CUPPA CHAI anyone?

This was a series which I painted for our Fall Mamas and Chicks Show last year...I think I want to paint some tea cups and saucers this week. I ended up popping in to our Art Store the other day and buying a couple of small canvases(6x6)...

I like the irregularity of them...the imperfections don't bother me...

I'll keep you up to date when I start on this project...you know that!

See you tomorrow for Wordless Wednesday.

HUGS,

Char.x

BEYOND Bedding...

Happy Tuesdays fabulous readers!!...yes, I know...no Tell All Tuesdays this morning.

 This week has been crazy getting our Mamas and Chicks Show organised before my partner Cindy leaves to meet her adopted boy in China next week (SO excited for her!!!)

We're ALL sold out with the Show...which relieves SO much stress...you wouldn't believe the amount of worry goes through my head when we're scrambling for vendors the last month of the Show...which has only happened a couple of times...but anyway, I won't be worrying about it now!

So thinking of Cindy and her new baby I came across this BEAUTIFUL site which as it says in it's name "BEYOND BEDDING" carries the most amazing bedding, and accessories for children of all ages,even little cute outfits for toddlers...my jaw was dropping as I was browsing. The fabrics are stunning...

the colours are perfect...

the style is divine...

and the prices are extremely reasonable...

I mean...look how gorgeous these are!!

They even have teen bedding...and with a flat rate shipping cost of $7.95!!! WOW!

SPREAD the word...if you know of ANYONE who is having a baby,or is transitioning from baby crib to toddler...or a teen bedroom in need of a makeover...send them this link.

WEBSITE : BEYOND-BEDDING

AND...they even have a blog!

BEYOND Bedding BLOG

Anyway...I am amazed what we can buy and find on the internet...

Have you purchased anything on the internet recently worth telling your friends and family about?

Have a great afternoon.

HUGS

CHar.x

The Sketchbook Project 2011- the beginning...

I'm STILL waiting for my moleskine for the Sketchbook Project to arrive...I know it will soon...so whilst driving (I was a passenger) to Morrisburg at the weekend...I decided to sketch out the ideas for the pages of THE book.

I chose the topic of "The greatest Story ever told"...it's how I feel about our LOVE STORY (Mr.R's and mine)

It's a story I have started to illustrate many times...and this way I have to finish it...not the story...as I am praying for many more years of our family together.

It'll be something the girls can go and read in the Brooklyn Art Library...(that's if no-one buys it) it will also be digitalized by the Art House Coop. This was an option when signing up...I thought it would be neat to be able to see it online too...aswell as in person.

You all will probably see the majority of the book right here...but, if you live in Brooklyn,Austin,Portland(still a goal to get over there for the exhibition),Chicago or San Fancisco...you can visit whilst it's in your City!

When will my sketchbook arrive?

and...

DID you sign up yet??

Hopefully soon.

Enjoy your Monday!!

HUGS

Char.x

swings + books = happy days

Our Saturday in Morrisburg,ON...not much to do other than enjoy swings,parks and books...the girls had fun, and I was able to sketch them a little in my moleskine...from Life (not my imagination:-) well...capturing them on the swings was a little challenging.

See you back here tomorrow...I have sketches to show you for the Sketchbook Project!

(nope, no book in the mail yet...but I thought I would get ahead a little and plan my "story" )

Did any of you sign up??

HUGS

Char.x

Lazy Sunday's...are the best!

This was our sky this morning at our local park...I can't really comprehend the red leaves yet...it's WAY too soon for Fall to be upon us...right? BUT it did make for an incredible photo *smile*
We've been enjoying a lazy weekend.
Mr.R went Scuba diving...it was quite the drive,we were up and out of our house with the girls by 5am to be at the Dive site by 9am(we hung out at the local Town-had Breakfast and went to local parks)...another hour and we could have enjoyed the weekend in Montreal.(maybe I'll plan better next year!!!)
There's always so much going on in Montreal. Lots of street Markets...and the TAM TAM is happening today up at Mount Royal...the link shows you a little movie to what it's all about.
You can find Cara Carmina there selling her wares...she makes beautiful dolls and cards.

I've been making my lists for the week ahead.(it's aLONG list...won't bore you all)

We have just one more week until school starts...
DO ANY of you have a little one starting school for the first time this year?
I think we have prepped little miss J enough...but I'm not 100% sure.
I asked her at the park if she'll be ok...and said "you won't miss Mummy too much...right J?"
Her reply was " Mummy, I won't be THAT far away from you!!!"
So...I'm hoping this is a good sign and she seems excited.

I have some sketches to show you from our day trip yesterday...Mr.R took the camera 65ft under and has it packed away right now...later I'll show you...told you it was a Lazy Sunday...

HUGS...and cups of Tea.
Char.x

EYE spy with my brown eye...

something begining with L...

LOTS and LOTS of LONG eye lashes...
I just had to post little Miss A's (top) and Littlle Miss J's (below A's) long and glorious lashes...not only do they have beautiful DARK lashes (I have to get mine died black)...but they also have multiple layers of lashes!
QUITE remarkable!(and a little freaky seen SO close up!)
And I just LOVE eyes(especially our daughter's)...they are our windows to our Soul.

Have a wonderful weekend!
HUGS
Char,x
P.S. Thanks for your comments...and check back on Monday...we reached **1,000 ** fabulous readers!!!! WOW-THANKYOU all...and our 2nd Anniversary is just around the corner...so, I do believe another GIVEAWAY is on the fence.

Friday EARLY morning FINDS...

I woke up with Mr.R this morning(5.30am)...my head spinning with projects I would like to get completed (this was before getting dressed and having my clothing comfort issue-see post below)...so to clear my head...I went Aaahhh-BROWSING down my very long list of wonderful fabulous blogs I follow...and I always seem to find a couple more...FABULOUS blogs to "Ooooo & AAAHHHH" about.

This morning I found THE SEVENTY TREE a blog with a wealth of design and style and beautiful collages in their Etsy Shop.
                                               

AND before that I came across ROBIN and MOULD
both new to my eyes...and both filled with beauty and eye candy.
Look at how adorable their OWL toy is...their print work and usage of colour is just delicious All can be found in their Esty Shop too!



Leave me and all our readers in the comments below YOUR link to a new blog you have found this week...it'll be fun to add new links to my very long (but much looked at) list!

HUGS and have a great FRIDAY.
Char.x

Colour comforts...

every time I enter my wardrobe...I say to myself  "today I am going to choose another colour shirt,top,sweater...I have to step out of my comfort zone" and this year I have tried to a little more....I have bought bright pinks and light pinks, greens....BUT...I always go back to the navys and the greys.

So...as you can see from the above photo...I didn't step out this morning...I tried, I really did...I put on a top my Mum had given me a couple of years ago as a gift...I think I have worn it twice. Everytime I wear it, people comment on it and say it looks pretty....BUT every time I look in the mirror when I have it on...I feel washed out. It's a brown and pink, almost a burnt skin colour(if you can imagine that :-).

SO...I took it off. Found some blue, and more blue...and the scarf(summer scarf) Mum knitted for me which is perfect for these end of Summer mornings.

I am sorry to say...I am all about feeling comfortable, in my own skin and in the clothes I wear...

Do you have a Colour which Comforts you?

HUGS

Char.x

Portrait in pencil and pen - UP ALL night!!!

Hello lovelies,

Actually, I was up a couple of nights...and days...and hours...it's not that easy when you're trying to finish(or start) commissions when you're a stay at home Mum. Especially when they're this time consuming.

I haven't ever done a group portrait like this before ....so it was a great challenge.

The photo which I was given was just a 4x6 snapshot...and the finished portrait measures 16x20...

Like I said it was a challenge!!! (scroll down to see the finished and framed piece)

Et Voila....the finished piece.
Do you recognise the little girl in the front left? Yes, it's the same girl as I did the Pastel Portrait of the other week.
So...check back later to see what they think of this...I'm delivering it today on the basis of..."thank you very much" and moving on!(yup, not expecting anything this time...I think it will be better for me:-)
Yeah, I know...the above sounds cold, and pehaps I should care...but I am happy with my work, and really,does it matter if they are? (because I'm NOT changing this one!)

Have you had any challenges this week?

HUGS until later.
Char,ON
 DELIVERY UPDATE:: They loved it...but I was sent home with the Pastel Portrait from 2 weeks ago...the mother thought her daughter looks too old and big? Hey...keeping my funders (word? think not) happy...a girl (and family) gotta eat!!

Wordless Wednesday - that's my girl!

HUGS

Char.x

Tell ALL Tuesdays :: Flor Larios

Good Morning FABULOUS READERS...we have another amazing Artist being featured today for our Tell ALL Tuesdays interview spotlight.
As you know we love to take a peak into one of our "Fabulous Readers" lives and see how they create on a daily basis...

So...let me introduce to you...the lovely and talented Flor Larios::

Tell us a little about the Town you live in... & have you always lived there?

It is very hot but is also cool! No, I have lived in Nicaragua, Miami, and Boston.

If you could move anywhere tomorrow, where would it be?
Any little beach town.

How structured is your day usually?
It is a mess…I am always running.


What did you do today?
Pendants, mounted prints on canvas, packed orders, lots of computer time (Facebook, Etsy, e-mails), kept my house in order, and still going on with some art.

Are you a cat or dog person?
I love one cat!


Are you a breakfast, lunch or dinner girl?
I am a snack person.

If you had 6 friends over for Dinner what would you make for them?
Caballo Bayo. It is a typical Nicaraguan meal (Tortillas filled with beans, cheese, chicken, guacamole, meat…mmm)

How old were you when you knew you were on the right path in your Life?
… let me think about this one.


Who /what drove & inspired your love to create?
Frida Kahlo and my husband.

Tell us something not too many people know about you.
I am an obssesive - compulsive.

Shoe choice::flats or heels?
Flats for sure.

What was the last book you read?
Chiquita by Antonio Orlando Rodríguez (in spanish)

What advice would you give others just starting out?
Never to stop.

Name 5 blogs you love visiting, and tell us why.
1. Circling my Head by Renee. Even tough she is not here with us anymore I still visiting her blog from time to time to read her posts. She was a great woman!


2. My Pink Turtle by Lulu. I love her positive attitude and her beautiful art!


3. The Secret Hermit Art and Illustration by Micki. She is one of the sweetest bloggers I have met and her art is sooo cute!


4. PBs Art Studio by Patti. Her paintings are adorable! You have to see them for yourself. Every time I go there I feel so girly. I just want to hug them all!


5. And my blog cause I like what I do ;)
 
Thanks Flor for coming by today and showing us your World.
You can also find Flor at :
Her Blog
Her Facebook page
Her Store
Remember to leave her a little comment below and show your love!
 
Have a wonderful day...we'll be back tomorrow.
HUGS
Char.x

CONGRATULATIONS go to Kelly.

Kelly Congratulations to winning our AUGUST GIVEAWAY!

Please contact me with your mailing address,
HUGS
Char.x

4 MORE hours to ENTER.

Happy Monday everyone...
You only have 4 more hours to enter my AUGUST giveaway...
Go HERE if you haven't entered...
HUGS and GOOD LUCK....will be back with the Winner just after 8pm tonight!

Char.x.

I'M ALL signed up...

ARE YOU?
Just signed up tothe ArtHouseCoop.com  Sketchbook Project 2011 .
I know Gennine is(I adore her work)...and Mariann Johansen Ellis (I recently found Mariann-like finding treasure!)reminded me this morning to get on board...she just posted about it on her Blog.
My sketchbook will arrive in the mail soon....I am REALLY excited...they're still taking submissions!!!(hint hint...nudge nudge!)
Head to the link to check it out...
I am going to take my husband and girls to visit the exhibition in Portland when it's on next year...which falls on my Birthday weekend!(it will only take 10 hours to drive there:-)
PERFECT...I've always wanted to visit Portland, as many of you have shown me an abundance of beauty and creativity which comes from there...and...sketchbooks are a passion of mine ... my family may loose me in the exhibition for a couple of days...but that's ok.

If you are signed up...tell me, I would love to know!
I opted for the Digitalization of my sketchbook too...which means you can see your book online and see how many times it's checked out(each sketch book is barcoded).

Did I tell you I was excited...I feel like a kid in a candy store, thanks Mariann for reminding me!
HUGS...have an amazing Friday!!! (don't forget to enter the GIVEAWAY in the previous post if you haven't already!)
Char.x
Tam, if you're reading this...will you join me in the project?

!!!! CHRISTMAS in AUGUST GIVEAWAY !!!!!

**CHRISTMAS in AUGUST GIVEAWAY**

It's been a while since we've hosted a giveaway...

so we thought Christmas could come early for someone.

I am giving away 8 (yes 8 just because we're in the 8th month of this year) of my Once Upon a Time prints.

Each print can be personalized with a name...making them extra special gifts for your loved ones!

All you have to do to win is::

1. Become a follower of our Blog (if you're not all ready)
2. & leave a comment below...
   Want an extra chance to win??
3. Blog about the giveaway (make sure to leave me the link)
4. Post it on your Facebook Page (make sure to leave me the link)

I will choose the winner with the help of Random.org on Monday August 23rd....8pm EST.

Merry Christmas!!!

HUGS

Char.x

Tell ALL Tuesdays :: Jessica Bradley

GOOD MORNING!!!!
Every week as some of you know on Tuesdays we introduce to you another one of our *Fabulous Readers* who I have gotten to know through Blog Land.
We have Jessica Bradley with us here today for our Tell ALL Tuesdays spot.

Sooo...grab a cup of Tea and enjoy the read...she's an amazing artist...and I was fortunate to win a wonderful prize pack from her last month...which I'll show you sometime this week...
ENJOY....
Tell us a little about the Town you live in... & have you always lived there?
I live in Bristol in the South-West of England. I moved here about 10 years ago to attend university and stayed as it's a very cool city if you're an artist. There's a big media base in Bristol and compared to where I was born and raised (Swindon) it's a lot more exciting! Like all cities though, it can get a bit overwhelming at times; I'm a cyclist and Bristol is not a very friendly city to ride your bike in!

If you could move anywhere tomorrow, where would it be?Japan in a second! I'd love to live just outside of Tokyo. I visited Japan about 3 years ago and it was incredible; beautiful scenery, amazing food and awesome books and toys; my baggage was about £50 over the limit when I got to the airport because of all the stuff I bought! I think Japan is the closest place to how the inside of my head looks.

How structured is your day usually? I work part-time 4 days a week so usually it's: Up at 6.30am, breakfast and some drawing, off to work at 8.15am, home at 2.30pm and pretty much drawing for the rest of the day! If I have my day off (like today), it's up at 8.15am and I'm usually drawing by about 10am. Of course, you can intersperse bimbling on the internet, making tea/coffee, reading, playing video games and watching films between all of that...!


What did you do today?
Today I coloured some drawings, drew some stuff for the collaborative blog I run with Katie Green, picked up my bike from the repair shop, ate too many Swizzle lollies and felt a bit sick and read Craig Thompson's Blankets while I ate lunch.

Are you a cat or dog person?
Oh dog person, definitely! My family have had two pet dogs; our last dog, Robbie, died suddenly last year which was a shock and it hasn't been the same since. A home isn't a home without a dog! I love drawing dogs too; they're just awesome.


Are you a breakfast, lunch or dinner girl?
I'm a big fan of food in general but I think I like dinner best; all the good things come at dinner! I've gotten into a bad habit of reading cookbooks while I eat my dinner and it just makes me even more hungry!

If you had 6 friends over for Dinner what would you make for them?
Probably the food I'm most obsessed about now: Melanzane, green curry, Tom Yum soup, corn on the cob, tofu and some kind of fruit based desert. Bit of a mish-mash but I'm sure people would enjoy it!


How old were you when you knew you were on the right path in your Life?
I've always drawn but went through a phase of wanting to be a special effects artist, author, teacher and a marine biologist(?!) I started my Art Foundation course in 1999 and got to do a module on illustration; that was pretty much when I decided what I wanted to do and haven't looked back. I've had a lot of ups and downs since then but I've always drawn!

Who /what drove & inspired your love to create?
I've always been an imaginative person; as a kid I was constantly drawing and making things. I'm still obsessed with a lot of cartoons from my childhood which were a huge influence on my work: The Raccoons, Dungeons & Dragons, Ulysses 31, Galaxy High, Rocko's Modern life, Ren & Stimpy, I could go on! I've always been a big reader too so books have always been a huge influence on my work. I think just generally being creative and having a very supportive family and a great network of friends have helped over the years!


Tell us something not too many people know about you.
I once jumped out of plane for charity and I can speak Japanese.

Shoe choice:: flats or heels?
Flats; I live in my trainers! Any kind of shoe that has even a remote heel gives me a blister within minutes.


What was the last book you read?
I'm re-reading anything by H.P Lovecraft at the minute; I love horror books and to me, his stories are just so creepy and atmospheric! I also read The Mosquito Coast for the umpteenth time before that. I go through phases of reading lots of my favourite books over again.

What advice would you give others just starting out?
Don't give up! Keep going no matter how hard it becomes; if you have enthusiasm and passion for your work people with notice.

Name 5 blogs you love visiting, and tell us why.
 http://justinrampage.tumblr.com/
- awesome film and video game art from around the web. There's some really awesome stuff out there and if you're a total geek like me, this collects a lot of the best work. I've been featured a couple of times which is always good! :P
http://drawn.ca/
 - In my opinion, the best illustration blog on the web. Every visit is a visual delight!
http://pinktentacle.com/
- Showcasing some of the odder aspects of Japanese art and life in general! Great for a dose of oddness in the morning!
http://bibliodyssey.blogspot.com/
- Fantastic eclectic artwork from old books. Pure brilliance!
http://pikaland.com/
- Another awesome illustration blog. I always use this as a pick-me-up if I'm feeling a bit down about my own work!

You HAVE to go and visit Jess  and say hi...
Her Website :: http://www.jessbradley.com/
Her Blog:: http://squid-bits.blogspot.com/
Her WORLD ...this is such a fun place to browse around... http://www.milk-town.com/

THANKS Jess for participating in our Tell ALL Tuesdays...it was SUCH a pleasure having you here for the day.
Can't wait to see what you get up to next!!!

EVERYONE...thanks for passing by...remember to leave Jess a little note in the comments box below, I'm sure she'll be stopping by sometime today...

HUGS and OH... check back tomorrow as it's AUGUST GIVEAWAY day!!! Yup, I have been thinking long and hard about this one...and I think it's time.
Have a great day!

Char.x.
P.S. I have started organising our Blog...yeah, I know...about time!!! So at the top you'll fine a little Tab for all our TELL ALL TUESDAYS interviews...please go for a browse...you may have missed a couple along the way!