Jen-A-Fusion Fashion Accessories

Sewing Class Starts This Week‏

2012-01-09T14:11:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year!

Hope the holidays didn't overwhelm you and the new year is treating you right. Was one of your resolutions to learn a new skill? If it was to filet a fish, play chess or make a souffle, I can't help you. However, if it was to learn how to sew, especially, make your own clothing, I can!

I will be starting a sewing class at the Workhouse Art Center this coming Wednesday, January 11, from 7-9pm. This six week course will cover the basic skills of how to read a commercial pattern and make slight adjustments for your figure. You will make a simple skirt as a base for future creative fashion adventures.

If you think you would like to make your own clothing, this is a great place to start! I will be able to guide you through the beginning steps and process to something a little more complex. You should have your own machine, iron and basic sewing supplies.

The cost is $110 for members of the Workhouse and for $125 for non-members. There is also a $10 materials fee to be paid to me for materials I will provide. The class meets at the Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton, VA from 7-9pm for six weeks.

To learn more and/or register, please visit the Workhouse Arts Center's catalog here. In addition to this class, I will be teaching a Fiber Photo Transfer Workshop and a Recycled Fabric Tote Bag Workshop.

Please let me know if you have any questions! Happy creating!~Jen

Happy New Year!

2012-01-07T22:47:00.001-05:00

Happiest of all New Years to you! Hope that the first week has been spent doing all those resolutions! ~Jen

I'm Dreaming of a Green Chirstmas

2011-12-23T22:50:00.000-05:00

This time of year is all about more: more love, more fun, more food, more drink, more gifts, more consumption, more waste. What's an environmentalist to do? Not love more, not eat more, not give at all? No, we just have to be smarter about want we buy and how we dispose of the leftovers.

We can use the 3 Rs to combat the massive amounts of waste after our festive time is over.

Reuse: Last year, I went to the dollar store and invested in a package of colorful paper bags. I say invested because I plan to use them over and over and over. I also bought colored tissue paper. I wrapped the gifts in the tissue paper and stuck them in the bags. I saved time and money AND the environment because it took so much less time to wrap, I'll use the bags until they fall apart. After gifts were opened, I collected them up and re-used them this year. I even left the name tags on and matched them to gifts and people again.

Recycled: Don't what to use the same bags over and over, or even take off the used wrapping paper and carefully keep it for the next year? There is super fun 100% recycled gift wrap. Green Field Paper Company is just one corporation that offers this option. Cheery snowflakes and whimsical trees are too cute to pass up. (In addition, they offer cards and tags and hemp paper, oh my!)

Recycle: Separate paper waste from the actual trash. Recycle the paper waste, or perhaps save it. Planning on moving? This is better than newsprint for dishes! Or, shredding it and saving for packing materials for future mailings. The shredded paper can also be used in an animal's cage for bedding. I know my childhood hamster would have loved this colorful confetti.

Reuse: Save the wrapping paper, bags and tissue paper for future use. I used to meticulously take wrapping paper off presents, take off the tape, flatten out the paper and save it. My family seemed to think this was more time consuming than need be. So, I rip it all off, but save it to stuff some of my purses.

What about the old versions that new gifts will replace? If still in good condition, most could be donated to worthy causes.

Reduce: Electronics, such as a tv, iPod, cell phone or a computer in working condition can be donated to thrift stores to be re-sold, or perhaps even sold on eBay or Craigslist. (Remember to wipe your drives clean before donation or selling.) Several major department stores have collection areas that will take some small electronics. Check Target, Best Buy or Staples, for example. Or, save these for a future electronics donation drive. Schools and scouts often organize electronic fundraising drives that collect electronics and essentially are sold to a third party company. Your child's school is not planning such a fundraising drive? Why not organize it yourself?

Reuse: Got new pjs, t-shirts, ties, socks or slippers? If the older ones are in good condition, they could be donated. Look for homeless shelters and relocation organizations. If not usable, cut up old clothing, flannel pjs, sheets, t-shirts to use as cleaning rags.

I recently cut up a pair of old flannel pajamas because they didn't fit anymore. Flannel is super soft, absorbent and washable. These make great rags for emergency clean up of spills and can do hard time for heavy duty scrubbing.

There is a year end Japanese tradition called oosoji "which means extensive cleaning." These rags are going to be used for my very own oosoji!

Reuse, Recycle: New towels and sheets donning your racks and beds? Donate old sheets, towels, bathmats and the like to animal shelters. Often, the budget for the care of such places does not cover luxuries like cage liners and comfy blankets. Check with your local shelters for details or check this website.

Reuse: Got a gift basket of new fancy soaps, shampoo and body wash? If you have older full bottles, they can often be donate to local homeless shelters. However, your partial used soaps can be donated too! Clean the World accepts used soaps and such, clean and distribute it to "impoverished people, prevent the millions of deaths caused by hygiene-related illnesses every day." YOUR new gift could mean someone's clean hands!

Reduce: Kids got too many toys? They don't even play with all the plays they have? Research a local nursery school that might need a new load of play things, or may know a family that could use some new ones too.

This is *just a few* suggestions of how to reduce, recycle or reuse the waste from our festive celebrations. Also, don't forget the artists!! Pretty much everything I've listed here could be an art supply. Check with your local art center to get rid of some them!

How do you reduce waste? Add a comment to this blog post or leave one on the link on the Jen-A-Fusion Facebook page and pass along some knowledge to others!

The most happiest of holidays to you and yours! ~Jen

Black Friday at The Workhouse Arts Center

2011-11-21T21:07:00.001-05:00

On Friday, November 25, as you are waking up out of your turkey stupor, and not sure what to do with your out of town relatives, plan a day of relaxing among beautiful artwork, instead of driving around parking lots for hours and standing in long lines, just to purchase hum drum gifts.

Come to The Workhouse Arts Center for a full day of shopping. Artists will be on hand to talk about their work and assist in selections. Drinks and light snacks will be available for purchase. There are family friendly activities as well, so everyone is invited!

We have a variety of activities for the whole family. The fun starts in my building, #9, at 9am! We open a full two hours earlier than the rest of the complex for the early birds out there. Then move a few doors down to the Glass Hot Shop for demonstrations. There will be an all day food drive in Building 4, as well as pictures with Santa from 11am-3pm in Building 3. The wonderful day will end at with a tree lighting ceremony at 5pm in the quad, followed by the opening reception for The Art of Fiber exhibit in Building 16.

The complete list is on The Workhouse website. PLUS, I'm sure there will be some impromptu surprises that will pop up. Come early and stay all day!

Hope to see you there! ~Jen

Green Tip~ Rent a Christmas Tree!

Sadly, most of the folks reading this will not be able to do that. Like many great eco ideas, this one started on the 'left coast'. Companies in the Portland, OR and San Francisco areas can rent potted christmas trees, only for the length of the season. They are no cut down to die, nor made from petroleum based plastics. Perhaps by this time next year, someone in your area will be offering this service!

OR, you could make your own recycled christmas tree, like this one by artist Hadas Itzcovitch, installed in the city of Haifa, Israel.

Click here to learn more about this tree.

Happy Holidays to all!

November Artist of the Month~ Lauren Beacham, jerseymaids

2011-11-02T09:10:00.001-04:00

With all that is going on in the world economy today, it is so *great* to see someone who can step out of a comfortable spot in life and follow their (he)art in a full time business. Lauren Beacham is a craftsperson who focuses on items made from the images of her Polaroid photography. This creates a truly unique look as no one else will have these photographs. Earlier this year, she made the huge step to focus on her craft full time.

Read on to find out what other life decision has been shaping her product line.

Q~ How did you get started?

A~ I got started on my first piece of functional art when I went on a fruitless search for Polaroid jewelry, coming up empty handed. With that disappointment, I decided to make my own using my Polaroids on shrink plastic and they were adorable! I got so many compliments, gave a number of them as gifts and I finally realized I could probably try selling them. What would it hurt? So the jerseymaids shop on Etsy was born in July 2007. Since then, it's been quite an adventure.

Q~ Do you have any special training or education?

A~ I have a bachelor's degree in photography and computer imaging.

Q~ Do you have a favorite material, medium or substrate you love to work with?

A~ Being a photographer at heart, Polaroid film is my number one favorite tool to use and it's the film I use exclusively in all of my public work. The medium produces a nostalgic dream-like world that has always captivated me. Merging these images with vintage and antique inspired materials, such as jewelry, results in a very fun and easily enjoyable line of products.

Q~ Why do you continue?

A~ For the sheer love of it and the knowledge that I would not function as a normal human being if I didn't. That love and drive has also brought me to a point in my life and business where I was able to leave my job and focus on my art as my entire livelihood.

Q~ What is a greatest success story?

A~ For me, thus far, my greatest success was coming to the realization that I could do this for a living. The preparation time was stressful and full of doubt. When I finally made the plunge in July of 2011, it has been nothing but an uphill journey since. Knowing I can pay the bills, put food on the table and still have some left over based on my hard work is the most gratifying feeling in the world. And I got here on my own terms - without depending on anyone else.

Q~ Where are you based?

A~ I'm in the DC metro area, Frederick Maryland to be exact.

Q~ Where would you live if you could live anywhere?

A~ I actually really love where I live right now. It's a big city with a small town feel and a great community - particularly in the arts. It has everything we need and love - great food, good friends, easy access to DC, Baltimore and family. So, right now, I can honestly say I don't have an enormous desire to LIVE anywhere else. Although I am dying to go spend a bout of time in Italy.

Q~ What would you be doing if not this?

A~ If not doing this, I would probably continue down the career path I began on - in the gallery directing and curating line of work. Right out of college I had the good fortune to be hired as a gallery director in a great place in Frederick (which is what brought me here in the first place.) Without being given the opportunity and gaining the experience I did, I really believe I would not have been nearly as successful as I have been. Seeing the world of art from a business perspective, while maybe a harsh awakening to the starry eyed art student, was a very important bundle of knowledge I needed to have in order to succeed.

Q~ What is next?

A~ Next? Well...as jerseymaids, I'm extremely excited about the holidays. This is the first year I've offered personalized items in my shop and think they will be a booming success this holiday season. My wedding line has been a great new success for me this year, so I plan on giving that more attention in the coming months. I also hope to push myself outside the box for shows in 2012, trying new things I had not thought of before.

For me personally, I just got engaged! So the new year will also be full of lots of wedding planning, crafting parties, and getting ready to share the rest of my life with the man I love. All very happy and exciting things :)

Contact Lauren on the following websites:

Website: www.laurenbeacham.com

Shop: www.jerseymaidshop.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/jerseymaids

Blog: www.laurenbeacham.com/blog

Twitter: www.twitter.com/jerseymaids

Email: lauren@laurenbeacham.com

Now that you know more, and since you just *have* to order something, Lauren is offering 15% off for the month of November on everything. Order through her Etsy shop and use the coupon code “happyholidays”, valid only November 1-30. Personalized, handcrafted jewelry? Who wouldn’t want that!

Isn’t it curious that Lauren’s wedding line just happened to be popular the year she gets engaged? Perhaps in a few years, the baby picture items will be taking off!

There has been an image flying around online lately:

While we all can’t help but shop at a few ‘big box’ stores, this holiday season, perhaps we can also try to frequent some smaller stores and boutiques, support artists and local businesses. Look around your neighborhood, where you live and work. Has a new business opened recently? This holiday season will be of the utmost importance for them. Help make the business solvent by supporting them in your shopping decisions.

I’ve already started my shopping by getting some earrings from Lauren, as well as a custom made book from Sande’s Handmade Books, some bath products from Interlaken Soak Company and soap from the Bunny Butt Apothecary. I love giving special, hand crafted items to people I love, as I think those things are more personal and endearing.

Buying from local craftspeople and business helps keeps your dollars local, where it matters most!

Happy shopping! ~Jen

Green Tip~ Save time and money at crafts shows this holiday season
There is probably a school or synagogue or community center in your neighborhood that is having a craft show or holiday bazaar in the next few months. In shopping there, you are supporting the crafters, that organization and the community at large. Save time and money with one stop shopping, instead of driving all around town!

October Artist of the Month~ Nancy Nelson

2011-09-30T10:27:00.002-04:00

From the earliest cave paintings in Chauvet-Pont-d'Arc, to Monet's water lilies, to modern ambient music, artists and designers have always been inspired by nature. Artist of the Month, Nancy Nelson, is one of those whose work so closely mimics nature's bounty that she uses cast twigs and branches in her work. After living in the metro DC, Nancy and her husband, (also her high school sweetheart), moved to the idealic countryside. This allowed Nancy to be surrounded by the things that she loves and inspires her: nature and her growing family.

One can see how these both influence her work. "Rain Drops" is a necklace with sparkling gemstones suspended from a rustic silver twig. "My Lovely Photo" is a tiny framed photo of a cherished one, strung on a delicate chain. "Lichen Earrings" are literally the lichen off an oak tree that has been cast in copper. Her whole catalog is like a walk through the forest on a crisp fall day. Likewise, this work is as timeless as the natural items it is inspired by.

Like her jewelry, Nancy is simply elegant and just purely sweet. Over the years that I've known Nancy and her husband, they are still some of the nicest people I've had the luck to spend a show next to. I've fallen more in love with her work as I've seen it develop. I have at least a handful of things on my christmas list, just from writing this blog post!

Read on to find out more about how Nancy balances nurturing two young girls *and* a growing business.

Q~ How did you get started?

A~ Well, besides for the yearning desire to become my own boss? My husband’s job transferred us to West Virginia. Due to this move, I was able to become a full time mom while trying to grow the business.

Q~ Do you have any special training or education?

A~ While obtaining my BFA in Industrial Design, I enrolled in a metalsmithing class. I was soon hooked and took as many classes I could before I graduated.

Q~ Do you have a favorite material, medium or substrate you love to work with?

A~ METAL. I mostly work in Sterling Silver but I have been exploring more with copper due to the rising costs of Silver and Gold.

Q~Why do you continue?

A~ That’s easy. Family, Passion & the Challenge.

Q~ What is a great(or greatest) success story?

A~ I like to think that success is measured in happiness. In those terms, I feel very successful. But, I guess my greatest business success story came recently when Anthropologie and Uncommon Goods both placed orders within the same week. Getting my jewelry into Antropologie has been my dream since I started the business.

Between building a new house and having two small children, my business always took a backseat. I vowed that 2011 would be the year I grow the business, or shall I say, “branch out”. These two orders validated that my hard work, dedication, a little luck & all the dreaming were paying off. :) However, every purchase no matter how small, large, online or in person is very special to me. It reassures me that people do like my product and I can turn my passion in to my lifelong career. I give thanks daily and never take anything for granted.

Q~What is one of your greatest failures?

A~ There have been many but I have learned so much from each one.

“A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new.” Albert Einstein

Q~Where do you get your inspiration?

A~ The beauty that surrounds us --from the handpicked twig from my backyard to the laughter and curiosity of my children. I find inspiration to be everywhere if you choose to notice.

Q~Why do you make/create what you do?

A~ It is like breathing to me. I can’t image doing anything more natural than working with my hands and design.

Q~What is one thing you love about your business?

A~ That I am in totally control of my schedule. I can sleep in with my children, which usually never happens. We can stay in our pajamas all morning if we want. I can turn it all off and just spend time with my family and work when all is quiet and calm.

Q~What is next?

A~ Who knows, but I would like to think I will be creating jewelry long into my 80’s. I would like to get involved in more charity work and giving back to my community. :I have teamed up with Caitlin's Smiles, a non-profit organization and will be designing a tribute necklace within the next month of two. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to help put smiles and laughter on children facing chronic or life threatening illnesses.

Q~ Glass half full or half empty?

A~ Half Full!

You can check out Nancy's *wonderful* website at www.nancynelsonjewelry.com. There is a full catalog of jewelry, as well as a list of store that carry her work.

Nancy Nelson Jewelry can also be found on facebook and twitter.

AND, you can meet Nancy in person and see her lovely designs for yourself. This weekend, she will be at:

Art on the Avenue Arts & Music Festival
October 1st
Mt. Vernon Ave. in Del Ray
Alexandria, VA
Booth # W131

Along with Nancy, there will be about 300 other artists, designers and craftspeople over taking MY neighborhood of Del Ray! There are kids games, a pie making contest, doddie treats, handcrafted custard, fresh brewed coffee, lots of local music and perhaps you?

I will be in spot W53, between E. Custis and Windsor. Check out the official Art on the Avenue website for information about taking metro, the festival map and music schedule. See you there! ~Jen

Block Party at the Workhouse TODAY!

2011-09-03T09:26:00.002-04:00

August Artist of the Month~ Sahabo (Crazy Good Books)

2011-08-03T12:52:00.009-04:00

If it is not quite obvious by now, then I'll say it again: I like when artists, designers and major corporations make products out of recycled materials. I love it when they do it well. That was the first and foremost thing I noticed about the Sahabo books when I first met Sande Edwards~ how well designed and made her books are. The idea behind the album books is awesome (records into books) and she does it so very well. It is clear to anyone that there was a lot of time and thought put into them, and the result is one great product.

I also love that Sande has taken her designer's mind and eye to book making and has come up with very inventive pieces, such as the Polaroid photo album. And, the mini books? My heart swoons!

Read on to learn Sande's friend making tips~

Q~How did you get started?

A~My books began out of curiosity. I had a class assignment in college that required us to bind the information we were gathering into book form. We could choose how we bound it, whether professionally or by hand, so I starting researching all manner of book binding. I found the Coptic Stitch by accident but found that I couldn't use the technique for that particular project. I really wanted to learn the technique so once classes were out I started teaching myself the coptic stitch over the summer of 2010.

Q~ Do you have any special training or education?

A~I have a photography degree and design degrees from Northern Virginia Community College but I taught myself the coptic stitch through various videos and online tutorials. I have added most of my resources to my website so others can teach themselves as well. http://sahabo.com/videos

Q~ Do you have a favorite material, medium or substrate you love to work with?

A~I would say the vinyl records are by far the best material I have used to make books. I want to eventually use wooden boards, plexi glass, and grass/woven materials.

Q~Why do you continue?

A~I find the process very cathartic. After classes or work, it is the best method for me to release any pent up stress I may have accrued during the day.

Q~What is a great(or greatest) success story?

A~I have had some fairly large bulk orders of late: 10 Recycled Vinyl Record Journals to Canada and an Austrian Polaroid store bought 10 of my Polaroid photo albums

Q~ What is one of your greatest failures?

A~ “There are no failures - just experiences and your reactions to them.” Tom Krause

Q~ Where do you get your inspiration?

A~ Each book represent how I may feel at the time. I could be moody and create a rain journal or really happy and excited and make a bright and pretty journal with buttons. It really comes down to my mood at the time.

Q~Why do you make/create what you do?

A~I love to create and always have. I am just so glad I have happened upon a skill that really helps be express my artist abilities.

Q~ Where is your favorite place to sell? Or Favorite show?

A~ I just started doing craft shows at the end of last year, right before Christmas. One was really great and had my head dizzy with excitement but the second one was completely disappointing without a single sale. So when I went into 2011's craft season I had several shows on my calendar and a lot of doubts on my mind. I'm still in learning mode when it comes to working with the public and trying to sell myself and my goods to them.

I started on Etsy like so many others trying to sell their handmade items and have been fairly successful but I have also created a website tailored specifically to the books, the process, and myself and to separate my product form the others.

Q~ What is one thing you love about your business?

A~ I love coming home from my day job and sitting down to create a very special gift for someone out there in the world. If it's not a custom order I get to imagine any kind of person and design a book around that, giving the book a personality of its own.

Q~ What is one thing you loathe?

A~ There's a saying I often hear in a variety of situations: When it rains it pours! I can go over a week without a single order and really need the money to buy some sort of supply item. Then, all of the sudden, I will get 10 custom orders in at once and then have a show the next day and still have to work my regular job! I love the business but hate the stress!

Q~ What is your dream about your art?

A~ Of course I would love to one day make a living from making and selling books and book arts. To get up each morning and eat, breathe, and taste book making would be ideal.

Q~ If you could have any superpower, what would it be?

A~ Well, completely unrelated to any of this but I've always wanted to fly! I have dreams of flying but it's actually more like swimming in the air haha.

Q~ Where are you based?

A~ I am currently in South Arlington in Northern Virginia. But originally my longtime boyfriend and I are from Atlanta GA.

Q~ Where would you live if you could live anywhere?

A~ I really want to move to San Francisco CA. Though I've never been, in my mind it is the quintessential location based on weather and people personality.

Q~ What would you be doing if not this?

A~ During the day I am a graphic designer and I'm sure I would fill my time and my portfolio with freelance work.

Q~ What is next?

A~ I have no idea!

Q~ Glass half full or half empty?

A~ I wake up to a full glass and go to bed with a full belly after draining it.

Q~ What is your favorite question to ask people?

A~ What do you do? People love to talk about themselves and it makes it that much easier in social situations to learn about people and make friends!

Q~ What is the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow?

A~ Ni!

Contact info:
WEB: www.sahabo.com
FB: http://on.fb.me/fQegaG
Tumblr: http://sahabo.tumblr.com
Flickr: http://bit.ly/px6DuO
email: sande@sahabo.com

Upcoming shows:
Small local shows:
Alexandria Art Market Saturday Aug 6th (Del Ray Neighborhood, Alexandria VA)
Fenton Street Market Saturday August 20th (Silver Spring MD)

Next Big Show:
Art on the Avenue Saturday Oct 1st (Del Ray Neighborhood, Alexandria VA)
Stay up-to-date with the Sahabo calendar!
http://sahabo.com/calendar

Green Tip~ Buy someone a Sahabo book as a gift!

Sande has a whole list of albums that she can make into books. Start your holiday shopping for all those hard to please family members by ordering today! The brother in law that hates everything but loves Foreigner? Done! Grandma who has everything, but loves pictures of her pekingese? Done! Dad who is obsessed with My Fair Lady? Already made (see above). Don't delay, supplies limited* and artist overworked.

*Titles, books and bad 80s bands are used for advertising and art frenzy inducing only and do not indicate the actual stock available for purchase. Void where prohibited by people who aren't cool.

Happy August! ~Jen

Fun Finds at Artscape!

2011-07-21T17:18:00.007-04:00

(Wiping sweat from brow)

Although it was a wonderful show, like always, I am glad it is over, before we got back into the 100s! (120 with the heat index, right now) It was great to see old friends and make some new ones. Being in the DIY section, I get a front seat to artists and designers that have some very cool stuff. Sadly, I did not get a chance to walk around this year, so really, my Artscape world was just the DIY section. However, I got a few cool things I'd like to share.

Made With Awesome

There are a ton of t-shirt designers and makers out there and I get to see a lot of them at shows. I decided to treat myself to a new t-shirt, because the one I had brought was going to be too heavy for the heat of the day. Made With Awesome was a brand I hadn't run across before. I thought their witty sayings and cute designs were something I could get into. I got right into The Bookworm's Haven.

Not only did the color match the capris I was going to wear, but I thought Little Mr. Worm was quite dashing. However, I might give him some headphones and make it The Audiobook Worm's Haven....

A.W.E. Jewelry

Deb was the Artist of the Month in December 2010 and I have been eying a few pieces for a long time. Deb and I don't cross paths as much as I would like, so I took advantage of seeing her to get a treat for myself.

As many of you know, I love circles. So, I felt I just had to get these very simple, very cute earrings. I've already been wearing the heck out of them, and I have a feeling they will be my go to earrings for the rest of the summer.

Bunny Butt Apothecary

My neighbor, Scott, was probably the most consummate professional I've ever met doing a market. He was polite, upbeat and patient. He stood almost the whole time, in jeans, while I was glued to my fan. He and his partner make and sell body products, mostly soap, under the guise of Bunny Butt Apothecary. Don't worry, they don't actually take it too seriously, their tag line is "serving half-assed hippies since the early 21st century."

Not only was I impressed by Scott's work ethic, but by their products too. The essential oils they use are clean and fresh. I already cracked open the coconut lemongrass lip balm. Feels like silk on, and makes me crave Thai food! Yum!

I did my annual christmas soap buying from Bunny Butt, and can't wait to give these goodies out! My only regret is I didn't buy from him earlier in the weekend and he was very low on inventory. Guess I'll just have to buy online...

Mal's Pals

Mallory Steele's hand felted creatures are very unique and colorful, things I like a lot. She takes fresh off the sheep, dirty and gross raw wool. She cleans it, cards it, dyes it and *then* hand felts it into her pals. I knew I had to take a new friend home with me. I have a collection of small things. It almost doesn't matter what those things are, they just have to be miniture versions of it. While I do have toys and doll house accessories, I have ceramic vases and hand crafted plushies. I am always on the look out to add to my collection.

I felt this picture did my new pal justice, as you can see how tiny it is! I'm in love with it and need a name. Any suggestions? :)

Well, that is my own re-cap of Artscape. While I did see crazy people dancing in 80s costumes, eat some yummy fries and have an adventure getting lost in Baltimore, these treasures I took home with me were by far the highlights of the whole weekend!

Stay cool out there! ~Jen

Artscape This Weekend!

2011-07-14T19:06:00.004-04:00

Please join Jen-A-Fusion, nearly 200 exhibitors and about 350,000 other people this weekend at Artscape, in the charming city of Baltimore. This is the nation's largest free arts festival and truly lives up to the LARGE part. Full of crafters, musicians, dancers, food vendors and so much more, this event showcases the arts in all it's forms. For three full days, several city streets are taken over. This year, the festival is celebrating the 30th anniversary with special 1980's themed events.

What: Artscape!

Where: Mt. Royal Avenue, Cathedral Street and Charles Streets

**I will be in the DIY section, space #C34. DIY is on Mt Royal Avenue, between Maryland and Charles Streets.

When:
Friday, July 15, noon-10pm
Saturday, July 16, noon-10pm
Sunday, July 17, noon-8pm

Who: So many cool and creative people!

Website: www.artscape.org

Hope to see you there! ~Jen

Green Tip~ Recycle, artistically!

Artscape realizes that with such a gigantic event, with so many vendors and visitors, there is a huge impact on the environment. There have been many great steps made to reduce this impact. For example, recycling bins are located in the food courts, as well as food waste bins. The food vendors collect their cooking grease and it will be turned into biodiesel. There is a bike parking lot too. Check at this page on the Artscape website for more information.

Artist of the Month~The Bumble Bee Studio

2011-07-01T10:01:00.006-04:00

Contrary to people with a bee allergy, bees are a vital part of our environment. They are one of the biggest means that pollinate plants and help continue the reproductive cycle of life. Without them, we might not have enough plant matter at the lower levels of the food chain, effecting the upper levels~ us!

This article in the Guardian suggests some great ideas for encouraging and living a peaceful coexistence with bees, but it *does not* include buying a variety of items made from bees, other than honey. Beeswax is a non toxic, vastly renewable material that does not add to the use of more petroleum. There is a gigantic array of goods available, such as crayons, candles, furniture polish and all the great body products Julie Diers, our Artist of the Month makes. Purchasing these products supports these artisans, and encourages the art of bee keeping and thus is beneficial to our environment.

One thing I personally love about Julie's products is the thought and energy she puts into the packaging and merchandising of her items. The first time I met her, I was very impressed at the display she created. I truly felt like I was in a mini spa boutique. That luxurious feeling continues when you bring the goods home...

Read on to find out more about how you can bee beautiful and eco friendly at the same time!

Q~How did you get started?

A~Once i realized what was missing from my life was creating....as I had given it up slowly over time: stopped cooking, sewing, painting, designing....my martha-ness was dying off. My true ability is making things beautiful.....I am detail oriented, oh SURE, some say OCD....I say perfectionist – tomato tomotoe~~!

Once I started up again, my satisfaction with life improved...I was using my creative juices again. I found ME again. After that, bath & body just kind of found
ME....as it was destiny. I now do what I love and love what I do. Life is good. I am where I bee-long~~!

Q~ Do you have any special training or education?

A~None....is that wrong? I just google a lot and beg for secret recipes from those that DO know what they are doing. I have had some epic fails....but, from them I have learned.

Q~ Do you have a favorite material, medium or substrate you love to work with?

A~Lavender....beautiful, balancing, healing lavender.

Q~Why do you continue?

A~I am in it for the money. BIG money. That and to take Burt's Bees DOWN.

Q~What is your greatest success story?

A~My greatest success story is the BEE....it is all mine....it is all me. It is my life's passion. It has grown in leaps & bounds in a short 2 years...that I think is a huge success in & of itself.

Q~What is one of your greatest failures?

A~Ummm...that would be what is known as the “bubble bath debacle”~~! FAIL.

Q~Where do you get your inspiration?

A~From nature....I surround myself with it....from the beautiful place that I live, which is an 1800's cottage on a horse farm in the rolling hills of the Shenandoah Valley, to incorporating it into all that I create: using fresh botanicals, pure essential oils, fruit & nut oils & butters....nature's ingredients are what make the BEE the best BEE.

Q~Why do you make/create what you do?

A~It is what keeps me alive & well. Happy. Balanced...well, that may be pushing it a weeee bit. (=

Q~Where is your favorite place to sell? Or Favorite show?

A~My favorite place has to be the Goodstone Inn & Estate. Divine establishment that I can happily call the newest client of the BEE.

Q~What is one thing you love about your business?

A~That I can work at it 24/7 and not get sick of it. That I can live, eat & breathe it and still want more. I love that it makes people HAPPY....that I can teach them the benefits of lavender and the beautiful natural ingredients I use in my products. These are meant to pamper, soothe, heal and protect their skin and restore, relax and renew their mind, body and spirit.

Q~What is one thing you loathe?

A~hummm....I loathe the elements that take a toll on ME and my products at outdoor shows~~! But, as a starving artist....you do what you must, and until I grow into a big bee...I must~~!

Q~What is your dream about your art?

A~My dream is to do well enough at it to comfortably make a living doing it....and that along the way I can continue to teach others what I know to be true of the benefits of lavender and of good skin care regimens... preferably mine....buzzzz~~!

Q~ If you could have any superpower, what would it be?

A~To stop TIME so I can catch UP. I need to list to organize my to do lists~~!

Q~Where are you based?

A~The beautiful area of Millwood, Virginia

Q~Where would you live if you could live anywhere?

A~On a lavender farm in Washington State. Pure bliss.

Q~What would you be doing if not this?

A~THIS is my life and I could not begin to imagine doing anything else. Unless it was being a multi-millionaire and living LARGE.

Q~What is next?

A~Becoming a self-made multi-millionaire and living LARGE.

Q~ Glass half full or half empty?

A~Depends on my hormonal out-of-balanceness....could change within any given second. Right now it is pretty full....but give me a minute or two. What IS life without drama~??

Q~What is your favorite question to ask people?

A~My favorite q= “that is enough about me, what do YOU think about me”~?? still cracks me up.

Q~ What is the airspeed velocity of an unladen sparrow?

A~Quote fail? i think you mean swallow...and that depends if it is an
african or european swallow~~!! come on jen....quoting monty python
incorrectly is sacrilegious~~OR you tried to pull a fast one on the
Queen Bee~~! Tisk tisk.

**AUTHOR'S NOTE** Julie is RIGHT! It was more of a misspell than a misquote, but *no one* has seemed to have caught it and *told me* before. Kudos to Julie! She's one smart bee!

You can meet her in person this coming Sunday, July 3rd in Annapolis, MD at the First Sunday Arts Festival.

You can find more shows and products on the following sites:

Twitter: twitter.com/thebumblebee
Facebook: www.facebook.com/JulieDiers

Blog: thebumblebeestudio.blogspot.com
Website: www.thebumblebeestudio.com
Etsy: www.thebumblebeestudio.etsy.com

Bee happy and have a great 4th of July! ~Jen

This week at Studio 912

2011-06-20T12:34:00.004-04:00

This month has literally flown by! I can barely believe I've been at The Workhouse for nearly three weeks. Moving, cleaning, organizing and *finally*, working has taken a lot of time and energy. I got busy over the weekend, though, and made some new purses in a colorway called Orange Crush, which is *bright* orange.

In cleaning out some fabric and trying to get a handle on what I own(HA!), I've found some very nice stuff that I totally forgot about. More fun purses and the like to come!

For this week, I plan to be at the Workhouse the follow hours:

Wednesday, June 22 11-2pm
Thursday, June 23 11am-7pm
Friday, June 24 11am-2pm
Saturday, June 25 11am-7pm
Sunday, June 26 noon-5pm

*The days I will be leaving at 2pm, you can still drop by and see Studio 912, but I just won't be there!

Also, some EXCITING NEWS! Two of my favorite festivals have accepted me back this year! Artscape and Arts on Foot are similar in that they embrace all arts forms- craft, dance, music, culinary and much more. However, you have to wait until September to see me at Arts on Foot in DC. You can come see me at Artscape next month in Baltimore. It will sure be HOT, FUN and FREAKY. You never know want might happen there! :) Looking forward to both.

The 411 on Artscape:

What: Artscape
America's largest free arts festival, attracting 350,000+ attendees over three days. Artscape features 150+ fine artists, fashion designers and craftspeople; visual art exhibits on and off-site.

When:
Friday, July 15 noon-10pm
Saturday, July 16 noon-10pm
Sunday, July 17 noon- 8pm

Where: DIY@Artscape, Space # C34
Mount Royal Avenue & Charles Street
Baltimore, Maryland

Website: www.artscape.org

Ok, now, off to make some great purses, hats and laptop bags for Artscape!

Keep cool out there~Jen

June Artist of the Month~ Fast Snail

2011-06-07T21:55:00.014-04:00

Moms are magic and yours sounds extra wonderful. ~Liz Hutcheson

My mom *is* pretty wonderful. She is intelligent, passionate about history and books, has an insatiable thirst for trivial facts and loves to go explore. Like many mothers, she is a big supporter of her daughters and encourages them to push their boundaries. I have learned a lot from my mom over the years, least of which is to gain insight from mistakes and move forward.

When I went on a study aboard in the Fall of 2003, my mother decided to come and visit. As she had never been to Europe, we wanted to make the most of the time. I was living in London, which acted as a great springboard to many cities on the continent. Both being art lovers, we dreamed of going to the Louvre, and thus, did a long weekend in Paris.

When we arrived, my mom wanted to walk from our hotel to the Eiffel Tower. As I had done that once with friends, I knew the seemingly short distance was deceiving. However, we wanted to see the city, so decided to do the walk. Buildings loomed in the way as we got closer and closer to the famed edifice and we were unable to even glance a peak of it.

I knew we were getting close to it, but I wanted to surprise my mom. As we passed a building, she looked to her left, and I looked toward her. She stopped short and gasped, raising her hands to her face. "OH!," she said, with the delight of a child on christmas morning. I knew it was right there, but I was glad I was looking at the joy on her face, rather than at the tower.

Our trip to Paris was a wonderful time, where we explored an enchanting city together. It was the beginning of annual international trips for her and I was glad to be a part of infancy of her love of foreign travel.

Based on this trip, Paris in general, and the Eiffel Tower in particular, became a special bond between the two of us. Her birthday was last week, and I wanted to do something special for her.

Last Christmas, I got a set of Honey Tower notecards for my mom, who not only loves the tower, but bee motifs at large. It was the prefect combination of both things. And, I was right, mom said it was one of her favorite gifts, and I could stock her up with more cards anytime. However, she went one step further than that herself: she went on the Fast Snail website and ordered more right away!

Recently, I approached Liz Hutcheson, the creative force behind Fast Snail, to do something a little special. As I get the gift of gab from my mom, she needed a slightly bigger card to write on. I also thought she would like a personalized card with her name.

Liz was *wonderful* to work with, so very agreeable to the request. I love having a relationship with an artist, that I can work on a little project on with. I just knew my mom would be pleased, and I was so happy Liz could help me surprise her.

And, mom was very happily surprised! She said she couldn't wait to use the custom made cards.

Read on to find out how Liz comes up with her ideas and what she thinks about her ultimate inspiration, the Snail!

Q~How did you get started?

A~ I have been drawing and creating all kinds of things for as long as I can remember. My mother was an artist, so I guess that it is in my genes.

Q~ Do you have any special training or education?

A~ I majored in French and minored in Studio Art in college. Since then, I’ve taken classes at the Corcoran School of Art in drawing, oil and watercolor painting, and digital art.

Q~ Do you have a favorite material, medium or substrate you love to work with?

A~ A nice inky black pen on white drawing paper is heaven! I also love to work with watercolor, pastel, pencil, and oils.

Q~Why do you continue?

A~ I continue because it makes me happy and, when all the planets line up, my artwork can make other people happy too. Seeing people smile or have a look of recognition as they look at my work makes my day.

Q~What is a great success story?

A~ My Washington, DC and Eiffel Tower images. The Washington Monument Birthday card is probably the most popular card in my line. And I love to dream up new guises for these famous buildings.

Q~What is one of your greatest failures?

A~Not paying attention when I am cooking/baking. Those pesky measurements need to be so exact.

Q~Where do you get your inspiration?

A~ While no one would call me outdoorsy, I am inspired by Mother Nature (trees, clouds, the night sky, birds, squirrels, bugs, and other creatures great and small). Other sources of inspiration include interesting people I meet or observe, things I’ve read, proverbs, French language and culture, kindness, and silliness. I am also inspired by old things with some history –- like me!

Q~ Why do you make/create what you do?

A~ I like to make things that people can use to communicate with the family/friends/colleagues in their lives, whether it is remembering their birthday and other milestones with a great card, or sending them a great gift or special note.

My images tend to fall into a few broad categories. I draw my alter ego, the Fast Snail®, because I always have. We chug along and try to keep smiling through it all, rain or shine. I’ve found that there are many other people there who can relate to the Snail. Go Team Snail!

As an incurable Francophile and language nerd, j’adore creating French-inspired images. The bonus with these designs is that I get to have a blast hearing about my customers connections to France and the Eiffel Tower in particular.

Since I’ve lived and worked in Washington, D.C. area for many years, doing designs based on the monuments and the flag of the District of Columbia is a natural. People have so many interesting stories to tell about their ties to the area. It is also fun to have a reason to brush up my on American history.

I call another design group my “mixed nuts.” These images feature silly and whimsical creatures and scenarios from imagination. Reality is highly overrated as they say!

Q~ Where is your favorite place to sell? Or Favorite show?

A~ I like to sell in the D.C. metro area because there is such a diverse group of people here. I don’t have a favorite show per se, but have been lucky to do Art on the Avenue, the Ballston Arts & Crafts Market, Clifton Day, the Fairfax Holiday Craft Show, and the McLean Holiday Crafts Show in the past few years. Each show has a different personality and that makes it even more fun.

Q~ What is one thing you love about your business?

A~ I love being able to share my art with others.

Q~ What is one thing you loathe?

A~ Thoughtlessness makes me bananas.

Q~ What is your dream about your art?

A~ When I started my business, I said that my goal was global domination. Five years in, I’ve revised that a little to getting to where I can spend more time creating art and getting it out to a larger audience.

Q~ If you could have any superpower, what would it be?

A~ I'm going to go with flying. That way I could travel more and not have to go through airport security or pay baggage fees.

Q~ Where are you based?

A~ Arlington, Virginia

Q~ Where would you live if you could live anywhere?

A~ Any beach or island. Paris or the South of France would work too.

Q~ What would you be doing if not this?

A~ Maybe a yoga teacher or a plumber or a yoga-teaching plumber. I like to fix things and hanging out in hardware stores. And I could do either anywhere in the world.

Q~ What is next?

A~ Infinity and beyond! Seriously, I hope to expand my distribution area and continue to work with clients to create cool new products or designs to fit their needs. The latter keeps things fun and interesting.

Q~ Glass half full or half empty?

A~ Half full by all means!

Q~ What is your favorite question to ask people?

A~ What they would like to be when they grow up.

Q~ What is your answer to that question?

A~ An artist who does yoga on the beach who can make other people laugh and bake a decent cake from scratch.

Q~ What is the airspeed velocity of an unladen sparrow?

A~ I’m pretty sure that it is twice the square root of the area of a Fast Snail’s shell, but let me double check with accounting and get back to you …

Contact info:

Liz Hutcheson
Owner & Designer
Fast Snail LLC
Creative Greetings & Design
Arlington, VA

Website: www.fastsnail.com

Email: info@fastsnail.com

Facebook: Fast Snail

Upcoming shows:

Ballston Art & Crafts Market: June 11, July 9, September 10

Hope this got you thinking about special, artist created gifts what you could give to loved ones. This time of year is all about graduations, weddings, baby showers and birthdays.

THIS COMING SATURDAY: Come to the 2nd Saturday Art Walk at the Workhouse Arts Center and meet with artists, in their work spaces, and see what they can do for gift needs. It will be the official Grand Opening of my new studio there. Stop by and say hi! ~Jen

Workhouse Arts Center
9601 Ox Road
Lorton, VA

**I am in Building 9, Studio 912**

Green Tip~ Farmers' Markets

There is a lot of talk about 'organic' foods lately. In general, they are better for you and the environment, not being grown or created with pesticide and toxins. Many large companies pay a lot of money to get certified by different eco-organizations. On the flip side, smaller 'mom and pop' operations can not afford to go through this process and so can not advertise themselves as organic. However, most are. They feel better about not exposing themselves and their customers to these chemicals and find the produce is better without them. While at the farmers' markets, talk to the vendors about their operations and find out if the farm naturally. Better than a seal on a label any day!

Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes!

2011-05-25T21:45:00.004-04:00

Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton

Wonderfully great, exciting and completely scary news: Jen-A-Fusion Fashion Accessories will be moving into a studio at the Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton, VA!

In case you have never been or are not familiar with the Workhouse, it is an historic reformatory that has been redeveloped into artist studios. Current construction is focused on a theater and future project include artists' residences. Right now, there are about 8 buildings of studios, galleries, classrooms and retail space open. Every media is represented and ceramics and glass have dedicated buildings. A visitor is able to talk with a creator about their craft, see pieces being worked on and even purchase art directly.

For me, this means a HUGE leap into the next phase of my business. I'll be moving away from doing as many shows and markets as I have been doing. However, it will be a place that I will have a more set schedule in order to be available to customers. Clients can come by and see what I am working on, get a sneak peak on future products and shop outside of regular markets~ rain or shine!

I will be updating my information on this blog and my facebook page after I actually move into my new studio, in mid June. Please keep an eye out for the updates.

A GIGANTIC thank you to all the folks that have supported and helped me over the last 6 years of business! There is no way I would have been able to do this without all of you! ~Jen

May Artist of the Month~ Tarabu

2011-05-03T15:22:00.007-04:00

Contrary to employing some quilting techniques, I do not consider myself a quilter. I do not make actual, full size quilts. Recently, I've had some experience with helping people with quilts. This has lead me to realize I really do not want to become a quilter AND to have a greater appreciation for those that are.

Quilts, in general, have a major role recording history. There is a broader perspective of chronically women's work throughout ages that did not deem such talents notable, or other otherwise recordable. For example, there has been much study done into the use of quilts as 'road markers' to the travelers on the Underground Railroad. These pieces were used to give warnings, welcome and guidance to people on the arduous path to freedom.

In addition, quilts have acted as status symbols in times when meticulously handcrafted items were considered luxurious. In the Victorian-era, even tiny scraps of silk and velvet were saved from dress making and re-used in crazy quilts. On a more personal level, quilts have become priceless heirlooms that are passed from generation to generation and tell a familial history. To read more about the stories quilts tell, check out this website.

Tarabu's work not only continues some of these traditions, but thrives on it. Her own work is a lovely combination of an educated, yet whimsical nature, cute vintage fabrics and painterly free motion sewing. She does custom work that takes personal artifacts and creates a memorial to that person and their own life. The "Boxer Quilt", below, speaks directly to documenting personal histories.

Read on to find out her own personal philosophies behind her work:

Q~How did you get started?

A~ My mother taught me to sew basic shapes and crochet when I was I child, and I learned to paint in college, but I didn't start to quilt until I got pregnant. It didn't seem terribly appropriate to sniff turpentine and oil paint for two. After my first child I made a photo quilt for faraway grandparents, my husband bought me a new sewing machine and it's been uphill ever since!

Q~Why do you continue?

A~ One of the great benefits of quilting is that I can literally stop in the middle of whatever I'm doing, come back to it, and it will be none the worse for the time. Painting takes a good twenty minutes of cleaning my brushes and putting away my gear every time. With quilting I get all the fun of combining shapes and colors, without the stress of buffer-time.

Q~What is a great(or greatest) success story?

A~ The underpants quilt! A friend had novelty boxer shorts the way some men have novelty ties. Boxer shorts that he had been saving for years with the belief that they would turn into a quilt one day. When his wife (a gifted scientist who thinks he's barmy sometimes) and his daughter (who, at eleven, is entitled to believe her father's nuts) both balked at the idea of turn Popeye and various cartoon critters into a quilt, he came to me. What started as a few decades of novelty fabric became a queen-sized quilt.

For me it was huge, the learning curve of making jersey knits and tightly woven shirting play nice together, not to mention asking all those colors to speak to each other was quite an achievement.

Q~What is one of your greatest failures?

A~You mean I have to pick one? Out of that great big closet full of UFO's (*Un-Finished Objects, for the non-crafty types).

Q~Where do you get your inspiration?

A~ 10th-grade geometry. I wish I could say it was nature or the sunset or something poetic, but mostly I start with a cool fabric and contemplate how best to pair it with triangles and right angles.

Q~Why do you make/create what you do?

A~I'm addicted.

Q~Where is your favorite place to sell? Or Favorite show?

A~ I like live shows, especially neighborhood festivals, like the Green Man Festival in Greenbelt, MD every May.

Q~What is one thing you love about your business?

A~ Knowing that I create comfort - a quilt is like a long-distance hug. I love knowing that what I make is going to make someone smile and keep them warm.

Q~What is one thing you loathe?

A~ seam-ripping

Q~What is your dream about your art?

A~ That I will be able to do it until I'm too old to walk.

Q~What is your mission?

A~ To create beautiful, functional objects.

Q~Where are you based?

A~ Maryland!

Q~Where would you live if you could live anywhere?

A~ Ireland, preferably the quiet, backwater southwest coast.

Q~What would you be doing if not this?

A~ Painting - preferably ridiculously bright tropical birds and fish; feather by feather and scale by scale

Q~What is next?

A~ Realism - one day I want to translate what I see in the world into two-dimensional pieced fabrics.

Q~What is your favorite question to ask people?

A~ Who made that?

Q~ What is your answer to that question?
A~ Varies

Q~ What is the airspeed velocity of an unladen sparrow?

A~ Not sure, but according to Douglas Adams, the mathematical notation of the curve of the wing can likely be translated into a string sonata that would make a http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifbrave man weep.

You can check out Tarabu's works online at:

www.tarabuarts.blogspot.com

www.tarabu.etsy.com

Or, go get an in person 'fabric hug' at:

THIS WEEKEND: 5/7-8 - Greenbelt Green Man Festival

5/14-15 - Stone Fence Gardens Music Festival

6/11-12 - Columbia Art Park

Take a moment to appreciate someone's handcrafted work today~Jen

Green Tip~ Recycled like it is 1899

Create your own Victorian style crazy quilt! Not all of them were created with expensive silks and imported lace. You can use everyday cotton t shirts, ripped jeans and stained ties. Why not collect used clothing from each member of your family and create memory crazy pillows for Christmas? You have 7 months!

To find more information on how to 'crazy quilt', check out this website that shows step by step directions for creating a block in this style.

April Artist of the Month~ Tina Dean Designs

2011-04-06T23:00:00.008-04:00

Happy April! Happy Spring! Happy Earth Day!

I know, as an allergy sufferer, I don't *love* every minute of spring. However, I do like not having long johns on everyday and being able to go out of the house in a light weight jacket. I like the warm dirty smells and the buzz of insects around. I could do without the birds that wake up at 4am every morning, but I'm learning to deal with them! :)

In honor of Earth Day on Friday, April 22, an eco chick is being spotlighted this month. Tina Dean Designs are a line of crochets items, from totes to hand warmers to coasters, mostly made from upcycled materials. Plastic shopping bags are processed into strips and made into 'plarn', then crocheted into very durable, fashionable, environmentally friendly products. I especially love that they end up looking like a natural fiber basket, such as raffia. These are *prefect* for the farmers markets that will soon be in full swing. And, going to the beach or the pool, or out in the garden... or any number of places!

I am impressed by the creative use of a seemingly useless waste product of shopping- the plastic bags! I can't wait to see what Tina comes up with for cassette tapes!

Q~How did you get started?
A~I learned to crochet from my grandmother when I was a little girl. I've crocheted on and off for years, and after selling a few of my items, decided to go into business.

Q~Why do you continue?
A~I love the creative outlet it gives me. I had never seen myself as creative, but once I got going, I realized that crochet was not only relaxing for me, but my creativity came alive.

Q~What is a great(or greatest) success story?
A~A great success story is of anyone who feels that they accomplished what they wanted to in this life.

Q~What is one of your greatest failures?
A~I owned a women's gym that we had to close due to the economy. Maybe not so much a failure as a learning experience (though it certainly felt like a failure). The knowledge that I cultivated from that experience will serve me well.

Q~Where do you get your inspiration?
A~I've always wondered where I got my inspiration... Crazy as it sounds, I dream of things I want to make. Seriously, though, my inspiration for my plarn (plastic yarn) items came from a good friend who is my 'eco conscience'. She owns the first prototype of my tote bags. Gee, maybe one day it'll be worth a lot of money. LOL (Oh, and I really do dream of things I want to make.)

Q~Why do you make/create what you do?
A~My primary focus is the design and creation of my upcycled totes, purses and clutches. I upcycle plastic bags that are the kind that clog up landfills. The average American family of four uses about 1,460 plastic bags per year. My totes typically use over 100 bags each. Making 12-14 tote bags saves what one family uses per year. It's small, but it's a start. Funny thing is, I'm so in tune with plastic bags now, that I want to stop the car and chase down those bags you see floating down the side of the road! What I do is my small contribution to the planet.

Q~Where is your favorite place to sell? Or Favorite show?
A~So far, I have items on two different selling venues, but am currently putting my energy into getting my own website completed. I am also now focusing on applying to shows, so if anyone out there has tips and suggestions for me, I'm all ears!

Q~What is one thing you love about your business?
A~The joy from seeing someone using an item I've made, and that I can work on a project whenever I feel like it.

Q~What is one thing you loathe?
A~I hate anything with more than two legs that thinks it can live in my house without paying rent. Please note that this does not include standard pets.

Q~What is your dream about your art?
A~That more people will begin to realize how strong and versatile my totes are, and also recognize that, although the plastic bags are free, there is a lot of time and craftsmanship invested to make them into something beautiful and useful.

Q~What is your mission?
A~To save the world... one bag at a time... ;)

Q~Where are you based?
A~Stafford, Virginia

Q~Where would you live if you could live anywhere?
A~Seeing as I'm a military brat, I could pretty much make a home anywhere.

Q~What would you be doing if not this?
A~Trying to figure out my passion.

Q~What is next?
A~To conquer the world!

http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
Q~What is your favorite question to ask people?
A~Do you know what this is made of?

Q~What is your answer to that question?
A~Plastic! (or Videotape!)

Q~ What is the airspeed velocity of an unladen sparrow?http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
A~What do you mean? An African or European swallow?
http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
You can find Tina Dean Designs in person at the Handmade Mart on Saturday, May 22, in Silver Spring.

If you can't make it there, check out the following sites:

Main Website: www.TinaDeanDesigns.com

ArtFire: www.artfire.com/users/TinaDeanDesigns

Etsy: www.etsy.com/shop/TinaDeanDesigns

Facebook: www.facebook.com/Tina-Dean-Designs

Blog: tinadeandesigns.blogspot.com/

Twitter feed: twitter.com/tinadeandesigns

Tina takes custom orders, so please feel free to contact her through any of the above sites to have something truly special made!

Think about how many plastic bags you use on a regular basis. I know I use plenty! They are good for trash can liners, waste bags in the car and for wrapping smelly food from the fridge. However, I also know I could use less.. or just pass them on to Tina!

Happy Earth Day~ go hug a tree! ;) ~Jen

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

2011-03-17T12:26:00.007-04:00

When everyone is Irish...

Well, I am... and Greek and Polish and Sicilian... so I get to celebrate lots of holidays! However, today, I honor the part of me that gave me my red hair (at birth) and freckles. And, my taste for corned beef, cabbage and Irish Soda Bread. Right now, corned beef is slowly cooking is my very small crock pot. As it can't fit all the cabbage and potatoes, those will cook later. In addition, I'm going to try my hand at *gluten free* Irish Soda Bread. Wish me luck!

And, all the while, working on an order to ship to Canada. Full of luscious spring fabrics and soothing colors. Here's a peak:

This last one includes vinyl that I did some freeform machine sewing on.

Also, we're about a month away from Earth Day. Any plans? Perhaps create a rain barrel? I saw a very nice one at Sam's Club yesterday. Doesn't look like a barrel at all!

Erin go Braless! ;) ~Jen

March Artist of the Month~ Angela H. Anderson Photography

2011-03-09T17:06:00.003-05:00

If you couldn't tell, I love to hear the story of a person's journey. Often, a long and winding path has a very simple origin. "It all started with..." and then they're off in a different direction.

This is the case with Angela Anderson and her newest venture, Angela H. Anderson Photography. I first meet Angela as a bag maker. She is a sewer, among many other things, and makes fun, colorful and bright bags. From there, given the amounts of photos one must take of product these days, and her growing family, Angela became interested in photography as more of an art form. Her lovely kids provide for some inspiration, as does the random stranger on the street.

I'm digging this journey she's on and will love to follow as she grows in different artist ways! Read on to find out about Angela's 'thirsty eyes.'

Q~How did you get started?

A~ Photography on a somewhat higher artistic level started with selling bags on Etsy. The photograph can not just be any photo of the item to be sold but something that can withstand the competition. That's how I got started researching lighting and figuring out a simplified background.

Q~Why do you continue?

A~With the digital cameras nowadays it's a relatively "not messy" creative activity that goes well with raising three children - so I thought before I met Mr. Camerashake! Ha ha! At this point in my life, it's very important for me to have immediate results, and digital photography gives me that.

Q~What is a great success story?

A~ The photo of the Indian guy, early on in my blog. I found him, asked him and got the shot. The 6x12 print shows his eyes in focus, so that's perfect at this point in my career as a photographer.

And I think the success lies in "finding."

Q~What is one of your greatest failures?

A~ I want to say "wasting film", but I'm not even using film. Having to delete a ton of blurry pics because that's wasting time. Something like that.

Q~Where do you get your inspiration?

A~Seeing. I always see a thing. My eyes do it for me, so that's easy. Maybe a little bit like being a translator. From seeing a person or scene to capturing takes some kind of translating. Maybe. My eyes even get thirsty if I don't get enough "visual input."

Q~Why do you make/create what you do?

A~Any kind of creative undertaking makes me feel whole, gives me an immense feeling of completeness. That would include problem solving of any kind, too.

Q~Where is your favorite place to sell? Or Favorite show?

A~ Even though I got started on Etsy, I must say I really, really like interacting with people, and I prefer smaller crowds over larger ones.

Q~ What is one thing you love about your business?

A~ Not only can I work while my husband takes care of our children, evenings, weekends, it even seems an advantage to be available for clients at that time.

Q~ What is one thing you loathe?

A~ Hm, not much, really. I'm pretty accepting of the good and the bad in the world.

Q~ What is your dream about your art?

A~ Ha ha! Getting ahead of my husband's portion of our collaborative monetary income! Just for a little bit, then I would hope we both contribute 50% equally.

Q~ What is your mission?

A~ Somewhere in that area of teaching, art, and translating.

Q~ Where are you based?

A~ In my heart.

Q~ Where would you live if you could live anywhere?

A~ In everybody else's heart.

Q~ What would you be doing if not this?

A~ Upstairs finishing the book my husband is reading to our kids.

Q~ What is next?

A~ Whatever is out there.

Q~ What is your favorite question to ask people?

A~ "Tell me your story!" - but I don't always ask.

Q~ What is your answer to that question?

A~ Hm.

Q~ What is the airspeed velocity of an unladen sparrow?

A~ Check with the lady in the library, she'll totally help you.

To find out more about Angela and follow her story, check out her blog.

The (Chicken's) End :)

February Artist of the Month~Starseed Jewelry

2011-02-08T16:29:00.006-05:00

The Nile

Wow~ I can hardly believe it has been over two months since my last blog entry. Needless to say, I have been busy! The Christmas season was an intensely packed one, which I can't complain about. This new year has been full of wonderful new adventures, both professional and personal. On the work front, I am chugging away to get ready for a wholesale show in a few short weeks.

What's a wholesale show, you say? It is a tradeshow but also, much like a 'regular' craft show. However, instead of me selling to the end customer, I will be showing samples and selling to store owners from all over the US. This is how great local stores get the various product options that you find all in one place. The Buyers Market of American Craft is one of the most prestigious in the nation and I'm honored to be a part of it.

However, it is a lot of hard work to create samples, build a new booth from scratch and work on advertising for the show. While I love this kind of work, it is mostly behind the scenes, so there is not a lot to update here.

If you feel you need a more constant Jen-A-Fusion fix, "like" us on Facebook. The fan page gets updated more often!

As for getting back to the norm~ Here's the first installation of the year for Artist of the Month~ Starseed Jewelry!

Terri Wlaschin was one of the first artists I met when I started doing the market circuit many, many years ago (6 to be more exact). Although we don't see each other often, we have shared stories, given feedback about craft shows and supported each other's journey.

I have always been impressed by Terri's flair and commitment to creating fun jewelry. Her taste in beads and findings are exquisite. The combination of colors are striking. I love that she names all her pieces. Some of the titles are oblivious, some just make me want to find out more. See the Queen's Ransom Bracelet, below!

Her jewelry makes wonderful gifts for one's self, as well as others. Valentine's is right around the corner, take a look at her TWO etsy shops~ the first is her own finished products and the second is stocked full of goodies for you to create your own pieces.

Queen's Ransom Bracelet

Q~How did you get started?

A~I began my love affair with beads (which my husband refers to as an addiction) making items for myself but soon bought more beads than I could ever personally use. A card table was my first "shop" but I eventually took over the spare bedroom after my husband went away for a week of travel.

Q~Why do you continue?

A~ I am resisting going to the bead aholic’s 12 step program. Seriously, I did not even know I had a creative side until my late 30’s when I started dabbling in creative writing and photography. When I began working with beads, I couldn’t stop. I mean literally I would sometimes be up until way past midnight creating pieces. I never really knew what having a passion about something was until then. I never get tired of it because I am always evolving my style.

Q~What is a great(or greatest) success story?

A~Discovering and acting on my creativity. If you had told me 10 years ago I would ever start a small jewelry making business, I would have not have believed I would have the courage to do it. By stepping way outside my comfort zone, I have been able to experience a kind of fulfillment that is at the heart level.

Q~What is one of your greatest failures?

A~ I am weak for dark chocolate and will go to great lengths to get my fix.

Q~Where do you get your inspiration?

A~Sometimes from looking in a puddle like I did today. The sun looked like a moon casting a milky shimmer over stark brown tree branches –absolutely heartstopping stunning inspiring. Sometimes from people on the metro, or other people’s creations, or a gemstone or handmade bead. Really, it comes from anywhere for me.

Q~Why do you make/create what you do?

A~ Because it makes me happy. Simple as that.

Wanted Dead or Alive

Q~Where is your favorite place to sell? Or Favorite show?

A~ I do an open house show at my home for people on my mailing list about once a month. I have a few regulars who come to almost every show. I love this setting because it is intimate and I get to know /see my customers, who have also become friends, on a regular basis. I also like the Rockville Hometown Holidays show every memorial weekend. I love meeting fellow artists and people in my community. Plus, I get to shop for wonderful handmade items! I also have two shops on Etsy. Believe or not, I like the administrative part of that because I get to combine photography with writing and my art!!!

Q~What is one thing you love about your business?

A~Getting to work with my hands and expressing my creativity.

Q~What is one thing you loathe?

A~That there are only 24 hours in a day.

It's Complicated

Q~What is your dream about your art?

A~That I have mastered bead weaving and can create with ease complex, one of a kind miniature works of art like Sherry Serafini and Laura McCabe. I am transitioning to spending more time beadweaving (stitching beads with needle and thread) than I have in the past. It is teaching me to have more patience and to enjoy the journey rather than focusing on just the results. Sometimes I create individual beads with only a hint of an idea of what I will do with them. And then, when they are all made, they tell me a different story and I am just following it. I find that amazing.

Q~What is your mission?

A~ To Create what I love and hope others love it too.

Q~Where are you based?

A~ Rockville, MD

Q~Where would you live if you could live anywhere?

A~That is something I am investigating as my husband and I will be retiring from our days jobs in less than two years. Hawi, Hawaii or somewhere on the big island would be a dream location.

Kileaua

Q~What would you be doing if not this?

A~Cleaning my house. So, you see I have no choice but to keep beading.

Q~ What is the airspeed velocity of an unladen sparrow?

A~Is that an African or European Swallow? :)

Find Starseed Jewelry's etsy shop, with some great sale items here.

Find beads and funky bits to make your own items here.

A Thing of Beauty

While my eyes are set on expansion of my business and some yet undisclosed things, I am not off the arts and craft show rounds yet! Lots of new show this year, I hope. I'll keep updating here as I get accepted (fingers crossed!)

Happy New Year and Happy Valetine's Day! ~Jen

December Artist of the Month~ A.W.E. Jewelry

2010-12-05T20:27:00.009-05:00

The December Artist of the Month is the talented and beautiful Deb Soromenho, designer and creator of A.W.E. Jewelry. A.W.E. stands for Artsy-Worldly-Earthy, which describes both the jewelry and the artist very well. The jewelry and artist have gone through a journey to where they are now. The jewelry is handcrafted, most pieces beginning from a hand cut section of metal. Each one is sanded and enhanced with patina, semi-precious stones or wire wrapping. These steps create jewelry that is prefect with personality, no two pieces exactly alike. Also, the creative force behind these has traveled an interesting life to the point of making this jewelry~ read on to find out about it~

Q~How did you get started?

A~ I was making beaded jewelry part-time and started working with wire, found that I loved forming and texturizing the metal and very soon graduated to sheet metal, saws, drills, and torches; the big-girl tools ;)

Q~Why do you continue?

A~ I love the flexibility of working with metal. There's always new techniques to learn, processes to adapt, and designs to explore. I never get bored, which is saying A LOT.

Q~What is your greatest success story?

A~ still waiting........

Q~What is one of your greatest failures?

A~ In jewelry making or ever? :)

Actually one of my biggest failures is what lead to my jewelry design career. I had, oddly enough, decided to open a spa/salon in 2006. It started out great, but I quickly realized that I really didn't like managing a bunch of people who really didn't care about my business; do I sound a little bitter? Lol.
BUT, I carried some consignment jewelry in the salon which inspired me to give it a try myself to sell, as I'd made jewelry as a hobby in the past. The rest is history, in the making.

Q~Where do you get your inspiration?

A~ That's actually what my tag line is about: Inspired by the shapes, textures, and cultures of the world. I travel a lot and love things like old cobblestone streets, crumbling plaster walls, arched doorways, traditional indigenous art, etc.

Q~Where is your favorite place to sell? Or Favorite show?

A~ I'd love to be able to sell more online and not have to transport my "shop" to shows and such, but I think that jewelry, especially mine, is such a tactile purchase. People love to touch, feel, try on, and fall in love with jewelry before they buy.

Jewelry may look fantastic in photos, but nothing compares to seeing it in person. The buyer just has to trust your description and get a feel for who you are and what your jewelry is all about. I'm working on making each piece about a story or a personal idea so people can make a connection that way.

I do love a good outdoor craft fest though, they're a lot of fun!

Q~What is one thing you love about your business?

A~ Getting feedback from people. It's great seeing peoples reactions to my work and hearing their comments.

Q~What is one thing you loathe?

A~ hmmm.... probably having to answer difficult questions like this one ;) lol.

Q~What is your dream about your art?

A~ To be able to see my jewelry in shops and galleries around the world. Also to make enough money with it to actually pay the bills :)

Q~What is your mission?

A~ To make only what I love and would wear myself. My customer will love my jewelry all the more for it.

Q~Where are you based?

A~ I have a studio in my basement of my home in Bethesda, MD

Q~Where would you live if you could live anywhere?

A~ oooooh, that's tough. Winter in Paris, fall in Lisbon, Portugal, summer in San Francisco, and spring in New York.

Q~What would you be doing if not this?

A~ Trying desperately to find something that I love to do. That's what I was doing for 20 years prior anyway!

Q~What is next?

A~ Buying some new (read expensive) equipment to move to the next level in my design.

Q~ What is the airspeed velocity of an unladen sparrow?

A~ I wouldn't know that, I'm not the king!

Now that you've read about Deb and her jewelry, I can share the story that I practically had to *beg* her to do this. She was always interested in the concept and liked the honor, but she just didn't quite want to literally have to answer the questions and send photos. I just love her designs, think the jewelry is very well made and simply lovely. I'm not sure if Deb didn't want to be associated with Jen-A-Fusion or was just busy with make jewelry. I'll assume the latter. :)

Deb will be showcasing her wares at the Downtown Holiday Market in the Penn Quarter of Washington DC on Sunday, December 12 and Monday, December 13.

Likewise, her jewelry is also available on the A.W.E. website. If you become a fan on Facebook, you will have the inside scoop on new products, discounts and sales and updated news.

AND, don't forget~ if you aren't already, please become a Jen-A-Fusion Fan on Facebook. The Holiday Swag Giveaway continues with our 3rd winner today! Thanks all!

Hoping you a zen December! ;)~Jen

Green Tip~ Trade up this season with new LED Christmas lights

From a recent e-letter from MOM's (My Organic Market):

"MOM's has teamed up with HolidayLEDS to host a Holiday Light Recycling Drive. Bring your old lights to MOM's through January 31st; we will ship them away to be recycled. Plus, you'll receive a coupon for 25% off new energy efficient LED lights from HolidayLEDS.com! To help facilitate recycling, please bring in lights only (no boxes or packaging)."

How awesome!! Not only were you going to buy them anyway (right?), now you can get 25% off. Not 'sold' on this new lights. Read some facts:

~They don't emit heat, which does often lead to fires on real trees.

~They use about 90% less electricity, leading to lower utility bills.

~They are made from plastic, rather than the traditional glass bulbs and thus more durable.

All facts from About.com.

I just checked out HolidayLEDS.com and think I see at least one or two or five strands I'd love to have and decorate my holiday tent with!

FIRST winner in the Holiday Swag Giveaway!

2010-11-23T15:40:00.005-05:00

Serenity now...om...

Congratulations to Tiffany Corl of Middletown, MD!! She's the first random winner in the Holiday Swag Giveaway!

Again, become a fan of Jen-A-Fusion on Facebook and be entered automatically to win some free swag each week between now and Christmas.

This year, I am thankful for the few moments of serenity, when they come my way. I am thankful for my family and friends. I know that sounds cliche, but it is so true! What are you thankful for?

Have a wonderful holiday!~Jen

FREE Holiday Giveaways Galore!

2010-11-21T14:23:00.012-05:00

Ingredients for pumpkin muffins

This is a very long post about me baking some muffins to try to win some free stuff. This is also about me giving away some free stuff. You do not have to bake some muffins.

You can scroll down to The Part Where I Give Stuff Away on Facebook. Also, check out the bottom of the post, the Suggested Use Tip~Fingerless Gloves. It is a funny little story that might help with some of those 'hard to shop for' guys in your life.

The Long Story Longer

Thanksgiving is this week and thus the holidays are officially upon us. And, so it begins- the mad rush for everyone to try to get your money, as you rush to give it to them. Toss in some stress, holiday weight gain and cold and flu season, sounds like a recipe for disaster. How about a recipe for success? Well, in my family, we need this quite literally.

This year, my whole immediate family went gluten and wheat free. Plus, neither of my sisters eats dairy and the older doesn't do eggs. It has been a fairly good journey, not easy, but very much worth it. The thought of eating wheat free- no bread, no hamburger buns, no cookies, no stuffing, no pumpkin pie- makes some people ill. However, now, for me, the thought of eating all that is what makes me ill.

So, as this holiday season approaches, I started getting stressed out about my Beloved Stuffing. It is my absolutely favorite Thanksgiving dish. One year for Christmas, my brother in law made me a batch of stuffing for my gift. All for me. No one else got any. YUM.

As anyone with a dietary restriction will tell you, there are versions of things they can't eat made from something they can. Those things are often pricey, sometimes lame, seldom exact replicas of the original. However, the longer you go without eating the 'real' thing, the less you remember it. (I had a 'real' piece of pizza a few weeks ago. I almost cried, it was so good. But, I paid for it later.)

Saved By The Internet

I didn't want to have some shotty substitute for my Beloved Stuffing. So, I turned to Gluten Free Girl to save me. Shauna James and Daniel Ahern are foodies, chefs, writers, fighters and other things that I'm sure I missed that they would not have. Read more about Shauna, her journey to being gluten free and why and what they do.

Most of successful GF eating means just having foods that are naturally without gluten. However, Thanksgiving is not one of those times where you can choose much of that. Luckily, Gluten Free Girl and the Chef have been posting recipes, videos and tips about how to make a gluten free Thanksgiving. YEAH!

Then, I found out they had challenged other chefs and bakers to develop GF Thanksgiving recipes, which they posted on their blog. Then, they challenged their readers and followers to made said dishes, post about them and THEN THEY WERE GIVING STUFF AWAY. Like their new cookbook. Like a Kitchen Aid mixer. Like OMG.

The Part Where I Give Stuff Away on Facebook

Wait, very cool idea. Give stuff away to people to get them to pay attention to you? Ok, why don't *I* do that? So, I am.

Starting tomorrow, Monday, November 22 and each Monday between then and Christmas week, I'll pick a name at random from the Jen-A-Fusion Fans on Facebook. Click here to get to the page and "Like" it. Yes, my friends and family will be included. They have been supportive and deserve free swag too. However, no one will be able to win more than once. Not on Facebook and don't plan to be? Email me and I will include your name in the chance to win. Invite your friends to Like the page, and your neighbors, dog walker and book club members too.

What will you get? Stuff that I made- perhaps a little zippered pouch, or a pair fingerless gloves or a scarf or who knows what. I'm winging it here, people, thanks for putting up with me! :)

Back To Me Trying To Win Free Stuff

So, I decided to be inspired by GF Girl and the Chef, not only passing on the love but also rising to their challenge.

I decided to make the pumpkin muffins from the Gluge Gluten-Free blog. Some of the other items sounds so, so good. Hello, I'll take a slice of the Gluten Free Pumpkin Roll with Mascarpone and Nutella Filling and one of Gluten Free Maple Sweet Potato Cheesecake with Gingerbread Bottom and Sour Cream Marshmallow Topping
but I'm not going to make them. No time, don't have the right pots or pans or ingredients, or even pateince. But, again, would love them.

And, I couldn't even make the stuffing for Thanksgiving that I will be bringing to my friend's house for dinner, as my mom is bringing the bread and she doesn't arrive until Wednesday and I must enter this contest today....

I do love a mean pumpkin muffin, though. I have made two batches this fall already, by altering GF mixes. Both were pretty good, so I thought I would try those.

I come from a long line of bakers. We're not so much chefs in my family, nor food snobs (yet) but we all bake. My grandma was known for her famous cheesecake and my dad won a blue ribbon on a cherry pie he forgot to put sugar in. Baking is also a more exact science than cooking, and I don't have much experience with GF baking, so I am still learning how all these different flours work. Making these muffins seemed easy, but would still be a challenge.

Pumpkin seeds for the streusel

The recipe is pretty simple. Looked like I had all the ingredients. Good start. Tia, the blogger and baker, had a link to a previous post about a crustless pumpkin streusel pie. Hm... streusel would be nice on the muffins. And, thus, my usual MO kicked it- start with a basic recipe and cater it to your tastes, hope it comes out well and eat it anyway.

I made the recipe as called for but ran out of pumpkin pie spice. I put a little cinnamon, and nutmeg in. Then, dumped in a handful of chocolate chips.

Started looking around for streusel ingredients. No oatmeal. I got rid of it during my 'non- GF' purging. While my roommate was rummaging around for some, she found a little package of pecans. She also only found instant oatmeal, maple walnut flavor.

So, I dumped the pecans into and turned on the mixer. Oppss... looks like it was pecan 'chips', not finely chopped, but definitely changed the texture of the batter. Especially since this recipe it just almond flour, wasn't sure how this was going to work out...

I made the streusel from the instant oatmeal package, a handful of pumpkin seeds I chopped fine in the blender, butter, cinnamon and the brown sugar. Popped in the oven. Yummy smells make my stomach grumble.

Fresh out of the oven

They smell and look so good when they come out. Sadly, they totally fell apart when I tried to take them out of the pan. This could be due to the fact they are still warm or that I didn't have muffin liners and ran out of non stick spray, so a lot of the muffin is sticking to the pan. Or, just due to the nature of GF baking. The gluten is what holds the baked goods together. Take out gluten and thus it tends to break apart. This goes for most GF goods.

So, I enjoyed the muffins with homemade raspberry jam my aunt in California made and a glass of apple cider. They are *probably* nothing like the original recipe was supposed to be, but they are really so yummy. Good texture, not rubbery, not too fluffy. The instant oatmeal added just a hint of maple, a nice fall touch. The streusel ended up a little runny, but was a good addition. I'm sure my mom and I will polish them off this week.

Well, enough of this. Between baking, cleaning up and writing this post, hours and hours have gone by. How do those foodie bloggers do it all the time?!

OK, back to my own Holiday Swag Giveaway. Remember, suggest the Jen-A-Fusion Fashion Accessories FB fan page to others that might enjoy free stuff. Check back on Mondays to find out the winner!

Also, this blog and the FB fan page have my up to date schedule for holiday selling. Lots of dates in December. Buying local, from local and it has a bigger impact on the local economy than sending your money out of the area...

I'll let you know how the Beloved GF Stuffing comes out! Thanks for reading~Jen

Suggested Use Tip~Fingerless Gloves

Many (older) people are surprised at my fingerless gloves, think I made it up and aren't sure how to use them. I didn't make this idea up, it has been around since the middle ages. I just put my own polar fleece spin on it.

Also, some folks aren't sure how to use the. They are great for texting, talking on the phone, knitting, typing and whatever else you need to do in the cold, but might need your fingers.

Yesterday, a very nice grandmother type lady suggested something new. She was wearing a red visor, an embroidered holiday sweatshirt and a blinking light necklace.

Her: "These would be good for people who shoot guns."

Me: "OK... when?"

Her: "You know, when you are out, shooting."

Me: "Like... hunting?"

Her: "Sure, like then.... you know, because the fingers are free, they can shoot their guns."

Me: "Great, I'll keep that in mind."

So, if you have hunters, gangbangers, snipers or assassins on your shopping list, I have you covered. :)

Trash to Treasure:Green Craft Fair

2010-11-12T12:13:00.005-05:00

I'm working hard and getting many many little cross body bags ready for tomorrow. All made from recycled and reclaimed upholstery fabrics. Also, making lots of fingerless gloves! Recycled materials are incorporated with some new materials too.

This show is great in ways that go way beyond all the wonderful artists and items that will be there. I *loved* the book exchange last year, picked up a few good ones. The clothing donation is so needed around this time of the year, as it gets colder and more people are being faced without a permanent residence.

NEW this year, SCRAP-DC will be at the show. SCRAP-DC is a east coast extension of an organization started in the west that takes and redistributes supplies, mostly of the artistic nature. I have several bags of fabric bits and some odds and ends to offer to SCRAP. What have you been planning to get rid of? :)

What: Trash to Treasure: Green Craft Fair

When: Saturday, November 13, 10am-4pm

Where: Watkins Nature Center, Watkins Park Drive, 301 Upper Marlboro, MD

Website: www.pgparks.com

Click on the poster above for more information.

This is a great event that will teach you a few new things, allow you to clean out some supplies and clothing, and get some holiday shopping done! See you there!~Jen

Green Tip~ Green up your knit

Just took up knitting or crochet? Making hats for Christmas this year? Experiment with sustainable fibers, such as hemp, organic cotton and bamboo.

Bamboo yarn has a beautiful hand, a silk like texture that can be worn year around. It takes dye wonderfully and the colors and weights available are stunning.

Search through Etsy for some wonderful examples. Such as this one. Or, if you are working on a bigger project and need more skeins, check out this website for a large selection of colors.

November Artist of the Month~ This Little Piggie

2010-11-05T12:45:00.009-04:00

In my industry, there are many layers of people that participate in making my business a success. Of course, there are all my supportive customers. There are my family and friends, there is me. And, there are the wonderfully underappreciated show promoters, market managers and the like. They are the behind the scenes people who constantly and consistently toil away to create a successful show, for both the vendors and the clients.

What most folks forget is that this relentless, hidden force is usually headed by a creative individual, that got into the role of organizing shows from the position of being in shows. These people are often talented multi taskers that excel not only in the diplomatic running of markets, but in producing artwork or craft that is just as successful. Jessica Blaszczak is one of this ambidextrous people.

Jessica is one of the best market managers that I have had the pleasure of working with AND she creates fun, functional, affordable craft. This Little Piggy is simply decoupaged piggy banks, created one at a time, to bring smiles to little and big two legged piggies.

Read on to find out why Jessica is always smiling!

Q~How did you get started?

A~ Well, started with art in general? Always ... since I could cold a pencil. With decoupage, I remember going into Anthropologie (LOVE that store!) and I saw a decoupage tea pot for $200. I thought, like most people do when they see a decoupage teapot, hey, I wanna do that. And I did. And it was fun. And I got to use my love of paper to make something useful and pretty. So, from there, I basically combined my two loves: art and animals and got decoupaged piggy banks.

Q~Why do you continue?

A~Because pigs ROCK!

Q~What is a great success story?

A~Okay. This is kinda cool. Homeward Trails, a local Arlington animal rescue organization, holds a charity art auction each year called PawCasso. I donated a large-sized cat-themed piggy bank to the live auction, which usually goes for around $75. I didn't really expect it to go for much because they was a lot of killer art there. Anyway, they started the bidding at $20 and someone bid. Then, another person bid. Then another. And then there was actually a bidding war! The Kitty Piggy went for about $130. And 100% of the proceeds went to Homeward Trails. That's a lot of dog food! Yep, that was pretty awesome.

Q~What is one of your greatest failures?

A~Oh, Lord. Where do I begin? In life? In art? Do we really wanna go there? :)

Q~Where do you get your inspiration?

A~All around me. Literally. I manage a local art market, The Ballston Arts & Crafts Market, and I help out with the Fenton Street Market, so I'm lucky to have the opportunity to work with talented artists all the time. So, really, art in general inspires me. But I also find inspiration in my friends, my coworkers, my husband, my pets. I'm surrounded by beautiful things. I think we all are.

Q~Why do you make/create what you do?

A~I think with art, you get a glimpse into someone's personality. Into their complicated minds without being intrusive or questioning. And when someone buys one of your pieces, it resonates with them, and some sort of connection is created. You get a glimpse into their personality, too. Art is personal. It's fun. It's fulfilling. And, I think the piggies make people smile. It's always nice to make other people smile.

Q~Where is your favorite place to sell? Or Favorite show?

A~The Ballston Arts & Crafts Market is my favorite show, of course! Check out the blog (shameless plug)!

Q~What is one thing you love about your business?

A~I get to make piggy banks in my spare time. What's not to love? Special orders are fun, too!

Q~What is one thing you loathe?

A~Nuthin. I make piggy banks. :)

Q~What is your dream about your art?

A~I'd like to be able to go further with it ... maybe branch out a bit. It would be cool to see my piggies in a boutique store as popular as Free People. But I have a lot of work to do before I can even entertain that idea.

Q~What is your mission?

A~To have fun. That's it. That's my mission.

Q~Where are you based?

A~Arlington (Clarendon!), Virginia

Q~Where would you live if you could live anywhere?

A~Ooooo ... good question. My two favorite US cities are Charleston, North Carolina & Seattle, Washington. Very cool cities for very different reasons.

Q~What would you be doing if not this?

A~Well, piggy bank-making isn't my full-time job. I'm an event coordinator and a freelance writer, so ... I also love to paint and sculpt. I like to make these cute, little art dolls that are also kid-friendly.

Q~What is next?

A~You name it!

Q~What is your favorite question to ask people?

A~What's your sign? Seriously! I love astrology!

Q~What is your answer to that question?

A~Gemini!

Q~ What is the airspeed velocity of an unladen sparrow?

A~I don't know. I'll Google it. ;)

Meet Jessica and her piggies in person at Cocktails and Craft, a happy hour party type thing, where you can buy all your holiday gifts and have fun too. It is TOMORROW night, Saturday, November 6, 5-9:30pm, at 3213 Kinross Circle, Oak Hill, VA 20171. Also, future shows can be found on Jess' website at www.thislittlepiggymarket.net.

Likewise this weekend, I'll be gearing up for major holiday shopping to start! Don't wait until the last minute like every year! Start early for the best selection!

I will be at two markets this weekend for you to kick start your holiday shopping!

What: Alexandria Art Market

When:Saturday, November 6, 10am-4pm

Where: The Del Ray Artisans
2704 Mt. Vernon Ave
Alexandria, VA

Website: www.thedelrayartisans.org

What: Bannockburn Craft Show

When: Sunday, November 7, 11-4pm

Where: 6314 Bannockburn Drive
Bethseda, MD

Website: www.bannockburncommunity.org

Hope to see you there!~Jen

LAST Ballston Arts + Crafts Market of the year!

2010-10-07T20:47:00.003-04:00

Well, they say all good things must come to an end... But, what do 'they' know? Who are 'they' anyway? And, why do 'they' have to end our fun?!

I don't know all the answers to the above questions, I just know that the Ballston Market must end this coming Saturday, very sadly. Please stop by and see a special dance performance from 11-12:30. Music will resume in the afternoon from 1-3pm.

Start stocking up for the cooler months ahead, with hats and scarves and the like. Also, think ahead to the holidays and get a few gifts crossed off your list.

What: Ballston Arts + Crafts Market

When: Saturday, October 9, 10am-4pm

Where: Welburn Square, Ballston, Arlington, VA

Website: www.ballstonarts-craftsmarket.blogspot.com

I'll have some fun Halloween trick or treat bags, polar fleece hats, sun hats on sale and many great new fall purses. I just love fall, the colors and the fabrics. Come see what I've been working on! ~Jen

Green Tip~ Plant for the future
Fall is the time to plant bulbs that will pop up with color and energy in the spring. It is a great thing to do after you have raked and before any snow falls. The sprouts not only will be signs of spring, they will help remind you of the fun fall memories you had planting them.
Check out this article for more information.

Art on the Avenue and October Artist of the Month

2010-09-30T09:31:00.007-04:00

Join me, the artist below and about 300 other crafters, designers, photographers and the like, this coming Saturday for the 15th annual Art on the Avenue. Started as a neighborhood gathering of families and friends, it has blossomed into a region gathering of families and friends. Included are kids activities, music, a pie making contest and more. The weather is supposed to be great, so come out and start the celebration of my favorite season, fall.

What: Art on the Avenue, Alexandria, VA

When: Saturday, October 2, 10-6pm

Where: Mt Vernon Ave, Del Ray

Me: Space # W54

www.artontheavenue.org

At Art on the Avenue, you will be able to meet the following talented artist in person. Erika Rubel of Had Matter creates versatile and vibrant functional art. She combines "recycled materials and vintage images" to create wall sculptures that double as key holders, lights and more. As an environmentalist, and designer who does similar work with fabric, I am drawn to products that recycle 'junk into funk'. Many people are out there doing this, but many people do it badly. Erika's work is so well made, clean lines and finished edges, it is sometimes hard to believe these items had other lives.

Erika's eye for form and function make the zany combinations seem natural and normal. Then you look again and realize the edge of this shelf is a toy train track and the side of that bin used to belong in a kitchen. However, the design has been married with such finesse that you accept it just as surely as you would accept a shower in a bathroom.

Erika has stepped slightly out of function into more artistic works with her turn toward insect sculptures. Using such materials as spatulas, screens, and old auto parts, she creates larger than life creatures that look too cool to be cruel. Makes me almost like bugs!

Read on to find out more.

Q~How did you get started?

A~I was becoming very disappointed in my office job and wanted to try to live by my design abilities. I was creating a lot of stuff for my house from salvaged materials so I thought I'd try to make something to sell.

Q~Why do you continue?

A~ Because I love making stuff and I like being self employed. Now all my hard work is for me.

Q~ What is a great(or greatest) success story?

A~ I don't have one particular story. I feel lucky to be successful to live off my work. All the constant sales and returning customers are what makes it worth it.

Q~What is one of your greatest failures?

A~Hard question. My forays into wall lights didn't prove to successful.

Q~Where do you get your inspiration?

A~From the materials. I love working with old stuff.

Q~Why do you make/create what you do?

A~I think that even the practical stuff we live with should be fun and interesting. Not my idea, but one I believe in.

Q~Where is your favorite place to sell? Or Favorite show?

A~I like Eastern Market the best. It's home.

Q~What is one thing you love about your business?

A~Making the stuff.

Q~What is one thing you loathe?

A~I don't loathe any of it though it's a business and some things are just not as fun. Like unloading and loading my booth in the same day.

Q~What is your dream about your art?

A~I'd like to always be able to push it further. I've started to learn how to weld and I'd like to more sculpture.

Q~Where are you based?

A~I've just moved to Capitol Hill in DC.

Q~What would you be doing if not this?

A~Maybe running a store. That's what I enjoyed most out of my other jobs.

Q~What is next?

A~Keep pushing my art as far as I can.

Q~What is your favorite question to ask people?

A~Do you like what you do?

Q~What is your answer to that question?

A~Yes

Q~ What is the airspeed velocity of an unladen sparrow?

A~two coconuts per hour

Erika's work can be found most weekends at Eastern Market on Capitol Hill in Washington DC. This weekend, she can be found at Art on the Aveune and the MPA Artfest in McLean. Need some fun organizatin in your life? You need Had Matter.

Arts on Foot

2010-09-10T13:42:00.004-04:00

Crisp cool weather, leaves just starting to turn into golden hues, pumpkins showing at farmers markets. Fall, LOVE IT!

And, with fall, comes some of my favorite shows. This weekend is Arts on Foot, a completely inclusive arts festival that celebrates the visual, musical, dramatic and theatric arts. There is wine tasting and juggling and child's crafts. Behind the scenes tours and of course, an art market.

I love being a part of this festival, due to all the kinds of arts and people who love them. Come and be a part of it too!

What: Arts on Foot,

When: Saturday, September 11, 11am-6pm

Where: 7th and F Streets, Penn Quarter, Washington, DC

*I will be in space # 72

Website: www.artsonfoot.org

The art market has been set up for the last several days, but Saturday has the whole shin-dig going on. Check out the website for complete details about what is going on when.

Also, make sure that you being a Fan on Facebook, updates and details come more often on my fan page. Click here to get to page www.facebook.com/jenafusion

Thanks! Happy fall~Jen

Ballston Arts & Crafts Market

2010-08-13T06:18:00.004-04:00

Looks like as of this writing, the storm gods have been satisfied with ruining Saturdays for awhile and the forecast for tomorrow is clear... well, that's right now. However, let's all go with that, ok?

Last month's market was canceled due to bad weather, so come get your fix off Route 66. I have a large selection of reversible sun hats, little purses and back by popular demand, Jen-A-Fusion shopping totes. Made from upcycled tents, they can be rolled up and tucked in a purse or larger bag for carrying all your goodies home from the market.

Likewise, tons of fun and funky finds. Birthdays, wedding gifts and the like can be found. I'll going on vacation next week and plan to scout out a host gift for family we are visiting... a photo, some soap... hm.. we'll have to see!

What: Ballston Arts & Crafts Market

Where: Welburn Square, Ballston, Arlington, VA

When: Saturday, August 14, 10am-4pm

Website: www.ballstonarts-craftsmarket.blogspot.com

See you there~Jen

25 "Random" Things about Jen-A-Fusion

2010-07-14T21:43:00.005-04:00

Photo by Erica DeJoannis, on my 29th Birthday

In the spirit of the Facebook viral note that went around a while back, here is a list of seemingly random things about Jen and Jen-A-Fusion.

1. I had 3 majors before I finished college.

2. I went to 5 different colleges before I graduated.

3. By the time that happened, I had enough credits for almost two degrees.

4. I'll be paying back student loans in the senior's home!

5. I'm a horrible speler.

6. My customers continue to surprise me with their appreciation.

7. My favorite colors are green and purple.

8. But I love all the other ones too.

9. I would love to travel to all seven continents. I have 4 down so far. (Can you guess which ones?)

10. My absolutely least favorite food: raisins.

11. One thing I really like about my work: always being able to defend it by saying "It's art!"

12. Don't worry, I'm not as strict an environmentalist as I might seem (oh, wait, as I go through the trash for recyclables...)

13. My first real job was a counselor at a girl scout camp. Now, I head up an art camp for kids.

14. The 'real life' talent I wish I had: to be able to sing.

15. The 'super hero' talent I wish I had: to be able to fly.

16. I love seeing someone random on the street with one of my purses. It makes me so happy!

17. My studio is a pig sty. Really, totally out of control.

18. I am the middle daughter of three sisters.

19. My older sister is a saddler by profession, but also a very talented artist.

20. My younger sister is a sports psychologist by profession, but also a sky dive instructor.

21. I have way too much fabric, thread, buttons, ribbon, beads and the like.

22. I *really* wish I could garden, but I just end up killing plants.

23. My friend Erica helped me come up with the name Jen-A-Fusion.

24. My friend Stacy created my logo.

25. I eat way less veggies than I should.

July Artist of the Month~ Bette's Bags

2010-06-28T19:49:00.011-04:00

I personally get kinda tired of looking at my own stuff sometimes. The same fabrics, the same shapes, the same, the same.... going to new shows and being exposed to new customers sometimes helps. So does looking at the wonderful work other accessory crafters are doing.

I first met Betty through our Etsy team and was taken with her cute designs and unique business arrangement. My mom and I can hardly agree on the color of the sky, let alone an artistic atheistic. However, they make it work out and have some wonderful bags to prove it.

Beyond the luscious fabrics and attention to detail, the practicality of Bette's Bags can't be denied. I especially love the Purse Pocket Roll-up Organizer! These little guys are awesome. You pile all your stuff in it and stick it in your purse. Then, when you switch purses, you pull that out and put it in the other purse. No more leaving behind your favorite lipstick or that pen you always need. And, for $10, no way I'm going to try to figure out how to make one myself, I'll just get one from Betty.

In addition to the sewing, Betty has developed a line of knit accessories and even sells the patterns. I love that she doesn't mind sharing the secrets so you can make your own!

Read on and learn more about the background of Bette's Bags.

Q~How did you get started?

A~ Maggie, my daughter/partner, complained for days about seeing another woman carrying her very expensive "Designer" brand new bag as soon as she walked out of the store. As a Joke I made her an Original One-of-a-kind Bette's Bag so that she would stop complaining. She liked it and used it. When friends and co-workers asked her where she got her bag, she suggested that we sell them. So we started with out with just one design at local Holiday craft shows.

After a while we developed more designs and set up a table at the Arlington Court House Market once a month....the rest, so they say, is history. We do shows throughout the year and continue to design new styles as well as adding hand-knit accessories to our line.

Q~Why do you continue?

A~We still enjoy what we do! It is our avenue to express ourselves creatively as well as offers us an opportunity to be a part of a very special group of artists. My greatest pleasure is meeting and building friendships with other artists and craftsmen at shows and markets.

Q~What is a great success story?

A~Having people "inspect" our work and share with me that they recognize it to be a very high quality. One that I will never forget was a woman who was raised in the Amish faith (know for their hand-made quilts). She not only appreciated my work but she purchased several items as gifts for her daughters. I will always remember our conversation and her very kind and supportive words.

We were also very proud to be voted as third runner-up in the Washington's City Paper's Best of DC 2010 Reader's Poll of Best Local Crafter. Now that was a surprise and a great honor!

As far as a successful product goes I would say the our "Purse Pocket Roll-up" probably gets the most questions and attention. It's such a simple little accessory, but very useful.

Q~What is one of your greatest failures?

A~SO many to choose from. Failed designs are a normal part of the creative process that I have come to accept.

Q~Where do you get your inspiration?

A~I draw my inspiration from listening to friends, co-workers, family discussing what they like, what they need, what I should make next.

Q~Why do you make/create what you do?

A~We typically make what we would like to carry. We joke that every "new bag" that we make is our "Favorite so far"...until we design/construct the next one.

Q~Where is your favorite place to sell? Or Favorite show?

A~In the DC Metro area Ballston Arts & Crafts Market is a great market. It has great location and demographics, friendly vendors and artists, supportive management and very supportive shoppers.

In the Baltimore area I enjoy the Squidfire Shows (Holiday & Spring Marts). Squidfire has more of an edgy - hip vibe, very stimulating show.

Q~What is one thing you love about your business?

A~Connecting with our customers. So many have become friends.

Q~What is one thing you loathe?

A~Paper work!

Q~What is your dream about your art?

A~To be able to devote my time and attention to Bette's Bags full time.

Q~What is your mission?

A~To continue to develop and grow as an artist and as a human being.

Q~Where are you based?

A~Our actual Studio is in my home in Bryantown, MD. It used to be Maggie's bedroom but the fabric, sewing machines and purses have officially taken over.

Q~Where would you live if you could live anywhere?

A~Pittsburgh, PA. It is very supportive of the Arts and is the friendliest city int he US.

Q~What would you be doing if not this?

A~ I'd be crafting and creating something. I've been sewing and crafting all of my life. Creating is a part of who we are. Maggie has started her own Photography business this year and it's doing very well.

Q~What is next?

A~Only "the Force" knows.

Q~What is your favorite question to ask people?

A~Ohhh, That's really nice. Did you make that?

Q~What is your answer to that question?

A~Why yes I did. Thank you!

Q~ What is the airspeed velocity of an unladen sparrow?

A~ African or European?

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=

To learn more about this talented artisan, the following links can be used to:

Purchase a bag: www.bettesbags.com

Find a show: www.bettesbags.blogspot.com

Friend on Facebook: Bette's Bags Fan Page

Purchase through Etsy: www.bettesbags.etsy.com

I also got to know Betty through being vendors at the Ballston Art & Craft Market. It is the second Saturday of each month and she will be there on July 10th. Please come and meet her in person and see these darling bags.

I'm always charmed by Charm City

2010-06-23T06:47:00.015-04:00

Jen-A-Fusion has been busy. Jen-A-Fusion apologizes for not posting up pictures of works in progress, more Facebook updates, new items or pictures of shows and for the oil spill... what?? Sorry, I got a little carried away with the apologies...

And, don't you hate when people speak in third person?

So, thought I would take a few minutes to give a mini tour of the studio at large, the projects and products being worked on, but first, I will take a moment for this week's show.

Most of the reason I'm busy working away is due to Baltimore, for several reasons. First and foremost, I'm headed there this Saturday for a very special market. Americans for the Arts, which "is the nation's leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts in" the country. They are turning the big 5-0 this year and hosting a Mid Century Summit in Baltimore this coming weekend. It includes talks for nationally known figures such as Robert Redford, seminars on how to start a local crafts day, dinners to rub elbows and of course, a marketplace of local and region craftspeople for some retail therapy.

Given the importance of the occasion, I was honored to be selected to represent the area to this national audience. Although we are set up next to where the convention is being held, this a completely free event, open to all. Artists will be on hand to talk about their craft, demonstrate some of the work that goes into it and sell the finished wares.

What: Americans For The Arts, Artists Marketplace

Where: Promenade in Harbor East, Baltimore, MD
Near the Baltimore Public Works Museum and the Marriott

Use 751 Eastern Avenue for GPS/ map directions

When: Saturday, June 26, 12-8pm

Website: convention.artsusa.org

Personally, I can't wait to see some of the soapmaking, wood working and other textile artists... and here's a peek at what I'm working on in the studio:

Sun hats waiting to be ironed.

Sun hats ironed, sandwiched together and waiting to be sewn, lunch waiting to be eaten.

Working to refine my sun hat design. I'm getting feedback that the brim was too wide, so I have scaled it back. Looks pretty good, no?

The hats are reversible, so this is the other side.

And, boring.. More purses...OH, wait, these are actually kinda fun and nice. Same old shape, that's not new...But fun fabrics and great summer hues. I personally really like the peachy ones...

This are just a few of my most recent things... and more to come soon!~Jen

Remember, you can friend Jen-A-Fusion on Facebook. One stop lurking when it comes to finding out what is up to date in the studio.

A Day in the Life of Jen-A-Fusion

2010-06-14T12:40:00.008-04:00

So... I have been thinking lately about other people... and other people's lives... and what they do and who they see and what happens next...

And, thus, I thought I would chronicle A Day in the Life of Jen-A-Fusion. (Hm, do I smell another artist series here? A Day in the Life of Fill in the Blank Here...) This begs the questions, who cares what a day in my life is? Really? Who cares? Well, I do.. I thought it might give me a sense of what is getting done. What I need to do. Insight and reflection. An active meditation, if you will.

It is about 12:45. I just sat down to start writing this entry. At 12:30 was looking around for camera. Found camera. Looking around for memory card. (I took my camera to Texas with me, yahoo!, without the memory card inside, blah!) Found memory card. Tried to turn on camera. Batteries dead. All other batteries in car, in a fan that I was using at market yesterday.... ok, charging batteries. Will commence photo journaling later.

Sat down at computer. Got distracted by Facebook. Decided to change profile picture. Am back at writing this entry.

This morning was a somewhat typical Monday morning in the life of a market vendor. I think I can generally say that many market people take at least part of Monday to relax a little, re-group and get ready for the week. This is what other people do on Sundays.

(Bathroom break)

This morning, I slept way way way in. Again, what people usually do over the weekend. However, I had a Sunday festival in Maryland, about 45 minutes from my place. Got up at 6am to pack car, make lunch, get on road with enough time to get lost and still make it there on time. HOT HOT HOT out yesterday. Good people and good vibes, but long day. Heat makes me tired and hungry and tired.

Pack up, drive to studio. Unload car some, not enough energy to unpack all the way. Drive home to apartment, where boyfriend has dinner waiting at 9pm. Have dinner with boyfriend and our friend. Cool shower and to bed... zzzzz

Oh, I guess that was a day in the life yesterday.... oh, well... Did I mention I got an allergic reaction/ heat rash thing on my neck? Still trying not to scratch it, as when I do, looks like two big hickies. yuck.

Back to today. Slept in majorly. So majorly that I won't say what time, as 'regular' folks might get mad I slept that late on a Monday. However, it was no later than others sleep in, on a weekend morning. Did some chores around the apartment. Ran a few errands on the way to my studio, including a stop at Macy's to pay my bill and do some 'market research'. Aka, look at the mainstream purses to see what other people are designing, making and buying...

Get to studio, unpack weights, tent walls and tablecloths from my car, left in there yesterday because I didn't have the energy. Inside, put in a load of laundry. Then, make some brunch... look for camera... look for batteries (see above scenario)

(Break to let my old laptop cool off. It wasn't keeping up with my typing. While I wait, I unpack the suitcase from my Texas trip that I got back from almost a week ago, clean up the kitchen a little, take dry clothes off the drying rack.)

Well. Hm. What *needs* to be done today?

~Run charges from yesterday.

~Complete and mail an application for a show, due July 1st, show is in September.
Application has been filled out, CD will images has been burnt, check is ready. All sitting there, waiting for me to finish it up and send it out.

~Clean up common areas of studio. Studio roommate having visitor later this week. Time to clean kitchen?

~Finish up laundry.

~Work on Etsy shops, which are in shambles. Update, delete and add things in?

~Try not to throw computer out the window when it is old and slow and just trying to survive.

~Re-new audio books from library. I listen to books on CD while working on in my studio. Much more interesting than music. I've listened to about 40ish this year so far!

OK, should get to it, right?!

Well, just as any human will tell you, the road to hell, good intentions, blah blah...

Computer just totally froze up as I was trying to update Etsy shops. It got completely overheated and I tried to shut it down and cool it off. It won't really shut down. It actually just made some weird noises and I think, the Mac 'blue screen of death'.

Meanwhile, I cleaned up around the studio's common areas, finished laundry and then went to sew a little, to let the computer chill out for a while. Kept coming back to check on it, computer seems dead.

I try to get everything else on the list done, try to clean up my work space. Took some pictures to post. BUT, of course, I am now at my apartment, where I do not have my camera and thus can not post those pictures.

I get caught up with my studio roommate and leave for my apartment about 6:30pm, which is about the time a heavy rainstorm hits Alexandria. The highway is crawling, gutters overflow. I have a vague sense of what folks around the country have been going through.

I decide to take surface street instead of the highway... and am at sitting at a red light when I look over and see, one of the biggest rainbows ever in my life. It goes from one horizon to the other. FULL rainbow. I snap a pic on my cell and try to navigate without being caught in a pothole.

Head home where the boyfriend and I make dinner together (Bayou beans and rice, farm fresh sausage, fresh salad that includes lettuce from a friend's garden). Try not to think about my possible dead laptop.

After dinner, fold and put away some laundry. Now, back online, about to post this blog and make some plans for tomorrow. See, work never ends! :)

In all, a fairly good day. It didn't go completely as planned, my laptop might be dead and I didn't finish my whole to do list. However, a truly typical day in the life of Jen-A-Fusion, a few bumps, a few successes. This is actually a typical day in the life of many small business owners, designers and vendors. And, it all ended in a rainbow....

June Artist of the Month~ 3 Ring Necklace

2010-06-01T22:14:00.009-04:00

June is the month for Gemini, The Twins. Geminis are often known for their basic versatility and intelligent, yet airy, nature. Right brain, left brain. Thinkers, doers. Dreamers, realists.

Beth Athanas, who happens to be my sister, is the June Artist of the Month. The Gemini duality helps describe Beth, who will be celebrating a big birthday this week! Being the twin personified, Beth excels in many areas. She's smart and physical. Talented in the arts, the books and the muscle. While skydiving is her love, she is also a talented painter, award winning baker and jewelry maker. Her area of concentration, kinesiology, has lead her to a career as a Performance Enhancement Specialist. And, also lead her to design and create her signature jewelry, the 3-Ring Necklace.

While I'm not a skydiver myself, I truly appreciate the intricate detail of the 3-Ring Necklaces. The different colors, designs and textures the necklaces embraced are endearing in their uniqueness. The design is vaguely Celtic, vaguely modern, vaguely weird, vaguely familiar, and at the same time, all inviting.

Read on to find out why and how Beth decided to push her jumping passion toward a more creative outlet.

Q~ How did you get started?

A~ I started skydiving in 1999. One day I saw that I had three keychain rings of differing sizes. I decided to make them into a necklace that resembled the 3 ring release system on skydiving rigs. I was wearing the necklace in the packing room when a girl mentioned that she liked it, and asked if I sold them. I said no, but she planted a seed in my brain that didn’t sprout until years later.

When I was in graduate school and suffering financially, I decided to start making the necklaces to make some money. After I graduated, I continued out of pleasure.

Q~ Why do you continue?

A~ Skydiving is a sport for non-conformists. The closing pin necklace is very popular in skydiving, but it seems to me that people who are wearing them are conforming!

I take pride in being different and unique. When people ask me if I make closing pin necklaces, I tell them, “No- these are better.” NO ONE else makes this necklace! :)

Q~ What is a great success story?

A~I was thrilled when some top skydiving gear companies placed some orders to sell in their gear shops. It is always wonderful when I come across someone and they are wearing the 3 Ring Necklace!

Q~ What is one of your greatest failures?

A~ When I first started making the necklaces, I need a wholesale ring supplier. I found a crafting company in Canada and placed some orders with them. Unfortunately, their poor shipping standards and horrible customer service forced me to find another supplier. My current supplier is awesome; I just hope they stay in business!

Q~ Where do you get your inspiration?

A~ I get my inspiration from the incredible experience of jumping out of airplanes. Skydiving is source of empowerment, something that a lot of people need in their lives. I would not be the same person today if I was not a skydiver.

Q~ Why do you make/create what you do?

A~ I make what I do because I believe in my product. I think it truly is a beautiful necklace that represents something wonderful. I love sharing that with other people.

Q~ Where is your favorite place to sell? Or favorite show?

A~ I do most of my selling online. I love vending in person because I get to meet people and they get to design their own necklace. They create ownership of the necklace and they are more likely to wear it if they like it. It bugs me when people buy the necklace but don’t wear it.

Q~ What is one thing you love about your business?

A~I love meeting new people and making connections.

Q~ What is one thing you loathe?

A~I dislike when people make excuses why they don’t like the necklace. They say things such as, “It is too bulky,” (I make a mini three ring necklace as well) or “I don’t wear jewelry.” Not everyone is into the necklace because they are bigger than the closing pin necklaces.

Q~ What is your dream about your art?

A~ My goal is to be sold by every skydiving gear supplier. I want the necklaces to be just as popular as closing pin necklaces. Also, I want to be able to sponsor a skydiving team, but I don’t make that much money!

Q~ Where are you based?

A~ I live in Killeen, Texas because I work at Fort Hood for my full time job.

Q~ Where would you live if you could live anywhere?

A~I would live somewhere warm where I could skydive all year round, make good money, be close to my family, and be close to my boyfriend. That place has yet to exist!!!

Q~ What is next?

A~ Future plans for 3 Ring Necklace include more advertising in skydiving publications. I also want to make stickers and patches, which are very popular in the skydiving world, and a great way to advertise. I’m just working on making business cards. :)

Q~ What is your favorite question to ask people?

A~ Where do you jump?

Q~ What is your answer to that question?

A~ Right now I’m not jumping because of my injury, but I’m working manifest until I heal up.

Q~ What is the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow?

A~ What do you mean? And African or a European swallow?
“I don’t know that- AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!”

How do you know so much about swallows?
“You have to know these things when you’re king.”

3 Ring Necklaces can be custom ordered at 3ringnecklace.blogspot.com. Chooses from all different colors, sizes, types of leather cording and length. Get a completely unique necklace, from a completely unique type of artist. Also, you can friend 3 Ring on Facebook and keep up to date about new retail locations and styles.

May 2010 Artist of the Month~ Karma Krafts by Kimberley

2010-05-06T09:40:00.010-04:00

I'm always impressed by 'multi artists', people who are truly good at more than one medium. Like a painter who also plays beautiful piano, or the sculptor who can likewise weave luxurious fabric. Many creative people do have their fingers in more than one pot. Myself, I absolutely loved photography while in high school, while sewing took a back seat. Now, I have to force myself to pick up the camera.

However, I know few people that actually make and market more than one type of media. Kimberley Bush is one of them. She has tackled one of the more challenging mediums by working in clay and excels at one of the most difficult ceramics methods, raku. In addition, she makes soaps from "all natural and organic herbs which are combined with essential oils that give the soaps a long lasting smell that can fill a room with freshness." My favorite is the Cinnamon and Oatmeal, smells just like a cookie, I have to resist biting it!

Now, come to think of it, her soaps are so fresh and lovely, so clean and crisp, they look perfect in her dishes. Perhaps not so strange after all, making a pot, and then making something to put into it?

And, if creating these products wasn't keeping Kimberley busy enough, then she goes and starts up a new art market! The Alexandria Art Market will be held the every first Saturday of the month, June through November, with the exception of October, when Art on the Avenue is going on. Located just down the street from the farmers' market, shops, restaurants and plenty of parking on Mount Vernon Ave in Del Ray, the market will feature local and regional talent.

Read on for a very personal look into the philosophy of this creative individual as she speaks about life, helping others and moving through the tough times....

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Q~ How did you get started?

A~ About 8 years ago, I fell in love with clay when a good friend of mine asked me to accompany her to the pottery studio. I touched the clay, played with the clay and formed crazy shapes that in fact, were completely non-functioning and quite unattractive.

These creations lead me to taking classes at The Clay Queen and The Art League School in Alexandria, VA. At the Art League School, I got involved with their student/work program to learn the ins & outs of ceramics. Whether I was working on the pug team, glaze team or the kiln team, I was enthralled with the entire, glorious process of taking a mound of earth & transforming it into a work of art. Over the years I have been evolving as a potter and have a lovely line of porcelain and raku soap dishes, vases, bowls and display plates.

Q~ Why do you continue?

A~ Working with clay keeps my mind and spirit moving positively forward....I am all about progression not regression plus when I see the smile of happiness come over the face of someone looking at my work....the work that I left a little bit of myself..my karma....all is well with in the world and I live..happily..to make another piece of art for another day.

Q~ What is a great success story?

A~ Every day of my life is a great success story..this may sound very trite and corny but it is a sentiment that is true to me. But I can say that being asked (recently) to be the chairperson of a national juried exhibit is a success story. Being held in such a high regard to be asked to take on such a HUGE undertaking....allows me to have a heightened sense of accomplishment.

Creating the Alexandria Art Market is a success story. Taking something from nothing that will benefit and touch numerous individuals is simply amazing!

Q~ What is one of your greatest failures?

A~ I feel that ceasing working on my art after my Mom very sadly and unexpectedly passed away last July, while understandable, was a huge internal let down. Logically and sensibly I wanted to work but just couldn't find the energy to. I am fortunate not to have let her passing overcome my spirit so much that I was debilitated for too long.

Q~ Where do you get your inspiration?

A~ I get bored easily so I would say that other artist's work provokes me to explore other shapes or ways of decorating my work. Although, sometimes ideas just come to me out of the blue and I just run with that.

Q~ Why do you make/create what you do?

A~ The sheer instant gratification, unexpectedness and spontaneity of Raku and Horsehair pottery supplies my drive to keep creating it. It is kind of like that line from Forrest Gump...you never know what your gunna get. Both processes allow for unimagined variances and it just makes me giggle when the piece is complete.

Q~ Where is your favorite place to sell? Or Favorite show?

A~ I have a funny feeling that the Alexandria Art Market is going to be my favorite place to sell and show. I think that because it is something that will truly touch many lives, it will become one of the best endeavors I have ever been a part of and made come to life. It was something that was my idea and will be the product of my efforts and will be a good thing for many..many people. Life doesn't get better than that.

Q~ What is one thing you love about your business?

A~ I get to do me and be me. It is all me that the world sees and feels. Not some huge conglomerate or an entity that has some random individual as its CEO...I am my own CEO and that is what people will receive and at the base of that title is a woman that doesn't have a PhD, MBA or even completed college but that has a soul that is in touch with doing the right thing which is giving rather than receiving.

Q~ What is one thing you loathe?

A~ Oh lord...this list can take up a wholelotta MBs on a website but the main things are lack of compassion/understanding/tolerance/patience/kindness, inability to let go and be the bigger person and selfishness. I guess inability of being able to effectively love someone or something for who they are and who they are not.

Q~ What is your dream about your art?

A~ Again I am living my dream everyday. My art lives a life that starts in my mind, goes to my hands and completes its cycle living in someone else's life. That is a dream come true.

Q~ What is your mission?

A~ Keep on Keeping on. Put my two feet on the floor each morning and move through the world with positive energy for myself and all I encounter.

Q~ Where are you based?

A~ I live in Alexandria but at this time I have my studio in Fredericksburg.

Q~ Where would you live if you could live anywhere?

A~ Again...do you have time to read this list?

I have traveled to several countries and really all of them would be an amazing place to live but I can say it would have to be a location that had definitive seasons. Some place where fall is full of colors, winter is billowy with soft flakes of snow, spring is newborn and summer brings on a great deal of perspiration.

Q~ What would you be doing if not this?

A~ Well, when I am not creating I am a Realtor and really enjoy being the catalysis for people in finding the home of their dreams and aspirations. I also volunteer for a organization that helps individuals in their homelife and their children in their educational life. I teach ceramics in an afterschool program in Southeast DC...this is incredibly satisfying. I am led by what I do and at this time it is taking the attributes I have been blessed with and sharing them with others.

Q~ What is next?

A~ Making Alexandria Art Market the place to be, the talk of the town and a unilateral GIGANTIC SUCCESS, even if by my own standards and not of others...and I must say my standards are pretty high. I am also in the process of being the chairperson for a grant program of a non-profit arts organization in DC..the grant that I will work diligently to fund will contribute to allowing an artist to complete their next project...again..it doesn't get any better than that...helping others..that is the essence of simple, gratifying existence.

Q~ What is your favorite question to ask people?

A~ The one question that really lets people know you are into them and not all caught up in your own affairs and makes them feel you really sincerely care is an honest to goodness from the heart.."How are you"?

Q~ What is your answer to that question?

A~ Well, for the last several months since my mom passed the answer to that question has been "I am ok" or "I am fine" but I have progressed through my mourning and unfathomable sadness and can embrace my Mom in a different way and can appreciate her and her blessings in a different way. I can now actually say the word "good" and can say "I am good" or "I am well"..I can now greet people with a "Good Morning" versus "Hello or Morning"...it is very amazing how your lexicon can change because the players in your game of life change or in my case VERY SADLY expire.

Q~ What is the airspeed velocity of an unladen sparrow?

A~ I would have to say maybe 5 knots if she is not pregnant, carrying food for her young, carrying tree bark or leaves back to a branch on an oak tree to create a home for them or not fleeing from some a sparrow eating predator:)

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

More information about Karma Krafts by Kimberley, ceramics and handcrafted soap can be found at www.karmakraftsbykimberley.com.

She can be found at the Ballston Art & Craft Market THIS SATURDAY, May 8th, from 10am-4pm. The Alexandria Art Market will begin June 5th and run every first Saturday of the month (barring October) through November.

Likewise, plenty of other 'Artists of the Month' from this blog will be in attendance. Full Sanction, comic book stick figure drawing experts, will be out in full force, with some hidden goodies. Boxboy, with all his kooky little boxes, will be there too.

Can't wait for Saturday! I always love the Ballston Market. The lineup of artist, crafters and musicians is the best ever. And, I'm not just saying that because I'll be there! ~Jen

Green Tip~ Get your in touch with your interior little kid!

I just found a website called Stubby Pencil Studios, supposedly 'eco products for creative kids'. Wait, there's some really cool stuff here! Only for kids? Well, I wanna be a kid and have it too!

I especially like the Pebble Crayons, they look so pretty..

I've gotten the Smencils for Christmas and they smell good enough to eat!

And, I LOVE the party favors section. Gifts, stocking stuffers and grab bag ideas starting under $2! This would be great for wedding favors, even.

So, calling kids of all ages, heights and artistic talents, get over to Stubby Pencil and get your eco art on!

It can be easy being Green!

2010-04-21T19:50:00.003-04:00

Happy Earth Day!

Get out your hemp sandals and organic cotton t-shirt! Jump on your hybrid shooter! Zip down to the farmers' market and buy locally grown tomatoes!

What? You don't have hemp sandals? No hybrid shooter? No farmers' market? Don't like tomatoes? What kind of environmentalist are you!? Oh.. the lazy kind?

Well, that is the beauty of being lazy in this day and age. It is actually EASIER than ever before to be a 'tree hugger'. It used to be HARD, tedious, stinky and soooo uncool. You had to like, grow your own veggies just to have simple, natural choices. You had to actually drive your recyclables to a dump, which is totally oxymoronic. You had to wear scratchy wool hand knit sweaters. You couldn't wear deodorant.

I found the following list in my grandmother's house. Dated circa 1991, you can see how difficult it was to be earth friendly 20 years ago.

“Helpful Household Hints for the person interested in conserving and recycling”

Wash used saran wrap and drip dry

Press used paper towels

Water down ketchup and mustard

Wash and reuse toothpicks

Wash, fluff and drip dry Q-tips

Sell all moldy bread to a penicillin factory

Deep fat fry potato peelings for handy dandy snacks

Take a bath with laundry-saves water and soap

Pressure cook old leather (makes good stew!)- for flavor throw in old stock!

(Author's note: KEEP reading folks, just gets better!)

Press clothes between mattress and box spring to save electricity

Save scrap mail for writing letters

Save bath and laundry water to wash car

Reuse tea bags at least 5 times a piece

Slice thin spaghetti lengthwise to make it go further

Save old egg shells for ashtrays

(Author again: And, to know you are a TRUE hippie!)

Save old newspapers, cut into 4” strips, perforate at 4” intervals for toilet paper.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

I don't know about you, but by the time I was at the end of this list, I was on the floor, laughing my head off. Not only are some of these practices just gross and unhealthy (do they know how many chemicals are used in processing leather? yuck!) or possibly dangerous (paper cuts on the bum?, no thank you) but some must surely be outlawed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Isn't that why paper towels get thrown away- they are full of germs?)

See, even just 20 years ago, it was hard work to be an environmentalist. You had to shower with your clothes, eat watered down mustard and smoke to be able to use those egg shells.

Today, you can be an environmentalist soooo easily. Just be a consumer. As InSync used to say, “Buy, buy, buy.”

What? Oh, you think that is contradictory? You can't be a consumer and care about the environment? Well, we ALL are consumers, some more than others. And, in just our everyday life we can all make purchasing choices that push recycled materials, better energy options and a greater impact on the environment than washing out a Q-Tip ever could.

Each and every time you make a purchase, see if there is a better earth friendly option to buy.

~Purchase copy paper, envelopes, pens and pencils made from recycled materials

~Check out sneakers made from used recycled plastic bottles, like these

~If you don't/can't go to the farmers' market, look for 'local produce' signs at the grocery store

~Try Marcal's line called 'Small Steps', which are 100% recycled paper products. They are using the concept that it is 'small step' toward having a smaller carbon footprint. (I buy the bulk pack of t.p. at Staples. It comes out to be cheaper than the 'regular' type.)

~Don't take a bag for a small item or small amount of items.

~Look for organic cotton goods in such major retailers such as Walmart(t-shirts) and Target(sheets).

~Look out for bamboo clothing also! Silky smooth and made from a resource that has a fast renewal rate, bamboo fiber has been sneaking into more mainstream fashion.

~Buy that hybrid! Now that car manufacturers have been making hybrid for 10 or more years, the price of a used one has come down greatly. This used Prius can be bought for less than $6k. This used hybrid Civic is less than $8k!

~Or, splurge for that electronic car! The Tesla Roadster is only a little over $100k!

Once you have consumed, dispose properly.

~Pass on used but still wearable clothing to homeless shelters, thrift stores or the Red Cross.

~Post gently used furniture on freecycle or Craigslist. Or, donate to local shelters or community centers.

~Read up on your jurisdiction's accepted items for recycling. I know in Alexandria, they keep adding to the list of things they will take.

~Offer items to friends and family that might be able to use (but not old saran wrap)

~Get rid of your car totally. With ride share, public transportation and flexible borrowing programs, if you drive your car less than twice a week, chances are that you don't really need to own it. For example, Zipcar is a easy, affordable alternative to owning a vehicle.

See! I told you, EASY hippie earth friendly buying habits. NO leather tinted stew, with a side of watered down ketchup!

Happy happy earth day! ~Jen

Green Tip~ Don't beat yourself up!

Yes, with technology and eco commerce, it is easier than ever to have an eye on the environment in everyday life. But, it is just as easy to forget or be put in a position due to time, money and effort, not to.

First and foremost, I know I 'preach' a lot about what one could do or buy or go to or not do or not buy or no go to. All merely suggestions! I am not as 'good' as I could be, but also not as bad as I could be either. I figure that everyone does what they are comfortable with and just hope that means they are doing a little everyday.

If you want to do more, then just make some baby steps to begin with. Change what little you can, at the beginning. Do something small each day, it will become habit!

In the very near future, I will post a 'full disclosure' list of things I do that aren't environmentally friendly. It will make you feel better about yourself, really.

Here's a teaser~ When I go to 7-11 to get coffee, I don't bring a reusable mug. I just use a Styrofoam cup. :(

CLNS Fine Art Festival This Saturday!

2010-04-13T11:50:00.003-04:00

I'm excited about this little festival that is brand new for me! Good things: in Bethesda, (where I don't do many shows), festival is being given as a fund raiser for a nursery school, lots of fun family friendly activities and sun being forecast. Bad things: can't think of any! perhaps not having enough to sell?!

The Details:

What: CLNS Fine Art Festival

When: Saturday, April 17, 10-5pm

Where: Cedar Lane Nursery School, 9601 Cedar Lane, Bethesda, MD

Website: www.clnsfestival.info

More: $3 entry fee

Hope to see you there~Jen

Green Tip~ Earth Day Month!

Remember to celebrate Earth Day on Thursday, April 22. At the very least, try to walk softly that day, recycle a water bottle, don't do take out in styrofoam and perhaps walk that day. And, then, try to hold that over into the next day and then the next day... more habits can be changed, when you put your mind to it.

Or, try to make some recycled crafts, such as these egg cup insects.

April Artist of the Month~ Boxboy!

2010-04-01T16:57:00.006-04:00

There are some people you know and you don't quite remember how you first met them. It is like that for me with Paul, the artistic mind behind Boxboy. I don't remember the first time I met him, because it seems his zany creations have always been a part of my world. Approachable, affordable and just plain fun, I hope these boxes become a part of your world too.

Q~How did you get started?

A~ I used to own a gift store in Knoxville, TN, called Objet d'art (I should have known then the store name was too fancy for the folk in East TN); I came into possession of a very old and beat up wooden trunk made in Central America. It occurred to me to try and decoupage it. Nothing inspired me to do so ... at the time Rosie O'Donnell was bragging about her pitiful attempts at decoupaging on her awful TV show (her decoupage was awful, too). She was NOT an inspiration. I just started cutting, pasting and varnishing. It actually turned out quite well, and I received many compliments on it. It eventually sold (at a way too low price) and my decoupaging took off from there. Over the years the boxes have gotten smaller and smaller, but I am always experimenting with new media and different techniques.

Q~Why do you continue?

A~I absolutely love what I do. Besides making a little money at it, it is therapeutic and it keeps me off the streets and out of trouble. Of course, I have never been one to flit about on the streets or get into any kind of trouble! It's a good BoxBoy line to use on customers, however.

I don't remember the last time I had a "real" job in the real world. At this point in my life, I am too old to be employed by the man and too set in my ways. What else could be better than sitting on the floor, doing the decoupage thing and listening to Tiny Tim sing "Tiptoe Through the Tulips"?

Q~What is a great success story?

A~To be truthful, when I hear from a customer who is just absolutely thrilled with a BoxBoy creation. This is even especially more true when the compliment comes from a fellow artist. I mean, I have talent in what I do ... there is an awful lot of crummy decoupage out there ... but when a person who can actually draw, paint, sculpt, etc., rants and raves about my stuff, wow!

One of my favorite BoxBoy moments occurred several years ago at Eastern Market. A very nice gentleman was searching for a special box to hold some of the cremated remains of his recently deceased lover. He told me his story and found the perfect box at my booth. What an honor for me. Plus, it made me weep.

Q~What is one of your greatest failures?

A~No one humongous failure in particular ... probably many mini-failures. I probably should be more aggressive in marketing my products. I really can't get too big as I am a one-person show and there is a limit as to what I can do numerically. Well why not hire apprentices (for lack of better terminology) or teach classes? Because I don't want to ... nobody can do it better than myself (not egotism, just the facts, ma'am).

I would love to travel to other cities and do some shows, but that is just not in the cards. The fact is I do well enough in the DC area to make ends meet, and that's fine with me. I am not greedy nor do I have any aspirations to get rich. I am the quintessential bohemian artist, and am glad to continue in that role.

Q~Where do you get your inspiration?

A~Honestly, I don't know. One of my artist buddies asked me once what artist(s) inspired me, and I couldn't answer the question. It may sound self-serving and self-indulgent (the latter term I borrow from American Idol judge Simon Cowell), but the inspiration comes from within. The ideas just pop into my BoxBoy brain, and I run with it. The idea make take years to come to fruition in the form of a tangible
product, but eventually it blooms, ripens and falls from the tree.

Q~Why do you make/create what you do?

A~It's all I know to do at this point in my life. Plus, people like weird, kooky things ... not that all of my creations are weird and kooky. I am glad to fulfill a need in the DC area. Somebody observed once that people seemed attracted to my booth at an outdoor show as if I was a magnet. Well, that's a great compliment. I am happy when my customers laugh at something they see, even if they don't purchase it. Then I have done my job.

Q~Where is your favorite place to sell? Or Favorite show?

A~I sell every Sunday during fair weather months at Eastern Market (the school playground side) and have done so since 1999. I love it for many reasons, mainly that it attracts visitors from all over the world and has an ever changing weekly audience. Plus, it is run by very professional personnel, as opposed to other markets in the area.

My favorite single shows/events of the year are Art on the Avenue in Alexandria in October and the Downtown Holiday Market in the District of Columbia in December. Besides being my best moneymakers of the year, they are just fun to do ... my fellow vendors have incredible goods there and everybody is so nice. I think we're all here to help each other, and those two shows epitomize that. Some shows/events, it's an "all about me" attitude by some vendors. These people I have no use for ... and I could name names, but I won't!

Q~What is one thing you love about your business?

A~That I have the freedom to do whatever I want on every conceivable level. I set my own work hours, I choose the designs I want to use, I decide when and where and how I want to sell, etc., etc., etc. BoxBoy is not a job, it's a year-long working vacation almost.

Q~What is one thing you loathe?

A~Well, I could write a book and could go in any number of directions. But I'll be honest ... I have no tolerance for people in my booth who have no sense of humor. ;) Oh, I'm used to the ignorant remarks of "$16 FOR A BOX?" I guess I take things too personally. Not everybody shares my warped sense of humor; so that's why I take the low road and when I'm in a bad mood ... when somebody gives me attitude ... I give it right back. I am not the most professional salesperson in the world, nor do I strive to be. But you know what, when you know the idiot isn't going to buy anything in the first place and you're never going to see the idiot again, why not get if off your chest? The last time I snapped was at the DHM in December just before our first snowstorm of the season. A lady picked up a box and asked, "Why is this $20?" I responded, "Because that's what the market will bear and this is how I make my living." She said, "Well, that's a fair answer." My next door neighbor was greatly amused by my honesty. Frankly, it was the mildest retort I had used in a long time. Maybe I am mellowing with age...

Q~What is your dream about your art?

A~Well, it's on a monetary level. This is my sole source of income. How I am able to support myself and indulge in my vices is beyond me, but I do it. I hope that people continue to be kind to BoxBoy and allow him to continue to do what he does. I greatly admire people who have full-time jobs then do their artwork as well. I am so very, very lucky.

Q~Where are you based?

A~I work out of my home in Fairfax County, Va, near Mount Vernon. My art studio is in my basement and I am surrounded by my compact discs, artwork from around the world and scary clowns dangling from my ceiling.

Q~Where would you live if you could live anywhere?

A~For some reason, I would love to live in rural New England in an old farmhouse. Fall is my favorite season and heaven on earth would be to live amid foliage in September and October. Also, I have also wanted to experience at least one winter in the north. After 60 inches of snow in DC this season, that desire no longer exists.

Q~What would you be doing if not this?

A~Excellent question. In my previous life, I was a journalist. That was never my calling, however, and although that trade could be picked up again, I have absolutely no desire to do so. An extremely complicated chain of events brought me to decoupage, so this is where I am meant to be and this is my destiny.

Q~What is next?

A~I think this is it. I have lived in many parts of the US, but I hope DC is my last stop. BoxBoy can't go on forever ... I think there is about 10 years left before BB retires. I choose to adhere to the Scarlett O'Hara philosophy of reality ... "I'll think about it tomorrow, for tomorrow's another day."

Q~ What is the airspeed velocity of an unladen sparrow?

A~Hey, I was a smart guy in school/college, but math was never my thing ... and it's still not. I never understood how "if x plus y equals z, what is the value of x?" could be useful in life. There are calculators for that.

Boxboy, and his warped sense of humor, can be found at many markets this year, as well as online. Click here for his website and here for his schedule.

Happy April Fool's! ;)

My Butterfly Effect

2010-03-27T11:08:00.006-04:00

According to Wikipedia, "The concept of the butterfly effect is frequently referred to in popular culture in terms of the novelty of a minor change in circumstances causing a large change in outcome."

My older sister and my grandmother's hands with a butterfly, photo taken by my younger sister.

I'm sitting in an atuobody waiting room. Well, rather, I am camping out in an autobody waiting room. I was in a car accident last month and the trunk is still leaking. They are working on it and I am working on all that I brought with me. I can't just sit. Rather, I can't just sit here and read, or do nothing for 3 hours, the time they quoted it would take. At 2.5 hours now, I think they might be right about that estimate.

I sat, working on various bits of things, a little computer work, a little pinning and cutting of projects. I also brought along some new crochet bags to work on. Likewise, I am listening to an audio book, The Possibly of Everything, by Hope Edelman. It is a memoir of a California writer who chronicles a trip with her toddler and husband to Belize. There is a butterfly on the cover of the audio book case.

As I work, some of the employees are interested in my bag. A woman mentions it looks like a crocheted rug she has, made by a friend's mother, which she says 'is very dear to me'. I nod and tell her that the bags are being made from rag strips that my grandmother, who passed in the fall, had prepared for her own rug making. I explain that I am using them to make bags, rather than rugs. She says they look good and we go back to what we were doing.

On CD player, Edelman details a visit to a butterfly farm, where her family has bright blue South American insects land on them and they gape at the beauty. This, too, reminds me of my grandmother. In August, when she was still able to get out and about, my family took her to a butterfly festival at a local nature center. They set up a mesh tent with a variety of fluttering things. At the festival, my older sister wheeled my grandmother into the tent and tried to get one to land on her hands but they were somewhat spooked, as too many 4 year olds had been clutching them all day.

The crochet bag, the woman's comments, the audio book and, just like that, I am utterly, completely missing my grandmother.

The colors on the bag in front of me blur and mush as I tear up. I can feel them about to spill over and I hear my grandmother's voice asking “What will people think?” Yes, Gram, what *would* people think at me crying over you in an auto body shop? I can barely contain my laugh at her unexpected chiding and the tears slip back into my eyes.

While her love in my life had an undeniable affect, so did her quirks and it was those that just saved me from crying in the waiting room of an auto body shop. And, thus, my butterfly effect is complete for today.

"In the Bag" - Making New Accessories from Recycled Fabrics

2010-03-10T21:23:00.005-05:00

Still have time to register for the In the Bag Workshop!

All materials are provided!

Fun is guaranteed!

Details:
Create a bag from recycled materials, old clothing, your favorite dress, vintage towels and more. Learn about suitable fabrics, patterns, interfacings and other materials.

When:
Friday, March 12, 6 pm -10 pm

Where:
Del Ray Artisans Gallery
2704 Mount Vernon Avenue
Alexandria, VA 22301

Registration Fee:
$40 for DRA members / $45 for non-members

Other Details:
Basic sewing skills needed
Suggested supply list will be provided prior to the workshop
Sewing machine usage will be available

Instructor:
Jen Athanas (jenafusion.blogspot.com)
571-332-0181 or jenathanas@hotmail.com

Happy International Women's Day!

2010-03-08T07:24:00.005-05:00

What will you be doing to celebrate International Women's Day?

Well... It is not only IWD but my birthday! So, I always celebrate it by thanking my mom for raising a strong woman (actually, three...) but usually, I let myself go a little on this day. I am a self named workaholic, so I typically give myself the day off from work, no matter what I have going on or what projects I have on my plate... and today will be no different. However, I had a really hard time figuring out what I wanted to do. Normally, I challenge myself to do something more unique, more artistic, more outgoing than I do on a day to day. But, this year...

A museum? Been there, done that...
A day trip? Nah...
Time in the studio, to clean? BLAH!
Rollerskating, ice skating, sky diving, hang gliding, horseback riding, motocross racing?? DONE THEM ALL. Nope ;) Not that last one...

Stay at home in the kitchen, cooking all day? Hm... Now, that *is* different!

See, in my day to day life, I just don't have much time (read no time) to cook and bake and make all those yummy, wholesome things that my body needs to be a big, strong woman. I recently went wheat/gluten free and while it has been somewhat easy, I do miss baked goods and yummy, bad for you things like pizza. We made gluten free pizza last night and it was really good (perhaps it was the bacon *and* ham we put on it??). However, the GF prepared goods are probably just as bad for you as the wheat versions and the mixes are quite pricey... So, I decided to 'stay in' and bake all day, freeze and have on hand all those things I'll then be able to eat for the next few months....

What a great way to celebrate International Women's Day than throw the windows open and breathe in the spring fresh air, with the scent of fresh baked bread?

Wait, what did you say? "HOW does this give homage to millions of persecuted, enslaved, undernourished women all over the world?"

It comes down to choice.

While there are millions of women (and men and children) all over the world and throughout history that do not have the choice of lifestyle, career, home life and a multitude of other things. I am so fortunate to live in a place and time that I CAN choose my lifestyle and career, where I want to live and what I want to spend my time doing. The mere fact I am sitting in a beautiful apartment and writing this on a Monday morning is proof enough that I have greatly benefited from the sacrifices of others.

So, as I measure the rice flour and blend the xanthan gum, as I bite into the first GF muffin I'll have made from scratch, I will think about all the women forced into the kitchen and give tribute to them. And, be glad I was able to choose to be there today.

'I'm one of those girls that *likes* to eat!' ~ Sarah Jessica Parker, Failure to Launch

March 2010 Artist of the Month~Jetsy

2010-03-02T08:38:00.002-05:00

Jenny Hoffman is a woman divided, by passions, by interests, by a desire to do it all. Artist, mother, Arbonne saleswomen and health nut. While not hanging out with her adorable little girl and husband, she's networking and running her business. In her downtime, she creates cutie little pieces of jewelry and upcycled spice tins. I personally wonder, when does she sleep? ;)

Read on for more about this amazing multi-tasker!

Q~How did you get started?

A~My good friend Jen (newmoonpie.etsy.com) taught me the basics of jewelry-making, from how to use a bead board for designing to how to attach bead tips. I craved a creative outlet, and I wanted something productive to keep my hands busy while I watched t.v. to unwind. (Kind of oxymoronic, I know!)

Q~Why do you continue?

A~I keep finding pendants that just cry out to me to be made into a unique necklace.

Q~What is a great(or greatest) success story?

A~I also like to take those old metal spice tins and upcycle them into something useful. I made a couple of these and put them up in my Etsy shop. A woman in Ohio, who was opening her own brick-and-mortar store, contacted me and wanted to buy a dozen of them! I really had to scramble to find that many spice tins, but I was so proud of the results.

Q~What is one of your greatest failures?

A~I have the hardest time with knots. Consequently, I have wasted lots of jewelry wire because I've put a kink in it somewhere conspicuous trying to tie a knot. Sometimes, I have to re-string the entire necklace, but I want to get it right. Because if your knot isn't done well, the necklace could fall apart on my customer!

Q~Where do you get your inspiration?

A~My inspiration comes from my goth and punk rock roots, as well as motherhood, books, songs, friends, and family. Influences include The Cure, Mary Englebreit, Ani Difranco, Ansel Adams, Monet, Eric Carle, Naomi Wolf, The X Files, Ska, Yoga Asanas, Led Zeppelin, Twin Peaks, mother nature, Anthropologie, and Mother Nature.

Q~Where is your favorite place to sell? Or Favorite show?

A~My favorite place to sell is Etsy, because their fees are very reasonable, and because I feel good about the caliber of work represented there.

Q~What is one thing you love about your business?

A~I love it when I get positive feedback from my buyers. It feels good to know that my mind created something that is out there making someone else happy.

Q~What is one thing you loathe?

A~There is one thing I don't like about Etsy, and that is the shear volume of artists on the site. It's practically impossible for someone to stumble upon your shop by accident. So you really have to drive traffic to your shop yourself.

Q~Where are you based?

A~I am based in Odenton, Maryland, in the center of the Annapolis, DC, and Baltimore triangle.

Q~Where would you live if you could live anywhere?

A~I live exactly where I want to be. I'm originally from Texas, but these are my people here.

Q~What would you be doing if not this?

A~I also have a growing business with Arbonne International (JennyHoffman.myArbonne.com), so I spend the majority of my time networking. My art is taking a back seat for now, but someday I will be able to retire off my Arbonne riches and let the creativity flow!

Q~What is your favorite quote?

A~"And the day came when the risk it took to remain tight in the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom." - Anaïs Nin

What a talented fish! Happy Birthday to Jenny~ a Piscean celebrating her birthday this week!

Changes!

2010-02-22T21:06:00.006-05:00

I don't usually think of myself as a person adverse to changes. I really like to go to new restaurants, towns and have new adventures. But, tooooo many changes at once can just be a little overwhelming.... AND exciting! Here are some great new changes going on around here.

Learn How Jen-A-Fusion Does it!

Workshop: "In the Bag" - Making New Accessories from Recycled Materials

When: Friday, March 12, 6 pm -10pm

I'll be teaching a workshop about how to create a bag from recycled fabrics, old clothing, your favorite dress, vintage towels and more. Learn about suitable fabrics, patterns, interfacings and other materials. Basic sewing skills needed.

Plenty of free materials provided along with sewing machine usage. Instructor will provide a suggested supply list prior to class.

Advance registration is required by Tuesday, March 9 at www.thedelrayartisans.org.
Fee is $40 for DRA members / $45 for non-members, this includes many materials!

Jen-A-Fusion has been Bamboozled!!

Bamboozled:
bam·boo·zle: verb:
To take in by elaborate methods of deceit; hoodwink

Well... perhaps this does describe this hidden little gem. Tucked in a seemingly innocent tiny strip of shops, this great store might hoodwink one into thinking it was just another gifty shop. So not so! Bamboozled is a hard store to describe. Part exotic clothing boutique, part baby shop, part jewelry book, this shop defies description. It is in this light that I am so happy to be carried there! Stop by to check out the little zipper bags and coin purses they now have on hand.

Bamboolzed
4929 Saint Elmo Ave
Bethesda, MD 20814
(301) 907-9020
www.yelp.com/biz/bamboozled-bethesda

Likewise, I'm working on new products that will go hand in hand with the farmer's markets soon to be going full swing. Looking forward to getting out to shows again...if this snow ever melts!~Jen

February 2010 Artists of the Month~ A Fresh Perspective Photography by Andrea and Zak Metz

2010-02-01T20:04:00.010-05:00

You know that little fluttery feeling in your stomach, when you find out someone you know is doing some cool, good stuff out there in the world? Stuff that you might have had no hand in, no effect on, but you are still so happy for them and just wish them the absolute best?

Yup, I feel like that when I look at Zak Metz's photos.

In the world of people who are content at being good at one or two or three things, Zak is A Modern Renaissance Man. Pretty much self taught in every venture he tackles, he approaches each new challenge with curiosity, an open mind and an unwillingness to be defeated. He learns, he does, does well, does to the extreme and then moves on to the next subject to dominate. Whether in his day job of writing computer code to his side love of this photography business, Zak and his wife and partner, do not stop at less than exceptional.

It does not surprise that the images he captures are nothing short of awe inspiring.

Although A Fresh Perspective is a combined effort of a wife and husband team, Zak is the creative director and thus, answered the following questions with thoughtful wit and modesty.

Q~ How did you get started?

A~ It all started when I was about twelve or thirteen, I borrowed my dad’s SLR camera and 35mm wide-angle lens, the only lens he had. I had found a screw-on macro lens and was fascinated with the detail it revealed in leaves and flowers. I bought a roll of 36-exposure ISO400 and explored my backyard and my neighborhood, carefully using up those 36 frames. I spent days on that project and couldn’t wait to see the results.

When I unloaded the film, I discovered that I hadn’t loaded it right. It hadn’t captured a single image. I was heartbroken. It seemed unlikely that I’d ever take a picture again.

Fast forward to High School and begin again.

It all (re)started when I was in High School. I had an art teacher who realized I had an artistic bent and who encouraged me to try new things, to hell with the curriculum. Another student and I hid away in the unused second art room while the rest of the class learned about perspective and other basics that I had already taught myself.

I drew. I painted. I felt like there was something there, but I didn’t feel like I had discovered just what. I liked the results, but it still felt like work. It felt like I was trying to get perfect results with imperfect tools. The lines were never perfectly straight, the paint never perfectly smooth. I didn’t know what that meant or why I wanted it so much.

Like every teenager, I was into music, so in the evenings when I had ample free time thanks to insomnia, I started an online music magazine. This was before the Internet, so I distributed my album reviews on a much smaller network called FidoNet. I had letterhead and envelopes. I was getting a couple CDs a day in the mail. I called my magazine Clandestine Record Reviews.

It got some attention and I had some readers. My parents found it quite amusing that record labels were calling me to arrange interviews and concert reviews hoping for
some good press. The local newspaper printed a few of my reviews, but I knew inside that this still wasn’t the artistic outlet I needed.

Suddenly I got married, had a kid, and the magazine went silent.

A few years later I started it back up, this time on the Internet, and with a new name: Distortion Music Magazine, “Friend to the Fringe.” Still looking for a real connection to art, I found myself attracted to experimental music. It spoke to me, but I struggled trying to find the words to express how it made me feel. I just didn’t have the vocabulary to do it justice.

I had started taking pictures at the shows with my Kodak point-and-shoot. When writing became more effort than it was worth, I started feeling sadly under qualified to be a critic. But with photography, well, I felt like I was getting somewhere. A coworker saw
my photos and talked me into getting a real camera, a Canon EOS 10D. I shot a couple more rock shows, and it became obvious that it was what my soul needed. I acquired more technical skills and I found myself getting images that I was proud of and that the musicians were thrilled with. I gave up the writing, again, and threw myself headlong into photography.

A couple years later, my wife, who has her MBA, (blogger's note: she has two Masters!)suggested we turn photography into a side business. She had the smarts and I had some talent. We suspected that we were the double threat. It’s been quite the experience, but I’d say that overall we’re having fun. We live in a pretty conservative area, but even here we’re finding people who are looking for something new, creative, and edgy.

Q~ Where do you get your inspiration?

A~ It finds me. Of course, luck favors the prepared. It’s there when I venture out at dawn or dusk. It’s there when I study a person or family in the studio. It’s there when I’m looking for fine art. Or when I’m looking for bugs to shoot with the macro lens.

Q~ What is one thing you love about your business?

A~ I love exploring who people are, to catch that special something that only they have.

Q~ What is one thing you loathe?

A~ Trying to collect money.

Q~ What is your dream about your art?

A~ I crave external validation. I’d like to achieve a PPA (Professional Photographers of America) degree, and that requires achievements in their print competitions.

Q~ What is your mission?

A~ My mission is to let that inner need have a voice. Whether that’s walking around in the snow capturing the sunrise through the trees, or taking a portrait that captures someone’s soul, I’m always looking for a unique angle. That’s why I named our business “A Fresh Perspective Photography”.

Q~ Where are you based?

A~ I live in a small town called Kenyon in Southeastern Minnesota, about half way between the Twin Cities of Minneapolis/St. Paul, and Rochester, the home of the WFMC (world-famous Mayo Clinic). It gets really cold here in the winter. We haven’t been above freezing for a couple months. It was -8 when I took my kids to daycare this morning.

Q~ Where would you live if you could live anywhere?

A~ I’m not a big fan of winter. I lived in Miami for a couple years. Hot and humid every day is fine with me. I think we’ll find our way to Austin, TX before too long. Austin has a hip, young population and a great music scene. I can see us there.

Q~ What would you be doing if not this?

A~ Photography is not my day job. I’m a software engineer. While I fantasize about being a full-time creative, I’m not sure it’s realistic, and it would be hard to leave behind the benefits of my career. I would like to mold the photography business, though. I have a ton of fun shooting high school seniors, and it’s hard to imagine
anything greater than spending the day with a couple about to be married.

Q~ What is next?

A~ After the slow winter season, I look forward to more weddings and high school seniors, meeting more new friends and getting more people excited to have really good images that will be cherished for untold years.

For more photos, please check out A Fresh Perspective's website. Some of the are just breathtaking.

It is always good to get caught up on old friends, no?

I am just so happy for Zak and Andrea, good, old friends. Such good friends, I was in their 2004 wedding! I miss the heck out of them, living in Minnesota, but I love doing what I am doing now, checking out their photos and listening to their wedding CD. Actually, double wedding CD, that Zak created himself!

So, learn about my old friend and also get nostalgic about your own past. What else do you have to do in the winter? ;) ~Jen

FREE!!

2010-01-20T20:02:00.002-05:00

Jen-A-Fusion is stuck at 96 fans on Facebook! A free 'Earth Tip Per Day' calender for the 100th fan.... and, no, you can't delete yourself and then re-add. Sorry! ;(

Click on the link on the upper left hand corner of this page and it will take you to the Facebook fan page.

Thank you to all that already fans! More funness coming in the future~Jen

January 2010 Artists of the Month~ Full Sanction

2010-01-10T10:57:00.006-05:00

Sometimes, going new places will take you even further than you might have imagined. Going to new shows and festivals will do that for me. I get exposed to customers and other vendors that I would otherwise never have encountered.

This definitely happens when I have gone to the DC Counterculture Festival. This show is mostly comic makers and graphic novelists, with a few crafters and artists thrown in for good measure. Two years ago, I met Joe and Rusty as they were right next to me at DCCF. They are really fun loving guys that take the most odd moments that life has to offer and create comics, zines, keychains and the like. They don't take life or their art way too seriously, which they really can't: their characters are stick people! Now, that's my kind of drawing.

So, for a laugh out loud kind of Q&A, read below to find out more about two guys that create fun.

Q~ How did you get started?

Joe~ I make kitten scarves. I got started when my kitten's neck got cold.

Rusty~ I started doing comics in 1996 after seeing other self-publishers at the Small Press Expo and realizing "Hey, I could do this!" At some point Joe started signing his name to my stories, so I included him as well.

Q~ Why do you continue?

J~ Feline hypothermia.

R~ I'm not sure how to take this question. Are you inferring we should quit?

Q~ What is your greatest success story?

J~ February, 2005 - I was kitten-sitting and my water heater stopped heating. I knit a scarf big enough to keep six kittens' necks warm.

R~ September, 2008 - A dude pissed me off so bad that we wrote a comic about it. We did not name the dude in the issue and were thus able to actually sell him a copy.

Q~ What is one of your greatest failures?

J~ I didn't have enough yarn for kitten number seven.

R~ Not making the 1998 Winter Olympics team for Comic Publishing. I made the Summer team in 2000, but it just wasn't the same...

J~ SYDNEY!

Q~ Where do you get your inspiration?

J~ Human scarves. Specifically, humans that look like kittens that wear scarves.

R~ Many times I find inspiration in my friends and fellow comic creators. They really push themselves and make me want to work harder. Other times I trip on acid.

Q~ Why do you make/create what you do?

J~ I love comics.
I mean kittens.

R~ I love sharing stories with people.

Q~ Where is your favorite place to sell? Or Favorite show?

J~ SKX. Small Kitten Expo

R~ I personally prefer SPX, the Small Press Expo. It's an annual show held in Bethesda, MD for independent comic publishers. It's where we were first introduced to the world of self-published comics and where we've made many friends. I don't like the crowd at the Small Kitten Expo. Kinda snobby.

Q~ What is the one thing you love about your business?

J~ Felting my yarn.

R~ I don't know if I'd call it a "business", so much as an "empire"...

J~ That's not an answer.

Q~ What is one thing you loathe?

Jose~ Me. I don't really knit kitten scarves. I made that up. I've grown very tired. I almost spell it "grone". I just wrote "almost spell it".

R~ I hate having to work with Joe when he has one of his "episodes" and starts spelling things wrong.

Q~ What is your dream about your art?

Jose~ Something about comics and kittens and scarves and winning an award.

R~ I'd like to win an Ignatz.

Q~ What is your mission?

J~ To do something productive with everything that goes through my mind and the crazy crap that Rusty and I come up with.

R~ To keep making comics and expand our stories into other mediums.

Q~ Where are you based?

J~ Trunk of my car where my kittens and comics live.

R~ We are primarily based in Hyattsville, MD. However, with Joe's trunk attached to his car we're able to move our base of operations at any moment.

Q~ Where would you live if you could live anywhere?

J~ Someplace with an inside. Or 1800's France.
R~ New York or 1800's Spain. Then we could be penpals in the past!

Q~ What would you be doing if not this?

J~ What I'm doing right now: talking about it.
R~ Making purses.

Q~ What is next?

J~ Porn.
R~ It's hard to say. There are so many possibilities for where we can take our art from this point. I guess...yeah, probably porn.

Q~ What is your favorite question to ask people?

Jose~ What's this smell like?
R~ Where the hell did you come from?!?

Q~ What is your answer to that question?

J~ I want a manhat. I mean: Heaven.
R~ Heaven.

Q~ What is the airspeed velocity of an unladen sparrow?

J~ I'm really very sorry about my answers. I haven't really made a comic in over a year. I'm plain awful. I like drawing stick figures because it's both a blank canvas where one can fill in the details regarding emotion and motion as well as an easy vehicle to tell stories based around the ideas we come up with more so than any actual storytelling. I love that there's a low barrier for entry in the comic world where anyone with an idea and paper can go to Kinko's and be as relevant as the biggest of companies. The proliferation of webcomics shows this to an even greater degree where you have people foregoing printing entirely and yet still finding an audience to share their stories. I don't know that everyone should make a comic but I like that anyone can.

R~ What he said.

J~ I buy gas that's unladen.

R~ That's not very green of you.

J~ I'm not the jealous type.

R~ Double touche'.

For more Full Sanction craziness, including more bio info, comic issues and other unexpected items, visit their website at www.fullsanction.com

Hope the new year is treating you well so far. ~Jen

New Year, new you?

2010-01-05T17:57:00.004-05:00

New Year resolutions are tradition for many people. Me, I think that a person could change at any time they want. However, I know this a very convenient and clear time to do this.

When making your NYR, did you think about your green resolutions? Even the most conscientious of us could improve. I know it is hard to change everything at once. So, don't!

Take one point in your lifestyle and improve in that area. Think perhaps your gasoline bill is too high each month? Save money while being more eco-friendly. Walk for errands, out to dinner or to a friend's house, if you can. Combine trips by making lists of places you need to stop. Tack these outings onto transportation runs to get or drop off kids.

Perhaps you feel you need to switch over to florescent lights, to save on electricity. Don't just buy all new lights and then chuck the 'old' yet still usable ones. Perhaps buying a pack of compact florescent to have on hand as ones burn out would be a simple switch over method. Also, consider just switching out the lights that you use the most, and that would have the biggest impact on your total energy usage.

The point is that you won't have to do it all at once. Pick one area and work on that until it is second nature and then work on the next thing. Don't beat yourself up on what you aren't doing, if you are making deliberate and concerned steps toward improvement.

Good luck! I'll be working on my own 'stuff' too!~Jen

Green Tip~ Recycle those trainers!

Lots of resolutions have to do with being more active, and thus many new pairs of sneakers are bought around this time of year. What to do with those old ones? Recycle them, of course!

Nike runs a program that takes apart athletic shoes and reuses them in new sports related ways. They are able to use old ones, along with their manufacturing scrap, to make basketball and tennis courts.

For more information, click on www.nikereuseashoe.com

Happy Holidays!

2009-12-25T20:58:00.003-05:00

Happy Holidays to everyone! The Best of Health, Wealth and Happiness for the New Year!

Thank you for all the support, love and laughs this year. I can't wait to see what great surprises are coming next year! ~Jen

Downtown Holiday Market

2009-12-11T10:33:00.002-05:00

Join me and many other vendors of fine craft, food, imported goodies, music and merriment!

I'll be there through Tuesday, December 15th. Noon-8pm, Accessible to metro. Great fun, people and gifts. What more to say?!

December Artist of the Month~ Reinvented Elegance

2009-12-03T09:29:00.006-05:00

Welcome to Winter! The air is getting much colder and holiday songs are all around.

Trying to find something different, eco friendly, beautiful and well made? Look no further than Reinvented Elegance, mosaic, pressed flower art and wire wrapped jewelry by Joyce Wagner.

I have had the pleasure of knowing Joyce for many years and she has been a constant inspiration of creativity and kindness. Her thoughtful nature shows through her artwork, with simple and yet intricate designs. As many things she makes are developed using natural materials, they are automatically one of kinds.

You might have seen some of her work on the $20 and Under Gift Guide. Read on to find out about this talented artist and mother of 5!

Q~ How did you get started?

A~ I’ve loved to make things since I was little. In fact, grouting mosaics reminds me of making mud pies many years ago in my side yard. To the complete horror of a few girly girls in my neighborhood, I then proceeded to decorate them with Dogwood berries and sun-bake them on my aluminum slide.

Q~ Why do you continue?

A~ Because I can’t stop myself! Seriously, because making stuff makes me happy, and I truly appreciate the opportunity of having my own business and the flexibility of working at home.

Q~ What is a great (or greatest) success story?

A~ So far, when something I create makes someone happy … and (better yet) when that person actually wants to buy it! Most of all, I want to make my family proud of me and to be a good role model for my kids.

Q~ What is one of your greatest failures?

A~ Not being able to add hours to my day!

Q~ Where do you get your inspiration?

A~ Literally everywhere. And I always joke that I get my best ideas in the shower.

Q~ Why do you make/create what you do?

A~ I love the opportunity to create with mosaics, pressed flowers, and wire jewelry; each is challenging and great fun and I never get bored.

In making mosaics, I get tremendous satisfaction from finding discarded or thrift store materials and trying to breathe new life into them, and I love the idea that an odd assemblage of materials can somehow be greater than its individual parts (or we would hope so, anyway!).

In creating with pressed flowers and leaves, I never cease to marvel at Nature’s beauty and what a wonderful gift it is to each of us.

And in making jewelry, I love to throw odd materials and colors together with pressed flowers and twists of wire and see what happens!

Q~ Where is your favorite place to sell? Or Favorite show?

A~ Wow, it’s hard to pick just one. But I can definitely say that one of my favorite markets is right around the corner: The Del Ray Artisans Fine Art and Craft Holiday Market 2009.

It’s a happy, friendly, artful, and cozy indoor show that opens on Friday night, December 4th, from 7 to 10 p.m. with a catered reception. This market continues on Saturday, December 5th, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, December 6th, from noon to 4 p.m. and also features a terrific bake sale benefiting a local charity, Food for Others. Admission is free.

Q~ What is one thing you love about your business?

A~ The many, many fantastic opportunities it provides: to work at home where my family is (thanks, Derrick!); to love my job; to learn, grow in, and practice my art continuously; and the sheer pleasure of making new things every day.

Q~ What is one thing you loathe?

A~ The huge and sometimes opposing pulls, especially around holiday sale times, of trying to be a good wife/mother and a good artist/business owner. Also, the fits of nerves I have before markets … I confess I still get really bad stage fright.

Q~ What is your dream about your art?

A~ That someday I might have an agent (and perhaps a maid, too, but that’s another story – ha!).

Q~ What is your mission?

A~ To make things that will make people smile and bring them joy.

Q~ Where are you based?

A~ In beautiful Alexandria, VA, in the community of Rosemont.

Q~ Where would you live if you could live anywhere?

A~ Hmmmm, I’m happy where I am, but might have to do some more traveling (purely to research this, of course!) to provide a well-thought-out answer.

Q~ What would you be doing if not this?

A~ Writing children’s stories.

Q~What is next?

A~ I want to keep working, learning, and thinking up new creations.

Q~ What is your favorite question to ask people?

A~ “How are you?”

Q~What is your answer to that question?

A~ Usually, “Great!”

Reinvented Elegance can be found at these shows for your holiday shopping:

Friday, December 4
DRA Fine Art & Craft Holiday Market, Alexandria, VA, 7pm to 10 pm.

Saturday, December 5
DRA Fine Art & Craft Holiday Market, Alexandria, VA, 10 am to 6 pm

Santa’s Gift Show Ellicott City, MD, 10 am to 4 pm

Sunday, December 6
DRA Fine Art & Craft Holiday Market, Alexandria, VA noon to 4pm

Saturday, December 12 and Sunday December 13
National Harbor Holiday Market, Oxen Hill, MD, noon to 6 pm

Saturday, December 19 and Sunday December 20
National Harbor Holiday Market, Oxen Hill, MD, noon to 6 pm

A variety of Joyce's goods can also be bought at A Show of Hands in Del Ray, 2301 Mount Vernon Avenue, Alexandria, VA, 22301 703-683-2905, www.ashowofhands.biz.

In addition to Joyce, there will be many other great artists at the Del Ray Artistans Holiday Market this weekend. Ceramics, glass, wood and all artistic media will be available for all on your list. Treat yourself to a goodie from the bake sale and pick up a wreath for the door. We have it all!

See you this weekend~Jen

Green Tip~ Gift Wrap Smarter~

I know a lot of people love to tear open their gifts and toss the paper around. And, you don't have to be two years old to do it. However, then, the paper is thrown out and creates a lot of waste. So, start out smart and create less waste in the first place!

This year, I'll be offering re-usable fabric gift bags. Available in Christmas and non-holiday fabric and various sizes, they are great for little items like jewelry and gift cards. $3 each or 3 for $8, these are a wonderful add on for the tree hugger!

$20 and Under Gift Guide

2009-11-28T00:18:00.006-05:00

Times are tough and the holidays are coming. Friends, family and co-workers all need to be bought for. What's an art lover to do? Browse the following gift guide to find great hand made items for a variety of folks. Designed with skill and handmade with pride, these gifts are all sure to strike the right cord with the right recipient.

ACCESSORIES

Fingerless gloves, $15 by Jen-A-Fusion Fashion Accessories

Fun polar fleecey fingerless gloves keep you warm while you text, drive, walk the dog or go to the farmers market. Available in a range of colors and designs.

To see more, go to jenafusion.etsy.com or visit Jen at any of her many December market days. Check at the schedule at left.

On The Go pouches, $15 by oblinaknit

Toss one in your tote and go - fill them with makeup, id, or even knitting notions ....the list is endless!

Find this and more at www.oblinaknit.etsy.com

Wire-wrapped Key Chains, $12 by Reinvented Elegance

Each key chain features a wide variety of wire-wrapped novelty beads, from dogs to chickens to mushrooms!

Joyce Wagner, of Reinvented Elegance, will be the featured December Artist of the Month, so there will be much more on her next week. For this week, you can find her at Santa’s Craft Show in Ellicott City, MD, November 28 and 29, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

ART

Holiday Portrait, $5 from Joanna Barnum Portraits & Illustration

On special until December 15, you get a 4" x 6" quick portrait sketch from your photo in graphite, ink, and marker on paper.

For more details about this special for ordering information:
joannabarnum.livejournal.com/49168.html
There is also information in the post about larger portrait options.
Visit www.joannabarnum.com or jbarnum.etsy.com to see a portfolio of other work available.

COLLAGE/DECOUPAGE

"FUKITOL" Box, $16 by BoxBoy Demented Decoupage

Wooden 3.5 x 2.25 x 2.25" Trinket Box ... BoxBoy's all-time best seller!

BoxBoy will be at Eastern Market on Sundays, Nov. 29, Dec. 6, 13, 20 and the Downtown Holiday Market, Dec. 4, 5, 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 19. More boxes can be seen at www.boxboyboxes.com or emailed to boxboypab@aol.com.

Robots Decoupage Piggy Bank, $20, by This Little Piggy

Hand-decoupaged robot-themed ceramic piggy bank

Jessica sells little piggies online at www.ThisLittlePiggyMarket.net & www.thispiggy.etsy.com and at A Show of Hands in Alexandria (Del Ray) & PetMac in Arlington (Virginia Square). She will also be around town doing the craft show circuit!

Pressed Flower Greeting Cards with Coordinating Envelopes, $4 each or 3/$10 by Reinvented Elegance

Happily designed with local flowers and leaves; no two are alike!

JEWELRY

Unique polymer clay pendants, Prices range $10-20, by Jennifer Judd Designs at Jen Judd Rocks!

These are handmade polymer clay pendants with one-of-a-kind patterns that'll work with just about any choker or chain you already have.

You can see more work at www.jenjuddrocks.com and you can shop for these pendants at www.jenjuddrocks.etsy.com.

From The September Artist of the Month~Red Tape Earrings, $17.95 by Jenny's Pretty Things

These earrings are handmade with a piece of the original red twill tape once used to bind U.S. Government documents.

They are available online on the National Archives eStore.

Crocheted Earrings, $15 by Reinvented Elegance

Whimsical, lightweight, and a treat to wear; no two pairs are exactly alike … and, yes, they really are crocheted!

Black and Gold Felt Cut-Out Bracelet, $18 by ShesSoCrafty Art & Design, the August Artist of the Month

Hand cut black felt cutouts, hand sewn and blanket stitched with metallic gold threads.

Find this and much much more at www.sunflowerexpress.etsy.com.

MOSAIC

Jumbo Pressed Flower Magnets, $6 by Reinvented Elegance

Bring the beauty of nature indoors to bloom on any magnetized surface; outstanding stocking stuffers!

Potomac River Orbs, $10 by Reinvented Elegance

Created featuring recycled river glass and shells happily collected from the shores of the Potomac River; equally great as desk accessories or unique holiday ornaments.

PHOTOGRAPHY

Various Photos, including cards $4-15, by Love to Create

Greeting Cards - $4.00 each, 3 for $10.00 or 5 for $15.00
5x7 matted prints - 1 for $6, 3 for $15.00
8x10 matted prints - 1 for $10.00

Love to Create will be selling at the Del Ray Artisans Holiday Market, 2704 Mt. Vernon Ave, Alexandria, VA Friday, December 4, 7-10pm, Saturday, December 5, 10-7pm, Sunday, December 6, 12-4pm. For more images, check out www.lovetocreate.net.

Thanks for taking a peak and supporting small business people and talented artist. Hope to see you at a show or two in the next month!~Jen

Mt. Vernon Unitarian Church Holiday Shop

2009-11-20T17:39:00.005-05:00

Come for the whole day, for the whole family at the Mt. Vernon Unitarian Church Holiday Shop. For the 48th year, this happening encompasses baked goods, handmade crafts from well know regional artists, hot lunch to buy, fair trade items, a quilt raffle and more.

A beautiful drive down the George Washington Parkway and a cute little setting create a great day out!

What: Mt Vernon Unitarian Church Holiday Shop

When: Saturday, November 21 9:30-am-4pm

Where: 1909 Windmill Lane, Alexandria, VA

Website: www.mvuc.org

While driving there today to set up, yellow leaves sprinkled through the air and caught the light. They looked like glitter in the air. So beautiful! What a perfect idea to do some holiday shopping and go for a drive down to Mt. Vernon....~Jen

Trash to Treasure: A Green Craft Fair

2009-11-13T11:25:00.005-05:00

I love when people have grand ideas, all encompassing and inspirational. Take a great theory and run with it. Add to it and round it out. And, go public with it.

This is my excitement for Trash to Treasure: A Green Craft Fair. A simple idea: have a market of artists and craftspeople who use recycled materials. Build it bigger: ask that visitors think of others and offer a clothing drop off for charity. Make it smarter: have a book exchange table to pass knowledge on. Create some fun: Throw this party at a nature center, where folks can also learn about animals and plants and how to live a life that doesn't harm them.

The Low Down~

What: Trash To Treasure: A Green Craft Fair

Where: Walkins Nature Center, 301 Watkins Park Drive, Upper Marlboro 20774

When: Saturday, November 14, 10am-4pm

Website: www.pgparks.com

This looks to be a wonderful, nature and earth filled day. Join in by bringing clothing to donate and books to trade in!

See you there~Jen

November Artist of the Month~ Clare Von Herbulis~ Creating Visual Poetry

2009-11-08T12:52:00.010-05:00

I am proud and excited to introduce you to a *new* artist that is taking her artistry to the world!

Clare Van Herbulis is one of those people that don't make fast, crazy decisions. She makes ones that seem safe, smart and strong. Now, she's made a choice from the heart and head. To start and focus on a photography business. To create a life of her own vision, of her own momentum.

Clare Von Herbulis Photography - Creating Visual Poetry

Q~How did you get started?

A~ I've always been very visual and into various creative arts, but my interest in photography sparked in 1997 when I lived in Vero Beach, FL. I took a few photography classes at the local art center and my teacher, professional photographer Theresa Motley, soon became my close mentor and friend. She very strongly encouraged me to go to a state photography school and to pursue it as degree and eventually as a career. Even though she recognized my talent and passion at that time, I wasn't so sure and decided to pursue a degree in Interior Design.

Twelve years later and apparently numerous mentions to my boyfriend, P.K., about how much I wanted to get back into photography, he gave me a brand new Nikon camera and equipment for my birthday. I was thrilled to get my hands back on the camera and to let the creativity fly! I took a few local classes and began snapping photos just about everywhere I could. Others began to comment and request photos and the rest is history. It became so clear to me that photography is my passion so I decided in September to leave my former job and start my own photography business. I could not be happier with the challenges, creativity and opportunities that this new venture provides me every day!

Q~Why do you continue?

A~ I've only just begun!

Q~What is a great(or greatest) success story?

A~ For me, my greatest success is getting to the point in my life that I realized that photography is not only my passion, but that I am capable and courageous enough to make the jump from the safe and secure corporate job to creating my own business. Knowing that success is the only option and that it's up to me to be unstoppable in order to make this dream my reality. It was a huge decision for me to make and I have to say that I'm really quite proud of myself for taking that risk, getting myself to this point and for being ready for all that is to come in my photography future!

Q~What is one of your greatest failures?

A~ My greatest failure is probably not always recognizing or appreciating my own photographic talent and ability. I guess we're all our own worst critics and I can be quite hard on myself and critical of my own work. However, I think that it does continue to keep me striving to learn more and to become even better at my craft.

Q~Where do you get your inspiration?

A~ My inspiration comes from everywhere! I am often just driving down the road and I'll see something that sparks an idea. It may be a scene, a landmark, or even a place that may just be a great portrait background. Once I have an idea in my mind and the creative images begin, I literally have to capture it on the camera or the idea doesn't go away!

For portraits, it's always the person themselves that inspires me. It's my goal to not only capture someone's personality, but to capture the individual's soul - the person who resides behind the eyes. Seeing that in a photo and seeing or hearing another person's emotional reaction to a photo is my greatest inspiration and pleasure in my work.

Q~Why do you make/create what you do?

A~ There is something about capturing a moment, a feeling, an expression or an emotion in time and knowing that it will be around forever to tell a particular story. Photos are often so treasured by people it seems for this reason - photos recall memories and treasured moments in one's life and it brings me amazing joy to be able to capture those moments for people.

Q~Where is your favorite place to sell? Or Favorite show?

A~ I don't really have one, but I am really looking forward to "Foto Week DC" this upcoming week. It's my first time attending the event and am excited to see amazing photos from many of the worlds best photographers!

Q~What is one thing you love about your business?

A~ I love evoking emotion from viewers when they see my photographs. To see and hear people's responses as they view my photos, especially ones taken of a loved one - a child, a parent, themselves, etc, - is the absolute best! I also love that the business allows me to make a living by doing what I love each and every day - the ultimate dream!

Q~What is one thing you loathe?

A~ In regard to the business...individuals who decide to take it upon themselves to upload/download or in other words steal another person's artistic work. No matter what realm of art, it is just unacceptable to me disrespect and to lack appreciation for one's artistic work, ability, time and creativity by taking it as your own.

In regard to non-business related...negativity and pessimistic views. I truly believe that there is something good in every one of life's experiences, you may just have to dig deep enough and open wide enough to realize it.

Q~What is your dream about your art?

A~ My photographic dream is to just continue to capture life's moments in photo that people continue to enjoy! The business and making a living from my passion is just icing on the cake for me!

Q~What is your mission?

A~ My mission is to "create visual poetry" and to bring joy and happiness to others along the way.

Q~Where are you based?

A~ I am based out of Alexandria, VA.

Q~Where would you live if you could live anywhere?

A~ That's a tough one..if remaining in the states, I think I'd love to live in San Diego. I think I'm a California girl at heart. I'd also love to live somewhere overseas, perhaps Spain.

Q~What would you be doing if not this?

A~ I'd probably be taking applications for a sugar daddy. haha.. No really, I'd probably still be in the furniture/interior design industry.

Q~What is next?

A~ I know a lot is next - that's for sure! I will be busy in the coming months with scheduled photo sessions and preparing photos/orders for the holidays. Portraits (including prints, custom photo books and custom calendars) have proven to be popular gift ideas!

I will also be quite busy with continuing to get the word out that I've started this new venture as well continuing to expand my knowledge and keep on top of what's new in the industry. There is always something to be revising, editing, learning or experiencing with my new business!

Q~What is your favorite question to ask people?

A~ What's your story? I love people's reactions to that question.

Q~What is your answer to that question?

A~ It's still being written.

For more images and information about Clare Von Herbulis Photography - Creating Visual Poetry, please visit www.flickr.com/photos/creatingvisualpoetry

You can also email Clare at ccvon1@aol.com or call 703-629-1175 to set up an appointment for holiday family photos.

Pumpkin Fest and the Irvine Nature Center

2009-10-23T11:31:00.012-04:00

I LOVE people who can take lemons and make lemonade! And the people who work and volunteer at the Irvine Nature Center in Ownings Mills, MD, are just those kind of people.

Last weekend was the Pumpkin Fest at the center, an event with fun crafts for the kids, educational hands on displays about animals, pony rides and pumpkins galore. This particular weekend also included pouring rain and a surprise snow shower!

However, the center's devoted little elves pulled off the weekend. They moved outdoor activities inside, shoveled snow and kept on going. I loved the stable, secure party tent the crafts were set up in, and the heater we had. It rained outside, but we were mostly dry and mostly warm!

Saturday, it rained pretty much all day. Furry Friends came out to say hi despite the bad weather.

Sunday started with a shock when I got to the center. There was snow on the ground. Not a little bit of snow, either, but a pile here, a pile there...

This was the entrance to the main arts and crafts tent for the kids. They left the snow there, and re-routed folks through our tent instead.

Very sadly, the food vendors had left their tents up overnight and came back to find a tangled mess. Wind, snow and thin metal bits don't mix.

The tents were so mangled that they couldn't take away the carcasses of the tent frames. They had to leave them right in the parking lot. I asked one of the organizers if I could take the tent tops, which were ripped, to recycle into shopping tote shops. She agreed and I carted them away. The center took the rest of the tents, to be able to strip salvageable parts for their own use.

Inside, snow have collected on some of the tent roof and they had been working to get it off.

They were scrambling to get everything water tight, ready for the kids to come and have fun. They had moved the pumpkin patch inside.

This was right next to a very Martha Stewart-like display of all different ways you could use pumpkins to decorate. From using small baby pumpkins as candelabra decor to pumpkin topiary, the ideas were fresh and inventive. I liked the pumpkin as flower holder.

There was a build your own scarecrow area. Lots of the fun combos to be had. I'm not sure who liked this best, the kids or the adults.

At the end of the day, I stopped by the nature center's store. This was a great place! Unlike a lot of nature stores I've been to, this was stocked with fun and fresh products for your garden, your life and even your bathroom. Organic body lotions and soaps, beautiful jewelry. Coloring books and bug identification cards for kids. I got a few Christmas gifts for the gardeners on my list, a truly unique item I'm sure they won't have, but will love. I can't say what it is, I don't want to spoil the surprise.

The grounds around the center looked great, even without bright sunshine. I could see a tepee from where I was. Looked fun to explore...

By the end of the weekend, the clouds finally broke away and that elusive heat ball, the sun, made an appearance. The sky was clear and the changing leaves were glorious.

It made me realize that I had not been able to really get a chance to explore the trails and the center. I'm looking forward to a time very soon from now when I can get back to check it all out.

Irvine Nature Center is open seven days a week, 9am-5pm. According to the Fall program, 'the trails, gardens, exhibits and nature store are open to the public free of charge.' However, they have a full program of events, some free and some with a small fee. Check out their website at www.explorenature.org.

Pumpkin Fest

2009-10-16T12:38:00.000-04:00

It is that time of year again! Cooler weather, (alright, *cold* weather), yummy apples and cider, pumpkin picking and Halloween! I love the fall- the smells, the warm fuzzy clothing, the festivals!

Come join us for a Pumpkin Fest like no other!

From the Eco Puppets to the Zero waste education stations, to the earth friendly crafts, this event is for kids, little and big, but nature lovers all the same!

What: Pumpkin Fest

Where: Irvine Nature Center, 11201 Garrison Forest Road, Owings Mills, MD 21117

Where II: Artist Alley Tent

When: Saturday, October 17, 11am-4pm

Sunday, October 18, noon-4pm

Website: www.explorenature.org

Hope you can make and bring home a little nature to brighten up your fall season! Also, never too early to start thinking about holiday gifts~Jen

Duh! I forgot!

2009-10-08T23:40:00.003-04:00

I forgot to tell you more about where and when to find the October Artist of the Month, MICHELE BANKS. If you clicked on the title of my last post, you would have gone to her website. However, that wasn't clear at all. Sorry, folks, way too much work and not enough, chocolate?..

Michele's 411:

Next market: Bethesda Artist Market, www.Bethesda.org

Website: www.artmonger.net

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While Michele is in Bethesda, I'll be in Ballston.

Details:

Ballston Arts + Crafts Market, Arlington, VA
Saturday, October 10, 10am-4pm
Welburn Square, Stuart Street, Ballston
www.ballstonarts-craftsmarket.blogspot.com

This is the last market of this series this season, so come by, if you haven't yet. I'm looking forward to it and remain optimistic about NO rain!

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Other very chill goings on this weekend, The Shakespeare Theatre is having a Costume Shop Sale this coming Sunday, just in time for Halloween. I was there this evening to drop off an order of little bags and bought a great doublet jacket for an absolute steal!

You should definately check it out. You might even buy a piece of clothing I made!

The Sale is Sunday, October 11, 1pm to 6pm. More details at http://www.shakespearetheatre.org/plays/details.aspx?id=197&source=l

Hope you have a great weekend, no matter what you do!~Jen

Green Tip~ Be A Clean Greenie

With the new and great habits people are creating by utilizing re-usable totes, there is also a new and not so great spread of germs. In using these bags more often, they are getting dirtier, picking up and retaining bacteria. Be sure to bag your meats before placing in your totes, then recycling that plastic wrap. Wash your carry bags often to deter contamination.

Pretty much, use common sense. If you ate off a plate and it was dirty, wouldn't you clean it? So, if you are carrying around food, between dirty cans from the grocery store to farm fresh produce from market, these bags could be less than pristine. Throw them in the wash at least one a week, using warm to hot water.

For more information on this issue, check out http://curezone.com/forums/fm.asp?i=1475002

October Artist of the Month~ Michele Banks

2009-10-01T23:00:00.012-04:00

OK, I'll admit it: I'm not usually drawn to watercolors. Rather, perhaps, it is the typical watercolor subject I am not drawn to. Subtle landscapes and still lives with fruit and flowers.

It is my personal obsession with circles and interlocking rings that makes Michele Banks' work speak to me greatly. Airy bubbles flow over an aurora borealis background. Interconnected circles of bright color and flair pop out. Mirror images of repeating coffee cups march across the canvas, somewhat like a more modern Warhol. The shapes are simple, clean and organic. They sometimes look plainly geometric. Other times, they might vaguely resemble a womb, a dream or a scientific illustration. From the more serious Capitol Building to the whimsical 'smiley faces', you can see her work shifts as the mood hits.

If you take a look at the title of the work, you maybe able to decrypt the inspiration. Or, you may not. For instance, the Bubbles series, from which I have a very small piece, was not taken from the carbonated fizz of soda pop, but rather was "inspired by the bursting of the stock market bubble".

Look at a another piece that is laid out on a grid. In each block, a flash of color interacts with a different hue. In looking at the title, Cell Division, you can now see where Michele gained her inspiration.

This work is colorful, engaging and accessible. From large scale original pieces to smaller paintings, mini collages and notecards, she has a motif and item to fit your wall and wallet.

For more, in her own words:

Michele Banks is a self-taught artist working in watercolor and collage. Her instantly recognizable art, featuring strong colors, geometric shapes and repeated images, can be seen in many festivals and art shows in the DC metro area. This month, Michele will be showing at Art on the Avenue in Alexandria (Oct. 3) and the Bethesda Artist Market (October 10). Her paintings are also currently on display at Children's National Medical Center in DC. You can see more at her website, www.artmonger.net.

Q~ How did you get started?

A~ I actually started doing the collages by decorating the walls of my cubicle at Price Waterhouse with cut-outs. I would just photocopy things that I thought were cool, make a whole bunch, cut them out and pin them to the walls of my cubicle.

Q~ Why do you continue?

A~ I enjoy making art, I keep getting better at it, I keep thinking of new stuff I want to do and people keep buying it.

Q~ What is your greatest success story?

A~ Getting two of my paintings into the Wilson Building Art Collection in DC was a biggie. That’s like DC’s city hall, where the Mayor and the city council have their offices, and the DC Arts Commission installed two of my pieces in the permanent collection.

Q~ What is one of your greatest failures?

A~ I put a lot of time and effort into creating a whole new look for my Artomatic wall in 2009, and I didn’t sell a single piece. That was after selling eight pieces from Artomatic in 2008.

Q~ Where do you get your inspiration?

A~ I love beautiful textiles, so I find that I get inspiration from beautiful scarves and fabrics. But also just all sorts of random things that I see, hear or read about. My bubble series this year was based on all the talk about the various economic bubbles and these huge sums of money just vanishing, which I depicted as zeroes floating away.

A~ I’m also inspired by the paint itself. I love seeing what watercolor will do.

Q~ Why do you make/create what you do?

A~ I use watercolors in virtually all my work because I love the clarity of the color. I’m also pretty decisive and impatient, so watercolor works for me because it’s fast and you’re very limited in your ability to go back and mess with it afterward.

I said before that I love beautiful textiles, and I did try working with fabric for a while, but I discovered that sewing makes my back hurt and makes me very cranky. So I’ll leave that to others, like Jen!

Q~ Where is your favorite place to sell? Or Favorite show?

A~ Adams Morgan Day was the first outdoor show I ever did and it’s always been a great show for me. I love Art on the Avenue, too – it has a great vibe and the neighborhood really comes out and supports the artists. SoWeBo in Baltimore is a crazy show with all these tattooed, dreadlocked people and bizarre bands, so that’s fun for a change from my usual middle-aged Mom lifestyle.

Q~ What is one thing you love about your business?

A~ I get to make all the decisions myself.

Q~ What is one thing you loathe?

A~ Rejection. Rainy festivals. OK, that’s two.

Q~ What is your dream about your art?

A~ About the art itself, I want to just make art that I love and that I’m proud of. On the practical side, I would love to find a dealer or a gallery owner who really gets my work and would help me sell it.

Q~ What is your mission?

A~ I seek the grail.

Q~ Where are you based?

A~ Washington, DC

Q~ Where would you live if you could live anywhere?

A~ I’ve lived a lot of places, and Washington is really my home and my favorite, but I have an abiding fantasy about a little summer house in Norway or Finland where I could go for July and August. I don’t like the 90-degree stuff.

Q~ What would you be doing if not this?

A~ No idea!

Q~ What is your favorite question to ask people?

A~ Do you have any chocolate?

Q~ What is your answer to that question?

A~ Generally yes!

Jen speaking again~ Michele is much too modest about her skills at the sewing machine. She was the creator of The Giant Peep at Artomatic! I didn't know it at the time of this snuggle picture. However, it was a wonderful addition to show and I'm so glad that Michele made it!

For more information, pictures of her latest works and markets, please visit Michele's website at www.artmonger.net.

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This weekend!! Two great shows, again! Weather is looking better and better....

What: Art on the Aveune

Where: Mt Vernon Ave, Del Ray, Alexandria, MD

When: Saturday, October 3, 10-6pm

Website: www.artontheavenue.org

What: Takoma Park Street Festival,

Where: Carroll Ave, Takoma Park, MD

When: Sunday, October 4, 10am -5pm

Website: www.takomafestival.com

See you there!~Jen

Car Free Day TODAY

2009-09-22T12:23:00.002-04:00

Although today happens to be Car Free Day, it seems to be more like Great Customer Service Day. A shout out to Home Depot and Staples for having great employees working today! Everyone was in a good, helpful mood. Perhaps they rode their bikes to work and had high endorphin levels... Well, I drove today already and I will drive later. However, there are many, many days that I do not drive, walk around my neighborhood to do errands or just work from home. Hope I get credit for that!

This week is a busy one for me! Tomorrow, at NIH for the first time in a few months. AND, Saturday is the Crofton Craft Fair. Weather looks good, I have a great amount of stock, looking forward to this nice, towny show.

The Low Down:

What: Crofton Craft Fair

When: Saturday, September 26, 10am-4pm

Where: 1691 Crofton Parkway, Crofton, MD

website: www.croftontownclub.com

Happy Car Free Day!~Jen

Fall Festival Kick Off Weekend

2009-09-09T19:35:00.010-04:00

I *LOVE* fall, the smells, the colors, the cicadas going away....And, this year, I love that I will be back doing markets. I miss all the other vendors and my customers. Also, I have been working really diligently to make some new products, improve on older ones and in general, design functional, fun items.

This coming weekend heralds in the Fall Festival season. It is a double header with two of my busiest shows. I am getting excited to be back after almost two months break from markets!!

Arts on Foots is a one of the biggest arts festivals in the area. Each and every artistic discipline is covered, from performances and demos to a three day art market. Love food? Check out the Cooking As Art Pavilion. Dig dancing? Get your face painted and join the cast at the CityDance Ensemble. All the worlds your stage? Head to the Shakespeare Theatre.

What: Arts on Foot, Art Market

Where: 7th and F Streets,Penn Quarter, Washington DC

Where I'll be: Space 73

When: Saturday, September 12, 11am-5pm

Website: www.artsonfoot.org, for maps, schedules and full list of activities

Take metro! Right outside the Gallery Place metro stop, Verizon Center. Come out the 7 and F Street Exit.

The Art Market will be held Thursday- Saturday. *However*, I'll only be there on Saturday, as will many artists. Some will be there all days.

Sunday sees one of the loudest and, usually, hottest shows. Last year, I think it was about 90! This year, the weather is going to be perfectly fall for Arts on Belmont, the handmade only area of Adams Morgan Day.

As Adams Morgan is one of the best places to go party in the city, the festival that celebrates it is nothing less than a fantastical fiesta in itself. Live music, fashion shows, a green area to get educated about new products and earth saving tips.

And, of course, Arts on Belmont:

Where: Belmont Street, Adams Morgan, Washington, DC

Where I'll be: Space 15

When: Sunday, September 13, 10am- 7pm

Website: www.adamsmorgandayfestival.com, for maps and performance times

Arts on Belmont starts a FULL two hours earlier than the rest of the festival, so you can come and shop before the hordes of people arrive. Come early and get the best pick!

Here are a few of the items I have been frantically working on.

Over the summer, introduced my version of a versatile tote bag. Made mainly from upholstery samples, some bags could be small enough to use as a purse, some could be large enough for an overnight bag. Fully reversible with pockets, these are truly go anywhere totes. Farmers market, library, and office are all covered.

Totally new this year, something to get the kids, big and small, into the Halloween spirit. Trick or Treat goodie bags! Made from cotton material that can be washed and used for years to come, these little cuties are eco-friendly *and* fun! Kid sized, but large enough for tons of sugary goodness.

The Squid Scarf made its debut last year at Arts on Belmont and was really well received. Back this year for the cool weather, this scarf looks great with a tank top or a heavy sweater. Made mainly from recycled t-shirts, I found the edge that goes against the neck to be a little rough. So, I *IMPROVED* the design. Now, smooth edge against your neck, and no chaffing, no reason not to wear one. Available in a complete range of colors, from neutrals to reds to bright turquoise.

Looking forward to seeing you for these great shows, and maybe more!~Jen

September Artist of the Month~Jenny's Pretty Things

2009-09-01T09:53:00.010-04:00

Believe it or not, folks, fall is coming!

For many around the north east, summer has hardly shown an appearance. With rainy days and damp, chilly aftermath, the heat and stickiness of the 'hottest' part of the year did not make much of an impression. At least here in VA, we could still be getting months of Indian summer. With blue skies and warm days, it is the perfect time to start thinking about back to school, Halloween and the holiday season ahead.

I have been bulking up on shows and fairs and festivals, so there is little excuse to not come out and see me.... stay tuned to this blog for more shows being added all the time.

Right now, check out the September Artist of the Month~Jenny's Pretty Things.

Jenny Sammons, the creator of Pretty Things, is in herself a pretty thing. Beautiful on the inside and out, she strives to bring joy and love into the world with her creations. Whether making a custom necklace for a lucking bride-to-be or producing an unique bracelet, she infuses each item with peace and happiness, touching each person that wears her jewelry.

Q~How did you get started?

A~I’ve always been creative but I sort of stumbled upon jewelry making. I had a stone that I wanted to turn into a pendant so I went to the bead store and discovered beading. I go so many compliments on that first piece that I was encouraged to continue.

Q~Why do you continue?

A~I love being able to use my creativity and raw skills to make money. I think I’m very fortunate to be able to make money doing what I love. What keeps me going is my hunger to learn and the fact that I find jewelry making and gemology fascinating. There’s always something new on the market and I love learning and building my skills.

Q~What is your greatest success story?

A~I’d have to say that working with the Red Tape is the biggest and most significant thing I’ve done. The Red Tape Jewelry is a jewelry line that I created while working at the National Archives. The product development team was looking for ideas for products to be made out of this historic material and they liked my idea of making jewelry with it. Before the Civil War they would bind documents with red cotton ribbon that they called tape. In order to have access to a document one would have to “cut through the red tape.”

I am making earrings, pendants, cufflinks, and lapel pins with the actual red tape that comes from historical documents at the National Archives; the very same red tape that one would have to cut through. Being able to work with this historical material is a success within itself. The fact that it’s selling is even better.

Q~What is one of your greatest failures?

A~One of my greatest failures happened about three years ago. I was arriving home after a long hot day of vending at Eastern Market. I was terribly tired and figured that I could unload everything the next morning when I had more energy. So I went in the house and left all of my gear in the car. The next morning I came outside to discover that my car had been broken into and everything of value had been stolen, including my jewelry case with all of my work inside. I was devastated. They even took my hand truck, which I’m sure they used to wheel everything away. It took me a few weeks to rebuild my inventory to where I could make a decent showing at the market. You can believe I never left anything of value in my car after that.

Q~Where do you get your inspiration?

A~Inspiration comes from looking at other people’s work, from beading and fashion magazines, art, and nature, but mostly from the process of creating. I find I’m most inspired when I’m in the middle of a project and I suddenly see a design that I hadn’t thought of before. For me, work begets creativity.

Q~Why do you make what you do?

A~I make jewelry because I love creating in general and using color combinations. There’s no end to the combinations that can be made with beads. I also find that it teaches me patience as I am usually working with a lot of tiny parts. Once I establish a pattern and get in to a rhythm, I’ve discovered that jewelry making can actually be very healing and meditative. Also, I find working with my hands to make nothing into something incredibly gratifying.

Q~Where is your favorite place to sell?

A~I really enjoy having trunk shows. I love getting to know my customers and working with them one-on-one to chose designs that suit them. I also love the intimacy of a trunk show.

Q~What is one thing you love about your business?

A~I love the freedom and flexibility that come with working for myself. I don’t have to depend on anyone else for anything and I’m on my own schedule. I also love that I’ve been able to make money doing something that I love.

Q~What is one thing you loathe?

A~I really dislike math and doing my accounting. Sometimes I wish I had more of the left brain capacity that would help me make more sense of it all.

Q~What is your favorite question to ask people?

A~What is your guilty pleasure?

Q~What is your answer to that question?

A~Miniatures and dollhouses. I have an old dollhouse that I built from a kit when I was ten. About two years ago I dusted it off and began remodeling it. I’ve been in love with miniatures ever since.

Q~Where would you live if you could live anywhere?

A~Probably the Pacific Northwest, maybe Portland or Seattle.

Q~What is your dream about your art?

A~My dream is to use the skills that I’ve learned along the way to teach and empower others to do what I am doing. I’d like to go back to school so that I might become an art teacher and inspire others as I have so been inspired.

Q~What is next?

A~This is going to be a busy fall and winter for me. I’m currently working on an order of Red Tape Jewelry and a few other special projects and repairs for regular customers. I’m going to be teaching a jewelry making class in October to benefit the Emergence Community Arts Center, as well as having a few trunk shows in preparation for the holidays.

Jenny's Pretty Things can be found at http://estore.archives.gov/category.aspx?categoryID=85,
jennysprettythings.etsy.com and
http://jennysprettythings.blogspot.com.