And the MAY GIVEAWAY winner IS...

AND the Winner of the MAY GIVEAWAY is:
Stephanie Levy !!! Stephanie is an Artist I have admired for a very long time...she has an awesome Blog called: Artists Who Blog where she interviews other Artists and she also has her personal blog a Studio with a View.
...YOU must go visit her and see what she's all about...absolutely gorgeous colours she works with-that's all I'll say...you'll have to go and see why I admire her so much!
CONGRATULATIONS Stephanie...I will contact you personally to tell you and exchange info etc on how I can send you the prints...

I'm sorry for all of you who didn't win...but thank you for all your comments on your favourites...
I now know which prints are the ones which are most loved.
I used Random.org to help me with speed...as we have been having a few family issues over the past week....which is why I haven't blogged at all since last week...apologies.
My girls would have loved to do the drawing out of the hat trick...but we've been overwhelmed and our time has been consumed.
I will explain a little more in another post.

Have a wonderful weekend...the Sun is shining here...I will try and post sometime over the weekend...it's our little Ashley's Birthday on Sunday...so I will try to post some pics.

All the best...until next...
Charlotte,Ontario

Swimming with the fishes

Everytime I look at this I wish I was back swimming with the fish, these are still, as you can see, unfinished... but I'm sure I'll get there one day! I've just started Jack having swimming lessons.. he's hysterical, constantly trying to dive under the water (scary for me as I'm on the sidelines and he really can't swim yet!) the teacher is always telling him not to go under the water without her as he pops up with a massive grin on his face - I have no idea how much water he swallows! His latest thing is to join the other group in the pool whilst his terribly patient teacher is taking one of the other three kids in his class across the pool. He's usually back in his place on the step waiting for her by the time she get's back, but the other group is slightly more advanced and is doing much more exciting things... naughty Jack, always a tinker. I spend most of the class wincing at how brave he is. I hope one day he gets to go diving and loves it as much as I did! By the way the new house was great, it's amazing how much the garden had grown in just a few months and it was so lovely to go round and imagine our lives to come there. Jack loved the space in the house and was running around until he flaked out in 'bed' (we were all camping in the house as we have no furniture yet!) with a smile on his face... I just had the smile!
Tam, UK

ALL NEW Once Upon a Time illustrations...

The Pig...the Lion, the Puppy dog and the pet Bunny...

I've been staying up late trying to get these finished to give you all more choice in the MAY GIVEAWAY which some of you have entered...if you haven't it's not too late, you have 5 more days...just scroll down and enter.

And a reminder...you must choose your 4 favourites....some of you only chose 1.

I am giving 4 Limited Edition prints away!!

How these for came about:

I've had requests for the Pig...it's amazing how many people I have come across who collect Pigs!

The Lion was also a request...I do love the Lion, he looks like he could roam the jungle all night and protect his little friend from everything and anything.

The dog is up there with my favourites...it's funny how some animals just fit the page right and the composition just works...and the colours work together in harmony.Those blues and golds seem to be in sync as well.

The Bunny was on my list of "to do's" after the Easter Bunny was critiqued by many...they were right to what they said...that the Easter Bunny would only appeal to many at Easter...friends are great, as are family for really telling you how it is or how it should be.

I really do appreciate every one's comments.

So far my most popular animals have been all three Bears(Panda,Polar and Brown Bear),the horse with the princess,the bird and the Elephants.

What animals do you think would be popular?

Have a wonderful weekend.

Char,Ontario

A gift for the 300th Fabulous Reader!

For our FABULOUS 300th READER, I will be sending you a special little Blueshine package.

Let's see who'll get it.

AND just as a little reminder...we're running the Giveaway until the 28th May. So don't forget to enter...your odds are pretty good right now, because there are only 5 entries.

Here's the link:http://weblogartists.blogspot.com/2009/05/my-may-giveaway.html
Have fun choosing your print wishes...I'm off to bed.
Char. Ontario

A little illustration to inspire, from Walter Crane's 'Mother Hubbard picture book.' Nothing to do with my day today, but I liked its style! Today fingers crossed we get the keys to our new home. It feels great as it is our first place that will be truly us together (our first home was one that I bought before we were married and always felt a teensy bit like 'my place' for both of us I think, and apt that we get it on our wedding anniversary by complete coincidence). Now as a family we move on and I am so excited about our future together.. soppy I know but it feels good today! It's also the day that my lovely husband gets his exam results so I am nervous and hopeful that he will have passed - the stress will pass for a few more months till the next ones! Still there is a little more space there for me to be more creative I hope, not such a pocket handkerchief of a place as my current hideaway!
I finally got to visit your beautiful sister and totally gorgeous nephew today Char. The sun was out and they both looked so well... Morty is sooooo sweet, such a good little fellow! He was holding Beth's hand as they lay on the play mat together... very cute! It always feels so good to be over that way, I love driving down through the forest to see your family! The drive home (3 hours!) however was another matter.. Jack kept asking if our car had run out of petrol as we kept stopping on the motorway, but when I pointed out that all the other cars were at a standstill too he looked totally puzzled!Hope you have a lovely weekend, I will be back next week! Loving the once upon a time series by the way if only I could be carried off on my 'Ella' to dream land! Talking of which - I'd better go and dream feed my little pumpkin - it's late here and time has flown by!
Tam, Hertfordshire

My MAY GIVEAWAY...

My MAY GIVEAWAY!

YOU can win...4 Once Upon a Time prints of your choice...

Just:
Head on over to my Etsy Store and choose 4 Once Upon a Time prints which you would love to win and leave a comment back here with the 4 you have chosen.(the above 4 Once Upon a Time's are also inclused...I just have to post them on Etsy this week.)

To win extra entries:

POST about the giveaway on your own blog and you'll gain an extra entry!

YOU MUST be `Fabulous Reader` to qualify...if you`re not...quickly become one :-)

This Giveaway closes May 28th at 11pm.
Winner will be randomly picked on May 29th.

Good Luck!

Charlotte,Ontario

Once Upon a Time Giraffe...

Phew... it's been a busy day...and I still have yet to post the Giveaway which is starting this evening.
This watercolour was inspired by our friends little boy who has a massive Giraffe(stuffed toy) in his bedroom...and his bedroom is a sailing themed room(painted by moi)...so for his birthday I have made him a Giraffe Watercolour. His party is on Saturday...there will be limited edition prints in my Etsy store as of tomorrow of the Schnauzer watercolour, the Monkey,the Giraffe and the Kitten.
Until later...hope you've been having a productive day.
Char,Ontario

She's BACK!.

So, if you didn't all know this Blog was originally set up by myself (Char) and Tam(a very old and special friend)... from England.

We decided it was about time to start dedicating a little bit of time to our creative side and a blog seemed like the perfect way.

We originally said we would try and post daily...and we managed that goal in the beginning...but reality set in and we really couldn't make our daily goal.

Then Tam became busier and busier...with work and the realization that a new baby was going to be added to her daily routine shifted things a little with regards to blogging.

AND now, she's back! No pressure Tam...I know how having a 3 year old and a baby can change your daily plans...without warning.

So...to all our FABULOUS READERS...Tam is back !!! (huge smile).

Tam will definitely bring a different feel to posts as she is an artist and photographer!

Oh, and this is one of the Once Upon a Time watercolours which I finished late last night.

I promised myself that I would do more,but only got 2 finished...I'll post the other one later today.

I forgot, yesterday the girls had Caribbean Dance and then I went for my Caribbean Dance class after dropping them off home.

Our town where we live has a week in June called Fiesta Week. All the different Halls which are run by different Nationalities...there's a Polish,German,Caribbean,Italian,Chinese,french...and many more.During this week they open their doors to the public and serve traditional food from their country for lunch and dinner.

Then in the evenings each Hall puts on a Show and children dance in traditional dress...and that's what our girls will be doing at the Caribbean Hall. They absolutely love it and get SO excited every Tuesday which is Club Carib night. I'll remember to post pics when the time comes.

I'm sure we all have goals and don't make the deadlines...

Have a good morning...I'll be back later...I'm off to drink my green Tea...I ran out of Earl Grey...my favourite!

Char,Ontario

Hi Char! I am here!
I can only say what amazing work you have done over the last few months, I have been checking up with interest very regularly but just haven't had time to post.. still I'm back and I know I will never get as productive as you but I'll give it a go! Here is my boy Jack touching the diving fish... I took the photo and then realised I'd put the painting upside down! So here's another of the couple dancing as they were intended, quite apt as this Friday it's my 5th wedding anniversary which always reminds me of your beautiful Ashley's birthday, I can't believe she is nearly five! How quickly time does fly! xx Beth is doing really well, she is such a sweetie, all the chocolate I ate whilst pregnant has worked it's magic to make her so smiley (I read that it made babies happy in an article in The Times...so it must be true!).
Tam, Herts UK

Sneak peeks...

I have nearly finished these 4 Once Upon a Time watercolours...ready hopefully to post tomorrow or this evening...
I'll also be running our May Giveaway starting tomorrow...

I'll be giving away a couple of things...but you'll have to chack back tomorrow to see.

Can you guess what these four will be?

I'm not sure what has happened to Tam(the other part that makes up the "WE" in We Blog Artists)...I know she's busy with her new little Beth, we're waiting patiently for her return...Tam...are you there???

No pressure Tam...I'll just keep posting :-)

Thank you for all your sweet comments readers...I appreciate the time to spend to visit our Blog...

Charlotte,Ontario

Last chance...

Good evening all...
$10 Limited Edition Once Upon a Time Print SALE (MARKED down from $15) has 24 HOURS LEFT until they get marked up again to $15
DON'T miss this opportunity-great gifts-personalize them for your children, nieces, nephews,grand children etc etc...
Go to www.blueshinebaby.etsy.com to see all the prints which are for SALE.
I hope to post some work soon...and I promise to do the giveaway this week coming.
HAPPY SHOPPING! (lol)
Good night...
Char,Ontario

Have you changed?

I hope to soon have a studio space where I can paint again.
I love painting big canvases...this was a portrait of our eldest daughter Ashley who was 3 months in the photo I copied it from. The canvas is 5ft x 3ft, and hangs in our living room...I have the identical blank canvas downstairs waiting to be painted(for our youngest daughter).It's a sacrifice you make when you have a wonderful handy man as a husband who has tonnes of home projects and one of them is reconstructing and renovating our basement. Within the next couple of years I will have a studio, and I'll be sure to keep you up to date on the progress.

Fortunately it has led me to discover another medium(watercolours) which I probably wouldn't have experimented with.

What sacrifices do you make on a daily bases? Or have you changed the medium you work with recently?

It's a wonderful rainy day...loving being inside and crafting today.

Char,Ontario

*TWEET TWEET...I've finally joined Twitter.

Who would have guessed...and I'm still really questionable about to whether or not I truly have time for Twitter...BUT...my nicey friend from The Rikrak Studio seems to rage on about it...and she is doing fabulously with her Etsy Store...a grand 1,700 sales to date!!

We`ll see how the Twitter Journey grows...

Are you on Twitter?

What are your thoughts on it?

Please follow me...I feel quite lonely...

Char, Ontario

Do you have a favourite Art/Craft/Photographic medium?

The question of Tuesday is...what's your preferred Art , Craft or Photographic medium to work with?

I used to love Acrylic to paint with...and still do, but with the girls being so busy still...I don't get too many opportunities to just paint in my studio for hours.

So,last year I took a watercolour class...I had never really used watercolours in the way they could be used.It was a fantastic class and I learnt so much.

This was a study of my daughter from a photo of her when she was 3 months old.

Now I take my watercolours everywhere. It has definitely become my medium of choice...they have helped me in my increased productivity.

I always looked at "Watercolours" as being washy,watery and very blah...but you can actually achieve such depth and intensity...love them!

So...I ask you...has your preferred choice of medium changed over the years?

Have a great Tuesday!

Charlotte,Ontario

Happy Belated Mother's Day!

What a wonderful day we had yesterday...the girls got up and dressed themselves, as you can see...and then proceeded to fix their hair...as you can see...and then made pancakes with Daddy.
I lay in bed having woken up with a sore neck...I couldn't turn it to the left. Isn't it always like this...when you have so much to do, and you start getting yourself on a great work/exercise routine...someone up there decides to slow you down. I can't afford to slow down.
It really does make you appreciate when you're feeling great,healthy ,strong and able to do things not just around the house, but even the smallest tasks like carrying the garbage out to the street...or driving. I really don't think I can drive anywhere today!
Anyway, enough about me...my daughters were amazing yesterday. They smothered me with love ALL day. Ashley our eldest sang me songs which her teacher had taught them last week....talk about pulling the heart strings...I love them SO much.
Today is a gorgeous day outside...it's actually finally starting to feel like Spring!
Have a fab week...and many belated wishes again for Mother's Day.
I'll be running another giveaway sometime this week...so check back and see what you can win!
HUGS,
Charlotte,Ontario

A few things I love this morning...

I love her Spirit...she's so happy most of the time, but boy does she ever make sure you know if she's not. She's nearly 3 and wants to do everything I do (love it!)
She dressed herself this morning...in her favourite colour...of course!

Spring colours...so fresh and vivid. There's nothing as beautiful as the colours our Mother Nature creates.

And this morning I am in love with my very productive husband, he's putting pot lights in the kitchen, there's a little mess which comes with it, but I love him all the same.
He just finished putting 6 pot lights in the family room...what a difference it makes. Lovely mood lighting too as he's placed them on dimmer switches.
I have a thousand errands to run this morning, and realize that I could have extended this post with more pics but have little time...maybe you can share your loves for today?
Bye for now.
Charlotte,Ontario

Once Upon a Time...Dog

So many families have miniature Schnauzer's that I thought this would be a sweet subject for one of my Once Upon a Time series,especially as it's full of Spring colours.
I'll be posting it as well as the Monkey on Etsy later today.
Have a lovely day.
Charlotte,Ontario

FABULOUS Weekend!

It really was a FABULOUS weekend. It started off when reading all the wonderful and helpful comments which our readers left for us regarding the Post to whether or not Etsy is worth the while and effort.
THANK YOU to those of you FABULOUS readers who did leave comments.
I have come to the conclusion that it is worth it, even if doesn't draw in that many sales yet...it's a great site to direct people/shoppers/friends/family to if they are interested in buying. I have a good feeling that the market will pick up and people will stop buying so much from the big box stores and start realizing that they HAVE to support all these families out there who are trying to make a living out of being creative!

I saw some great friends this weekend.
Friday we had dinner with a couple of our neighbours, lovely people...we're very lucky to be surrounded by such great company.
Saturday was another busy day...the morning was spent waiting for the girls to have their Ballet classes so I painted the Monkey "Once Upon a Time" painting for Ash's friend Katie. Ash was going to a Birthday party after Ballet...so rather than go and spend a fortune on toys, we decided a picture of her favourite animal would be more appreciated. She loved it(yay).
Saturday evening,my lovely husband had a gig(he's in 2 bands-Drummer) downtown Toronto...it was fun, I got to dance a little which rarely happens anymore, other than with the girls.
So good to get out and mingle with people I haven't seen for months.
Sunday...Spa Day...oh what a joy...a friend I met in Lamaze class when I was pregnant with Ash always hosts a Spa Day in the Spring.
She gathers many talented ladies and we book treatments throughout the day.
FABULOUS! Yes, this was definitely the most fabulous part of the weekend.
Easy to do....

HOW TO ORGANISE A SPA DAY at HOME.

1. Gather up all the friends and people you know who are practicing in Massage, Reiki,Reflexology,Indian Head Massage,Manicure, Pedicure,Hot Stone Massages and we even had a Taro Card reader there...a good friend of mine, Shelly Gifford, who says she will be updating her blog soon!(she was spot on with lots of things and has given me lots of hope and goals to strive towards...thanks Shelly!)
2. She's a very talented Photographer, Artist, Art teacher(I was a student of hers once for Life drawing classes-so much fun).
3. Set a Date
4. Email all your friends and tell them to bring a friend and a dish(something yummy)
5. Ask them all to RSVP with time preferences to when they would care for their desired treatment.
6. Clean your house the day before everyone comes.
7. Ask your husband to take the kids out for the day

...Et Voila! Enjoy your very own Spa Day!

I hope you had a wonderful weekend too...did you get up to anything Fabulous?

Charlotte,Ontario

Is ETSY really worth it? Or not?

Good morning all...I have a question and would LOVE some feedback please.

WHAT makes an (or your) Etsy site successful?? ...in Sales that is.

I have been a member for quite a while now, and I have had a whopping 2 Sales!!! Thank you buyers!
I have dropped my prices, placed giveaways on my Blog...saturated the network with links to my site...and yet so few Sales.
I'm not sure whether to hang in there or not.

A new blogger friend from my home country posted a very similar question...please take a peek at Mariann's Blog and Shop.She is an amazing talent with such beautiful illustrations.

Have we come on the Etsy scene too late?
Please,please,please...a few Etsy tips would be hugely appreciated!!!

Until later...today...
Charlotte,Ontario