A Mad Tea Party May Just Hit the Spot

Once in a blue moon you encounter an imaginative/playful soul that, through their actions, gives you permission to be yourself, let loose and play.  I had such an encounter last June, when I attended Vanessa's (A Fanciful Twist) first Mad Tea Party.  It was inspiring to discover other bloggers that enjoyed playing in their imagination as much as I do.  

I hope you'll come out and play with us.  You'll have tons of fun and meet some wonderful people at the same time. Maybe pick up a few friends too :D

Sign-up is going on now at A Fanciful Twist and the party will begin June 27th (it usually takes a couple of days to visit with ALL of the guests).

If you'd like to get a taste of last year's delicious party click here. 

Playfully yours,

Daydreamer :)

I've Been Tagged!

I've been tagged by Caroline and since it's not my big toe, I'll play - hee hee.

Here's how it works....

A. Name & link back to the person who tagged you!
B. List six (un)important things that make you happy.
C. Tag six bloggers & let them know they're it by leaving them a comment.  Let's see who will play :)

So here are my 6 (un) important happy-makers. 

1.  Spending time with my hubby and son
2. Laughing with my friends & family
3. Enjoying nature (everything from clouds to rocks)
4. Reading/listening to stories & viewing art & photography by imaginative people
5. Playing with/watching animals
6. Drinking Ghirardelli hot chocolate (had to list at least one not-so-important thing)

And....I choose to "TAG"...   YOU're IT!

Tracey from Stepping off the Edge and Dreaming (I know she has a tag free zone, but I know what to bribe her with - shhhhhh).

Shanna from Shanna's Clay Art

Lorell from  Notes from the Fae Side 

Kim at The Enchanted Room

Misty from Misty's Musings

Joyce from An Artful and Enchanted Journey

Mixed Media Mischief Makers: Group Open House

We're having an open house blog party for one of the online groups I co-own.  

If you'd like to find out more about our group, meet our members, view their artwork, browse their shops or join our group, please join us for this event (see details below).  

You could win a prize! :D  Our very own Dormouse will be giving out several dor prizes.  

Just drop by our blog on May 5th, 2009 (Tuesday, Cinco de Mayo) to leave a comment for a chance to win.

All winners will be announced on May 7th, 2009 (Thursday), so don't forget to check back to see if you've won and claim your prize (You'll need to provide us with your mailing address via email to claim your prize).

Bring a friend, some tea, a tarty tart and your curiosity.

"The cure for boredom is curiosity.  There is no cure for curiosity." ~Ellen Parr

Don't be late! ;D

http://mixedmediamischiefmakers.blogspot.com/

Mischievously yours, 

Alice, Mad Hatter, Dormouse & White Rabbit

Coraline is as Cute as a B-b-button!

Coraline 

She's cute as a b-b-b-utton!  I finally got to see Coraline with both my hubby and son a few weeks ago (2/18).  It definitely met my expectations; and I will be purchasing the DVD when it's out.  Some parts reminded me of my favorite book "Alice in Wonderland".   

One of the best parts was what my hubby noticed while watching it.  I whispered, "fairy ring!" and he knew exactly what I meant.  We've had a few in the yard and I've told him about them.  His response confirms he's actually been paying attention to me.  

Coraline Character Set

My sister gave me the Coraline Soundtrack CD .  She's going to use a song or two for some dances she's choreographing for her students.  I love brainstorming with her about these numbers.  I don't have the kinesthetic intellect she does, so it always amazes me to see what she does with it.  I may have to go see Coraline again with her before the DVD comes out.  What a shame ;)  LOL 

I was admiring some characters from the movie for sale on Ebay  last month, but I see Amazon has some adorable mass produced versions that are more affordable. 

I was going to sign up for the "Coraline Mystery Box Swap", but I decided I couldn't add another thing to my plate.  If you'd like to see photos of the original boxes that were sent out to promote the movie and/or see what the swappers come up with, click on the link in the first sentence of this paragraph.  It'll take you to a fun little blog that is coordinating the swap. 

Friday the 13th and Other Superstitions

Today is a good day to tell you about my fascination with superstitions, their origins and their remedies.  I guess my grandma is responsible (yeah blame it on her) for the development of this interest.  For she was VERY superstitious.  Constantly warning me of the bad luck that lurked around every corner.  Teaching me how to counter it and how to bring myself good luck.  There wasn't much we did in life that didn't require a little strategic maneuvering to outwit the evil forces that were out to get us.  They were little things, but effective.  Like saying, "bread and butter" every time we passed a pole on the opposite side as each other. Making sure no one placed a hat on the bed.  Picking up pennies found heads up only (she said I was closer to the ground than she was). Requiring a penny in exchange for every sharp-pointed  gift she gave me (scissors, needles and pins for example).  Yes, she had me count every single pin and give her every last penny.  Refusing to return home if we'd forgotten something.  Making wishes on lost eyelashes, that would only come true if we guessed the correct digit it would stick to (thumb or finger) when we released them from our pinch.  Turning around when a black cat crossed our path.  She was always on guard for dropping brooms, spilling salt, stepping on spiders, itchy ears, pointing at graves, opening umbrellas indoors, walking under ladders... I could go on and on with all her superstitious beliefs.  Now that I look back at her many superstitions and their reversals, I wonder how she kept track of them all.  I guess they explained a lot of what happened in her world. It probably made her feel a little more in control of her environment to know why something was happening and how to undo it.  As for me I was given years of entertainment and opportunity for interrogation (love to ask questions - poor Gaga).  So now I'm stuck paying my debt to the Vanity Pixie after having broken so many mirrors.  Other than time, Gaga didn't know a way to undo that one! :(  I just hope I don't break anymore - I don't think I can afford another 7 years of bad luck.

Fairy Alert:  As I sit here by the window typing this, I can see my cat chasing fairies (oh how she loves it) flitting about the "Doll House" (playhouse) in our yard.  Up the tree, down the tree, around the grass, back up the tree, across the rooftop, down the tree and off she goes into the yard!  I have to laugh at the irony because although her name is Tinkerbell II, she can't fly, nor can she keep up with fairies.  Oh well, better luck next time. Maybe I should search the yard for a four leafed clover on her behalf.  

What?!  Some of you don't believe me?  It's true!  Cross my heart, hope to die, stick a needle in my eye.

If you've got any superstitions you'd like to share, please leave me a comment.  I'd love to hear them and it's good luck - hee hee. 

By the way, if you see any blackbirds, tell my grandpa that my grandma says hello.

Superstitiously yours,

Daydreamer :)

B-B-Buttons? Do you like them?

I know you were hoping it was my lips that had been buttoned instead, but sorry - no such luck - just my eyes.  It didn't hurt a bit either - really!  Go get YOUR eyes buttoned!  If you're too scared, you could always go for a tea reading instead.

I love so much about this movie and I haven't even seen it yet.  The "Pink Palace apartments" building (love the architecture), the garden (I love gardens), the gnarled tree, lit flowers and bridge in the garden, the circus (I've been creating a circus scene for the past few months), the tiny knitted outfits are amazing (I can't believe I knitted on pins when I was a teen), and the characters are great.  The creative minds that worked on this project inspires me to no end.  I'd get coffee for the crew all day and night just to get on their set.  So it's no surprise that February 6th you will find me sitting in front of a huge screen (button eyes and all) in our local theatre mesmerized by "Coraline".

One more thing!  Create your own Other Mother's button box just for fun.

Devilishly yours,

Daydreamer :)

P. S. 

After a dry spell, there appears to be a flood of my kind of movies.  They're even working on a sequel to "Dark Crystal" due out in 2011 :( - "The Power of the Dark Crystal".  I think I'll add a list of movies to my sidebar for inspiration.  If you have any you'd like to share in the fantasy genre, please leave me a comment with the title so I can add it.  Okay, there are too many to list there!  I'll add them to my favorite movies on my profile page.