"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 

Ms Vanessa's Mad' Tea Party or Aunt Thelma, the Peacocks and a Dude in a Hat...

Hello Blog friends!
Hurray!!!  Today is the day of Vanessa's tea party from A Fanciful Twist!  To see her lovely soiree as well as what all her devoted fans are serving click on the link here or on her banner the side bar.   You will see that she has kindly linked us all up so it is really one big crazy, mad tea party I tell ya!  I am also happy to say that if you sign up as a follower on my blog and leave me a comment (preferably a nice one if possible)  at the end of the month I will choose by the process of "cats paw" (tune in later to see what that is...) a winner and send you this beautiful tea cup!

It is a delicate vintage piece and if your comment is particularly kind I will include some lovely tea as well... no "herbs or mushrooms though, just tea leaves".

So my dears... sit down and fortify yourself with a cuppa (or two or three)  and read all about the shenanigans of our wacky, totally gone round the bend, mad as any hatter and loonier than a blue Dodo bird on caffeine...  Our favorite and decidedly eccentric Aunts...

Aunt Louise and Aunt Thelma

As the story unfolds we find Aunt Thelma in the garden moping about and randomly munching on a few of the herbs and mushrooms which they grow all tangled in with the flowers.  Much to Aunt Thelma's dismay Aunt Louise has gone off to visit their dear friends Sally and Jilly and poor Aunt Thelma was left home alone.

It is at this point that I will ask the Peacocks to tell the story as they are partly responsible for what happened.

"Well as it happens...  I was also in the garden, pecking away for various seeds and grubs when Aunt Thelma walked up behind me."

I knew she was a bit lonely so I though that a visit to this crazy chap in a chapeau whom I knew, 

might cheer her up. 

I wrangled the rest of my flock (we actually call ourselves an ostentation) and told them of my plans..."

"Follow me Aunt Thelma..."

"Keep up now..."

"Mr Peacock... where did you go?"

"I think he went in here, into the bushes..."

"Hmmm...  there seems to be a tunnel of some sorts...

"Oh dear!"

"Now what have we here?  This is not my garden..."

"My... what a large mushroom...  and is that a... hat?!"

"Well... what have we here...?

"It looks like a...  well...  I'm not sure...  I've never seen anything like this!  Is it a haberdashery or a clothing emporium?  And what is it doing in the middle of my garden?"

"What a handsome gentleman...?"

 "So Aunt Thelma came out of the tunnel into this magical place, cautiously approaching the dapper man".

"He was playing his mandolin and singing a silly tune.  So far he hadn't notice her presence..."

"She stepped on a branch which made a loud 'crack' and slowly he raised his head..."

"Oh dear... I am so sorry, I didn't mean to disturb you...  You see I was following a beautiful blue peacock and fell down a hole.  I seem to have stumbled into your....  err what actually is this place?"

"Hah!  Welcome you silly girl!...  I've been expecting you Alice..."

 "It's Thelma actually...  Aunt Thelma"   

"Well, Aunt Thelma-Alice... I've been expecting you none-the-less.  Welcome to my Wonderland of clothing and chapeaus for the most discriminating mad, round-the-bend and totally bonkers clientele.  

I'll let you in on a secret...  I serve only the very best folks here! 

 I am called 'Hatter'".

"Please let me adorn you"

"Well...  I'm not sure really...  everything is so...  colorful Hatter, and it's just Thelma... Aunt Thelma"

"Yes...  we are a colorful lot here is Wonderland, it's the only way to be Aunt Thelma-Alice..."

"We have several beautiful outfits to choose from..."

"And hats to suit any occasion..."

"Hey... that hat looks familiar..."

"We have treasure troves of sparkly baubles..."

"And of course we mustn't forget a lovely pair of slippers for you toes..."

"Hatter, why does your clock have no hands?"

  "Because we don't use time here in Wonderland."

"Then why do you have a clock?"

"Because we don't need one!"

"Oh...  err... I see."

"Here my dear Aunt Thelma-Alice, try this one on..."

"Hmmmmmm..."

"Hatter...  it's Thelma, just Aunt Thelma..."

"Yes, dear...Now do try this on Aunt Thelma-Alice..."

"Hmmm...  There is something not quite right Aunt Thelma-Alice, not enough 'muchness"

"Hah!  I learned all about 'muchness' on one of my last adventures...  let me give it a try..."

"I think this will do nicely..."

"Here, you take this one Hatter."

"Yes..."

"No Aunt Thelma-Alice... definitely not!"

"Well Hatter, I do know a thing or two about 'muchness'  what about this?"

"Oh here, here!  I think we are onto something!"

"No Hatter...  it is still not right, not enough 'muchieness"

"Yes, my dear Aunt Thelma-Alice, I couldn't agree more.  Try this on."

"And now this charming hat."

"Oh my dear Alice...  It's lovely!"

"Here... the perfect additional note of 'muchieness'

Wah La!  The ideal Wonderland, totally bonkers, round-the-bend, 

much, muchy muchness... adornment!"

"You forgot one thing Hatter...  These are my most wonderful 'muchness' stockings...  Now I'm set... and its Thelma, Aunt Thelma!"

"Ah hem...  Of course dear Thelma-Alice, whatever you want...  now what was I doing?... 

 I feel a bit distracted...  ah yes...

 I almost forgot... one more thing, 

your own set of looking glasses..."

"Oh Hatter!!  Everything is so sparkly and rosy!"

"It feels like magic!"

"And now my dear...  off to tea we must go...  The Dodo bird has been kind enough to allow us to use his nest.  We mustn't be late!"

"But Hatter...  I thought there was no time here in Wonderland."

"There isn't, it is just something a silly white rabbit keeps running around saying..."

"Oh look Hatter!  A beautiful table... in... a nest?!"

"After you my dear Aunt Thelma-Alice"

"Ah hem...  what was I saying Alice?"  I seem to be so distracted of late...  I can't imagine why..."

"What a scrumptious looking tea..."

"A toast! To dear Alice... the loveliest lady in Wonderland"

*sigh*   "Why thank you "Hatter"

"Do try these berries Alice... they really are delicious!"

"And you must try these blue cupcakes!  The Dodo made them especially for us!"

"Hatter that was simply the best tea ever!  Everything tasted so yummy!  I had the worst case of the munchies ever!  I guess that would go along with the muchness of Wonderland!"

"Yes my dear Alice, shall we head back to my chair? I will sing you a song."

"But first come and have a seat on my lap...

"Hmmmmm..."

"You know Hatter...  I do rather like the name Alice..."

"I thought you might dear Thelma...  Alice "

"And that is the end of the story my friends!

"Aunt Thelma hasn't been seen since!  Occasionally I hear music coming from the direction of the hole and lots and lots of laughter.  I think when Aunt Louise gets back we might have to lead her down the merry path as well.... hmmm I wonder if Hatter has a friend..." 

THE END

Well, extra cupcakes and a swig of something a bit stronger for you if you actually made it all the way through the story.  The Aunts are from a different era where stories slowly unfolded and there is great joy in a tale well told.  Hopefully you enjoyed yourself.  Don't forget to sign up as a follower and leave a comment if you would like a chance to win the tea cup.  I would love to send it to you!
Have the best time visiting all the wacky parties out there in blog land...  if you see Aunt Louise let her know that Aunt Thelma may not be returning home any time soon...

I also would like to thank the "Hatter" Vince Chafin,  himself not only for being a good sport but for being my sweet love and a rockin editor.  He actually cropped and played with each photo above.  He is as cool in real life!