Happy 14th Birthday Bobby!

I cherish my nephew, Bobby!  I cannot believe he turned 14 today!  I hope he knows he always has my unconditional love.  So does his Mom, my sister (and yes, she's younger, as she loves to point out), Susan!

How cute!

I've wanted to write a blog about Bobby's Dad for quite awhile now.  I thought this was the perfect day!

His name was Steve.  Not only was he so darn cute, but he had such diverse talents!  This guy could take apart a computer in minutes, and put it back together in seconds!  How could that same guy also know how to sew!?  Yes, I said sew!

Steve loved the sweets!

What I remember most fondly about Steve was his warm, genuine hug, everytime we got together!  And that smile, wow!

Steve and Bobby!

I still feel his presence, his warm, sweet presence.

It's true, even if someone you love his gone, physically, they're still in your heart.

One of our summer get togethers

That cannot be taken away.

Younger Steve-so sweet and innocent!

Bobby, I knew you realize what an amazing Dad you had!  I hope I can help to keep the memories of him alive for you!

You are sweet, thoughtful, and intelligent, just like your Dad!  I know he is so proud of you!

I am too!

Love,

Aunt Jennifer,

Count Down to 2000!

I'm so excited!  4 more sales to go in my Etsy shop, until I hit 2000 sales!

I absolutely love running my 3 Etsy shop, Jenscloset (I don't like the name, but I'm stuck with it), was my first!

I've learned so much since 2008! 

I'm forever tweaking my photography, I know that's a must for a good shop!  I still don't get on the Etsy front page treasury too often, so I guess I still need to work on that!

Shipping has been another challenge; not so much the packing of fragile items, but getting an accurate shipping quote, so I'm not loosing money.  I learned the hard way on several occassions through the years.  I've learned to quote for the farthest distances from my zip, and always refund shipping if it does come out to be less.

My last blog was about customer service.  I've always been a stickler for good-no....excellent customer service!  I expect it when I'm purchasing anything, and so I try my hardest to give the best customer service!

Of course, describing the item you're selling is important too!  I do find myself using the same words way too often, such as "lovely", "beautiful", and "elegant".  Guess I need to work on that a bit!

I love every aspect of running my Etsy shops. 

If you know me, you know I love to talk!  That's a good thing, since marketing your shop is so imporant too!  I began twitter as a way to market my shops, but I've gained a bunch of friends from it!  I try not too post my listings too often, that would be considered spam!

I have this blog, plus my "beauty" blog.  Check it out as http://www.fabfortyandbeyond.blogspot.com/ -I'm going to be updating it with a blog about my new favorite mascara!

A lot of research goes into running vintage shops.  I am always learning more, and have my favorite vintage friends (not that I'm calling them old), that help me out from time to time when I'm stumped on a particular item.  I borrow books from the library, and when I find a favorite one, I'll buy it on amazon.com.  Some of my favorites are my milk glass books, and a porcelain marking book.  You can find so much information on the internet as well!

I would say the only negative to my shops, is the storage!  I am forever feeling guilty that our house is now more of a "warehouse" than a home!  Oh, and that brings me to another point!  I have come up with a few ideas for storage and organizing.  I will number a box, and when I list an item, I put that number on the listing, so when I sell it, I can go straight for that box.  I also keep a excel spreadsheet to cross reference. Okay, so that was actually my daughter, Lindsey's idea!

I also have a ton of shelves (thanks to my husband, Bob).  They're even in my living room now!

So, here's to my 2000 sales!!  I wish everyone success!

Jen

Excellent Customer Service is so Important!

I appreciate each and every one of my sales!  I try to show my appreciation to my customers in several ways.

The first is to acknowledge the sale as soon as possible, with a friendly convo to thank them for their order and let them know when I will be shipping their item.  (I usually ship within 24 hours of the sale.)

I always add a thank you letter with an offer for 10% off their next order, and 10% off to their friends, if the pass my business cards out to them! 

I wrap in pretty colored tissue paper with a ribbon, so it feels like they're receiving a gift!  After all, we work hard for our money, and when we decide to purchase something, it should feel like a gift!

After I have prepared the label, if there is a shipping refund due them, I will send them a convo with the amount of the credit.

I love the added touches, and most of my customers seem to appreciate it too!

Here's a few of the wonderful feedbacks I've received:

"Great customer service - Jen was patient and willing to work with me (happily grouped 4 items together!) The packaging was great (lots of bubble wrap), as though I was unwrapping a gift! Quick shipping, and quality was as promised."


"Wonderful seller. Great communication! Package shipped quickly, and glassware arrived securly wrapped and undamaged."

"Great seller! I received my earrings within days in a cute gift bag with a personalized note attached. They have a beautiful sparkle, and I can't wait to wear them on my wedding day!"

"Lovely items, just as described, packaged very well, would shop here again!"

I know there are a lot of wonderful vintage (and handmade) shops on Etsy, many of them are my friends.  I want to try to stand out in the crowd as much as possible!
 
Check out http://www.jenscloset.etsy.com/ http://www.thechinagirl.etsy.com/ and http://www.mymilkglassshop.etsy.com/ -fun vintage for all!
 
and THANK YOU for visiting my blog!!
 
Jen

Vintage Wedding Decor

Classic milk glass bud vases!

Perfect elegant decor for weddings!  http://www.mymilkglasshop.etsy.com/ has plenty of milk glass for weddings and showers!

As you can see, I have a huge quantity, and a great variety!

Great variety!

Milk Glass Bud Vases

Be sure to check out my shop!

Jen

Happy B-Day Dad!

My Dad and my daughter Lindsey

What do you give the guy who has everything!?

A blog, of course!

This blog is dedicated to my Dad on his 80th birthday!  Wow, where has the time gone!?

I'll start with a few of my Dad's accomplishments 

My Dad & Mark

My Dad was an Actuary before anyone knew what an actuary was (and I know, most still don't)!

He also started his own actuarial firm back in the last 70's, just at the time he was putting several kids through college (5 kids in our family), and paying for my wedding!  I tried to find the picture of him from my wedding where he was pointing to the pockets in his tux to let everyone know he was now out of money!

He is still well known in the actuarial field, and was quite a salesman in his time!  He literally started the company with no office.  He would make phone calls and have meetings at the Cleveland Athletic Club (which I now believe is gone-I loved that place!).

My Dad, Lindsey, Katherine, and nephew Bobby

And that is where I got the courage to start my own business!  My Dad has always been a very positive and "never say can't" kind of guy!

I am very proud of all he has accomplished, but, when all is said and done, what really matters?

Family!

My Dad, me, and some of his grandkids (and his sister the clown!)

My Mom and Dad devoted their lives to raising 5 children, and they did a great job, if I might say so myself!

Being the Dad of 5 kids, he was often called the "toilet paper man" and the "cereal man" at the grocery store!  I'm imaging that it had to be tough financially, but I never felt that growing up.

My Dad would make the most unusual places seem like we were at Disney World! 

My Dad & Lindsey-they were always together!

My favorite memories are of visiting an old run down train station, car rides where he'd pretend he missed our street, a snowy Christmas Eve pulling us on a sled down our road.

So I grew up rich!

Thanks for being the most funnest (and I don't care if that's not a real word) Dad ever!

My Dad at the office

Thanks for the memories!

I love you and Happy Birthday!

Your daughter, Jennifer

Moelleux au Chocolat

Before I get to this delicious recipe, I must say congrats to my daughter, Lindsey, and her fiance Thomas!  Newly engaged, such exciting news!  Cheers!  We also met Thomas' parents, what an interesting and fun couple!

We were gone for a few days checking out some colleges for my younger daughter, Katherine.  That was fun! 

Lindsey lives in Columbus, so the hostess-with-the-mostest, had us over for dinner Friday night!  My son, Mark, was even able to drive in from his college!

Thomas grilled delicious steaks.  Lindsey made the most incredible pasta primavera (recipe to come soon), and she even made it without cheese, just for my daughter Katherine!  There was also asparagus (one of my favorites).  Oh, I almost forgot the delicous appetizer, mushroom caps (also recipe to come soon)!

But the best was the "Moelleux au Chocolat"!  Translation, hot gooey yummy chocolate cake!  Lindsey even made a homemade caramel sauce to go over it!

She said she gets most of her recipes from cookingchannel.com (and yes, she does get a few from me)!

Here it is (oh, and her fiance described this cake as "life changing"!  Love that guy!

By the way, I ate this so quick I didn't get a chance to take a pic of it, but I did manage to save some of the yummy center!

Ingredients:

for the cakes:

2/3 c butter, plus more for greasing
4 oz dark chocolate, chopped
4 eggs
2/3 c sugar
1/2 c all-purpose flour

for the caramel sauce:

2/3 c sugar
1/4 c butter
1/3 c plus 2 T cream
squirt lemon juice, to taste

Directions for the cake:

Butter 6 ramekins & line with a disk of parchment paper, & then butter the parchment.  In a double boiler, bowl or saucepan, very gently melt the butter & chocolate together over a water bath.  In a separate mixing bowl, beat the eggs & sugar until thick, pale & ribbony.  Beat in the flour, and finally the chocolate mixture.  Pour the mixture into the ramekins & chill.

Just before serving, preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Place the ramekins on a baking sheet, and bake until the top is set, 12-14 minutes.  Remove, let sit 5 minutes, before unmolding onto plates.  Serve with caramel sauce, or icecream would be great too!

For the caramel sauce:

Add a spoonful of water to the sugar in a saucepan over medium-high heat & boil to caramel, approx 5 minuts.  Do not stir with a spoon.  Swirl the saucepan over the heat until desired color is achieved.  Don't let it get too dark!  Stir in the butter to melt (careful -it will splatter!), then the cream.  Add a squirt of lemon juice, to taste.

Enjoy!

Jen

Vintage Teapots

Vintage Teapots come in all kinds of styles, colors, and patterns!

This lovely blue floral Ellgreave Wood & Sons is one of my favoites!

This retro periwinkle Hall art-deco type is a true work of art!

This one is in my china shop!  You can't go wrong with classic blue and white from Sadler!

Another pretty blue floral pattern, this one is also a Sadler!

You can find a great selection of teapots and teacups http://www.jenscloset.etsy.com/ as well as my china shop http://www.thechinagirl.etsy.com/.

They make great gifts!  Perfect for wedding showers, and don't forget about Mother's Day just around the corner!

Create a pretty basket with a vintage teapot, teacup & saucers, some great teas, maybe even a good book!  The perfect gift for a sick friend, or just to let them know how much they mean to you!

Maybe I'll create a gift basket and show it off here!  I haven't posted a "Jenny's crappy craft" segment lately!

Jen

Rustic Spicy Tomato Soup

You know I love to make soups!  Here's my latest creation!

Saute chopped up white onion in olive oil and butter (can be bigger chunks).

Toss in any of your favorite canned tomatoes.  I added one smaller can of a mexican style chopped tomatoes for spice, a large can of stewed tomatoes (which I broke up a bit), and a smaller can of another type of chopped tomotoes that also had some spice to it.

Add italian seasoning, garlic salt, just a pinch of sugar (test throughout the cooking process to see if it needs a bit more), 1 can of chicken broth, and some salt.  Cook that at medium heat for about 5 minutes and then simmer for at least 15 minutes. 

I think took about a 1/4 of that mixture and put it in the blender with some milk (about 3/4"),you can also used cream, I just didn't have any so I used milk.  Blend that for just a quick few seconds, add it back to the mixture.  Again, take out 1/4 of the mixture, and blend another for seconds, adding a bit more of the milk or cream.  Add it back to your soup pot again and cook for at least 5 minutes more. 

I will test the soup at least a few times during the cooking process to see if it needs more seasoning, sugar, etc.  

I also made some rice separately so I could add a bit of it to anyone who wanted rice in their soup (like me)!

I love this because it still has texture, since the entire soup wasn't blended, there's still some tomato and onion bits!

Perfect anytime of the year!  I often make a big pot of soup so we can have it for lunch during the week!

Enjoy!!

Jen

My China Shop

Pink & Platinum-Candelite

Asian Flair Platter

Heinrich

Art Deco Style-Tuxedo

Edwin Knowles Chalet Dinner Plates

Crinoline Creamer/Gravy Boat

I made my 100th sale in my 3rd Etsy shop, http://www.thechinagirl.etsy.com/!

I opened it just over a year ago, since I love china and I have quite a collection!  From dinner plates, to teacups and saucers!  Quite a few of my listings have plenty of pieces to match.  I have a variety of colors and styles.  Noritake, Harmony House, Limoges, and more!

I hope you'll get a chance to check it out!

Step lightly!

Jen

Your Shoes Untied

April Fools!

Yep, that's about as good as it gets for my April Fools tricks!  I do remember having lots of fun on April Fool's Day as a kid!  Another good one I remember, which of course, I fell for: a boy in my class asked me if I got the letter he mailed to me (I was so excited that he actually sent a letter to me!).  So of course, gullible me said "no", and then he took his foot and stomped on my foot (pretty hard) and said "oh, I forgot to stamp it!" Haha.  I'm guessing that was around 2nd grade!

I found this site for help with your April's Fools Day fun!

http://www.aprilfoolzone.com/classic.htm

Enjoy the day!

Jen