Have your ever been toodling around, minding your own business… When all of a sudden, whamo!! A gush of creative passion and inspiration finds you & hits you like lightning? Dancing all around you, like magic? It seems like that can cleary be described as a visit from your muse…
This sometimes happens to me, when I am listening to my most beloved music. Music that takes me to places and memories in me… Or when I am reading a book or watching a film about a great artist… I just get this course of energy that makes me not able to sit still…
This very thing happened twice last week. Once while listening to one of my beloveds, Tori Amos. Another time was while flipping through a book… Of course, with it being about Frida Kahlo, who wouldn’t feel the vibes?
Growing up in and around Mexico, you find Frida’s face to be a fixture in much home decor, and in portraits in people’s homes. I have known of her, just about as long as I can remember. She has always inspired me. The whole idea of personal expression and emotions through art, was something I grabbed hold of at a very young age… Frida epitomizes that…
So, on a warm day last week, while a jolt of art energy hit me, I decided to play a bit. And you might know how I love hair do’s & hair-dress-up play time! :). (I have shared before, revisiting photo below),
And, how can you mix Frida’s hair-do with a bit of Victorian flair, and not have fun???
Oh and don’t forget the jewels and leg color choices & such… I don’t have all my dress up treasures at the country house with me, but we can conjur up a few, I am sure!! (Although, I have to admit, taking photos of myself is not my favoritest thing in the world)
Also, the thing about taking photos of yourself, is that, it is not that easy to do… Especially, when you have done a very bad thing. Like lose a major component of the tripod connecting to the camera thingie. Oops…. Mr. Lovee = not amused. Another thing, I don’t know why I always look afraid in my photos… Do I have a scared girl face all the time? I wonder if I look afraid in the grocery store, or at Target?
Anyhow, back to some fun… So after major leg and jewel choices, in our not so vast country jewelry box…
We hit the studio (crazy over ribboned head and all)….
I just love studio time. Hidden in my little studio (not to be confused with the gallery/shop), which I do keep private in real life, and can really only be seen on my blog… I love getting into the moment, and I loooove paintbrushes… They are such a crucial component of a good work of art, they make such a huge difference…
Anyhow, while dress up was goin’ on, my attention started to creep away from the paint. I was being beckoned to go play outside wearing 5 layers of gowns and ruffles. I just had to oblige 😉
Of course, when I arrived outside, the whole mad afternoon and evening made perfect sense… There was a full moon!
Why, it was time for a postcard event & a dance under the full moon, in billowing layers!! Mr. Tree makes a perrrfect dance partner…
I think we all need to break free sometimes, and play dress up! Act nutty and dance and sing and have a grand ole time! No matter what age we might be…
Whooopsie, I am getting a little vertigo hopping around the tree…
I think perhaps I shall write this blog post from here…
Well, what should we say? Was it a ball? Did you get to play? Although, I think it is time for me to run… Perhaps I have overdone, the loads of fun?
I must collect all my things, and be off… Next time, you must play dress up with me…
Back to the studio in Frida jewels we go… Seems, I just can’t get enough of playing dress up…
See you sooooon!! xo, V (A shop update is coming very soon!! And this time, I promise to announce the update a couple days ahead of time!! 😉
What was I up to last week? Here is a peek at what is coming (I think they are cross with me for showing them without their lovely hair and dresses 😉
Update on the PS (below): Thank you!!! With your encouragement, I have decided to see someone about it tomorrow (working on that). It hurts less sharp today than yesterday, but still can’t put the heel down…
(ps: I have a question. This morning, I was going down the stairs outside carrying heavy stuff, and I heard a strange pop in my leg between the back of my knee and the back of my ankle. I have had my leg up all day (with an ice pack and belladonna and arnica) and still, it is not getting any better. If I try to put my heel on the ground, it is excruciating… Has anyone experienced this out there? I will take any tips you have for me???)
Oh, what a fun post! At least until I got to the ouchy leg part! Yeouch! I blew a tendon in my ankle once that put me to the ground, wrapping it helped and sticking with ibuprofen every 6 hours.
Now, Miss Frida shall we call you! I loved your hair you blonde Frida! Oh, the whole post just made me smile–until I got to the leg part. Hope it feels better!
Oh, and excited for the shop update!
Your little ladies will be on their way to you tomorrow. Hubby went out of town this weekend and threw me off track!
Oh, Miss Vanessa–such worrying news after such a nice post! Not to be pessimistic, and I’m certainly no expert, but my mom had a similar experience; nothing too strenuous, just took a step and heard a pop. She’d torn a ligament, just from taking a step–I didn’t even know that could happen. It certainly could be more minor than that (fingers crossed!), but be sure to take good care of yourself and see a doctor if it’s not better by tomorrow.
Or maybe this will help (it does say the popping noise is not good, eek!): http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/muscle-strain
Sending good thoughts your way!
xoxo,
E
You are so crazy and fanciful! But then again, that’s what we love about you:)
Big hug from me V!
xoxo
Uh, oh…pops and cracks cannot be good. I love the dress-up…now you had best go see a doctor if that pain isn’t gone!
I love your magical poetry, soon I’ll have my beautifull dancer with frame, I’ll show you the result 🙂
I’m so glad you shared your dress up play. It sounds like you had a delightful time.
Hope your leg is improving.
OH! You and your ribbon-bedecked hair look ever so lovely! 🙂
I do not know what that cracking sound was….but oh dear! I hope your foot feels better soon! Lots of ice and rest!
Ahh dress up, fanciful hair in twists, JOYning in the dance under a full moon… the best part being Frida’s up-do, you capture it sew well!
Cracking sound? Brought back the day when I took my lil nieces roller skating thinking I was ALSO twelve I fluttered about until DOWN I went… *ouch*
For me, I’m not sure what’s worse- doc office or PAIN?
TAKE CARE. Rest. Elevate. Be well.
~Monica
I was loving the dress up with you…oh!!!those lovely bracelets.
Not good to hear popping sounds in you leg…you are doing the right thing…except what is this with belladonna and arnica ;?
Run…no, no!!! go straight to the Dr’s for X-ray and evaluation…nothing to fool with. Take this from a Bionic lady with two knee replacements. Let me know right of way what the Dr. has to say. I am worried.
Hi, love the photos Vanessa! Looks like you had fun.
Hope your leg gets better. My top tip is ICE =
Ice – put some cold compress/ice pack on sore area. Compress – wrap it up if sprained. Elevation – have your leg elevated, up on a foot stool. But you must get it checked. Take care! x
Hey Sweetie Vanessa! What is it about Frida that we love to dress like her???!!! She is faboulous to this day! I included that archive, just scroll down to I think Sept 18th to get a little giggle! HOPE YOU didn’t hurt anything too bad!! Did YOU strain something climbing that tree??! Let us know how YOU are! Sending some healing prayers, Cinda
Here is that archive link tee hee
http://turquoisecro.blogspot.com/2007_09_01_archive.html
INFO FROM WEBMD…
Symptoms of an Achilles tendon rupture may include:
A sudden, sharp pain that feels like a direct hit to the Achilles tendon. There may be a pop when the rupture occurs. This may be followed by swelling and bruising.
Heel pain (may be severe).
Not being able to go on tiptoe with the hurt leg.
If you have a partial rupture (tear) of the Achilles tendon, you may have near-normal strength and less pain after the initial injury, compared to what you experience after a complete rupture…..
INFO FROM WEBMD
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
love your blog….hope the foot feels better soon! go see a dr.!!!! …robbie
Here is my advice: GO TO THE DOCTOR! If I lived closer, I’d drag you! You can call me and I’ll talk to you the whole time. It will make it easier. Or make your mom or sister go with you. Or fly here and I’ll take you to my good doctor. BUT GO!
You can never overdo the whimsy, I don’t think 🙂 At least, you haven’t yet 🙂
I concur with sarah, go to the doctor! 🙂 Sounds like it could very well be your achilles tendon or something like that, which I’m not sure it will just heal on its own without help, so yeah, if it doesn’t feel better in the morning, get thee to a doctor!
and feel better soon! best wishes!
Oh no, you haven’t overdone the fun part. I enjoyed your playing dress up. We need to do it more often. I’m so sorry to hear about your leg. I hope everything is ok. Let us know.
Vanessa! You crazy girl! I love it!!! hahaha..And Frieda is one of my favorites! Jeff and I just saw her works at the Philadelphia Museum of Art! It was AMAZING! I never realized how small most of them are. Apparently, I was so excited about it, Jeff told me I was “butting in front of people”. Lol! Oops! haha
I love playing dress up too! I hope your leg heals and everything is ok!! 🙂
wow! Ouch! I hope you get that fixed! I love the pretty ribbons and the jewelry. My favorite renditions of Frida are done by Lulu at Mypinkturtle.blogspot.. check her out sometime! 🙂
I hope you get your leg checked out. Strange pops scare me. Other than that, I really enjoyed this post. 🙂
The dancing and dressing up is so very lovely here today. I have to admit though, I am crossing my arms and stomping my foot rather melodramatically on the side line, and I seem to be suffering from a nasty bout of allergies/what the heck is that stuff in the sky?! oh…it always makes me so tired and cranky in the throes of the worst of it. I would rather be hiding under a blanket, with only my eyes showing instead of out in the real world. Nevertheless…
I am so very sorry to hear of your leg ailment. Good-ness! I was at yogurt on Saturday morning and was finding myself in the pretzel position (I would think that was rather explanatory) and was patting myself on the back with the sudden flexibility of it all (I have been seeing a chiropractor whom specializes in lasers for a muscle spasm I’ve had for the last 8 years…another story for another time for sure…but it is helping quite a bit) and then “POP” went my hip. I though, “Oh dear…how shall I unwind and stand up now?!” But I did…I have been sore, but trying to take it easy on my leg…now what this has to do with you, I have no idea, only I might suggest we put our legs up together on the same ottoman and rest ourselves…I will be the one peeking out from under the blanket…Get well soon my dear (you may want to visit a naturopath though, that is my suggestion)
what a delightful post! Hope your leg feels better soon for some more twighlight escapades!
Hmm..could the leg thingie be from climbing trees? Ouch! As for Frida..she was such an amazing artist but why oh why didn’t she pluck her eyebrows? I’ve always wondered about that. I noticed yours are perfectly plucked to frame your pretty eyes! What a fun post Vanessa!
What a wonderful life you live.
You are all sorts of fun! I just love this post, yes, we all need to play dress up sometimes and the pictures are great, I like the one in the tree and who can say no to black tights and peep-toe wedges.
Have a great week,
Dy
I love your fanciful twists on hairdos!!
It is so cool! I also love your blog…ALOT!
I am 12 and I have also started a blog and an ETSY site.
If you would like to visit my blog sometime, here is the address-
http://www.jewelryqueens.blogspot.com/
I really do love your blog. It’s always so inspiring. Sorry to hear you were under the weather. Hope your better (as well as your leg – ouch!). Seems like there is so many icky germs going round!
Thanks again for the great post & pictures. Always brings a smile to my face.
Nerissa
Vanessa, What a fun post, and dress up is always a great thing to do. This is again one of those sooooooo creative posts. I love the photo of you with your bird embellishment! Even your photos are creative, and I can’t wait to see what you will have in your shop next. I am sorry to hear about your leg, I hope it’s on the mend.
Karen
I love your blog Vanessa. You are such a delight. I sure do hope your leg gets better real soon.
Aimee
whatever age you are, it is the essence of youthful magic, and this is the point, you see………numbers mean nothing compared to true innocence and beauty.
im smitten with your wardrobe, it clearly isnt fair. i think you must share it with me.
there!
xxx
oh, and all my best wishes for the leg!
I really really hope you aren’t having a problem with your Achille’s tendon–I’m afraid that’s what it sounds like. Go see your doctor, or call and get an emergency referral to an orthopedic specialist. Try not to put weight on it. Sometimes tendons can break altogether, but sometimes they partially tear. You don’t want a partial tear to become a complete one, so that’s why it’s good to get it seen to ASAP. Not to worry, it can be repaired. Keep us informed and I will keep my fingers crossed.
Firstly, I hope your leg is feeling much better soon! Take care of yourself, unexplained pops sound scary.
The dress ups look fun, I love the picture of you dancing with the tree. I’ve been known to dance with teatowels, but I think trees are more adept dance partners. For one thing, they can stand on their own and don’t flop over the arm of their lady.
And isn’t it the most magical feeling when your muse pays you a visit?
Love your creativity. Looks like you had almost too much fun. Love the snail peek. How cute. I took a look at the Polka Dot Girl in your shop. Love, Love her she is so dreamy looking. Thank you for posting on my parents anniversary, what you wrote was beautiful. They loved all the wonderful comments. It was a success.
-Mya
As always too much fun. You have set the tone of my day, thanks! Kelley
Oh no! Your poor adorable leg!! I just loved peeking in at your lovely Frida (my favorite) hairdo and black tights and mile long lashes:):) Have a happy, happy day and feel better!!!! xoxoxo…jenn
Glad to see you made a doctor appointment! That was going to be my advice.
I *adore* Frida. Since the very first time I ran across a mention of her when I was in middle school. You see, little girls growing up in the seasonal kingdom known as the “northeastern United States” do not have quite the same exposure to Frida.
Ahh, now you’ve got me thinking about all my favorites… Artemisia Gentileschi (who also has the coolest name ever)… Picasso… Fragonard… MUST get down to my studio… I was just talking about my muse the other day to some friends– she’s been quite present lately and we are enjoying our collaboration.
Oh my gosh, my Dear, did you hurt your foot whilst dancing with that big tree?! Maybe he was clumsy and accidentally stepped on it when you weren’t looking!
But you better get it checked just in case it wasn’t his fault! Hope you feel better real soon!
Sandra Evertson
P.S
I did so enjoy seeing the lovely photos of lovely you!
Ohmygosh! That little elf guy in the back! Is he going on ETSY??!! I LOVE those! Swoon…
It sounds to me like you’ve popped a muscle in your leg Miss Twist. I did it once when I was kick boxing and the ‘pop’ was very very scary.
Hopefully if you’re feeling a bit easier on it you won’t have hurt your Achilles tendon but you might still need some physio and rest.
Ice and ice……poor thing.
Great dancing pictures though 🙂
Vanessa! I know I’m always in for the best time when I come to visit here! I love your FUN and “silly girl” style! I love to play like that! My daughter Mackenzie and I play like that sometimes. I used to have my own photography business so I have tons of fun dress up clothes! One is never too old to play dress up, act silly and and live in a land of fantasy! If only more “grown ups” could realize that!
And I know what you mean about “when your Muse comes to visit”! When mine does, I just have to go “hog wild”!
I do hope your leg is feeling better soon! Take care sweet girl!
Julie Bergmann
Hope by now your leg is sorted – sounds like maybe you damaged your tendon? Love your ideas of creative abandon and dress-up – and your photos! I still think you look completely different in every photo. Take care of YOU, Miss Vanessa! xoxox
How beautiful and lovely are your photographs and YOU
I am so happy we found each other in blog land~
Giggles~
Love Jeanne ^j^
Sounds like a little too much Frida jumping!!! The photographs are whimsically delightful and you most certainly know how to play — with abandon and elan.
Glad you are getting your leg looked at — does not sound at all good!!
Take care of you!
xo
It’s so crazy you mention Frida (I didn’t see your newest entry until just now) because I LOVE her and actually bought a print of hers today in Old Town.
I love that you’re dressing up!!
You’re really good at eye makeup…
Have a magical week!!!
This post couldn’t come at a better time! Next Sat I am traveling down to Philadelphia to see the Frida exhibit…it’s the first in 15 years and I hear it’s fabulous! I am psyched (I’ve only seen one or two of her works in person!)
And YOU!!! You embody a blond Frida perfectly!! And best of all you are having a blast playing all by yourself (I’m guessing your alone!)
Inspiration!!
ouch and a full moon. I always know when a full moon occurs…my small dog wakes me up at about 2am and is insistent that I let him out…no other time during the month does he do this…what magic there is in an illuminating night sky!
Great photos Vanessa – love the black opaques teamed with prairie white and your hair in braids and all your lovely jewels…what fun what fun!!
Oh no, all that dancing and twirling and now a dreadful pop in your leg? oh no oh no….
i want to come to your house- we could do hair dos all day-and play dress ups- oh you are so much fun-have you heard of a girl called-julie arkell- oh do tell me-and if you have her book im going to scream-our miss jessy opal-looked it up- its so much money-but its on my wish list-shes from london- and i found a fantastic little book called selvedge-shes in that book no-22-come hold my hand- lets dance and sing-
Hi again- I was thinking maybe you looked scared because you see me coveting that gorgeous hair!!
Hope your leg is getting better-are you trying to set us all up? Coming to the Soiree with a peg leg?? With a parrot on your shoulder??
D.
Yay count me in for playing dress-up, you have the coolest collection of jewellery and clothes ever! So fun to see pictures of you here (love the scared-girl look) – great digital image manipulation work. Looking forward to seeing the new dolls in the shop!