magical garden adventure

by Bill Tiepelman

Spellbound by Roses and Scales

Once upon a time in a realm not far from the corner of your wildest daydreams, there was an enchantress named Lyra. Known throughout the land for her shockingly bright red hair and her particularly unusual pet—a tiny emerald-green dragon—Lyra was both feared and admired, especially for her ability to bring roses into full bloom with a mere whisper. But today, Lyra had a problem. “Listen, Thorn,” Lyra muttered, adjusting her off-the-shoulder lace gown as she gave her tiny dragon an annoyed look. Thorn, who was coiled around her shoulder like a scaly scarf, yawned and blinked lazily at her with his ruby-red eyes. “You can’t keep stealing the villagers' socks!” she scolded him, plucking a rogue sock from his little claws. “Last week it was Balthazar’s best black stockings, and he still hasn’t stopped telling people I’m some kind of sock thief.” Thorn snorted, a wisp of smoke curling from his nostrils as he nuzzled her cheek innocently. The truth was, Thorn had a bit of a sock addiction. For reasons no one quite understood, the little dragon found socks irresistibly cozy—especially single socks, which he hoarded like a treasure trove beneath Lyra’s bed. She had tried giving him blankets, but they didn’t have quite the same appeal. No, it was socks or nothing for Thorn. The Sock Conundrum To make matters worse, Lyra’s roses were getting out of hand. The roses loved her so much they had started sprouting all over the place—particularly inconveniently when they appeared in her bath, her bed, and, last Tuesday, right in the middle of her morning toast. “It’s not fair,” she grumbled to Thorn, waving a toast crust at a particularly smug-looking rose that had taken root on her kitchen table. “I mean, sure, I’m the Enchantress of the Roses and all, but I’d like at least one part of my life that doesn’t involve thorns, petals, or that endless fragrance of roses. Honestly, it’s like living in a perfume shop.” Thorn cocked his head, as if to say, And your point is…? He stretched, flicked his tail, and hopped off her shoulder, sniffing around for new socks to pilfer. Lyra sighed, rolling her eyes. Thorn was an adorable pest, and she knew it. A New Challenge But Lyra’s rose problem was about to get worse. Much worse. One fateful evening, while she was sitting in her garden trying to unwind with a glass of elderflower wine, she heard a voice behind her. “Excuse me, miss?” Lyra jumped, almost spilling her wine, and turned to see an oversized rose standing behind her. It had a remarkably debonair appearance for a flower, complete with a tiny red velvet hat and an unmistakable smirk. “I—uh—hello?” Lyra stammered, wondering if perhaps she’d had a little too much wine. “No need to look so shocked, darling,” said the rose, whose voice was surprisingly smooth. “The name’s Roderick. Roderick the Rose. And I’m here to make you an offer.” The Rose’s Proposal Now, in Lyra’s line of work, she’d dealt with many a strange magical occurrence—talking owls, gossiping pixies, even a flirtatious tree—but a talking rose was new. “An offer?” she echoed, leaning back and crossing her arms. “Alright, Roderick, you’ve got my attention.” Roderick twirled one of his leaves and winked. “You, my dear, have a certain… problem. A rose problem, if you will. Roses popping up here and there, no matter where you go. I think you and I could come to an understanding.” Lyra raised an eyebrow. “I’m listening…” “You let me stay,” Roderick proposed, “as your personal garden companion—think of me as a rose advisor of sorts. In exchange, I’ll use my magical prowess to manage your rose situation. No more blooms where you don’t want them, and maybe even a few… extras where you do.” “Extras?” Lyra said, trying to hide her intrigue. “Oh, the possibilities are endless,” Roderick assured her, puffing himself up. “Imagine: roses that bloom in the moonlight, petals that glow with the colors of sunset, roses that sing arias on your birthday. Think about it.” Lyra couldn’t help but smile. “Fine,” she said. “You can stay. But one prank, Roderick, and you’re mulch.” Roderick winked, clearly thrilled, and wiggled his stem in what might have been a bow. And Then Came the Wine-Fueled Mishaps That night, Lyra celebrated her new partnership by pouring herself another glass of elderflower wine and giving Thorn a celebratory sock (he pounced on it with glee). Everything seemed perfect—that is, until she woke up the next morning. At first, she noticed nothing amiss. But as she got up and walked to the mirror, she let out a shriek. Roderick had taken his job way too seriously. Tiny roses were now woven into her hair, down her back, even into the very fabric of her gown. And the kicker? They were all humming. Quietly, but unmistakably humming. “Roderick!” she shouted, as Thorn watched in wide-eyed delight from the bed. “Explain yourself this instant!” Roderick appeared from beneath a nearby window sill, looking remarkably pleased with himself. “Just a small token of our new partnership, darling. A bit of morning ambiance, if you will.” “Ambiance?” Lyra sputtered. “You turned me into a walking rosebush with a musical soundtrack!” She spent the rest of the day plucking roses out of her hair, scolding Roderick every time he dared to smirk, and muttering about why she ever thought talking roses were a good idea. By nightfall, however, she had to admit… the humming roses were growing on her. Life, Laughter, and Ever-Blooming Roses As days turned into weeks, Lyra found herself adjusting to her new, unusual companions. Thorn, as usual, continued his sock-stealing habits, and Roderick developed a penchant for serenading her as she cooked dinner. And though Lyra might have grumbled and scolded, she couldn’t deny that life felt a little brighter, a little more magical, with her strange little family. In the end, Lyra learned to embrace the endless roses, the cheeky dragon, and the overly charming rose with the velvet hat. Life in the enchanted garden was a beautiful mess, and Lyra wouldn’t have it any other way. And the socks? Well, Thorn never did give them up. — The End —     Bring "Spellbound by Roses and Scales" Into Your Home If Lyra’s mystical world of roses, dragons, and whimsical enchantment has captured your imagination, you can now bring a piece of that magic home. Our exclusive collection inspired by Spellbound by Roses and Scales is available in a variety of beautiful products: Tapestry – Perfect for transforming any space into an enchanted garden. Throw Pillow – Add a touch of magic and comfort to your home decor. Puzzle – Piece together the story of Lyra and Thorn with this mesmerizing puzzle. Tote Bag – Carry a bit of fantasy with you wherever you go. Each product is crafted with high-quality materials, designed to immerse you in the allure of this enchanted artwork. Browse the full collection here and let Lyra’s whimsical world find a special place in your life. This captivating tale brings to life our February Queen from the Nature’s Queens: A Year of Female Fantasy Icons - 2025 Calendar. Meet Lyra, the enchantress with fiery red hair, a mischievous emerald dragon, and a rose garden that has a mind of its own. Her magical misadventures are filled with humor, charm, and a touch of fantasy whimsy. Dive into Lyra’s world and bring home the magic with our 2025 calendar – a year-long journey celebrating fierce, enchanting icons of nature. Explore the calendar here.

by Bill Tiepelman

The Girl, the Cat, and the Garden that Didn’t Exist Yesterday

Once upon a Thursday that was supposed to be like any other, Lydia—a small, curious girl with an affinity for rose-patterned dresses and grand adventures—wandered into her backyard to find something that had definitely not been there the day before: a sprawling, enchanted garden. There were plants she didn’t recognize, which was odd because Lydia considered herself something of a garden expert. Enormous blooms the size of dinner plates arched over winding wooden paths, their petals shimmering in impossible shades of indigo, coral, and bright peach. Vines coiled up ancient trees as if they were knitting a tapestry, and the air smelled like honey and cinnamon, though it was probably just the same backyard where the neighbors’ dog liked to dig up their lawn. Perched beside her was her fluffy, slightly sarcastic Maine Coon, Maximilian von Purrington. Max had been named by Lydia’s grandmother, who claimed that cats with long names developed character, and Lydia figured it was true since Max had a personality that could fill the house. His ginger fur glowed almost theatrically in the soft light filtering down through the foliage, and he sat with his tail wrapped around his paws, regarding the garden with a mixture of surprise and mild disapproval. He preferred the indoors—where snacks were abundant, and the risk of strange vegetation was minimal. “Did you do this?” Lydia whispered, already certain the garden was hiding secrets she had yet to uncover. Max glanced up at her, narrowing his green eyes with the world-weary expression of a cat who’s used to humoring humans. “I think we both know I’m not one for horticulture,” he replied, his voice dripping with the kind of dry British accent Lydia imagined for him. In truth, Max didn’t speak, but Lydia’s imagination filled in the gaps. “And don’t even think about eating anything here. If the mushrooms have eyes, we turn around.” But Lydia was already dashing down the first winding path, lace skirt swirling around her legs, her hair bouncing as she leaped over roots that seemed to pulse with life. Max, torn between his loyalty and his reluctance to enter the garden, followed with a resigned sigh. The Garden’s Secret The deeper they wandered, the more peculiar the garden became. There were flowers that seemed to rearrange themselves whenever Lydia wasn’t looking, and plants that shivered and withdrew as Max approached, as though intimidated by his casual haughtiness. Lydia laughed and twirled, delighting in every strange and marvelous sight, while Max muttered under his breath about “botanical nonsense” and “humans and their foolishness.” Then they reached a clearing where a massive, intricately carved wooden door stood alone, leading to nothing in particular. Painted on its surface in delicate script were the words: “For Those Who Are Lost or Simply Bored.” “Oh! We should go through it!” Lydia declared. “Or,” Max drawled, stretching his paws delicately, “we could turn back. I hear the sofa is nice and warm this time of day.” But before he could protest further, Lydia had pushed open the door, and they stepped through. A Dance with the Toads On the other side of the door, they found themselves in an even stranger garden. The path beneath them was not dirt or wood but soft, thick clouds that cushioned each step, and the plants here were even more absurd than before. Bright purple mushrooms sprouted on floating rocks, and enormous, puffy plants with pastel fur swayed in time to music that seemed to drift out of nowhere. “Are we floating?” Max asked, somewhat distressed. “I’m a cat, Lydia. I’m supposed to stay close to the ground. Gravity is part of my brand.” Lydia barely heard him. She was already darting toward a cluster of flowers with gleaming petals that looked like stained glass. Behind the flowers, a signpost read: “LEFT: A Friendly Ogre with Free Lemonade. RIGHT: Beware of Tap-Dancing Toads.” Lydia, being a logical child, decided that free lemonade was an opportunity not to be missed, so she veered left, with Max reluctantly padding along behind her. Sure enough, they soon encountered a friendly ogre sitting in a large, comfy armchair, looking surprisingly domestic. He wore glasses, had a nose ring, and held a jug of lemonade in one hand. As they approached, he grinned and offered them each a cup (Lydia gladly accepted, Max sniffed his cup suspiciously). “Lovely day in the garden, isn’t it?” said the ogre, whose name turned out to be Gerald. “Oh, I wouldn’t go past the river, though—wild blueberry bushes with quite an attitude over there.” “Oh, thank you, Gerald!” Lydia said, delighted at having found a friend. “Do you live here?” “Oh, I wouldn’t say I live here,” Gerald replied mysteriously, peering over his glasses. “It’s just where I go on Thursdays. Fridays I’m more of a mountain troll, if you catch my drift.” He winked. After a few more sips of lemonade, Lydia and Max thanked Gerald and set off once more, waving goodbye as he returned to his magazine, which appeared to be titled “Ogrely Affairs.” The Journey Home Hours—or maybe only minutes—later, Lydia and Max finally retraced their steps back to the lone door in the garden. They slipped through it and emerged once more into Lydia’s perfectly normal backyard. The enchanted garden was gone, replaced by the usual bushes, a patchy lawn, and that neighbor’s dog who was barking at a pigeon. As they stepped inside the house, Max immediately sprawled out on the nearest rug with a sigh, as if he had been on some terribly arduous journey. “What do you think it all meant?” Lydia asked, glancing back at the garden, as if hoping it might reappear. Max gave her an inscrutable look. “Some things, Lydia, are better left unexplained. Like that ogre’s lemonade recipe.” They never spoke of the garden again, but every Thursday, like clockwork, Lydia would check the backyard, just in case the door returned. And though he’d never admit it, Max always checked too.    Bring the Magic Home If you loved Lydia and Max's enchanting adventure through the mystical garden, you can keep a piece of that magic in your own space. Explore our Mystical Gardens and Childhood Dreams collection, featuring whimsical designs by Bill and Linda Tiepelman that capture the story’s dreamy spirit. From cozy throws to charming accessories, these items are perfect for adding a touch of wonder to your day-to-day life. Tapestry – Transform any room into a fairytale escape with this beautiful tapestry. Throw Pillow – Add a splash of magic to your sofa or reading nook with this cozy throw pillow. Tote Bag – Carry a piece of the enchanted garden with you wherever you go! Pouch – Keep your essentials close with this charming pouch, perfect for daily adventures. Each piece in this collection is designed to bring a smile and a touch of whimsy into your life. Take a bit of the garden’s magic with you, and let your imagination roam!