Heloooooo!
It is so nice to be back. I hurt my eyeball real bad, and was out of commission for a few days. So great to be able to blink again. Some giant rock popped into my eye and scratched it deeply. Anyhow, that is behind me, just a little discomfort left.
I am sooooo glad to be back, you have no idea.
I have plunged into full holiday mode.
I am having a very old fashioned Christmas, with all fresh mini trees and greens this year.
I have been picking roses, and stealing ivy and orange tree cuttings from the garden. Plus, berries from my pyracanthas, love them.
Have you ever mashed up an orange tree leaf and sniffed? Oh my, loveliness!
I have also been making orange and clove pomanders. They make the house smell exquisite. I simply take an orange and make holes (random or in a design, try words too) all over my orange with a metal shish kabob skewer. Then I push whole cloves into skewer holes. Easy, and more worth it, than just about anything I can think of…
I have placed fresh christmas garlands all over my house, adding to the glorious scents. I love the weepy feel of the fresh cedar garland…
You will never guess why I am so in the holiday mood?
It snowed.
The mountains are white, and I got a little snow on a very cold day at my house. I was running errands in gloves and a wool coat, with the holiday music station on. It was unreal.
I know, many of you get full effect holidays, but this is rare for us, a huge treat in Southern Arizona!
We do get snow on the mountains, throughout winter, but rarely at home. Maybe every couple years in February, if we are lucky.
It has been icy lovely every morning…
Powdered with ice crystals…
And, frozen water everywhere.
Poor squirrelie.
I didn't like the packaging for all of the fresh trees in my house, so I wrapped them in brown paper and tied them with a burlap ribbon…
I can't wait to plant all my new trees.
I only buy the kinds you can plant, and I have lots of spaces to plant them for privacy, which is a double bonus I think.
The first little tree I had here 10 years ago with Mister Lovee was planted and grew to massive heights.
So, it will be fun to see how big the guy below gets in a few years…
For now, he is making me ever so delighted, mmm, smell that?
I packed the house with candy canes…
I was only going to put lights on the tree that I placed on the dining table below, but some mini teal and pink vintage balls begged to be tossed in…
I think I will tie a bow on top –
It so feels like an old fashioned Christmas to me…
Complete with ginger cake, which I shared with my very special visitors, Mom and Dad. I forgot to take a photo pre-nibbled…
We all kept warm, and swooned at the snowy mountains…
It is a lovely little life. Ain't it? In its simplest form especially, I find.
🖤
As for new Shop Treats, I am so excited to share….
I'll start with new cards –
Circus Magic…
Skelly Love – the back is fun too!
Tea Party…
And, an exciting extra large (5" x 7") card version of
Through The Trees…
Of course, my "Afancifultwist.com" watermark does not appear on any of the actual cards.
These are so delicious in person. They are commercial quality and the color turned out great. I always hold my breath in color lot fear when I open the boxes ;)
They are yumms!
I also popped a 13 card holiday assortment into the shop –
And, last but not least…
New Prints, hoooray!
Marie Antoinette, Star Girl, Magical Halloween Village and Enchanted Circus…
Enchanted Circus (bottom right) is a new painting, that I had not gotten to share with you yet. The original has sold, and whenever originals are sold, I offer canvas prints for sale, right here in my shopling, click 😉
Well, I am extra happy to be back, and blinking again.
I hope you are doing just lovely! Fill me in on your goings on, won'tcha?
I love hearing!
Err, reading 😉
Love, V
PS:
Oh oh, almost forgot, name for the snowflake giftie….
And the name chosen randomly, wonderful Chris at Parabolic Muse!!
Yay!
YUMMY BEAUTIFUL DECOR VANESSA! I love how you use real greenery and garden goodies to decorate your home no matter what time of the year. It gives your house such an enchanted garden feel, only now in December it is an enchanted Christmas garden! Those pomanders look like they smell utterly divine! I may have to buy a few new prints because when you first showed us those new art pieces I fell in love and eagerly anticipated their arrival in print form. Hope all is well in snowy Arizona!
Lots of love,
Jenn
I had that happen to my once too. I’m so glad you’re ok! Your holiday decorations are so beautiful! Thanks for sharing! Your place should be in Home and Gardens magazine! (or maybe it already has been?)
Oh my, I am glad you are ok now! I love your holiday decorations!
I have always wanted to make orange-clove pomanders… that would be a lovely homemade gift for this holiday season. 🙂
Such beautiful festive holiday cheer you have, with snow to boot… How wonderful!
Honey Man and I have been decking the halls in fine style as this is the first Christmas we really have had room, time and where-with-all to whoop it up.
Cheers to the bestest Christmas ever!
Always, Queenie
I have missed you! So sorry about your eye. Wow. You be careful, now. You need those things!
We have been cold and rainy and freezey some, but no snow.
The glimpses of your house look so pretty.
My hubby enjoys buying little potted Christmas trees after Christmas, especially if they are marked down! He plants them in the yard. We have one tree that is now really good-sized, one he got from a family member years ago.
Well, I’d better go throw some sweet taters in the oven along with some pumpkin custard (pie minus the crust!) Yes, we will get our orange veggies tonight! And yes, my pumpkin will be out of a can! ; )
Oh, I was scrubbing those sweet potatoes when I remembered suddenly that I had not commented on your new cards! Such pretty new offerings. The Enchanted Circus painting is beautiful, and congratulations on its sale!
Sweet potatoes and pumpkin custard are now baking away in the oven. : )
Dear V,
I am so sorry that you haven’t been feeling well! I hope your eye feels better 🙂 Also, I LOVE your Christmas decorations! So lovely, I must say. An old-fashioned Christmas sounds delicious to me!
And I am soooooooo glad that you made new prints! I have been dying to get my hands on the Cupcake Theater one and now is my chance! Yay! Your other cards are lovely too, of course, but I always get carried away when it comes to cupcakes…sigh…
Also, over at A Woodland Fantasy, the Christmas tea is nearly upon us! This Saturday is the tea party! However, it is not too late to participate! Just pop on over to http://www.awoodlandfantasy.blogspot.com and leave a comment saying that you would like to participate in the party on my latest post. I will then add you to the guest list and you will, in turn, post the invitation to your blog sidebar. It is sure to be a blast!
Hopefully everyone will join in the fun! Until then, amazing decor and lovely prints, Miss Vanessa!
xoxoxo
Jessica
A Woodland Fantasy
P.S. My friend just got started in blogland and set up a blog called A Whimsical Journey, which is just lovely. If you would like to check it out visit http://www.thewhimsicaljourney.blogspot.com. :))))
Glad to hear your eye is doing better. Your holiday decor is delicious and the photo of snow on the mountain is gorgeous! I have been a busy bee with all the cookie baking. So much fun I can hardly stand it.
Hugs,
Lisa
Hi Miss Vanessa, I certainly hope your eye feels better soon. Please remember to use hot packs on it. I am very familiar with eye problems.
I can imagine how wondrous your home smells during this holiday season. You have lovely suroundings, inside and out.
Your holiday cards are fabulous.
oH No !
not your eye!!
:-0
take care, missy…
{{ i wondered
where U were,
BTW }}
UR sweetly wrapped trees
look like
~~thoughtful gifts~~
for
Mother Nature
🖤
Oh damn, be careful with your precious eyes! For me is not Christmas without the smell of ginger and cinnamon. We want your ginger cake’s recipe 😀
The ice crystals and the frozen flower are very beautiful, some pieces of art of Mother Nature..
Your poor eye! Oh, my. Not fun at all. Glad it is doing a bit better. You are the mistress of magical paper doll collages…absolutely stunning work you have done. Oooo! and ginger cake sounds scrumptious…with whipped cream too??? Or powdered sugar?!
And the snow!!! How fun is that??? Your mountains look crisp and beautiful, and I am sure the air quality is perfect.
It was 31 degrees here this morning with frost on all of the neighborhood roofs.
Ta, ta and enjoy your wonderfully decorated home, and I adore the Rococo end table..it’s to die for!
Miss Teresa
Very pretty mountains with snow. My daughter lives at the foot of a mountain and my grdaughter goes to school at the top of the mtn. We saw snow when we went to her school’s musical today. It was so pretty.
We had a few flurries in the valley. But its been so cold.
your fresh decorations are very pretty. I can just imagine how nice it all smells. I’m cutting some cedar and evergreens for decorating inside and because my artifical tree lacks that wonderful Christmasey smell.
All your shop goodies look great. I will be ordering more things from you in a couple months.
The mountains are soo beautiful! I always wished we had a white christmas, but here on the west coast they pretty much never happen…ever. 🙁 I am so glad to hear your eye is better, and look forward to all your new posts!
Also, i just recently started my new blog! the url is http://www.thewhimsicaljourney.blogspot.com if you could check ot out, and maybe leave a comment, it would mean the world to me!
As always, your decorations are delicious, and you have inspired me to go to new lengths in my own deocrations this year. My room has never looked so festive! and i was really happy to hear you put up nw prints in the shop, looking forward to owning the lovely ballet girlies!
HAve a good day!
xoxo, Ariel
A Whimsical Journey
Vanessa, I am glad your eye is healing and please do take it easy! Love what you do with your trees and you have the most perfect piece of fanciful land to transplant such green beauties! You captured some of Arizona’s special winter moments and how beautiful the view of your powdered sugar mountain tops! How lovely that you are using all that the garden gifts you to decorate your home. I can just imagine the scents. It sounds like you had a lovely visit with your parents too! They must be sooo proud of what you create! I am sending blessings to you and your three men. Keep cozy! <3 @ 😉
I have one quick question Missy. What is your favorite Christmas music? Cheers!
You so lovely. I should never stay away this long again. Ever. You are JoY infused; (to cause to be permeated with something (as a principle or quality) that alters usually for the better).
**blows kisses** Deb
Glad you are feeling better Miss V. I have been in the hospital having a nasty appendix taken out. It had gotten quite nasty and had to come out! I am trying to be good and stay in my nest to recover but it’s sooooooooooo hard when your hands just want to create!!
Happy Holidays to you and Mister Loveeeeeee and the furry ones!
Love,
LuLu~*xoxo
So sorry to hear about your poor eye! I’m glad you’re back and on the mend. I’ve been missing your posts – probably more than could be considered normal. 😉
Wishing your eye swift healing.
For most people it happens with a stick or something thinner than a rock. You are an original.
I am no longer allowed the beautiful tabletop trees. I guess once one (or two) commit suicide on you people tend to think the human is at fault.
It surprises me that your area and TX are seeing snow before we are, but please enjoy. Keep it as long as you wish.
We are “enjoying” single digit temperatures.
Oh, sweet girl! I am so glad your eye is better, that must have been painful! I remember when you hurt your foot with the shovel in the garden, ouch! How wonderful you plant your little trees after the season, so neat you have the property to be able to do that, very special. I absolutely love the one on your night stand, what a beautiful holiday site when you first wake up. What type of tree is the first one, the one that looks a bit feathery? So beautiful. Just love them wrapped like that. What are you up to tonight? I think I may stay up tonight and do some wrapping. I have a crazy addiction to wrapping paper, which I did not realize I had, until I pulled it all out and realized how much beautiful paper I have collected…apparently I have a problem….
AUGH! I’m so excited!!
I’m sorry you had a mishap, though. Glad you are on the mend. Do you LOVE that snow texture all over the mountains? That photo of the snow crystals is so lovely.
You’ve got me wishing for the fresh scents of TREE in this house! I must go get a few. And make those clove oranges.
Thank you thank you! generous Miss V.
xox
I can almost smell your yummy home from here! Glad you’re able to blink & wink again dear 😉 😉 *muah*
Ok, now you have me in the holiday spirit! I need to make an orange promander. Though I do put a orange, clover, and cinnamon water mixer to shimmer on the stove.
Love the snow photos. You live in such a lovely place.
Hope your eye is feeling better. I love the prints especially the circus one. Hugs Sara
The accident with your eye sounds painful. Glad you are feeling better.
Orange with cloves always smell heavenly. I have put a few Christmas Decorations. Nothing big..feel like Christmas just snuck up on me.
I hope you are now feeling better from your accident, Vanessa. That sounds so scary!!! I love your clean and simple holiday decor. How lovely your rooms must smell from the fresh scent of the trees! And I adore your orange pomander. Glad you feasted upon that delicious ginger cake with your mom and dad. There is nothing like spending time with the family at holiday time. Take care of your eye, dear friend! xoxo
I am smiling!! at the magic you brew here.
Happy that you eye is better…and happy to experience the Christmas, winter wonderland.
x…x