The bounty of Autumn

Last weekend we went on a lovely walk around Westonbirt Arboretum in Gloucestershire. It was a gorgeous crisp Autumn day and the colours of the trees just changing were beautiful, as you can see the maples were amazing.  Back to normal this week though and as it gets colder, I thought I should start getting the tomatoes in before the first frosts arrive... you can see the bounty I picked this morning below. It's so satisfying bringing in this little harvest, I have picked so many beans this summer and blanching them for my freezer has been a little pastime whilst Beth sleeps in the morning. I made some chilli oil today with the chilli's adding a teaspoon of black peppercorns to the mix. The green tomatoes are now happily living in a cardboard box with a banana or two to see if they will ripen, if they don't then Mrs Beeton's green tomato chutney will be made next week! There's a possible addition to my christmas presents!

The excitement of tonight is that I am packing to go to Paris to visit my sister who lives there now, Saturday night is Nuit Blanche, so should be fun I'll update you when I get back from a lovely weekend without my children (not that I don't love them to bits but two nights to read books, visit french café's and eat lovely food without entertaining them every second will be bliss!). 

Can't wait to see how your pins turn out Char! Love the shot of your palm, it looks like a leaf!

Tam, Lincolnshire, UK,

a little bit of NEW

I think I just needed to branch out after posting yesterday's portraits...I need to expand, to bring more into my Etsy store...to unleash the NEW...keep the old...but more NEW for sure.

SO...last night I sat down and went through mt sketchbooks...and chose something which I can take to our Show.(The Mamas and Chicks Show)

PINS...pretty,pretty PINS...I have to be patient and wait  until the clay dries.

Have YOU unleashed YOUR *NEW*?

Have a great Thursday.

HUGS,

Char.x

PORTRAITS FINISHED: Sarah Brightman and the Canadian 4 Tenors

HELLO...yup, this is what I have been up to for the past couple of days...painting portraits of the Canadian 4 Tenors and Sarah Brightman.

They will all be in town on Friday playing at our local Hospital's Gala evening to raise money for their Cancer Unit.

I offered to donate portraits of them all as a "Thank you for playing".

Unfortunately I won't be seeing them to give these gifts to them...but am sure they will be in good hands.

It's strange to have a limit of size to paint on (14x18), for me this is so small....I love painting on larger canvases...especially when trying to squeeze 4 men onto one canvas...and also limited by the photo which I had to copy for Sarah Brightman's portrait...anyway...they are done and I have hopefully given you all an idea of the process in which they were painted.

Now to breathe...

And to enjoy the quiet house whilst both our girls are in school...what to do?

OH...trust me, I have a list which is longer than my arm!

But now...to breathe...perhaps take a walk...enjoy the Autumn colours...

Have a good day...

Until tomorrow.

Char.x

Tell ALL Tuesdays :: Yael Frankel

GOOD MORNING fabulous readers...can you believe it's already Tuesday?
Well, we're back today for our Tell ALL Tuesday spot with Yael today...I have been a fan of her's for well over a year...love her little characters and her collaborative colouring books(this is how I first came across Yael...).
So...take a moment out of your day and enjoy Yael's answers to our Interview::

Tell us a little about the Town you live in... and have you always lived there?
I was born in Buenos Aires and all my life I've lived here.

If you could move anywhere tomorrow, where would it be?
If I could move tomorrow… I’d choose to stay here.
Here is where I have everything I need! Friends, work and family.

What did you do today?
Today is Saturday! I woke up early (although I was not required to take my daughter to school) and went to look for my new guitar! (I bought it yesterday, through mercadolibre, that is our ebay). Then my husband, my daughter and me (my son –Ian- did not come with us because he’s a tennis player and he had a tournament) went for lunch (meat with potatoes and salad) and for ice-cream! And finally, back home. Now Ema is studying and Ian is with his 2 friends playing and having a picnic.
Usually I wake up early to take my youngest daughter, Ema, to school. Then I go into my study (which lies 12 blocks from my house). I take my breakfast there (from Monday to Thursday because Fridays, I meet my friends to have breakfast together) and start to work.

I return home after looking for my daughter at school. As you can see, nothing very exiting about my days! But I enjoy so much the quiet hours at my studio, making handmade stuff and doing some designs for customers as well.

Are you a cat or dog person?
Mmmh… no cat and no dog person. Although I love both!

Are you a breakfast, lunch or dinner girl?I am a breakfast girl with no doubt!!! I can not tell you how much I love the morning hours, having café con leche and toast with blueberries jelly (always always always the same!!)

If you had 6 friends over for Dinner what would you make for them?
Pasta for sure! I cannot cook, but I love my friends to come home and have dinner together. Actually, we usually get together for dinner… I buy homemade pasta and 2 or 3 different sauces.

How old were you when you knew you were on the right path in your Life?
I still don’t know if I am on the right path in my life! (and I am 43!) You know, always trying to be a better person. Each day. And there are some signs that tell me that I am doing things right: my children are wonderful, respectful and sensitive. I have great and very close friends and I think my husband is the better person in the world. So… I should be doing something right!

Who /what drove and inspired your love to create?Oh I don’t know… something inside me I think… need to express myself.

Tell us something not too many people know about you.Ok! It is a secret!
I LOVE to sing… Sometimes I go to a karaoke site (in the internet) and sing several songs before starting to work.



Shoe choice::flats or heels?
Flats always… until yesterday! (As it was my birthday, I bought some WONDERFUL brown leather heels clogs!!!



What was the last book you read?
“Un hombre en la oscuridad” (by Paul Auster)

What advice would you give others just starting out?I have no advices: just be yourself. 

Name 5 blogs you love visiting, and tell us why.

http://coridantinimakes.blogspot.com/ (Cori Dantini has the most beautiful and subtle graphic line I ever saw)

http://camillaengman.blogspot.com/ (I think she’s simply the best of the best)

http://finelittleday.blogspot.com/ (Her naïf world is great)

http://miachristopher.blogspot.com/ (Adorable girl and wonderful color palettes)

http://pauletteedition.blogspot.com/  (I just adore Iris Schwarz’s work)

Thank YOU Yael for taking part in our Tell ALL Tuesdays!

You can FIND Yael and say hello:

BLOG

STORE

Until tomorrow...
Thanks for stopping by!
HUGS
Char.x

Monday's memories...

 Snap-shots from our weekend trip to the girls FIRST Blue Jays game...we took the GO Train to get into Toronto.

 I know their favourite part was the train ride...Baseball can be a slow game...BUT...maybe in a couple of years they`ll appreciate the sport a little more.

The Jays won...which made the game better for everyone!

How was your weekend?

This week is going to be an extremely busy one...tomorrow I am interviewing Yael Frankel...many of you have probably already come across the work of Yael...

I have to have the portraits finished of Sarah Brightman and the Canadian 4 Tenors by this Thursday.

Also a tonne of Marketing material has to be sent out for Mamas and Chicks.

So...this is a short but sweet post, as I only have an hour to get more work done.

HUGS and thanks for passing by and leaving your always valued comments! It means a lot... *SMILE*

Char.x

every school across Canada...

 Hey...it's FRIDAY!...
Today's post is dedicated to Terry Fox...an amazing young man who unfortunately passed due to cancer in 1981.He contracted Bone Cancer at the young age of 18...and whilst in hospital(after having had his leg amputated), saw all the young kids who were also suffering, he decided to raise money for Cancer research by running across Canada.

 His run started from St.Johns in Newfoundland and had to stop much to his dismay, in Thunder Bay Ontario...he was running on average 42 km a day...that's a whole Marathon...from April 12th to September first. A year later Terry passed away as the Cancer had spread to his lungs.

To date, the Terry Fox Foundation has raised close to $500 million. Terry Fox is a hero amongst every Canadian, and every year around this time, Schools take a day to remember and raise money for his Foundation.
Both our girls will be running today at school...and I'll be joining them.

I really do love how Canadians honor their heros...
How does your Country honor theirs?

Have a wonderful weekend...what are you up to? Tonight we're celebrating 2 birthdays...2 lovely ladies on our street have september Birthdays...so a delicious meal is in store for us all.

HUGS
Char,ON
P.S. Will be able to show you the work which I have been busy finishing this week...Cindy and family came home with their little Zi from china last night...we went to the airport to meet them all...very emotional...wonderful to see the family together.

WORDLESS WEDNESDAYS

HUGS

Char.x

Tell ALL Tuesdays :: Alexandra Hedberg

GOOD MORNING lovelies...I sometimes think that by having this TELL all Tuesdays weekly it solidifies to me how fast time is passing...Tuesdays creep up on me WAY too fast...BUT on the other hand, I really enjoy introducing all these wonderfully creative people weekly.

Today we are travelling all the way to Sweden (my mother's homeland) to meet an incredibly talented artist who obviously knows in which direction she's going.
Her work is SO full of energy...she's someone I would one day LOVE to meet...(hey, you never know! Sweden is NOT that far!!! ) I think I first came across Alexandra when I was visiting Esti's blog and saw their collaborative brilliance together: We are a Happy Family Card Game.(of course I have a set...bought one as soon as I saw it)
So, adding this fabulous painter/artist/screen printer to our list of T.A.T(tell all Tuesdays) please...let me introduce to you... ALEXANDRA HEDBERG ::

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

I live in Gothenburg (Sweden’s second city) which is by the coast and more of a big small town. I can bike more or less everywhere; it’s close to nature and a good place when you want to live out of little money. I was born here and grew up here, but I have also lived in Aix-en-Provence, Paris and London.

If you could move anywhere tomorrow, where would it be?

Paris.

How structured is your day usually?

Super structured in some ways and in some ways not. As I am a mother I need to plan ahead and be ready in good time before deadlines (children get ill), but I like the liberty I have anyway not being an employee. I work in concentrated periods with different things. For example I planned all autumn in August; when to work in the studio for my exhibitions, when to work on a commissioned public art piece and when to give my workshops. While in the studio I let creativity reign (just go with the flow) and the only “structure” I follow is time to leave to go to preschool and pick up the kid. If I on the other hand have a day of screen printing at KKV (artist run collective workshops) I write a time-plan; what to do exactly when and estimated time for every step. I’m very good at following my time-plan and thus become super efficient.

What did you do today?

Today was the first day working on my sketch for a Public Commissioned Art Piece to be on the façade of a new built school. I made a sketch of the part of the school building where my art is to be in scale 1:10 and painted it in the right NCS colours (it’s greenish with orange doors). Then I sat looking at it for a long time and checked some books on public art – and wrote down some thoughts. Tomorrow I will taste some ideas.


At night I wrote a post in my Art as Business series for my blog and fixed with photos for my website.

Are you a cat or dog person?

A cat person. Cats are like being in love the way it should be; independent and wild. Cats have style, grace and don’t take no shit. Dogs are needy, can be smelly and eat shit. [Seriously; when it comes to dogs of course I like some of them. But it is more based on sometimes making a connection]

Are you a breakfast, lunch or dinner girl?

At breakfast: I’m sleepy.
At lunch: I’m so into my work (be it painting, doing administration or screen printing) I barely notice I’m eating or I eat while working.

At dinner: I’m all there. I love to cook it, to enjoy all the flavours while eating and to drink a good wine – and the best of all: to do it in the company of others. So the answer is: A dinner girl!

If you had 6 friends over for Dinner what would you make for them?

As autumn is here I would make a warming fish soup with saffron, wine, vegetables, salmon, shrimps and mussels. Bake some bread to go with it and serve some white Bourgogne.

How old were you when you knew you were on the right path in your Life?

I’ve known I wanted to be an artist (painter) since as long as I can remember. I’ve never doubted my path, though teachers constantly tried to talk me out of it (I was the very best of students – why should I waste my life on becoming an artist?).

Who /what drove and inspired your love to create?

I think creativity is in my blood, but my father’s constant encouragement and belief in my art and me while growing up must have been what gave me the strength to take drawbacks. I get what I wouldn’t call inspiration, but input to my art, from popular culture and mass medial imagery and stereotypes.

Tell us something not too many people know about you.

I used to have this extra job as a fitness instructor (aerobics, step up, body toning etc) for 8 years. I gave 2-5 classes/week. I quit 2 years ago.

Shoe choice::flats or heels?

Flats because it is practical when you are on the run, but I love high heels…

What was the last book you read?

I’m in the middle of reading Murakami’s anthology “”Birthdays Stories” and Dear Dad (poems by Australians about Fathers with artwork by Gracia and Louise)

What advice would you give others just starting out?

Advice no 1: Ask yourself what is your goal. Be honest to yourself (no one needs to hear your answer). Then ask yourself what you are willing to give up and what you will not sacrifice in order to reach your goals. Work from there.

Advice no 2: don’t forget to enjoy life and take time off!

Name 5 blogs (or more) you love visiting, and tell us why.

I love visiting friend’s and colleague’s blog:


Camilla : friend and talented Fine Art artists (not that many blogs by Fine Art artists out there). Seeing the little magic things in daily life, dark humour.


Tiny red :  friend and a totally gifted illustrator/graphic designer. Always full of creativity, playfulness and colour.


vejacecilia : friend and fantastic pattern designer. Pattern is more than what you might think – will be interesting to see where she is going.


Daniel Milton  not really a friend yet (haven’t met), but maybe soon – and he’s a great Fine Art Artist (blog in Swedish though). Sharp, entertaining and not afraid to brag. And I don’t just want to read blogs by women.


Wooster collective : because street art really interests me – that’s the real Public Art!


Ikea hacker : alternative use of Ikea furnitures or adaption. Not always good, but sometimes genial. Here I found for example how to make a home screen printing unit.


The Selby : always nice to look into people’s home.


CaiLun : I don’t know why, but I would love to bind my own books.


THANKS Alexandra for taking time out of your busy schedule...and if any of you read Alexandra's Blog, you'll know she has a couple of exhibitions coming up...so her hands are deep in paint right now!
I'm sure Alexandra will be checking in today...so leave a "hello" or a "Hejsan" for her in the comments below...
AND you can visit her:
BLOG
and her
WEBSITE

I hope you all have a great day...I am almost finished the boy's room I am painting...will show you all on Thursday(that's when the client comes back from China).
HUGS and I really appreciate you stopping by and supporting these fabulous Artists we have with us weekly!
Char.x