A cold front moved in early this morning.
Winds whipping around like mad.
Which made for a perfect hazy sort of Arizona winter day.
Knowing me by now, you know I take such opportunities very seriously.
Endless hot tea, sketching by pencil.
Dusting the studio.
Enjoying the day.
Cup after cup after cup.
Pretty tea things don’t hurt either.
What a wonderful luxury isn’t it?
That beautiful china was made for simple things such as sipping tea.
It’s brilliant really.
Amazes me and makes me extra happy.
Tea party for one?
Why yes, don’t mind if I do.
Little nibble of dark chocolate filled with absinthe, oh my!!
How curious indeed!
Am I a tiny bit tipsy, I’m just not certain?
Hiccup!
Oh, and did I tell you, our new resident at casa Fanciful is getting along just swimmingly?
A present to myself from the 1800’s.
An antique large Kling China doll.
About 26″ long.
I always wanted a proper China doll, love her so.
I found her an old dress a couple months ago.
It lost the front ribbons in the wash, so I will sew them back on and do some other little repairs soon.
Dainty little thing.
Her long legs are quite tattered.
But being 135 years old can do that to ya I suppose.
I’ll make her some stockings and shoes.
Sweet little girl.
She fits in happily, me thinks, with all the other creatures & characters around here.
Watching ballet dancers on canvas, flutter about…
Whilst I work on new pieces.
Everyone else looking on.
Keeping her company.
Wonder what they all get up to once I am asleep?
I am so glad that I never grew up to be someone who squashes childhood dreams.
Like dolls waking up and partying late at night.
Or, trolls being under the bed.
I’ve never stopped thinking dreams can come true.
Or that, I am too old.
I never think, I should grow up.
I am so glad for that.
(despite all the dream squashers one runs in to through life)
I still go to bed early and wait for Santa.
I wonder what the elves are doing in the north pole right now 🙂
I imagine what Pan is up to in Neverland.
I positively adore the Easter Bunny.
I could go on and on.
However…
I am not silly or childish in a bad way.
I hope, haha!
I just keep that light youthful side of my brain open to anything whimsical.
Anything at all.
No need to kill that side off.
Why would anyone want to anyway?
That would be so sad.
Sure, things happen in life that want to change us.
But, you just can’t give up that side, let it peek in when you are healed from life events.
Please do.
I’ve known many old ladies in my lifetime whose 8 year old selves shine through still.
They are sophisticated and smart, but their young believing selves still thrive and glimmer.
They still believe.
There is a balance.
I am not immature, I still like love and romance and high heels.
I like lipstick and novels and being grown up.
But I also love China dolls and fairy tales and my childlike self who lives in me.
The one who likes ruffled nightgowns and stuffed rabbits in costume.
It really isn’t all or nothing is it?
No no, I don’t believe so.
Not at all.
You can have your cake and eat it to, if you allow yourself.
Hang on fellow dreamers, hang on 😉
No matter what.
xoxo
Love, V
What a lovely new friend! Thank you for sharing her.
I so enjoyed your writing today. It is such a beautiful belief and inspring. Love the photos of the dolls and china too. xoox
Your excellent words always come at the perfect time…
Thank you so much for that.
Sometimes people try so hard to squash one’s dreams, but I am not going to allow that.
As you, I will remain a child at heart for always…
Hugs,
🙂
Oh Miss Vanessa… this is my mostest favoritist post ever!!!… (yes, I think I just made that last word up)… I will ALWAYS be that little girl inside… and she comes out often too… I saw a quote somewhere recently that said something like “growing older is inevitable… growing up is an option”… I love that!… like you, I was blessed with a mama and daddy who encouraged us to let our imaginations run wild, to follow our dreams… to be free spirits… and to believe!… my mama and daddy are in heaven now, and I know they always watch over their “little girl”… I have my childhood dolls, my childhood books… so many things that are a part of “me” all around our home… and of course the dolls and stuffed animals have parties at night while I am sleeping… I often put treats out for them (like we do for Santa at Christmas)… you are the epitome of all things wonderful and enchanting… magical and mystical… and I adore your posts… your new china doll is beautiful!… and she looks so happy in her new home… okay, I must set some goodies out for the Fairy Wing Sisters now… I did hear some chatter about something going on with them at midnight… xoxo… Julie Marie
This is one of my favorite posts of yours. As always, the photos are a feast for the eyes. I love fantasy and fairies and elves like you. My sister and I still have most of our dolls from our childhood and our mother played with dolls until she was 14 and always loved dolls the rest of her life. Our grandmother loved dolls too. Does your new doll have a name yet?
You said it so very well! I think that’s why I have found making dreamships so very endearing…..I imagine sailing away into dreamland…adventures with Peter Pan….could see opening up into starry heavens filled with constellations come alive….yes, I am still a child at heartt and thank goodness for that 💖
You live in a magical world, i wish i could join you for tea!
I agree completely. I’m 54, have a family……and I make fairy furniture and other fairy notions… 🙂
It all works together.
Think of all the wonderful books that would not have been written if not for people who kept their youthful spirits. After all, it was adults who wrote fairytales. Think Beatrix Potter and her lovable rabbits. The Brothers Grimm. All the wonderful illustrators who gave animals human characteristics in beautiful books. I loved my dolls when I was little and talked to numerous imaginary friends. My daughter didn’t much care for dolls, but she has a daughter who is crazy for them. Last weekend I showed my little grandaughter my Barbie dolls from 50 years and ago and she said, “Jude, did you talk to your dolls?” i said. ” I sure did.” I didn’t tell her the part about still talking to imaginary friends! HA! I always adore your posts.
We are the music makers
And we are the dreamers of dreams
Sitting by lone sea breakers
And wandering by desolate streams
World losers and world forsakes
Upon whom the pale moon gleams.
Yet we are the movers and shakers
Of the world forever it seems……Arthur Edgar William O’Shaunessy
I always love your photos. They’re so pretty.
Thank you, thank you, Vanessa for always encouraging us and helping us fellow dreamers to hang on! It is so much easier to remember the joy and the magic with your words and pictures, and world, there to remind us!
There needs to be a movie made, sort of like Night at the Museum but less dumb-funny and more enchanting & happy-funny (if that makes sense)…a movie about how all the little creatures come alive at night when we go to sleep & all the fun shenanigans they get up to, like tea parties & dancing & all sorts of fun. I would LOVE to see that movie!! 😀
Hi!!!! Beautiful doll!!!! Wonderful post!!!! I am glad to know there are others who believe this way!!!! Thank You
I believe we must all be a little bit of a child forever — there is so much difficulty we must deal with in our world. Finding that child, that joy, that silliness, that innocence, helps when all else is painful.
“Hang on fellow dreamers, hang on.” ——> That’s exactly what I needed to hear. You’re a life saver and weave such magic that puts the world at ease and in a better frame of mind. <3
Side note, I LOVE that tea container and saw it a few months ago. I wondered if the tea was any good and sadly, couldn't buy it at the time. How is it? 🙂
P.S. I have never heard of Absinthe in chocolate, but I daresay I NEED some now. How decadent and wow!
Dearest Dear Vanessa,
Thank you for this beautiful encouraging post to those of us who will forever remain grown-up children in our hearts! And I love the new addition to your family so much! She looks like an angel to me!
Sending biggest hugs, as always!
Betty
Your new china doll is so pretty. What a lovely sweet face she has. Your china for tea is pretty too. Cool days seem perfect for tea.
Being young at heart is such a fun thing. 🙂
I always feel at peace when I come visit your blog. Always! Never hurried, but always in fairy land.
My own two ‘younger’ sisters think I am eccentric! I still make dolls, do mixed media (and everyone in my family wants my doll collection! Ha!)
I have sworn never to grow up, especially since I just had a ‘flying’ dream which took place inside the childhood house I grew up in which I have not been inside of for 40 years! But I felt so comfortable there, in my dream, as though it were really happening!I had a very, lovely childhood so I have found memories of that house. I was spoiled with kindness by my parents…what a joy!
I adore your china doll. She looks so content and right at home with all of your other lovely, sweet dollies. I still buy old fashioned dollies too!
Ah! And you are up to some whimsical mischief with your paper doll paintings! Ooo! La! La! How splendid and divine!
always thinking of your fairy land acreage,
love and hugs,
Miss Teresa
It’s been so long since I’ve been able to spend time in Bloglandia – and I return to find this charming post with such lovely photos … I forget how inspired I always feel when I visit your blog – I must Must MUST make a point of returning on a far more regular basis.
(I also posted about doll heads a few days ago – great minds and all that lol)
Never let it go, I am 62 and still believe in sweet imaginations as You do. I just am so happy to have met You and others in blogland that are kindred spirits in Our likes and day dreams. It is why I still blog.I consider it a gift from God Himself.
While a girl was asleep and quite at rest,
Little elves klingingly came out of an antique chest.
The chest was white and sat alone on the floor,
It had one large top opening and 2 hidden side doors.
The Elves immediately and cleverly set to work,
To serve the Chna doll with just one look.
Some fairies flying by ,
Reading the clouds in the sky,
Dipped right in for a fairy ribbon fly-by.
Sewing and needles, farbic flying about,
A crochet needle started swimming in and out.
It was a festive affair with some scones and tea,
Whle the Missy slept on as she began to dream.
Upon awakening the next festive dawn,
She rubbed her eyes and took a yawn.
And there under the hat rack with real sleeves,
China doll clothes and ancient dreams accessories.
Oh how thrilling just to suppose,
To dance and twirl leaping into living clothes.
ANd oh my China doll did grin,
Feeling at home with such a welcome in.
And so clink, sip, a rose moment dip.
To you and yours for ever mores.
Beautiful! I love dolls and teacups! The colors are amazing.
Misha, can you believe i have had that tea canister for longer than I have known ML? So maybe 14 or 15 years I have had it? It has Darjeeling tea in it and is very strong, but I salt it with other teas that I like 😉
Tristan, so great to see you!! <3 <3 We love having you, I am sure everyone agrees 😉
Oh yes, great minds indeeeeed!! 😉
Hear hear!!! <3
Awwwwwe! Your sweet granddaughter <3
Thank you for this sweet post that made me feel less alone. I still feel this way about child-like wonders, and I grew up in a family of dream-squashers. So I am amazed and delighted that I somehow managed to side-step their big black boots. In spite of the odds against me, I hung on to the magic…and always will!
And this post, dear Vanessa, is why I adore you! 😉 xo Jen
Hello Miss Vanessa….. and to your sweet and lovely new addition Miss China doll!!! I am looking forward to her future tales living in your Fanciful world! What a delight to have her arrive. I too love my collected and treasured dollies. Let the dreams commence<3
Sooo, those chocolates look really intoxicating...can you eat just one? TeHeHee!!!!
“A little nonsense now and then is valued by the wisest men.”
– Mr Willy Wonka
Ha!!
I love this:) and I am SO grateful to have kindreds and such a beautiful place to come to, when I need to reel back into myself a bit.
Xo
Oh! Ps- I just couldn’t believe!!!! Your china girl is so old!! She is pristine!! What a treasure! <3
‘I just keep that light youthful side of my brain open to anything whimsical.”
Miss V, you are poetry and magic xxxx
OH what beauties!! Dreams, all!! : )
Oh I just love your new friend Ms. Vanessa!! Childhood dreams forever!! 😉
Jamie 🙂
I have to thank you for your blog,every once in awhile I tell you how happy you make my life.I have a good life dont get me wrong but I work over 55 hours a week with developmentally disabled adults and Im dealing with a flare up of Fibro since July so Sometimes I get down but I see all your pretty things . Its good to escape the world,I dug out some of my Stevie Nicks like clothes and danced around last night lol. I tried so hard to become a minuimlist since January getting rid of most of my junk,in case i I get sicker plus lessjunk for my kids will have inherit lol.But that kind of life stly is not for me ,No way I decided I will keep my bedroom as I want, Boho/Gypsy style,plain basic clothes are not cutting it.I was feeling down about my room, but I love looking at your blog. My dear no minaminlsts in it lol. I so felt I needed to cut down to the bare bones,but not now. I love my style, got rid of most but I enjoy my cluttered closet,cluttered bedroom etc. Thank you for reminding me its ok to play dress up and dream still.
“YES!!!” is what I want to say to this post, about staying young and childlike at heart, and believing in dreams and magic and unseen wonders. And hey . . . has anyone ever proved fairies, mermaids, etc. DON’T exist? I think not! I get this same thing from my grandmother, my dear “Granny Fanny”, as she still believed in Santa Claus into her 90s, bless her soul. It’s so sad that there are dream squashers (that’s a term I use myself, so I ’bout choked on my oj when I read that!). I think there’s a part of those squashers that WISHES it could dream and believe like us. So, we have to keep dreaming, for ourselves, and to inspire others to keep doing so, even if they’re closed off to it for now. Life and its treasures are just SO wondrous. I’m so glad you wrote what you did, thank you. And your dolly is stunning. What is her name? I know you’ll come up with something enchanting for her. I love that you treated yourself to such a treasure. 🙂