Just a Little Peek....

Just at the basecoating and decoupage stage now, but already soooooooo much fun....


Tommorrow - more detailed painting!

♥ Carolee

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

Cirque du Chats

I had soooooooooooo much fun with this piece! I smiled all the way through it (which was several days) thinking of - well, thinking of just about every cat I've ever known!

Acro-cats one and all, performing amazing balancing acts and death defying feats like high jumping and curtain climbing....

Being brave and bold and fearless - that's what it's all about, right?

Truth be told, I was tempted to keep this one. But that would set a dangerous precedent, and before you know it, I'd have to go get a REAL job. With regular hours....and a boss.....and structure and rules....and no *magic*. (Not that I'm qualified to actually DO anything, mind you - art is all I know.) So I'll happily send this one out into the world, and hope it brings a smile. It will list on eBay tonight at 9PM eastern. :)

In progress right now are two Halloween commissions and a darling little Tuxedo Cat Valentine's box with magical swirly sparkles. It's hard to believe that Valentine's Day is just a month away! I must think of something wicked to send John this year (sort of a tradition with us, but more on that later, hehe)....

Oh! And there are two very cool giveaways coming soon too - big giveaways with lots of artists participating, so stay tuned for details. :)

Artful blessings until next time,
´¨)
¸.·´¸.·*´¨) ¸.·*´¨)
(¸.·´ (¸.·´ ~ 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