In Memory of our sweet little feathered friend "Bird"

Today our dear friend "Bird" passed on. It was sudden and we were right there as it happened. Most likely it was a heart attack. We miss him so so much already. His beautiful singing filled our days. We work from home and he was such a big part of our daily routine. He chirped when we opened doors, when we took the dogs outside he'd see us out the window and yell as loud as he could so that we'd hear him inside, when we used the microwave he had something to say, when we listened to music. In the morning Aaron would come downstairs first and Bird would be silent...he'd wait til we were both on the couch and then he'd start singing to start the day. His absence is truly palpable. 

We'll miss giving him his spray of millet...he'd get so excited as he saw us open the bag. And the little nibbles he gave to the tip of Aaron's nose...and the way he'd slide down the rungs of his cage like they were fireman's poles. 

He was present for every part of our day. Even when he'd chirp loudly and relentlessly it was never ever anything close to a nuisance...he'd be screaming his head off to the point where we could barely continue our conversation and we'd just smile and laugh and say "Bird...you're crazy!" 

This commercial was his favorite! Just a few minutes ago it came on the television and it was the first time ever that we didn't hear bird chirping at the end of the jingle. It was a little hard to handle. We loved that he had his "thing"...something about the Empire Carpet jingle thrilled the little guy.

And this song...oh, jeez we just listened to this and we couldn't hold back the tears. Every time the whistling part came it was Bird's time to shine. 

We'll miss the beautiful little guy. He was such a gift to us and I hope he knew it. There's no way that we ever could've reciprocated the magic and sunshine he brought to us. I seriously don't know how to explain it...he grounded us and kept things light when they could've been very heavy. Such a beautiful little guy. 

Bird, thank you for blessing us with your presence and your song.

Show & Tell: Vintage Valentines

Hey friends!

I'm loving all of the Valentine inspired crafts, recipes, decorations, and DIYS that I've been seeing all throughout blogland, Instagram and of course pinterest! :) I cannot cannot cannot tell you how happy I am that my Vintage Valentine collection was spared in the Hurricane! I have been collecting them for well over 18 yrs! I have hundreds! Some dating back to the 20s! You know that I am a pink gal and if I had to choose between pink and red, pink would be the winner. But Valentine's Day is just SO FUN! and I just couldn't live without the classic red. It is dazzling! Gosh, I have memories of grade school Valentine's Day parties and baking cupcakes to bring to my class. One year...I think it was 2nd grade...we constructed these little "mailboxes" from paper plates, a hole punch, and yarn. We made them look like they had sewn edges and we decorated them with paint & glitter and then hung them from the back of our desks. During our party everyone walked down the rows placing their Valentine's in each of the mailboxes. We would then to take them home to open that night. It was sooo exciting! Some of my happiest memories are of holiday classroom parties! I loved making the classroom decorations the week or so beforehand. It was so fun seeing them hang on bulletin boards and in the windows!

I've been collecting these adorable little ephemeral pronouncements of love for so many years. Picking them up at antique shops, on ebay, at yard sales...etc. I love seeing the distinct fonts and trends of each era.

This may be my favorite. It is the largest I own...like double the size of the others. Probably one that you'd reserve for that extra special someone. And despite it's age, the little pull tag at the bottom is still functional.

A little tug opens her eyes and reveals a space for the message.

The cards of the past were so much more substantial than today's little throw aways. I adore this one with these two cuties...

ahhh that little mirror image kills me! And what a gent that Roy D. must've been.

Oh those adorable rosy cheeks!

And this dapper fella with his top hat, cane...and cigar!

I'm sensing that mom filled this one out dated 1929!

Jeez look at these little guys! Brown paper packages and bellhops! Oh those uniforms!

I love seeing these little notes...Roy D makes another appearance!

yowza Ronald! 

How cuuute is this one?! My dad tells me about his time in Catholic school back when he was growing up in New York City's upper west side back in the 40s and 50s. Kids constantly being made to wear Dunce hats!

I seriously am brought to tears when I look through these old treasures. Through the ages they came into my possession...all this adorable imagery, the scrawled messages from the kids...and now I get to keep them and use them in art projects and share their cuteness with everyone. 

Do you collect vintage Valentine's? Have you blogged them? I'd love to see them! Leave me a link in the comments!

If you'd like to start your own collection pop over to ebay or etsy! Some sellers list them in bunches! :) Instant collection!

Happy February kids!

xo Jenny

life lately...

Hey kids! Happy Saturday to you! From what I've been seeing on Instagram and blogs many of you are pretty covered in snow. As beautiful and enchanting as some of those photos are I am so so glad that we are not in your zipcode. In the span of one week we had pipes freeze and burst and then it warmed up enough for a mosquito to invade my space! Aaron shakes his head at my anger over mosquitos. I get pretty nuts when I see mosquitos inside MY home. How dare they! I seriously would yell at them. I have no love for the little whining bloodsuckers.

And currently we are back to cold cold cold. Had to keep the faucets dripping last night. The sun is shining today but we still need the space heater aimed at us.

Aimed at us as we work...yes we're working today...what else is new?! So many projects going on at once. But when there is paint left on a palette and things are drying and I'm sketching things, Aaron cannot help himself! Out comes his marble notebook art journal and within minutes there is a "pretty girl".  I love the look of these girls...how they're just dashed out quickly on lined paper. They're unassuming and unimportant...rendered with whatever leftover paint is on the palette...yet they work. I hope to keep these notebooks of his forever. I just love the juxtaposition of the black and white marble...and the lines and these pretty pastel colors and faces. And another crack up is I'm pretty sure that the above gal was painted all within the length of Metallica's Battery. Yeah this chick has secrets. Don't let the sweet collar fool ya! ;)

We had to run to Staples and oooh I just couldn't pass up these candy colored office bits! Eeee! look at those push pins. Once that studio is finished I will be a pin pushing fool!

And meet the newest member of the family. I had been wanting this guy for years now. I kid you not...Years! I had seen him in a shop in Lambertville/New Hope years ago and I've been kicking myself since. So happy to have found one online! Ebay! And get this...it was like under $2.00!! REALLY! 

And ohhh I am pretty darn excited about my new bag! I had been needing a new purse so so badly.  An everyday bag. And this black and cream striped number certainly fits the bill. It was a Friday Favorite a little while ago. I'll show you a bit more this coming week! How about a "What's in my bag" post?

Oh man...so this amaaazing pkg arrived at our door all the way from Tillamook Oregon! Our sweet friend Lonnie knows what a cheese NUT Aaron is. We had met Lonnie back in 2007 when we taught at Silver Bella in Omaha! We had been blog friends and she and her daughter owned a bakery which they just so happened to decorate with our art. She is one of the sweetest gals ever! And Super talented too! 

Aaron was beyond thrilled. Check out this haul! And he wears his pin proudly! That night we made grilled Havarti and marionberry sandwiches for dinner!

And these were heavenly too....maybe Lonnie included them for me!

Oh Oh and this here is my new mug! I know...not really anything like mega special but I just loved it the second I saw it!  :)  I found it at A&P while grocery shopping! I think it was 1.99!!  #cheapdate 

What have you guys been up to? Any good movies? or music? Tell me! :)

xo Jenny...and Aaron sends love!

Friday Favorites

Stuff is so inspiring! I know that's a particularly general statement...but I guess it's meant to be. The things that inspire me on a daily basis are so random and range across such a broad spectrum of categories, genres, and mediums. I could never box them up for safe keeping...to pull out on a rainy day when I'm feeling especially dull. Yeah sure, I've got Pinterest etc...but sometimes I find it's best to let stuff find you when it's ready to find you. And that's what so many of my Friday Favorites are...wonderful things that travel through space and find me in just the right mood with just the right eyes for seeing them. I hope this week's Friday Faves find you in a blissfully receptive state.

Starting with Ohhh goodness!! This dress I spied over at Hello Holiday. Pair this with black tights and a cardigan and look out! I could decorate a room around this dress.

 

These tights  embellished with "love text" are so fab! I love when texture and pattern aren't merely texture and pattern...it's what I love about art journaling.

The Art of Louis Boudreault  absolutely floors me. The layers, the color...and jeez, the large format of them! Again, it's impossible for these not to find their way into my creative process. 

It's so simple and yet so easy to forget. As the studio starts to come together I could see this print occupying some wall space in there.

I adore this necklace from Pygmy Hippo Shoppe. One of the cutest shops on the face of the earth that I vow to visit in real life one day! 

Oh jeez...these are just too cute! Our bathroom has a vintage boardwalk theme...well I should say HAD...thanks a lot Hurricane Sandy. Right now it needs to be gutted. The floor fell in... the walls, ceiling, shower, tiles, vanity, all need to be replaced...yeah, so pretty much evvverything. So I guess we'll be starting from scratch. I'm not sure if we'll stick to what we had or try something brand new. Either way these would really make me happy! 

Ohh man: neeed! If you know me you know that I've been all about GOLD forevs...like when most peeps thought gold was only "still worn" on Staten Island. I've been rocken' my gold bamboo door knockers since I was 14! And my first crush was Mr. T. yep! The mass of gold necklaces, the camo pants rolled up, the combat boots, and the best haircut in the business! Well, that said...I need this set.

Ok, hope you were inspired to do the thing you do. (and bless you if Shopping is your thing!) Happy Friday!

xo, Jenny