hungry?

What did you have for BREAKFAST?

Have a great Monday...my friend Shelly has started making these mixed sprout bags...and they're delicious!
BTW...Spa day was incredible...I'll tell you more about it 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

{this moment}

{this moment}

one image

a tidbit from the week

held close to my heart

Have a wonderful weekend...what are you up to?
We have a busy one if everyone stays clear of fevers and the flu...
Skating,ballet,skiing and fun times with friends...

I'll be back on Monday for our new "Monday's mentions" feature...(SO excited)

HUGS

Char.x

can you imagine?

a day without light...a night without the Moon?

I'm getting really excited about this book Shelly and I are working on together...

these sketches just finished minutes ago whilst listening to our girls babble and make believe in their imaginary World...
I can't really say too much about our work together ... but it will definitely be an eye opener and a thought provoker.
Have a great evening...to EACH and every one of you *SMILE* we have light! (for now)

HUGS
Char.x

today is the day...

when I deliver those two pastel portraits I finished this week...my stomach is upside down with a wee bit of worry...just a wee bit...Portraits are very personal, especially to a Mum who knows her kids faces and all their quirkinesses(word? not sure).

So....I believe there's nothing better than a "snort" of fresh air(as my friend D would say...) to calm nerves...so off we went.

They're going to be made into Jam...so if they're not ALL pretty...it's o.k.

I'm just content our girls love helping their Mummy.

There seemed to be a lot of inspecting going on before that stawberry was popped in her mouth...

and after half an hour...which really is their limit to most things....they were done, or at least our girls were...little W seemed to be able to pick-pick-pick...

ah, but there was the distraction of the duck which flew in and landed right beside the patch...not shy at all...perhaps he was after a few berries too.

Have a fantastic FRIDAY, and I will surely be back to tell you the out-come of the "Delivery"...

What's been on my mind recently...this week:

where is my Art Career going?

In which direction should I push it?

Should I stick to the fine ARts and work towards becoming a better more recognised Portrait Artist?

OR should I conintue on the path of illustration?

OR CAN I do both?

All taking into consideration that a family has to eat!

I have never advertised...where do I start?

Leaving you with that thought...I better get boogying.

HUGS

Char.x

P.S. The illustration is a snippet of a page for the book with Shelly.(must paint more this weekend!!)

GUESS what I forgot...

  after a frantic hour and a half the other day of searching through ALL our bags and clothes...I still couldn't find it.
I forgot my SD CARD in England which I had loaded with pics and edited them all ready for posting...can you believe it?
I just called Dad this morning and he confirmed that it was there, still sitting in the docking station of their lap-top.

Where is my head?

On another note I am going to show you a couple of sneak peaks from the book I am working on with Shelly.

                           

I really didn't have as much energy as I had hoped to work in the evenings over in the UK on the book...it was more exhausting than I imagined...but great to be there through my Mama's operation and see her recovering SO well.

Thank you ALL for the wonderful support and kind words and well wishes for her...you really are SUCH an important part of my Life...the encouragement and energies are bountiful and I am SO THANKFUL...

We're back in Canada and enjoying the HEAT...friends who I haven't seen for a while, and the girls are so happy to see their buddies.

Trips to my homeland are always wonderful...and I will miss my dear family and friends who I saw...but here is my home and it is a delight to be close to my Soulmate,my husband...Mr.R.
Today is a THANKFUL day...
thanks for passing by...I will be by to say hello to you all later.
OH, and THANKful...SO THANKful for this marvelous internet connection I am fortunate to have here.
HAPPY FRIDAY!


HUGS
Char.x.

today I am...

painting 2 Once Upon a Time illustrations for 2 special girls...good friends of the family had twins 3 days before our little Miss A was born, this is a week of Birthdays...A's is on Monday and J's is on Wednesday!!!

LOTS to organise...and little gifts to wrap!

TODAY I am:

::finishing these while the girls have Ballet

::heading out to Port Hope to the Believe Dance Competion to support some of the girls in A & J's Dance school who are competing today...GOOD LUCK girls!

::meeting up with Shelly (yay!)

::heading out to Toronto to ABYC to watch my Mr. R in his Band this evening.

What are you up to today?

Enjoy your weekend!!!

Char,ON

Once Upon a Time...thanks.

I have a list of "Thank You"'s ...and a list of "To Do"s...today the "To Do"s can wait.
This bird is for Shelly, I introduced you to her a few weeks away...a very talented Artist and Photographer...she came to my rescue.
Usually my husband will take the day off and help me when at the Shows...because the majority of the morning is spent tending to vendors and their needs as they get settled.
Well, my husband had to teach(he teaches ground school at the nearby Airport)...so...I had to think of someone...and Shelly came to mind....and she kindly said yes!
So...thank you lovely friend, it was great hanging out with you for the morning.
I hope you love your birdie.
This has to be one of my favourite...the colours work really well and it feels Wintry.
Colour palette: inspired by my paint brushes...
Shelly loves the City and is a Free Spirit...with a heart of Gold. There are very few people in the World like this...but I am SO fortunate to know a handful of them.

Thanks for stopping by...what are you up to this weekend?

We're having quite the feast of a weekend...tonight Sushi and tomorrow Moroccan...YUM! And all in honour of my dear hubby's Birthday!

Have a good one...and remember to check back sometime this weekend...you can win your OWN Once Upon a Time watercolour!

Char,ON