tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40273035101277794172024-03-14T03:29:41.678-07:00The Pig and Pepperjenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14684508594179949510noreply@blogger.comBlogger138125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4027303510127779417.post-68644259551370378482016-03-02T15:05:00.002-08:002016-03-02T15:05:50.263-08:00Happy New Year!! Oh, wait...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl2xTIFCjbynO68M0U9XeiE5lpRu0qeArt5cLsem1Dy1riasz-wYJbHFbnc9oTLp8PwxSFnvw3Rw6-EhpZRfh6VZXU5s_4kTCz30FLBOc1pqhMYjLiFtTbzQ_OWa-X3gvEeguCqdcQQnPe/s1600/Here.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl2xTIFCjbynO68M0U9XeiE5lpRu0qeArt5cLsem1Dy1riasz-wYJbHFbnc9oTLp8PwxSFnvw3Rw6-EhpZRfh6VZXU5s_4kTCz30FLBOc1pqhMYjLiFtTbzQ_OWa-X3gvEeguCqdcQQnPe/s400/Here.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I hate using words at the end of the year like "resolution." It just seems really trite to me, I don't really know why.<br />
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Instead, at the start of 2016, I decided to use words like "commitment." Or, more accurately, "self-commitment." I have complete commitment to my husband, my family, my friends, my job. When it comes to myself, however, not so much. I ended 2015 sick, physically and mentally wiped out. I had a few days off work and I spent them seeping on the sofa. (You could call it my Ariana Huffington moment.) <br />
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That's not good.<br />
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That's not a badge of honor. <br />
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That's a wake up call.<br />
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So my theme for this year is self-commitment. It feels great!<br />
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I've committed to keeping a 5-year daily journal. Just a few lines a day every evening to end the day on a positive note.<br />
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I've committed to regular exercise, even if it's not "convenient." I'm trying barre classes and adding yoga on other days. Talk about a challenge!<br />
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I've committed to putting better photos forward on Instagram. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, but I'd rather curate a few beautiful images than a year's worth of mediocre ones. <br />
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I've committed to taking the pressure off myself with creating my jewelry. So, no craft shows this year, and I'm stepping way back on what I post on Etsy and accepting custom orders. I'm allowing myself the time to figure out what's next. (And I think I might be on to something!)<br />
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By allowing myself to commit to my own well-being, I will be a better wife, family member, friend and employee. So it really doesn't make any sense not to do it. <br />
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It's going to be a really good year, I can feel it!jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14684508594179949510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4027303510127779417.post-54778446028093680682015-12-31T20:12:00.000-08:002015-12-31T20:12:50.579-08:00Year End Roundup (whoops...)So, 2015 is drawing to a close. This is the year I've been terribly neglectful of this blog. (Sorry, my little blog...) I'll be honest, I often wonder if what I write ever reaches anyone, or if I even want it to reach anyone. I do know that it reaches my sister-in-law and her friend Lou (Hi, Lou! Thanks for reading!), and that makes me happy. This is all just my random thoughts and pictures, and if other people enjoy what goes on in my weird little mind, I am honored.<br />
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So, because I'm not sure how else to wrap the year up, let's have a little roundup of the haps around here since July. (Whaaaaaat??)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM_Ueub6exs9iaCF6nm73sXkruuuibwJse4jKxfpr7SMX9tAQBQo_1ruyoFPui8L_tvxa8ZCcAm7sZ48bJ3K1K34yvc2K4pJEPaCqnexf9dQX8dGDqt9Rai8CbTVY_FtaUhWcnqQ4I3xUH/s1600/IMG_20150818_231308.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM_Ueub6exs9iaCF6nm73sXkruuuibwJse4jKxfpr7SMX9tAQBQo_1ruyoFPui8L_tvxa8ZCcAm7sZ48bJ3K1K34yvc2K4pJEPaCqnexf9dQX8dGDqt9Rai8CbTVY_FtaUhWcnqQ4I3xUH/s400/IMG_20150818_231308.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mumford and Sons</td></tr>
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In August, James and I went to see Mumford and Sons at the Forum in Los Angeles. We saw them a couple of years ago at an outdoor venue and let me tell you, it was EXACTLY what we needed to hear at that time in our lives. That experience reminded me of what music can do to your life, and I couldn't wait to relive the moments by seeing the band again. It didn't disappoint, the concert was amazing and I didn't want it to end. (The image above is my screensaver on my phone, so I can look at it every day.) I'm not as into Wilder Mind as I'd like to be, and I missed some of the songs from Sigh No More that they played last time, but hey, artists gonna be artists, man. Big love, bro. (haha)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_tkMqTzgml6bjUP2kXZfntftt4Q1jXhV4gnDUOVe2PU8t0Dxf8v6_B3GTzhSaJHm-cSFZTGLp3cbcgt7aH96aBTNzi_ft31GegOha9qNJ7C4NdxmsgTniEXJpF6OqyS7QLbcTcduPaUr5/s1600/Nona.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_tkMqTzgml6bjUP2kXZfntftt4Q1jXhV4gnDUOVe2PU8t0Dxf8v6_B3GTzhSaJHm-cSFZTGLp3cbcgt7aH96aBTNzi_ft31GegOha9qNJ7C4NdxmsgTniEXJpF6OqyS7QLbcTcduPaUr5/s400/Nona.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nona </td></tr>
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The day we saw Mumford and Sons was also the day that James lost his childhood cat, Nona, a truly sweet feline soul that will be missed always. I have mourned our cat losses deeply, and although I feel a little silly, I'm sure any of you who have pets can relate - they become a part of your family and once gone, you miss them and your family is never quite the same. I knew the last time I was in England that that was the last time I would see Nona, but it hurt just the same. My college years are filled with memories of hanging out in James's room, lit with candles, eating dinner, drinking wine, and Nona curled up on his futon bed, purring and stamping and dribbling (a sort of unfortunate happy habit she had). I also remember a rather unfortunate incident involving a candle and Nona's fluffy tail...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4dvXxqC-pveXV_EnXzzvjUdKq_ZNNFemnuolFa8aFV-x2Nfzw8JcCHZr5kPOReMYvdDLvy0ll_KTVkBBcIZnSiJyqd9WbsNp4PJRHnoLzAUgQF_v7XsckioxMqMWniD-r3n6O1sMeMl4q/s1600/20150927_032151.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4dvXxqC-pveXV_EnXzzvjUdKq_ZNNFemnuolFa8aFV-x2Nfzw8JcCHZr5kPOReMYvdDLvy0ll_KTVkBBcIZnSiJyqd9WbsNp4PJRHnoLzAUgQF_v7XsckioxMqMWniD-r3n6O1sMeMl4q/s400/20150927_032151.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Downton Abbey. The closest we could get to it that day as the grounds were closed to the public.</td></tr>
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In late September, James and I paid a quick visit to family in England for a cousin's wedding. (The wedding venue happened to be quite close to Highclere Castle aka Downton Abbey, and we managed to snag a quick visit to the grounds. However, they were triumphantly closed to the public that day, but the nice men working there let us walk as far as the public footpath, snap a quick photo of the top of the house, and turn around and walk right out again.) Visits are never long enough, and we can never spend quite as much time with all of the friends and family we have over there. It's a nice dilemma to have, except it leaves us feeling tremendously guilty that we're not seeing everyone or spending enough time with everyone - not exactly what you want on a vacation! We spent our first few days around Baisingstoke, landing on Friday night and attending the wedding the following day. It all felt slightly surreal, which, if you've ever experienced jet lag, you'll totally get. We ran around like crazy in London the following week and a half, trying to see as many people as possible. These trips are always fraught with many tears from me, because I miss everyone and everything so terribly. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlD41Qvmk8-xxF1jV21IAtYWQp9Psf6k_1M4BwJPWJ0-wdOONkgxoWt7igTqEvgWmxUrmEl6uEzMeraEClsVvbXeNCqcRW-7vw1TuEBU53JEA0d_dhSqyqlfkBpTSug8GGJL3gv_1wUELV/s1600/20150930_151300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlD41Qvmk8-xxF1jV21IAtYWQp9Psf6k_1M4BwJPWJ0-wdOONkgxoWt7igTqEvgWmxUrmEl6uEzMeraEClsVvbXeNCqcRW-7vw1TuEBU53JEA0d_dhSqyqlfkBpTSug8GGJL3gv_1wUELV/s400/20150930_151300.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">LOOK. I'm really in London. NOT crying.</td></tr>
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As soon as we returned to California, preparations were under way for craft shows! James was going to sell his cards at a local Saturday boutique, and I was accepted into Jackalope Art Fair, a juried 2-day art fair in Pasadena. The dates just happened to fall on the same day and were in two different cities. Plus, the second day of Jackalope was on our 7 year wedding anniversary. So we celebrated a little differently this year, but hey, that's what you do when you're a creative couple! We still had time for a few cuddles.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ-luMmsdpdO9GoQV93P2XHMe9bizGyiw-Tpof_TgMzz0_blNpfYeJCNikm18BRTUTMc_PDxv6D_gzQv5GrXAKRxuBulpyBkfj8qHMAvsp6jTw3ZE8QZNpAH_twJGcIzr2sevMnNieVV6A/s1600/Anniversary+Photo+2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ-luMmsdpdO9GoQV93P2XHMe9bizGyiw-Tpof_TgMzz0_blNpfYeJCNikm18BRTUTMc_PDxv6D_gzQv5GrXAKRxuBulpyBkfj8qHMAvsp6jTw3ZE8QZNpAH_twJGcIzr2sevMnNieVV6A/s400/Anniversary+Photo+2015.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">7 Year Anniversary at Jackalope Art Faire</td></tr>
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In between everything, my dad participated in a woodworking show and was awarded 2nd place for his entry. (Yay!!) Also, my grandmother turned 90 and she, my mom and I went to see The Sound of Music in Los Angeles. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcnBjqU2KYzx-K4CXLbdA3ZmpzVvx4wjBdwrM-Xm4LUL0OtBtXCUTuATZPPXy-bH3HkbnDlHycWqDA7COgU8qdM_S6Vhh48NsH7w9q8Kp-0F-bB6KM1k9OaPjT6LIyGJ7oyohKfiCuw0Qf/s1600/20151011_112958.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcnBjqU2KYzx-K4CXLbdA3ZmpzVvx4wjBdwrM-Xm4LUL0OtBtXCUTuATZPPXy-bH3HkbnDlHycWqDA7COgU8qdM_S6Vhh48NsH7w9q8Kp-0F-bB6KM1k9OaPjT6LIyGJ7oyohKfiCuw0Qf/s400/20151011_112958.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My dad's awesome carving. We are a creative family. BOOM.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG7SmoLvIyCeBo8USVJaAOKjHTAu6ANShYZHv9pOcoPIaUg7GK2tFzy1BGARf-8BlmyWJdPEaCz6iDs_683TL-cY_WpphqFKvEVCDP0YOzrqe5q0Ew0EKWvg0C7RiL42YXZIfvzhtILF_w/s1600/IMG_20151018_155858.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="331" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG7SmoLvIyCeBo8USVJaAOKjHTAu6ANShYZHv9pOcoPIaUg7GK2tFzy1BGARf-8BlmyWJdPEaCz6iDs_683TL-cY_WpphqFKvEVCDP0YOzrqe5q0Ew0EKWvg0C7RiL42YXZIfvzhtILF_w/s400/IMG_20151018_155858.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Selfie with Grandma</td></tr>
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And then...full steam ahead into the holiday season! I am quite adamantly NOT creating anything new and really putting everything on the back burner. I've joined the Academy of Handmade Artists and Supporters, and I feel terrible that my application acceptance has coincided with this massive burnout I'm feeling, but I'm confident that I'll regain artistic steam in the new year. <br />
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And at this point I have no more pictures to share with you. (Sorry.) But, that will all change in 2016. The times, they are (hopefully) a-changing. <br />
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Misc Notes:<br />
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Also, at some point we went to see Run River North at the Barclay Theater in Irvine, although I honestly can't remember when that was. I do remember it was the last night we sat out on the patio before it got a little too chilly to do that, and we ended up drinking wine and beer on the patio until about 1am, a rarity for us in our dotage! <br />
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Also, my friend Kathy in Australia, diagnosed with Stage IV Melanoma (NOT good) has been on these experimental treatments and has experienced what I think is no less than an absolute miracle - she's now without any sign of illness!! Hooray x 1,000,000,000,000!!!!!!!!! <br />
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On that note, I wish everyone a happy, healthy and peaceful new year! May you all experience your own miracles, whatever they may be. jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14684508594179949510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4027303510127779417.post-74702076025523451742015-07-15T16:52:00.000-07:002015-07-15T16:52:31.040-07:00What "Catching Up" means to meBlog, I've been neglecting you. I've been too busy doing other stuff, like catching up on Grey's Anatomy. And by "catching up," I mean "watching the entire thing from the beginning." (I'm like, 60 episodes in. Roku was both the best and worst thing to ever happen in my life.)<br />
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I've also been doing stuff like going to concerts. You know, stuff that other, normal people would find fun.<br />
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Yeah, that's right, Lana Del Rey AND Courtney Love at the Hollywood Bowl. It was either going to be amazing or a train wreck. (It was <i>AMAZING!!</i>)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://scontent-lax1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xat1/v/t1.0-9/11147849_10155564279020133_7200690028711097066_n.jpg?oh=239e783b7fcefdad020dd5edc925bf01&oe=561678ED" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://scontent-lax1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xat1/v/t1.0-9/11147849_10155564279020133_7200690028711097066_n.jpg?oh=239e783b7fcefdad020dd5edc925bf01&oe=561678ED" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Courtney Love - YEESSS!!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://scontent-lax1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/11109261_10155564261225133_3947958998946251833_n.jpg?oh=80b771fd9e7f606cf1f392b62da107d9&oe=5618B6B5" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://scontent-lax1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/11109261_10155564261225133_3947958998946251833_n.jpg?oh=80b771fd9e7f606cf1f392b62da107d9&oe=5618B6B5" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hollywood Bowl</td></tr>
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What was particularly disturbing were all the kids (cause I'm old now) who had no clue who Courtney Love is. I overheard the following conversation:<br />
#1: Who's Courtney Love?<br />
#2: I dunno...(looks it up on iPhone) Oh, it says she was married to that Kurt Cobain guy? Dude, she's like 60!<br />
*smacks forehead*<br />
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I also managed to pull off what was one of the best birthday surprises, in my humble opinion, and I took James to see U2 at the Forum. (Also <i>AMAZING!!</i>)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://scontent-lax1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtf1/v/t1.0-9/11423933_10155613212780133_5394592537762495261_n.jpg?oh=b9c7ca7828796423108988a4a05de85c&oe=5611CB76" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://scontent-lax1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtf1/v/t1.0-9/11423933_10155613212780133_5394592537762495261_n.jpg?oh=b9c7ca7828796423108988a4a05de85c&oe=5611CB76" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We can't wait for U2!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://scontent-lax1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xta1/v/t1.0-9/10641089_10155614454520133_5025315969778842615_n.jpg?oh=ae67095d56f31ed99b81bf1c0193a7b7&oe=56196897" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://scontent-lax1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xta1/v/t1.0-9/10641089_10155614454520133_5025315969778842615_n.jpg?oh=ae67095d56f31ed99b81bf1c0193a7b7&oe=56196897" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"The Miracle of Joey Ramone"</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWQwbBRfryGkQMeTGS-ic6msGGpOdhKzVJHmixpthuuDDMtNAZK8JNnvq10eTfJqkCisi7RbhslD5rl9YDphnEMov9u2EIz0I6BBLKnmlg4Vwb6LHkpJLdJ1cszpsEUcJ6X8cwBGKaaxp1/s1600/20150603_223343.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWQwbBRfryGkQMeTGS-ic6msGGpOdhKzVJHmixpthuuDDMtNAZK8JNnvq10eTfJqkCisi7RbhslD5rl9YDphnEMov9u2EIz0I6BBLKnmlg4Vwb6LHkpJLdJ1cszpsEUcJ6X8cwBGKaaxp1/s400/20150603_223343.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lighters are not held up any longer, now it's the flashlight attached to our phones</td></tr>
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And then I did Patchwork in Long Beach, which was amazing!! And I don't think I really have any pictures to show you. But I met a lovely girl called Nora Graseck who took some beautiful product shots that she's kindly shared with me. If you get a moment, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/noragphotography?fref=photo">go like her on Facebook</a>! <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://scontent-lax1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/10433119_851082974981159_4379293969973165372_n.jpg?oh=876083e0886b9876088be15a0de9406d&oe=564D4D17" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://scontent-lax1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/10433119_851082974981159_4379293969973165372_n.jpg?oh=876083e0886b9876088be15a0de9406d&oe=564D4D17" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lace Necklaces, photo by Nora Graseck</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
And then last week James and I took a few days off to go to Sequoia National Park. It was a fantastic few days, which I promise to tell you more about next time. For now, I'll leave you with this photo so you can see the scale of those amazing trees. I have to get back to Grey's Anatomy. Wednesdays are my binge days...<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://scontent-lax1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xaf1/v/t1.0-9/11403078_10155775234580133_6435654151837049763_n.jpg?oh=70461891fa882afae728f0e252fe33f6&oe=5612F3C5" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://scontent-lax1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xaf1/v/t1.0-9/11403078_10155775234580133_6435654151837049763_n.jpg?oh=70461891fa882afae728f0e252fe33f6&oe=5612F3C5" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wow, check out those trees!!</td></tr>
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<br />jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14684508594179949510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4027303510127779417.post-67768454958929410472015-04-27T08:04:00.000-07:002015-04-27T08:04:08.881-07:00Save the Date...it's that time again!!<div style="text-align: center;">
I'm so thrilled and excited to be participating in <a href="http://www.patchworkshow.com/">Patchwork Show</a> Long Beach again!! </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Be sure to mark your calendars and save the date!</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-size: large;">June 7, 2015</span></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>11a - 5p</b></span></span></div>
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<i>Mother's Beach - Appain Way at E. Sorrento Dr.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Long Beach, Calif.</i></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTutcOEOMvfKhstUqC9MOLV5JcQTBm-PoTW8rVMWXahw9IKXGaFV_b8BTCGDrhUcKy59ROyTzKXuPmz8yYks-xL9F5jxSdBppqVd3Glr8lucM7mLHABqE7LlvOCjS_4XaNse0PMe17R4Gc/s1600/Patchwork+Spring+2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTutcOEOMvfKhstUqC9MOLV5JcQTBm-PoTW8rVMWXahw9IKXGaFV_b8BTCGDrhUcKy59ROyTzKXuPmz8yYks-xL9F5jxSdBppqVd3Glr8lucM7mLHABqE7LlvOCjS_4XaNse0PMe17R4Gc/s1600/Patchwork+Spring+2015.jpg" height="640" width="412" /></a></div>
This will be my third time vending at Patchwork, and my second time at the Long Beach show. These events have grown and grown and grown into a really amazing, unique experience, and I'm so happy to be a part of it! From very humble beginnings in a parking lot in Santa Ana, Patchwork now hosts over 150 local artists, crafters, designers and food artisans. We all have to be juried in to the show, and the organizers do a fantastic job of curating a widely varied event. This is the place for all things handmade, from jewelry <a href="http://www.sweetpeastudios.etsy.com/"><i>(like mine!)</i></a> to succulent container gardens to handmade soaps to fashions for all ages, and so so SO much more!<br />
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So come out and support us local artists and artisans for any of the show dates listed above - if you want to stop by and say hello, come to <b><span style="color: orange;">Long Beach on June 7th!</span></b> I'll be at the booth for <a href="http://www.sweetpeastudios.etsy.com/">Sweetpea Studios</a> - see you there! jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14684508594179949510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4027303510127779417.post-2307525127790422822015-02-01T16:19:00.001-08:002015-03-22T11:46:02.317-07:00Happy New Year! Wait...it's February??So...it's been a long time since I last posted. Bad Jenn. I'll try to catch you up a bit.<br />
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First and foremost, I participated in Patchwork Show Santa Ana in late November. (Huzzah!) And got rained on. For this southern California girl, <i>what are the chances?? </i><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://scontent-a-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/p417x417/1800445_10154870881245133_7983961830622130367_n.jpg?oh=889476d982b28aeb2384a811d0a9f176&oe=55526625" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://scontent-a-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/p417x417/1800445_10154870881245133_7983961830622130367_n.jpg?oh=889476d982b28aeb2384a811d0a9f176&oe=55526625" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">James, myself, and Carly, not letting the rain get us down!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xaf1/v/t1.0-9/p417x417/1511177_10154869455640133_847855610596065238_n.jpg?oh=9208f67a1b783b73850f6b06ae9413c0&oe=555ADC1B&__gda__=1431736828_23299449a2739a4b62b526013ac80347" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xaf1/v/t1.0-9/p417x417/1511177_10154869455640133_847855610596065238_n.jpg?oh=9208f67a1b783b73850f6b06ae9413c0&oe=555ADC1B&__gda__=1431736828_23299449a2739a4b62b526013ac80347" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yeah, it's definitely raining now. </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://scontent-a-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/10806227_10154869145780133_4394450788802227333_n.jpg?oh=9bfece7e8f764a80d69a38758684e41d&oe=555C2492" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://scontent-a-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/10806227_10154869145780133_4394450788802227333_n.jpg?oh=9bfece7e8f764a80d69a38758684e41d&oe=555C2492" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carly and James with my booth pre-waterlogging.</td></tr>
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Shame on me, I never once thought about the fact that it gets dark earlier in late November. These shows are a definite learning curve for me! Next time, I will channel my inner Girl Scout and BE PREPARED! <i>(Note to self: chalk signs do not weather the weather very well.)</i><br />
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James and Carly were absolute troopers and did whatever they could think of to help me out - they are two of the best people <i>ever!</i> Plus, my fantastic friends and family all came out to support my chilly, soggy bum, which I appreciate SO SO SO MUCH!!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/10850018_10154921622795133_5733671815209766738_n.jpg?oh=02f14b85d64c5e6782092f458271c57b&oe=55668650&__gda__=1432407622_574ee4e34698d0141718c56474e60465" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/10850018_10154921622795133_5733671815209766738_n.jpg?oh=02f14b85d64c5e6782092f458271c57b&oe=55668650&__gda__=1432407622_574ee4e34698d0141718c56474e60465" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our Christmas tree, mid-decorating</td></tr>
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<br />
James and I had a few days off together at Christmas, and we did pretty much nothing. We slept in, went to LACMA, had an old friend over for dinner, watched a lot of TV and movies.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://scontent-b-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/v/t1.0-9/p417x417/10898310_10154969469955133_6007222958642782621_n.jpg?oh=4251cdf1303f0d6ed3e7fa3f5415d000&oe=5563A4CB" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://scontent-b-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/v/t1.0-9/p417x417/10898310_10154969469955133_6007222958642782621_n.jpg?oh=4251cdf1303f0d6ed3e7fa3f5415d000&oe=5563A4CB" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Armor </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://scontent-b-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/p417x417/10406743_10154969474000133_461915934567716972_n.jpg?oh=51e165d5a2f86bf62368421ab6ed2602&oe=556A6F4E" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://scontent-b-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/p417x417/10406743_10154969474000133_461915934567716972_n.jpg?oh=51e165d5a2f86bf62368421ab6ed2602&oe=556A6F4E" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">James the Artist</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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It was right around this time that my phone spontaneously decided to delete nearly ALL OF MY PICTURES. <i>(Thanks, Phone. I'm now looking for a replacement.)</i><br />
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And then James got the flu.<br />
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And then I got the flu. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://scontent-a-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/10891534_10155029412945133_4206528590056209464_n.jpg?oh=6e66cfe9e6ed30e1400572c4351d44d3&oe=554FE8DA" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://scontent-a-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/10891534_10155029412945133_4206528590056209464_n.jpg?oh=6e66cfe9e6ed30e1400572c4351d44d3&oe=554FE8DA" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The flu. It sucked.</td></tr>
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<br />
We spent last weekend in San Diego, spending several hours on Sunday in the zoo feeding the giraffes and watching grizzly bears chase each other, and then several hours in the San Diego Museum of Art looking at the Gaugin to Warhol exhibit that was closing this past week. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://scontent-b-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/1499560_10155120821165133_7833639830481817973_n.jpg?oh=d5773e0b04f7a124db3c94c86bbe1095&oe=5562A073" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://scontent-b-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/1499560_10155120821165133_7833639830481817973_n.jpg?oh=d5773e0b04f7a124db3c94c86bbe1095&oe=5562A073" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They were AMAZING</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://scontent-b-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/10941454_10155120856275133_4054629465902920907_n.jpg?oh=c83d622f7b304b853a0a84a9d44c7f3b&oe=554AB118" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://scontent-b-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/10941454_10155120856275133_4054629465902920907_n.jpg?oh=c83d622f7b304b853a0a84a9d44c7f3b&oe=554AB118" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">San Diego Museum of Art. Hashtag No Filter</td></tr>
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<i>Not pictured:</i> The turquoise china cabinet we've installed to house my grandmother's china. James's "tea time" using the proper tea cups and saucers from my grandmother's china set. The evening we decided to move our giant bookcase. The turquoise armchair we stuffed into the front seat of my Ford Focus (upside down and sideways with James riding in the backseat holding the chair back so I could attempt to see to drive) that now sits where our giant bookcase used to be. It's been an interesting start to the year.jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14684508594179949510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4027303510127779417.post-60672152525672593382014-11-26T07:17:00.000-08:002014-11-26T07:17:04.152-08:00Patchwork Sneak Peek<div style="text-align: center;">
Do you know what this weekend is?? </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
That's right, it's...<b><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-size: large;">PATCHWORK SANTA ANA!!! </span></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>(And also Thanksgiving.)</i></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnkgsPEfwyjE8_44XVkJhcQKgAKh61hYWnJRp_xOXqjrv-bcZu_ZN_Aj1EBsP4aOFBY8yHJAn4NqENRk6EsDqu402pZAy9KQ7KvR4fV_GIIJhudjKUfX0e-japliJQAo54P72qJTPdr2en/s1600/PatchworkShow+Santa+Ana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnkgsPEfwyjE8_44XVkJhcQKgAKh61hYWnJRp_xOXqjrv-bcZu_ZN_Aj1EBsP4aOFBY8yHJAn4NqENRk6EsDqu402pZAy9KQ7KvR4fV_GIIJhudjKUfX0e-japliJQAo54P72qJTPdr2en/s1600/PatchworkShow+Santa+Ana.jpg" height="400" width="257" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Come and visit! I'm Booth Y and will be in the Artist's District of Santa Ana Sunday, Nov 30 from 11a - 5p!</td></tr>
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Our apartment has been a hive of activity the last several weeks. Currently, there are plastic tubs of equipment, plastic bags of candy canes and holiday cards, books, magazines, jewelry supplies, finished jewelry and even a box containing a piece of furniture waiting to be built ALL OVER THE PLACE. I don't think we've eaten at the kitchen table since early October. But, that's all about to change, my friends!<br />
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I've got a little sneak peek of my newest pieces for you...wanna see?<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVUrIPC-FxVnAs7UAoEm8qAASVic9mrO575U_incbaKaooXXuh4qWP7b0BQ2v1PPW56gGh2_A9xi4u7tIYDT5uZ1V42LHZx_yoEN8L1DCsA4X-t6nkk6guTLW_kG0x0ZT_6YtxAJoUuLIv/s1600/IMG_20141125_181509.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVUrIPC-FxVnAs7UAoEm8qAASVic9mrO575U_incbaKaooXXuh4qWP7b0BQ2v1PPW56gGh2_A9xi4u7tIYDT5uZ1V42LHZx_yoEN8L1DCsA4X-t6nkk6guTLW_kG0x0ZT_6YtxAJoUuLIv/s1600/IMG_20141125_181509.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lace Collar Statement Necklaces in navy and plum - $150</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAR5koSjQMMzjhAMchjfK9GFnWoDZmGGHqIHDVfRVe0_aYL4WSpfnaZ_cR1HkRXmrROeUy7fl1Vr2Z7hiig97Yhk6QcAAp9Obohx0QvcdeBFykJhlC1zFkNLGX_qPURX2vZ2vIsGkQyW1F/s1600/IMG_20141126_063421.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAR5koSjQMMzjhAMchjfK9GFnWoDZmGGHqIHDVfRVe0_aYL4WSpfnaZ_cR1HkRXmrROeUy7fl1Vr2Z7hiig97Yhk6QcAAp9Obohx0QvcdeBFykJhlC1zFkNLGX_qPURX2vZ2vIsGkQyW1F/s1600/IMG_20141126_063421.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sweetheart Necklaces, inspired by sweater clips and perfect for holidays & special occasions - $35</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtHYdGEi_iH_OLC54Rmx1nJI4EerhUdE5jyYaMKFR2IcsFoDpfvkLdx-CqHApEui2_TtWp2D4kT1esFb9HzLs-4_vVQj_yrAIaFyBbdNU4MZbtUKuVD94dvynkNGl_-fupSjBiBK8N5SIn/s1600/IMG_20141126_064534.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtHYdGEi_iH_OLC54Rmx1nJI4EerhUdE5jyYaMKFR2IcsFoDpfvkLdx-CqHApEui2_TtWp2D4kT1esFb9HzLs-4_vVQj_yrAIaFyBbdNU4MZbtUKuVD94dvynkNGl_-fupSjBiBK8N5SIn/s1600/IMG_20141126_064534.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dangle Earrings, pair with Sweetheart Necklaces or wear alone - $28</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh9cJT0Zlf7V9M5TlKJNNBiDKV8NTGaACm6ZqaVEBgRJLocCTLdfPwNJjp7WDLoW3bdfQOLtrHe5OrYQKDGHz6OiIH_Z6aR5x_rZKIkZjikowB106OTz1ZnJzwXosG6QKhWBRz_q4njfMh/s1600/IMG_20141126_064326.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh9cJT0Zlf7V9M5TlKJNNBiDKV8NTGaACm6ZqaVEBgRJLocCTLdfPwNJjp7WDLoW3bdfQOLtrHe5OrYQKDGHz6OiIH_Z6aR5x_rZKIkZjikowB106OTz1ZnJzwXosG6QKhWBRz_q4njfMh/s1600/IMG_20141126_064326.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Men's Cufflinks!! - $25</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhPy87lOnRMxkEpoQNMUPaMbEwHTG_X-C63hScQzDGA57fpleApBso0i1Q0692xXlfbZ95dn_i3c631pbcz2D8cCZt1p_3rNWzbLnq6Vy3mqyloYMRz7PNbnMH_fa7-iTUWRz7wiLHcb8c/s1600/IMG_20141124_083734.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhPy87lOnRMxkEpoQNMUPaMbEwHTG_X-C63hScQzDGA57fpleApBso0i1Q0692xXlfbZ95dn_i3c631pbcz2D8cCZt1p_3rNWzbLnq6Vy3mqyloYMRz7PNbnMH_fa7-iTUWRz7wiLHcb8c/s1600/IMG_20141124_083734.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Holiday Ornaments made from vintage photos, decorative papers and old cigar labels - $18 - $20</td></tr>
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Of course, there will also be necklaces, earrings, pins and rings made from vintage photographs and LACE galore! <br />
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Stop by my table <b><span style="color: orange;">(Sweetpea Studios, Booth Y)</span></b> and say hello! Just look for this person:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjecIhy_Wr6Ixmk7Pxy7MWBoDpveka6A1RNjLnjcBIRL0LVUqX6BDm7KnzSvyEdxprBHH1h4SuxtNSBfdL4oVWZnXqcs-Jdz4j2txOE2Nr0Z0gnQSDuFTkMSMrb5NfDlxmqf042j8X8xaE9/s1600/IMG_20140525_202205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjecIhy_Wr6Ixmk7Pxy7MWBoDpveka6A1RNjLnjcBIRL0LVUqX6BDm7KnzSvyEdxprBHH1h4SuxtNSBfdL4oVWZnXqcs-Jdz4j2txOE2Nr0Z0gnQSDuFTkMSMrb5NfDlxmqf042j8X8xaE9/s1600/IMG_20140525_202205.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sweetpea Studios</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Patchwork Show </span></div>
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<span style="color: orange;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Downtown Santa Ana, 2nd at Sycamore Street</span></b></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sunday, November 30</span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-size: large;">11a - 5p</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">FREE to attend!!</span></div>
jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14684508594179949510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4027303510127779417.post-59340680707641382782014-11-06T07:48:00.000-08:002014-11-06T07:49:45.125-08:00Forget the Holidays are Coming, the Holidays are HERE!!Why, hello there! I've been away on a little break (more about that later...) and now I'm back and -BOOM- the holidays are here. So this is your friendly public service announcement regarding custom order and shipping deadlines from <a href="http://sweetpeastudios.etsy.com/">sweetpeastudios.etsy.com</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtj70Bc9dgYxRfsPgLNhvVseMskx_2_jYubm96YQyyROL3_ni9aWG8a0QCt38yJznwUmu_9zICEle5XdE-kxuAZNBtSlM6pFeRTiQk8fCyUJtxPPI3ukA57c5PI9Tfd-B4dEd9yl0q8P83/s1600/img680.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtj70Bc9dgYxRfsPgLNhvVseMskx_2_jYubm96YQyyROL3_ni9aWG8a0QCt38yJznwUmu_9zICEle5XdE-kxuAZNBtSlM6pFeRTiQk8fCyUJtxPPI3ukA57c5PI9Tfd-B4dEd9yl0q8P83/s1600/img680.jpg" height="320" width="317" /></a></div>
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<i><b>United States</b></i><br />
Please place all <b>CUSTOM</b> orders by <span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="font-size: large;">DEC 8th</span></span><br />
Final shipping date is <span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="font-size: large;">DEC 15th</span></span><br />
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<i><b>International</b></i><br />
Please message me privately for <b>CUSTOM</b> orders <span style="color: #38761d;"><i>(hello.sweetpea.jenn@gmail.com)</i></span><br />
Final shipping date is <span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="font-size: large;">NOV 15th</span></span><br />
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<i>(This small child in the picture is not me, just in case you were wondering. I wasn't even a twinkle on the tree when this was taken!)</i><br />
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Don't forget, all you southern California peeps, I'll be showing at <span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-size: large;">Patchwork Show Santa Ana</span></span> on Sunday, <span style="color: orange;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">November 30th from 11a - 5p</span></b></span>! Mark your calendars now, and stop by and say hello! jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14684508594179949510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4027303510127779417.post-76815510303728385632014-10-09T07:58:00.001-07:002014-10-09T07:58:35.556-07:00Save the Date!<div style="text-align: left;">
Mark <b><span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-size: large;">November 30th</span></span></b> on your calendars right now because I'll be showing my <a href="http://www.sweetpeastudios.etsy.com/">handmade photo and lace jewelry</a> at #PatchworkShow Santa Ana!! I'm so excited to be a part of this handmade festival again and I can't wait to see YOU there!!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQocwy-kCNfKcYVy8Yciqk7NdSI2f98W5mVGwljkdd3eWsjSoim4xLjbiM6aVl1jKmPSy089gfB9DX6N2xe5hXbdPxw_QV0H-g3cIxhW1mw5jQpoWHaTTPvzRi_Z6JKvaniv-XlV7wMSe-/s1600/PatchworkShow+Santa+Ana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQocwy-kCNfKcYVy8Yciqk7NdSI2f98W5mVGwljkdd3eWsjSoim4xLjbiM6aVl1jKmPSy089gfB9DX6N2xe5hXbdPxw_QV0H-g3cIxhW1mw5jQpoWHaTTPvzRi_Z6JKvaniv-XlV7wMSe-/s1600/PatchworkShow+Santa+Ana.jpg" height="640" width="412" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#PatchworkShow Santa Ana, Nov. 30, 2014, 11am - 5pm</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So seriously, did you mark it? <b><span style="color: orange;"> </span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: orange;">November 30th? 11am - 5pm?</span></b> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Good.</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">Be there or be square.</span></i> <i><span style="font-size: large;">(Smiley Face)</span></i></div>
jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14684508594179949510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4027303510127779417.post-59447690492181999722014-09-26T07:51:00.000-07:002014-09-26T07:51:05.857-07:00Shop Updates: Boo Yah!Happy Friday to all! There have been some recent <a href="http://www.sweetpeastudios.etsy.com/">shop</a> updates, and I wanted to share a few of them with you lovely peeps...<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">Statement necklaces - Oh my! </span></i><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/204424624/the-women-statement-photo-necklace-gift?">The Women vintage photo statement necklace</a></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUWPd6rtQxNLp7m88QUxQ6BQ2ZfudCT78kPn9McTNH0rL4KfEdOzphe_hRk-t81tWWx3BXYJWgz4X7ZaH8DcqjpcP-nWqlXZMQKy7KmXn6KRIN9IQ3TPnVXKpnQViIVyQb9AL0GDvaGQ_Y/s1600/IMG_20140921_174334.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUWPd6rtQxNLp7m88QUxQ6BQ2ZfudCT78kPn9McTNH0rL4KfEdOzphe_hRk-t81tWWx3BXYJWgz4X7ZaH8DcqjpcP-nWqlXZMQKy7KmXn6KRIN9IQ3TPnVXKpnQViIVyQb9AL0GDvaGQ_Y/s1600/IMG_20140921_174334.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Women vintage photo statement necklace</td></tr>
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I had this crazy idea to make a necklace just completely loaded with vintage people. So loaded that there wasn't much room for anything else. So I started making these "statement necklaces" and they just make me laugh as I build them - they're so ridiculously fun! <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/204424624/the-women-statement-photo-necklace-gift?">The Women</a> features 21 charms of various sizes, ranging from 1/2 and inch to 1 inch in diameter, each depicting a female from the time period of around the 1900's to the 1960's. There are a few charms that feature ivory lace here and there with crystals and faux pearls in between. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlCYON9SZ5WonWkHE70p2SGOeiJmGPIKoQLABgiYQpfx0y4N2ZGccfs-sU8BwZL8xgkcpZDue7mVq7KfR-wY8qkeXJfWqEIV3IvBdDEE__TH9jMPwrlYeb-EsX106P3lf3uzppUjSjOjR1/s1600/IMG_20140921_175339.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlCYON9SZ5WonWkHE70p2SGOeiJmGPIKoQLABgiYQpfx0y4N2ZGccfs-sU8BwZL8xgkcpZDue7mVq7KfR-wY8qkeXJfWqEIV3IvBdDEE__TH9jMPwrlYeb-EsX106P3lf3uzppUjSjOjR1/s1600/IMG_20140921_175339.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Women vintage photo statement necklace</td></tr>
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These necklaces are actually very comfortable to wear - the charms lie flat around your neck, sort of like a collar. These are especially great if you want strangers to stand very close to you and stare at your neck - a perfect ice-breaker! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi51K66Jm3fHLDqja0uo5-RX0FV26rscZp5AW508VDLYMsDpxajBEzZ7VpuDYNXZu0U4LZeRu61Zp8UHYiaBQIkcVdfG4XGODdapZaEDECWdAYkEjWk0mGtZl6vPbMzYgK-zJOAE_aZ_4Iu/s1600/IMG_20140921_173909.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi51K66Jm3fHLDqja0uo5-RX0FV26rscZp5AW508VDLYMsDpxajBEzZ7VpuDYNXZu0U4LZeRu61Zp8UHYiaBQIkcVdfG4XGODdapZaEDECWdAYkEjWk0mGtZl6vPbMzYgK-zJOAE_aZ_4Iu/s1600/IMG_20140921_173909.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Women (detail)<br />
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/203064202/military-men-statement-photo-necklace?ref=shop_home_feat_1"><span style="font-size: large;">Military Men vintage photo statement necklace</span></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrVpCY_XcoAj8Q_68ReF1gAp1JhMipdTsGmlGspOF4Oe3MhkZMEmLTCOmA_kwAbaPftr0eQCGqe6l1XEFZ4hvEEIl1Bqd80UrzzcM0jVDTbNSAwtHI7efkkT1SSL-CgzuERMcbILbXjtHe/s1600/IMG_20140907_163657.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrVpCY_XcoAj8Q_68ReF1gAp1JhMipdTsGmlGspOF4Oe3MhkZMEmLTCOmA_kwAbaPftr0eQCGqe6l1XEFZ4hvEEIl1Bqd80UrzzcM0jVDTbNSAwtHI7efkkT1SSL-CgzuERMcbILbXjtHe/s1600/IMG_20140907_163657.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Military Men (detail)</td></tr>
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I don't know why, but I seem to collect a lot of military pictures. I wanted to see them all together in one great big necklace, and I love the way it turned out! <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/203064202/military-men-statement-photo-necklace?ref=shop_home_feat_1">Military Men</a> has 21 charms showing soldiers, sailors, air men, airplanes, submarines, even a small child in uniform! There are a couple of decorative paper maps thrown in there, and a limited color palette of black, which sepia, grey and teal ties everything together. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzhpqu4hLdI_k9_I7cc1kGTxhK8CZ4zmSd2LUaGLHNUWbjY9kqhyphenhyphenY-masCVMsYKpwOmoEq-JSEDpTsIvceHdVNGlaEEHU0TJtD7ee5yGO8JjJvP0puIIYM8YhdhxX9fM9ECVO-4bPIjhz0/s1600/IMG_20140910_104852.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzhpqu4hLdI_k9_I7cc1kGTxhK8CZ4zmSd2LUaGLHNUWbjY9kqhyphenhyphenY-masCVMsYKpwOmoEq-JSEDpTsIvceHdVNGlaEEHU0TJtD7ee5yGO8JjJvP0puIIYM8YhdhxX9fM9ECVO-4bPIjhz0/s1600/IMG_20140910_104852.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Military Men vintage photo statement necklace</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY37BXhFKUZorBpD-RnE8S3YqgX45nMWPHyxoYCMoXAdXvorD8Esb7DGSfeVHoliRiQrDM_sMMoAY_CAuel2gQje47_I7hN4crQo8Z7PcW5bzC_bf94qZyh9B4WLnC3TloKy-yJUEOXZOb/s1600/IMG_20140907_164451.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY37BXhFKUZorBpD-RnE8S3YqgX45nMWPHyxoYCMoXAdXvorD8Esb7DGSfeVHoliRiQrDM_sMMoAY_CAuel2gQje47_I7hN4crQo8Z7PcW5bzC_bf94qZyh9B4WLnC3TloKy-yJUEOXZOb/s1600/IMG_20140907_164451.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">
Military Men vintage photo statement necklace </div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">Finally, something for the men!</span></i></div>
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I've tried cufflinks in the past, but these are completely new designs that I really love. To accompany my line of customizable heirloom jewelry, I've introduced <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/204682018/heirloom-photo-jewelry-to-customize?ref=listing-shop-header-2">heirloom cufflinks</a> - easy to have customized with your own family member's portrait! These would be ideal gifts for weddings, anniversaries, to celebrate a new job, birthdays, you name it! I never destroy the original image when making my jewelry and accessories - instead, I work on very high resolution digital scans so your treasured family photographs are kept safe and sound. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqrihjv_-pe5oS_u5A3DEgIEBNeL52rTUHzXPtZh4N8IR5bED1UNlEoi9YNSPJoZm4GnupoLfdURIlJVa3kYQUVyejN6sMu8UlDfIaUPhYCcl13DKUB0ApsMnUNggUbhX6KsY1tG28IYWo/s1600/IMG_20140922_064118.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqrihjv_-pe5oS_u5A3DEgIEBNeL52rTUHzXPtZh4N8IR5bED1UNlEoi9YNSPJoZm4GnupoLfdURIlJVa3kYQUVyejN6sMu8UlDfIaUPhYCcl13DKUB0ApsMnUNggUbhX6KsY1tG28IYWo/s1600/IMG_20140922_064118.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heirloom Photo Accessories to Customize - men's antiqued brass cufflinks</td></tr>
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My <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/204693625/pale-green-and-ivory-lace-cufflinks-for?ref=listing-shop-header-1">lace cufflinks</a> would be perfect when outfitting a wedding party - these would make awesome groomsmen gifts! Although the pictured cufflinks are shown featuring a pale green background, I can include any color to tie in with wedding colors perfectly. I can even use lace from the bride's dress. I like that the lace softens the cufflinks. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi02F2mdrzSpu4xK0u0R4X8-NJt8cq4w5SZQWtFaLLUHrtD9U4bu7IW3Zf5L81bfYZcY9qjKokmizBFoxEpN9qr6ybnURjU0zhH5vRFkJecFPFFeBzOAl6_9OoTbIo4RH0yeY-0a2oHA7cN/s1600/IMG_20140922_063028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi02F2mdrzSpu4xK0u0R4X8-NJt8cq4w5SZQWtFaLLUHrtD9U4bu7IW3Zf5L81bfYZcY9qjKokmizBFoxEpN9qr6ybnURjU0zhH5vRFkJecFPFFeBzOAl6_9OoTbIo4RH0yeY-0a2oHA7cN/s1600/IMG_20140922_063028.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pale Green & Ivory Lace Cufflinks</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Although both of these cufflink pairs are shown in an antiqued brass finish, either could be done in a silver-plate finish. <br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;">The holidays are coming...</span></i><br />
<br />
I know, I know, December is still a ways off, but the holidays are indeed coming and will be here before we know it. (Ahem, <i>3 months</i>, ahem.) With that in mind, I've made a few <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/sweetpeastudios?section_id=16069336&ref=shopsection_leftnav_8">holiday ornaments</a> out of teeny tiny collages - each measures about an inch in diameter and comes hanging from a silver ribbon. Click any of the captions to be taken to the listing.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCIttGDjFFEN9o00Ey9eAi9F5m7jzjuGFai6kCoqj-ZeS0QJi0XqQpPWXiExhFQrbK3UdFNqjbBVK5mr6wWme-uEw5nMfosHxOOwG949WYvsM5CQ5WvSPtCJvphPNnJouq1ZUG2NcQPzZP/s1600/IMG_20140922_070453.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCIttGDjFFEN9o00Ey9eAi9F5m7jzjuGFai6kCoqj-ZeS0QJi0XqQpPWXiExhFQrbK3UdFNqjbBVK5mr6wWme-uEw5nMfosHxOOwG949WYvsM5CQ5WvSPtCJvphPNnJouq1ZUG2NcQPzZP/s1600/IMG_20140922_070453.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/204583537/joyful-silver-angel-photo-holiday?ref=shop_home_active_1">Joyful Silver Angel vintage photo holiday ornament</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgp9Ik1adJpk2PM8YZINKrvzWnFiVUgKPisyhF-FruKdY6Q3KOqp47GUkzaXJ3c8hbuvfxYPaHN7c3CmQWJ6GxUT1TJVhs9tajH3LrZvGjzaLIam6ltOBih6PE0FwbVs_V3ANa7QxEorbZ/s1600/IMG_20140922_065642.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgp9Ik1adJpk2PM8YZINKrvzWnFiVUgKPisyhF-FruKdY6Q3KOqp47GUkzaXJ3c8hbuvfxYPaHN7c3CmQWJ6GxUT1TJVhs9tajH3LrZvGjzaLIam6ltOBih6PE0FwbVs_V3ANa7QxEorbZ/s1600/IMG_20140922_065642.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/204571334/golden-angel-photo-holiday-ornament?ref=related-2">Golden Angel vintage photo holiday ornament</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5yrAo46h4deR9LREJ_uWM6NDdtdKDYeDzM477qD2yCd0Fs5rC0YXIfkysFmG4yqJmUKGWayv-9i9i_YVzYxMRN-_E5w2Q1djrEVqv6wH_1m0vF8-UbX7gbUZRCktCK9VvnqVHbBerelAO/s1600/IMG_20140922_064709.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5yrAo46h4deR9LREJ_uWM6NDdtdKDYeDzM477qD2yCd0Fs5rC0YXIfkysFmG4yqJmUKGWayv-9i9i_YVzYxMRN-_E5w2Q1djrEVqv6wH_1m0vF8-UbX7gbUZRCktCK9VvnqVHbBerelAO/s1600/IMG_20140922_064709.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/204550814/angel-boy-photo-holiday-ornament?ref=related-2">Angel Boy vintage photo holiday ornament</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I'd love to see a little table-top tree completely decked out in these ornaments with some beautiful vintage glass baubles mixed in. Don't you think that would look fantastic?!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
There's still more new jewelry over at <a href="http://www.sweetpeastudios.etsy.com/">Sweetpea Studios</a>....AND I'm now on Big Cartel as <a href="http://www.hellosweetpea.bigcartel.com/">Hello Sweetpea</a>!! Hop on over to either shop to take a gander!</div>
jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14684508594179949510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4027303510127779417.post-21432669013001090072014-09-21T12:01:00.000-07:002014-09-21T12:01:26.274-07:00Reading: June - SeptemberBooks, books and more books. My reading preferences have maybe been changing. I've also done a lot of re-reading, and I won't post those here cause you've already heard about them. But, working backwards, here's what's been occupying my time from now back through June.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img1.imagesbn.com/p/9780547327808_p0_v1_s260x420.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://img1.imagesbn.com/p/9780547327808_p0_v1_s260x420.JPG" height="400" width="263" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Chimps of Fauna Sanctuary</i> by Andrew Westoll</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img2.imagesbn.com/p/9780312382155_p0_v1_s260x420.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://img2.imagesbn.com/p/9780312382155_p0_v1_s260x420.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Babylon's Ark</i> by Lawrence Anthony</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img1.imagesbn.com/p/9780142415436_p0_v6_s260x420.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://img1.imagesbn.com/p/9780142415436_p0_v6_s260x420.JPG" height="400" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>If I Stay</i> by Gayle Forman</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img1.imagesbn.com/p/9781250007810_p0_v1_s260x420.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://img1.imagesbn.com/p/9781250007810_p0_v1_s260x420.JPG" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Elephant Whisperer</i> by Lawrence Anthony</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img1.imagesbn.com/p/9781439102770_p0_v4_s260x420.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://img1.imagesbn.com/p/9781439102770_p0_v4_s260x420.JPG" height="400" width="256" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Storyteller </i>by Jodi Picoult</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img2.imagesbn.com/p/9780807068793_p0_v1_s260x420.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://img2.imagesbn.com/p/9780807068793_p0_v1_s260x420.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Why I Wake Early</i> by Mary Oliver</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img1.imagesbn.com/p/9781401310530_p0_v1_s260x420.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://img1.imagesbn.com/p/9781401310530_p0_v1_s260x420.JPG" height="400" width="258" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Zoo Story</i> by Thomas French</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img2.imagesbn.com/p/9780743296441_p0_v1_s260x420.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://img2.imagesbn.com/p/9780743296441_p0_v1_s260x420.JPG" height="400" width="257" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>House Rules</i> by Jodi Picoult</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img1.imagesbn.com/p/9780143124054_p0_v1_s260x420.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://img1.imagesbn.com/p/9780143124054_p0_v1_s260x420.JPG" height="400" width="261" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>A Thousand Mornings</i> by Mary Oliver</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img2.imagesbn.com/p/9780743496735_p0_v1_s260x420.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://img2.imagesbn.com/p/9780743496735_p0_v1_s260x420.JPG" height="400" width="256" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Nineteen Minutes</i> by Jodi Picoult</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img2.imagesbn.com/p/9780307886279_p0_v1_s260x420.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://img2.imagesbn.com/p/9780307886279_p0_v1_s260x420.JPG" height="400" width="257" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns)</i> by Mindy Kaling</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img1.imagesbn.com/p/9780307742216_p0_v1_s260x420.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://img1.imagesbn.com/p/9780307742216_p0_v1_s260x420.JPG" height="400" width="258" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maine by J. Courtney Sullivan</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img1.imagesbn.com/p/9780525478812_p0_v1_s260x420.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://img1.imagesbn.com/p/9780525478812_p0_v1_s260x420.JPG" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Fault in Our Stars </i>by John Green</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Lately my reading interests are falling into very specific categories: 1) True stories about animals that are both amazing and amazingly sad (elephants escaping culls and poaching, chimpanzees who are rescued from animal research facilities, the rescue of zoo animals just days after the most recent war in Baghdad, etc.); 2) Poetry by Mary Oliver; 3) Anything written by Jodi Picoult; 4) Teen books that are turned into movies.<br />
<br />
Don't judge. jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14684508594179949510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4027303510127779417.post-32931541838860842692014-09-10T14:19:00.000-07:002014-09-10T14:19:25.473-07:00Beautiful SnapshotsBlog, it's been a long time.<br />
<br />
The rest of the country is probably cooling down and getting their cozies out in readiness for autumn. Maybe they're talking about summer coming to an end. NOT HERE, I can tell you that for free. It's hotter than ever, we've had the air conditioning on nonstop (oh, our bill...) and according to my phone, it's supposed to reach 100 degrees next week. September in southern California is brutal.<br />
<br />
I have a lot to catch up on - life has been full. But for now, I'll just leave you with some gorgeous (in my opinion) found photographs. I'd LOVE it if someone recognized these pictures from their life story and got in touch, how amazing would that be??<br />
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Each of these images appeals to me for different reasons. I love getting out my photo album and flipping through to look at some of these beauties. I often wonder who the people are, where they are, and what their stories are.<br />
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More updates to come - I'm busy putting together my application for the Fall Patchwork Show and updating things. PLUS I've been making some amazing statement necklaces - can't wait to share them with you!<br />
<br />jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14684508594179949510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4027303510127779417.post-32809567363944592292014-07-26T08:57:00.000-07:002014-07-26T08:57:09.646-07:00Pearls<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlV979yVezOrkUr0CSw68frnMLtpemJJUMiuo1ib-YEmmN5dKrawFEKrsUECOCb9sZOE2rP-aEnru-DU5rPn1UmNvi4P4AcDzbkLNBloL7wvZrCo6oGLnK61dL9zXz6aaQhfILztRw30KV/s1600/Pearls+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlV979yVezOrkUr0CSw68frnMLtpemJJUMiuo1ib-YEmmN5dKrawFEKrsUECOCb9sZOE2rP-aEnru-DU5rPn1UmNvi4P4AcDzbkLNBloL7wvZrCo6oGLnK61dL9zXz6aaQhfILztRw30KV/s1600/Pearls+small.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pearls</td></tr>
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We know it's time for James to leave for work when we hear the sprinklers go on. And every morning when he leaves, I see the droplets of water on the plants outside glistening silvery in the early morning light. (He starts work <i>early</i>.) They look a little bit like pearls, don't you think? jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14684508594179949510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4027303510127779417.post-64687677603558275912014-07-24T06:30:00.000-07:002014-07-24T06:30:00.920-07:00Have a peaceful Thursday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">"Nothing can bring you peace but yourself." - Ralph Waldo Emmerson </span></i></div>
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Just a few little pictures to hopefully set you at peace for your day.</div>
jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14684508594179949510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4027303510127779417.post-20507065502319462462014-07-23T07:41:00.000-07:002014-07-23T07:41:31.816-07:00Accidentally Off-roadingOn a clear day, we can see the mountains in the east from the end of our street. This being southern California, land of smog and pollution, those "clear days" are more like "haze" and the mountains are sort of obscured by said haze, but whatever. Mountains there are. I got this crazy idea in my head the other day that James and I should drive up to the mountains and go hiking, and that maybe we'd find some shady trails that wasn't just low scrub brush and burned out pine trees from past forest fires. So we jumped in the car and headed east.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What a lovely layer of pollution we all breathe on a daily basis</td></tr>
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We decided to go to Big Bear, because I haven't been there since I was a kid, and I don't think James has ever been there. We did some exploring along some fire roads, and got within a mile of the hike that we (or I) really wanted to do, but the roads were just too rough and my poor car's tires just sat and spun in the dust. The road was just wide enough for my car, and as James was executing an 18-point turn, another car came tearing around the corner from the direction we'd been heading. I thought "Oh good, if we get stuck at least these people can help push the car."<br />
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Ford Focuses are not made for off-roading, incidentally.<br />
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When I was little and in Girl Scouts, we spent a weekend in a cabin in
the mountains. I can't remember if it was Big Bear, Crestline, or other,
but one of the activities was a hike along a mountain stream
under thick pines, surrounded by ferns. This is one of the strongest memories of that trip that I have, besides a fellow Girl Scout staying up all night practicing tying the knots we'd been taught earlier in the day. (She was later recognized for her enthusiastic pursuit of knotting.) <br />
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We didn't find this particular trail, but we did pull of the road to find a glen of ferns, lilies and pines with just a trickle of running water. There was also a secluded campsite with a family and a large, scary dog that barked and growled at us, but heeded his little tiny mistress (who was probably about 7) when she commanded him to "Stay!" <br />
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Next time, I want to rent a kayak and go out on Big Bear Lake. The water was SO BLUE, I just wanted to dive right in.<br />
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Also, next time, I'd love to make it to the hike we'd planned on, but I'll need a bigger car. Any volunteers? jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14684508594179949510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4027303510127779417.post-90897313964755149732014-07-16T16:03:00.001-07:002014-07-16T16:10:05.930-07:00Who knew that photography could feel terrifyingly revealing?I have a secret. <br />
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It's been a long time since I've had the urge to go out with my camera. <i>A long time.</i> Sure, this blog is full of pictures, but those are taken with my phone and somehow don't count in my mind as <i>pursuing photography.</i> I've felt a fair amount of guilt over this lack of interest in taking pictures the way I used to. I've taken my camera out with me because I felt I ought to - after all, I saved up to buy a DSLR, I spent 4 years at college (overseas, no less) to make my photography dreams a reality, I've spent time and money entering exhibitions or putting my own together, printing images, framing, and now...that love has just been...gone.<br />
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I've wondered, too many times to count, if I ever had any talent to begin with, or if the decent pictures I've done have been just beginners luck. (Really, who among us <i>hasn't</i> had those kinds of thoughts?) I guess I've just been in a rut with no idea how to get out. What inspired me during college (weekend journeys to the English countryside) is no longer possible (geographically speaking), and I don't have the luxury of just being able to take off on a trip (work and responsibilities really put a kink in that one). So I guess I've been searching for new inspiration.<br />
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At long last, I felt the call yesterday to grab my camera and just go. I forced all those little voices saying "not good enough" into a corner and resolved to ignore them. My whole entire goal for today was go get up early and head out to Peters Canyon with my camera and tripod and walk and walk and take pictures - not even a lot of pictures, just a handful. If most of them are awful, who cares, just take them anyway, and hopefully there will be ONE that is sort of okay. ONE that I can be happy with. <br />
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I came back with 4 that I like. I don't know if they're any good or not, but it's a start. And it seems like maybe a new style might be trying to emerge, perhaps influenced by all those pictures snapped with my camera these last couple of years. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdXnlRJVe-G9X9wSUCElKBSFVzccJKVLqD30zV75Te_JycxQXepYYfe3e3u6RjAV0sFzlyB4JN822PryXbgHAyEORPySom50uQFUaZKGkoLtbfWNxNKipiozy0meGaS-Gebv_AYFxt66Xf/s1600/Ladybug+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdXnlRJVe-G9X9wSUCElKBSFVzccJKVLqD30zV75Te_JycxQXepYYfe3e3u6RjAV0sFzlyB4JN822PryXbgHAyEORPySom50uQFUaZKGkoLtbfWNxNKipiozy0meGaS-Gebv_AYFxt66Xf/s1600/Ladybug+small.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ladybug</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgySMGjZS9fzFN-WGhIVyc722YsgPLVVsZDzl8WhbmDZBqB497adsx8WLuhBQgzeZI2Nv6nuF9CPViVCNJjgNP38x7xdmyuTo8xRcT63Icjh4K8c4v63Q2kLUgpFWgBsXuoB4udsXLpY0iW/s1600/Stream2+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgySMGjZS9fzFN-WGhIVyc722YsgPLVVsZDzl8WhbmDZBqB497adsx8WLuhBQgzeZI2Nv6nuF9CPViVCNJjgNP38x7xdmyuTo8xRcT63Icjh4K8c4v63Q2kLUgpFWgBsXuoB4udsXLpY0iW/s1600/Stream2+small.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stream</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhAAaEZuWD_eIegcUQYZ5OSGwjXOUQ3qw6eJyndkouLtkS9p0Og6RPwwSmk8fq9-j2kpizCQxkRtfGD2-TwGNMhNeciO0JS-7wx8JxyseLXCQWNnpQ4MGVoHbL3jQ_-FPXrAEcAbKa4FTq/s1600/Twig+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhAAaEZuWD_eIegcUQYZ5OSGwjXOUQ3qw6eJyndkouLtkS9p0Og6RPwwSmk8fq9-j2kpizCQxkRtfGD2-TwGNMhNeciO0JS-7wx8JxyseLXCQWNnpQ4MGVoHbL3jQ_-FPXrAEcAbKa4FTq/s1600/Twig+small.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Twig</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUGLSDDMThaXKCmgvk4vFfCkRhXFUd4WlvUQOkx6yoiBwiBgP13LaHz2o0ka9KMJOeoKrK8owNvlIvRUd6DwU2Y8B6x4il-K2MHRqUnRaJPZfAyYhaMaDevEMrllMeKwktZi86frEIQJKW/s1600/Bridge+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUGLSDDMThaXKCmgvk4vFfCkRhXFUd4WlvUQOkx6yoiBwiBgP13LaHz2o0ka9KMJOeoKrK8owNvlIvRUd6DwU2Y8B6x4il-K2MHRqUnRaJPZfAyYhaMaDevEMrllMeKwktZi86frEIQJKW/s1600/Bridge+small.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bridge</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Maybe, if you're an artist or seeking your creative path, some of this rings true with you. Maybe not. This is all just terrifying revealing.<br />
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By the way, a two-hour walk looking at trees, leaves and streams can definitely cure what ails you! jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14684508594179949510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4027303510127779417.post-91293840300930966272014-07-11T07:34:00.002-07:002014-07-11T07:34:58.672-07:00Don't Build Your Home on the Former Hanging GroundsJames and I went to San Diego last weekend, and my legs still hurt from all the walking we did. We spent most of Saturday around Old Town, eating pretty terrible Mexican food (just trust me, it wasn't good), wandering around the shops, cemetery and Victorian houses, and finally ended up on a ghost tour of the Whaley House, one of the most haunted homes in the US. The land, former hanging grounds for criminals, was purchased by Thomas Whaley, and he built his family home on it, knowing full well that hangings had taken place here. He'd even witnessed a few in his time. It's like he wanted to tempt fate. (Would you ever purposely build a home for your family over the spot where numerous people had died a violent death?? Yeah, neither would I.)<br />
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Not surprisingly, there are all sorts of weird and tragic things that happened to the Whaley family and all sorts of strange goings-on today. <br />
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Guests on the tour were encouraged to take flash photography to try to capture ghosts on the tours. While dim lighting, reflection and flash bombardment can explain some of the creepy photos that have been taken in the past, it can't explain everything...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlKUV38Sul8MbBSh1qdATOWX-_XRzhJJnZaAUYq-8Q2E8LOy48W3B8dSndF-yb_nf9UvazC6FdTCkNZz6PPAurZ6yWcE7roJ9xxm6MsjJFQw_BWXyd6MX9rcBckEHV7h5ygcEjyDI7om8f/s1600/IMG_20140706_192134.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlKUV38Sul8MbBSh1qdATOWX-_XRzhJJnZaAUYq-8Q2E8LOy48W3B8dSndF-yb_nf9UvazC6FdTCkNZz6PPAurZ6yWcE7roJ9xxm6MsjJFQw_BWXyd6MX9rcBckEHV7h5ygcEjyDI7om8f/s1600/IMG_20140706_192134.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS1DPIQSGyDlSrCBf5jTMXBxaIQsHENmZVDrBz5OqzYayUTjGdxvWD8bvV1PZaZSp2O3ladjSsyha5b6FSfioXvKpYiy9gzADOzlmHjAP9NeFGPJibhyphenhyphenR_f4o8s0or0g1bAcEk19sTcmzK/s1600/IMG_20140706_192453.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS1DPIQSGyDlSrCBf5jTMXBxaIQsHENmZVDrBz5OqzYayUTjGdxvWD8bvV1PZaZSp2O3ladjSsyha5b6FSfioXvKpYiy9gzADOzlmHjAP9NeFGPJibhyphenhyphenR_f4o8s0or0g1bAcEk19sTcmzK/s1600/IMG_20140706_192453.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOX-q3Kqc8g2nqNXCDKPiR74R888xln8AQTNtTCRXkXrNkhJhT2PDiz1ez57a7QaQob5OClvQSRfGfJEcxtqG1ooCFJOJcS6MFANylhL-SXogh9fJm-_iCFojG4qf6n6XIQqaZwCEU73P4/s1600/IMG_20140706_193133.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOX-q3Kqc8g2nqNXCDKPiR74R888xln8AQTNtTCRXkXrNkhJhT2PDiz1ez57a7QaQob5OClvQSRfGfJEcxtqG1ooCFJOJcS6MFANylhL-SXogh9fJm-_iCFojG4qf6n6XIQqaZwCEU73P4/s1600/IMG_20140706_193133.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It kind of a little bit looks like there's something to the right of the window.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggPMRjlaW3i_ofgBtNRVml8VGxCtOzOwMuXjflMclBW0yWc4S63WyVnKgMs9N1ATnDpfgqPX3_EF9d0-va-zpDSkQrOvTMJbQtO1rjhN-j7TKZFWvtO2nwgRURp8H6KGj1bUO5ZB_NvoRZ/s1600/IMG_20140706_191840.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggPMRjlaW3i_ofgBtNRVml8VGxCtOzOwMuXjflMclBW0yWc4S63WyVnKgMs9N1ATnDpfgqPX3_EF9d0-va-zpDSkQrOvTMJbQtO1rjhN-j7TKZFWvtO2nwgRURp8H6KGj1bUO5ZB_NvoRZ/s1600/IMG_20140706_191840.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1UAvc1W1Zi9q0se2oYbwItfns93fk271TteicT54jGumJ0Hii5KSl3VLMLCTQnEk8kOLJ1vZq7Hrv67CGS7AtP41UPbT6rbKtMmNKWQiRYRUKyAjVBt-TdZlobVkUF7ksMeRc_UUCn_PL/s1600/IMG_20140706_193909.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1UAvc1W1Zi9q0se2oYbwItfns93fk271TteicT54jGumJ0Hii5KSl3VLMLCTQnEk8kOLJ1vZq7Hrv67CGS7AtP41UPbT6rbKtMmNKWQiRYRUKyAjVBt-TdZlobVkUF7ksMeRc_UUCn_PL/s1600/IMG_20140706_193909.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the courtroom. There is apparently a vortex in that corner over where the jury would have sat.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5gi4OP_CY42GSS2nxDwVG4jlxQRxftW5-2z35wmoKmLVDf_eUVAxcSbCuRDJkwA8ZniRXQh4rF0uCaECyaG2tMtNTJ2DkgTZG3CdnjeQvO43LpRbCC1X0g-UAAxtOcV929CfyxbOBdH6W/s1600/IMG_20140706_192001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5gi4OP_CY42GSS2nxDwVG4jlxQRxftW5-2z35wmoKmLVDf_eUVAxcSbCuRDJkwA8ZniRXQh4rF0uCaECyaG2tMtNTJ2DkgTZG3CdnjeQvO43LpRbCC1X0g-UAAxtOcV929CfyxbOBdH6W/s1600/IMG_20140706_192001.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Something in the window?</td></tr>
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Nothing much happened to us on the ghost tour. We were warned that we could feel short of breath, begin coughing for a few minutes, feel the itch of rough rope around our necks, have our bare legs and feet licked by a ghost dog, and be groped by a pervy theater ghost (seriously) - James did feel a little itchy on his throat, and my ankles felt a slight chill, but that's about it. Our guide was great, he did things to purposely make you jump, and a few of the women screamed and yelled because they'd been scared. I'd totally go back and do the ghost tour again, but I'd wait until after dark - really up the creep factor. And then I wouldn't be able to sleep for a month.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8WyFZlnyPhFpyH-X3lXREBWtTy2kdiBppN6gSPw8PszfiU93KsNnxIQHZS-BVNpCD-OQnQZnDXJ8iFQ4aDh0khAE5sSE7xr49A_o4t-231IBIFgTYX7OGs4cgnMHuigtBSe4ol3C0JNJb/s1600/22.4+Caroline,+Rose+and+Crown.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8WyFZlnyPhFpyH-X3lXREBWtTy2kdiBppN6gSPw8PszfiU93KsNnxIQHZS-BVNpCD-OQnQZnDXJ8iFQ4aDh0khAE5sSE7xr49A_o4t-231IBIFgTYX7OGs4cgnMHuigtBSe4ol3C0JNJb/s1600/22.4+Caroline,+Rose+and+Crown.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Rose and Crown, London 2007</td></tr>
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PS. This is the only ghost picture I have, taken 7 years ago at The Rose and Crown pub in Stoke Newington, London. All those light trails? Ghosts.<br />
<br />jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14684508594179949510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4027303510127779417.post-26147482698209552682014-07-09T08:07:00.000-07:002014-07-09T08:07:18.850-07:00Custom-Made Creative VisionI occasionally get asked to create a custom piece of jewelry, which is equally exhilarating and terrifying. Exhilarating because it's a challenge to combine my creative vision with that of my customer's, and terrifying because...what if they don't like it?<br />
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Luckily, I've always been able to breathe a sigh of relief upon delivery - so far, happy customers all around!<br />
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Here are a few special pieces I've done recently...<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">Wedding Lace Necklace...</span></i><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCbiDAuNH4LNZhnf1mX8sW572v0W61svrSow53Nji7etF8Aye9Z7Gqqmh4LVWyiEv49FmYVEPe2bt0lKJfVeEKJPoMhbh5cJAOxagtdyu1iyXp1JmdIqTeaXP-CzGE7pq7jBBQFa5GtG85/s1600/IMG_20140708_071717.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCbiDAuNH4LNZhnf1mX8sW572v0W61svrSow53Nji7etF8Aye9Z7Gqqmh4LVWyiEv49FmYVEPe2bt0lKJfVeEKJPoMhbh5cJAOxagtdyu1iyXp1JmdIqTeaXP-CzGE7pq7jBBQFa5GtG85/s1600/IMG_20140708_071717.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wedding Lace</td></tr>
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Amanda asked me to create a necklace using lace from her mother's wedding dress on a background of mint green / sea green. She never came right out and said so, but I could tell that this was being made for a special day, either her own wedding or as a thoughtful gift for her mom. She sent me a swatch of ivory lace in a flower and leaf design to work with. Since the background color was to be in a sea green and the whole necklace set in antiqued brass, I felt that the leaves in the lace would work better than the flowers. To me, the flowers would be the obvious choice, and might seem overly sweet and trite. The leaves were a little more earthy. Again, this all comes back to combining my creative vision with the customers - would Amanda like this direction?<br />
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My nail-biting came to an end when I received her email - she loved it! <br />
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">Family Photo Necklace...</span></i><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuUHW87sWf87qH1b_kgkWizjUVuUYoX1D1djhVZ3NTs5NUbCcI8MG5cgY48OAnKHPahripXFir8R9w-hs6sn1zHA6KuLhAzHF2NPmXN6fkB0gKPKFlMdn6Dp8lWrol3mB3u0QPnbEj4Qll/s1600/IMG_20140707_203358.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuUHW87sWf87qH1b_kgkWizjUVuUYoX1D1djhVZ3NTs5NUbCcI8MG5cgY48OAnKHPahripXFir8R9w-hs6sn1zHA6KuLhAzHF2NPmXN6fkB0gKPKFlMdn6Dp8lWrol3mB3u0QPnbEj4Qll/s1600/IMG_20140707_203358.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Family Photo Birthday Present</td></tr>
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I met with Sharon recently to discuss a special gift for her niece's upcoming birthday. She brought in a photograph of her older sister, the mother of the recipient, as a young girl holding a puppy. Sharon was thinking about either having a ring or a necklace made, but there were some additional considerations. Her niece is actually older than Sharon, so we had to think about what would be easiest for her to manage. We settled on a necklace with a slightly larger pendant on a longer chain that she can slip over her head. I also added a large lobster claw clasp, just in case. Sharon's niece favors pink, so I clustered two shades of pink crystals and one champagne faux pearl together to offset the pendant. It was important to Sharon to include the dog in the pendant, so I re-sized the image a few different ways to see what would look best. There was also a tear in the original photograph, easily repairable in Photoshop. The end result is completely custom-made with some slight modifications to accomodate the birthday girl.<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">Frodo the Dog Ring...</span></i><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL7k3eLG5NqVK3YkUC_QeM6pkemW-wNQZ47zng4s9nikU3CayEllWVqqI16w_YLkQTvME0yhF5t0UTIYvfxkIXxfJ5xkAFqJbkA3LXGdUANHNYusJjYhkm64h_D-fPhCDLulCg-XeQFamw/s1600/IMG_20140222_145453.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL7k3eLG5NqVK3YkUC_QeM6pkemW-wNQZ47zng4s9nikU3CayEllWVqqI16w_YLkQTvME0yhF5t0UTIYvfxkIXxfJ5xkAFqJbkA3LXGdUANHNYusJjYhkm64h_D-fPhCDLulCg-XeQFamw/s1600/IMG_20140222_145453.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Frodo Ring</td></tr>
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Mark has many women in his life (his mother, his wife, 3 daughters, 1 daughter-in-law and granddaughter), and they are all the lucky recipients of some amazing jewelry finds. I always enjoy seeing his choices, and when he asked me to make him a ring for one of his lovely ladies, I was thrilled. They have a beloved family dog named Frodo, and he sent me an image from his phone* to use. Frodo was a little challenging, because his fur is so dark that he just looks like a mass with eyes and a tongue. The oval shape of the ring was perfect, however, because it echoed the shape of the dog. I reeeeally wanted to put a tiny heart in the ring as well, but knowing how Mark cringes at anything too "cute", I figured this was one time I had to put my personal vision on the back burner.<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">Family Tree Charms...</span></i><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJXZjqKut6TRxrVdiy7NJGa1mY5ni28zGu5f-9XTGC5owgcJ1GzcAdF3z9Lzqxzy4mONEE7UVzOZFHe-XWLC63_pWkcgP2BxAKVPUKVhaSd55WOOytdZ3okY6jz7Ol0MaoW-L2WYJkYKm8/s1600/IMG_20140708_070934.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJXZjqKut6TRxrVdiy7NJGa1mY5ni28zGu5f-9XTGC5owgcJ1GzcAdF3z9Lzqxzy4mONEE7UVzOZFHe-XWLC63_pWkcgP2BxAKVPUKVhaSd55WOOytdZ3okY6jz7Ol0MaoW-L2WYJkYKm8/s1600/IMG_20140708_070934.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Family Tree Charms</td></tr>
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This last project was something really special. Lisa contacted me in the hopes that I could help her with a meaningful anniversary gift for her parents. She wanted to present then with an entire family tree, complete with a charm for every family member. This project involved help from everyone in Lisa's large family - 13 in total! (To me, that's large, but then again, my local family is pretty small.)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzzDVD11sv99Aevn9rfuinPhZ5Jy6pB3bUJ00-8v65Kmk8obuJ70zC8Z9P3YO8kNzSFLV4b8GJzoJQUEJD7MkvdMz2b7EynXZjnynIf8FmABwSZhxRqEG8r9oM3vC4ecIvSibCAihXneF2/s1600/IMG_20140708_070714.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzzDVD11sv99Aevn9rfuinPhZ5Jy6pB3bUJ00-8v65Kmk8obuJ70zC8Z9P3YO8kNzSFLV4b8GJzoJQUEJD7MkvdMz2b7EynXZjnynIf8FmABwSZhxRqEG8r9oM3vC4ecIvSibCAihXneF2/s1600/IMG_20140708_070714.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The whole family</td></tr>
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Lisa and her family very generously sent me copies of their family photos, with each one labeled with who the family members were and which face they wanted me to use from which photograph. I used a slightly larger charm for her parents' wedding picture (they look so glamorous, don't they?), which was to remain in black and white, and the smaller charms for individual people (remaining in color). Once scanned, I focused on the individual faces, printed my test sheets and final sheets, and began work. Finally, I wrapped each charm, double and triple checked that I wasn't forgetting any of them and that I had all of the Lisa's photos packed, and sent the package off. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgZKM_6OOa3l1GAmCSiltjcOaAyGz8lOSoLlH4IS6N0oaaP043lY7q15EfqtozElWOMCw62K9fRuQC9roWmmJzDdWGrUyHFx7riGKYEBr9xTmkFwn-CPQvs7wUBvxbFu4d4ElEh8IYLsuD/s1600/photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgZKM_6OOa3l1GAmCSiltjcOaAyGz8lOSoLlH4IS6N0oaaP043lY7q15EfqtozElWOMCw62K9fRuQC9roWmmJzDdWGrUyHFx7riGKYEBr9xTmkFwn-CPQvs7wUBvxbFu4d4ElEh8IYLsuD/s1600/photo.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The finished tree</td></tr>
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And here is the finished family tree - doesn't it look great? Lisa found the wire tree on Etsy, and there are plenty of empty branches for future grandchildren! I felt so honored to be asked to help create such a meaningful, unique gift for this family<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">*I usually prefer to scan hard copies of photographs instead of using a digital image, especially one from a phone, although I can use those as well. I've found that your image is MUCH clearer with a scan, because I can use a very high resolution - not so with phone images! </span>jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14684508594179949510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4027303510127779417.post-84307486937912902022014-06-04T09:39:00.000-07:002014-09-21T11:30:34.609-07:00Reading January - MaySo, what - you document all the books you've read monthly for 2 years and then - <i>poof</i> - no more?? What the heck?<br />
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Yes, well. Life.<br />
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The last time I checked it was February. Now it's June?? How did that happen?? Oh yes, visits from friends, getting ready for a jewelry show (you guys, I created <i>over 100 pieces of jewelry</i>), taking care of my parent's house and cats for an extended period of time, plus all sorts of construction happening in my apartment (central air installation - <i>yessss!!</i> Except one of the guys put his foot through our ceiling and we had some major, major drywall patching...) - yeah, I guess that explains why March through now is a complete blur.<br />
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Here's what I've been reading in my very limited downtime...<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img2.imagesbn.com/p/9780316055437_p0_v5_s260x420.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://img2.imagesbn.com/p/9780316055437_p0_v5_s260x420.JPG" height="320" width="208" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Currently reading <i>The Goldfinch</i> - all 775 pages of it. I wouldn't say I LOVE it with capitals, but it's certainly interesting and it's keeping me guessing. Nearly 800 is a lot of pages, and it's kept my attention. </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img2.imagesbn.com/p/9781250012579_p0_v6_s260x420.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://img2.imagesbn.com/p/9781250012579_p0_v6_s260x420.JPG" height="320" width="211" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Eleanor & Park</i> was pretty great. It's a really sweet story and I just wanted to give the girl a hug and a home.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img1.imagesbn.com/p/9780812980332_p0_v3_s260x420.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://img1.imagesbn.com/p/9780812980332_p0_v3_s260x420.JPG" height="320" width="205" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Part of <i>Sisterland</i> centers around an earthquake and I picked it up right around when we southern Californians experienced a large-ish (for us) earthquake. I was a little disappointed in the direction the story took towards the end.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img2.imagesbn.com/p/9780062293473_p0_v3_s260x420.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://img2.imagesbn.com/p/9780062293473_p0_v3_s260x420.JPG" height="320" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">OMG, I could not get through <i>The Taste of Apple Seeds</i>. Try as I might, I just wanted to move on. I skimmed the last half of it. Sorry, Katharina Hagena, it just wasn't for me.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img1.imagesbn.com/p/9781250019806_p0_v5_s260x420.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://img1.imagesbn.com/p/9781250019806_p0_v5_s260x420.JPG" height="320" width="209" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love Sarah Addison Allen, she creates fantastic worlds that I just want to step into.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img1.imagesbn.com/p/9780307744432_p0_v1_s260x420.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://img1.imagesbn.com/p/9780307744432_p0_v1_s260x420.JPG" height="320" width="207" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I re-read <i>The Night Circus</i> and enjoyed it as much as the first time</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img1.imagesbn.com/p/9780061125782_p0_v2_s260x420.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://img1.imagesbn.com/p/9780061125782_p0_v2_s260x420.JPG" height="320" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Debutante</i> was written by the same woman who wrote The Perfume Collector. I really enjoy how her storylines weave all over the place in time.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img2.imagesbn.com/p/9781594746123_p0_v4_s260x420.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://img2.imagesbn.com/p/9781594746123_p0_v4_s260x420.JPG" height="320" width="208" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Hollow City</i> is the second installation of books from Ransom Riggs. What I love most is that he finds old photographs and crafts his story around them. That being said, the story in this felt a little forced, compared to the first book.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img1.imagesbn.com/p/9780307588364_p0_v1_s260x420.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://img1.imagesbn.com/p/9780307588364_p0_v1_s260x420.JPG" height="320" width="209" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I was suuuper hesitant to <i>Gone Girl</i> after I read <i>Dark Places</i> last year, but I was pleasantly surprised. There are some great plot twists in this. Yes, I know I'm probably one of the last ones to read this book, but come on. <i>Dark Places.</i> Almost too much. </td></tr>
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I have big goals for the rest of my day. Want to hear about them? I'm going to do laundry, attend a webinar for a new volunteer position I'm starting (more on that another time), and attempt to clean my apartment. Like, put all the boxes away, get rid of the shredding that's been piling up, dust all the plaster and drywall debris off the surfaces, fish the DVD remote out from behind the TV where it's been living for a month, try to make some room in our cabinets for the beautiful set of dishes my grandmother is giving me, and maybe, just maybe, get my oil changed and/or wash my car!! No joke, you have no idea how excited all of this makes me...jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14684508594179949510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4027303510127779417.post-60359459700038685762014-05-30T07:04:00.002-07:002014-05-30T07:04:58.865-07:00Catching the Craft Show BugIf you think all's been quite on the Western Front recently, you'd be correct. That's because last Sunday I participated in a great local show called Patchwork! It was my first experience vending at a craft show (but so much <i>more</i> than a craft show!) and I had a great time!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5t0XiDxC-HDiUbVK4l5VLcyy7sDhTkNda3HySvLzlGqaZ9-eByfNi7mnpNAByGS2aDIf2NmPktgoOxjONhdEmRlRrEeQKt3nqTVl6vOovrGQoj0-6LztCqo4MZNqCgV5knnhv8kDVof-S/s1600/IMG_20140525_202205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5t0XiDxC-HDiUbVK4l5VLcyy7sDhTkNda3HySvLzlGqaZ9-eByfNi7mnpNAByGS2aDIf2NmPktgoOxjONhdEmRlRrEeQKt3nqTVl6vOovrGQoj0-6LztCqo4MZNqCgV5knnhv8kDVof-S/s1600/IMG_20140525_202205.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the morning, fueled by adrenaline and coffee</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQL06nULlJBQpY1f7jIDYPUufXwFOVLRWaaUWg-mPqPGkVZN-X7KOIyH8CP_fveW07UGiHHILkwZFHoeeCU-i1K3w6cUmhuF_QT5D1khGyH44YmK_qIFB3xln8qgB3qY6PKMmDHHvD8whd/s1600/IMG_20140525_204156.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQL06nULlJBQpY1f7jIDYPUufXwFOVLRWaaUWg-mPqPGkVZN-X7KOIyH8CP_fveW07UGiHHILkwZFHoeeCU-i1K3w6cUmhuF_QT5D1khGyH44YmK_qIFB3xln8qgB3qY6PKMmDHHvD8whd/s1600/IMG_20140525_204156.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My little table, filled with 100 - <i>yes, 100!</i> - pieces of handmade jewelry</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAVoaDgd8UJNkM57GMPGyqbwOWHsEfr1X26TCf-BSGovPHVg6K7WUxK5FPGLxVuvqtDlBK1oBQh4eiHWjrw3RO2YGUGfPNBCHyakYjKlqOLOCI1Q_-Nj4_tshfHbyLZ1qsj6ds-TImxpvM/s1600/IMG_20140525_203438.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAVoaDgd8UJNkM57GMPGyqbwOWHsEfr1X26TCf-BSGovPHVg6K7WUxK5FPGLxVuvqtDlBK1oBQh4eiHWjrw3RO2YGUGfPNBCHyakYjKlqOLOCI1Q_-Nj4_tshfHbyLZ1qsj6ds-TImxpvM/s1600/IMG_20140525_203438.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">NEW collage necklaces - these were so much fun to make! Coming soon to <a href="http://www.sweetpeastudios.etsy.com/">Sweetpea Studios</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoHy_geJxAADcOrUD8_Ma5nf-RtnYi1KoJzXMRgKIzxzDkrpdQTneBZDLyLYLkeRZLOYHB3dyRhJHxNKpwp-IvfXyAGLW5elo-eUnqcXkkd84hry1CjewQt-cKhVkAn2lRnvx2wzFLLs9u/s1600/IMG_20140525_204028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoHy_geJxAADcOrUD8_Ma5nf-RtnYi1KoJzXMRgKIzxzDkrpdQTneBZDLyLYLkeRZLOYHB3dyRhJHxNKpwp-IvfXyAGLW5elo-eUnqcXkkd84hry1CjewQt-cKhVkAn2lRnvx2wzFLLs9u/s1600/IMG_20140525_204028.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just look at all those umbrellas!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXnU563WnSO7o6GuNrx84lQTuBAgyuSu5B-mOdENEXHIaOnpy-UOcKachXNJ9gPAX9VIZJWIBvjldfmeBaZ21JMJakFuUKyG8zYiPJ-I0AhyphenhyphenGuEhjDWJnyhpvaabUeyoafUEniUIwTJRNs/s1600/IMG_20140525_203118.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXnU563WnSO7o6GuNrx84lQTuBAgyuSu5B-mOdENEXHIaOnpy-UOcKachXNJ9gPAX9VIZJWIBvjldfmeBaZ21JMJakFuUKyG8zYiPJ-I0AhyphenhyphenGuEhjDWJnyhpvaabUeyoafUEniUIwTJRNs/s1600/IMG_20140525_203118.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Long Beach, seen through my super dirty car windshield as we were driving away at the end of a looooong day</td></tr>
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James and Carly were fantastic helpers! Even though James was sick, he still spent the day in Long Beach with me, helping to set up and take down my booth and being a great moral support. Carly did an awesome job as a cheerleader - together, she and James had a system of bagging items that went so smoothly I barely even saw it happen! Friends came out to support the show, and I was so happy to see some friendly, familiar faces among the crowd. <i>THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!</i><br />
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With nearly 200 vendors there, I really wasn't sure what to expect, but I'm really pleased I got up the courage to even apply in the first place. Everyone was so friendly, and it was a day to just let go and enjoy the process. I'd definitely apply again - could I have caught the craft show bug?<br />
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If you missed the Long Beach Patchwork, there's still one more left! #PatchworkShow Santa Ana will take place Sunday, June 15th at 2nd and Sycamore. I won't be vending there, but I plan on attending! It's a great community of crafters and creative individuals that should definitely be sought out. See you on the 15th!<br />
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<br />jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14684508594179949510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4027303510127779417.post-44225184231063716552014-04-25T07:36:00.001-07:002014-04-25T07:36:43.404-07:00Hey guys, remember when...?Hey, remember when I told you that I'd applied for Patchwork and I was really nervous about it? I got the notification - I GOT IN!!! Hooray!!!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitD7XXoNDbK6ZmA8f-LanYNYIiguyAiC5jvy15t-5Eban8S8se2YrnJ50f25Rc06xmM3T-fjrrCPrBH8gZTVpVLnugJBr6-L819tmxmEMVDQ7JVvwZgEYwwPBChCPuaJ_ZDLNkH8Z0vFnJ/s1600/img575.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitD7XXoNDbK6ZmA8f-LanYNYIiguyAiC5jvy15t-5Eban8S8se2YrnJ50f25Rc06xmM3T-fjrrCPrBH8gZTVpVLnugJBr6-L819tmxmEMVDQ7JVvwZgEYwwPBChCPuaJ_ZDLNkH8Z0vFnJ/s1600/img575.jpg" height="320" width="227" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm as excited as this little girl is about her book!</td></tr>
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So now I'm making things like crazy, because the show is <i>one month away.</i> Oh Emm Gee.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://scontent-b-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc1/t1.0-9/10178145_701705786534768_4184731949769735956_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://scontent-b-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc1/t1.0-9/10178145_701705786534768_4184731949769735956_n.jpg" width="258" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Long Beach - May 25 - Marine Stadium - Appian Way @ Bayshore - 11a-5p</td></tr>
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For those not in the know, #PatchworkShow is a twice-a-year juried craft show / festival that showcases local artists, artisans, food gurus, and all sorts of other wonderful things. You name it, it's probably there: jewelry (LOTS of jewelry), clothing, guitar straps, handmade soaps, food trucks, music, tiny terrariums, ephemera, art, bicycle vallets...the list goes on and on. Right now they have 3 locations every spring and winter, and I'll be showing this year at Long Beach. <i>So excited and nervous!</i><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://scontent-b-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/t1.0-9/10271632_389835937823399_3927684383325209284_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://scontent-b-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/t1.0-9/10271632_389835937823399_3927684383325209284_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tiny Lace Earrings</td></tr>
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So, what's involved? Well, I need to come up with enough jewelry to fill a booth space, and then I need to design a booth, which means my brain is working overtime and many an evening has been spent on Pinterest searching for booth ideas. (Which are plentiful and all make my head spin with how awesome they are.) I'm also spending a fair amount of time worrying that I'm not cool enough to do this, and all these BuzzFeed surveys that keep popping up in my news feed on Facebook are not helping - apparently I am so far from being a hipster that I don't even know what the word means, and also my true age is supposedly 41.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ia.media-imdb.com/images/M/MV5BNzQxMDQ1NjA4N15BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwNTE5MjQ3OA@@._V1_SX214_AL_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://ia.media-imdb.com/images/M/MV5BNzQxMDQ1NjA4N15BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwNTE5MjQ3OA@@._V1_SX214_AL_.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A very depressing movie, even more so now that BuzzFeed tells me that I skipped my 30's completely.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
But in all seriousness, I'm really excited and I really hope that this ends up being a good thing. If nothing else, it will force my shy little self to get out of her shell a bit and grab some confidence!<br />
<br />
So don't forget! <span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-size: large;">May 25th (it's a Sunday!) from 11a - 5p at the Long Beach Marine Stadium</span></span>, Appian Way at Bayshore (don't ask me anything more specific, when an acquaintance asked me where it was the other day all I could come up with was "Long Beach...near some water..."). Stop by and say hi! jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14684508594179949510noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4027303510127779417.post-86342102417623937962014-04-14T07:34:00.000-07:002014-04-14T07:34:40.805-07:00Cannoli: Yay or Nay? <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0rARpwYeAuTkg2j_S8voWtOlNPLqEMkpNxEo_8oVnoqvqjHH1H_CdD8-jMycQt9ILlMRe1V7UHCcl1Rre6c9qnONwD6PCm8PV3gysOE9FzMcjviYubCknR4n54Mam80FYB_yhUKHCQtgi/s1600/IMG_20140412_174837.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0rARpwYeAuTkg2j_S8voWtOlNPLqEMkpNxEo_8oVnoqvqjHH1H_CdD8-jMycQt9ILlMRe1V7UHCcl1Rre6c9qnONwD6PCm8PV3gysOE9FzMcjviYubCknR4n54Mam80FYB_yhUKHCQtgi/s1600/IMG_20140412_174837.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just past San Onofre</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Sometimes, it's just nice to get away, even if it's only for an evening. We're lucky in southern California - we've got just about everything you could imagine within a couple of hours' drive. So Saturday after work, James picked me up and we drove down to San Diego to spend the remainder of the weekend in Little Italy and exploring Balboa Park.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCevIDjwcieLKYXxHM9eNosRzPixzO6aXkQ1Z3wbqAkDfR8sJ-VpQMuPZjLrMn0n17eSw8iZmrUxmlUsoj2DzDHRfpahLAAZrPNVhyphenhyphen1_WW711Zz0VK3xJKUB31V8zvM72q70tXk3AX3_5l/s1600/shot_1397357909825.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCevIDjwcieLKYXxHM9eNosRzPixzO6aXkQ1Z3wbqAkDfR8sJ-VpQMuPZjLrMn0n17eSw8iZmrUxmlUsoj2DzDHRfpahLAAZrPNVhyphenhyphen1_WW711Zz0VK3xJKUB31V8zvM72q70tXk3AX3_5l/s1600/shot_1397357909825.jpg" height="398" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little Italy</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We strolled down India Street in search of a restaurant, and oh my goodness, were we ever spoiled for choice. It was almost like it didn't matter where we chose to eat, because wherever we ended up would be fabulous! We chose La Villa and weren't disappointed. Wine. Rustic, handmade pasta. Chocolate mousse dessert with salted hazelnuts and praline. YUM. Afterwards, we had coffee at Caffe Italia (and I had a cannoli - yep, two desserts).<br />
<br />
So, I have a question...what am I missing with cannoli? Am I just having really bad ones? Because every one that I've eaten tastes stale and slightly...odd. I keep ordering them because I want to believe that there are better ones out there, but maybe I'm wrong?<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh4ZVfJJ8ES0fHL66cm5opDRRWkqhJPdh8NaH30rLvaGX6LzxV-ATGUQImmy4DsoDUHkDKzd-V8b879XmBZNEz3U61TT7_HiHljfOtpElJPFsx8a0m5qEmzRebNHUlDAcum8qDgnUWEVaP/s1600/IMG_20140413_195847.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh4ZVfJJ8ES0fHL66cm5opDRRWkqhJPdh8NaH30rLvaGX6LzxV-ATGUQImmy4DsoDUHkDKzd-V8b879XmBZNEz3U61TT7_HiHljfOtpElJPFsx8a0m5qEmzRebNHUlDAcum8qDgnUWEVaP/s1600/IMG_20140413_195847.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There was a man who squatted near her foot and took a photo looking up her dress. Total photobomb.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Sunday was spent walking from our hotel in Little Italy to the waterfront to see The Star of India and the USS Midway (we also saw a dolphin playing in the water!), and then walking to Balboa Park to the Air and Space Museum. I had two desserts and a giant breakfast with a mimosa to work off, after all! <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTN7CT4JMhEJJ82yVZ47MQtttxTHusJZaJgX6ODbrZQCrg6eOqjX_jJJROqJu0VZpHHVMMARXVMluX6V5ir2Tak7Azsmaj9fsGGdjZNd3nn6XJN3aZ34vfkszjd8jR-MKjTmv3SmYxH7XY/s1600/IMG_20140413_104703.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTN7CT4JMhEJJ82yVZ47MQtttxTHusJZaJgX6ODbrZQCrg6eOqjX_jJJROqJu0VZpHHVMMARXVMluX6V5ir2Tak7Azsmaj9fsGGdjZNd3nn6XJN3aZ34vfkszjd8jR-MKjTmv3SmYxH7XY/s1600/IMG_20140413_104703.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rigging</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyS2Lc7UWhuVfj4IvtL-LnO50lKU-_pvKU8-KnA7KSVV_LBIkNfmVooXzi0M56BIsLQKMCHjr6yZiUc0Tq7eKrosQSfcikydKC9gNqab8zkezdtWIqAxM2oTWIPYWpczD4c_lspu3cq25c/s1600/shot_1397428980042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyS2Lc7UWhuVfj4IvtL-LnO50lKU-_pvKU8-KnA7KSVV_LBIkNfmVooXzi0M56BIsLQKMCHjr6yZiUc0Tq7eKrosQSfcikydKC9gNqab8zkezdtWIqAxM2oTWIPYWpczD4c_lspu3cq25c/s1600/shot_1397428980042.jpg" height="398" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Balboa Park</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ggpXxQTxONXuMI8bxbMsqBXINKkb43Yl1eCVPEDWeazxTPv6V5DKUdvaG56t8HdgVCgk3PAeAiW51eikgkIcBcwQyVVfWf_cyqfMZH2d2dIDqrUgxkJRFVgYDY0qosa1VRpNde75giQl/s1600/IMG_20140413_195155.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ggpXxQTxONXuMI8bxbMsqBXINKkb43Yl1eCVPEDWeazxTPv6V5DKUdvaG56t8HdgVCgk3PAeAiW51eikgkIcBcwQyVVfWf_cyqfMZH2d2dIDqrUgxkJRFVgYDY0qosa1VRpNde75giQl/s1600/IMG_20140413_195155.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Succulents</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5zqfdJWN69VdjYdIRIDC_fT30tBAqMDgtp1hy4X3uChRpg6_UhN6RFtBBuoI_UtrG67tDbF563QrfVpAuFdALuqyNi4RpTcV1iCdXyf3buhyIDZFmbOMR3C8jPhKwpwjJbWSUHvZ6tVNP/s1600/FxCam_1397419735244.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5zqfdJWN69VdjYdIRIDC_fT30tBAqMDgtp1hy4X3uChRpg6_UhN6RFtBBuoI_UtrG67tDbF563QrfVpAuFdALuqyNi4RpTcV1iCdXyf3buhyIDZFmbOMR3C8jPhKwpwjJbWSUHvZ6tVNP/s1600/FxCam_1397419735244.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Organ</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJAOl4baT76LlmfLiWG4lELw-33QatYnhsmNmtFTKv5gFsbq1rsskZeKQ_UlaPzUemaw5YelsYPyiMXUzRxxVgwbd2pZG2j_jaR_hENONkiH86yP60FegEnLLymWm87vNbdXRkYL2eWY9X/s1600/IMG_20140413_200103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJAOl4baT76LlmfLiWG4lELw-33QatYnhsmNmtFTKv5gFsbq1rsskZeKQ_UlaPzUemaw5YelsYPyiMXUzRxxVgwbd2pZG2j_jaR_hENONkiH86yP60FegEnLLymWm87vNbdXRkYL2eWY9X/s1600/IMG_20140413_200103.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunken Garden</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvc484mhCsEciYPjBNAOM_BmXQ6XSSjyrMJmIjAUHg94kpHLGW2WbeaD1SvoCZX_d7iFx0Gby92ynhlVOrEeRppUOYYY7p8_994lmlOCEkGiS71dpP7dHC67FBSntUOOseKk5LOCN_QNgX/s1600/IMG_20140413_194845.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvc484mhCsEciYPjBNAOM_BmXQ6XSSjyrMJmIjAUHg94kpHLGW2WbeaD1SvoCZX_d7iFx0Gby92ynhlVOrEeRppUOYYY7p8_994lmlOCEkGiS71dpP7dHC67FBSntUOOseKk5LOCN_QNgX/s1600/IMG_20140413_194845.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flower-filled Fountain</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIzwi2vbnTjZUCSVezJ-W6G_ZpCReWswSPRX94oNzlDgoDnN_kwFXx1fQ56VzwhSDW8_56az4e-F7hohsF-9C3DU-Bzc-yEenrTDnQbrBmUceu_pyVsw9bAlqzwnAT7GsqVdSBm9EL2rDo/s1600/IMG_20140413_193940.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIzwi2vbnTjZUCSVezJ-W6G_ZpCReWswSPRX94oNzlDgoDnN_kwFXx1fQ56VzwhSDW8_56az4e-F7hohsF-9C3DU-Bzc-yEenrTDnQbrBmUceu_pyVsw9bAlqzwnAT7GsqVdSBm9EL2rDo/s1600/IMG_20140413_193940.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Doorway</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1RGrXv7kUEcDR1RY-sn09aNPMNQqGEnQhIHzbCXyh9_2FAg2DIKIwL0GFLHRaZTtRXDsetYBgbRJt5FCLXC1eGN2qS8rep82QEWySnaJ_48POostu83B12nmRzvKa9bYaJhFcHKammO-n/s1600/IMG_20140413_195627.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1RGrXv7kUEcDR1RY-sn09aNPMNQqGEnQhIHzbCXyh9_2FAg2DIKIwL0GFLHRaZTtRXDsetYBgbRJt5FCLXC1eGN2qS8rep82QEWySnaJ_48POostu83B12nmRzvKa9bYaJhFcHKammO-n/s1600/IMG_20140413_195627.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spring Flowers</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix1yDAqu5pI2CMtgwBNz4YsRLT3Y0tXk30aXeg7y5E9L63sTXoSzVdPbpbvolWPq48BNz0jeINSRwoYrfteX4tJP2rcGN3ylW7wqn58bJK62XC4GgwSSLrOu86twIXysEgo5HdqDKoR9SH/s1600/IMG_20140413_195357.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix1yDAqu5pI2CMtgwBNz4YsRLT3Y0tXk30aXeg7y5E9L63sTXoSzVdPbpbvolWPq48BNz0jeINSRwoYrfteX4tJP2rcGN3ylW7wqn58bJK62XC4GgwSSLrOu86twIXysEgo5HdqDKoR9SH/s1600/IMG_20140413_195357.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Probably the best part of the weekend for James. I made him pose with this Spitfire, since he's built multiple models of them since Christmas.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
All in all, we spent about 7 hours walking. My feet may fall off.</div>
jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14684508594179949510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4027303510127779417.post-50712338959535919352014-04-08T08:03:00.001-07:002014-04-08T08:03:59.648-07:00Procrastinate with meOoohhh I feel boring and uninspired this morning. Plus instead of working on my ever-present to-do list I'm procrastinating by looking at home interiors on blogs and Pinterest and wishing that I had hardwood floors and bright white walls. (Alas, my rental agreement won't let me...)<br />
<br />
So, here are some photos of the last couple of weeks:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqmU93XjpzE6-jdSjmPAZqhPgCmeCZ7tVqbnKHgYERPvFwlt2TZNdYKs0yUTUy9EpIdZ8TiOi0a9wqudcNyNWDw4CC89YfkyDL_aa70-YGyvrcjlX3NaiJDLkAhaClGqRxq9s_63Ci0neZ/s1600/FxCam_1395603510253.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqmU93XjpzE6-jdSjmPAZqhPgCmeCZ7tVqbnKHgYERPvFwlt2TZNdYKs0yUTUy9EpIdZ8TiOi0a9wqudcNyNWDw4CC89YfkyDL_aa70-YGyvrcjlX3NaiJDLkAhaClGqRxq9s_63Ci0neZ/s1600/FxCam_1395603510253.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">LACMA</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidiHjDUMjdZRNMzeO17qNv-uX-MZwDLh0wt8nwDqRk0-5pII_Qb08iLqqy3NBbKzg9ghyphenhyphenYEsp-WNPg1HzJAdcx6AZ_7qtiS09j5Ye8rXneW5Pd2nERevVTB6DpaSo7bVa4A90kbByCG4qe/s1600/FxCam_1394400037453.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidiHjDUMjdZRNMzeO17qNv-uX-MZwDLh0wt8nwDqRk0-5pII_Qb08iLqqy3NBbKzg9ghyphenhyphenYEsp-WNPg1HzJAdcx6AZ_7qtiS09j5Ye8rXneW5Pd2nERevVTB6DpaSo7bVa4A90kbByCG4qe/s1600/FxCam_1394400037453.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rose Bowl Flea Market</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNh8SzDwZ4EBQ6aRiRI6K9Wwv1fLFvV6lO7dJW7AVByCAOtd0kDVJiyYknYKxYI-BxUSWOCODdhtgbdK1lj0B7VZ7mlJ_PedL2w1katRYz24M5242hdJ7b2ypwXfZWWJsklQmLGC46osiS/s1600/FxCam_1395360626959.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNh8SzDwZ4EBQ6aRiRI6K9Wwv1fLFvV6lO7dJW7AVByCAOtd0kDVJiyYknYKxYI-BxUSWOCODdhtgbdK1lj0B7VZ7mlJ_PedL2w1katRYz24M5242hdJ7b2ypwXfZWWJsklQmLGC46osiS/s1600/FxCam_1395360626959.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Irvine Park</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRQSz2wmCfQp9L_-ylZBqzq56PphmN0Ak7d9Z8InVktjLZaXmtFv7EbLhgJjSL1F9PcDihY0MA0GVP6v5-f7KhvK4JJkk12BNraiRUy85AoKRKRmoyPdHC8Zg31hItsyfmAq9YAaBeiiwP/s1600/shot_1395360808955.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRQSz2wmCfQp9L_-ylZBqzq56PphmN0Ak7d9Z8InVktjLZaXmtFv7EbLhgJjSL1F9PcDihY0MA0GVP6v5-f7KhvK4JJkk12BNraiRUy85AoKRKRmoyPdHC8Zg31hItsyfmAq9YAaBeiiwP/s1600/shot_1395360808955.jpg" height="398" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New Shoes</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbYErHqV-IWr9481E6rvfRev9z2d7YQrigX7JIN0zUxWt0hDMX8DOiLtmPO6vijVPDRUppuAR2aS3BE28FPGB-Pl8sLDKgVd5TqpuSUT1HYqfe_Ysa1W0HnjXgcq47h29n2lSQgCnuHu3u/s1600/IMG_20140214_143710.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbYErHqV-IWr9481E6rvfRev9z2d7YQrigX7JIN0zUxWt0hDMX8DOiLtmPO6vijVPDRUppuAR2aS3BE28FPGB-Pl8sLDKgVd5TqpuSUT1HYqfe_Ysa1W0HnjXgcq47h29n2lSQgCnuHu3u/s1600/IMG_20140214_143710.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hot Hot Hot</td></tr>
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Just for the heck of it, this (above) is what James and I look like to snakes. Apparently my knees are super-hot. jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14684508594179949510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4027303510127779417.post-62505817304623958652014-04-02T09:01:00.003-07:002014-04-02T09:01:52.375-07:00Catching UpEleanor, a friend from my first year in England, and her son, Eden, came to stay in March. It was an absolutely lovely visit, and I'm sad that they've gone home now. Here's a small taste of what we did...<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN9vYKUGgobgA5R5aLwEWvK78CTVsZaJCrGogjD0MFI_NnTQzdhcw07_A1Xkbsirnbf3yxav6W35jUJkA5TU9M7OsyRCcEjnVHo6zBFZndXCq0a1IVEpWf9eMO1G55YcJADoN1Ydb9TX_8/s1600/IMG_20140309_162914.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN9vYKUGgobgA5R5aLwEWvK78CTVsZaJCrGogjD0MFI_NnTQzdhcw07_A1Xkbsirnbf3yxav6W35jUJkA5TU9M7OsyRCcEjnVHo6zBFZndXCq0a1IVEpWf9eMO1G55YcJADoN1Ydb9TX_8/s1600/IMG_20140309_162914.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Exploring at The Gamble House in Pasadena</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Q-ZqMNocLcNRa8jC2prGheEgP8lbzsen7lmymQcM9pRWZ21S2QBhyBkTKXSj8lQLiT6bGQp9cpwGcGObDyYVRmWz9WKRFBbnUkj2BImLqQnbLwtmf4w22PiC7npAWqzB6ZhmsvFUJdII/s1600/IMG_20140313_204957.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Q-ZqMNocLcNRa8jC2prGheEgP8lbzsen7lmymQcM9pRWZ21S2QBhyBkTKXSj8lQLiT6bGQp9cpwGcGObDyYVRmWz9WKRFBbnUkj2BImLqQnbLwtmf4w22PiC7npAWqzB6ZhmsvFUJdII/s1600/IMG_20140313_204957.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Selfies at The Getty</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGKKsaBCThhPIQJ2xBp0nx80FIl_HdHcLvB8RWJSPhmz6VtemoL2wKpRlxbi0JDBt6FiW49RAughbcvE-w5nPZktEVvDQFGi9siWOwHnd2J9pE018y3av7WZ_fkLwhVjj08Ltw4oDpn_l9/s1600/IMG_20140315_184259.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGKKsaBCThhPIQJ2xBp0nx80FIl_HdHcLvB8RWJSPhmz6VtemoL2wKpRlxbi0JDBt6FiW49RAughbcvE-w5nPZktEVvDQFGi9siWOwHnd2J9pE018y3av7WZ_fkLwhVjj08Ltw4oDpn_l9/s1600/IMG_20140315_184259.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Intense Concentration from Captain Cutie</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfotcAvn4i0XQ6Hk2ztg1tonHgPfqTJgVnBGuEUEG8SJrWE5Ifm6BRctkXnnOyMcK0fYQKTtFrzwacwwWyXgaitDviugK1MtAEe7GK3Vbwmc0SuNFC-X5r2WwQarZJHBn5qtw2Sm5XP7gU/s1600/IMG_20140322_131628.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfotcAvn4i0XQ6Hk2ztg1tonHgPfqTJgVnBGuEUEG8SJrWE5Ifm6BRctkXnnOyMcK0fYQKTtFrzwacwwWyXgaitDviugK1MtAEe7GK3Vbwmc0SuNFC-X5r2WwQarZJHBn5qtw2Sm5XP7gU/s1600/IMG_20140322_131628.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peacocks in Irvine Park</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyw6oF3g9090cm7yRLEtp00-Lp_17YAFaNQzksjof3P_9pT-DwWuZSFMyf_GLp2u1Nf-zsjxlHVV5OXZVsPubjUa-OIB-p7cxvKjXdLfN1gVB06gzEozBhNGIZRnBoL9bcsiXGL1wICKi8/s1600/IMG_20140320_172731.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyw6oF3g9090cm7yRLEtp00-Lp_17YAFaNQzksjof3P_9pT-DwWuZSFMyf_GLp2u1Nf-zsjxlHVV5OXZVsPubjUa-OIB-p7cxvKjXdLfN1gVB06gzEozBhNGIZRnBoL9bcsiXGL1wICKi8/s1600/IMG_20140320_172731.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Late afternoon sun in Irvine Park</td></tr>
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Plus, we had a mini photo shoot at the local farmer's market...<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv0YikBO8f30AxXuvStlymyO8Evp7x8i1nxKfFfJ4GIvjc8PVBSOu8I5BzMHS42BVx0tTZsvBHeG8246_zmf3VYu0USjbrVtYGHaA8qcZmqxm0f4_J6foBQnSV8Dmjjc_8iLS6M0O2hyphenhyphenfy/s1600/DSC_0737.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv0YikBO8f30AxXuvStlymyO8Evp7x8i1nxKfFfJ4GIvjc8PVBSOu8I5BzMHS42BVx0tTZsvBHeG8246_zmf3VYu0USjbrVtYGHaA8qcZmqxm0f4_J6foBQnSV8Dmjjc_8iLS6M0O2hyphenhyphenfy/s1600/DSC_0737.jpg" height="392" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Modeling <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/156677881/chaps-photo-collage-necklace?ref=shop_home_feat_1"><i>Chaps necklace</i></a></td></tr>
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And then I applied to be a vendor at <a href="http://patchworkshow.com/">Patchwork Show</a>!!! This is the first time I've ever applied to a craft show, so I'm really nervous that I missed something or that the jurors won't like my work, but...I did it anyway! I'll never know if I don't try, right? <i>I find out in 2 weeks...</i>jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14684508594179949510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4027303510127779417.post-85998857034143958862014-02-24T07:26:00.000-08:002014-02-24T07:26:40.603-08:00Ch-ch-ch-changes!Let's catch up and talk about <a href="http://sweetpeastudios.etsy.com/">Sweetpea Studios</a> ...<br />
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There have been some changes in how I'm working, as well as a whole bunch of new ideas that are being brought forth - I'm so excited I can barely think straight! (What I'm really meant to be doing is getting our apartment ready for a visit from a good friend and her newly walking baby. Bear in mind that we are two people who don't have children and really don't have any friends that live in the same country with children and therefore very little experience with this sort of thing. But we love Eleanor, and we love Eden, and we're thrilled she's coming to stay!) <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIo1ejPP-Wk48NXBN2e3j97FbSiE99Jredt4S5YgshqgcP2sz3oHLWJqM55Jew7CL-eW0Rv9JWRyXfbQ7G537hFuObw2NnxZFZD8VQKRklvP0ERVPMrCBA1_hW0IrFkhRumqJ-XEHr-Arh/s1600/IMG_20140216_110336.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIo1ejPP-Wk48NXBN2e3j97FbSiE99Jredt4S5YgshqgcP2sz3oHLWJqM55Jew7CL-eW0Rv9JWRyXfbQ7G537hFuObw2NnxZFZD8VQKRklvP0ERVPMrCBA1_hW0IrFkhRumqJ-XEHr-Arh/s1600/IMG_20140216_110336.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Necklace Packaging</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0JY4QA_K8Y4DgEa1vV0FcChanEAO6aOkPhjuhNYxlUmHLd2B8eOfiSIQUW_z2sFfoDkY92dT9NX6Y2Wr7KZs0p6kvrJhhwABQBiF4wTbQAxi-rbC-zsTIc1nJy3uLGL248Perp8N8sSY2/s1600/IMG_20140216_110808.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0JY4QA_K8Y4DgEa1vV0FcChanEAO6aOkPhjuhNYxlUmHLd2B8eOfiSIQUW_z2sFfoDkY92dT9NX6Y2Wr7KZs0p6kvrJhhwABQBiF4wTbQAxi-rbC-zsTIc1nJy3uLGL248Perp8N8sSY2/s1600/IMG_20140216_110808.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Earring Packaging</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkTxQ6mB-NJIJ19sIqOB7vRkpIOWbMnNRINY5HfgxfMyMmaNlvL8ZWiYA9M3PmToOe7zXVDqBH6xi-NCKql5CGy9cJCZ98uk4pQHz8I617BuBFqv99P8yuu0SJT1A59q0ycB3EMg6AiWCD/s1600/IMG_20140216_110655.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkTxQ6mB-NJIJ19sIqOB7vRkpIOWbMnNRINY5HfgxfMyMmaNlvL8ZWiYA9M3PmToOe7zXVDqBH6xi-NCKql5CGy9cJCZ98uk4pQHz8I617BuBFqv99P8yuu0SJT1A59q0ycB3EMg6AiWCD/s1600/IMG_20140216_110655.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready to give as a gift!</td></tr>
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I've re-done some of my packaging and also the packaging photos. The old photos had to go. Blech. Now comes the task of updating all of my nearly 100 Etsy listings. What a process!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZt3a8c4yOK2Pru4bJzxxqHUoZiY9Ek36pXdw6TzSjsVrvuKb307F4fACrPkVvenY1BDas29milraPrB1Idnz2cxQjUW5PwHuNKqs9AHLrKiiA76hFKGzAAGjzHoo8trn0R7GH5pTVnFfe/s1600/IMG_20140126_104942.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZt3a8c4yOK2Pru4bJzxxqHUoZiY9Ek36pXdw6TzSjsVrvuKb307F4fACrPkVvenY1BDas29milraPrB1Idnz2cxQjUW5PwHuNKqs9AHLrKiiA76hFKGzAAGjzHoo8trn0R7GH5pTVnFfe/s1600/IMG_20140126_104942.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/177407677/heart-shaped-flower-vines-original?ref=shop_home_active_4">Heart Shaped Flower Vines adjustable ring</a> - acrylic on origami paper</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp_tDeLRdHoz2RgfngpZr3cHnjIiRattKsBMobYUv2G8P_LfRZu8idd8tWTVuQuHL2oYG5mIHWePnh49_RElEgf91f-0l00jpv9v3UtsdjxjhBXp-qGLOp95JDCTMSNgECU8hC1lidvfBV/s1600/IMG_20140108_093006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp_tDeLRdHoz2RgfngpZr3cHnjIiRattKsBMobYUv2G8P_LfRZu8idd8tWTVuQuHL2oYG5mIHWePnh49_RElEgf91f-0l00jpv9v3UtsdjxjhBXp-qGLOp95JDCTMSNgECU8hC1lidvfBV/s1600/IMG_20140108_093006.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/175180237/petite-amour-simple-collage-necklace?ref=shop_home_active_5">Petite Amour</a> collage necklace</td></tr>
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There are new products, too! New necklaces and rings that feature miniature acrylic paintings and paper collages. What I love about doing the paintings is that I don't feel like I have to be a stellar painter - the images always look like what they're supposed to be, which amazes me every time I do one.<br />
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Included in the new products is a line of <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/sweetpeastudios?section_id=15042836&ref=shopsection_leftnav_1">customizable heirloom jewelry</a> - they're only just starting to appear in Sweetpea Studios, so we'll talk more about that later. They're already at <a href="http://www.chemersgallery.com/">Chemers Gallery</a>, with pictures and information to follow. So stay tuned!<br />
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And, just like wearing the same hairstyle year after year, sometimes a girl just has to change things up with a re-vamp.<br />
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Remember this Etsy banner?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiWpV47D0lLkGDNp1ZAlZvvjYujq_gadofhjrwrWxGwf1U2-I_pFzLnjA3HN2xAkO00RpMnZgfluw66GcZmB8P6V4NOu3Ixt5Q_fBmGFIFTTfcvaSbc4wg7kveBU8von3A-mLY22Y4fmu2/s1600/Etsy+Banner+2012-2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiWpV47D0lLkGDNp1ZAlZvvjYujq_gadofhjrwrWxGwf1U2-I_pFzLnjA3HN2xAkO00RpMnZgfluw66GcZmB8P6V4NOu3Ixt5Q_fBmGFIFTTfcvaSbc4wg7kveBU8von3A-mLY22Y4fmu2/s1600/Etsy+Banner+2012-2014.jpg" height="84" width="640" /></a></div>
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Now it looks like this:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGDhg_Ru569uoKI7a5_xla0CNqmkkMrZvPcnoaPBoeymqXv-lb5EL-a3O-gsorM2W0kheukrmdhBQ-8wo-K2ymt6lawq7W_Q2MPRKCisGtdhHMOwhWBPzQmG70PGE8X4F55bn-zvDd13iV/s1600/Etsy+Banner+Script+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGDhg_Ru569uoKI7a5_xla0CNqmkkMrZvPcnoaPBoeymqXv-lb5EL-a3O-gsorM2W0kheukrmdhBQ-8wo-K2ymt6lawq7W_Q2MPRKCisGtdhHMOwhWBPzQmG70PGE8X4F55bn-zvDd13iV/s1600/Etsy+Banner+Script+copy.JPG" height="84" width="640" /></a></div>
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It looks a little more consistent with this blog and the direction I'm going in. I was sad to take down my old banner, though, because the sweet pea drawing was one that James did at my request. (Plus it took me ages on Photoshop to get it the way I wanted...) But...change is good.<br />
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Another project I've been working on is a jewelry collaboration with ceramic artist, Lisa Mertins. She creates whimsical pendants made out of porcelain, and I create some of those acrylic paintings I mentioned. Together we make up Lisa & Jenn - you can find our jewelry at <a href="http://www.chemersgallery.com/">Chemers Gallery</a> in Tustin. Here's a small sampling:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDhNFqL9tD-sFVY9gy198ajIhWjzhpBig3jrBpbhU6L7CP_ZY2vogalS_tkm2yysMH8Rnmq0SYRagPP6WtDl9HrMAa8QFUE0La3LoaD9ak_KJ3Zh9l31nUvIP0qbymcfSHgExKfHe0n9wg/s1600/IMG_20140201_091659.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDhNFqL9tD-sFVY9gy198ajIhWjzhpBig3jrBpbhU6L7CP_ZY2vogalS_tkm2yysMH8Rnmq0SYRagPP6WtDl9HrMAa8QFUE0La3LoaD9ak_KJ3Zh9l31nUvIP0qbymcfSHgExKfHe0n9wg/s1600/IMG_20140201_091659.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Available at Chemers Gallery</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikDb309oVjQBzSbh5F6JlA9H9Abo2LCC8-8AUyFEIevrXrlsSiUiB9-80Gu91hgKPg0l152qgNGZVd9XJUB5-xU6oeAPvUzYwCmUV2pQeo53jINlkKSEVKMTft-u_sl0rplGN63qd-KEYr/s1600/IMG_20140126_110436.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikDb309oVjQBzSbh5F6JlA9H9Abo2LCC8-8AUyFEIevrXrlsSiUiB9-80Gu91hgKPg0l152qgNGZVd9XJUB5-xU6oeAPvUzYwCmUV2pQeo53jINlkKSEVKMTft-u_sl0rplGN63qd-KEYr/s1600/IMG_20140126_110436.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Also available at Chemers Gallery</td></tr>
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Lisa is a lovely person who is just so creative. She's always coming up with funky ceramic vessels and birdhouses, and oh yeah, she does printmaking and also illustrates children's books - so stinkin' talented! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjoK9FZAbBjv8dtMo7FLBd5v9YZ9dDObEmZ1k3zAMNmVPP620Qg5IdLiJfjCrg_poj4fNeu4YL1IhJKE7nOP7WgFp-OkUXsXzv0E9Ula-py8qzuO3jh7ob0qGLIFJD9o37dxgZkyhc44sm/s1600/Mailing+List+Banner.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjoK9FZAbBjv8dtMo7FLBd5v9YZ9dDObEmZ1k3zAMNmVPP620Qg5IdLiJfjCrg_poj4fNeu4YL1IhJKE7nOP7WgFp-OkUXsXzv0E9Ula-py8qzuO3jh7ob0qGLIFJD9o37dxgZkyhc44sm/s1600/Mailing+List+Banner.JPG" height="150" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">hello.sweetpea.jenn@gmail.com</td></tr>
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And the mailing list! I'm offering a mailing list!! (If you'd like to sign up, please email me at <a href="mailto:hello.sweetpea.jenn@gmail.com">hello.sweetpea.jenn@gmail.com</a>
with the subject / message "I'm in!") I'd like to send out a monthly
email with shop updates, new products, and a suggestion or two of an art
exhibition or museum to visit. Unless it's something super-douper
important/exciting, I won't deviate from the once-a-month email In fact, it will probably end up being less than monthly, because, you know, life. So come
on, let's keep in touch! <br />
<br />
So, what do you think? Don't be shy - come find me on <a href="http://www.sweetpeastudios.etsy.com/">Etsy</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sweetpea-Studios-Jennifer-Geisert/225959834211011">Facebook</a>, or <a href="mailto:hello.sweetpea.jenn@gmail.com">email</a> and share let's be friends! jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14684508594179949510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4027303510127779417.post-37571537991635868342014-02-02T10:21:00.001-08:002014-02-02T10:21:25.423-08:00The Old WestEver since a dinner we had with friends a few months ago during which the <a href="http://dayzeroproject.com/about/">"101 in 1001" project</a> was first discussed, James and I have been slooooowly working on lists of 101 things to do in 1001 days. (Since there are 2 of us, does that mean that collectively our lists are 202 in 2002?) I'll take a break from it for several weeks, and then inspiration will hit and I'll jot down a handful of things I'd like to do only to find upon revision of my entire list that I've already written those handful of things down. So far my list consists of things I've never done like "sew a dress" or "watch "The Goonies" (I know, I know, I've heard it before). I think James's list is mostly to do with things he sees on Huell Howser.<br />
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We had dinner with those same friends last week, and maybe because of that we decided to dig out the lists to find something to do on the following Sunday. We chose something from James's list, and drove to Agoura Hills to see the <a href="http://www.nps.gov/samo/planyourvisit/paramountranch.htm">Paramount Ranch</a>, a purpose built "movie ranch" in the Santa Monica mountains. The area has been used for filming movies and television shows starting in the late 1920's, and the "western town" is surrounded by hills and trails used to create movie locations from Africa to China. There's even an old racetrack that winds through the grasslands, closed after 18 months and 3 fatal crashes.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIQBTi0j8AxckHate19fq8-JinJ5B_flLVhfTLkfF9z-1RGbXKU96E1dH9e2S0d8H8h7JnUzItu0UUCgknjUM5Gz70XbzEakB6J4F9uxe0uqj5PD4h7ODmcRuietoaxK5NRiNzoHv3lJKa/s1600/IMG_20140131_085829.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIQBTi0j8AxckHate19fq8-JinJ5B_flLVhfTLkfF9z-1RGbXKU96E1dH9e2S0d8H8h7JnUzItu0UUCgknjUM5Gz70XbzEakB6J4F9uxe0uqj5PD4h7ODmcRuietoaxK5NRiNzoHv3lJKa/s1600/IMG_20140131_085829.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Old West</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0YKXItXZNmluU5N8LiucngKfnePtN7keCr3iBxKUSkYwVB5GTc1x77T0zeDHYDIhbfVtJMdWE0xaWX62mSHBaO3EsiT0INRksm35khyphenhyphenRQ7hUNhR9jc4J4Bau-cParwgbm8_DxVycGSK4p/s1600/IMG_20140131_090111.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0YKXItXZNmluU5N8LiucngKfnePtN7keCr3iBxKUSkYwVB5GTc1x77T0zeDHYDIhbfVtJMdWE0xaWX62mSHBaO3EsiT0INRksm35khyphenhyphenRQ7hUNhR9jc4J4Bau-cParwgbm8_DxVycGSK4p/s1600/IMG_20140131_090111.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Strange Facade</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTBv2YgZYBGToFU8iJmBuCE_LiNT8OvPavZfwCI0fScal0HIQHpVY4zFh1IKLzH_Zr772QSKouwa7NXUGT8KmCuvq2IiVKd67ZZi0K7Y36JSh18WTeNMpl5o_F5BRIaZRneXBVrtcZRo7P/s1600/IMG_20140126_165908.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTBv2YgZYBGToFU8iJmBuCE_LiNT8OvPavZfwCI0fScal0HIQHpVY4zFh1IKLzH_Zr772QSKouwa7NXUGT8KmCuvq2IiVKd67ZZi0K7Y36JSh18WTeNMpl5o_F5BRIaZRneXBVrtcZRo7P/s1600/IMG_20140126_165908.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Horses!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRGZJAnXUjHF58p5tKt74iCgVHW6yOhkLv9YxDKjhOKMc8L8CvTGV0vle_ulpf3Mcxb_JIs_0z6mD2a3bBghGRdTzH_GtBVIobS8K5HlwZw_l3jZkiQ-lXQEcdPE6JnUm42UbK_3Esd6Ph/s1600/IMG_20140126_170256.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRGZJAnXUjHF58p5tKt74iCgVHW6yOhkLv9YxDKjhOKMc8L8CvTGV0vle_ulpf3Mcxb_JIs_0z6mD2a3bBghGRdTzH_GtBVIobS8K5HlwZw_l3jZkiQ-lXQEcdPE6JnUm42UbK_3Esd6Ph/s1600/IMG_20140126_170256.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Medea Creek</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCwsC8UYpp3K1tVPUDzxr2lBCLVS5kgGrd3dx_SV7PVIpIJF6faVdvE4hpjzkCGaClN8ExZ22NHPjfzwLnivw3R0byihA2dGDmwrRN7erEdypbZXSzTwppmpx_h_e2AfsTtm3gbc99xB0K/s1600/IMG_20140126_130351.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCwsC8UYpp3K1tVPUDzxr2lBCLVS5kgGrd3dx_SV7PVIpIJF6faVdvE4hpjzkCGaClN8ExZ22NHPjfzwLnivw3R0byihA2dGDmwrRN7erEdypbZXSzTwppmpx_h_e2AfsTtm3gbc99xB0K/s1600/IMG_20140126_130351.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More of Medea Creek</td></tr>
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The western town was a little smaller than we expected, and there were more trails than we expected, so we weren't really prepared for treks through the woods. I expect we'll go back, this time with backpacks, water and sunblock and explore the trails that surround the "town." I'd love to see Hacienda Trails, Witches' Wood, and explore more of the old racetrack. I'd also love to go on horseback, like some of the visitors were doing that day. Guess that will be going on my 101 in 1001 list! jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14684508594179949510noreply@blogger.com0