A Magical, Sparkly, Creative New Year!

I'm not normally what you'd call a "New Years" kind of person; I don't make resolutions, I don't do the traditional (in these parts anyway) pork and sauerkraut New Year's Day dinner (and while we're at it, um - eeeeeewwwww!) I don't go to parties or stay up to watch the ball drop, and I'd rather have root canal than watch football....

But this hasn't been the typical year.

So I must admit I'm feeling a little excited about seeing it come to a close, and imagining all the possibilities a bright, shiny new 2009 holds....

As I said, no resolutions. But perhaps a few intentions:

An uncluttered....no wait - make that a less cluttered workspace. Maybe some new, taller book shelves to store the contents of assorted bins and cardboard boxes.

A few more days off. It's important to replenish the creative well once in a while. ;)

More blog giveaways. I LOVE giveaways!!

Longer walks with the Aussies. THEY love walks (and I need them, hehe!)

A line of fine art prints and notecards on Etsy (stay tuned!)

More time counting my many blessings. :)

Finally, a HUGE thank you to everyone who's purchased my work, placed bids, commented here on the blog or sent encouraging emails throughout year! As challenging as 2008 has been, it's also been such a gift getting to "know" everyone here in bloglandia...I feel like part of a very special creative community, and I know 2009 will be filled with even more magic and creativity!

Oh - and before I forget, the trio you see above are listed individually on Etsy now (sooooooooo proud of myself for finally getting something listed, teehee!)

Wishing everyone a magic, sparkly, shiny and CREATIVE New Year!

´¨)
¸.·´¸.·*´¨) ¸.·*´¨)
(¸.·´ (¸.·´ ~ Carolee (throwing confetti!)

Jumping Back In...

The holidays have been a bit of a whirlwind here, with a visit from Courtney, a steady stream of parties and guests, and waaaaaaaaay too many cookies and sweets for my already goddess size figure, hehe....(Back on the diet wagon after the first!)

Bestest gift of the year came from my Mother; none other than The King of Mice, teehee!! He's holding court on my computer desk at the moment - not shown here in the photo because it's more than a bit cluttered.

I'm back at work today, finishing a witchy tea caddy ("Wicked Good Brew") suitable for hanging on a wall, to be listed on eBay tomorrow evening. I'm also working on a couple of commissions, and have a few other wicked cool surprises up my sleeve for the New Year, so stay tuned....

OH! And speaking of staying tuned, the playlist here is no longer on "auto-start", so if you want to hear the new tunes I've added, you'll need to scroll down to the purple playlist on the right and click play. Its a random assortment of personal favorites, beginning with a few upbeat pieces for the New Year. I just LOVE listening to playlists as I create (my own and a few others!) but wanted to make this one optional, as it's not always convenient for those in the workplace. ;)

Many, many thanks again to everyone who mailed gifts, and sent cards and e-cards! I DO promise to make it up to you this year with a few giveaways and perhaps some cards of my own!

In the meantime, I'm off to listen to the new playlist, and face what's left of the day!

Artful Blessings,
~ Carolee

The Spirit of Christmas

I can't begin to tell you how touched I've been each day as I collect the mail, discovering another card, another letter, and even a couple of gifts! And I must admit I'm also more than a little embarrassed I was unable to reciprocate. (I feel like such a slacker - didn't even manage to get cards out this year!) It's been a challenging year for us, as I know it's been for many of you too. And that so many of you thought of us this season just overwhelms me, and is yet another reminder of how truly blessed I am. :)

As uncertain as these times are, I'm heartened by the connection we all share - and whether you celebrate the day or not, the spirit of Christmas - the spirit of peace and goodwill - still abides.

My wish for you this Christmas is love and light, and my wish for 2009 is a year rich with discovery and creativity, magic and joy, peace and hope.

Much love,
~ Carolee

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas!

The tree is finally finished, and not a moment too soon, as I still have quite a bit of baking to do and Courtney arrives the day after tomorrow!

I always have a horrible time taking tree photos - shot over 60 of them trying to get the right balance between that nighttime glowy, sparkly look (which is what the tree REALLY looks like) and daytime clarity. But it never fails - without the flash, the whole thing looks monotone and out of focus, and with the flash, it looks like the tree lights are off....Ah well, it is what it is, and I have baking to do, hehe...

Yes, it's artificial, *sigh*....Not my preference, but it suits our hectic lifestyle...

A close up of some of the more sparkly pieces. The glittery copper bird's nest is a favorite....

I just love these ornaments - made of mercury glass, I found them in a shop in downtown Lancaster a few years ago. The Sun is winking at the moon....

And aren't these guys great?! Old Sylvestri ornaments, mass produced, but they remind me of folk art woodcarvings (something I've always wanted to try!)

Now, on to the baking.....I've just finished whipping up a batch of chocolate fudge with walnuts, and thumbprint cookies are next. Last Christmas, my Mother gave me the most wonderful gift - the very same Betty Crocker "Cooky Book" I used as a child in the '60s! It's in print again, and I'm having sooooooooo much fun trying all the old recipes, hehe....Have to add, if you look very closely at my kitchen countertop (the old formica "boomerang" pattern), it SERIOUSLY matches the retro cookbook, lol...

As the cookies bake, I'll be painting a few last minute gifts....The only problem with being a painter and making a commitment to hand made gifts, is that the holidays become a little too much like WORK...Note to self: start knitting much earlier next year so as not to have to PAINT all these gifts!!

Speaking of painting, I have a few new pieces coming just after Christmas for eBay and Etsy too, including a witchy and whimsical salt box. Until then, there's the sparkly black cat clock and a bunny sign listed on eBay (although I think the clock ends tonight!) Talk about time flying....

I'll end with a heartfelt apology to all of you who've been kind and thoughtful enough to send us Christmas cards. My intention was to do the same, but it never happened. Between the time crunch, and financial challenges which necessitated working non-stop, it just wasn't possible....But please know I love you all, and send wishes for a joyous and blessed Christmas!

Until next time,
~ Carolee

A Happy and Blessed Solstice!

Midwinter...The shortest day and longest night of the year. It offically began at 7:04 this morning here on the east coast with the rising of the sun.

Although my own spiritual path is what many would consider more traditional, I have a deep respect for the ancient roots of December's Christian celebration, and find this an almost magical day; a day for honoring nature, for remembering goodwill, for merrymaking with friends and family....And even a cursory glance at the origins of the Christmas celebration shows that solstice is about as traditional as it gets. :)

I'll be spending the day putting the finishing touches on the tree (photos soon!), baking cookies, making another big kettle of gypsy soup, and painting a couple of last minute gifts for friends and family. I'm also going to make an effort to spend some time outdoors, replenishing the bird feeders, gathering holly from the backyard, and of course, walking the Aussies. It's a bit icy out there right now, but I'm hoping it will melt by this afternoon. I'm not the most surefooted individual, hehe...

Later this evening, we'll open a bottle of wine, sit in the living room and admire the finally finished tree.

In the meantime, I'm off to light some candles, listen to the playlist here and photograph a sparkly ginger cat sign, which will join a few others already on eBay later this evening....


Wishing everyone a Magical Midwinter!!

~ Carolee

Blessings Bright!

"Magic, moonlit winter's night, Black cats gather, Blessings bright."

I wanted the last timepiece this year to be something special, and hope I've succeeded.....The photos don't really show the sparkle, but the white base of the clock, like the snow on the interior, is covered with diamond dust (vintage glass glitter). It has a sort of three dimensional look, as if you could walk right in.....Oh - and Swarovski crystals mark the quarter hours! Above, the "Mother in the Moon" is a wooden ball with a bit of sculpting material added, and is also sprinkled with sparkling diamond dust....

It's listed now on eBay, with a "buy it now" option for quick shipping.

I also hope to list a few "quickies" tomorrow - welcome plaques suitable for last minute gift giving - a couple of snowmen and a winter wreath design.

Off to bake some cookies now.....

~ Carolee

Sneak Peek.....

Apologies for the darkness of the photo. The light fades so early these days, but I just had to share this with you.... I soooooooooo wanted to keep this piece! It would look great on the dining room table I've been planning to paint for.....oh, about two years now (seriously - there's a full size, unfinished dining room table leaning against a wall in my living room just waiting to be turned into a big piece of art!)

But much as I like this lazy susan, I like new art supplies and heat in the winter even better, hehe - so look for it tomorrow on eBay, at 9PM eastern. I'll be offering a "buy it now" option on the next few pieces, so as to give them time to arrive at their new homes before Christmas. I just love the thought of my work being a part of someone's celebration - makes it much easier to part with. ;) *UPDATE* - SOLD.

As for our own celebration, I'm afraid I'm running incredibly late this year. The Christmas tree is a work in progress - photos coming soon, assuming Merlin and Arthur don't attempt to climb it, and Cadie and Cosmo don't wrestle it to the ground. Next comes the baking; thumbprint cookies, pizelles, fudge, bourbon balls, sugar cookies and Russian teacakes. And possibly a fruitcake or two, although it's getting a bit late for those, as they greatly benefit from time in the freezer (Yep, I'm one of those crazy people who likes fruitcake).

My hope was to send my own printed Christmas and Yuletide cards to everyone on my snail mailing list, but I'm afraid it's too late now. Not much to do, except plead organizational impairment....

That's about it for today. I'm off to put some seasonal music in the CD player now (The Medieval Babes' "Mistletoe and Wine") and work on that tree! Back again in a day or two...

~ Carolee

Magical Mitten Box

A few days late, but hopefully worth the wait, here's a peek at this week's eBay offering:

Today was the perfect day to complete this piece; listening to Christmas and Solstice music as snow fell on the skylight overhead. It took considerably longer than I'd anticipated, and as usual I got a bit carried away with detail, but I'm very happy with the result. As with other recent pieces, I didn't add diamond dust (vintage glass glitter) to this one, just in case it will be put to practical use with small children. But I think I'll offer to add it - a touch of sparkle always makes the snow look so magical!

Snowflakes inside too:

I've been agonizing over a price on this one - it took many days to complete, but I'd also like to keep it reasonable and provide a "buy it now" incentive (had to order more heating oil today - better than it was, but yikes!)....So I'm thinking in the $325 - $375 range, which is quite a bit less than I'd normally charge for something this large and labor intensive. :) *UPDATE* - SOLD.

I have some other very exciting news - I'm set up to accept Visa and Master card here at home now! Although most people use paypal, there are some who are uncomfortable with electronic payments. If you fall into the latter category, and would still like to make a purchase via credit card (Visa, MC or AmEx), just email me for my phone number, and I can accept payment over the phone.

That's about it for today....Look for the mitten box on eBay this evening at 9PM. I'm off to do shipping now, and hopefully persuade John to drive to the postal station in the snow. ;)

And then......

I hope to finally get the tree up!! I think this is the latest I've ever left the holiday decorating, but such is self employment (I have a demanding boss, teehee!!) I'll share photos of the tree as soon as it's finished. :)

In the meantime, stay warm and enjoy the blessings of the season!

~ Carolee

Pennsylvania Dutch Pearl of Wisdom for the Day:

"The hurrieder I go, the behinder I get!"

This old saying has been around for ages, but I'm certain that whoever said it was an artist. ;)

OK, maybe a Mom.

Probably both.

In an effort to Deck the Halls, Make the Yuletide Gay, and still actually work, I've been running around like the proverbial headless chicken...

This morning's plan was to be out the door and on the way to the grocery store by 7AM, in order to beat the Sunday crowds, and be back here to paint by 11. Sounds easy, right? Not quite. Not twelve days before Christmas at Wegmans. Everyone and his brother had the same idea, and it took me almost three hours just to get through my shopping list.....Minus the apple miny jelly I need for thumbprint cookies, I might add. Why does no one carry this anymore? Mental note: find apple mint jelly elsewhere this week....

At any rate, the painting began closer to noon, but I was so pleased with the crescent moon face I was painting on the top of the mitten box, I didn't even care.

Until.....

I noticed I'd painted it upside down! Yep - completely topsy-turvy moon....

Out came the sandpaper, followed by more blue and periwinkle paint. Magical swirly background, good as new, and right-side-up crescent moon! Which is where we are now. :) Needless to say, the mitten box won't be finished tonight. I won't even promise tomorrow night, although I'm hopeful!

In the meantime, it's back to work.....

Wish me luck!
~ Carolee

Just in Time for Winter.....

A magical mitten box!

Haven't painted a mitten box in absolute ages, but when I saw this piece, I knew it would be perfect! Had we lived in a cold climate when Courtney was little, one of these would have been a must, sitting at the back door, filled with mittens, gloves and maybe a scarf or two (it's a BIG box!)

What shall I paint on it?

Snowmen?

Cats?

Mittens?

Kittens who've lost their mittens?

All of the above?

We'll see - more often than not, these things take a direction of their own....Look for it Sunday evening on eBay. :)

~ Carolee

Believe!

"And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don't believe in magic will never find it." ~ Roald Dahl

I have some very exciting news this morning; something I've been imagining for a good bit has finally come to fruition - I'm a member of the PFATT Marketplace! Some of you may have seen ads in magazines for this wonderful group and their website (most recently in Mary Englebreit's Home Companion). I've been a member of the eBay group for several months now, but the Marketplace is their online site, updated once a month, where we folk artists are able to offer our work for direct sale.

My plan was to offer three pieces, but when it came down to the deadline the weather and my camera didn't cooperate - so my first offering will be just this one piece. I seem to be on a roll with tuxedo cats this season - there's something so striking about the black and white against a snowy night sky!

I have several other magical winter pieces in the works, which will appear on eBay and Etsy very soon - two small boxes with glittery winter moon toppers, and a sparkly snowman sign proclaiming "Peace on Earth". And not to forget Halloween, look for a wicked cool hinged treat box too (black and orange of course!)

And finally, however you spend your days, whatever your circumstances, I hope you are finding your own magic this season!

Artful Blessings,
~ Carolee

A Wicked Nutcracker

I've always loved "The Nutcracker"; so much so in fact, that my business is in part named for my daughter Courtney's favorite character from the ballet. When she was little, seeing the Nutcracker ballet was a part of our Christmas tradition, and the moment in act one where Mouse King appears on stage never failed to elicit excitement. (The King of Mice is also a favorite, quirky character in a John Irving novel, so the name has twofold meaning).....At any rate, when I saw this unfinished piece, I just knew I had to paint him with a Halloween Twist, hehe....

Am I crazy, or would this be the perfect holiday gift for the Halloween lover?! Or perhaps the King of Mice collector? ;)

He was such a delight to paint, I'm afraid I went a little crazy with the detail, but I'm so happy with the result. This one will be very hard to part with, but I'm trusting he'll find a good home. Look for him on eBay later this evening, and hopefully a couple of new boxes over the weekend!

Between work, a hair appointment, and having friends over for dinner tomorrow, it's shaping up to be a busy weekend - and somewhere in there I need to find time to decorate - eek! So I'm repeating last year's call for elves (for all the good it will do me, haha) - if you know where I can find any, do tell!! Or better yet, just send them over, haha.....

Back again in the next day or two, but in the meantime, I'm sending you some sparkly holiday magic!
´¨)
¸.·´¸.·*´¨) ¸.·*´¨)
(¸.·´ (¸.·´ ~ Carolee

Eye Candy and Inspiration!

I took a rare day off today to meet a friend for a visit to the National Christmas Center, in Paradise, PA, and have to say I was completely overwhelmed....Room after room of holiday eye candy (and some major nostalgia too, hehe!)

Since a description can't possibly do this place justice, I'll share a few photos - taken by a friend since I forgot to bring my camera (thanks, Barbara!) I'm going back in a couple of days though, so don't be surprised if I post more....

Does anyone remember the days before dollar stores? The days of five and dime stores? Here's one wall of an entire room decorated like the Christmas department at Woolworths, circa mid 1950's:


And a few photos of "Tudor Village" where you walk through a story where fairy tale creatures (some animatronic) make Christmas come alive:




And Santa's Workshop:



And one of soooooooooo many display cases, this one featuring vintage baking goodies:


Big thanks to Jen of Gypsy Mare Studios for recommending the visit - it was absoltely amazing, and sooooooooooo inspiring!

I also met a fellow knitter there - Wendy, who recently opened a new yarn shop in Lancaster, which is on my list of places to visit SOON (like I need more yarn, hehe)...

Just a couple more weeks of Christmas/Yule/Holiday work (still mixed with the wicked and whimsical of course) then it's back to Halloween full tilt....The ideas are spinning around in my head faster than I can write them all down, nevermind paint them - thank heaven for notebooks and sketchbooks, yes?

That's about it for now...Look for something new tomorrow evening on eBay.....

Until then,
~ Carolee

Finished!

I think this is one of my favorite pieces to date. I can just picture it holding treasured heirloom ornaments, perhaps someday becoming an heirloom itself.

I used Merlin and Arthur's baby photos as reference (Christmas of 2006 they were just 8 weeks old, and soooooooo cute!) The last photo is Arthur actually in the tree, hehe. Thankfully, they've outgrown the climbing, but are still fascinated with the ornaments. :)

I'm making the vintage glass glitter on this one optional, in case little fingers may be helping to decorate the tree...

Oh - and around the edge I've written the real treasures of Christmas; ~ Faith and hope ~ Love and joy ~ Peace on Earth ~ Friends and Family ~ Angels among us ~

It will list this evening with a "buy it now" option of $375 - considerably lower than I'd usually ask for a commission or reserve on something like this, but I'm hoping it will help with some recent expenses (and help with shopping for all the Christmas baking and cooking). :) *UPDATE* - Sold.

Speaking of baking, John will be soooooooooooooo happy when he walks in the door tonight - the aroma of fresh baked honey wheat bread is mingling with that of the spicy soup simmering on the stovetop. Home made bread is one of his favorite things ever. It might even make up for the vegetarian dinner I'm serving him, hehe (see previous post) ;)

On that note, I'd better get moving. I need to run to the post office to do this week's shipping just as soon as he gets home with the car!

Back again tomorrow with some extra magical photos....

~ Carolee

Treasures :)

This ornament chest (the last this year) is turning out to be much more labor intensive than originally planned, but I'm so pleased with the way it's turning out...I'll be working on it into the night and most of day tomorrow, trimming the trees with glass balls, snow and magical fairy lights, and adding a couple of playful kittens in the foreground (and maybe in the tree, hehe!) Inside are twelve compartments to store special keepsake ornaments, and plenty of room inside the lid for personalization. I'm loving the combination of deep blue, teal and burgundy and have made a mental note to use this palette again....

In any event, hope to have photos of the finished piece posted here tomorrow afternoon. :)

I also hope to make a kettle of Gypsy Soup and a couple loaves of homemade honey wheat bread tomorrow. No bread machine here - I'm a bit of a purist when it comes to breadmaking....there's something very relaxing and zen about the process and I think a machine would ruin it for me.

No microwave either.

In fact I have friends who are still astounded I make my living on the computer. One friend out in California used to say "Carolee - oh, she'll get a computer just as soon as someone invents a woodburning one", hehe....(this was obviously someone who underestimated my dislike for the rules and structure of traditional employment). ;)

OK, enough rambling - back to "work" I go.....Well, back to painting anyway. It's difficult to call something work when you enjoy it so much....

Until tomorrow,
~ Carolee

Glitter and Sparkle and Twinkle...

...Oh my!

I can't help it, this is such a magical time of year, I feel the need to share a little holiday sparkle with you....

I just pulled the two vintage style mixed media paintings off Etsy and listed them on eBay beginning at a (gulp!) very reasonable starting price, so do take a look....

And I have to share this new one - a memory or keepsake box, accented with diamond dust, and delicate snowflakes. I fell in love with the unusual shape of the box, but it was just crying out for whimsical little feet....*UPDATE* - sorry, this one is gone already, but I hope to paint another memory box before Christmas!


And finally, a Cosmic Catnip box - twinkly in its own way (lots of stars), but no glitter added to this one just in case it IS used for catnip. (*UPDATE* - sold. :)

Lots of new work coming soon too - I'm painting frantically these days, trying to complete as many pieces as possible before the holidays. Look for an ornament chest, a clock, and (soooooo excited about this one!) a Halloween themed nutcracker, hehe!! The ultimate holiday gift for the Halloween lover, yes?!

When I'm not painting, I'll be knitting up a few Christmas gifts, baking cookies and trimming the tree. Courtney is coming home for a few days, so I want everything to look magical - or at least as magical as it gets in a house that looks like a painter's studio exploded, lol....

Back in a couple of days with more goodies, and as promised a few photos of the rest of our furkids....

Until then, enjoy the magic of the season!!

~ Carolee

Gratitude

In many ways, this year has been the most challenging I can remember; John's heart surgery, long recovery and more recent diagnosis of congestive heart failure; the economy (which, as everyone, has hit us hard) and my own health issues, which have had me bouncing between dentists, doctors and assorted other specialists in search of a cause - and end - to some pretty intense nerve pain.

But despite life's challenges, I'm so grateful for our many blessings.

I have John, and that's a biggie. He's doing better, feeling stronger and we're looking forward to many more years together.

To our great relief, an MRI I had this week turned up no tumor or irregularity in the brain (prompting John to joke about my brain's actual existance, hehe). :)

We have a beautiful, talented, kind and thoughtful daughter, who although 800 miles away from us, is a constant source of joy and pride.

We have five furry children here at home who make us smile every day.

We have extended family with whom we've begun to mend old fences, as well as the family we've created for ourselves in our circle of friends; each one a blessing.

However modest, we have a roof over our heads, food in the pantry and a means to support ourselves - which is more than most people on the planet.

We have our faith, a source of strength and comfort.

We have the ability to create, to express ourselves; John with his guitar and myself with my art.

And finally, we've found in this computer a connection to soooooooooo many wonderful and inspiring people all over the world; people we would have otherwise never known! I can connect daily with fellow artists and collectors, sharing my work with a potentially infinite number of people, and often sending it all over the globe - how cool is that?

Wishing everyone a happy and blessed Thanksgiving, and conscious gratitude for all of us, not only once a year, but every day. ;)

~ Carolee

Blessings of the Season

Just had to share this one, painted over the last couple of days, as I listened to Celtic Christmas CDs (lots of harp music!)


It will list on eBay tomorrow evening, probably with a "buy it now" option so it can be displayed a bit longer. :)

~ Carolee

Orange

I just LOVE it - not surprising for a Halloween artist, I know....

I have two things things of perfect orangeness to share today, the first one the brand new recipe box listed on eBay....


And the second, our very own Arthur - shown here perched atop a too-small kitty condo which sits on an old trunk in our living room. Isn't he sweet? He's a great big love, and just can't get enough chin scratches and tummy rubs. (He lets us know this by biting if we stop stroking him.)


I'll try to get some good photos of the rest of the menagerie in the next few days. In the meantime, check back tomorrow evening for a very special holiday sign.....

Until then,
~ Carolee

Tea and Sugarplums

Just listed these two on Etsy....Soooooooooo much fun to paint this pair as the snow was falling today! My favorite part is the sparkling vintage glass glitter - makes it look like real snow. :) I'm showing them here as a pair, but they're listed separately.....


Back tomorrow with an eBay listing for "Wicked Good Recipes"....

Right now I'm off to walk the Aussies, and take some baked applesauce out of the oven - a wicked good new recipe I'm trying, and if it tastes as half as good as it smells, I'll be making more, hehe. ;)

~ Carolee

Winter Wonderland!

After the tiniest teaser of a dusting yesterday afternoon, we awoke this morning to find everything blanketed in white. There's something soooooooo wondrous and magical about the first snowfall of the season, isn't there? As I approach the half century mark, I still feel the same excitement about those first flakes as I did as a small child - except of course I no longer sit with my ear to the radio waiting for a snow day to be called, hehe....

No snow days here - far too much to do! I've just finished two small canvases to be listed on Etsy later this afternoon; "Magic Christmas Tea" and "Visions of Sugarplums" - they're sweet little paintings accented with decoupaged edges and vintage glass glitter. I'll list them separately, but they look great as a pair. :)

There's also a recipe box in the works, which will be listed on eBay as soon as it's finished (tonight or tomorrow night)....

And more goodies coming soon; a clock and a tallish table. I haven't painted a table in ages, so am looking forward to working on this one.

Okay, back to work.....I'll leave you with a photo of the pyracantha at the side of the house. I love the contrast of the bright berries and clean white snow. :)


Back again soon!
~ Carolee

All Cats Go to Heaven

Just had to share this one, listing tonight at 9PM eastern on eBay, with a buy-it-now option. I just love painting cats, and this little footstool seemed perfect for them. I'm picturing it on a cozy hearth, with a real life kitty curled up beside. :)


Back soon with more goodies for both Halloween and holidays!

~ Carolee

A Winter Challenge

As many of you know, I'm a member of the online artists' group EHAG. Most of us are known for our Halloween work, but this month the group was challenged to create a "crossover" piece (something with both Halloween and winter holiday elements) using the theme "Wintry and Spooky Owls".....


"Moonlight Totem" is what I've called this handsome fellow. I was pleased with the way he turned out. Such magical creatures, owls....and a blessing to be visited by one! I've seen several barn owls, but have never seen one of these snowy beauties in person. I imagine they're quite impressive up close and personal.

This one will list on eBay tonight at 9PM eastern. :)

Look for more new work soon; a clock, a footstool, a table and a recipe box. I also hope to visit the ceramic studio next week, so barring any firing disasters, there should be a pie plate or two before the holidays.

Right now I'm off to forage for supper...It's been dark and blustery all day today, and I've been working madly while sipping copious quantities of Twinings Winter Spice tea (another new favorite!)...It's a good night for soup, or possibly apple cake if I'm feeling ambitious....

I wish you could join me. :)

Instead, I'll wish you a happy and creative rest of the weekend, and be back in a day or two with more goodies.....

~ Carolee

Better Than Therapy.....

....And certainly cheaper, I truly believe a pot of tea is something at least approaching a cure for whatever ails you.

It's true - just ask the British. Bad day at the office? Have a cup of tea. Feeling stressed? Cup of tea. Kids driving you crazy? Brew a whole pot. Too many holiday obligations? Relax, and have a cuppa. I know, it sounds simple. But the best things in life usually are.

Tea is a staple around here. Couldn't get through a day without it. I prefer flavored and herbal teas sweetened with honey, while John (true to his English upbringing) takes his strong and black with a splash of milk. Tea with sliced oranges is especially good - the perfect ending to almost any meal.

All our tea is kept in the kitchen cupboard, although every time I paint one of these tea chests I threaten to keep it for my very own. And since the ginger tabby on this one looks so much like our Arthur, I was particularly tempted to keep this one, hehe....


It's listing this evening on eBay, with a buy it now option. (*UPDATE*-Sold)


The teas stay here though. After the week we've had, we need them. ;)

Which brings me to an update on John. He's home from the hospital again and feeling much better. Many thanks to everyone who called and emailed, and to all of you who sent prayers and positive thoughts. We're hoping this is the last hospital experience for awhile.

Off to brew up a pot of tea myself now, and curl up with a good book, or maybe some knitting.

Have a wonderful and relaxing weekend all....

~ Carolee

A Quick Update

Just had to share this one, listing tonight on eBay. It's similar to the last black cat sign, but a tuxedo this time, and lot of little kitties below. Can you tell I was listing to some magical winter tunes from my playlist as I painted?

I'll try to pop in with new Etsy offerings soon, but no promises. Life has thrown us a curveball this week, and John is back in the hospital with health challenges. (Prayers and positive thoughts much appreciated!) I'll be back with bells on as soon as I'm able....

~ Carolee

Handmade Holidays

As autumn gives way to winter, and Halloween makes way for Thanksgiving and Christmas, it's time once again to start thinking about gift giving...And in light of the recent economic craziness, it's also time to start thinking about where we'll spend our hard earned dollars this year...

If you look to the right, you'll see a little green link, which says "I took the handmade pledge". And I did - just last year, online, but actually many years ago. Christmas has been handmade here for a very long while. In fact, we go with handmade items whenever possible all year round; a set of dishes from a local pottery artist, a checkbook cover purchased from an Etsy shop, hand spun yarn from online fiber artists, biscotti from an Etsy baker and so on. Handmade items are better quality, often one of a kind, connected to the community, and most important, are created from the heart. :)

I'll be knitting a few gifts again this year, as well as doing a little painting and a lot of cooking and baking; tins of homemade cookies and fudge, bottles of homemade kahlua, jars of instant chai tea, etc etc...And what's not handmade will be purchased from other artists - one of a kind treasures that support the individual instead of the corporation - how cool is that?!

I'm also playing around with a few handmade giftie things on eBay and Etsy this season - still doing Halloween and witchy stuff, but adding a limited number of holiday items too. Here are a couple listed on eBay now

...
Do you think I went too crazy with the vintage glass glitter?


Naaaaaawwwww....there's no such thing as too much glitter!

Another "Peace Cat" sign (this one a tuxedo) will list soon too (just have to add a bit of sparkle, hehe!)

In the meantime, I want to say THANK YOU to everyone out there buying handmade this year - by supporting creativity instead of mass production, you're making a big difference in the world - and bringing smiles to an artist as well as the gift's recipient! Doesn't get much better than that. ;)

Until next time,
~ Carolee

A New Day...

Feeling a bit tired this morning, but at the same time soooooooo energized and upbeat, so high....

LOTS of new work coming soon, I promise - both Halloween and Christmas/Solstice!!

In the meantime, as we head into the season of peace and thanksgiving, I'll leave you with one of my favorite quotes, from Mahatma Gandhi:

"You must be the change you wish to see in the world".

Peace,
~ Carolee

Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes....

Although Halloween has come and gone for another year, it lives in my imagination and studio year round (just waiting for next Halloween, hehe!).....All the same, I'm feeling the need to mix things up a bit.......sooooooo......

Taa-daaaaa!! Do you like the new look? I was going for winter whimsy, but also something that would set off all the wicked cool Halloween and witchy art still spinning around in my head. That, and a couple of people have commented that the black background is hard on the eyes after a while. So I'm trying something new (and your feedback via comments is much appreciated!)

On to new work.....


"PEACE", a simple message carried by a black angel cat, written in many languages, listed on eBay now, and ending Monday, the day before election day. How appropriate is that? And noooooooo, I'm not getting political - but as we approach the season where we celebrate peace, love and hope, I can't think of anything more fitting. ;)

It's a short season this year, with just about three weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas/Yule, so I'm getting into the *spirit* of things a little early. If you're able (the playlist thingy has been having glitches, so it's only been working intermittently) check out the new tunes by scrolling down a bit on the right....I'm a HUGE fan of Christmas and Solstice music, and of our four or five hundred CDs here at home, probably a hundred or so are seasonal. The tunes on the playlist are just a few favorites, although I must warn you (in keeping with the peace theme) you'll need tissues handy for John McCutcheon's "Christmas in the Trenches". Written about a real event - the Christmas Truce of 1914, it makes me cry every time I hear it. Lots of other great tunes there too, which I'll be listening to in the studio over the next few weeks....

Right now I'm off to Barnes and Noble to pick up a copy of Loreena McKennitt's new CD "A Midwinter Night's Dream" - just the title is conjuring up images I absolutely must paint! After the CD fix, I'm off to have a minor problem with my glasses repaired, and then it's back here to work on commissions. :)

Lots of new goodies coming soon though, on both eBay and Etsy, so stay tuned.....

Wishing everyone a happy and creative weekend!!

~ Carolee

Happy Halloween, Dearies!!

The day we've all been waiting for is finally here, and I'm torn between excitement and disappointment it will soon be over for another year (although in many ways it's Halloween around here all year!)

The front porch is decorated with pumpkins galore, we have fourteen bags of candy at the ready and there's a gallon of spiced apple cider in the crockpot. This afternoon I'll make a large kettle of soup for a quick and easy supper, and the kids will start arriving around 6. John and I will take turns sitting on the front porch handing out candy (it's a bit too cold for one person to stay out there all evening!), and Cadie and Cosmo will bark their heads off non-stop. Cosmo can be unpredictable and more than a little protective, so for safety and sanity's sake, we'll keep them behind a baby gate during the festivities.

When Courtney was little, I looked forward to sewing her costume and making the trick-or-treat rounds in our neighborhood. Now I look forward to seeing everyone else's kids all dressed up. Last year's favorites included a little girl dressed like her grandmother, and a toddler in a ladybug suit - so sweet!

Later in the evening I'll probably open a bottle of Vampire wine or Witch's Brew, and we'll watch a scary movie (eat, drink and be scary, hehe!)...I may even read a bit of Poe....

Well, on that note, I must get to work now - NEXT Halloween is just 364 days away, and there's much to be done, teehee!! But first, let me leave you with this link to an archived Prairie Home Companion Halloween show. If you scroll down and click on "segment 7"
you'll hear Garrison Keillor reciting Poe's "The Raven" - a real Halloween treat! (although if you leave it playing, the segment following is a bit dated.) :)

With that, I'm off.....

However you're celebrating tonight, I wish you a magical time of it!!!

Happy Halloween!!
~ Carolee

Two More Days!!

Halloween excitement is building here, and while part of me can't wait for the big day, another part of me doesn't want it to end.... Much like Christmas, it's the whole season I enjoy, and the anticipation is as much fun as the main event. I'm off to the market this afternoon to pick up candy (LOTS of candy, hehe!) We typically get anywhere from 100 to 200 kids through our neighborhood, and I like to have enough for a couple of pieces each, and always let the little ones help themselves. I'm also big on what we used to call "the good candy"; snickers bars, m&ms, reeses peanut butter cups and so on. Was anyone else disappointed as a kid when someone would hand you a piece of gum or some tiny generic candy? I remember it as if it were yesterday.....nevermind that all "the good candy" went straight to my hips, where it remains to this day. ;)

Apologies for not having anything listed on eBay at the moment, but I'm dividing my time between listings and commissions this week (new work is coming SOON, I promise!) My last Halloween chair of the year is still alone over at Etsy, so I hope to have new listings there soon as well...

Oh! And I'll also have a new playlist after Halloween (Christmas and Solstice music -yay!!) so if you like the autumn stuff, give a listen while you can. ;)

That's about it for today...The EHAG giveaway is still in full swing (see the previous post) so remember drop by there too, if you haven't already!

Happy Haunting!!
~ Carolee

A Ghoulish Giveaway

One of my pieces - a tiny treat box - is included in a giveaway this week (along with lots of other wicked cool EHAG art!) Just click here and it will take to the EHAG Art blog, where you can leave a comment to have your name added to the magic cauldron. Enter anytime between now and Halloween. The winners will be announced Saturday November 1st.:)

Have fun!
~ Carolee

Wicked Stitches and Magic Mending.....

Just had to share this one, listing tonight on eBay. At 6" in diameter, it's the perfect size for shelf or tabletop, there at the ready for sewing a button or raising a hem. I think it would make a great button box too.


There's even a little needle and thread painted inside. :)

On to news....

I'm off to the wilds tomorrow for the annual autumn cabin-ladies weekend. If you've been following my blog for any length of time, you've already read the cabin-ladies definition ad nauseum so feel free to skip this part, hehe:

The cabin ladies are a group of wonderful women friends, who get together several times a year in a rented cabin for the purpose of doing absolutely nothing but relaxing for three or four days. It's kind of like camping, but with amenities like heat, hot water, and appliances, and accessories like breadmakers and wine glasses. No guys, no tv, no computers no phone - just reading, knitting, cooking, scrabble, walks in the woods - basically good food, good wine, good conversation and good friends. Doesn't get much better than that. ;)

When I return, there'll be lots of wicked cool goodies to work on: a spice/apothecary shelf, some signs, a recipe box, and a beautiful birch tea chest with brass hinges. Several commisssions are also in the works just to keep me on my toes. :)

Finally - an appeal! One of the aforementioned cabin ladies is looking for a home for four adorable tortoiseshell kittens (mostly black and orange, and one with a white blaze!) These little girls would just love to find a good home, so if you're fairly local, stable, I know you, and you would like to adopt a kitten for Halloween, please email me. I'd take one myself, but with two Aussie dogs and three cats in a 1500 sq ft house, we just can't. And our 16 year old girl Cheetah is becoming a little senile and won't tolerate another girl in the house (torties are nearly always girls the same way ginger cats are nearly always boys - fun fact for the day. :))

On that note, I'm off to have a very late dinner and get packed for the weekend.....

Happy week-before-Halloween, all!

~ Carolee

My Very First Interview!

I've been dying to share this with you for DAYS now, but as anyone who knows me will attest, I'm a bit technically challenged....so it took me awhile to figure out how to use the scanner, hehe....

Celebrate 365 magazine is an absolutely gorgeous quarterly publication for the holiday and ornament collector, so when I was contacted by editor Connie Porcher about an article, I was extremely honored, and more than a little excited! When she told me one of my pieces would grace the back cover (the Poe purse on the left), I was pinching myself, haha...


It's truly a dream come true to see my work counted among "some of America's best known folk artists"; the fall issue also includes interviews with fellow EHAG artists Scott Smith, Johanna Parker, Sheila Bentley, Matthew Kirscht and many, many other well known artists.....Here's the photo, showing three of my pieces, which accompanies the interview:


Please do check out this wonderful publication - it's a must-have for the collector - just filled with Halloween and holiday eye candy! Thanks so much again, Connie, for including me. :)

Okay, back to reality now, and back to work. Look for a new piece later today (assuming I can get my head out of the clouds, hehe!)

~ Carolee