While I am in the studio working away, lots of thing are happening in the magic yellow dollhouse… For instance, the girls proclaimed that days would not be boring and regular anymore. Of course I tried to explain to them that, in fact days would never be boring and regular for them because they lived in a giant 3-story yellow house with a faun and elves for brothers… With trees growing in playrooms, and birds flying around freely. They looked at me as if I were insane… Oh sure, I’m the frootloop now?
Anyhow, Heidi Marie (was that the name Mr. Lovee gave her?) said, No Silly, I mean, we must wear cone hats everyday, and serve tea and treats at all hours. And, we must be able to ride our pets to and fro… (don’t we do that already? Sans the pet riding part?)
Well, sure that sounds okay, I said. As long as you don’t hurt your pets, and you make sure to do your chores. The chores part was ignored… I asked the girls kindly, if I were to help Nana make them super cushy beds with lovely bedding, would they help out around the place so I could get back to work (Painting, dollmaking, etc). They nodded ridiculously profously. So, I trusted them…
I went to work…
Sewing, stuffing little pillows. Making box springs for beds and duvets, and so on…
There was to be tea at every hour, cone hat wearing extravaganza’s, everything. In exchange for their assistance so I might be able to get to work.
As I have very exciting treats (shop stuff) baked, baking, and waiting to be baked. Plus painted, drying, and waiting to be painted, to share with you… So, as you see, I have lots of secret wonderousness up my sleeve…
Nana made up the beds with the lovely new bedding and fluffy wonderful pillows I had sewn up…
Everything looked like it was going according to plan. The elves were taking naps, the girls were being wacky, but good.
And, then I went to check on the other kids in the nursery. Umm, hellllllo? Faun boy jumping on the bed with Fiona? Toys scattered everywhere? Owl boy jumping on the bed with Faun Boy and Fiona??
A bird that doesn’t live with us, playing checkers…
What is this I exclaimed? A Mad-House??? Again, they all looked at me as if I had come from another planet. And then I realized, this issssss a mad-house. It was always a mad-house. There are no major rules. Except those Mr. Lovee has to follow, like leaving trails of coffee and such… Okay, he has no rules either, but don’t let him know… Who really cares if some strange bird is playing checkers in the nursery?
I sat back and thought, oh what a relief! We don’t got no stinkin’ rules roun’ here!!! Yipppeeeee!! No chores, no curfews, no nagging. Then I had to look in the mirror and say, No Vanessa, really, there are no rules! Pinch Me Eunice, pinch me!! (I call my sister Eunice)
The biggest gift, is realizing there is still a kookie kid living right inside of you, who still likes to jump on beds, and slurp hot chocolate really loud (with extra whipped cream) and yes, is still astonished that there is NO parental supervision. Ahhh, ain’t life grand… Have you had this experience too?
Well, I guess I better get back to work for now… Toodling along…
See you very very soooooon!! V
A mad house I’d love to visit! Looks like such fun!
Very magical!!!!!!!!!!~
Yes, it is wonderful to realize there is a part of life that can have no rules and you can be and do whatever you want… be a child and dream and imagine anything, and it will be true. Happy, happy!
Well.
This is the first time i have ever posted anything ..since sixth grade .hehe maybe …Nowadays i order random things or.. um, well ..thats about it–for the internet( toadstool lamps= roseandradish.com–):) . I have lots of extended family — but my best friend is me brother.. Anywho— so some of the time i just use the internet for easy/random communications fo long periods of time,,–Somehow I found a link or other and i found a blogger…
a small red and golden fire ignited in my heart and eventually every single day i would wake up early just to read and get inspired.
By and by, i discovered there was a whole connection of people who knew eachother (randomly– through strange internet readings) After my initial intoxication with an artist( I still always start with her and I read her every single day)… I came to know others__- really totally unattached and random. However after a few months I came to crave the *ahem * (oh my god.. can’t even say(write it_ )– Sorry i use a typewriter..)
well——- your blog. I started only with one ceratain blog– and now i read it every morning. Eventually I found your’s! I love it!!:) Your writing style is like a personal journal. I always read it and feel so inspired for the rest of the day.
My main reason for posting–is to explain how you have grown on me- my favourite movie director is at the helm of the movie “Whisper of the Heart”. O how, dearly you exude every line and mentality of this film, and tonight as i watched Miyazaki make his words a reality — i thought of you.. If you have never seen any Miyazaki — please seek him out. all i can say is — “he is so up your alley”.. Mainly “whisper of the heart ” — not so well known– makes me fanasize about your stories. you and he together= constantly INSPIRING…. 🙂
please keep writing — about your love — your landscape– your living space– your art– and your animals — we all find all of it more fascinating than you may know..
🙂 love
I always look foreward to your blog now. And most Miyazaki films remind me of your heart. Two things i always look foreward to.
thank you
Blessings
I love all that you share…….
I love you
Life is just a bowl of cherries with sugar sprinkled on top.
Wow, it’s just like that in our house! (Only not quite so beautiful!) xxx
Lighten up Vanessa! Try and have some fun sometimes…life is so short 🙂
The wee duvet is mi favorita! Sew are you chiquita!
Whee! I can’t wait to see what you’ve come up with this time, Vanessa!
How fun! I love to come and see the birds play checkers and all the fun new hats over here. I especially just love that last photo of the ribbon rack and the characters coming to life. It will be wonderful to see what they become!
Thank you for the little life reprieve and the chance to drop into your fanciful world, always a breath of fresh air!!
You have done such a fanciful, wonderful job!! Love every bit of the dollyworld, and also the wonderful way that you present it, too brilliant 😀
Hi Vanessa,
A mad fun house I would say!! You should make an animated short of all your fun lovelies and maybe who knows an Oscar could come your way!!
lol Ellen
I love the bird playing checkers 🙂
My brain is too tired to say anything else today, I think I need to escape to another house for the evening, can I come and stay with your girls?
Oh what a fanciful land you live in and I want to move in to the yellow house. I can play checkers with the bird. I’m very good.
Oh Vanessa, you make me smile. You are a mad genius, with your gift for storytelling and creative arts. I adore you, your wacky and wonderful ideas and your fabulous dollhouse, complete with a strange bird playing checkers. xoxox
Miss V you melt my heart with all your sweetness.Thank you dear friend.xoxo
I’m sooo glad it’s a mad house and that I can come and visit and escape the real world.
Lovely Miss V…..you are a delight as always!!
I just tried sending you 2 different e-mails to your e-mail addy and they both came back as undeliverable….the address is correct…did you get them!??
meeeep!
Ohhhh…are those new dolls at the end of the post just waiting for their new lives to be painted on?!?!
And, I just love all that ticking on the bed. I love ticking…it makes me swoon bigtime (which is why I hoard it…only a little though)
Ok, my absolute favorite, after the dolly in the pink polka dot dress, is the birdie that doesn’t live with them that plays checkers!
Sandra Evertson
I love fruit loops!
my heart is beating so fast- i just need to say good morning to you sweet friend -i made my morning coffee and then saw your note to me- it was wonderful-well divine realy divine. your dolls house is the mother load- wow weeeee-i have to start thinking about our dolls house- the little cakes -how i had tears coming down my cheek, and that your dolls have pets to get rides to and fro-there cone hats are -you know what im talking about- thankyou for your friend ship- love jo.
Oh you are just so much fun! These fabulous doll house posts are Brittany and my favorites! She will be so excited to see this when she comes home. I love playing too, don’t know what I will do when my excuses(kids) grow up! Keep at it like you do I expect!
Now that looks like a fun house to live in! Maybe I should teach the random birds that walk in my back door to play checkers. Perhaps not though- birds that walk into a house uninvited are sure to cheat in games.
Your blog is such fun, you seem to have found the secret of holding onto a perpetual and delightful childhood. If only more people had this rare gift.
hi Vanessa, thanks for the trip to fairy tale land today! You gave me a big smile for the morning!!!!
Ah! Those wonderful dollhouse inhabitants!!! LOVE them all!!!
Isn’t it fun to be a “grown up” and make all your own rules?!?!!
Lovelovelove…this story. The cone hat, the bedding the little bird playing checkers…your sister’s blog…fun, fun, fun.
I am glad that I mentioned you in my post today…those who click on it will not be disappointed.
Oh darling girl what pure joy…what wonderful tomfoolery they are up to. What hijinx of joy. what merriment! Fia and the rest of the girls are quite envious as they would definitely join in if they could. Love the new bedding and the bird playing checkers.
I am on a gathering mission to make my “girls” a fantasy life.
You inspire my dear friend and you create a bright wonderful light a long with it!
XOXOXOXOXOXOXO
look at that pile of cool dolls you are making. (last pic) love them!
Ooh… I’m loving the wee pillows. How cute.
And your madness is a particular kind of magic. 😀
You are so much fun. Can I come to play?
Love IT!! I had so much fun reading this. Thank you!!
Nancy
What a good house mum you are 🙂 Those dolls are so blessed to have you!
Hello sweetie, I spotted your comment and it parted the rain clouds (of which there were MANY) and brought sunshine, so now Lucy and I can walk and maybe not get wet – oh joy!
I’m in love with the ears on Fluffy and friend :0)
So good to see the whirlwind of creativity that is always to be found around you, a much better wind than the one that knocked down teh garden fences here. But I’m seeing it as a good thing, we are hoping the insurance may cover it so we could get a more solid fence to match the one they built when they chop chop chopped the hedge down. Then I could grow beans up it…and you know how I LOVE the green beans ;0) xxxx
What a blog!!!!! I am in awe of your talents. Beautiful photos and stories. Wow!
I’m thinking and deciding, and….yes, you have my most favorite blog to read.
It’s a special treat!
You have the kind of spirit that inspires others to live lofe through the eyes of a child! Yay for you!
Just found your blog and I love it. I will be spending time here.
Another chapter for your children’s book……or another book 🙂
Well, you’re just as cooky as I remember you =) and your stories are wonderful! I need to do some catching up – haven’t been by for a bit. Hope life is thrilling and beautiful for you these days. Blessings… Polly
DOO DAAA dOOOdaaa! Magical capers and goings on in the Yellow house! .Hmmm, those kids need an Old VW bus to ride around in. (Hi Faun BOY…it’s moi!) Aren’t they all so lucky to have handsewn bed linens upon which they can lay their sleepy lil’ heads after a long day of scampering. Kiss kiss…hug hug!
you have such a creative and whimsical eye! i just featured one of your prints (from your Etsy shop) on my most recent post! stop by and check it out when you get a chance! you are quite creative! 🙂
Hey Miss V – ive missed you SO much
sorry havnt been round much…life has been SO busy!!! happy creating in your little studio, cant wait to see what you’ve come up with!
ive put my ‘aper girl dancers’ stcards up on my wall at home – love them!!
Cushy beds? An unknown bird that plays checkers? Cone hat parties? No rules??
yippppppeeeeee!!!
I’ll be over in a minute!! Tell the girls to save a pillow for me:)
xoxoxo…jenn
Between this post and last am I to assume you’re making electic blankets for the mad house?? No? I’m shocked!!
D.
WEll, if I ever need to attend a “cone hat wearing extravaganza” or play checkers with a weird gatecrashing birdie, I’ll know where to go!
Nodding my head profusely.
With most eager enthusiasm!
xo
Gillian
p.s. Eunice is a hoot! Kristen, the bobby pin bandito. Yehaw!!!!
I love the wee tea set! I just ordered one from Etsy!
Can you send Nana over to my place to make the beds?
I loooove slurping my hot cocoa! I always have to have that whipped cream in a can!! So yummy!
Lovely Vanessa, if i can obtain a shrinking potion, may i please mail myself to you so that i may live in your doll’s house too? I promise i won’t eat too many treats or be naughty in the playroom! 🙂
As always, you re delightful and i have enjoyed myself ever so much peeking thru the secret keyhole into your magical world.
xoxo
I found you through Sugar Bear. You are delightful! Thanks for the big grin this morning.
Cheers! LA
Vanessa! When are you going to write that children’s book? I want to buy them for my future grandchildren. Birds playing checkers?! Oh my!
Oh I DO apologize…I’m afraid that little bird is with me. You see this is our first visit here (I came via Jo at Fairycake Pond) and one of those that live in the small dwellings at ButtonWillow Cottage just had to come visiting with me. I’m afraid they can’t resist a game of checkers.
We’ll be going now, although I’m not quite sure who might accompany me next time I visit.
Buttonwillowchronicles.typepad.com
But…but…but! Help me understand here, Vanessa Froot Loop, isn’t Mr. Lovee the one with the hair-like-the-guy-from-Kiss? Or am I getting the Misters mixed up? Ah, so much to keep track of in your wonderfully mad house. 🙂
Ahhh, ain’t life grand.
***YES***
especially when
you have
a jar
of blue pencils
sitting
in
your
window…
🙂
Ahhh, ain’t life grand,
yes,
indeed……
Hi Miss Vanessa!! The bird playing checkers who does not live with you had me laughing out loud!! And faun boy….sigh, I have Vand and I swear, you just can’t keep these little guys out of trouble. If they’re not slurping down shroom nog, then they’re jumping on beds…or worse! 😉
But my favorite part of your post is that the craziness that has been your life the past few weeks or so seems to have calmed down and you are now able to once again spend time in your studio! I can’t wait to see what wonderful creations you come up with!!!!!!! 🙂
You are hilarious and talented…just wanted to stop by and say thank you…thank you…thank you for all of my wonderful birthday wishes…you made my day!
Have a blessed and wonderful day!
smiles, kari & kijsa
Can I move in? PALEEZEEEEE!!!!!! A Mad House you say? Really? It seems just my style! Do you think Owl Boy would give me his autograph?
Like all your dolls VV and creatures too!
You are the best! So’s The Lovee!
xox
Constance
Happy Creative Day to you!
So adorable, as usual!
Christine
Hello from Toronto,
Your work is really amazing!
Gabriela
Great blog! Thanks for sharing.
I want to come play with the doll house.
Things are never boring around here, that is already guaranteed 🙂 Your miniatures are beautiful and so much fun! (oh the teasets and little dressmaker’s dummy-swoon!) Can I come play?
Oh MIss Fanciful your girls live in such a delightful and charming world sometimes it would be nice to be like Alice, drink the potion, and shrink to their size so we could explore.
I always look at your studio pics in awe. I am a messy disorganized artist. You seem to have everything in a place where it belongs. How do you do it? I am very creative … but not creative enough to come up with organizational ideas on my own. :o)
haven’t heard from you in a while so thought I would stop in and say hello…everything looks fun at your house. glad to hear things are going well for you.
have a great weekend!
best,
carol
This kookie kid just tried banana’s on my pizza.. yes the kind with sauce and cheese cooked in the oven .. pepperoni dipped in chocolate .. mind you my inspiration comes from my krazy kids.. they will try anything ..unless it’s healthy .. hahhaha
I LOVE LOVE LOVE your dollhouse! I can’t say it enough. I have been completely obsessed with minature worlds since birth, and yours is so splendid! I wish, wish, wish that I could get my little hands on it and play! What wonderful things you have placed in there!
xoxo sarah
Wow! I can see I am not alone in loving this story and all those marvellous characters you have living with you. This is so magical!
This is so cute!
I’m scared to ask what you are doing…you’ve been quiet too long.
LOVEEEEEE????
Miniature things. I love them.
When I was younger….I’m talking about to young to really know what I was doing here, little miniature things would end up in my pockets.
Etsy is bad.I am good. I have resisted the world of felt fuzzy things and weird clay creatures and cute faces with weird hair and hats and mystery animals that I find there. I tell myself I need to wait for the perfect thing, the perfect little creature to put by my desk…ha
But then I know, it doesn’t stop there.