93 degrees was pretty darn hot!

Thank you for coming out to the Naperville Growing Place last Saturday for the Art in the Garden festival. As usual, it was a wonderful (although H O T!) day. It was very nice to visit with those of you who already own a “jen” and came back for another or just to say hello… and to those of you who purchased an item for the first time this year, I look forward to seeing you again!

Remember to contact me if you have an item of your own you’d like freshened up or to check on my inventory to paint you something I have.

Enjoy the upcoming holiday weekend. Happy Fourth!

jen by jennifer

Advertisement

You know it’s a good day when…

I can set up in the backyard to paint! What a beautiful weekend. I finished a couple of items and have many more (lots of watering cans!) in process. Looking forward to the Growing Place Gardener’s Art Festival on Saturday, June 25 at 9 a.m. at the Naperville location.

Sun and flowers…a good day indeed.

Rustic Christmas front porch 2014

I didn’t really feel like decorating that day but the next day was going to be December 1 already!  I had to do it AND it was nearly 50 degrees outside.  It would really have been the wrong move to put it off…so this is what I came up with that afternoon.  I went rustic Christmas with items I bought (very few), collected or was given.  (My basement is FULL of stuff!)  Knowing I wanted to go this style, I had already purchased the ribbon so I was in pretty good shape.

Thanks to my mom for bringing home the fresh greens from her house in Missouri.  I always use fresh greens to fill my flower boxes each winter.  It’s good to have a source that barters in wine and conversation!

Merry Christmas!

Painted Table Brings Back Contact

I was SO excited yesterday to receive the following email:

“Hello.
I have a yellow three legged table that I purchased somewhere and sometime ago, that I just love.  I was turning it upside down during a deep clean and noticed your card taped to the bottom.  I was just curious if you are still creating and if so to what capacity.
Thanks so much!”

My reply:  What a treat!  I TOTALLY remember that transaction…You were with a friend at the Elmhurst Garden Faire and Walk (2005 I think) and you really wanted the table despite the fact that “your husband was going to kill you because you were moving and the last thing you needed was one more thing to pack”?!…

Yes.  I still paint and sell my work.  In fact, after many years of not attending that faire, I returned to Elmhurst this July and had a great show. …I’m so excited that you still love your table.  I’d love to see a picture of it in it’s home – and if you wouldn’t mind I’d like to tell this story on my blog and include the photo perhaps. … THANK YOU very much for taking the time to email me.  Truly the reason I continue to paint is not only because I enjoy it, but I’m always thrilled when I can make someone happy by taking a piece home with them.

Here are pictures of the table that went from Elmhurst, Ill. to Oklahoma and now resides in Milwaukee, Wis.  It is a resting place in their second bathroom for hair tools.  How fun(ctional)!!

If you have an item or story that you’d like to share about “a jen”, PLEASE do!  This makes me SO happy!

jen (by jennifer)

Happy New Year 2014!!

Hello!  It’s been WAY too long.  But … at the least I’m back.  Most importantly I want to wish everyone (fan or foe) who is reading this a very Happy New Year!  It’s a time to forget the past (unless it propels you forward IN A GOOD WAY) and to realize that life is beyond too short to hold on to baggage.

I had intentions of posting a photo of my outdoor Christmas decor (that I received many compliments on this year) next to my New Year’s day transformation photo only to find when I went on my phone to transfer the pictures that I hadn’t taken any of the holiday porch!  Oh well.

In short, I still have things to do tonight before I rest for another day at my new job tomorrow.  So I’ll leave you with a photo of where I’m starting outside this year.  AND my thoughts that despite some great loss (my dear friend Lisa – and for John, his dear friend Austin), searching for a new job (SO glad that I found one where I think I can really contribute and thrive) and all the bumps in the road of life, I had a really pretty fantastic 2013.

Cheers friends!  Peace, love and happiness.

jen (Archie and John Cook)

Halloween 2013

Old friends do it all the time …

Playing catch up is just something we do, right?  So…here is a catch up photo of the last custom painted item I delivered.  Ellie approached me at the Art in the Garden Festival in Naperville for the last two years, inquiring whether or not I thought I could do something with a milk can that has sentimental value to her.  This year I went to her house and brought her milk can home with me.  With the help of my awesome boyfriend John, we sanded it down and cleaned it up.  Then I went to work spraying the base coats and then adding the hand-painted details.

She was very pleased.  What a great project.

 

jen

Elmhurst – woo hoo!

It’s hard to believe that a week ago I was doing my usual final push to paint for the Elmhurst Garden Faire and Walk on July 14, and that it’s already come and gone.  What a great day it was!  A beautiful setting and near perfect weather set the stage that morning and I sold the stool shown below before the faire even officially began.   THANK YOU to everyone who came by to check things out – particularly, of course, those of you who purchased some of my favorite things.  I love seeing items go to happy homes.  Although Archie the Cat was disappointed that the toolbox didn’t come back with me, he’s moved on already and found alternative places to nap.

I’ll keep you posted on my next stop.  Meanwhile, I’ll be playing with new color combinations and seeking out unique items.  Every watering can I painted sold this season, so I’ll be focusing on more of them.  Let me know what else you’d like to see!

Have a great weekend.

jen (by jennifer)

Next Stop – Elmhurst Garden Walk and Faire

A week ago I was on the last push to get ready for The Growing Place show.  It went well Saturday although for the first time since I’ve been doing outdoor events, we had to deal with rain.  It rained all through set up and then stopped, but by that time there was MUD!  Fortunately, the staff at the Growing Place is fantastic and the best help you could ask for which made the situation a minimal distraction.  And the early showers didn’t keep shoppers from shopping the rest of the day…and overall it was a successful show.

Here are a few of my favorite items that were on display that are still available:

Watering Cans on Display at the Growing Place 2013

After talking with another vendor at the show, I’ve decided to start another count down!  Looking for a job, working around the house, blogging, painting and all the other miscellaneous life tasks just aren’t enough.  I’ll be working on additional items to take to the Elmhurst Garden Club Walk and Faire on Sunday, July 14.  It’s the first show I ever participated in back in 2001 if I remember correctly.  It’s in a beautiful setting at Wilder Park in Elmhurst and well worth a visit.

Watch for more feature items over then next few weeks…

Cheers!

jen by jennifer

3… 2…1… The Last Push

There is a 30 percent chance of scattered thunderstorms predicted for Naperville tomorrow.  I guess I’ll pack my umbrella among the other items for the show.  As you can see here, I’m stacking and packing product.

I’ll continue to paint a little today to finish the few items I started yesterday.

And to give you an idea of  the additional product I’ve been painting the past couple of days – watering cans!

 

Have a great day all – hope to see you tomorrow.

jen by jennifer

Day 5: Around the House

Hello all –

As well as highlighting items that will be at the show on Saturday, I also want to let you know that you can come there to check out my style and request custom work.  I’ve done armoire doors, a bedroom set, chairs and other items for people upon request.  Here is a look at some of the things around my house.

Archie’s friend

This is what got me started.

Door from my shop to my kitchen

Kitchen sink backsplash

 

Keep me in mind if you need a little somethin’ somethin’ to perk up a room.

See you soon.

jen (by jennifer)

Seven! Poop – Should have 7 items …

Not that I’m making excuses but let me see if I can come up with seven hats I’ve worn today to make up for the lack of seven items to feature for Day 7 of the countdown:  Artist, Blogger, Carpenter, Chef, Daughter (helper), Gardener, Girlfriend, Happy Person.  I think that’ll do it.

All of the following items will be with me at the Gardener’s Art Festival at the Growing Place in Naperville, Ill., on Saturday, June 22.

I’ll have watering cans, buckets, a couple of pitchers, and fun containers of all sorts.

Let me know if there is something in particular you’d like to see.  My time is running short to paint, paint, PAINT, but I’ll do what I can or make arrangements to make sure you get a “jen” that you can enjoy.

What hats do you wear?

jen (by jennifer)

Day 8: Up Close

Maybe I shouldn’t have you look too closely … but just maybe you’ll be intrigued.  As much as I love bright color on a dark background, white is a wonderful as well.

See you soon.

jen

Up Close on White

Day 9: You Only Get One (1!) Chance at This

Before I move on, I should mention that the flower buckets from yesterday’s post are 15″ tall by 7.5″ diameter at the top.  I will ship to you. You pay postage.  I take PayPal or you can send a check in advance.  Or we can meet depending on your proximity.  I’m flexible. Now on to the GOOD stuff – Day 9!

This is truly a one of a kind find – an old wooden tool box.  Thanks Mom!  She spotted this a few years ago when we were out on an adventure and bought it for me with full faith that I could do something with it.   It was already distressed with white paint. What I found as I continued to work on it was that clearly one side is “noon” and the other is “some time around dusk.”

Ready for work at noon on a beautiful day

 

Work is almost over

SO many options

I see this in so many ways. On a big island in a kitchen with cookbooks and utensils, in a living room full of magazines or rolled blankets, on a porch with potted plants … what do you think?!

This, I don’t want to ship unless I have to because it’s heavy and I don’t want you to pay for that, but hey –  I can see why you would.  I love this.

Day 9 down friends – see you tomorrow.

jen

$28 Flower Buckets – 10 Days and Counting Down

If a yellow-orange background with white, orange and red flowers isn’t your thing … not a big deal.  I have another one of that color you can choose your flower palette to finish.

Also pictured below you can choose from (left to right) dark green (2), light greenish-blue, dark cocoa brown (2), red, and light cocoa brown.   The dark cocoa behind the yellow-orange might be difficult to see because only the top is peeking over in the picture but it’s very pretty I can assure you.  Bright colors on dark really pop if that’s of interest to ya.

$28 Hand-Painted Flower Buckets

I’m going to be painting, painting and PAINTING the next week or so, so if you’d like a certain color combo, call me or email me as soon as possible so that your color isn’t taken.  You can fill out a contact sheet at www.jenbyjennifer.com or email jen@jenbyjennifer.com or call me at 815.685.9610.  The best way to get your items quickly will be to come by the Growing Place on Saturday, June 22,  where I’ll be participating in the Art in the Garden Festival again this year.  Believe me, you will not be disappointed in this show.

Super nice artist disclaimer:  If you order ahead and are disappointed in your chosen “jen” flower bucket, we’ll talk.  I don’t want anyone to be unhappy. (If you ask for crazy colors, I may make you stick to it! Just sayin’… but I guess you can just not show up and well there ya go… )

Well here it is … Day 10 and counting … $28 flower buckets that serve many purposes!

Watch tomorrow for more items.  Hope  to see you soon!

jen by jennifer

 

Spring?

How am I supposed to switch out my winter wreath for my Easter wreath when it’s only 16 degrees currently and supposed to snow this weekend!?