Mad Tea Party 2010 and Give Away Prize!

That clock is exactly two days late! Oh Alice, I do know how you feel! You see I'm very excited the Mad Tea Party will be on my Birthday this Saturday the 26th (not Unbirthday but the actual big day!) But now I know I won't be home and was feeling a little perplexed over what to do.... When I heard the rustle of leaves outside my window. Wandering out what did I catch a glimpse of but this lovely spirit.
I do believe she is dressed for tea! She beckoned for me to follow her through the garden.

I trailed behind till we came to the back garden gate, curiously there was a key left out, I opened the gate and followed her through. (she didn't need a key of course!) I have to admit I was feeling rather sheepish at this point, Would I be letting her and other ghosts of tea parties past and future down by not having a tea party on my birthday ... Then she turned and smiled and said, "Silly goose, looking glass time runs forwards and back whichever you choose!"

She then disappeared, just like that, leaving behind her hat on the gate post. I placed it reverently upon my head like a crown and raised a cup to her. Promising to remember to let time be on my side for a change!

And to remind yourself to take some time out to be *mad* here is my birthday giveaway for you! An archival print of "Mat Hatter" raising his cup and an original ATC (artist trading card) "Tea Time" To enter just leave a comment! I will draw the winner July 4th!

I hope I'm forgiven for having my Mad Tea Party a bit early, But I'm on Wonderland time!
Be sure and visit the magical Valencia's blog to find the rest of the Mad Tea Parties! (most of which will start on the proper date of June 26th!)

*Passes out cups, and toast with jam* (yes, jam today! ;)

Here is Cora Belle with color. Its always a challenge balancing the colors to bring a haunting character to "life" while keeping the ghostly quality. Thank you for the kind comments on the sketch!

Ghost, Sailor Girl

Here is a little spirit I've been caring in my sketchbook for a month or two and she is almost ready for paint. I do believe her name is Cora Bell and she is a little ship wreck ghost. Cora Bell loves crisp cotton and ribbons (everything is so damp these days!)
Her favorite color is sea green. You can sometimes see her waving good bye from the deck of departing ships. This is probably not such a good omen.

Hopefully I'll have the painted version ready to share this weekend!


And I suppose everyone knew this but me! The new Alice film will be a mix of stop motion and live action by Tim Burton. Johnny Depp will play the Mad Hatter! Excuse me while my head explodes from glee!

Calamity, a ghost story

I know you've already met Calamity, but she has such stories to tell I made a book for her. Actually its a book/box that opens up for treasure stashing and secret keeping. On the binding it reads "Calamity Walking on Moon Beams" I do think one day she will evolve into a picture book. I do love her like this though, an open book so to speak :) There is a little jar of star dust wired to the hinge and faded roses in her favorite color.

ghost tour

The ghost tour of St. Augustine was great fun, we visited the Military Hospital, Oldest Drugstore, and the Jail. Our ghostly tour guides were wonderfully macabre and delivered the tour with great relish. I did get a bit spooked locked in the old jail house in the dark!
Many of the ghost tales were more gross than ghost and served to make us all very glad to be around in this century!
I still can't believe my youngest wanted to go and didn't get a bit scared!
We got back home last night, and I missed my little dog and of course my studio. Strangely I missed the green of my backyard. Its become quite lush and bit overgrown, we now have turtles wandering about :) I can be such a homebody!

*shiver*

Reporting from the shores of St. Augustine where we will be leaving for a ghost tour in about one hour. On the Ghosts and Gravestones Trolley Can you believe this was my 12 year old daughters idea? I'm a little nervous, I hope they don't have people jumping out at us! I'm a big chicken about that sort of spooky! However I do hope to visit the graveyard, and I'm more than a bit nervous about visiting the military hospital!

Wish us luck!

Calamity

Meet Calamity, the little ghost out for a midnight walk on the moonbeams. She is a wee bit afraid of heights you see, so her little moth friends are lending a hand. 

prints available http://darklingwoods.etsy.com 

also just listed new original aceo cards!