I heard the rustling. Then the laughter.Turning, looking, - nothing after.
Day became night, then morning arrived
A delicate chair had been contrived.
I turned. I looked. I found my smirk.
This is imperative evidence of fairy work.
“Who cleaned up the house? Must have been the house-cleaning fairy. Who made this cake? Must have been the cooking fairy.”
Don’t you love those kinds of fairies? They do such nice things. I actually had one do something for me during the Holidays.
It was 80’s. My Mother had died the previous Christmas. I found myself struggling to enjoy the season. Post a divorce, we had just moved into an apartment (which I hated). I was booked solid with last minute December television specials and completely exhausted by it all. Then, to add to the discontent, my son had started dating a girl who monopolized all of his time. He told me she wanted him to spend all of Christmas day with her also. I was just too tired and depressed to even argue the issue.
I remember coming home late from work after a grueling day. As I entered the courtyard of my apartment building, I noticed one single apartment had decorated the front window and door of their unit with multi-colored tinkling lights. It was so cute and unexpected in the middle of all the apartments. It made me feel good to just stand there and look at it.
I suddenly found myself with tears streaming down my face. I think I must have set there for an hour in the dark just looking at the lights twinkling around that little apartment.
You see I realized the little apartment was mine. No one ever laid claim to stringing the lights. So, as far as I know a Christmas fairy must have done it.
Has a fairy ever visited you? Tell me about it.
And, yes it’s Christmas in September for artists. We have to start early because our work takes time to create. I’m already in the throws of holiday commission work and pushing 2008 paintings out the door to make room for the New Year.The Fantasy Art Originals in my Red Chair Gallery will have a 10% Christmas Discount until Dec. 1, 2008. Check here to see the entire collection .
Like my work but can’t afford those prices? 12”x16” paper prints can be purchased for $69 (+S&H). Canvas prints (stretched or unstretched) are also available. Check prices under Special Offers.
Vikki
The painting at the top of this segment is called “The Fairy Chair”. It's acrylic on stretched canvas and 16”x20”. Prints can be ordered on request.
22 comments:
What a beautiful painting Vikki and what a beautiful and sad story at the same time. I'm sorry you had such a hard time back then. It must have been wonderful to see your door decorated after such a long day. God bless you fairy for that!
I've had fairies doing little things here and there through out my life. One came to my life in the moment I needed it the most after one of my babies died. I will never forget it and I'm always thankful for that.
Hi Manuela,
I often think that bad times are the very thing that makes us really appreciate the good things.
I'm so sorry you lost a baby. (I did also.) That is the worst pain of all pain, huh? I'm so glad someone came into your life when you needed it so much.
Vikki
Beauteous chair!
Sometimes, being blessed like that in such a serendipitous way is timely to help us heal.
I've seen one REAL fairy here at Dogpatch and was lucky enough to have witnesses to note I wasn't crazy. Yes. That was a really tiny woman with tiny little wings, really yellow-green hair and she really flew right up to your nose and looked at you, made a circle around to the rest of us and left.
One girlfriend was freaked for days telling everyone about her. Then her engineering degree took over and she decided that it wasn't aerodynamically sound, ergo it was a big moth.
The neighbors didn't want to talk about it.
She didn't leave any lights, but the moonflower bloomed that night and the next six.
D
Hi Dina,
You know I’ve worked on several paranormal shows. They’ve actually been captured on film many times. Even last year, the Ghost Hunter (Sci Fi Channel) took a trip to Ireland or Scotland and found one little critter that seemed to magically turned into two or three on their thermal camera.
They were tiny human-like forms that were actually following two of their investigators. There was no logical explanation- and the Ghost Hunter’s whole theme is to ‘disprove claims of the paranormal’.
I love that your neighbors 'didn't want to talk about it.' That's always the way to deal with the paranormal.
I think they’re classified as elementals in the paranormal realm?
Vikki
Vikki, not one, 7 actually. I sure was in need of that fairy.
Ghost Hunters! one of my favorite shows! it opens the eyes of many who think there is nothing beyond what we can see and touch. Seen them in all shapes, colors and even smelled them (I'm talking about ghosts or spirits whichever you want to call it). I can't enter a cemetery without seeing one or two (3 and even 6) and this has been a curse or a blessing depending on how you feel about it ever since I was a child.
Diana what a wonderful experience!
The painting is beautiful and makes me wish I could watch as the fairies took flight to create it.
You brought tears to my eyes with your story as I pictured you there, watching the lights. Thank you for sharing that.
My fairy, if that's to be the case, was more a voice. A voice of hope. It was the stranger who called to say Greg was in the car accident and he stayed on the phone while Dad and I drove out there, to let me know exactly what was going on and what hospital Greg was going to. My fairy, this kindness of a person, was a voice of hope.
Hi Manuela,
I lost 3 after my son was born. I was told I would never have another child- and then came my baby girl.
Paranormal- Me too! I often think that everyone can hear and see things- but just don’t admit to it and we rationalize it. As Dina said about her neighbors, ‘they don’t want to talk about it.’
And guess what? As we get older, it’s gets clearer and louder, just like when we were kids.
One good thing is that I’m not SO fearful anymore, probably because of programs like Ghost Hunter.
Vikki
Hi Aleta,
I remember reading about your ‘fairy’ calling you about Greg that horrible day. What a nice man your fairy was. It’s people like him that restore our faith in human race. I will never forget your words and experience.
It’s truly a wonder how people like that come into our lives exactly when we need them.
Vikki
December 10, 1980. We had a still-born, overdue baby girl. 11 lbs. There are times, just times, mind you, when we feel her. We both do. It is the strangest and yet most wonderful thing to feel the love that this child brings to us when she comes. Her visits are all too rare, but we BOTH know when she's there.
Hi Lou,
I’m so sorry you and Annie didn’t get to have this little girl with you in this lifetime.That had to horribly painful for both of you.
Little girls come from the heart of their Daddy’s, you know? And I have no doubt you feel her little spirit around you. You'll see her someday. She's keeping in touch with her Mom and Dad.
Love you very much Lou Ceel.
Vikki
Fairies...I love them and they love all that dare to be awake enough to share reality with them. Once when I was living on the street (at 16), it was almost christmas and snowing. I had no warm coat or anything and was starving, the shelter was full and even when it wasn't I had to fight off grabby men all night if I stay there, so I rarely did. So there I was cold, tired, hungry and miserable lonley...I walked over to a deep storefront doorway to get out of the wind and sat down. I must have fallen asleep, because I remeber waking up because something was buzzing in my ear. When I woke up, the snow had become a blizzard and everywhere around me things looked like snow covered lumps, I looked down at where I had been laying and there was snow at lest 4 inches deep in the doorway...except there was a faint little line drawn around where I had been laying, and the snow stoppedright there when it should not have, it was blowing like crazy. I also realized I was wearing a hat and mittens, and now Ihad a warm scarf too. I am a super light sleep person, because of childhood and living on the street will teach you to be very aware of your surondings at all times. I bent down to look closer at the spot I had just been and the snow was starting to blow into it now...but there were the tiniest footprints I have ever seen, it was not a line I was seeing, it was footprints. So I knew right then that it had to be my fairies...I have known them all my life. I noticed that the footprints were leading away from me, and the street was deserted, perfect blanket of snow cover everywhere,as I followed the tiny trail, I rounded a corner that ead behind a building. When I did the door to this building opened, spilling light and shadows everywhere. A woman came throught he door, took one look at me and said, "well they brought you to me, so you might as well come iside and have something to eat."
Her name was Judy. She feed me, let me shower, and gave me a place to sleep for the night. The next moring the snow was 8-10 inches deep. I looked at Judy, she looked at me and I said thank you so much for letting me stay with you, I'll get out of your hair now. She shook her head and looked at me. She said, don't you understand they lead you here I am suppossed to help you somehow. I told her I didn't know what she was talking about, she said she thought I did. Now being homeless and a kid you don't trust adults...so I asked her what she ment by that. she reached into her pocket took out a card and gave it to me. It was a business card for the Job Corps recruiter with a name and number.
She then packed me asome food into a brown bag, took a long heavy wool coat out of her closet and bid me farwell. I went to the address on the card, I asked if they could help me. They did. That was my last night in the street.
I have many more stories than that one, but that one is one the most magical to me. Faries saved my life once (more than once) so I honor them in my work all the time.
Great post, great artwork!
Fun, fun.
Thanks Vikki!
Hi Heather,
That's an amazing story about your life. I had no idea that you had been homeless. That's got to be the most difficult way for anyone to start out in life.
You were very blessed to find the help when you needed it most. I understand why you focus on fairies in your work.
Big hugs,
Vikki
Beautiful paintings. I like trying to find all the fairies and faces in the Garden of Mee. And I admire your patience with the details.
Just started growing sunflowers this past summer, and was impressed with their ability to give energy and support life all around them, i.e. to the rest of the garden all season! Natural support for tomatoes, eggplants, vine plants, wind chimes, etc. Food for birds, could definitely make a little chair out of the old stalks, and now I've got a bazillion more growing around the old roots. I think my dogs scared off the fairies though. :\
Maybe next year! ;)
Hi Michael,
Would you believe Sunflowers grown wild on my property? I’ve used them in lot paintings in the past few years.
I love to garden also. I didn’t realize Sunflowers created a natural supplement. Although, I do have a secret ‘organic’ non-toxic potion for keeping rabbits and gophers out of a garden. Want to know what it is?
Vikki
Cool! I hope my whole back yard fills up with sunflowers. lol. I think that would look amazing, and I wouldn't have to mow.
By "support", I mean the stalks were stable enough to let vine plants run up... just like in your paintings! They might actually hog any supplements, because I only got 4 tomatoes off 5 whole plants near them. But I have no idea, lol
Yes, I'd like to know your secret! I read a book about what plants to grow next to what, so they are natural helpers or defenders of certain animals/insects. I got overwhelmed though and just sprinkled seeds all over based on what i thought would be interesting colors and heights of plant growth. I guess it's not the best tactic if food production is a goal. ;)
Hi Michael,
I'll send my "Magic Critter Deterrent Potion" to you in an email. But as far as 'what tomatoes should grown around', I fathom it's probably your soil quality more than their companions.
Also- our sun in California and Texas is lot hotter and more arid than East Coast gardeners has to deal with. I find tomatoes like a little shade and really moist soil.
You should be getting 20-30 per plant.
There are all kinds of variables- but all easily figured out.
Vikki
Fairy found my car keys this morning.....=]......Jeepers , I have missed a lot of great posts on your blog Vikki!!!!( I'm remodeling the kitchen...=/..) The Fairy Chair is wonderfully whimsical......and I am joining the awards AWOL movement!!!
Hope all is well with you....a sad story indeed ...but those times seem to make us stronger in many ways....You are an amazing artist and a very warm person..
RW
Hi Robin,
Thank you for your comments.
You have a key finding fairy!Excellent. I could use one of those. I think I have a key hiding fairy at my house.
Sad stories always have a magical way of turning themselves into 'better for it' stories. You know what I mean?
Good luck with your remodeling.
Vikki
Vikki I love your chair. I always had a black thumb, and could never get anything to grow.
As to fairies, I have never heard or seen one, but have felt their presence. Perhaps my mind is not "open" to seeing or hearing them. There have been a few times in my life, when I have been seriously down in the dumps. That is when I feel them, I get the most serene feeling of calm and peace come over me. After that all seems to start looking up.
I loved Heathers story, that was very interesting.
Hi Eric,
Thank you for comments about my work.
And yes Heather is an extraordinary women with an extraordinary story. She is to be admired for her courage.
Vikki
I love that chair painting with the sunflowers!
Hi Jeri,
Thanks.
Vikki
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