~ inspired by color ~

busy bee summer!

2010-07-25T11:25:00.008-04:00

well - i have been So busy this summer so far. weddings (my cousin) and babies (my best friend's) and lots for me to work on. Non-etsy things, which is fun, because i love my sewing machine and i love quilting. So here are some pics of what i have been up to, more to come next week once the mom and dad to be get there gifts :)this is the top 1/3rd of a wedding gift quilt. these are roses and leaves, and moose and grass will take up the bottom 2/3rd of the quilt. I love making homemade treasures like this, but about this time i always wish for more time, and that i didn't treasure making these forever gifts! its exhausting! :)

here are a couple new things on my etsy site... http://jenvecc.etsy.com

who's been featured- oh me!

2010-06-15T18:48:00.004-04:00

so i just checked my email, and got a nice note from KimberRose that she had featured me on her blog! thanks Kimberly! :) quick go see ~ oh i'm so excited!

http://alongaroadlesstraveled.blogspot.com/2010/06/treasury-tuesday-rain.html

p.s. working on 4 new clutches... keep an eye out!

~jen

little itty bitties...

2010-06-13T15:33:00.003-04:00

so yesterday i spent a few hours in my sewing room... organizing! i got enough of my mom in me that i need to compulsively organize sometimes. which it ended up being a really good thing. I hung some cork board to hang inspiration... and went thru all my back magazines of "Quilting Arts" (which as a side note is an incredibly inspiring magazine-even if you don't quilt). Well when i was going thru the mags i found an article about creating "inchies" small, quick, impulsive, creative, test quilts! the article said to try to make them about an inch. way to small for me! i mean i like making big things (remember went to school for sculpture!) so i increased the size to 2.5 inches. which is still pretty small.

I layered some nice blue fabrics and then went to work playing... check out what i ended up with!
i think that these will be fun to make... not really sure what i will do with them. maybe attach into a wall hanging once i have a few of them...? not sure... please share any ideas! :)

have a super day!
~jen

what... no work today!

2010-05-06T16:07:00.003-04:00

today is the day that me and mom played hookie from work. there is a store near me that every year for mothers day has everything for a woman at 20% off. this includes Dansko shoes/clogs. Danskos are one my favorite things... along with plants. good thing today included both! here are some pics from the day... enjoy!

my bleeding heart.... so pretty.

columbine.. pink and yellow

planted some cosmos... the dog wanted a taste too!
herbs... dill, oregano, cilantro and purple sage

oh i love spring, new plants and new shoes!
~jen

what rain does...

2010-04-05T16:44:00.006-04:00

yup, i live in southern massachusetts where we got like 7-9" of rain in a day. so everything was flooded including my basement! but now the sun is shining and things are shooting out of the ground! i love it... i love plants and my garden, and plants that come back every year so i don't have plant them! and i love mom that gave me a greenish thumb!

here are some pics of my favorites :)

a bloom from the magnolia tree! so pretty!

i can't even believe that these are my hosta's... anyone want any???

here is my bleeding heart - i think its gonna be BIG this year!

here are my chickens and hens...

i've been spotted!

2010-03-29T17:53:00.004-04:00

no not by Katie.... by QuellyRue Designs!

I've been featured on her blog...
http://quellyruedesigns.blogspot.com/2010/03/spotted-on-etsy-jenvecc.html

I'm so excited and so grateful. So be quick like an Easter Bunny and go see...

~jen

katie - katie - kate!!

2010-03-17T19:45:00.003-04:00

today is kate's birthday! she is 1 year old!
here is a great video of her playing with her favorite toy, mr. ice cream man!

have a great st patty's day!
~jen

garden ... really soon!

2010-03-16T19:49:00.005-04:00

so here is my garden update.

i transplanted some of them into bigger pots, and let some grow some more in the small pods. the beans are doing great, i might need to start more cosmos and petunias. take a look at some pictures... here are some seedlings before i transplanted them.and here they are all transplanted in to some bigger containers!

Spring Fever!!

2010-03-10T19:51:00.005-05:00

yup - its almost spring.

So i am having a ~Spring Fever Sale~ !!

All my scarves are on sale so get me ready for warmer weather :)
So go quick, click your way over to my shop, see what i got, and see what you love!
jenvecc ~inspired by color~

etsy treasure!

2010-03-08T19:27:00.010-05:00

well it's been a bit since i have done a true etsy treasure so i thought that tonite was the perfect nite! :) this treasure seems to not have a theme, as i haven't really been hearting theme things this week. anyway ... hope that you enjoy:)

this is a scarf/cowl made by lorilooms. I LOVE the color, and the thick comfy-ness of it. Not to mention four oversized tree branch buttons. It just makes we want to cuddle up in it and drink some hot choco! Go here to see what else lorilooms has.

this too cute bag was made by QuellyRueDesigns

i love the birdies and the hearts and the layers, and colors and handstitching! :) Plus she is donating 100% to the Red Cross for Haiti relief. Go here to see what else she has!

this soap cracks me up! its hilarious and great and unique! It was made by hulagirlsoapco - Its shea and cocoa butter, and extra exfoliating, perfect for a luau party! There are also many more wonderful soaps in hulagirls shop - go check them out here!

so there is some treasure for you. and i am always on the look-out for more treasure... leave a comment and I would love to check out your blog, or etsy shop. enjoy your day!

~jen

5 Things

2010-02-21T12:12:00.003-05:00

This is a post idea that I borrowed from Drummbellina! Basically there are 5 questions that you answer with 5 answers. I like it because its a fun idea and the number 5 is my lucky number!

1. 5 things i have found and love online. I'm going to make it my most recent 5 faves on etsy.

(click the pic to be re-directed to the item on etsy)

5 things that I'm looking forward to:
1. not being sick anymore - nasty cold
2. Pampered Chef party next weekend
3. Spring
4. eating veggies from my garden
5. getting the new switchplate i just ordered (yup the one i just listed as a fave)

5 things I did yesterday:
1. tried to buy new jeans and failed
2. posted a couple new items on etsy
3. made a homemade white pizza with sundried tomatoes for dinner
4. bought mom an eeyore coffee mug from the Disney Store
5. played soccer with Katie

5 things I wish I could do:
1. buy a new sewing machine!
2. live off of sales from etsy
3. have more patience
4. eat chinese food for lunch
5. take Kate for a walk - brr its chilly!

5 placed I'd love to travel to:
1. France
2. Italy
3. Northern CA again
4. Delaware - home of Dog Fish Head Brewery
5. Vancouver looks really pretty!

ok- those are my 5 questions and 5 answers - hope you enjoyed!
~jen

Puppy Time!

2010-02-19T09:06:00.007-05:00

Its puppy time... it's been a bit since I have shared some pics of our sweet Katie! We have Kate since July of last year, its amazing that it hasn't even been a year. She has wiggled and licked her way right into our lives. As we always say she is too cute for her own good, and way to intelligent. She knows alot of english, come spring we are going to have to start spelling w-a-l-k. But the good thing is that she is relatively quiet. When she wants to go out she will go and sit at the door, and when she wants cuddle time she makes herself known, but really only barks outside. I think that she thinks she is bigger than she really is, she's only about 40lbs - when we got her we were told that she was a lab/retriever mix. But I don't know any 40lb labs, she we think that she might be part Norwegian Elkhound - thus the SO cute curly tail :) Enjoy the pics!Here is Kate with her football - she loves chasing and catching and playing defense!

This is when we got 20" of snow, she loved running and chasing and playing her toys, and loosing her toys and digging for her toys and running around like a crazy girl!

See there she goes! Mid-Air!! She kinda leaps like a deer!
And here she comes with her squeaky toy!

And here she is in her bed all tired out! :)

Flickr?

2010-02-18T14:09:00.005-05:00

Do you Flickr? I just updated my flicker with new pics, titles, descriptions and tags! It took a while, and not sure if it was worth it, but i guess that it can't hurt. What do you think ?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jenvecc/

Oh and I'm going to be posting some new things this afternoon!

Garden - Step 2

2010-02-08T16:06:00.013-05:00

This year I get to have a real garden - i'm SO excited. This post is about step 2 because step 1 was all about the buying of the seeds. Step 2 is the planting - so wondering what we are going to grow ?

Flowers - Marigolds, Wave Petunia's, Morning Glory and Cosmos!

Herbs - Can't wait for fresh herbs all summer! Oregano, Basil, Rosemary, Thyme, Dill and Cilantro!

Veggies - Zucchini, Cucumbers, Lettuce, Eggplant, Roma Tomatos, Big Brandywine Tomatos, Yellow Cherry Tomatoes and Green Beans!

So the biggest part of Step 2 was to get organized... i made a list of what we have and how tall its going to get and spacing once they get in the garden.

Then the morning glory's needed a little more care, so they had to soak over nite because the shell was harder than the others.

So once everything is done soaking I got to the planting!

More to come... Plus posting a couple new things in my shop today!

pinecone weatherman

2010-02-07T14:45:00.005-05:00

This is our pine cone, pine cone's are rather amazing objects. They are still alive even after falling to the ground. This is a rather large one that came from the Carolina's. When it's open like this that means that it's dry. This pine cone is just starting to dry out, see how the top is so tight and the bottom is opening up? The whole thing gets all closed up when its raining.

And this is what happens when you get a nor'easter and get 20 inches of snow!! We had a good storm right before Christmas that left us almost 2 feet of snow. That's when I snapped this shot. I guess that our pine cone isn't so much a weatherman as a great conversation topic.

Happy Sunday - go watch some football :)
~jen

limey etsy treasure

2010-01-29T19:48:00.009-05:00

this etsy treasure is all about one of my favorite things. Lime. Ok so these are about the color lime, and i like my lime in a margarita, but you get the idea :)

this pincushion ring was made by artnestshop. I LOVE it. I think that it might be really fun to use while I am making and fun to wear. I love the colors and I love the fabric, and more than anything I love the idea. What a great idea for a pin cushion!
Go here to see what other fab things are in artnestshop's shop.

this "mug mats" were made by Cooltricks. I love the color and the swirls and the versatility! Batiks are one my favorite type of fabrics, the colors are so rich and vibrant. Go here to see what else that Cooltricks has!

this wicked fun bag was made by coquettecottonpocket.
I love the colors and the underwater scene, and the little crabs. What a super fun bag. The pleating is great and stylish! see what else you can get here!

hope you like my limey treasure! want to be considered to be featured for an etsy treasure, leave a comment and i'll check out your shop :) happy weekend all!

~jen

baskets!

2010-01-24T14:13:00.003-05:00

i made a new item last nite - baskets! :) aren't they super fun!
check them out here - my shop!

oops

2010-01-23T14:11:00.002-05:00

so today i brought my sewing machine in for service and asked what the next upgrade would be for my sewing machine... and its the Bernina Activa 220. And they let you test drive machines and it was WONDERFULDon't get me wrong I love my Bernette machine, but I'm outgrowing it a little. I've had it for almost 5 years and i think that its time to upgrade. I am doing more quilting and more exciting things that i need a better machine for. So as of right now all etsy proceeds will be going towards my new machine! yay! so go buy something - i want a new machine :)

new quilt block!

2010-01-18T14:38:00.007-05:00

this weekend I'm trying a new thing - actual quilt blocks. I must admit that i have fudged my way through teaching myself to quilt and piece together fabrics. This hasn't really been a bad thing. I have made some beautiful quilts...this is a quilt i made for my best friends when they got married. each leaf is individually appliqued on, and handstitched. it was beyond alot of work. but totally worth it!

so this time around i figured that i would try a pattern, and an accurate 1/4" and straight lines! yesterday we went to the store and got this gorgeous fabric, lots of bright bold colors, batiks, prints and i was so excited that i worked in my sewing room for 5 hours yesterday... then passed out in bed from complete exhaustion! but i was very happy with what i ended up with.this is my leaf and rose... so pretty... probably more to come. :)

p.s new items on my etsy site... jenvecc

enjoy!

New Years Idea

2010-01-13T19:30:00.004-05:00

So this year i'm not so much making a new years resolution, more like lots of new years ideas. One of the most fun ideas is that i am going to try to make lots of little mini quilts. I get this fabulous Quilting Arts mag every couple of months and i always want to test out the ideas and techniques in the magazines so this is the best way to learn and make of little art!

My first one is one that i started just after we moved in to our house. I played with paint and stitch and layers and edges. It's about 8x8".
I really like it. Batik fabric is wonderful and pretty and fun. My collection of fabric is growing alot - so this is a good way to use up some of that in a productive and totally fun way.

Images of new mini quilts to follow...!

enjoy :)
jen

Etsy Treasure - Massachusetts Style!

2009-08-02T18:53:00.003-04:00

Today I am featuring a few etsians from my home state of Massachusetts. These are some great items, and i hope that you love them too!

This is a set of super summer fun coasters made by HKExpressions. I love these because its great to have such everyday items be fun and colorful. Be sure to check out the others coasters available!

This Key fob was made by TwoFriendsStitching and is made from a recycled juice pouch. Again with the fun everyday item, plus recycled! too cool!

This beautiful print was made by AzureGrackle. I love the colors and layers and how the process is shown the item pictures. So pretty!

so those are my most recent favorite items!

~jen

p.s lots of new in my shop... be sure to take a look :)

some NEW!!

2009-07-26T20:14:00.004-04:00

here are images of some of my new items.. some already posted, some to be posted this week!

kate...kate..kate..kate!!!

2009-07-09T13:03:00.009-04:00

this is Kate! she is our new puppy! She is about 4 months old, and is a golden retriever/yellow lab/german sherpherd mix and she is so sweet. She likes to sleep, and try to attack my hair clips (totally serious!) this is kate in her bed, she really likes her bed, and her toys, and tail gating me. She gets so excited when Jon gets home.

she also likes getting on the couch and the chair. so far she has been good about chewing her toys and not the furniture... thank goodness for bitter apple spray!! so here are some of my
favorite puppy items :) each image is clickable to the maker's etsy site!!

"christmas" cactus

2009-06-25T14:04:00.002-04:00

ok- so this is my "christmas" cactus. I think that its pretty confused... cause its June. You are supposed to keep in the dark to make it bloom, so instead i keep it outside in the summer and it blooms in the summer... funny huh. So if you are new to my blog, yes i am a big plant fan. I was talking with my husband the other day and thinking that if i didn't do what i do plants are fun. what i do is inside sales and customer service 8-5, so of course plants would be more fun. I love rescuing plants... going to walmart or another store and seeing a poor plant on clearance that no one is going to buy. Those are the plants that I buy. The sad, lonely, almost dead ones. And 99% of the time i can save them... so i like plants.

~jen

little bit of treasure

2009-06-24T18:00:00.005-04:00

well its been a while, and i've been perusing etsy for some treasure, and i think i found some great ones ! i really hope that you agree....

this is a business card holder made by sosorosey. I love it because i hate digging cards out of that little spot i keep them in my wallet. and maybe if they were hanging right there i would remember that i have them! I also love the little bit of bling on the button - so sweet :) go here to see what else sosorosey has.

this print is from TheHauntedHollowTree's shop. I love it. The tree is so lovely, and the birds are so sweet. I am rarely out of ways to describe why i like things, but this one renders me speechless. The tones, and the gesture and the beauty. Go here to see it...

and i will end this treasure with a little bit of fun! and what is more fun than a cloudy pin cushion! this one was made by bubbletime. I love the fun-nontraditional blue sky, white cloudness of it all. its great. go here to see what else bubbletime has.

ok hope that you liked this etsy treasure!

~jen

little surprises

2009-06-19T08:05:00.004-04:00

So I have been learning one of the most interesting and exciting things about buying a house. In the spring, you never know what plants will pop out! So last week i went out and took some pictures. I thought that I would share some with you... this is a columbine... so pretty and sweet. and I love this photo... sometimes my camera does a good job!
I love my little surprises!

oh my house!

2009-02-24T20:05:00.003-05:00

ok - so me and my boy have been looking for a house since November... and I think that we found it!!
Its a perfect home, in the exact town that we wanted. Half way between work for both of us....
3 bedrooms, a big kitchen, hardwood floors, great fenced in yard and a bedroom that will fit my bureau... imagine that!It is a foreclosure... so it makes me sad for the people that used to own it. But then i think about the holes that they put in the wall before they moved out! grr... more work for us!

but maybe a home for us, very happy and excited and scared and going crazy...!!! I love the little house that we are renting, but it is that, a little house. Imagine a place for guests to sleep, or being able to walk around the dining room table. Or having the computer desk more than 3 feet from the TV. So Jon can geek it up, and I can love my tv shows...this is a bit of a ramble, but with a point. we might be getting a house. I say might because the home inspection is this weekend, and who knows what we will find. So i finish this post by showcasing some wonderful house warming gifts! :) (hint... hint...)

Just click on the picture to end up at the link....

what new?

2009-01-24T10:44:00.008-05:00

whats new.... lots.
This 2009 has had an interesting start, here are some of this years highlights so far!

jon did the polar plunge... brr it was stinking cold!

tracie locker her keys in the car while it was running in my driveway.. tee hee!

we are still looking for a house, preferably one with a functioning septic system...

i now only work 32 hours a week because of our wonderful economy... which leaves me a whole entire day for working in the studio. so while i only work 4 days a week, i am trying to crochet as much as i can during my lunch hour, and assemble and photograph on Fridays....so this post is showing off what the last couple Fridays have created!

so as you can see i'm trying to make a little bit of everything... i have two more clutches in the works, a wallet, and a handled bag like the grass green one that i already have.

so thats whats new with me... whats up with you?
~jen

etsy treasure! snail mail style :)

2009-01-16T08:24:00.004-05:00

hi everyone... i know i know i haven't done a treasure lately. this one is all about produce and snail mail. i have been admiring the note cards on etsy, so i decided to highlight a few!

these are made by EnFleur. Pretty notecards that are perfect to send to anyone that loves fresh veggies!!

ok- so these aren't real fruit, but they are fruit snacks! i love quirky cards and this one definitly fills that requirement. go here to check out the other cards that Jselep has!

this one is cool cause they are POSTCARDS! yay! i really like post cards too :) these are made by mundoflo

well thats all, i hope that you liked this treasure and that it inspires you to send a notecard to a friend :)

~jen

Happy New Year!

2009-01-09T09:02:00.007-05:00

So on New Years Day there was a Polar Plunge in Fairhaven, MA. Of Course my slightly nuts husband needed to take part. Now don't get me wrong the swim was for a good cause- proceeds went to a Scholarship, and a local Women's Center.But you need to keep in mind that it was 13-15 degrees, and very very windy! So Jon, my friend Tracie and myself headed to the beach. There we found alot more people than I expected. And some of them were even dressed up! So noon comes and everyone strips to their bathing suit, and gets ready to run in the ocean.... (just jon went it, it was too stinking cold for me!)

this is a picture of jon actually SWIMMING. Most people ran in and ran out, but not my Jon. He swam around and enjoyed the water for a bit. I suppose that it was warmer than the air. Jon was the next to last person out of the water!Her he is running out of the water... finally! and this next picture is Jon after running to car to try and stay warm. He was really cold, and a lovely shade of red, and shivering!
So if you are in MA next New Year and feel like being really cold for a good cause - Jon will be swimming again I'm sure!

Survey... need your opinion on a new product!

2008-12-23T10:04:00.005-05:00

so here it is... my first Nintendo DS cozy.... This one is a christmas present for my niece. shh... don't tell her:)

so please comment, tell me what you think. do you need a DS cozy, is it lame? Also there's a survey so that i can see what you think in numbers too :)This one is made from a chenille yarn, and lined with a canvas fabric. A flap with a spot of velco holds it all together.

thanks so much!
~jen

it snowed...

2008-12-21T14:02:00.006-05:00

it snowed alot here.... like 12 inches... so i took some pictures for you!

I also took the time to add 5 new items to my etsy site... these are items that i made for craft fairs, and haven't had a chance to add yet... i know i know... no excuse! :)

So here are my new items... hope you love them!

Happy Happy Holidays!!
~jen

Nana's Fish Chowder

2008-12-02T20:25:00.006-05:00

This my Nana Carlene's fish chowder recipe. Its one of my top 5 favorite foods... and we made it for dinner tonite. So i thought that i would share it with you !!

Ingredients:
two sliced onions
some olive oil
6 cups diced potatoes
1 lb of white fish (haddock-cod)
can of evaporated milk
bacons bits or fried salt pork
perhaps paprika if you want...

step #1 saute the onions in olive oil until they are transparent.
step #2 add diced potatoes to onions, add enough water to just cover the potatoes. Cook under tender. Not all the way tender, just barely tender.
step #3 When the potatoes are barely tender add the fish. If its a long filet cut it in half. I put it in the pot in almost whole pieces. If you like it less chunky feel free to cut it up before adding the fish to the pot.
step #4 once the fish is cooked, doesn't take long at all, add the can of evaporated milk. Then add the salt pork/bacon and or paprika. now for the fun part.... eating !!!

enjoy!
~jen

Clay Room

2008-11-26T11:14:00.005-05:00

So have you been to the Clayroom in Walpole, MA ?? It's a wonderful paint your own pottery studio. Maybe I am a bit biased 'cause one of my favorite people co-owns it!!

I went to college with Corrie, so i've known her for a few years :) and trust me - she runs a fun place! Last nite was a adults only come paint some pottery, drink some wine, eat some cheese party! It was a small showing, but that just meant more fun for us. The Clayroom is going to try to have these events monthly. So check out the website for more info, and contact info.

Here are some fun pictures from last nite.
i made a platter/plate, and a business card holder!! Flamingo style of course.

this is the back of the platter !

jon made a gargoyle !! he spent a long time with lots of gray glaze - shading the gargoyle to perfection! (he is a bit of a perfectionist!) i can't wait to see everything once it comes out of kiln, all shiny and such. Corrie has tons of different items to choose from, tons of glaze colors, perfect for adults and kids!!

so thats that- a wonderful nite with awesome friends. I highly recommend it!! I will update with pics once the platter, card holder and gargoyle are glazed!!

happy turkey day!!
jen

chilly willy etsy treasure

2008-11-22T13:55:00.015-05:00

ok- so its almost my birthday! and i love my birthday. alot... :) so for this etsy treasure i am going to post things that i would love to get for my birthday. as usual they will be filled with color, and have a wonderful texture. maybe i can wear it, maybe i can use it, maybe it holds coffee. so here are my birthday wishes!! ( because this etsy treasure is a special edition it will not have my happy little blerbs- just click on a picture to go see the item)

yummy yarn...
fab ring...
rustic frames....
fantastic note cards...
super fun wallet....
and a kiss whenever you want...

happy thanksgiving everyone!
~jen

flamingos!!

2008-11-05T17:56:00.003-05:00

check out this window that i found in Northampton, MA. Its pretty exciting for those folks that love flamingos as much as i do!!

1st Ever Give-Away!

2008-10-22T19:33:00.021-04:00

Well- welcome to my first ever give-a-way!

Do you want to win a super cute handmade by mini clutch? I know that you do. All you have to do is leave a comment on this post answering these few questions.

1. What colors do you prefer in your crocheted accessories? (scarves/clutches/ponchos/technology cozies)

2. What type of closures do you like? Buttons, snaps, velcro etc.

3. What is your favorite item in my shop and why?

This give-a-way will close next Wednesday October 29th at 8pm EST. Please take part, this will help me know what my customers are looking for. :) thanks so much, and good luck !!

etsy color...

2008-10-14T19:51:00.003-04:00

this post is all about the color of etsy. these three things are bright, happy and are fabulous everyday items. and if you know anything about me, its that i love color! :)

these sweet pony tail holders are made by bethne3. Perfect for a little one, or a big girl! They will add pizazz and color to any do! check out the other fab treasures in bethne3's shop... here!

these gift tags, or snazzy scrapbook tags are bright and colorful and totally unique. I love the style and specialness of the tags. go here to see more tags and other great note cards!

this handknit scarf was made by romanticgems. i love that the flowers are all different, and colorful, and wonderful. do you want to see the rest of it ? well go here to see it!

ok- so that was just a quick one, hope that you liked the color!

~jen

fall is here...

2008-10-13T18:38:00.005-04:00

so those of you that know me, know that fall is my favorite... the colors, the coolness, the sharp bright warm sun, and of course thanksgiving. But back to the other reasons. Thanksgiving will be covered at a later date :)

i LOVE the colors of fall, the burnt oranges, the greens, the reds and yellows.. just take a look at my shop and you will see my favorite colors. the other thing that i love is my plants. now below is a picture of Zoe. Zoe is my aloe plant, and i am going to tell you a tale of plant devotion.

Zoe is a rescue, sort of like an animal at a shelter. This plant was destined for a long life at Walmart, a life that would probably end in death come winter. So both me and mom rescued an aloe plant from Walmart that day. The plant was in a small planter, about 4" wide, and 5-6" deep. The plant itself had three aloe leaves, and was maybe 12" tall. This was over 10 years ago... Zoe has been to four years of college, moved back and forth with me everytime. She loves car rides. After college Zoe became accustomed to the spending the summer months outside, so every spring she would move outdoors until fall came. Once fall would come in either my dad or my now husband would curse me for my plant love, and need to rescue plants. You see there is nothing more loved than the summer by Zoe. She stretches, and widens, and always needs to be transplanted. So now 10 years later Zoe's summer is over, as she was moved inside yesterday... and i must say that she has grown...

she has grown a rather lot since that day in Walmart so long ago. this pot is about 15" tall, and 20" wide. Zoe is probably 36" tall, and 48" wide. Her biggest leaves are 3" wide and almost an inch thick! She is an instant conversation piece, and i love her.... but if you need any aloe let me know cause i don't know if i will be able to transplant her again!

happy fall.
~jen

fruit-tastic treasure !

2008-10-05T10:56:00.003-04:00

well i have been gone for a while, been really busy. see my best bud Melissa is getting married next Friday, to another of my best buds jimmy. i have been getting ready for that, and now that the wedding is in sight, along with some free time; etsy and blogging here i come :)

this group of treasure is about tasty fruit, they might be fruity colored, or themed, or just reminiscent of some tasty treasures. enjoy!

this pendant is so citrus- i love it. Made from an upcycled scrabble tile by pendantic. Please check out the shop here because there are many other wonderful treasures. This pendant would be great to jazz up any outfit!

ok - so this one just has fruit in the picture, but i still think that its a fabulous idea. and corona is good with lime :) This flattened Corona bottle was made by dpholkdesigns - and is perfect as a spoon rest, wall hanging, or serving tray. I think that it would be a perfect gift for the person that has everything and loves their Corona. Go here to see what else in store...

speaking of limes, check out this limey ring! made by pennydog accessories this is definitly a one of a kind. Super fun and unique. Plus- $2.00 of this sale goes to the Retired Greyhound Trust. Too Cool! Go here to check it out :)

here is a sneal peek at my newest scarf... please check out my shop for more cozy comfy treasures, plus new laptop cozies, and clutches .

~jen

quick quick...

2008-08-01T21:36:00.004-04:00

just a little quick post with some pics from a short vacation to cape cod, and a new scarf that i just posted... more to come soon.... but just wanted to share these amazing photos! :)
this is me and jon, and Sam. Sam is a soccer ball that was our 1st joint purchase 8 years ago... it may seem totally crazy- but he is really important to us :)
and this is jon modeling my newest scarf... go check it out in my shop. hope all is well with everyone!
~jen

feeling a little blue....?

2008-07-27T19:51:00.005-04:00

well it has been raining here for a long time. big rain... i really am not a fan of thunderstorms. i don't like the noise, and trying to sleep during it, and getting woken up petrified because a clap of thunder or lightning was super loud. my most recent (before tonite) thunderstorm was when we were camping on cape cod. it was loud and scary, but not super scary cause you could tell that the lightning was super far away. so this etsy treasure is based on blue... cause water looks blue. :)

this treasure was made by limamike. its a fabulous wire wrapped bracelet. i love the style and the funki-ness. there are alot of other wonderful items in limamike's shop, please check them out!
click here please :)

i just found this treasure doing a basic search on etsy. this fab tote was made by SeeJaneSmile from a recycled wool sweater. i love the details on the front, it makes this bag totally unique and fun! and we all know that i love fun things. :) go here to check it out!

ohh no- a monster in my blog! :) this guy was made by jodieflowers. he is a super great monster that can be used as patch for anything you can think of, and even has an iron-on backing. go here to check out all the colorful monsters.

i hope that you liked the blue treasure... i do- even though there is a thunder storm now! hopefully my next post will be about sunshine and butterflies :)
have a super day!
~jen

some garden notes....

2008-07-12T15:26:00.009-04:00

this post is about my love of plants... gardens and indoor plants are a rather large part of my life- so i thought that i would share images. I have an assortment of plants- most of my house plants started as walmart rescues or parts of my mom's... see that aloe plant. its a monster! :)this is my vegetable garden... my yard has a LOT of bunnies so, my plants are on my deck. I got a bunch of 5 gallon buckets from my dad. we have eggplant, green beans, roma and big boy tomatoes, pickling cukes, basil and green bell peppers. ohh- and one gourd plant! these line the entry to the house so that i can check on them everyday when i leave and come home.

wicked crazy cucumber plant- i am going to have alot of cukes-all at the same time!! :) guess i'll make some pickles!
here is my basil plant... yummmy!here are a few more of my house plants. they live indoors in the winter and outside in the summer. they grow ALOT in the summer. i have two spider plants, a christmas catcus that is starting to bloom in july. (guess its ready for christmas in july) and a mother of thousands plant. this is my garden... lots of plants that are recovering from rabbits... i have tried many nice ways to scare away the rabbits. spices like garlic powder and chili pepper flakes, plus some dog hair has seemed to work! ohh and see that garden knome. he is new today! his name might be harry or frank. what do you like??here is a close up of my chicken and hens... they are growing up- never seen that before! these came from my nana and gramps yard. they like it here.

so thats my love of plants... i also have a small cactus and one more mother of thousands in the house.... :)
~jen

miss me? and some treasure...

2008-07-02T20:25:00.004-04:00

here we go again - its summer and i'm SO busy! this last weekend was a blast though. me and the girlies went to Mohegan Sun (a casino in CT) and saw Billy Joel! he was great! really really good... he is a bit old, but those fingers move so fast over the piano. it was fabulous. :) It was my first time at a casino and the whole thing was very bizarre to me. it was so dark, and a big maze where everything looks the same. and old people chain smoking and playing slots... very bizarre, but i would totally go again. but i like a $20 gambling limit. :)

So here is some more treasure for you... this treasure is just about some light-hearted favorites. enjoy...

this felt ring was made by MistyAurora, its light and happy! what a great way to add some fun to your fingers. I love the colors ad the idea of the whole ring. Doesn't it make you want cotton candy? check out MistyAurora's entire shop here!

this tote was made by aggieray ~ and i think that i'm in love. I love the colors and the patterns and the overall design. it has a pocket on the inside too! some days i spend all day on etsy looking for a new bag- never ending up buying one. this one is what my new bag day dreams are made
of.... like eating a pint of Ben and Jerry's.... Yellow and Lime.

My other thing to drool over is wonderful pottery... like this soup crock by Misspottery. This is a 14oz soup crock, or dip bowl! the glaze is beyond amazing... the range of colors and the way that they accentuate the shape of the bowl! i'm in love again....
Soup Crock here!

this little perfect wallet was made by MelodysUnchained. i love the colors in this wallet, and all its cubbies ! a pouch for folded cash, a change purse, and some card holders too. great colors, great design - love it!! check out what else Melody has in the shop!

well thats all for tonite... and a sneak peek at my newest clutch...
please let me know what you love, so that i can find more and more treasure :)

got one!

2008-06-08T21:24:00.005-04:00

its been a while since i snagged a treasury, but tonite i got one. Its called Buttercup Love. And its all about the golden, buttercup, marigold color.
Hope you like it!go here to check it out : Buttercup Love Treasury!

buttons!

2008-06-07T15:33:00.003-04:00

so a few of you know that i like to use ultra funky buttons in my clutches. well i was in vermont over memorial day weekend, and we went to this flea market. well i found the button jackpot! they were all in little baggies and seperated and SO easy to look thru. I love to find great big buttons that are inexpensive! so here are some of my treasures :)

gift guide wow!

2008-05-21T19:47:00.003-04:00

this is page one of the Everyday Gift Guide ! what do you see hiding there among page 2, row 3 ??? what is that an original jenvecc technology holder. whoa... i was so excited when i found this. so just wanted to share my excitement.

happy wednesday!!

~jen

what a wonderful weekend....

2008-05-18T18:07:00.003-04:00

this weekend brought many wonderful things... saturday we adventured north to Ikea. when i say north i don't really mean all that north, just 45 minutes. we were in need of a duvet cover. and we found a wonderful one. on the way home we stopped at Borderland State Park to play some frisbee golf! Frisbee golf is a game that i am still relatively new to, but its super fun.There are special discs and these funny "hoops" that you try to get the frisbee in. There are two tees for each hole, a closer and a farther. (we definitely did the closer tee!) The hoops are round with chains hanging down, and you try to get it in the basket part of the hoop. Its fun, and hard, and i usually end up 2-3 throws above par! the weather was wonderful and the park was so full! what a fabulous day....

Etsy-Treasure!

2008-05-12T19:02:00.005-04:00

here we go - a good ole' fashioned treasure hunt! this time i went looking for items that make me think. more specifically i wanted items that made you think of new ways to do something- or new ways to reuse something.

I gotta admit this green thing is catching on in my head, those reuse-able bags that Stop n Shop sells really are wonderful. You can fit way more in a bag, and they are way easier to carry into the house. Plus i don't have an overflowing bag of plastic bags that i keep forgetting to recycle! :) so i imagine that i will be mentioning more green-ness in the future!

ok- back to the treasure!
these frames are made by ParadiseHillDesigns. i bet that you are wondering how picture frames fit in this etsy-treasure catergory- well these are not your ordinary frames! Here is a blerb from listing, "Our solid wood frames are handcrafted here on Paradise Hill from aged barn wood which we have collected ourselves in our area. Most of them are of old pine, some of old fir. They are built to last, held together by hidden screws, the holes filled with solid wood dowelling." (ParadiseHillDesigns) So totally cool - would be great for a beach house, a cabin in the woods, or bring some nature into your work cubicle. (i know my cube needs some life!) go here to check out these fab frames!

this shower treasure was made by kreations! And really how cool~i just bought me some homemade etsian soap and i'm thinking i might need a soap sock. here are soap sock bonus':
1. they hold the itty bitty pieces of soap you can get all the sudsy-ness from your favorite bar.
2. fabulous suds and exfoliating!
3. WASHABLE ~ its just cotton, and you can hang it by that little hook and let it dry. no mildew!
go here to check out the other colors available!

so i just found this fabulous person! and its one of the coolest things on etsy (in my opinion!) Rosewebs has this thing for law chairs. so much so everything is made from them! totes, wallets, pouches! what a great way to re-use that old broken yawn chair fabric. i know no better way to brighten up your back pocket! go here to find your favorite one!

ok folks- thats all the treasure for now. as for me, i have been dealing with some back pain issues, and a few custom orders. so fear not - more new from me soon !! have a fab day-go reuse something!!

~jen

happy mothers day!

2008-05-11T08:20:00.003-04:00

happy mothers day to all those mothers out there ! i hung out with my mom yesterday, we went to the Euro Store and partook in the 20% off everything for a woman sale! I got a great pair of sandals and mom got new Dansko's! We then had burgers with the guys and mom brought chocolate covered strawberries. But the coolest thing (in my opinion) was the homemade totally healthy strawberry sorbet. remember around christmas i told you that my hubby got me an ice cream maker? well i just used it! i lOVE it! :)

hope that you get to spend some time with your mom today!

~jen

some more love... etsy-treasure!

2008-04-27T19:39:00.008-04:00

this is my newer new item - a laptop cozy. this one has been in the works for far too long. but its done, and posted and waiting for a new home. i lined it with a fabulous light brown corduroy. i like that it keeps a laptop safe while its in a bag... and warm too- what if its cold out! :)

so here is some wild animal adventure for you in the form of etsy-treasure. this is an abbreviated treasure cause i'm really tired. so enjoy!

this finger puppet is wicked cute and really fun! it was made by staceyrebecca. check it out here!

this messenger style squirrel lovin' tote was made by marygold.
she has lots of creatures hanging out in her shop!

this little pouch is toucan crazy! made by littleoddforest. go check here for more toucans!

this pirate penguin was made by teenybeak - and there are many many super great penguins in their shop! go here to see what you love!

i hope that you like these animals! :)

~jen

need some green ??

2008-04-22T19:59:00.008-04:00

today is earth day... and today i heard a news article about a house that was completely gutted and remade green.... the insulation, the roof, the windows, the floors...everything. tables, curtains... all of it!! They talked about what makes an item green, its reduce/reuse-ness, its durability, its carbon output and all that stuff that i really don't understand. it all makes me wonder what will happen when we buy a house and want to make it green. not uber green- but some green. we as a country have moved so far forward in year - what will next year bring. need an example... my grandparents just bought a hybrid. yep my grandparents... a generation that no idea what green was when they were growing up- or even what bad idea aerosol hairspray is !! i know that we have a big ways to go- but i feel like its starting. so that is my rambling... and here is some green for you.

this Polka Dot Basket was made my handmadebyannabelle. And i love it...!! Annabelle makes these baskets by wrapping fabric around cording. Super unique and really green !! go here to check out what else she has :)

This seaglass bracelet was made by willowblacklab. All the sea glass was found on the beaches of Nova Scotia. Its beautiful, subtle, and a wonderful way to reuse what was once just broken glass. Go here to see what other wonders willowblacklab has.

If you have been around etsy for a bit and love yarn then you already know about this etsian. Kittygrrlz makes wonderful drool-worthy yarns. This seagreen hand-dyed & handspun yarn is a green treat. i love kittygrrlz yarns and some day i will buy some but until then i will look at the them all here... and continue to dream :)

so that is all for tonite... happy earth day everyone.

~jen

i think spring might be here...

2008-04-20T20:27:00.003-04:00

well folks it seems to me that sprung finally... the daffodils are up, the car isn't frozen in the morning and we went to Todd Farm today. Todd Farm is an excellent flea market/antique market in Rowley Ma. Its a wonderful place that has been there my whole life. Rows and rows of dealers and regular people selling everything that you could imagine. Its one of those places that you need to get there early. And when i say early - i mean like 8am. Its a fabulous place to wonder around drinking coffee and finding treasures... which might be why i enjoy my etsy-treasure so much! :)

this time i included some pictures from the beach near our house. it was the first really nice spring day and me and jon went down to the ocean.... and we found some sea glass.

earth day etsy-treasure!

2008-04-12T10:08:00.003-04:00

so i started a post in the forums to get more lovely treasure and i was so inspired by these folks that this etsy-treasure is all about the love of the earth. Specifically re-using! These are some of the most creative and yet totally cool items. i hope that you look at this post and the stuff you have laying around the house and feel inspired.

This set of button-tastic magnets were made by backwoodsophiticate ! They attach fabulous square buttons to ceramic tiles, add a magnet and presto ~ you get a super hip magnet for your fridge. The magnets are coated with an adhesive glaze for protection and style! What a great way to use up all those extra buttons you have. Go here to check them out!

So this change purse was made by birdversusbird. Here is a blerb about what birdversusbird does, "The graphics for all Bird vs. Bird products are digitally printed on the waste edges and roll-ends of gigantor rolls of banner and adhesive vinyl we use at my 9-5 workplace (a commercial sign shop). What was once headed to the dump is now covered in cuteness and headed to you!" so cool huh! what a great way to use something that was headed for the trash.
go here to see all the purses, totes and magnets!

so beetlelady uses old maps to make these fabulous destination inspired journals! the journals are completely customizable -pick your country, your paper, your thread color ! such a great way to use an old encyclopedia! Beetlelady also offers other great journals in her shop... which is here!

ok- so that is what i have for today. hope that you enjoy and feel inspired! if you want to see more, just go to etsy and search for recycled or upcycled - you will be amazed at what you find :)

~jen

little bit of new....

2008-04-09T18:10:00.005-04:00

have you been missing me? well don't you worry cause i have new stuff on the way. :) like this scarf... so comfy! like has been really really busy and honestly i'm not all that sure why. Last weekend i went to a pampered chef party that my mom and sis hosted, and my girl Corrie did (she is the consultant- is that the right word) it was a great party, lots sold, lots of great food, and a fabulous white sangria! Saturday nite i saw my other girls Melissa and Tracie... two of my most favorite people. we hadn't hung out in a bit - so we got some grub and ventured over to the mall. more girl time to come for miss chicky's 27th birthday. holy cow- 27!

hmmm... what else have i been doing ? i have been working alot and trying to chat in the forums and the chats during lunch- its fun and a total work distraction for an hour. plus it helps me look for more etsy-treasure. which really i enjoy doing, i love giving "props" to fellow etsians that really catch my eye. there are so many wonderful artists out there, and etsy is such a wonderful place. plus sometimes i buy the items! :)

well dinner is done... so i leave you with two pictures, one from my bachelorette party and one from my wedding, yes April 14 is my 1 year anniversary. i've almost been a wife for a year. it's crazy i can't even believe that it has been that long....

~jen

yay!

who needs email...

2008-04-06T19:55:00.002-04:00

...when etsy has such wonderful and unique cards! This Etsy-Treasure is all about the good old fashioned idea of mailing mail... instead of emailing it. These etsians create with their hands the vehicles that keep the good ole USPS going. Cards and mail are wonderful- i adore getting mail. Birthday cards, Christmas cards, Anniversary cards... cards just cause- they are all wonderful and so much more personable than email. so here we go !

How sweet is this one... two cows in love! This card was created by FlyingRabbitStudio, and is extra large, measuring: 8.5"x5.5". It would be perfect for that special friend of your! Go here to see it!

These dragonfly cards are so sweet, and the color is so vibrant! These are made by Crookedlittlestudio, and the coolest thing is that they even offer Build Your Own Card Sets! so cool.... :) Go Here to check them out!

These notecards are made from budanART, the notecards are made from original landscape paintings. I love the abstract love of color and landscape - they really catch the emotion of the seasons. Go here to check em' out!

I hope that you really loved all the items that i chose. Mail is such a wonderful thing, i hope that i managed to inspire you to mail a card or a note to a friend, or your mom!

etsy treasure - wild animal day!

2008-03-21T13:21:00.010-04:00

well welcome to Friday! thank goodness! its been quite the week, i was sick monday, my car smelled like fruit loops tuesday, i got free pizza wednesday, and played some Super Smash Brothers last nite.... i'm tired :) But not too tired to give you a dose of a super fantastic Etsy-Treasure Feature. This post is all about the animals... maybe i was inspired by the wild animal brawl on S.S.B. Anyway- here are my fave animals on etsy.
This wonderful ring was made by AuntiDi. Its a lampwork bead fashioned into a new animal... the Tursnail! This ring is perfect for the days that you are feeling lighthearted and jovial- or the days that you should be! yay for tursnails....

As we adventure into the jungle we come across a big blue elephant. this is not your average elephant, in fact its a sew on patch! He was made by lillah - perfect to add to your old fave jeans, a tote or even to make a too cute onsie! go here to check it out!

So.... maybe you wouldn't find Jin the Lop Eared Jacabunny in your average jungle, but don't forget this is an Etsy-Treasure jungle... where anything is possible!
Here is a brief excerp of Jacabunny background, "This wee Jin the Jacabunnie is old enough now to go out in the world and seek his fortune. Like the Jacabobs he enjoys the usual Jacabob fare but also has a great fondness for carrots and watercress. (Adoptive parents must also consider he has a congentital issue with ear control. They just wont stand up)". (Kitlane) go here to see Jin!

well there you have it! hope that you all have a wonderful weekend, and a Happy Happy Egg-Coloring filled Easter. Should you want more details about my new fruity-tooty-licious car let me know... i'll give you the scoop.

~jen :)

etsy treasure...circles

2008-03-11T19:19:00.005-04:00

this etsy-treasure post is about circles. some of my favorite new circles. hope that you enjoy!

This wonderful soap was made by Pegasussoaps. Here is the description of these fab treasures!
" These are filled with 5 oz of olive oil glycerin soap soaked in with a loofah sponge", you get to choose your scent, and they are colored appropriately. There are more scents than you could even imagine! go here to check them out!

this fabric/paint fiesta was made by Spiralsun65 !! its a canvas painting with fabric and button flowers. i love the colors and rawness of the image. its a great size 8"x8". perfect to brighten any day! :) go here to see Flowers in the Field!

ok- this is one of my ABSOLUTELY favorite new items! so much so that after i post this i might buy it. JuleeQue makes these fabulous mug-cozies, and the mug is even included. many colors are offered, along with various buttons! so unique and SO perfect to keep your hands from burning and to keep your tea/coffee a tad warmer! go here to see what color you like best!

ok- so there are my favorite new circles, one is circle shaped, one has circles in it, and one fits around a round mug! (i know the last one stretched it a bit, but i really love it) i hope that you are all having a fabulous week. and i will leave you with one bit of jen update. i'm going to see BILLY JOEL in concert! how wicked cool is that.... :)

:)
jen

my new jitter-bug....

2008-03-09T17:53:00.003-04:00

well here she is, my new car. she is a pontiac vibe, and ohh so cute!
doesn't she look like a bug? i think so... so her name (unless i get a better idea) is jitter-bug. :)

yay... i like her! this has been a wacky weekend. mom and dad came down yesterday for dinner. it was dad's birthday dinner. it rained and rained and rained.... we got like 2-4" of rain... crazy-ness!!

last nite me and jon went to the movies, we saw juno. it was good. i liked it. thats all... :)

today i went out to get some supplies, and came back and worked on a case for a walletpix. and made one more mini pouch....

it is lined with a pea-green paisley. so fun and funky. i think thats all i got for today. talk to you all soon!

~jen

what's your favorite?

2008-03-02T11:38:00.009-05:00

i got this idea a few days ago while reading the daily blog-love post on the etsy forums. a post about my favorite tools in my studio. so here they are, some of my most needed and loved tools....

#1. this is one of my most needed and most favorite.... my Berette 55 Bernina sewing machine. this was a gift from my parents a few years ago, i had been using hand me downs from my grandmothers. And after years of them using them and me making two quilts with them they were a little tired. :) This machine is by no means the bestest and fanciest, but it does what i need it too and has more options than my hand-me-downs, so its a great stepping stool machine, and someday i will upgrade! :)

#2. this might seem funny- but i LOVE these snips, they are always ready to cut when i need to and also happy to help. they are easy to use, small enough to fit in my sewing machine cubby and perfect to snip everything. i would really be lost without them!

#3. my magnetic needle holder. silly huh... well let me explain the normal status of my table and ironing board is absolute chaos- so to have an item that holds SO many little sharp pointy things in one place is wonderful.

#4. my iron. i love it, it gets hot quick, it steams, it auto shuts off. what more do you need from an iron! :)

#5. my crochet hooks of course, this crazy assorment of colors and sizes helps me make all that i make. i have itty-bitty ones and big-honking ones - i love them all though. i really love the 2nd from the right green one. its a K, and a great average size. i keep all my hooks in one place - a toothbrush case! what a super great idea huh- not mine, i got the idea somewhere. so i went to my local target and bought a 99cent holder. i highly recommend it.

so those are my top five... i like this idea SO much that i am planning on tagging 5 of my etsy-pals... so go and check out these folks 5 faves!

knit1scrap2
greenspacegoods
dancing mooney
popko
fernfiddlehead

enjoy!
~jen

Loving the Etsy Treasure!

2008-03-01T09:36:00.006-05:00

here it is... post #2 in my new etsy-treasure series. So are you wondering what exactly is Etsy-Treasure? well let me tell you... etsy is a wonderful place to find items that you can't find in the average store, and i want to show off my favorites. So these are all items that i have come across in the forums, chats or blogs... I want to keep it to 3 items a post, and themes! post #1 was all about the bag, and this post is all about fleece and felt! :) ~enjoy!

These super hip coasters are made by Project Felt.
This is the Sea Collection of felted coasters. I personally love them because of the color and personality they will add to your coffee table! Super hip and super fun! love em'... :)

need a scarf? well this one will get you noticed! Made of lots and lots of little circles, and slightly reminiscent of fish scales its super way fun!
ReeesaT made this scarf, and there are more colors in her shop.
Reeesa is a newbie to etsy so go show her some love :)

This is totally one of my new absolute faves! Made by TheFunkyFelter this is the most original pendant out there! A needle felted, glass embelished super fab treasure. TheFunkyFelter has tons of crazy unique treasures in her shop and i love most of them!

So those are my treasures for this week and i would love to hear what you think about them and where i should look for my next treasure... :) p.s. i'm mostly healthy again so i'll be back to creating soon....

real life etsy treasure

2008-02-24T18:21:00.004-05:00

If you take a peek at my etsy-treasure post you will see a fabulous Reduce Market tote! well i am SO happy to say that i am now the proud owner of one! thanks TONS salvage nation! :)

this has been a super wacky week, i am trying to fight off a cold/sore throat yucky-ness. my work is full of the flu and nasty colds so i am trying to keep healthy. Airborne, vitamins, lots of green tea, and a special treat of raspberry sorbet. so needless to say i haven't done much creating this week.

~jen

happy belated presidents day!

2008-02-19T18:58:00.003-05:00

happy presidents day - what a fabulous weekend! my girlies came and visited me saturday nite and we hit up a great bar/pool hall. it was too much fun! lots of laughs and bad pool playing! sunday me and jon headed up to mom n dads to visit with them, and monday we test drove some new cars! a toyota matrix and a pontiac vibe. it was way super fun :)

in the middle of all that i managed to finish up this mini clutch and get pics taken... to be posted tommorrow!

i love the excitement that my "etsy-treasure" post created! the postees were excited and i love showing of treasures that i find. so i hope to make this a regular thing. (if you want me to look for treasure in your shop please leave me a comment)

hmm.. what else??? how was your weekend???

~jen

etsy treasure!

2008-02-16T08:03:00.021-05:00

so every once and a bit i like to tell you what i've found that i love on etsy. today i'm going to show you some of my favorite bags. these are well made, well designed, lovely fun, functional color-loving bags. etsy has so many tags for bags; tote, bag, purse, clutch, handbag, cozy...
here are my favorites! :)

this is made by knit1scrap2.... its a perfect little tote to hold your everything. i love the colors and the fuzzy-ness and the zipper. its a wonderful etsy-treasure. Felted Clutch!

quick go see it before i buy it! :)

so you want some more... well i have a special treat for you,and all those people out there that love the green movement.

this is a super great canvas tote that was embroidered by SalvageNation! Check out this fabulous Market Tote!
how perfectly does it tell the world that you care about the enviroment and are about the reducing and recycling and reusing !!

ok- last one... maybe :)

this is a fabulous cork bag made by CorkandCotton. Here is a blerb about cork:
"Yes it is real cork, in it's original state. Shavings are taken from the bark of the cork oak tree, applied to a thick cotton fabric backing, and sealed. The cork will not peel or disintegrate. The cork may be wiped with a damp cloth, or even put in the washing machine up to 90 degrees F!
Cork looks & feels like leather, is soft, flexible, lightweight, waterproof, durable, and a renewable resource! " (corkandcotton)

So more green-enviro friendly love! :) Please go look at this one and all the other great bags they have!

As far as my shop, i am happy to report that i made a sale this week!! yay!! my fabulous good ole blue laptop cozy! as far as new, i have a new clutch posted and new mini clutches on the way. ohh... i love long weekends! so much time SO much to do :)
Happy Presidents Day!
~jen

addiction....

2008-02-11T20:13:00.000-05:00

so today there is word that the writers strike may be over... so only a few weeks till my favorite shows are back.... i miss my mcdreamy, and my bizzare show about a pie shop and not so dead girl and of course HOUSE. i think that i miss house most of all because jon watches it with me. and its funny. :) so congrats to the writers and everyone that gets to go back to work. and of course all the other viewers out there that are beyond sick of bad reality tv.

that is my rant. this past weekend we dog sat for mom and dad. kasey was a good dog, and behaved rather well!
see that is kasey, she is a golden retriever with a particularly special disposition. and especially vocal! :) she loves jon, and loves the ends of asparagus and chasing tennis balls but NEVER retrieving.

thats all i have for today. i just posted my newest feels like winter clutch :)

have a super one
~jen

2008-02-06T19:24:00.000-05:00

well its still winter, and with all this snow its got me thinking blue. the color that is. this is my newest clutch and its all about the color blue. so many types of yarn creating one look!!

monday was jon's birthday and he had a good day! for christmas i got jon a handheld gps - so for his birthday i got him idiots guide to geocaching, i can't wait till it gets warm enough for adventures. sunday we went cross country skiing with my father in law. it was fun and exhausting... my legs feel better 3 days later. :)

in fact they were so sore i bought a rice bag from ccquilter! it will be wonderful! im so excited.

not sure what else i got for news, some mini clutches are in
the works- and i'm off etsy this weekend for dog sitting duty!

so enjoy my new clutch :)
~jen

a bit of snow....

2008-01-27T20:10:00.000-05:00

so its snowing outside, and SO windy. So i posted this snowflake love scarf!

so next week is my boys birthday and he is turning 30! holy cow :)
so we are visiting with his parents and siblings and nieces n nephews next weekend. should be tons of fun, then we are going to go out to dinner sunday nite. just us to our favorite restaurant. Bittersweet Farms, we haven't been there since the nite that Jon proposed to me! its a super wonderful yummy and rustic restaurant. yes, before you ask that is the night of the superbowl, and while of course i do wish luck to the pats, i have seen my share of the patriots winning the super bowl. i mean its not like its the red sox and i have a free couch on the line. :)

jon was born during the blizzard of '78. if you are from new england or boston you know what that means.... it means lots and lots and lots of snow and people stuck where they were, because of all the weather. thats an image i found of a sidewalk from the blizzard. crazy huh! :) happy snow love...

~jen

new snazz...

2008-01-21T20:21:00.000-05:00

so here are a couple new things from me... i just posted the snazzy raspberry clutch. a new super thick scarf and a super skinny clutch too!! :)

as for whats new in the world of jen... work is busy, the pats won the AFC Championship...again. :) This weekend i am visiting the bridal show in Boston with my girlie melissa who is a bride to be. i'm really excited about the prospects of free cake. when i was engaged i didn't do any of those things so this will be wicked fun. and probably overwhelming. not as overwhelming as ordering a bridesmaid dress during prom season.... wow so glad that i am no longer 17.

so besides all of that there are mini clutches on the way for
next week. two of them are about 1/2 done.

i guess thats all i got!

~jen

time to reflect...

2008-01-20T09:26:00.000-05:00

on some new faves! as you all know every once and a bit i post some of my favorite things. not only to show you the fabulous items that are offered on etsy, but also to showcase some wonderful artists! so here you go....

Moonorover makes these Handspun Merino Rings i personally love them and think them wicked fun. check it out, other colors are offered.

i also LOVE this dress from PhriendlyK8. She has the most beautiful clothes in her shop.

this one is called love and protection dress.
According to the description the applique on the top of the dress is a Futhark (runes) word that means love and protection. So cool... and a love the colors... wouldn't it look nice with one of Moonrovers rings. :)

ok- one more! This one is made by BeanPickleSprout - and its so cool.
i wish that i had one in my kitchen! Her Turtle Pot Holder will make all your other pot holders shiver with envy. I think that this one is a fabulous idea.
So those are some of my new faves, and i know that you can see why i love them. :) As for my shop i have 2-3 newbies to photograph today, and a new scarf to be posting tonite!! For all you new englanders - GO PATS !! :)

what a saturday!

2008-01-13T12:43:00.000-05:00

so this saturday i went into Boston with mom n dad and went to the market. The market is this crazy mess of vendors selling there produce. I got SO much veggies and fruit and they are so yummy.

i managed to spend about $10 and got peppers, tomatos, eggplant, asparagus, raspberries, blueberries, apples, tangerines, potatoes, and probably something else that i am forgetting! it was wicked fun.

Today i a making machine, after this post i am heading upstairs to get some real work done. This a.m. i made a backing for a new clutch, so i'm going to finish the two that i have in the work, photograph em' and keep on going.

here are some sneak peeks!

let me know what you think and please vote on my poll :)

happy winter-ness...

~jen

bonjour!

2008-01-10T20:03:00.000-05:00

today i have been featured on Paris Chic Boutique blog! Go Here!!

I am SO beyond excited! thank you SO much :)

ok- besides that wonderful news i have been making some new stuff while the old stuff is getting noticed. Like this Super Skinny Suede Scarf. Apparently i love alliteration too. This scarf is way soft and comfy and the color is all about the FUNK!

So see that poll up there? yup way up there.... please go vote. its what all the cool kids are doing. :)

~jen

i'm totally back!

2008-01-07T20:13:00.001-05:00

So a touch more new for you.... i love the quilted lining in both of these. So fun and bright, and gotta say don't see much like this usually. Hope that you love the colors too!

~jen

p.s. did you vote yet? well you should! :)

did you miss me?

2008-01-05T18:28:00.000-05:00

hi there blog readers, hope that you haven't missed me too much. i have been a rather busy bee lately. with everything but etsy. So this new year i resolve to spend more time with you - etsy!

so whats new with me? i have a new full time job! exciting- i can pay some bills :) but it also cuts into my energy and time for making. hmm... what else. i got a ice cream maker for christmas! yay!!

so as far at etsy goes i have some things in the work that i need to photograph and get posted.. and some ideas of new things to make. i have a questionnaire at the top of my blog, please check it out and let me know what you think. i would really really appreciate it. :)

oh and that pic at the top... its a sneak peek. so whats new with you??

~jen

a bit of customizing...

2007-11-29T20:01:00.001-05:00

this is a super elegant clutch that was customized for Lauren. She wanted a handle/strap added on. So i added one! just wanted to show you what was possible :)
oh yeah and here is the wicked yummy sushi that we made on my birthday :)

yay
`jen

birthdays are wonderful...

2007-11-27T19:38:00.000-05:00

because they involve sushi. fondue pots and wonderful beautiful amazing gifts from my husband!
like this!

this necklace was made by miss popko! just so happens that jon knows her from forever... :)
its a amazing butterfly pendant that i LOVE! :)
yay~26 is a fine year so far!

~jen

good morning

2007-11-25T09:11:00.001-05:00

well this morning i was doing my ritual check to see if i'm in a treasury hunt and when i clicked the magic box was there! so i made this treasury. it features some new faves of mine and hopefully yours! Love me please!

looking for more new from me? well there are clutches in the works and a new poncho that needs some love. so fear not i will come back from this week of glutonus eating and chilly football! :)

p.s. no major injuries in the game... the tee's are wonderful.. the game ended tied... and we had the most amazing chocolate cake for my pre-birthday with the fam! yum!

~jenyay for sushi!

turkey and more....

2007-11-21T19:04:00.000-05:00

well its that time of year again.... thanksgiving, turkey, apple pie, my 26th BIRTHDAY and of course the Vecchiarelli Bowl. so from the top, thanks giving is my most favorite holiday! we are going to my parents house to enjoy LOTS of food with my parents, sister, nana n gramp and gram. mom's apple pie is my favorite ever! and i love my birthday (more on this fabulous-ness later) and the vecchiarelli bowl. the annual family football game. this year thanks to the wisdom of my nephews and nieces, husband and generosity of my brother in law- we have official tee shirts!! there was lots of brainstorming by the TD's (teeshirt designers) and the offical drawing was created by my boy jon... ! i'm wicked excited :)

so back to my birthday- the holiday that usually lasts a week! see i celebrate on turkey day with my family, celebrate with my parents on my actual birthday, and celebrate with my friends on a different day. this year jon is throwing me a sushi extravaganza! i'm SO excited... still and again. i know that jon has tricks up his sleeve but really i've been too busy that i forget to get impatient and nosy. see this week i started a real full time job. juggling etsy and working will be tough to start, but since my car overheated on the way home and anti-freeze is my arch nemisis a good paying regular job is a good thing right now. wow that was alot :)

so since i must go sort some laundry... i will say enjoy your thanksgiving, remember those that you are thankful for like my great aunt grace because my dad is buying a new motorcycle! :) and more than that... say a special thank you to the troops. Especially my sister, and my nephews.

p.s. hi nana!

~jen

front page i hear!

2007-11-16T09:27:00.001-05:00

See this fab treasury that I'm in.... apparently it made it to the FRONT PAGE of Etsy... !!!! i missed it, but i'm still SO excited :) So that is my Orange technology holder! only 15 hours left, so please go and click away.

So Fab Orange Treasury!

yay!

~jen

well then...

2007-11-13T07:36:00.000-05:00

my first Holiday Sale is over. it was an interesting experience, and overall a very positive experience. Lots of positive comments about my work-and lots of business cards taken. However few sales... Over 2 days i sold 5 items. Don't get me wrong i'm still VERY happy that i participated and got all the feedback, just wish that there were more sales. It was more of an open studios though... less a Holiday Sale. but we did have some fabulous suprises.... Family visited (lots of 'em!) and my girls and jimmy from peabody!! (thats a 2.5 hr drive) So that was my Saturday and Sunday.

Next weekend i will be in Danvers, Ma at North Shore Elder Services. They are having an Artisan Fair. Its November 16-17

9:00AM-5:00PM I will be there on Saturday the 16th! Click here for Directions!!
Hope that you can make it!! :)

~jen

So Excited!!!

2007-11-09T07:52:00.000-05:00

first Holiday sale tommorrow!!!! :) yay!! if you want more details check out two posts ago.

so yes i am really excited, plus i get to see all my fabulous friends tonite for a yearly gathering. not that we only see each other once a year, but that we always get together around this time of the year. so on that note i say thank you to all my friends for being wonderful and i can't wait to raise a glass and toast our friendship and memories. (the veggie chili is in the crockpot bubbling away- mmnn.... potluck!)

if you end up coming to the Holiday Sale please let me know that you foud out about it through my most excellent Blog! Happy Friday!

~jen

more....

2007-11-07T17:54:00.000-05:00

just a touch more new for you... :)

i feel like i am neglecting my blog lately. i have been rather busy... you know working and stuff. not the fun work, the actual work. but anyways... this fab ipod/phone/camera sock was made from a super fushia suede yarn, and lined with an ultra hip canvas fabric. entirely handstitched with a burgundy thread! :)

so this morning my deck was slippery! do you know what that means? it means winter. it means snow. it means me being cold and buddling up like a ridiculous child. but it means that i get to wear the three finger mittens that Shazza made for me. so i don't love winter, thats the moral of the story. ok- gotta put dinner in the oven so it can cook and i can put it in my belly!!

~jen

fall

2007-11-05T15:47:00.000-05:00

well fall is here, and the leaves are falling. seems sad that summer is over and my garden is dyeing and the fresh vegetables are gone. but even though summer is over, its almost thanksgiving. my most favorite holiday! i love the pies and the turkey and the cranberry sauce and the yummy-ness! its wonderful.

anyway.... that purse up there is my newest construction. :) its a tie dye wonder!

so i leave you with a photo of a lily in fall....

~jen

1st Holiday Sale.... with details

2007-11-02T09:22:00.000-04:00

so yes, you have heard me speaking of this infamous craft fair that i will be doing, well now i have details! aren't you wicked excited. So i am doing this show with my brother-in-law, the owner of Fitz-to-a-Tee. This is a screen printing company! and really its rather fabulous. So i will have a table of all my goodies in Mike's studio, and i'm really excited. EVERYTHING will be coming with me. you have been advised :) So details...

Arts and Industry Building
221 Pine St.
Florence, MA
413-586-8397

Saturday n Sunday
November 10 & 11

Be There or be a total Square :)

(unless you are building a Lobster pot Christmas tree! - that i want pics of!! )

1st craft fair

2007-10-30T18:23:00.000-04:00

hi y'all! so my first craft fair - well really open studios is in two weeks. i'm rather excited and nervous at the same time! this past weekend me and the boy visited with some friends, like Miss Popko!! :) (so see her shop- she is SO fab!) we got to see crystal and her boy john and swap stories and chit chat, and eat alot of junk food :) we also saw my brother in laws studio! its fabulous, and HUGE. like really big! and wow. so its his building that is having an open studios- and i was invited to participate. its in florence ma the weekend of the 10th ad 11th. more info to come, my sis in law is mailing the cards that i forgot. duh. i have all my items in my etsy shop that are going to the show, plus three more that i am working on now. one is a so comfy peach scarf, a chenille poncho, and a gray and pink/blue/purple purse. yay!

anyway- i'm not sure why but blogger won't let me upload any images. i will try again later :)

~jen

wanna see my studio?

2007-10-26T20:20:00.000-04:00

well here it is... all clean and pretty! i just spent 2 hours cleaning and organizing and such. and now its here to show you!

This is an overview of our "second bedroom/studio", you can see my sewing table. ohh i love my table! and my ironing board, sewing machine, and my shelves. wonder whats on my shelves? we ll there is fabric, interfacing, yarn and threads, buttons, glue, batting, crayons, wax tools, paper making tools and way more! :)

This is my storage for my yarn- don't worry it doesn't all fit in their. any crocheting project i am currently creating lives downstairs by the couch. :)

and this is my so fabulous Neverending Story poster.
don't you love it, this is one of my favorite movies, and my absolute favorite book! you really should read it~its wonderful, it has great imagery and is one of my comforts.

So now that my studio is clean thier will be more new on the way, but remember if you like something buy it NOW. i am doing a craft fair in two weeks and everything is coming with me.... hope that you loved your guided tour of my world :)
~jen

3 to go

2007-10-25T07:23:00.000-04:00

only 3 games left! go RED SOX!! as previously posted i am from boston- and the sox creamed the Rockies last nite. i love it! so watch the game tonite :)
because i have no new for you, here are a few of my favorites ;)

Here are some amazing earings by AncaNY!!

this way too sweet bag was made by littleoddforest, and so sad its sold! but i love it anyway:)

so those are a few of my favorites! please check out their shops.
while your at it, check out mine too! :)

i'm in a treasury!

2007-10-22T20:02:00.000-04:00

how wicked cool is that!! its my brandy new laptop case! so please go click and see. HERE

also can you even believe the red sox! i can't. and i'm from boston- i grew up watching the sox, my nana has an unhealthy love of all things red sox. and i can't even believe that they cold win the world series twice in my lifetime. its rather incredible! GO SOX.

i have a newbie to show you too- more ultra hip technology holders.

its sunday not saturday

2007-10-21T16:27:00.000-04:00

that is the defining factor of my day! this morning i asked the boy if he wanted to walk to the library with me, i had checked the hours and they were open 9-4, so we got all ready, got a backpack, and a nalgene with water. got the camera just in case and the keys and headed outside. we made it about 10 feet when i realized that its sunday not saturday, the library is open 9-4 on saturday- closed sundays! oops. so we decided to take a walk anyway because it was beautiful out. so we walked and here are some of the sights thst we saw!
also here is my new laptop sock. its friendly... you should go look at it!

technology

2007-10-18T08:42:00.000-04:00

so if anyone really knows me, they know about how i get the hee-bee-gee-bee's around new crazy technology. like the iphone... i kinda creeps me out how they fit all that stuff in one tiny little phone. its crazy! and scary! and alot of money. people are buying these phones too! and loving them cause its wicked cool, but oh my money. so that is my fear of technology, kinda like the automated aisles at the grocery store even though i am guilty of using them. i hate bad baggers, i am usually alone with the shopping so i have to carry them in the house - so please pack them right and efficiently. i am even good about how i put my items on the counter. i always put all the boxes together and all the frozen together, and the cold together. and the produce and so on. but last week i managed to get my steak tips and my onions bagged together. grr!~ ok so i rambled some. sorry. the moral of the story is that technology scares me, and worries me, but i am taking advantage of it because i love the new ipod/iphone/cell phone etc. socks that i am making! so please go look at my "technology holders " section! cause its feeling a little unloved.

and please share your technology fears, i would love to feel a bit more normal this morn'! :)

i got one

2007-10-16T18:58:00.000-04:00

so go and click like crazy! do you love?

what do you think?

2007-10-16T10:25:00.001-04:00

this is my new clutch, i called it "a day at the beach clutch"! for some reason the colors remind me of the beach and the sand and all of those wonderful images. The inside is a super daring purple paisley, and i love the button. The inside lining and the button are vintage from my great-aunt.

want to?

2007-10-15T12:35:00.001-04:00

see some totally unrelated pictures?

this is a quilt that i made for a friends wedding. she is such a happy and vibrant person, this quilt makes me think of her!

this is my wacky crazy sister being a charlie's angel, i think that this pic is from 2 new years ago... :)

this is my parents dog, Kasey! :) she likes hanging out on the big rock in the back yard.

and this is a pic of me and the boy that we took on the cape this summer. i love the texture of the sand, it was such a beautiful day.

and this is me and jon standing in front of a "mini car", we were at the car show this past summer visiting jon's dad!

a few more new

2007-10-12T14:51:00.000-04:00

today i finished two more new items. one is a wavy clutch, and the other is a purse that my mom designed and commissioned! :)

i like them both.... and right now i am trying my hand at some hats. hmm you say... well gotta say that i agree!

a few of my favorites

2007-10-11T10:22:00.000-04:00

today i don't have much to talk about, its raining and i'm drinking coffee! so here are a few items that i have marked as my favorites on etsy! hope that you enjoy! :)

BeeDazzleGifts makes these wonderful note cards! i really do love them! :)

Feille made this scarf.. how lovely and soft and wonderful!

last one... jacquelineknits made this delightful, super fun pear jacket!
i hope that you enjoyed my favorites! please go check out the shops :)

moo...

2007-10-09T12:03:00.001-04:00

well i got me some moo cards. i love them they are going to be hang tags on my stuff! i mostly used detail shots from what i make so that the image on the card is about the color and texture. which is really what i am all about.

me and the boy spent our weekend enjoying my cousins wedding, and spending sunday and monday at his family's camp. The camp is on Lake Ashmere in western mass. it was absolutely beautiful their on sunday! the sun was shining and the kids were playing. (not mine.. :) my nieces and nephews) we had a turkey dinner that my sister-in-laws made. and the gravy had hard cider in it! can i say yummy!! with a touch of pumpkin pie for dessert. love it! hope you had a super fab weekend too! :)
p.s. have you looked at my shop lately? better go see, cause i might sell it all at my craft fair in November!!
~jen

uhmmm....

2007-10-04T09:13:00.000-04:00

just a quick one for you today. here is my newest bag. its kinda crazy and kinda big and kinda pink.

p.s. don't you just love thursdays? its the day of grey's anatomy and survivor! :)

~jen

Holy Moly...

2007-10-03T10:25:00.001-04:00

More new for you! go here to check out my "winter sunset" clutch! :) this one was alot of fun to make... not much more to report. so i guess that i will tell you all about the new book that i am reading. Its called "three bags full" by Leonie Swann.

Its a tale of a murdered sheep shepherd and the sheep that investigate the crime. Its rather good so far, amusing to say the least.
you should read it... or at least go to the library so that you can think about reading it.

toodle-oo for now!

wacky weekend

2007-10-01T09:15:00.001-04:00

what a wacky weekend. Saturday was full of errands and the New England Revolution Soccer Game! The game was tons of fun we had this group of rather entertaining boys behind us... who had a few too many beers :) The first half the revs didn't look so hot, but the second half they came out and looked way better. Then in the 87th minute they SCORED! so the revs won 1-0.

Sunday was a different kind of relaxing... we woke up and cooked a big breakfast... so yummy! we had bacon, eggs and toast. well jon made himself an omelet , i had over easy. after breakfast i wanted to plant the 40 daffodil bulbs i bought saturday... so i did and jon took a picture of me!

see thats me gardening in the cool hat, and flip flops! after the gardening we decided to go roller blading. So i have this awesome pair of roller blades that my nana got me when i graduated high school. needless to say i haven't used them much. so we went to the Fairhaven bike path and roller bladed for FOUR miles. ouch. i'm rather out of shape. so my back and side is sore.... more than my legs. guess we will have to do more so that i hurt less.

do you love my new clutch. keep an eye out, i'll be posting it tonite!
~jen

friday!

2007-09-28T08:54:00.000-04:00

whew! made it to friday, i have been busy this week. lots of new creations :) i love the photo of this scarf. it makes me want to scrunch up and stay warm. my stash of yarn and fabric keeps on growing and i'm trying to make make make so that the stash doesn't take over my second bedroom! :) i am also trying to make lots because i will be participating in two craft fairs in the next few months. The first is at my brother-in-laws studio building in Northhampton MA, and the second is at the Artisan Fair at North Shore Elder Services (my mom works there). I'm rather excited because i have never done a craft faire! (more info to follow)

on different news... we had a praying mantus in the aloe plant the other day. want to see a picture? i know that you do!! it was really big... about 4" Jon investigated and found out that the praying mantus is the state bug of Connecticut. who knew? btw that is my aloe Zoe. she is rather large, i've had her and her "babies" for about 8 years. A very long time ago me and mom were at walmart and we "rescued" two rather small aloe plants. See this is what happens when i rescue plants... kinda makes you understand why Jon doesn't want me to rescue too many more.

new new new!!

2007-09-26T09:08:00.000-04:00

well i have been a busy bee lately! lots of new coming so keep an eye on my shop! Here is my new scarf, i called it "rusted just for you". Its a super soft suede, and super thin. i don't usually make thin scarves, but its so cute and worked up so fast that i might make more!

and i made a new clutch, its a super mini clutch! i its really cute and i love the colors! There are more things to come too! ipod cozy, lap top cozy and a few more clutches!

Go Here to see the scarf!

Go There to see the clutch!

~jen