Jen Bowles Design

Etsy Update: Underway!

Just posted a bunch of new stuff in my etsy shop.  Please, go shopping!
Jen Bowles Design Etsy Shop
You'll be glad you did.
I know I will : - )                

Flying into a new week

Not a very inspired post title, but when I'm staring out the window into our muddy, wet, snow flecked dreary backyard on a cold and rainy Monday morning I guess that's as good as it gets.  On the plus side, it was a beautiful weekend, temps around 60 degrees both days with plenty of sunshine.  I had been hoping to start updating my etsy shop today, but there's going to be a bit of a delay.  I have a bunch of new stuff ready (banner, pins, mini Easter baskets, flags) but haven't yet taken pictures.  I tried with the window light but it's just not working. And the flash is even worse. If the rain stops this afternoon I'm going to try to get outside.  I guess I was too distracted with the time change and lazing about yesterday to take pictures when the weather was good!

I did however, find time to make myself some wings this weekend.
I recently borrowed Kelly Rae Roberts book, Taking Flight from my mom.  It's a wonderful book, full of inspirational words and works by Kelly and her contributors.  There are a number of projects I'd like to try but starting with the wings (wire, tissue paper, gel medium and glitter) seemed the most do-able.  I love how they turned out and can't wait to use them on a project.  My next step is to see if the project can be adapted for children.  I'm sure I can figure something out.
Hoping you are feeling more motivated this Monday than I am!
Back later with a shop update and I'm also thinking a giveaway might be in order...

P.S.  Sorry about the underlining, Typepad befuddles me from time to time.

Getting Ready for Spring

It's nearly 50 degrees outside today so there's hope that we'll soon be able to see the grass beneath our latest covering of snow.  And it is March.  Yesterday I got down a tub of Easter decorations from the attic.  Put all these things together and Spring must be coming.
Another sign of Spring?
I've been creating for a big etsy shop update.
All next week I'll be adding items and (once again) hope to keep my momentum going by listing much more frequently.  One thing I've heard over and over from sellers who do well on etsy is the importance of keeping your shop fresh.  I've definitely been lacking on that front.  It is almost Spring though, so hope springs eternal...
Here's a peek at a few more of the things I've been working on (some finished, some works in progress).
Wishing you a warm and wonderful weekend!

Home & Studio Glimpses: Mimi Kirchner

On Saturday before we got started on making our Tiny Worlds, Mimi took us on a tour of her home and studio.  We were all giddy with excitement, so much to see!  Imagine how happy I was when Mimi breezily gave me permission to take and share pictures of her wonderful space!
Here are some of my favorite images:
Canvas floor cloth with fish and fabric fish (made as theater props) hand painted by Mimi.
A few shots in the studio, where Mimi creates her amazing dolls and other treasures...
And then my favorite, the handmade (by Mimi, of course) wire toilet paper holder in the downstairs bathroom.
Love it!   

Check out a few more photos in my flickr photostream. 

Thanks again Mimi for sharing and for a great day!
 

Happy Spring (?)

For a while there, it felt like maybe spring was coming to New England. That all came to a crashing halt with our latest snowstorm which dropped another  5, 6, or was it 8 inches of snow yesterday.
Last week while it was warm(ish) and snow-free, I started working on some fun new designs for spring, including a new Spring banner.
Behold.
Light and bright, sunny and springy, reminiscent of a daffodil.
That's what I was going for anyway.
I had this great idea that I would "weave" the word Happy in with the word Spring on the same piece of ribbon.  Thinking myself so clever, I used a different font and pennant shape for each word (but the same color glitter...).  Then I hung it in my office yesterday and was greeted with the same comment from all 3 kids and my husband:  What does it say?

And here I was thinking I was so clever.  Apparently I need to go back to the design workshop and separate the Happy from the Spring.

What do you think?  Can you tell what it says or am I too clever for my own good? : )

{click on photo to enlarge--you know, if your eyesight isn't so good ; ) }

Welcome to my (Tiny) World!

Yesterday (Saturday), my mom and I had the pleasure of taking a class with and at the home of Mimi Kirchner.  Mimi is a woman of many talents who currently makes the most wonderful handmade dolls which she sells at Boston area craft markets and online in her etsy shop.  Her creations are made primarily from vintage and recycled materials--my kind of artist!
In our class Mimi guided us through creating our very own Tiny Worlds--a very fancy pincushion in a teacup.  Not that I will ever be sticking pins in my creation.  Instead I'm thinking of my Tiny World as my first soft sculpture(!)
It may have started out as what looks like a bizarre ball o' cauliflower, but after 6 hours, many tiny stitches, cutting, pinning, stuffing, and gluing, my world was born.
Of course one of the great things about taking a class (especially locally) is meeting other people who share your enthusiasm.  There were a total of 7 students at Mimi's dining room table.  Everyone brought their own teacup and the worlds were as varied as their creators.
*Disclaimer:  photos were taken near the end of class but not everyone had yet fully completed their project but they were kind enough to let me take a photo anyway : )
So, let's take a peek into another world (or 6)...

First, my mom's (on the right, pictured

with mine).  She used a lovely creamer as the base of her world.  I love the apple tree forest that surrounds her triple roofed fairy cottage.  Mom was the queen of the french knots!
Next, another wonderful world by Amy of Bumblebelly Designs.  Love her colors and her amazing stitching along the path. And how adorable is the duck??
Brooke of Bancroft Studios created an island in her tiny world.  I love how the house is perched on top of it all. 

Becky  eschewed the house pattern.  Instead she created her own castle for her tiny world--complete with flowering vines!
Jane had the most daring background for her world, a bold check pattern that beautifully complimented her teacup.
Barbara, who had to leave a bit early, made excellent progress on her world.  Love her stitching and her 2 handled teacup.
Overall a fun and surprisingly relaxing day of creating that I enjoyed immensely. Thanks so much to Mimi for sharing her knowledge and opening her home.  What a treat!