The most wonderful time of the year is in full swing. Scrumptious edibles, twinkling lights, gift wrapping & a heavy dose of madness galore…
My days have been so packed full, that I could so use an extra week, how about you?
But wait, how rude of me. Come in, let me take your coat. Do enter, through the looking glass, if you will. It's the bestest way to enter a room, wouldn't you agree?
My to do list is getting smaller and smaller. However, I still need some gifts.
I got all of my shipping for last minute orders done on Moday & I painted the giant manger backdrop for my beautiful hometown church (2 hours away), as it still had the backdrop I painted when I was 13.
I put up my "Christmas tree" a couple of weeks ago, and finally got to take some photos. I was working in the studio one day, and I was thinking about getting a small tree, when I stopped what I was doing, and went outside…
I then pulled all the dry tomato vines off of a tomato trellis, flipped it upside down….
Wrapped some wire around the legs, to hold it in a cone shape…
And then, put all of my favorite ornaments on it.
I have to admit.
I have really enjoyed this pseudo tree, a lot.
It's light and pretty, and let's me see all of my ornaments.
I have no idea what possessed me to do this.
But, it makes me happy.
The Dream Keeper was gifted a beautiful huge teal flower this week (from Mombie).
Quite festive, me thinks.
Below is another through the mirror photo. My tribute to Alice in Wonderland assemblage sculpture that I made for the Mad Tea Party 2010 is what I stare at, all lit up (with a little Christmas tree in the window), as I fall asleep…
The inside is cute too. I love finding little ornaments at thrift stores. I found the one below (which is inside the Alice dollhouse) several years ago, and it always makes me smile…
Last month I was at the pharmacy, and I saw this wee little guy below, and had to bring him home with me. He sleeps on my pillow 😉
All the candy jars are full. But, confession #1, I have not baked much at all this season.
I had a huge 700+ photo project I have been working on for my granny, and finished that, finally. This week has been mad busy. Anyhow, I was going to do some baking and candy orange peels yesterday, and really get into the spirit, when I got hit with a mad vertigo spell. It lasted 18 hours. It was rotten beyond describable (is that a word?).
I should have seen the signs for a couple of days (some of you know about me and vertigo). But I had not had an episode in so long, that I didn't pay attention to the tell tale signs. Then it hit me hard yesterday. Thankfully, I had my vertigo medication on hand, and took it right away.
I feel a bit back to normal now, and should be 100% for Christmas, thank heavens.
I rarely get sick (with colds etc.), so I find vertigo awfully stinky.
I came back to my happy world from the netherworld of spinning, to find little gifts left by Elfin Lovee, hidden around the house. He said, that was his plan for gift giving this year. Hiding things here and there. And, I quite like his idea :)
I really can't think of anything that I need and want other than the ones I love to be healthy and happy. I put a red bow on Matty, and called his papa in, and hollered, "Merry Christmas…"
Mister Pupster Matisse (aka Matty) is the gift that keeps on giving.
He hides under me.
He goes everywhere with me.
He sings Christmas Carols with me.
Awwwwr awwwwwwwrrrrr….
(I call him my little seal, when he puts his ears back like that)
And, he even throws in a howl or two for good measure.
(He is standing right by me, with his chin on my lap, and is trying to pull my hand off the keyboard so I can stop typing and play)
Anyhow, what was I saying?
Oh yes.
A happy healthy life is gift enough for me.
I want for nothing, but for everything to stay as it is for as long as it can.
Blue skies & fluffy clouds included.
Did I mention that, I love fur.
No, not fur coats 🙂
Fur babies.
I might get a second fur ball soon. A sibling for Matty.
YAY!
We send our most heart filled happy holiday wishes to you and yours, from our desert land…
We must be on our way.
Wrapping to do…
(I got Matty some fun gifts, and a HUGE awesome gift for my little cousin Carolina)
Aaaaand, we might even brave some last minute shopping tonight, Mister and I.
I made several green rice krispy treats the other day, and I dare say, you can't go wrong with rice krispy treats can you? They are so yummy. I might make a large batch tonight, for friends and family, depending on how I feel.
(I love shaping them)
So, with that I shall say….
From our cotton ball tree forest to yours…
Many many many warm of warmest holiday wishes, sent your way.
Thank you for being a part of this place. Even if I am stinky at e-mail sometimes, and at making visits, you and this place we get to meet at, means the world to me.
Never forget that.
You make "here" what it is.
ps: Every free printable gift tag and tutorial I have ever shared (like the gift tags below) can always be found in my right hand sidebar under Free Treats. Just in case you need some last minute gift tags…
Here is the Printable PDF for the tags below
(give it a few seconds to open)
pss: I almost forgot to share a fun December treat. My art piece titled "The Curious Playroom, Land of Enchantment" was on the cover of Pop Rocket this month. It is a publication in one of my favorite Arizona towns, Prescott. There is an interview you can read right here if you'd like…
See you sooooon.
May your days be Merry and Bright 🖤
A very very merry and special Christmas to you!
Well..you do realize that these Christmas images will be going into a book of your celebrating the holidays on day. They’re beautiful and I like the fact that the colors are traditional:) And i have never seen rice krispy treats in teh shape of trees~we were going to make some tomorrow and we’ll have to make some! Hope your vertigo subsides and that you have a wonderful Christmas with family:)
Oh, and congrats on the cover!!
Thank you for the delightfulness that is your blog. Everytime I visit I feel I’ve gone to a fantasyland somewhere. Love it to bits. Thanks for the tags – love them too. Love Matty. Who knew rice krispie treats could look so elegant. Love them as well.
Wishing you and yours the Merriest Christmas and the Happiest of New Years!!
Merry Christmas to you and the Mister and your fabulous Matty, my fur babies thinks he is so handsome Heheheheh
faerie kisses
Karey
Merry Christmas to you and yours! Love that tree. Your blog always perks me up.
Kelly
Wishing you and your while family, Matty included, a most wonderful Christmas!! Much love, Silke
P.S. I LOVE your tomato trellis Christmas tree!!
Matty has shown his cuteness today!!! Oh those pearly white teeth!
WhatdidjagetCarolina???
Merriest of Navidads to you! Show us the church backdrop! 🙂
Merry Christmas to you too sweet Vanessa!!
Have a wonderful and blessed holiday:))
xo
Kay Ellen
……may love, joy, peace and goodwill be your gift at Christmas…..may the Wonder of Christmas be with you forever……. and may God shower you with blessings all the New Year through…….. xx Gypsy Purple
Dear Vanessa, I hope you, Mister Lovey, and Matty have one of the most magical holidays ever. Thanks for brightening mine! 🙂 Sorry you had some vertigo issues, but I hope you are feeling 100% again. I’m sure some furry baby kisses helped the healing process. Your tree is absolutely fabulous – you have the most “fanciful” ideas! 🙂 And with that, I leave you now – thanks for your wonderful gift of friendship this holiday season! xoxo Theresa
Yes, a very Merry Christmas to you too. I love coming to visit with you. It astounds me that I have so much fun in such a dry and dusty place. You are able to turn a negative (no rain) into an absolute positive the way you make it all so wonderful and sparkly with oodles of whimsy and magic. Thankyou so much!! And yes you are a bit stinky when it comes to visiting others…but you are forgiven, as you must spend a large amount of time getting your next posting all nice and pretty to surprise us with another scrumptious morsel. Thanks for the treats!
Wishing you the most wonderful of Christmases, filled with much magic, laughter and love…thankyou so much for sharing your beautiful world – visiting here is always a treat. I absolutely love your tree – so very fanciful indeed. And young Matty looks so becoming in his red bow. Take care over this silly season, and hope to visit again after a little holiday at the beach…summer has finally arrived here downunder.
Vanessa:
Thank you so much for sharing your ideas with us. Thank you for sharing your photos and your heart.
I am so sorry to know that you have suffered another bout with vertigo. I have it terribly. I take medication everyday before I get out of bed. It’s really all about my ears…I have “Benign Positional Labyrinthitis”. Sometimes, it hits when I least expect it…but most times, it hits when we have a big barometric change. I’m glad you’re feeling better.
Have a fabulous Christmas…you, Mr. Lovee and Matty! Have a great week altogether!
Kim
Gerushia’s New World
Merry Christmas to you, Mister Lovee and Matty, Vanessa.
I wish the same simple thing for us all…. a healthy, happy life….for as long as possible….. how nice that would be.
Thanks for a fun year of visiting and delectable treats…
Vee
Miss Vanessa,
Sorry you had a terrible vertigo attack. Bright lights can trigger an aura headache with me, where I see flashing, colorful zig-zags…not fun at all…it is a type of migraine head ache where you see only half of an object, and you can even have slurred speech, and you can’t think straight. Freaky, really!!! Lying down is about the only thing that helps to get rid of it.
I don’t get them very often, but I try to not look into bright lights as it will trigger it. Crazy huh?
Well, it looks like you have been having a blast decorating everything. I like your green rice crispy treat thing-a-ma-bobs.
Hee! Hee!
And it looks like Matty is having the time of his life! Yes, I think he needs another furry baby to play with…that would be fun.
That was a very awesome article the Rocket published about you. Super Duper!!!
Of course, the Enchanted Playroom is one of my favoritest of your collages.
Enjoy your holiday, and sounds like fun finding your presents hidden around your home by Mister Elfin Lovee.
Cheers and fairy dust and all things magical coming your way from our house to your house.
hugs, and a cup of hot chocolate wishes too!
Miss Teresa
Oh! And thank you for the adorable pdf. tags
They rock!
I love my fantasy visits to your corner of the world. I love that tree, what a cool idea. I love anything with metal and wire.
I’m so sorry you were feeling so bad.
I had a list of cookies to make today and ended up crossing a couple off the list. And baked sugar cookies from the refrig. case of the store. They have snowmen and reindeer on them.
I have another cake recipe on my blog, just in case you are interested in a Key Lime cake. I made 2.
I bought cotton balls the other day and still haven’t make my cotton ball trees. I think I must start the day after Christmas with projects for next year.
Thank you for your wonderful blog.
I can just hear mattie singing with you.
Congrats on the article
I had the best rice krispie treats at work the other day. These had 1 layers of rice krispies mixutre, but between the layers were melted caramel and marshmallows. They were delish. I’ve got to find that recipe.
Truly Vanessa,
It is the most wonderful time of the year and yet never enough time!
You bring us Beauty and Joy! Wishing you, Mr. Lovee and precious Matty, Health aaaaand Good Cheer!
I am tickled and curious that you mentioned a new fury sibling! Is this on your Christmas wish list?
<3 and 🙂 from Phoenix
Merry Christmas, Vanessa, to you and yours. I always feel so uplifted and soothed when I visit your blog and am so thankful that you provide a place like this for people to come to come to when they need it. Hope your vertigo is all gone–I get it sometimes too and agree that it’s the WORST!
You have such a magical world, Vanessa. Just wondering, are you by any chance, a fairy?
(^_^)
Have a wonderful holiday! oxx
Here’s hoping you, Mister Lovee and Matty have a very happy, merry and fanciful Christmas, Vanessa! : )
Glad to hear you are feeling better; I was hit with my own Celiac flare-up this week and when I tried to break it down {5 days later} I realized I was basically doing it to myself with a flavored rice that has wheat in it! Hoping my stomach is feeling better by Christmas as I’m making lasagna and braciole {as well as a GF lasagna} and I’d like to eat it!
I was hoping we might hear from you once more before Christmas. : ) When I saw that first pic of the beautiful Christmas tree with silver balls and various concentrations of green, I thought,”Oh, that is sooo pretty. What is that made of?” Rice Krispie treats! Who knew???
I, too, am sorry for your vertigo. I do hope it is gone in a flash. Love all your beautiful, cute, and/or sweet pictures in this post.
I had intended to make neighbor Christmas gifties, but time got away. My dear hubbie said that “Happy New Year” gifts (a week or so from now) would be just as good. Yay for him in helping me through my frustration of time crunch.
How sweet of Mr. Lovee to hide Christmas gifts for you around the house. The joy of discovery!
I think it is so cool that you painted the manger backdrop for your home church the other day and that you had done it before when you were 13! Oh, I would love to see pics of it!!
Also, a 700+ photo project for your granny? Wow! Is this a surprise? Would love to hear more.
Yes, yes, congrats on your magazine cover!
Am I allowed an extra long comment in honor of this Christmas season? Er, I hope so!
Wishing you and yours a wonderful Christmas. Looking forward to your sharing more fanciful adventures in the year ahead!
Hugs and love.
Well joyous beings! I send you sparkles and joy! Love that we have the same Chippendale desk, btw! hee hee merry merry days see you soon!
Merry Christmas and many blessings to you and yours! Thank you so much for the awesome Christmas tags and for sharing your many talents with us.
I hope you have the merriest of Christmases. You are such a special person and I thank Laura for sending me your way. PLEASE let me know if you get that new fur baby. Ours is getting bigger and cuter and more loved every day.
Have a wonderful day….
I’m listening to “Breath of Heaven” while looking at your loveliness……
Your painting on Pop Rocket looks like it was born to be there – you do make the most of a day…..
oooooh puppy breath – Feliz Navidad
V~
Have a Wonderful Jolly Fabulous Christmas!!
Merry Christmas to you and yours!! I’m glad you’re feeling better!
You always make the most woundrous sites…I love visiting, it is always so much fun. Thank you for the free bees, they are always so much fun to use. I hope you and your family have a Happy Christmas.
Happy Christmas to you Vanessa, and to Mr Lovee and Matty! Have a lovely time! xx
Merry Christmas VV to you and yours!
You are a shining star~
Love,
Constance
Merry Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones Vanessa 🙂 I love the pictures of Matty and his red bow, so sweet! My favorite part of Christmas so far has been my three kitties ripping into their gifts this morning, especially our rescued stray kitty whose first real Christmas it is 🙂 Have a lovely holiday! ~Lauren
Merry Christmas Ms. V! Give hugs to everyone around…and my shop too was mentioned in the fashion piece in Pop Rocket this month!
Your trellis tree is just *magical*, and Matty is as adorable as ever! And YAY indeed to the prospect of a new pup!!
I didn’t know you suffered from vertigo. I was diagnosed a few months ago myself with “benign positional vertigo” after a very scary episode as I was driving (thankfully on a country road). When the doctor explained it’s caused by small “stones” in the inner ear, my husband said he’d always known I had rocks in my head. 😉
Anywhooo, wishing you and yours a happy and blessed season, and sending you many thanks for the 2010 blog enchantment!! Can’t wait to see what you have in store for 2011!
🖤 Carolee
Warm Christmas Greetings from a cold and snowy Sweden. Hugs / Therese
Merriest of Christmasses to you Vanessa!!
Love your tree idea, that would look nice hanging as well. Matty is just too cute in his bow. I would love to see the church mural you painted. Will you post that sometime?
Take Care,
Tracy M.
Lovely, lovely – merry and bright. Merry Christmas to you all!
Merry Christmas!!!
Prospero y bello 2011
Merry Christmas wishes to you and your sweet family! May the new year bring you nothing but joy! Twyla
Glad you’re feeling better for Christmas, your photography always takes me to a magical place in my imagination… yes, entering through the Looking Glass IS the best entrance.
God Bless… Dawn… The Bohemian
Merry Merry Happy Christmas Ms. Vanessa! Love your tree…always amazed by your creativity. Hugs to Matty too (and yay for a possible sibling 😉
Jamie 🙂
What a great escape to visits your blog. I don’t know anything about growing tomatos but I love the tomato trellis Christmas Tree!!
Hoping you had the merriest of Christmases! I think Matty would LOVE a furry sibling! =D
I’m excited for you all. ^-^
Hoping you have a wonderful week!
XOXO
Happy New Year 2 !
2 U and Your Mister and your cut canine and the elves and fairies and the Gypsy and all the Mad Tea party~ers !
Love,
Constance
20 ELEVEN
WoW~
Makes me SMILE to visit your world…it’s a holiday always magical place!!
hope yours was Merry Merry!!!
and here’s to a happy New Year!!
x..x
steph
Merry Christmas and I wish you peace and joy for the new year ahead. Your green crispie trees look fantastic and a great idea, I think I might make some up for my little cousins tomorrow.
Much love,
Laura x
Your photos are like a fairytale 🖤
Happy New Year
I was sipping tea at Barnes & Noble, perusing through some Somerset magazines… and there was your work… WOW! So cool to see.
And yes, your photos are AMAZINGLY fun.
I hope you’re having a wonderful Christmas!! I wish you a Happy New Year 2011!! 🙂 Hugs, Silvia
i hope you had a beautiful Christmas Miss V!! gorgeous photos!!
big hugs!
Thank you so much for this beautiful post. I want to let you know that a link to this post will be placed on Freebies Storage 🙂
hey…how do u make the little silver balls stay in the krispy treat? do you poke them in with the stick?
i wonder the weirdest things :p
Vertigo should be renamed VertiSTOP because you dont GO anywhere when it hits! I know about the dizzyroller coaster ride too only mine is nowhere near as rough a ride as yours methinks…
Your Christmas tree is PERFECTAMUNDO. <3 Serious times!
{hey some of your wrapping paper looks like some of my wrapping paper and i have those star garland in gold and red!}
Congrats on the publishmentaziation 😉 I love that they picked the Curious Playroom-or did you? It's one of my faves too!
Love to Matty....and Lovee....and Veevala....and TBD....? (pupppiiieessss)
xoxoxoxroobackatworkxoxoxoviixoxoxo
Happy Holidays and a super creative year 2011 with lots of magic and sparkles! And thanks for the fab tags – so cute!
sorry this comment is a bit late! just catching up… lurve your tree. I had one similar last Christmas 2009, made it out of bamboo tied with wire in a wigwam shape then covered with baubles & lights. Its great to shake tradition up once in a while…….. hugs Olive xxxx
PS as always loving the piccys…..
Hey, Pookie! Happy Happy! I’m off to read the interview, but I want to tell you having a little friend for Matty is a grand idea.
We made Krispie treats last night! We ate them with plastic forks from the pan while they were warm! It was very silly and good.
smooches.
Thanks for making life sweeter.
oh, and when Scout looks like that, with her ears back, we call her bullethead! It’s so cute. She will sing, too, but she sometimes cries, so then we stop. She’s the BEST.
First two shots are so yummy I could taste them. Perfect colors. Love your tomato cage tree!!! Like the little feather trees of days gone by, created to show off the ornaments at their best and not compete with the tree. Beautiful simplicity. Oh my Magical Muse, you are my joy. Quite belated Merry Christmas to you. **blows kisses** Deb
Miss V,
Our Christmas packages all look magical with the cute little gift tags that adorned them all this year….
Have a blessed New Year.
Terisa
I absolutely LOVE your tomato stand Christmas Tree! I featured it on my blog! Linked back to you of course 🙂 If you’d like to check it out heres a link http://withlovedaneliz.blogspot.com/2014/12/non-traditional-christmas-trees.html