Before we go Forward, a Recap of our Final Farewell at Typepad.

On September 30th, 2025 I sat at my computer waiting for midnight eastern time, and just like clockwork, a few minutes after midnight Typepad disappeared, taking with it two decades of posts, stories, memories. Miraculously we have saved and organized every morsel here on my new blog. But I would be lying if I didn’t feel a sadness, a tightening of the throat, and dare I say, a bit of panic when I could no longer type in my old blog address without seeing this message at Typepad.

I went to bed after that and proceeded to have crazy nightmares about loss all night. I personally do not think years and years of people’s online journals were handled with the care they deserved by Typepad, alas, at this point there is nothing to be done. We are lucky to get to move forward at this shiny new blog. Not everyone was able to do so, and I feel for them deeply.

I can only pinch myself from the miracle that somehow, we saved it all right in the nick of time.

Before we fully move on from this topic and onto new posts, I wanted to share my last Typepad blog post here, just to save it as I did with all the others.

A memory, a moment in time.

Here is my last post below…

A Tearful Farewell from our last Blog Post at Typepad…

Written on September 16, 2025

So much to say as we celebrate our 19th year here at Typepad, just as we also have to say farewell.

But before we panic…

I want to let you all know that I have worked tirelessly with a web designer to save this blog and move to a new location.

After the 30th of September Typepad will totally disappear.

But you will find us at aFancifulTwist.Com

Our new and improved online home, which should be fully running by the end of the month.

How could I ever really truly leave you?

I can not and will not.

I had already started working with a web designer (Shelby at Tamed Jackalope) before any of this was announced by Typepad based on the issues I was having trying to write a blog post.

I realized I could not go on.

It had become impossible to post anything new.

The system would give me an error code every time I tried to upload something for 3 years!

It was very stressful and disheartening.

Uploading my last post took 4 days of trying to load one photo at a time over and over until it would stick.

So, things can only get better from here, knock on wood!

Nothing lasts forever.

And sometimes good things can arise from change.

You just have to look on the bright side and be brave enough go on the journey.

Having an open mind can be life changing.

Before this space disappears, I wanted to take a moment to go down memory lane and share a few words from the heart…

I started my journey here in December of 2006.

I was visiting my family and drew this logo below and decided that I would begin the exciting path of blogging.

I wrote my first blog post, never imaging that I would continue doing it for the rest of my adult life to date.

I have loved every moment of sharing my life with you.

Our lives.

Dogs, my family, Mister Lovee, gardens, art, tea parties and more.

Never in my wildest dreams did I think that my blog would lead me to selling my artwork all around the world.

To being featured in magazines about our wacky little life happenings.

But somehow it did…

In trying to save all the content from my blog my heart has burst open in a well of emotions.

Seeing the magic we have lived, through good and difficult times, is so touching.

All I ever wanted was to share a morsel of how anyone and everyone could live their own authentic whimsical life if they wanted.

I have met so many wonderful people and had the wildest adventures.

I’ve written at least a hundred magazine articles and taken a million photos, literally and truly.

I have external hard drives filled with magical photos of the last 19 years.

I’d love to gather them up in a book one day.

In a very common way that things happen in my life, I am being pried away from my comfortable nook in order to change.

But I have learned that sometimes, there is something more wonderful for you on the other side.

It’s all a matter of perception and open-mindedness.

You can grow another garden, and it can thrive.

I have learned this in the literal sense.

The magic you love is within you always.

Changing a place or space doesn’t necessarily mean it is the end.

Maybe and usually, it is just more space to keep growing.

So much love has happened in the years of A Fanciful Twist.

I have realized that love has been the greatest currency in my life.

There have been so many loves.

Baby, Miles, Matty, Teddy, Poppy.

I would have never imagined, when I started this blog, that I would lose my first dog so painfully and learn to change and grow and love again and again and again.

I could go on and on and on all day about the miraculous little things that I have learned.

About how sometimes you have to change everything in order to remain the same.

About how, no matter how magical it felt at the time, in hindsight it was spectacularly wonderful beyond imagination.

Perhaps this isn’t just a blog farewell…

But a love letter to my life.

A love letter to the last 19 years that have been more wonderful, amazing, difficult, heartbreaking, magical and transformative that I could have ever imagined.

Through all of this I have become stronger than I ever knew I had in me.

I have become braver than I ever understood the meaning of.

I have had more change than I ever expected to have.

And yet through it all, everything has stayed the same.

Like I said, I have learned that everything has to change in order to stay the same.

If there is no change, then you become stuck.

If you are stuck than you cannot thrive.

If you get unstuck and make little changes, you remain the same but better.

Does that make sense?

What I mean is, you don’t need to have cataclysmic change.

But little changes make all the difference and add up to something big, and something good.

It can be as simple as changing your wall decor.

Changing your surroundings just a little bit can feel fresher and more inspiring.

Tiny little changes make a huge difference.

After all, life is changing every millisecond, so accepting it is part of the puzzle.

10 seconds ago we hadn’t even discussed this, and 10 seconds later our mind has a new thought.

Constantly changing.

I used to fear change.

Through some major life happenings over the years, I have learned coping skills.

I have learned acceptance.

I have learned to just let go of some things.

I have learned to not care about a lot of things that are just noise.

I have learned what matters most to me.

I am still me, still growing pumpkins…

Still up to my fanciful shenanigans…

As much as I’d like to stay at our tea party right here, we must move to a new neck of the woods

We have no choice.

Because if we do not move, then we can’t stay the same, and by “the same” I mean having the tea parties and fun that we love.

Let me rephrase that.

We do have a choice, the choice is to just say farewell forever.

But why not choose to just move locations and go on?

Why not accept the new adventure?

And so, I made the decision.

Continue the adventure.

Bring all of our favorite stuff.

Still grow pumpkins and tell tales.

Mostly true, some imagined.

Pack up every little drawer of tchotchkes.

Paints, ribbons, teacups…

And take it with us to our new virtual place.

Memory banks full.

And so, the Mad Hatter proclaimed…

We shall go!

Pack up the magic…

Hitch up the old truck.

Through the garden gate of all the loves that have come before…

Tie up your ribboned frock…

And off we go!

A Fanciful Twist will continue on WordPress.

You will arrive there by simply typing in aFancifultwist.Com

Right now, there is a holding page there (now active of course), but we will be activating the site in days at this point.

We are so close and so excited!!!

Mister Lovee and I have literally wept at the memories and photos on the blog that we had all but forgotten about over the years.

Trying to save everything and transfer it over, thanks to my web designer.

For me it has been very inspiring to visit the past and gather a new sense of joy and desire to continue blogging.

I am soooooo eager to share our new space with you.

It will be simple and easy to navigate.

I think/hope you will enjoy it.

In the words of Howard Jones, Things can Only get Better!!

Lots of love!

Vanessa

🩷

PS: Below are some final words I shared on my blog on September 26, 2025. Just a few days before the old Typepad blog disappeared, as a reminder that we had moved.

I built this new blog home for you and me…

A place for us to continue to meet for tea, gardens, art and all of life’s happenings.

I think this old blog will only be here for a handful of days, and then poof, it will all be gone as though we were never here.

But do not fret, because we have saved archives, photos, categories, portfolios and more.

We worked tirelessly for two months to make this happen.

This blog of whimsies and joy is the one thing I can share with you, a gift.

See you Through the Secret Keyhole at 

aFancifulTwist.com

All my best wishes to you always!

Your friend, 

Vanessa

Over and out from Typepad.

19 years of memories galore.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for having been a part of it.

Now we start the next leg of the journey in our new blog home.

Hope to see you again.

xoxoxo

____________________________________________________________

Here are a few comments I managed to save from our farewell post.

Comments

1

Melanie said…

Oh goodness! 19 years?!?! WOW, just WOW. So many beautiful memories. I’m excited to follow along in your new digital home….it’s going to be marvelous,I just know it. xo

ReplySeptember 19, 2025 at 09:27 AM

2

Deb said…

I’ll be there V!!Hugs! deb

ReplySeptember 19, 2025 at 09:45 AM

3

Carrie West said…

I’m so happy you decided to go forward with a new blog! It would’ve been hard to live without you!!!!! I’m excited for the new adventures!

ReplySeptember 19, 2025 at 10:28 AM

4

Phyllis said…

Can hardly wait!! Seeing the picture of Miles and Matty made me choke up. 😢 I look forward to all the new shenanigans. 🩷💛💜🧡🩵❤️

ReplySeptember 19, 2025 at 11:53 AM

5

Randi said…

Thank you for the memories, and looking forward to new experiences, more tea parties and Teddy and Poppy adventures. It’s been a great ride!

ReplySeptember 19, 2025 at 12:05 PM

6

Barbara said…

So excited for this new adventure!!!✨✨✨

ReplySeptember 19, 2025 at 12:06 PM

7

Jennifer Edwards said…

Vanessa I now have your new “home” bookmarked on my computer’s front page! I am so glad you are continuing to blog and share the wondrous beauty, gardens, and whimsical stories you create for us! I hope the change will go smoothly and the you will be happier in the new setting, with much easier uploading and typing! It makes me think about so many other Typepad blogs that may be going away or moving locations. All the best to you! 💖💖

ReplySeptember 19, 2025 at 01:30 PM

8

Sarah said…

I am so relieved that you have decided to go on, AND that you were able to transfer everything! It’s one of my bucket goals to read your entire blog, and I’d be heartbroken if that couldn’t happen! I better get started! Thank you so much for making the effort to transfer everything and for continuing on, I know it must have been just HUGE. And I hope that the new home will be so much easier to use and will open up wonderful new doors!
xxxooo

ReplySeptember 19, 2025 at 06:00 PM

9

marilyn said…

Look forward to following along in your new home.
Sending love as your transition.
Marilyn

ReplySeptember 19, 2025 at 08:45 PM

10

deezie Lotz said…

Oh boy was I sad when I thought you were really going for good. So happy you are just moving* loved seeing all these old photos* see you soon
love deezie

ReplySeptember 20, 2025 at 02:03 AM

11

Janet said…

I look forward to your sharing of your new adventures and beautiful photos on your website!

ReplySeptember 20, 2025 at 04:57 AM

12

Sandra said…

Thank you thank you thank you! This is a labor of love and I appreciate it very much! I’m so grateful you are continuing and that you are preserving your blog history. Thank you!

ReplySeptember 25, 2025 at 01:43 AM

13

laura said…

I was on the road, traveling, when a friend who knows how much I love you and your blog called to tell me this one was going away and you were moving it. I’m so glad I am home in time to say a bon voyage to this beautiful space that has helped me survive so many difficult situations and that I’ll follow you anywhere!! 🙂

love & kisses & magical wishes!!!
~*~

ps…hugs & kisses to Teddy & Poppy!

ReplySeptember 25, 2025 at 11:26 AM

14

A Fanciful Twist said in reply to Melanie…

Thank you Melanie! We managed to save it all, please come to afancifultwist.com <3 <3 <3

ReplySeptember 26, 2025 at 11:46 PM

15

A Fanciful Twist said in reply to Deb…

Thank you Deb <3 <3 <3

ReplySeptember 26, 2025 at 11:46 PM

16

A Fanciful Twist said in reply to Carrie West…

Thank you Carrie, don’t’ make me cry :-* <3 <3 <3

ReplySeptember 26, 2025 at 11:47 PM

17

A Fanciful Twist said in reply to Phyllis…

Me too, sooo many memories here. But we have saved it all at the new blog, thank goodness <3 <3 <3

ReplySeptember 26, 2025 at 11:47 PM

18

A Fanciful Twist said in reply to Randi …

Thank you so very much! I am so glad you were here. Now we can continue the journey at our new blog <3 <3 <3

ReplySeptember 26, 2025 at 11:48 PM

19

A Fanciful Twist said in reply to Barbara…

Thank you Barbara <3 <3 <3

ReplySeptember 26, 2025 at 11:48 PM

20

A Fanciful Twist said in reply to Jennifer Edwards…

Thank you, Jennifer. It definitely is a big change, but somehow the new blog feels the same too. Thank you thank you from the bottom of my heart for bookmarking the new blog. It’s bittersweet, that’s for sure. You are just so lovely and kind <3 <3 <3

ReplySeptember 26, 2025 at 11:50 PM

21

A Fanciful Twist said in reply to Sarah …

Thank you Sarah, we saved it all, archives too! Hooray, next journey commences now. It was a huge endeavor but so worth it. Thank you for coming along for the ride <3 <3 <3

ReplyEdit DeleteSeptember 26, 2025 at 11:51 PM

22

A Fanciful Twist said in reply to marilyn…

Thank you so much Marilyn, truly! <3 <3 <3

ReplyEdit DeleteSeptember 26, 2025 at 11:51 PM

23

A Fanciful Twist said in reply to deezie Lotz…

Thank you Deezie, I am so happy we just moved too 🙂 I couldn’t bear leaving forever. <3 <3 <3

ReplyEdit DeleteSeptember 26, 2025 at 11:52 PM

24

A Fanciful Twist said in reply to Janet …

Thank you Janet, I look forward to seeing you there <3 <3 <3

ReplyEdit DeleteSeptember 26, 2025 at 11:53 PM

25

A Fanciful Twist said in reply to Sandra…

Thank you Sandra, it truly is a labor of love, it’s my baby 🙂 Thank you for loving the blog and continuing the journey with us <3 <3 <3

ReplyEdit DeleteSeptember 26, 2025 at 11:53 PM

26

A Fanciful Twist said in reply to laura…

Thank you dear Laura, you are a friend to us, that’s for sure. Thank you for going on the next leg of the journey with us. Means so much to me. You are the best, Love, V, T and P <3 <3 <3

ReplyEdit DeleteSeptember 26, 2025 at 11:56 PM

_____________________________________________________

🩷🩷🩷

If you have come this far in your reading, then hooray! You have really truly made it here to our new blog for the continuation of A Fanciful Twist, and our next chapter. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for being here.

And now, may the new journey officially begin!