Wordless Wednesday...in our kitchen.

PRETTY early hugs,
Char.x

WORDless Wednesday

sparkles and hugs
Char.x

sweet strappy sandals...

don't you just wish it was Summer some days? Yeah...me too.
Today my goals were not met(by me)...I'll wake up early and finish "P" ...

The next 3 days you'll be seeing RED (shoes and boots)...
I WILL pass by and say hi to you on your blog tomorrow...promise. This week is speeding by again....Aaaahhhhh...time slow down!

Going to close my lids for 5 hours... A DOMANI...

Char,ON
p.s. due to the heaviness of my lids...I will be posting new shoes tomorrow on ETSY...thanks for understanding.

R is for RABBIT...and RAIN...

I'm not 100% sure whether this is how the whole series will be...

I quite like the idea of not including huge Type...
What do you think?

Char,ON.

Sunday's shoes...for Haiti.

we hope you had a great weekend...ours up here in Canada was remarkably warm for January...which was lovely, but we really need a little bit more snow for better ski conditions and also the ice-rink is melting a little...so we haven't been skating. We did however have YUMMY Sushi takeout last night with friends...which WAS SO deeeelicious...I could eat it every day. There's just something about it...it feels like it's good for you and you never feel TOO full.

I did also pick up "The Creative License" by Danny Gregory from my bookshelf and flicked through a few pages...I love his work...and his whole story to how he came about drawing again. His work is so about the "now" and recording anything and everything around him.

SO...I have made myself a NEW challenge...as many illustrations as I do...or animals I draw...they're not studies from Life...and because I am constantly here there and everywhere with the girls...I rarely can sit at a cafe,bar, park for longer than 10 minutes without one of our darlings wanting something...and that means I have now left "MY" practice and time for my artwork studies.

SO...I am going to enlighten (said with a chuckle) you ALL with MY ENTIRE SHOE COLLECTION!!! you`ll see...I am a FAN...of shoes and boots!

Haha...and THESE...RED SHOES are my first pair.

I started off with a Pen line drawing...there will be NO erasers here...I need to see faults and correct them if there are some.

I then used my colouring pencils...it's been a while. It took approximately 1 hour to complete.

These are one of my fave pairs of shoes...I think you'll enjoy this series...it'll be a surprise every day...and oh my, I have some shoes and boots for YOU to see...heehee...

It'll be self reflective along with challenging and rewarding.
I am planning on selling the sketches/drawings or paintings in an Esty Store(still in progress) and donating a portion of the sales to Haiti.

Are there any new projects you're up to?

I will now try and get around to seeing what you've been up to, I promise...this weekend has just whisked me away from the computer...and my projects.
Until tomorrow's Shoes!!!
Char,ON

Oh...I of course forgot my camera on Friday eve when Mr. R played...but...it was awesome.MANY friends came out to support him. He's very talented...and dedicated to his passion towards music.

salvaging old jumpers..

so I'm sure most of you know what a jumper is...but for those who don't...it's a sweater.
My wonderful Mum opened up 2 old suitcases when I found out I was pregnant 6 years ago with Little Miss A...
"Here you go" she said..."take a look through here"... there was a musty smell to all the fabrics...fabrics which I remembered wearing when I was small...fabrics which I had memories only from photos taken...this was touching, and special...thank you Mum!
I pulled out a Marimekko top...you know the classic one which has all those little bright coloured pockets,old knitted hats and gloves,dresses my Farmor(Grandmother) had made,undershirts(which my girls STILL love to wear)...then a Liberty Dress which I remember my Dad having bought for us for Christmas...green with pretty flowers...AND sweaters/jumpers which brought back Winter filled memories...times when we would spend hours outside playing in the snow building HUGE snowmen...great thick and warm woolen knitted sweaters...

jumpers I am SO happy she kept...they honestly were in good shape...I think one had a moth hole which I fixed...but other than that...both our girls have worn all the clothes which were salvaged.

Then there came a time when thoughts of storing again for another generation...or donating came across my mind...

WHAT TO DO???

I am a pack rat and hate throwing things out...especially memories and history. SO...I made these 2 necklaces from 2 sweaters...

The longest of the 2 falls just bellow my chest...and they look quite sweet with a simple jumper on.

I am really happy with the result...and know now I have memories forever which I can wear.

WHAT do you hang on to...and can't let go of in your Life?

Have a wonderful day...thanks for stopping by.

Char,ON

Once Upon a Time...Elephant & Rhinoceros

These two watercolours are for Silke, a fabulous reader and blogger of Metamorphosis...they'll be flying out tomorrow, hopefully to get to her very soon as she has been patiently waiting. Thanks Silke!

I hope you like them Silke...

I am starting the Pond Mural today. I'll post my progress along the way this week...AND please don't forget to come back tomorrow for our Tell All Tuesdays...we have an amazingly talented lady being featured...can't miss this one!

Oh...we came 9th in our City Chase Race this past Saturday.There were 460 teams...SO pleased we made top ten!

Have a productive Monday.
Charlotte,Ontario

Once Upon a Horse

Once Upon a Time "Horse" is dedicated to my little nephew "Morton" who was born this morning in England. A big CONGRATS to my Sis(well done Boo) and her Husband...I am working on a special one just for Morton...but for now...Welcome to our World little guy-you have entered into a family full of love and you will always be treasured each and every day of your long and healthy Life-I can't wait to meet you...although I know it may be a while :-(

EVERYONE....Don't FORGET to enter my April Giveaway!
Only 24 hours left to enter!!!
See the post below the Polar Bear to leave your entry.
Ciao for now...I may be posting my Rhino later.
Charlotte,Ontario

Spring chick...

Well, I did manage to finish it before 12 midnight...but not post it.
I'm behind one watercolour...today will be a busy day...taking the girls to Dance and then heading downtown for a date with my husband(so looking forward to it...nothing to wear-as usual).
This Spring Chick ...inspired by my Mum and her Swedish roots...I had doubts to whether the very bright chick would work, but I'm happy with the outcome.It's a very luminous painting...and would light up any room.
I'm tired and must head to bed.
Until Sunday I do believe...
Thanks for visiting!
Charlotte,Ontario

Our MARCH SPRING Giveaway WINNER...

a. b. c. d.

I'd first like to say a huge thank you to the few entrants who went out of their way to go to my Etsy Store...and thanks to all of you for your supportive comments...but a huge CONGRATULATIONS goes out to PVE Design who by "Random Word Picker"(because both my girls were utterly exhausted after their day today and couldn't wait 2 minutes to pick a name out of the bowl before going to bed) PVE DEsign WON "Sara ,the Sweet Dream Fairy" and can also pick from either a,b,c or d designs above...

The 3 which are not chosen will be added to my Etsy Shop at $12 each tomorrow.

Have a great evening...if we reach 150 followers before the end of March there will be another giveaway...if not the next one will be the first week of April...a Birthday Giveaway!

(Guess my Birthday and you'll get an extra entry:-)

Charlotte Ontario

A little red paint...

Oh...how I miss painting...I really must clean my studio up...
I got paints (poster paints) out for the girls yesterday and of course there was left over paint when they had had enough...so I quickly opened my sketch book and swirled some red on the page...later I had time to work on the sketches.
It's given me a push to paint more...it's amazing how paint can change your mood and the feel of a sketch...so much looser and it gives a free feeling...not so rigid.
I have another Etsy shop...but it's empty http://ashleyandjordan.etsy.com
What do you think? I would sell sketches of the girls and paintings??
Have a great Tuesday and thanks for visiting...
Charlotte,Ontario

The Conservatory Overcoat GIVEAWAY!!!!

I found the perfect Giveaway for this month's RED FEB theme...look at this gorgeous Jacket...to win it click on the link below!

Grosgrain: The Conservatory Overcoat GIVEAWAY!!!!

My Oscar Vote...

Sitting here watching the Oscars...as we do because it's one of those annual events...and thinking that perhaps our little actresses will one day be up there receiving an Oscar...it's possible, anything is possible in our World.
I would give them both an Oscar for best daughters/actresses...
We are SO fortunate that we are here and did not bring up our children in the slums of India...I have been to Thailand and seen poverty...and have travelled through Zimbabwe and seen hunger...
I am SO grateful to have friends and family around me who I care for and love...and visa versa...thank you all for all your very kind comments...and to all you very creative followers!
Who are your Oscars going to in your Lives today?

Don't forget to enter the giveaway below...it ends FEB 28th.

Good luck Slumdog Millionaire(my absolute fave)

So different...

I must get "Are they Twins?" at least once whenever we go out together.
They couldn't be more different from each other...not just in personalities but in looks too...Ash has beautiful almond shape eyes and Jordi has great round eyes that draw you in...Ashley has petite lips and Jordan big voluptuous ones...Jordan has round cheeks and Ashley doesn't and never has...I love sketching them...I know my sketches are very illustrative and not realistic...but they are such busy girls that trying to get a 4 and 2yr old not to move for 3 minutes is impossible.
Don't forget to enter the Giveaway!
Charlotte, Ontario

Tuesday 17th already!

Time sure does fly!

I think I should get to work but wanted to quickly post a sketch I finished yesterday...I enjoyed creating it...Ash is a very delicate soul who absolutely loves nature...and I'm thinking this -5 -7 degrees weather is really effecting her.

Wishing the Spring would be sprung upon us SOON...

Have a lovely Tuesday...

Thanks to all our new followers...as soon as we reach a 50 count I am going to do a give-away!

Stay tuned.

Charlotte,Ontario

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