Art Therapy

To say this week has been a bit of a roller coaster ride would be an understatement....As John continues his recovery in a Philadelphia hospital, and I spend my time alternating between his bedside and home, the stress level has been higher than usual around here. Still, I'm making time to paint - which is at first glance a little strange. I mean, wouldn't I want to set all that aside for while, as I focus on John?

Not necessarily. It's true, my time is more limited. But I learned a long time ago that art can be incredibly restorative. There's definite healing power and comfort in it. To take a few minutes to create something calms and touches us on a very deep level. They don't call it art therapy for nothing. ;)

So in answer to all the very kind emails and messages wishing John a speedy recovery, while reminding me to take time for myself, I thank you. And I'm painting. :)

This treasure box was completed just today, a reminder of all the blessings of winter, with a sculpted moon, and a little verse hand lettered around the edge:

"Winter moon, Stars alight, Peace on Earth, Blessings Bright."

Being a bit distracted this week, I couldn't decide what kind of cat to paint, so I decided to paint them all. Well, OK nearly all. There's a black cat, and orange tabby, a tuxedo cat, a Siamese and a gray tabby. Oh, and there are three small snowflakes inside the box.

It lists on eBay this evening, with a buy-it-now option. :)

There's another cat piece in the works too, and an ornament chest coming very soon, although completion dates remain up in the air until my schedule slows down a bit.

John is making definite progress, but may need to go from the hospital to rehab for a few days (noooooooo, not that kind - although a dear friend of ours whose friendship dates back to the seventies said "I always knew he'd end up in rehab someday!") Hehe....

Many thanks again for all the prayers and positive energy, and much love....I'll be back again very soon!

♥ Carolee
PS - If you scroll down on the right, the winter playlist is posted now - just a few of my favorite seasonal tunes (those I could find on Playlist anyway - there are lots more) - So please give it a click if you're so inclined. And have a kleenex handy for "Christmas in the Trenches". It's a true story, and does me in every time I hear it.

Many Thanks

Just popping in to express our thanks for all the prayers, well wishes and positive energy. Due to complications, John remains in ICU. I know he's getting the best possible care there, and we're all praying that they'll get his blood pressure and heart rate under control very soon, so he can make the transition to a regular room, and then home.

I'm commuting back and forth to the hospital, but still managing to get a bit of painting done in between, so will post when I have a piece completed.

Thanks so much again for all the support and encouragement. :)

Much love,
~ Carolee

Quick Update

I'm typing this from an ICU waiting room, so I'll be brief. John's heart surgery yesterday, although a bit difficult, was successful, and he's now the proud owner of a mechanical mitral valve. :) Many thanks for all the prayers, good wishes and positive energy - I'm happy to say they were answered, and he'll soon be on the road to recovery.

I'll be spending most of the next week at the hospital, but will be available via phone for those of you have my cell, and will be checking email once or twice a day as well.

Feeling very tired this morning, but incredibly thankful for this miracle of modern medicine, for his doctors and caregivers, and for friends and family who've been there with support and encouragement - thank you all!

Back soon...

~Carolee

Happy Hallowe'en and Blessed Samhain to All!

Flying in on this most *magical* of days to wish you a day of fun and an evening of revelry!

The costumed monsters actually hit our neighborhood last night, and I was so happy to see an absence of the blood and gore this year, as the vast majority of children dressed in fairy tale attire; knights and princesses, kings and dragons - it looked like a miniature Camelot out there!

They were overwhelmingly polite too - "trick or treat" and "thank you" and "Happy Halloween!" I'd show you photos, but don't feel right about snapping pics of other people's kids, so instead, I'll show you is the candy bowl, hehe:

Not a piece left at the end of the evening, and we went through several bowls.

Oh - and I have one other thing to share too! Inspired by an appreciation for the season's many blessings, I've painted this double recipe box (which could have sooooooo many other uses too) with a magical scene; the young witch visiting the birds, her charming cottage in the background, crescent moon and stars overhead, birds in flight, whimsical trees (I want to live there, hehe!)

The words of blessing are hand lettered around the top, and I hope they bring blessings indeed to the recipient of this piece. :)

That's it for today - I'm off to do a bit of painting before flying out the door to a couple of Halloween parties (YAY!) I'll be back very soon though, with one of the most detailed pieces I've ever painted - very excited about this one!

Until then, Happy Hallowe'een and Blessed Samhain!!
~ Carolee

"Flight"

Websters defines it first as "the act or instance of passing through air", but I very much prefer one of the subsequent definitions: "a brilliant, imaginative, or unrestrained exercise or display" (as in "a flight of fancy")....

This one (listed on eBay now) did in fact feel imaginative and unrestrained - and I have to admit being quite pleased when, after posting a couple of in-progress photos on facebook, a few people said it actually gave them the sensation of being up there. Hehe - I LOVE that!

What fun to soar above the clouds on All Hallows' Eve, a birds eye (or witch's eye?) view of all the goings on below....

Of course, Halloween is fun on the ground too! Hard to believe it's only two days away. As you may have read in the previous post, the local Powers-That-Be have designated tomorrow night (the 30th) as "Trick or Treat Night" rather than actually letting the kids celebrate on Halloween. I have no clue why (although I suspect the conservative religious nature of the community is a factor) - and while part of me is completely burned they think they have the power to arbitrarily change the holiday (or at least the day it's celebrated), another admittedly more selfish part of is relieved there's no conflict between candy dispensing and Halloween party attendance.

We have two wicked cool gatherings to attend on Saturday. The first is an open house at Jen and Kevin's place. Check out some of her decorations here. Can't wait to everything in person!! Jen's parties are always a lot of fun, and John's the designated driver for the night, so I plan to revel. ;)

The second gathering is a Harry Potter party, hosted by friends Dustin and Eric, the invitation for which arrived on parchment, sealed with with sealing wax, informing us we'd been accepted at Hogwarts next semester, and signed by Albus Dumbledore. If I were twenty years younger, many pounds lighter and blonde, I'd go as my favorite character, Luna Lovegood. As it stands, I'll likely wear basic black with some fabulous Halloween jewelry.

Oh! And speaking of Halloween jewelry, check out Jen's Gypsy Mare Blog! She has a few of her Halloween pendants up for grabs at an absolutely SCARY low price and a dollar for shipping - last time I checked, she only had 7 left, so do run over there!

Okay that's about it for today....Look for "Flight" to list on eBay tonight at 9PM, and some wicked cool boxes on eBay and Etsy soon. There's also a "Seasons of the Witch" piece coming soon, and the first of the 2009 Yule and Christmas pieces too...

I'll be back soon with the new work, and an update on John, who as some of you know is having heart surgery next week.....

Happy Halloween and Blessed Samhain!
~ Carolee

A Different Perspective

I'm having great fun playing with three point perspective in this piece in progress, a painting on canvas - sort of a "witch's eye view" of the village below....

My hope was to finish it this evening, but general life maintenance got in the way (have to run to the Dr's for a prescription refill) so look for it Wednesday or Thursday on eBay.

Can you believe it's just FOUR days until Halloween??!! I can't wait - two wicked cool parties to attend - an open house at my friend Jen's, and a Harry Potter party at Eric and Dustin's house. Not to worry about the trick-or-treaters though; the local Powers-That-Be have decreed Friday the 30th as "trick or treat night"...

Don't even get me started....

Back very soon with a glimpse of the finished painting. Until then, Happy Haunting!!

♥ Carolee

"Trick or Treat!"

With just a week until Halloween (where does the time go?!), I have to share the latest eBay offering, and the last piece of 2009 featuring trick or treaters in silhouette....

The jack-o-lantern on top is made of wood and paperclay, with a candy corn ribbon around his hat, and his friends are on the feet below. :)

I'm still painting madly here, a canvas this time, and having soooooooooo much fun with it!

Back very soon with a photo. :)

♥ Carolee