*Enchantment* to Share!

(This will probably get long, but I have much to tell, hehe!)

Last week, my friend Jen (the photographer here) and I visited Ravenbrook, the enchanting realm of our friend, artist and collector Hugh Luck. Having seen Ravenbrook in photos, and knowing Hugh's exquisite taste in antiques, we were something like children in a candy store. It was like stepping into a folk tale...

The exterior of Ravenbrook, decorated for Halloween, a gargoyle standing watch over the front door...

Even the garage is enchanting....

The handsome Mr. Luck, seated in his study. Notice the collection of antique globes...

A few of those globes displayed with a Scott Smith original Hugh acquired at last year's Ghoultide Gathering (love this piece!)

In the living room, an English tavern sign with carved raven. Just magical!

In the same room, an antique table once owned by Carolyn Wyeth - and I do believe another Scott Smith piece. :)

A view from the opposite end of the room, with an antique wrought iron gate in the doorway...

In the tavern room, a surprise; the fellow sitting on the corner is an original figure from Disneyland's "Pirates of the Carribean" ride!

In the "Halloween Room", whimsy abounds...

And one of Hugh's original paintings hangs on the wall behind the display case. I wish I could show it larger here, it's just infused with Halloween spirit. If you look closely, you'll see Hugh's black cat Spooky painted in...

And here's the real Spooky in the kitchen, one of my teapots to the left, and another of Hugh's paintings behind. Again, I wish I could show the painting in it's entirety; it's a mouse-eye view from inside a jack-o-lantern!

Truly one of the most stunning homes I've ever seen!

Bidding a reluctant goodbye to Ravenbrook (but not to Hugh) we all set out for a drive up the Delaware river to the first annual Spookytime Jingles Soiree, an art show where a few EHAG friends were exhibiting. We met these friends and a few others, old and new, and had great fun seeing all the Halloween goodies offered.

As many of you know, I don't do photos, but here are some of my friends, who DO, hehe...From left to right, here's Amelia Schaefer, a.k.a. "Sweet B", Chris Klingler of Designs by CK, Jennifer MacNeill Traylor of Gypsy Mare Studios, and Lori Rudolph of Retro Rudolphs...

And a shot of Sweet B's display, with Lori's right behind it...

We also met fellow EHAG artists Kim Hardt and Jorge de Rojas, as well as several other STJ artists, who were all just so sweet.

After a good bit of time oohing and ahhing at the show, a few of us ran up to Lambertville for lunch, to this wonderful place Hugh recommended (if you're in the area, you must go!)

It was an altogether delightful weekend - good friends, good art, good food - what more could anyone want? (OK, maybe the good wine my friends enjoyed at lunch, but I was driving, so had to behave myself, hehe)...

Back to reality, I settled in the next day to tackle some overdue commission work (those of you with orders, I'm making headway slowly but surely, I promise!), and begin a few sketches for Christmas and Yuletide pieces, and hopefully a few cards. Stay tuned...

Next up are two very cool Halloween parties (one an over-the-top Willy Wonka themed gathering, complete, I'm told by the hosts, with "lickable wallpaper" (martinis needed for this one, methinks!), followed by Cabin Ladies Weekend over Halloween. More on this in another post!

Are you cross-eyed yet? Either way, I suppose I should give both of us a break and head back to the studio, where those commissions are calling my name. ;)

Stay tuned for new goodies on eBay and Etsy very soon, and in the meantime, I wish you a magical and enchanting Halloween season!!

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(¸.•´ (¸.•´ .•´ ¸¸.•¨¯`• ~ Carolee