The Mamas and Chicks Spring Market

This is what's occupying LOTS of my time at the moment...

IF YOU live in the Durham Region or in the GTA and if you're interested in becoming a vendor please email me!

HUGS

Char.x

2012

Will be chocka block full of creativity... I hope you'll all join me on the ride :-)
Have a great weekend… we're flying back to Canada over the weekend... So I'm sure you'll see some real Winter pics in the near future... Until then, have a look at the flag how it was flying this morning. Oh, and a few watercolours I just completed.

How's your 2012 so far?

Hugs
Char.

Wordless Wednesday

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

Yearly wishes

Wishing my Mr.R a wonderful Birthday...may you/ we celebrate MANY more years together!

Have a great weekend everyone...
Leaving you with the custom Xmas cards designed for a lovely client.

Hugs
Char

Handmade cards

I'm up early this morning before the girls wake up as I have projects to finish...sometimes trying to complete work at one in the morning doesn't pay-off.
It's so lovely and mild the temperature here at the moment...we try and take advantage of it and stay outside after school for a while so they can let off some steam before coming in for the evening.

On a different note:
How are you all doing with your Holiday preparations ? You realize we only have 47 days until the 24th of Dec!
I am helping others by creating their holiday cards...I still have to think of ours!

Enjoy your Tuesday...see you tomorrow.
Hugs
Char.

Quiet or noisy?

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

Hugs
Char

A Deer, a Fox and a Squirrel.

Working on these....
Have a great Thursday.
HUGS
Char.x

bye bye bols...

 hello lovelies...I know I haven't been around for a few days, I have been enjoying my parents whilst they're here in Canada visiting.
My Mum gobbled up all these Cafe Bols and Tea Cups to take back with her to England. So these are a few which I won't be selling on Etsy.

I painted a few new Cafe Bols which I will also be placing in the shop...they're a little larger than the 5x7 watercolours...I think they measure 11x7 inches.
Below you can see one of them framed...

so, after being super productive...it's good to see many of them going to new homes...


This week is the start of another VERY busy crazy week...I am delivering tickets and flyers to our Mamas and Chicks vendors.Our Show is in 3 weeks time...
I'll be making more Gift Cards,Tooth Fairy Pillows, Lavender Pillows and selling my prints at a great discount...


Did you know my Esty Store has a SALE at the moment? EVERYthing is 25% off! 


I'll be passing by to say hi to you later...until then have a fabulous Monday.
HUGS
Char.x

wishing you a...

lovely weekend.

hugs
Char.x

Alice in Wonderland...almost there.

from this...

to this...

HELLO...How are you my lovelies?
After 6 hours of painting...and extra help for half of these hours...thanks B...this is what was finished today.
Tomorrow I'm dragging Miss J with me for the morning... she is going to occupy herself on the stage while I paint.
I'm tired...I've caught up on my taxes...I just have a couple of forms left to fill...
I'm sorry I haven't passed by many of your Worlds today...perhaps I'll have time tomorrow evening.

HUGS to you all...until this is finished(HOPING to have something to Show you in the afternoon.)

sleepy HUGS,
Char.x

Monday's Mentions...and I'm stamping.

Sometimes trying new art forms can free one's mind.
I'm translating a few old sketches into stamps. I think I need MUCH more practice...but am loving the feel of the rubber...it's like putty! 

 This is my signature...I have had it since I was 16...or there abouts.
It's on every painting/ drawing that I have ever done...so this was the first stamp I made.

 Aren't the greys amazing? I didn't edit the photo other than crop it...

 Here`s the finished stamp...I have to place it on something ridged...as the rubber is quite soft and flexible.

I know the girls are going to have fun with all the stamps I make.
Stay tuned for MORE to come...

but until then...it's MONDAY MENTIONS::
you`re going to want to check out THESE stamps HERE and HERE and Geninne has a few posts on "How to" right HERE...

If you have ever posted about "stamping" on your blog...please comment with a link to the post...

I'm off to STAMP some more...
HUGS
Char.x
Thought you may like to see what I made this morning ::

one day at a time...

Hey everyone...wow, I haven't been here in a while. I did end up getting the flu, and couldn't get out of bed for 4 days...it's strange because I always forget when you're sick, you really can't do ANYTHING...no reading, no sketching...why is that?
I suppose it's one way for your body to actually recover completely.
Thank you ALL for the "well wishes"...and Tam, I am SO pleased your Grandma's accident wasn't worse...
My days are all mixed up...so a Wordless Wednesday wouldn't really work today...

This family portrait is for a very dear lady(and friend) who has a wonderful family. She has just started a blog of her own which is something very new to her, so please go over and say hello HERE. She's called it "A Voice for my Children".

I hope you like this "Family Load" portrait K...it was a pleasure drawing it.

If you would love a picture of YOUR family...just contact me via EMAIL for a quote.
This is my passion....and my Life...and I hope to never stop.

I hope you have a great day...
HUGS
Char.x

Family givings...

Hello Thursday...how are you? Oh, me? Thanks for asking...I feel like I should go back to bed(tight chest,coughing,aching all over...uncontrollable chills)...BUT...as a Mama...that's NOT possible,so Life goes on.

Above is a "Family Load" portrait I am working on for a dear Lady in the States...she had actually commissioned me one of just her with her children before Christmas and now has decided that her husband should be a part of the picture :-)

I will show you the finished picture when she has seen it.
It's a lot of fun working on these portraits...it really reminds me of how a family is a unit of ONE and need to stick together through thick and thin.

Do you remember the blanket I showed you a couple of weeks ago? Well my sis finally received it and so now I can post the final image...LOTS of imperfections...I know...but it was my first ever blanket!

Today we were walking up to school in 1/2 ft of snow slush...we received SO much snow last night...then people didn't shovel...and now this morning we're getting heavy rain.
I guess we are in OUR Canadian Spring right now...but I'm still excited about the flowers popping up!

Have you made anything for the "Family" recently?

I hope you have a great Thursday...and thank you for your sweet comments on the Alice set design....that's the only backdrop I am working on, as the school really doesn't have an elaborate stage.

Until tomorrow...
HUGS
Char.x

Book illustrations FINISHED

 Hello wonderful readers...today is a good day! I finished the illustrations for Shelly and my 1st book!!!
 I'm sorry this is only a tease really as I can't write the title...or give you the story written word for word...BUT...it's all about Rhythm and Rhyme....it's about accepting who you are...and learning from your mistakes...it's about making a positive out of a negative.

 She really is a sweet girl...she just needs to think before she speaks(hey, sounds like someone I know!!! :-)

she has family and friends who love and care about her...

 She just needs to fit in...and control that voice of hers!

 Life isn't always easy...

 BUT...she figures it out...

Soon you'll be able to read about her...

 HOPEFULLY soon...we're sending it off to a friend who is a text editor for a publishing house here in Canada...not that this will be the Publisher who will snap up our series...BUT you never know.
We're shooting for May 2012...

We're excited...and it's the 1st book I have ever illustrated, but have a list as long as my arm to complete.
It's great to have goals...and this is a BIGGIE!!!

HAVE a great Thursday, you know you'll be the first to know when things HAPPEN!
and...thank you...for the VERY sweet comments with regards to Miss A the other day. They warmed my heart. THANK YOU!

BIG hugs
Char.x