Where Do Fairies Live? At Trisha Fontaine’s House!

In the previous post I shared the visit to Dos Pueblos Ranch… home of Event Designer Queen… Trisha Fontaine.  If you missed the previous post PLEASE go back & read about this Fairy Land World.    But, let’s move on as you can see (above) Trisha is welcoming us to her home & garden.

Where cleverly built birdhouses are tucked into the garden & vintage windows hang from trees (she does this for many of the wedding held on the property).

Step onto the sun porch & you are surrounded by vintage goodness!

Clever Vignettes everywhere.

Oh how I would love to have this many keys…

Her tiny living room was filled with all sorts of eye candy.
 
A china hutch of chippy peely paint  full of Chinese China & dolls.  Color & TEXTURE abounds!

And little treasures left from weddings past…

Like this hat from the steam punk wedding that Trisha did.  Here’s a little peak at what she creates with some of these props.


Remember the railroad bridge from the last post?????

The steam punk wedding was a favorite of mine & click HERE to go to Trisha’s post to see more of this wedding.  Now… we’re going back to the tour of her home…

The guest room with lavender walls & a closet full of costumes.  Trisha is beginning the fashion show above…

My Favorite..  laid across the bed.  Oh to be a Fairy BRIDE in this!

I HAD TO HAVE ONE OF HER CREATIONS & this is what I brought home.  Was this easy to travel with in the back of the van for the next 3 weeks??? NO!!! But, hubby was a good sport & none of the butterflies are any worse for wear.  Wear???? I’m sure you will see it on one of my mannequins.

Now on to the kitchen.  Where the view is of the green green goodness outside (the vintage scale set on the sill & all the pretty bottles)…
The little nook where she can sit at that pretty table surrounded by cupboards full of vintage china.  Bird cages hanging from the ceiling, fairy wings on the wall & look at that sweet nest on the silver tray just sitting on the buffet.

Trisha says she has enough vintage china to serve a party of 250!!! Imagine… here’s another look at one of the photos she shows some of this goodness in (on her blog… again go visit her today & be amazed).  A wedding table set with her tea pots HERE.

Or…. a Tea Party with friends in this post…

But, one of my favorite things… is her chalk board in the kitchen…  Everyone has a grocery list right?  But, is it this cute???? Now remember, we surprised her with the visit & so she didn’t really prepare for us to come.  THIS IS HOW SHE LIVES!!!! Too flippin cute!  Talent in every pore of her body.

Are you tired of all this yet?  Well, lets turn the corner to the little hall leading to her bedroom & look at the wonder living there & then I’ll leave you hanging…. waiting for her bedroom/bath which I can tell you was so full of goodness you would just drool.   

This is a mannequin (yes, those of you who know me well know I have an OBSESSION with them!) that hangs out on a tiny porch that connects the kitchen with Trisha’s bedroom.  Trisha makes these wings, crowns & shoes to compliment her costumes.  I LOVE the crown!  And let’s look at the post (go HERE) to see Trisha’s take on these shoes…

Are you in LOVE with Trisha & her work??? I am.  Come back for a tour of her bedroom… coming soon here … but, for now, I’m back to work on the 2 PLUS week long HUGE bathroom/closet remodel going on here at my house.  I’d rather be back on vacation & let the elves work on this MESS!!!! 
HUGS! Charlene

Fairy Land & Magic with Tricia Fontaine

Did I get your attention?

Do you believe in MAGIC?

Dos Pueblos Ranch…This is where it happens!  Originally the land was a Spanish Mission.  The original property was 15,535-acres & part of a Mexican Land Grant in 1842(click the blue writing to go to a site where you can read about the ranch & see more of Trisha’s photos) it was deeded to a private individual.  It is not that large today but, it is one of the largest privately owned properties in California.  Ever since Cindy & Cynthia (no blog) were getting ready to go out to Jenn’s Fairy Event last year they started following stalking Trisha Fontaine of Converstaions with the Muses.  Trisha is a talented, beautiful, fairy like spirit that puts together the most magical Special Events you have ever seen.  Cynthia surprised us by calling Trisha & setting up a visit even though she was VERY BUSY getting ready for a wedding that weekend.  She promised us about 30 minutes.  And this is what we found when we got there…


We found Trisha & two of her “elves” hanging crystals in the huge trees.  Trees that are hundreds of years old.
Vintage church pews in “God’s Natural Church”.

We couldn’t wait for the tour to begin.  Off to the barn where we see soooooooooooo many of the receptions pictured in Trisha’s posts.  BE SURE YOU GO TO HER SITE & HAVE PLENTY OF TIME TO HIT THE “OLDER POSTS” BUTTON SO YOU CAN SEE ONE WONDER AFTER THE NEXT.

The old BARN her husband rescued one post at a time.  This is how we saw it that day.

This is what it looked like for the wedding.

MAGIC I TELL YOU…. She creates MAGIC!!!!

The tables set & such beautiful unexpected things become part of the settings when Trisha & her “elves” start creating.

I thank Trisha for her letting me use the photos from her blog post because when we were there they had just started setting up & it was bare bones but, WOW!!!!!! I am just amazed at the beauty.  OK… let’s hop in the car & go see where lots of the weddings take place.

Under the railroad bridge, past the avocado orchards (before the weddings that is how they tried to maintain this property), & following the road to the beach.  A PRIVATE BEACH!!!

Four (ooops, 5 counting Elle) HAPPY GIRLS to be together!

I think that’s enough over load for today.  What do you think?  Will you go visit Trisha?  You won’t be sorry…

Let me wet your whistle for the next post… a trip to her home & looking at more of the Fairy Wonder!  Hope you’ll be back.  IF you sign up with your email address on the right side of my sidebar where it says “Follow by email” you will get email notification each time I have a new post so, you won’t miss the next chapter in an amazing time in California.  Have a great weekend & stay cool which is hard in these sizzling August days.
Hugs!  Charlene

Diana Frey’s Queens Ransom Class

While out in California for Vacation (previous post begins the story) I was blessed to join some gal pals for Diana’s “Queen’s Ransom Class” which just knocked my socks off!

You're  looking at the class samples in these photos. 

Stunning aren’t they?

Diana ROCKS as a teacher & is an amazing friend.  I was so blessed to spend the class time learning & to have one on one “FRIEND" TIME”.  I was with her when she chose her new puppy Olive Rose & it was so much fun watching her excitement.  Almost like a a “New Mom” when she talks about her newborn baby… So sweet!

Here is the focal points of my finished piece.  I am so proud.   I LOVE how it turned out.  It did turn out like I had hoped.  Often in a class the piece talks to you or takes a different path (design/color/components) than you had originally thought.  But, this piece was JUST WHAT I WANTED!  I love that Diana taught us to make the cross.  We cut it out of metal & then embellished it.  I used a typewriter key with my initial for fun.  We used a torch to solder all those elements onto the necklace.  WHAT A GREAT CLASS!

I used some chain that sweet Cindy had & wanted to share but, while out in California, Vickie & I went to the Pasadena Bead Show & I bought some beautiful chain that I want to switch out for.   Cindy’s piece is stunning & I wish I had some photos but, we didn’t get that done while there.  She used PINK in hers & it is so pretty.

Here’s Sandy's.  It turned out so pretty!  She used a number of really pretty vintage elements in her design.

WOW! Vickie’s placemat was really orange with that flash… sorry but, this shows some of the detail.  And Sandy is an orange girl…. (see her headband in the previous post).

Now, if you can’t get away to take one of these amazing classes in Diana’s studio then you’re in luck because she just announced her first Online Class.  Click HERE to visit the link for more information.

Stunning Pieces will be taught!    Hurry over to see her & tell her Charlene sent you. 
Off to work with the contractors… After we returned home from our RELAXING   FUN  BEAUTIFUL   COOL Vacation… We jumped into a MAJOR Master Bathroom & Master Closet REDO!  It’s been a week of MESS & UPSET!  I’m tired of living with my entire closet strewn all over the guest room & living room sofa/love seat.  And the bottles of lotions, potions & other bathroom goodies strewn on the dinning room table… Oh how I wish I was back in California looking at this…..
 
Just me…………. California Dream’n on another HOT TEXAS DAY!
HUGS! Charlene

Summer Vacation 2012

4,992 miles later…………. we’re home.

Across Texas, Arizona, New Mexico & into California we went.   Seeing some of the most beautiful scenery imaginable.  “Daddy Darling” & Ms Elle thought the petrified wood was pretty but, pretty darn hot.

Leaving Texas baking in the 100 degree marks we saw some of God’s amazing creations as we went across the nation’s highway system...  Heading to the central coast of California.

To the hospitality of our dear friends Vickie & Ray.  They opened their home in Nipomo for us to enjoy for 2 weeks  What amazingly generous dears they are!!!!  Their home is beautiful & the weather DIVINE!!!! The high each day was about 72 degrees with evenings in the 50’s.  I KNOW all my Texas friends were eating their hearts out.  But, this trip won over Hubby for he too now loves the summers in California.  And… Ray & Hubby were instant friends (discovering they share the same BDay).  Speaking of BDay’s…

The girls all gathered… Joy, Sandy, & Laurie(no blog for Laurie  but, we’ll work on her) drove up from the LA Area (bless them in that traffic). Cindy flew in from Texas & was amazed by the cool temps.  Terre lives in Nipomo, Diana Frey with her sweet hubby & a few neighbors all came for dinner & BDay cake for Vickie’s (yes… also no blog but, for sure are working on that one!)BDay surprise party.  My sweet Hubby grilled chicken, shrimp & endive lettuce (it’s a California thing as no Texas boy would grill lettuce!!!! But, it’s pretty tasty).  Look at that beautiful kitchen!!!

I had ordered a cake from The Madonna Inn (see HERE for post on my BDay surprise in June )  Diana had chosen what I thought was a 10” cake & we all ate on it for over 2 days so, I thought with so many coming I better order the 12”.  WOW was I wrong!!!!!!!!!! We ate cake forever & still threw some away but, it was yummy with whipped cream for frosting.

With her girlfriends gathered around she opened her gift.

A beautiful vintage velvet purse given by Joy but, beautifully embellished by Sandy.  Joy took one look & teasingly said “Hey I want that purse back” as we all agreed it was stunning!!! Good Job Sandy!

Art Sisters is the title for that is what we have become!!!! 

Each of us chose 3-5 little treasures & wrapped them up to fill the purse.  Goodies ranged from beautiful piece of bling, to frozen Charlotte dolls, to beads, to an Oscar Meir Winnie whistle…  Just fun little gifts of love for a much deserving soul.  Happy Birthday dear Vickie & thank you for all you do for sooooooooooooooooooo many.

The beautiful box on the right had a crown necklace down in the handmade flower… Each of us carefully opened our headband (again created by Sandy with help from Ms Vickie).  It was inspired by the image seen on Pinterest.

And here’s Sandy’s take on them…

It’s hard to get good photos of 6 women!!!! At least this one has all of our eyes open!!!   Diana donated a lot of amazing silk & velvet pieces from her stash from designer Robin Kaplan, Vickie had a good stash that was raided too… And we found vintage hat netting from Europe that I bought to add to the turquoise headbands for Laurie & I (which really added great texture but, can’t be seen here).

Here’s a close up of Joy’s (as she NEVER takes a bad photo & hers showed up well for a close up shot).  BEAUTIFUL WORK girls!  Thank you for all who contributed.  After this… we all headed for bed as we had another amazing class with Diana Frey the next day!  Check back soon to see more details. 
It’s nice to sleep in my own bed (although I didn’t find a bad one on the trip) but, I HATE THE HEAT IN TEXAS!!!! And I miss my California Art Sisters!!! 
HUGS!  Charlene