What's more important.. visits or pageviews?

I've been blogging for just over 4 years now, and I still have no clue... 

what's the more important number to consider? Pageviews, visitors? 

 Not that it's  a popularity contest, but this came up in discussion the other day and I am curious to know what you think.  :)

Jen

Winner! and the clock is ticking and I am freaking out just a bit....

Congratulations to Amy from Lucky number 13 for winning the art package giveaway at The Nada Farm Event!

 

 Speaking of.. do you ever have days when you start to freak out just a little bit when you think about everything that you have to do? I am having one of those moments today.

 

With the Nada Sale less than two full weeks away, and I am shooting for my fall line this Sunday, plus just normal life stuff  I can feel my heart just do a bit of pitty-pat. My production line has finally crept out from the house onto the deck. I am sure my neighbors are thrilled. Of course, on the bright side,it can't be any worse than all of the plastic toys they have to look at strewn across the lawn.

But on the lighter-side I can't wait to share everything with you that I've been working on. I found this awesome  settee the other day while thrifting that I am bringing and I'll have  a lot of silver and ironstone for you. I'll have some cute tea towels, art, and other goodies to look at as well.

You can still register for Jill and Jeanne's classes as well. I think registration closes soon, so if you are interested, you'll need to sign up in the next few days. There is Also our Avenues to an Artful business. It's all about success in retailing your handmade items.

I have to admit, my kids are being very patient with me. I think we are going to the doing a lot of quick meals over the next week and a half, and they are going to have to  entertain themselves a bit more. But it's funny how they don't seem to complain about not getting a 3 course meal or get to eat dinner a the coffee table.

Okay, I am done freaking out for now, thanks for listening.

Congrats to Amy again! And I hope to see you all at the Nada Sale!

Jen

Designer's choice for charity....

I was honored this weekend to be contacted and asked to be  a judge at the Randolph street market in the city at the Editor's and Designer's choice for Charity.

 Even though it was  a little wet,  my cousin, Sandy, and I took and early ride to Chicago. It was very cool to be able to go and participate. I was able to choose 5 items that I thought were amazing, award them with a ribbon,  and a portion of the proceeds went to my favorite charity. Mine was for Feed my starving children. It's a charity that we pack meals at through our church.  It's been a great experience for our family.

 

I loved these business cards. I thought they were so clever.

 I got to meet Jason Loper from Apartment Therapy.

 And these too gorgeous ladies, Lisa and Caren, from SimoneDreary Design group. we agreed it was dangerous to be there, we wanted to buy everything.

 The ballroom was huge and full of stuff.

 I tagged these awesome 1920 theatre chairs. How great would these be in a mudroom or entryway?

 and I couldn't pass up a vintage chalkboard. That sold right away. It was gone by the time I did my second loop.

 Loved the copper on these fans.

 and I tagged this piece. If I had brought my check book it would've come home with me.

 She had a great booth.

 I drooled over this silver.

 But I had to tag this vintage tractor seat. How perfect for under a island or desk.

 I must've had a stool thing, because I tagged this one as well. I loved the patina. This was already sold too on the second pass.

 I had to tag these bread bowls.  They were amazing. 

This vendor had some great industrial pieces as well. It was really good I didn't have my checkbook.

There were so many great things to buy, I did buy a vintage locker basket and some vintage jewelry pieces. 

I am looking forward to doing some more flea market shopping next week at the Kane Country Flea Market and then the next week is the Nada Sale!

Jen

Found vintage toolbox...

 I can't tell you how many years this toolbox sat in our garage until I looked up one day and actually noticed it.

it was from my husband's childhood home. He said it was there as long as he could remember, and he took it with him when he left.

 I cleaned it up and noticed what a great green color it was . The top drawers are zinc and I keep some of my flower seeds, and seam binding in there.

 

 I thought it looked cute with all of my vintage books on it. I loved the contrast. The books and darker colors are getting me in the mood for fall decorating.

Sometimes you never know what treasures you have just laying around!

Jen

Jeanne's beautiful house...

While visiting at Jeanne's a few weeks ago, she allowed me to take pictures of her beautiful home. Jeanne's home is just gorgeous and she has an amazing eye. Her home should be in a magazine and I hope it will one day. Jeanne is coming in for the Nada Farm Event to teach art classes with me. One of the classes we are teaching, Avenues to an Artful business, is how to take your handmade items and explore how to sell them such as wholesaling, opening a web store and reaching a on-line audience.

I love how her home has a pretty "comfortable collected" look. That's my new goal in decorating. It was relaxing just being there.

Jen

P.S. There is still time to register for the Girl's weekend get away. An entire weekend of shopping, art classes and a night in the hotel.

You can enter HERE.

Win a girl's weekend art package get away to the Nada Farm sale!!! (Really!)

After chatting with the other girl's teaching at the Nada Farm Event in Esmond , IL(1 hour west of Naperville, about an hour and a half from the City of Chicago.). We decided we wanted to do something very special.  We got together and are offering a chance to win two full days of art classes for the winner and a friend, free admission to the sale and a free night in the hotel!!!

this includes Jill Harris's class Salvaged Treasures

Both of my classes Avenues to an Artful business and Reflections of the Prairie mixed-media

Jeanne Oliver's  Vintage art journal and Vintage mixed media art

Plus a night at the Holiday Inn Express(which includes breakfast),

some extra surprises,

and if one of my reader's win they will receive a special "artful" goodie  welcome bag from me.

It's an over $500 value, plus a chance to have a great weekend with your best friend. Anne Marie's farm is just outside of Dekalb, it would be a great weekend to shop, take some art classes and get away.

To enter you have to leave  a comment here at Anne Marie's blog.

To receive extra chances to win you need to:

Blog about the giveaway and art classes.

Facebook it

Tweet it.

Make sure you leave a comment on Anne Marie's blog that you did those things, we don't want to miss your entries!

(If you've already registered for classes and you happen to win, your money will be refunded.)

Drawing closes Friday so the winners have time to plan their trip!

Good luck!

Jen

comments closed on this post.

A "Do" day....

I don't know about you, but I easily  get over-whelmed. I think about all of the things I have to do and then all of the things I want to do and then all of the things I want to do. Then, there is so much that I get over whelemed and what do I do instead of doing those things? Instead of just starting?... Oh, I go to the computer and blog. Or reader google reader... or find something else that I am not supposed to really be doing. I am sure that I have  a bit of adult ADHD because I am so very good at procrastinating.

Some days, I am great, and then other days... oh look at that pretty bird...

So I've been writing lists. It does help, I do stay on track better, but here are still times.. . I just put things off.

So today, I am cleaning the garage.

I am stocking my booth. 

And I am making things for Etsy and the sale.

I am just starting.
I am making it a "Do" day.

And

I am finding focus and inspiration here.

Jen

My kitchen's new-old light fixture make over...

I don't think I've ever posted the before and after of the  kitchen light over my sink. 

It was a $6 thrift store find with a ton of potential.

I know you've all seen the after...

but here is the before... I am sure it had been hanging in someone's love shack somewhere in 1975.

Yep, that's the same light. Thank goodness for the power of paint.

All it took was a coat of brass paint, a light spray of brown over the top to tone down the brass, a replacement globe from the hardware store, and a  cool bulb is from Anthropologie. The blub from Anthro? $18. The entire light fixture with the new globe? $16. Funny huh?

Jen

P.S. and I haven't forgotten about those of you who asked for the technique I used to paint  my kitchen hutch... the tutorial is coming.

Art under glass class and Nada news...

The Nada Farm event is coming up fast! It's at less than a month now. I am so excited to be, selling and teaching the Art under glass class,and I am very excited to meet those of you that have already signed up!

I've had a few questions about what my class entails so I wanted to give you a little more information.

That very first sale I sold at, I was up and out early before any of the vendors or guests had arrived. I stood at the edge of the horse paddock with my warm cup of coffee, looked out into the prairie, and with a bit of a mist still hanging in the air, I realized hadn't felt that much calm peace in a long time. It was so calming yet so inspiring at the same time. It made me itch to create. I wanted to give you the same experience.

The class starts with a 15 minute Prairie walk/ sit and then we will had in the horse barn with all of our glue and paints and papers. We will work on a decoupage mixed media project on a magnifying glass. This is a great chance if you've ever wanted to learn to work on glass and love to work with paper.

We will work on both sides; one side will be about how the prairie inspires you,

the other side will give the the opportunity to add something personal, like I did on this one for my daughter's room with her picture.

We'll also work with ink, paint and crackle medium. You can use this piece as hand held art, or also a wall hanging.

I have to cap registration at 20 so everyone has enough elbow room, so please let me know if you are interested. Once you've finished the class, you can shop the sale, take one of Jeanne's classes, walk the prairie a bit more, or even head into downtown Dekalb to see some of the cute shops there.
To register, contact me at
thecraftyhomeatcomcastdotnet.

Anne Marie has also announced  the theme for her sale; I can't wait to see what she cooks up! She's done an amazing job in the past of really setting the mood. I'll be vending there too, so make sure you stop by and say hi.

The entry fee (which a portion is going to charity), is waived if you are taking a class as well.

It's coming up faster than I thought it would, I don't know where the summer went. I am on full steam ahead making things for the sale and my fall collection... 

But, I am playing a bit of hookie today; Mr. Rizzo and I are celebrating our anniversary. :)  Then it's back to work!

Happy Anniversary honey! I love you!

Jen

Party at Jeanne's....

My amazing friend, Jeanne, had this amazing party last weekend when I flew to see her in Colorado with my friends Traci and Tracey. It was Sangria and appetizers, we sat on real furniture, and then we watched the movie "Breakfast at Tiffany's" on a screen under her pergola. I loved every minute and it was such a beautiful party and great start to the entire trip.

 Mel and Jeanne