You know how it goes. You follow a blogger who follows another blogger and before you know it, the three of you are walking on a beach in Victoria, BC.
Wilma and Boomdee, Victoria BC, August 17, 2014
Two years ago this month I met Wilma, the artist behind the blog creartfuldodger (CreArtful Dodger). When I returned to Victoria in June with Mike, Wilma drove into town to share a meal. She offered to pick us up at our hotel, and when I gave her the address she knew it well. Wilma’s daughter works at the same hotel. Serendipity!
Wilma with her art
Wilma is great company, a wonderful tour guide and an accomplished artist. Over dinner, she surprised me with the gift of this inspired bird collage.
Knowing my love of Nigella aka Love in a Mist, she used an original, 1900’s seed packet as the starting point. She incorporated airmail stickers and stamps, also my favorites and created a tag using a vintage book cover. It’s beautiful and thoughtful. She also included my initial on the gift bag, a charming addition.
Creartfuldodger: Layered seed packet, postage stamp, mailing labels and other ephemera. The green image shows detail from the back of the tag
Wilma writes:
Love-in-a-mist,
It is truly hard to resist!
Perhaps Alys will remember, with pleasure, her stay,
And return again one fine day. – Wilma Millette, Creartfuldodger
With great pleasure, Wilma. Love and thanks.
Gardening Nirvana 
Wilma’s work is lovely!
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It is. And it always makes me think, too, if that makes sense. It’s a sense of something “just beyond.” I love that.
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Thank you
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It’s just lovely Alys! Wilma seems to have captured a little something specially for you with her delightful creation! Isn’t blogging wonderful!! 🙂
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Blogging is wonderful Pauline. I can’t imagine life now without it. It is indeed a special creation, and a lovely reminder, too, of our recent visit to the island.
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What a special gift; Wilma’s creation is beautiful!
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That’s lovely! And so thoughtful–I guess you just inspire kindness, Alys!
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It is lovely and so are you. What a nice thing to say. xo
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That is a sweet little collage. Nothing like a meal with creative people. The conversations are never dull. Serendipity always seems to play a large part in your life. You are so open to it that it just flows. It’s nice that Mike was there to enjoy as well. How very thoughtful of her to work from your fondness of Love in the Mist. Someone was paying attention.
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Marlene, what a lovely thing to say. Thank you! I think being open to things does bring about serendipity. And I’ve certainly seen that in spades since I started blogging. I’ll bet that has been true for you, too.
June was my third visit to Victoria, but Mike’s first. I knew he would love it. He loves the water (likes to sail) and he enjoys open spaces, good restaurants and the charm of the downtown area. I would love to have a little cottage on the island, but like so many places, prices are now sky-high. We’re dreaming though.
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I felt the same way about Victoria. Loved it and would have stayed. Everyone was so nice. We can all dream. 🙂
I love blogging but it’s so hard to read all the others posts and get anything else done. I don’t know how everyone else does it.
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Dear Alys
This is lovely of you. The picture of K and I brought back fond memories. I am glad that you like the collage. I wanted to make one for you and your love in a mist post was so inspiring. I truly enjoyed our evening and your Mike is lovely. Next time stay longer and I will show you more of our beautiful island. Thank you also for sending me the books. I was inspired by the creative women. I am in the midst of reading the novel. It is coming with me “up island” as I head of for two days of mountain treking. Happy Gardening. I am glad my little peacock lives with you.
😚😚😚
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I love the collage, and have it hanging on the wall in our bedroom. You put so much thought into the piece, making it beautiful and personal. Truly inspired.
I’m glad you’re enjoying both books. Have fun treking up island. We’ll definitely be back to see more.
Your peacock says “hello!”
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How lovely to get a visit again with Wilma and receive an original piece of her Art too. I love the composition and of course the colours. I recognize our restaurant too. HA, I thought I was the only one to eat the same thing over and over, but then of course we often seem in sync. Wilma looks so wonderful and fit, it’s the healthy eating from her garden and swimming in the ocean I think. Did you see all her hiking photo’s at FB in the ‘Giant Tree’ forest? The West coast is so beautiful and I sure hope to call it home one day.
Your opening line today made me laugh. It’s sounds funny but so true. ❤ ❤ xo k
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It was lovely seeing her this past June, and I remember the good times we had together in 2014. Can you believe it’s been two years already?
Oh yes, you and me could eat at the same restaurant for months, ordering the same thing. I keep forgetting the name of this place, but remember how to walk there. Isn’t that a hoot?
Wilma does look amazingly fit and healthy and I love her chic new hairdo. I missed the hiking photos, so I’ll go back and have a look OR I saw them, commented, then promptly forgot. Both scenarios are entirely possible. 😉
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LOL, preaching to the choir my dear. Yah yah, they spotted cougar tracks on their hike! No one outruns one of those cats, I’d be making bricks (if you know what I mean) …nighty night from le sleepy Boomdee. No cougars can find me there..under the pillow! ha! xoxoxox mwaaa
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Yikes! And….laughing too.
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What a lovely gift! Lucky you! Now I’m going to have to go check out Wilma’s blog (and get hooked on yet another one I won’t be able to keep up with!)…
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It is indeed lovely and I am indeed lucky! There is so much goodness in the world, so much talent and creativity. By all means check out her work. She only posts once a week, so the commitment is a small one, and the delights are a treat.
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The most beautiful thing about this small gift is how personal it is. Those little details are so sweet and thoughtful, and lovely words to go with it too! 🙂
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How marvelous and what a great gift!! I love Wilma and her blog, her art is amazing. How nice to have ‘met’ the person behind it! Thank you Alys and I am happy you had a chance again to meet up! xo Johanna
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Thank you, Johanna! I’m realizing more and more that I’m surrounded by talented artists. It’s extraordinarily enriching to see the work in process and to meet the artist behind it. I hope you and I will meet one day. I would love that.
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You have some very creative friends, Alys 😊.
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I’m so lucky!
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This is great, Alys! What a nice gift and really, the gift was getting together, wasn’t it? It’s nice to meet up!
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Lisa, you are right. It’s wonderful meeting up and also wonderful finding out that you have other things in common you didn’t think of. Do you have any looming get-togethers with fellow bloggers?
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No, I haven’t, though I think about it!
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I wish WordPress would hold a conference that we could all attend. Wouldn’t that be fun?
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I think they actually do have a conference for the folks without com addresses.
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We need one of our own. 🙂
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Jumping in on this: For a couple years now I’ve talked about having a Big ol Blogging Coctail Party. I’ll hire a jet, have it fly around and pick everyone up, and we’ll bask in happiness.
Dreams are lovely, are’nt they?
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Dreams are lovely. I’m also astounded at how many we can make come true, too.
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What a thoughtful little keepsake to remind you of a happy visit. How lucky you are to have met some wonderful blogging companions in person.
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I’m so fortunate, Sheila. I count my lucky stars every day.
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Oh how wonderful! I need to pop over to Wilma’s and see more of her work.
Just look what you inspire in people, Alys!! ❤
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((((Laurie))) You say the nicest things. xo
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That was a very nice gift to give you. How thoughtful! 🙂
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I wholeheartedly agree. Thanks for stopping by.
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You’re welcome! 🙂
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Art from the heart, to be sure! What a thoughtful treasure from Wilma. It’s such a happy time when kindred spirits get together and make new memories! ♡
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Dawn, you are so right. Happy times indeed. Wilma is charming and funny, bright and creative. I’m so happy to have met (twice), and on the beautiful island of Vancouver no less. xo
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