Happy New Year!

Here we are at the dawn of a new year. Christmas is over, but me and Aaron always keep our tree up for at least a few days into the new year. I was sorta under the impression that everybody did this but as I visit blogs I'm noticing a Tannenbaum exodus. A whole lot of peeps are eager to be out with the old and in with the new. And good for them, really...but I just need to hold on a little bit longer.

For the past umpteen years me and Aar have been splitting our holidays between two homes and it's a great thing that our parents live within a mile of each other. Because I've got my little bro's we always start the day at my parents...kids aint gonna wait til the afternoon to open gifts! And even though the little guys are now big guys, we still keep the schedule the same. The day was great and it was hilarious in the evening when my littlest bro Walt, came over Aaron's parents house and introduced his girlfriend to everyone. "Hey Skip, Merry Christmas...this is my girl Ashley!" he says to Aaron's dad as he enters. It really was a crack up, especially thinking that this twenty year old guy met Aaron's parents when he was just two years old! I've got some photos here from the day...if you scroll your mouse over the pics captions will pop up. There are ornaments on Aaron's parent's tree that have been in the family for over fifty years. You'll also see a pic of a house in there that is straight out of "Christmas Vacation". Every year they add more and trust me, the pic Does Not do it justice. As I look at that pic now, of all those lawn decorations...I wonder how they'd survive in a blizzard...but I'm getting ahead of myself.

It seemed like Christmas came without any warning...we woke up and it was here. And the same goes for the blizzard that absolutely brought life to a skidding halt here in New Jersey. On Sunday we were just getting our post Christmas legs moving, only to discover that all those errands would just have to wait a few days. By nightfall on the 26th me and Aaron looked out our window and all we could see was the rooftop of our car! Luckily we had some food in the cupboard because the road plows didn't come around til mid-day on Wednesday! Our little chihuahuas, Carlos & Jack, were perplexed at the sight of 3 feet of snow...they had no idea how to conduct their outdoor doggy business...poor pups. Aar had to shovel a tiny patch of grass for them to walk circles upon. No Fun...and I don't think too many people thought the snow was all that fun. There are abandoned cars all over the highway...Aar saw one with it's window rolled all the way down and a three foot snow drift inside! I'm kinda done with the snow already...it's not postcard-esque when your garbage isn't getting trucked away for a week.

Yeah, I sound like Debby Downer...I'm usually really psyched about snow but I think the holiday made us all so unprepared for it. So on to the New Year. As an artist it's always been a serious time for me. It's time for a re-start. In the creative world the last thing you want to do is keep things going exactly how they have been going. Change and evolution are as important as the air you breathe. We've got a couple more all new original paintings ( here's a link to see their listings) and we will certainly complete something substantial this weekend...New Art on New Years has been a mainstay for us. These two new girls go along with our latest collection of girls which you can scroll down to see in a recent post. I've got a lot of exciting plans that I will share with you as they progress. For the New Year I'm really really looking forward to our Moulin Rouge themed Artistic Affaire out in California. This will be our first visit to the Pacific and I couldn't be more thrilled about the who, what, where when, and why of the trip. Since it's new years and there are places to go and people to see I'm looking to keep this post short, so I guess I'll sign off and get to work on making my plans a reality.

Thanks so much again for reading. Aar thought I should step from behind the camera for once and say hi.
So, Hi and thanks to all of my online friends...some of you I've met in the real world and that's been fabulous!... and I hope to be able to meet everyone else in the flesh at some point. Your friendships mean the world to me. I'm also super duper thankful to have a new family member in Jack this year...I constantly snuggle him and laugh at him and find him burrowed into some closet or laundry bag and I wonder what the heck I would do without him!

Me and Aaron wish you and yours the Happiest New Year possible!! xoxo, Jenny

Wishing you a Very Merry Christmas!!

Aaron and I would both like to wish you all a Very Merry Christmas!!

Sending lots of love from the Jersey Shore!!!
xoxo
J&A

I'm back, but this is not...I repeat...this is not a lengthy recap!

At one time or another, in one way or another, we have all faced this dilemma. It's the dilemma of not knowing what to say after being absent for an absurd length of time.

option A.) *Do you walk into the room and try to blend in with everybody else and just keep quiet as if nothing strange has occurred?

option B.) *Or do you make a big show of it?...Do you swing the door open and say "Yes...I know!...I've been gone forever...and I have a million reasons why...and, like it or not, I'm gonna tell you all every single reason!...because it must have been torturous for you all without me!...How in the world did you guys survive without the gift of my presence?!?!

Well I think a lot of us, whether we try to or not, will come up with something that sits right in the middle of A and B. We're not antisocial or weird enough to quietly slink into the room like option A. Nor are we egomaniacal enough to affect option B.

But like I said, all of us probably have a tad of each...and hopefully in a healthy way.

At present I'm faced with the aforementioned dilemma...and this little intro here kinda proves my point . I'm letting you all know that I've been gone for way too long but at the same time I'm trying not to make a big deal of it.

Because --- A.) Maybe nobody even noticed or cared that I've been absent.

B.) I don't want to waste more of your time than I already have.

C.) There are more interesting things to speak of than the water under the bridge.

So, OK... I'm back. I think my last post was when I introduced you guys to little Jack, our newest chihuahua and family member. And I think my current relationship with Jack illustrates just how long it's been since I've blogged. Back in July, when we got him and when I blogged about it, Jack still felt like a house guest. I mean, I knew he was ours to keep forever...but the bond was just not there yet. And just last night, me and Aaron were staring down at Jack in his bed, as we often do...because he is the cutest thing we have ever seen and we just can't stop looking at him...well anyway, I said to Aaron: " There's not one tiny inch of me that doesn't see little Jack as my son. I feel totally 100% connected to him. I identify with him and I know he identifies with me."

***What's funny is that I just used the bonding experience with my chihuahua as a method for measuring the passage of time...haha!...as if that little anecdote brings anyone any closer to understanding how long it's been since I've been an active blogger! Well actually, anyone with a tiny dog will understand completely...but the rest of you will say: "sheeeee's cuckooooooo."

Alright, here's my second attempt at announcing my arrival in a semi-casual fashion. I'm thrilled to be blogging again and will be absolutely blown away if I still have a readership. Way back in the summer I hosted the Vintage Vacation Swap, and there were so many super fab swap pics and stories that I should have followed up with...but as stated previously, I sorta disappeared from the face of the interweb. I have always prided myself on being a great swap hostess but I'm afraid I must say that I fell short this past summer. If for the swap alone, I really wish I didn't vanish from blogland for so long. I woulda loved to show a million pics of other people's swap treasures...and you know what?...I think I will in a future post or two...maybe when we are buried in three feet of snow I'll do a summertime fantasy post...Anyway, there are way too many things to explain here as to why I've been absent for so long. I guess, what's important is that I'm back and here to stay.

Ok remember, this is not one of those lengthy recaps...but I gotta at least make brief mention of Art Is You 2010, back in October. We were instructors there, and it was the absolute best time! For those of you who don't know, Art Is You is a huge east coast art retreat that takes place in Danbury, Connecticut. For about one week in autumn a nice hotel is packed with hundreds of art students and faculty...the classes are amazing, the teachers are top notch (I'm not tooting my own horn here...I mean the other teachers on the list!), you get fed at least twice a day!!, there is a giant vendor fair, flamingo races, a big fancy banquet with a keynote speaker ( the illustrious Jo Packham!) , a bus trip to a flea market, a million opportunities to make amazing, lasting friendships, and so so much more!

There is the terminology: "Ups and Downs" ....you go through lots of "ups and downs"...you say "I've been down for so long, I don't know which way is up." Well, In the past year there just happened to be a whole lot of "downs". And the last thing i want to do is dwell on the downs or even talk about the downs. (that's what "my lady" is for...oh yeah, "my lady" = psychologist. ; ) )

So... lets just say that Art Is You was an antidote for all those downs. For Real...I mean, sure, the lead up to it was so so very stressful and we were running around in circles trying to get organized, and the aforementioned "downs" were lurking around every corner and in our rear view mirrors...But, upon our arrival in Connecticut, everything changed. We got to the hotel in the wee hours...like nearly dawn of the following day...so near to dawn in fact that I think the hotel desk clerk actually checked us in on Thursday instead of Wednesday night! (So nice of him.) Ok, so we arrived at the hotel with no time to sleep, just shower, and then get ready to teach our first class at 9am.

So needless to say, we missed the Wednesday evening meet n' greet and our only interaction with the fabulous gals running the event was via email. Fortunately, this little detail makes for a funny little story... As I mentioned above, they feed you twice a day...so, Aaron, who is now awake for 25 straight hours, takes a shower and then I send him down to grab breakfast for the both of us while I shower...he'll pillage the buffet and then the two of us will scarf down the booty in our hotel room while we prep for our 9 o'clock class. Downstairs, Aaron hits the buffet...at this point he hopes to see no one...we have all week to get to know everyone, but at this point he feels worse than a zombie might feel...he just wants eggs, bacon, OJ & coffee...armed with these substances and a healthy dose of prayer, he just may be able to pull off being human. But down at the buffet the room is bustling with chipper gals ready to create and converse. Aaron makes a beeline for the eggs and he hears over his shoulder, a woman's voice: "Excuse me...excuse me sir...this buffet is for the Art Is You event...are you part of the Art Is You event?"...Aaron, very sleepily says over his shoulder, without fully turning around: "yes"....to which the woman's voice replies: "oh, really?" ...and it's right then that Aaron notices the Australian accent. He then turns to give his full attention because he assumes this Australian woman's voice belongs to Sal, one of the fab ladies in charge of Art Is You...he has never met her and vice versa, but he has read online that Sal is from Australia. He then introduces himself..."Yes, I'm Aaron...of Jenny & Aaron." ...to which Sal bursts out laughing and then she apologizes for giving him the third degree for trying to steal scrambled eggs. Since Sal hadn't met Aaron previously and she also forgot that there were a handful of men participating in Art Is You...she just assumed that this strange Man was taking advantage of the free buffet and freeloading off the artsy ladies...Sal was ready to give this man a piece of her mind! Aaron cracked up at the idea of it...imagining that this guy wasn't a part of it a thought he could just lie to this lady, not knowing that this lady was running the whole event and knew all the participants!...anyway, it was real funny. Sal, let Aaron steal the rest of our breakfast...we ate...taught our class...survived long enough to get a good night's sleep...and then the rest of the week was amazing! Look up Art Is You if you don't know what it is...and be sure to sign up for our classes in Fall of 2011. Yes, we will be back, and our classes are going to be amazing! We put a whole lot of time into them and really considered how much experience we can possibly cram into each student during each class!

I will blog again soon with more Art Is You specifics...some 2010 memories...and plans for 2011...stay tuned!!

Since I promised that this was not to be a lengthy recap let me instead give you previews of full upcoming posts. For instance, almost two weeks back we went to the launch of the new Jo Packham magazine: "Where Women Cook". This is of course the sister publication to "Where Women Create". The "W W Cook" launch was in NYC at Chelsea Market. Me and Aaron carpooled up there with our friends Kecia & Jane. We met up with our massive crew of gal pals and had a fantastic day.In Chelsea Market there was a pop-up shop called Jingle and it featured super duper amazing artists/vendors/shops. We also got to eat some great grub and then we lined up to meet every gal that was in issue # 1 of Where Women Cook and have them autograph our magazines. It's a really great mag...if you have yet to get your hands on it...please go out and get it. Our artwork will be featured in issue # 2!! and we are super psyched about that!

Also, my sister Missy's birthday just passed and we did some fun stuff that I'd like to recount at a modest length.

I should be wrapping this up because it's only my first post back into your lives...and I don't want you getting too sick of me before things even get going again! Well, I haven't been completely absent from the interweb...I've been over on Facebook, and I see a lot of you guys over there as well. But I will be back here on a regular basis and I'll be keeping it way more brief than this...promise.

Work-wise...Art-wise...As of late we've been painting original-one-of-a-kinds. Lots of time put into each piece...lots of texture. And for the first time in a while we are selling our originals. We may start to make prints again soon but we are liking the feel of this right now. It's liberating in a way to labor over a piece of artwork...add layer after layer...and really grow attached to the piece...and then...we let it go.

The new pieces are...in a word: thick. Meaning lots of layers...crackle finish over layers of paint, thick, clear glazes and varnishes...cake frosting with peaks and swirls you can feel...three dimensional highlights. These are pieces that you want to touch...and that's why we're selling the originals. We've got a ton in the works and I will certainly show them here first.

Well, I'm glad to be back and if you are reading...I'm thrilled that you'll have me back! Lot's more to come...lots more! xoxo, Jenny

Hello!

Chihuahuas and Desserts!!

I LOVE pups!! For about 9 years me & Aaron have had the pleasure of sharing nearly every minute of our lives with our amazing big black chihuahua Carlos. He's been the absolute best companion ever and he just seems like he was born to be the perfect pet for work-at-home-artists. It's hard to explain, but he seems to "get it".

He sleeps in our bed, watches movies and TV with us, sits between us when we eat dinner, goes for rides with us, he's privy to every single conversation...but...when it's time for us to be busy busy busy, he gets it...he gives us our space. We'll often get into a kind of frenzy...painting tons of stuff, gluing tons of stuff, cutting, sanding, jumping from one project to another, moving things around...generally, we turn the place upside down and look like lunatics...daily! And as soon as we start to get into frenzy mode, Carlos will distance himself from us. He finds a comfy spot, curls into a ball, lets out one last relaxing sigh, and he won't even look at us until frenzy mode has come to an end. Really...he's a dream come true for the work-at-home-artist.

In fact, I think he feels like he's part of the business. I've told the story before about Carlos loving "shipping time". When we pack up multiple boxes to be shipped out in the mail, the apartment becomes a disaster area. Tissue paper, boxes, tape, bubble wrap, packing peanuts...we seem to have 6 foot tall piles of it everywhere...and we'll be packing so many things at once that we'll run out of space and next thing you know, we're packing boxes on the dining table, the coffee table, out in the hall by the front door...we'll be balancing stacks of boxes on the arms of the couch, etc. etc... Well, all the time Carlos will end up buried underneath a big billowing cloud of tissue paper, or under a big pile-up of empty boxes. And he LOVES it! He's a freak! Totally loves to be buried under packing materials. He'll get lost under there and he won't move a muscle! It is the funniest thing.

Ok, so even though Carlos is more than enough dog for us, I have always wanted more than one pup. Chihuahuas are famous for being pack dogs and they like their packs to consist of other chihuahuas. They are such weird, quirky, all-too-human creatures, that they really can only relate to their own breed. I mean, they CAN and often do get along with other kinds of pups...but chihuahuas are best with chihuahuas.

When you love pups and put that info out into the world, you will find other pup lovers. And personally, I've discovered that more than a few friends of mine are big into rescuing dogs. The world is full of puppy mills, cruel people, neglectful people, and people who have no regard for the precious lives of pups. I'm sure none of this is news to you guys and I'm not the preaching type...so I won't get into all that...it's much too depressing. But I've talked with so many awesome friends of mine who have these gigantic hearts...and they open up their homes to pups in need, either by adopting multiple pups themselves, or helping to place troubled pups in loving homes, or...being foster parents for rescued pups (the foster parent thing is so so amazing AND essential. Dogs will be rescued from a puppy mill or some horrible situation, or maybe a dog owner just says "I need to give my dog away"...well the foster parent opens up their home and cares for the needy pup in every way until a forever home is found for it.)

So, after spending every free moment on youtube watching chihuahuas do crazy stuff...and scouring chihuahua rescue sights online...and then making Aar take me to our local SPCA to go meet some pups in person...it became quite clear that we'd soon have a new chihuahua living in our home. We met one chihuahua at the SPCA but I don't think we were ready for her. She was just rescued from a puppy mill...she was used for popping out litter after litter. If you do even a little research you'll see how horrific the lives are of puppy mill "moms". Me and Aar are so busy and kinda nuts ourselves... we are not in the right place in our lives to take home a dog with lots of needs.

I then discovered the dog listings on Craigslist. Tons of pups are being given away every day. I pored over listing after listing...and then made a listing of my own: "Artist Couple looking to give a forever home to your chihuahua...etc...etc..." I had the listing out there in the world for a little while before showing it to Aar. You see, he wasn't really on board for any of this. I mean, he absolutely loves dogs just as much as I do...but he is Mr. Caution...Mr. Think Things Over...Mr. Lets Wait and See. All of these things translate to us never ever having a second dog. So I had to take action, with or without him! Haha! So then I showed Aaron my listing and I got lots of eyerolls and "nope...not gonna happen."

But I was getting a pup.

Then, I felt like I was getting a bit obsessed...I was checking Craigslist all throughout the day. (if you aren't familiar with Craiglist...this is the nature of it...people are posting all day and night. You may look one moment and there are no pups...and then two minutes later somebody puts up a listing for a dozen magical stuntdog/ famous dog calendar model chihuahuas! You have to stay on top of it.) I had my mind set on finding a dog and I was putting my heart into it too much without really knowing what the outcome would be. For a girl as nervous, nutty, and emotional as me, this was not a good thing. Question marks scare me and I was giving myself way too many question marks.

So then I made up my mind one night that I would stop my persistent pup pursuit...and I would let things happen in a more natural course. I resigned myself to checking Craigslist just once per night, right before bed. So that night I went home, opened up Craigslist...it was about 3am...and there was a listing put up just about an hour and a half prior. And upon seeing the pic, learning the familiar & sorta nearby location of the pup, and reading all about his temperment and the story of why he needed a new home...I could only think that this was serendipity! I said to Aar..."just look at this guy! He was just listed a little while ago...we are probably the first people seeing him...he sounds perfect!...we NEED this little guy!"

The photo up at the top of this post is the photo from that Craigslist listing! I mean...can you blame me?!

After some brief communications with Jack's current caretaker...(his owner became ill and could no longer take care of Jack. So the owner's daughter in law took on the task of finding Jack a new home. She tried among her close friends and acquaintances for weeks and then gave Craigslist a try.)...I sent her a link to this blog, my facebook...sent her pics of us and carlos. And by this point Aaron was 100% with me. I was sleeping with a printout of the above photo under my pillow and Aar would wake to me holding it in front of his eyes, me saying "c'mon, just look at this guy." Aaron didn't need any more convincing. Plus, he saw how much I needed this. These were Aar's words: "Well, you are an adult...this is your home and your life...this is what will make you happy...who am I to take that from you?" And then, the next thing you know...Aaron is asking me "So, did she email you back yet? When are we gonna meet Jack? I can't wait!"

Within a week we set up to go meet Jack. He was down south Jersey in the same town as Aaron's Grandmother. It was 4th of July weekend so the traffic going down to the southern Jersey Shore was sure to be thick.

Ok, so long story less long...

Me, Aaron, and my sister Missy took the drive down...(traffic was actually light!) We met Jack's interim Mom...her name is Jenn...we met Jenn's adorable 10 year old son Michael...and needless to say, we met Jack! Jenn & Michael are very close with Jack and this was not some easy, flippant thing for them. (She would take Jack in but already has too many pets & it just wouldn't work for her at all.) Jenn asked if we could bring Carlos down so she could see the pups meet each other. Of course Carlos was a sweety...he loves other pups! Little Michael was so sweet and a couple times he had to look down or away to hide his tears. I told him that we'd email constantly and send pics and bring Jack back for visits.

We spent a little time getting acquainted...(Jack was being a tough guy towards Carlos!...but this is to be expected...I talked to my friend Jackie about it and she assured me that it wouldn't last...Jack was most likely scared out of his wits and just protecting himself from this strange giant black chihuahua invading his space...and Jackie was right...soon enough, back at home a couple days later Carlos became the tough guy!) ...and then we drove back home with our new son!

It's now like a week and a half later and the reality still has not fully set in. Jack has been an absolute dream! Me and Aar are constantly looking at him and then at each other and saying "can you believe he's really ours?!" Check out the pics below. The boy is so unbelievably cute! Carlos is 9 and Jack is 3. We can already see Jack's youth rubbing off on Carlos ( that aspect was a big motivation for us...we knew a younger new guy would make Carlos feel younger. ) Carlos is like 13 pounds and Jack is 6 pounds...he's standard chihuahua size but Carlos makes him seem like a tiny little teacup! This little guy is getting more kisses than he can even handle, and we did a lot of research on the subject of bringing a second dog into the home, so we're making sure that Carlos get's even more kisses than Jack, and that Carlos gets them first. Every once in a while there is a little scuffle over the food bowl or a boney...but overall, Carlos is a sweetheart and the boys get along amazingly. The time has been so brief but we can tell that Jack really knows that this is his home and that we are his mommy and daddy! I mean, just look at the pics!

Jack passes out on the couch while we work. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention it...Jack also "gets it" as far as us being work-at-home-artists. The second we get busy looking, Jack hops up on the couch and passes out...just as the above photo depicts.

Typical chihuahua...Jack loves to lay in the morning sun. They all seem to do this...they find a little spot of sun, nestle in, and get all squinchy eyed. Jack likes to lounge around for a while in the morning.

Movie time on the couch. Another typical chihuahua thing: Blankets! They love 'em. Day by day, Carlos and Jack have been laying closer and closer together. Tonight Jack & Carlos were laying on the floor next to my chair as I typed this blog post...Jack was resting his chin on Carlos' back!

Alright, that's it for now on Jack. We could not be happier with our decision to get a second pup. If any of you have any further questions concerning pup adoption, or want to offer any advice/tips please leave a comment. As you can see here...I never ever get tired of talking pups!!
( a great place to visit is petfinder.com)

Ok, now for some Summer stuff! An ice box cake is just a classic...and this is the perfect time of year for it! I found a recipe for this delicious little number on a fantastic blog named The Decorated Cookie. The recipe is simple and has not changed in a million years...because if it ain't broke...

Check out the link and explore The Decorated Cookie further.

This is maybe a bit embarrassing, but I feel like this blog post nearly defines me...well, ya know, defines me on most days of the week...crack open my brain and this is what you'll see: Chihuahuas & Desserts!! hahaha! Sad but true. Above are some super duper delectable ice cream sandwiches that I spied on a great blog named Such Pretty Things. Jessica, the gal behind Such Pretty Things, is all about gilding the lily. Anything she touches will undoubtedly become a "Pretty Thing". These ice cream sandwiches are a perfect example. Those are simply sugar cookies...and that's just Vanilla ice cream! But look at what some food coloring and nonpareils can do! A tray of these at your summertime birthday party would be an absolute hit! Or maybe just make 'em on a random Tuesday! By all means, go check out all the eye candy on Such Pretty Things...these are just the tip of the ice cream sandwich! And be sure to tell Jessica that Jenny sentcha! ;)

****Okeedoekee...lastly, a Vintage Vacation Swap update. Your packages should by now be shipped...or they are in transit as we speak...or you have made special arrangements with your swap partner. The schedule is a general guide, but it's all about what you and your partner choose to do...whatever works mutually. I'll be back soon to show some pics of fantastic stuff that arrived upon my doorstep. I really love the theme of this swap and the creative ways in which people have adhered to it. I can't wait to see what everyone gave and got!

Thanks so much again for reading! See you soon...xoxo, Jenny

Vintage Vacation Swap...extension announcement!

Summer is in full swing for many of you now, with the school year coming to an end and the kids home all day, I'm sure you've got Vacation on the brain! I wanted to pop in to let you guys know that I've been talking to many of the Vintage Vacation Swap participants and no one seems to have a problem with extending the ship date to July 15. We were originally shooting for July 1st but with all the actual vacations and the many roadblocks that took away from more than a few swapper's play time...it seems like the 15th makes more sense. More time for crafting, making, shopping. The roadblocks I speak of mainly have to do with disappearing swap partners. After many an enthusiastic swapper sent multiple exploratory emails to their selected partners only to not hear back...I had to make some new matches. It's just so tough when a swap partner disappears. A lot of times stuff just happens...family emergencies...things like that. But sometimes people just sign up and blow it off for no apparent reason, leaving their would be partners talking to the wall. So these types of setbacks really cut down on the prep time for these poor swappers and I figured an extension was surely justified.

There were also a whole lot of spam folder mishaps wherein swappers thought they had deadbeat partners but it turned out that an equally enthusiastic reply email was collecting dust in a spam folder! That stinks. I have to say that it's been the trickiest swap that I've hosted yet. A lot of info and email addresses didn't lead anywhere...lots of typos etc, etc... But everything is shaping up now.

Aaron and me have been really really busy. We don't love the heat, so we don't really mind staying in all day working. The AC is great!

My sister Missy is just about 90% moved out of her apartment. She's not moving far away...about 2 minutes by car...but the days of yelling out our windows to see when the cupcakes are ready are over. Probably what we'll miss most about the end of the close proximity is little Jack's visits. Jack is Missy's pup...an adorable Papillon...well, we'd talk to Jack from our window and Missy could send Jack out her front door...he'd run down the driveway...come sprinting around to the front of the house where we live...run up the front porch steps...and come flying in our open front door...come upstairs to our apartment and run all over the place. He'd visit for like ten minutes and then we'd send him back in just the same way. He was like a homing pigeon. It was maybe the cutest thing we ever saw. Missy has two pups...the other one is Sam..he is the cutest, tiniest, Chihuahua ever...but no way Jose could he ever be trusted to make the trip over here on his own. He'd somehow make a wrong turn at Albuquerque. So we'd have to visit with Sam on a window to window basis only.

(ps. the two pics above are of our bathroom in our last apartment...seashore theme, with stripes in tones of salt water taffy. Our current bathroom is on it's way to becoming the twin sister of our old bathroom...we just haven't had the time to paint yet. All the decor is vintage New Jersey at the shore...the souvenir plates are my fave! )

Above is me and Aar outside a diner in Wildwood, NJ. One of our fave places. I think we got pancakes after we took that pic...if it was the other way around we woulda been too full to pose for photos!

Another Wildwood mainstay...Laura's Fudge. I always forget that I'm in this photo, standing to the right of the front doors. This building is so fantastic! It is just magical at night all lit up. And inside is all the Fudge you can imagine and you can watch them make it!

Ok, just wanted to pop in for a swap update and a little summer inspiration. One last thing, my Nana has been in the hospital and she needs some good energy sent her way. She's been going through a lot and even though New York is right up the road a piece, it's not easy going in and out of the city, so it's been tough for the family to make the trip in. But everyone has been so faithful and supportive. So wish Nana all the best.

Thanks so much again for stopping by. I'll be back again soon!! xoxo, Jenny

Ocean Grove Summer Flea Market and a Vintage Vacation Swap update!

Ok, first things first...all of the Swap emails have been sent out. Everyone is paired up. So, if you have not yet been paired up then that means something went wrong and we have to fix it. If you have yet to receive a partner...contact me right away and we'll resolve it. In addition, you may have been partnered up and you have not heard anything from your partner even though you've tried to contact them numerous times etc... In this case, well, we have to fix this as well. It means that you either have a drop-out partner or your partner is incommunicado. Both of these are bad things that we must resolve ...just shoot me an email...and I'll make sure you get a real partner.

I've been hearing that lots of people have been having a blast crafting for their partners...shopping...trading tons of emails. I even heard that two gals from totally different regions discovered that they'll be vacationing in the same spot at the same time...and now they're gonna meet up! How awesome is that?!

As I've said many times...down here at the Jersey Shore, all the sights, sounds, and scents of Vacation are impossible to ignore. If we take a short drive to get something to eat we'll pass about a hundred people on beach cruiser bikes, party tents, barbecues...and flying above the ocean...those little airplanes that pull advertisement banners behind them, beach umbrellas, ice cream parlors with lines snaking around the building...all sorts of great stuff that makes you stop and remember to slow down a little...because this isn't a dress rehearsal...this is your one and only life. We so often forget to live it. And it'll just pass by...a day turns into a week and then a month and then a year...and then you realize that you can't even remember the last time that you had fun, or saw your friends, or whatever. It's really so easy to forget to actually live your life and not just try to survive the day. I'm speaking from experience here...trust me. Stop, slow down, take a breath, look around, and do something for you.

The Vintage Vacation Swap is the perfect opportunity to do just that! And you get to box up some magic and share it with someone far away! So lets raise the spirit of vacations gone past...pack it up...and ship it out at the end of the month!

Last weekend was the super huge, super awesome Ocean Grove Flea Market. They do it a couple of times a year...summer & fall...and we try to go whenever we can. This year was a must because next month we'll be back in Red Bank with an antique booth! We had to hit the Big Flea to see if we could score some great stuff for our new booth. It was me, Aaron, my sister Missy, and Walt. Walt will be our partner in the antique booth. He got totally addicted to the tv show American Pickers and he's been dying to find some treasures that he can turn into profits. That kid is a natural born wheeler dealer. He seems to be constantly in the state of buying and selling! The photo above is of Missy, Walt & Aaron taking a little break from the Flea Market Frenzy...Walt is probably on the phone making some kind of trade...Jeep tires for a turtle tank or something! And oh yeah...check out those houses...all the way down the end, where the houses stop...that's the ocean!

When I go to a flea market I'm there for the vintage stuff. I always speed past the vendors selling NEW stuff. There are some people who love to check out the new stuff...the t-shirts with witty slogans, knock-off handbags, Chanel sunglasses that somehow cost 4 dollars!, novelty shot glasses, remote control flyswatterbeveragecozybackscratchers. Bless you America! I'm there for the OLD stuff! The JUNK. The Castoffs. The tired, the poor, the huddled masses of vintage treasures longing to be free.

But this time one vendor selling NEW stuff just stopped me dead in my tracks. This looked like some of the most delicious stuff ever!...and it was for pups! It was just impossible for me not to get a bag of stuff for Carlos! Just look at them pizzas! Those little cheeseburgers!! Can you even handle this stuff?! And they were a great deal!!

Of course, of course, of course...we run into miss popularity herself...madame mayor...Marlene! I told Aaron the night before that we were going to definitely run into our friends Mary and Marlene at some point during our Flea Market trip. Even though the place is huge and so so packed...we sure did. Above is Marlene and Missy. To thwart sunburn Missy purchased that hat at the flea market...on the other hand, Marlene probably own about 17 of 'em, in addition to her vintage swimming caps! You see that cup of iced tea? Well they were bucket sized...and you still wanted to go back for more...it was so so fantastic...infused with fruit...ice cold! Everybody there had one. It was a scorcher by the way...and I'm not good with heat...nearly passed out...but I think I always nearly pass out. Anyway, Marlene is a hoot! So good to see her and Mary too. Marlene will be neighbors with us in Monmouth Antiques...we open our booth in a couple of weeks and I think Marlene is already open. It will be a blast!

Ocean Grove is home to the largest assemblage of authentic Victorian architecture in the nation.

...And tons of fantastic shops...and ice cream parlors, like Nagle's!!

These are the Ocean Grove tent houses. Every summer these get propped up and they are decorated amazingly...inside and out! There are blocks of these! You really have to see them in person to fully appreciate them!

I love this summer collection from Chanel! Especially Le Vernis. Reminds me of sea glass...or the absolute perfect chippy painted cupboard that I wish I found at OG flea market!

And finally for dessert we have Easy Lime Pie! This recipe sounds great...I really love Key Lime Pie so so much. It is a summer must! O posted it a few days ago on facebook..and within an hour a few gals were off to pick up the ingredients for that night! I found it here.

Alright, I hope I inspired some vacation & summer feelings in all of you. I'll be back soon...with lots more. Thanks again for stopping...wishing you guys all the best!

xoxo, Jenny

Gorgeous Gals, Vintage Sweets, And a Big Holiday Weekend Sale! :)

****Swap update: So the Vintage Vacation Swap sign ups are closed and I will give you all your partners very soon...I originally thought I'd have you guys all matched up by early this week but since I extended sign ups til midnight on Tuesday, this set things back a bit...so give me a couple days to get it all together. I believe by Monday & Tuesday you will all be matched up. And also...if you signed up and didn't yet get a reply email from me, don't worry, I probably just could not answer at that moment, but I've saved all of your emails to a file and will make sure to go through carefully .

So Memorial Day Weekend is here and in my neighborhood it's impossible to miss the signs. Right about now, the population of our little town probably quadruples. These big beautiful white houses, dark & dormant all winter long, suddenly fill with life. Flower boxes...empty vessels yesterday...now spilling forth with extravagant color and fragrance. Once empty porches, now crowded with white washed wicker. Flags are flying, cars line the streets and driveways, and all this week...especially today, with last minute urgency...power tools and landscaping implements are roaring away at their final tasks.

I really do love this time of year. I'm a fan of things beginning, whereas Labor Day weekend is the complete opposite...the end, the last hurrah...when you'll feel either sadness or relief that it's all over. But right now the air is charged with possibility and the heat has yet to slay us in relentless weeklong waves. Beginnings, new starts, first steps, are the world to me...

For the working artist times like these call for creative measures. You have to capture that electricity that's in the air and put it to good use. Paint the canvas, glue the paper, sew the fabric, mold the clay, click open the shutter, gild the lily...

We have these two new paintings...our "Gorgeous Gals", that are just so exciting for us. We have a history of painting Gals just like this that stretches back to maybe 1998. We used old cupboard doors as canvases and in fluid hand painted black line we'd do these Gals right over the old peely paint. We could not hold onto those for very long and eventually the demand outgrew our supply of old peely paint cupboard doors!

Well, here are our 2010 Gorgeous Gals...the cupboard doors gave way to paper collage, which references another memory from about a dozen years ago. Our good friend had a little antique booth in a tiny back room of a larger shop and she plastered one whole wall with the most gorgeous scraps of vintage wallpaper you ever did see. She did estate sales and house clean-outs and she left nothing behind...she'd peel down that 100 year old wallpaper!! Ever since then, whenever we do paper collage, we have one image burned into our memories...that tiny back room plastered floor to ceiling with a treasury of time worn florals, stripes, damasks, and dots . We wish the photos did these Gals justice but really, you have to hold the print in your hands to see the texture and age of the background collage.

Gorgeous Gals have always been an integral part of our home decor...every room must have a face, a muse. In our minds, we are decorating FOR that gal. The room is hers and we populate it with the furnishings and accoutrement of her liking.

So, this weekend means new art for us and it means a big sale for everyone else! First off, in our Artfire.com studio we are having a Holiday Weekend Sale...20% off everything in the shop...I went ahead and activated the sale on Artfire...which is another great feature of theirs...and the prices now shown in our shop reflect the 20% off Weekend Sale.

AND...and this is a big AND...Anyone who shops the sale this weekend will have their name put in a hat and we will pick one lucky shopper's name out...and that person gets to pick: THE 5 x 7 READY TO FRAME, MATTED PRINT OF THEIR CHOICE! It's a giveaway for anyone who makes a purchase this weekend! So you get 20% off anything you buy, plus you've got a great chance of winning a Free Print!! I don't know about you...but holy cow! If I wasn't me...I'd be shopping at Everyday is a Holiday this weekend! ;)

I mentioned in a previous post that over the winter I found a much needed refuge in the act of Art Journaling. As a working artist, your creativity is your livelihood...you rely on it...you need it to survive...and you are constantly showing your creations to the world...because, well...you need to.

But Art Journaling was this whole new thing...because it's all done within the privacy of those pages. And it offers more than a sketchbook does...you take it a bit more seriously. You have this idea that your pages should look like something...they should feel like finished products...But, you also feel like it's all yours...no one ever has to see. So with that in mind, but usually on a subconscious level, I'd try things I hadn't done before...use techniques and mediums that were outside my comfort zone...and that I really didn't even have a name for. I'd finish a couple pages and I didn't even know how to refer to it...like, well it's not a drawing really...and it's not really a painting...and it's not exactly a collage. I really loved the idea of it and plan to keep one going for as long as I need to.

Well, I bring this up again because I've got some more new pieces that I finally got to list in our shop. These too are over on Artfire. I drew inspiration directly from the pages of my Art Journal. The cake and cupcake circle plaques are a really fun new look yet side by side with our other pieces they fit right in...and because they feature prints of cake & cupcake paintings they kind of bridge the gap between the two styles.

And I really am excited about the "When I Grow Up..." pieces. They are almost an exact replica of a page from my Journal...and it was one of those things that I saw completely finished in mind the second I laid down the first basecoat of paint. They're collages, paintings & drawings all in one and they come on 8 x 10 wooden plaques. They really are so sweet...but the inspired message of that little girl inside of us might be a little too hard to live up to!!

Alright...before I go, I must return to the inspiration that I opened this post with. The impending summer...the days have gotten so long already! My neighborhood is quieted down now. All the last minute workers have called it a day and it feels like the calm before the storm...but that's not exactly a good cliche to use right there because a storm usually cramps your style. I hope this weekend brings no storms (figuratively and LITERALLY!...rain rain stay away...come back some other day!)

But the dawn of summer is here...the Vintage Vacation Swap is right on time...and so I'll leave you with some of my favorite inspiration images from summers gone by.

Thanks so much again for reading...and don't forget the SALE...20% off and a giveaway!!

xoxo, Jenny