Glitter and Sparkle and Twinkle...

...Oh my!

I can't help it, this is such a magical time of year, I feel the need to share a little holiday sparkle with you....

I just pulled the two vintage style mixed media paintings off Etsy and listed them on eBay beginning at a (gulp!) very reasonable starting price, so do take a look....

And I have to share this new one - a memory or keepsake box, accented with diamond dust, and delicate snowflakes. I fell in love with the unusual shape of the box, but it was just crying out for whimsical little feet....*UPDATE* - sorry, this one is gone already, but I hope to paint another memory box before Christmas!


And finally, a Cosmic Catnip box - twinkly in its own way (lots of stars), but no glitter added to this one just in case it IS used for catnip. (*UPDATE* - sold. :)

Lots of new work coming soon too - I'm painting frantically these days, trying to complete as many pieces as possible before the holidays. Look for an ornament chest, a clock, and (soooooo excited about this one!) a Halloween themed nutcracker, hehe!! The ultimate holiday gift for the Halloween lover, yes?!

When I'm not painting, I'll be knitting up a few Christmas gifts, baking cookies and trimming the tree. Courtney is coming home for a few days, so I want everything to look magical - or at least as magical as it gets in a house that looks like a painter's studio exploded, lol....

Back in a couple of days with more goodies, and as promised a few photos of the rest of our furkids....

Until then, enjoy the magic of the season!!

~ Carolee

Gratitude

In many ways, this year has been the most challenging I can remember; John's heart surgery, long recovery and more recent diagnosis of congestive heart failure; the economy (which, as everyone, has hit us hard) and my own health issues, which have had me bouncing between dentists, doctors and assorted other specialists in search of a cause - and end - to some pretty intense nerve pain.

But despite life's challenges, I'm so grateful for our many blessings.

I have John, and that's a biggie. He's doing better, feeling stronger and we're looking forward to many more years together.

To our great relief, an MRI I had this week turned up no tumor or irregularity in the brain (prompting John to joke about my brain's actual existance, hehe). :)

We have a beautiful, talented, kind and thoughtful daughter, who although 800 miles away from us, is a constant source of joy and pride.

We have five furry children here at home who make us smile every day.

We have extended family with whom we've begun to mend old fences, as well as the family we've created for ourselves in our circle of friends; each one a blessing.

However modest, we have a roof over our heads, food in the pantry and a means to support ourselves - which is more than most people on the planet.

We have our faith, a source of strength and comfort.

We have the ability to create, to express ourselves; John with his guitar and myself with my art.

And finally, we've found in this computer a connection to soooooooooo many wonderful and inspiring people all over the world; people we would have otherwise never known! I can connect daily with fellow artists and collectors, sharing my work with a potentially infinite number of people, and often sending it all over the globe - how cool is that?

Wishing everyone a happy and blessed Thanksgiving, and conscious gratitude for all of us, not only once a year, but every day. ;)

~ Carolee

Blessings of the Season

Just had to share this one, painted over the last couple of days, as I listened to Celtic Christmas CDs (lots of harp music!)


It will list on eBay tomorrow evening, probably with a "buy it now" option so it can be displayed a bit longer. :)

~ Carolee

Orange

I just LOVE it - not surprising for a Halloween artist, I know....

I have two things things of perfect orangeness to share today, the first one the brand new recipe box listed on eBay....


And the second, our very own Arthur - shown here perched atop a too-small kitty condo which sits on an old trunk in our living room. Isn't he sweet? He's a great big love, and just can't get enough chin scratches and tummy rubs. (He lets us know this by biting if we stop stroking him.)


I'll try to get some good photos of the rest of the menagerie in the next few days. In the meantime, check back tomorrow evening for a very special holiday sign.....

Until then,
~ Carolee

Tea and Sugarplums

Just listed these two on Etsy....Soooooooooo much fun to paint this pair as the snow was falling today! My favorite part is the sparkling vintage glass glitter - makes it look like real snow. :) I'm showing them here as a pair, but they're listed separately.....


Back tomorrow with an eBay listing for "Wicked Good Recipes"....

Right now I'm off to walk the Aussies, and take some baked applesauce out of the oven - a wicked good new recipe I'm trying, and if it tastes as half as good as it smells, I'll be making more, hehe. ;)

~ Carolee

Winter Wonderland!

After the tiniest teaser of a dusting yesterday afternoon, we awoke this morning to find everything blanketed in white. There's something soooooooo wondrous and magical about the first snowfall of the season, isn't there? As I approach the half century mark, I still feel the same excitement about those first flakes as I did as a small child - except of course I no longer sit with my ear to the radio waiting for a snow day to be called, hehe....

No snow days here - far too much to do! I've just finished two small canvases to be listed on Etsy later this afternoon; "Magic Christmas Tea" and "Visions of Sugarplums" - they're sweet little paintings accented with decoupaged edges and vintage glass glitter. I'll list them separately, but they look great as a pair. :)

There's also a recipe box in the works, which will be listed on eBay as soon as it's finished (tonight or tomorrow night)....

And more goodies coming soon; a clock and a tallish table. I haven't painted a table in ages, so am looking forward to working on this one.

Okay, back to work.....I'll leave you with a photo of the pyracantha at the side of the house. I love the contrast of the bright berries and clean white snow. :)


Back again soon!
~ Carolee

All Cats Go to Heaven

Just had to share this one, listing tonight at 9PM eastern on eBay, with a buy-it-now option. I just love painting cats, and this little footstool seemed perfect for them. I'm picturing it on a cozy hearth, with a real life kitty curled up beside. :)


Back soon with more goodies for both Halloween and holidays!

~ Carolee