What a wonderful place this is she said. I think I would like to stay for a while and visit, and perhaps invite them back to visit me? If I tell the tales of my heart, will they laugh? Will they point their fingers and gawk? As she approached the gate, the key she carried felt very heavy…She was going to do the unthinkable. She would let people into her very own untouched Paradise. The one in her dreams, the one in her minds eye…She tip-toed to the gate…
And what could she feel from beyond the gate? Why, it was love and kindness and understanding. Artists, storytellers, travelers, creators, a few who were contemplating lifes little steps and of course the bakers and tender food makers…All of this in the form of sparkling hearts, dancing beyond the gate. She realized she had made the right decision. Nothing to fear. For they all wanted to share a similiar plan. To give and receive. A little encouragement, a tender ear, some helpful tips, some interesting stories, some art to share and so much more. And it was here, in this virtual place, where the girl found you and you found her, and both were able to share a little bit of sugar and a little bit of spice. And maybe it wasn't realistic to always be nice, but that was just fine and dandy, I think?
I sometimes spend hours on end, until I can't feel my toosh and my left knee can no longer be in "legs crossed" position, visiting with all of you. I always find laughs and eye-candy, tears, and beautiful images…Always something different and always something wonderful…So many, I can not even begin to list them without leaving out another. From collages to Gypsy tales, I am captivated. Thank you all for all of the hard work you put into your blogs. They never cease to amaze me!!!
This got me thinking as I was listening to my music, I came across this little song that most of you have heard. I have listened to it off and on for many years. When I was 17 years old I had it on tape and I played it until it sounded like it w-a-s-s-s- s-l-o-w and wobbly. The video reminded me of here. In this place where images and stories meld together, to create inspiration and fantasy. A visual and sonic collage…My favorite are the last 38 seconds of the video, when the whole story comes together and you actually hear the mother chant the "sweet lullaby"…And maybe, just maybe, it is all coming together for us too…Dreams, Art, Ideas & Fairytales…………………………
I am off to the pottery, shipping and creating world for a few days. See you soon!!!!
What a beautiful post… blog love abounds! Thanks for all the beauty that you’ve shared with us.
… and she said “If I were a guy, or the type of girl that wasn’t married to a guy, I would surely wrap her around my golden pinky and squirrel her away in my cave of inlaid glitter!”
Cuz you are just so sweet, and magical and wubbable! This song reminds me of Enigma…
I love deep forest!
You have a most wonderful blog.
Unique and original – and I love all of your drawings.
The artwork and the tales you tell are so interesting. You write very well.
I have to check the song link on my other computer…this one (at work) has some kind of block on it !
Gosh so many new posts since I was here last
I thought I was just here ! Time flies…
I am afraid I have had a bit of Blogger Burn Out !
I will try not to be so far behind in my visits.
And Thank You
For all of Your Lovely Visits.
Oh V. what a wonderful post (I just knew you were talking about me!!!) Ok, all us peeps in the blogworld. I love Deep Forest (I know this surprises you because we hardly agree about music) and I had to listen twice…and jump up and find my Deep Forest CD and put it on! It’s been so long since I heard it.
Oh yes, when it is warmer, we will certainly celebrate…play lovely music, drink coffee, eat chocolate, drink wine…dance…hmmm, I think you will totally get a kick out of my post tomorrow (although, I hope you don’t rethink your visit here…with the hotel reference in it and all) I suppose we could always go camping…the Superhero is staying in his grandmother’s cabin…we could make him let us stay there…that way it would be like pseudo camping (you know, with electricity and windows and a fridge and running water and whatnot!)
Thank you!! The feeling is mutual!
The video is wonderful! Inspiring music!
What a beautiful post AGAIN Vanessa!!!you nurture my soul and I thank you for that and for being you!xoxo Desirée
I love the way you’ve captured what blogging means to you here and the embracing, unconditionally supportive approach you have towards this whole virtual universe. People sometimes have a little poke at me for blogging and spending so much time studying other peoples blogs, but this post encapsulates why it’s so enjoyable and worthwhile… because it’s filled with people with warm hearts and open minds like you! Thanks for such a beautiful post!
Oh you are so sweet, thank you so much for your blog too -it makes me smile everytime I visit 🙂
Your blog rocks!! I’ll be back to read some later…
til next time, Kelly
You are wonderful, all the things you said about visiting blogs is how I feel when I step into your world for a bit…
but yes for me too the “real world” beckons…collages to paint, pieces to list, packages to package…
you get the jist.
love you beautiful secret long lost twin
And beyond the gate there was an archipelago, connected by rainbows and sunshine. And she slid down the rainbows, visiting each island in turn. And she collected her friends who lived there. And it was happy.
You make me happy. Let’s slide on rainbows and go visiting together.
do you know how wonderful you are???
That was so very beautiful…aren’t we all so lucky that we can share the lovely things we have to offer within the magical world of blogging! Not a day passes that i don’t feel gratitude for the inspiration and support and BEAUTY! Thank you so much for being a part of that…
And Deep Forest…..divine. I love them!
how delightfully sweet,
fairytales are the best places to be…
no one can hurt u and there’s always a happy ending.
the video is l o v e l y, very dreamy, i like that…i love ur illustrations, so cute.
u have such an inspiring blog,
enjoy the pottery and art,
c u sooooooooooooooon x x x kazzy x x x
Beautifully put Vanessa. Amoung your many visual talents, you can write well too! Lovely…
You might like Undaunted Courage. I really like to read histories. I also loved and think you might love if you haven’t already read… Esperanza Rising… one of my favorite books ever!
Have a wonderful day. It is so nice to be included by you, you are so nice. 🙂
I would have loved to watch the YouTube video but for some reason, the dang thang kept freezing on me…it must be my cold house…hehe.
I too must do some shipping and creating..
thank the heavens we are creative and busy!
love your story-telling!
A beautiful tribute to our friendly community of bloggers. Thanks.
I love that we are all able to create our very own utopian world. We are able to see a vision that we wish for and in visualizing ,the universe answers by saying yes your world shall be exactly as you seek to seize it (for the most part anyway). I allow you this gift because you are able to share and inspire.
It is a wonderful liittle world we have all had the pleasure to establish!
Your grown-up story book and Deep Forrest too,thankyou!
What a totally delicious post!!!!!
Wonderful…thank you
Now I have to tend to my right knee……
I tried to comment yesterday…no luck…but COUNT me in! I think it is great you came from Mexico (many of my sweet neighbors did! and I’m having a pelota learning Spanish…)Your collectibles are great and so are your drawings!
ah – sweet Vanessa – balm for my spirit – and I too get those body responses – and yet the little box in the corner calls me to visit new places and dear friends like you who spin tales of wonder and magic and help me to believe again.
Today in VT it is cold (medium cold) and gray but in 2 weeks I will be in AZ – will I be ready?
xox – eb.
Just lovely! Your sweet drawings lead us into this wonderful fairyland of a post and enchanting music video…
thank you!
xxoo
Hi! Came across your blog via ? and I have to post a comment: “WOW” you seem so interesting! I have to share my little “story”. I want to share that I am so proud of & blessed for my heritage and culture. I am a first generation Swiss Mexican American (hence relate to a lot of what you say in your blog). That’s right Switzerland (not Sweden-many confuse it) on my dad’s side and Mexican for my mom. Their story goes like this: My adventurous blue-eyed blonde dad was on vacation in Mexico and spotted my mom at a bullfight and the rest is history! Long story short they courted a couple months, married on Valentines Day in Mexico and moved to California shortly after (my dad had some cousins here) and then came the 6 little “half-breeds”!! Mind you my dad spoke no Espanish or English and my mom only spoke Espanish but they apparently figured it out! Don’t even get me started on how many people freaked out when my dad would speak in Spanish and us kids too! (Spanish being my first language until kindergarten-mind you none of us kids came out blonde or blue-eyed but I guess we don’t look like one or the other either!) Let me tell you how fun it is knowing what people are saying thinking you don’t speak the language and how many times I’ve been asked “what kind of last name it that?” It’s actually fun to explain cuz the looks on their faces is priceless! And don’t get me started on the AWESOME food I grew up with! So that’s me Holy Swiss Nacho Cheese!
That song is super cool – love the video too…Ive seen it so many times and its still amazing!
Blogging makes the world so much smaller and I agree totaly…so much creativity and inspiration out there…haha on the sore toosh, I too jump online for 5mins and an hour later Im still here…Bloglines has saved me lots of time going through my favourite blogs!
sweet one – come visit to see how you INSPIRE…
xox – eb.
Another lovely post! Thank you so much for putting into words how I feel about blogging. I think my mom thinks I am nuts because it is like I have a recently discovered alternate world. I have always been crafty and was always sewing, or embroidering or cross-stitching or whatever other craft I could come up with when my friends were watching m-tv or something. Now I still do it and they still think I am a little strange, although they enjoy benefiting from my craftiness. So long story short, I love finding all the lovely creative souls here in blog world that are just as crazy as me!
I love visiting with you! And I had a thought in the middle of the night and reading this post just cemented it – when are we going to see a beautiful book from you? You are a gifted storyteller and your whimsical illustrations would truly captivate. If I was a publisher I would snap you up in a second!
Your blog is a delight….I love your illustrations, stories and your spirit. I found your post on your ethnic background facinating.
thank you for sharing the beautiful video, vanessa!
i feel the same about this wonderful community of creative and kind bloggers.
Beautiuful video and song. Love your blog!
I think a lot of us can completely relate to your post. And even though a lot of us are different with different talents it seems we are all so a like in our desire to share, create and inspire one another.
I got the name La Belle Avenue by day dreaming with my sister, about how wonderful it would be to own this store filled the things we loved, then the dreaming grew into a street full of stores that had handmade items, everyone laughing, the smells of fresh bread, flowers, and natural oils. Everyone knew everyone by name and all was good. I then found this blog world!
I just came from visiting your website…what a treasure! Is your store open?? How fun would that be to drop in there.
LOVE all your work, your sense of color…ahh, speaks to me!
have a great weekend!
xxoo s