For the first time in a few years I won’t be going to a local Irish pub for lunch and small (teeny tiny) sips of green beer (I am not a beer sipper, but a little green taste every other year is ok). However, I will be having green cake with The Duchess… (much more up my alley)
Oh, don’t forget the green tea. And, we will resume our bickering (the Duchess and I). You see, I have fallen in love. A man has come into my life and the Duchess just can’t handle it. He is so charming and, ooo, he makes me all giddy. Butterflies I tell ya, bu-tter-fliiiies. Noone has made me that butterfly-ie since Brian Ferry in the 80’s (although, there were other 80’s loves as well). I know I know, nasty gross awful. Everyone freaks out about this (I hope there isn’t something terrible about Brian that I don’t know, which might not want me to admit to this 80’s love, hee hee,). I also still like saxophones for romantic effect and bad keyboard sounds. I am stuck in a time warp. Please leave me here. I am all cozy, you will disrupt my brain cells if you try to tell me it is not 1987, 1887, 1907, 1927,1787. Love all those dates 🙂
Okay, moving right along… So, the new man. Yes, he is wonderful and marvelous! He is charming and handsome. I won’t tell you who I think he is a cross of between. But you can guess if you’d like. So, the Duchess and I are bickering over this because, she is in love with him too! He runs an old fashioned carnival. Which is kind of like a cross between a circus and a carnival. He also has a brother! Who is coming to visit in 24 hours…
Here is my new heart-throb…(along with two new girls who will be in the shop this week)
He and his brother are the first gentlemen to enter our realm. Oh goodnes, faun boy is throwing a fit. I mean, they are not the first, faun boy is. You know what I mean… Oh, and did I tell you about his shiny red boots? They are so dreamy…
You see, The Duchess has this plan of how she will snatch his heart. She thinks up unusual ways. Today she baked a 13 layer cake. Hmph… She might win 😉
I will be putting these three plus lots of other sculpted treasures in my shop this week. I am hoping for Wednesday. But, I will do a blog post on all of them, before they go into the shop. I was hoping to have them in today, alas, all the details on each piece, plus pinky-tip sized tea accoutrements have caused me to fall behind. I am so in love with these characters. They are all chatter, stories galore…
You know, for Saint Patrick’s day, we wanted to visit with you in the garden. We had the loveliest week, all kinds of citrus ready to be savored…
It was in the 80’s here all week. I collected fruit from my garden, and a friend gave me some other treasured limequats. I washed them in the garden, getting ready to make marmalade.
I washed batch after batch, and then enjoyed every minute of dropping them to dry. It felt so springy, so green, so warm, perfect for today’s post…
The peach tree is blooming its tender beautiful pink flowers…
I just love these little flowers. Fruit trees are just so amazing, aren’t they?
I dragged my gown in the garden…
And stopped for tea amidst a patch of tiny yellow wild flowers… Claire de Lune, playing softly in the background..
What a beautiful magical week… Who could ask for anything more? Yummy days…
Our friend got all his tenants coolers working. He was so proud of himself, de-winterizing them and all. We were proud of him too.
I picked daisies, and inspected our oranges…
Are you jealous? Are you wishing you lived in Arizona? I’ll tell you what… You won’t be after you hear this 😉 This is what happened today (below). And, it is snowing as I type… WHAT? No wonder I am insane!! And, what about my poor friend? Who gave all his tenants A/C? Poor guy 🙂 I don’t know the status, but I am sure he is working hard right now to remedy the good thing turned cold.
What in the world just happened? It was like, the earth was warm and wonderful, and then the Snow Queen took over… I tell ya, incredible, unreal, unusual weather we have… Good for me, I LOVE snow. I hope it sticks!!
And, good thing, I captured Spring last week! So we could have a warm Springy, lovely day. For Green Tea and Green Cake…
Also a perfect day for sharing Shamrock Brooches made by our friends… (E-mail me if you made these and you want me to add you, sorry if I missed anyone)
Miss Karla at Sugar Bear Designs made these lovelies! She has a beautiful blog! Thank you Miss K, I used your photo…
Miss Ruth made some wonderful centerpieces out of hers. Aren’t they precious? I think they are marvelous!! (I borrowed the photo below from her lovely blog)
Jalal (and daughter Jordyn), made the most lovely treasures out of the cards and the brooch pdf. Thank you for sharing your photos!! I loove them, all sparkly! Visit them at the "Little Shack out Back."
Miss Sarah from Oh Kirby, who makes amazing treasures, has sent me the most wonderful shots (below), of her magical brooch. You get to see her wearing her creation!!! Love that photo!! Thank you Sarah!
My friend Michelle (wearing a wonderful necklace, love that), made a very beautiful brooch also. Don’t the silver sparkles look dreamy? Thank you Michelle!! She makes amazing dolls (I almost owned one, but an 8 year old convinced me she had to have it, so I gave her my doll made by Michelle), take a peek at Gingham World.
How’s that for shamrock fun??? I hope you have a wonderful day!! Pinch free 😉 Thank you for stopping in, it warms my heart and soul! Especially after 500 hours alone in the studio, working away!! xoxo, V
ps: All Free Card And Free Shamrock Brooch PDF’s can still be find right here, in right hand side bar 😉
pps: I have updated the shamrock sharing, of everyone who told me they made one. You can still let me know if you want to be added.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day (heart the seasonal header)! have fun celebrating.
Love the new dolls (the Duchess is dressed for the occasion), I see teacup girl too. And, the new man -*swoon*! a Mr Lovee lookalike perhaps? The garden shots are wonderful, so springy (except for the snow…how bizarre?) I love the paper Ruth used for the shamrocks.xox
Happy St Patrick’s day, enjoy the day. The new man in your life is very handsome 🙂
I love the Spring photos- we need more Spring-like weather here.
I was so jealous- it’s a good thing you showed me the snow!
Your new fella looks wonderful- is Mr Lovee jealous?!
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!!! 🙂
Spooky Chris
Happy happy green day, indeed!! And your gentleman friend’s eyes match the green shades of the day, methinks! 🙂 What a very handsome fellow, indeed! 🙂 He reminds me of a strongman from some runaway Victorian sideshow! 🙂 Lovely lovely!! And your ladies…sigh….I love them so! 🙂
Happy St. Patrick’s Day to you and all your gorgeous new creations. Your blog always makes me smile, you make so many people happy I am sure. I can’t wait to see your new additions to your shop. Karen
Ahh, Brian Ferry…*le sigh*.
I love all of those year numbers too – I am a very big fan of 2’s and 7’s. In any combination.
Your little man is divine. The first one looks like Kevin Kline to me. He’s probably looking for his Phoebe Cates! The picture of his red boots made me smile. Love his long and lean legs.
Perfection as always V.V!
Happy St. Patrick’s Day Miss Vanessa!! Sigh…The Duchess may have to shove over and make room for me in her new man’s life. He looks like a magnificent Gypsy king (quite muscular too it seems) and I am quite taken by him as well!
Your new dolls are fantastic….as if we would expect anything less from the oh so very talented Miss V!
And your weather….I AM jealous! I do love New England, I love that we have 4 distinct seasons, but ya know what? Gettin’ a little tired of Winter! I’m soooo ready for green grass, flowers blooming, birds singing and the warm sun on my face. It’s slooowly warming up here, but we have at least another month before our weather would make anyone even the slightest bit envious. So do enjoy your lovely weather, freak snowfall and all!
Can’t wait for the shop update….and did I see that you mentioned “tiny tea sets”? Why Miss Vanessa…you make my heart sing! 🙂
Happy St. Patrick’s Day. I can well see why you and the Dutches are having a tiff over Mr.Heart-throb…watch out I hear these Carnies can be fickle.
This is the first time I have heard about limequats…will you have a contest for the limequat marmalade?
As always you bring a ray of sunshine into our lives.
The Duchess is so lovely (even though she’s a jealous 13 layer cake man stealing harpy) Just kidding. 🙂 I love bluebirds. I wish I could wear bluebirds in my hair (as long as they wouldn’t poop).
You reminded me to get out my green hoodie today. Sadly, I wear hoodies (it’s so not me), but when I get paint all over them .. I don’t cry. You know how it is. 🙂
p.s.
The Duchess looks oh so much like a Redgrave….I’m not sure which one…hmmmm
: )
Oh Boy! What a fun day. The limequats are amazing…hope you got them all in before the snow. Tonight I’ll be skipping the green beer, but my husband & I make Guinness and vanilla ice cream floats. Surprisingly tasty. Have a luck-filled day!
I am here for the green tea and the cake — if the Duchess doesn’t mind sharing!! Ah…dissention in the house — and of course, all caused by a very handsome man!! Hee!!
Of course I was envious seeing the beauty of spring in Arizona — the beautiful citrus and the flowering fruit trees — *sigh* and then you showed me snow — blah!! I know it won’t last long there and it was a treat to see — but I’m keeping my eyes on the citrus!!
Happy St. Patrick’s Day — your readers have made some beautiful designs with your patterns and they make me feel very festive!! I’m passing on a bouquet of shamrocks to you — I was given a posy of 4 leaf clovers this morning and they are delightful!!
Ooh, your new gentleman is so handsome! Happy St Patrick’s Day! I just emailed you my brooches (just a wee bit late!) – I had so much fun making them. I hope you enjoy having green tea and green cake! I myself and off to make chocolate peppermint cupcakes with peppermint buttercream icing! Yummm… 🙂
I love your man! Ok, I mean the doll here..My dolls would just about faint if they saw him! And he has a brother? Cant wait to see him. And your ladies ares sweet as ever:)
We brought back sixty lemons or so from California and I just got around to making lemonade with them this weekend. Unfortunately we don’t quite have your weather to fully enjoy them.
HaPpY sT. pAtRiCk’S dAy:)
I love it here in your fanciful little world! Such a unique place, so creative! I’m doing a little link to your st patty’s day goodies today, hope that you don’t mind.
What gorgeous photos and I’m digging the red boots.
13 layer cake sounds pretty good right about now. 🙂
perhaps a strapping chap from the ’80s should join your other friends…for then there would be more man love to go around. i’m picturing white jeans and crazy flock of seagulls hair…
Oh! I love the Duchess! And the new man! Very handsome! Happy St. Patrick’s Day to you Vanessa!
Oh so very fun! Happy St patty’s to you! I used your pattern and made myself one too! It’s on my blog today to celebrate too! I love your new folks! They are wonderful, of course!
Oh Vanessa…your lovely gentleman doll is FAB-U-LOUS!!!! Your dolls are sooooo special. I can’t even imagine how you ever part with them!!! Thanks for the peek into your garden. The lemons look delicious and I am having a big imaginarary glass of sweet tea with loads of fresh lemon right now:):):) Happy St. Patrick’s Day! xox…jenn
Well…Happy St Patrick’s Day to you Miss Fanciful!
Jealous??? YES!!! Those lemons and oranges and blossoms….we got 6 inches of snow last night and it’s still coming down.
Someday I will see spring, in the meantime I’ll be visiting…
x…x
Won’t Mr. Lovee be a bit disturbed at your new crush? I think the Duchess provoked the snow, not realizing that you would take delight in it. Oh my but she is a noble woman to bake a 13 layer cake!
I say indeed, a happy wearin’ o’ the green to you darling Ms Twist!
Christine
Happy St. Patrick’s Day Vanessa! I am proudly wearing my brooch as are all of my friends and family that were lucky enough to be gifted one :). Well the Duchess may have you beat – they key to the heart is the stomach after all! I don’t care if it is snowing – I’d still love to live in AZ!
Karla
I, too, am a Bryan Ferry fan! And your dolls are gorgeous – such personality and style! I love how so many creative readers have created their own shamrocks in honour of the day. And your weather reminds me of Santa Fe – warm in the day, snowing in the evening. Enjoy the brief respite of snow – and your St. Paddy’s Day! xoxox
wish i had one of those shamrocks today…maybe next year i will feel like a celebration…i have missed so much lately…thank you for being so supportive…hugs and happy st. paddy’s day…rebecca
Ahh!
Mr. Red Boots is Fabulous!
So very, very handsome!
And the lass with the stacked tea cups hat, absolutely Fantastic!
Sandra Evertson
Too Cool, I adore your Garden!
Good gracious that is a rather dapper man! With RED boots as well?? Swoon (I think you have a rather good shot at him though, I mean, don’t say anything…but the duchess has birds in her hair…surely they will eat up all the cake as soon as it’s made, really V…I don’t think you have a thing to worry about!)
I am loving all the shamrock glitter that is happening over here…I actually remembered to wear green, so I am feeling mightily proud of myself! That is as far as I have gotten with the holiday…well, and a new coif (but I was due for that no matter what the day turned out to be)
It snowed ALL DAY here yesterday, it is gone now, but I would have gladly exchanged some for those yellow beauties of yours!!
I love him I love him I love him! Your new man!!
Top O’ the Evening , Lassie! (Not the collie kind). I am lovin’ your new dude! He is HOT..wow,,he’s really ‘sculpted’! What a DOLL he is! Is his name Patrick O’Sullivan MacGillacutty,III.. by any chance? …….Dear FaunBoy , don’t worry , YOU are the only one for moi ..’K ? Let’s pour a drop O’ Jameson’s in our coffee and go steal a slice of THe Duchess’ giant cake!!! mwaaahaaha!!!
I too love the new gentleman! The Dutchess is quite lovely, also. I’m glad I’m not the only one stuck in a time warp, or several. Perhaps I’ll run into you in 1927- I’ll be the one in the pink tea frock with a gorgeous matching cloche.
Your weather sounds as confused as the weather here. After a cold and wet summer, as soon as it clicked over to autumn the weather decided it was time to produce those perfect summer days.
OOOhhh that Duchess!! You will have to make a 14 layer cake just to show her up! Maybe even 15. Happy to hear you got snow, but it is just the wrong time of year. All the fruit trees are blooming here, and for those of us with allergies it isn’t fun. Very pretty, but not fun. The Shamrocks are all wonderful, makes me wish I had made some. I still might!(I’d ware them every day!;))
Love Erin
What!!??!! You are putting the new man in your life — the one you have fallen in love with — in the shop!!?? And what does he say about it? Perchance, is he in love with the duchess? Then he will be going willingly.
Yes, there are days I wish I lived in Arizona, but I’m patient: eventually color will be back in my landscape too.
xoxo
Hasn’t the weather just been insane?! Friday I was sweating! SWEATING! And by Sunday my toes were frozen and I set my little teeny heater right next to my bed and had it on all day.
Oh, he is handsome! I am also rather taken with the lady in the first photo… She reminds me of drawings I used to make when I was about ten (I had a slight obsession with birds-in-hair).
Thanks for featuring my photo! They were such a joy to make… next year I will do even MORE! 🙂
I love your photos, absolutely wonderful.
you’re right, he is quite dashing! No wonder you’re smitten. It looks lovely out where you are, such bright colors and light! It is dark and stormy here…I’m pretending I’m a Bronte out on the moor 😉
Oh, I’m so happy to have stopped by today. Your post was so newsy and creative. I adore the new dolls. You’re doing great work!
I can’t imagine that it is actually 80 degrees anywhere in the world. It’s 36 in Ann Arbor this morning, but we look forward to getting into the 40’s. I actually love cold weather, but I don’t love rain. Today were having rain, rain and more rain.
Sending you good wishes for a wonderful day.
Hugs,
Cookie
eeeeeeeeee!!!!!! I just love your little royal people! They are so fab – I love their hair and lovely quixotic expressions. I made a tiny tea set once – much fun! And I too love Brian Ferry. When I was six, my godmother took me to a grown-up party where everyone was supposed to dress up as their eight-year-old selves. I imagined I would be incredibly glamourous by the time I was eight, so I put on my godmother’s make-up and jewelry and a silk blouse and listened to Roxy Music the whole time. I still love Avalon so much and felt ever so sorry for Brian when I found out that “Dance Away” was about Jeery Hall dumping him for Mick and while Mick was super-sexy I never NEVER would have done that to Brian as he was sweet and smooth and subtly sexy and surely know how to treat a woman whereas Mick would steal your clothes to go seduce your best friend, that cad!
I’m always amazed at the lengths women will go to snag a man. A 13 LAYER CAKE?? My dear, Duchess, you will send the man into a diabetic coma! I have a feeling he will see right through this obvious neediness and realize the Duchess is just not the girl for him. Good luck!
xoxo
Erin
You’re so darlingly wierd! I just adore you. =) And the way you said “butterflies” reminded me of the ladybugs scene in Under The Tuscan Sun. …We have snow this week too – seems like Spring is playing hide and seek. Hope all is well there. Blessings.. Polly
Everyone’s shamrocks look fantastic!!! We haven’t done ours yet…haven’t been home!
🙁
But! Your new man looks like a swashbuckling Errol Flynn!!! Love him!
xo
Love and hugs
and luck of the Irish to you each and everyday~
Love Jeanne
The ‘new’ man is so very handsome..!
I see him as a lion tamer, and also sexily clad in one of those 20’s swimming costumes, with sleeves and legs..LOL
No wonder Faun boy is jealous…
hugs
xx
Oh Miss V, I am soooo insanely (haha) jealous that you have a lemon tree!!!!! Can you send me a crate??
I’m back from my Mexico trip. YOu know, as we were flying near Arizonia I wished i could have opened the window and dropped you a note out of the plane attached to one of the butter tarts i was scarfing!! I blew kisses and good wishes for you girlfriend! I missed the teeny tiny tea party…rats! I hope everyone had a lovely soiree! That tea set is marvy! I just received a tiny blue tea set from Etsy made out of wood. I will feature in one of my next blogs. My next blog will be photos of my trip to San Jose in Cabo. Have you been dear lady? I’m sure you’ve been to Mexico many times. I forgot all about St. Paddy’s day…boo on me! I think i wore green cords yesterday though…
So, I also meant to tell you about my ladder accident too. While i was working in a shoe store back in the mid 90’s I was opening the ladder to get a pair of shoes on the top shelf, when my silly ol’ finger got caught and I too, was screaming and yelping for help. The one customer in the shop came back and helped remove my poor finger and I had to call my boss to tell him to come over so i could go to the emergency room….ay carumba!! We MUST be twins….how is said finger doing now? Thank heavens Lovee was there!!
Such amazing photos my friend…..ah swoon Bryan Ferry so in love with that man to this day.
XOX
Kristen
Happy St. Patricks….I put some of my Celtic drawings on my site inspired by you!!!Never would have really thought of it on my own. Hope you check it out. Loving visiting you often.
http://deirdradoan.blogspot.com/
love the dolls!!!! so much character – lovely lovely….
and the paper shamrocks are so so cute…you are too clever!! i want to try and make one too!
Hope you had a wonderful and fun St. Patrick’s day.
Thank you for sharing your story with us.
I loved it.