Wordless Wednesday

Mondays Mentions...my studio and LOST teeth!

It's a FREEZING cold Monday morning...my girls were under-dressed going to school today so I'm about to rush up there with an extra sweater for each of them...we're in March and it's still 20 below Zero...I know...I know...what can I expect living here in Canada?

At least the Sun is shining... right?!

SO...LOTS of work has been going on in our house...my husband has become VERY handy and is slowly finishing our basement...STAGE 3 and we're finally on MY studio...YAY...with my decision to start teaching kids this Summer...he is pushing to get it finished in time.

I spent hours cleaning my area and Mr R got the whole room framed(as you can see from these pics above).

This morning I took measurements of walls and windows...Mr R needs me to clarify where electrical outlets and lights etc should go.

So...over the next month and a half, I will be keeping you up to date with the progress of "my studio"...I am SO EXCITED...really, I have a buzzing energy inside...I'll finally be able to start a project and leave it out over night...usually I have to pack everything away so that we can eat dinner...

It's not a huge space...but with lots of Ikea storage...I will be able to organise and maneuver well in my studio.

He's even run an "air" line in from the compressor in the garage...so if I want to use an air brush or any tools which require air pressure...I'll be able to!

At the same time as my studio is being built, Mr. r is also finishing the "Dark Room"...this will be a fantastic hobby to teach our girls...to be able to develop their own photos...and to appreciate where photography came from and how we arrive at the finished print.

Both Mr. R and I have studied Photography...and we have the enlarger already.

Should be fun!

Here's Miss A with her TOOTHLESS smile...she was shy about me taking her photo...

Her tooth finally came out on Friday in her Assembly at school...they gave her that little tooth box on a string to keep her tooth safe...cute!

MONDAYs Mentions ::

So...today we're going SCANDINAVIAN with our links...

As many of you know I have a HUGE connection with Scandinavia...even though I have never actually lived there...my parents are both Scandi...

I used to go to Danmark every Summer to visit our Farmor and Farfar(Grandparents)...they lived in Hellerup just outside Copenhagen.

I LOVE the little Danish stores...THIS one I have never been to...but would love to.Brinja also has a BLOG which is full of colour and family life.

I visit this Scandi lass quite frequently ... I adore the interiors she posts about and the Scandinavian design in general...MAMAMEKKO...

Reminds me of Marimekko...lol...which is ANOTHER brilliant Scandinavian(Finnish) designer...GO HERE to check out their designs.

A Swedish Artist...ALEXANDRA HEDBERG creates some amazingly interesting paintings...and is about to start a commission for the exterior of a building. I like seeing her work's progression.

And finally...Vilde from Norway has a blog (although there really are SO many Scandinavian links I could post...perhaps I should create a section JUST for this...) MY SCANDINAVIAN RETREAT...is where I go to dream, of that perfect place...by the water or in the City...gorgeous designed houses with such simplistic interiors.

Thanks for passing by today...I hope you enjoy all these links.

This afternoon I am working on a colour sketch for an Alice in Wonderland back-drop and I received a commission for a "Family Load" portrait...I LOVE COMMISSIONS!!! :-)

Until tomorrow...have a lovely Monday...it's going to be a GREAT week!

HUGS

Char.x

in MY bag

      Happy Sunday to you...
I'm joining in with the "what's in your Bag" by the Dos Family...you've probably seen this recently at many other blogs.
I enjoy doing this as in years to come I'll remember that we celebrated Chinese New Year with great friends...and that I am and will always be a huge fan of Marimekko...that the O-Plump has to be my favourite lip gloss of all time...and that I always get stumped on the spelling of "receipt"...why is that?

Have you joined in the fun?
Leave me your link if you have.

HAPPY FAMILY WEEKEND...(Canada gets a day to Celebrate families tomorrow...Happy President's Day for all our US readers)

BAGS of hugs
Char.x

Tam...perhaps we could see what your bag is hiding???

my Mum...

was born in Sweden...near Malmo. She grew up with 4 other siblings...2 of which are still in Sweden, and her 2 sisters are in Ireland.

My Mum grew up in a house which lay just below a hill which was  used as a ski run in the Winter...she worked the ski-lift when she was old enough...they skiied to school...

In the Summer there were mushrooms and berries to pick...and lakes to swim in....sounds wonderful doesn`t it!

Tall, athletic, stylish in her Marimekko dresses and Hunter boots...this hasn`t changed since the 60`s...

she has taken care of 2 beautiful gardens(one is still running it's course beautifully), a 240 year old house with 7 bedrooms(some very very small bedrooms)and an ancient AGA which had to be fed coal every day...twice a day!!! she took care of chickens, she's raised pheasants, horses,lambs, cows, deer, cats, dogs...oh, and 3 children and our Dad.

I never felt like she was in a rush, she never rushed us...she never shouted at us...she's still NEVER in a rush...she's extremely calming.

She has thrifted at charity shops since I was little... and finds the most remarkable of items.

Her eyes change colour from ice blue to dark grey...depending on the weather and what top she's wearing...she's 67 years old and has only just found some grey hairs on her head.

She has a passion for being happy and has a natural love of textiles and design...

Once upon a time she wove carpets and wall-hangings...this was before she became busy with all of US...and the animals.

She's a master crocheter and knitter...did I tell you my Mum is the BEST chef ever...she makes the best Rye Bread...and gives it all away...

My Mum has taught me everything...nearly...she has a lot more patience than I have...I have to count to 10 spmetimes to stop me from exploding...I have never heard her counting under her breathe.

Meet...the ONE and ONLY Mamma...my Mum, Agneta. (I know she deserves a book written and illustrated about her...it's just finding the time)

Have a wonderful Wednesday...I am dedicating today to you Mum...because I LOVE and MISS you dearly.

Thank you for being such a beautiful person.

your

Char,ON

I have it covered...

the table that is...I made sure our girls didn't have any intentions of "crafting" this morning after breakfast...because I have...100 cards to make for the Mamas and Chicks Show...

This Once Upon a Time Watercolour is heading over to Italy for a dear lady who commissioned it for friends of hers...such a kind gesture. Thanks K for thinking of me:-)

It should be in the mail this weekend sometime.

Hoping you all have a wonderful Friday.

I hope you will forgive me if I have not been by your World recently...Life has been crazy busy.

I'm expecting It to be a little crazy until the Show is over...so bear with me.

Ok...to work...

HUGS

Char,On

What's in YOUR bag?

I was feeling a little stumped this morning about my posting today...some days are easier than others...but didn't want you to miss out on visiting our World over here today...heehee...*SMILE*
...after reading a couple of books to little miss J before she went down for a nap...I started to clean out my summer *bag* and start filling my Autumn *bag* up...eliminating old receipts ,tissues,dried flowers...half of which I have NO idea why and how it ended up in there in the first place.

So...after laying out all that I wanted to keep...I thought I'd take a snap shot of it all...for keep sakes, like a time-capsule photo...

-As you can see...I NEED a new wallet/purse...I have had this one for 9 years.
If any of you know of a wonderful ETSY seller who makes them...I need to purchase one:-)

-I won the purple and green fabric purses...from one of our Fabulous Readers...miss RIKRAK,they're awesome and really help me keep things a little more organised.

-I *HEART* Marimekko...a lot! As you can see from the coin purse, the pencil case and our table cover...I think it's the Scandinavian thing which always steers me towards them.

-I always carry a few business cards...you never know when I may get lucky...in business that is *smile*

- I have pictures of my mummy and daddy with our girls...I have to get more recent ones...but I love these pics.(I also have pics of my hubbie in my wallet...and more recent pics of the girls)

-My *Bag* is a WONDERFUL hand-me-down from my darlin sister...Thanks Boo! I LOVE it!

-Then I have my NEW favourite accessory...from Smashbox O-Glow lip gloss...it's AMAZING. It's a clear gloss which tints your lips to their natural red or pink. I'm in love.

-And that's about it...oh, nearly forgot...reading glasses,sketch book and tissues and hair accessories.
Oh, ...here's the photo I took of it all.

What's in your bag?

Char,On

A little birdie once told me...

A little birdie once told me...if you put yourself out there you'll eventually get noticed...

Thanks to all of you who are now following our Blog...hopefully Tam will be back up and running soon...she's an incredibly creative friend who is just a little busy with her new born Beth.
I have another piece of red to add...it's my favourite Marimekko fabric...I grew up with a Marimekko table cloth and decided to purchase one for our girls to grow up with...so bright and cheerful-love it!

I thought I would draw some birds and colour them with my girls new Pipsqueak colouring felt-tips...I'm about to add some gift cards to my Blueshinebaby Etsy site getting ready for our Mamas and Chicks Spring Show which is creeping up on us...go to www.mamasandchicks.com to see who'll be at our Show this year!

Happy Valentine's~~~~ if I don't manage to post anything tomorrow!
Charlotte, Ontario

Sensa energia!

I know it doesn't look like Ash....but she didn't even look herself today. Being ill really drains her little body.I loved the patterns of her shirt/tops and our Marimekko table cloth,I wanted to add colour but I am without energy right now...so I won't be doing this until tomorrow.
Until then.
Charlotte,Ontario