Sunday, October 31, 2010

In my DREAMS...

...I'll take you on a trip around the World...
 Fisrt we'll go to Barcelona...to enjoy the tapas bars and visit the Cathedral.
 Next we'll climb the pyramids...one step at a time...
 After we'll enjoy gay Paris, in all it's glory and see the City from the Eiffel Tower...
 Then we'll travel south to Roma...and visit the Colloseo...
 To London we'll head to visit the Queen...and have tea with my Mum, Dad, Sister,and Bro..
 Off next to Russia...have you ever been?
 New York...New York...we'll dine and see a Show.
And back home to Toronto...

Where would you like to go?

I was up until 3am last night finishing this commission...when the website is finished and my work is up...I'll send you the link of this wonderful and exciting new Company.

Have a HAPPY HALLOWEEN...I am looking after Miss A today who has a fever and an awful cough...poor little one, and she was SO excited about tonight... :-(

looking forward to seeing all your Halloween pics...ours will be up tomorrow...until then...
HUGS
Char.x

Saturday, October 30, 2010

before and after...

 hey everyone...this weekend is all about transformation into characters for adults and little ones...
I did this sketch the other day when I went to a playcentre with Jordan...she was happily crafting and sitting in one spot for about 20 minutes...so I quickly sketched her with some wax crayons...on coloured craft paper...sometimes even materials which are cheap and cheery work well....it was fun, I haven't played around with wax crayons for a while.
 it's amazing how hair can change a person's look...she has been asking for weeks for braids...so we've been practicing and I think I have finally mastered the technique...after 6 years!!!
 here's a close up, she looks cute with her BIG eyes and slick hair style.
Funny, I asked our eldest Miss A if she'd like them..."no thanks!" was her response...

Our girls want to be Bat-girl and a Bride again....remember this pic from last year?

Makes mummy happy because I don't have to go out and spend lots of $$$ on costumes.

What are you transforming into this weekend? And your kids?

Have a safe and FUN weekend...
spooky spooky....
Char.x

Friday, October 29, 2010

what should I do with these?

HELLO...yes, I was sick...hence the photo of the chicken noodle soup :-) Thanks for the well wishes. So staying on a HEALTH kick, we went on a field trip the other day with our girls schools...and were sent home with THESE...cauliflower-cabbage and brussels.
Do I have any idea of making deliciousness with these three veggies? NOPE.
Do you know any recipes? Please send me something I can try in these next couple of days...
THANK YOU...(I love all foods...have no allergies)

Have a HAPPY Halloween weekend...
I'll be back this weekend with updates on a painting I'm working on and NEW PIN ideas...and beginings :-)

HUGS
Char.x

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Squash special...

My GREEN BEAN zine by Katie Green arrived in the mail the other day and I haven't had a chance to show you little snippets as I do sometimes.
I absolutely love the idea of Zines and receiving little magazine subscriptions which have been created by artists all by themselves.
This issue is special...it's ALL about Pumpkins..."Squash" to be precise.
Squash risotto...how divine, squash curry to warm the body in the winter...YUM! And ALL the recipes are illustrated by Katie.
 Oh...ya, the girls painted those Pumkins ...they have to finnish them tonight."ONLY 5 MORE SLEEPS MUMMY!!!!" Halloween is HUGE over here...approximately 250 kids stop by our house Trick or Treating!!!
AND here is Katie in her very well known "What I wore today" pages...I adore the details she adds to her drawings.
So...if you'd like to visit her Blog go HERE
And you can BUY her ZINES ...HERE
I interviewed her for a TELL ALL TUESDAY spot...go HERE to read it.

So, I will leave you with this for today...I would have gotten an interview ready...but sometimes we all need a break.
AND today is my break...off to have a coffee with the lovely Sarah from Lyyli.

How do you Celebrate Halloween!
HUGS
Char.x



Monday, October 25, 2010

the calm after the storm...

 HELLO everyone...thanks firstly to you all for all your support. I really do appreciate your stopping by and commenting. Last week was CRAZY as many of you know, and for the new readers today...we just got through another Mamas and Chicks Show last Friday (which I organise with a friend).I must have been on operation overload as my head today feels remarkably light with space to breathe...
The above picture is of my table which I have there...I sell my "Once Upon a Time" personalized prints...gifts cards and my new PINS and PATCHES.
 Our girls passed by with daddy after their school day and wanted their faces painted...
 the PINS were well received...one lady found the faces a little creepy!!! lol...all the cats sold,and a couple of Owls.
Trade Shows are exhausting...but priceless.There's no way I could ever get the word out and let alone SHOW my products to that many people in one day!
After a LONG day at the Show...we spent the weekend with friends baking Halloween cookies...fun...fun...fun.
I owe many "Quality" hours to our girls who were SO patient whilst I worked the many hours reponding to emails and organising the show last week...they deserve some special times...
I also am looking forward to seeing what you've been up to.

Until then...
Enjoy your Monday.
HUGS
Char.x

Thursday, October 21, 2010

a pretty flower PATCH

PATCHES PATCHES PATCHES PATCHES
lots and lots of Patches...
HI EVERYONE...
I can't stay for long as my list still needs completing and that means I'm driving around for most of today.
All my PATCHES and PINS will be listed in my ESTY Shop after the Show...
you asked for more flowers...so here they are!
ALL individual and unique...linen,felted wool and jean fabrics.
they don't have to JUST be patches, I experimented yesterday and wore one as a PIN...just by attaching a PIN with a sticky backing...it lasted ALL day long (ooohh, I need to de-bobble that sweater!!!)
 so each of my PATCHES will be sold with a PIN in it's package too.
 I'm really very excited about tomorrow...we packed 250 MAMA LOOT bags last night.
The  MAMAS and CHICKS Show is finally here...emails have calmed down, which means I can organise MY own table.
This evening we'll be at the Hotel setting up the tables.

So...until this weekend, I must leave you all...as I really don't believe I will be posting tomorrow.
BUT on Saturday I will show you Pictures!

HUGS and have a WONDERFUL Thursday...and FRIDAY...
WISH me LUCK :-)
Char.x

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

P is for Paper-LOVE

<<<>>
Little miss Ash was home yesterday with a really ROUGH cough...a little Aloe and Honey cured all...but she had to stay in bed for the first part of the day...and then out came the glue...paper...and sewing machine.
such FABULOUS colours...
still working on my TWEETS...I *heart* this one...
and this sleepy Tweet is super shy when awake...you probably wouldn't have gotten a snap shot of her if she had seen us!!
I know we have Christmas coming up...I know these aren't Christmas colours...but want to have the option to be able to show them in the Spring too.
colour-colour-colour
Miss A was actually very creative with her Paper Crafts...
Miss J just wanted to colour...
Miss A loved cutting and sticking...
They both love crafting with Mummy...I LOVE crafting with them...especially when I have mountains to achieve in 2 days!!!
Have a wonderful Wednesday.
HUGS
Char.x
P.S. Only 2 MORE days until the Mamas and Chicks Show!!!

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Tell ALL Tuesdays : Jennifer Posti

Hurrah...it's TUESDAY again!



I'm really very excited to introduce you to Jennifer Posti...she's a good friend of another "Crafty soul" I know over here in Canada...


These Tell ALL Tuesdays are so special to me...we get a glimse of our Fabulous Readers and they have all been great with me and responded SO positively to letting go of their daily ongoings...so that all of you (and I) can enjoy their stories.(Thank you!)

So...without further adieu...let us introduce you to the the lovely Jennifer, she creates such unique pieces...

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

I live just outside a little town called Kirkfield, about an hour and a half drive north-east from Toronto. It’s very rural, but close to many lakes. For many people it is cottage country, but for us it’s home! We moved here about a year and a half ago, and we’ve never looked back, we love it!

If you could move anywhere tomorrow, where would it be?
I’ve been waiting so long to finally settle down in our own place, I never want to move again! Plus, I love the four seasons of Ontario, especially Fall, which I am loving right now. Soooo beautiful!

How structured is your day usually?
It may not look like it, but my day is pretty scheduled. We stay home most days, but we stick to the same routine day to day. Get up, drag myself downstairs to make coffee. Have breakfast all together (me, my husband, 2yr old boy, 4 yr old girl). My husband goes upstairs to work in his office for the day, while the kids and I do chores, play, make meals and tidy them up. In the afternoons I go into the studio to paint/quilt while my son naps, and my daughter plays beside me. Then it’s into the kitchen to make dinner, clean it up and then it’s night night routines. Somewhere in there I fit in all the other projects that are happening around the house as we renovate. A mother’s work is NEVER done.

What did you do today?
So far we have followed the same home routine. This morning we spent our outdoor time cleaning up the limbs of the trees my husband felled. We’re clearing space for a garage. The kids are still in the stage where they love to help out. So we all stacked wood together that we can use to burn in our wood stove next winter.

Are you a cat or dog person?
I’m a cat person for sure.

Are you a breakfast, lunch or dinner girl?
I’m a dinner person.

If you had 6 friends over for Dinner what would you make for them?
Oh my, I don’t think I’ve ever had a fancy dinner party. Just family get-togethers and such. I usually bbq something like shiskabobs of marinated mixed meats, yellow and orange peppers, zuccini and mushrooms. I’d also make a few salads that I can make ahead of time. Pasta salad with sundried tomatoes, black olives, feta, red peppers and an oil/balsamic vinegar/herb dressing is yummy. Another good salad is cucumber, tomato, feta, and black olives with a greek vinaigrette: oil, lemon juice, honey, oregano(from the garden) salt/pep to taste and minced garlic. For dessert I would make a few pecan pies…sooo good.

How old were you when you knew you were on the right path in your Life?
I’ve known since high school that art is my passion, but I don’t think I’ve ever stopped second guessing whether I’m on the right path in life.

Who /what drove and inspired your love to create?
It has always been a way for me to express myself, and I just love art, it is so limitless and interesting! During high school my mom was going back to University, she took some art courses and was always sharing her appreciation of fine art as she was learning it. That was definitely inspiring for me.

Tell us something not too many people know about you.
Hmmm, I love to read Agatha Christie novels.

Shoe choice::flats or heels?
Flats for sure. Heels only really work on concrete, or hard surfaces….it’s mostly gravel, dirt and grass around here!

What was the last book you read?
A book on symbolism in still lifes.

What advice would you give others just starting out?
To be honest, I feel like I’m just starting out and still finding myself. But I would advise to just keep experimenting and do something that you totally love, and that joy in creating will show through.

 
Name 5 blogs you love visiting, and tell us why.
Umm, I have only sporadic access to internet, so I never really get a chance to surf blogs or anything else. But I do love this blog, and also my own blog which I treat as a website – http://www.jenniferposti.blogspot.com/

Thanks SO much for taking part in our Tell ALL Tuesdays Jennifer!!!
 
And for any of our readers who are in Toronto or surrounding areas...Jennifer has an exhibition coming up::

I am going to go for sure..I've never seen anything like this before and know Jennifer's viewers are going to become HUGE fans instantly,her work has such a raw and honest reality to them...but a beauty which parallels the rawness.LOVE them!

Have a wonderful Day...Miss A is home sick today...but Miss J is keeping her busy (in-trouble)...lol...it's true, little miss J keeps coming downstairs and asking to do the wildest games...and if it's ok. "No Miss J, it's not,your sister is sick...quiet play please" I say...it's going to be a long day!

HUGS
Char.x

Monday, October 18, 2010

Monday...Tuesday...Wednesday...Thursday...FRIDAY!!!! 4 more days!

FIRST...CONGRATULATIONS to...dedeetsyshop she won our October GIVEAWAY!!!...and she chose an owl...SO I will ship her a little Owl as soon as I hear from you Miss Dedeetsyshop!!



I found out that our winner is a lady who makes absolutely GORGEOUS creations...she has a wonderful Etsy Shop and a blog I have been visiting for a while...she calls it Harper and Henry...love those names...
 
Anyway...CONGRATULATIONS again!!!
AND a huge thanks to all of you for entering...I will have another one very soon...perhaps we'll go on a little scavenger hunt for the next Giveaway!
 
We have 4 days to SHOW TIME...the Mamas and Chicks Show is this Friday.
If you're reading and live in Toronto or the GTA...email me and I will place you on our MAMA Guest list for this Friday's Show!
 
Tomorrow I have a wonderful lady who will be taking our Tell All Tuesday spotlight. Her name is Jennifer Posti. I want to keep what she does a surprise...so I won't tell you too much...
 
I must go...I have a list the length of my body to get accomplished today.
I hope you all have a FABULOUS week...I may be a little absent from visiting, but will keep you up to date with happenings and goings on!!!
HUGS
Char.x

Friday, October 15, 2010

Frantic Friday...with a little surprise GIVEAWAY:-)

WHY do I always leave things to the last minute? Do you?
I have ridiculous amounts of tasks which need to be completed by next week...and I probably could have had them finished and out of the way...but no, I leave them to the last minute.
I am so pleased that I have all my PINS ready...it's been really very theraputic...sitting in the evening painting teeny faces...and cats,owls and birds...
I'm excited about how they will be received. Then SUPER happy I'll have new product to add to my ETSY store which has become a little stale this year. I know this is NOT the way to keep business and sales ticking over...so I will try harder to update and make my store a little fresher.
55 PINS in total...each one unique and hand painted with love and care...
I love organising this Show...and love meeting all our vendors...they're a fantastic group of women.
If ONLY all of you guys could come shopping at our Show!!! Then I'd get to meet you too!!!
I would love to host an Etsy Show here in Toronto...kind of like the Renegade...I know there are a tonne of craft Shows here...but one JUST for ETSY Artisans...hmmm,brain ticking.
I am going to get on with my FRANTIC Friday...

BUT 1st::
                        Tell me which PIN is YOUR FAVE (click on the above image to view larger) and I will pick a winner on Monday morning. (you must be a fabulous reader to qualify-sorry...I'm very loyal to our readers!)

Have a FABULOUS weekend all of you.
HUGS
Char.x

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