Jen Bowles Design

(Makes Me) Happy Friday

Is it Friday already?
It may be gray and rainy outside, but there's still plenty to be happy about inside (my head)...
First off, a little Mommy bragging : )
Cuyler and Will participated in the 3rd grade poetry festival this morning at school.  They each recited a stanza from The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere.  Cuyler also recited 2 more poems on his own (Merry and Dizzy Little Duzzle by Jack Prelutsky).  Will recited The Turkey Shot Out of the Oven by Jack Prelutsky with 2 friends and then performed Boa Constrictor by Shel Silverstein.  In a word, they were awesome.  Great articulation and expression, stepped right up to the microphone and spoke up loud and clear.  They're almost nine, but really, so adorable!

And now for some happiness from Etsy!
{all images are from listings on etsy and are the property of the creator}

Love this vintage tin bird by littleblackrabbit.  Great re-purposing of materials.

 

I need some of this key lime dotted swiss fabric from In With the Old Vintage--yum!

This fish applique pillow by Kajsa of syko would look really good on our family room sofa.  Really good...

Happy Friday to you and warm wishes for a wonderful weekend!

Old & Rusty

Skeleton keys from the flea market
Keys hanging in the barn at the Arts Festival

A wonderful vintage scooter, also at the Arts Festival

Collection of yardsticks hanging in a barn at the Arts Festival

A historic house in the Village, complete with peeling paint and Bridal Wreath bush in full bloom

Backyard Beauty

Last fall I pruned the wisteria.
Seems the wisteria didn't mind that at all.           

Freddie the Fish

Meet my newest friend, Freddie the Fish.
Isn't he adorable?  He came home with me on Saturday from the North River Arts Festival.  He's made by Catherine and Rob Wissmann of By The Sea Driftwood on Cape Cod.  Hard to believe he used to be a fishing line float, an oar lock, a few forks and a coat hook, eh?  Freddie already looks right at home hanging in our bird bath garden.  In fact there's a bird sitting on Freddie right now--a fun new perch for my feathered friends : )   

(Makes Me) Happy Friday

It's Friday before Memorial Day weekend--yahoo!
We're expecting company (my bff & college roomie and her girls), there's an Arts Festival in town this weekend  (the shuttle bus runs basically from the bottom of our driveway, how convenient), the weather is beautiful, and progress is being made on our outdoor home improvement projects.
All making me happy.
Oh, and this:
{Cuyler playing the bamboo flute he bought for himself on a class field trip this week.  He loves it : ) }

Flea Market Makeover

I made a quick trip to the Rotary flea market this past weekend.
It was alternately rainy and misty which definitely kept shoppers and vendors at home.
On the upside, that made it much easier and quicker to browse.
I spent $16 in all and I'm already using 3 of my treasures including a new inspiration board I made for my office.

This piece started out as a wooden mirror frame that I purchased for $2.  The man I bought it from said it was brand new but the mirror had broken and he'd never had a chance to use it.
Naturally, I scooped it right up.
It's actually upside down but I like the idea of the ledge at the bottom.  I painted it and used batting and fabric that I had in my studio to cover the lauan insert.  I moved the hardware and hung it on the wall. 
The white clip rod was purchased from the same seller, I got 2 of them for 50 cents. Also sitting on the ledge, my new vintage metal floral frog--total score!     

We've got 2 different contractors here this week working on exterior home improvement projects.  I've been feeling a bit scattered and distracted so it was nice to actually finish something (besides a load of laundry).

Monday Mosaic

Latest flickr favorites...

1. Alpha Sampler, 2. Wisdom Paper Wreath, 3. WIP, 4. Untitled, 5. Red is never alone, 6. journal/calendar pages, 7. Pretty petals crafting tags, 8. new, 9. 14 Studio Space by Starlee Matz, 10. green blue, 11. decoupaged plate, 12. rowan cotton glace - 5ply - 809, 13. grinalda sol***, 14. Paper Mache Bird Brooch, 15. The passage of time, 16. Wedding card

Lark Pottery

Lark Elizabeth Roderigues is a talented potter & artisan based in Rhode Island.  My mom discovered her work several years ago and quickly shifted her McKenzie-Childs pottery obsession to a Lark Pottery obsession.  Or so it seems to me.  My mom has several Lark pieces in her home, including vases, candlesticks and Lark's signature hearts.
I am lucky to also be the proud recipient of several pieces of Lark Pottery--all gifts from my mom ; )
Last June, we were at a local arts fair where Lark was exhibiting.  She was kind enough to allow me to take pictures of her booth, resplendent with beautiful pottery & beaded treasures.  I meant to post these pictures last summer but lost track of them (eek!).  I came across them yesterday and just had to share.  Enjoy!

I'm hoping that Lark will be at the Arts Festival again this year.  It's always a great show, I should start saving my pennies now!         

(Makes Me) Grumpy Friday

Sometimes you just have to switch things up a bit.

Making me Grumpy this gray Friday (season finale spoilers ahead)...

• Speaking of gray, how about Grey's Anatomy?  I almost jumped out of my skin when Meredith shouted after she realized John Doe was actually George.  I can't imagine that both George & Izzy will be back next season, we'd be lucky if one of them makes it.  And apparently, that makes me grumpy.  Even if it is just tv.
• Speaking of television, why did they waste 58 minutes of my time for the Bones finale?  Just show me the final minute, that was about the only interesting part.  Oh wait, our DVR cut off the last few seconds.  Which made me grumpy.  I think we saw enough though.
• The latest 'Boston Massacre' as BGD has dubbed it.  Red Sox lost in extra innings, Celtics lose to Orlando in Game 6 and the Bruins season ends with a heartbreaking Game 7 overtime loss to...the Carolina Hurricanes?! Grrr. And we managed to watch the Red Sox & Bruins lose live.
• To top it all off, Ruby tricked Sam into breaking the final seal and Lucifer is roaming the earth once again.  What the heck are Sam & Dean going to do about that next season on Supernatural??

Of course the real reason I'm feeling grumpy this Friday could be that I stayed up way too late and watched way too much television last night ; - )

Wishing you a happy weekend!

P.S.  I think I see the sun starting to peek through...

Art Student

That was me (& my mom) yesterday.
For 2 hours anyway.
Before that I was 'person-who-dines-out-for-lunch-during-the-week'.  We had a very yummy post-Mother's Day meal.
We took a class with Marah Johnson at one of our local scrapbook stores, The Crop Shop.
It was my first class with Marah (she's teaching at Creative Escape this year) and it was a great way to spend 2 hours on a Tuesday afternoon. Gotta love a weekday break to play with glitter and ink! Marah showed us several techniques to use in our Birds of a Feather mini-book, and beyond.  Of course I didn't finish my book, Ebby was calling me at 2:59, purportedly to relay a phone message but really I think to remind me that there was only 1 minute left in the class.  I loved the class project but getting to know Marah was worth the price of admission. 
She has such an engaging personality and she shared stories & knowledge, making for quite the enjoyable afternoon.