Jenny's Crappy Craft Segment

One of my cake plate creations

It's time, once again, for Jen to show you one of her crappy crafts (I'm not too crafty, in case you haven't heard)!

Actually, I  really think this idea is pretty, and of course, easy!

Only 3 items needed

All you need is a pretty candlestick (must be pretty weighty, and preferably vintage), a vintage porcelain plate, and some glass glue (I use Glass Metal & More).

IMPORTANT: DO THIS IN A WELL VENTILATED ROOM, OR OUTSIDE!

Make sure the bottom of the plate is clean, and the same with the top of the candlestick.  But a glob of glue in the center of the plate and also on the top of the candlestick (not too much or you'll have a gloppy mess). I take a paper towel and dab around the edges to be sure there's not a bunch of blue all over the plate.

I chose this beautiful blue candlestick and vintage Bavarian plate

Press the two pieces together lightly.  It may seem like there's no way that this is going to stay glued, but check it in 24 hours, and you'll see, it is solidly in place!  I have a few that I made a few years ago, and they're as good as new!  In fact, I've sold a few of these!

Look what I made!

I used this smaller Bavarian plate, since it had the perfect matching blue as the candlestick!  This would be great for a wedding stacked with petit fours!

Happy Crafting!

Jen

Cauliflower Soup

Cauliflower Soup



Fall season!  Time to start making soup!

My husband made this delicious Cauliflower Soup (recipe from my daughter Lindsey)!  It is now one of my favorites.

Here's the recipe:

Melt 4 T butter in saucepan (med heat)

Add 1 C diced sweet onion, 3/4 C diced celery and 3/4 C diced carrot

Cook for about 8 minutes, stirring occassionally.

Add 1 head of cauliflower (Bob did not use the entire head), coarse choppped

Cook covered for 5 minutes

Add 1/4 C flour and 4 C veggie stock (Bob used chicken broth).  Stir together, turn heat to high, and bring to a boil

Lower heat to med-low, simmer half covered for 25 minutes.

Blend all together (we just took this to mean stirring it, and we did not use a blender to blend it up-which is an option).

Add 1 C heavy cream, pinch of nutmeg, salt & pepper.  We also added parmesan cheese to our individual soup bowls.

Easy and so good!

Hope you like it!

Jen

Vintage Wedding Decor

My daughter, Lindsey, is getting married next June!  She has asked me to start collecting china for the big day, and since I have a vintage china shop, I'm the perfect person to do this!  I sell quite a bit of china to brides that are using the china for their wedding or shower.  It's beautiful to mix differerent patterns together!

Love pink and platinum!

I'll be searching for a mix of blue china for my daughter's wedding.  I found a few pieces just to show her to be sure I'm on the "right page" as far as what she wants.  I got the okay from her, so I'll be on the hunt!

Milk glass is so beautiful for weddings!

I also have an Etsy shop devoted entirely to milk glass!  Milk glass is classic and perfect for weddings! 

Lovely dessert plates



Just think how beautiful your table will look with an ecclectic mix of vintage china!  Not limited to weddings, this beautiful idea is great for dinner parties too!

Fenton Silver Crest Cake Plate



I love this Fenton Silver Crest milk glass cake plate!  Silver Crest is one of my favorite Fenton patterns.  It has the crimped, clear edge!

Salad Plates



Another beautiful idea is a simple black and white table setting.  Mix a gray and black rose pattern, like the salad plates pictured, with classic white milk glass!

Milk Glass Vases

I think this pattern work be perfect for Lindsey's wedding!

Whether your colors are blue, pink, black and white, you can create a beautiful setting with vintage china and milk glass!

Another favorite of mine!

Your wedding will be gorgeous and unique!  Check out http://www.thechinagirl.etsy.com/ and http://www.mymilkglassshop.etsy.com/

And if you're limited on time, I can put together a custom listing for you!

Jen

Prepare for Christmas Now!

I know, it's so early, but this is a good time to start preparing for Christmas!  If you have any Etsy shop, it's a good time to start filling your shop with Christmas items!

Darling Angel

I haven't been moving as fast as I would like to on getting my Christmas items listed.  I hope to do that this weekend!

I've also started ordering packing boxes, packing materials, business cards, Christmas red and green tissue paper, etc!  http://www.moo.com/ is having a sale right now, it's only for a few more days.  I love their business cards and stickers! You can upload pictures of stuff from your shop, so they're very personalized!  They're a bit expensive, so I will also order inexpensive ones from http://www.overnightprint.com/ and add one moo card and one cheap card to each order!

Merry Christmas!!

Jen



Miss you Mom!

My Mom aka best friend passed away, suddenly in August of 2004.  Today is her birthday.  I miss her everyday. 

She called Katherine her "baby"

But I remember how much fun we had, and it makes me laugh!

We could all use a  role model like my Mom!  If you've read my blog before, you know that my Mom, Mona, came from, not such a happy childhood.

I know she's be proud of Mar,k, Katherine, and Lindsey

Did that give her an excuse to go the wrong way in life? Of course not! It made her more determined to be the most fantastic Mom (to 5 children)!

She devoted her life to us, and to that, I am grateful.

My Mom and I both had/have a good sense of humor, so when I tell you what my last words were to her, you can laugh! 

My last words were, "Oh, he was talking about the dog poop!".

So let me go back and explain!

My Mom lived in a luxury condiminum complex.  She loved the fact that she was one of the youngest! The condo was full of  "older people".  When she was sick with, what the doctor said was "just a virus", I brought my young baby's, Mark and Katherine, to see her, and brought her banana's (something she had asked for).  My older daughter, Lindsey, was in school, and Mark was probably around 2 and Katherine just 1 year old.

When we arrived at her place, I could not believe it, but there was a little dog poop near her condo door.  I told her about it, and she said one of the condo owners had a dog that was not well trained!

So, when we went back (for what would be our last visit), Mark remembered that and said something about it, but I didn't understand him.

Until we closed the door, and then I realized, and opened up the door to tell my Mom, "oh, he was talking about the dog poop!".

I think that's funny, and I know she does too!

I miss her, but I know she's okay!

Jen

My Baby Left for College!

My youngest, Katherine, left for college last Sunday!  I know I say this all the time, but time goes way to quick (or is it quickly-Katherine would correct me).

It was a long day of unpacking, she's in a room with 4 girls, which she doesn't seem to mind!  She's at Ohio State University, a huge school!  It seems like the perfect place for Katherine, since she's always been a people person!

Bob & Katherine (we went to Pier W the night before we left)



I miss her already!  The one thing Katherine requested was that I not put any of my shop stuff in her room!  My inventory has taken over the entire house, so I assured her that I would not put any of it in her room while she was away, in fact, I've started to clean her room (she gave me permission)!

We're silly!



She actually is at her very first college class as I am writing this! I hope it goes well, I have a feeling it will!

Katherine in her dorm!

Katherine's always been an independent spirit!  I am so proud of her!!!

And so lucky to have 3 great kids!  The 4th one is just okay (just kidding, I only have 3 kids).

Jen aka Mom

Soup and Chili Time

The cooler weather is coming! I don't want to think about snow!  I do want to think about makings soups, chili, and stews!



Pyrex Bowls





My favorite soup recipes are one's I just make up as I'm going!  I usually start with diced carrots, onions, celery, and maybe some orange, green, or yellow peppers, sauteed in a bit of olive oil and butter.

Spring Blossom



After those are sauteed I will start adding chicken broth (or vegetable broth if I'm making soup for my vegetarian daughter, Katherine).  I usually add at least one can of diced mexican tomatoes, for an extra kick! I like it a little spicy, so I will also add some red pepper flakes. I usually add some dried italian seasoning too.

Butterprint is one of my favorite Pyrex patterns!



I'll add some cannelini beans (canned), or lentils, for protein (or whatever beans I have on hand).  Soups are great to make because you can add just about anything, and use up things you have.  No need to go out and buy special ingredients!  Add in another can of tomatoes (we love tomatoes!).

I can never resist pink Pyrex!



I also will add some dried pasta, maybe even a bit of rice.  This gives it a bit more substance.  Sometimes I'll add some of my favorite frozen veggies, like green beans, peas, and corn (I can't add too much corn, since my husband is allergic to it).

Often times, towards the end, I will add some cream.  There's just something about that little kick of cream that I love!

So as you see, I just have fun creating a new soup each time!  No rules!  Have fun in the kitchen!

Jen

Please Like Me!

From my milk glass shop!

If you get a chance, please check out my facebook fan page!  I hope you like it!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Vintage-and-antiques/135709633330

Other places you can find me "hanging out" are http://www.twitter.com/jenscloset (I'm there way too often!) and a great place to promote your shops http://www.flickr.com./jenscloset (just be sure not to mention anything about selling anywhere but your profile page, or flickr will shut you down!

Happy Thursday!

Jen

Jacqueline Kennedy

I've always loved Jacqueline Kennedy. Her style, her class, just everything!  In fact, in my "dressing room" (the room my husband Bob so sweetly turned into a dressing room for me-which I've totally ruined), I have a picture of Jacqueline and my other favorite-Audrey Hepburn, they both stare at me everyday.  I still put my clothes on and look to them for approval!

I love the name Jacqueline, and even more than that name, Caroline! It reminds me of my precious mother! My best friend loved the name Caroline, and I know she was hoping for a granddaughter with that name.  I know that, because I was her best friend.

Watching this special with the tapes from Jacqueline Kennedy, also remind me of my sister in law, Yvette.  I can't explain exactly why, but they do! I do know one thing; both Jacqueline and Yvette are wonderful at telling a story, in detail!  That is difficult, at least for me!

Not to digress, but that makes me also think about one of my most favorite person in my world, my nephew, Jay (my brother Rick's son and also Yvette's son)!  I don't see Jay that often, but everytime I do, I am amazed at what a genuine person he is, and now he is married to an equally nice wife, Holly!

Genuine people are hard to find these days.  We are bombarded with all of these "amazing" reality stars.  They're famous for what?  I'm not sure. And that is sad.

Integrity.  Caring about people.  Simple things.  That is what matters.

Let's turn to better role models for our children, for us!

Jen

Hi!

I really didn't have anything to say, but I was thinking about my "crappy craft segment" and I'm trying to come up with something to make!

I'm thinking maybe a Christmas wreath, maybe something using some of my vintage Xmas ornaments!

If anyone has anything they want me to try to create, please let me know!  Keep in mind, this is "Jen's Crappy Crafts", meaning, I lack talent!!  Which makes it fun (I think!?).

Vintage Xmas crafty things



I have a big bag of old Christmas ribbons, sequins, etc., so maybe I could make Christmas cards!

I'm getting excited!!



Never Forget

I know I'll never forget 10 years ago.

I was at work, and my friend was listening to the radio and shouted out something about an airplane hitting a building in NYC!  And it went on from there.

I left very quickly after that.   When Ieft the building, I swear I saw one airplane in the sky above me, and still wonder if it was the plane that crashed in Pennsylvania.

 If something was going to happen, I wanted my children with me.  Mark was 9 and Katherine was 8.  I just calmy went to the school and asked to have my children released for the day.  I didn't panic them, but explained what had happened.  I then took them to the video store so we could just watch movies and not have the news on.

My older daughter, Lindsey, had just started her first year at college, so I worried about her (she was safe there).

I know everyone remembers that day.

Hearing more about the tragedy the past few days, has drained me.  My heart goes out to all the families that lost loved ones, or were hurt by September 11th.  Thanks is not enough for all of the heroes that day, and the days (and months) that followed.

Appreciate what you have, everyday.

Jen

A gift from France!

Love vintage tablecloth & napkins from France!



My daughter, Lindsey, just returned from France!  She surprised me with this beautiful pastel applique vintage tablecloth and napkins!

My son Mark and my grandpuppy Cosmo



We were lucky enough to get to have Lindsey's doggy, Cosmo, stay with us while she was in France!

The happy reunion-Lindsey & Cosmo!

I was busy packing orders and I guess Cosmo felt left out! he's laying on my tissue paper!

Since Lindsey lives in Columbus, and I'm in Cleveland, we usually do the "puppy drop off" at a rest area in between our to locations!  It is so fun to see how excited Cosmo is to see Lindsey and Thomas (Lindsey's fiance)!

We miss Cosmo already!

Everyone Needs a Friend Like Jerry!

I have known my friend, Jerry, for several years now.  I met him at our local Goodwill, where he has worked for years.  He was definitely loved by everyone that passed through the Goodwill doors, and was like a gracious host of the store!  He always had a smile and said hello to everyone!

 

I must say, the first time Jerry came up to me and said hello, I wasn't sure what to think.  I couldn't imagine that anyone could be so genuinely happy and nice!  I soon learned that he was the real-deal!

 

Someone that is a bit ignorant may just think Jerry  is a "special needs" person.  I can honestly say Jerry is the most kind, sensitive, caring friend I have ever had!  So, yes, he definitely is special!  He is absolutely has the purest heart I have ever come across.  I could always tell when something was wrong with Jerry, he would try to act happy, but he would break down and tell me what was wrong.

 

I was also lucky enough to meet his Mom, Dorothy, who is a fantastic person!

 

Each year, for Jerry's birthday, I would bring him a card, and a balloon bouquet, and some little gift.  He would physically be shaking so hard with excitement, and jumping up and down and the same time!  Pure joy!!

 

A few months ago Goodwill let him go, and I am still not sure why.  I did try to find out, but no luck with that.  He does have a new job, so I'm hoping to visit him soon.

 

This is the email I received from him today.  He truly made my day, am I lucky, or what!?

 

"Dear jenny how are you doing today I'm doing good. Everythings doing great at work but I still miss goodwill I went to the fair and petted a horse and the home coming to dance to music and play some games on my wii I'm so glad to have a friend like you I don't know what id do without you.".

Jerry

Etsy Baker's Dozen Kitchen Promo Team

I was just invited to join Etsy's "Baker's Dozen Kitchen Promo Team"!  That just may motivate me to start baking more!

I actually cook more than bake.  My daughter, Katherine, is the cookie baker.  Not only does she make yummy cookies, but she decorates them with amazing detail (so much so that I rarely assist her since mine do not meet her expectations!).  She makes them for most holiday's, for her friends.  Since's she's off to college soon, I'm guessing there will be less time for that, except at Christmas time and during the summer.

Pyrex Spring Blossom Mixing Bowls

I have this set of four retro Pyrex Spring Blossom mixing bowls listed in my Etsy shop, and I have the same ones I use everyday!  I never put them in the dishwasher, and keep a few paper towels in between each to keep them from scratching.

Recently listed/yummy pink Pyrex!

It's definitely more fun to cook and bake when you have the right utensils, accessories (like my Kitchen Aid), and cute retro Pyrex mixing bowls and bakeware!

Next time I bake, I will share my recipe, hopefully before the end of this week!

Another one of my favorite Pyrex pattern/Butterprint

Happy baking!  Please feel free to share your favorite recipes!

Jen

Nice to meet you Carrie!

I was lucky enough to meet one of my twitter friends, Carrie!  She had told me about a new flea market, so my husband and I took a drive out there.  I found some great vintage pieces, and best of all, got to meet Carrie!  Oh, the flea market is located in Medina, Ohio, address is 2993 Pearl Road.

Check out her website here:

http://www.corncobkindlin.com/

If I had a fireplace, I would definitely buy her green friendly firestarter!

Hope to meet more of my twitter friends soon!

Enjoy the long weekend!

Jen

Etsy info

This was a response to a convo I had about international shipping, storage, etc.  I know some of it is repeats of stuff I've blogged about before, but I thought it might help some of you!

I ship all over the world, in fact this morning I will be shipping to Australia and Sweden!


The way I figure the weight of the item, is using a USPS scale that I bought from them, I have a box on there with some packing material, so that gives a bit of extra weight for a more accurate weight. I place the item or items on the box, and then add another pound.

If I'm sure it will be under 4 lbs (if it's over 4 lbs it has to ship priority for international shipping), then I will add the "everywhere else" price using the Australian cost, since there's is one of the most expensive. If shipping is less, I will just refund them.

I've learned the hard way to be careful with large items, because when shipping to CA, etc, and you use an oversized box, it will cost way too much!

As far as storage, if you remember Sanford & Sons, that's basically my house now. It's no longer a house but a storage unit! The only places off limit are my daughter's room, and the bathrooms! Fortunately I have a very supportive husband, and he keeps building me more shelves~!

I do have a box system also. I number boxes and on my listing will have the box number, as well as have the information on a spreadsheet for cross referencing.