Giving thanks to our Teachers...

We're so fortunate to have had amazing teachers for our girls...this particular piece is for Miss A's Teacher who she has had for 3 years...this is not the norm I know...but because she moved up a Grade when Miss A did...things worked out well.

I was a little stumped as I really didn't know what I should paint for her...last year I painted this and the year before she received this one.
So I went with symbolism.She gives her ALL to these kids...and I have always felt like she looks out for them just as a parent would...making sure their manners are good and always helping others. She really has been a true blessing in Miss A's life.

I hope she knows how much we adore her. What could be better than to have your daughter LOVE school...and now LOVE reading too? She's a fairy Godmother!!!
 So, here's the finished piece, and below framed...with Miss J's teacher's gift below.

So, I really thought it would be difficult to match such an amazing Teacher as Miss A has had...but Miss J was blessed too to have Mrs.O...

Honestly, Miss J is a changed girl in school...she thrives on challenges, listens intently and never speaks out of turn...she definitely isn't as social as Miss A...but has made some great friends.

 Her teacher keeps them doing and moving constantly...if there's ever a little disruption...she moves them on swiftly to another task...it's so wonderful!

 So this elephant is for her and her children (who I know mean the World to her)...I love teachers who have kids...they can relate better I think.

Thank you Mrs O and Thank you Mrs E...from the bottom of our hearts we are SO grateful for all your hard work!

Another year is finished...SK and Grade 2 next year...Miss A will be in a 2/3 split  and Miss J will get her teacher again next year for SK.

We're so proud of our girls...can you tell??

Have a great Wednesday...I know it's Wordless Wednesday today...but words were needed today.
HUGS
Char.x

one week to go...

my head is spinning...my kids are tired of me always crafting for the Mamas and Chicks Show...I am lacking many hours of sleep...but,we all know this is what happens before a big Show like this...right?

 These are my "Surprise pins"...I like to always bring something new to the Show each year. Sorry readers...you'll see them on Saturday the 30th in my Etsy store if there are any left!!!

Can you guess what they are?

I'm pleased with my new stamps...I've never sold stamps from my table...so this is new too for all our Shoppers.

 I have 29 in my "series 1" of stamps which I'll take to the Show next Friday...and I know they'll be an on-going project as it really is a very calming and therapeutic craft.



































Hope you all have a wonderful Easter Weekend...thanks for stopping by and to all of you who leave a little hello always...thank you!
I'll be back on Tuesday with more finished projects!

HUGS
Char.x

my breakfast randoms...

before breakfast I finished this watercolour for a little girl called Bree.

she looks like such a sweet creature.

breakfasts are spent chatting and talknig about what we'd like to do during the day...little Miss A always seems to have company whilst eating her breakfast.

I adore the light which pours in the windows in the morning...such perfect painting light!

today I am finishing these...

these having been lying around waiting their turn for a while...I think because they aren't commissions...the urgency isn't there to complete them.

so many people at our Mamas Show were asking if I had a frog and a prince...so here it is...almost completed.

There's no tell all Tuesday spot this week as you can see...

so here are 10 random things you may not know about me:

• 
  
  I love Marmite on toast (LOVE LOVE LOVE)
• 
  
  I work better under-pressure (which can be frustrating at times)
• 
  
  I can't go to sleep at night without going to check on our girls(and I have to kiss their cheeks and tell them I love them)
• 
  
  if I won the lottery(as I would need A LOT of money), I would set up a Community Art Centre- painting,crafts,theatre...they're all so theraputic and I believe everybody should dabble in something creative!
• 
  
  I used approximately 5% of my shoe collection...but love all of them and find it hard to give them up...soon they'll be Antiques!
• 
  
  I miss speaking Spanish and Italian...so if anyone wishes to meet up and is Italian or Spanish...and you live in the GTA...I NEED practice!
• 
  
  If I could choose the whole day to be made up of mornings...it would.(I'd scrap afternoons and evenings-as I get so much more done in the mornings)
• 
  
  if I wasn't an artist...I would be a Chef
• 
  
  I'm a bit of a loner...and love "my" time...if I didn't see anyone for a few days...it wouldn't bother me(is this wierd?)
• 
  
  I'd LOVE to have dinner with ALL of you!!!

have a fantastic Tuesday...and if you'd like to post your 10 RANDOMS...please link back to your post in the comments bellow.

HUGS,

Char,ON

beautiful butterfly

Good EVENING , I hope you're well...little Miss J is now down with a fever...hopefully her little Angel will help her during the night and make her feel better.

ON another note:

all this term little Miss A has been learning about bugs in her weekly Science class and 3D shapes.

Last week her homework was to create and make a 3D bug...she ofcourse chose a Butterfly.

We rummaged around in cupboards and craft drawers for materials...she needed a little help sewing the head,thorax and abdomine together...but other than a little instruction...she created her own butterfly.

I helped little Miss J make hers...it was fun.

Little Miss A is feeling better...can you tell. WOW is she ever a different girl when she's sick. I missed her smiles.

Have a great evening...I have a couple of birthday Once Upon a Time's to finish this evening.

I may not get a chance to post tomorrow...we're heading don to Toronto with all our Ballet girls. We've been invited to tour the National Ballet of Canada's rehearsal rooms and shoe and costume rooms...the girls are excited.

Hopefully I'll get some great pictures if they'll allow me!

Ciao ciao..

Char,ON

Wednesday wishes...

Firstly...just quickly, because I told all of you I would tell you how we did in the race...we came in 17th out of 450 teams on Saturday's City Chase. We didn't have to eat anything which was just by chance because we chose a different route which had other chasepoints like: dressing up in a Velcro suit and throwing yourself onto a Velcro wall, OR playing blind croquet, OR strip Jenga, OR being locked in an old Jail cell and trying to find a key in complete darkness to unlock the door(there were 8 keys in total in the cell)...we had a lot of fun, and our next race is on August 15th in Toronto.
Yesterday I spent the day working on the Fairy Mural...and this is what I accomplished. I feel like I'm in "My Little Pony" land, which is a good thing because the client wanted bright and cheerful. My wishes for today are that I finish the tree,flowers and the Olivia name...I only have 2 more days so I have lots of work to do.

Well, I was out with a girlfriend last week and we walked into a store hoping they would have a Tagine which I could cook in...because as some of you may recall I received one for my anniversary gift...but due to it being painted and glazed...I could only use it as a serving dish.

Above is my new Tagine, I love it.

I cooked chicken and vegetables last night...it's so quick to use, sear your meat-place a layer of carrots on the bottom of the tagine,place your meat on top of the carrots and layer all the other veggies on top.

I have only cooked with it twice but am amazed at how after it cooking for 1 and a half hours...the carrots are still al dente and the meat is so succulent...love it!

This was just before closing it up and placing it in the oven to cook....no oil and very little salt...and still super tasty!

I took the girls to the Toronto Zoo on Monday...

Always a great place for taking pics of animals as reference for my painting.

I love the little butterfly sanctuary they have...you can walk amongst the butterflies fluttering above your heads. Jordan was a little scared, but Ash held her hand and assured her everything would be o.k....very sweet.

I love this picture I took ...sorry, I haven't had a chance to look up the name of it.

Ok...I'm off to work...

Wishing you a wonderful Wednesday!

Char,Ontario