oh… hello there, bloggy pants!

oh… hello there, bloggy pants!

….ramblings of a softie maker & doodle-er of sorts!

 
 

don’t attempt to try this at home…..

fur ….okay? unless of course you’re alot smarter than me (which i’m bettin’ you are!) & wear long sleeves & an apron! yup…i decided to shave this mohair…which on first thought actually seems pretty ludicrous since mohair is soooo expensive, but i had this mohair sitting around for quite some time & i never really liked the length of the shag. so why not shave it? i immediately ran out & purchased the clippers…& i think i’ve managed to break them already! i was so excited i never gave it any thought as to covering up any exposed areas of skin! & lemme tell you i wound up COVERED in mohair….& it’s about as fun as rolling around in a sheet of fiberglass! yowza! i had to hurry up…trim it….cut out the pieces…& head for the shower! needless to say, i’ll never make that mistake again! 

anywho! i hope everyone out there had an awesome memorial weekend! ours was stellar! really beyond stellar! we were in holiday bliss all 3 days! we did a ton of traveling & exploring,sketching,& eating….& the weather was perfect! the weekend started off friday nite with a trip to the art supply store! erich picked up a cool little soapstone carving kit & i finally got my hands on a fountain pen….although, not one i’m super happy about (i still have the lamy safari on my amazon wish list) but it’ll do for now! then on saturday we wound up going to the new paltz/woodstock craft fair…where we saw these amazing native american handmade flutes (erich was instantly hooked!) & gobbled down some awesome zeppole & lemonade!! after the fair, we wound up venturing up to woodstock to joshua’s to score some awesome falafel!! (oh how their falafel rocks!) then back down our way to our friends bar-b-q! on sunday (my favorite day!) we first ran to rhinebeck to score some cranberry scones & tea (i’ve been on a huge scone kick!) at the farmers market & then headed up to hudson,ny. we never visited hudson before, so it was a really nice surprise! hudson, ny has so many cool little antique shops,bookstores, restaurants , neat outdoor parks, & even a cool little garden center that feels like you’re sneaking into someone’s quaint little garden! (i’ll post pics later!) it was great! we even got treated to a refreshing little rain shower to cool us off from the afternoon heat! when we were there, we wound up eating at Mexican Radio…& their food was pretty slammin’,too! not only that, but the drive both up & back were beautiful! the lands that surround the hudson are amazing! finally, on monday we ventured out to millerton,ny…then to mcenroe’s organic farmers market for some fresh produce & sandwiches…then off to millbrook, ny! now millbrook ny is a tiny town. it does have some shops & places to eat, but i think my favorite part of it are the gardens that are at the end of the main drag! it is such a beautiful little park! erich & i followed one of the paths to a little covered rocking bench & practically fell asleep on it! it was so peaceful! after that, we ate at aurelia…where i got simply delicious hand rolled gnocci! MMMmmmmm! we really couldn’t believe our luck this weekend! it was the best! & i feel so fortunate that i got to spend it with my best friend & love!

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handsome hubby & fountain pen obsessiveness!

hubbyatwork …just thought i’d post a pick of hubby at work! he is just too handsome in his work digs! anywho….it’s a beautiful day out & i’m missing him (i know…you can commence to make barfing,gaging noises now!)…but i have had the strongest desire to grab some joe..or tea in my case (as of late)…a big blanket…a simple lunch…our sketch pads/journals…& head for the park! i’m so glad we are so like minded on such simple pleasures! anywho…speaking of journaling/sketching…i recently decided to try using a fountain pen for my doodles…& i hafta say i’ve become rather obsessed with them! i usually use micron pens, but i wound up picking up a cheapo speedball set…you know the old-school kind that requires dipping the nib in ink….& i’m sold! i’ve been researching something a little more substantial/portable than my cheapie, but i’m a fountain pen newbie…& rather unsure what should be my next step up. i’ve seen all sorts…& would prefer one with ink cartridges & an ink converter…but since it’s my first…don’t want to spend like a gazillion dollars. i found a lamy safari with some decent reviews on amazon..which for 25 bucks seems fairly decent…the other one in question is a rotring ..but i’ve read mixed reviews on these. needless to say…i’ve been driving myself batty about it…i even wound up having crazy dreams last nite of searching for just the right fountain pen! crazy,huh?! other than that…not too much going on…still slowly working on some projects…even though i just realized that i packed up half of what i needed already!*sigh*…& we are STILL in limbo with the bank! apparently, due to all the refinancing going on….they are really backed up! we may…we just may…get in this house before the baby is born…but i’m getting pretty nervous here!

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it’s a girl!, new shoes, & still in limbo!

…alrighty! Hubby & i just found out that we are have a little girl & are thrilled! although, this could lead to a dangerously immense, tiny shoe collection! not to mention, i’ve already spotted the coolest modern,minimalistic dollhouse for me…um i mean, her. & i can hopefully figure out how to make a nice cloth dolly…& some funky baby safe odd little stuffies! ack! so much to do…so much to buy! anywhoot! i’m pretty psyched! on another fun note…i finally found some comfy summer shoes! & i was totally shocked that they were clarks & cute all at the same time! i’ve never really liked the look of many of clarks styles (too clunky), but these were too cute to pass up…& super comfy to boot! 

newsummershoes the ones on the left are style adore kiss in silver (i’ve had a thing for silver shoes this year) & the ones on the right are their indigo line style gelato in red…& are soooo comfy & still manage to pull off a cute femme 1940’s-ish look…plus they have the slightest wedge which will at least add an extra inch to my stumpy frame! best of all, i ordered these from zappos.com on saturday & they were here by monday! you can’t beat that with no tax & free shipping! in other non-shopping related news, we are still in limbo on the closing date for our house! it was supposed to be this friday, but we’ve received no word from the bank & haven’t been able to contact them! ugh. this is sooo frustrating! we are half packed, not knowing what to do or when it will all take place!i have a crazy feeling, in typical erich & jenni fashion, that we’ll be running around like chickens with our heads cut off, last minute & willy nilly trying to move!

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current WIP’s

3wips i currently have just about 4 lil’ outsiders in the works! i figured i’d concentrate on the smaller ones, since at least that would give me some sort of feeling of completion amidst the crazy-ness that is this apartments current state! hopefully this weekend i’ll be able to organize what i’ve packed so it’s not total chaos! ugh…i cannot stress enough how ready i am to be over this whole process! not to mention, i’m pretty psyched about setting up the baby’s room & the new art room….which will all be on one floor! yay! it drives me bananas the way the studio is set up currently. the studio is upstairs (a fun spiral staircase at that!) & i always forget stuff downstairs that i’ve dragged down the night before to finish in better lighting. consequently, i wind up leaving little trails of art projects from one end of the apartment to the other (although, hubby believes this will never change!:). anwho…i am off for some fresh fruit & veggies, but i’ll leave you with my lil’ doodle of the day:

daday162

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NYS Sheep & Wool Festival

i just found out that i’ve been accepted at the 2009 NYS Sheep & Wool Festival! I’m pretty super geeked out about it, since it is so awesome! & not just for fiber finatics, either! there is so much to do (& eat!) that i can’t imagine anyone not having a great time! anywho… i’ll probably become somewhat of a bad (or worse!) blogger than usual for the next few weeks, since i’m in the middle of packing to move & trying to get a jump on sewing for the festival. i really hope somehow i can pull it off! mystery baby’s due date is Sept 16th…but who knows when he/she will decide to emerge! i’m sure due to the genetic disposition that both hubby & i have to procrastinate, that it will be later than sooner! i’ve asked my parents to come & help with the festival in case i am unable to attend (i have this dillusional idea that i may be able to sneak up there for a few hours while hubby is home with the kiddo, but he/she may still be too young) oh well…my art will be there anyway…& that’s the most important part…but i tell ya…there is nothing more beautiful than rhinebeck, ny on a crisp fall leave-turnin’ day!

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new pins!

outsiderpins2 alrighty! i just added my new pins to the shop! i know this pic is semi-fuzzy, but you can see 3 of my illustrations if ya visit my etsy store! i love making pins! they are so much fun! & i’m pretty excited that i’m feeling pretty “with it” today…so i should be able to get alot accomplished! not only do i have to finish one teeny tiny outsider (really what i call an “insider”) but i have a few “hey kitties” to finish, & i’ve started a new collection of “mini-pillows” with my illustrations on them…i love all things mini (& no, not just the clubman:) so i think they’ll be a perfect odd lil’ collectible! not only that, but this weekend hubby & i start the ole packing process allll over again! we supposedly only have a few weeks left until closing, so we’ve gotta get our slackin’ arses into gear! not that i’m anxious to pack it all up, that’s fer sure! at least we’ll have some favorable weather…73 degrees tomorrow! yee-ha!

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doodle!

daday15well…i’ve been pretty bad at blogging as of late! i’ve been all consumed with the cintiq & doodles! i can’t get enough of drawing on it! i even started a new batch of pins & made new tags for them…hopefully i’ll post a pic tomorrow! i’m also considering making prints of some of my doodles, but we’ll see…not sure which is print worthy yet…& i’m still experimenting with different computer programs (did i mention i’m technologically challenged?). other than that..i feel like my tummy might just explode! i guess it’s just stretching out, but it is super annoying! & i’ve been waking up a million times a night with horrible pain in my hips & knees….anyone out there in cyberspace experience this while pregnant? good grief!

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eggs!

daday12i hope everyone had a great easter! ours was pretty laid back! i did manage to persuade erich into coloring a few easter eggs….okay…i wouldn’t exactly call it “persuade”…a bit more like nagging for the past two weeks that we HAVE to color eggs! but hey…i need some traditions! anywhoot…here is a pic of our little collection:

eastereggs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

erich made some really cool argyle ones! i think you can see one in the left front of the basket! i love dying eggs…but i cannot stand the smell of eggs in the refrigerator! yuck! we had a few that cracked during the boiling process, so erich shelled them & put them in a bowl in the fridge…..& every time he reached in there to grab a beer…or some food…he’d come back with the stench of eggs glued to him! it was almost more than my nose could bear! i really believe that is the cause of my main aversion to eggs! the rancid smell! ack! ahh well…i should have a new lil’ outsider pic to post up here…at least by tomorrow, i think. i’m at the “sewing up” stage currently…so the only thing left after that is the needle felting work & he’ll be good to go!

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phases comic

phases1990redo

i decided yesterday to create a series of one panel comics based on various “phases” of my life (thus the ensuing cartoon title “Phases:” i know…imaginative, aren’t i? hardee-har!) that i could assemble chronologically once i am finished (lord knows there are a million phases i’ve gone thru!) & pass on to the little one, whenever he/she is old enough. i’m doing this in hopes of a few things:

a.) i think it’s so important to never forget that you were a kid once (or in some cases still are!), in order to understand what it is that your own children are going thru.

b.) i believe it’s also a unique way to tell the story of your life (in so many words) in a way that children (..or really anyone) can identify with.

c.)it’s also a great way to convey to them, that although times are/will be different, the struggles one goes through in life may have a certain commonality.

d.) i think it lets them know…”hey! my parent’s are…or at least were… normal!”…or at the minimal-not the huge dorks they are now!

e.)plus it’s just fun….& i happen to come from a family of “storytellers” so adding some doodles to the mix just seems natural!

now…i am by no means a cartoonist…hell…i haven’t even the slightest handle on perspective-let alone talented in the ole drawing department….but who cares?

anywho…i’ll be posting the comic all willy-nilly & in no particular order…just like memory intended!

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phases!

daday11redo1

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a note from 425sqftart....

i love to make odd little furry animals out of mohair & wool (among other numerous crafty projects!) Each piece is unique and one of a kind..painstakingly created over days! i do not normally do commission work, but hey if ya have any ideas throw 'em my way!

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Latest on Mon, 11:07 pm

deb: Hi Jen! Love your 1984 picture!

Devin Travis: Pretty neat Jen i'm impressed! Here is a friend of mine Wendy's blog http://the-cupcakery-blog.blogspot.com/2008/09/how-to-be-better-foodie-bulging-book.html

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