Saturday 26 June 2010

The Hatter's invitation


Alice sat quietly at the back of her shop watching the cinnamon dust motes float idly in the heat of the afternoon. Trade was slow at this time of day as those that thronged her store in the cool of the mornings took to the shade to rest when the sun was at its fiercest. She too closed her eyes and relaxed against the pastel cushions that matched so perfectly the hue of her cup cakes and fancies. She smiled as she felt the magic begin to stir around her, knowing that to give it strength she should empty her mind of irritating thought and just believe...



As the temperature cooled around her and the whispered stories of generations weaved their way into her mind, Alice began to grin. She knew exactly where the magic would take her this afternoon. She reached out instinctively and grabbed her basket from its spot by the door as both the chair and Alice sped off on an afternoon of adventure...



***

The Hatter had grown tired of tea parties. His guests would insist on the same old sandwiches and cakes. How he longed for something a little different. Well, today he smirked would be different as he had sent out invitations on the wind of change and, as everyone knows, that's the premium mail service for magic. The Dormouse and White Rabbit pondered how he could afford it, since he claimed to have no coins left to repair the hole in his top hat, but the question didn't perplex them long... They were far too excited to see who would answer.

The White Rabbit checked his watch for the hundredth time and sighed. One minute past four and the same old cast of characters. The March Hare was already annoying him and the Dormouse was of course asleep. It looked like nothing would break the monotony of this perpetual tea party...


***

Meanwhile, Alice clung to her chair in glee as it flew across the clouds, her long hair flowing behind her like a ship in full sail on the ocean. She turned to view her wake and waved at those that followed - a crazy procession of artists and writers, crafters and creators led a full blown riot of imagination. It was truly a site to behold. Baskets overflowed with sweets and pastries, cupcakes, teacakes, chocolate, carrot and fruit cakes... Jugs of lemonade fizzed with delight with their bubbles all popping in the excitement.


"Not long now" Alice called as the crazy procession began its descent through the clouds. The patchwork fields grew closer and sunflowers waved a cheery greeting as the flying chairs and their occupants (not forgetting the baskets and their sumptuous contents) dropped one by one into the garden and found themselves seated at a very large table presided over by a startled looking fellow in a top hat with a hole in (from which peeked a sleepy looking dormouse).


"You came" he squealed, "You came. I always knew this tea party would begin on a Fanciful Twist."



****************


You can join the party too - just close your eyes and believe... or, if that doesn't work, come visit Vanessa and the partygoers at A Fanciful Twist for the blog party of the summer.


Eye candy: First pic of Alice in her shop created digitally from a selection of magazine pictures. Cupcakes from a magazine (Vogue) and overlaid with my artwork from... Journal page of Alice's adventures. Layer upon layer of collage and paint weaving into Alice's story. Alice sketched on top in graphite and coloured pencil. Look carefully and you might just spot the dormouse. Mad Hatter painting by me (done a few months ago) and overlaid on a spread from a cricket tea in Country Living.

26 comments:

  1. This is quite a new and different take on Alice, I love it!! It's magical and dreamy. It's your own personal and very artistic version of one of the most amazing stories. Alice and the Mad Hatter will be classic subjects forever and ever. I find myself going back to that story to do projects again and again. Fabulous work!!

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  2. Oh, what a lovely tea party! You did an amazing job with Alice and with the cupcakes and everything else on this post. I enjoyed it thoroughly and loved going to the tea party with you. I see that you have soc monkeys! I do, too. I'll have to be sure and check their adventures. :-)

    Happy Mad Tea Party (or a Very Merry UnBirthday) to you!

    XO,

    Sheila :-)

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  3. What a beautiful twist on the story, and I LOVE your illustrations! Alice is my favorite- somthing about her face- especially the EYES really speak of belief and wonder. Lovely!

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  4. clap clap clap clap SQUEAL!! :D your art is getting so colorful and even delicious looking i could eat them like cupcakes!! and your stories never cease to delight and transport its readers to a magical place!

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  5. Your creations are perfect illustrations for the story! I love the ghostly image of Alice in the first one.

    And the images you create with your words are better still...You create magical pictures seemingly without effort as you type the words. All sorts of pictures are dancing in my mind!

    Sooner or later, I'm expecting a book from you! A novel? A fanciful tale? Hmmm...keep writing!

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  6. Love the art & the 'twist' to the story!

    Thanks so much for having us - please drop by for a visit when you can!
    ♥♥♥

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  7. Oh oh oh that was wonderful with all of your wonderful artwork...loooved it!!!
    Hugs, Sarah

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  8. Wonderful illustration and what fun to read! Have a lovely day!

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  9. loe the imagery and what a great story!
    thanks for the tea~
    have a madly spectacular day!

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  10. OOooooooooo such lovely creations!!! Me thinks you did a splendid job.
    **blows kisses** Deb

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  11. Thank you for having Sam and I to tea! What lovely eye candy!

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  12. Wonderful story, beautiful artwork, the visuals are quite thrilling - what a wonderful party I am so glad I attended, thank you.

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  13. What wonderful artwork! Thank you for inviting me to your party! Have a nice weekend! Twyla

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  14. This is so fabulously creative, both visually and verbally! I love the cupcake image and your Mad hatter always makes me smile! Great feature Lisa!

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  15. Super gorgeous work!! thankyou for the magical adventure...beautiful and inspiring!! love the colors..and energy and spirit to it all!
    Kiki~

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  16. Visiting with the Tea Party Set :-) I enjoyed your post and illustrations. Being of an uncoventional nature I am visiting from the bottom up on the list and so have still a long way to go up :-) I hope you will come and visit my party too, see you soon.

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  17. That was fantastic!! I love the illustrations and the story!! That was quite entertaining!! Thank you!!

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  18. Beautiful! What a wonderful time! Please come by and visit me to have a spot of tea at anaboocreationsbysylvia.blogspot.com
    Thank you,
    Sylvia

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  19. oh what a wonderful MAd tea Party!!! your art and photos are stunning !!! thank you for the invite....I had a wonderful time!!!!

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  20. What a lovely tea party and wonderful artwork! Thank you!

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  21. I loved your spin on things and your artwork is wonderful! Thank you so much for having me over.

    I hope you'll stop by and grab a cuppa with me.

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  22. What beautiful art work!! I am having a fabulous time at your tea party!! Come visit mine if you have time.
    Hugs
    SueAnn

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  23. Fantastical story! Thanks for hosting this tea party. Come visit my party post for a chance...or four... to win. http://treasures-found.blogspot.com
    Enjoy the day!
    Erin

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  24. Excuse me for being so fashionably late...I hope you will not be irate. Beautifully rendered! I enjoyed it MUCH! If you have not already done so, I'd be honored if you would sit a spell with me~for tea...http://faeriemooncreations.blogspot.com/2010/06/its-mad-tea-party.html
    Sincerely, Theresa (aka The White Queen)

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  25. Beautiful images! thank you for inviting me to tea!

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  26. I really liked your story and your tricky photos. Very cool! Thanks for sharing your Mad Tea Party with me. If you get the chance, please come and visit me, for some more Mad Tea, in the Secret Enchanted Forest at:
    http://greenandwhitegarden.blogspot.com/2010/06/mad-tea-party.html
    ~Vicki.

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Thank you for your comments - I always love to hear what you think :)

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