Embracing the Season

Have you ever felt so completely excited and inspired, and well, just overwhelmed by the indescribable beauty and magic of the season? Like your head is just spinning with inspiration, and you want to embrace every single bit of autumnal, Halloweeny goodness?

Maybe I'm still floating on a Ghoultide high...But I just want to soak it all up, and revel in the magic of the season, you know?

Pumpkins and mums have taken their place on the front walkway and porch, after a recent visit to this local farm market...

$2.99 for those gorgeous potted mums, and we also came away with gourds and pumpkins, and a jar of home-canned pickled veggies. At the house, scented candles burn, soup simmers, and there's an endless pot of tea at my elbow as the last few Halloween pieces of the season near completion. In the evenings, it's just chilly enough to wear a knitted wrap as a few chapters are devoured before bedtime. This is the one I'm reading now (witches, vampires and daemons at the Bodleian Library), and I'm hoping to finish it soon, so I can start this next one before Halloween.

Commissions and a few new Etsy pieces dominate the work schedule over the next couple of weeks, but there's plenty of time for play as well. Our daughter and niece are hosting a 30th anniversary party for John and I this weekend, and my friend Ann arrives from South Carolina next week. We'll be planning next year's road trip (yay!), along with seeing some of the local sights, doing a bit of shopping, lots of laughing, and joining friends Jen and Joanne for dinner. (Look for lots of Lancaster County autumn pics next week!)

Saturday, October 22 is a wicked cool Halloween blog party, hosted by the fabulous Vanessa Valencia, of A Fanciful Twist. Click here for details.

The last weekend of the month is Cabin Ladies weekend. Regular readers may remember this is a thrice annual, long weekend at one of Pennsylvania's beautiful state parks. Anywhere from 6-8 dear friends, good food, good wine, good conversation, board games, knitting, reading, walking, and generally enjoying the company of other interesting women. No TV, no computers and no husbands. Just what the Dr. ordered after the whirlwind of activity these last few months. :)

And of course, there's Halloween!! And oh my - I must buy more candy this year! We went through twelve bags last year, and ran out about twenty minutes early (our little Borough sets a 6-8:00 time limit on trick-or treating - I know, Bah Humbug, right?) I so love seeing all the kidlets in their costumes. Reminds me of when mine was little, and we'd plan the most elaborate costumes months ahead...such wonderful memories!

Eek, I think I'm rambling, hehe. ;)

It's getting late, and if I'm not careful, I'll turn into one of those much loved pumpkins. So it's goodnight for now, and I'll be back soon with more autumn tales, and more Halloween work to share.

In the meantime, I hope you're finding magic and joy in the season, and I wish you warm, October blessings this Hunter's Moon night...

Until next time,
♥ Carolee

Halloween Blog Sale

UPDATE - The two remaining pieces can be found in the Etsy shop.

Welcome, and Happy Halloween!

I'm offering six original, one of a kind pieces this evening, on a first come, first served basis. Details can be found below the photograph(s) of each piece, and purchases can be made by emailing me at carolee@kingofmice.com.

I will respond to emails and mark the items sold as quickly as possible. Shipping for each piece will vary depending on location, and will be sent either USPS priority mail, or UPS ground.

Thanks for stopping by, and I hope my work brings a smile...

"Poe", a hinged birch wood box, painted in acrylics and measuring 5 3/4" x 5 1/2" x 3". Deep periwinkle interior with a small raven silhouette. $115. ~SOLD~


"Black Cat Magic", a hinged, birch wood box, painted in acrylics and measuring 5 3/4" x 5 1/2" x 3". Black interior with a small shooting star. $115. ~SOLD~



"Trick or Treat", a tall, oval bentwood box, painted in acrylics and measuring 6" x 8" x 6". $145 ~SOLD~


"Autumn Enchantment", a birch wood box with removable lid, painted in acrylics and measuring 10" x 5" x 5". Deep periwinkle interior with an autumn leaf. $225.


"Batty Box", an oval, bentwood box with sculpted handle, painted in acrylics and measuring 9" x 7" x 3". Black interior with shooting star. $195. ~SOLD~


"The Enchanted Apothecary", a spells and potions chest painted from a reproduction salt box, acrylics on birch wood, with paper interior, faux key, and two Swarovski crystals on the oval. The lid on top lifts, and the interior features the same paper as the drawers. Measures 12 1/2" x 7 1/2" x 16" tall including back. $295.


Thanks so much for visiting, and I hope you like my creations. :)

Artful Blessings,
~ Carolee

♥ Blog Sale ♥

Halloween lovers, please stop by on Sunday evening, October 9th, at 9PM eastern, when I plan to have a few goodies up for grabs on a first-come basis. A wicked cool Apothecary chest, several treat and trinket boxes, and possibly a canvas or two will be available for those who couldn't make it to last weekend's Ghoultide Gathering show. :)

See you then!
♥ Carolee

Giveaway Winner!

The winner of the print giveaway is Gerry! Thanks to everyone for entering, and stay tuned for another giveaway very soon. ♥

~ Carolee

A Bewitching Good Time!!

It was as if someone waved a *magic* wand, and a blanket of Halloween enchantment descended on Mill Race Village. The atmosphere before the show was electric - you could actually feel it, warming the chilly, Michigan air, as throngs of Halloween lovers lined up to capture work from their favorite artists...

Orange "Ghoultide Gathering" totes in hand, they waited in the rain for hours, and when the doors finally opened, it was one big Halloween party!


Cider and hot cocoa abounded, and to the delight of children and children at heart, the artists offered treats at their tables, both artistic and edible! (My own table included a platter of Lancaster County pumpkin fudge - yum!)

Sooooooo many Halloween goodies in one place, I imagine it was difficult to choose! Here's a bit of the Halloween goodness which greeted collectors (snapped just before the doors opened)...

Laurie Hardin of Monkey Cats Studio brought these wonderful characters and more...


Pam Gracia of Soft in the Head shared her imaginative soft sculptured goodies...


Will Bezek's amazing cast of characters included this beauty, teehee...


The absolutely stunning work of Scott Smith (check out the witch with the little pumpkin guy in a cage!) Soooooo cool...

Vergie Lightfoot's amazing treasures...

The fabulous folk art of Johanna Parker...

Deb Schoch's fantastic (and very full!) display...

Aron Lowe's gorgeous needlefelting...

Paul Gordon's magical work (truly stunning)...

Nicol Sayre's enchanting dolls...

The spooky cool work of Katherine Webber...

Sheila Bentley's wicked and wonderful witches...

The Whimsical Whittler (sooooooo fun, and so beautifully carved)...

"Trick" and "Treat", Joyce Stahl's *Little Enchanted Ones*, happy to join the party...

Judi Vaillancourt's vibrant chalkware (love her canvases too!)...

Kristen Beason's wonderfully whimsical characters...

The gorgeous work of Lori Ann Corelis...

And my own display...


There were quite a few other artists too, but unfortunately some of my pics came out with far too much glare to show any detail (a photographer I'm not, haha)...But you can easily check them out (and all the artists shown above) on the Ghoultide Gathering website! :)

There was music too, from the talented Appleseed Collective...

LOVED them, and we were lucky enough to listen as they played in the church's choir loft during the show!

SUCH an amazing experience, and I'd be remiss without a note of profound thanks to Scott Smith and Stephanie Rawson for all they do throughout the year to make the Ghoultide Gathering the finest Halloween art show in the world, bar none. We heard comments throughout the day from collectors and artists alike, expressing their absolute delight with every single detail. I can't tell you how much of a pleasure it is to participate in an event like this - Five years into it, I'm still pinching myself, hehe!

Finally, it was SUCH a pleasure to meet so many of you in person (always my favorite part of the show!) Collectors, blog readers, facebook friends - thank you from the bottom of my heart for coming out and introducing yourselves, and supporting your favorite artists!

I'm off now to play catch up now, after a week away from home (a bit of a snag on the way home with John's health found us in the Pittsburgh area for a few days)...Details on all this later, and details on an upcoming blog sale too! We very nearly sold out at the show, but there are a few pieces left, and a few more coming, so stay tuned. ;)

Until then, Happy Halloween season!!
♥ Carolee

A Little Practical *Magic* Giveaway!

Apologies for coming to the blog party a wee bit late, but *magic* is abounding here in the studio as well, and sometimes it can be a wee bit...well, distracting, hehe. :)

But I'm so happy to take a break in honor of one of my favorite all time books and movies! In fact, "Practical Magic" inspiration has been swirling around in my head for weeks now...

"Spellcasting"...


"Midnight Margaritas"...

"My darling Girl.."...

I can't make up my mind which print is a favorite, so I thought I'd leave the choice up to the giveaway winner - you may choose whichever you like. :) All you need do to enter is leave a comment here, and I'll draw a name on Oct 5th. Be sure to leave me a way to contact you...

Back to the studio for me now (major show prep underway), but I hope to do a little blog hopping later. Until then, wishing you a day of magic and wonder!

♥ Carolee
PS - My Etsy shop is out of most of the Practical Magic prints now, but I'll be replenishing them after I get back from Michigan (the week of the 5th)

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