Water for everyone

When it’s this hot and dry, the birds need fresh water too. Filling the bird baths is a daily activity that Archie loves. Yum! Bird-flavored water!

Your flowers are counting on you

It is watering season. And it’s been SO dry which makes it all the more important to fill your cans and get out there. If you haven’t yet, you should sign up for the TGP newsletter. They share watering tips in the latest edition plus other great info. Use the link in the sidebar on the right to reach their site.

Meanwhile, check out a closer look at the watering cans I have at the Naperville location so you can pick one up and water in color!

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

Garden art roadkill

Well. We stopped at the ATM and mom checked a couple items I just sprayed this morning to make sure they were nestled safely (we packed the vehicle last night so these were new additions). We heard a clickity clunk and mom said “I didn’t like the sound of that” but we kept rolling (things always shift while driving). About a quarter mile later we realized the hatch was open and stopped immediately. One must love automation–the super helpful rear cargo door closing mechanism failed us. We only lost one item and figured we knew where it was…

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.

Looking forward to a long weekend here…

Garden Cat

The time is near!

I spent Saturday and yesterday painting in preparation for the Gardener’s Art Festival at the Growing Place this coming Saturday, June 21 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.  I’ll be in the front lawn area this year and am hoping for a day as beautiful as those we had this weekend.  A little less–well, a lot less– wind than yesterday would be better.

Come visit if you are in the area.  It is always a great show and the gardens at the Growing Place are worth the visit all on their own.

See you soon!

jen by jennifer

What happened?

Remember my post not too long ago “So pretty!” …  My anemone is looking really weak all of the sudden.  It went from six blooms to no blooms and is very pale.  Any idea what is happening?

Growing Place Art in the Garden Festival 2014

I received the information in the mail yesterday for the Growing Place Art in the Garden Festival 2014 on June 21 in Naperville!  Mark your calendar.  I already requested my usual couple of days before the event off from work this morning so I can be ready, ready – ready!  And I will start sourcing watering cans right away.  I sold all the cans I had painted last season.

Let me know if you have requests!

Spring will come!!  Hang in there.

jen by jennifer

There’s always more to do …

Well – I didn’t do too badly yesterday on the productivity front and considering I was up at 3:45 a.m. and stayed up until around midnight, I was able to relax and spend some quality time with my honey too.  I did the yard work I wanted for the most part although I have a few other things I want to do this morning before we head out with friends who are meeting here around 2 p.m.  I did the dishes, organized the kitchen a little, picked up all the clothes in my dressing room, the laundry is finished … still more to do so I’ve got to run.

It’s a BEAUtiful day!!  More tomorrow.

Cheers!

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

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