"I'm not dead yet" and the magical gypsy wagon faerie party….

Hello Blog land,
"I'm not dead yet"  to quote a favorite line out of Monty Python.  Life is so full, I have just been living and not blogging.  My intention is to start up again, I miss my connection with all of you (that is if you are still there).  I love that I can share so many more pictures and thoughts here than on Face Book.  I love the artistic presentation of my blog so much more than FB too!  And I am definitely all about artistic presentation!
Many events, both weddings and regular life, have happened since I last checked in.   Pretty much all good, even the challenging ones too…  Life is funny that way.  There is good in all things, even if we don't see it right away.
One of my favorite developments is…  (drum roll please)  I am so proud to say that I am now officially a regular contributor to Faerie Magazine.  I have loved that magazine since I first saw it many years ago and now I am so very honored and thrilled to truly be a part of it! Some of my favorite people are involved with it.  Carolyn Turgeon is the editor and chief.  I didn't realize that she is the same Carolyn Turgeon who has written several books that I love, two of which are Godmother and Fairest of Them All.  Kim Cross, the founder and publisher is the one I had the pleasure of working with when they published my Faerie Wedding.  She kind of launched the Faerie aspect of me…  Thank you Kim!  I also had a pleasant surprise when I discovered that the art director was none other than one of my favorite blogs from the past, Medieval Muse's own Lisa Gill.  She is a major cat lover like me so we know she must be a wonderful person!!!  Now if you also count all the contributors…  it is a whose who of the fantasy realm.  You've no idea how amazing it felt to be in the same magazine as Charles Vess and Brian and Wendy Froud!  Super heady stuff I tell ya!!!  I feel like I have found a beautiful home and I am so happy!    The faeries have indeed been good to me.  Through their love and guidance my artistic creative life has been so rewarding and full!
One of the most fun things I have done lately is finally tackle the old Gypsy Wagon I've had for ages.

 I received it in a trade somewhere around 8 years ago but the work required to bring it up to scratch was more than I could deal with, that is until a couple of months ago.  My sweetie Vince and I decided to tackle it so I could have a lovely place to call my own.  He had his man cave but I didn't have my own sacred space.  He has not only the carpentry skills to pull it off but an artist's soul AND eye.  I am a very lucky lady!  Now I have this amazing retreat place that is both nurturing and inspiring.  It is truly my sacred space and here I sit in my beautiful wagon writing this post right now.  You will see it as part of an article I wrote for Faerie Magazine on Children's imaginative parties.  Vince and I had a blast hosting a Faerie-Gypsy costume tea party with four young girls at the wagon.  Vince shot it and now you will get to see the results in the magazine in Autumn.  I believe it comes out in September.  I have posted a few shots that I know didn't make it in the magazine so I won't be giving too much away.  It was an explosion of COLOR and oh so much fun!!!!!!
Here are a few eye candy pictures to feed your imagination and heart…

Notice what she is reading?…  major, gratuitous plug!

The lovely ladies… top to bottom…

Kyla

Lokelani, Sage, Alexandra

All dressed in their finery…

Kyla's mom is an amazing clothing and hat designer.  The hats the girls are wearing as well as the purple hat below and the flower in Sage's hair are from her.   Her beautiful creations are called Garden of Gaia and she can be found in a few boutiques in Santa Barbara.  

Here is the inside looking towards the back…  That bench seat I practically live on!

Looking towards the front on the right…

Looking towards to front on the left…

Details…

Here are a couple of before shots so you can see how far we came!

I can tell you that I ADORE this wagon!  It is my haven and precious sacred space!  I am so very grateful!

I have also been painting a lot lately.  Vince very kindly, yet still mortifying to me, talked to an art dealer about showing my work and much to my surprise, he said absolutely they were gallery material.  He had several suggestions about how to find the right gallery and location so we are slowly 

pursuing that.

I am quite stunned to think that I might actually be able to sell my work for what is a considerable sum of money!  To actually be able to be a professional painter just boggles my mind!!!

Here are some pieces I am working on…

Many of these are quite large…  up to 4' high and 3' wide.  

Many of these are based on some of Vince's photography.  He is an amazing wildlife photographer who then takes his shots and manipulates the colors in Photoshop.  The first time I saw one of his pics I knew I had to paint it.  Look what he has started!!!

The following ones are based on his photos…

Many of these are not quite finished yet.  I LOVE painting these…  I get lost and hours go by.  It really is a meditation for me!  

  Though I think I need to push my boundaries a bit and try a little more color, they seem a little flat : )  

There is so much to report…  almost a years worth of activity!  Wow!  Has it really been that long!  Life moves way too fast!  But, I am having fun, and that is what it is all about for me!

I will try to post more regularly now.  Tomorrow, Faerie Magazine's online newsletter is posting a ridiculously flattering piece on me and the articles I've written.  I am kind of blushing at the moment with a huge grin on my face!  I will post a link here as soon as it is posted.  

Golly…  soooo much goodness.

I hope you are all well and thriving!

Be back soon, I promise!

Like,  real faerie promises…

Enchanted Faerie Blessing to you!

Tricia Saroya 

Helloooooooo Out There!!!!!

Hello my blog friends, that is if you haven't given up completely...  First thank you to so many of you who contacted me wondering if I had shuffled off this mortal coil.  Your concern touched me deeply.  I am happy to say I am alive and well.  My story follows below...  you may want to get a cup of tea, it is a long tale indeed.

Life has been quite a journey for this last, almost a full year.  Many a twist and turn with some beautiful destinations and also some hair pin turns along the way.  Most of the journey has been beautiful, just so full that I find myself jet lagged though I've not been near an airplane.   Without much notice I had to move from my magical home to another location on this ranch that I love.  Of course my business had to go too with all my myriad props and supplies.  Trying to accomplish this in the middle of designing weddings every weekend added to the character in my face and greying hair.  This took place about 2 weeks after my last post.  My new home is just as magical as my old one although it took some work and is itsy bitsy faerie tiny!  There is a dilapidated greenhouse on the grounds that I turned into a prop house so I was able to organize and stow all my treasures, thank goodness!  I also dragged my workspace down and set it on the grounds as well.  That was a story in itself.  It and my beautiful large picture window made it without breaking I am happy to say.

I had to start over with the garden which was both daunting and also delightful.  As I watered I discovered that there has been what seems like an herbalist here before me.  Many wonderful surprises popped out of the ground and now I feel like an old wise woman with an apothecary's garden. I must study herbs while I am here!  I have added to my secret garden in spades so that now it is overflowing and beautiful!   Pictures soon to follow.

One of the unexpected destinations on my last years journey was a lovely gentleman that I am happy to say I now call my sweetheart.  He is more of a match than I thought possible.  He is many wonderful things, some of which are musician, jewelry maker, painter, avid gardener (he has been hugely responsible for the changes in our yard!), farmer, deeply spiritual and also has the honor of conducting Native American inspired ceremony.  I feel like I have come home and oh so blessed!  We have been together for 10 months now, which also explains my absence (insert a knowing smile).

Here we are dressed in Steam punk attire for a wedding I designed.  

Here we are just before a graduation ceremony that I was honored to be in.  That is another chapter in my exciting journey which I will post more of soon.  In brief I have become part of a wonderful women's program called Woman Within.  It is an organization that has its roots in ancient feminine rights of passage.  They offer many experiences with the first one being an initiation weekend.  I found myself connecting with deep parts of my self, forming bonds with other women and together reclaiming our power.  It is a beautiful group that is international so if you are interested there may well be an initiation weekend near you.  They also have a male counterpart called The Mankind Project which holds the same purpose for men.  They truly work miracles in men's lives helping them to find an emotional connection with them selves and their brothers.  These men come out transformed and it is a gift to witness.  My sweetheart has been involved with them for many years and introduced me to Women Within.  They were founded by a husband and wife team over 30 years ago.  Truly organizations of sacred alchemy!

Here are some pictures of my home... below is the before.  I will post some after pictures in the next few days.

 Not much of a garden to speak, who would have known all the sleeping beauties that were going to poke their heads out soon. 

Above is the old greenhouse my girlfriends and I turned into Aladdin's Cave.  

(Above )This was the magical sight that greeted me on the day I moved in.  Peacocks all over the roof.  I took it as a blessing and moved in with a light heart!

Here you can see the front of my little house.  It used to be the old store for the ranch when they grew Christmas trees.  I love the old writing and the western style.  It feels as if I am in an old movie! Again in this picture the Peacocks are welcoming me home.  This land is so magical!  From our front door all day long we hear the exotic call of these beautiful birds.  There is also a family of Hawks that live in the tall Eucalyptus trees nearby.  They soar right over our house and cry out to one another.  Just visible in the distance is an majestic old train trestle bridge with the ocean just beyond whose waves we can hear crashing on heavy surf days.  Sometimes I can't believe my blessed life.   

There has been a few challenges along the way.  Somewhere, it appears, I came into contact with that enemy of immune systems... the dreaded MOLD!  As a result I have managed to catch everything that has been going around for several months running.  Just recently I contracted 3 separate viruses with the result that I have been covered in blisters for the last 5 weeks!  The bitter with the sweet I guess.  I am working with a Natural Path and taking so many vitamins that if you shook me I would rattle.  One benefit is that I have no need to fear any vampire as I am eating 10 plus cloves of raw garlic per day to beef up my immune system.  Fortunately my man likes garlic!  I am hoping I am on the mend, I know all the emotional energy, both the bad AND the good have taken its tole on my system as well.  I try and rest as much as I can these days.  That part is nice though I am getting antsy!

Of course I have done many a wedding and photo shoot over the last year.  Here is a sampling.

This picture above is from an amazing shoot I did with Elizabeth Messina and Twigs and Honey.  I took the above picture, sort of a "behind the scenes"shot.  Elizabeth's picture is below.   We used my styling, props and vintage clothes and Twigs and Honey's incredible hair adornments.  Myra Callen the owner and designer of Twigs and Honey is so talented and also a beautiful soul.  It was a pleasure to work with her!

 Here are some more...

These pictures below are again from Elizabeth Messina but the shoot was for Shop Ruche.

I was one of the stylists and also did all the florals.  So much fun!

Below is a flower wall I made.  Super luscious but a TON of work!!!

Below is a tantalizing picture from a shoot I did with Shirlie Kemp.  I won't show you any more as I am hoping to include it in a magical book.  Another project I am working on.  Oh those faeries...  they do like to keep me busy!

Well I think I will leave you with that for now.  There is much to report which I will do over the next few weeks.  Many a new project is being born, especially as I rest.  Ideas are hatching faster than I can keep up.  I so hope you are all well and thriving!  I am soooo happy to be back!

Blessings to you always and forever!

Tricia

Thank you... and some new etsy listings

First I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart for the tremendous support and wisdom that you all shared with me regarding my last post.  I am amazed at the knowing in peoples hearts.  I am honored that you would share such profound and personal thoughts with me.... Thank you!  I am feeling better day by day, a little panicked about the holidays but I think I am finally kicking the depression!

Now on to fun things.  I have been making up loads of magical treats to sell in some of the Holiday craft fairs around town.  I though I would also list them on etsy too.

Click here to go to my store, or you can click on some of the images in my side bar to take you directly to those listings.  I will be continually making pretty things and listing them over the next few weeks so stay tuned.

So...  here are some of the goodies.

I printed up some of the shots from my faerie wedding shoot.  They are beautiful with a lovely artsy treatment around the boarders.  The images are approximately 8,1/2" by 11"and the acid free card stock that it is printed on is 13" by 15" ( I think, check the listing for exact measurements).

There are several to choose from...

There are even more at my shop.

Some fun new wings I made...

Hand bound blank journals, again with some faerie images in them.

Blank cards with the faeries   : )

And of course, glitter...

There are tons more to choose from in my store.

More wings...

Some magical nests...

And again there are lots more to choose from in my store.  I also listed a couple of beautiful pieces of Native American jewelry too.

So go check out all the goodies in my store, the elves and faeries have been busy!

Huge blessings to all of you,

Tricia