My NEW Etsy Shop OPENING TODAY

Hello lovelies, How are you all?
I am still here...but have not had a chance to blog recently... (I know,I know...even my Mum keeps asking...when will you be posting more pics?)
I do however have a new Etsy shop opening at 12.01pm EST.
There I will be selling my newest original watercolour paintings...
Some of you have been in contact on Instagram (blueshineart), and know about my new Blue and Grey Bowls and Tea Cups...but for the rest of you...here are a few images.
You can also go to www.blueshineart.etsy.com to see the whole series at 12.01pm EST.
The Shop is full of very reasonably priced originals! GREAT gifts for xmas!
HUGS
Char.x 
P.S. I promise to be back!

Quiet or noisy?

I am definitely quiet...or that's what I enjoy...
And you? Are you quiet or noisy?

Hugs
Char

PRINT - COLOUR - WIN

Only 3 more...well 2 really, until our Mamas and Chicks Show...oh my, it always creeps up on me WAY too fast.
WIN WIN WIN...if you have little ones...OR if YOU would like to enter...I would LOVE to see what you come up with.
I will be colouring mine too...and the WINNER will WIN either one of these or their own custom Once Upon a Time watercolour...where YOU can choose the animal...etc.


HAVE FUN with it...and post the picture on my BlueshineArt Facebook Page with a link to where I can contact you :-) If you don't have a FB page...email me your coloured page.


Have fun with the colouring pages...I can't wait to see what YOU and your kids get up to :-)
HUGS
Char.x

claro oscuro

hello...
I hope you've enjoyed your weekend...
I do feel bad I haven't visited this past couple of weeks...Life is crazy at the moment...I am juggling way too many balls...
I have been concentrating on our Mamas and Chicks Show which is in 5 days!
On Saturday I had my second Art Class "Learn to Draw"....this week we concentrated on proportioning and Claro Oscuro...otherwise known as Light and Dark. (mine is the top image...and the student you see working away was working on her second one in the middle image) They did really well for their first time working with charcoal...you have to remember to not mess up the white of the image...keep it clean...a little like watercolours!
I have to go...I'm off to make Tooth Fairy Pillows.
hugs to you all.
I'll post my progress throughout the week...and you'll have to forgive me if I am not visiting this week again...each second is precious!


Char.x 

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

dance dance dance...

Such a beautiful day...fresh...sunshine and a breeze which clears your head, especially when you're working outside.
I started the dance mural...remember the preliminary sketches HERE? 
Look at the landscape I have behind me to look at when I need a break from painting...beautiful isn't it!
There are areas I need to correct. Like the tap dancer's HUGE left foot...lol...miss J was with me and questioned 'Why is her one foot SOOooo big?", she notices everything...which I love about her...she also hears everything...she doesn't miss a beat.
So...I'll be back up there finishing off the figures and then the logo has to be painted.


**excuse the photos...I forgot my camera!


I know I haven't been able to visit your Worlds this week much...but I will get there soon, I promise.


Have a great day.
HUGS
Char.x


BTW : yes, the last post's silhouettes are for Miss A and J's daily school notes and can also be used as bookmarks. Thanks for all your sweet comments...I hope you know they're very much appreciated.

they make my heart melt

hey all, sorry I've been away from the computer for a few days...been spending a lot of time with these two lovely ladies...
they both make me SO proud to say I am their Mama. Soon they're birthdays are upon us...they'll be 7 and 5,WOW...time flies!
this week I will be back to posting daily...
I'm prepping for my Art Camps in July....tomorrow a great friend is hosting a Spa Day...I'm having a Reiki treatment and a Cranial Sacral session...oh, yeah, and my cards read! SO EXCITED!

What are you up to tomorrow??

HUGS
CHar.x

reality check

HAPPY Friday everyone...
so...it's nearing the end of January,I haven't shown you or told you about ALL my 2011 goals.
BUT, here's a BIG one which I JUST finished making the flyer for.
I'm running it out of my studio...which still has to be built...nothing like pressure eh!
I'm really excited, and am hoping to fill these camp weeks with budding young artists who want to learn and have fun being creative!
I'll only have 5 students at a time, plus my two girls...

What do you think?

Have a great weekend.
Char.x

I WANT

I WANT...

I WOULD LOVE :
to capture the love I have for my family in a HUGE painting...
I would like to get my house in order...but what's more important than a Happy Family?
to thank you all personally...ALL 1098 of you...THANK YOU...for becoming readers of our World here...
to always be able to help up at our girls school...should I have been a teacher? hmmmm....
to stay longer ... but we have errands, library and the day to get on with....

do I have a photo for you? NOPE...not until later...BUT...if you want a sneak peek at MY Valentine LOVES...head HERE for some delights!
HONESTLY...you will NOT be dissapointed :-) and you may even get HOOKED on Pinterest!!!!
is your day busy already???...I know we're having a busy one and it's not even 9am yet!

HUGS,
Char.x

Wordless Wednesday ... a Panda Bear's journey...

Bear HUGS
Char.x

Meet Sophie

 Good morning Monday readers..meet Sophie, my Aunt Helena's dog...
I drew this for my Aunt as a Thank you for the beautiful gifts she sent and sends over to us from Ireland every year. She is a textile designer and weaver.
Each of the ladies(including the wee ladies) received a scarf from her. The girls received these beautiful crocheted scarfs,full of beautiful yarns and colours.

Miss A LOVES hers...the colours are perfect for her!
SO...I hope you receive your "Sophie" drawing very soon Helena...and THANK YOU!

I'll be back later with a couple of lists and a few new and exciting projects which 2011 has planned for me here on this side of the Earth.
It's freezing cold out..the girls went back to school...and I now have time to CLEAN and CHUCK...OH yeah...big clean out happening in THIS house. (feels good!)

What are you up to today?

Healthy HUGS...
Char.x
(we're wishing for a healthy Winter over here...doing lots of self and for the family "HEALTHY" visualization meditation stuff daily...it may help)

P.S. If you or anyone would like a "Pet Portrait"...you know where I am:-)(just sayin)

wishing you a HAPPY Holiday Season...

Thank you for a WONDERFUL 2010...your support and friendship has been priceless(really ...truly it has)

Wishing you ALL a Merry Christmas...and a FABULOUS 2011.

We will be taking a wee BLOG-cation...and will be back Jan 2nd.

Until then...many Christmassy HUGS...and Mistletoe kisses...

take care and keep safe.

Char.x

(painting above of all the cousins here in UK-they're all growing SO fast)

Friday Celebrations!

Another piece in Celebration of a Birthday...and when my husband brings back his Birthday illustration...I will show you that one too...
Can you hear the Celebrations going on behind this picture?
There's Sushi on the menu today...YUM!

What's on your Menu tonight?

HUGS
Char.x

sweet little creature...

1 finished...2 to go...
Miss A still has a fever...Miss J is on the ice-lollies...
Still waiting for the Healthy Angel to pass by and give us all a clean bill of health...


HUGS
Char.x

NEW : Iron on Patches

Hello lovelies...it's a CRAFT day today...I finished a few "Iron on Patches" today...

 and am about to work on some more PINS...

I only made one flower...but think I should make more...

So...can you guess what PINS I'm painting today?

!!!HAPPY THANKSGIVING CANADA!!!
HUGS
Char.x

Portrait in pencil and pen - UP ALL night!!!

Hello lovelies,

Actually, I was up a couple of nights...and days...and hours...it's not that easy when you're trying to finish(or start) commissions when you're a stay at home Mum. Especially when they're this time consuming.

I haven't ever done a group portrait like this before ....so it was a great challenge.

The photo which I was given was just a 4x6 snapshot...and the finished portrait measures 16x20...

Like I said it was a challenge!!! (scroll down to see the finished and framed piece)

Et Voila....the finished piece.
Do you recognise the little girl in the front left? Yes, it's the same girl as I did the Pastel Portrait of the other week.
So...check back later to see what they think of this...I'm delivering it today on the basis of..."thank you very much" and moving on!(yup, not expecting anything this time...I think it will be better for me:-)
Yeah, I know...the above sounds cold, and pehaps I should care...but I am happy with my work, and really,does it matter if they are? (because I'm NOT changing this one!)

Have you had any challenges this week?

HUGS until later.
Char,ON
 DELIVERY UPDATE:: They loved it...but I was sent home with the Pastel Portrait from 2 weeks ago...the mother thought her daughter looks too old and big? Hey...keeping my funders (word? think not) happy...a girl (and family) gotta eat!!

I *HEART* painting...

I finished this the other day..I know...very different to my animal illustrations...

but this is me, this is what I LOVE to do....paint big paintings...with LARGE brushes.

So, when a commission comes my way...I jump all over it and enjoy the challenge.

It's for a friend who recently went to Corsica with her man...and asked if I would paint her this painting to give to him for his Birthday this year.

YOU have 24 hours before my BOGO Free SALE on all my Prints in my BLUESHINE Baby Etsy store is over...then I will be shutting up shop for 22 days.

This weekend I will be posting pics from our CANADA Day...

HAVE a wonderful weekend.

HUGS

Char.x.

the Prince and the Dragon...

good morning friends...well...yesterday's rainy day seemed to be productive. I finished the Prince on the frog...as requested by a few ladies at our Show.

They however don't want to have the original...just the print. So the Original is up for grabs!

this is how I see it...my Etsy sales need to grow...so even if someone has a request for a print which I don't have...if I have time, I will paint it and then keep the original to sell at a later date. I still get the sale...and my clients are happy!

So...if you guys have any requests...I will try and meet them, just leave a comment and you may be surprised!

the 2 boys riding the Dragon with their sister walking them is for a wonderful lady I met at a Craft Fair...she was a vendor there selling these adorable bonnets for babies and dolls.

Now she's expanded her line to bibs and the most adorable dresses for babies and children upto 5yrs old.

these are her 2 boys...I hope she loves it.
You can visit Sarah HERE and take a peak at what wonderful creations she makes...

So far TODAY:
-the Sun is shining...oh...no...clouds are rolling in.
-one of my watercolour prints have been featured in THIS Etsy Treasury (the more comments it gets the more likely it will reach FRONT Page on Etsy)
-we're off to the Libray for the girls Library class which they do each week(I've been doing this since little miss A was 6 months!)
-I am always and forever inspired by Geninne and her Journal Pages...this may have to be a Sunday ritual for ME in the future...I *ADORE* them.
-my goals are to finish 2 watercolours today....a horse and an elephant...both with girls on their backs.

WHAT are your Thursday inspirations? Please share...

Have a wonderful day...
HUGS,ON

illustration Friday

hello fabulous readers...I have to catch up on what you've been up to today...it's been a crazy week of Birthdays. Yesterday Ashley was invited to another party...a very good school friend of hers had a pool party...I asked Olivia the other day what her favourite animal was...she said a dog.

she doesn't have a dog, but her uncle does...this is Boston.

he's a Boxer mix...I'm pleased with the composition of this one everything worked out and colour-wise too.

she's an adorable girl who we found out yesterday will be in the same class as little miss A next year too. Going from SK to Grade 1 can be a huge step...so having a best buddie in the same class makes me feel better about it all.(I know I'm sure little miss A isn't concerned at all-but she did request to be with Olivia)

this is my illustration for Friday...

our school has a PA Day today...which means no school today.

we're off to the park, the ART store(to pick up a canvas for a commission) and Toy store to spend their Birthday money(given to them by their grandparents here).

The girls are SUPER excited to be able to choose their own gifts. This year they hardly received any toys (which wasn't a bad thing!) so they have a whole list of what they would like!

I may be going to the U.K. to help out with my Mum after her double hip operation in July...I'll keep you updated...I'll still be blogging...but probably won't be running my Esty Store...so if there are any prints you would like ...thinking ahead to Summer Birthdays...stock up now as the shop will probably be closed for 3 weeks in July. I may even think about a SPECIAL promo code JUST for all you FAB readers!!

Also...custom originals are really very reasonable in price...just email me for a list of prices. If you by more than one, the price drops considerably.

Have a FABULOUS Friday!

HUGS

Char,ON