.

Wish I had made pink & lavender too.

Next year for certain.

Tonight I will go look at more lights.

Huddle in my cottage sipping tea and decorating.

I will make quince jam and Scandinavian rosette cookies very soon.

I have all these elves and tiny houses I just could not finish in time.

Should I make them New Year's elves?

I dunno.

What is wrong with me?

I'm just on this wave of having no time lately.

I need to really manage my time better.

I'm just having so much fun.

I've gotten entirely spoiled and rotten.

Falalalalalalalalaaaaaaa!

I'll ask Santa to put some sense into my naughtiest ways!

For now....

I neeeeed some hot chocolate, stat!!

Come on, let's go into the cottage and play.

What are you waiting for?

 

Looove, V

See you sooooon!

Promise.

 

 

 

ps: Something utterly magical before you go...

♥ 

 

 

Let's Make Sparkly Pine Cone Candle Holders!

Hello there & hello December!

It's all happening so fast, so I like to do crafts that bring me back into the moment.

As you may know I have gobs of pinecones floating around my garden.

I love them and their versatility, so I always try to integrate them in some way.

You may recall the pine cone zinnia tutorial here?

The other day I was collecting some and thought...

Wouldn't it be nice to put candles in them and use them on my holiday table?

And so, I set out to do just that.

In doing so, some even doubled as little Christmas trees.

So, here's what I did if you fancy a go.

I'm told that I have loblolly pinecones so, I just used pliers to bend the top center back and forth firmly until it broke off.

I had to pull out a few little bits piece by piece but it was pretty easy.

(You can wash and dry your fresh gathered pine cones for bugs prior to crafting with them. I'll address that in the "ps" section of this post)

 

A new trick I discovered is how beyond easy it is to dip paint pine cones.

Who knew? I never thought they'd take the paint so well.

I just did it as a trial and error and it worked wonderfully.

(some pine cones I just left as regular pine cones for décor)

Of course, you can skip the painting part altogether and go for a more natural look, maybe just glittering or gold leafing the edges.

For a painted look here's what I did.

I first dipped them in white acrylic paint mixed with water to make white ones.

 Then later I decided to make a teal mix by adding yellow and blue to the white.

The white mixture (mixed in a small bowl), was a half cup of standard white acrylic craft paint mixed with one cup of water.

I stirred that up and dipped the pinecones in with my fingers, making sure to coat them well.

Later, to the white, I added a drizzle of blue and a bigger drizzle of yellow to make teal.

I did not measure them but you can just add slowly until you achieve your desired color.

These are the craft paints I used.

You can do this with any color of your choice, the sky is the limit.

 I set them on a cookie sheet covered in paper towels to dry (about an hour or two).

After they were almost dry I removed them from the paint soggy paper towels and put them on cardboard to finish drying completely.

Once dry I simply painted on some white craft glue and sprinkled them in glitter or fake snow.

I alternated between the glitter and the sparkly fake snow.

Then I set them aside to dry.

(about an hour, sooner if you have sun or air flowing)

Once they were totally dry I had the task of figuring out how to get the candles to sit in the pine cones.

I could have made it easy by using tea lights, but I had my heart set on taper candles.

The space I made by breaking off the centers was the perfect size, but now what?

Hot glue doesn't work because wax will not stick to hot glue, haha!

And who has time for epoxy or anything like that?

Soooo, I took my pack of regular sewing needles...

And with the pointy side down, I very slowly and firmly pushed the needle half way into the center of the pine cone.

It was quite easy to do.

(Tin foil barrier tip: at this point you can cut out a little piece of foil to place between the pine cone and the candle for an extra barrier.  Just place it over the needle & push it down onto the cone before adding the candle)

Then I also, very slowly and firmly, pushed my candle on to the needle.

Voila!

It worked!

By the by, these are the candles I use in my house for everything.

You can get them at almost any grocery store in the ethnic food section.

(You could probably use those battery operated candles too and just hot glue them into place)

After I secured the candles into the pinecones I cut out a little round cardboard piece.

Then I glued the pine cone bottoms to the cardboard for stability.

You want to make sure there is no chance your pinecone could topple over.

(avoid any fire hazard)

I just love using natural elements in décor.

Especially during the holidays.

These little projects are so grounding during the mad hustle and bustle.

I used two kinds of berries, some boxwood and rosemary from my garden for décor.

Then dotted the plates and table with a few baubles in my favorite colors.

It really feels so festive now.

Oh and, if your candles slant a little bit, just stuff a little something underneath the candle to straighten it up.

I used a berry or two to straighten mine :-)

You can use a little bunched up piece of tin foil under the candles to straighten them also.

So easy and such a pretty finale I think.

How bout you?

It officially feels like Christmas time.

If you don't want to put your pine cones on plates I was thinking that hot gluing them to a long and narrow piece of wood (that would go down the center of the table) would be a really pretty alternative.

In fact, I may make one of those as a gift.

Putting them in tea cups with a dab of hot glue to hold them straight would be lovely too.

Just remember, these are pine cones so they can burn.

Always be in charge of your candles and never leave them unattended.

If you burn down your house, your tablecloth, your curtains or your favorite vintage skirt, remember, I am not responsible.

Please use candles responsibly and wisely.

:-)

Now someone pour the eggnog and start singing carols!

Woo hooo, December is here!

Time for lots of fun!

 

See you soon!

 

Love, Vanessa

 

 

 

ps: 

A question I often receive is about baking the pinecones first to remove bugs.

Now, being the wild woman I am, I didn't even worry about this.

Mainly because I never saw a bug emerging ever.

However, I live in the desert where the temps reach 100+ all summer.

So I'm quite certain my cones are baked/dried naturally.

But, my mom told me you can wash them in white vinegar and water.

Big bowl water and about 2 cups of vinegar, just soak and slosh around for an hour.

They might swell up and look funny when soaked but will go back to normal once they dry.

Then set them on paper towels to air dry for up to a week.

If you want to really make sure you have no bugs, then after you wash them just put them in the oven on a foil lined cookie sheet at 200' - 250'F for an hour, checking often to make sure they don't burn.

Then just let them sit around on paper towels for 2-4 days.

Like I said, I've never done any of that, because I live in a dry dry desert climate.

So, don't hold me to any of it pretty please :-)

And please don't burn anything.

If you are still unsure just google "prepping pinecones for crafts," and you'll find all sorts of info.

Rose Gold Autumn (winner announced)

Oh you sneaky weather.

It shifted just in time for the holiday season to begin.

Casting rose gold tones.

Even trees have decided it might be time to change.

Rain and wind and golden everything.

I still have flowers in my high desert garden but this might be the last week.

I live about 45-60 minutes from central Tucson, up in a mountain area where it's high desert.

Country rural but growing everyday.

Just where the desert meets the forest, as I've said before.

I can look up and see Mt. Lemmon from my front porch.

And so up here, with the cold rain, I do believe there is a change happening finally.

Yay.

I made several marigold garlands that look so pretty dried in their curry colors.

Twinkle lights are turned on...

As the glittery cardboard stars of the season start to get made.

So easy and yet so pretty and satisfying.

Just draw stars on cardboard, cut, cover in glue and dip in the sparkles of your choice.

C'est voila, a bit of magic.

I have been painting and making things.

It's about time I share some isn't it?

I know I know.

It so is.

I will soon.

Peering in a mirror in the studio, lights bounce from across the room.

It finally is autumn.

For real though.

Although, it could be 80' on Thanksgiving.

So how real it is?

We just never know.

I loved all your song choices.

I am a huge music fan.

Was raised with all the men in my family playing songs for each other late into the night.

My mom plays her radio in her car like a teeny bopper.

I was given a piano when I was around 3.

So music has been an integral part of my life.

I still play everyday and compose little tunes.

But I'm not concert pianist disciplined, not that that would surprise you, haha!

Being the weasel I am and all :-)

But yes, I LOVE music.

All kinds of music.

My Ipod is bursting with all genre's.

Truth be told, I also listen to my fair share of dance and pop music.

The reason is that I hit the hills every morning and I need really upbeat tunes to keep me going.

I am listening all the time and updating all my songs regularly so I don't get bored.

People in the car with me are like, how on earth do you know all the current pop tunes?

Do you think you're 17??!

Hahaha!

Well, that's why.

But I also have classical, new age, orchestral, 80's, 70's, 60's, world beats and more at the ready.

It just depends on my mood.

But I can almost always listen to Fleetwood Mac, The Police, The Cure, Talk Talk, Journey, etc. without feeling like I'm not in the mood for it.

I'll leave you with a sweet little tune.

A little bit lovely, a little bit sad, a lot a bit touching.

But mostly because to me it feels like autumn, when things change the most.

From so many months of green and flowers to -

Gold and grey and sweaters...

(Tiny Ruins, Bird in the Thyme)

 See you very soon.

I'm hosting a Thanksgiving shindig so I'm a bit swamped at this very moment.

So, if I don't get back here, warmest loveliest Thanksgiving wishes from me to you.

Thank you for being here.

Lots of love,

Vanessa

 

 

 

PS:  And the Winner of my giveaway, chosen by random number generator is.....

(made sure to take my comment out of the drawing)

Checking now...

It's Natalie Gagnon!!! #25 Miss Natalie, you won!!!

E-mail me your print and 2, 5 card pack choices and I'll ship them your way!!

xoxo

Thank you everyone who joined in <3

 

Magical Halloween Wishes!

Hellooo there.

I hope you are having the most magical scrumptious Halloween!

I ran over to the computer to say hello and share some pics.

Our Halloween feast is just about to arrive so I best type quickly.

I made the most beautiful candy apples today which really were a fluke.

I was missing enough corn syrup so I put in more sugar and didn't even really pay attention to measurements.

They are so glossy and crisp.

I used neon pink food coloring because I didn't have red and it worked out so nicely.

I dusted them in edible stars and then...

I spread the remaining candy on parchment paper to cool.

I sprinkled it with edible glitter and edible stars.

It's so beautiful in person, like stained glass.

Can't wait to break it up soon.

I'll take a pic, we might be onto something fun.

The candy tastes so much like cotton candy, it's incredible.

A tinge of that caramelized flavor, so nice.

I used apricot branches as the sticks for the apples.

Fun fun fun!

I love today.

Let the magic continueeeee!!

I post regularly on Instagram, videos and pics.

In case you want to peek in for some fun over there.

www.instagram.com/afancifultwist

Happiest magical Halloween WISHES!

I must run now but I'll see you very soon.

Cackle cackle!!

 

Lots of love, V

 

 

 

ps:  If you love Halloween feel free to visit our past parties right here.

 

 

The Eve of Halloween...

I've so been enjoying the last few days of full Halloween immersion.

Some parts of my house are still pastel infused.

But spooky bits and bobs are trickling in.

Dusty chandelier adds to the effect :-)

I love haunted house tales, so this area is an ode to the haunted playroom.

We've been watching lots of scary movies and eating too many treats.

She looks quit harmless there, smiling with her dolly.

But if you're in the room, in any angle but straight on, she looks like this.

And that changes everything, doesn't it?

Is she nice or wicked?

You be the judge.

I usually worry that I am not getting enough Halloween.

If you are a Halloween lover you know what I mean.

But this year I really have truly enjoyed it so much.

Loving every minute.

Taking some time to just enjoy and savor the season.

Just beware of who's watching you.

Ooooooo!

We'll be right here, playing in our haunted cove.

Waiting for the clock to strike midnight.

The dining room has gotten some black and spooky infusions.

There's sooo many treats.

Not enough tricks though, but I'll leave that up to Matty and Miles.

It's time for pumpkin pancakes and some dark honey my friend brought me.

How are you out there?

Enjoying the season?

I love today and tomorrow, love love love!

I intend to have more fun than I can handle.

See you soooooon!

I'll try to come back sooner than soon with more pics.

 

Love, Vanessa

 

 

Have you ever tried to play the Ouija?

Clink clink!

Any tales?

Pastel Pumpkins + All New Halloween Cards

Oooo October, how can it be?

It's here so soon and with a few days in too.

So exciting!

My dining table is full of pastel pumpkins and stripes and Mexican paper flowers.

I have not officially decorated because I've been so busy.

With what you ask?

Well, the extra fun news is that the shop is full of new Halloween infused cards.

They are so pretty and fun, I just can't stop looking at them.

They are printed by a professional card printer so they are commercial quality.

Nice satin finishes and sturdy enough to be used as little art pieces.

Tacked to the fridge or to be framed which I see often and it makes me swoon!

There's so much to choose from, sprinkles and tea parties galore.

The Whimsical Witches are a card this year too, wish you could see them in person.

Light and bright autumn festivities.

I think I'll make a banner garland with some of these for my mantle.

Pumpkin cottage has tales to tell and...

A very whimsical garden party is ready to send to your friends!

 

I've made up some new card packs too.

Just in case it's too hard to choose.

Bundled witches are waiting for you :-)

 

Unpacking, doing inventory, stocking, making parcels ready to go.

It's been a busy beginning to a favorite season.

The shop is bursting with Halloween goodies right here.

I've also restocked favorites like floral spirit board, fortune teller & a bunch more.

Take a peek.

I'm shipping every 24 hours so Halloween card orders will arrive very quickly.

I wish this season had a couple extra weeks in it because I just love it soooo!

It's pretty hot here again, which means a lot of this is still going on, lovely...

However I'm tending garden everyday still, and while I looove flower power, I'm ready to raise my white flag.

I'm ready for cool temps and a huge break from the heat big time.

I'm ready for fall everything.

I'm ready, I'm ready!

I've savored my summer to the last drop.

Fall, I'm sooooo 100% in!

Pleeeeease come on over.

 

How bout you?

What's going on out there in your neck of the great big woods?

 

See you really soon,

Lots of love!

Vanessa

 

 

Autumn Magic

It's autumn, can you believe it?

I wanted to pop in yesterday but I was in pruning madness.

There are fresh roses springing up, as they do at this time of the year.

And so my mind dances between summer and fall.

I've been painting little pumpkins.

Just a couple coats of standard acrylic craft paint does the trick.

I'm so pleased with their bright cheeriness.

The little turquoise ones really hit the spot too.

Just remember that if you put a teal pumpkin outside your house for Halloween it means that you are giving out food free items to trick or treaters (such as little toys) for kids with food allergies.

So, teal is the food allergy pumpkin color, isn't that cute?

You can google the details on that if you want to know more.

I never get any trick or treaters way out here, so my little blue babies will just be for fun.

I'm feeling very colorful lately.

Pops of happy candy colors and such.

It was such a glorious hiking day today, the clouds were unreal.

The air, the ambience, the entire weather experience was sublime.

I post regular pics on Instagram if you fancy a peek.

So, it was grey with dappled sun here and there and soft rain.

Soooo perfect for the autumn mood.

Lighting a few candles and starting to decorate a little.

My new rose bushes (not that I needed any more, but you know) are doing incredibly well.

Gifting gobs of roses over and over.

Can't go wrong with a Gene Boerner rose bush I say.

Stacks of happy colors, yay!

I'm just beginning to decorate my dining table.

I lost a day this week with rodent drama in my holiday decor shed.

It was sealed shut but it's par for the course in the country.

I ended up throwing away a lot and then somehow was inspired for something fresh and new.

It was actually liberating to be forced to get rid of most of my old holiday decor.

The good stuff was safe in bins or secure in the tiny cottage so no worries.

Anywho, here I am painting pumpkins now, so fun.

I'm not sure exactly where I'm going with my decor.

But fresh roses and pink and orange stripes are stealing my heart.

Grey day (we love those in the land of sun) & happy mantle...

Such a neat way to plunge into a new season.

I think autumn is beloved by most isn't it?

It sure is nice to get a break from the heat.

I love October, it's not too far away is it?

I just don't like how fast the next 3 months go.

Need to savor each day.

I just pruned 8 wheel barrows of a climbing rose that is eating my little gallery building in the garden.

Currently used as an office but soon to be mine again.

I need to rebuild my dear scarecrow, maybe as soon as I finish typing actually.

I'm supposed to be at some fancy event tonight but somehow movies and pajamas want to win me over.

Okay, they more than likely will.

I've been going to bed very early and waking up very early.

When I was a kid I'd fall asleep in restaurants all the time.

I could not stay up.

My parents would pull two chairs together to make me a little bed or find a cozy booth for me.

I remember going in and out of sleep to the sounds of a restaurant.

Clanking forks and plates, chatter of people, scents of cooking.

Still a fond sound.

I love closing my eyes at breakfast joints and hearing the sounds.

Such good smells in a morning cafe too.

The good news is, now that the days are cooler I can enjoy a morning breakfast away instead of tending garden madly.

Watering and protecting all the growing things.

It's time for a break, yessssss!

I loooove my garden but boy the summer is long here.

There I go veering again, the one thing I'm great at.

Soooo, off I got for now.

Happy autumn!!!!

 

Love, Vanessa

 

 

 

Ps:  Since it's Jon Secada Friday...

(My sister and I invented this as our time of playing blast to the past tunes for each other. We used to do this over the phone on Friday nights when she lived in New Mexico and we still do sometimes. Music obsessives, for sure.)

Anywho, I was going to leave you with Elegia (when it came on in Stranger Things I immediately thought about Blane, Andie and Ducky, talk about blast to the past) but then I thought, maybe too moody for candy colored pumpkins.  If you've seen Stranger Things on Netflix, the soundtrack is fab isn't it?

All that to say...

Since we have pink pumpkins I'll leave you with the Psychedelic Furs <3

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Fun Mother's Day Freebies for you!

Mother's day is around the corner, oh my!

There are lots of freebies I've made over the years to choose from.

Let's plunge into a Mother's day freebie round-up, shall we?

These are all printable pdf's from me to you.

You just open the specified links you'll find below (highlighted in blue) and print at home, fun right?

You'll find fun things like these cupcake toppers that you can glitter up.

Don't they look fun all sparkly?

Below is what the whole set looks like.

And here is the link.

Click here for Cupcake Toppers Printable PDF.

 

I also have this Mother's day card below.

There are two per sheet.

They print up so colorful and pretty.

 

Simply

click here for printable Mother's day Card.

 

And last, but surely not least...

Some super fun little cardlettes.

You can use them as gift tags or cards on their own.

The one on the top right hand side is for moms of furs or winged creatures.

Mustn't forget us moms of non-humans.

As our kids mean the world to us as well :-)

 

Click here for printable pdf of

Mother's Day Cardlettes.

 

I hope all moms have the most bestest of weekends.

Relaxing galore.

That is what I think moms should get to do on their special day.

Put their feet up and get as cozy and can be!

 

I have all sorts of plans for the weekend and brunch for mom.

It's gotten super hot here so we'll have to find a way to stay cool.

I think that means prickly pear lemonade.

 

 Happy Happy to all moms out there!!

Hope you enjoy your freebies <3

Hugest hugs!!

 

 

 See you soooon!

Love, Vanessa

 

 

 

St. Patrick's Day Crafty Tutorials + Irish Brown Bread & More!

St. Patrick's day is almost upon us, oh my!

Just one week away, so I feel we best plunge if we want to get crafty in time

How about some fun little ideas to help us celebrate?

I gathered some of our fave projects for this little wrap-up.

Craft projects, free printables and baked goods.

Let's jump in with some baked goods first.

I tested a recipe for Irish brown bread (no yeast! zero rise time!) that is so easy and delicious to make, you might faint.

I tested it three times and each time was flawless.

If you have never made bread before, you want to start with this, trust me.

Eeeeasy.

And if you have made bread before, you'll love this.

Here is the recipe.

(The only thing I did different was I used salted butter)

I am sooo amazed at how easy and wonderful soda bread is to make, and all this time I've been waiting for yeast to rise I could have been making tons of soda bread.

Amazing stuff, just be careful, you might not be able to stop eating it.

 As for crafty things to make...

Let's start with a shamrock pipe cleaner ring tutorial, yes?

I made so many, I have one for every finger.

Some have short stems, others long.

Some I even doubled up with sparkly pipe cleaners.

3 fuzzy little hearts folded up, to make a whole lot of St. Paddy's day fun.

Here is a side shot...

To the ring below.

So, let's get busy making some fun rings for you, and maybe even for some friends.

Whatta ya say?

To make one ring all you need are two pipe cleaners.

One for the ring part and one for the shamrock part.

The pipe cleaners I used are 12" long (a standard size around here).

To create your shamrock you will be forming 3 hearts out of one pipe cleaner.

So, one pipe cleaner will be used to make the shamrock, and the second pipe cleaner will be used to make the ring section.

To begin, choose your pipe cleaner for the shamrock piece.

Begin your shamrock 2 inches from the end, this will be your stem.

2 inches from the end is where you will begin to form your first heart.

A pencil works great to help round the heart tops.

After your round your top, pinch the center with your fingers to form the middle of the heart.

Then use your pencil to form your next heart top.

Now you have a heart below, with an open bottom.

Your short stem is on the left, and your long piece of working pipe cleaner is on the right.

Take the long piece and loop it around the short stem securely, once or twice to close your heart, as seen below.

When you close your heart, your long piece of working pipe cleaner will be on the left, so...

Simply flip your piece over, so the long working pipe cleaner piece is now on the right, as seen below.

Now, form another heart just as you did above.

Looping your long working pipe cleaner piece around to close your second heart as seen below.

Your working pipe cleaner piece is now on the left, so...

Flip your piece over so that the long working pipe cleaner piece is now on the right.

Now form your last heart as you did before.

After you create your last heart to form a shamrock, as seen below, then...

Take your last piece of working pipe cleaner and loop it securely around the stem.

Then just wind the remaining pipe cleaner all around the stem until you reach the bottom, or run out of pipe cleaner.

Like you see below.

There you have it, a shamrock.

Now, take the pipe cleaner piece you will use for your ring...

Center the pipe cleaner over the center of your shamrock.

Then pull one piece of pipe cleaner over the top right side of your shamrock center.

And, pull the other piece over the bottom left side of your shamrock center.

Push the pipe cleaner securely (and snuggly) towards the back side, so that the back of your shamrock now looks like below.

 Then, give your pipe cleaner a very secure twist in the back.

Make sure you twist a couple times so it is nice and tight.

Now you are ready to form the ring part.

Hold the ring over the top of your finger of choice, with the open pipe cleaner behind your fingers, like you see below.

When you feel you are at the correct size (not too tight), take the pipe cleaner ends and loop the ends around your finger towards the front, so that one pipe cleaner end is on either side of your finger, as you see below.

Now, just take the pipe cleaner ends and twist them around, right under the back of your shamrock securely, as seen below.

You can take the ring off to tighten your pipe cleaner ends, winding round and round under the shamrock back, until there is no more pipe cleaner left.

And then, Voila!!

You have your own pipe cleaner shamrock ring.

Isn't that easy and fun?

If you don't want a ring you can easily glue on a pendant back, and use as a pendant instead.

If you don't have a pendant back, just pin it on with a safety pin to wear on St. Patrick's day.

These are fun for grown kids or young kids.

An easy little treat.

Hope you enjoyed that lil' tutorial.

Another fun treat is...

Green rice krispy treats for St. Patrick's day!

Just add a little green food coloring to the melted marshmallow stage.

Voila!

Green.

They are yummy, fun and keep things light hearted... 

Here is my free printable PDF for the St.Patrick's day cardlettes below.

Please give the PDF a minute to open, as it is a high resolution file for great printing quality.

However, it does take at least 80 seconds to open.

 

And, my printable Shamrock Brooch Tutorial, here...

Click on this link for the printable pdf and tutorial, which will give you all the layers of shamrocks you need to make your own.

I still have mine and will wear it for certain.

With my shamrock pipe cleaner rings.

I better get some rice krispy cereal soon.

 

Life is rolling along at crazzzzy speed, ain't it?

Spring is here, warm days, green everywhere.

Petals are blooming and all is garden magic around my neck of the woods.

And now, green drinks commence!!

 

Do you have any St. Patrick's day traditions you'd like to share with us?

Please do ♥

 

 May the luck of the Irish be with you the whole year through!

 

Love,

Vanessa

 

 

 ps:

Still one of my faves...

 

Valentine's Day Printables from me to You ♥

Hello there!

I'm here to share oodles of my free printable Valentine's with you.

They make me so happy!

Here they are with links to each one.

I hope you enjoy them.

I've decided to do a little wrap up of all the styles you can print at home.

They are free for personal use.

Click on the links that will take you to the printable files.

Then give them a minute or so to open.

 Here we go!

 

Love Birds, Elephants and Teacups ♥

Click here for printable PDF

 

You can mix and match faves of different styles as well.

They are especially fun printed on card stock and cut out with scalloped scissors.

Silly kitty!

 Here is the printable PDF for the two above...

Cupcake and Kitty Valentine's 2015 PDF

 

 Print as many as you'd like.

Have a blast!!

Happy Valentine's day friends!!!

 (Please give the PDF's a little time to open, they are large files so that they print nicely)

 

Owlie Valentine ♥

Click here for printable PDF

 

 

 Fun Fungi Valentine's ♥

Click here for printable PDF

 

 

 

 

Sweet LOVE ♥

Click here for printable PDF

 

Bake Sew Sweet ♥

Click here for printable PDF

 

 

Love so Sweet ♥

Click here for printable PDF

 

I hope you will print some and enjoy.

They are fun, easy and bonus, free.

Scalloped scissors make them extra lovely me thinks.

Little gifts from me to you.

Enjoy!!

 

It's lovely warm here.

Spring is springing up a little.

I've been pruning roses, hiking in the sun and painting.

I just love Valentine's day.

As I've said before, I like to use it as an I love me day.

Then I do nice things for myself.

Like go to the bookstore, buy gobs of flowers I love, get a pedicure etc.

Sending lots of goodness your way!

 

Hope you are doing extra lovely!!

Love,

Vanessa

 

 

 

 

 

ps:  Make sure you give the pdf's a little while to open.  The files are high quality which makes them large, so you have to wait a minute or two for them to load :-)

Fanciful Hopes and Dreams ♥

Helooooo there!

It's us, peeking in to say hello to you.

I acquired some new friends over the holidays.

Hope yours were magnificent.

Annnnd, a hearty happy new year filled with magical wishes come true!

My holidays were beyond wonderful.

I traveled, I spent time with special people.

I went places, saw things.

Had a lovely new year.

Dinner & dancing.

Eeek, stepping outside the box.

Kinda like the days before I became a country hermit :-)

Did you have a nice new year?

My new year emerged like a shooting firework.

It's been go go go non stop.

In fact, my best friend from college is driving in now from the midwest and I am meeting her later.

We'll spend a few days together catching up.

Time is flying by faster than ever.

I need to gasp for air, but I am having a ball so I'll take it.

I can't wait to see what this year brings us all.

It feels like wonderful things are brewing.

Fanciful hopes and dreams a plenty♥

Cheeeers!

Happy new year

Magical wishes now and always my friends.

Do you have any special new year's dreams you're concocting?

Let's have a mad blast, ok?

Promise?

I must run to meet my friend.

See you real soon.

Lots of love from the wee cuties and meeee!

 

Love, V

 

ps: I'm on Instagram too, almost daily, if you'd like to meet up there also.

(Instagram.com/afancifultwist)

 

xoxo

 

Merriest Magical Wishes ♥

Can you believe it?

The magic of Christmas has made its way to us.

Another bless-ed year.

Picking garden bits for the celebration.

Beautiful scents.

Greens and reds from nature.

The birds ate all the pyracantha berries but the nandina (heavenly bamboo) has some for us.

Candles on.

Acorns and carnations in tiny glass bottles.

Mantle full and happy.

A lone coral rose popped up just in time.

It's bright and cloudy all at once.

Sun bobbing through clouds sending light streaming through the windows so beautifully.

I find a tattered peach rose.

Perfectly vintage.

I decided to use my miniature lemon tree as my Christmas branch this year.

The gophers ate the roots and it toppled over.

I saved it, and painted it matte gold.

Covering it in dried autumn roses, garden flowers and berries.

I had a longing for something more natural this year.

So, I waited and waited to see what I would do on the tree front.

I always put up a branch with baubles.

Filling my lost lemon tree with dried roses had some kind of hauntingly wonderful beauty to it.

For my heart at least.

A dried rose tree was just the thing this year it seems.

I wish you the most dreamy warm holiday season.

I am quite busy, so many visits and things.

But, I'm enjoying it.

I went on a quick road trip, did some shopping, returned to madness and plunged.

And now here we are.

Christmas eve.

I can't even believe it.

The spirit of Christmas has truly filled my soul.

I'll go to a beautiful mass this evening.

Never forgetting the true meaning.

Then off for merriment a plenty.

I hope you are doing wonderful beyond words.

This year has zipped by at speeds I can't even fathom.

So, I'll take deep breaths and savor these next few days.

Thanks for being out there.

May your dreams escape your wishes, flutter around you and morph into reality.

I have a funny feeling, they will ♥

 

Lots of Love,

Vanessa

 

 

 

Paper Snowflakes ♥

I almost forgot my yearly tradition!

Cutting paper snowflakes.

(You can find my detailed tutorial here)

I can't think of anything better, during holiday madness, than unplugging & getting cozy somewhere to cut paper.

It's so calming in the midst of crazy days.

I like to cut all sorts of paper.

Tissue paper, sheet music, antique ledgers, wrapping paper & even regular ole computer paper.

I love hunting for curious scraps to cut.

This little piece of ledger is from 1891.

I used the "v" shaped snowflakes cutting method.

Sometimes I glitter them, sometimes I don't.

All the details about how to make your own are right here.

I loooove when little hearts turn up.

Tiny paper hearts tumbling down all over as you snip away.

So sweet.

I was feeling sort of overwhelmed by the holiday hustle and bustle.

I ventured to a busy store and the reality hit me.

:-)

But paper cutting brought me right back down to earth.

Just what I needed for sure.

I stuck them to my old cabinet and was pleased as punch.

Isn't it so funny, with all the fancy schmancy things out there?

In the end it's paper snowflakes that make me feel all holiday happy.

And calm to boot.

I bet you have oodles of wrapping paper hanging around.

Odd little pieces too?

Nothing better I can think of than making a few.

They're also so pretty placed on top of wrapped gifts.

I guess that fact is, snowflakes look lovely anywhere.

So, just when your head might pop off your body from holiday stress...

Stop the madness by sitting in a corner with something hot to sip and make snowflakes.

I bet it'll take the edge right off.

A natural valium.

Haha!

I'm watching mysteries and going to cut a few more.

Such a perfect Friday evening I'd day.

I should be doing a million other things but I faced the shopping world...

Shipped out all my order parcels with love from the shop.

Tackled a shed (yipes!)

And, am going to now take a free night.

I still have lots of clay goodies waiting for paint...

So, I'm thinking they should just be new year goodies.

I just submitted some art designs for some new products, can't wait to share.

But for now, it's all paper.

Will you make some snowflakes too?

Back to my tea & mysteries I go.

 

See you soon.

Love, V