Monday, June 25, 2012

"Eye Heart Halloween"

I just couldn't wait to show you....


A touch of Halloween whimsy...


A little spooky, a little magical...


A lot of FuN!


And inside, a surprise...

"Eye Heart Halloween" will be up for grabs tomorrow morning on Etsy ($325), unless someone claims it first (just shoot me an email). :) UPDATE ~ SOLD

I was sooooooo tempted to keep this one, but it must sell. And to tell the truth, I just love sending these creations out into the world, to their new homes. Knowing a piece may become a treasured part of someone's Halloween celebration is a pretty great feeling. 

I'll be back very soon with new work....
Until then, Happy Haunting!
♥ Carolee

Sunday, June 24, 2012

Eye Heart Halloween, and a Thank You!

It may be high summer outside, but it's Halloween in the Studio...

Work is in progress for both the Ghoultide Gathering and the Etsy shop, and the possibility - or rather necessity, haha - of a blog sale is swirling around as well. Here's a peek at the latest work-in-progress, a treasure chest to be titled "Eye Heart Halloween!"...


It should make an appearance in the Etsy shop this week, unless someone would like to claim it first. ;)

I've received a few emails of late, asking about my absence from eBay, and while it's nice to be missed,  I'm finding Etsy and commission work to be a lot less stressful, and a lot more reasonably priced. The eBay fees have just gotten out of hand, and the search engines there virtually hide the small sellers now, favoring the big businesses with thousands of listings. Add to that the 5-7 day wait for an auction to end, and it's just become a situation that no longer works.

And I have to add, I'm loving Etsy! The low listing fees allow me to pass on at least some small savings to collectors, and they make direct communication so easy. Everyone I've "met" there has been so helpful and encouraging - it's really a wonderful community of people dedicated to supporting all things handmade.

Finally, I'd like to express a huge THANK YOU, and virtual (((hug))) to all those who've expressed concern about John (or as he calls himself, "The Mice President"), and also to those who've been purchasing my work throughout this ongoing health ordeal (as I write this, he remains home on disability, and is fighting an uphill battle). I can't tell you how much your thoughts and prayers mean, and how much your support means. Between his many heart issues, the COPD, and the lymphoma, health care expenses have been astronomical, and where once this little business of mine was "extra", it now buys groceries, pays for medication, and so on. So thank you again, from the bottom of our hearts. ♥

If you're on the mailing list, look for a newsletter this weekend, and if you're not, and would like to be, just shoot me an email (the address is on the right sidebar)...

Back very soon!
♥ Carolee




Thursday, June 21, 2012

Pumpkin Party

Just popping in to share the latest bit of Halloween whimsy...



"Pumpkin Party" is up for grabs on Etsy now. :)

♥ Carolee

Thursday, June 14, 2012

Replenishing the Well

(Warning - this may get a little long)...

In her book "The Artist's Way", author Julia Cameron discusses, among other things, the concept of taking time to fill the creative well - that vessel from which we draw, which nourishes our creative spirit, but like all vessels, can run dry if not replenished from time to time.

Friends, I was there.

Seriously. Those of you who follow my ramblings here know the challenges we've faced in the last several years; My dear husband, companion, best friend, and love of my life has been through the wringer; mitral valve repair and replacement, heart failure, COPD, and non hodgkins lymphoma, and each with just about every complication imaginable. I've also had my own health issues, and will soon be sporting a permanent ankle brace.

During the course of these life and death battles, our once comfortable income and small savings were decimated, and somewhere along the line my little "extra" art job became a seven day a week necessity. Pressure as I've never known it....

But just when I was feeling very much at the end of my rope, a blessing presented itself in the person of a very dear friend, who made it possible for me to take a three week break; a road trip through the southeastern United States. You can read about it here. From the rolling hills of Virginia, to the barrier Islands of South Carolina, from Charleston to Savannah to St Augustine we rambled, soaking up southern culture, seeing some amazing sights, meeting the most lovely people...just breathing and being for a few weeks, with no deadlines or commitments or obligations.

Heaven.

Now, before I move on to the creative part, I should add my undying gratitude to John as well, who despite fighting a bit of a respiratory infection at the time, insisted I go. We were of course in touch daily, and friends and family checked in on him as well, invited him to dinner and so on. Did I feel guilty leaving? Of course. Was it necessary? Absolutely.

Because something I'd never experienced was happening, something which truly frightened me.

The well was running dry.

It wasn't that I'd forgotten the principle of re-filling it, it was just that there simply wasn't time.

What a Godsend to have three whole weeks to do just that!

Open roads past grassy marshes, soft sand, sparkling ocean, blue skies, old architecture, cobblestone streets, Spanish forts, exquisite cuisine, kicky little shops, time with friends...

Bliss.

I came home refreshed, renewed and replenished, with more ideas and more inspiration swirling around in my head that I could paint in years! And I came home with the absolute knowledge that no matter what, we need to take time to fill the well. Our creative life and spirit depend on it.

So it's back to the studio, feeling especially blessed. John is here with me, and we are taking steps to insure it stays that way. Despite the long hours, I have a "job" I love. And I have friends who have become family to me. Come what may, I am a very lucky girl. ;)

Until next time,
♥ Carolee





Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Storybook Boxes

The trio of boxes mentioned in the previous post are now complete, and one will be on its way to a new home tomorrow. Two remain in the Etsy shop; One Snow White....


And one Alice...


Hoping they find a good home. :) In the meantime, it's on to other projects...

Back very soon!

♥ Carolee

Monday, June 11, 2012

Good Things...

...Come in small packages.

It's been a while since I've painted some smaller pieces, so I thought it was time for some trinket boxes. These three (Snow White, Alice, and a sea turtle) are almost finished. I'll be spending the evening adding button and seashell embellishments, and they'll be up for grabs sometime tomorrow, at $59 each.


Next up is some commission work, and a larger painting or platter...

Back very soon!

♥ Carolee


Sunday, June 10, 2012

"Sea Siren"

Just popping in to share the latest creation, a large jewelry or treasure chest, inspired by a recent trip to the sea...


She's up for grabs this morning on the June PFATT Marketplace.

Next up will be a trio of trinket boxes, probably on Etsy. As always, I'll be showing previews on facebook, so if you haven't already, please check out my page. The link is on the right hand sidebar. :)

OK, back to work...

♥ Carolee