a portrait of an incredible boy.

it's been one whole year since little Hayden first stepped onto Canadian soil...since then he has gained a wonderful family...mother,father,brother and a sister ...he has learnt to speak English. He has been to mexico and has swam in the Ocean...he has tasted EVERY kind of food imaginable(and he LOVES every kind of food there is to love)...he is not always a good boy...but he is learning to be...he is only 3...so really he is a typical child.


This portrait was a Baptism gift to him and his family...


Our children are precious...and our family's and friend's children too.


Have a great Tuesday...
I will see my dear parents tomorrow...can't wait.


HUGS
Char.x

crostini per tutti!

thanks to all your suggestions last week...the avocados ripened really well with the apples and bananas...
I made my crostini...or bruschetta...(Crostini are usually smaller,thinner pieces of bread toasted with toppings on)...for Saturday's get together...everyone LOVED them...my favourite were the tomato crostini.They were like an explosion of flavour in your mouth...YUM!
I think I could have added a bit more heat to the guacamole...


TOMATO CROSTINI
the tomatoes I roasted in the oven for 40 minutes...drizzled with olive oil,balsamic vinegar,basil and sea salt...
Toasted thin slices of Focaccia in the oven with Olive oil drizzled on top.
I then sliced some mozzarella, laid the cheese on top of one basil leaf and added half a tomato...grilled again for 5 minutes until the mozzarella started to melt.
EASY and delicious.


GUACAMOLE CROSTINI
This is my recipe for my guacamole...every time it changes depending on what I have in the fridge.
Take 4 well ripened avocados.
Chop up and place in a bowl
Add a pinch of salt and pepper
one whole banana chile pepper(hot but not too crazy) chopped up finely.
6 of the grilled tomato halves chopped up
juice from one whole lime
1/4 cup of Extra Virgin Olive Oil.
Mash it all together...but don't blend.
YUM!


BTW...you may already know this...you can prep the guacamole ahead of time, just keep one of the avocado stones and place it on top of the guacamole and cover with cling film.THIS WAY it won't turn brown.


I hope you're having a lovely Monday.
I'm counting down the days until I see my parents...


HUGS
Char.x

French coffee bols

hello ... did you know in France they drink Coffee from "Bols" (bowls in French) in the morning for breakfast...many say it's so they can dip their delicious croissants and tartine's in their coffee. 
I love going over to France and having a BIG BOL of coffee... so... here are MY French Coffee Bols...all original watercolour paintings to accompany my T-cups HERE and HERE.


Have a lovely day!
hugs
Char.x

will they...won't they???

please apples...help me out...we're going for Dinner on Saturday...and I'm making this Guacamole Bruschetta...

I bought the avacados yesterday...and NOW I need them to ripen.
will they...won't they?


do you have any tips other than placing apples in the same bowl??


Have a great weekend,
HUGS
Char.x


BTW...Miss A got a bad stitch during the race and came in 65th out of 300 runners. she had a blast and wasn't worried about the placing.(oh to be young again!)

eyes on you

happy Friday lovely....thanks for passing by.
I finished one commission but can't show you the completed picture until Sunday...JUST in case it's seen by the wrong eyes!


HUGS and have a great weekend!
Char.x

just going with it.

Hello everyone...and a very lovely Thursday it is....beautiful blue skies...great for a Cross Country race...which Miss A will be participating in this afternoon. And neither I nor her daddy can watch unfortunately...BUT I am and will be thinking of her speedy legs...and hoping that she doesn't give up half way. I was never good at Cross Country but I do think she has her daddy's power legs...so we'll see.


T-CUPS...what do you think? I think this will be a new theme for my Mamas and Chicks Fall Show this year. I am going to be selling the originals in my Etsy Shop as soon as I get a chance to post them...


I have plans on making pillows, posters and embroideries.
Along side selling these originals...they can be used as gift cards or framed in a sweet antique white frame...I must try and find a couple of examples...


In one week's time...my Mama and Papa will be here...flying all the way from the UK. I can't wait to see them...9 months is a long time away from family.


I have a little dog portrait to get started on...and a baptism gift to finish...so busy hands are waiting to get started.


HUGS and have a wonderful Thursday.
Char.x

wordless Wednesday...

x
Char

a humming Sunday...

I know many, many of you don't just live around the corner...BUT if you do...be sure to check out my Saturday Art Classes.


So this is what I've been doing the majority of the day...who would have known that figuring out and planning could take ALL day!?


Hope you've had a glorious weekend.
HUGS
Char.x

HYPE DANZ...the dancing mural...

Hello weekend readers...I have to say, this week was a busy one...but I love finishing projects and I am really very happy how this one which I did for a wonderful lady called Margarita who runs a fantastic Dance studio just minutes away from where we live.
The girls have been dancing at Hype Dance for the past 4 years...this will be Miss A's 5th year.


She started just a few years ago and has grown on her reputable reputation as an excellent dance instructor in many different areas of Dance.
Margarita now has other instructors working with her. She also offers adult drop in classes in Ballet/Jazz...Ballroom and Hip-hop...I hope I can gather enough adult ballerinas to do ballet again this year!


IF you live in the Durham Region of Ontario Canada...and are looking for a Dance School to put your kids in...or yourself...please visit HYPE DANZ's website HERE.


Well...now I am warm again indoors...and am about to organise my Saturday morning Art Classes.
They'll be running from October 8th all the way through to December.
If you're interested please email me and I can send you more information.


Have a lovely day.
hugs
Char.x

wishing you a...

lovely weekend.

hugs
Char.x

dance dance dance...

Such a beautiful day...fresh...sunshine and a breeze which clears your head, especially when you're working outside.
I started the dance mural...remember the preliminary sketches HERE? 
Look at the landscape I have behind me to look at when I need a break from painting...beautiful isn't it!
There are areas I need to correct. Like the tap dancer's HUGE left foot...lol...miss J was with me and questioned 'Why is her one foot SOOooo big?", she notices everything...which I love about her...she also hears everything...she doesn't miss a beat.
So...I'll be back up there finishing off the figures and then the logo has to be painted.


**excuse the photos...I forgot my camera!


I know I haven't been able to visit your Worlds this week much...but I will get there soon, I promise.


Have a great day.
HUGS
Char.x


BTW : yes, the last post's silhouettes are for Miss A and J's daily school notes and can also be used as bookmarks. Thanks for all your sweet comments...I hope you know they're very much appreciated.

wordless Wednesday

hugs
Char.x

so simple

so simple...so delicious.

Have a great Tuesday.
hugs
Char.x

en plein air

Hello MONDAY....good to see you here...

My Tea Cups are back...original one of a kind watercolours...will...be added to my ETSY Store over the next couple of days.

Whilst we sat and watched sky-divers this past weekend...I painted some T-cups.

Painting out side is just wonderful...

Have a great week. I start the Ballerina Mural on Tuesday...oh, that's tomorrow!

hugs

Char.x

being flexible

hello dear readers...
I am working on an exterior Mural this coming week...just presented the sketches and received the ALL STEAM AHEAD!


I feel like I'm Spring cleaning in the Autumn at the moment...finding I have been quite disorganised over the past couple of months...


Hope you're enjoying your weekend.


HUGS
Char.x