A Fanciful Twist

2012 Valentine Printables!!

2012-01-24T16:02:03-07:00

Hello heloooo!! I have been trying to get here since Sunday. I have been up to so much, I can't even tell you, the projects, oh my! Baking, planting, more baking, more planting + painting & drawing. However, I will share those tid-bits another day, as I have a gift for you today.

Since you are extra super nice (not to mention witty, and fun and super duper lovely!) I decided to make you a new set of free printable Valentine's!

I absolutley adore adore adore Valentine's day!

I look at it as a me day, and like to do fun lovely things for myself.

It is also the perfect pick me up holiday after the Christmas went by too fast blues.

I love the ruffled over the topness of Valentine's day.

It's like, all the ruffles and hearts you can muster are not ever too much.

Just my kind of holiday!

The fun cakes and treats and sweet overload aura of the day don't hurt either.

Even if I don't adooooore sweets, they are just as fun to bake and make and look at.

There are 4 new styles on one sheet, which looks like this when printed...

CLICK HERE for the PRINTABLE PDF

Simply click the link above, give it several seconds to open, and then print!

I printed mine on cardstock...

Cut out each image, and voila...

Free Valentine's for you!

Cakes and love, and of course, an owl for good measure.

Always perfect messengers for all sorts of things, me thinks ;)

I so hope you like them.

I spent a whole day working on them and getting them here to you.

Why?

Because I like you.

Cheesy, but true.

Well......

I suppose I have to go keep digging.

You can't imagine how my project has turned into a monster.

I need a tractor.

I think?

OKay, tea-time...

See you soon ;)

Love, V

By the by, I whistled this the whole time I made you these Valentine's.

Click.

Silly. I know.

But, true too.

ps: You must peek at my sister's wreath tutorial.

I so want one now!

pss: When I started blogging, one of my first friends was Lisa-Gabrielle over at Jungle Dream Pagoda. She had a little girl and a toddler. Of course, 5 years later, she has a gorgeous talented teen and a very grown up sassy fabulous little girl.

Well, the littlest girl now has her own YouTube show. And let me tell you, she is sooo charming!!

Here's the video...

Who Who???

2012-01-20T10:00:45-07:00

You will never ever ever guess what happened this week...

Busiest week ever.

I don't even know where the days went.

So......

You know how I am all flower, tree and plant obsessed?

And talk to my plants, and practically live for seeds?

Well, the plant lovers dream came true!

This is what happened.........

My neighbor wanted to get a steam cleaner, and I had to run a few errands, so we jumped into my car, went here and there. Then, we stopped at one of those big box stores for her steam cleaner.

Of course, I "had" to go to the plant section.

My neighbor comes with me, and I nudge her in dismay, showing her that the manager is throwing all the plants away into a giant dumpster.

"If it doesn't look fresh, it is getting thrown away," she tells her employees.

(they looked a-okay to me, a bit over-grown or in need of some love, but okay)

My neighbor says "no no no no, why are you throwing them away???!!"

The manager looks at us and says, "well, you can have them if you want."

Have them, we ask?

Well, not "have" them she says.

Then she says, you can buy them for 25cents each.

25 CENTS each!

So, we load up 7 carts of trees and shrubs and desert plants.

We would have kept going, but the manager told us to walk away.

That was hard, knowing more would get tossed.

So, I take each item out of the cart so she can ring us up.

Then I load the car, in two trips.

Then, we unload at my house.

Then I organize it all by plant type.

Then my neighbor and I split our plants.

Half and half.

Then we load half back up into the car, and take them to her house.

Then we start planting, and planting and planting and...

Well, still planting.

These are mine below...

My suv was so full, you couldn't get another toothpick in...

We never worked so hard.

Loading, loading loading, bringing home.

But, we saved soooo many plants and trees from the trash can!

And it was soooooooooo worth it.

It was like, plant Christmas!!!

My dad says it (the tossing out of plants and things) happens at all big box stores, all the time. (which I knew, but sort of had blocked out)

Isn't that sad?

I still have my work cut out for me, however, I am working on some new paintings. So, I will have to learn real quick how to manage my time.

So, that is the plant tale.

I know some people who dumpster dive as a way of life, and find all sorts of perfect food and plants and things. It is crazy, what gets thrown away.

On another note...

We (me and lovee) needed to take a trip to the groceries this week. But, I sort of wanted to play that game, where you try to make a meal out of whatever you have in the house.

We always have staples like butter, flour, olive oil, oats, fruit, veggies etc.

So, I sauteed some onions, garlic and peppers.

Then I defrosted some pesto.

Then, I went searching on my own blog for this recipe for pizza dough.

And, boy was it better than I remembered.

Lovely dough to work with.

I get two pizzas out of one dough mixture, and I just knead everything by hand.

I made one veggie cheese, and one with just pesto and sweet onions.

I so recommend trying this dough this weekend.

Just make sure you run your bowl under warm water, before you begin working with your yeast. Just a tip.

I roll my dough out thin, as it puffs up nicely, and I like a thinner crust.

It was sooo goood.

And I am not even a pizza lover.

Oh oh, the Fairies also are on a journey out of the country, to their new home, so they are now available in print form, in my shopling.

So, that's the 411 around here.

That was such a wordy post, wasn't it?

I still can't get over the whole plant thing.

Anything weird wild wacky or plain crazy happen to you this week?

Off I go for now....

Love, V

It's the Little Things...

2012-01-17T12:16:00-07:00

It has been gloriously moist and cloudy here for two days. Such a treat to get a little rain. Yesterday was delicious. Moist cool air, drizzle and dark skies. Since it is always sunny here, a little dark drizzle makes me feel like baking and mystery novels, and doing tedious little chores.

I love scary movies during daylight hours (especially on rainy days). They seem less threatening to my over abundant imagination, with thoughts of things that go bump in the night.

I have been doing chores that are making me so happy. Like, reorganizing my sock drawers to other more accessible spots, with more space. Cleaning out and organizing earrings and make-up. Trying on ridiculous lipsticks. Going through a lifetime supply of hair ties and scarves.

Drawers for everything, places for everything.

Knowing where everything is.

While, some girl out runs trolls on the television.

Then I have lunch with Isaac and Malachi, and Norman Bates turns up for tea.

We invite Linda Blair, but, that gets a little too much, you know what I mean?

I'll have Tubular Bells in my head for a week.

All the while, it rains outside.

An oatmeal cake bakes.

The pups cozy up.

As I continue to happily organize this and that.

Some days are made for little things.

I love days when the most important chore I feel I must do is dust pretty rocks.

I so needed a day off.

It feels ridiculously decadent, to take time out to dust rocks.

To wash them, and admire their color under water.

Mister Lovee and I oooo and aaaah at the moist specimens.

Random change of subject...

Did I tell you I have a new neighbor?

She's been here since early autumn.

We have had so much fun, and we both love to go rock hunting.

Plus, I am the "other mother" to Harley.

Her son, and my new boyfriend.

He is massive huge in person.

I mean HUGE.

I have some lovely purple bruises from playing with him :)

He will nip your bottom and your love handles if you ignore him.

He demands love 24/7.

Matty and him had a scuffle.

Matty lost, but isn't afraid, still.

But Miles, Miles loves Harley.

They have play dates.

It is so great, to have two girl ladies on my street that I enjoy.

Well, I am feeling a little under the weather today, so I won't chat your eyeballs off.

But I do want to share some garden snippets before I go, that are making me butterflies in belly happy.

Like, Icelandic Poppies...

And, watching them spring open...

Winter flowers are the grandest treat.

Just when you think you can't stand the anticipation for spring...

Winter poppies unfurl...

With ranunculus and tulips popping through the earth...

I know my flower talk is probably disgustingly boring. I just can't help being obsessed.

Probably more than last year.

It's keeping me sane.

Do you think you can bear more garden posts here and there?

(yarrow)

So, I have bought some bulbs and plants online in the last year and a half, and since then, my snail mailbox is FULL of garden catalogs.

Flowers and more.

Dangerous those catalogs are.

I get all crazed, promising not to plant any more, whilst folding pages of things I must order.

I swear my heartbeat turns up real high, and I can't think rationally when I look through them.

Am I alone in this, or does the same thing happen to you?

Okay, enough babble for today, I want to dust a little more, and then go to Le Poste, since it was closed yesterday....

I love dusting.

I don't mind having trinkets and treasures that I have to dust. It is one of my favorite chores, and I look upon it fondly. It gives me time to admire all the little things I collect.

What is your fave chore?

Mine are dusting and washing and bleaching sinks.

Off I go, see you soon with a sweet gift ;)

ps: Speaking of scary movies...

Have you seen, Don't be Afraid of the Dark?

Ooooo, scary little troll fairy things!!!

Complete with a haunting mansion and enchanted garden!

I just love Guillermo Del Toro.

I ♥ Elves + Willa Finds a New Home

2012-01-13T15:37:25-07:00

Hello there!! I have had a crazy week, busy as a bee, back and forth to the city house. Movers helping me bring some big things I wanted in the country, etc etc. Plus a couple trips on my own. All the while, Willa has been going bonkers. Every single one of your homes is the one she wants to live in. The choice, well, as you can imagine, impossible.

So, she called on Mister Lovee to help her after reading each of your notes over and over and over. She and he made an executive decision together...

Every home she could snuggle into seemed perfect, all with their own enchantments, all with grand love. She was so torn! Cottages by the sea, fellow tilters, snuggling up with furry ones, broken hearts, an 8 year old with a perfect little bed by her own bed, or even a wonderful suggestion that she be a surprise for Alicia Paulson. Each and every one of you had sublime ideas and places, and homes for Willa to voyage to.

She is so touched, I can't even tell you.

Alas, she could not choose, so her and Mister Lovee wrote down all your names, and popped them into a not yet worn Christmas gift shoe....

Gave them a couple tosses, and drew a name...

The name???

Jenn and Mr. Gordo!!!

(hooray hoooray!)

Willa has found her home by picking a name out of a shoe, since all your homes seemed just perfect!

But...

And here is a big but.

She really loved all your home descriptions and heartfelt notes.

So, she decided to consult with the Elfin King, and see if she could get clearance to gift you all with something extra special.

A badge of elfin honor if you will.

And so, we have a gift for you!

Your very own, honorary member badge, for the Elfin Secret Society!!

Click Here for your Printable PDF Elfin Badge

(There are 4 to a page. Please give the link 60+ seconds to open)

The elfin kingdom agreed that, if you can open your hearts as such, to a wee elfin creature, then you deserve to hold the magic and protection that elfin power will bestow upon you forever more. After-all, in order to love an elf, a little section of your own heart must be elfin itself.

Just cut out your badge and wear it proudly.

Or tuck it under your pillow, or inside your jacket.

Wherever you like, really.

Thanks ever so much, for being so much fun ♥

But mostly, for believing!

I wish I had an elf for each and every one of you!

Much love, V

Elfin Dance...

An Elfin in Search of a Home...

2012-01-09T15:36:38-07:00

Hiya! Boy do I have something exciting to share with you. I have someone very special I want to introduce you to. This is Willa Piecrustbottoms Elfonzo. She is a wee elfin, who happens to be looking for a home. You see, she tips ever so gently to her left, which made her afraid that you would think that she had been sampling the shroomnog a bit too much, and therefore wouldn't want her to come live with you...

Of course, I told her that was plain hogwash, and not to be so silly.

Tipping to the side a little is no big deal at all, don't you agree?

She has lots of magic to share.

And when I say magic, I mean honest to goodness real as rain, elfin magic.

Plus, she has so many stories to share...

Especially fairy tales gathered in the forest from beautiful winged creatures...

She has also learned endless tales of lore from Auntie Winnifred Bidelia...

Who she adores cozying up to for tea and sweets and secret enchanted pumpkin tales.

She gets along with all sorts of creatures, never one to cause too much mischief. But more, a comforting elfin soul, looking to add sparkle to your life ;)

Do you think your home is elfin friendly?

Could you give Willa a loving home, filled with wonderments a plenty?

You know, she loves midnight carnivals and such, so, you might have your work cut out for ya.

Really, all she wants is a nice, friendly, happy place to call home.

Perhaps that's with you?

She was wondering if you might let her know the reasons she should come live with you? What fun things you would do, or where you might let her cozy up in your abode?

She'll choose a place to live based on any comments received, and will make her decision by the next post.

She says it might be a difficult decision, but she is eager to begin an exciting journey.

She is ever so hopeful that one of you might want to let her into your lil' world, and can't wait to pack her tiny bag and start a new adventure!

All you have to do is leave a comment with your elfin thoughts, and how Willa will fit into your world, and she'll choose a home in a couple of days ;)

Love, Vanessa and Willa