CELEBRATIONS....

Thank you SO much for the Birthday wishes(and to Tam for posting!!!)...I know my last post didn't sound too energized...BUT I'm BACK !!!

This is a new year, and I have LOTS to Celebrate. GREAT Family, FABULOUS Friends and that includes YOU all. Your encouragement worked wonders and this weekend it had lead me to think more about this whole process of blogging.
It's been a little over a a year since Tam and I started this World here together. I have been more productive in my everyday Life than ever before...and all your comments of kindness have so much to do with it.
THANK YOU!!!!

How was your Easter Weekend?

Ours was busy...but fun.
The Easter Bunny came on Sunday as you can see from the pictures...I have never seen 2 girls get through their Easter egg hunt around the house SO quickly...that's it...I have to tell the Easter Bunny to REALLY hide those eggs well next year!

Friday night Mr. R had a gig at the local Irish Pub...I love LIVE music...so it's always great to get friends out for some greasy Pub food and laughs.

Thursday was celebrated with take-out Sushi (thanks Mr.R) and cake with the girls...here's a picture of the girls blowing out my candles...yes, I confused them by having a 3,2 and a 5 candle on the cake.

Saturday night Mr.R surprised me...I knew we were going out  but had no clue as to where!
He took me on a de-tour through our home town and then got on the highway...YAY, we headed for Toronto!
It was late, 8pm, so I thought it would be unlikely that our friends would all drive down to the big City at that hour of the night...especially for Dinner!
We parked at 8.40pm and walked a little..I was checking all the restaurants as we walked past them to see if anything would pop out at me...Mr. R is REALLY good at keeping Birthday Surprises from me...

Then I saw a black Canopy with the name of the Restaurant "NOIR" on it....
YAY...we were going to NOIR!! If you've never heard about it, it's a "Dining Experience" Restaurant...you walk in, the wall by the Bar has the alphabet in brail and the menus were given to us to choose our meal choices before going in to be seated.getting everyone out...I love you dearly!
Our friends trickled in and in the end we were a party of 10! THANKS Mr. R for
ALL the food servers are blind in the restaurant and all of the rooms where you eat are COMPLETELY dark.
We were led into a dark  holding are between the first door and the second door and then led into our room.Told to hold onto the person in front of you...on their shoulder and you were lead to your seat.
A little tricky whilst holding onto your wine in one hand and jacket in the other.
The darkness smothered you...the feeling of security left you and you were reliant on voices,touch and sound.
Friends who are usually jolly and chatty...were very quiet. 2 friends couldn't handle the darkness and
needed to leave.
What an experience. I loved it! AND loved my gift of sight even more!
I believe everyone should experience this...it SO makes you appreciate your senses, every single one of them!

TODAY...I am energized and am cleaning the house...working with our girls on reading and their writing...hopefully I will have time to see how your Easter weekend was.

Thanks for sticking by me and for all the B-day wishes.
XXX
Char,ON

WHEN I have time...

this is what I dream of learning...learning to know more than 3 embroidery stitches...you could call this one of my "goals"...I know it's not a biggie..and believe me, I have tried on numerous occasions. I'm sure if you were to check my Library records,you would see this book and others on embroidery having been checked out more than 5 times...

Anyway...here's a sneak peak into this wonderful book by Eaglemoss Publications.

Embroidery reminds me of painting...but with threads...I am a very touchy feely textile person...and love the feel of fabrics which have been worked on...

this book illustrates each stitch so well...that I'm sure I could learn a couple of new stitches. Somebody drew these illustrations...I'm sure they were able to Ebroider too!

I'm facinated by these knots...they look like they would last a life-time.

Look at this, you can make a ruffle with thread which hasn't been cut...love this.

These are some of my absolute favourites.

Look how beautiful and simple these Japanese stiches are...do think they really used them for "Darning"? Not so sure...

Good enough to EAT!!!

Smocking...but in this book they show smocking pillows and dresses...a labour of love...definitely.

Another Book which I picked up was this one :

It`s by Katie Cole...I have been searching for something like this. Being a stay at home Mum with limited funds...we have to re-use and re-cycle clothes to the best we can.

I know Little Miss A and Little Miss J would love some new clothes...so lets get creative!

Here are a few pages of inspiration from the book.

So many of us throw away, or donate clothes even if they`re in good shape...we're just board of them.

Look at how fun you can make a plain old T-Shirt...

Hearts and frills...every girls dreams...

Petals of spring...brighten up those dull clothes...don't throw them out!

This is what I have so far...an Easter Dress...

A pair of old jeans...a frilly top which shrunk and never looked right on me...

An old pair of plaid shorts...I loved them SO much that I wore out the back-end...

The perfect top which already had..."I Love YOU forever" in print on it...just perfect.

It's the start of many...gotta get creative with what we have.

Do you re-cycle and re-use your clothes?

Hope you're enjoying your Wednesday.

Char,ON

My MAY GIVEAWAY...

My MAY GIVEAWAY!

YOU can win...4 Once Upon a Time prints of your choice...

Just:
Head on over to my Etsy Store and choose 4 Once Upon a Time prints which you would love to win and leave a comment back here with the 4 you have chosen.(the above 4 Once Upon a Time's are also inclused...I just have to post them on Etsy this week.)

To win extra entries:

POST about the giveaway on your own blog and you'll gain an extra entry!

YOU MUST be `Fabulous Reader` to qualify...if you`re not...quickly become one :-)

This Giveaway closes May 28th at 11pm.
Winner will be randomly picked on May 29th.

Good Luck!

Charlotte,Ontario

Once Upon a Time...

Pinks and Blues, Yellows and Oranges...oh, and not forgetting Spring Greens...Easter must be one of the most Colourful Holidays we have. I was noticing how I have painted many watercolours over these past few days with girls in mind, rather than boys...I will try and make a conscious effort to subject line boys in the next few that I do.That's what happens when you're blessed with 2 girls...everything becomes "girlie".
I'm really enjoying this series of colour and animals...I think I will as well as adding them to my Etsy Store, I will make some gift cards with the designs.
Tomorrow is a special day for me...can you guess what it is?
If you can guess correctly, I will add an extra entry to the Giveaway I'm doing tomorrow(which will run for one week).
I will be making a special watercolour-with your choice of animal-and a boy or girl . A custom watercolour just for you(if you're the winner).
Email me or convo me through Etsy with what special day it is tomorrow!
Ciao for now!
See you tomorrow!
Charlotte,Ontario