the haystack needle

happy birthday to me!

(photograph by the amazing nikole of herriott grace)

Today is my birthday! I have no grand plans, just a lot of little simple pleasures and relaxing, which is feeling just about right. I've really loved this past year, so I've honestly not been looking forward to this birthday. Do ever just want to hold onto your year a little longer because it's treated you so well? I'm planning a day of yoga, treating myself to a massage, and will likely end up someplace with a platter of oysters for dinner with Dan. Somewhere in there I hope to score a cupcake. I already had one birthday wish answered. My mom agreed to take me up to the Rhinebeck Antique Fair next weekend (since I'm carless for now) — I can't wait. I'm also feeling really happy about the warm response Chris and I have received on our shop, Cabin 7. We're so excited to see where it goes. And Cabin 7 got accepted to the Brooklyn Flea! I'll keep you posted when we'll be showing at their Fort Greene market. 

I'm off to go grab a little sunshine and make some wishes for the year. Thanks for following along here. I'm excited to share this Friday song. My friend Gabe just finished a CD with his band Shortwave Sunshine. They have such a great sound. Enjoy a listen of this local band. You can download the album here. And their CD release will be June 1st at the Living Room! 

 
ps, I love their album cover! The cover art is by the talented Michael Hsiung.   

Happy weekend!

photobooth friday night

On Friday night, I met up for dinner with two people who have known me since I was eleven. We shared stories. We drank wine. We I ate pie. We exchanged Christmas gifts (two months late.) And we squeezed into a photobooth before saying goodbye for the night. Those girls can make me laugh out loud. Dear Chris and Heather: I love how you even appreciate the weird quirks about me that make me Jen. You are amazing friends.

sparkle in the new year

One of my favorite photographers, Abby Powell, just had a big shop update. I'm in love with her photograph above, Sparkle, and seeing the print actually inspired me to sit down and do some kind of new year's list. But then when it came to writing resolutions of things I'd like to perfect for this year — I got stuck. Resolutions feel a little off to me in that work-wise I'm already always full-steam ahead, it's not a chore to exercise as I love my yoga studio, and the closest thing that amounts to an unhealthy addiction is how I'm hooked on watching House Hunters. I would like to resolve to be more patient in the new year and cook more simple, healthy meals. Since that doesn't amount to much of a list, I'd like to follow Andrea's creative lead (she's one incredible photographer and listmaker!) — here's a list of good things that came my way in 2009.

+ I moved into an apartment that we love, where I feel inspired to work from home — and where my crafting supplies don't overrun our living space.

+ I fell into a love affair with almond butter.

+ I saw San Francisco for the very first time — and got to spend quality time with 4 amazing women plus my brothers-in-law.

+ I wrote more in one year than I have in a lifetime.

+ I celebrated my first wedding anniversary with the best gift in my life, Dan.

+ I got to spend two full summer weeks in Maine. Bliss.

+ I learned how to tie-dye.

+ I made it to the Brimfield Market, which has been on my to-do list for years, and scored a shoe trolley.

+ I discovered the wonders of chalkboard paint.

+ I took up with Diana, which is rightfully called a toy camera because it's so much fun.

+ I picked my own strawberries, and then snacked on their sweetness for days.

+ I rode a bike for the first time in years.

+ I baked rainbow cupcakes.

+ I reconnected with an old friend.

+ I adopted a $22 turquoise typewriter— found by sheer luck.

+ I started this blog, my best decision of 2009, and in doing so, I fell into this world of blogs that provides endless inspiration and an incredible sense of community. Thanks so much to you for reading along and being a part of my year. I'd love to know a little more about you all. So if you'd like to share something good that happened in your 2009, please leave a comment below. Wishing you a 2010 filled with lots of sparkle.

{top image by abbytryagain; photo of dan + me by charlotte jenks lewis}

from my weekend

 

some bits from my weekend..

I tagged along on a Sunday ritual for my friend Sarah: picking up pickles from her local farmers market. Do you notice a pickle craze brewing? I feel like I'm hearing about pickled everything these days — and I'm so on board for any kind of pickling movement. I walked away with a juicy quart of super sour pickles (any pickles that are remotely sweet make my stomach turn) and pickled tomatoes. I feel salt deficient most days so these pickled treats are a welcome snack for the week. You should check out Small Measure, and Ashley's column on design*sponge, for tons of tips and inspiration on home pickling and canning (Ashley has a book coming out soon!).

I received surprise sunflowers on Friday. Dan is so sweet. I then sprinkled sunflowers all over our apartment.

 

I finally put some art up on the walls over the weekend. It's funny how once you drive the first nail, you get into an easy groove. The top left photo is a print I bought from Abby Try Again. I just adore Abby's work.

 

And I took Sarah to one of my favorite places, Brooklyn Larder. I love their sandwiches, and their shelves are full of spreads, sauces, dips and cheeses that all look incredibly delicious. Don't walk in hungry as the shop is one big temptation! I took home some of their almond butter. My morning kicked off today with apples and almond butter. Such a good start.

one year

I'm wishing you a weekend of reconnecting with people and places that make you happy. I'm running off for the weekend with the love of my life. Dan and I are going to hunker down in this charming stone cottage, go apple picking, and dream about the magical weekend this time last year when we were exchanging our vows on a farm in Maine — and he made me one happy girl. It's our one year anniversary on Sunday! I can't believe how fast one year flew by. Good thing I have you booked for a lifetime, because I love you, D. 

elizabeth maclennan

Do you remember the distinct time when you and a friend bonded and became friends? I have a great memory for moments like that, and I can say that Elizabeth MacLennan and I bonded over Funkins. Liz is a true styling talent in the business, and I feel so lucky that our paths crossed on a shoot for this feature I was producing on paint makeovers (we actually met over a stenciled dining table!). She worked with me as the crafting genius and stylist for a Halloween story next. So what are Funkins? One element of the story was carving pumpkins. But you see, magazines shoot their stories typically 3-4 months prior to you picking up their glossy pages on the newsstand. And there are no pumpkins available in July. None. So we used these fake pumpkins called Funkins, that look pretty real in photos, but are foam and weird to carve — and you can't use real candles inside them without creating a scary fire hazard situation. We bonded.

Simply put, I love Liz's style. She has an eye for a certain kind of crafting that perfectly meshes with what I love — part modern, part nostalgic, and simply pretty.  She has a passion for making things, and her creative energy is contagious when you're around her. So I'm sure it's no surprise that we were fated to be friends as we both have collections of rubber stamps and I seriously envy her gocco. We spent 12 hours trying to make handmade hearts look straight for this shoot, above.The top photos are from one of my favorite shoots we worked on together — Liz engraved glasses with simple words and botanical patterns. They turned out gorgeous. If you're interested, the idea stemmed from one of my favorite books, Remake Restyle Reuse, which is infused with this cool French boho style of crafting.

I'm so happy to share today that Liz has a brand new site up and running, which shares her crafting and styling portfolio as well as a peek at her passion for making things. You can contact Liz if you're interested in any of her artwork or prints. I'm personally loving all of her screenprints and want one for my home office. Have fun poking around her fancy flash site!

A few notes on everyone involved:

+ Removable Dante designed the site.

+ the amazing Anna Beckman is behind the fun calligraphy. 

+ Lara Robby photographed the photos above (she's another favorite person of mine.)

And here's another reason I love Liz's work — she created the banner for this site! That embroidered banner may be my favorite thing that she's made. Congratulations on the new site, Liz! You'll be hearing from Liz in the next few weeks, because she's working on a number of guest posts for me, inspired by her recent trip to Japan. Get ready for some amazing craft posts from a crafting master! I'm super excited!

last summer weekend

Oh my, it's the start of Labor Day weekend, and I'm not ready at all to bid farewell to summer, sandals, and ice cream trucks. How about you? Here's where my eyes have been wandering (they don't have anything to do with each other, as you can see my mind tends to jump around on ideas!):

+ I'm on a total stripe kick, and I'd love to adopt these versatile woven cotton towels that you can use as pretty bath towels, a beach sarong, or a shawl. The colors spell summer to me.

 

+ I'm so smitten with these wooden card racks that I spotted on Three Potato Four. If I had a card rack, I'd use it to organize incoming + outgoing mail, clip on invitations, and stash stationery.
p.s. Three Potato Four is having a 20 percent sale on everything in their shop through midnight tonight to make room for new inventory. (enter the promo code: 3P4FALL20)

 

+ I love this creative desk makeover I spotted over at Yolksy (That's eieio gift wrap on the drawers — the same paper company I used for making my dresser drawer liners.)

+ The new animated design of Parcel's site makes me so happy — it captures a bit of the magic attached to that wonderland of a paper + curiosities shop. You really have to see Parcel in person to explore Nancy's gorgeous curated shop of little finds that make you squeal with happiness. But if you're not close to Montclair, NJ, check out the What's in Store feature I did on Parcel to see what I'm talking about. Congrats on the new site design, Nancy!

 

+ And I seem to be entering that stage where friends everywhere are having babies. One friend is due this month, and last week I got to hang out with a dear friend who's pregnant with her first! I adore these invitations designed by Ice Cream Social celebrating a baby baptism. That fabric ribbon is so sweet! 

Hope you have a fantastic weekend! I plan to get cracking on this idea for an anniversary gift for Dan (coming up in a couple weeks!). Other than that, I just want to relax and chase the ice cream truck.