All the wildflower seeds I toss about every November, just as winter rains arrive, are almost about to bloom.
In fact, the teeniest ones are blooming.
This really makes it feel like spring has arrived, save for a little cold snap.
It is leaving us today and we will be back to warm/hot.
Herbs are growing tall, and the sweet william is everywhere…
The smell of earth and petal at this time of the year…
Bliss.
There is nothing like the scent of water hitting the desert floor.
It almost makes your mouth water.
Combine that with mint and orange blossoms – oh my.
I am floral print obsessed, are you?
I have pretty much always been, as far as I can remember.
People used to tell me I liked little old lady prints.
I thought, little old ladies rock, if this is a little old lady print.
I LOVE seeing all the floral out there these days.
I have some white pants stored away somewhere, covered in floral print.
Must find them.
I seem to be back back to my old ways.
Slipping into paper cutting madness.
I find cutting paper terribly relaxing.
Here is my paper flower tutorial, if you’d like to make some as well.
I get so quiet and calm, with a cozy feeling washing over me, as I huddle up and cut paper.
Layering them together is fun too.
If I see any floral print in a magazine, or find old wrapping or wall paper, it’s getting chopped.
🙂
I highly recommend paper flowers.
Meanwhile –
Collecting flowers, of the living variety, is getting extra good as the days get warmer…
I have been watching movies on Netflix via my Roku, in the studio, whilst painting everyday this week.
Yesterday I watched Wolves of Willoughby Chase, have you seen it?
It is based on a book by Joan Aiken.
Here is the whole movie…
Cutting paper flowers and watching a movie as such, extra yumm.
Also…
I started to watch Skellig: The Owl Man.
I am half way through.
It’s good too, can’t wait to watch the rest later whilst working.
I am inspired to start saving and making with petals and herbs.
Fresh mint tea is calling my name.
Do you like mint tea?
When you visit my grandma, on her wood burning stove she will either have a huge kettle of “canela” or “yerba buena” tea brewing. Canela is cinnamon tea, and yerba buena is mint.
Mmm, mint tea is so buttery and lovely when freshly brewed at home.
I have collected some mint, rosemary, poppies, sweet william, verbena and roses in the wooden bowl…
I almost feel like I should give up this lil’ collection as an offering to the garden…
Wouldn’t it be neat if I left the bowl there, and it was gone in the morning with an elfin note left in its place?
Fanciful dreams.
Well, I best stop typing, as now I seem to just be aimlessly yapping away.
Through my fingers.
Time to start adding some fresh blooms to the birdcage…
Yay!
Ever since Matty was a baby, he has followed me around.
Even before he let me love on him.
He would always be one step behind me.
As you know, since he doesn’t feel grand, he practically wants to be on top of me.
I don’t mind at all.
I baby both boys all day.
Or should I say, all three boys, ahem.
Yesterday I was painting on the painting door and turned around to find myself sandwiched between the door and Matty. He was so precious there sleeping so close. I am leaning on the door.
That boy.
With that I shall say…
I hope you have a lovely weekend, and that spring has found you, or is making its way.
Much love, V
ps: I almost forgot to say…
I added 3 new prints to the shop today, hooray!
Including…
Tea Party in the Magical Cypress Grove.
Plus Carousel Enchantment…
And, sweet Genevieve…
Right here 😉
Vanessa:
I am living my garden obsession through you. With my garden almost completely gone and still fighting to clean up that huge Sumac that was cut off our hill, my yard is not so colorful. Can I just look at your photos 24 hours a day? I have a garden heart. When I don’t garden, I’m broken. Your photos are a band-aid on my heart.
Cute, sweet Matty. What a lovey baby.
xoxo
Kim
Gerushia’s New World
Vanessa, I love the pictures of your bounty of beautiful flowers! So far, I’ve only got purple sage flowers, jessamine (just starting to dry up), ice plant flowers, and johnny jump-ups! However, the mint is going crazy! I’d love to try and make mint tea out of it – any suggestions?
Funny, you mentioned Roku. We just got one this week and I’m still trying to see what I can find in terms of channels/programming. It’s pretty neat! I do love all the cooking channels…
Thanks for all your gorgeous posts! They always make me happy! 🙂
Oh! All your flowers! We don’t have any here yet! Just mud! You do such a nice job with them.
Love peeking into your garden madness! Hope Matty feels better soon and that the painting comes along nicely 🙂
Have a great weekend!
Oh so beautiful!
Lovely, darling prints, dear Vanessa…
Fresh mint tea…yummy yum.
xoxo
Lovely, Vanessa! Mint tea is yummy.
Your garden is so dreamy.
I can just hear the fairies and elves saying in their high pitched voices “Oh! Look what sweet Vanessa has left for us…a flower love offering!” Maybe there will be a pot of gold left there for you in place of the flowers!
I can imagine the weather is perfect for painting your glorious canvas paintings.
And your new paintings in the shop are gone! Just like that! In a flash! Perhaps it is the fairies who bought them under the guise of humans.
Have a truly magical weekend!
love and hugs,
Miss Teresa
Oh, and the movies you mentioned sound very intriguing… (and thank you also for putting the link up for us!)
😉
Miss Teresa
These paper flowers are the bee’s knees. (I’ve learned this word some time ago and want to use it as often as possible) I love edible flowers and herbs so much also and made several dishes with them. Did you ever try to paint mint leaves or ground ivy leaves with chocolate. I’ve learned that in a cooking course and we made elderberry panna cotta with chocolate leaves and strawberry salsa. It was heavenly. Maybe you want to try that. And maybe you want to see my experiments with chocolate covered mint leaves here:
http://mapletrueheart.blogspot.de/2012/07/yummy-mints-ii.html#comment-form
Your flowers are amazing. You certainly have a green thumb. We have very few budding plants here. Had 3 and a half inches of rain in 2 and a half days. It is good for the gardens and plants, but not for my basement. I sure love your gardens, such amazing colors and healthy plants.
Your new prints are wonderful.
Oh yes, I LOVE painting chocolate on leaves. In fact last year I made
Lovee a bunch of chocolates by painting melted chocolate on grape leaves.
They were soooo beautiful!!!
Blog: http://www.aFancifulTwist.com
Website: http://www.VanessaValencia.com
In a message dated 4/20/2013 2:51:16 A.M. US Mountain Standard Time,
Oh no… did you say water in basement????
Blog: http://www.aFancifulTwist.com
Website: http://www.VanessaValencia.com
In a message dated 4/20/2013 5:30:39 A.M. US Mountain Standard Time,
Nothing says spring like tea made with a handful of fresh mint…I made mine with orange mint.
Your wooden bowl displayed with flowers and herbs is magical and makes my heart sing…so beautiful.
Dear Vanessa,
Just writing to let you know I’m still a fan. You still have my most favorite blog in all the land. I’m so glad you’re here and share with all of us.
~light & love~
Barbara
While walking and talking in the late afternoon,
The flowers were singing as my heart did swoon.
The bees were buzzing, flying in the air,
To a fragrance dancing in my wind blown hair.
Left to the right I seemed to go,
My curiosity a flutter something I needed to know.
Standing in the garden by a lil’ tree,
Winking and waving, gold dusting me.
I twirled and jumped through the air,
As gold dust flew into wind blown hair.
“Yeeep” I said, as a fairy disappeared,
Right into a dew drop beard.
One step behind me, love abounds,
Cutie patootie makin the rounds.
Here’s to fairies finding their way,
To everyone, everywhere on this spring filled day.
And who shall be the Contessa,
Why of course Miss Vanessa.
Cheers to V. with her garden alight,
Thank you V. for sharing worlds of delight !
XO Pinksterita
OH, thank you Barbara, that means the world to me!!!!! Thank you
thank you!! xoxo
Blog: http://www.aFancifulTwist.com
Website: http://www.VanessaValencia.com
In a message dated 4/20/2013 6:00:11 P.M. US Mountain Standard Time,
PInksterita, my own hearts delight!!!!
Blog: http://www.aFancifulTwist.com
Website: http://www.VanessaValencia.com
In a message dated 4/20/2013 6:01:49 P.M. US Mountain Standard Time,
I am soooo ready for spring this year!! Thanks for your beautiful breath of spring!.
Everything is in bloom here as well. This morning I went for an exercise walk and was greeted with light breezes full of a Jasmine smell. My entire neighborhood was in full mowing or gardening grip, rather funny too. Usually it’s only our house and one other fellow who put in any effort at all. It’s nice that others are planting more beautiful things. 🙂
As always Miss Vanessa…such a lovely post!
Your paper flowers are gorgeous! Also love your new paintings!
I just watched Skellig a couple months ago. Loved it.
Hello Miss Vanessa! Happy Earth Day! This flowery post was perfect for it. Sorry I’ve been MIA – had a rather awful Spring cold to contend with. I’m almost 100 percent again! Those paper flowers you created are so amazingly lovely. I’ve been sipping a lot of tea lately, to help my throat – I love English Breakfast, chai, and anything kind of flowery and minty. 🙂 Matty looks so relaxed…good to see him again!
Hello! I hope Matty continues to improve and improve. Such a good boy!
My fourth grade class is reading Skellig right now. It’s the book The Owl Man is based on, and it is one of my favorite books of all time.
My kids love the mystery, the light and dark, the magic and poetry of it. We’re learning about literary motifs and parallel plot. Mostly I teach from it to learn to love a quiet book in which the resolution is not so clear. I hope you can find a copy of this book and enjoy it. If you want to read it, and you cannot find a copy, I have bought extras for my class and would gladly send one along to you.
The flowers are happy, happy, happy!