A Fanciful Twist

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

 

 

 

 

 

Welcome October of Pumpkins & Magical Things

My dear autumn lovers...

Our month of magic has finally arrived.

A gift of nature unlike any is always October.

I had another post with photos planned, but I will save it for next time because there is no other place to be on the first day of October than in the pumpkin patch.

Early morning is magic in this little place here.

The birds sing, the boys sniff around, the gift of a long hot summer arrives...

With pumpkins and early crisp air.

It will be very warm here for a while longer, but autumn is definitely present in the glorious early mornings.

Another pumpkin patch to fill up the heart of a pumpkin girl.

I have had a pumpkin patch for as long as I can remember now.

They love the desert sun, and are one of the greatest gifts of autumn, wouldn't you say?

Some have the longest stems this year.

I will be picking most of these in the next few days.

I noticed this morning that there are fresh punkin' babes being born, so I don't have to say goody-bye quite yet.

The boys love to peek around the orange orbs of pure wonderfulness.

I built a chicken coop bird aviary this summer, what a difficult job that was.

It looked so great in the photos, but I received a box of metal bars and rolls and rolls of chicken wire.

Which meant on the hottest days I was out there assembling it from scratch, cutting chicken wire until I could cut no more, and in the end - I am so glad I did.

It will be a place for rose vines to climb up and other little plants to be safe in.

Funny enough, Miles loves a certain grass to chew on and it grew right in the coop this summer.

And now, one out of 9 fairytale pumpkin seeds I planted survived, and has little babies growing on it right inside the coop too.

I am so overjoyed that October is here.

Time to enjoy and rest a little from months of toiling in the garden.

I do love it so, but the restful months are lovely too.

Time for creating and crafting, baking and refueling for next spring and summer.

The roses are returning, as our autumn turns into a second spring.

The flowers come back in abundance, and I always know from memory, that November 1st is quite floriferous.

I just picked some roses and look who was in there.

I quickly took her back outside.

And now, there is a little spookifying going on...

Because if you know me, you know that I love Halloween.

I have a well of wonderful Halloween's stacked up in the vaults of my memory.

Beginning with my childhood, and the loveliest memories of October magic.

Where it all began I suppose.

Welcome October, I can't wait to see what it holds for us dreamers, magic seekers, and lover's of whimsy.

 

xoxo, Vanessa

 

 

ps: There is a great YouTube channel called Autumn Cozy, great to listen to, and put up on your t.v. too.

Just a whole bunch of beyond fabulous imagery and sounds with music, really neat!

I am currently listening to this, Rainy Day Coffee Shop Ambience <3

Enjoy!