We were Tagged!

I got tagged by the very creative Trishiekoh from the lovely blog Under Lock and Key.
The rules of the game is to post the fourth picture in the fourth folder on my computer and write about it ...what will I find??
Then you pass the tag along to others.
Oh, sweet...I found a picture of our eldest daughter...Ashley, and fortunately she is wearing a red and white top for our Feb Red theme...isn't she just the funniest.She's a true actress...gets into every character she dresses up as. Love it!
Ok...so I am Tagging: Artistic Accents, Rags Nehali, Miss Aimee and Stephanie Beyeler
So looking forward to seeing your pics!
Charlotte, Ontario

A little red paint...

Oh...how I miss painting...I really must clean my studio up...
I got paints (poster paints) out for the girls yesterday and of course there was left over paint when they had had enough...so I quickly opened my sketch book and swirled some red on the page...later I had time to work on the sketches.
It's given me a push to paint more...it's amazing how paint can change your mood and the feel of a sketch...so much looser and it gives a free feeling...not so rigid.
I have another Etsy shop...but it's empty http://ashleyandjordan.etsy.com
What do you think? I would sell sketches of the girls and paintings??
Have a great Tuesday and thanks for visiting...
Charlotte,Ontario

We were nominated for a Lemonade Award!!!

Our first nomination for a blog award is from fellow etsian Andrea from Andrea Creates.

Thank you so much Andrea!

The rules are as follows:
1)Put the lemonade award logo on your blog or post.
2)Nominate 5-10 blogs that show great attitude and or gratitude.
3)List and link your nominees within your post.
4)Let them know they have received the award by leaving a comment on their blog.
5)Nominate your favorites and link to their post.
I decided I would nominate the followers of our blog who have shown a connection with our blog...Thank you all for your support and wonderful comments:

Blueberryjunkie

Stapelia

The Art Hermit

Rianna Bethany

Audrey's Country Crafts

Paintings by Thelma

Sleep Dream Play

Quaint Handmade

Capow

Artistic Abstraction

Enjoy them all...they have all touched our blog in the greatest of ways...thank you ALL!

Charlotte, Ontario

The Conservatory Overcoat GIVEAWAY!!!!

I found the perfect Giveaway for this month's RED FEB theme...look at this gorgeous Jacket...to win it click on the link below!

Grosgrain: The Conservatory Overcoat GIVEAWAY!!!!

My Oscar Vote...

Sitting here watching the Oscars...as we do because it's one of those annual events...and thinking that perhaps our little actresses will one day be up there receiving an Oscar...it's possible, anything is possible in our World.
I would give them both an Oscar for best daughters/actresses...
We are SO fortunate that we are here and did not bring up our children in the slums of India...I have been to Thailand and seen poverty...and have travelled through Zimbabwe and seen hunger...
I am SO grateful to have friends and family around me who I care for and love...and visa versa...thank you all for all your very kind comments...and to all you very creative followers!
Who are your Oscars going to in your Lives today?

Don't forget to enter the giveaway below...it ends FEB 28th.

Good luck Slumdog Millionaire(my absolute fave)

So different...

I must get "Are they Twins?" at least once whenever we go out together.
They couldn't be more different from each other...not just in personalities but in looks too...Ash has beautiful almond shape eyes and Jordi has great round eyes that draw you in...Ashley has petite lips and Jordan big voluptuous ones...Jordan has round cheeks and Ashley doesn't and never has...I love sketching them...I know my sketches are very illustrative and not realistic...but they are such busy girls that trying to get a 4 and 2yr old not to move for 3 minutes is impossible.
Don't forget to enter the Giveaway!
Charlotte, Ontario

A House, a Home...

A House...A home...yeah, we finally got the paints out...I was having withdrawl symtoms, not having had painted anything since before Christmas.
I made the girls wear their paint shirts and then they got messy!
It always starts off with a paint brush carefully mixing 2 colours and ends up with purple,browns,reds from their fingertips to their elbows...They had fun...and I got to play with the potato stamps I made for them(which they hardly touched).
Until tomorrow...oh...it already is tomorrow...
Charlotte,Ontario

Tuesday 17th already!

Time sure does fly!

I think I should get to work but wanted to quickly post a sketch I finished yesterday...I enjoyed creating it...Ash is a very delicate soul who absolutely loves nature...and I'm thinking this -5 -7 degrees weather is really effecting her.

Wishing the Spring would be sprung upon us SOON...

Have a lovely Tuesday...

Thanks to all our new followers...as soon as we reach a 50 count I am going to do a give-away!

Stay tuned.

Charlotte,Ontario

Snack Time

Snack Time this afternoon was a special one (made up on the fly,lol)...I felt so bad...I had promised our girls chocolate chip cookies...which we were going to all make together, and ofcourse, I don't have an ounce of butter left in the fridge...so, here's their semi-healthy snack...Pear and Breadsticks with Nutella...they are the quietest they've been all day...so I'm assuming it tastes deeeee-licious!!! Sorry, just had to post...it looked so pretty!
Charlotte, Ontraio

Im bigger than you...

But look Ashley...I'm bigger than YOU!
Charlotte,Ontario

Home sweet home...

This is what I made this morning for our Blog... and my Blueshinebaby Etsy Store.

Today I taught my girls how to sew...Ashley is 4 and will be turning 5 in a few months has been asking if one day could I show her.

SO...I took a trip to our local craft store and picked up colours which the girls both loved and a couple of embroidery hoops for them and one little one for me.

Our youngest, Jordan, kept looping the thread around the hoop...so I spent the majority of time back-tracking through the linen with her needle(she's only little-I kept telling myself)

Ashley seemed to get the hang of it...and said she loved sewing. It's so up her alley...something she can concentrate on for more than an hour, and MUCH healthier than TV.

Until I have my studio back up and working...which may be a while taking into consideration the last time I looked at my husbands renovations downstairs... lol....I will be sewing and sketching...

Have a wonderful day and to all my fellow Canadians...a wonderful Family Day tomorrow!

Until then...

Charlotte, Ontario

A little birdie once told me...

A little birdie once told me...if you put yourself out there you'll eventually get noticed...

Thanks to all of you who are now following our Blog...hopefully Tam will be back up and running soon...she's an incredibly creative friend who is just a little busy with her new born Beth.
I have another piece of red to add...it's my favourite Marimekko fabric...I grew up with a Marimekko table cloth and decided to purchase one for our girls to grow up with...so bright and cheerful-love it!

I thought I would draw some birds and colour them with my girls new Pipsqueak colouring felt-tips...I'm about to add some gift cards to my Blueshinebaby Etsy site getting ready for our Mamas and Chicks Spring Show which is creeping up on us...go to www.mamasandchicks.com to see who'll be at our Show this year!

Happy Valentine's~~~~ if I don't manage to post anything tomorrow!
Charlotte, Ontario

Sweethearts

They are very sweet most of the time...and absolutely adore eachother...so different in many ways and so inspirational to my Art...

It's funny, and I'm not sure if anyone has had this who paints and draws...but I tried so hard when they were young to sketch them and paint them and could never find the energy or drive to want to sit down and draw them...even though I did do a large portrait of Ashley when she was 3 months...and have still to do one of Jordan!

Now it's different, I love drawing their faces and individual features...I love how they are so different, but still very sisterly.

They are our treasures.

Charlotte, Ontario

Etsy in Red

Well...I finally figured out after a couple of hours searching the net how to place my Etsy Shop on our Blog...Tam, you'll have to join Etsy and add some of your awesome photos for sale!
I figured if I don't get around to anything else today...at least I've done that(and there's lots of red!!.
Hoping to get a sale very soon...not sure what else to do apart from pray...
Happy browsing...cheer-io for now.
Charlotte, Ontario

Red baby Red

Jordan has always got her red baby in her hand...and if Ashley could she'd be all jewelled up and picking flowers all day. She went from a 2 year old who loved playing with cars and blocks to a 4 year old who dreams and lives pretty things! They looked so sweet today, I had to quickly sketch them.
Still all fighting these Winter colds...really looking forward to the warmth of Spring, and not the warmth of heavy Winter clothes and jackets any more!
Charlotte, Ontario

Feb Red

She thinks this ballet leotard is Orange...because it's her favourite colour...but it's a definite red.
At 2 1/2 and trying so hard to be a graceful ballerina...it's very charming to watch her concentration and determination to please and do well.
Saturday is definitely her favourite day(because it's Ballet Day!). I'll post one of Ash when it's the month of Blue...as that's her fave colour.
I'm sure by being surrounded by my artsy craftsy World it inspires the little ones to become more aware of colour....because Jordan walks around all day saying "Mummy, I know your favourite colour is Orange and Blue...and Daddy loves Red" the colours always change apart from the "Orange". These days and memories are to treasure...I promise I will post a painting soon!
Charlotte, Ontario

For our something new something old... she just made it into January - Beth, born 31st Jan 2009 wrapped in something old... a shawl made by her Grandmother for her own children. My January mission, I was sure she would arrive earlier so that i could post the blog in time... but still!

Here's my version of the 99 things Char...

Things you’ve already done: bold

Things you want to do: italicise

Things you haven’t done and don’t want to: leave in plain font


1.Started your own blog
2.Slept under the stars
3.Played in a band
4.Visited Hawaii
5.Watched a meteor shower
6.Given more than you can afford to charity
7.Been to Disneyland
8.Climbed a mountain
9.Held a praying mantis
10.Sang a solo
11.Bungee jumped
12.Visited Paris
13.Watched a lightning storm at sea
14.Taught yourself an art from scratch
15.Adopted a child
16.Had food poisoning
17.Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18.Seen the Mona Lisa in France
19.Slept on an overnight train (India and Interailing in Europe)
20.Had a pillow fight
21.Hitch hiked
22.Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
23.Built a snow fort
24.Held a lamb
25.Gone skinny dipping
26.Run a Marathon
27.Ridden in a gondola in Venice
28.Seen a total eclipse
29.Watched a sunrise or sunset
30.Been on a cruise
31.Seen Niagara Falls in person
32.Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
33.Seen an Amish community
34.Taught yourself a new language
35.Had enough money to be truly satisfied
36.Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
37.Gone rock climbing
38.Seen Michelangelo’s David.
39.Sung karaoke (unbelievably came 2nd singing Hey Jude in Australia!)
40.Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
41.Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant (In Manarola on the cinque terra, a young guy and a girl who were sleeping on the beach, the best Pappardelle con Spada I've ever tasted!)
42.Visited Africa (only Morocco though, would like to explore more)
43.Walked on a beach by moonlight (yes, and seen phosphorescence which looks magical)
44.Been transported in an ambulance
45.Had your portrait painted (By Richard Morris Pushinsky.)
46.Gone deep sea fishing
47.Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
48.Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
49.Gone scuba diving or snorkelling
50.Kissed in the rain
51.Played in the mud
52.Gone to a drive-in theatre
53.Been in a movie
54.Visited the Great Wall of China
55.Started a business
56.Taken a martial arts class
57.Visited Russia
58.Served at a soup kitchen
59.Sold Girl Scout Cookies
60.Gone whale watching
61.Donated blood, platelets or plasma
62.Gone sky diving
63.Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
64.Bounced a check
65.Flown in a helicopter
66.Saved a favourite childhood toy (Fergus McTed and Fungus T Bear both now live with Jack!)
67.Visited the Lincoln Memorial
68.Eaten Caviar
69.Pieced a quilt
70.Stood in Times Square
71.Toured the Everglades
72.Been fired from a job
73.Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
74.Broken a bone.
75.Been on a speeding motorcycle
76.Seen the Grand Canyon in person
77.Published a book
78.Visited the Vatican
79.Bought a brand new car
80.Walked in Jerusalem
81.Had your picture in the newspaper
82.Kissed a stranger at midnight on New Year’s Eve
83.Visited the White House
84.Killed and prepared an animal for eating (only fish....does that count?.)
85.Had chickenpox
86.Saved someone’s life
87.Sat on a jury
88.Met someone famous
89.Joined a book club
90.Lost a loved one (3 of My Grandparents and great Grandma's)
91.Had a baby (had 2...my most precious treasures the second only 4 days ago)
92.Seen the Alamo in person
93.Swam in the Great Salt Lake
94.Been involved in a law suit
95.Owned a cell phone
96.Been stung by a bee
97.Hit a home run
98.Got flowers for no reason
99.Grown your own vegetables

Tam, Hertfordshire, UK