Before the years out…

A final project before the year's finished...
I'll show you the final images of these watercolours on New Year's Day… that's when little K will receive them as his Christening gift.

Must go… I have a few more hours working on them!

Hugs to you all...
Char.x

scrumptious soaps...

 Good Friday everyone...can you believe we're almost into August? I am having a difficult time realizing that I just taught 4 weeks of ART Camp...and survived it ...lol...

Everyone keeps asking...will you do it again next year? YES...definitely...the progress of the kids from the start of the week to the end is remarkable!

I have thoroughly enjoyed teaching them new techniques and trying to train their eyes to see a little differently...whether they apply their skills to everyday life...or in their Art Classes at school...that's a different matter and entirely up to them...BUT...I have enjoyed it, and I know they have too.

So...the 4th week is on it's last day...and I will be back for 3 more weeks after a 2 week vacation from Camp. I'm certain our girls will enjoy the break...although they'll miss the company of others everyday.

Can you smell what's in the package? It arrived 2 days ago...and smells SO good...come and see...

 Mmmm, delicious handmade soaps by Tara Patey who owns the new line "On a Branch Soaps"...they are raw,scrumptious,packaged so beautifully and yes...that was the custom stamp I made for her back in MARCH...you can see the beginning of the process HERE...and HERE.

 The sizes of the soaps are wonderful and feel so natural....I love how the ingredients are printed on the back of each label!

 I can't wait to try the Lavender Oatmeal Soap...doesn't it sound perfect! I'm going to think about Christmas gifts and birthdays for the rest of the year too...

Thank YOU Tara...I have enjoyed seeing your journey into creating your amazing Soap Kitchen "On a Branch Soaps" and I am hoping you'll be able to see your delights at our Fall Mamas and Chicks Show!

PLEASE go and say hello to Tara! (HERE)

We're off to visit friends in Muskoka this weekend...

what are you up to?

HUGS and have a great weekend!

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

NEW = EXCITEMENT

 HAPPY MONDAY...I am about to head out to paint some more up at the school...thank you for all your very lovely comments...I am doing what I love to do...and realize this is like winning the lottery EVERY day!
On Friday, a sweet lady from "On a Branch" contacted me to ask about a custom logo for her handmade soaps which she'll be packaging soon...and then placing in her Etsy Shop.(she has beautiful knits there right now)
So...I sketched out some designs....(above)

and this little guy on his branch was the design she chose...she has full commercial rights over the image...and hope this little birdie will be very happy being shipped World Wide with such wonderful smelling soaps.

Custom orders really are very exciting as you try to capture what the client/customer wants...thanks T!

Did you have a good weekend?
Anything NEW in your Life right now?

HUGS until tomorrow...(this is not ALL that is new...but you'll have to come back to see my wee surprise.)(hee hee)
Char.x

Wordless Wednesdays ::PINS

HUGS to a wonderful Wednesday.
Char.x

HAPPY Monday...

I adore the way you all cheer me up on Friday...THANK YOU! You SO helped me get over the Friday's Delivery...for those of you who missed it, scroll down to see what the reaction was when I delivered the Pastel Portraits...

Anyways...now I really do know that commissions are not always satisfying,but they bring in the bread...so, I just have to be a little thicker skinned and not really care too much about the reaction...right?!

We've had a busy weekend Mr.R and I...On Saturday we were at Beer Fest in Toronto which was a lot of fun...and I think my favourite was an Apple Pilsner with Vanilla Icecream! YUM...probably a tonne of calories,so you don't want to go overboard with it...but very refreshing on a warm Summer day!

Sunday was spent contacting all our vendors for our Fall Mamas and Chicks Show...which is on October 22nd this year. It'll be fun as it's the week before Halloween so all the kiddos can come in their Halloween outfits!

The above sketches were done last night...the colours aren't right as I didn't have my watercolours out...and just had an itch of an idea to jot down on paper...it's for the book I'm working on...

AND...as you can see, our little Misses got their hair straightened by their Cousin A...it's amazing how their hair is SO much longer when straightened....they ADORE it and keep brushing it.

"can we keep it for going back to school? please Mummy?"

Hmm,that's in 3 weeks time...I don't think so!!!!

I think I may have to invest in a straightener one of these years(not yet) or perhaps it can be a Christmas gift!

We're off to find Back to School gear today...I know we have a while but the weeks are going to creep up on us...I had planned to start waking up our girls at their school wake up hour(6.30am)...their school starts at 7.50am...I KNOW...SO early!

Fortunately I am an early bird...and as long as we have everything ready the night before...we should be fine.

What are you up to today?

Check back tomorrow...I have a Tell ALL Tuesday interview with a local Torontonian.

That's all I'm saying :-)

HUGS

Char.x

up high and down low

birthday gifts nearly finished...

and overdue thank you's...ready to deliver this afternoon.

I was up early this morning finishing these...and doing Laundry.

I'm hoping to win the lottery this evening so I can paint Birthday pictures for ALL you FABULOUS readers...and not have to worry about where I'm getting money for our weekly food shop.

Living from commission to commission can be stressful at times.

I guess I could get a job in the local Grocery Store? or Hardware store?

Just trying to hold off...I know my break is coming soon...I can feel it!

(all of the above said with good humour :-)

Have a lovely weekend.

Oh, I nearly forgot...the National Ballet of Canada Tour was amazing...we weren't allowed to take photos. BUT they were rehearsing for West Side Story...and we got to sit in for 25 minutes and watch their rehearsal! AMAZING...HOW do they jump SO high???

Did you know that each Ballerina only gets about 8 hours reharsal out of each Point Shoe! That's a LOT of shoes they need in a year!

HUGS...and just saying...I really DO appreciate you stopping by...it means so much to read your comments.THANK-ing you all.

Char,ON

Making up MONDAY!

Ok...so this is like an apology for NOT having posted these past few days.
We've had BUSY times...and so...let's begin with..."US"...Mr. R and Moi...we had a St.Pati's day Party/ Space Invadors contest on Friday night...SO much fun! (I love my Man!)

We went to "Purple Woods" the land of Maple Syrup...every year a few farms open their woods up to educate the public on the tradition of Maple Syrup up here in Canada. The teperature has to be perfect for the sap(syrup) to be tapped out of the trees...

We got there early and met up with a few freinds and their kids...it's a beautiful walk down through the woods...the Sun had just risen, the horses were just arriving ready to take us for a little ride.

Aren't they gorgeous...and they were planning on doing a 7 hour day! Apparently 2,000 people walk through this wood each day for the 10 days that it's open...I know, CRAZY and poor horses.

We went to the Zoo...

and saw the Orangatangs...this Mama really is NOT a happy camper.

I really do have mixed feelings about the Zoo.

 It's fantastic to be able to see all these animals at such close proximity...but really...they don't live in the best conditions.

I finished a few Watercolours...like this one...

and this one...

and this one...

Oh...and another cat...

They'll all be in my Etsy Shop this week.

Even Little Miss J wanted a go at painting...I love her flying houses and little bird...

So...I hope my apology has been accepted...and I've been forgiven.

As you can see...we've been BUSY.

Tomorrow I have 2 Tell ALL Tuesdays.

Remember to check back.

Off to see what you've all been up to...I have some catching up to do.

HUGS

Char,ON

in the MIX...

my Mum's Swedish and my Dad's Danish...

I made a new Flag for them...

Danes and Swedes have a LOVE-HATE relationship...a little like the Brits and the French...

My parents are travellers...always have been...this year has been a hard year for them, as health reasons have haulted either of them being able to just pack up and leave.

My Dad goes today to his specialist to see WHEN and IF his operation will be soon...it's been too long of a wait. I really do feel for him.

Mum, well she needs a new hip...and she's seeing a specialist tomorrow.

They built this house 10 years ago...it's warm and welcoming...I know they love being there...but they need a rest, it's been a long Winter.

So...sending them this Bird of Hope and Travel...praying that their health gets better and that they can use those wings to fly again.

I fell asleep on the Sofa shortly after finishing this last night...so I will continue this evening to visit you all.

Have a great day...we're getting a snow storm today! YAY!!!!

Char,ON.

being honest...

...may make or break friendships...but you're left with the ones who care the most about you...
...makes me feel whole as a person...
...about what I want in my Life helps with daily struggles...
...to our children will teach them in being honest with others and to themselves...
...to MYself is also a daily chore...realizing I can't do everything...

Are you an honest person...to yourself and others?

Off to say hi to as many of you as I can...
HUGS
Char,ON

**Happy Thanksgiving Canada**

we celebrated "Thanksgiving" here in Canada this weekend...I wasn't going to do the whole dinner thing...as I've only roasted Turkey a couple of times since being over here in Canada.

but...when my husband requests it...as he loves it...how could I refuse!

I made my own stuffing, but cooked it separately....I didn't take pictures of the meal...as Roasts pretty much look all the same.

I did however take a few shots of these gorgeous peaches, which I also submitted as my theme for this week's "Lens Us Together"...it's my turn and I chose "In Season".

Little Miss J was there to help at every stage of the journey of the peaches & the peach pie...


they're SO divine at the moment...and look at that amazing colour!

with Miss J helping ... we didn't completely cover the pie filling and had to add extra crust on all the holes etc...so the top is not the prettiest. Little miss A saw the bird and I think this helped the fact of having to "try" the pie...she's not so great with texture...and I think the peach are not dry enough for

her...she doesn't like slimy. and then again, with a little chocolate ice-cream...anything goes!

personally...pie goes ONLY with French Vanilla.

What do you like your pie with?

Char,On

P.S. want the recipe? go HERE