A Fanciful Twist

Paint & Pretty Things

February brings out the extra ruffly girl in me.

I love how the buzz of Valentine's day kicks out the last of the holiday blues.

Doesn't it?

I love holidays.

I don't care if they are commercialized, that has no bearing on if I like them or not.

I just adore the light-hearted feelings they impart.

That's all.

Plain and simple.

Like ruffled petals.

The last time I saw my dad he grabbed my phone, which has a floral phone case, and said, wow you are sooo feminine!

It made me laugh.

It was something I hadn't realized, ridiculous, but true.

Then I was like, oh my goodness, I am one of those lace loving frilly poof girls!

And it took me a moment to realize my reality.

Hahaha!

I like glitter and crepe paper, ruffles and pink.

Oh my!

Who knew?

Did you know?

How do you feel about pink and ruffles?

Yay or nay?

I happen to also love rustic and modern and simple.

(and more)

But ruffles win in my house, I guess?

So does vintage and antique china.

What can I say?

Scallops and pretty things and hobnail get this magpie's attention.

Curious little things!

Sun light through blue glass makes me happy too.

What about you?

I adore sea glass as well.

Isn't it so special?

But that's another tale.

Tonight I have paint and pencil out.

Faces coming to life.

Fluttering paper dresses.

Telling me little things.

Such tiniest little face details I can hardly focus.

Ballet days.

Painting this and that.

And sneaking away to have tea and be inspired by carnations.

Pretty little tea things inspire me so.

Are you into vintage or antique hobnail and tea things?

I just loooooove those beautiful old antique stores filled to bursting with such goodies.

I love peeking around shelves for hours.

So many little treasures to admire.

Stories they hold.

I find it so relaxing.

Now that I own so many ahem, treasures, I only bring home things I absolutely adore.

Which is quite fun in itself.

To only bring home the most special little thing.

Or sometimes, nothing at all.

Find any fun things out on thriftventures lately?

I think I'll go into town tomorrow.

But for tonight, paint waits for me...

Hope you are doing wonderful!!

Happy February ♥

 

Looove, V

 

 

 

New Littles in the Shop ♥

Just in the nick of time!

New littles in the shopling!

So many faces and tales, oh my!

Weeks of making and getting to know these lovelies has been such a joy!

I love them all soooooo ♥

And guess who stopped in from the Fairy Tale Forest?

A Frog Prince!!

Heloooo Edmund!

Smiling sunflower elves...

All decked out for the family portrait.

Funny little girls in party hats...

Sparkly happy cakeheads!

Ribbbbit!

Kiss me now or lose me forever ♥

Delicate whispered tales from Celestine the swan...

Giggles from little elves...

Sparkly wings...

AND...

Our first extra large doll in ages.

Years.

Meet Francesca Flowerbottoms.

We love her to pieces!

She is about 14" tall seated from toe to the top of her head.

Totally hand-sculpted, as are all the others.

All hand made clothes.

And vintage jute hair, deconstructed and reconstructed :-)

So many flowery treats in her hair, pink butterfly too.

Mwwwuah!

All handmade clothes, tea stained and lace ribboned to the T!

Of course, she goes nowhere without her pet toadstool.

Everyone gathering.

Looking for homes.

This really is as close to a family portrait as we all get around these woods.

I loooove them so.

Little pieces of my heart in clay.

Looking to go live with you.

 

All in the shop now.

Right here at, aFancifulTwist.Etsy.com

 

Soooo, that is where I have been.

If you have been wondering.

Ever so busy.

Regular blogging now resumes!

xoxo

 

Looove, V

 

 

Witchies and Ghosties and the Man in the Moon! {New Shop Treats}

These days of magic and dreams flutter about.

New shop treats find their way.

*they have all now found homes, but there will be more soooon*

 

October with its curious mischief, brought some new littles to share.

All hand-sculpted and hand-painted by me.

Thought up in the wee after hours of nighttime, when goblins come out for story time.

They brought with them...

Sweetie Moonface, the Man in the Moon!

Sitting amongst the clouds.

And a bevy of sparkled wee creatures.

Like witches and ghosties and tiny pumpkin loves!

Sweetie Moonface smiles with glee surrounded by his friendly clouds.

There are also the kindest of witches, dolled up for the occasion.

Such as Gretta with her two pumpkin babes!

While pink pumpkin houses always make us smile.

With little teal shutters and rounded elfin doors.

Everyone would loooove to fly off to new homes near and far!

I know little witch Anga and her kitty Charlemagne would love to live with you.

All dolled up and sparkly as can be.

Hee hee heeeee!!

Oh yes, he is reminding me to say, ahem....

Sweetie Moonface has a pet star :-)

I'd love a pet star myself, wouldn't you?

A gathering in the leaves.

On this lovely day of October.

Charming ghosties with tales to tell!

I am certain that Little Witch Franny's pink ghostie named Persnickety is full of tales to whisper your way.

And sweet little witchies...

With adventures to share.

All are now........

In my online shop right here, aFancifulTwist.Etsy.Com

(they have all now found homes, but there will be more soooon, promise!)

 

There is magic and frolic and mayhem fluttering about everywhere these days.

With a party looming and little faces looking for homes, on their way to new homes.

They will be shipped the same day they are ordered.

Since Halloween is not so far away.

Hooooray!

 

 I have noooo idea what I will whip up for my Halloween party.

Never fear, this is not uncommon.

I am one to leave things right down to the wire.

So, tonight I begin.

Which sort of (totally) makes the bustle more exciting for me.

;-)

 

Love, Vanessa

 

 

 

Makings...

Peeking in right quick.

Quiet little making days in the studio.

I love them so.

Little faces getting dolled up and coming to life.

Bits of fabric and sewing away.

Clay, papier mache' and paint build away.

Sewing tiny toile pantaloons.

And stitching crepe paper.

Those are our days these days.

It's like little bits of real magic swirl around when we hunker down in the studio.

We listen to curious tales and enchanting music.

We pretend we are in an old time toy shop.

I can almost hear Geppetto humming from time to time.

Is he here?

Is that Jiminy...?

 

 

 Happy Sigh.......

 

Hope you are doing lovely today.

I am off to munch crispy salad, my fave.

And, to check on tea stained garments, eeee!

 

Love, V

 

 

 

Through the Trees ~ The Loveliest Day {New Painting}

Through clouds that billow in tufts of cotton candy pink...

Dreams of memories live.

Places in time.

Where trees bloom and mushrooms grow.

Where pale teal skies backdrop the most wonderful moment in tine.

Where bike baskets burst with fresh flowers.

And all manner of treats are cycled in.

The gramophone plays.

As the setting is set...

On The Loveliest Day, Through the Trees

A picnic makes it just perfect.

A garland of crocheted lace hankies hang on branches.

Little friends stop in just to say hello.

Hello...

As a cheese wheel in a bell jar and a decadent chocolate cake are set out.

With little sips of tea from bowls.

The sun is warm, the breeze perfection.

Your favorite tune dances about.

That is where we have been.

A memory of the heart.

Made up of dreams.

 

The painting I have been working on is now complete.

 

Through the Trees ~ The Loveliest Day.

It can be found right here, in my online shop.

24" x 18" x 1.5"

 

It is such a joy to get to spend moments with paintbrush creating dream memories.

I love sheep and bikes and teal skies and cotton candy clouds and cakes and gramophones.

Do you?

 

 

There is another baby owl I have to check on.

So I best be on my way.

See you really soon!

 

 

Love, V

 

 

 

 

A Painting in 5 Acts {Part 1}

Over a year ago, a dream came to me.

A tale, a story, an art piece.

Slowly it unraveled.

A long trunk, a big heart, led the way.

Stars, music and blue sky drips turned up for the painting party.

Along with golden honey.

My early art days of abstraction, painted emotions as I call them, intertwined with today's sketching of details and characters met hand in hand.

The first character turned up over a year ago.

A creature so dear to my heart.

I sketched it at 4 a.m.

Right onto my canvas with dripping teal blue skies, paper stars made of antique french letters that I dared to cut up.

Honey dripped like gold.

My heart, full of those winged little creatures that make the stuff.

And...

Then bursting forth, I met the first part of this huge painting.

There she was.

Strong and thoughtful.

Wise and knowing.

A symbol for caring and kindness and hope in my dream.

Free handed in pencil, onto canvas.

 

And so, I had a plan for this large complex piece.

A painting, in 5 acts, I thought.

Each act offered as a print.

Until finally the whole piece comes to light.

A year's work (or longer), very close to being completed.

At which point the original will be available as well.

I already know most of the story.

More than half of it is in painting process right now, close to completion.

The beauty and hope and dream quality that lives in it has come forth.

A mixture of abstractions and details.

Much like our dream thoughts.

 

So, to begin the unraveling journey..

Today I am sharing...

 

Elephant Hearted.

The central part of the painting.

 

The first print of this 5 act piece...

Now available in my shop.

Right here.

 

 I can't wait to finish up and be able to share the next parts of this puzzle art piece.

:-)

 

See you soooon!

 

 

ps:

I don't know about you, but I am an elephant lover of the deepest variety.

I have carried around a little elephant with me for a decade and a half.

I got it from a little old man, sitting in a rocking chair outside his old barn porch in Northern Arizona.

I was on a road trip.

Going anywhere and nowhere.

Here and there.

Meandering.

Enjoying.

Down a winding street in a thick green forest.

There he was.

Rocking away.

He was selling all of his earthly possessions.

A little wooden sign sat by a rickety wood picket fence, with wild roses rambling along.

I swooned when I saw a tiny elephant.

He said, it was my wife's favorite.

She had passed a few years back.

So I took her elephant with me, and hold it near and dear to this day.

Elephant love ♥

 

 

Water + Color

Where bees buzz around lavender colored rosemary flowers...

Water droplets, like jewels, gather.

As color finds its way to pencil...

But not without aid of those jeweled droplets...

That allow for rosy cheeks...

In shades of petal pink.

Where paintbrush...

Is happiest to be.

Pink on flowers...

And ribbons.

Pink balloons...

Pink hair.

Pink scalloped edges.

Pink everywhere today it seems.

And buttercup yellow hair, must not forget.

Buttercups that call your name, whispered in the breeze.

Canopying in secret places, where you go to dream.

As honeysuckle guides the way.

Ah that scent.

Past endless patches of the most delicious candy sweet smelling wild chamomile.

Whilst hummingbirds gather to take a bath.

Fluttering around, two plus three.

Sipping, playing.

Bathing.

Every morning bright and early.

Hummingbirds that trust.

And swoop by, batting humming wings on hair.

Just for a sip.

Pink is the story of the day it seems.

Color plus petals.

Ruffled tulips begin to wake.

Down the path where shadows play.

Under bright skies, where doggies nap their days away.

Right on our lil' parcel of earth.

Only waking to climb trees.

While I convince their father, that please, dogs need tree-houses too.

And I dare say, he, being a dreamer like me and you...

Sits and ponders.

Nodding yes yes, this should be a thing we do, written all over his face.

As if a tree-houses for grown girl, and boys with fur, is something that is quite an option.

.

Have you ever seen pups love trees as such?

(okay, it was a squirrel plus shenanigans, but hey, who's counting?)

For now...

It's all about water plus color.

While working on new art cards.

And watching nature roll by.

On sunny days in a bizarre Arizona.

Where everything is blooming.

Too early.

Where I just watch and see what is to come.

Trees that only lost their leaves in early December (our autumn), coming back to life so soon.

Aren't they still sleepy?

Such warmth, no winter yet.

Lovee says it will come.

Will it?

Interesting weather times.

 

For now...

We wait and paint.

 

How are you out there in your neck of the woods??

 

I finished my book.

I enjoyed it quite much.

Read it all in 1.5 days.

I am now starting a new one.

Oooo, reading obsessions ensue!

 

Love, V

 

 

 

Happy Little Creatures ♥ (Shop Update)

Hoooray, finally!!

In the shop now, and searching for homes near and far!

Owlies, princesses, bunny ballerinas, elves, kitties, and hooot hooot hoooot!!

Pink birds in pearls!

Pretty dressed girls and lace edged bloomers!

A garland of stars too.

Lovely lasses ready for festivities!

In very old dictionary page dresses encrusted with vintage mica flakes.

Everyone is preparing for a gathering in the forest...

They're so excited!

They want to go on voyages and have adventures!

Will you take them there?

Will they whisper tales to you whilst riding on pink deer??

Pink deer with flower wreaths and sparkley ears?

Oh yes.

 In elfin hats and lemon meringue gear?

With birds on flower crowns?

Scurrying through the forest in those vintage paper gowns?

And purrrring kitty sounds?

Oh yes yes, they give a hoot, they do!

They ask about you all the time.

 

Finnie and Alistair shall lead the way...

To their shopling adoption agency here...

I know, I was slower than slow.

Actually, I haven't stopped working on getting thes listed since yesterday.

Not slow, just tedious work that photo listing business.

The behind the scenes mumbo jumbo is craaazzzzy cakes.

But finally, here they are!!

Phewey... ;)

Much Love,

Vanessa

 

 

 

ps:  Also, there's an impromptu Christmas sale over at my Jewelry shop, right here.

30% off, use coupon code at the jewelry shop: HolidayMadness

Use code at checkout ♥

There will be Creatures ♥

I have been working feverishly...

Between midnight painting and major birthday week fun, there are littles!

I am shooting for getting them into my shop this evening.

(although more realistically tomorrow)

I need to take pics etc.

Not sure if I will pull it off tonight, but there will for sure be new little creatures and dolls and faces in the shop within the next 24 hours.

I will come here and do a blog post about it before I list the littles in my shop.

They are getting last minutes sparkles, rapunzel hair do's, tutus, varnish, flower neck wear, ruffled collars...

You know, the necessary accessories in life ;)

 

I have a question though.

 

Honestly.

 

Besides your cat or dog...

 

What is your fave animal, and why?

I need to know.

 

The why is important too.

 

Looove, V

(back soooooon)

 

 

 

ps:  My heart is really into killer whales lately.  Between the movie Blackfish and Luna, I am beside myself with love and pity for those suffering.  They have a need for socializing amongst them, and they love each other.  They also are sooooo crazy smart, like dolphins too.

I love koala's too, they seem so loving and soulful.

And goats.

And and and.

Once I saw a show where a guy was crying over the love of his goats, and I totally got it.

Oh, and the shenanigans those raccoons get into!

Oh my!

 

Paper Dress Dances + Somerset Holidays & Celebrations Mag + New Art

And so we head off to see the circus girl...

Anticipating those colorful scented nights under cool moonlight.

(new painting in my shop)

Those lights sparkling ever so bright.

Beams of color, imagination in flight.

With such grace she dances on point, way up in the sky.

Every color of your wildest dreams comes alive...

Under the big top of pure delight.

This is the piece I have been working on for about a year, or more.

Adding color in layers and layers...

Sparkles, and gold leaf, and orbs galore.

Circus magic conjurings swirling in my head...

She dances and twirls, calls my name sometimes at midnight.

More sparkle?

Okay, you got it.

And now, she is ready to find a new home.

To start a new journey and adventure.

The Circus Girl

24" x 24" x 1.5

In my shop.

 

Since I will be going on an adventure soon, I thought I would ad these new pieces at the last minute.  I just didn't want more time to pass.

And this little lass has been on an expedition for a year over to Stampington.

So, she's eager to find a home.

Candy colors of party goodness...

She is also now in my shopling.

Sweetie sweets.

With pink and white stripes surrounding the piece.

You can spy her in the 2013 issue of

Somerset Holidays and Celebrations.

It's a scrumptious dreamy issue by the way.

So happy to have little miss be a part of it.

A couple other pieces were on a little journey...

This piece comes to me in my dreams.

I think spring lives deep in the heart.

It's always there...

Even with autumn upon us, the weather shifts, and we get an autumn spring for a few weeks.

Flowers rebloom, and come back to life after the very hot summer.

Then winter spring planning - the yearning for fresh buds, the anticipation.

Spring in the heart...

Awakening of Spring 10" x 10" 1.5"

In my shop.

Sparkles of dew, and hope...

Giant flowers, like Thumbelina in the garden.

A heart full of spring indeed.

A little different from being at the circus - but still two places I love.

The peace of the garden, the magic of the circus.

Don't you love both of those places as well?

Oh oh, last but not least...

Let me not forget...

Nature's Lullaby.

10" x 10" x 1.5"

I wish I could have that background on my wall in my house.

I love those flowers and colors of teals and pinks.

There is gold leaf edging with fairy sparkles surrounding this piece.

Can you hear the tune?  Of nature's lullaby?

It's so hard to convey the sparkle via photos.

Paper dress dancing ensues...

All pieces so different aren't they?

But all little facets and colors in my heart.

All pieces now looking for homes.

And, can be found in my online shop here.

I loved making these so much.

Thanks for peeking in.

Love, V

 

 

 

ps:  We have had ever so many projects up our sleeve. Tiling a bathroom, organizing drawers.  How do kitchen drawers get so insane?  It's silly really.  Why does organizing ones closets and cabinets feel so good?  Well, my shop will be open for a few more days, and then I will take a little journey.  After which, we need to talk about a Halloween Haunted Tea Party I have up my sleeve.  You game?  It will be late in happening, but it will happen if I have any say about it, k? ♥