Little etsy store sale....

I am running a little sale in my Etsy store through next Wednesday.

15% off everything in stock.

Just use the coupon code

newyearsale

to get the discount.

Happy New Year!!!

Jen

I still love my wood countertops and other questions answered....

I have to admit, with the holidays, I've been really bad at getting back to people who have asked me some questions. I promise I am not that rude in real life.

I thought I would answer them all here....

1. You did your remodel last year, how are your wood counter tops holding up?

 I still love them. They are holding up beautifully. Most of the main counter top I've only sealed twice. Right around  the sink has probably been about 4 -5 times, but it is constantly getting wet there and being wiped down. It's easy to reseal them, its just a matter of wiping  the sealer on before bed and they are ready to go the next morning! A year later I would do them all over again.
-Use the sealer from Ikea. It's super easy to use. I chose to not use a sealer like Waterlox because I wanted to be able to control the depth of the color and if you use a sealer where you do the entire thing like that of you ever have to fix a stain, you have to sand down the entire section and re-sand so it all seals the same. Now I can just sand down a section and reseal.
-I do not cut or put hot pans on my counter top, I use a marble slab for that.

But I do still love them and would do them all over again!

2. What is that color on your walls in your kitchen?

The kitchen and dining  room are Benjamin Moore Bennington Grey.

3. How did Country Living find you to feature your kitchen?

They actually saw my post on facebook when we did the big reveal and e-mailed me. Now I did already have a working relationship with them; but I got that by putting myself out there (I literally ambushed the editor at a conference...that's a whole 'nother story.).

4.What is that fabric on your burlap tablecloth? Where did you get it?

 Joann Fabrics, I think it was $6.99 a yard.

5. How did you start wholesaling?

To be honest, it all started with me schlepping my stuff to stores and showing it to them. Some places were hits, some were misses. It's easiest to call a store you think you would fit into, ask if they take local artists and then schedule an appointment. Sometimes they love your stuff and sometimes they don't. It's about finding the right store with the right fit.

6. Do you ever teach any classes?

Yes! I am actually teaching in Jeanne Oliver's e-course and I am going to be teaching a jewelry class just outside of Naperville, IL at the end in January (which I'll be officially announcing soon.). I am going to start teaching more local classes on furniture re-do's and home projects. I used to teach CPR and Public Education classes when I was a firefighter/paramedic. I was pretty good at stop, drop and roll. In fact, I think that's how I ended up with 3 kids.

7. Were you really a firefighter?

(in case you are wondering, I am the guy in the middle.)

Yes I was. Even though that's not who I am any more, I am so proud of who it made me. There's a whole book behind that one some day. Even though I have finally settled back in to who I am supposed to be as an artist,  my hubby does say "You can take the girl out of the firehouse, but not the firehouse out of the girl." I don't know if that's a complement or an insult.

9. Do you ever stop?

NO. :)

10. Are you going to be stocking any more texting/fingerless gloves?

I am going to do one more restock at the end of January and then I'll be getting ready for my spring line. I'll also be putting in some Santos dolls and some other goodies.

11.What are your next projects?

A living room re-paint, and a pretty cool project in our dining room that I am not going to talk about yet :)

Is there anything I missed that you were wondering? Ask away! Leave a question in your comment  and I'll answer it right underneath. :)

I hope you have  a Happy New Year! I'll see you in 2012!!!!!

Jen

Learn to make Santos dolls....

I am excited to announce that I am going to be one of the teaching artists in Jeanne Oliver's e-course, Creatively Made! I've gotten quite a few e-mails about my Santos dolls, and it's just been so crazy busy with the holidays that I haven't had a chance to make any, let alone list them. But, as  a part of Jeanne's class; I am going to be showing you the entire process, top to bottom, and all of my secrets in making these  beautiful and soulful girls.

 

Jeanne also has many other amazing artist's featured in her 4 week class.

Here are a few things Jeanne has to say  about her class:

"We will cover mixed media, journal making, journal techniques, collage, leather and metal stamping, charcoal drawing, image transfers and much more.

I  even have a special guest artist that will teach how to make Santos dolls (hee hee... me!).  All of the art techniques taught will go along with the course and will make the whole experience even more meaningful and fun!

There will also be fun studio tours to encourage you to make space for yourself and your gifts.

There will also be inspiring videos from many of the creative women in my life that share bits of their heart and their journey to embracing the gifts that they have."

Some of the projects covered in the course

Santos dolls

Vintage Journal with old books

Image Transfers

Mixed Media Vintage Girls

Leather  and metal Stamping

Journaling

Mixed Media Collage and Tips

How to use photography in your art

“Painting” with Stabilo pencils

 Reflections from other artists about their own creative journey and embracing the gifts they were given,

 as well as

Some of my favorite art supplies and how to use them

*Mixed Media collaging and techniques

*Creating Mixed Media Vintage Girls with Templates

* Leather and Metal Stamping

*Creating Your Own Mixed Media Collage with Templates

*Vintage Art Journals from old books

*Creating Your Own Dream Journal

*Journaling techniques

*Incorporating Old Photos into your art

*Incorporating Vintage Hardware into your art

*Creating your own Santos Doll (guest artist)

* Self  Photography

To see more on Jeanne's class you can go here. 

It's such  a great way to start the New year. Maybe it's even a resolution to finally start on your creative path this year... this would be a great push for you in the right direction. And, the best part is you can see me be  a total dork on camera.:)

Jen

top 10...

There are a lot of posts going around, showing their 10 favorite posts of the year. I think this is a great idea and I would love to share mine with you!

1. My first was actually one of my first posts of the New Year last year, The My Style Evolution Party,

I loved seeing how people's style had evolved and changed over the years, including my own ( and I should add how it keeps changing...).

2. Debuting my Urban Journey Spring Collection. I have to admit. It wasn't the biggest financial success for me, but it gave me that push to really start creating what I wanted to and not what I thought everyone wanted me to create. Sometimes things that seem like failures at the time end up being successes because of the experience.

  

3.Having Fifi O'Neill and Mark Lohman come out and shoot my house for publication. This year was a cloud nine for me in that aspect because it was right after my Country Living photo shoot. Here's the thing you need to know. I love my house, I think it's nice. I think that there are a lot of nice houses out there. If I can get published, or have a shot at my house, YOU can too.

4. Work Bench to potting bench. This was my Grandfathers' work bench and I love having it to use in the garden. Oh how I dream of spring already.

5.Summer. Strawberries. Sugar. Jam. need I say more?

6. My daughter's bedroom makeover. She loves it. It's very her. At 9 years old, she moves her furniture around every week. I wonder where she gets that from?

7. An August night garden dinner. I cook about 85-90% of our dinners from scratch. It's not that I am a super woman, it's just that I like to cook, and when you are trying to make gluten-free for one child, and eat organic and local, and try to control borderline high cholesterol, you cook a lot. I know I don't post a lot of recipes, because I think what I make are a lot of very basic foods, but I did love this dinner.

8. My friend ,Jeanne's, house. It's even prettier and more welcoming in person.

9.My mantel. I LOVE it. It makes me happy to see it everyday.

10. And finally. Changes and someone's listening. I am so happy with how my faith has changed and grown this last year. And the possibilities that have opening up for me. I finally feel like I am on the right path after years of wandering aimlessly. It's amazing what faith can do.

I am looking forward to spending this next year with you and having new adventures and opportunities. There have been some rough spots around here too; but I know the new year can bring amazing things.  :)

Jen

to see more top 10's stop over ay Beth's top 10 linky party.

The posts of Christmas past....

Today, I plan on baking cookies with my kids, and then eating them till I am sick the rest of the weekend, all while I drink eggnog,  eat pierogi's, sausage and sauerkraut, and not check my cholesterol until February :). Merry Fatmas.

I thought you might  want to visit some old holiday posts, and to be honest, I just liked the title in my own dorky-way :)

You can visit my memories of a white tree covered in plastic fruit here.

Or some of my favorite past Christmas crafts here.

or some simple holiday decorations from outside my kitchen window.

or my vintage inspired Christmas tree from 2009.

or hop in Mr. Peabody's Qayback machine to 2008 when my neighbors and I had  a holiday sign painting party (Which we all still put up every year.).

I hope you enjoy these posts down memory lane and have  a very special and blessed holiday weekend.

Jen

P.S. Thank you Dallasnews.com for mentioning my blog!

Pops of red....a mini-kitchen tour....

Even though it has been a few years since I have had red in my house, I wanted to add a bit to my kitchen. It just seemed so festive.

I found this awesome table runner at Tar-jay... it makes my kitchen feel just a little Swedish.

  I love pomegranates. My kids love them too and beg for them every day.

It's not so bad peeling them under water in a bowl. I think they are so pretty and add just a pop of color. There is nothing like a dash of juice and some seeds in some champagne. :)

 I found this plate at Anthropologie on sale for $7. I thought the deer was perfect and I liked the little red dots.

 A couple of candy canes in a jar are perfect for bribery. We buy the ones  from Whole Foods  that are colored with natural beet dye. My little one is allergic to some red dyes. While they aren't a bright red, they still taste yummy. That's why there are only about 6 left and I just opened them about 5 days ago.

 a mug from Goodwill holds  a little holiday nest.

 

And I had to show you this little, red chair I picked up this last fall.

 

I bought it at The Kane County Flea Market.  I had intended to sell it, but now I just can't part with it, it's so darn cute; and the kids love sitting on it. Maybe I should make it the new time out chair ;)

Jen

Some Housewalk highlights...

I am still making my way through all of the homes on last week's holiday house walk; There are such beautiful homes and amazing decorations. Here are just a few I'd noticed, but there are so many more...

 A Vintage Vine

 Family Room Design Studio

 Pewter and Sage

 Relatively Unique

 Sea Quilts

The Vintage Nest

Are you ready for Christmas yet? Are you set for Hannukah? It seems like the holidays just rushed up this year. I am almost done shopping, but I need to go through everything first. It seems like it all comes up so fast, I am wrapping , and then I've  shorted some one on a gift and have to rush out last minute. 

Lat night we got some hot cocoa and drove around and looked at lights. It's amazing what some people come up with. We might have to upgrade from our icicle lights next year. I am going to see what's on sale  after the holidays. I love me  a  good after X-mas sale. :)

Jen

The sparkle, doily, snowflake banner....

I've been banner crazy this holiday season, and I had seen a few on Pinterest that I just adored. One had doilies hanging with  ornaments. I loved the idea of doilies, but I wanted mine to have kind of a vintagey, collected feel.

.

My Jo-Ann fabrics has a bin they have all different sizes of doilies for a dollar or two each.

 I picked up 6 in different sizes.

 The I grabbed my crystal glitter, white craft glue and a brush.

 I just brushed the glue on the doily, covering the entire surface.

 Then right away sprinkled glitter over the whole thing. I shook off the extra and put it aside to dry. I did this with each of the doilies.

 I put a small crease in the end of the paper I was glittering over and poured back the extra glitter for a future project.

 Once they were dry, I just stung twine in the holes at the top of each "snowflake", The craft glue makes them a little stiff so they are easy to string on and they hold their shape really well.

 I then tied  a loop in each end and hung it up on my mantle.

It's super cute and so pretty when it catches the light. It was a pretty quick project to do too. I think it would be an easy project for the kids during winter break too.

I wanted to mention
My friend Christie at Carter's Cottage is having  a big chalk paint giveaway for Annie Sloan's American Tour, so stop on over to enter!

Jen

Holiday Banner love...

I have been really into holiday banners this season;banners and glitter. :)  In fact I have  a project coming up that features both!

I found all of these lovely images of different banners on Pinterest, giving me even more inspiration!

Source: missmustardseed.blogspot.com via Jen on Pinterest

Source: weddingchicks.com via Jen on Pinterest

Source: etsy.com via Jen on Pinterest

Source: hgtv.com via Jen on Pinterest

Source: bhg.com via Jen on Pinterest

Source: katiedid.squarespace.com via Jen on Pinterest

Source: crazyagnus.wordpress.com via Jen on Pinterest

 

Source: iroonie.com via Jen on Pinterest

I am still enjoying the tour. I hope to get through all of them this weekend and have  a nice recap next week for you! There are so many great homes with so much inspiration!

Jen

Simply Christmas...

My brilliantly creative friend Anne Marie from Nada Farm has released a new e-book!

Simply Christmas

  It's filled with all kinds of wonderful things about how they celebrate a simple holiday on the farm. It has craft projects, decorating and recipes. It's only $2.99!

You can tell she really has put her heart and soul into it (just like  everything else she does. :) ). 

They also have a lovely shop of hand-made items and hand-carved spoons.

If you're interested you can click here to go to their shop.

You can still join in on the Holiday houeswalk party! There are so many beautiful and festive entries I am still making rounds!!!

Are you in the holiday spirit yet?

Jen