EHAG Emporium Debut!

I wanted to create something truly special for the grand opening of EHAG's new online marketplace, and hope I've succeeded....This original, one of a kind apothecary chest is hand made of birch wood here in rural Pennsylvania, originally designed as a replica of old colonial "salt boxes".....


But I wouldn't put salt in it.....Noooooo, I think it would be put to better use holding perfume, or jewelry, or perhaps stationary supplies and notecards....almost anything really.

If ever a piece was infused with creative magic, this it it, hehe - I enjoyed every minute of it!


The moon perched high atop the scrollwork is sculpted for a three dimensional effect.


The interior is decoupaged with vintage look, burnished edge papers.



At $345 (no eBay fees, yay!) it's up for grabs to the first person to email me at carolee@kingofmice.com, and comes to you signed and dated, with a certificate of authenticity. (I'm open to two payments on this one too).

I have to add a big thank you to Jen over at Gypsy Mare Studios for all the work she's put into the EHAG Emporium debut! Jen has selflessly donated her time and energy to create a place for EHAG artists to display their work online, and for collectors to browse the finest in contemporary Halloween art and collectibles. Thank you, Jen!

Look for the next EHAG Emporium update on March 31st, and look for more goodies from my little studio in a day or two. I think there's one lone ornament left on Etsy now, so it's time to replenish, and there's an echo over at eBay, so look for something there very soon as well.

In the meantime, thanks very much for visiting, and have a happy and *creative* week!

♥ Carolee

♥ Etsy Goodness ♥

Just popping to share that I've finally (don't faint or anything) listed a few items in the Etsy shop. Eight pieces of Valentine whimsy - sooooooo much fun!

I just love this one, a little canvas painting with yummy buttons and a ric-rac hanger....

I'll be back again very soon with details about the new EHAG Emporium, and possibly a sneek peek, so stay tuned!
*UPDATE* - Four of the Etsy goodies have sold, with four remaining. :)

♥ Carolee

One World ♥ One Heart

It sounds so hopeful, doesn't it? Kind of like a big lovefest....


That's because it IS.....

One World, One Heart is a worldwide blog event created by the enchanting Lisa Swifka over at "A Whimsical Bohemian". Beginning today, and for two weeks, we can jump aboard the magic carpet and be whisked away to bloglandia, stopping here and there along the way, meeting new friends, connecting with kindred spirits, and extending goodwill with our little *giveaways*.

Which brings me to my own humble offering for this year's event....


A wooden Valentine Box, hand painted by Yours Truly, and adorned with sparkly pink Swarovski crystals. There's a message inside too, from me to you....


Mon Ami. My friend. :)

In keeping with the event's guidelines, all you have to do to enter is leave a comment here (be sure to include your blog and/or contact info), and I'll draw a name on February 15th. Yes, it's the day after Valentine's Day, but I think this little box could stay out all year, don't you?


What would you put in something like this? Pennies? Candy Kisses? Needle and thread? Car keys? Jewelry? CATNIP?! Wherever it goes, and whatever use it's put to, it will arrive with my blessings, and my wish that it bring many years of enjoyment. :)

Thank you in advance for taking the time to visit with me! I'll try to make the rounds as I can, although I'm absolutely buried in commission work this week, so it may take awhile. In the meantime, please know that I LOVE hearing from you, and do sincerely appreciate you dropping by!

One World, One Heart....what a lovely ring that has. Maybe we can make it happen, one event like this, one creation at a time. ;)

Artful Blessings,
♥ Carolee
PS - If you're new to this event, just click at the banner up top and you'll be magically transported to a list of participants - some host giveaways for bloggers only, some (like myself) include everyone, whether or not they have a blog, or just visit. Have fun!

Coming Up for Air...

Has it really been over a week since I've poked my head in here??? Surely it can't be more than a day or two....

No excuse, I know, except to say I've been completely IMMERSED this week. In this....

and this...

and this...

It all began with a little orange and black base coating on a wooden sewing chest. Some cloudy swirls, a checkerboard....

More checks, more color, a bit of lettering.....

Then it was time to get carried away with detail. Some silhouettes. A few buttons and baubles, ribbons and sparkle, tiny paintings....and voila...

"Wicked Stitches"

I can't begin to tell you how much fun this piece was (and how tempted I am to keep it, hehe)...But there's that pesky matter of bills and such, so sell it I must. It will list on eBay this evening at 9PM, and will probably have some kind of reserve, given the time involved. ;)

Today will be spent working on commissions, and then there are some heart shaped boxes calling my name....

And all these red buttons and ribbons...

I think they'd make great trim for the boxes, yes? They'll probably end up on Etsy, but I'm not sure yet.

Oh! And speaking of hearts, if you're a collector, and haven't already, scroll back a few posts to the Valentine's Box giveaway and leave a comment. I'll be drawing a name on Feb 1st.

That's about it for now....I will truly try to pop in more often. And thank you, thank you, thank you all for your kind comments here and on facebook. I don't always have time to respond individually, but please know how much I appreciate your visits and kind words. They mean the world to me. :)

~♥~ Carolee ~♥~

Tales to Tell and Work to Share and Photos Near the End...

Warning, this could get long, hehe....

There's been sooooooo much going on in our little world here, I hardly know where to start. I suppose I'll just do as the King said to the White Rabbit: "Begin at the beginning and go on till you come to the end: then stop."

For starters, I've been dividing time between painting and doctor and hospital visits...

If you read here regularly, you know my husband John has had two major heart surgeries in less than two years. Well, that kind of invasive procedure - twice no less - can apparently wreak havoc with the heart's rhythm, which is just what happened; his heart rate at rest was far higher than what most people experience with vigorous aerobic exercise - YIKES! So after trying several meds to no avail, they decided to shock his heart. Like you see on TV, with the paddles. Just like a clock, they re-set it.

Scary, but I'm happy to say it worked, and John is on his way back to work this week. The doctor's recommendation was early next month, but he does feel better, and after a letter from his employer (a large corporation) saying they would no longer hold his position, he decided to go back tout de suite. Aren't big corporations wonderful?! Don't even get me started....

I've also had my own issues with an old ankle injury - well, three old injuries actually - which have left tendons and ligaments destroyed, and the recommendation is either surgery (with about a 50% chance of making it worse) or wear a brace for the rest of my life. Big fun, yes? On hearing the news, I had a good cry for about five minutes, then snapped out of it (remembering how blessed I am to be mobile at all) and decided I needed to lose weight and find a really cool cane. Which I did. Find a cane, that is. One with butterflies. (The weight loss will take just a wee bit longer I'm afraid.)

Do you suppose they make Halloween canes? Someone should paint one, don't you think? ;)

On the painting front, things are just AMAZING, with (as usual) more ideas spinning around in my brain than I know what to do with. The question is never "What to paint?", but "What to paint FIRST?!"

This one is listed on the PFATT Marketplace now, up for grabs to the first person to email me. Painting it made me want to abandon all thoughts of a diet and bake a batch of cupcakes instead, hehe....*UPDATE* - SOLD

And this one is up for grabs on eBay this evening at 9PM (eastern). I credit my black cat Merlin with inspiring it - he always wants to "help" me knit, haha...

Speaking of knitting, I've made so many scarves and wraps lately - yummy purples and pinks, deep charcoals, soft ivory....

I can't show you more than a peek because they're post-holiday gifts and the recipients read my blog. I'll share complete photos on Ravelry later, after I've gifted them.So warm and cuddly, and just the thing to keep me busy when we have movie night around here. Which reminds me, have you seen Julie and Julia? Loved it. :)

Oh! And I have two VERY exciting things to share. First, there's a new Marketplace opening soon, where I'll be offering one very special piece on the 31st of the month.

You can imagine a fanfare now - trumpets and flags, confetti and lights - TA-DAAAA!:

The EHAG Emporium!

I've been a member of this incredible group of Halloween artists for several years now, but this is our first foray into the world of blog sales. Kind of exciting because it gives collectors a chance to snag a one of a kind original without having to go through the bidding process on eBay. So stay tuned, and check the blog for updates, sneak peeks, etc.

The NEXT exciting thing I have to share is the 2010 Ghoultide Gathering!!

The date is set - Saturday, October 2, in Northville, Michigan. I'll be there with bells on (um, OK I'll be there with a new brace on) and I'm already giddy thinking of all the Halloween art goodies, meeting the other artists again, and MOST of all, meeting collectors (always the best part of any show!) So if you're planning a weekend getaway this fall, and you're withing striking distance, please do think about attending. I was reading last year that this one is fast becoming the country's premiere Halloween art show, and trust me, if you go, you'll see why. Truly amazing work, and truly amazing, supportive, FUN people. As the time gets closer, I'll post info on details, reasonable accommodations, and so on, so mark your calendar!

That's about it for now...Are you still with me, or did you fall asleep ages ago, hehe? Sometimes there's a little news and sometimes there's LOTS of news, and this was one of those times.

I'm off to make our very late dinner now - an extra spicy curry with basmati rice - yummmmm. I'll be back very soon with a peek at yet another piece - "Wicked Stitches"....

In the meantime, have a *magical* and creative week!!

♥ Carolee

A Quick Peek

Flying in very quickly to share a sneek peek at tonight's (tomorrows?) PFATT Marketplace offering....whimsical, sparkly, cupcakey goodness...

I'll be back very soon with LOTS of news. And if you're a collector, don't forget to scroll back a few posts to enter the giveaway!

♥ Carolee

Jumping Ahead

I do my best to live in season, I really do. Local produce as long as possible, herbs from my own garden, canned and fresh frozen in the dead of winter...basically trying to live in tune with each season as it unfolds. It's one of the reasons I wanted so badly to move east all those years ago; to live in a place where there was evidence (however inconvenient at times, hehe) of the natural cycle of things - warming to hot, cooling to cold, planting to growth to harvest, and so on....It feels right to me. :)

But art being business as well as pleasure, my paintbrush always seems to jump ahead. Of necessity, I usually spend winter painting spring and summer, summer painting autumn, autumn painting winter, and so it goes.

To that end, here's the very first spring piece of 2010. You can click the photo for a larger image....

I just love the little charm to draw faeries to the garden, and think someday I must paint one of these for myself.

Other spring inspired pieces are in the works too - as well as Halloween (NEVER too early for that, haha!). But as I paint them, I'll watch the snow fall. I'll simmer winter stews on the stovetop, brew pot after pot of tea, burn candles, and perhaps let my thoughts wander to what herbs I'll plant this year, what lilies for the koi pond, and what little garden space to set aside for the faeries.

How about you? Are you jumping ahead yet, just a little?

♥ Carolee

Halloween Twenty Ten

Is it ever too early to think about Halloween?

Naaaaawwwww.....

This whimsical little treat box is listed on eBay now, along with a new Innkeeper's sign for the cat lover. With three rescue cats here, I think I need one of these myself, hehe (click on the photo for a close up of the eyes - I LOVE painting the eyes!)

Lots of new goodies in the works too - a clock, a table, and a few other surprises. More ideas spinning around in my head than I know what to do with...Yep, I'm thinking 2010 will be a magical, creative year!

Back very soon!

♥ Carolee