a portrait of an incredible boy.

it's been one whole year since little Hayden first stepped onto Canadian soil...since then he has gained a wonderful family...mother,father,brother and a sister ...he has learnt to speak English. He has been to mexico and has swam in the Ocean...he has tasted EVERY kind of food imaginable(and he LOVES every kind of food there is to love)...he is not always a good boy...but he is learning to be...he is only 3...so really he is a typical child.


This portrait was a Baptism gift to him and his family...


Our children are precious...and our family's and friend's children too.


Have a great Tuesday...
I will see my dear parents tomorrow...can't wait.


HUGS
Char.x

Purrrr-fect love notes

A tradition started when Miss A first went to school...so for 2 years before Miss J started school she received notes in her Lunch bag...I couldn't stop the tradition when Miss J started last year...
This one is a "cat bookmark" which Miss A would have found in her Lunch bag today....they're always kept a surprise...even though they try and sneak a peak when I am drawing them!
So, this is the 4th year in the running...wow...that's a lot of love notes! I try and draw something on each of them...but sometimes a note is all they get.
I didn't realise how much they love them until one day I forgot...I had better not repeat my forgetfulness...


You can see some of the Love notes here and here and here.


What do you do to tell your family that you love them everyday?


Have a great weekend.
Char.x

CARS

I'm finishing off this commission which is due this Friday...I am a lot further ahead in finishing than the above photo....but want it to be a surprise for my client.
I have only ever painted one other car...it's definitely a challenge!
BUT as a good friend said...these challenges can be satisfying...let's hope it turns out well.


Had any challenges lately? Please tell...


Have a great Tuesday, it's the perfect Summer day here today...looking forward to my campers arriving.
HUGS
Char.x

Goodbye Winter...HELLO Spring!

 I really must start by saying HURRAH...SPRING is HERE!!!!
Although from my pictures below...we really don't seem to be getting much "Spring" as of yet!
Those where taken from our walk the other day...crisp,white snow...and high contrasting  silhouettes.

Here's a family portrait I finished before the weekend. I'm really excited about being able to schedule Photo sessions in my new/future studio....this way I'll be able to use better lighting and gain better contrasts. Trust me, I appreciate the commissions I received...but trying to create depth from a flat image, can sometimes be a challenge.
I love the little Baby...she really is JUST as bright eyed as in the picture!

SO happy to be in Spring....but sad to loose all these shadows and bright days, snowflakes and snowmen.



 What will you miss about Winter??

So...we say finally..."Goodbye Winter"...and HELLO Spring!
I will be starting my seedlings soon...herbs, tomatoes,peppers...what are you growing this year?

Until tomorrow's Monday Mentions...bon nuit...
Char.x

swings + books = happy days

Our Saturday in Morrisburg,ON...not much to do other than enjoy swings,parks and books...the girls had fun, and I was able to sketch them a little in my moleskine...from Life (not my imagination:-) well...capturing them on the swings was a little challenging.

See you back here tomorrow...I have sketches to show you for the Sketchbook Project!

(nope, no book in the mail yet...but I thought I would get ahead a little and plan my "story" )

Did any of you sign up??

HUGS

Char.x

family visits

tomorrow we get to meet little Ludwig for the first time, my cousin Ulla and her family is in town. I didn't really know what to bring them...do I bring a toy for Ludwig? or a Once Upon a Time watercolour? I chose a family gift...a sketch of their family.
I have one to make for my Cousin Lars...the girls call him uncle Lars, we haven't seen them in over a year, I miss them.
Ulla lives and is from Sweden so she's just over for a couple of weeks...it's always lovely to see family...I don't get too very often!
I hope to get some pictures of our BBQ with them tomorrow.
We're all enjoying the Holiday weekend over here in Canada...as a tribute to Queen Victoria's Birthday.
Lots of BBQ's and Fireworks.

What are you upto this weekend?

Check in again soon to see the other sketch I'll be taking tomorrow.
HUGS
Char,On

FISH Friday

My husband went Scuba diving in Bahamas and also at Epcot in Disney World.

He also came back with a list of fish which he saw...and didn't get pictures of...so I made sketches of them after searching for them on the internet.

Colours are so different under water that I enjoyed just doing line drawings of them. Our girls will probably ask me to print them out for them so they can colour them! (this is usually what happens:-)

Enjoy the photos...I haven't much time today to post anything lengthy.

Have a wonderful LONG weekend fellow Canadians!

and to the rest of you fabulous readers...enjoy your weekend too...

HUGS

Char,ON

PUZZLED

Our girls spent this morning getting back into their routines which we missed whilst being away...children can still have fun whilst learning(that's what I keep telling them:-).

Little Miss J has always enjoyed PUZZLING but gets awfully frustrated whilst trying to conquere the larger puzzles with smaller pieces.

I remember always having a puzzle on the go at our house in England...Mum and I would puzzle together in the evenings...great for the brain!

There was this one puzzle which I'm not sure if you can get anymore...it was called the "GOLD box" puzzle...it was packaged in a gold box without an image of the puzzle! we have fun figuring it out...and it was always one of those 2-3,000 piece puzzles...

Little miss A has all the patience in the World for puzzles and could do them all day.

While they sat quietly and did their puzzles...I sketched them...

I'll be back after Caribbean Dancing this evening to show you some fish my husband saw whilst Scuba Diving in that incredible Ocean I showed you yesterday!
HUGS
Char.x.

LOVE at first sight...

I did it! YAY...see, I work and meet my deadlines...when I love doing what I'm doing...as do we all.

These are my fave pair of boots...great with Jeans,skirts...love them.

I'm not sure if I did them justice, but they'll always be a great memory...

I bought them on a whim when I was in Toronto shopping with a girlfriend...BK (before Kids) and we walked past this very small shop with hardly any clothes...you know it's all designer when there are NO clothes hanging from the rails...

Anyway, we went in...and these boots imediately caught my eye...it was LOVE at first sight!

So...I bought them...and each Season I wonder whether they're too bright to wear...then I put them on...and feel GREAT, and remember...it's not always about what people think.

Thanks for passing by...I'll be back tomorrow with the results from BRIGHT & BLITHE...see if I won...you still have a couple of hours to vote for my story...if you haven't(*smile*) ...mine is #1...it was a wonderful challenge and I really haven't got much talent when it comes to writing...so...I was stepping out of the box on this one.

Have you stepped out of the BOX lately?

Until tomorrow...

Char,ON

P.S. the boots will be in my store tomorrow...off to sleep. Ciao.

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.

Scandinavian STYLE...

these are a little bit of me...who I am...raised by 2 incredible people,my Mum...born in Sweden and my Dad who was born in Danemark.

As soon as we could walk...we were in clogs...they were our outdoor shoes...easy to slide on and off...I guess it helped my parents always know where we were too, they're kind of loud.

I went through a period in my Life not really knowing who I was...my parents were Scandinavian...I was brought up in England...with traditions so foreign to all my friends.

I loved our traditions...so by the time I was 16...I was Danish...to anyone who asked. We spent Summers there since we were small...I adored my Grandparents...the food they cooked...the parks they took us too....the neighbourhoods felt SO right in Danemark. The people SO friendly.The language so natural. A proud Scandinavian...

It felt good to have this upbringing...and I hope our daughters will feel SOME of what I learnt from my Scandi roots....the food, the traditions...our values towards many situations. More than ever I find myself explaining things to our 5 year old. Stopping her in her path...battles which I hope she'll appreciate when she's older.

Some days as a Mum, staying at home, can be tough and challenging...but I wouldn't change it for the World and I am SO very blessed to be fortunate enough to raise our kids and be home with them.

When my parents were last in Danemark, I asked them to pick up a pair of Sanita's for me...I love them...they're a little noisy when walking around our quiet naighbourhood...who cares though? Not me ...

So...my 20 minute sketch...which I wanted to try to keep that "free" feel to them...because the years when I wore clogs the most were in my early 20's...and I felt free and travelled like a bird...good memories!

Do you have certain Shoes which bring back memories?

Have a good evening...sleep...day...

It's been a productive one.

Char,On

A reminder: ALL items in both my Esty stores will be shipped FREE of charge, Free Shipping runs for the whole moth of FEB. (fabulous FEB)

1 HOUR drawing...

OH...yes...these are well worn...they're my favourite Ballet Flats and were a wonderful gift from my sister in-law 3 years ago at Xmas.
They'll be in my SHOP tonight...after Dinner.
They're Flats by Freed of London who make classic ballet and dance shoes but also full leather sole ballet flats...even if you're not a dancer.
I have 30 minutes before our guests arrive...I'm making a semi vegetarian dinner as one of our guest is a vegetarian...so...I'm making my roast veggie lasagne and a salad with avacado,brie and tomaties with a raspberry dressing...hope they like it...
The non-veggies are having parma ham with their salad and shrimp with the lasagne...everyone is SO full by the time it comes to desert...so we're having  sorbet...mango sorbet.
I'll be back tomorrow...to visit you all and to show you what February will be like....VERY excited...hoping I have the energy to do everything I plan to...check back tomorrow for an update.
I better go...
Have a good evening.
THANK you by the way for visiting me and for leaving such encouraging and sweet comments...you're the BEST!

Hasta manana!!!
Char,ON

QUICK...QUICK...

I squeezed in an hour and a half sketch of my Rockports...determined to keep up  the SHOE a DAY for HAITI.
I bought these 2 summers ago...and LOVE them...they're great as you can put the whole shoe in the wash...they're airy and remind me of dance shoes when they're on.

Do I have lots of shoes? YES...               do YOU?

Thank you for all your kind comments...I really do appreciate and love reading them throughout the day...
It's 10.30...the sofa is calling my name...and I am SO beat...BUT...I still have an hour and a half before shut eye, which means I have time to post them on Esty.

Sleep well....OR...have a great day...really depends on when you're reading this...

HUGS
Char,ON

Where the wild things are...

Once upon a time...there was a Mum...who had 2 girls...she would get up early and go to bed late. Her days were filled with goals to finish, tasks to complete and errands to run. Normally she would stay up past the girls bed-time and work 4 hours on her own projects...last night her eyes would not stay open.
One promise was not made...to finish the WILD THING...

to be contd....

Sometimes I just have to accept that I can't do it all...sorry.
Char,ON

Wednesday's Birks...ART for HAITI

it snowed again!
YAY...we were almost sad to see the grass...and fortunately the outside temperature is still pretty mild...(for January that is!)
This morning I drew my favourite summer sandals (a quick 20 minute study)...some people across the World wear theirs ALL year round...with socks...I can't do that, it reminds me of when I lived in Mallorca,Spain and I'd be working in a resort area in the Winter months and certain Nationalities were in shorts and thier Birks with socks.
My dear sister bought me these (we have the same size shoe) about 6 years ago...LOVE them...

Worked on lots for our Mamas and Chicks Show last night...our next Show is April 16th...busy busy getting vendors and everything prepped regarding advertising etc.
AND been working on a LONG overdue Once Upon a Time painting which Jen won in Dec...I Know...but it's a very special one...and I had to watch the movie first...I'll post about it later today!

What have you been up to?

Oh Oh...look at the time...I have to go...the Gym is calling my name and then I'm volunteering up at Little Miss A's School...I love going in and seeing the dynamics of their classroom.

Gotta go...gotta go...
Birks drawing will be up on my Etsy later.

HUGS
Char,ON

TUESDAY's SHOES - Art for Haiti...contd.

there's something about Converse All Stars...I wish I could wear them ALL year round...but for 4 months they don't touch the ground outside...maybe this is why our shoes wear better...a little like snow tyres and summer tyres.

I didn't get up this morning at a crazy hour...because I slept through my alarm and was woken by Little Miss A.

So as you can see by the photo...I have just had lunch whilst finishing the sketch.

Updating my new Esty Store...there will be 3 pairs in there to date...

Mr. R asked yesterday..."How many do you think you'll do?"

I told him " as many pairs of shoes that I have in our wardrobe"..."How many is that?" ..."Not sure...I guess we'll have to wait and see" I said.

I swear it feels like Spring is just around the corner here...2 degrees and the snow is melting...what's up with that!

Hope you're having a great day.

Until tomorrow...which shoes shall I choose?...hmmm...I guess you'll have to wait and see.

Char,ON

Helping out...

I have set up my new Etsy Store...please visit it and tell me what you think!
There I am adding the shoes I draw/paint/sketch daily...and selling them in hopes of giving 50% of the proceeds to help survivours in HAITI...
Prices will vary depending on medium and how long they took to sketch.

Can you spread the word? Blog about "Char's ART for Haiti" ?
I would appreciate any help we can get...my heart goes out to all the people in need out there...but at the moment Haiti needs us.

I will post the NEW Shoes on our Blog before adding them to my Shop...this way all of you fabulous readers get first dibs on them!

The money raised will be donated to "Doctors without Boarders" ...you can read a little more about them HERE.

Thanks for visiting again...don't forget to go to my new Etsy Store.

HUGS
Char,ON

ART for HAITI - Day 2

I woke up this morning with Mr. R at 5.45AM...yup...all so I could get a head start to today, it seems I need to add a few more hours to my day....and less sleep is how it's going to happen.

Made my Earl Grey tea and a bowl of oat porrige,banana and dates...(sounds good eh!)

I chose my shoes for today...they are probably one of my favourite pairs...I got them when I was 22(LONG time ago...but they still fit)...they're from Italy...they're leather soled and patent top.

I love wearing them with black pants...they were a challenge to draw...but fun and it brought back many great clubbing memories!!

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.

When I have set it up I'll post the link...I hope you'll help in the raising funds...I'm still looking into where I will donate to.

Any suggestions???

Have a wonderful Monday.

HUGS

Char,ON

do YOU remember ?

your childhood memories?...I do...from the age of 3...walking in parks, visiting grandparents, playing with my sister and baby brother...riding horses from the age of 6 and climbing trees...we never had a tree house,but our friends did...

did you have one of these? I think they're in the shops again....I can't for the Life of me remember the name though...and it's bee bugging me.

Any one remember?

What were your childhood memories made up of?

Have a lovely Wednesday.

Char,ON

Seeing double?

don't worry...it's not your eyes...remember a couple of weeks ago I gave the picture on the right to my neighbour for her Birthday?

well, the very next day she went to the framing shop and was sifting through mats for to frame it...and she left the picture behind...but, didn't realize until she got home.

She rushed back to where she just came from...not 10 minutes was she gone...and it had gone...

She was SO upset and said she couldn't believe(and neither could I) that no-one would just hand it in.

This is the reason for the other one which I managed to squeeze in a few hours to draw yesterday,I know,I should have been doing other things....prioritizing....but I felt like doing it.

I didn't want to make it exactly the same...although I love the boys in the first one but prefer the baby in the second.

C'est la vie...

Do you believe in Karma?

I do...if someone did steal it...because it's definitely stealing...well, we all know that what goes around comes around...

I can see if you found a drawing in the middle of a forest or just flying around on the street, then yes, own it...but this was in it's packaging...and in a store.

Anyway...Happy Birthday again D.

Hope you all have a wonderful Tuesday...it's calling for snow here....I know it's only October!

Char,On