You don’t always need a plane or a train, a hot air balloon, or a carriage to transport you… You don’t necessarily need to go through airport shenanigans, or passport hooplas… Sometimes, if your imagination is being kind to you that day, all you need are a few collections to transport you long enough to make you feel like you really had a marvelous escape…
I know you are wondering, what’s up with the felt balls? In truth? I just love them. That’s all. They make me so shamelessly happy…
Those and some fuchsia dye, a little gold love over that, and maybe a little glitter. Layer it on, while printing fabric… That is all you need to begin your voyage through the secret keyhole, to another place…
I am a collector of those things which capture my heart. I don’t think it is a secret anymore 😉 My collections started at a young age. Funny enough, the collections started with exotic treasures from far away places…
Sometimes, I wonder… Have I really lived so many lives in one little lifetime?? And what an unusual teenager I must have been… Collecting vintage saris… Jewels, sculptures… Sometimes, it really does feel like a lifetime ago…
Until I find myself schlepping home new treasures to add to those collections 😉 Oops, same girl… Same lifetime… Same people saying "What do you need that for?" Same Dad’s voice going, "What one earth???" (good thing he lives far enough away, that he doesn’t see the half of it 😉
Most of my treasures are not with me in the country (the ones above are)… However, I do have enough with me today, to have a fun and colorful dress up fest… Go ahead, choose one, let’s play….
Being raised in and around Mexico, by parents who would take us traveling (trying new things ;), meant that what I thought was the norm (I came to find out in college), really wasn’t the norm. I mean, when the guy down the street paints his villa fluorescent cobalt blue, and noone flinches (because everyone else’s is pink or orange), nothing is really what you think it is 😉 Normal doesn’t even exist does it? Hahaa… That really is the wonderful realization!!
Then you take your friends from college home with you, and they call their parents to say, " you won’t believe it, the guy down the street has a cobalt blue mansion. And, her grandmother has all these statues, and we ate fried ants, and they eat spicy candy, with chili on it, and all the other houses are pink and orange and the men howl during their favorite songs, and her grandfather has tequila and worms for breakfast…" You get the point… I am standing there going, is that unusual? hee heee….
Oops, I think I veered a bit above 😉 back to collections from around the world…
I graduated from the University of Arizona in 1999. At that time, the program I was in encompassed some pretty heavy duty textile science classes (sadly the program no longer requires/nor teaches textile sciences). They were very intense, very difficult, and in the end, invaluable… They awakened the fabric passion in me… Studying fabric history was incredible… Equally fascinating was studying the fabric customs around the world… From dyeing to weaving, to collecting fibers, and on and on… Just astounding…
Ever since then, I have been collecting old wooden textile printing blocks… I have boxes full of them & lately, I have been playing with them on raw muslin… I find that, if you lay your fabric over an open, giant dictionary, or some big thick book, your printing really does turn out nice with these…
The book has just the perfect give, to allow the stamp to meld on. On a flat hard surface, you get almost nothing…
I love being able to be transported without having to pack. I love travel. But, have done it less and less since traveling became what it is today. The anxiety over the whole thing, is just the right amount, to get me to stay in and play with treasures instead…
That way if all of a sudden, I get into my five year old self, and want to go home, I am already home 😉 Silly, but true (for me at least)… Nothing like being in Budapest and deciding you want to go home, to Arizona, right then. 😉
Add a little music and some child-like pretending, and Bon Voyage, Buen Viaje, Kalo Taxithi, Buon Viaggio, Boa Viagem! See you when you get back from your make believe voyage!!!
I want details!!! And a postcard!! 😉
So, here’s some music… (Khaled was one of my favorites in college, below) The girl in the video will make you want to play dress-up for certain… & paint!!
I say, get messy, and play!! Pretend you are going anywhere on the map, and go, from the privacy of your own home 😉 Maybe even throw in a little culinary love from the region you will be visiting… I think if you have little ones, this would be a bit of fun mixed with educational elements as well…
I have some exciting new art supply treasures to share, that I think many of you will want to run out and get… I will share them in the next post for certain… Plus, I am three posts behind on other fun things I want to share… Where does the time go????
Oh, I suppose, amusing yourself (as above) is where the time goes… 😉 See you sooooon! xoxo, V
OMG woman this is GREAT!!!!!!!!!!I love that quilt and your stories,and am I the first to see alll this????wow that really makes my day!Big kiss dees
PS I am at work now so time travelling is a little hard but I sure will go on a timetravel Vanessa trip when I get home!xoxo
I’m new to your blog -and I just love it. Each time I visit is like a mini vacation for me! Thanks,
Kim in Canada
Those treasures are priceless! Such beautiful things you’ve collected! I collect old fabric blocks too – I have one huge one that would thrill you. It is so heavy, I don’t know how they lifted it – guess maybe two people had to use it together. And I agree that the hassles of travel sometimes make it preferable to stay home. When traveling, I just try to think of what’s waiting for me on the other end, which gives me perspective about the interim hassles. I love your idea of imaginery travel, dressing up and even indulging in the cuisine. You are always an inspiration, sparkly girl! xoxox
Just reading this takes me away! I would have loved growing up in your household. The more unusual the better. How nice to be your unique self no matter what that means! Yea!!!
I am a collector as well…have accumulated all sorts of things from my travels and I love each and every one of them..just back from the gift show in Atlanta….debuted 2 new lines of garden products that I designed… perhaps when they hit the stores you can collect some of them as well!
best,
carol
Thanks so much for the imaginary trip to Mexico! I love your collections. Great post!
Colourful, rich and beautiful!
You grew up in Mexico?
I am going to Mexico in two (2!!) weeks and am thrilled.
May be Arizona will come next…..some day.
I just love visiting you! It is like going somewhere exotic every time! What a great collection. I love your love of color, it just makes me happy! Fabulous wood blocks wow! What a fun thing!
I LOVE fabric and textiles(it’s a big part of me). Any time I dream of going to exotic places it’s to hunt for textile treasures. YET with ingenuity and play and paint and testing new things….the handmade creation of changing something plain to something exotic is exhilarating. The treasures you have amassed in those wood blocks is amazing. And oh the colors of those textiles. I swoon.
Play is essential and dressing up and creating a world away in your own backyard…priceless.
Can you imagine if we lived near each other? Both of us being the supply mongers(in a good way) that we are? heehee!! This is one of the reasons I adore you so…..we can be 32 or 54 or 5!!
XOXOXOXOXOXO
You stirred something in my heart…a longing for travel…it’s always there but I have to squish it down sometimes.
I’m happy to see some of the items you collect…and even happier to hear stories of your life!
That video was really cool…I like his voice a lot.
And your painted hand is sooo great.
<3
Popping over from Lisa (looks great over there!) Okay, the whole time I’m reading this post I’m hearing Shirley Bassey singing, “Goldfingah”!! Hmm…are you too young to know what I’m taking about? better aske Mr. Lovee!!!
D.
This is what I call a post filled with treasures! I’m definitely a fan of travelling without leaving the house so this little journey is very welcome 🙂
Those printing blocks are amazing w/their intricate designs! …good collecting my kindred spirit 🙂
Is it ok if we’re actually physically traveling, and I can’t help thinking about the place we’re going? 🙂 We’ll be in Tokyo in 3 days! 🙂 And we’ve been to Budapest too 🙂
Those printing blocks are amazing, I imagine they smell wonderful too.
Happy Tuesday!
The printing blocks are wonderful! Makes me want to dig out my stamp carving tools again (it’s been way too long). Like you, I take a lot of what I call “fantasy trips.” Usually they are to distant art conventions that I would love to attend but can’t due to time or financial restraints. I visit Travelocity and other sites to check the price and availability of plane tickets, hotels, rental cars, acting the whole time as if I’m actually going to go. 90% of the time I don’t get to go, but planning is really half the fun!
Studying fabric? Swoon! I hoard, I mean, love all my vintage fabric…it is so comforting to me. I haven’t even gotten it out in so very long…when I travel, I get in an Airstream and travel back to 1930 or there abouts…and being in America is just fine with me (although, I have love for all places…it’s just 1930-40 is my fantasy time) I can sit and day dream about that all day…see, who needs a time machine when you have your imagination??
You’re just helplessly sparkly, aren’t you?!
Know what your post makes me want to do???
Use those printing blocks to ‘tattoo’ my hands and arms! Wouldn’t THAT be fun?! Trip to India anyone???
Take care Miss V!
Miss V! Oh the textiles! My Grandma (GG as we call her) was a seamstress in her younger years and a quilter in her later years. Fabric, cloth and Textiles rulled her home. I loved it there, and that is where I will go. Back to being 5 and running between the newly printed or died sheets of fabric, hanging on the clothes to dry. Watching them wave in the breeze like a rainbow sea. Listening to her hum and sing as she would take them down and in to the house. Feeling like you could just about cry when she would cut into a beautiful piece. Watching her work them together, like magic, and you would have a wonderful dress or a quilt that could protect you from everything!(especialy that evil clown you hid at the bottem of the toybox)
Love Erin~
What a feast of color and story!
I enjoyed my visit so! As always!
Becky
brilliant! one of these days I will have to create those post cards from the little tripies that I take in my own head. 🙂 thanks for sharing those textile printing blocks – they are quite GORGEOUS!
xx’s ~M~
Your blog is truly one of the most beautiful things I’ve read. It’s a delight for the senses.
Felted Balls Darling – me too. My favorite too. I was thinking we might play a game. Cups and balls bouncing – betting with a little bubbly drink ? You see where I am going with this ? Oh of course I want to have glistening hands all the while too.
I chose a sari / dress made from that small square I saw in the background. The one of deep blue with tiny stars of sequins … afterall , it’s pretend, so I was able to poof out a bolt of cloth to wear….I chose the earrings with the pink and orange crescents and The Eye of Pink Reflection I see in the middle , now dangles from my neck. I tinkle as we walk and talk….Now do you have any ankle bells we might wear too ?
I was delighted to be able to say ! I too had intense fiber science classes and do you still have your PIK ? How was it spelled ? To peer and count tiny strands ? I was shaking my head as you echoed my own thoughts – it has been invaluable information.
Hanging on each word I could see the houses on the block as you described, the spicy candy and the worm & tequila with Grampa….I heard your father say too “What are you going to do with that ?”
I see those printing blocks and always want but never have bought ! YOU have a wonderful collection I would just love to play with those and I loved The Tip. I doubt now I will pass one up next time I see it….and of course , I will think of You !
xo-S.
ps couldn’t get the video yet…some reason my server is balking at Youtubes and such…
Vanessa, amazing as I watched that video I could see your beautiful ladies inspiration. It was like your painting came alive and became animated. I so know what you mean about traveling into another time and place, my favorite pass time. I am surrounded by collections of all sorts and the more eye candy I collect the more inspired I am. My art room is a collection of my girl’s stuffed animals, collections from when we live in Asia and Canada. Not to mention the skatey-eight teapots, shoes and chinese object collections. You are so perfect at describing he creative adventure. I hope you write a book some day…you are a natural. OMG I just glanced at this post and you have so inspired me that I have written a book. Happy somewhere in time to you.
Karen
Your blog ALWAYS takes me on trips with your vibrant pictures… so this post is really fitting! All the glitter and gold on your hands makes me giggle! hhehe!
xox,
dayna desastre
Oh Vanessa!
You should hook up with Mary Mulcahey from LesIndiennes (you would love the website)~ she’s in Tucson and creates the most gorgeous patterns to have hand blocked in India. She has created a beautiful world of fabrics. I always enjoy your world!
There is nothing better than getting messy while creating! Of course when you are surrounded by such loveliness as you are…you have to make sure you wash your hands! The quilt is simply FABOo!
Hi Vanessa,
I had such a similar experience since my dad is a fine artist and we had sculptures on our front lawn as well as these funky stained glass windows his friend made on the front windows. No one could miss our house and eventhough as an artist myself I could appreciate it as a teenager I just wanted to hide my face in the sand!
Love your colorful stories!!!
Such lovely photos!! Your wooden printing blocks are absolutely amazing!!! xoxoxo…jenn
What an exotic childhood, sounds like so much fun travelling and seeing the world experiencing new sights and sounds. Your collected fabrics and wooden blocks are gorgeous, perhaps these things would inspire new craft for your shop?
What nice history! beautiful post!
see you
hello Vanessa,
I love your Indian sari’s ! I’ve been fond also all my life of the colors they use. I was born in 1966, but my daughter sometimes laughes at me and says I’m still a hippie… I don’t feel offended…
Purple and all it’s shades are still my favorite colors…
I have some wooden stamps too : some I collected when I was 20 years ago in London, some my aunt brought with her for me when she was in India.
I like the designs, but I still find it difficult to get a good impression with them. I try the trick with the dictionary, but which paints or inks do you use ?
Since you’re traveling for the moment… why not a Belgian day… I have a small ( nothing compared to your teaparty…) party today because of the first birthday of my website and blog…
I have homemade cake, but I can teach you how to make Belgian wafles and nothing better than Belgian frites !! You should taste Belgian chocolat : it’s the best !…
greetings
Inge from Belgium
PS : take the short cut and come by internet. With the tricycle is takes a while… 🙂
I am shaking that gold hand my dear…thank you for the little travel vacation as I sit here in CO…
Your collections are always a welcome trip for me!! AND, thanks for that printing tip, I have tried unsuccessfully to use mine.
I have shared the twin snail girls in their new home if you care to drop by.
x…x
steph
You are fascinating. I love the idea of transporting yourself to another country, another state of mind, another person. I love your collection of saris, so colorful and such lovely patterns. Music, ethnic foods, costumes, yum yum! Thanks for taking me there with you!! xoxo Suzy
Your blog is always such a pretty place to visit!
Love those fabric printing blocks – never seen anything like them – what fun things to play/create with!
My parents used to play this game with us. We would “go” to Argentina for the evening, so we would first find it on the map, then play soccer, eat…well, I can’t remember what we ate (but it was good!), look at pictures of the country, listen to songs from the country etc. They did this for Spain, Mexico, England, some African countries, and I can’t remember what else. It was always so much fun!
Found your blog today. I have only had a few minutes to look around but love what I see. I will be looking deeper when I have more time.
It’s so nice to know someone else gets excited over looking at treasures and trinkets. Sometimes I believe there are those of us who must see something others do not. I know my mom has never understood how my heart can pound over a certain color of blue when I see it. I haven’t traveled alot and do not have a large trove of fabulous trinkets like yours but I love what I have. I have “lost” so many things over the years due to listening to those who say what do you need that for? And I am so sorry I lost each and every little treasure.
I haven’t really transported myself to another country but I live in constant pain so I transport myself out of it at least for a little while looking at, playing with and learning about interesting and beautiful things.
You go girl !!!
Hi Vanessa! I want to wish you ‘goede reis’ where ever you are going from here. Here we do a lot traveling in our mind. Like today, we went to the land of the pinkies. What would we do and enjoy if we were not larger than our pinks. We would never leave the house without our leaves.We should use those leaves as means of transportation via the stair bannisters or as a shelter from rain. We would love our gigantic tv screens and we…go on and on telling each other what we would do. In the mean while some one has put on the time speeder…we don’t know who it is but every time we have a good time the time speeder is on and makes that time goes very fast. Mmm only at the dentist no one can find the time speeder…
Next time I’ll send you a card from Pinky land or wherever we go. I have enjoyed your post. Have a nice and inspiring day again. Looking forward to the next post already, aah but with that time speeder on it will turn up in no time!
oh la la!! You could make some pretty lovely regency-esque fabrics with those antique blocks!! Just get some sheer voile or lawn in a nice off white and print away…..Eliza Bennett would be so jealous!! drooool!! 🙂 I’ve seen those on ebay from time to time, and dreamed! 🙂
Your golden-pink palms seem steeped in talent and inspiration today, sweet friend! 🙂
What wonderful treasures you have! I’ve been hunkering down a lot in the tree house these days. I love the ocean but have stayed very close to home. 4.5 weeks and counting until I see Mr. Wonderful in the HHH weather of NC.
Like you I’ve been traveling without stepping outside of the tree house. I’ve been thinking about making a series of collages that are my own worlds, you know the type, fantastic, and imaginative. Hmmmm. Time to get creating.
Thanks as always for the wonderful adventures on your blog.
I am so, so envious of your stamp collection! I picked up just a couple on the India trip, and I wish I’d tracked down more. One of my favorite things was a trip to a textile factory, watching one of the workers stamp out a long piece of fabric (http://www.flickr.com/photos/e_marie/2127445710/in/set-72157603469302595/). Since I don’t have that padded table, I’m so excited to hear about the dictionary/book alternative. Thanks!
All those wonderful fabric stamps, sumptuous color, and that crazy pink and gold hand make me long for my printmaking days of college. Going to class with my arms inked to the elbows in glorious color – my friends wrinkling their noses in disgust, when I would look and remember each step of the process with each color. I loved it and miss it.
Working with fabric and dyes brought all those memories back and was pure pleasure. I miss that too, but must move on.
Now I revel in beads and all their colors, shapes and textures.
Thanks for the Khaled video. I liked it so much I downloaded it from itunes!
I’m going now to pick out my clothes for dress-up. What fun!
Kate
Yikes! That video reminds me of my Persian boyfriend when I was a girl. Just think if I’d married him…I’d be wearing saris now. LOL
I lived in El Paso for a while when I was a little girl and we went to Juarez often. All I remember is how colorful everything was.
umm,your not odd in any way..:pi didnt care what peope said…so what i collect dolls?and yes i was 17 playing with dolls?and yes i love vintage fabric?your point..heheh
xoxo
ryce
when i was younger i yoused to dress-up in my moms pretty (you no the no-touchy ones)dresses and play victorian era games by myself(thats how i liked it…no-one fighting and i got to plan the plot the way i wanted<3hehe)i loved it....shhhhh,can i tell you a secrest.....sometimes i break out the same dresses(my mom let me have them..:p)and swing around in them like when i was younger<3
xoxo
ryce
I think I would have loved being at your house. My house too, was one that my friends loved being. Loud, energy,everyone piled on top of each other. Lots of love. What I thought was normal, was in fact very different. Didn’t every child run and put on the tea kettle when they heard their Dad’s car pull up in the drive way? Didn’t every child wake up to their Dad singing to them, in his beautiful Scottish brogue?
Ah well, I was blessed! Amy
Those stamps are amazing – what a collection! I’m totally jealous.
Oh you are such an interesting Woman. I got to see the video this time…You are right ! She makes me want to Play. xo-S
It’s so interesting to find out more about you dear lady V! You collect wooden print blocks and sari’s and etc. etc. You are the most vivacious creative, imaginative person on the plantet … How utterly wonderful you are!!!
You make me want to create!!!
Love the fabric stamps! And the colors of ink you used!
Sandra Evertson
Hello Vanessa,
You have such an amazing collection of interesting things. Lots of colours and textures!
~ Gabriela ~
Hello Vanessa, guess what I nominated you for an award! You can see it over on my blog!! Yes you rock!