"Life Line" by Logan Hicks- New Print Release and Artist Profile

Logan Hicks is an amazing artist who use to live and work in Baltimore. I have had the pleasure of having work in his space, having him make t-shirts for me as well as have a panel of his work left over from an amazing street art show as part of Artscape along with the panel from Surge. I really love seeing his work explode. I hope to see his work next weekend when I go up to the big apple.

New Jennyjen stuff....with Free Shipping!!!!

I'm having a free shipping sale in my shop! As well as being featured on Indiefixx's summer galleria which begins tomorrow. I've been trying my best to stick up and load it up with new products. I've been trying to add a new product everyday! I really want this summer to be a block buster selling season. Since I only have two more shows happening...I need to boost my shop sales. So go check it out. Again free shipping n the US! Here are some newbies that are fresh in the shop.

New Dress in Town

I just got finshed making my new Amy Butler pattern dress. I love this Joel Dewberry Antler Damask in Sky pattern from his Deer Valley series. Once in a while I actually squeeze in some time to make something for me. Can't wait to wear it tomorrow for graduation!

Thanks IndieFixx!!

Check out my sweatshop on Indiefixx today!!! I share not only my sweatshop but my organization secrets. Check out Indiefixx for the latest in diy news, crafters, ideas, gallerias, how to's and what not's. One of my favorite blogs that I check on a regular basis! And the creator is another Jen!!! What's not to love about that! Thanks again Jen!

And here it is....

I absolutely love it!!!! Thanks Bill!

Proud to say I didn't cry, I didn't pass out and I only finched a couple of times....

New tattoo in the works

Happy June everyone. My favorite month! In fact I started this blog in the month of June, I believe I'm heading on to its 4th year! I'll turn 47 this month and my tattoo turns one! So to celebrate all of this, I'm getting a new tattoo. I like the fact that I finally feel confident with the images that I have no problem being attached to for the rest of my life. I think once you are in your forties, that the best time to get a tattoo. Well this one is going om my back. Birds on the wire. I've been sewing this scene with my sewing machine for the past year and its really stuck with me. It's that whole urban bird series....just like me, an urban bird. Here is the drawing...stay tune for future pics.

Jennyjen42 has a fan page!!!

OK... OK... I know I'm a bit late for this one. Its that time thing again. I'm challenging myself for the month of June (yes today I'm getting a head start, to post something everyday on this blog, in my shop, and on my facebook fan page. If I don't make it...I"ll fire my boss. I really need to spread the word of birdy birds to everyone that I can in an non-obnoxious way. I have great new projects heading my way. One being a children's book that my mom and I are collaborating on. She's in the writ ting stage as we speak. I'm in the trying not to panic that I've committed to too much again! But we will persevere . Persistence is a great habit! Go check out my new fan page and hit the "like" button, if you like it. I've been posting as many bag and pillow designs that I have done since starting this whole jennyjen business four year ago! Check it out here.

Solitude and Creativity

Again, my apologies for the lack of posts. This is the insane time of the year. Art shows at school, Advance Placement test, wrangling them seniors to finish out the year without quitting on everything, and then 4 craft shows back to back! And then there's the kicking out of the temporary housemate that just took over my space as well as my mind space. He meant no harm, but I completely lost it! I need clutter free living conditions when my life is insanely busy. There needs to be clean and orderly space that I can be in. As well as solitary space. I think my need for solitary has always been my bottom line for being a painter with need for private studio space to paint. That turned to private sweatshop space. And now I have both!!! Once drinking the wine of living alone, I don't know if I ever want to go back to living with anyone. I am completely spoiled with the option of doing what ever I want, whenever I want to. A separate space for all of what I do! Who would want to share that? Not to mention all of the solitary I can use. Well, we'll see.
It's coming up to my one year anniversary for being alone in this house. I've re-done the entire upstairs with new purposes including a new painting studio and sweatshop. I think this summer I'm going to start repainting downstairs.
Anyway, I've been quite interested in why I need solitude so much. And I found this great blog entry by Leo Babuta on the blog Zen Habits titled The No. 1 Habit of Highly Creative People

which has some very interesting theories about how we need to conquer our fears about being alone before we can fully open ourselves to creativity. I also like the

" few of the benefits I’ve found from solitude:

• time for thought
• in being alone, we get to know ourselves
• we face our demons, and deal with them
• space to create
• space to unwind, and find peace
• time to reflect on what we’ve done, and learn from it
• isolation from the influences of other helps us to find our own voice
• quiet helps us to appreciate the smaller things that get lost in the roar"
• 
  

Banksy's Exit Through The Gift Shop (Exclusive 5 min Extended Sneak Peek)

Baltimore Clothing Stop & Swap

WOW...its sort like the book thing but for clothes. What an ingenuous idea! Next week: MICA. Check out the site here.

Bragging Rights..getting to the end of AP

Just a little taste of AP....here is my top kid...Sheila R. More to come when I"m more awake.

Squidfire Art Mart this Saturday

Sorry I haven't posted in a bit....its that time of the year when AP is due and the spring shows are gonna happen right on tip of each other. Starting this saturday in its new location of Fells POint...its the Squidfire Spring Art Mart. Check out who else will be there on the vendor list here.Hope the rain stays away! I got lots of new bags and sewn drawn urban scenes! Come out my new wares.

Let the Spring Craft Show Season Begin!

My crazy Spring season has been finalized! Please come to any shows that you can and say hi! Last night was the NAEA artisan fling...3 hours of amazing art teachers embarking on the jennyjen booth with tons of smiles and complements! Thanks art teacher peeps! 3 hours of "Cuteness" and a nice chuck of change to start off my spring season. We have a roof to fix here people! Thanks so Much! So here it is.....my insane spring schedule:
Spring Bada Bing in Richmond VA, Sun. Apr18
Squidfire's Art Mart in BAltimore, MD, Sat. May 8
Art Star in Philly's Penns Landing, May 15-16
Handmade Mart in Silver Spring, MD Sun. May 23
Pile of Craft, in Baltimore, Sat. June 26

Art Star in Philly!

In May, I'll be joining my BEST buddy Jen Menkhaus in a booth at Art Star. They've been posting the other vendors. I'm hoping we'll have the same beautiful weather we had last year. Plan on coming to Philly for the art festval. At Penns Landing, May 15-16.

New Products Coming Soon!

Just finished a new flab bag that perfect for your camera, phone, keys and wallet...and perhaps a couple of other items Its really all I need when I don't feel like lugging around a bunch of stuff. This one is mine! Just in time to go back to NYC this Friday on a day trip with 46 kiddies! That;s enough stuff to lug around. Also, new coasters with tiny felt applique birdy birds on each corner!

Spring Bada Bing!

The spring season is beginning and I've been working like a maniac. First show is at the NAEA conference. I'm participating in the artisan fair. The second show is in Richmond.VA: Spring Bada Bing: Sunday, April 18. Check out the vendors who will be joining me here . I'll be posting new products soon!

new addition to the sweatshop

I've been living in my sweat shop these days and cutting my daily budget as low as I can. So I have my only tv set connected to cable and the dvd/vhs player in the sweatshop. It was getting a bit hard on my back as I was working on the floor and watching tv so I got enough money from taxes to invest on my new piece of furniture. Here it is, my sofa bed from IKEA...the beddinge. Elected to forgo the slip cover for a prettier bed spread from urban adventure that I got years ago. I'm also gonna see how long I can last this summer without AC, so this will also work nicely for my summer bed since this is the only room with a ceiling fan too.

Happy Easter

Happy Easter ...had to post this photo of my sister and I back in 1966 in our Easter outfits that my mom made. I'm hoping we're going back to these days of handmade...home made outfits and simple traditions of the old photograph on the front steps of the house. Anyone else have a similar pics? Lets share.

before and after school renovations from design sponge

A good friend of mine is in the process of buying a house with not a lot of money. Got me searching and being amazing of how many houses are for sale in the B-more area under $100,000. Course you can also imagine the state that they are in. So in search of before and after renovations, I have to applaud angela tullier and her husband adam in their very hip renovation of a home that hadn't been changed since 1958, except for the vacancy prior to their purchase of four years. Check out the entire post here on design sponge...I'm really loving the colors of the bathroom as well as that kitchen!

William Kentridge: FIve Themes

WOW am I lacking on the blog posting. Spring break is here and I just got back from New York's lower west side that I absolutely loved. My friend and I embarked on an adventure of "do we plan" or not and made some tracks around town that were new and eye opening. Did first make it to the William Kentridge's Five Theme show at MOMA and found some meaning for my own new work. There is something about these discarded posts and structures that keep popping up in my work. You have until May 17 to get up there to see it. I think its the most complete show I've seen of Kentridge's work. Didn't see the whole show because I'm taking 45 Students up next Friday to see it