There are many reasons I will be eating sweets tonight, will you indulge also, so I don't feel so guilty??? I am typing frantically because, A) I have to get ready for a business dinner B) I have to tell you of the magical treasure I found, and if Mr. Lovee knew he might have me sent to the guillotine, and C) I have to celebrate for the last 24 hours of accomplishments!
You all know by now that in the country, I share an enchanted place with Mr. Lovee. I still have my place in town, which the charming Kandeedo and I own together. In the country land Mr. Lovee has a home where on the premises a lovely barrio style canning house existed. It was turned into a Gallery for my creations. I have also been kindly granted a studio, a private living space (ie loftish space), and lots of space to garden, roam, etc. This has been where I have spent the better part of the last 7 years.
Why do I reiterate so? I realized today how much music and instruments are a part of my life. And, how I have never really talked in depth about the musical part of my and Mr. Lovee's lives. I play the piano, Mr. Lovee plays the upright bass, the guitar, and pretty much any other instrument he touches. The piano included. At home in town, lives my "Pianola." One of my greatest loves. I feel like her keys house the tips of my fingers perfectly. As, I have been playing her since I was 4 years old. She was a beige and golden French looking thing.. And, I took some paint to her years ago. Insanity for sure. But, I think she likes it…(some of you have seen her already)
Back to my point. As I was finishing the packaging of the totes and tossing them around (Mr. Lovee is in Florida, so I am being a bit Pippi Longstocking-ish), Where they landed amuzed me, and I thought you should know… They were in good company of many instruments in Mr. Lovee's creative space.
Boy, would he be annoyed at my mess around his precious. But it gets better!!! (devilish grin) I went into the coffin room. The one that must always be kept moist, and really, I have no business in…I tip-toed around… I still do not know what I was doing in there. The only thing in there that is mine is a lovely mandolin.
You will not believe what I found!!!!!!!!!!! I think it is for me. I am not sure. I mean, I know everything that goes on around here, nothing gets passed me! But, how long has this been here??? Is it a surprise?????? What??? Is it for me??? I am going to claim it!! I have to have it!!!! Mr. Lovee would have told me about it, unless it really is for me???? It is an…..
Amazing old mandolin! The most amazing one on the planet, to me at least!!!! I want it. Should I claim it? (yes, that is the couch that is hidden in the instrument room, Zarape and all)
What should I do? Should I play dumb and drop hints??? I feel like Lucille Ball?? How should I handle it without making a complete nutcake out of myself? Or should I just clear my throat, march right up to him when he returns and say, "I found this Mandolin, I want it, give it to me or else…" Hmm, ya, that might work….I could also….Steal his keys, and after two days of him looking for them, I could say "Well lovee, I will help you find them if I can have anything I want on this whole property after I find them?" Ya, pretty evil…..Hmmmm.. I suppose I could break down and ask nicely? You tell me what to do?
Ahhh, the home of a musician and treasure seeker. That is what he is. And, such a treasure he brought home…Around the house, you will find promo posters and such…Things that I just take for granted….But looking at this one…It really is fun . Wow, I had never realized it…I walked passed it 200 times a day….Hmmm….
That aside, the good news is that all the totes are gone. Shipped, done, bye-bye, on their way to you! Whooo-eee. That was a long process. You know what I also did? I helped the Queen Mumm. She decided that for my cousins graduation, she would tweak wine bottles. You know, put labels on them that said my cousins name, and all the graduation jazz. So, Kandeedo designed the labels for her. I tweaked them a tad and got them to fit, and attached them to 40 bottles.
The Finished product…I think they almost look like real labels? Kandeedo and I should go into business….
Since it was my "Hour of Glory," thank you for letting me ramble on like that (See picture below, Emma sent it to me, hee hee). Off I go to get ready to go out on the town for dinner. Something I am not very used to. I usually create at night…But perhaps it will do me good to get out a bit…
See you very soon!!!! Lots of creative fun to share in the next post!
Hi there, love the mandolin, I mean really love the mandolin, how to handle it, maybe steal it, take it away somewhere and see if he says anything??? Don’t know, I’m not good at doing sneaky things or being Lucille like, I giggle too much.
Good luck with it.
Love the photos, you are a clever pants!
Lisa
Oh the mandolin is wonderful! I agree…take it away and see if he notices…or better yet, wake up one night, and steal out under the window and saranade him, then he can’t possibly refuse you! I have a guitar that has been sitting in a case for a while now, because I really want to learn how to play it, but here it sits. sigh.
A mystery,an amazingly special little music room…with dust collecting….with the whisper of a mandolin saying “please, please miss fanciful play me- bring me back to life”
it is only right for you to claim such a wonder, such a surprise…start to play him…start to echo your wonders of sound through the loft space…down to the garden…let mr lovee hear you play…let him realise how much he (the mandolin) means to you….and like us your blogging friends he will realise how very important he is to you x x x xx x x x xx x x xx x x x xx x
by the way….so very fabulous, so very beautiful are those black on pink images.
i love your stories….you have such magic all around you….are you sure some little fairies are not hiding in your bag?…and wherever you go they sprinkle their magic and such beautiful hidden spaces just appear…from no-where????? oh’ alice what a wonderland you have.
x x x x x x x kazzy x x x x x x x x x x
No, no, no. You put that Mandolin back where you found it, missy! 😀 It’s his surprise–and it’s a wonderful surprise, you don’t to deprive him of that! 😀
And YIPPEE… good mail on its way. I’m working on your package. 😀 Blessings on your weekend. (and pssst: I hate three brownies in your honor!)
Ok, I’m giggling at the typos in my post. LOL I “hate” three brownies. Um… yeah, no, I ATE three brownies. What can I say, I’m tired. And there should be a “want” in one of those sentences about deprivation. Funny, that should be the sentence missing a word. I’m gifted. 😀
Vanessa, I know I am in for treats when I visit your blog. Today’s was a first prize gold medal, covered in sweet mandolin music. You are so funny.
I’m on my way to link you under my favorites.
Darling girl, if Mr. Lovee won’t give you the mandolin, I will get you one. Yes, striped just like that one. I travel to those lands, you know. Of course it won’t be nearly as special as Mr. Lovee’s because it will lack his smoochiness. But nonetheless, if he tells you that it belongs to his great Aunt Helena and he simply can’t part with it, it’s a backup plan:-)
Oh but that teensy painted piano…that made me giggle so much that my cats looked at me strangely.
xo
That piano looks so gorgeous painted like that!Sounds like you are having a ball all by yourself!! xoxo dees
Serious fun… some a bit devilish! I think you better put that mandolin right back where you found it and act innocent. Innocent, I tell you! By the way, the style of the new illustrations that you’ve been posting is fantastic.
What a find Vanessa! I know you sat there and played it forever! Make a video undercover and sneak it to us so we can hear you play 🙂 That could be your reveal to Mr. Lovee about it…tell him to watch this You Tube video you made LOL!
You should just put the Mandolin up in your room like its always been there. But don’t paint it! I like the piano, but that mandolin is soooo wonderful and gorgeous just the way it is and painting it would cover up the luster of its fabulous wood.
You have been a busy little chiquita. No wonder I haven’t spoken to you in a few days! It’s funny, now that we know eachother, its almost like I don’t know what I would do without you!
You tiptoeing around all the “secret” places in the house reminds me of me so much I almost died!
OH! I’ve been meaning to tell you, in your spare 3 minutes of time each day, you should start reading the Phillip Pullman “His Dark Materials” Trilogy. They are called, in order: “The Golden Compass” (which will be a movie in December), “The Subtle Knife”, and “The Amber Spyglass.” I read them all in like 4 days and I’m so in love with them that I don’t know what to do with myself. I know you will like them too!
Snippets from your world always intrigue me. I love them! What a wonderful place in which you live and yes, that mandolin is a beautiful piece. I think you should just ask him for it. I’m sure he would relent. 🙂 It is probably for you anyway!
Oh, and I definitely think that you and Kandeedo should go into business together. The wine bottles look amazing!
xo,
Karen Beth 🙂
Wow, that old mandolin has got to be the most beautiful instrument I have ever seen! (I guess it’s a good thing Mr. Lovee doesn’t check your blog…or does he?) It’s wonderful that you leave no surface untouched, and that painted piano is so much fun!! I can see so many possibilities, I like shabby’s idea 🙂
the mandolin is absolutely gorgeous, it must sound so wonderful. i hate ruining surprises, but since you’ve found it i like the idea of surprising him… early one morning maybe he can wake to the sounds of you playing in the morning sunshine???? he couldn’t help but be charmed by that…your silouhette is lovely.
If Mr Lovee reads your blog your problem is solved, on the other hand they might just be beginning. What was that you said about being sent to the guillotine?
My dear leave it for a sweet surprise. The joy of it will be worth the wait. And something to blog about. I am a much better Lucy than Ethel, but I would put it back lovingly just before he returns.
Definately claim the Mandolin! It is lovely.
Lovely mandolin, my 6 year old wants to learn how to play the banjo–I can just see him as a teenager with a wall of stringed instruments….sigh.
I don’t know about the reveal or not–very nerve-wracking!
oh my darling – I LOVE THOSE SILHOUETTES!!!!!!!!!!!!! – my 2 person family complains about my blog – addiction – but oh how I have missed you and your fantastic tales
xox – eb.
What visual treats you are surrounded by! Your pianola…oh my! The coffin room 🙂 and your mandolin surprise….
thank you for brightening up my morning!
Oh what a problem you have!! I would put it back. Then when he finally gives it to you (hopefully it’s for you?) don’t play innocent but be sure to express to him the torturous excitement that has been boiling in you since your sneaky eyes discovered it! He will appreciate your restraint and be happy that even though his surprise was ruined, it has caused much anticipation. Well maybe it would work out that way? Option 2, definitely saranade him outside his bedroom window
Gorgeouso mandolin, i wish i could play anything…tried guitar as a teen and it did’nt take…
So, what do you do, hmmmmmm…..is your birthday approaching? Maybe Lovee is going to present for your bday! I really don’t know what i would do either!
Oh, what a fun looking piano! Are those lips on the bench? too cute!
Hope you had a lovely dinner!
Hello you heartbreakingly fabulous and much missed girl, I love hearing about your wild romance with the mandolin. I think it would be hilarious if when Mr Lovee gets back you just lounge forlornly and go on about this overwhelming burst of music within you that you just can’t get out – without just the right instrument 😉 If maybe he would know of something that made the sound of a serenade crossed with a desert wind?? Good luck, darling Vanessa, I will be back again in a few days….***hugs***
ooooO I’m ganna tell! You’ve been snooopin! Lol. Hey you know that old saying? What’s yours is mine and what’s mine is mine. Yah.
Ok, what is going on with the papercut effects? I love it! I love the color which looks almost salmon or um… coral on my screen. Love that!! Is this a new theme?
The labels are terrific! The piano is genius. Oh if you would only come repaint my fuggly dining room table I could save so much money by not wanting to buy a new one!
How was the dinner? Good? Whatcha eat?
Oh wow…what a precious instrument….we also are a family of muscicians…and enjoy every minute of it
So many amazing instruments…my mother has her mandolin from when she was a very young girl -its beautiful…makes me think of Captain Corelli sitting on the hills of Cephallonia….
I love that wee red piano – how adorable! you are so lucky to know how to play the piano..its such a beautiful instrument, such pretty music. I played the flute for many years….
V-the sweet pic at the top is another winner!!!! Love it!
A secret Mandolin… I have no advice, but let me know how it goes.. that thing should be played!
Mandolins !!!????!!!!
As Shakesy-poo said ” If music be the food of life,play on”!!!! Your household (and mine!) shall never go hungry!
I am loving your silouhuette period!
I like your silhouette drawings, so great!
What a great mandolin. You are very lucky.
Hey there, I’m glad you like your treasure~I love that funky piano you have posted there~do you mind if I post it on my blog?
XoXo kelly
I got my bag today! And it is so darling! And, my dreams came true because I have a print of the little sweets girl, one of my favorites so far V!!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! I love it, Love it LOVE IT!!! 🙂
I have missed you my darling, I have been on a bit of a hiatus myself.
that mandolin is to die for, completely.
it belongs with you, just take it!!!
xoxoxox
Oh my! I love the mandolin. I think that when he gets home. I am reading this late and he is probably home, but I would sneak off somewhere (in his ear shot, of course) and start playing the new mandolin and see what he said when he came to sneak who was making the “noise”. My son plays, keyboards, guitar, drums, banjo and I want to buy him a mandolin for his next big birthday. How lucky you are to live with a musician.