Showing posts with label Randomness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Randomness. Show all posts

Monday, August 20, 2012

My Disclaimer Pinned Down

So I've known for quite awhile that every blog should have a disclaimer.  Today, I've finally finished mine (that I started way back in April 2011).  It's my little legal letter to you, my lovely readers. 
Find it in this post below as well as at the tabs along the top of the page.
While writing it, I found these websites to be extremely helpful...
http://www.blogherald.com/2007/10/02/writing-a-blog-disclaimer/
http://www.myhappycrazylife.com/blog-disclaimer/





So without further adieu, here it is...



Dear Readers,

This is a personal blog. The views and opinons expressed here are purely my own. The content found here is in no way associated with any past, present, or future employer, association, organization, agency, or group. Being that we are all individuals, each with different perspectives, my views may or may not agree with yours... and that's ok.

It is not my intention to offend, libel, or defame anyone. If the translation or interperetation of content, language, bad grammar, or punctuation does so, it is definitely unintentional and I will not be held responsible. Furthermore, I am not responsible for defamatory statements bound to government, religious, or other laws from the reader’s country of origin.

I am not a professional expert on anything, nor do I claim to be. I am simply a human being who is figuring it out as I go along. Perhaps you are too.

Since I am a human being, I will make mistakes. The content of this blog is provided "as is" with no warranties, and confers no rights. I will do my best to provide accurate information and links at the time of posting. A blog, by nature, is always in transition. Over time, my thoughts, ideas, and opinions will likely change and evolve. Please keep in mind that the validity and accuracy of past posts and links may also change. Also, I cannot control, nor am I responsible for, external sites that link to this blog.

If you find any tutorials, advice, tips, or information on this blog to be useful to you, that is great! My intention is to help and do no harm. Use any information found here with caution, common sense, and with the understanding that you do so at your own risk. I am not responsible and will not be held liable for any loss, damages, or inconveniences that may result from what is written and displayed on this blog or downloaded from it.

Feel free to offer constructive critisism, differing opinions, and your two cents worth in the comments section available at the bottom of my blog posts. Please be polite and remember that you are responsible for any comments that you post on this blog. I reserve the right to delete any comment for any reason, including, but not limited to profanity, abusiveness, rudeness, or spam. I am not responsible and will not be held liable for anything anyone says in the blog comments, nor the laws which they may break in any country through the content, implication, and intent of such comments.

Unless otherwise noted, photographs and images are my own. I always try to give credit where credit is due and will provide links to my sources of inspiration and information. Please offer me the same courtesy if you use my ideas on your own blog or website. You may not use anything from this blog for commercial purposes without my permission.

Overall, I hope that Charcoal & Crayons will be a place where we can all share and celebrate great ideas, while inspiring and encouraging each other.

I truly appreciate that you are here, spending a little bit of your valuable time with me and my thoughts.

Sincerely,












Thursday, February 16, 2012

A Special Day for Charcoal and Crayons


So today has been a laid back sort of day.  I've just been leisurely puttering around the house... which is my absolute favourite thing to do.  Cleaning, tidying, organizing, and rearranging at my own pace, which is admittedly quite slow and relaxed... My husband, on the other hand, is a fast paced always moving (and talking... on the phone... constantly... :) sort of guy.  I'm surprised that it works, but it does... probably something to do with opposites attracting and the balance of it all.

Anyway, while puttering around, it suddenly came to mind what day it is...

Sunday, December 11, 2011

My Favourite Hat {courtesy of Love, Hadleigh Designs}

Somehow, time has a tendency to get away from me where hobbies, art projects, and the usual daily family routines are concerned.  That's one of the reasons why this post sure has been a long time coming!

Even so, there is no excuse for not sharing about this sooner...

A couple months ago I received a package from Love, Hadleigh Designs.  And inside was one of Kristin's gorgeous handmade hats.  And since I was the lucky one to win her contest, my new favourite hat was free of charge!






Isn't it beautiful?

Definitely the first thing I reach for if I'm having a bad hair day.

Throughout the process of deciding on style and colour, Kristin was absolutely lovely to correspond with.  From newborn to adult sized, her products are incredible and can only be truly appreciated in person.  And as a busy mom of 4 children, I don't know how she does it!

So if you're looking for a hat that is not only stylish, but wonderfully handmade and of exceptional quality... Love, Hadleigh Designs should be your first stop!


Thanks for dropping by.

Monday, November 14, 2011

Award x 2

I am truly honoured to have received not one, but TWO lovely blog awards lately...


First, is the Versatile Blog Award from Jodi over at In Corners of My Mind.  Whether the topic is art, design, or family life, her posts always have me smiling.



To accept this award, thank the person who awarded it to you
and include a link to their blog. Then choose up to 15 fellow bloggers
that you've recently discovered or follow regularly
to pass the award along to and share 7 things about yourself.



So here are a few things about myself...


  1. I'm an only child.
  2. I can never remember how old I am... I think that I just stopped bothering to keep track after 21.
  3. My Front Porch Ferns have been relocated indoors.  I usually kill houseplants, so hopefully they'll survive the winter... and me.
  4. I don't have a smartphone, but I'm thinking of getting one... any suggestions?
  5. I am SO excited for Christmas this year and decorating our house for the holidays... I have a few projects in the works and will be sharing them in the coming weeks.
  6. Doctor Who is my all time favourite TV show.
  7. Although charcoal seems to be the best medium for me as an artist, I've been thinking a lot about painting and printmaking lately... now I just need to find the time and motivation!


 
...and here are my nominations for The Versatile Blogger Award...


Sugar & Spice in the Land of Balls and Sticks is the place to find recipes, DIY, and many incredibly creative projects.  I always find myself inspired by all of the clever and cost effective ideas and tips!


Over at Momnivore's Dilemma, Nicolette's posts are absolutely hilarious as well as informative.  You'll find crafts, nutritious food, a great link party, and her family's experiences with autism.  She'll have you laughing one moment and tearing up the next!




Now on to award number two...






The Liebster Blog award is given to blogs that are considered up-and-coming and have under 200 followers.  And once again I am so honoured!

This award is from The S.I.P. Project - where incredible exchanges are beginning to take place... Fabulous photo shoots in exchange for service projects that benefit charities, communities, and causes.  I'm looking forward to seeing the entire project enfold!


I'd like to pass the Leibster Blog award on to...


Miss Amy at I do have a real job... I swear.  Motivating ideas and articles are plentiful there... and some great recipes too.  Be prepared to be inspired!



Thanks for stopping by.








.

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Day 20: Ladder Love



source




The rung of a ladder was never meant to rest upon,
but only to hold a man's foot long enough to enable him
to put the other somewhat higher.

- Thomas Huxley




Ladder turned drying rack...







Gorgeous Coat/Mud Room...



Source: houzz.com via Andrea on Pinterest




Fabulous table decor...







Stepping on up...







Terrific towel holder...



Source: westelm.com via Andrea on Pinterest




Artistic ladder ledge...







Super shoe shelves...







Handy kitchen helper...







For us shorter cooks in the kitchen...







Corner bookshelf...



Source: etsy.com via Andrea on Pinterest




Vintage beauty...







Outdoor ladder chandelier...








Cozy blanket ladder...







Thanks for dropping by.



This post is part of my blog series, "31 Days of Words to Live By".  For the month of October, I will be sharing my favourite quotes and sayings while incorporating them into daily life and art projects.

This series was inspired by The Inspired Room, where you'll find other "31 Days" series among many other wonderful things!




Day 19: The Pumpkin Patch
Day 20: Ladder Love






.

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Day 6: The Jobs of Design Fundamentals





Today, I've been thinking about this quote about design...


"In most people's vocabularies, design means veneer. It's interior decorating. It's the fabric of the curtains and the sofa. But to me, nothing could be further from the meaning of design. Design is the fundamental soul of a man-made creation that ends up expressing itself in successive outer layers of the product or service."

- Steve Jobs
 February 24, 1955 - October 5, 2011

 Excerpt from Fortune Magazine, "Apple's One-Dollar-a-Year Man", January 24, 2000





Thanks for stopping by.




This post is part of my blog series, "31 Days of Words to Live By".  For the month of October, I will be sharing my favourite quotes and sayings while incorporating them into daily life and art projects.

This series was inspired by The Inspired Room, where you'll find other "31 Days" series among many other wonderful things!



Day 6: The Jobs of Design Fundamentals


.

Thursday, June 30, 2011

June in Review

As June comes to end, let's take a look back at all of the fun that was had this month...



We had a very special guest - Leo from McCormick Madness.



If you missed his visit, be sure to check out when the package arrived with friendship in a box.  Leo helped us fill our hearts with art when we took Charcoal & Crayons to the streets.

We showed Leo around our neighbourhood...




...and made some Honey Butter Munch.



Then we peered behind the easel with Leo before we said goodbye.



A lovely photo reminded us of how nice it is to be in Daddy's arms...



...and we took a peek at my favourite front porch ferns.  A big thank you goes out to everyone who helped me identify them as Boston Ferns!



Super Simple Seashell Stars added some summertime flair to our home decor...



...and we found colour inspiration from nature.



We had a good day with Oliver's glasses...



...and enjoyed The Ultimate Roast Chicken recipe.



What a great month and I feel so lucky that we were able to share it with you!


Thank you.






...

Sunday, May 29, 2011

A gift from the sea

My in-laws recently spent some time vacationing in Florida.  While there, they collected many lovely seashells for me {thank you!}...




...I love all of the different shapes, sizes, and colours...




...there's a sand dollar in the mix....




...several large pieces...




...and little ones too...




They are all so unique...




...isn't this one incredible?



I can't wait to find a place for them in our home... maybe I'll even incorporate them into an upcoming project!


Thanks for stopping in.




Wednesday, May 4, 2011

An Award

I was very excited when Sugar & Spice in The Land of Balls & Sticks awarded me with my first blog award...



Now that I've finally had a chance to sit down and think about it a little bit, I can accept this award by telling you ten random things about myself...

  1. I watched my little Oliver take a couple of steps today.
  2. Although I'm short, I am a flip flop and ballet flat kind of girl.
  3. I love flipping through the weekly flyers... even if I'm not looking to buy anything in particular.
  4. I like birds and beachy things.
  5. Since I was a little girl, we've been renting the same cottage every Summer... it's been about 17 years now.  My husband and I spent our honeymoon there.  It's one of my favourite places.
  6. I love Diet Pepsi... actually any type of pop will do!
  7. I don't like being in a car.
  8. Every time that I enter a Home Depot, I get a little nostalgic and sentimental.  Before I became a Stay at Home Mom, I worked and designed kitchens there...  so many great memories and people.
  9. I love containers, boxes, and baskets.
  10. I am such an indecisive person.  I usually over analyze things, although blogging has helped me bite the bullet and just click the submit button already!

Well, I am supposed to pick ten blogs to pass this award on to, and my indecisiveness has kicked in full force.  I've been going through my favourites (several times), and here's just ten of the many blogs that I love... in no particular order...

  1. Thrifty Like Me
  2. Sweet Little Smoothie
  3. Purple Froggie Clay Stuff
  4. Michelle's Charm World
  5. Ma Nouvelle Mode
  6. Junky Vagabond
  7. Ice Lolly Loons
  8. Crafty, Scrappy, Happy
  9. At Home With K
  10. Brushed Satin


 Thanks for dropping by.



    Thursday, April 21, 2011

    The Moonlight Madness Moustache

    Today we went to the Moonlight Madness Sale at our local Zellers.  It just so happened that we arrived just before the 6pm start time.  So Oliver and I headed to the very end of the long line of shoppers.

    I was soon reminded that generosity and kindness are alive and thriving in our small town.

    For, as soon as I reached the end of that line, the couple ahead of me asked me if I'd like a cart.
    The gentleman proceeded across the parking lot, returned with a cart in tow, and helped me get little Ollie situated.  Oh how nice!

    But wait!

    There was something even nicer about that fellow...

    He had the most wonderful moustache.  It was one of those with the delightful little curls at the ends.

    Sort of like this guy...

    source


    His name is Son of Moustachio and he is also available in a plush version...

    source


    Check out www.shawnimals.com to find an entire collection of curious characters. 


    And to all of you kind and thoughtful people out there (who deep down are Moonlight Madness Moustache Men at heart)...


    Thank you. 




    What actions of kindness and generosity have you experienced lately?