one week to go...

my head is spinning...my kids are tired of me always crafting for the Mamas and Chicks Show...I am lacking many hours of sleep...but,we all know this is what happens before a big Show like this...right?

 These are my "Surprise pins"...I like to always bring something new to the Show each year. Sorry readers...you'll see them on Saturday the 30th in my Etsy store if there are any left!!!

Can you guess what they are?

I'm pleased with my new stamps...I've never sold stamps from my table...so this is new too for all our Shoppers.

 I have 29 in my "series 1" of stamps which I'll take to the Show next Friday...and I know they'll be an on-going project as it really is a very calming and therapeutic craft.



































Hope you all have a wonderful Easter Weekend...thanks for stopping by and to all of you who leave a little hello always...thank you!
I'll be back on Tuesday with more finished projects!

HUGS
Char.x

her own pet monkey...

finished and ready to deliver...

I'm hoping the girls love monkeys and elephants...

we're off to their Birthday Party this afternoon...

I'm happy how they turned out...especially the elephant on the beach.The colours work well together...

It's funny how sometimes certain projects just have a sweet harmony about them, and others don't.

It's a beautiful sunny day...we should be outside...so I won't keep you.

Tomorrow's little Miss A's Birthday and little Miss J's on Wednesday (NO it wasn't planned)...we had a week of celebrations in Disney World so there won't be any "parties"...but cake making yes...and balloons of course.

Oh, and a few gifts!

HUGS to you all.

Have a lovely Sunday.

Char,ON

Once Upon a Time...Elephant & Rhinoceros

These two watercolours are for Silke, a fabulous reader and blogger of Metamorphosis...they'll be flying out tomorrow, hopefully to get to her very soon as she has been patiently waiting. Thanks Silke!

I hope you like them Silke...

I am starting the Pond Mural today. I'll post my progress along the way this week...AND please don't forget to come back tomorrow for our Tell All Tuesdays...we have an amazingly talented lady being featured...can't miss this one!

Oh...we came 9th in our City Chase Race this past Saturday.There were 460 teams...SO pleased we made top ten!

Have a productive Monday.
Charlotte,Ontario

Friday Illustration:: Once Upon a Time...Elephant.

I finished this Elephant(Silke yours is slightly different-I will post them another time) watercolour for a lady who had been trying for years to have a child and finally her and her husband went to Vietnam to give little Tinh, their son, a home here in Canada.
I hope she likes it...
Excuse the very short post today...I will post again on Sunday as we have the Mitsubishi City Chase tomorrow...and will be out all day.
Wish us luck.
Char,Ontario

Wednesday wishes...

Firstly...just quickly, because I told all of you I would tell you how we did in the race...we came in 17th out of 450 teams on Saturday's City Chase. We didn't have to eat anything which was just by chance because we chose a different route which had other chasepoints like: dressing up in a Velcro suit and throwing yourself onto a Velcro wall, OR playing blind croquet, OR strip Jenga, OR being locked in an old Jail cell and trying to find a key in complete darkness to unlock the door(there were 8 keys in total in the cell)...we had a lot of fun, and our next race is on August 15th in Toronto.
Yesterday I spent the day working on the Fairy Mural...and this is what I accomplished. I feel like I'm in "My Little Pony" land, which is a good thing because the client wanted bright and cheerful. My wishes for today are that I finish the tree,flowers and the Olivia name...I only have 2 more days so I have lots of work to do.

Well, I was out with a girlfriend last week and we walked into a store hoping they would have a Tagine which I could cook in...because as some of you may recall I received one for my anniversary gift...but due to it being painted and glazed...I could only use it as a serving dish.

Above is my new Tagine, I love it.

I cooked chicken and vegetables last night...it's so quick to use, sear your meat-place a layer of carrots on the bottom of the tagine,place your meat on top of the carrots and layer all the other veggies on top.

I have only cooked with it twice but am amazed at how after it cooking for 1 and a half hours...the carrots are still al dente and the meat is so succulent...love it!

This was just before closing it up and placing it in the oven to cook....no oil and very little salt...and still super tasty!

I took the girls to the Toronto Zoo on Monday...

Always a great place for taking pics of animals as reference for my painting.

I love the little butterfly sanctuary they have...you can walk amongst the butterflies fluttering above your heads. Jordan was a little scared, but Ash held her hand and assured her everything would be o.k....very sweet.

I love this picture I took ...sorry, I haven't had a chance to look up the name of it.

Ok...I'm off to work...

Wishing you a wonderful Wednesday!

Char,Ontario

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

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