Predictions

I hope you're all well. I have been an awful blogger this month...and haven't gotten around to visiting you all... But I will soon... Things should start to calm down a little now that Christmas concerts are almost over, packing for our trip to Europe is almost done... We are still without snow up here in Ontario... Well those of us who live near the lake, I know just 2 hours north of us has over a foot of snow.
How about you? Do you have snow yet?
Last year this time, our girls were playing outside in it and making snow forts...London airports were being shut down because of the amount of snow they had!
Are we in for a mild winter ? What are your predictions?

I will leave you pondering whilst I show you a few pics of what we have been up to…

Hugs
Char.x

A LOST LOVE...

meet Dylan the Dog...he passed just a couple of weeks ago,poor thing, but he was old...his owner called me up..."I'd love to have 3 paintings ,one for each of my children of Dylan and them...can this be done?"

of course it can be done!

and these are the times I love...keeping busy...drawing,painting and making smiles apear on others...

it's been a long day...emotionally exhausting...but I won't bore you.

sweet dreams...don't let the bed-bugs bite!

HUGS

Char.x.

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

Making up MONDAY!

Ok...so this is like an apology for NOT having posted these past few days.
We've had BUSY times...and so...let's begin with..."US"...Mr. R and Moi...we had a St.Pati's day Party/ Space Invadors contest on Friday night...SO much fun! (I love my Man!)

We went to "Purple Woods" the land of Maple Syrup...every year a few farms open their woods up to educate the public on the tradition of Maple Syrup up here in Canada. The teperature has to be perfect for the sap(syrup) to be tapped out of the trees...

We got there early and met up with a few freinds and their kids...it's a beautiful walk down through the woods...the Sun had just risen, the horses were just arriving ready to take us for a little ride.

Aren't they gorgeous...and they were planning on doing a 7 hour day! Apparently 2,000 people walk through this wood each day for the 10 days that it's open...I know, CRAZY and poor horses.

We went to the Zoo...

and saw the Orangatangs...this Mama really is NOT a happy camper.

I really do have mixed feelings about the Zoo.

 It's fantastic to be able to see all these animals at such close proximity...but really...they don't live in the best conditions.

I finished a few Watercolours...like this one...

and this one...

and this one...

Oh...and another cat...

They'll all be in my Etsy Shop this week.

Even Little Miss J wanted a go at painting...I love her flying houses and little bird...

So...I hope my apology has been accepted...and I've been forgiven.

As you can see...we've been BUSY.

Tomorrow I have 2 Tell ALL Tuesdays.

Remember to check back.

Off to see what you've all been up to...I have some catching up to do.

HUGS

Char,ON

The COUNTDOWN is on...

we had a packing party(the Mama Loot Bags...250) last night with a bunch of great friends...THANK YOU all...including my darling husband who I know could have been working on his "PLAN of change"...but he helped us.
BUT first we HAD to get some Spicy Thai food in... and naow down on some great flavours!

a quick clean up...and to packing we went...round and round the table, adding vendors and other business owners marketing material...

2 hours later...we had this...a sea of blue(bags donated from our local Toy Store...thanks Scholars Choice!)...feels good to get it over with.

I then had to say goodbye to this wee fella...I finished him at the weekend, his name is Pickle...and his owner Nathanael(lovely name).

Sarah came to pick him up...Sarah is an acquaintance whom I've known for 3 years now and I really hope I will see more of...she's a very talented Graphic Designer...and has a Blog called Lucky Cat Design...which you must go and check out. She started it about a year ago...and I really can't believe how she doesn't have the followers she should have...her blog is a wealth of information.

This was her intro line to what her Blog is about:

"I've created this blog to provide expert advice on how to effectively market your business as well as to keep you up to date on the comings and goings of Lucky Cat Design."

I can't wait to browse and read her posts one evening...GREAT WORK Sarah!!!

AND I want to introduce all of my regular blog buddies to her, because I know she has been browsing our Blog...so she knows I have met great creative and inspiring people our there in BlogWorld...(she's right...I have)

Show some love friends!

Anyway...if I get a chance tomorrow I will post...but it's looking very slim...the Mamas and Chicks Show is on Saturday...phew...it's been a CRAZY time...

Hugs to y'all!

Char,On

Now's the time...

to order commissions for Holiday gifts.

I finished these 2 and another one which I delivered before even taking a picture...I'll get it at a later date...they were commissions for nieces and nephews and the one above of the dog is for the lady who one the contest I posted about maybe a month ago.

I am almost caught up...and ready to go for our Mamas and Chicks Show...just have to post 200 posters and put out 100 lawn signs this week...and pack 250 loot bags next week.

I am offering all of YOU fabulous readers a discount on custom commissions...

Go to my Etsy Store for more info.

This SALE will be on until the 10th of November.

All you have to do is email me/convo me with... choice of Animal, how many children(or adults)with their names , and 3 colours.

Anyway, back to the drawing board...SO much to do...and SO little time.

See you tomorrow.

Char.ON.

ALL NEW Once Upon a Time illustrations...

The Pig...the Lion, the Puppy dog and the pet Bunny...

I've been staying up late trying to get these finished to give you all more choice in the MAY GIVEAWAY which some of you have entered...if you haven't it's not too late, you have 5 more days...just scroll down and enter.

And a reminder...you must choose your 4 favourites....some of you only chose 1.

I am giving 4 Limited Edition prints away!!

How these for came about:

I've had requests for the Pig...it's amazing how many people I have come across who collect Pigs!

The Lion was also a request...I do love the Lion, he looks like he could roam the jungle all night and protect his little friend from everything and anything.

The dog is up there with my favourites...it's funny how some animals just fit the page right and the composition just works...and the colours work together in harmony.Those blues and golds seem to be in sync as well.

The Bunny was on my list of "to do's" after the Easter Bunny was critiqued by many...they were right to what they said...that the Easter Bunny would only appeal to many at Easter...friends are great, as are family for really telling you how it is or how it should be.

I really do appreciate every one's comments.

So far my most popular animals have been all three Bears(Panda,Polar and Brown Bear),the horse with the princess,the bird and the Elephants.

What animals do you think would be popular?

Have a wonderful weekend.

Char,Ontario

Sneak peeks...

I have nearly finished these 4 Once Upon a Time watercolours...ready hopefully to post tomorrow or this evening...
I'll also be running our May Giveaway starting tomorrow...

I'll be giving away a couple of things...but you'll have to chack back tomorrow to see.

Can you guess what these four will be?

I'm not sure what has happened to Tam(the other part that makes up the "WE" in We Blog Artists)...I know she's busy with her new little Beth, we're waiting patiently for her return...Tam...are you there???

No pressure Tam...I'll just keep posting :-)

Thank you for all your sweet comments readers...I appreciate the time to spend to visit our Blog...

Charlotte,Ontario

4 NEW Once Upon a Times...

I could have waited to post one a day this week...but thought you may need some extra eye candy considering I have been a little lacking in the "posting" department these past couple of weeks...
I'm really happy with the Finch...it reminds me that Spring is here...even though we've had torrential rains here outside Toronto and a wind like you wouldn't believe. It feels like a typical English rainy day-cold,damp and bitter when in it!
Below we have our lovely Ginger Cat...who has been a great part of my childhood and has left lots of wonderful memories. All the ginger cats I have known are extremely mellow in temperament and very loving but also independent cats. I love cats...and will surely be painting more in the near future.

Every child wants to ride their large pet dog...and isn't allowed. So this one is for all those little boys who dream that they could explore the countryside on their Pet Dog.

I wanted to have another Elephant in the Once Upon a Child collection...this one is a night scene with just one boy sitting alone.

They'll all be posted on my Etsy Store some time this week...definitely before the Show this weekend...also because I am dropping prices for the Show considerably, I'll be matching prices on my Blueshinebaby etsy store on Saturday and Sunday...so come back this week to my blog, you will not want to miss this!

Off to explore my dreams...thanks for stopping by.

Charlotte,Ontario