The magical night sky brings curious fairy tales. They travel through the clouds, and jump from star to star, until they reach us (you and me)…
Today, they bring us the tale of a curious girl and her even curiouser father. He was king of his very own pumpkin patch. A pumpkin patch that grew the elusive white ghost pumpkin.
In a long tale of unfortunate events he was turned into a pumpkin himself, by a mean and jealous witch, who coveted his pumpkin patch, and wished to be the queen of all the white ghost pumpkins in the land. The witch, then turned the curious man’s daughter, into a scarecrow.
On an especially magical evening, the girl found a way to escape the witches grasp. She followed a trail through the moonlit trees…
Now, there is a sad and happy twist to the fairy tale. You see, the girl’s body was still that of a scarecrow. However, her face was still as beautiful as a porcelain doll. And, she carried with her, the pumpkin that is said to be, the pumpkin the witch turned her father into…
Now this is a true tale (not really but play along with me here). The charming wee girl, has found her way to us. The problem is, A Fanciful Twist’s B&B of the dollhouse variety, has no vacancies. And this precious girl needs a home…
She is in fact this weeks thriftventure giveaway. I made the white pumpkin (I am obsessed with white pumpkins), but the girl herself is a thriftventure find…
So, if you have a home for her let me know in comments. I will drop your name in the hat & I will draw a name in two days… Has she by chance, told you what her name is? Hmm, what could it be??
I have been in a white pumpkin, orangey, black & white striped mood for days now. I have actually been in the Halloween mode since May, when I started designing some fun art things to share… But, I am waiting for the parcel with them to arrive before I show you. It should have been here days ago, but there was a problem (just my luck), so it should be here by tomorrow… Can’t wait!!
I have even put my black and white Anthropologie bedding back on my bed. I switch it out, then miss it too much. And it is perfect for the spooky decor…
This weekend, I delved into a teeny book of French Fables. Well, the best that I could, as I am not very good at keeping up with my French at all…
I just adore little books packed with wonderfulness…
I have to share the special illustrations inside this petite treasure…
Isn’t it just lovely?
I have also been listening to music on my gramaphone. Bits of this and this…
Here, I will play something for you… Oh, okay, maybe it is just an excuse to show you my beloved antiquing find (ring). I am so excited. You see, I have had the brooch, the shoe clips and the earrings that match this ring for over 10 years. And to unexpectedly find the ring, tickled me to pieces!!
I also doodled a lot this weekend. I love doodle evenings… Also, we are slated to get tons of rain this week (knock on wood). There is something about rain and drawing that goes hand in hand for me…
My pencil lines and my ink lines are two totally different animals. I don’t think I prefer one over the other. But, it is like a different hand when I use ink or pencil…
I will let you into my secret dressing table vault 😉 It is full of random drawings…
One would think, I would have haribrushes, rouge, ornate combs and pearls in this drawer… Why can’t I be normal like that? Instead I find it much more useful to stuff it with drawings? hee hee
Oh, I also found a use for these wooden hands I have. I glued it to a candle holder. Now it is a totally useable jewelry holder. I think I might start wearing this neckalce again. I wore it everyday 4 years ago, for 1+ years almost, then got sick of it… But, perhaps, it needs an outing or two? Do you do that?
So, blame all the spookiness around here on the web that I stare at every morning… Well, did stare at, I accidentally dusted it today…
My little haunted house is making its way to life. I took it out of my storage shed in the back on Saturday. I made little flags for it today… I will show you progress as it gets spookier 😉
But what I want to show you before I go, which you should click on to see detail, are the night photos from the last couple of evenings…
Now, if you look just above the moon and to the left of this photo below, you will see a little white line, that looks like a shooting star…
You can see it better here amogst the stars (click on image to see it)…
Well, it was not a shooting star, even though I did see one. But, it was a satellite. And, if you have incredible clear star nights like these, you can see them orbiting around… Isn’t that fun?
So, I leave you with Guster’s "Satellite," which fits the photos 😉
I love that I can hear a bit of a similar baseline to Dum Dum girl in this (bass line). I love dissecting songs with the resident bassist Mr. Lovee (it is a house of instruments here, I tell ya, he plays upright and electric bass, and almost every other instrument, and I play piano).
Okay, enough of my nonsense for one day… Off I go!! Adieu for now, 🖤 V
ps: Don’t forget to drop your name in the hat, lil’ miss needs a home 😉
PSS: Drawing On Wednesday!! 😉 xoxo
Hola Vanessa, Loved Your pictures. My sister Margarita, is in Tucson, she said it was raining today. I’m so jeolous, I miss Tucson, in the rain. God Bless You.
Oh, what a lovely tale! I think her name is Gerta. Kind of a weird name, but there you are I think that is what it is! I love your night pictures, so amazing! Love your doodles too. My Matthew is really into his dad’s doodles. It is the only way he gets through church. His dad doodles, then he turns them over and traces the back. But he has to have a “juicy” black pen for it to work. Thanks for your b-day wishes for him by the way! Hope you have a lovely rainy, doodley week!
wow i wish i lived with you and mr lovee your place is the gas!! (but i would have to bring my hubby and three girls with me and that might be too noisy for you;)
i check your blog sometimes more than twice a day just in case you have added some magical story. and you did not let me down today. we have a perfect place for ‘mary’ or ‘talullah'(my eldest daughter lili cant decide)she could live on our hutch, where all precious things go, under the gorgeous red lanterns. (if you visit my blog you can just see them in my main picture.) where ever she goes she will bring a bit of something special to her new home. blog again soon mmwah rosey
I love white pumpkins, too! Would love to give this little witchy a home.
Dawn
WOW! White pumpkins are terrific, aren’t they? I especially love the “baby boo” variety. ☺
Your sky photos are beautiful!
As for your drawing…Yippee!!!
Another enchanted tale, magically crafted. Your drawings are wonderful, and I watched the video, it’s wonderful. Hope you continue to have a magical week. Karen
Unfortunately I have no room for dolly at my place right now. She’s cute though!
I love white pumpkins too! I also have that same vanity table you use as a drawing table. Gwen, is her name, and how sad to have a straw body. At least her heart is real and still loves her father. Yes, Gwen could come live with me and I will care for her and her pumkin father. Congratulations on finding your ring! I know how exciting those kind of findings can be. Have a great week! Twyla
Thank you fro bringing beauty into my morning! happy Hauntings, lovely girl!
xoxoxo
Hi Vanessa ~ Popping in to say hello & stop and see me sometime! 🙂
Have a great week.
PS: I adore white lumina pumpkins as well.
Chris
Ohhhhhhh I have the perfect place for her! And I love how you decorated the string of tiny white lights with the black and white striped ribbons intermingled with the orange and white. You do such a great job of decorating there *smiles*.
White pumpkins !!!! I have never noticed any, perhaps because I love orange so well, but what a nice counterpoint !
and the lovely pumpkin princess….Princess Rowan Stanfree..yep, that’s her name ! I love Rowan and she would live amongst silver pumpkins and magic cupcakes should she wander out my way !!!
She looks like an Emma… Love the pretty white pumpkin, the night sky and the ring!
Your girl looks a bit Asian to me; so I call her just Pumpkin. Is she a geisha, maybe?
Perhaps she would like spending the winter with me in Norway?
Your blog is truly amazing. You are so talented!!
hugz
A fabulous post as always. LOVE the book illustrations and the white pumpkins are just lovely!
Cheers!
oh, your post is just where I want to be today!! I’m itching for a real autumn and pumpkins and All Hallow’s Eve this year….I’m hoping to go all Martha Stewart this year in honor of being in a season-changing environment…..I hope we are settled in and ready for apple bobbing by then!! 🙂
I think your night time pictures are the dreamiest and coziest I’ve ever seen….your night skies must be from another time….I just know it! I think your night times are from 1900! Or perhaps the 1840’s!! YES!
p.s. I just wanted to comment to tell you that….but please don’t put my name in the drawing as we are soon to be gypsies with no home for a wee while!! 😉
great song, a wonderful tale and I especially like the close up photo with the victrola on the chair. 🙂
happy day! ~M~
I loved your post as usual. The little witchy girl would fit right in with my treasures. And your night pictures are wonderful!
Love your new drawings 🙂
We rented La Vie En Rose this weekend…we had seen it in the theater last year and wanted to see it again. What a sad life Edith Piaf had…and such wonderful talent…her sound is the sound of Paris for me. It reminded me of another great artist that also had a sad life…Frida Kahlo…I am sure they had incredible highs but all in all they both suffered. Ones health means everything.
Come over and see me…see what we have in common 🙂
I have never seen a white pumpkin before. I love them!! They are much prettier than orange ones. I wonder why I have never seen them before? Also, I think the tale is great and the scarecrow dolls’ name should be Anna, after my greatgrandmother, who use to tell the neighborhood kids and my dad stories that scared the BeeJesus out of them and made them afraid to walk home alone!!!! It’s true!!! She would have loved this.
Kris
I never knew there was such a thing as a white pumpkin. You got that photo from our city’s newspaper website! Haha!
I love the story of the little miss. Hmmm…she looks like a Margaret or Maggie for short. I would love to give her a home! I think she would love the mountains 🙂
Hi. Just popped in to say I saw your fabulous painting at Tara’s home last week. FABULOUS FABULOUS FABULOUS!!!
Eve, her name is Eve as she was born on All Hallows Eve. She was given her name by her mother Snow White. Can’t you see the family resembelence? And of course her father who was so unfortunately turned into a white pumpkin was Snow White’s Prince Charming
I too love white pumpkins. So much fun to pretend tha someone I know is the little girl in the field with a scarecrow body. I would name her E’lyse Naomi. The name is pronounced EE Lease. This is my middle daughters name. She reminds me of the little girl in the story.
As usual I love all the beautiful photos of the Arizona sky. Hugs, Bobbi Jo
I grew up with many hands all over the house as a child…my mother is a lover of hands, I am a lover of hearts (and eyes) but I think they go very very well together…which is good because I have quite a few of those things on my person as we speak…
You must love Halloween like I do Vanessa! Great post as always and it’s so fun to visit you.
There are white pumpkins in my garden. Also, a very large, enchanted frog. But that’s another story!
oohhh! the halloween spirit is alive and well with you!
you have the exact bedding I have been looking for!!! how long ago did you find??
let me know if you see any more similar to it…i NEED! 🙂
Thriftventure darling…she tells me her name is Bella. (Short for Isabella. She never did like her full name) White pumpkins are eery & wonderful! Your bedspread is amazing! I’ve been searching for a new bed set, but haven’t come across one I liked enough yet. Halloween keeps creeping slowly into my life lately…whether it’s a crisp breeze or some fallen leaves. A spooky pumpkin art piece or the way the days feel. I know I’ve already decorated, but I feel like it’s not done yet..strange. You have some beautiful jewelry pieces. I collect vintage jewelry and unique pieces like a madwoman! Anyway, now I’m just rambling.
Aaah of course Madame B.B. (short for Baby Boo) Valenciana de Patisson would be thrilled to stay with you, she told me as I offered her to stay in my humble dwellings. I told her that I could read her Les Fables de la Fontaine (in French) too and that made it a tad better. I told her also that I always read your blog, a feast to the eyes and soul. And I told her that the nights are mot as dark as with you (she didn’t like that).
Mmm please put my name in that hat and make sure that Mme B.B. Valenciana de Patisson doesn’t interfere with the draw, or I wouldn’t stand a chance!
I believe I would call her Raven. Raven colored hair, raven’s flying amongst the pumpkins in the fall…..yes, Raven would be her name. What wonderful photos of the moon rising. Very magical post today 🙂 I’ve got my fingers crossed that Raven might be with me before All Hallow’s Eve 😉 What a wonderful giveaway!
~Allie
This is ONE post??? Oh my, and I thought I posted a lot of images into one post, but you’re worse/better! You photos are magic and so is those sketches. If your doll wants to come play with me and my cat smilla I think she’ll like it here!
came here from Nancy’s blog, your place is nice!
Hello lovely! She is sweet and so was this post – I loved the pictures and everything about it. Makes me feel like I’m in a fairy tale 🙂
P.S. Her name is Clara Rose
Hi Vanessa,
I think her name is Svetlana and she is from Russia originally-that was where her Father was king of his pumpkin patch. But, when she escaped through the trees she somehow found her way to you.I hope she didn’t bring the scary witches too. She is wearing her favourite dress covered with sweet williams, a reminder of her German love Wilhelm. Or something like that anyway. She might like a further trip to London…
It’s great that you found the ring to go with the other stuff-I love it when that happens-like it was waiting all that time for you. Beautiful photos!
Sarah 🙂
Please, oh please, would you kindly put my name in for your draw?
I live in Ireland, and would gladly give the little lady a home. I have a hawthorn tree decorated with little golden bells she could sit in when the weather is nice, and a lovely warm hearth to rest by when the weather is not. Though a sweet and simple girl I wondered if her name might be something grand like Antoinette Gealach úr Nua, Antoinette of the New Moon,she is so shy; there is something about her that makes me think she might be a faery.
Thank you so much for creating such an inspirational blog. My heart absolutely soars each time I adventure through it.
Wishing you continued success always,
Susanne
The little scarecrow doll of the white pumpkin patch is lovely. Next, she’ll need a good home and a name. I read that sometimes witches curses work because they force their victims to forget their names. Once she remembers hers, she’ll be right as rain.
Your home is looking spookier and spookier.
T
Love white pumpkins! I tried to grow some this year but all I got were vines, no pumpkins 🙁 Love all the decorations and the garland is just cute!
Oh how I love your blog and how your pictures and work touch me to the very core of my soul. For this I thank you very sincerely. You make my days dreamier and my nights spookier!
So I was listening closely at the key hole and I heard a faint whisper from our dear Pumpkin lass. She whispered…”Chloe Sweetly is my name.”
I would so enjoy giving Chloe Sweetly a home and hearing about her tales and adventures. Perhaps we can convince our House Fairy to work her magic on poor Chloe and the King with the hopes of restoring them to their former glory again!??!
Vanessa, thank you for another wonderful tale. Please put my name in the hat. I would love to give the little poppet a good home and a lovely new name.
Hugs Karen
soo much eye candy how do you do it?? I am at a loss for words! I really need to get myself a better camera. I am so jealous of those with nice SLR cameras, waaaaaa that is me crying.
Oh yes we are thinking about the Halloween here already, I just need to finish one project and my mind can go there.
Hello dear, what an enchanted evening!! I too am in love with the white pumpkins!
And, of course Lil’ miss needs to come to my home!!!!!!
Take care my dear!
Vanessa…call me greedy but I can NOT get enough of your fabulous night sky photos… I literally gasped as the first one loaded on my screen…girl! I need to come down and take some lessons from you some NIGHT!! Absolutely beautiful. I never tire of them. As for that adorable lady with the pumpkin…(um…white ones are my oh-so-favorite kind!!)… her name is easy…
Stella Luna
🙂
xo
VB
ooooohhhhh such fantastic photos!!! i can actually feel the magic of the beautiful moon through your pictures!!! the white pumpkins are so haunting!!! i am too in the mood for halloween, being my favorite holiday… i am aching for a good scary project… not too sure yet what it’ll be this year… but i am LOVING your orange, black and white garland… mmmmmm the ideas are spinning!!!
her name… she whispered it to me, from the staircase, she said “tell them my name is Evangeline De Beaupre”… and that she is from a family of french gypsies wandering the european contry side… she would love to settle down, to find roots in a home… who will it be???
I love seeing all of your jewellery and quirky things. I’m a hoarder of all things whimsical and beautiful too. It’s nice to know a fellow bower bird.
I enjoyed the Frida Khalo entry you made. I paint and so Frida is an inspiration to me also.
I think Mirabelle Hawthorn is the name of the pumpkin girl.
Yes. Yes. Halloween is coming!!! I wish I time for a Halloween hubabaloo here at my place. We had so much fun the last time we hosted, but have gotten too busy for entertaining.
Cool pictures. Is that what the night sky looks like? Haha! We went hiking in Flagstaff yesterday so I actually got to see STARS on the ride home last night.
She is a Matilda Browne, for sure.
The child girl of the tale is definitely, ~Anneliese~. Her name is of German origin, meaning grace and favor.It also could mean the pumpkin seed keeper, of the yearly fall harvest.I see a great future for her if she migrates to Upstate, New York. The lady in question enjoys your blog very much. It would be a wise choice. The white pumpkins have spoke highly of her, but the choice is yours.
I wish it was Halloween already.
But… but… you need to tell us how the story ends! Does the pumpkin king turn into a man again? What happens to the girl? Whaaaat?
How serendipitous to find the ring to match your other pieces!
oh, they really know how to illustrate books, don’t they? we have quite a lot of french children’s books at home :). and the doll is so pretty, very hush-hush about her name though. i suppose she’s figured out she doesn’t want to live with my wild kids *lol*. and of course you should out the jewelry!
anyway, thank you for leaving a little note on my blog :)! swedish is a bit complicated, i know, but it’s nothing fancy (like yours ;)), i just write about our everyday magic at home, using pretty words.
Oh, how delightful! The photos, the decorations and Lil Miss. Please put my name in the hat for her. I will have to give some thought to a name.
I love that photo of the pumkins and the beautiful skies above you! They seem to have been blown your way by a very creative wind 🙂
I love this post! It gets me so excited for the season…
I think her name might be Fortune… I think she will bring great fortune to whoever she meets…
I also had no idea that you can get white pumpkins, this is amazing to me. Can you get purple pumpkins too, I think somewhere maybe, in a far-off land.
Thanks for your continuing stories and gorjus pics xxx
I love your desk! It’s gorgeous!
Your doodles are so beautiful.
I love white pumpkins too!
Lindsey
Very cool photos of the night sky..although being in Arizona I was hoping you’d get one of those UFOs on film;)
I love that little gramophone and chair and the Guster video, while it made me a little dizzy is awesome.
The white pumpkins are beautiful..it looks like our fall festivals, corn mazes and such will be starting up here very soon. Happy sketching to you~I like the idea of having a table in which to store sketches.
Oh, and I’d name the doll Garance after the beautiful character in the film Children of Paradise 🙂
I just love your imaginative stories! You’re so fun!
Now we have to have another party: a drawing-while-its-raining party! There is just something about the rain that makes me want to get out the paper and pencil…and paints!
Thanks for the gorgeous and enchanting post! Hope Halloween creeps up quickly… 😉
I absolutely LOVE your photo of the white pumpkins!! I had never seen them before and now I want them! Are they only grown out West? So cool…
I’m in such a Halloween mood….and every time I think of it, I think of you! No one seems to celebrate the holiday quite the way you do and I do believe that my love of Halloween was in fact reawakened by you! 🙂
Great spider web photo as well!
well,
my hat is in the ring
{{ it must be a LARGE ring
to hold so many names
but
because it is you,
i know the ring is magic and can grow to accommodate }}
🙂
anyway,
you like white pumpkins
because
they look like the moon.
did you now that?
miss full~moon~lover, you!
[[ BTW,
did you ever find out the name
of the humongous rainbow bird?
i am still wondering
as i am all about the birds
over here at my house ]]
Oh how I love Halloween too. I do , I do!
So many fond memories but pumpkins have to be my absolute fave. Those white ones are gorgeous.
As always, enjoy your photos and your tales.
xo
Your imagination and stories keep bringing me back. I adore your creativity. I believe there is room at my inn, hee hee.
Oh my, what a delightful,magical, whimsical home you live in! Those moonlight trees photos are so beautiful and enchanted!
I hope lil miss can come home with me, teehee!
Holy Cow…how very cool to capture the satellite streaking by.
Always fun to peak around your rooms and collections!!!
x..x
Where you store your drawings is perfectly perfect! This darling little dressing table looks like it was made to house your wonderfully whimsical line drawings. I love it but I always love the unexpected and your blog is my favorite dose of whimsy coupled with a dash of the unexpected. Thanks for another fun-filled visit!!! See ya! Deb
Really greta!!!
Congratulations!!!
Dear Miss V., Sorry I’ve been more sporadic lately in commenting. I’m still just as much of a fan as ever and am looking forward to your posts as we approach one of the happiest times of the year… when the witches come out! 🙂 It’s been a nutso summer and I’m still trying to get a handle on things… just don’t think I’m not a fan… because I am! 🙂
Why of course, her name is Katrina Van Tassel from The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.
Thank you for your lovely blog.
Hi Vanessa,,, whats up? love your night pictures,, just beautiful. I like the white pumpkins. I love the lil baby girl. I would love to give her a very special home. Happy creating…. gail
I love your tale about the white pumpkin patch. I love white pumpkins so much, my dad left a space in his garden and planted white pumpkins for me this year. I would love to give “Lila Mae” a home among my white pumpkins this year. Maybe the spell would be broken at midnight on Halloween while little “Lila Mae” sleeps among the white pumpkins decorating my house.
The white pumpkins are amazing, I’ve never seen them before…you made them? what an enchanting little story and a wonderful porcelin doll to match. Stunning jewellery pieces as always!
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