Meet Jen! founder & owner

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...jen o'connor's...Artful Adventures & Daily Inspirations

I Love Art, Adore the Handmade and Treasure the Vintage. I am the Fun Mom, the Silly Friend and the Writer who wants to make more room for beauty in the everyday.

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Monday, December 28, 2015

YES...we're Inspired! Welcome to LUCY!

I am totally thrilled to be bringing more sparkle to my world thanks to the talents and style of  
  A welcome to the newest "Earth Angel"...
 
I have to say it was truly a wonderful series of events that transpired to bring Lucy and I together...
and thanks to the Country Living Fair and Laura Putnam of Finding Home Farms
for helping it all along on this sweet and serendipitous journey...

You can see what we have in the shop from Lucy
...I love them all...
My fave is the black diamond pendant...
totally swoon worthy

You can see more of her fresh and funky designs at


And stay tuned to her page on our site 
for more fresh arrivals...

...and how fab...
Lucy will be sharing more of her designs at the Jeanine Taylor Folk Art Gallery when we visit Sanford, FL for our annual "heART of Winter" appearance on February 26th and 27th.

I think everything that comes 
from her hands is wonderful...
 ...thanks Lucy for this wonderful opportunity to celebrate your style and share all that you make.
xxoo Jen

Friday, December 25, 2015

wishing you a very merry



 There's something distinctly peaceful and beautiful about Christmas...

I hope this festive feeling surrounds you and that you can savor to spirit of the season.

I always want to put aside the crush of "to dos" and slow it all down...
and this year -- somehow -- I have just a bit...
I love that ee gift and play Santa to show our appreciation for those we love...
...Christmas reminds me in its festiveness just how much there is in my world treasure and celebrate ...
 Most of all my family...
 ...and my wonderful friends.

I hope the Christmas season brings you joy and the peace to enjoy it...
 ...from my home to yours... Merry Christmas
xxoo Jen




Monday, December 21, 2015

sending wishes...and the year that's coming to a close...


How do I ever manage to think that I can condense a full and busy year into one photo-filled 
Christmas card?

The actual mechanical task of addressing and sending the card is minimal compared to the amount of time I allow to indulge myself in pouring through all those images and memoires...
So many days to savor and be grateful for... 
so many days with things to learn... 
so many changes...so much love.

From the start of our year with the Eises in Disney...
this is the image that sums up the year

~~~fast but fun~~~
...and yes, there's me in the back gripping on for sanity's-sake trying to keep up!

 (...thanks to our German friends for the wonderful adventure in FL that started our year!!)

 So after looking through all those pictures and finally ordering a card, it's time for me to send merry wishes to your home from mine...

 ...some of my fave days are among these images...
...and some more that just could not fit...





...here's hoping your holiday and your new year are filled with good things and great love...

xxoo Jen

Monday, December 14, 2015

looking ahead at this time of year

I cannot help but look ahead...
there's so much to do RIGHT NOW, but I cannot help myself.

I am the optimist, the planner, the seeker and the doer...

Besides, I learned a long time ago, it's not the things you do in life that you regret most, it's the things you don't do... 
...my Dad, Jim told me that. And I think he's right.

So I am going to jam as much good into 2016 as I can...good days, great events, wonderful plans...are all in the works and I would love to include you...

Here's a peek at what's ahead for the first few months of the year...
Stay tuned for more

AND CLICK THIS LINK to see all the events of 2016

1 in FL in Feb
1 in TN in April 
1 in NY in June
1 in CT in December
1 in OH in September
...and are you ready for this...
4...YES 4 event in NJ in May, July, August and November!!!

and let's not miss the opportunity to share 
in the artful spirit of the season we're in right now...

A very merry holiday to you and yours...
 

xo Jen




Monday, December 7, 2015

....a classic tale can be re-written...The Little Match Girl...so much the better!


The Little Match Girl.

You know...I never really liked the ending of this story...
It's the first story that I can remember reading that actually made me cry.  

The world was bitter and lonely for her...
and I just could not reckon with her death.


I am forever thankful to Annette Petersen, founding artist of Wee Forest Folk, for revisiting the story and making it her own with a much better... 
and happier ending.

The "Little Match Girl" is Annette's most recent sculpt...at 96 this talented artist has exercised her wisdom and artist's prerogative to rewrite the story...


 ...and to share her fresh interpretation with her hands...

 ...we are sharing it here:

The Little Match Girl
as retold by Annette Petersen

Our Little Match Girl has appeared from the past, and perhaps we can reintroduce her with a more merciful ending?

On a very bitter Christmas Eve she was sent to the streets to sell matches so that her desperately poor family could have some food and fuel. The poor child was forced to burn those very matches in order to keep from freezing, those none were sold - alas!

The reformed Mr. Scrooge upon finding our Match Girl, brought her to his warm home for both nourishing broth and comfort.  Intending to prove his change of heart and make amendments, Scrooge provided her family with a truly wonderful Christmas dinner with all the delicious trimmings.

We hope you and your family also enjoy the comforts of Christmas...
 You can see more pictures of this sweetie on our site where 
she is available to order for $94...
FREE shipping on her and all Wee Forest Folk 
with code MouseExpress at checkout.

 Thank you Annette for all the joy you bring...you are an inspiration...
I adore you and your style! And respect your talent and many contributions to the handmade community.

WATCH FOR A ANNETTE'S FULL STORY IN AN UPCOMING ISSUE OF WHERE WOMEN CREATE MAGZINE!!!
xxoo Jen

Sunday, November 29, 2015

...don't miss this... SIS BOOM SHOPPING

...you do not want to miss this...

...my pal Jennifer Paganelli's annual 
SIS BOOM open house..
NEXT WEEKEND
12/3, 12/4 & 12/5
in Wilton, CT
 
This is a happy stuff, amazing shopping and just plain fun...

Please make the trip to visit her in Wilton, CT if you can!

I will be there with my gal pals 
Anne & Kathy shopping up a storm... there's just the best of 
merry loot to be had...
xxoo Jen

Monday, November 23, 2015

...joyful wishes for a Thanksgiving filled with good things and happy moments...



...it's time for me to extend heartfelt wishes for a beautiful and happy Thanksgiving... 

...it's time for me to remind myself just how much I have to be thankful for in my world.

I am a #gratefulgirl and I thank each of you all for your kindness, support and encouragement for me, my family, the artists and the business.

Happy Thanksgiving...
 
My wish is that you share the day 
with people who treasure and appreciate you...

xxoo Jen 
ps...order with code THANKFUL15 now through 11/30/15 and we'll take 15% OFF your order...
sorry no layaways, prior order and WEE Forest Folk are excluded... 


Monday, November 16, 2015

being green...a peek at some of my collection...Torquay Pottery


 ...from time to time I really love to share a peek at the most beloved among my collections... 
my Torquay Pottery...
Now, I am a true "collector"...
I have so many collections, 
I joke that I collect collections! 
That said, I have been dedicated to this masterfully made pottery since I was 18...
But one humble plate has actually been in my family for 5 generations now!
 
Here's Rory with his plate and my Mom, Rosie

 Recently I attended the wonderful, annual gathering of the North American Torquay Society (NATS)
Once a year we collectors gather to share, swap, learn and catch up...I am thrilled that the 2016 Convention will be held right here in 
Warwick, NY and Mahwah, NJ... 
stay tuned for details!  There will be a salesroom open to the public on Saturday, August 13th
Watch the events page of the site for more info..

Talks are part of the program at the annual conventions...and I wanted to share just a peek at some of the slides from the talk I gave to my fellow NATS members on "Being Green"

Much of my collection is dedicated to celebrating my favorite color...
GREEN...

 



Here's a closer look at some green patterns...


 ...of course I love the Shamrocks...
being Irish, and all!
 
I fell in love with florals thanks 
to friend Shelby Scherr...
They are like a garden in bloom...I am, of course, partial to those done on a green ground...
My fave of all is perhaps the Farm Scenes...but those are rare and few... 
hoping to find more someday...sigh...

So that's a quick peek...

For those of you intrigued...
you can read more about Torquay Pottery 
and the Society NATS

It's a great group of folks...and as much as I love the pottery, I am an active member and recently took the post as Vice President because,
 "...it's about the people not the pots", 
as my dad says... 
and they are great people!

AND if you can catch us at 
The Country Living Fairs...I am hosting NATS CHATS each day at 12:30...
thanks to Stella Show Management for this opportunity and to Country Living Magazine for acknowledging Torquay Pottery as 
"What's Hot in Collecting Vintage"

happy collecting
xo Jen

Thursday, November 12, 2015

ANNUAL SALE TIME...shhh...you can shop early....

...as usual we sneak the news of our ANNUAL SALE
via the BLOG and social media...
SO YES...you get to shop first! WOO HOO!
BE AN EARLY BIRD SHOPPER THIS SEASON 
& GET 30% OFF

Shop NOW through Sunday, 11/15
and use code ANNUAL30 
at checkout
and we'll take 30% OFF
 your entire order!
(sale starts formally on Friday...but you get to shop early since you are a BLOG reader and we thank you for that!!!)

All sales are final, certain brands (WFF) & items excluded, no layaways, discounts applied to new orders only & quantities are limited. 
Just look at all this loot on the site...







Shop NOW to avoid disappointment!
Enjoy and thanks xxoo Jen

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