The Witch's Letters

Letter writing, *sigh*...

A lost art, some believe - but then, so are many other old-world things I love; tatting, hand embroidery, baking bread without a machine....Sometimes shortcuts aren't such an improvement after all. Sometimes doing things the old fashioned way brings more satisfaction, more warmth.

A cup of tea, a fountain pen, a piece or two of beautiful stationery and tales to share with a dear friend...what could be better, or more heartfelt?

As much as I love writing letters (which admittedly I don't do nearly enough), I love receiving them even more...sitting down in a comfy chair, aforementioned cup of tea within reach, sunlight or lamplight, savoring every word, every bit of news. And wanting to write back immediately, although it doesn't always work out that way. ;)

I've been thinking a lot about letter writing this week as I painted "The Witch's Letters", a combination lap desk/stationery box, whose drawer will contain a crescent moon stamp and several shades of blue and purple sealing wax...

The drawer's interior is decoupaged with beautiful French script paper and stamps...

What a blessing it was to paint this piece, and I'm happy to say it's already found a good home.

I read recently that many schools are actually dropping penmanship for their curriculum! I know I sound very old here, but how perfectly awful! Can you imagine? The possibility that we're just a generation or two away from old fashioned writing becoming a thing of the past...It makes me sad for those children growing up without knowing the joy of having a penpal, or receiving their first hand written love letter.

I know I can't be alone in this - please tell me that some of you still write letters, still enjoy written correspondence? I do hope so....

Finally, I suppose there's a certain irony in railing against technology while using a computer, and please don't get me wrong - I do love the computer, and it has it's own blessings. I just think it needn't be one or the other.

I'll leave you with Emily Posts guide to writing longer letters, circa 1922. ;)

Until next time,
♥ Carolee

A Sneak Peek...

Just a few hours until the April PFATT Marketplace update, and I finished this treasure chest just under the wire...

You can see why it took so long, hehe...I think this is probably one of the most detailed pieces I've ever painted - and one of the most fun. :)

You can't see it in the photo, but there's an ocean scene with lighthouse and sailboat on the back, and a hot air balloon on one end. But I think my favorite part is the rainbow birds on top. They look so happy. The three dimensional heart is pretty cool too. ;)

It will be up for grabs on a first-to-email basis, on Tuesday, April 10th at 10AM Pacific time (1PM eastern).

In the meantime, painting accomplished, I'm off to bed before I turn into a pumpkin, hehe...

Until next time,
♥ Carolee

St. Gertrude of Nivelles

Just popping in to share the latest painting, St Gertrude of Nivelles - patron saint of cats, gardeners and travelers...

I had so much fun painting her in this sort of folk art/iconic fashion, and do hope she finds a good home for her feast day (March 17th). She's listed on Etsy now.

Thanks for taking a peek, and I'll be back soon with a few new Easter/Ostara pieces!

Until then,
♥ Carolee

Two Out of Four

There are two new prints up for grabs in the Etsy shop. :)

I know, it was supposed to be four. But the gnome painting had an odd sort of blemish on the snow - probably a small spot on the scanner I didn't catch. And the Water Dragon I'd painted for Chinese New Year could not be scanned, and the photo just wasn't high enough resolution, and came out looking a wee bit soft and out of focus. John says I'm too picky, but I don't think there's any such thing as too picky when it comes to my work. ;)

The good news is there are still two new prints available! The first is an older piece (last year), but one of my all time favorites, The Owl and the Pussycat...

The second is titled "Dwell in Peace" and features an arctic fox lying down with a snowshoe rabbit, with the northern lights in the background...

There are four of each in the Etsy shop.

Oh, and the original Baba Yaga is still up for grabs too...

I'll be back very soon with new work - just catching up around here after John's last hospital stay. He's home now, and we've both resumed a regular schedule, so I'm hoping things will stay on an even keel for awhile. :)

Until next time,
♥ Carolee

Full Moon Magic + New Paintings

There's something magical and enchanting about the full moon, don't you think? Sometimes, even in winter, if you step outside you can almost feel it shining down, bathing you in it's magic...

I've long been fascinated by the Native American tradition of naming the full moons, and several months ago had one of those "aha!" moments when I thought it would be interesting to pair each month's full moon with a corresponding Goddess. Many of the goddesses - whether Greek, Roman, Celtic or otherwise - have a mythological connection to the moon and it's properties. And some connections I anticipate making myself, focusing on the traits of individual Goddesses.

The first piece (original sold, but prints coming soon) is "Artemis", the Goddess for January's Full Wolf Moon...

Daughter of Zeus and Leto, Goddess of the hunt and of the wilderness, and some legends say shapeshifter from woman to wolf, she's perfect for the January moon...

The original paintings will include the names of the month, the moon and the Goddess, lettered around the edge, and the prints will be the image alone.

This painting was a double blessing to paint - not only the moon, but a grey wolf! I love wolves, and one of these days will make it over to Speedwell Forge (about 15 minutes away) to visit the wolf sanctuary there. Such inspiration!

Next month's full moon is called the Snow Moon, and I'm thinking "Chione", Goddess of Snow, and daughter of Boreas, God of the North Wind - just the name is stirring up some pretty vivid imagery. Look for this one next month. :)

In the meantime, there are commissions in the works, as well as a couple of new Halloween pieces (it's NEVER too early for Halloween, hehe.)

Oh, and a quick update on the home front - John is coming home tomorrow (yay!!) Nine long days in the hospital is quite enough, and while we understand the need for it, and bless his doctors and caregivers for helping his heart to heal, well....we miss him. So tomorrow is a happy day all around.

Thanks as always for your support and encouragement, your kind comments here and on facebook. :)

I'll be back very soon with photos of those Halloween pieces!

Until then,
♥ Carolee

A Fascination With Folklore

There's nothing to spark the imagination like a folk or fairy tale.

As a child, thanks to my great aunt Marguerite (who gifted me with the very old Brothers Grimm and Andersen books shown below), I read many of them and remember the magical feeling upon first discovering a new tale; Rumplestiltskin, The Musicians of Bremen, The Ugly Duckling, The Twelve Dancing Princesses...such wonderful stories (and crying out to be painted, hehe)...

At any rate, I'd of course heard of gnomes, but like most of us here in the US, had grown up seeing them mostly as guardians of the garden. I'd heard of the Tomten too, but only as a vague concept, and as never read anything specific about them.

Enter the internet, hehe. Isn't it just marvelous the information and stories available at our fingertips now?! (Makes one marvel to wonder what's coming in the future too!)

Well, suffice to say I've become fascinated with these tales and legends. In fact, it's probably safe to say the remainder of my Christmas Barnes and Noble gift cards will be spent exploring Scandinavian folklore.

So I must share the second of these Gnome or Tomte paintings, an 8" x 10" original on gallery canvas, now up for grabs in my Etsy shop. I do hope it finds a good home! ♥

Must also add, in addition to being captivated by folklore, I've also been captivated by the videos of Siku, the polar bear cub at a Danish zoo - hence the polar bear cub here. ;)

And speaking of folklore, there's a wonderful Russian tale I'm depicting next - the witch Baba Yaga. I just can't stay away from witches too long (and besides, my Halloween art friends have been joking that I may need an intervention soon, teehee). :)

Finally, a quick note to friends who've been following happenings on the home front; John's hospitalization will be rescheduled - a very long story involving miscommunication, scheduling snafus and a shortage of hospital beds. But we're trusting that the universe has a plan, and all will work out. I'll post an update when I know anything, and thanks as always for your concern, prayers and good wishes.

And now I'm off this chilly morning to brew a pot of Good Earth tea, put some appropriately inspiring music on, and begin Baba Yaga. Oh, and before I forget - - in-progress pics will be posted on facebook - - please do follow me there. The link is on the right sidebar. :)

Until next time,
♥ Carolee
PS - still two days left to enter the giveaway, two posts down!

Another Work in Progress, Another Hospital Stay

Flying in quickly this morning to share a photo of the latest work in progress - another arctic painting...


After seeing the video of Siku, the polar bear cub, I just had to paint one. Soooooo cute. Look for it on Etsy later today. :)

On the home front, it's back to the hospital for John, who is having another cardioversion, in conjunction with some tests and new meds. Assuming all goes well, he should be home by the weekend, and in the meantime, I have all these furkids to keep me company here at the house. :)

While it's tempting to bemoan the need for another procedure, we're just ever so thankful that this technology is possible! When I listen to his artificial valve ticking away, I can't help but think how blessed we are to live in a time where medical miracles like this exist.

I'm off to the hospital now, and as soon as he's settled, it's back here to paint. After the polar cub is finished, it's on to Baba Yaga!

Until next time,
♥ Carolee
PS - don't forget to check out the previous post and enter the giveaway!

A Happy and Blessed Midwinter's Eve!

Can you feel a little magic in the air tonight?

Yes, I know - the astronomical Solstice is actually in the wee hours tomorrow morning...But that still makes this Midwinter's Eve, and whatever our faith tradition, the perfect time to slow down and take time to honor our connection to the earth, to our ancestors, and to each other.

Although my own tradition has been more... well, I guess conventional would be as good a word as any to describe it, in recent years I've grown to appreciate the ancient festivals which celebrate the earth and her seasons. And while I'm sure there are those whose traditions are solidly one or the other who would disagree, I find there is more in these celebrations and observances that brings Christians and Pagans together than there is which divides us.

So after a bit of a kitchen disaster this morning (long story, and I'm over it, hehe) I decided to spend the day immersed in things which honored the day. The first order of business was to spend a bit of time outdoors, gathering holly and ivy for the table. After shaking off a touch of unseasonably warm winter rain, I placed a large bunch of it in a pottery crock our daughter made when she was in high school...

Sometimes the simplest things are the most beautiful, don't you think?

Next, I began a new painting - a midwinter painting of an arctic wolf and snowshoe rabbit, set against a background of evergreen trees, with the northern lights in the distance. I'll hold off on showing a photo until the painting progresses a bit further, but I'm so pleased with the concept, with its progress, and with the notion that it's infused with a little solstice energy. (Patience, patience - pics soon, I promise!)

But the sweetest task of the day (literally and figuratively) was making my Grandma Cline's Star Cookies. The recipe is actually published on page 141 of the Gooseberry Patch "Old Fashioned Country Cookies" cookbook, having been contributed by my Mom many years ago. The story is in there too, which goes like this: When we were very little, my Grandfather had my siblings and me convinced that he went out each night and hung the moon up in the sky, and that my Grandmother made the stars. These cookies are a remembrance of that, and of her. They taste like my childhood, and I can't let the season pass without making them.
They're wonderful cookies to make with children too - bowls of different colored icing, and assorted sugars and sprinkles covering the dining room table. They were a part of my childhood, my daughter's childhood, and I hope someday her children's as well.

As always, candles burned and music played as these tasks were accomplished, punctuated by phone calls from dear friends who always make me smile. Altogether a perfect Midwinter's Day - or Midwinter's Eve Day.

As I write this, there's only an hour or so to go until astronomical Midwinter, and I have much to accomplish tomorrow (including that painting)...So I'll say goodnight, but not before sharing a favorite tune to mark the day. Give it a listen, I think you'll like it...



Wishing you a Happy and Blessed Midwinter's Eve!
♥ Carolee

Winding Down, Anticipation, and the Wheel of the Year

One of the most meaningful things about being a "holiday" artist is the opportunity to focus deeply on each season as it approaches. In creating work for Halloween and Samhain, Christmas and Yule, Easter and Beltane, and so on, a connection is made to the natural cycle of the earth. There's harmony to be found in living and painting for each season, in letting Mother Nature take the lead, and celebrating each festival or holiday as it comes around.

For the last several months, Halloween has been the primary focus, and anticipation has been building. Now that it's almost here (just two weeks!) I'm anticipating a bit of a gear change. The days are already growing shorter, a reminder that soon the harvest season will be over, and winter will be upon us. A few Halloween pieces remain up for grabs as of this writing, and I do hope they find good homes before the season is out. To this end, I've added a little note to the higher priced piece allowing two payments (a little easier to manage in this economy).

The apothecary/spells and potions chest is available on Etsy, and there's also a trio of mending box pinkeeps on the PFATT Marketplace. This is the larger of the three...

Soon Yuletide work will be in full swing (but always with a magical twist). I'm very excited about a new Santa cutout, and am considering combining the best of both seasons by creating a "Harvest Santa". Stay tuned. ;)

Angels have been spinning around in my brain as well, but not the human variety. I'm thinking angel cats, angel mice, angel rabbits, and so on. I do believe our furry friends are angels in disguise, so I suppose it's a natural progression. :)

Commissions are winding down too, as I play catch-up over the next few weeks, and a new project focusing on the wheel of the year will begin in January. VERY excited about this one, and just know it will be a blessing to paint.

How about you? Are you anticipating the change of seasons, or doing anything special to mark the holidays or festivals? I just love hearing about other people's celebrations and observances.

That's about it for today. I have a very full week ahead, with a friend visiting, painting and errands to be done, and a few hospital tests for John (who facebook readers may remember was stuck at a Pittsburgh area hospital for a few days earlier this month).

But I'll be back soon to share the first few pieces of the new season! Until then, I wish you all the blessings of Autumn...

♥ Carolee

New Prints!

(UPDATE - All available prints are in the Etsy shop now!)

I'm soooooo excited about this print venture!

While a few of the last batch remain in the Etsy shop, I thought I'd share a few new ones from the print order placed yesterday. Most will be going with me to the show, but I did order just a few extra for those who can't make it, which I expect to list on Etsy later this week. In the meantime, I thought I'd offer them here first.

The first (four available, 8" x 10") is another Practical Magic inspired print; the Aunts, with Gilly and Sally, on the widow's walk of that beautiful house. The quote is one of my all time favorites: "My darling girl, when are you going to realize that being normal is not necessarily a virtue? It rather denotes a lack of courage!"

The second print (four available, also 8" x 10") is titled "Merlin" - a *magical* Maine Coon. I love the knotwork border...

And the final print (two available) is one of my favorites, a beautiful black cat with luminous eyes (a 6" x 6" image on an 8" x 10" sheet)...

The prints should arrive in the next day or two, so would ship by the end of the week. $18.50 each with $3 total shipping in the US, $6 international. :)

If you'd like to claim one or more, just shoot me an email at carolee@kingofmice.com. :)

Thanks as always for visiting, and have a happy and creative rest of the week!

♥ Carolee

New Prints Available!

After receiving many requests, I've had a few prints made of three recent paintings, and they're now available in my Etsy shop. The first two, "Spellcasting" and "Midnight Margaritas" were inspired by one of my all time favorite books and movies, "Practical Magic"...


The third, "Hubba's Halloween", was inspired by a beautiful ginger boy who used to live at our vet's office (but has since been adopted and gone to his forever home). :)

Isn't he a handsome fellow?

There are just eight of each print available at the moment, but I may order more before Halloween, not sure...

Back very soon with pics of a wicked cool tea chest in progress. Until then, happy Monday!

♥ Carolee

The Finished Painting

As promised, here's a peek at the finished painting of Hubba the Ginger Cat...

It sold before I had a chance to list it, but I hope to have prints available soon. :)

Next up - Ghoultide Gathering painting!! I'll post some exciting news about the show very soon. In the meantime, I'm off to make supper. Wishing everyone a happy and *CrEaTiVe* rest of the week!

♥ Carolee

I ♥ Ginger Cats

From the day I fell in love with my first ginger cat Maurice, I've always had a special affinity for these boys. I say boys because I think they usually are. I know there are ginger girls too, but boys seem far more common...

One of the current loves of my life is our big boy Arthur (weighing in at almost 18 lbs when last we checked)...

Isn't he beautiful?

Demanding too. When he wants to be fed, he knocks over the wooden screen surrounding the cat food bowls. Like a Hobbit, Arthur thinks morning mealtime includes "second breakfast". ;)

While Arthur is usually my model of choice for ginger cat paintings, I'm painting another handsome boy today. Meet Hubba Bubba...

This regal looking fellow was rescued by our vet, and now resides with one of the vet techs. But I couldn't help snapping a few reference photos before he went to his forever home, thinking with those markings, he'd make a fabulous painting...


The perfect autumn cat, I think.

Detail will be filled in today, and I'll share the finished product here and on facebook before listing on Etsy this evening.

Do you have a Ginger boy (or girl) in your life? Please do tell, and if you'd like to share a reference photo for future paintings (via email) I'd be honored!

Until next time,
♥ Carolee

"Spellcasting" on PFATT Marketplace

OK, first, TWO blog posts in one day?!? Hehe...

Sorry, but I just have to share this little homage to one of my all time favorite books and movies, "Practical Magic". I'm offering this piece on tomorrow's PFATT Marketplace (update at 10AM pacific time)...

The edges are adorned with rosebuds and vines, so there's no need for a frame (additional photo on tomorrow's listing)...

Back very soon with new work, and further ramblings...

♥ Carolee

♪ ♫ It's the MOST Wonderful Time of the Year...♪ ♫

Nooooo, not back to school (although there WAS a time when that was so, hehe)...

I'm talking about Autumn (yes, I capitalize it, because I feel it deserves special reverence) - and especially about *HaLLOwEeN*!!

It may still be summer outside, but here in the studio, it's full-on fall; pumpkin scented candles burn, the blog playlist provides a magical soundtrack, and witches and black cats adorn just about every surface, as preparation for the upcoming Ghoultide Gathering kicks into full swing.

Etsy has been keeping me busy as well - the prints have been a huge success (just a few are left!) and originals are going quickly. This pair are up for grabs at the moment...

The first Halloween cats of 2011, they're sold individually, but if anyone wants to purchase both, I'll refund shipping. There are a few prints left in the Etsy shop as well. ;)

Look for a Practical Magic inspired painting on the PFATT Marketplace tomorrow too! (Nothing listed there at the moment, but it updates at 10AM Pacific time on Wednesday the 10th). :)

Plans and preparations also continue for next year's Road Dust and Wanderlust Tour (scroll down for details)...Getting VERY excited!!

And as if all this isn't enough, we're driving into the city tomorrow for brunch with Courtney and a visit to the Philadelphia Magic Gardens. Can't wait!!

That's about it for now - back to painting!!

Have a happy and *creative* rest of the week!

♥ Carolee

A New Path....

Have you ever felt like the universe is just pushing you to make a change, to move in a new direction? As though no matter how hard you try to hold on to the familiar, to that comfort zone, life has other plans?

Such is the current state of affairs with eBay. Like many longtime sellers there, I'm disappointed in the level of control, the ever increasing cost, and the distinct feeling as though I'm completely taken for granted...Basically, if eBay were a boyfriend, we'd have broken up a long time ago. ;)

Oh, I'll still maintain a presence there, and still list from time to time just to keep a foot in the water, and offer an option to those who prefer auction style listings. But the plan is to begin migrating the bulk of my work over to Etsy, where it will be offered for direct sale, on a first come basis. The Etsy site is wonderful, the fees are considerably lower (which means savings of as much as 10% passed on to collectors) and the checkout and communication process is quick and easy. What's not to love? ♥

But that's not all (drumroll, please)....

I'll also be offering my first prints there very soon! I'm so excited, and I hope this makes at least some of my work more accessible.

The first few will be listed just as soon as I receive them (hopefully in the next week) and I'm thinking they will probably be signed and numbered limited editions.

There's also a very special, and very elaborate sewing/craft chest in progress, which I hope to have in the Etsy shop soon, and possibly a clock.

As always, I'll give the heads up here on the blog and on facebook as to the approximate time new work will be listed, so please do check in. :)

Finally, a big thank you, and much love too all my amazing collectors. You've followed my work from eBay to Etsy, from blog sales and online marketplaces to shows...Without your support and encouragement, I would never be able to live this dream of being a full time artist. So I send you all much love, and many smiles. ♥

That's about it for now. I'll be back with details about those new prints, and in the meantime, I wish all those who celebrate it a happy and safe Fourth of July weekend!

I'll leave you with one of the images which will be offered as a print. ♥


♥´¨)
¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*´¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•´ ♥ Carolee
PS - don't forget there's a giveaway in the previous post! I'll draw a name this Saturday. :)

Happy Solstice, Happy Summer!

I love Summer Solstice. ♥


Not only because it's the longest day of the year, with over 15 hours of daylight. Not even because it provides a wealth of painting inspiration (today's projects include a bit of painting on a Midsummer "Honey Moon" piece)...

What I love most about June 21st in the northern hemisphere, is that as the days now become shorter, we now officially begin to anticipate autumn (YAY!)

Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the blessings each season has to offer, and summer certainly has it's share; fruits and vegetables fresh from the garden, warm evening breezes, backyard gatherings with friends, weekend road trips...

But autumn still beckons. ;)

How about you? Do you have a favorite season?

Whether you do, and whatever it is, I wish you all the blessings of midsummer today!

Back very soon!

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

"Maiden, Mother, Crone"

Having experienced two of the three stages, or aspects of the feminine journey - and being well on my way to embracing the crone years - I thought it would be fun to paint a triptych depicting all three...

I suppose I could have painted these as Goddess rather than Witch, but I wanted them to have a bit of a magical feel...And the figures could have been painted in full light (which I may still do at some point), but I think keeping them in silhouette gives them more of an "every woman" feel, don't you?

These three little paintings are now up for grabs on eBay, and I hope they bring blessings and smiles to their new home. :)

More are goodies coming soon, although I find myself ever so slightly slowed down by another nasty head cold this week. And with snow falling as I type this, I'm thinking tomorrow may just be a homemade soup kind of day. ;)

(See? I'm sounding like an old crone already!)

Which aspect do you find yourself immersed in, and are you enjoying it? I do hope so. I think we are meant to enjoy the seasons of life every bit as much as the seasons of the year.

It's all a blessing, isn't it?

Until next time,
♥ Carolee

The First Step is Realizing You Have a Problem

Hi. My name is Carolee, and I'm an addict.

When I'm not making art, I'm online chatting about it, dissecting it, obsessing about it, and even as I create one piece, jonesing for the next.

The house frequently looks like a war zone, and while I'm happy to chat on the phone (can do that as I paint), I've completely stopped answering the front door.

There isn't a room in the house (save maybe the bathroom) that isn't filled with projects in varying stages of completion, and I own very few pieces of clothing not covered in paint.

Do you suppose there's a rehab for this?

Do I care?

Am I alone? (doubting this, hehe)....

What do you suppose it is that keeps us addicted? I know there are people out there who don't feel the need to create something, but how is that possible? How does one get through the day, nevermind life, without it?

Pondering this as I return to the studio, where several pieces are in progress, and others are waiting in the wings...

The breakfast dishes can wait. ;-)

♥ Carolee

Art Workshops and Retreats?

An entire weekend, or better yet, a week, of total immersion in art; not the kind where we're fulfilling obligations and orders, but the kind where we soak up more inspiration and knowledge than we know what to do with...

Sounds like heaven, right?

I've been browsing the John C. Campbell Folk School site of late, dreaming about the luxury of taking a little trip to N.C. sometime next year, perhaps meeting some friends there as well...

Folk art and the Blue Ridge mountains - could it get any better?

There are other retreats and workshops I've considered as well - watercolor, colored pencil, etc...And of course, there's Art and Soul, although I'm not sure I have the sensibility and patience for mixed media...

How about you? In the workshop and/or retreat of your dreams, what would be taught and what would be included? What would the setting be like? How long would you stay?

Just curious. ;)

♥ Carolee