Hi there! Hope you had a lovely & safe weekend. We did indeed. A tiny escape + some much longed for, creating and real book reading time. Oh how I loove books… It has been raining and gloomy (which I adore), hence the darkish photos today.
Before we talk about art fun, I have to tell you about a funny little thing that happened. A little before the Mad Tea Party, I stopped at a wonderful old candy shoppe and picked up some treats. I planned on saving them for the party. But guess what? I forgot all about them. They were tucked safely, deep in the fridge. I howled when I found them. I think I am losing my marbles, I tell ya!!
So, I figured, I could bring them out and share them with you now! The Mister and I were tickled to find such forgotten treats..
My whole life, I was one of those kids who never liked sweets. I can’t remember accepting cake and ice cream at any birthday parties. I just never found anything enticing about sugar. Then a few years ago, the age of 28 rolled around, and all of a sudden, I started to like sweets a bit more. I am not a sweets lover to the core yet, like my Mammie or Dad or Mr. Lovee. But I do have an unusual sweet tooth every now and then. And I adore beautiful pastries!! Mr. Lovee eats so many sweets, he even smells like cookies and candy 🙂
Anyhow, grab a treat and tell me your tale about your love for sweets? Or perhaps salty?? or perhaps even, tart? What is your fave??
Speaking of fave, whilst veering, how do you take your coffee or tea?
That is of course, if you like them at all? Truth be told, I drink my coffee black. No cream, no sugar. Is that strange? I think I really freak my friends (and family) out. They offer coffee with all kinds of creamers and flavors, and I say, "No thanks, just black…" Then they stare at me, like I am insane. I do not care for flavored coffees either (But Mombie does). Blame Mr. Lovee. He got me into making really really good coffee. Ground fresh from amazing beans every day…
So with that, I will share how my favorite moments begin… With a dark sip, a pencil, a pen, and some card stock…
I love drawing time. The other day, I had this dream where I was actually inside of one of my paintings. It was outrageously magnificent.
Sometimes, when I have an idea for a painting, the idea spills out in one fell swoop. Other times it pieces itself together, over a period of time. Sometimes it takes minutes, other times it take a few days…
In a post in the future, I’ll show you some stacks of the thousands of drawings I have… Some of those come from drawings I do for other people (logos/banners and such). Those can take weeks… Research, and ideas, melding together… Others come from my nightly drawing, before bed… But all of them feel like special little pieces of my heart…
The first painting I am going to share with you today, came to life like most of my others. So very quickly. I could hardly keep up with it. It came to life in my mind, danced around, and thank goodness, I was able to catch it…
A few ideas on paper, and then I was off to the studio…
I have not given myself much painting time lately. I missed it sooo much.
Mr. Lovee likes this piece. I caught him alone in the studio a couple of times, looking at it 🙂 I wonder what he was thinking to himself?
So, this one is called, Enchanted Tea Time…
I want to get a little Elfin Bonnet like hers… Maybe I will have to make one?
I also finished up a little fairy I have been working on. These are the first few steps. Before the night sky came into play…
The photos do her no justice… There are some little Mica flakes floating around, along with some tiny sparkles on her wings and hair…
She is the Midnight fairy…
I had so much fun with her wings. There are tiny bits of subtle colors in them, that I so enjoyed playing with…
And the last painting I will share, is one I started ages ago. This little girl has become a dear little studio friend to me…
At the Circus…
I feel like going to a fabulous fun carnival/circus. I am so itching for one!!
One that is semi old-fashioned… You know, where there is really good cotton candy and corn dogs. A person in a huge vintage kiosk, making carnival glass trinkets… A mirrored maze, and clowns and a trapeze act… I have not been to one in ages. Have you? Do they even exist anymore??
So, there they are. Three little pieces… I tried to pop them into the shop tonight, but it is storming really hard, and I just lost interent service several times… Luckily I saved this post as I went along! I better scadaddle. These paintings will be in my shop by tomorrow morning at 11 a.m. Arizona time (as long as I have interent service, this monsoon storm is really bad tonight).
xoxo, V
Eek, I still have so much to tell you… I’ll save it for next time 😉
It would be quite a fanciful twist to awake in your dreams…your art…your mind!!!
I had a lovely few days blog~hopping for your soiree. I will be hosting my 100th blog soon…very soon…so stay tuned.
I have been intrigued by the same old fashioned vaudeville circus show, the kind with the bearded ladies and siamese conjoined twins, and burlesque shows….Ooooo what fun!!! I think there is some fabulous performers doing burlesque type freak shows, but I’m not sure they do out here in the desert…wouldn’t that be a hoot!
Take care & stay fabulous
Rowan WIllow
aka Tiffany
What a busy bee you’ve been! Your midnight fairy looks just like you! Sweet or salty? I would say I always prefer savoury treats but sometimes I just get an overwhelming urge to eat chocolate and cream cakes and biscuits! It’s a tough choice 😉 Have a lovely day! Lottie xoxo
thank you ever-so much
for sharing the
newly found treats.
🙂
i think
i’ll have another taste
of
At the Circus, please….
Good Morning to you Ms. V.,
So nice to come by this morning & see your lovely paintings. Enchanted Tea Time is wonderful. It had to have been inspired by your own enchanted tea party.Getting ready for an over sized tea party.”Is this tea pot big enough to serve everyone?” And, it was. 🙂
I see Chagall is on your reading table, I love, love him & his art.He had such a beautiful out look on life & art.
I used to drink my coffee black, but as I get older I need to add a bit of milk & sugar, 2 cups in the morning.
You have just inspired me to do a post about a gift that was given to my husband about coffee from my brother-in-law, (an amazing artist).My husband drinks coffee ALL day long.Give me about an hour, & when you get a minute pop over ,I think you will love it.
Have a lovely day! Amy
Your work is a delicious treat as well! So imaginative and fun. Gorgeous.
And thank you for the chocolate covered pretzel! It was amazing with my coffee this morning!
Becky
Just this morning discovered your blog, and have to say how much I LOVE your work!!! It’s absolutely magical, and your blog is such a delight to read! I’m off to add your link now….
Happy creating!
~ Carolee
Thanks so much for letting us see your beautiful paintings! It made my morning bright and cheery.
I take my coffee black also. I decided a long time ago that if I was going to drink coffee I had better learn to drink it black. Tastes best with cookies and donuts that way, too! Twyla
EEeeeeeep! Kindred….Kindred….Kindred I tell You!! You’ll never guess what I was sketching last night!!??? Tea cups and saucers, my Dear!! It’s crazy!! 🙂 I LOVE LOVE LOVE your new paintings….they are so perfectly lovely!! And I have the Blue Faerie book!! It’s very old and smells SO wonderful!
Now, I shall help myself to one of those yummy, chocolate treats!! YUM!! Thankeeeee! 🙂
hey missy v.! i’m sooooo sorry i missed your party which seemed like tremendous fun. ou are the the most wondrous queen of tea and treats!!
I wish I didn’t like sweets! No way that box would have been hidden in my house! It probably wouldn’t have even made it to the party!
Karla
I really love love love your paintings. I also love your personal relationship with your creations.
As for sweet or salty, the best is when they are together! I love a bowl full of pretzels and frozen seim-sweet chocolate chips!
Oh, love, love, love the art – especially the circus one. I WISH they still had circuses like the ones you and I remember. I don’t know if they exist; probably not. Everything is too commercialised and cookie-cutter copycat.
I can’t drink coffee (it hurts my stomach), although I love the smell. And I drink tea black, except once in a blue moon, I’ll put a teensy bit of milk and sugar in it (usually if I’m feeling ill).
Hope you get power soon (but like you, I love the storms). xoxox
Beautiful! Vanessa. God Bless.
Too many good paintings in one post!! I’m soo happy to see more of your work. You are great. Each piece is so unique.
Have a great week!
Lovely paintings Vanessa! So whimsical and pretty! I do adore your teapot sketchings!!!
How do I drink my coffee? With cream and sugar thank you. Oh, I could never drink it black! Our friends do, and it amazes me! Although you are getting more of the true coffee taste, right? We cream and sugar coffee wimps!!!
As for candy, I love black licorice, esp. the imported salty kind, and I love macaroon- the chocolate coconut candy. My sister loves anything sour, blech!
Have a fab week my dear!!
Hello~ EEEEEeekk, I love the midnight fairy! Oh my!!!! I have to be in the “mood” for sweet treats! I think I like salty the best, maybe salty and sweet! And, if I drink coffee it has to be loaded with something!! Like vanilla cream and sugar or raspberry cream! Tea, I usually drink it for the “health benefits”, take green tea for example, I hate the taste of plain green tea (YUCK) but I try to drink atleast 3 cups a day for the health benefits. Just plain yucky green tea!!!!
Well, dear I bid a do’ and I’m coming over sometime to steal your midnight fairy, now that you know, it’s not really stealing!
Hahahahhaha! To bad you live hundreds of miles away!!!! :0( Take care my dear!!!!
Enchanted Tea Time is one of the most beautiful things I’ve seen lately 🙂 So sweet and I love pink.
I’m not a sweet-lover myself but we can’t deny that candy and other things have an amazing outlook – sometimes I’m satisfied by just looking at these sweet things and not eating them. lol As for the coffee, why would anyone would want to put flavour in it? I want my coffee to taste like coffee, otherwise I’ll have something else. gah.
I’m sure you’ve already sold your paintings this morning 🙂
I take my coffee with skim milk and two sugars, and people look at me like “What’s the point of SKIM milk?!?!??” I guess mentally I feel like I’m being health-conscious or something.
I love these paintings, especially Enchanted Tea Time, very sweet. 🙂 I hope to one day finally score one of your original paintings. I really do enjoy your work.
I love the trapeze girl//she is awesome and she looks almost like she’s meditating:) And you fairy girl looks like my friend Sarah(she’s brunette though 🙂 ) and she’s totally into fairies..she’d love this painting.
I never would’ve guessed you didn’t have a sweet tooth..you had me fooled! My husband is like that..black coffee no candy,ice cream or cake..no wonder he’s still in good shape.
Off to catch up on all of the blogs I’ve been neglecting! Enjoy your Monday 🙂
Oh what a treat it is for me to find a new post from you. I absolutely love all the new pieces of art. You are so amazing!!!
I love My coffee black and my tea with just a touch of honey. And a as far as sweet or salty I love sweet followed by one little bit of salty.
Happy Monday you sweet fairy queen
I love that painting Mr. Lovee likes too. My favorite image today is of your beautiful coffee cup with pens and pencils. That is a treat to know more about how you start your day. I like coffee with cream and sugar but I use a natural sweetener called stevia. I think my favorite sweets are cupcakes adn there is a new cupcake shop in my town so I am in heaven. (-:
Oooh….what a dreamy stack of books just waiting for your perusal. I just did a post on Marc Chagall—today would have been his birthday.
I hope your sweet tooth continues to flourish. There is NOTHING to compare to the array of confections out there to delight your lips. (And, unfortunately, your thighs) Bah, cellulite—BAH!
You never hear of someone waking up one day with a newfound craving for lettuce, do you?
three little paintings… you must be joking…I think they’re BIG!
Your teaparty was my first meeting with you ( yes, I arrived safely back in my heavenhouse in Belgium with my tricycle…).
I haven’t seen any paintings of you or sketches. I’m really fond of Suzi Blue, but I like your style also ! Especially the texture with the newspaper ! ( I’ m a very tactile person…)
I drink my coffee black . We have a marvelous system in Belgium to make a good cup of coffee at home ” a senseo-machine” which gives you a coffee with a creamy layer on top … I start the day with this coffee every morning.
When I go out with my friend I treat myself to a “capuccino with cream ” : It has to be good coffee with real fresh whipped cream. mmmm… when you sip at the coffee, you first taste the sweet cold cream and then the hot coffee…. There are not many good “capuccino’s” and I keep in mind where I tasted a good one…
And sweets… just chocolat ( Belgian chocolat!!)… I could give up everything except a small piece of chocolat every day…
greetings
Inge from Belgium
PS : chocolatmousse made with Belgian chocolat… irresistable…
How lovely everything is! Aren’t the rains just wonderful? I mean, I know we’re on totally different weather patterns, but it’s been positively soggy up here…splash splash.
I like my coffee with cream…soy usually…and I only like flavored coffee if it’s one of those frapp drinks. I love dessert…peanut butter and chocolate are my favorite combinations…unless you have a tart lemon flavored something…or carrot cake.
I know what you mean about stormy days. I just LOVE a good hellcat storm, some tea and a good book to read. So cozy, yet exciting.
I really like your circus girl painting. ( I also liked your midnight fairy). I remember those old circuses from childhood – this painting took me back for a moment. Thanks!
Kate
How sweet and precious is everything that you share.
Love Jeanne ^j^
Love the fairies! Just love them, and the tea painting too. You do great work, thanks so much for sharing.
Oh Vanessa! I have been gone forever! It seems like everything in your world is fabulous! And the new paintings are lovely as well!! So, you caught Mr. Lovee checking your painting out…isn’t that the most peculiar feeling??? I’ve caught Jeff a few times and wanted so much to interrupt and ask him what the hell he was thinking!!!
And the treats…they look delicious but anything I eat these days make me feel worse than before I ate….there will be another little one here sometime in Feb. 🙂
After looking at your art work…I’m inspired to run off and join the circus! How much fun would that be! I love the dimension in your art work! So much fun!
I love Enchanted Tea Time. It is simply perfection.
xoxo
Oh! And weird, but as a child, I refused cake and ice cream at parties all the time. I’d have my face buried in the potatoe chip bowl.
I did love the advent of chocolate mixed with peanut butter though, seeing as I like a salty sweet mix. The two naturally go very well together.
xo!
I’m still pouting a little that I missed your party – drats!Next time for sure wil dear not miss me. I like sweets – as a child I wasn’t allowed to really have them so when I went to school and discovered them it was like Heaven. In high school I had a thing for Reeses Pieces and Hershey’s Cookies and Cream, M &M’s. Cotton candy – the pink kind is my super all time favourite of all. Now I’m 30 next year so I’ve been really trying to eat healthy. I love your new paintings, especially the tea one – love the colours!
Dy
Love, love, LOVE the new paintings. You can’t go wrong with tea, sparklies or carnivals.
I’ve always been more of a savoury person than a sweet tooth, but now and then I’ll get on a sweet kick. As for tea and coffee, I don’t drink coffee. I do drink ridiculous amounts of tea. Strong, with milk to colour. No sugar. I’m a tea snob of the opinion that if you need sugar in your tea you’ve no business drinking tea. hehe
Lately I’ve taken to making pots of tea rather than using tea bags, because I’m a poor uni student and tea bags are too expensive. There are occasional advantages to trying to save money, and real tea is definitely one of them.
Vanessa, I am revisiting your work in the Jan/Feb issue of Somerset Studio, and had to come by and see what new beauties you are creating…and I love them all! I am mesmerized by the paper dresses…so lovely, flowing, free…
I am a sweets lover too, unfortunately…today, it was M&Ms and SinNamon sweet popcorn 🙂 And for my caffeine addiction? Irish Breakfast tea, twice a day…morning and “tea time” of course, with cream and sugar. I can’t get through the day without either of these addictions…and art!
Lovely new pieces and I so love the circus!
I love sweets and abhor coffee….but tea is fine. I lived in Berlin for two years and became quite spoiled by the pastries. Not only were they delicious, but so, so beautiful! What I really miss is the birthday cake from the bakery that was just around the corner from the home I grew up in…oh my! Hmmm…no rain up here, just a little lightning, but off in the distance.
Love that upside down trapeze artist.
Love CHOCOLATE
Coffee taken with semi skimmed milk and one sugar
and sorry but I hate rain
Oh, I love them all so much! The enchanted tea time is perfect and the wonderful fairy reminds me of Brittany and I with our pink hair! We kept seeing pieces of carnival rides going through nevada on semi trucks today. They weren’t nearly wonderful enough for what you discribe though. So fun to be back and see your lovelies!
Hooray, another person who drinks their coffee black! The art and treats are gorgeous. Enjoy your cozy rainy day!
These new paintings are beautiful! I love the “Midnight Fairy”, she looks like someone I know! I am a savoury girl at heart who has also been dabbling in the sweet things in my late twenties. All that said if it was a choice between cake and a jar of pickled onions, the onions win every time!
I never fail to be stunned at your energy and fabulous creativity and activity! Thank you so much for the sweet comment on Passementerie – I have been curling up with a book for the last couple of days because of wet weather here in Paris too. As for sweet things, well the sad truth is that I have recently gone *off* sweet things and have instead developed a passion for limes. Just as well Berthillon icecream here does a lime sorbet, really, isn’t it? 🙂
oh i love your tumbling circus girl ~
and those books !! i want to sit down
in your enchanting house and read them
~ the color fairy books are my fave’s
🙂
Hmmm. My favorite treat. I like to have dessert at a restaurant and share with C & c. so I guess that’s my favorite when everyone gets just a taste and not too much!
Sorry I missed the tea party..
Love it , Love it., Love it!!!! Okay I am truly in blog envy, how do you make yours soo good. I need to really revamp mine, I have started a little bit but have to go full tilt!!! Your photos are great!! Ahh to have a blog that people like to read!!! He he
Sooo happy to see some of your paintings back. I love that you have combined your paperdress girl with your tea themes! I really like that one along with Mr. Lovee!! The circus girl is having such a good time swinging on the trapeze!! Thanks for uplifting my day!
Coffe, cream and sugar please. Tea, Oregon Chi. A good pastry any day. Sweets only when I am in the mood. A Circus, I love the thought, but I can not say I would be at ease there, to many clowns. I am really working on that, even drawn a few. Midnight faries. I think they dance in my hair while I dream sometimes. Oh what a magical tea, I think I like it best of the three.
Love Erin~
Vanessa ! all of your art is amazing I must say your blog is so magical as are you …I have a little surprise for you on my blog…if you get a chance please stop by…xox Palmer
Hey, now that would be a TREAT to discover UNEATEN chocolate carefully tucked away at the back of your fridge! That would NEVER happen here… lol
xo, Monica 🙂
WOW SO FUN! WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR CANVAS? I FIND MICHAELS EXPENSIVE ALSO COME BY AND PIC UP YOUR AWARD THANK YOU FOR CONTRIBUTING TO ‘SPOOKY ARTISAN’ !
DENISE MASS.
you say you’re losing your marbles?
So, you had marbles for the party, too?
Ah, now-a-days, all one has to do is eat with me to see that I liked sweets as a kid, and even to today are they my favorite.
You see, I eat with m’teeth out.
(I don’t want to get them messed up with the food, plus, y’get more flavor without than with)
Not the biggest fan of chocolates, though, as i had some time in Europe as a child and know what good chocolate tastes like.
Here, they don’t serve up the good stuff unless you go to a specialty store that deals in chocolate.
which, yes….I do from time to time.
But, not so often because it’s also expensive. (I almost mis-spelled that to be ‘expansive’ but, y’know, that fits, too)
Coffee? sugar.
Tea? sugar.
Pop? diet.
Yeah, I dunno what that’s all about. Diet pop is what I drink if it’s pop, and I reckon that comes from the Old Man, who was diabetic.
Back to the sweets, though, there are a few downsides to eating them.
I quit cigarettes in March 2002 and tacked a quick twenty-five pounds around my middle right off. Can’t shake them to save me.
And the sweets I eat DO find their way to the same middle.
I know because my pants go from NEEDING suspenders to dang! Am I even going to get this on?!?
Specifically, I like things like orange slices (danged near pure sugar) and the like things such as Dots, cherry slices, lemon slices, and peahie-ohs.
What I detest is sour.
oh my goodness do I hate sour!
I can put up with black coffee (we make it the same way you do, I grind beans everyday) way before I can put up with tossing a sourball in my mouth!
Still, I’de rather have sugar in my coffee.
Of late, I’ve also taken an extreme liking to sweet rolls. Usually apple, but cherry will do fine, and for that matter, cinnamon is OK, also.
So, I reckon I should bring the sweet rolls with me next time I come visit, eh?
Well, that and bring y’all some new marbles, too!
i love that little fairy you drew. she is so magical! the colors you chose made it look like she was really shining and there was an aura, a ring of light around her. it’s really just amazing! i love it!
Loving your paintings especially the gymnast in the circus.
Just discovered your blog – what a delight!! Your work is absolutely magical. 🙂
Off to add your link to my own blog now, hehe….
Happy Creating!
~ Carolee
The Midnight Fairy is a beauty! I love how she glows and sparkles against the dark background. As for tea and coffee…I like my coffee loaded with flavor, but tea is quite simple. Maybe a pinch of sugar, if that. I am a lover of sweets though and the treasures you found look scrumptious! Thank you for sharing 🙂
Hi!! on the fly
oh wow the midnight fairy bowled me over, but then the circus painting, it’s just beautiful!
Oh! Those paintings are gorgeous! I love enchanted Tea time. It’s my new favorite! As for sweets. If I could have them I’d eat peanut butter cups and Pay Day bars every day! Big sigh!
I lurv the paintings as always. I drink my coffee with enough Half-n-Half to make it a golden color and I add a touch of brown sugar. Tea is enjoyed straight. No additives, except maybe some simple syrup in my iced tea. I love sweets. Especially cake! I am the Cake Queen. I bake them from scratch and I eat them. Yum.
Hey Vanessa! I have something for you on my blog! Congratulations…..your work and blog truely inspires me….pick up your Brilliante Weblog Award (am sure you have millions of awards by now!!!) at http://www.deezden.blogspot.com
Ciao
Dee
V~ The Circus Masterpiece is my Fav!
It’s all so yummy!
~Hugs,
Ann-Denise
Ah sadly, I was always a “sweets” girl — shortbread, fern tarts, donuts, pie, cake…my mother made cookies from scratch and her cinnamon buns were to die for. As I got older, salty became a “stress” food…hormones you know! I’d still go for a sweet over a salty any day but alas, I am trying (key word – trying) to curb that!!!
Coffee and tea — both black. I started as a cream/sugar and milk/sugar girl but I am a confessed “just leave it alone please so I can enjoy the flavour” kind of girl now!!
As for you work — beautiful as always. I love your sketches (I have just gone back to sketching myself over the last few weeks and am finding it so pleasurable!), and the paintings themselves are vibrant. Your midnight fairy is delightful – and I love the depth of the layering.
what….so this is what happens then!I leave for what a couple of days…oh vanessa!I must get myself a print of the circus lady….you should make a circus dollie!On,to your questions….i like my coffee black in the mourning(if i have sugar it gets me really gittery)….maybe its best if you don’t have sugar V,we don’t wanna redo the mad hatter tea party….do we?Well,im not tha big on sweets,i like making them and then i let my family eat it<3I don't have sugar for like 2weeks and then i binge....why must ben&jerry's phish food be soo,enticing.....the world may never know....well im glad that im back...to more cumputer things,i ahd the best mini-VaKa!!
xoxo
ryce
They are all so very lovely, but the midnight fairy is my favorite. I love her eyes and the wings..and hair..and the shimmer…oh my! Wonderful!!!!!!! (Can you feel me jumping up and down with delight?)
No coffee for me….tea please!
Wonderful new pieces Miss V! I’m so glad to see you working on paper dress girl paintings again, they’re always SO beyond special and fanciful!
I think my favorite of these pieces is Midnight Fairy. I LOVE the deeply colored background, and the expression on the fairy’s face is so beautiful….just a perfect piece!
If my girls were still little I would snap this piece up in a second for one of their rooms.
Oh, and be a dear and pass those chocolates please?? 😉
I’ve just discovered your blog and it is stunning 🙂
I’m curious if you’ve ever seen the movie “What Dreams May Come?”….when you mentioned that you dreamt you were inside one of your paintings, well immediately this movie came to my mind – see it and you’ll understand what I mean.
Lots of love,
Michele