"A Very Potter Post Holiday Affair"

Isn't it just TOO much fun when the holidays extend well into January?! 

Long having loved the concept of the Twelve Days of Christmas, and long having loved All Things Harry Potter, I can't tell you how excited I was when dear friend Hugh Luck (artist and owner at Pine Street Studios) extended the invitation to the twentieth edition of his nearly annual January gathering at Ravenbrook Cottage, "A Very Potter Post Holiday Affair". Now, Ravenbrook Cottage is a fair drive from here, east through Philadelphia, and over the bridge into New Jersey, but you'll see in a minute why not a thought in the world was given to the journey, hehe...

Overnight bags packed, Hotel reservation hotwired, another dear friend (and photographer extraordinaire as you can see from the images here) Jennifer MacNeill Traylor and I set out for the wilds of Wenonah, NJ, where we quickly checked in, made ourselves presentable, and headed to Ravenbrook, where an imposing (but I think kinda friendly) gargoyle greeted us....

...and Severus Snape himself opened the front door...

Stepping inside, signing the guest book, and descending the stairs to the living room, we were magically transported to Hogwarts! Stone walls surrounded us, and hundreds of candles hovered overhead, suspended in midair,

 

 the candlelight perfectly illuminating our host's collection of antiques and portraits...

Hugh, an accomplished flautist, opened the evening's entertainment with a Bach piece, accompanied by his instructor Ronna Ayscue...

And singer/entertainer Dwayne Dunlevy was an absolute hoot, rocking many of the classics...

 

Next came the band with whom our host regularly plays, *Swing That Cat* (you can just see his flute on the right here). I should point out the gentleman so obviously appreciating the talented lead singer, Michele Periano, is her husband Chris, lol...

Guests included professor McGonagall...

Albus Dumbledore and Mad Eye Moody...

Luna Lovegood in her lion mask, and Molly Weasley...

No less than two Ron Weasleys, chatting here with Bellatrix Lestrange, and on the right, The Golden Snitch, Dobby the House Elf, and a Nimbus Broom...

Hagrid...

 The Prisoner of Azkaban, Sirius Black (how clever is this costume?!)...

 And of course, Harry Potter himself (with apologies for lifting this pic from his facebook page, hehe)...

 And if you click below, here's a little video I lifted from Hugh's facebook page, hehe...

Post by Hugh Alan Luck.

An altogether *MaGicAL* evening, and one I'll remember forever...

I should also add, in addition to winning at party throwing FOREVER, Hugh organized a raffle to benefit both the Support Center for Child Advocates, and the Food Bank of South Jersey. I painted a little canvas to donate, and was beyond honored when it was chosen by the first winner...

I'm afraid I didn't get a good scan, so "Hedwig" is an original only, no prints available. But it was such a joy to paint, and I'm so happy it was part of the festivities. :)

Back to the world of Muggles now, hehe, where work on commissions continues at a frantic pace.

I'll be back very soon with a peek at some ornaments I hope to have available soon, and in the meantime, thank you for visiting, and I hope you enjoyed a peek at last weekend's festivities...

Artful Blessings,
♥ Carolee

Spirit Animals

Just popping in with a peek at two pieces available on this Friday's PFATT Marketplace. 

I've painted two spirit/totem animals to help usher in 2014. The first is "The Hare", bringing renewal and abundance...

And next is "The Raven", bringing magic and playfulness, with a shiny bauble in his beak...

They'll be available, as always, on a first-come basis as soon as the Marketplace updates at 10AM pacific/1PM eastern time.

In the meantime, it's back to the work table, where commissions await! I should add, I have a few spaces left for 2014, so if anyone would like to place an order, now is the time to do it. By the time Spring emerges, I'm usually booked for the year, or committed to producing work for shows and such...

Back very soon with more work. 

Thanks for visiting, and stay warm, everyone!

♥ Carolee

Welcome, 2014!

Have you said your "rabbits" today? A silly, but thoroughly charming superstition, so why not?

Rabbits out of the way, I'm discovering as I age that all those cliches about time passing more quickly are absolutely true. It seems just a few weeks ago we were welcoming 2013, and I was mistakenly writing "2012" on all my checks (yes, I'm that old, I still write checks!). ;)

I find New Year's celebrations and reflections a curious thing, probably because I've never attached all that much importance to the day. I've been reading so many comments on blogs and facebook this week, expressing either gratitude or good riddance to 2013, and hopes, wishes and resolutions for the coming year...

The year that was - well, it was. It happened.  The good, the bad, the triumphs, the challenges, the ups and the downs, like pretty much every other year - and I expect like the year to come. To be sure, some experienced more joy than adversity, and for that I am truly happy. And for some, there was far more adversity than joy, and for that I join you in the hope for a better year ahead!

My prayer for 2014, and whatever adventures it brings, is that I will continue to learn, to grow, to create, to spread a bit of joy where I can, and that I will be able to handle the inevitable moments of adversity with strength and with grace. 

All this said, I do have a few intentions (much gentler than resolutions, I think). ;) They are:

To do more illustrating, and hopefully develop both Halloween and Christmas/Yule cards.

To spend more time working on a long overdue collaborative project.

To travel more.

To take the occasional day off.

To make a few long needed repairs to the house.

To spend more time with family and friends.

To pay down/pay off credit cards.

And I would say "to lose weight", but I won't, lest it jinx my progress, and inspire scoffing from extended family. ;)

How about you? Any wishes or intentions for the coming year?

If so, and whatever they are, I hope they come true, and whatever wild ride the New Year brings, I hope you hold on and enjoy the adventure, finding joy in happy moments and strength in challenging ones. :)

Artful Blessings from our home to yours, and I'll be back very soon with pics of the first pieces of 2014!

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

 

 


 

 

 



 

 


 

Christmas 2013

Hello, and Happy Christmas!! (I can still say this, because today is only the third day, hehe.) ;)

I'm back in the studio today, with more ideas, notes and sketches than I know what to do with, but before beginning, I thought it might be fun to share a bit of our holiday with you; the first in thirty five years I haven't hosted myself! I must admit to some initial reluctance in letting go of the reins, but once I did, I was able to sit back and enjoy the day as I haven't in years. 

Daughter Courtney her beau Robert went all out, continuing the tradition of our large Dickensian feast (his family does the same, so it's actually a shared tradition)...The table looked so festive...

 

(And that wheel of cranberry/apple/pecan covered brie you see there was just amazing!) The menu included a standing rib roast, Yorkshire pudding, mashed potatoes and gravy, asparagus, creamed onions, carrots and turnips, and a delicious cottage pie contributed by one of the guests. Oh, and wine, lots of wine, and mulled cider simmering in the crockpot, served with a splash of spiced rum. 

Bliss! ;)

Oh, and dessert of Victoria Sponge (you take a slice and drizzle a bit of heavy cream over the top), and Robert's pumpkin pie (the best I've ever had, with a gingersnap crust!)....

As the younger folks prepared the feast, John was in the living room watching Dr. Who, and was delighted to find one of the other party guests was a Whovian as well. As they watched, I accomplished a bit of knitting. ;)

 

Here's a better shot of the beautiful tree, with Courtney's cat Chloe in the foreground...

After a thoroughly enjoyable day (LOVED all their friends, and connected with a few on facebook), John and I settled into a room at the Doubletree in Center City, rather than brave the Schuylkill on Christmas night. Here's the view from the 22nd floor...

Whenever I spend time in Philadephia, I'm reminded why it's one of my favorite cities. The architecture is just breathtaking. But as it turned out, braving the traffic at night might not have been a bad idea. Unexpected snow prompted us to leave early the next morning, and after a quick stop for coffee, we took the Schuylkill to the Pennsylvania Turnpike - where we discovered had we NOT stopped for that coffee, we would most likely have been a few minutes ahead, and involved in a horrific pileup! Multiple accidents on the same stretch involved something like 35 vehicles, and closed the turnpike for most of the day. In the two hours we sat parked (they eventually let us all go via an access road), this was our view...

Not a bad view if one must be stuck. Miraculously, there were no fatalities, and those injured were rushed to area hospitals. They remain in our prayers.

So home again, home again quite late in the afternoon, where we collapsed, did a bit of tidying, and turned in early. Sooooooo, all in all a very Merry Christmas, but an altogether exhausting Boxing Day!

Back to painting today, and back down the rabbit hole (that's a hint, hehe)...

I expect to be back very soon with a peek at what's on the worktable, and also expect to make major headway with all those January commissions!

In the meantime, I hope your holiday was filled with friends and family and feasting, lots of love, and as the movie says "all those lovely intangibles"!

Until next time, 
♥ Carolee

Tomten!

Five of these eight, limited edition, 2013 ornaments have been claimed, with three still available...

They're $47 including shipping anywhere in the US (international shipping will be more) and are available on a first-come basis by emailing me at carolee@kingofmice.com.

Update - all sold now.

Thanks for taking a peek - I'll be back very soon with some kitties! :)

♥ Carolee

Sneaky Peeky...

Just popping in with a quick peek at tomorrow's PFATT Marketplace listing...

"Through the Woods"...
 

The beloved Tomte of Scandinavian legend, riding his folkloric predecessor, the Yule Goat. As in previous incarnations I've painted, he's shown here riding through a birch forest, accompanied by a contingent of cardinals.

He'll be available as always, on a first-come basis, after the Marketplace updates at 10AM pacific/1PM eastern time.

Update ~ SOLD.

God Jul! (Merry Christmas!)
♥ Carolee

Winter Play and Winter Work

Hello, and Happy December! (Fair warning - this could get long, hehe)...

Next to my beloved autumn, this is probably my favorite time of year. I consider us so fortunate to live in one of the few remaining places in the country where life passes in tune with the seasons, and where there are daily reminders of this cycle, this turning of the year. Leaves have long since flown, birds gather at the feeder, and we gather sprigs of holly from our little tree out back. Inside, candles burn, and kettles simmer.

And of course, there's *Christmas*; the season of peace and goodwill, of smiles and kindness, of presents and most of all of *SuRpriSes*!!  I love, love, LOVE surprises, don't you?

Even some rather major challenges and setbacks (car trouble, computer trouble, etc) can't dampen my elf-like holiday spirit. ;)

The season began with a little road trip to West Virginia, where I had a chance to exhibit at Paul Gordon's annual "Friends in Christmas" show. What a fabulous experience! Dear friend and super talented photographer Jennifer MacNeill Traylor helped out at the show and captured some wonderful photographs (you can see more on her flickr page). This is the cozy little front room of Paul's studio, with my small display in the corner...

And this is our wonderful host, in the living room of his enchanting home in Martinsburg...

Paul is not only an incredibly talented artist, but one of the dearest people I've ever met, and I'm so honored he included me in his show. I also met some truly wonderful collectors, people whose enthusiasm for holidays and for folk art is just infectious, and I feel truly blessed my pieces found such good homes. ♥ 

Our dear friend Ann, who had driven up to the show from the Carolinas, had planned to return with Jen and I to Lancaster County for a Thanksgiving visit, but alas, the weather did not cooperate, so she returned home - and just in the nick of time, as we hit quite the snow squall coming home on 81! A few flurries one minute, then a near white-out the next...scary stuff, but such is winter in the northeast. ;)

Since returning, I've been working like one of Santa's helpers, burning the midnight oil to complete holiday commissions, and to offer a few pieces in the Etsy shop. There's La Befana, of course - the beloved character of Italian folklore...

....and quite a few smaller pieces as well. I just want to cuddle this little guy...

and I want to take a bite out of these cupcakes too, but that would be a bad idea given the sparkly glass glitter, hehe...

 

 I also did a little painting on metal this year, and thought these chickadee buckets filled with birdseed would make nice stocking stuffers or hostess gifts...

There's more of course, and if you'd like to give any of these pieces a home, be sure to enter the coupon code HOHOHO at checkout - it will give you 10% off your purchase. :)

And there's much more in progress too...a painting for Tuesday's PFATT Marketplace (sneak peek on Facebook soon), and the last batch of ornaments as well - I've been accepting a few orders for custom ornaments this week (pet portraits), and I think there are one or two spots left, so if anyone is interested, please message or email me. The rest will, as always, be limited edition designs.

Speaking of which, I've been away from the work table far too long here, lol...must get back to it! The Mice President is very kindly making supper while I paint, so I should take advantage of the time and set the paintbrush flying. ;)

If you've made it all the way through this, I thank you for your interest, and I wish you a blessed and joyous season! I'll be back very soon with another peek at some winter inspiration and winter work...and maybe even a little winter play!

Until next time, stay warm...
 ¸.•´¸.•*¨) ¸.•*¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•´ .•´ ¸¸.•¨¯`• ~ Carolee