I collect...

 CORKS!...but so do friends of mine FOR me...as I really hardly ever drink wine...just socially...so collecting on my own would be a hard slog, and a lengthy task...

 I have been meaning to craft something out of them...and have been collecting ideas...

 I love their history...where they're all from...they travel from every part of the World. South Africa,Austrailia,Europe,Chile,America...

 I love the different textures of cork used...the colours the wine has made the cork...

 One day I will make a LARGE Art installment for our dining room...

 BUT...until then...for you...

 carefully one by one...

a heart is born...

This post was inspired by KENZI over here and I was reminded by "K" from over here that I should be crafting SOMETHING out of them!!!

What do you collect??

Have a lovely Thursday...until tomorrow.
Char.x

Mondays mentions...and crafting this past weekend...

 Hello there...before we get to our " Monday's Mentions",I'd like to introduce to you our cat Jazzy...she LOVES to get involved(literally).
She sat (very close by) whilst I cut out ALL 437 hearts for our daughter's class Valentine's projects which I have offered to do with them.

I'm really very fortunate to have 2 lovely teachers who welcome the help within their classrooms.So for this project the Kindergarten class which Miss J is in will write out 7 names of the people they LOVE...and then copy the names on each heart. THEN, the fun part, we will paint the hearts or stamp them...I haven't figured out which yet.

 I have cut one LARGE heart for each of them which will say "I LOVE YOU" on it...and hanging from the large heart will be all the smaller ones.
It'll be a fun project...

 Miss A will be working on the same project, but their class will have 14 hearts to hang from their main one...and they will have to write...14 names of people they love and WHY they love them...a little more challenging, but they are in Grade 1.

 I bagged every project in individual Zip-lock bags...this way their teachers will find it easier to store from week to week. I'm prettyy excited about starting this...I will go in this afternoon to start with Miss J's class.
Here's another fun drawing exercise which the girls did on Friday...they had a friend over for a play-date, so I covered the kitchen table with paper(something I should do more often as it inspired them to sit and draw) and they had fun colouring...

 Miss J always asks me to draw something...this time it was girls(as their very into their dolls right now) so I drew some but without hair...this way their imagination could run a little...

 I love afternoons like this...

 especially when it's -26 degrees out there!!!

 We're getting the true Canadian Winter here this week...and we still went skiing on Sunday...it was only -40 with the windchill!!!

So...onwards with our Mondays Mentions.

*Monday's mentions*
is a Monday ritual to open doors to creative Souls who blog and live the "handmade" pledge...who you may or may not know already... enjoy.

As we're on the subject of "Crafts", I think it appropriate to mention some Crafters out there today whom I adore to visit on a regular bases...some have become great friends.
 
FIRST we have Andrea from Andrea Creates,she's truly a crafty lady who creates wonderful pouches, clips,bags...you name it...she can make it. She's also a very sweet lady...who always encourages us over here at our blog...thank you Andrea!
SECOND I would like to introduce you to "K" from a Bit of PilliPilli...a beautiful Dutch crafter living in Italy...her sewing skills are incredible and I just adore her photography!
Another friend who I have made through BLOGland...Thank you K!(P.S.she's been featured as one of our Tell ALL Tuesdays spotlights....link at top!)
and THIRD I have to mention Sandra from Herzenart ...WOW...I just adore her Viking creations...she's a true crafter and always has an interesting post...thanks Sandra!!

DON"T forget to leave me your link to your Mondays Mentions...I always love hearing about other bloggers who create and make...

Off to clean my house...do Laundry...and run errands...amongst other things...
What are you up to today?

snowy hugs
Char.x

THANK YOU SPONSORS

Mr. R took me skiing for the afternoon, it was 9 degrees. I don't think I have EVER skiied in such warm weather...I arranged sitters for both the girls and we arrived home at 7.40pm...put the girls to bed, got dressed to go for a walk and walked an hour with neighbours...thanks friendly neighbours!!!  There are about 6 of us who walk...this way someone will be able to pair up and walk,no excuses!

AND now...go an grab a Chai Latte...or something warm...

Here's to thanking our Sponsors::

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TELL ALL TUESDAY interview

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TELL ALL TUESDAY Interview

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I`ll be mentioning our Sponsors daily and linking their Stores and Blogs. Also if they`ve been interviewed for our Tell ALL Tuesdays...

Did you make that Tea/Coffee?

Have fun browsing through their creations.

I'll be back tomorrow.

HUGS

Char,ON 

cramping style...

we had a great weekend...seeing friends,skiing,birthday parties...and then...when I thought we could get through this Winter without getting sick...little Miss Ash broke down with a fever last night and stomach cramps this morning...I know there has been lots going round at school...but I seriously thought we'd surpass it this Season.

THEN I started feeling the unstable stomach cramps...

Anyway...enough about me...as we all know us Mums just Keep Calm and Carry On! (love that poster!!!)

I made my first flowers...as you can see my first attempts(the little flowers) were a little wonky...but slowly getting there...THANKS to my crafty friend Kayley for helping me out on Friday...it's always easier when someone shows you how.I have to work on them still...it's ALL VERY new to me.

My newest addition to the ART for HAITI project are my "Wedding Heels"... staying away from colour with this one...simple and straight forward...they're SUPER comfy...but not enough to wear on a daily bases...I'm just NOT a heel girl.

They'll be in my Esty Store this afternoon.
I have a big THANK YOU ...to my first sale from the ART for HAITI collection. (You know who you are...so sweet)...50% of the sale will be donated to Doctors Without Boarders...a fantastic organisation.
I'm sure you've all heard about the group of Esty girls who have been gathering Etsians to donate their creations to acheive HUGE donations to Haiti...they're past the $20,000 sales mark....AMAZING!
If you have ANYTHING to donate or wish to purchase...visit Craft for Haiti.

Another *YAY* for today...K is back from India...she was gone for a whole month!!! Want to see what she found over there? visit her blog A Bit Of Pilli Pilli for lots of gorgeous pictures...

Well...I better get back to my little sick girl...
I am HOPING that you are ALL well...

Have a good Monday...thanks for passing by.
Char,ON

Post Man I *HEART* you

and I *HEART* miss K from PilliPilli Handmade...look at the precious packaging!

AND the gorgeous Scarflette...my little Arctic Fox...

I love him...and will care for him...forever and ever...thank you K...your work is SO precious and beautiful.

Thank you for the extra cards...they will definitely come in handy.

Fabulous readers...meet PilliPilli...please take time to look at her wonderful creations.

My head is spinning with what I have to do for the Mamas and Chicks Show.

What's your World spinning in at present?

HUGS see you tomorrow.

Char,ON

TELL all TUESDAYS:: A Bit of Pilli Pilli

We're bringing you something different, after a year nearly of blogging...we have decided to give back to Artists, Crafters, Photographers, Designers...or whomever we feel inspires us on a daily bases...

So, once a week...we're going to introduce to you someone in our blogging World who has made an impact on our Lives...

Our first talent is the far away crafter/artist behind the very honest blog...

A Bit of Pilli Pilli

She's possibly the fastest crocheter I have ever known,my fingers ache at the thought of what she achieves in just one day. She sews such beautiful dolls too...please enjoy our interview with her below and take a couple of minutes to visit her blog.

Tell us a little about the Town you live in... have you always lived there?

I’m Belgian and I grew up in the suburbs of Brussels, but last year I moved live to a tiny yet crazily picturesque village tucked away in the Northern Italian Hills. (I moved there for love of course…) Now, when I say ‘Tiny’, I really mean Tiny. We’re about 200 inhabitants, so everybody knows everybody and that makes our village a cute little Island, surrounded by an ocean of vineyards on one side, and forest on the other.

If you could move anywhere tomorrow, where would it be?

For now I’m really happy where I an, but if miracles were to be possible, I guess I would love to move into my own (dream-)house. Right now we’re renting, but lately I’ve been having dreams and visions about my very own fairy-tale cottage… let’s just say that when you’re making choices for paint-colours, drapes and kitchen tables, you’re ready for it!

And then of course, there’s our dream to live in India for a couple of years…

How structured is your day usually?
Verrrrry. Anyone who knows me will tell you I’m Extremely Structured. Most of the time that is… I have a part-time job in a small local museum (teaching children to make Pasta the traditional way, baking Bread in an ancient wood-oven or making Whine…). After that I go home, have lunch, and then I’ll get straight to work, sewing or crocheting all the way up to diner and then another stretch until ten, eleven.

What did you do today?

It’s still early (7 am – have I mentioned I’m an early bird?), and so far I’ve been working on this interview with a good cup of coffee for inspiration. Later I plan to get out of my jammies, and to start crocheting a little Pilli for my shop…Are you a cat or dog person?
I always thought I was a dog person, but when I moved to Italy last year, F. got me a kitten, and that was the start of my becoming a cat lady too! Although I’m sure I’ll grab the first chance I get to bring a puppy home!

Are you a breakfast, lunch or dinner girl?

Euhm… Can I choose all 3 please? I’m a food girl, really.

But if I have to choose, I’ll go for lunch (or dinner… oh this is hard.) In any case, I’m not a sweet tooth, so anything salty (and especially spicy food), will wake my appetite. Any time of the day!

If you had 6 friends over for Dinner what would you make for them?
That’s easy! I would make a fiercely hot Thai Green Curry with fresh squid and shrimp! Would you like to come? (I do have a less spicy version, involving yellow curry and lots of coconut milk, for guests who don’t like spicy food as much as I do…)

How and when did you first start your passion for crafting?
This one is a little harder, since I’ve been crafting for as long as I can remember… but I guess I started seeing crafting as my ‘other job’ when I moved to Italy last year. Stepping back from the city-life, has given me the time and the inspiration to really dive into it, and to set up a blog and an Etsy-shop… Which, in turn, has encouraged me to create even more!

Who drove/inspired your love to create?

I think Inspiration happens always and everywhere… it’s in the clouds, the wind making waves in the barley field, the early spring blossoms. Similarly I don’t think their has been one person that has pushed me into doing what I do… it’ been a mixture of awe and admiration (with a touch of envy at times) for my grandmother who is brilliant at making the typical Belgian Lace, my mother who used to knit me little vests overnight and all you bloggers and crafters out there who come up with new things to admire every day…

Where would you like to go with your business in the near future?

Currently I’m working really hard to get my Etsy shop running. I’ve been out there for a while now, but I just never got to selling much. That’s why I closed shop for a couple of weeks… I felt like I needed to take a step back, get all my thoughts together, make some new items, and then I think I’ll be ready for my Big Re-Opening some time next week!

Tell us something not too many people know about you.
If I’m really sure nobody is watching, I’ll lick my plate clean… if the food was really good, that is.

(Please keep this a secret.)

Shoe choice: flats or heels?

Flats! I love my sandals, slippers and ballerinas! They go great with my skirts and they are super-comfortable! But of course, every girl should have at least one pair of killer-heels for special occasions… and I’m no exception!

What advice would you give others just starting out?

Work hard, but take a step back every now and then to look at where you are and where you would like to go…

Name 5 blogs you love visiting, and tell us why.
Creature Comforts… for my daily dose of eye-candy

Senorita Pil … makes me want to play with dolls
Art &Ghosts … wakes my fairytale heart
Danita Art … because I love honest and endearing style of her paintings.
Ninon… for the funky and cheeky softies she makes

Thank you "K"...and good luck with the re-opening this week of your Etsy Store!

Everyone reading...you HAVE to go to her blog and see all the creations she has made this past year...quite stunning. I would post every single photo of all her dolls and softies, but I think you'd enjoy browsing her World and reading K's words...

Until next week Fabulous Readers, we hope you've enjoyed our little new feature to our blog...

Check back next Tuesday to see who we are opening your eyes to...
Char,Ontario