Ch ch ch ch ch ch Changes!

Hello, all!

How was your Christmas? (or whatever you celebrate?)

Ours was lovely, if a bit scaled back this year given some ongoing health challenges. In fact, scaling back has become a bit of a theme around here, as we've begun passing on many of the Christmas decorations to our daughter, cutting back on the annual baking, shopping wrapping, and so on.


The Christmas feast was still kept though, thanks to daughter Courtney, who handled all the prep, and did a spectacular job with the roast and Yorkshire pudding....

 Looks yummy, yes?

Several friends joined us as well, and it was an altogether lovely evening.

I even managed to take two whole days off, which has left me feeling completely spoiled. ;)

But now...NOW it's back to work! Commissions await, as do several notebooks of sketches and ideas, and even some new art supplies (yay!)

But even in the midst of all this creating, I'm feeling the need to scale back - to simplify ("SIMPLIFY" - my word for 2016.)

What that means in practical terms, is some pretty major cleaning and purging around the house as we consider a move to smaller, more manageable quarters. And it means some streamlining in the work department as well....

I will be completing those commissions which have already been accepted, but will be drastically reducing the number of commissions accepted in the New Year. This includes the personalized Halloween and Christmas ornaments (of which I took far too many orders this year, leading to some very long hours in the midst of holiday prep). So I'm practicing my most polite, but firm "no". ;)

I'm also eliminating at least one looming deadline. As many of you know, I've been a regular participant in the PFATT Marketplace for several years, and the management of the site has been incredibly kind in making allowances for missed deadlines due to personal issues like my husband's hospitalizations. But I've felt for some time that my work is no longer a good fit with the overall style of the group (it is, after all, a "primitive" site, and my work is not), so January feels like a good time to let it go. :)  My work will continue to be displayed on Facebook, in my Etsy Shop, and once a month (9PM on the last day of the month) in the EHAG Emporium.

So yeah....some changes in 2016, but ones I think will lead to a decrease in deadline induced panic, and an increase in CrEaTiViTy - always a good thing!

Wishing you love and light as we move into the New Year, and wishing you all good things with whatever changes 2016 holds!!

♥ Carolee 
* Note - the "simplify" graphic is from a meme, and not my work.

And Now for Something Completely Different....

Holiday cards!

This is something I've been meaning to do for YEARS now, and I finally pulled it together (yay me, hehe!)  

The best part is that each card is like a mini gift - a 4" x 6" print of my work, affixed to a 5" x 7" card, with each one hand signed and suitable for framing. Envelopes are also included.

There are two designs available, in sets of ten cards each. The first is "Yuletide Tea", featuring an adorable little Maine Coon cat and her mousie friends. (Prints of this one are also available on Etsy)....

The second is "God Jul", featuring two charming little Tomten, stopping for a cuppa (and a bit of knitting) on their way home with the Christmas tree.... 

I've already shared these on Facebook, and they're being claimed pretty fast, so as of typing this, there are maybe half a dozen sets of each design left. If you'd like to claim one, just shoot me an email at carolee@kingofmice.com - the prints and cards are on their way and I hope to have them all assembled this weekend, and ready to ship sometime next week. :)

Thanks for visiting, and I'll be back soon to share a few new, limited edition holiday ornaments!

♥ Carolee

Ornaments!

Halloween ornaments have been in progress for a few days now, with just a few up for grabs in the Etsy shop each night (as of typing this, there are three just listed)....

And holiday ornaments are being ordered fast and furious over on Facebook - so fast that I'm afraid I can only accept a very few more in time for holiday display or gift giving.

Here are a few from last year, painted from photos of your pet, with their names on the back....

So much fun to paint, and such an honor to create a lasting memory of such beloved companions. ♥

Many more are in progress too, and will be traveling with me to the Ghoultide Gathering in four short weeks (where does the time GO?!)...

If you would like to place an ornament order for the holidays, and are not on Facebook, please email me at carolee@kingofmice.com....

And now, back to work!

Thanks for taking a peek. :)

♥ Carolee
PS - I'm on Instagram now, and loving it! Please find and follow me there if you're so inclined. ;)

♪ ♫ It's the MOST Wonderful Time of the year! ♪ ♫

It's rapidly approaching!

My absolute favorite weekend of the year...

 Seeing old friends again... Meeting new ones. Sharing my work... Sharing the magic and excitement of HaLLoWeeN!! 

If you love Halloween, the Ghoultide Gathering is truly a MUST see event. Seriously. I've been participating artist since 2007, and STILL walk around the building with my jaw ON. THE. FLOOR.

All under one roof - more Halloween eye candy than you could ever imagine, just waiting to be captured and given a good home. ;)

I have a bit of *magic* up my paint-covered sleeve this year in the way of new pieces, and am especially excited about a full size piece of Halloween furniture in the works (look for sneak peeks on Instagram and Facebook soon!)

But most of all, I'm excited about meeting some of you in person. It's the absolute, hands-down best part of the show for me, and if you are attending, please DO stop by and introduce yourself!

In the meantime, it's back to work....So many pieces, so little time....

See you soon?!

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

Autumn Blessings...

One of TWO originals available in the Etsy shop (at least as of typing this, lol)....That almost never happens! ;)

Hoping both pieces find a good home. :)

And now - on to commissions and Ghoultide Gathering pieces!

♥ Carolee

Cat Lady Birthday Musings

Yes, it's my 56th today - ack!

I'm told by my Mother that maybe 55 years ago, unlike most children, my first words were "pretty kitty"....or more accurate, something closer to "preeee keeee", but you get the idea. ;) Somewhere, there's picture of me as a very young toddler with the basket of kittens who inspired that first attempt at language.

Fifty some years later, not much has changed. I just adore them, and would have a whole houseful if I could. The Mice President (husband John) is the only thing between ME and a WHOLE LOT MORE cats roaming around here. As it is, in addition to our sweet Australian Shepherd Cosmo, we have just two kitties now - Merlin and Guinevere...

Sadly, Merlin's brother Arthur succumbed to congestive heart failure a few weeks ago, leaving a huge void in our lives, as all companions do when they cross the bridge. Here's the regal King Arthur in a not so regal, but completely adorable pose...

We miss him so. 

Cats have been on my mind (and on the work table) even more than usual, as I work a couple of magical Wheel of the Year pieces, and in particular today, as this original Innkeeper's sign becomes available on Etsy. I don't think there's anything more beautiful or haunting than a cat's eyes, and I so love painting them....

I hope this one finds a good home. :)

Large cats have also been on my mind, as we all read in the news about the tragic death of Cecil in Zimbabwe, at the hands of an American hunter.  I'm being kind here calling him merely "hunter", and not a whole host of other names I can think of, but if I start a hunting rant here, I'm afraid I won't stop, and I do NOT want to spend my birthday in tears.

What I will do is channel all that rage and sadness into a painting of that beautiful, magnificent creature, and donate a portion of the sale to the Oxford Conservation group who followed him. I'm not sure of the details yet but off the top of my head, I'm thinking a silent auction some time in the next week or two.

In the meantime, there's lots of work calling my name, and Knit Night at The Lancaster Yarn Shop later this evening (my few hours of Zen each week)...

I'll be back very soon with new work, and a preview of Ghoultide Gathering goodies. In the meantime, I wish you all a *magical* week!

♥ Carolee

"Magic is Afoot"

Just popping in to share the latest piece, a wicked cool Black Cat footstool....

I had so much fun painting the eyes, and for a few minutes there, expected them to start blinking, hehe....

I love the tiny mouse looking up at the cat, too....

 This was truly a fun piece to paint, and one of those I'd keep if I could....but sell it I must. As of typing this, it's available in my Etsy shop, and I do hope it finds a good home.

 In the meantime, it's back to the studio for me, where commissions and many, many pieces for the Ghoultide Gathering await!

Back very soon,
♥ Carolee