family gifts...

I can't show you ALL of it as this is a gift from the Mama to her family...
HUGS
CHar.x

just around the corner...

 from where we live is the School where the girls go...we can walk there...and do even if it rains,snows and hails...
both our girls have been SO fortunate to have these 2 wonderful teachers to guide them through their education.
We are SO thankful to them for engaging their excitement on a daily basis to learn and do well in school.

These 2 paintings are a little "thanks" to give them before we go to the UK for Christmas...
They are carrying their children...
Thank you lovely ladies!

This weekend we were touched by another awful cold all 3 of us...mr. R avoided it AGAIN...the weather has been up and down in temperature...and with school there's SO much going around...
LOTS of fruit,chicken noodle soup and the girls are at school today.
I missed the Show on Saturday...I was a little sad as sales were going to help with Christmas Shopping...but hey...c'est la vie...family and health comes first.

So...just catching up on commissions...thank you for all those who have supported me by purchasing prints and requesting custom pieces!

OH...BTW...tomorrow is the LAST DAY of my 30% SALE on ALL prints and Original ARTwork in my ETSY STORE!!!
I will be closing the store for the Holidays...but will working on new material to add to my store in the New Year.


Well...I have a million and one things to get done this morning.
HUGS and have a great week!
Char.x

together...THANKFUL

sharing...eachother...sisters...friendship...love...happiness...laughter...forever...hand in hand. 

Appreciating and thankful for each morning I wake to one of their hands tickling my arm to wake me up...or the excitement in their voices because they are going to school to see their friends...or Saturday morning when they realize it's the weekend and they can watch TV...

this image above is one of the most cherished...holding hands because they love to...

Warm and full hearts...HUGS to you all...and wishing my friends just South a HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Char.x 

Wordless WEDNESDAY

 

X.Char.X

sour after-taste

 the weekend was wonderful...we saw good friends, ate wonderful food...the girls had a blast with their new Bey Blades. Today we went to the Ontario Science Centre with the girls as it was my husband's work Holiday Party...we saw an IMAX movie...little J was clinging to me the whole way through...it was their first IMAX movie..."Under the Sea". Gorgeous photography!

Finished a commission this evening...on tracK for 2 more paintings tomorrow...getting ready for this Saturday...I am participating in a little Shopping Event in a very quaint neighbouring town...and realised this evening...that my planning and advising of this event way in advance...all went to pot.

I will say no more...I am upset, disappointed...and let down as I feel my worth rather small in my World...I know I will sort it all out...and I will wake up stronger in the morning...but sometimes stronger has consequences.

Have a wonderful Monday...I may check in...

HUGS to you all.

Char.x

ESTY SALE 30% OFF until end November

HERE GOES - 

HAPPY SHOPPING!!!...

my BIG YEAR END SALE.

30% OFF everything in my ETSY Store.

Just enter the code NOVEMBER30 and receive 30% off any Print or Original painting.

 Offer ends on NOVEMBER 30th.

HAPPY SHOPPING!!!

HUGS

Char.

P.S. If there's a print you have seen before but isn't in my ETSY SHOP...convo me and I'll add it for you!

Must finish making Shrimp and Mango Salad for this evening...have a great Saturday!!!

family Christmas card

Family Christmas Card commission finished late last night for a friend ...have you thought about your cards for the Holiday Season?

HUGS

Char.x

HAPPY November

 HAPPY November...it really has been a wonderful month...thankful that we're all feeling better and that so many friends and people I hardly know are commissioning paintings and drawings for their loved ones at Christmas this year. It really does mean SO much to me...thank you if you have and are reading this.
This picture below is of a lovely lady who has been supporting me by purchasing prints from my Etsy Store since I started my shop...thanks Kim!

 Love this photo of our girls...although they're changing and growing up SO quickly!!!Makes me kind of sad sometimes...

 I will be having a "BUY 2 PRINTS get the 3rd FREE" event starting this Saturday which will run for 10 days...not to worry...you guys will be the 1st to know...and my BlueshineART Fans too...so get on facebook and "LIKE" blueshineART...

 On another note...we went to the Royal Winter Fair which is hosted in Toronto every year...I wish I had taken more pics but the lighting wasn't great...here are a few of my faves.

 LOOK at this bird...bazaar...there were yellow and pink ones too!

The horses stole the Show with our girls...they could watch them for hours...here they were getting tacked up ready for the big Horse Show - next year we'll treat the girls to the Show...
Well...back to school to pick up little Miss A...she had a wonderful report card which she brought home to us...SO proud of her...Miss J is doing so well too...they don't get report cards until the end of the school year because they're only in JK...but her teacher is very happy with her progress. It makes me tear up when I hear the teacher's talking about our girls...
November has been a wonderful Month...and thank you for all your supportive and kinds comments.
Must dash...
HUGS
Char.x
P.S.Will show you 2 new commissions I have nearly finished tomorrow...keeping busy...keeping busy...OH and I have to tell you about the Children's book launch I went to last night!!!

Family Load...

 

It's mid-November already!!! I can't believe we're at the end of 2010 already...how is it possible that a year can pass SO quickly? Do you think it would still pass this quickly if we all lived in the Caribbean?

I've been fortunate this past week that so many projects have come my way.
Here's the latest...do you remember our Tell All Tuesdays with Nerissa? Well...just as many of the past requests...she wanted something for her and her family.She has 4 adorable children and a very supportive husband.
Her Cupcake business has taken off...if you live in the Durham Region or GTA she has specials on "Cupcake Friday"...go to her Facebook Page.
They really are the BEST cupcakes around!

It was so much fun to do...I'm really enjoying this series.


When I get a chance I will be updating my Etsy Store and reminding you about new listings...as well as the end of year sale I'll be having.
I have a new watercolour to finish...I'll show you the progress tomorrow.


HOPING all is well with you.
HUGS
Char.x.

Friday Celebrations!

Another piece in Celebration of a Birthday...and when my husband brings back his Birthday illustration...I will show you that one too...
Can you hear the Celebrations going on behind this picture?
There's Sushi on the menu today...YUM!

What's on your Menu tonight?

HUGS
Char.x

remembering...

Today we remember how our Country fights to keep us all safe...we remember the past and present...and we should also remember all those families who have lost love ones due to their bravery...

Moms and Dads who are left without their loved ones should also be remembered...they carry on with their lives and hold the home fort...

This was a piece I finished for a friend who in the past 4 years has always bought Art from me for others...today was when she honoured herself and bought something to hang on her walls.

She's a busy Mum with twin boys...she's creative and works from home whilst raising her family...
I love how she stepped up to buy something for herself...Thanks S!

I have to dash...I have another one of these to finish...it's for another fabulous Mum who has 4 kids.

WHAT have YOU bought for YOURSELF recently???

HUGS
Char.x
I will make an effort to pass by and say hi today...sorry it's been a while...I wanted to post yesterday but blogger was acting up.

HANDMADE Advent Calendars

 I'm a little late posting as our car is being fixed and had to be driven this morning to the mechanic...oh, I hope we get it back by this evening...as I haven't prepared much for my Mr.r and his Birthday tomorrow...so...as promised I would post some pics of Advent Calendars which I have been Pinning on Pinterest. The above image can be found HERE.
I have a goal to make one this year for our girls...we had one growing up when we were small...and I just loved waking up in the morning and getting excited over opening a little gift our mother had wrapped up for us...the gifts were usually small...but thoughtful...they could even be a little chocolate bar...or a pack of hair-bands...

 

 I don't have any pictures of ours...but I think ours had numbers sewn onto the wall hanging and strings attached to each number so the gifts could be hung from them.

This one above with the little stockings is so precious...it can be found  HERE

I love this one...go HERE to see a closer picture

LOVE these painted individual boxes go HERE to see more...

for these little cones go  HERE

 Pottery Barn make this one if you don't have time yourself to make one...go HERE to buy or see a close up of it.

 Pottery Barn also makes this one and has it for sale...HERE

 This has to be the simplist....and very effective...if I don't complete my idea...this is where I will be heading HERE

AND last but not least...one of my faves...as you could use this little cubby as a seasonal display...go HERE

WHAT traditions does your household have in prepparing for the Holiday Season?

I am now off to start and finish a commission for a family portrait...which will be a little like THIS one I made...and tomorrow I can show you the commissioned piece I finished last night...another family portrait in the same style...but I will be delivering the piece...


HUGS...and have a FAB Tuesday...
Char.x

Monday's delivery...

GOOD MORNING...how are you all? It's a fresh -2 here this morning...and really beautiful out.All our sicknesses have cleared...yippy...and my body thanked me for my early morning run today...sometimes you just have to get out there!

So, this is the painting I was working on recently...and finished last week...but couldn't show you all until I had delivered it.

 The client is from the Meditteranean and loves the pretty feminine colours of lavender but asked for more yellows and less prominant mountains in the distance...

 Hey...that's what custom Artwork is all about...making the client happy!

ANd she was very happy...
I have 4 commissions this week to finish...and am volunteering at the girls School today...and Wednesday...it's a busy week, but a GREAT week...it's also Mr.R's Birthday on Wednesday! So I am prepping for that too.

These are their surprise lunch notes I added to our Girl's packs this morning :

Our 2 little princesses.

I have to get to work...but wanted to wish you all a wonderful Monday...tomorrow we're going to be talking about Advent Calendars here on our blog, I have many images to show you. SO... if you celebrate Christmas...is this part of your tradition?

HUGS to our bright and cheery Monday.

Char.x

STAMPIN n' PAINTIN

RECIPE:: potatoes...paint...paper...and 2 sick girls (oh 3 if you count me)
1st carve poatatoes into desirable shapes.
2nd make enough cards out of your Mummy's best ART sketchbook paper (cough cough)
3rd mix your preferred colours of paint
4th GET STAMPIN!

RESULT :: 2 VERY happy girls...who soon forgot they were sick...

THANK YOU all for your much appreciated "well wishes" for our poorly house this week...it really does take a lot out of you...as I know many of you know...and to all those of you who have little ones under the weather...we send our Well Wishes to you.

HUGS
Char.x
P.S. STill very much hooked on PINTEREST...you have to check it out!

Just PIN it!

I've been a little ABSENT...but I have found a new toy...and been having SO much fun!!!

I signed up to PINTEREST...have you?

HUGS
Char.x
P.S.We're all still all sick...killer virus happening around up here in Canada. Hope you're all well.

2 bears completed...yay!

I really enjoy productive days like today...shame it was because the house was sick...

thanks SO much for all your well wishes...it really does help I'm sure...

So, below as you can see...are the other 2 Once Upon a Time watercolours.

I've never drawn a cartoon character before...I really love how it turned out...hope the owner loves it.

ok...that's it for me today.

HUGS
Char.x

sweet little creature...

1 finished...2 to go...
Miss A still has a fever...Miss J is on the ice-lollies...
Still waiting for the Healthy Angel to pass by and give us all a clean bill of health...


HUGS
Char.x

2 Bears and a Hedgehog...so far...

3 Once Upon a Time watercolours I am working on finishing today...

WHAT are you working on??

Thanks for stopping by.
HUGS
Char.x