Baby Birds!

This was the best shot I could get of the baby birds that are on our air conditioning unit!  Since this picture was taken (yesterday) 2 of the 3 babies have flown from the nest!  I keep peeking in on the 3rd one, who looks quite comfortable in the nest still!  But I can only peek really quick, because the Mom is not from him and comes back to yell at me everytime!

We have central air conditioning, but our house is pretty old, and our master bedroom was an add on, and since we can't get the central air in the master bedroom and the room behind that (it's a strange set up, not sure why they built it the way they did, it's an entire other bedroom, but can only get to it from the door attached to our bedroom, but it was great as a nursery when our kids were babies, and now, my husband has turned it into an entire walk in closet for me).  Yes I digress as usual.  What was I talking about?

Oh, the baby birds.  Actually, I was leading up to heat, and how I can't handle the heat (age/woman thing), so I'm hoping baby fly's away soon, so I can turn on the air conditioning unit, but since he looks pretty comfortable, not sure when it's going to happen!

Well, he's cute, and right now I have a little fan on my nightstand to keep me alive!

I'm hoping he's not like some kind of mooch kid who will never leave home!

Jen

Memorial Day

Memorial Day is the start of backyard barbeques and other outdoor fun!

But what it really is, is a day to remember all of those who have sacrificed for us.  My heart breaks to here about those fathers, mothers, sons, brothers, sisters, who have died fighting for us.

Parades are a way to honor those who have sacrificed for us

Christopher Thibodeau, from Northeast Ohio, was only 28 years old recently in a helicopter crash.  He's a son, a husband, and his wife is 5 weeks pregnant.

Christopher Thibodeau



I do not personally know Christopher, but I can tell from that smile, he was a good person.

I sincerely appreciate all of those that do so much for our country, including the families, as they also sacrifice so much.

Sincerely,

Jen

Where does the time go!?

I know I'm getting old, when I start saying "where has the time gone" way too often!

I just took a picture of my baby, Katherine this morning on our porch (yes, it's a very old porch with a rusty old railing)! 

Today is Katherine's last day of high school!

Katherine's 1st day of Kindergarten



The time did seem to go by so quick (or quickly-Katherine would correct me which one is right).  Believe me, there were plenty of times when I thought time would never move on, especially when Katherine and her brother Mark (they're just 14 months apart) were fighting, constantly!  Now they're actually friends!

But now it's Katherine's last day of high school.  I'm proud of her!  She's a good person!  She even had thank you notes for all of her teachers (looked like long letters, but she wouldn't let me read them)! 

Congratulations Katherine!  I love you!

My baby, Katherine!



Congratulations to all the graduates, and to their parents!

Jen

Gifts from India

I received the most amazing box of gifts from India just now!  Thanks so much to Vanita!  Vanita is from India and has been purchasing jewelry from my Etsy shop for awhile now.  I've had so much fun wrapping up her purchases so it was like she was receiving a gift!

Come to find out, she loves to wrap too!  Vanita told me she was going to send me some things representing India, but I had no idea that she would send all of these beautiful items!

Vanita even put notes with each item explaining the meaning!

Gifts from Vanita

This first picture shows a gorgeous beaded handbag in the background.  My picture of the earrings does not do them justice!  The earrings of from the Land of Rajashan (forgive me, Vanita, if I don't spell everything correctly!).  I really love the Elephant God!  He is supposed to bring prosperity, good luck, and wealth!

fun fun!



Each of my gifts came in a beautiful cloth bag!  The wooden elephant pendant is from the South of India.  These beautiful pair of anklets Minakari (from Laipur.

Stunning!

Check out the ring and bracelet connectors in the background!  Again, my pictures do not do them justice!  These are typically worn at weddings and festive occasions.  The elaborate brooch on the left side is the Laipur Royal Rajasthan (sorry my spelling might not be perfect) Brooch, normally worn on turbans, but since I don't have a turban, I'll definitely find somewhere to wear it!  The pretty earrings on the right are from Delhi, Lotus earrings, and one of Vanita's favorites!

Thank you a thousand times to Vanita!!  What a thoughtful and sweet person!!

Jen 

I made it!

By now you should know I'm not the craftiest of people!  That's not to say I don't try now and then! 

My Mom could do everything!  And everything she tried she perfected!  She won many blue ribbons for her knitted afghans!  She owned a needlepoint shop in the 70's called "Nasty Needles"!  She did oil paintings, decoupage, sewed outfits for us girls, and so much more!

So the talent skipped me, and went directly to my daughters, Katherine and Lindsey!  Katherine creates the most amazing handmade greeting cards!  She's also made the cutest duct tape handbags, and actually had an Etsy shop called "Inspired Bags" when she was about 10! 

My older daughter Lindsey is amazing!  She truly has all of my Mom's talents!  She started making jewelry when she was quite young, can't remember the exact age she started selling directly to a couple of local shops!  We then did jewelry parties, which really was a fun way to make good money!  She has a fashion design degree, and can create the most gorgeous outfits! 

Then there's me! I can do basic stuff, sewing, and I've done a bit of knitting, crocheting, etc., but nothing that I perfected!

So that is why I love my "Jenny's crappy craft" segment!

But I must say, I do love these pretty cake stands!  So easy to make using a lovely vintage plate and a brass or crystal candleholder as a base!  Just get some special glass glue and you've created something like mine!

I kind of got inspired again, since I just sold one in my china shop!

and here's the one I made yesterday-let it dry overnight!

There's a more secure way of making these, which involves a drill-not going to happen for me!  I'll stick with glue!

Jen

Artfire

jenscloset

Vintage Jewelry

Artfire!

Check out my teaxcups on Artfire.com!

I'm giving a shout out to Artfire and to my Artfire account!

I just had my first sale there and am very excited!

I'll be listing new vintage items each day, so be sure to check back frequently!

I'm entering a contest on Artfire and hope to win!  Five reasons I love Artfire:

I love how easy it is to list!
I love that I sold something there!
I love that I've already been featured in a treasury!
I love that it's inexpensive to list!
I love that I'm getting so many views on my listed items!

http://www.jenscloset.artfire.com/

Check it out! http://www.jenscloset.artfire.com/

Thanks for stopping by!  Please follow my blog!

Thanks!!
Jen

It's my birthday!

Happy Birthday to me!

I'm a bit older than this picture, but actually feel better and am healthier then way back when!  I workout 6 days a week, stopped smoking a long time ago, and just am an all around a happier person!

Now if I could just stop gravity!

That's me on the left and my sister-in-law Yvette on the right

I call her little sis since she's a few weeks younger than me!

I even stopped at Dunkin Donuts this morning...not for me!  Dropped them off at my favorite post office for all they do!

Enjoy the day!

Jen

Yummy Vegetarian Dinner

Katherine's Vegetarian Creation

Not made by me, but made my adorable 18 year old daughter, Katherine, the vegetarian!  She's been a vegetarian for several years, and she's learned how to incorporate plenty of protein and other nutrients a growing girl needs (along with help from her pediatrician)!

Last night she made this healthy meal, and it is so good, I knew I had to share it.  I'm not a food photographer, so my picture does not do it justice!  She even arranged it on a cute white square plate!

We need to come up with a cute name for her veggie creation!  I mixed all mine up and ate it that way!

Frozen veggies

Includes lentils, a frozen veggie mix (any kind you like), and my favorite Trader Joe's Harvest Grains Blend, which has a healthy, delicious blend of couscous, orzo, baby garbanzo beans & red quinoa!

Trader's Jose Harvet Grains Blend

Believe me, I love a good filet mignon every now and then, but Katherine's creations are so good too!

You can eat healthy, it can still be quick and easy, and tasty too!

Try it out!
Jen

There's still time to get me a gift!

Here's a few more ideas from Etsy!  My birthday's Friday!

http://www.blythehopesvintage.etsy.com/

I love vintage lingerie!

http://www.threelittleducksaust/

I love dresses!

http://www.scrumptiousdoodle.etsy.com/

I love food, if I can't eat it, I'll wear it!

http://www.cypresssweetgrass.etsy.com/

I love green depression glass (and pink), and have quite a collection of my own!

So there you go!  Remember, it's Friday!

Jen

Katherine's look on lookbook.nu

A Few of My Favorite Things

When the dog bites

Ananya

When the bee stings
When I'm feeling sad
I simply remember my
Favorite things
And then I don't feel
So Bad!

ButterBlossoms

I'm going to start posting some of the things I've marked as my Favorites from all the wonderful Etsy shops!

CarolsCottage

This will be helpful for you when, since my birthday is this coming Friday, May 20th (and yes, I will be 25-again)!

You know I love Barbies!

EllenGiggenbach

EnchantedQuilling
I've purchased from her shop at least a few times!

TheDesigningRose

So there's some hints for you!

More to come!

Happy Shopping! Can't wait to see what you get me!

Jen

Right Back to Work!

Sold!

I've never worked so hard since I started my 3 Etsy shops!  But I've also never been happier!

I'm not saying it's always fun fun fun, it is a lot of work!  Like today, when I had an order from one customer, a large order, both from my milk glass shop and "jenscloset"!  It took all morning to gather up everything (and actually find it pretty easily), wrap it up safe & sound (since it's all fragile items), box it up, and finally get it shipped out! 

Wow, it's 2:00!  I really didn't even realize I had been working this long on this order!  I'd say it took me about 4 hours to get all of it packed up!  Six boxes of lovely vintage items!

Cute bowls-sold!

So, it's time for a break, right!? Wrong!  Time to start listing again, and hopefully have another big sale!

I rarely stop!  I will take a break in a few hours to workout at the rec center, great stress reliever!

Parfait glasses-sold!

Still available!

I hope you're doing something you love too!

Enjoy your weekend!

Jen

Vintage Jewels

There's just something about vintage jewelry!  Sparkling rhinestones, gorgeous brooches, and classic pearls!  Give your outfit that unique accessory that will sure to get noticed!

Vintage jewelry is also great for upcycle projects!  I've seen some great creations (on Etsy) using Vintage jewelry! 

Vintage clip earrings are so versatile!  Used as earrings, shoe clips, one added to a retro chain as a pendant, and even hooked to spaghetti straps to turn your favorite little black dress into something a little more than basic!

Be sure to check out my Etsy shop for a great variety of vintage jewelry! http://www.jenscloset.etsy.com/

Happy Shopping!

Jen

Happy Mother's Day!

I'm tired!  But I had fun! 

First, I did my usual Sunday morning spin class, and a little run.

Then, the real workout came!  Clothes shopping with my youngest child (Katherine), the only one still home, just about all day!  We had so much fun and we both ended up with some cute things!

Then my husband (Bob), Katherine & I went out to dinner at our favorite little Italian place, Bucci's!

Time really goes by so quick (or is it quickly?).  I swear my kids were just little teenie things!

And before I knew it, they had grown up!  How does this happen!?

This was taken last year, when Mark was a senior, Katherine was a junior, and the were off to prom, along with my oldest daughter and best bud, Lindsey!  Yes-my baby, Katherine, is taller than my oldest, Lindsey!

I can't have a Mother's Day blog without mentioning my another best friend of mine, who happens to be my Mom!  My Mom came over every afternoon to help with my two little baby's, that were so close in age (14 months apart), and we just had the best time! 

This is my Mom!  What an amazing Mom she was!  She did not come from the easiest of childhoods, and really did not have much of a role model when it came to being a Mom.  She read books, she taught herself, and she raised 5 wonderful kids (if I might say so myself).  What a devoted Mom!  She wasn't without her eccentricities!  (and I don't even know if I spelled that right) That's what made her so much fun!  This picture happens to be one I keep on my nightstand, that's why it looks a bit worn.  It's her with her at her favorite restaurants, ChiChi's, she even had her favorite waiter, Patrick, who actually came to her funeral.  I'm just saying, I would not have wanted to be her customer! She had to have her usual glasses of ice water and decaf coffee, and everything had to be just right!

My best friend, who happens to also be my Mom, passed away unexpectedly in August of 1994.  It seems like yesterday.  What got me through that was writing a journal, actually, writing letters to my Mom.  I wanted to make sure she knew I was okay, and I didn't want her to worry about me.  I knew she would.

What helps me now is just thinking of how much fun we had, laughing at the silliest of things!

She truly was the best Mom, and I'm lucky I had such a wonderful role model!

Thanks Mom, and thanks to my 3 wonderful kids!

I love you!

Thanks Lindsey!

Just received this sweet Mother's Day card and adorable Kate Spade business card holder from my daughter Lindsey (and her fiance, Thomas, and precious pooch Cosmo)!

I love the color of this cute card holder and will fill it with my Moo cards!  If you haven't tried Moo cards, you should!  They're a bit pricey, but you can upload pics from your shop,  and it's a fun way to advertise!  I add one to every order, along with in inexpensive business card (I get from Overnight Prints).

Aren't they cute (sorry the pics aren't too bright)!?

Moo.com  -I also get stickers with my shop stuff on them too!  I usually put one on the package label!  Great customer service, try them out!

Thanks Lindsey, Thomas, & Cosmo!!  Happy Mom's Day to me!! :)

I'll be blogging about Mother's Day tomorrow, so stay tuned!

Jen/Mom

Vintage Memory

One of the reasons I love vintage and antiques so much is the memories that come with each item!

I just received this convo from one of my customers:

"I'm so excited to have found these plates.  When I was a kid, my family had a set of these dishes, so I'm collecting them now just for sentiment and will someday pass them on to my granddaughter.  The story of the dishes is this:  They were sold at a grocery store where you could buy pieces each week when you shopped there.  This was in the early 60's.  My Mom worked at that grocery store at the time, and purchased the set.  I think they are so pretty!"

I often receive messages like this from customers, and I thought it would be nice to share some of them from time to time!

Jen