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

Commission Fun!

I just have to share the most recent commission - soooooooo much fun to paint this one.

Meet Sir Winston Churchill.....


Winston is the resident shop cat at East Chatham Wines and Spirits, in East Chatham, New York, and a very handsome fellow indeed.

Here he is again in one of the photos I used for reference - perched atop some wine boxes, the better to survey his kingdom....


Isn't he sweet? And doesn't this look like a FUN shop?! I wish I were closer...but then, I could do some serious damage to the bank account in a place like this (LOVE my red wine!)

East Chatham is a bit outside Albany, very near the NY/Mass state line (I looked it up), so if anyone is in the area, do drop in. There's no website yet, but you can email the proprietors for info and directions at ecws@taconic.net. :)

That's about it for tonight....I'm off now to sculpt a moon face, then to the Land of Nod.....

Sweet Dreams!
♥ Carolee
PS - If you'd like your own furbaby painted, just shoot me an email, and I can give you an estimate and time frame. :)

The Best Laid Schemes...

....o’ mice an’ men Gang aft a-gley.

or "The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry" ~Robert Burns, "To a Mouse"


I'm up to my ears in hand painted wooded beads for several necklace commissions - and with luck, one for ebay as well. :)

The plan was to have these finished the day before yesterday, but between dealing with the roofer, playing catch up from last week's computer mishap, a visit with our darling daughter (who just moved closer to home - yay!) and the explosion that is my workspace, I'm afraid time has gotten the better of me...

The good news is that progress is actually being made....

No, really, it is. :)

Do you ever feel completely overwhelmed, but in a good way? Like there are sooooooo many projects you hardly know where to turn, and each one holds such possibility you want to dig into it immediately?! Like there are so many ideas and so much inspiration you'll never be able to get to it all? That's kind of where I am....heck, that's where I always seem to be, hehe....

So I must get back to it....

But before I do, I have to share the most recent commission - a tea chest featuring my collector friend Barbara's fur children - soooooooo much fun to paint this one!!


And just a week or so after I sent it off, there came a knock at the door....

The postman, bearing a package from Barbara, with the most wonderful goodies imaginable from Chocolate Flower Farm on Whidbey Island, off the coast of Washington State. The incredible part is that this is the little island where my Mother grew up! How cool is that?!

And isn't my Mom pretty? This is a photo of her back then:

Okay, that really is it for now. Back to work I go, sipping a cup of this heavenly chocolate mint tea, burning a chocolate candle (thank you Barbara!) and listening to the Beatles....Does it get any better?!

Wishing everyone a magical and creative day!!

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

This and That

Lots of irons in the fire this week, so thought I'd share just a few of them....

The piece above was completed yesterday, a memorial chest in remembrance of Nutsy, a collector's beloved tuxedo cat companion. I painted him just this side of the Rainbow Bridge, gazing at a beautiful monarch butterfly, added to represent metamorphosis. Painting pieces as memorials or remembrances is always an emotional process, bringing up memories of my own late companions. But it's also an incredible blessing to think that my work may bring some small comfort, and someday perhaps even a smile in fond remembrance.

Switching gears, the piece below is one I painted last year, and listed on eBay last evening with no reserve. There's a very cool little sculpted spider, set with faux jewels, on the back of this one. :)

Currently in progress are two plaques; the first, a painting of St Gertrude of Nivelles, the patron saint of cats and gardeners, and the second a faerie themed garden piece. Next up are two Halloween commissions, a whimsical table, a witchy salt box, and an old fashioned stationary box. (I know, I need another twelve hours in a day!!)

Add to all this the fact that I'm coming down with the annual January headcold, and the Christmas tree is still standing in the living room, well - it promises to be a crazy week....

I'm off now to listen to the newly updated playlist (scroll down and give it a click if you're so inclined!), then I'll brew another cup of Good Earth tea, and get to work....

Until next time, wishing everyone a happy and creative Tuesday!!
~ Carolee