DRUM ROLL.....BRRRRR...BRRRR....BBBRBRRRRR....and the WINNER is::

Lisa from EARTH MAMA...
CONGRATULATIONS  on winning our January Giveaway!!!

Thank you ALL for entering...as you can see, Banner B(our original Banner) is back...even my husband missed seeing the WHOLE family. I appreciate your comments...they ALL hold so much value...but banner B had the majority of votes...until another idea better that that pops into my head...the original banner is staying.

I`ll be back very soon for a Friday "this moment" posting...
My table is FULL...find out soon.

HUGS
Char.x.
P.S. Lisa please contact me with regards to your prize.

Monday...Tuesday...Wednesday...Thursday...FRIDAY!!!! 4 more days!

FIRST...CONGRATULATIONS to...dedeetsyshop she won our October GIVEAWAY!!!...and she chose an owl...SO I will ship her a little Owl as soon as I hear from you Miss Dedeetsyshop!!

I found out that our winner is a lady who makes absolutely GORGEOUS creations...she has a wonderful Etsy Shop and a blog I have been visiting for a while...she calls it Harper and Henry...love those names...
 
Anyway...CONGRATULATIONS again!!!
AND a huge thanks to all of you for entering...I will have another one very soon...perhaps we'll go on a little scavenger hunt for the next Giveaway!
 
We have 4 days to SHOW TIME...the Mamas and Chicks Show is this Friday.
If you're reading and live in Toronto or the GTA...email me and I will place you on our MAMA Guest list for this Friday's Show!
 
Tomorrow I have a wonderful lady who will be taking our Tell All Tuesday spotlight. Her name is Jennifer Posti. I want to keep what she does a surprise...so I won't tell you too much...
 
I must go...I have a list the length of my body to get accomplished today.
I hope you all have a FABULOUS week...I may be a little absent from visiting, but will keep you up to date with happenings and goings on!!!
HUGS
Char.x

CONGRATULATIONS go to Kelly.

Kelly Congratulations to winning our AUGUST GIVEAWAY!

Please contact me with your mailing address,
HUGS
Char.x

My Dad's OP went well....PHEW...

What a relief...my Dad called me yesterday evening...you can't think to imagine HOW great that call was.
THANK YOU all for all your prayers and well wishes, I'm sure every single one of them helped. He is home now and resting to gain strength and heal.I lost my voice this past couple of days...and truly believe it's all due to the worry.

BUT....on a happy note...we have a winner for one of you 14 which entered my TEA GIVEAWAY.
I did use RANDOM.ORG and my good blogger friend...who never fails to visit here each week...and sometimes everyday...won. She was lucky number 10.
(Thank you to all of you who entered...and the new faces I saw...I will visit you all in the next couple of days)

This is who won and what she said:
Char said...

have fun!!! and if I win - i want to be surprised! :)
March 16, 2010 11:15 PM

So...now I have to surprise her...
It's my first time visiting DAVID's TEA Store...up until now my Mr.R made choices and smelt the perfumes and scents of all these Teas...

What are you up to today?
Char,ON
(that's my Dad,my sister on the left and me on the right....ancient pic-but I love it, it was taken in my Grandparents house in Hellerup-Denmark)

FELIZIDADES... and congrats to...

ESTI from Pintame el Dia ...# 46 using Random.org.
Esti is our February Giveaway Winner for the Original Watercolour Once Upon a Time painting...she chose, a Bear with 2 girls on it's side...I'm SUPER excited to paint this for her.
She is a wonderful Artist and lives in Spain...I always love the idea of a piece of me travelling half the way around the World.
Esti also has a wonderful Blog where you can see all her talent.

Sorry I couldn't paint ALL your desires, I had SO much fun reading all your wishes...some extremely imaginative and fun images came to mind whilst going through them all.

I really do appreciate all the very kind comments regarding my Once Upon a Time paintings...and it was lovely to meet new creative bloggers throughout this giveaway...thanks for entering!

This is what I did yesterday::

picked up little Miss A from school and had some fun in the snow...

meet Mrs Snow and Mr Snow...

and then she came to life...with a little food colouring...tortilla chips and chestnuts...oh, and a whole lot of imagination from our 2 little Misses.

I finished a commision which I had started Monday evening...

I am thinking my watercolours need filling! Anyone know of a good Art Supply store which sell the little watercolour blocks?

So...it was a busy day yesterday...today...that's another matter.
Both our girls have playdates planned for today...which means a little spare time for Mummy...yay...

Sorry if I haven't caught up on your blogs recently...I hope to today.

What are your plans for Today?

Until later...
Char,ON

where did the week go?

This week has flown by...I did manage to get a couple of posts in, and thanking Tam for posting this week too!

Last night after a day of feeling as though my stomach was going to let me down...but didn't...I relaxed in the evening whilst watching "Bright Star"...last week I saw a 15minute intro and then something happened to my DVD player(I drew a sketch)...SO...trying again...this time it worked.

 WOW...what a movie...such amazing photography and costumes. There's a blue hue about the entire movie which makes it dark and romantic. I have never been too captivated by poetry, but John Keates makes me want to go hunt some down!

I could have truly paused this movie every 5 minutes and there was a painting framed and composition already for me...lighting...the whole deal. If you haven't seen it...and you love period films...it's a MUST!

Our girls have been crafting all week...

painting...beading...creating letters for their friends...

they're at their calmest when they're making something...I really do enjoy these times and treasure them so dearly.

Do you remember this post from last February 09?

I drew our girls a Valentine picture...well, Kelly from Kelly Berkey Designs ran a contest to make some Jewellery out of a piece of original Artwork, because that's what she does...

and just LOOK how gorgeous it turned out...I one one charm, the flower is the reverse side, and so I ordered another so both our girls could have one.

Thanks Kelly, I am SO fortunate to have won this wonderful giveaway!

So...a day later I receive another email saying...YOU WON! and this was for another talented Artist

Joe...here is his Blog so you can go and see some more of his amazing draughtmanship!

Thanks Joe and this is the print I chose...isn't it gorgeous!!!

Well, this has been a fabulous month...because it all started when I entered another Giveaway (you have to support those who GIVEAWAY stuff :-) on the blog Zac A Board...really very interesting blog about a family who live, blog and travel on a boat.

I had been searching the net for "felt winter boots" because whilst in the UK my Mumma explained to me that when they grew up...they wore Felt Boots in the Winter...no soles, just felt. Then all of a sudden as I was searching...so many results started to appear and now I am seeing felt EVERYWHERE...

Anyway...GREAT news came to me...I WON them, I could choose one pair of Felt Slippers from Satch and Sol...and they arrived in February...Little Miss A lives in them and says they're SO comfy...they have adult sizes too!!!

So...now that I have completely made you feel like going out there and entering ALL the Giveaways possible...because you can win!

I haven't had a Giveaway here for a LONG time...so..TOMORROW...that's Saturday 20th...I will be hosting a GIVEAWAY for February. It's a good one!

I hope you have had a great week...I will visit you all later...THANK YOU for all you precious comments earlier in the week with regards to my Mum post...very touching.

HUGS

Until tomorrow...

Char,ON

Where the wild things are...

Once upon a time...there was a Mum...who had 2 girls...she would get up early and go to bed late. Her days were filled with goals to finish, tasks to complete and errands to run. Normally she would stay up past the girls bed-time and work 4 hours on her own projects...last night her eyes would not stay open.
One promise was not made...to finish the WILD THING...

to be contd....

Sometimes I just have to accept that I can't do it all...sorry.
Char,ON

I'm back and we have a winner...

small country fair...

linen for my lavender pillows... my table...

giggles...they're the best!

toes...toes and more toes...

sibling portraits...

I can hear all the cheer in the background...."Yay for Jen"...
Congratulations Jen...you can visit her here...if you would like to personally congratulate her. She has the most adorable family!
She commissioned(or rather her winning request) is for one of those Wild Things with her little nephew on it's back.

I am SO sorry I can't paint one for each and every one of you who entered the giveaway....but there will be more giveaways in the New Year!

Update (as I have been M.I.A for over a week now...or is it 2weeks?)
Dad is ok....didn't end up having a biopsy-but will probably very soon.(his kidneys needed to be at a better functioning state and his prostate has to reduce in side through meds.
He's out of hospital...and at home recovering from probably a few years of his body not functioning properly. Once stable he'll go in again for a biopsy and then probably a prostate reduction op.
THANK YOU so much for all your support...it really meant the World to me.
I have been walking around in a daze...not being able to function 100% and forgetting to do things.(sounds like I need to see a doctor!!!)
BUT...I had the show on Saturday and it went well, it was small...and I think maybe 150 people came through...
I'vebe posted a couple of photos in this post so you can visually catch up.

HOW are YOU?

I know....there have been sometimes days when I haven't even turned my computer on...so my apologies for not passing by YOUR World...and saying hi.
In a few days I will be in the Old Country and may get a little more time to blog!YAY.
I've missed you all...although I needed this time...downtime from thinking about anything other than my dad.
I DID:
-finish 23 Lavender tooth fairy pillows.
-paint those 2 pictures (3ftx3ft)
I've packed(almost).
Gotten ready for a Show in UK.
Had to deal with Canadian Immigration...(2 of the days)
Christmas shopped...probably FAR too much again. The bags are FULL and I haven't finished packing all the clothes.(we have a policy in our house that we ONLY buy gifts for the little ones-I can't imagine how many bags of luggage I would need if I was buying for all the adults in our family too!)

Ok...I'll be back tomorrow.
I have added the pictures to the top of this post.

Night Night .... sweet dreams....thanks for passing by.
Char,On.

a super Sunday winnings...

YAY! YIPPY!

I woke up this morning to check my Esty Store and what did I find?

A lovely little note from the Esty Store *The Time is Now*(love that title)telling me I had WON her Giveaway!

Not sure when it was...but I entered a draw for these beautiful cards (hand cut) in the photo above by Naomi Shiek.

Now...the contest had been posted by Amy at Pikaland...and there was also a special to the first 3 who contacted Naomi about buying anything from her store and receiving free shipping...I jumped at the chance and bought myself *the deer in the bear*- it's a beautiful etching of hers...I love deer.

You can see more of her work either at her STORE or on her BLOG.

It's been raining ALL day here,so I have been doing a tonne of Internet marketing for our Mamas and Chicks Show which is creeping up soon.

I forget every time the Show comes around how much work is actually involved...

I have to create some more prints...and may be asking for your help soon...brain storming for ideas...

My to do list is becoming WAY too long for my liking.

If only we could buy more time...that *time vendor* would be one RICH man!

Have a lovely rest of the Day.

Until tomorrow.

Char,On

WINNER of the AMY & ANN giveaway...

So...good luck to the very few who entered...but I'm extremely happy you few took the chance...hey, less is more sometimes*smile*.
And the winner is::

Char from Ramblins...YAY, well done you! That's awesome...a photographer winning a photography print! If anyone reading has NOT been over to Char's World at Ramblins...please take a visit over there and congratulate her!

I will email Amy and Ann and tell them the good news!

Now for some sweetness...we just returned from raspberry picking again....I know, my girls are going to get SO tired of picking fruit, they'll NEVER take their children when they have a family...BUT, I love it...and they do whilst they're there.

The bowl is *homemade* ...I took a pottery course with my husband and 4 other couples(all good friends) and made a series of these bowls...they are SO heavy, but I love the way they turned out...not bad for my first Pottery lesson!

Maybe we'll try it again some day...life just gets busy with kids....BUT having said that, we are taking Swing and Jive lessons starting Monday...wish us luck...not sure if my hubbie and I will be loving each other or hating each other after the class!

Have you ever done a class with your partner??? How did it pan out???

Char,On

the WINNER is....

firstly...Thank you ALL for entering our 500+ FABULOUS READER giveaway!
I tried to get my girls to write out the name of the winner which I used Random.org to help me pick one of you.(my girls wanted nothing to do with writing your name...sorry,they preferred playing with their babies!)

SO....DRUM ROLL......
The WINNER is.....

A very talented lady who we just had as one of our Tell ALL Tuesdays not so long ago...she's a speedy crocheter and has some very beautiful creations for sale in her Etsy Store...you must take a look for yourself, because there are some very unique items which could be GREAT gifts!
she goes by the name of::
PILLI PILLI HANDMADE....
and she's all the way in Italy...she said in her comment that she'd like a sheep, she has no children(yet) so she'd like herself and her lover boy on the back of the sheep! (I'm looking forward to doing this one!)
Congratulations Miss K from PilliPilli!

I'll be in contact with you...on how to get this sent all the way across the Atlantic!

AND....NOW....
or in a minute...
I will be posting our TELL ALL TUESDAY...
SO stay tuned!

Char,On

Congratulations to....

All of you who entered the Giveaway-and thank you for entering...which really weren't too many, and only a handful of you said it was a POLAR bear. This is the final product...about to be added to my Etsy Shop sometime this week...I've been behind in my inventory updating...but have been trying to find out how to advertise and market my work better to receive a higher amount of sales.
A HUGE congratulations to the winner....

Our eldest daughter helped out with this one, we wrote all the names on strips of paper and she wanted to pull one out for me...it's nearly 9am...Daddy and little sister are still sleeping...

So without further adieu...

The WINNER is Silke from Metamorphosis...

I'm SO pleased for you Silke, you must go and check out her fabulous blog...somewhere I visit frequently!

SILKE please choose: Your Favourite Animal, 2 colours and how many figures riding on your animal and whether they are boys or girls, or both.

I will get that painted for you within the next week.

Yesterday we were out at a neighbouring Street Party, they had blocked off either end of the street and set up a BBQ, Hockey nets, Bouncy Castle, Paddling pools, an outdoor movie screen for the evening entertainment and everyone bought their own chairs and drinks...we were there from 3pm-11.45pm...

The kids had a blast..it was a lot of fun! We got to meet and mingle with more neighbours...our neighbourhood is a very friendly one...sometimes I think I'm in the Islands because everyone says hello to each other whether you know them or not.

Thankfully our youngest is still sleeping because she doesn't do as well with little sleep!

We have another beautiful Summer Day today...I have another watercolour to paint...so until later...have a wonderful Sunday!

Char, Ontario

And the MAY GIVEAWAY winner IS...

AND the Winner of the MAY GIVEAWAY is:
Stephanie Levy !!! Stephanie is an Artist I have admired for a very long time...she has an awesome Blog called: Artists Who Blog where she interviews other Artists and she also has her personal blog a Studio with a View.
...YOU must go visit her and see what she's all about...absolutely gorgeous colours she works with-that's all I'll say...you'll have to go and see why I admire her so much!
CONGRATULATIONS Stephanie...I will contact you personally to tell you and exchange info etc on how I can send you the prints...

I'm sorry for all of you who didn't win...but thank you for all your comments on your favourites...
I now know which prints are the ones which are most loved.
I used Random.org to help me with speed...as we have been having a few family issues over the past week....which is why I haven't blogged at all since last week...apologies.
My girls would have loved to do the drawing out of the hat trick...but we've been overwhelmed and our time has been consumed.
I will explain a little more in another post.

Have a wonderful weekend...the Sun is shining here...I will try and post sometime over the weekend...it's our little Ashley's Birthday on Sunday...so I will try to post some pics.

All the best...until next...
Charlotte,Ontario

And the WINNER is....

CAROLINA ELIZABETH...is the winner of my April Watercolour Giveaway!
Hello all...my girls helped with the festive "CONGRATS" photo for Carolina Elizabeth a wonderful artist, you must go and visit her blog!
She was randomly chosen by RANDOM.org.
You all had wonderful comments and great ideas for choice in animals and colours...who knows,you may see your choice one day in my Etsy Store:-)Thank you ALL for entering and for all the Birthday wishes!
My husband surprised me by getting 16 of our friends out for Dinner on Saturday.
I'll be posting her prize in a few days...
Have a great evening...and congratulations Carolina!
Charlotte,Ontario