A Fanciful Twist

The Painted Sofa

So, once upon a time I had this grey striped sofa, or settee if you will.

It was lovely and had great potential, however...

It imparted a drab feeling in every room I put it in.

It really wanted it to be bright and bold, and it sort of felt sad that it wasn't living its best life.

And so I began dreaming of it wearing pink, and I set out to find fabric. However, our family upholsterer had a family emergency so he would be out of work for a while. I put the sofa on the back burner and just left it floating here and there with no real home.

And then, on one very random jolt of inspiration recently (as I was walking by said couch), I decided I disliked it so much that I'd just paint it (right at that very moment) and could always have it reupholstered later. I looked in my paint stash and found a gallon of white flat house paint which I poured into a bowl - and then squirted in shades of red and pink acrylic craft paint to create a candy pink color I loved.

The perfect shade for a room that had a lot of blue in it.

You see, I wasn't worried because I had done this before.

What?!

Yep, I was prepared and knew what to expect.

As you may or may not recall, I had painted a sofa with white satin house paint years ago right here.

And so, I plunged.

My blue little conservatory library was really truly begging for a little pop of pink.

I decided to leave the grey stripe fabric on the sides and just paint the front pink.

I did about 3 coats and let it dry in between each coat.

Then I smeared a little gold paint over the grey wood edges.

And just like that, a little paint transformed this wee gal.

I love looking at her as I play the piano.

She feels happy and alive now.

Just what the doctor ordered.

She sure elevated my mood too, and bonus, you can change her up with...

Different pillows.

Oh and bonus, our local furniture tester was the first one up there and totally approves.

So what does the fabric feel like you ask?

The previous sofa I painted was done with a satin to glossy paint and it feels a lot like leather. It wears perfectly, is wipeable, and has never cracked. In the case of this pink sofa, I used a flat paint which I love the look of and I do not mind the feel of, but it is definitely matte to the touch and quite firm.

The fabric on this sofa was rather wavy in the seat and still has that with the paint, so it truly does retain a fabric look.

I am quite pleased with it and now we spend so much more time in this room.

I truly believe that most décor needs a little pink somewhere in whatever shade one prefers.

From candy pink, to ballet pink, to palest pink to peachy pink and beyond.

They all can impart such a wonderful little feeling.

And so, that is the story of how a pink little sofa came to be.

As I said earlier, you can click here to see my other painted sofa for more tips and tricks.

I am really so happy with how it turned out.

I can't imagine upholstering it now, with just some paint I turned a drab piece into my new favorite piece. Now every room is fighting to have this lil' sofa live in it.

A happy candy pink sure changed the entire feeling in this room.

It just made it so much light and brighter - amazing what paint can do isn't it?

Anywho, speaking of paint, I've been painting a lot in my studio.

I may not share paintings every day, but I have closets full of artwork because it is my life blood, and I just have to fling paint around a little everyday for my sanity alone. Painting emotions is as healing as anything I tell ya. Such a great way to purge with wild abandon.

Anywho, I have some new paintings coming - and also working on a superrrrrrr fun project in my country house garden.

I don't want to get too excited until it arrives but it's paid for and has some new shoes and is ready to rock and roll!

Anywho, if you fancy a go at painting fabric, try it out on some old pieces - even an old tattered chair you might have.

So much easier than you think <3 <3 <3

Welllls, off I go for now ;-)

 

 

 

Ps: as a side note, the original fabric is a cross between linen & burlap. Here's a super upclose look for requests♡

 

Pps:  As I said in my last post, I'll try to post what I was listening to while I was typing this.

My entire life revolves around music, all sorts of music - major music lover here, you?

Today I was listening to the whole Bat For Lashes, The Haunted Man album.

I had a hard time finding the entire album to post here but you can find it on iTunes if you'd like to listen.

 

Of Vintage Roses & Cozy Nooks

What are the things you love the most?

This is the question I always ask myself when I am creating my own secret little nook.

A space for getting in touch with myself and where I feel most myself.

The things that I love are flowers, old books, things found in nature such as shells or curious stones, twigs...

There is also little I love more than dried flora, almost of any kind.

I love vintage art - florals, birds, ships, certain scenes...

I love slowly collecting all these things and putting them together.

Even if your little space is just a table and a wall, a bedroom, a closet, a nook - 

Whatever the space is that you carve out for yourself, big or small, just that it be a space of youness..

A place where you can go and recenter yourself.

Where you can ground yourself back into who you are.

I picked all the spent flowers in my garden and set them down in a colorful heap.

Even just a few minutes in my little space brings me back to myself.

It helps with mood and feelings.

Being in touch with myself has been the most important thing in my life as far back as I can remember.

I made a commitment to myself around age 19 to try to stay in touch with myself and be completely true to myself (as true as one can be despite life's ups and downs). I realized how critical it was to find my own path and joys. I vowed to myself back then to remain on this path of being true to myself and of inner peace.

There have been ups and downs and all arounds but somehow I find my way back.

Still today I return to those memories and building blocks of who I am.

There are things that are so important to my well being.

Growing a garden for hope.

Collecting spent roses and tattered things.

Taking a few moments for myself, to drown out the noise and be present.

Paint, sculpt, believe in my imagination.

Old dusty pages.

Trips to books shops.

Taking time to read actual pages - touch them and smell them.

Surrounding myself with little joys and moments of me time.

Taking time to ground myself and be mindful.

I have learned how to go out of my way to be kind to myself.

To not get caught up with nonsensical what ifs that almost never ever happen.

To find joy in my daily life.

To carve out little sacred spots where I can spend a few minutes at least.

Amongst the pages and petals...

With stories and dreams an imaginations.

Dreaming of all the things I still want to do.

It's never to late to chase a dream I've realized.

You are the maker of your life's magic.

To carve out little spaces of joy in.

To get off your phone and go to a café or book shop.

To wander around an antique mall.

To dig in your garden soil.

To kick your feet up and relax.

It's time to be good to yourself.

Let all the worries and nagging thoughts drift off.

Sometimes if I'm getting caught up in a bad thought I say - Vanessa, do you really truly care about this?

Then I have to laugh and say noooo!

Chances are I do not truly care about it.

I really don't care about things that suck the joy out of life.

I also love flipping negative thoughts into positive ones.

I allow myself to feel things, allow all my feelings.

And I make sure to carve out a little space for myself.

After a little time in my space I realize, I am infused and inspired.

As creative people we need to have an outflow.

And creativity can be manifested in so many ways.

Not just in making art but in decorating, baking, sewing, setting up vignettes.

The list is endless.

Taking time with books and magazines is also so important.

To touch the pages and take big breathes of air.

Being mindful and present in our own lives is critical.

Take care of yourself and love yourself.

Keep a life-line open to your child-like self.

Don't be afraid to feel all the feels.

Don't be afraid - 

And also...

It's never too late to do anything you want to do.

The illusion of time is just that, an illusion.

It's not too late or too early.

It's now that matters.

I have so many things I want to do.

Then I realized, I still can and will try to.

It's all we can do.

Try everyday.

Be good to yourself.

Okay?

Do joyful things for yourself & collect bits of nonsense if you like to.

It's so much fun!

 

Love, V

 

 

Of Enchantment & Garden Magic

How to explain the where of where I have been...

In my gardens...

I have been with knees in dirt, scents of earth, bewitching spring, petal gifts of nature, light of dreams, breeze that twists your hair over your head in dance, song of birds - moments so beautiful I have filed them in my deepest memories.

And somehow...

Somewhere...

In these unfathomably beautiful moments I have urged myself - 

Willed myself really...

To attempt to capture something through my lense.

I try for that moment when the sun begins to drop to the west, and graces my rose arbor with a daily gift so intensely wonderful that there is no kind of thank you I could ever muster.

Perhaps by continuing to plant seeds and roots, she hears me and knows.

I think about these things with each click of my camera.

Plates full of gentle flowers.

Perfect golden hour.

I gasp at the beauty I am allowed to collect and share with you through this photographic contraption of wonder.

I pass the gift on.

Because really, what other reason do I write this blog for?

What other reason do I collect photos and moments and tales if not for you?

It's all for you.

Friends, kindred strangers, beauty seekers, artful souls - nature lovers.

Whoever is there, on the other side of this -

There is no other reason to do all of this other than to share it with you.

Some inexplicable need to pass it on.

The best I can do for nature - to hand you a slice of what I see without asking anything in return.

Just to know that maybe somewhere, somehow, you have reached through the screen and taken what you need from the snippets shared.

That's all that inspires me, and nothing more.

No rhyme or reason necessary.

And so here, at this beautiful golden hour in time, I welcome you.

I thank you.

I invite you in - always.

Through the light -

Into the swirling rose tunnel...

That slowly beckons you - 

Embracing you in a little rose vine twist of sorts.

A fanciful twist if you will.

I had to seek within myself, ask, why I do what I do?

I know.

It's why I do anything that I do in life.

Love.

I share, I snap pics, I chat with whoever I imagine to be out there.

For weeks, months, years - 

A decade and into the second one - 

For no other reason than love.

I do it all because it feels good.

Good to share - good to be here.

Because a piece of my heart lives in this virtual theater space.

Because so many of you, I have known for so long now, are a part of my love for this.

This nonsensical dreamy fantasy world filled with moments of real life.

Merged together like a swirl ice cream cone, a place for you.

Seekers, believers, kind hearted creatures.

Yes.

That's all.

Nothing more and nothing less.

That's how I somehow weave my way back here.

Despite the busiest of days, crazy life, and that thing called time.

I seek the balance and hope to find it.

So we can continue to meet through the twist in the arbor - 

Meet me there - 

Here?

Hope so.

<3 <3 <3

 

 

 

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