Magic Carpet Ride

This tooth fairy harkens back to my original transportation series of tooth fairies. In fact a little proto-doodle of him has been hanging around for almost a year waiting for just the right boy.

He is, of course, inspired by One Thousand and One Nights one of my favorite collections of folk tales.

I love how joyful he appears soaring through the night sky. He ended up in a complete rainbow of colors...as always not quite what I planned but it really suits his personality and compliments his bright blue eyes.

The Elf King's Bride

This painting was based on a sketch I did probably 10 years ago. It was a single page left in a notebook that lives on my desk waiting for me to do something with it.

The bird she holds is another double winged bird like the one in the Strange Creatures series. He is such a character to me that I had to use him again.

This painting is currently available on Cafe Press in several forms including a tile topped box.

Knight of the Mangrove

This is the first of what will hopefully be many full scale paintings.

This tiny knight is based on a butterfly called the Mangrove Skipper. As always it found an entirely different image than I had in mind. Originally she was going to have black hair and, although I still had the insectoid plates in mind for her armor, it too was going to be dark. As it turns out the Knight of the Mangrove is a creature of light. She also became more androgynous in each incarnation. The only thing that really stayed true to the first sketch was her face.

It is currently available for sale as a print or on several other items at Cafe Press. You can find it by clicking on the Cafe Press logo on the side bar.

Strange Creatures - 2008 LE magnets

Looking for a quirky, unique gift? Or maybe just a little something for yourself...

Strange Creatures - 2008 LE Magnets

These creatures are all based on different motifs I love to draw or figure strongly in my personal mythology of stories and art I love. Some have metallics, some have glitter, many have jewels and one even glows in the dark.


*sold* Bee - A tiny queen bee perched on a blossom that reminds me of the flowering trees in my neighborhood. Her wings shimmer and her tiny crown is metallic gold. When my son saw her he said, "That's you Mom!."


Butterfly - This Orange Sulfur butterfly is not what is seems. Look closely and you see that rather than an insect it is a tiny brown sprite.


*sold* Crow - Quite possibly my favorite story book animal this clever fellow had metallic feathers and a double set of wings like a butterfly. In his mouth he carries a fine gold chain with a topaz crystal pendant.


Flamingo - Flamingos remind me of Alice and our local zoo where watching the flamingos being chased by a pelican. He and his spiny hedgehog friend are ready for a game of croquet.



*sold* Frog - This frog princess is based on a story illustration for a fairy tale I once did. I gave away the original and often try to replicate it but each frog ends up with a different expression. This princess is a haughty little thing. Her crown is metallic gold with a diamond crystal and she is surrounded by paper butterflies.


Jellyfish - A nearly transparent undersea moon the jellyfish glows in silver and pearl with just a whisper of pink. It is embellished with a diamond crystal.


Moon - The man in the moon is done in metallic silver and surrounded by star shaped jewels. He and his companion the sun are based on some Italian plates I used to have.


Mouse - This smiling mouse has a loooooong tail. The idea came to me from thinking about the Dormouse's Long, Sad Tale but this fellow is not sad at all peeking out from behind cut paper flowers.


Octopus - My favorite creature under the sea, this wise octopus holds a three dimensional pearl as a treasure.


Serpent - This sky born fellow is another ouborous based on a drawing in my high school yearbook. He has bronze metallic scales and emerald crystal eyes.


Spider - This talented spider on her star-shaped web must be related to Charlotte and the many spider's my son has had picnics with. Her web is spun from silver threads and the heart on her back will glow in the dark. Between her front legs she holds an iolite crystal.



Sun - The moon's stunning companion she is embellished with bronze and gold and two blazing topaz crystal eyes. She is based on an Italian china plate.

All magnets are hand painted one of a kind works of art. As such, the are available on a first come first served basis. E-mail me at Marie.de.Carabas@gmail.com to request a magnet or for more details. Feel free to list a second or third choice if you like. All are approx. 3" x 3" and come in a lavender organza pouch with an enclosure card. The backs have a complimentary paper (they are similar to the magnet that was the Fairy Day 2007 prize).

They are priced at $20 each. S&H will be $3 for up to 2 magnets and an additional $1 for each additional 2. Please e-mail me for payment details.

Sand Devil Jack

This was an anniversary gift for my husband based on a stamp he carved for letterboxing. The top image is his drawing with my color interpretation and our wedding date added.

The outside is a contrasting combination of lacquered black and a cinnabar red brushed with bronze and gold. Inside the box is fully lined with a trompe l'oeil image of a pirates treasure. Inside the lid that is further enhanced with the addition of three dimensional pearls and jewels.





This is one of my little helpers, Angus.

Semper Fi

Something a little different than my usual. This was commissioned as a gift for a retired marine.

The black lacquer finish is so shiny that you see some odd reflections from the light fixture in my office. There is a dark red shadow around the outside of the crest that barely registers unless you see it in person.

The paper inside is a patchwork of marine slogans. My husband, who is also ex-military, loved it so hopefully the recipient will too.

Gilded Autumn

This little American beauty is based on Charles Dana Gibson's illustrations. Her auburn hair has metallic copper highlights swirled into her Gibson style pompadour. Her wings are bases on the Queen butterfly and are glazed in the same metallic copper. A tiny rhinestone glitters from the band around her neck.

Her companion is based on a cat belonging to the recipient but I have to admit that his facial expression reminds me more of my furry little helper, Angus, who is a brown tabby instead of a golden Bengal. In the foreground of their resting place are cut paper leaves that echoes the autumnal paper inside.

The box's sides are sponged with layers of copper and several metallic golds then wrapped with real black lace accented with more rhinestones.





In other news - This is the first batch of pictures from my new camera. I can already see some improvement in detail and I'm sure as I figure out the ins and outs of how it works I'll be able to offer better images of my work for your viewing.