Working on it

There's so much to do... But I'm working on it.
This is a mock design for the new poster for the Spring Show... If you live in the GTA and have some things to sell... We love anything new and handmade!
Hope you'll forgive me if I don't stick around too long today.
Hugs
Char

Quiet or noisy?

I am definitely quiet...or that's what I enjoy...
And you? Are you quiet or noisy?

Hugs
Char

PRINT - COLOUR - WIN

Only 3 more...well 2 really, until our Mamas and Chicks Show...oh my, it always creeps up on me WAY too fast.
WIN WIN WIN...if you have little ones...OR if YOU would like to enter...I would LOVE to see what you come up with.
I will be colouring mine too...and the WINNER will WIN either one of these or their own custom Once Upon a Time watercolour...where YOU can choose the animal...etc.


HAVE FUN with it...and post the picture on my BlueshineArt Facebook Page with a link to where I can contact you :-) If you don't have a FB page...email me your coloured page.


Have fun with the colouring pages...I can't wait to see what YOU and your kids get up to :-)
HUGS
Char.x

Wordless Wednesday

hugs
Char.x

getting it.

 Hello sweet readers...
Just getting back into the swing of things...the Show went very well...lots of positive feedback from shoppers and from our vendors. Although our attendance was down about 20% we still had a steady flow of traffic....which is sometimes better than crazy numbers of Mums and their strollers all at once.
This is my table...the painting on the right (the abstract one) is not mine, I'm going to be re-thinking what I bring to my Show in the Fall...no pins...or stamps....or patches...just Tooth Fairy pillows...and my prints. I'm even contemplating not bringing my cards...because people want them for nothing...it's frustrating...they don't realize that they're handmade items too! If you go to Hallmark...can you find a handmade card for $2.50? Didn't think so!

So, that was the Show...and this is really what the post is about...our girls Lego Factory...

Mum, I promised I would send you some photos...they really "get it" now when it comes to building a structure...and they worked on this together without fighting...always a bonus!

I hope you're all well...
I know I haven't been to see you in your Blog Worlds recently...but this week I will.

WHAT are you up to this week?

I have a commission to start very similar to this one.
I'd LOVE to get this started.
I have to plan my weekly courses for this.


Tomorrow we're off to see this, which will hopefully lead to an abundance of future work.
*fingers crossed*


HAPPY Tuesday...it's rainy and damp here...
HUGS
Char.x

The Mamas and Chicks Show...TODAY!

I will be here today at the Mamas and Chicks Show...I would take my laptop with me and blog throughout the day...BUT...because I am one of the organisers of this fun shopping day...whatever "quiet" lulls the day may have...those are the times when I need to be chatting to our 60+ vendors.
PRAYING that everyone comes out to SHOP...and isn't sleeping after getting up at a crazy hour over here to watch the Royal Wedding today.

Check out our list of exhibitors on our website HERE. MOST ship worldwide and have online stores!

I'll tell you ALL how it went at the weekend...then next week...we're back into swing with a GIVEAWAY.(I know it's been a while!)

Here's to hoping tomorrow is a smooth and successful day for Prince Will and Kate too.

HUGS
Char.x

WORDLESS Wednesday

Horse HUGS
Char.x

Working under pressure...

Hey...How are you all? How was your weekend?
We had a wonderful Easter weekend...the girls seemed JUST as excited that it was Easter as when it's was Christmas...they woke up way too early this morning...the clock wasn't even NEAR 6am!

I have been busy finishing projects...
So...this is what I'm taking to the Mamas and Chicks Show this Friday!
130 gift cards
20 Tooth Fairy Pillows
12 Lavender Dream Pillows
28 Hand carved Stamps
60 Handmade Pins
20 Iron on Patches
and my Once Upon a Time prints...lots of them!

Now...I have to figure out my table display...

Anyone have any hints on how I should display all these???

HUGS
Char.x

HAPPY Easter WEEKEND!

 They look so raw in their "not finished" state...I'll be able to paint them tonight as they're dry now finally...

I admit...I made a HUGE "whoopsy" and made my Company Stamp this morning "BACKWARDS"...because as we all know...to make a Type Stamp...you HAVE to write the words backwards!!! That's when you know you're pushing the envelope...burning the candle at both ends...we've all been there...and I'm there right now!

I finished 130 gift cards for our Mamas and Chicks Show this morning...I've been working on them for the past 3 days...if they don't sell...they'll be in my Esty Shop next week.I'll be selling them in packs of 5.

So ... no one guessed what the Pins were in Thursday's post... oh...and I won't be giving it away quite yet!

Back to making my STAMP the RIGHT way...

HAPPY Easter Weekend everyone...whatever it may mean to you...enjoy it!!!

No need to explain what I'm up to...I think we ALL know!

HUGS

Char.x

door to door...

 Hello, I know I usually do a "Wordeless Wednesday" post on Wednesdays...but I really wanted to show you how this little birdie flew all the way to a house where it has found it's new home.




































Do you remember the Stamp I made?
Well LOOK...now it's being wrapped around MANY wonderful soaps.

Tara from On a Branch blogged about her Soaps and the packaging...I think packaging is SO important...and I really need to work on this a little more...aren't they beautiful!

 Good enough to eat!!

IF you live in the GTA and want to make a trip to Burlington this Saturday Tara is at a craft fair!(Saturday, April 16, 10-4, at Port Nelson Church, 3132 South Drive, the Burlington Crafters Craft Show)

Go and say hello...from me too as I am not able to make it out there...
Maybe in the Fall she'll be at out Mamas and Chicks Show selling her knits and soaps!

**PLEASE NOTE**
I am taking a wee blog break...I won't disappear completely as I will be showing pictures of what I am up to...BUT I may not be checking in daily.
Our Mamas and Chicks Show is in 2 weeks time...and I need to focus  100% on finishing products for my Blueshine Art table.

I have added NEW PRINTS to my ETSY shop...I have one more to add this morning...and then will start placing more "stamps" up there...today is not great for photos though...Very dreary...grey and wet.

HAVE a wonderful day...
Happy doing what you do...

HUGS
Char.x

I love them!

HAPPY FRIDAY!! My Postcards arrived yesterday from VistaPrint...have you used them before?
The quality is really very good, I opted for the gloss finish on the front...and you can upload ANY image.
One year for our Mamas and Chicks Show I made it look like a postcard at the back so people could actually use it AS a postcard...I may order some more like that!
I have a link on the right if you're looking to order anything from there...
These postcards only cost me $12 for 250 plus shipping...and I know shipping can be pricey...but when you think of how much Postcards usually cost! It's a steal!

I have a busy day today...but sometime this weekend...I will be telling you all about the Square Foot Gardening seminar I went to last night.VERY INTERESTING!!! Do you yield 3 harvests from your garden a year?
Have any of you tried square foot gardening?

AND...I will be featured over at Earth Mama this weekend with a GIVEAWAY of some of my Once Upon a Time prints...when? I am not sure...but I will keep you informed!


Have a glorious weekend!
Spring is finally here in Canada!

HUGS
Char.x

future threads

HELLO Friday!!!!
So...we survived March Break, the Flu...colds and finally we have the most beautiful day outside today...
The girls and I are about to go on a nature trail hike as it's so gorgeous...I'll take the camera with me.

I'm working on some "sweet sleep pillows" for our Mamas and Chicks Show in April....but I also want to make them multicultural...so I have Spanish,Italian,French,Danish and english so far...I have another portrait commission to work on which I'll show you soon...

I'm sorry if I haven't been by your World. I will make more time in the near future...this week was all about our girls.

I have a HUGE Thank you to go out to our new Sponsor...Jess Bradley !!! You can read an interview she did with us HERE to find out a little more about her and her awesome work. We'll be hosting a follow-up interview with her very soon to find out what she's up to right now.

Have a great weekend....I'll be back on Monday with our Monday's Mentions and to show pictures from our Nature walk.

healthy HUGS
Char.x

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!!!

Wordless Wednesdays ::PINS

HUGS to a wonderful Wednesday.
Char.x

more Mamas,Pappas and bambinos...

More Mammas and Pappas with their bambinos...I will be updating my ETSY store later with these mixed media originals...I've had wonderful feedback...from you (thank you kindly) and from friends who have seen them...builing inventory for our Mamas and Chicks Show. I think people like originals, one of a kind...for an affordable price...what do you think?

I'm off to pick up our girls...This was little Miss J's first day at school...doesn't she look cute standing there next to her big sis! The dress is by one of our Vendor's at our Show...Tiny Modernist. Miss A was wearing another one of hers on her first day at school.

Was it tough? for me...yes,a little...for J? I think she nearly broke down, but as soon as she saw her teacher...she was fine.(BIG sigh of relief)

I hope you're enjoying your Monday!!!

HUGS to you all...

CHar.x

WHAT are the ODDS ?

HAPPY SUNDAY, it was SO wonderful to see the post from Tam yesterday(scroll down a little to read what she's been up to)thanks Tam!...
This morning I thought I would share with you a few Giveaways I'm about to go and enter...some of them end today...sorry I didn't get a chance to add their expiry date...thought of this after the fact, probably would have been a good idea!

Utrechts Buttonfest-not a giveaway but a contest to design a button! If you're an artist,illustrator,designer...this one is for you!

These are all the GIVEAWAYS...have fun...hey, I'm not sure what the odds of winning are...but you can but try!

1. Bespoke Uprising- beautiful printed material
2. The Vintage Moth- gorgeous Jewellery
3. Kelly Lauren -Vintage clothes...great store
4. David Airey - A Bloggers DREAM prize!
5. Clare's Craftroom- fabulous craft book
6. What was I saying Again? - adorable Art print
7. RIKRAK studio- Birthday BASH goodies...oh, and they're good!
8. Claudia Pearson - printed Fall T-Towel
9. A little bit of French - Textile collage
10. Carp(e) libris reviews- Sweet Mandarin

I have to:

1. Finish a whole list of MAMAS & CHICKS material for print this week.
2. Get a couple of quotes together for mural projects.
3. A sketch of a painting for a client.
4. Cook,clean and play with the girls...promised them I'd set up a painting station today...

WHAT do you HAVE to do today?

Enjoy your long weekend...I'll be back with the sketch later of the Landscape I have to do.
HUGS
Char.x

back to normal...

after a few month of organizing the Mamas and Chicks Show...I can hopefully kick back a little and enjoy our girls...trying to squeeze in 10 minutes here and 10 minutes there to email vendors back with answers about the Show...takes away a lot of quality time with the girls.

This is my table...my cards...my prints.

I sold a few, and was fortunate to receive a couple of orders, no BIG commissions...that's ok though, we had about 300 people through the Show in the first 2 hours...it was CRAZY!!!

I have to tell you about some of our vendors because we have SO many who are mompreneurs and are either just starting out or have been working their passions for years.

In the image above you can see Kathy & Kim's table...they personalize water bottles, T-shirts and mugs...check out thier site...great gift ideas!

This has to be one of my favourite vendors (note***ONE*** of my Favourite) her name is Kessa and her company is called Patouche.

she carries a mix of Pirate pants for boys and beautiful Japanese prints with bright coloured fabrics for her dresses for girls...you can visit her website HERE.

I'll be back later to show you more goodies we had at our Show.

I wish you were all closer...because I could fill the WHOLE Mamas and Chicks Show with your beautiful creations!

Hope you're all well.I have started re-visiting your Worlds and am putting time aside this afternoon for visits too.

Until later.

Char,ON

Hanging out with Ma' Girls..

Hey fabulous friends...

I've got lots to share...but have been hanging out with Ma' Girls these past couple of days after the Show. Everything went really well...will post a lengthy update tomorrow

See you then!

Char,ON

The COUNTDOWN is on...MAMAS & CHICKS here I come!

Only 3 days to go...we've placed 100 lawn signs around town...packed 250 Mama Loot Bags...

I've been frantically trying to get "my" stuff ready for the Show too...I made 100 unique handmade cards on Saturday and Sunday...

and tried to keep a routine with the girls...Little miss A made her 5 sentences on Monday(oh yes, that was just yesterday!!!) ...

and wrote them on the wipey plastic on our windows and in her Diary book...

then we squeezed in a few hours of fun too...always the most important part of the day!

I can't believe how our children grow so quickly!!!

Miss J is still a little shorter than Miss A...and Miss A reminds her of this even if it's unconciously!

A BIG shout out to Tam for posting over the last few days...and a BIG Happy Birthday to Jack.

I have been communicating with 55 vendors...our MAMAS & CHICKS Spring Shopping Show is on Friday.

IF you're in the Toronto/Durham Region...please pass by, I'd love you to come and say hello.

I promise to take pictures of the Show this time...and maybe even blog from the Show...unless it's CRAZY busy!!!

Next week things should calm a little...and I will be able to visit you all.

I hope these Spring Days are beaming Sunshine on you...and for those of you who are coming into Fall...enjoy the colours! The 2 most precious of Seasons...

HUGS

Char,ON