Cute as a Button, Part Two. ♥

I'm having such fun with these button paintings! Here are two I finished today, which will be up for grabs tomorrow in the Etsy shop, unless they're snapped up first (larger than the previous ones, at 8" x 8", and $75 + $10 shipping)

You can't really see it in the pics, but there's a white rick-rack hanger at the top. Sooooo cute.

UPDATE - Both now sold. :)

I'll be working madly on commissions and a piece for the PFATT Marketplace this week, as well as catching up on a few things around the house, and applying for a new passport. Hard to believe the big road trip is just about 3 months away now!

Must run now, but I'll be back very soon...

♥ Carolee
PS - if you'd like one of the button paintings, just shoot me an email at carolee@kingofmice.com

"Friends and Familiars"

Just popping in for a minute to share the latest black cat painting - a large Innkeeper's sign, perfect for the black cat lover (apologies for the slight glare - black is soooo difficult to photograph)...

In light of the economy - and truth be told, the need to generate a little cash for car repairs - I'm offering just two of these for direct purchase at $125 each, on a first come basis (The usual price is $195 via commission). If you're interested, shoot me an email at carolee@kingofmice.com. :) UPDATE - BOTH SOLD.

Still madly painting Halloween signs, most for the upcoming Ghoultide Gathering, but I hope to share at least one more here in the next couple of days!

In the meantime, I'm wishing everyone in the U.S. a happy and safe holiday weekend, and holding those still dealing with the aftermath of Irene's wrath close to my heart.

♥ Carolee

"Wicked Good Brew"

Flying in to share the latest Halloween piece, a large plate/platter I just finished this afternoon...

Sooooo much fun (and hard to believe the Halloween countdown has already begun!) It's up for grabs on eBay now.

Lots of new pieces in the works as well - for eBay, for Etsy, for the EHAG Emporium, for the PFATT Marketplace, and for the Ghoultide Gathering. And of course playing catch-up on commissions. ;)

That's about it for now, but I'll be back soon with another update. In the meantime, have a *magical* and creative rest of the week. :)

♥ Carolee
PS - if you click on the link for the EHAG Emporium (above) you'll find a fabulous giveaway to enter!

Moon Gazing Hares and a Tiny Surprise!

"A Young Hare" by Albrecht Durer (1471-1528)

There times when researching a piece can be almost as fun as the painting process, when one story or tale leads you to another and another and another, until you fall down the proverbial Rabbit Hole - pun intended in this case, as the research this week has been about moon gazing hares, their presence in both eastern and western myth and legend, connection to the Goddess Eostre, and evolution into what we know today as the Easter Bunny. ;)

It's that time of year, when inspiration is found in all things Celtic and magical, and all things symbolizing rebirth and fertility...Then of course, there's the whole "Mad as a March Hare" thing...It's all just too rich and vivid not to paint! Soooooo, long story short, if you're tiring of seeing Hares and Rabbits here, I'll ask you to indulge me just a weeeeeee bit longer - and I promise I'll throw a bit of Halloween into the mix as well. :)

Speaking of which, there's a little black cat piece I call "Surprise!" up for grabs on eBay at the moment...

If you click here and check out the listing, you'll see the little surprise inside the drawer. ;)

That's about it for today, and I have much painting to do, so I'll close here. I promise to share the finished moon gazing hare piece both here and on facebook before listing it.

In the meantime, I wish you all a magical and creative rest-of-the-weekend...

Back very soon!

♥ Carolee

Black Cat Enchantment and Forging Ahead...

Hello!

I'm back already with new work.:) Not that I haven't fallen off the wagon once or twice with computer time, but all in all, I'm really working at the balance thing (see previous post).

Although I must admit it's easy to stay focused when I'm completely immersed in a piece, as I was with this one. There's something truly mystical and enchanting about black cats - like magic is afoot when I paint them...

This one is listed on eBay now. :)

On the home front, those of you who've been reading here awhile know about John's recent (and not so recent) health challenges. The short version is that after two major heart surgeries, and a successful recovery, his lymphoma is out of remission again, and he's now facing two rounds of radiation, which will begin in a couple of weeks.

The doctors tell us chances at a full remission are good, although they can't say for how long - but it's slow progressing, which is good, and we'll take what we can get. We're optimistic, and determined to take it one day at a time, but also realize our lives are about to change pretty drastically. For my own part, I'll be maintaining a full painting schedule, taking care of John, the pets and the house, running the errands, doing shipping, and hopefully some of the driving into the city (we're still working on housing and transportation).

So I want to apologize in advance if I'm slow at returning emails and facebook messages, and I ask that at least during this time, everyone refrain from sending me forwards and such. I just don't have time to manage and delete them all - hope you understand. I'll also be limiting shipping runs to twice a week, probably on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Finally, I want to thank all of you for your prayers and positive thoughts, and most especially for your understanding when correspondence and commissions run a bit late. I'm doing my best to keep up, and I will get to it, I promise. :)

John and I are truly blessed to have such amazing friends and family, and I know we'll get through this. Much love to all of you!

♥ Carolee

Of Critters, Colds and Commissions :)

It's only been a couple of days, but I have much to tell, so this will be one of those posts that's just all over the place (kind of like my addled brain lately, hehe) As some of you know, John makes good natured fun of me, describing my thought process as "X plus Y equals.....Oh look - a butterfly!"

Where was I?

Oh yes, Critters. I've been having so much fun painting cats and mice lately, I'm afraid I've neglected Halloween for Valentine's Day...I'll be back with a few spooky, witchy, wicked pieces very soon, but in the meantime, I want to share what I've been up to....

I had soooo much fun with this one, especially the outfits on the little mice - kind of like when I was a kid and would sit for hours drawing costumes for paper dolls. (Anyone remember paper dolls? Do kids still play with those? I hope so)...

And this one, similar to the trinket box you see in the previous post, which sold on the PFATT Marketplace. There was so much interest in the little teacup mouse, I painted one more on my very last box and listed it on eBay so everyone would have a fair chance to grab it...

It's titled "Sweet Dreams". :)

Which brings me to my not-so-sweet dreams of late, due to a nasty headcold I seem to have picked up from John, who's had a bad case of bronchitis for the last week or two. Ugh - I hate headcolds, and consider the most effective treatment to be a combination of Airborne, echinacea tea, zinc and DENIAL. And with a wicked cool Victorian Steampunk party at my friend Hugh's house this weekend, I'm determined to get over this. I want to party like it's 1899. ;)

Moving along, I want to add a few words about commissions. You may have noticed the little blurb on the upper right about the special order process, the beginning of a more in depth cautionary policy I need to write for new customers...You see, much as I love creating a piece with someone specific in mind, I've made a resolution of sorts this year to steer clear of repeating old designs. The fact is (and any artist will tell you this) the best work happens with fresh inspiration and the least amount of direction. It begins with the spark of an idea, a general theme, and from there it's a leap of faith on the part of the artist and the commissioner. So basically, if you're the trusting sort, and are OK with letting the magic unfold, I'll accept your order. If you want to manage the process and details, I'm probably not the artist you want. X plus Y equals "Oh look - a butterfly!" and all of that. ;)

Finally, I've had a few collectors send me photos recently, showing my work in it's new home!! I ♥ LOVE ♥ this!! It's such a blessing to know something I created is part of someone's holiday display or everyday world, but to actually SEE it makes me grin from ear to ear. It also gives me butterflies to see my work displayed with that of other artists I admire. :)

So next week I'll begin a series of posts sharing how some of you display your King of Mice goodies. To that end, if you'd like to join in the fun, please feel free to contact me at carolee@kingfmice.com for info on where to send photos (the kingofmice email address has limited space, so I'll shoot you another one).

Fun, yes?

That's about it for now, except to express my thanks for your support and encouragement and comments. I was so pleased that five of the six pieces on the PFATT Marketplace sold yesterday, and have received many kind comments about the article as well. The cupcake box is still up for grabs, and I hope it will find a home soon. :)

I'm off to have a very late supper of homemade chicken soup (I'm a very bad vegetarian when I'm sick) and watch the snowflakes fall.

Until next time,
♥ Carolee

Finally, Some eBay Magic....

To say I've been having anxiety over my empty eBay page would be an understatement - in the nine years I've been selling my work there, I've nevereverever gone so long (weeks - eek!) without an offering...But such is life when preparing for a show. ;)

So I'm happy to report I've remedied the situation this evening, with not one but two new pieces listed...

The first reflects my love for my beautiful black cat Merlin, and for all things TEA - indeed a magical potion, a cure-all for what ails you - truly a cup of liquid wisdom and tranquility...

This hand painted tea chest is listed on eBay now, with a buy-it-now option. :)

The second piece was also inspired by Merlin, and by the old English charm I've written around the edge, used to invoke the blessing of a black cat...

(As anyone who's ever been owned by one of these gorgeous creatures knows, they are indeed good luck!) It's also listed on eBay.

I'll try to list another piece or two before the big show, but no promises. ;)

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

♥ Carolee

Sneak Peek

Just popping in for a moment to share what is actually the first piece I've painted all month - eek!! Okay that's not completely true - I have been painting madly here, but it's all been for the upcoming Ghoultide Gathering show.

This one however, (which is based on an old English charm invoking the luck of a black cat) will be making it's debut on tonight's PFATT Marketplace update...

Black cats are indeed lucky, as anyone who's ever owned one will tell you. ;)

I hope to get something painted for eBay very soon too, but the clock is ticking and the show fast approaching, so we'll see...

In the meantime, it's back to the studio. :)

♥ Carolee

"Black Cats Prowl" on the EHAG Emporium...

"Black cats prowl and witches fly, Hallowe'en is drawing nigh"....


Here's my offering for this month's EHAG Emporium; a whimsical treat or treasure box, painted in acrylics on a birch wood box, which was hand made by a craftsman here in rural Pennsylvania.


I've added four wooden feet and a handle on the top, jack-o-lanterns all...

And inside, you'll find a shooting star. :)

The piece measures 6 1/2" x 6 1/2" and has been finished with a clear, acrylic varnish.

$185 plus shipping, which will vary depending on location. Please email me with questions or to purchase at carolee@kingofmice.com *UPDATE* ~ SOLD.

Thanks for taking a peek, and I'll be back with new work very soon!

♥ Carolee

Back So Soon....

Seems like I was just popping in here yesterday, hehe...Not to bore you with constant posts, but I just had to share this one, which unless it sells directly (feel free to email me if you're interested) will list tomorrow night on eBay...

I'll tell you, Merlin is a constant source of inspiration for wizard cats! Sometimes we really do think he's magic - he has the most amazing ability to disappear without a trace. Not to worry though- he always turns up for dinner. ;)

The wooden platter shown here measures 13 1/2" in diameter x 1", and comes signed, with a certificate of authenticity. $260 plus shipping. ~SOLD~

OK, off I go to work on another project now (no rest for the wicked, hehe)....

♥ Carolee

Blog Sale and PFATT Sneak Peek!

It's been awhile since I've had a sale here on the blog, and I thought it would be fun to try some smaller pieces. By saving on listing fees, I'm able to offer these a bit less than the eBay or Etsy prices, and considerably less than commission prices.

These pieces are available on a first come, first serve basis, via email to carolee@kingofmice.com, and payable via immediate paypal or credit card only. A brief description, dimensions, price and shipping information follows each item. Please click on the photos for a larger view. :)

And don't forget to scroll all the way to the bottom for a sneak peek at tonight's PFATT Marketplace listing, "Butterfly Blessings". :)


"Eek!", hinged wooden box, 3" x 3" x 3", $35 + $7 shipping anywhere in the US. SOLD



"Magic Moon", hinged wooden box, 3" x 3" x 3", $35 + $7 shipping anywhere in the U.S. SOLD


"Seek Magic", wooden box painted in acrylics, 6" x 3", $39 + $7 shipping anywhere in the U.S. SOLD


"Starlight", wooden box painted in acrylics, with magnetic closure. 6" x 3", $39 + $7 shipping anywhere in the U.S. LISTED NOW ON EBAY

Spring "Welcome" Signs on light sage green background, with free personalization offered at the bottom of the sign ("The Clarks", "Friends", etc) Two available, $39 each with shipping in the US anywhere from $7 to $14 depending on your location. LISTED NOW ON EBAY

Thanks for looking, and again, just email carolee@kingofmice.com with questions or to purchase. :)

Finally, a peek at tonight's PFATT Marketplace update. I've painted this magical birdhouse with blue butterflies against a celestial background...

It lists tonight at midnight (Pacific time, I believe) and is up for grabs to the first person to email. :) SOLD

♥ Carolee

♫ Hippity Hoppity ♫...

♫ Easter's on it's way ♫ ...(Whether I'm prepared or not!)

I'll tell you what, it really snuck up on me this year...Most years I have an entire menu planned by now (or occasionally reservations made, hehe). But this year time got the better of me and the upshot is that we've decided to take advantage of the absolutely perfect springlike weather here, and throw something on the grill. Probably salmon. With lemon dill sauce and steamed asparagus. I may even bake a carrot cake, although that will depend on how productive I am with the painting. Yes, I'm afraid I'll be painting tomorrow - no rest for the wicked, eh? ;)

It's been true insanity lately, as I try to catch up with commissions and still keep offerings on eBay, Etsy, The EHAG Emporium and the PFATT Marketplace. But it feels so good when a favorite project is finished, and I can send it out there into the world. Here's a peek at what I've been working on the last couple of days - a table/bench shown here in progress:

And here all finished:

It was quite literally a dream to paint (as in, it came to me in a dream last week) and I'm hoping a bit of the dream magic stay with it wherever it ends up traveling. As of this writing, there's a "buy it now" option on the eBay auction at a price well below (by about $240) the regular commission price for a piece like this.

The barn owl is still listed on eBay as well, inspired by Molly and McGee of live owl cam fame. If you haven't checked out the owl cam, you really must - it's truly amazing! The picture is in color during the day (California time) and goes to a night vision camera at night. Feeding time is not for the squeamish, but it's truly fascinating to see this wonderful owl family up close. Fair warning though, it can be addictive, hehe. :)

That's about it for now. I'll be back very soon with tales of tea and springtime, and hopefully a few more pieces to share...In the meantime, whether you celebrate Easter or Ostara, I wish you a *joyous* day tomorrow!!


♥ Carolee
PS - Be careful with those jelly beans! I bought what turned into THE most expensive box of jelly bellys EVER this week, when they caused a crown to come loose, resulting in an emergency visit to the dentist - ouch! :-)

Sketches and Paintings and Projects, Oh My!

Have you ever experienced such a rush of creativity you hardly know where to begin?

I'm not talking artistic creativity necessarily, but any kind of creativity - whether it's art or music, cooking or writing...knitting, sewing, tending a garden - whatever your particular bliss is. Have you ever felt so overwhelmed by it you completely lose track of time, of days even, and one idea sparks another until there are so many images swirling around in your head you feel breathless, and can't decide which ones to grab first?

It's been that kind of week here, completely inspired and exciting, - although there's also been a bit of sadness too, but I find that even that can fuel creativity. Self expression in any form is good for the soul, don't you think?

I have three pieces to share...the first is a sea witch treasure box, my version of a magical mermaid of sorts. It was inspired in part by music I was listening to last week; "Atlantic Driftwood" by Norland Wind - always the perfect inspiration for something from the sea - and Blackmore's Night, "Ocean Gypsy" in particular, (although this one is more of an ocean witch). Wonderful imagery in their music. The shell handle atop the box is one I found on a beach in Freeport many years ago....

The next piece is another painted from an aerial perspective (soooo fun painting things from a different vantage point), "Merlin's Magical Flight", an acrylic painting on gallery canvas....

Does it make you feel like you're flying?

And third, "Wisdom", an owl plaque inspired by the now famous Molly of the San Marcos owl cam. Yes, I admit it, I'm completely addicted, hehe....

Owls are such magical creatures, aren't they? I've been sketching Molly all week, and can hardly wait until the owlets are a little bigger - I'd love to paint the whole family, or at least Mom and a baby or two. This one will list on eBay tomorrow night.

As if all this isn't enough (insert loud fanfare of trumpets) tomorrow is the day the door opens on the March EHAG Emporium (at 9 PM eastern)! I have a super fun piece for this one, something completely different for the yard and/or garden, so check back tomorrow (March 31st) at 9 for details.

In the projects department, I have something very exciting to share which I hope will make at least a few collectors happy. There have been several requests over the years to illustrate a deck of cards, and I'm thrilled to report the opportunity has finally presented itself! The very talented Lunaea Weatherstone (who readers of Sage Women magazine will know as a contributor and former editor) approached me recently about illustrating an oracle deck she is in the process of writing. What fun! Working these illustrations into the regular schedule will be a challenge, and probably result in a limit on new commissions, and in getting a much earlier start on Ghoultide Gathering pieces, but I'll work it out. ;)

Next up (just a few more days) is a truly special piece for eBay; a table or bench, painted with mystical imagery from a recent dream. I often dream I'm painting something, and the subject is so vivid I wake, thinking it was real, and want to run to the studio to continue the painting. Is that crazy? Don't answer that, hehe...

In the meantime, it's another cold, rainy night here, so I'm off to warm a kettle of leftover soup, and call it a day.

Back tomorrow with details on that Emporium piece....

♥ Carolee

Serious Spring Fever

I know, I know....it's only March. And the Farmer's Almanac says we could still see some serious winter weather. So I'm truly trying not to get ahead of myself.

But there are tiny buds on the backyard lilac trees...

And lilies sprouting up along the fence....

And aconite flowering in the herb garden....

Even the koi seem to be waking from their winter stupor...

Now, I'm generally pretty good about living in tune with each season as it comes, appreciating the natural cycle of things and celebrating Mother Nature's magic as it unfolds.

But my goodness, this winter has been one for the record books!

So I find myself especially giddy anticipating the blessings of spring; longer days, warmer temps, flowers in the garden, birds at the feeder, planning and planting the herb garden at the back of the yard...Life, growth, renewal...it's truly a miracle, isn't it?!

Spring has also been making it's way into the work this week (with a little St. Patrick's Day and Halloween thrown in for good measure, hehe)...Here's a sneak peek at four trinket boxes which will be listing on eBay later this evening....

They'll each have a "buy it now" option, so if there's something you can't live without, you can grab it without going through the bidding and waiting process. :)

Oh - and be sure to check back on Tuesday for "Alice in PFATTland", when all the PFATT artists, myself included, will be offering pieces inspired by "Alice in Wonderland". I'm thinking a Cheshire Cat tea chest might be in order for this one, and perhaps a tea tray as well - we'll see what I have time for. I swear, when it comes to time, I'm like a greedy little kid in a candy store, whose eyes are too big for her stomach. I want to do it all, and never fail to underestimate just how LONG some of these projects can take, hehe...Ah well, at least we have an extra hour of daylight now, yes?!

Speaking of which, I need to be off to the studio. There's a commission calling my name, which I'm determined to finish before diving head first down the rabbit hole into Wonderland. :)

Wishing you all the blessings of whatever season you're in the midst of in your part of the world! I'll be back very soon with more goodies....

♥ Carolee

Of Whimsy and Magic and Childlike Wonder...

Like the banner above suggests, I feel pretty strongly it's all about the whimsy - be it Halloween or faeries, critters or creatures, you can HAVE the "darker" side of things. I mean, really, you can have it. To paraphrase something a fellow Halloween artist/friend said recently, if horror movies and gory Halloween props disappeared from the face of the earth tomorrow, I'd be a happy girl. I'm sorry but I will just never see how murder and mayhem constitutes entertainment. Life is too short and too precious to dwell on the ugly side of things, don't you think?

For me, it's all about the magic - that wide-eyed sense of wonder we felt as children, dressing up on Halloween and setting out at twilight, treat buckets in hand....

Speaking of which, I have a bit of that magic to share with you now...six minutes of Halloween eye candy, beautifully put together by Scott Smith of Rucus Studio:


Wasn't that just magical?!

It has me absolutely giddy with anticipation, and it's only February! At the risk of sounding like a broken record, if you're within striking distance, this show is a MUST SEE. Sooooooooo much fun. And if you visit the site, there's a list of this year's artists posted (which even for the fourth year makes me feel like a little kid sitting at the grown ups table, hehe) :)

See you there?!

In the meantime, I have another bit of whimsy to share - a tea chest finished just yesterday, and listed now on eBay.

I love the little mousie-witch hanging on to the cat's tail, and am thinking I need to paint a few more cat and mice pieces. They're just too fun.

A couple of Easter pieces are in the works as well, and of course, more Halloween, because it's NEVER too early.

Right now I'm off to brew up some of my own tea, watch the snowflakes fly (yet again, *sigh*) and play with paint and glitter.

Wishing you a day of magic and whimsy!

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

Of Alice Tea and Gypsy Moon...

Sometimes even the most positive, glass half full, borderline manic kinda girl can have an off day....

This morning, mine began with a messy house, a broken vacuum cleaner and a very painful day for the bad ankle. I wouldn't say I was grumpy exactly, but John would probably disagree. ;)

There were good things too - a sunny day, chickadees galore singing in the backyard, and lots of time to paint...but it's hard to stay "up" when you're in pain, you know? Sooooo, what to do? Procrastinate of course, hehe. Which in the end only adds more pressure because I'm behind schedule....So by the afternoon, I was....well, OK, I'll admit to perhaps just a weeeee bit of grumpiness.

Then a package arrived!

A lovely, cheerful, pick-me-up kind of package - the kind of package that banishes the grumps and makes you feel all warm and fuzzy. A very dear collector sent me this beautiful Alice in Wonderland tea cozy with two matching hot pads, and of course, I had to make tea RIGHT away, hehe...... How adorable is this???


Thank you, Susan!! You did indeed brighten my day!

After a cuppa Stash Lemon Ginger with honey (soooooooo good!) I settled down at the work table to work on two commissioned signs, both with a kind of magical theme - fun! I also managed to squeeze in a sign for eBay this week - The Gypsy Moon Cafe....

I can almost hear the guitars and tambourines, hehe...It's listed on eBay now, along with a couple of tiny trinket boxes - a Maine Coon Cat with a little red button...



and a Celtic black cat....

I just love the knotwork on this is one. :)

More goodies are coming soon, but first there's that commission work to finish (I'm actually getting caught up - YAY!) And work for the Ghoultide Gathering will begin soon as well....

In the meantime, it's dinner and a movie.

Have a wonderful rest of the weekend!

♥ Carolee

♥ ♪ ♫ That's Amore ♫ ♪ ♥

♫ "When the moon hits you eye like a big pizza pie, That's amore....
When the world seems to shine like you've had too much wine, That's amore"... ♫

Gotta love Dean Martin. ;)

So, Happy Hearts Day!

I can't help it, call me sappy, but I'm a nut for Valentine's Day. Not just because of the romantic implications, but I just love LOVE, don't you? I mean, LOVE in general, whether it's hubby or significant other, or your child, your best friend in the world, your whole circle of friends, your Mom and Dad, your cat, your dog...There's nothing like Amore. :)

I have lots and lots to share this Valentine's Day, beginning with a sort of joint labor of love called the Penny Tree....


You can go here to read all about it. The auction begins on Valentine's Day, and some lucky collector will win this gorgeous bronze feather tree with all the yummy ornaments shown below (mine is in there somewhere, a small tuxedo cat), with the proceeds benefiting the Alabama chapter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. There are many truly amazing, nationally recognized artists who've contributed to this, it's a serious treasure!


This is also the last day to sign up for the One World One Heart blog giveaway. Here's a photo of my little trinket box up for grabs...


...and here's the post where you can leave a comment if you haven't already. I've had such fun visiting blogs for this event, and will probably be visiting them most of the year - I barely made it through fifty of the thousand plus participating blogs so far! Lots of visiting still to do.

It will be a quiet Valentine's Day here, just the two of us and five furkids. I'm making one John's favorites for dinner - shrimp scampi, and we'll have these yummy Very Vanilla cupcakes for dessert. Would you like the recipe? It's soooooo easy, not even a recipe at all, really. Just prepare a box of French Vanilla cake mix according to the package directions, including a teaspoon of vanilla extract as part of the liquid, then scrape the seedy contents of one vanilla bean into the batter. Mix and bake. Sooooooooo good with homemade vanilla and chocolate buttercream icing...

And easy-peasy. :)

Not to rush things, but having given Valentine's Day it's due, I want to share just one more thing before I run off - this one inspired by St Patty's Day, a lucky black cat piece, with a very old "charm" for invoking the good luck of a black cat, written around the top. It's up for grabs on eBay now.

That's about it for today, except to wish you a very Happy Valentine's Day! Whether you spend it in the company of your love, your friends, or yourself, I hope you pamper yourself a bit and do something fun. :)

I'll be back very soon with photos of two very special pieces in progress. Until then, I leave you with this song, which makes me melt every time I hear it...

♥ Carolee

Digging Out, Digging In....

Sometimes just have to roll with the punches (or the flakes as the case may be).

The Blizzard of 2010 was most definitely one of those times. With an official record snowfall of over 36" here in Lancaster County, these back-to-back storms had quite an impact. This was taken yesterday, looking up our little one way street...

Thanks heaven for good neighbors, who spent the better part of yesterday digging us out. It wasn't too long ago John was the one helping dig people out in these winter storms, but between his recent heart surgery and my ankle, neither one of us is in any shape for snow shoveling. So a big shout out to neighbor Bill and his son Daniel!

A big thank you as well to everyone who's been so patient about shipping these last few days! Our local post office closes before John gets home from work today, but everything should be on it's way first thing tomorrow morning. As you can see by the road, driving is still treacherous (especially in a little Beetle overdue for a tire change) but we're hoping the thaw will begin soon - and slowly, so as not to bring flooding. I'm also hoping to get to the architectural salvage store tomorrow for a few embellishments needed for commission and show pieces. :)

In the meantime, I'm working on a "Lucky Black Cat" piece for eBay, and getting all domestic (snowstorms always inspire a frenzy of domesticity) with a large kettle of gypsy soup and a couple of loaves of homemade bread today - yummmmmmm.

Here's a peek at the black cat piece, in progress....

I'm loving the combination of blues and teals with the emerald interior on this one - Just in time for St Patrick's Day. :)

But first - there's Valentine's Day, and the One World, One Heart event and drawing. If you haven't already, pop on over and leave a comment to have your name thrown in the hat. Oh - and I've reduced the price on the Valentine trinket boxes to just $39 - there are two left in the Etsy shop. :)

That's about it for now...I'll be back again on Valentine's Day with more photos and some recipe love. :)

Enjoy the weekend!
♥ Carolee