♥ A Mad Tea Party and a Mad Giveaway! ♥

It's that time again....

Have you been anxiously awaiting it as I have?

It's the annual *Mad Tea Party*, right here in bloglandia, hosted by the always enchanting Vanessa Valencia, and her handsome cohort, the Mad Hatter, at Vanessa's blog "A Fanciful Twist". For those of you not familiar, this is annual blog-hopping sort of event, beginning on the aforementioned blog, where all the Mad Tea Party participants are listed...

Visit any or all, as time allows, but I feel that more is always better, especially when it comes to madness. ;)

So let the party begin!

Let's see, we'll need a teapot...I love them all. You decide. ♥

Now let's see what's in the Mad Tea Chest...

Maybe a cup of herbal brew?

And what tea party would be complete without sweets? I've baked up a batch of pink lemonade cupcakes just for the occasion. And how fun is the tea cozy? It was a gift from a very talented collector friend. So sweet of her. ♥

I love, love, LOVE tea parties, don't you?!

I'm so glad you came to visit, and hope you come back again to have a further look around! But before you go, do leave a comment - any comment will do - and you'll be entered to win this whimsical little painting "Down the Rabbit Hole". This is an original, not a print, painted in acrylics on 5" x 5" gallery canvas, and signed by the artist (me). :)

The edges are painted too, so there's no need for a frame.

I'll draw the winner's name via random number generator next Saturday, July 2, at 9PM.

Until then, "Oh my ears and whiskers, how late it's getting!"....I must be off...

Happy Mad Tea Party Day!

♥´¨)
¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*´¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•´ ♥ Carolee

Mad About Tea!

I know, I know - I said I'd share this piece in the Mad Tea Party post. But I think it deserves it's own post, hehe....

This is one of those pieces that came together like ~*magic*~ from beginning to completion, inspired by not only my love of tea, and of Alice in Wonderland, but of the firm belief that we really ARE mad here, and yes, all the best people are!

It's hand made here in Pennsylvania of birch wood, with brass hardware, and wooden ball feet, painted in acrylics and finished with a clear, acrylic varnish.

It measures 15" x 7 1/2" x 4 1/4", and comes signed, dated, and numbered 1/1, with a certificate of authenticity.

I'm offering this for direct sale here on the blog on a first-come basis, and passing on my savings of those eBay fees. $275 plus shipping to the first person to email me at carolee@kingofmice.com. :) UPDATE ~SOLD~

(I should add that the tea is from my personal stash, and not included, but I'll send just a couple of bags anyway!)

Thanks, as always, for taking a peek at my newest creation! I'll be back very soon with new work and more rambling, hehe....

♥ Carolee

Won't You Join Me?

Do come in...

Magic and madness are afoot...

You see, I've been working, working, working - spinning like a dervish most days, and until just a day ago had completely forgotten about the Mad Tea Party! A sacrilege of sorts, when you consider how much I adore all things tea, and how much FUN Miss Vanessa Valencia's annual Tea Party event always turns out to be. But the oddest things conspired to remind me....First, there was an email from my very talented woodworker agreeing make me just a few more tea chests (yay!) Then, just a few hours later, there was a crazy, windy thunderstorm, and when I threw open the windows to cool the house a bit, it blew a box of tea right off the countertop, depositing it at my feet (a sign from the Tea Gods to be sure!) Finally, I was surfing the internet for things related to party invitations (more on this at a later date), and I kept coming across the phrase "The Mad Catter"....WELL, you don't need to hit ME over the head...

Okay, sometimes you do. But eventually I come around...

Which brings us to the magic and madness (a Mad Tea Party and a giveaway!) Let's just have a peek in the pantry to see which kind of brew we'll try... Tea? Tisane? Chai? Iced? Hot? Green? Black? Herbal? Rooibos? Decisions, decisions...

I think I'll have the Lady Grey. Love, love, love bergamot. I should add here that my tea pantry is usually not nearly this neat. I knew you were coming, so I tidied up a bit. :)

Now, how about a teapot? Which would you choose?

I think the red and black. OK, it's technically a coffeepot - But it has a very definite Mad Tea Party feel, don't you think?

Now all we need is something sweet to go with our tea...

Lemon bars?

Perfection. I think lemon and tea were meant for each other in the same way as strawberries and chocolate are...or red wine and a really good brie. It just doesn't get much better.

By the way, how adorable is the Alice in Wonderland Tea cozy and hot pad set? They were a gift from a collector, who made them herself. Sooooooo sweet, and not the only gift recently. I must remember to write an entire post about all the goodies people have surprised me with these past months. It's just amazing to think of all the people who support and encourage my work, and to receive gifts on top of that is ...well, overwhelming

I wish I could give a gift back to each and every one of you, but if I did that, I'd need to get a real job before too long...I can do the next best thing though, which is a little giveaway. A very little giveaway - just a couple of inches tall, this one....

A tiny trinket box of cupcakey goodness.

Sweet. :)

All you have to do is leave a comment here, and (this is important!) if you don't have a blog, leave your email address. I'll draw a name via random number generator one week from today, on the morning of July 3rd.

I also have to share I have the most marvelous "Mad Catter" tea chest in progress, so do check back. I'm using my big ginger boy Arthur as a model....

Isn't he a love? I can just picture him serving tea in a big hat...perhaps with the Dormouse....can't you? I'll update this post with a photo as soon as it's finished.

In the meantime, I'm off to do a bit of visiting myself, so make yourself at home - have a lemon bar, enjoy a cup of your favorite brew, and have a look around.

I'll be back very soon!
♥ Carolee

Tea With the Girls :)

For years now, I've been wanting to host a Witches' Tea. I mean, not only do I love cooking (and I'm pretty good at it!) but it would give me the chance to use some of the many teapots I collect. It would be in October of course, AFTER the Ghoultide Gathering (when I can take a breath, haha) and we'd sip tea, eat finger sandwiches and scones, wear pointy hats and shoes, and cackle like old hens...Doesn't that sound perfect?!

Until then, I can dream. And make more art, hehe....


This one will list on eBay tonight at 9PM eastern, unless someone wants to purchase it directly before that ($160, just email me). At 21" x 11" it's a pretty good size - large enough for a door crown. :) UPDATE - SOLD

Next up is a tall display stand, perfect for showing off a jack-o-lantern or favorite collectible.

In the meantime, there are errands to run, so I'm off! I'll be back very soon with more photos though. Wishing everyone a *magical* Monday!

♥ Carolee

Still Immersed in Wonderland....

Well, the Mad Tea Party was (I mean IS!) soooooooo much fun, I just had to paint it....

These hand made wooden tea chests are one of my absolute favorite things to paint, but this is the very last one! The wonderful artisan who designed these is no longer making them. Needless to say, I wanted to make this last one truly special....

It took DAYS and DAYS to paint all the detail, and to be honest, I toyed with the idea of keeping it here (especially since I LOVE the Mad Tea Party theme)- but sell it I must....

It's listed now on eBay, with a buy it now option. :)

I'm still visiting all the Mad Tea Partiers, although at the rate I'm going, it may take the rest of the week, hehe! Many thanks to everyone who's dropped by my little party the last couple of days - I do hope to reciprocate!

That's about it for tonight...It's shaping up to be a busy week, so stay tuned for more wicked and whimsical art....

Until next time,
♥ Carolee

The King of Mice and Queen of Painting Attend a Mad Tea Party!

Sound the trumpets, throw the confetti, raise the banners, release the balloons and begin the drumroll, please.....

Today's the day for the fabulous Miss Vanessa Valencia's "Mad Tea Party"!

For those of you not familiar, this year makes it officially an annual event; a magical cyber tea-party of sorts, where just like Alice, you can "begin at the beginning and go on until you come to the end: then stop." :)

Just click here, and you'll be magically transported to Wonderland (the beginning) and make your way from there to visit all the other Mad Tea Partiers, including yours truly!

The King of Mice and I had our own little Mad Tea Party this morning, attended by the White Rabbit in the form of a teapot. Three white rabbits if you count the sugar and creamer...

Don't the cupcakes look yummy?! They're French vanilla, with real vanilla beans and homemade buttercream icing. I topped them with sprinkles galore and sugared black raspberries....

The tea is called "Happiness", and was very kindly sent to me by a wonderful collector who makes these delicious blends herself - soooooooooooooo good! If you'd like to try some, you can visit her at Magical Momentz (I ♥ the Flower Power blend!)

And while we're on the subject of tea, isn't it absolutely liquid magic??!! I adore tea, and think there are very few day to day troubles that can't be assuaged by a deep breath and a cup of hot tea. Pure magic. ;)

I'll be spending the weekend "visiting" with the other Tea Partiers, as I put the details on an Alice inspired tea chest....

It's the very last one I have, and I've been saving it for something special. The piece itself is beautifully made by a local artisan. I love the brass piano hinge at the back. A little sketch, a little paint, and it's transformed....



Oh!! And silly me - in all the excitement, I nearly forgot. I have a little Alice in Wonderland inspired giveaway to share! Just a little trinket - a purple glass bottle, bejeweled and labeled "Drink Me". Fun, yes?! All you have to do to enter is leave a comment here, and if you're a blog follower (very easy to sign up), you'll be entered twice. Easy-peasy. I'll draw a name next Saturday morning. :)

Off I go visiting now, running as late as the White Rabbit.....

(¯`v´¯)
`*.¸.*´
¸.•´¸.•*¨) ¸.•*¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•´ .•´ ¸¸.•¨¯`• ~ Carolee

"Oh My Ears and Whiskers, How Late It's Getting!"

I confess - I'm the White Rabbit at the Tea Party!

Here it is, officially the 27th - the BIG DAY - and I'm up until the wee hours preparing everything for Vanessa's fabulous Mad Tea Party tomorrow....er, I mean today!

The cupcakes are very nearly finished....

They're French vanilla flavored - made with real vanilla beans, and homemade buttercream icing - yummmmmm. I was thinking perhaps some sugared black raspberries on top?

The little giveaway trinket is ready to go as well (open to all, and a double chance for blog followers!)...details tomorrow - um, I mean later today, hehe!

I've selected some fabulous teas, although haven't yet decided which of the White Rabbit teapots to use. The King of Mice will be attending too, and I hope the rest of the cast of characters make an appearance as the day progresses; I'll be alternately blog hopping and painting a hand made wooden tea chest with an Alice in Wonderland theme, so stay tuned. ;)

Right now, it's the arms of Morpheus for me...I'll be up reasonably early eastern time, at which point I'll share more photos and join the party!

See you in a few hours!
♥ Carolee

Wonderland

Lewis Carroll's Alice has long been one of my favorite literary characters. A child lost in a confusing, topsy-turvy and absolutely arbitrary world....She falls down a rabbit hole, she grows, she shrinks, she changes, she wonders if she's still the same girl, or a different girl entirely...All of a sudden, the world makes no sense!

Probably because, as the Cheshire Cat explains, "We're all mad here." ;)

Truer words were never spoken.....er, written - about the world Alice is trying to navigate; the world all children learn to navigate. A world of characters both beautiful and scary. Whose inner child can't relate to that?

Beyond simply relating, Wonderland is also an absolute WEALTH of artistic inspiration! The White Rabbit, the Cheshire Cat, the hookah smoking Caterpillar, and perhaps most of all, the Mad Tea Party...

The photos shown here are from the Tim Burton film scheduled to open in March 2010 - Can you WAIT??! I'm not sure I can, teehee....Seriously, Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter? Does it get any better?!

Yep - bated breath waiting for this one.....

In the meantime, there are a couple of other "Alice" fixes to be found. First, the film "Phoebe in Wonderland" available as of today on DVD (and at the toppermost of my netflix queue!) Check the trailer here and listen to what Patricia Clarkson says about the "awful normals". ;)

There's also the fabulous Vanessa Valencia's Mad Tea Party, coming up this very Saturday! I need to make something very special for this one - perhaps a tea chest or tea box (Oooooooh - an Alice Tea Box?!), maybe some cupcakes, maybe even a little giveaway - not sure yet, but stay tuned!

Right now, I'm off to finish a Christmas commission - which is providing some much needed mind-over-matter coolness in today's 80-something degree temps.

Back very soon with a couple of new pieces, at least one of them Alice inspired. Until then, tell me your own favorite Alice character if you have one!

♥ Carolee