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, June 24, 2013

hello Monday...school's out

Hello friends.

School is finally out here in NY, did you hear a massive sigh coming from the coast as all those New York kiddos said good bye to the class rooms for 11 beautiful weeks?

It hot and humid here in NY and I am tucked in the central air this morning. I dashed out with my kids to the library earlier and everyone is quietly reading while I try to catch up with posting all the new inventory from the recent shows...

Have you peeked at the site lately? It's loaded....and being loaded with more lovelies.

Among my faves are the re-worked mixed media creations by Laurie Meseroll.  She was here to stay recently and she did something so Laurie, she pulled paintings from the site and re-worked them...just because...hello fresh...
 
And Oohh la la...I love all that Jennifer Lanne creates. Look at her new landscapes...I am in love. And her florals...



Of course Letty Worley is at the top of her game. Her new purses, soft sculptures and what she calls her "frostings" are just darling.

 



And there's oodles from Melody just in too...
there's purses and jewelry and more.




And Marie's new corsages are so festive. Her Derby Blooms are fun.....


 And hello Heidi Steiner...your creations are always a treat...


With that little peek I am back to work. Tons of pics to take, to post to share.

Hello Monday...

Hello new things on the site...CLICK here to see them all.

Hello to help from Allie -- who's just graduated!

Hello kids running wild in the backyard.

Hello ice cream, it's the perfect breakfast.

Hello friends and family reunion....lotsa folks headed this way soon.
(menu and shopping getting done tomorrow!)

Hello summer, I am glad you are here....

Are you?

xxoo Jen


Friday, June 21, 2013

a "hearfelt" peek at Lisa Leonard's workshop...

 Lisa Leonard is really special lady...for so many reasons. She is a devoted mother and wife and has created an amazing business from her heart and hands. It's an honor to work with her and get to know her as a friend...

I want to share a peek of her workshop with you and to celebrate Lisa's style, use code LISALOVE at checkout through Monday to take 15% off your order for her creations
At Earth Angels we showcase all of Lisa's "heartfelt" line and while we were in California recently, we made time to visit with Lisa at her workshop in San Luis Obispo the day before we appeared with her at the Remnants of the Past Show.




 Lisa was working with staff on new limited summer designs while we were there, so we got to play dress up and tell her which we liked best...
and I loved seeing how Lisa engaged with her creative team.

 
I have always been entranced with watching things be made....
Lisa's sweet staff had me mesmerized.

 ..watching the dynamic between Steve and Lisa was pretty incredible, too.  What a team they are!

 Lisa let Laurie play in the bins of supplies while she and Ben Ashby of FOLK magazine chatted about handmade goods...
  
Lots of tiny treasures in the works...
The tools of the trade, her staff makes it look easy, but it is not!
It takes a keen eye and steady hands, as well as artistry.

 

I am wearing one of Lisa's necklaces right now...knowing where it was made and how it was hand crafted makes it even more special to me.
Thanks Lisa for sharing what you do.
 

  Thanks too for a wonderful afternoon at the workshop.  
I know Ben, Sophie and Laurie loved being there too...

You take the cake!
More on those cake toppers soon!

 xxoo Jen

Monday, June 17, 2013

Hello Monday and summer is soon...

This is the kids' last week of school. Where did the year go? 
Where did the years go? 
 
I look at my kids some days and we are so ensnared in where we are and what we are doing at that very time, it can be difficult for me to remember them as babies and toddlers...

I do remember of course, and I remember the wonderful feeling of them being small, and the joy in watching them grow. The small achievements, the larger milestones, and the everyday things that make time sweet.

 A few pictures here and there prompt the memories....
...like Charlotte and the beach...
 ...our first house in Queens...
 ...dress up...as opposed to dressing up...
 ...onesies...


I was with much of my family over the past week, we gathered to bury my Uncle Joe -- Rosie's big brother. He lived a long life of 88 years, and while he will be sorely missed by his grandchildren especially, I am reminded firmly of the way time passes, our own mortality and well, the sheer overwhelming-ness of time's limited capacity to give us opportunity. 

I am reminded of the importance of family and how one generation carries the banner for the next, and then passes it...

And so with summer vacation for the kiddos just 5 days away, I breathe and reach for the small memories that make me grateful for each day's everyday-ness.
 
Hello Monday.
Hello sweet long, summer days filled with playing in the yard, building forts and making pitcher after pitcher of lemonade.

Hello catching up around here -- those two back to back shows darn near crushed me with dirty laundry and paperwork.

Hello to time that we have and making the most of it...squeezing in the fun where we can!

Hello to my family, I do love you all so...

Hello Hello...to all of you and hope you find some time these summery days to celebrate the small things.

xxoo Jen





FREE shipping site-wide 'til Tuesday...

...just a little treat in case you missed shopping in person 
at our recent show appearances...

Free standard shipping site wide 
with code SWEETSHIP at checkout today and tomorrow.

Enjoy xxoo 

Jen

Saturday, June 15, 2013

our second salute...

 
You asked for it!
...this is our 2nd Salute to Artistry SALE
We promised to highlight a few artists each month,
and to take 25% off to celebrate their style

This month use STYLE25 to take 25% off
three of our fave artists until 6/30....

Barbara Strawser and her paintings

Leslie McCabe and her textile artistry


 
and Stacey Bear and her "Momentoes"
CLICK HERE TO SHOP Stacey's mixed media Momentoes paintings and more NOW NOW







 WOO HOO AND ENJOY!
...don't forget STYLE25 at checkout.
xxoo Jen
 

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