ONCE upon a TIME...

Once Upon a Time...there was a Mum who stayed home with her girls...who both soon to be off to school, Mum was asked many a time by others... "WOW...what are you going to do with your free time whilst little Miss J is in School?" ... "you won't know what to do with yourself!!!"

Little did people know that for the next 2 months, Mum would be SO busy with Mamas and Chicks, painting a little boy's room, painting a Dance Studio, illustrating 4 books,MAYBE painting and donating portraits of the 4 Canadian Tenors for a Silent Auction, filling a Moleskine Sketchbook which HASN't arrives yet (I promise, I am being AS patient as I can be) oh...and amongst all of the above...lets see...cleaning,cooking,assisting the girls with school work- purging old clothes(kids and adults)...and oh...being a wife...

I think I have enough to be "doing with my free time!"
I am not making a list out of all of this on the page as I am a little overwhelmed...but in a good excited overwhelming way...does this exist???

So...a little goodness came today through an Etsy convo...
"I have included your Once Upon a Time Panda Bear in my Treasury"
Please take a peak HERE...as I still haven't figured how to copy the whole page...sorry! (hey, if we get enough viewers it may hit the front page of ETSY)
Thank you Laughing Dog Studio!!!(who has amazing Jewellery!!!!)

I wish you ALL a HAPPY WEEKEND...I will probably be back and hope to visit you this evening...
It's been a very busy week.

HUGS
Char.x

The Sketchbook Project 2011- the beginning...

I'm STILL waiting for my moleskine for the Sketchbook Project to arrive...I know it will soon...so whilst driving (I was a passenger) to Morrisburg at the weekend...I decided to sketch out the ideas for the pages of THE book.

I chose the topic of "The greatest Story ever told"...it's how I feel about our LOVE STORY (Mr.R's and mine)

It's a story I have started to illustrate many times...and this way I have to finish it...not the story...as I am praying for many more years of our family together.

It'll be something the girls can go and read in the Brooklyn Art Library...(that's if no-one buys it) it will also be digitalized by the Art House Coop. This was an option when signing up...I thought it would be neat to be able to see it online too...aswell as in person.

You all will probably see the majority of the book right here...but, if you live in Brooklyn,Austin,Portland(still a goal to get over there for the exhibition),Chicago or San Fancisco...you can visit whilst it's in your City!

When will my sketchbook arrive?

and...

DID you sign up yet??

Hopefully soon.

Enjoy your Monday!!

HUGS

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

bright...

Bright Star...have you seen it?

well...I got to see the first 15 minutes...STUNNING colours and amazing camera work.

then our DVD player crapped out...so upset...but images still engraved on my brain...

so I sketched her funny red and white dress...honestly...the film is a must see...(thanks for the suggestion Abby!)

Oh...and have you ever coloured on Moleskine sketch paper? It's like silk...wonderful...smooth...a pleasure...you should try it...even if you don't usually draw or sketch...you'll probably be tempted to take up sketching!

IF I don't get a chance before V day...please accept my HUG to you all... and have a SWEET one!

Char,ON

MOLESKINE Heaven...they ARRIVED!!!!

I really CAN'T believe it...I thought about these beautiful Moleskine "Colour a Month" notebooks and ordered them on SUNDAY(see Sunday's post)...and they arrived half an hour ago...WOW...AND considering we're in the midst of getting snow flurries...this would have taken 3 weeks to arrive if we were in the UK!
NOW...I can enjoy getting my Life organised...and lists written.

I also added this beautiful Watercolour Moleskine to the order...

ONE HAPPY LADY...(that's me)

Hope you're having a HAPPY day!
Char,ON

I would like...

-to wish YOU a FABULOUS 2010... (I'm BACK)

-that Peace on EARTH BE NOW...

-to rest assured that both my parents will have a year of good health and travel...they deserve it...

-to get out of our sticky situation at home here...(more of this another time-some of you know what I'm talking about if you have followed our blog since last May)

-to conquer my goals of success within my ART sales...(Angels are you watching?)

-to thank my husband for all his support...(but now I really have to pull my weight)

-to THANK YOU ALL for commenting,suggesting,supporting...critiquing,uplifting,inspiring and sharing with us...every day!(this means SO much to us)

-AND finally...I would Like...one of these:

have you seen them?

They're the Moleskine Colour a month daily/dairy planner.
A Moleskine for every month and they're all SO pretty...I think I may have to treat myself...Mr.R gave me some money to treat myself...most of it has gone on groceries for this week...LOTS of veg and fruit(on a cleanse after coming back from UK)...so I think I may have enough for one. I think they retail at $40.

CHECK this video out on the Moleskine site...(I adore their website...but then I have a sketchbook problem-like others have shoe problems-but that's another post too)

I have a mountain of plans for this NEW year...and thought a monthly planner would be AWESOME...especially this one...

What would you like?

.X.
Char,On.
(we had SUCH a wonderful time in UK...but there's only so much holidays one can take!)

Weekend wonderland...

Snow sitting waiting for the Sun to melt it...although little does it know that the Sun is not rising over the hedge until probably the New Year...this was one of the coldest and brightest days since arriving in the UK...I think that the snow had a HUGE part to play with it being the brightest.

crisp white snow...untouched, untrodden...the Sun is low...the shadows long...

Happy 65th Dad!

I think our little girls and niece enjoyed the fact that it was a birthday more than anyone...these are images I treasure in my heart and mind.

We had finished a wonderful Lobster with salad dinner...and Champagne for drinks...no-one switched to red or white wine...

Ended the dinner with Birthday Cake...actually the same one that I made earlier in the week...cooked it for 10 minutes less...and it was divine with honeycomb vanilla ice-cream.

I opened my moleskin today(yes it's green) and sketched Little Miss A...must get my eyes or my camera checked out because I am noticing a slant to the right with many of the drawings I photograph...or perhaps I just need to wear my glasses?...lol...

my parents live in a Log House...and the heating is all under-floor heating...I can not tell you how cozy BUT how dry it is...this is my hand...dry and looking rather warn.

I was wondering (as you do)...because I have only noticed this on a few people and they are usually either artists or do something creative in their lives...

Look at your hand...is your index finger substantially longer than your ring finger? And does this mean anything?

Have a wonderful weekend.

HUGS

Char,On.

P.S. Tam, thanks again for coming down last week...did you get home ok?

Tell ALL Tuesdays:: Amy from PIKALAND

Good morning EVERYONE...and thanks for stopping by today!

This morning we're welcoming Amy from PIKALAND. She's a talented artist,illustrator and blog extraordinaire...and her blog is all about living the Illustrated Life.(how perfect is that!...can you tell I'm a fan?)

*Visiting Amy's Pikaland* is always on my list of to do's for the day...if you haven't been yet...YOU MUST! ...Careful...because you may get hooked.

So...here goes:

AMY from PIKALAND...
Tell us a little about the Town you live in... & have you always lived there?
I live in a small little town on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur, in Malaysia. I prefer the suburbs as compared to the city – it’s a little too busy and I find the pace a little too frantic at times. I’ve lived here ever since I was 5 years old, although I did move house once (but we’re still in the same postcode, so it doesn’t really count!) We have a university here, so there are always lots of students around, and the people here are always so friendly because it’s such a small town that everyone knows almost everyone. I’ve schooled here and sometimes I bump into familiar faces just by walking the street!



If you could move anywhere tomorrow, where would it be?

Oh gosh, there are so many places I’d love to go visit. I’m not sure about uprooting myself permanently, but I would love to have a go at living in Finland or Spain!

How structured is your day usually?
Well, I try to structure it a little by spacing out pockets of work time. I start with having breakfast, and then it’s off to work until 1pm for lunch. I take two hours off for lunch, and I watch the TV shows that I’ve downloaded to wind myself down a little. I start up work again at 3pm and work until 7pm and then I go for a run or play with my dogs, and have dinner. I like to space out time for doing nothing at all so that I can think and process what happened throughout the day. After dinner I take a little time to socialize online via Twitter and make a list of things I need to do tomorrow. I find that I work in spurts and bursts, and I burn lots of brain matter when I do, so the long hours in between allow me to recuperate!

Are you a cat or dog person?
Dog, most definitely. But thanks to my husband, cats are growing on me too.

What did you do today?

Today I sent off my sister in law to the airport as she’s furthering her studies. My in-laws are here as well and we’re taking them out to lunch in awhile. My schedule today is a little tight, but that’s okay. I work whenever I can, and allow myself more time away from the computer as we have guests. I love the fact that I can organize my time and be more relaxed, even though I have tons of deadlines looming!

Are you a breakfast, lunch or dinner girl?

I’m a breakfast and dinner girl! I eat small portions and indulge in chocolates now and then. If I want to eat more, then I’ll exercise more for the week to balance it out. This way I won’t feel guilty at all!

If you had 6 friends over for Dinner what would you make for them?

Oooh. I love making pasta and spaghetti, so perhaps something along those lines would be lovely. Also, I’m a big fan of Jamie Oliver, so I’d probably look to him for inspiration. I love herbs. Also, that reminds me that I need to learn from my grandma on how to make great Indonesian fare – she is a fabulous cook!

How old were you when you knew you were on the right path in your Life?

I don’t think I would ever know the answer to that as I am still on that path myself. I love think that I’m on my way to something big, and I would like to be very much surprised at where life will take me. I do trust my gut instincts, which has lead me to where I am so far, so I’m excited to see where it will continue to bring me!

Who /what drove & inspired your love to create?

Hmm, that’s a tough one. I don’t remember exactly who or what drove me to create. I think I grew up in a family where we made do with what we had. My grandma sewed her own clothes, crocheted shawls, TV covers, and even the sofa cushion covers! My mom made her own maternity clothes, as it was too expensive to buy. She loved drawing, and I remembered that my parents would encourage me to pick up a crayon, pencil or pen and to just start drawing. I loved drawing dolls in fashionable dresses then! The next step was to learn how to make the dresses that I had drawn, and I failed terribly at that, so I stuck to drawing instead! I learned how to use a sewing machine much later on, which helped a bit, I think!

Tell us something not too many people know about you.

I believe that I’m an old soul! Others have called me an old lady for not liking to party, and generally not acting my young age (not being reckless, not drinking enough!) I just love reading and thinking a lot. I draw and write out plans and thoughts more than I draw illustrations at times!

Shoe choice::flats or heels?

FLATS! I’d love to wear more heels, but I’d be cursing throughout the day if I had to walk in them. The terrain here is not good at all for walking on heels!

What was the last book you read?

Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell. It was mind-blowing.

What advice would you give others just starting out?

To trust your own instincts and don’t believe in the naysayers too much. Life is like one big recording and you can’t re-tape over it, so might as make it a good show!

Name 5 blogs you love visiting, and tell us why.

I love visiting PostSecret (because reading all those postcards make me feel alive and aware of others), Freshly Blended (I just love the picks on over at Nicole’s blog),
Oh Joy! (because Joy posts a lot of beautiful things that are wonderfully inspiring for my upcoming wedding party next year),
Grain Edit (I love, love retro art & illustration, and Dave has it all on his awesome bog),
and DRAWN! (one of the first art, illustration and comic blogs ever. ‘Nuff said!)

Thanks Amy for letting us have a lovely little peek at your Life...that was awesome!

If you came to say hello please leave a comment for Amy below...

AND you can visit Amy at her PIKALAND blog.

It's raining here today..so it's another...Laundry day...oh well...at least it'll get done this week...haha...you should see the piles...

Have a lovely day!

Char,On