The Mamas and Chicks Spring Market

This is what's occupying LOTS of my time at the moment...

IF YOU live in the Durham Region or in the GTA and if you're interested in becoming a vendor please email me!

HUGS

Char.x

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

Wordless Wednesday

A Deer, a Fox and a Squirrel.

Working on these....
Have a great Thursday.
HUGS
Char.x

bye bye bols...

 hello lovelies...I know I haven't been around for a few days, I have been enjoying my parents whilst they're here in Canada visiting.
My Mum gobbled up all these Cafe Bols and Tea Cups to take back with her to England. So these are a few which I won't be selling on Etsy.

I painted a few new Cafe Bols which I will also be placing in the shop...they're a little larger than the 5x7 watercolours...I think they measure 11x7 inches.
Below you can see one of them framed...

so, after being super productive...it's good to see many of them going to new homes...


This week is the start of another VERY busy crazy week...I am delivering tickets and flyers to our Mamas and Chicks vendors.Our Show is in 3 weeks time...
I'll be making more Gift Cards,Tooth Fairy Pillows, Lavender Pillows and selling my prints at a great discount...


Did you know my Esty Store has a SALE at the moment? EVERYthing is 25% off! 


I'll be passing by to say hi to you later...until then have a fabulous Monday.
HUGS
Char.x

finished construction sketch.

We dry-walled the ceiling of my Art-Studio today...I am in SO much pain...my shoulders are screaming!
Today is a day...I wish my Dad was here to help my husband...and I wish my Mum was here to cook me dinner...sometimes the Atlantic Ocean is just WAY too big!

Here's the finished sketch of the Mural...I hope they love it.
Thanks for all the kind words about the sketches.

I'd hug you all but I'm not sure I can...ouch.
Char.x

trucks,diggers,tractors...

HEY...it's Friday!I know...I said I would be back every day this week...but I have been enjoying walking...and have had my head FULL of construction...my wonderful Mr.R is doing a fabulous job on my studio...and I have been pricing out cabinets...they're not cheap you know!!! BUT I hope Art Camp will be able to pay for them...if not all...but the majority.
Talking about ART CAMP...I am almost full...just a couple of weeks which have openings.
I'm SO excited...it's like a turning point for me in my Career, AND I get a studio out of it!

I met with a lovely lady on Tuesday and she really would like a CONSTRUCTION Zone Mural for her eldest son...pretty cool...and I am totally out of my comfort zone when it comes to diggers,tractors and earth movers...so it's a great challenge.
Doesn't everyone LOVE a challenge!!!

I am hoping to paint it at the beginning of June.
I'll show you the finished wall proposal over the weekend.

Canada has a LOVELY long weekend starting tomorrow...dry wall and mud...tape and sanding will be what's happening in the basement this weekend.

What are you up to? (nosey aren't I :-)

Hugs to you all and thanks for passing by, and leaving such energized comments about our Lego Flags...they were fun to do, and made the girls really think about building things differently.

Until I post again.
Char.x

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

happy Wednesday!
hugs
Char.x

one day at a time...

Hey everyone...wow, I haven't been here in a while. I did end up getting the flu, and couldn't get out of bed for 4 days...it's strange because I always forget when you're sick, you really can't do ANYTHING...no reading, no sketching...why is that?
I suppose it's one way for your body to actually recover completely.
Thank you ALL for the "well wishes"...and Tam, I am SO pleased your Grandma's accident wasn't worse...
My days are all mixed up...so a Wordless Wednesday wouldn't really work today...

This family portrait is for a very dear lady(and friend) who has a wonderful family. She has just started a blog of her own which is something very new to her, so please go over and say hello HERE. She's called it "A Voice for my Children".

I hope you like this "Family Load" portrait K...it was a pleasure drawing it.

If you would love a picture of YOUR family...just contact me via EMAIL for a quote.
This is my passion....and my Life...and I hope to never stop.

I hope you have a great day...
HUGS
Char.x

Family givings...

Hello Thursday...how are you? Oh, me? Thanks for asking...I feel like I should go back to bed(tight chest,coughing,aching all over...uncontrollable chills)...BUT...as a Mama...that's NOT possible,so Life goes on.

Above is a "Family Load" portrait I am working on for a dear Lady in the States...she had actually commissioned me one of just her with her children before Christmas and now has decided that her husband should be a part of the picture :-)

I will show you the finished picture when she has seen it.
It's a lot of fun working on these portraits...it really reminds me of how a family is a unit of ONE and need to stick together through thick and thin.

Do you remember the blanket I showed you a couple of weeks ago? Well my sis finally received it and so now I can post the final image...LOTS of imperfections...I know...but it was my first ever blanket!

Today we were walking up to school in 1/2 ft of snow slush...we received SO much snow last night...then people didn't shovel...and now this morning we're getting heavy rain.
I guess we are in OUR Canadian Spring right now...but I'm still excited about the flowers popping up!

Have you made anything for the "Family" recently?

I hope you have a great Thursday...and thank you for your sweet comments on the Alice set design....that's the only backdrop I am working on, as the school really doesn't have an elaborate stage.

Until tomorrow...
HUGS
Char.x

steps till the end...

 So...I've been on the computer most of this day so far...apart from a few hours whilst working on this piece.

It's for this lovely lady over HERE.

 she has such adorable kids...these pictures I create of a mother and her "load" first came about whenever I would struggle when our girls were much smaller...and I would think of MY mother with 3...and say to myself "suck it up...if Mum could do it...so can I"...

 From those words...many drawings, commissions have been requested...I think it's a great gift to either give yourself to honour your journey as a mother...or to a friend,sister,mother...

4 children...I could only imagine how little I would get done in a day. I really do bow down to all these fabulous Mamas who have more than 2 children...you give up your all.

 Lisa has a wonderful Blog called Earth Mama...and she's constantly crafting with her youngans...very inspiring!

































Well...it's finished and in the mailbox...
Hope you love it Lisa as much as I loved drawing it. You have a beautiful family.

Don't miss MONDAY's MENTIONS in the post below!!!

OH...and I am opening up Sponsorship spots on our Blog again...(I've placed a page above for all of you which are interested!) just email me for more INFO.

HUGS
Char.x

Book illustrations FINISHED

 Hello wonderful readers...today is a good day! I finished the illustrations for Shelly and my 1st book!!!
 I'm sorry this is only a tease really as I can't write the title...or give you the story written word for word...BUT...it's all about Rhythm and Rhyme....it's about accepting who you are...and learning from your mistakes...it's about making a positive out of a negative.

 She really is a sweet girl...she just needs to think before she speaks(hey, sounds like someone I know!!! :-)

she has family and friends who love and care about her...

 She just needs to fit in...and control that voice of hers!

 Life isn't always easy...

 BUT...she figures it out...

Soon you'll be able to read about her...

 HOPEFULLY soon...we're sending it off to a friend who is a text editor for a publishing house here in Canada...not that this will be the Publisher who will snap up our series...BUT you never know.
We're shooting for May 2012...

We're excited...and it's the 1st book I have ever illustrated, but have a list as long as my arm to complete.
It's great to have goals...and this is a BIGGIE!!!

HAVE a great Thursday, you know you'll be the first to know when things HAPPEN!
and...thank you...for the VERY sweet comments with regards to Miss A the other day. They warmed my heart. THANK YOU!

BIG hugs
Char.x

ALL the LADIES...too raunchy?

 In celebration of who we are as Women...I have just started "ALL the LADIES" as a series of ongoing and evolving work in honour to women and who we are!

We are sensual,hard working,child bearing,caring and strong creatures of this Earth...

 and feel it important to "CELEBRATE" this with a shop totally dedicated to you all...

 I will come back when it's all set up...but my new Etsy Store will be called "All the Ladies".

 I have spent the past 6 years trying to accommodate for our children in Art(nothing I will be stopping) but I need to think about US as women and who we truly are.

I know I seem to have lots of NEW projects on the go...but this one I am REALLY excited about.
I hope the images are not too raunchy for you all.

Enjoy your day...
HUGS
Char.x

{this moment}

{this moment}

one image

a tidbit from the week

held close to my heart

Have a wonderful weekend...what are you up to?
We have a busy one if everyone stays clear of fevers and the flu...
Skating,ballet,skiing and fun times with friends...

I'll be back on Monday for our new "Monday's mentions" feature...(SO excited)

HUGS

Char.x

ART 4 YOU **GIVEAWAY**- custom portrait...

HAPPY Monday!

I'm feeling GOOD today, and I want to celebrate the fact by creating something special for one lucky reader...so...

**THE WINNER** (who will be picked by random) will receive the choice of either a family portrait "A Mother's Load" of you and up to 4 children...(if you have more we can chat)

OR a portrait of your pet...

Above are examples of finished portraits which I have made for friends and family...

ALL you have to do...is vote on our recent banners...and tell us why the one you picked is your favourite.

a.

b.

c.

YOU can earn upto 4 entries by:

1. voting (you must be a FABULOUS reader of our blog to enter)
2. posting about our Giveaway on your blog
3. chatting about it on Facebook
4. or Tweeting about it

Make sure each if your entries are individual comments...and that you include the link back from your posts.

GOOD LUCK...the contest will run until Friday morning at 8am.

I'm painting today...cleaning...baking and planning...
What do you have planned?

-18 degree HUGS
Char.x