Jenuine Jewels

Ain't she a beauty???

2010-02-28T17:01:00.000-08:00

FINALLY, she's here! My gorgeous tumbler has arrived! It's been a long time coming and a goal of mine for a while! I wanted to buy it with only money from my sales and I was able to at last!
Check her out....
A vision, isn't she?
Now I just have to figure her out and get all of my shot and grits and things! I can't wait till it's rolling! My jenuine jewels are going to be SO sparkling and fab! For those who are not familiar with tumblers, I will be able to make all of my metal findings (ear wires, clasps, jump rings, head pins, etc) and then tumble them and they will come out scratch free and as shiny as can be. Tumbling also hardens metal, so I will be able to work with some softer metals (easier to work with sometimes) and then throw them in this and they will come out hard and sturdy. You put different types of grit or shot in the barrels, then add water, sometimes a drop of Dawn and then the things you want tumbled in there and then they tumble around for a few hours (those barrels just keep turning around and around). I'll keep you updated on the progress! They say it's a trial and error to get the feel of it. SO excited to start!
I started adding some different things to my shops this week. I started making some jewels from some vintage items I have found and I'm so loving this look, not to mention the fact that it is a sort of recycling. I love that something that was trash-bound or just flat out of style can be turned into something fresh and new. I found some lockets and skeleton keys and it turns out, they make great pendants!

I also got cracking - FINALLY on my jems shop! I had been so neglectful!
I made these gorgeous wine glass charms! I LOVE how they turned out and really they can go an any yummy concoction served in a stem glass. It's just a different look and I'm loving it!

Now I have to find the time to make myself some so I'm ready when the big thaw hits and I can adorn my spring spirits with some glam bling!

I can't forget to mention a fab lady, Sarah and her wonderful blog, simply fun stuff. Her blog is darling and so is her Etsy shop, simply pretty prints. Be SURE to check out her blog because it's so fun AND because she did a lovely feature on me and jenuinejewels and is doing a giveaway for a pair of my earrings! So fun and free, so check it out!

I think that's all I have for now! Need to get back to work! Hope you are all well and smiling! Have a happy Monday!

Smiles, Jen

Me again...better late than never, right???

2010-02-23T18:04:00.000-08:00

Hey - more free fun!!! Like this ring? Well click on it to win it and read on for more info!!!!

LOL! Oh my! I have gone too long once again! Been busy, as we all are...
My jenuinejewels shop has been a little busier than usual, so I've been working down in my studio fast and furious making new jewels. I have so many new ideas and new sketches in my head. Now I just have to make them come to life. I have a whole new Spring line I've been thinking about and I'm so excited to get to work on them. I did list a few of them - think flowers... my new sign of spring earrings make me think spring. They are simple with clean lines. Love this look! These petal dangle earrings are so cute too! As many of you know, flowers are my fave. I love to grow them, pick them, smell them, paint them and now it seems natural to bring them into my jewels. So stay tuned for more!
I have also been working on all kinds of new things for my jewels shop...
I recently found the Etsy world of beads...never realized what great beads were to be found there! I really like to see my gems in person. Touch them, hold them up close, in the light, under my picky eye! LOL! Turns out there's some like me on Etsy too! Check out some of my new jewels from these finds!
This is my looking glass necklace - I can't count the things I love about it!

This natural prehnite bracelet is so pretty. These stones are so amazing! I'm naturally drawn to blues, so this was new for me and I love it! My cloudberry earrings lo0k great with it too!
Couldn't leave out the blue in my life...

OR without mentioning a new giveaway of one of my jenuinejewels' rings at a fab blog! Check out the darling blog and shop of Amanda! Her blog bleuroo handcrafted sweetness is so neat! She was so kind to do a feature on me! Here's the link to the giveaway pink package ring.

AND her darling Etsy shop is here bleuroo. She is so talented! I love her things! Check out her reusable snack bags! They are so perfect and clever!

Back down to my studio now - lots of Spring things floating around in my head that need to come to life! Stay tuned for the big thaw and the fab jems and jewels to come!

Hope you are all smiling!

hey guys!

2010-01-25T17:50:00.000-08:00

So, who doesn't love free stuff??? They seem far and few between these days...
I am taking part in a fabulous giveaway this week! Check it out and enter - just maybe you'll win a pair of my opalite water drop earrings from my jenuinejewels Etsy shop!

Here's the info on the giveaway...
A super kind soul, Kristina runs this darling website
prettyshinysparkly.com and contacted me a little while ago about taking part in one of her fabulous giveaways, so naturally I jumped at the chance! She, like myself, is attracted to all things sparkly and pretty! LOL! She writes about all kinds of neat stuff and always has something fun going on at her site. Not to mention, she's just a seriously nice person! You can check out all of the details here at

the Opalite Water Drop Earrings Giveaway. So check out her cool website and while you're there be sure and enter to win my earrings!!! You never know...this could be your lucky week!

In the mean time, I've been busy again down in my workshop. I was lucky enough to have my family in town this weekend for a visit and my sister and I had a blast making some jewelry together. It was such a treat for me, as I'm usually working alone. We just laughed and had so much fun! She even indulged me with a trip to one of my favorite local bead shops where we found so many new jems! I have SO much work to do - these beads are amazing!
Hope my creative juices will flow this week!

I did get a few jewels made between all of the fun! I have several new items to list this week so be sure to check in the shop in the next days!

Here's a sneak peek at a few! I love these jasper stones!

Thanks so much for checking in. Hope you all have a great week and are smiling!

Whaaa?

2010-01-09T18:18:00.000-08:00

Well, Happy late New Year to all! I promised myself I would not let an almost month go by without checking in here! One resolution wrecked already! And I say resolution VERY loosely - I made that *resolution* (not to make anymore resolutions) - years ago! LOL! I do love coming here and letting it all go though. It is so good for me. I'm sure some of you can relate...Life just throws stuff at us each day, some good and some not so much and for me that always translates into working it out. Whether it's here, within myself, with family or friends, or through my art. Sometimes I wonder if that's why I love creating so much. Maybe it's just my way. Of working it all out. Life. So another year is here and so we all go into it...in our own way.
More later...
Hope you are all well. More than well. I hope you are all smiling!

Here we go...

2009-12-13T16:53:00.000-08:00

2009 is coming to a close. And FAST! Can you believe how fast it's gone by? If you're anything like me, you are trying to wrap up the last of your holiday *stuff* and finally sit back and enjoy the season! LOL! Easier said than done, eh? I've sure been busy here. Two kids who are OVER the moon that Santa will soon be visiting, anxiously (in a good way) awaiting Christmas with my family, missing those I cannot be with this year and two fairly new Etsy shops too. I'm trying to keep the latter full and update them almost daily (as so many have told me, it is the *secret*, we'll see! LOL!) while prepping for the rest! I've been making tons of new jewels for jenuinejewels and even some knitting for jenuinejems. I love to knit this time of year. The weather is FRIGHTFUL here in MN, and I love curling up with some yarn by the fire. I typically just gift my knitting, as it is such a labor of love! I think the price tag on a hand made scarf or hat or anything, really....will NEVER match what someone has really put into a hand made jem. Especially a hand knit or crochet jem!

This brings me to a kind soul I met on Etsy and her beautiful hand made jems! I *met* (in stars because I haven't actually seen her - but feel like I know her a bit now...LOL) Alanah on Etsy many months ago when we were both getting our shops started. I am quite sure she puts as much heart into her things as I... She was so kind to include me in an Etsy treasury over the weekend! She added my path less followed necklace to a group of fabulous things!

She has a fab jewelry shop, alanahjoy, which is filled with beautiful jewels and her newest venture is yarnplusyarn, which she and her two sisters just opened! Check out these great earrings from her alanahjoy Etsy shop! I just love them!
She has so many great jewels, so check out her jewelry shop from time to time!
Her NEWEST shop, yarnplusyarn also has SO many great jems! She and her sisters just started this great shop and you can get to know them all a bit too. Check out their blog, yarnplusyarn.blogspot.com
Seriously, aren't they darling! They are so talented too! Here are some of their great shop goodies! I love this necklace. So original and unique.

This hat is beautiful too! This neckwarmer is sooo pretty too!
I love the color and detail! There are too many great things to show you but please check them all out! You will love them too! I promise! Thank you Alanah and yarnplusyarn for including me in your treasury! Thank you for creating such gorgeous hand made treasures for all, it is truly a labor of love... My best to you and your sisters on your new shop and a great 2010!!!

So now I must get back to my crazy holiday life! Santa has much to do and apparently, he forgot to send his elves to MY house! LOL! He also forgot to make enough Barbie Campers...grrrrrr! I have to awake in the wee hours and hunt this *jem* down! LOL! And then there's the laundry...
Hope you're all smiling still, I'm trying!

Hello ice!

2009-12-05T21:51:00.000-08:00

Oh, here we go. It's winter in MN now. I have a picky internal thermometer - it's the *southern* in me and when it dips below 20, well, it's winter. When I first arrived here in Minneapolis 3 years ago, my cold alarm sounded around 40 degrees but I've mellowed and adjusted! LOL! Now when it's -20, and that won't be long now - I'm a raging ice witch! No amount of time in the arctic circle will get me used to that! LOL! When it goes even below that - and it does - I start checking airfare! LOL! This is the time of year that I'm ok with the cold though. It looks pretty when we get that first layer of snow, it gets you in the holiday mood, the kids love it and they are darling with their rosy cheeks. Mine want to go outside now, even if it's just for a few minutes, because then they can talk me into hot chocolate to warm them up! LOL! This plan used to bug me, but now that they are old enough to layer on all of the winter gear without me - which takes longer than the actual time they spend outside - I tell them to go for it and I just start prepping the cocoa! LOL! I do get more of my work done this time of year too. I get plenty of time inside to create and for that, I am thankful. I've been busy doing just that. I've been on a jewel high! I can't get all of my new jewels listed fast enough. Sarah and Grant join me in my art room these days too. Here's some pictures of them from today with their own *jems*. I love that they are so creative. Sarah especially, tells me all the time that she wants to be an artist. I have no idea what she'll do as the years pass, and at 7, I doubt she does either, but I do think she will always connect with her creative side in some capacity and that just makes my heart happy. I have been so neglectful of my jenuinejems etsy shop since I opened jenuinejewels that I finally got busy on something for my jems shop! Check out these wine charms! I will be listing these tomorrow! Personalized wine charms with initials and birthstones. I also made a cool photograph pendant/necklace for my jenuinejewels shop. Check this out... This is an original photograph taken by me over 10 years ago in Maui while Rob and I were on our honeymoon. It's one of my favorite photos ever so it was a natural pick for my first photo necklace try! The whole necklace has such a vintage earthy feel. I just love it! I hope you do too.

Also made a few things to add to my jens cause section at jenuinejewels. Some new pretty jewels in pink. I love these rose quartz earrings. I promise these are some of the PINKEST rose quartz I've seen in a while. They are stunning all wrapped up in sterling!

I hope you all are having a great weekend full of smiles! Thanks for checking in!

Oh my!

2009-11-30T20:49:00.000-08:00

I've been busy! I should be sleeping but thought I'd say hi.
Well, where to begin...
I opened up a new Etsy shop! jenuinejewels is now open! I know, clever name, right? LOL! I figure, this is where all of my jewelry will live now. I think my jenuinejems shop may have been a bit confusing for some. I'm still getting them both sorted out and organized but at least I've started! Check it out - jenuinejewels
I'm still filling up shop slowly and steadily so check in often for more jewels! I actually just hit my local bead shops again for the first time, in a long time. I love a bead shop. They are my Mecca! LOL! I hit the jackpot too! Tons of fabulous jems...can't wait to get busy with them. I think my new dream is to own a bead shop! I did learn I tend towards BLUES. I would look down into my box (they give you a little box and a piece of paper with a little chart on it to keep tally/prices of your jems at most bead shops, fyi) and it was full of blues! I didn't even realize I was doing it. I had to consciously look for other colors! LOL! I found some great glass beads this time. Lampwork too. Gemstones also, of course. Beautiful jades, agate, quartz and chalcedony. Some beautiful smokey quartz - they sparkle like mad! I hope I can bring myself to actually sell whatever I make out of them! LOL! I'm also waiting on an ebay haul I just recently ordered. I had no idea what great treasures in beads are offered there! I also finally ordered a good ring mandrel, so I can start making the ring designs that have been living in my head. Next will be a jewelry tumbler. I've been doing all of my research and after the holidays - I hope to order one. It should really, really take my jewelry to the next level I hope.
Do you ever feel like there just aren't enough hours??? LOL!

I have also been sewing! I know, crazy! I have a dear friend who is a serious artist - she quilts. Her creations are DIVINE and the time and heart she puts into each quilt, well, it's amazing. In any case, she has been teaching me a bit about sewing in between laughs and smiles. It just so happens that my late MIL gave me her sewing machine and all of her sewing goodies. At the time, I don't think I appreciated them as I do now. I have enjoyed getting them out and knowing that as I work, she once sat as I am, concentrating, careful, (ok, sometimes cursing...LOL) and anxious to present her end result to someone she cared about. More on that and what in the world I'm sewing later. They will be on jenuinejems asap! BUT, thank you sweet Jean. I know now, what went into all of your beautiful things...

I can't wrap up without saying I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving, if you celebrate. Mine was really just perfect. Family and fun with a ton of love - that sums up my Thanksgiving. I am so thankful for so many people in my life! Up there is a little fam pic from the weekend. This was downtown on Black Friday.
Talk to you soon!
Hope you are smiling!

I know, TWO days in a row!

2009-11-16T16:21:00.000-08:00

It's a miracle! LOL!
I had to write and let you know the FUN news. Not too long ago, on my birthday, of all days actually, I was featured in a really cool Etsy Treasury put together by sweet Claudia. It was actually one of my kicks in the %^&*, that got me going in my shop again! LOL! Her Etsy shop, moncy3 is DARLING! She creates all kinds of lovely paper goods, as well as many other adorable things.

I had no sooner asked her if I could mention her here and she snagged another Treasury and featured a pair of my earrings from my Etsy shop today! I had to write and let you know about her darling shop so you can check it out and check out her cool Treasury too! My *In the Pink* earrings are there! Last time she had featured my *Your Heart Necklace*!
Here is a link to Claudia's Etsy Shop:
moncy3

Here is link to her latest Treasury
*To the people who heart me*

A Treasury on Etsy is a little group of items which are handpicked by it's members. They are a really cool way to show off some of the things that you like on Etsy and as a shop keeper, it's super fun to be included in one. They run for a few days and are constantly changing. It's just a little recognition in a sea of talent! So to Claudia (((( THANK YOU )))) and to all, have fun checking out the wonderful talent on Etsy!

Now I want to go snag a Treasury too!
Happy night all!

Oh yeah... I'm back! LOL!

2009-11-15T17:07:00.000-08:00

Um...I know, it's been a while! I can't even tell you WHAT exactly I've been doing. Do you ever have those days? Those weeks? Months even... I know I felt busy the whole time but I've got nothing to show for it! LOL! Well, maybe my kids are blossoming.
We went from busy summer to now, in a flash it seems. I can't believe 2009 is coming to an end already! Another thing my Mom was right about...will that list ever end??? LOL! She always says, enjoy today, enjoy it all because it's going to keep going by faster. So, I have been missing in action, and it's time to get back to today, MY today, my art. I've missed it so.
It wasn't all a wash - I did spend the better part of the Fall knitting. This is the time I always bust out my sticks. The weather is getting cooler and I love curling up on the couch, next to the fire with some gorgeous threads and seeing what I can do. I've really come a long way with my knitting actually. Especially considering I am self-taught. Thank goodness for the Internet and you tube! LOL! You can learn anything with a computer I've decided! Not always the most important life lessons maybe, but still, it's a handy little tool...
I also took a great vacation with my husband and our dearest friends (sans kids!) out to San Fran and Napa, so we could all celebrate our 10 year anniversaries in style! It was truly one of the best times I've had ever! It is so beautiful there and seeing our friends (whom we live far from) was even better! We are already talking about our next trip! That's me and my BBF in heaven!

Now, for the *work*, which I have gotten back too! YAY! It really is good for my heart. I can tell when I'm not creating. I think my family can too, which is ironic, because many times it seems I'm not, because I'm being Mom...
Anyway, I dusted the cobwebs out of my art room and I'm back! As usual, I can't decide what to focus on, so I'm painting and making jewels right now. Made some simple little turquoise earrings with some polished turq that I found some time ago at my local bead haunt. I kept wanting to do something crazy with them, but in the end I think they just stand best on their own with sterling findings. The stones are SO pretty!
I'm also still working on some fun things to do with the gorgeous pineapple quartz I found and these earrings are one thing I came up with. They are just kind of fun! Here's yet ANOTHER earring I did with aqua chalcedony and freshwater pearls. I put these on oxidized sterling. Love these! I guess I'm in an earring mode and didn't realize! They are one accessory I usually always have on. They seem to help bad hair days! That and lip gloss! LOL!

And the painting...
Finally finishing up one I started for myself - still haven't decided if I'll keep it, but I sure love it!
Another one that I need to finish but at least I've started! Can you tell I like flowers? LOL!
And last but not least, an oldie but goody. I've painted these for years for friends and family, but I'm thinking about putting some in my Etsy shop now. They are perfect for a nursery or in a princess room. I also have a *prince* version. I'll have to get a picture of those up - they are darling!
So, that's all I have for now! Probably too much for one blog! LOL! Thanks for reading on and on...
I truly hope you are all well and smiling!

WAIT - one more, can't post without my people! Here they are on Halloween. They were darling - of course!

Ahhhhhh....vacation...

2009-07-11T15:04:00.000-07:00

Well, it’s been a while hasn’t it? I guess summer is getting to me a little bit! These warm days and nights are just heaven when you are used to so many long months of winter. We were actually on vacation for the past two weeks. We headed down to my parents home in TN on the lake for the 4th of July and then some. It is just heaven there and a ton of fun! We live so far from all of our family, it is always nice to be able to see them! Lots of lazy pool days and days spent out on the boats and sea doos Not to mention all of the lovely cocktail hours! LOL! The kids had a blast enjoying cookies for breakfast and ice cream for lunch (Nana and Papa…LOL!). It all went by so fast! I can’t believe we’re back to the grind on Monday!
We learned that Sarah is a speed demon! She could not go fast enough on the sea doos! She loved it! She also learned how to dive! I can’t believe what a great swimmer she is becoming! Thanks in large part to Rob’s patience! Grant on the other hand, we learned, likes to take things at a much slower pace! LOL!
Our gardens here were busy while we were away! WOW! It’s like the plants up here in the tundra know they only have a short time to get ‘er done! LOL! The next week will be full of weeding, pruning and dividing. Any minute I’ll be eating so many tomatoes and other veggies from our garden I’ll be over them! Can’t wait!
I’m hoping all of that fresh air and water is going to inspire some cool new jems! I did decide that I am really going to revamp my shops in the coming days and weeks. I have GOT to figure out my photos and I just want to clean up the shops a bit so be sure to stay tuned! Have so much catching up and yard work it’s not even funny but I’ll be back to my regular blogging later this week for sure! Pictures coming asap too! Hope everyone is still smiling and hope you enjoyed your 4th too!

I love a rainy day...

2009-06-16T19:43:00.000-07:00

it just gives me an excuse to stay in and make jems all day! LOL! Actually we've had nothing but sun so my yard and all it's treasures could really use it and I'm tired of the &$*@^# sprinkler! It never fails - I always put it in the wrong spot (you know, so it's watering half of the road or the driveway), then I end up running in there between swoops, trying not to get completely soaked...a million times to get it in just the right spot and it never works! LOL! Rain is just so much friendlier!
So anyway, it was a perfect rainy day so S and G (the people) and I spent the day down in my art room. G lost interest fairly quickly but S was really into it. She really wanted to know about the wire and how to work it with the pliers. A mini-me! I love it! Watch out world! LOL! I'll have to get some pictures of her creations and post them. She'll dig that! I actually got quite a bit done and thought I'd post some very first draft pictures.

I just love these little stack rings! The color is bad and I'm too tired to take more but they are copper and sterling and fabulous! This flower with the yellow stone is so darling. It's sterling and I used that pineapple quartz I was so excited to get! It is my new favorite stone! I just started to do some stamping and it's fun! I like that I can incorporate it with my wire work, which is really my love. The other flower down below is my fave! It has the coolest shell bead and is coppery and silver. LOVE! It is so pretty in person. I have to get a nice sunny day and get some pictures that will do all of them justice!
Hope you guys are having a great night/day! Keep smiling!

gorgeous!

2009-06-13T17:49:00.000-07:00

I just have to share these shots from my garden! Since I'm in Minnesota, USA - we have some seriously, ridiculously, and I mean CRAZY cold winters. I am a southern girl at heart so I REALLY look forward to these nice warm months! As much as I am loving my new-found soldering self (I just want to make jewels all day...LOL), I had to spend a day outside for sure!
So, I inherited this mad-wild garden from Art and Dorothy (the previous owners of our home). Don't they sound darling??? Too cute indeed! Anyway - I've got flowers galore and it turns out I kind of like to dig in the dirt myself! It was a perfect 75 today with not a cloud! Cut the grass. I LOVE cutting the grass. I love the time to myself, I love the feeling when it's all done and *manicured* and mostly, I LOVE THE SMELL! They can bottle it, but there's nothing like the real deal...
It was just a great day! Here's some shots. I love taking pictures! Again - it's my craft/hobby/try new things ADD! I know I have it! LOL! I'm so glad I live in a digital time - I take so many it's ridiculous! Hope you all enjoy them, hope you're all smiling today and I wish you could smell this fresh cut grass...

From blog shots

This is the coolest EVER!

2009-06-11T12:15:00.001-07:00

Well, maybe not to you guys, but to me! I finished that bracelet today! I am over the moon excited! I can't believe it started like this:

From blog shots

And ended like this:

From blog shots

I added some opal and purple jade briolettes to give it a little subtle sparkle. I didn't want too much bling because I liked the simple, rustic feel it had. I know it's not perfect but for a first try, I'm cool with it! Now, to sell it on Etsy or not??? I don't really want to part with it! LOL! My sales haven't been off the charts (another story, for another day...LOL) so maybe I'll give it a try! Now that I know I can do it, I can't wait to make more anyway!
I am in such a jewel mood lately! I just got out of a painting mood. I swear I think I have craft ADD! LOL! I found the coolest local bead store recently and I just fell in love with so many of the jems there! I picked out a few yesterday:

From blog shots

Now I have to make more...LOL! I'm loving the pineapple quartz I found. Who doesn't want to wear that all summer??? It's the prettiest, palest, perfect yellow. Loved the carnelian, amazonite and chalcedony too!
Off to create...

Etsy YART sale

2009-06-09T21:44:00.000-07:00

From blog shots

Almost forgot! Check out my YART sale section in my shop for 25% off selected items and check out all of the great deals going on at Etsy June 10-14th!

AAAACKKK! The solder!

2009-06-09T20:22:00.000-07:00

Well, I said I was going to do it (to myself anyway) but that counts still. Teach myself to solder. What did you think? LOL! I had been capped out on my jewelry making for quite some time now. Years really. SO? It takes me a while to do things sometimes??? I get to it eventually! Anyway, today was the day and it was a loooooong one! LOL! I had never soldered so that was a huge learning curve. You know that crazy solder just does the weirdest stuff? It like curls up into these little circles and then just melts and then it won't melt and I kept checking to see if the damn thing was still on and then it just melts all over - stuff you don't want it to... it's a *medium* I'd not seen in person - like something in a sci-fi movie. It's like a blob! LOL! It was for sure a trial and error. I got the hang of it eventually - kind of! Working the metal - that was the easy part. I had visions of the curves I would eventually create when I got here in my head forever ago! I just worked with some plated silver with a copper core to start (didn't want to waste sterling on a first try, just in case...) but I love the look actually. I'm not into super *shiny*, so I love the rustic feel it ended up having. I soaked it in some LOS (liver of sulphur - this oxidizes metal) then polished to a semi-shine. I still want to add a hint of sparkle with some beads - too tired and OVA it all at the moment but I'll post more pics tomorrow! In the end I came up with my very own fabricated bracelet! YAY! I'm like the OCC! Love those choppers....

From blog shots

Also figured you might be curious where I do all of this so I'm putting up some pics of my art room too. It's just a half-finished little spot in my basement that I carved out for myself and it's been so fun to have my very own space! I painted the brick walls, the cement floor and I have big old doors propped up that I use for desks and working areas. It's no big shakes but it is to me!

From blog shots

Happy night to you all! Hope you all learned something new today - or even better - taught yourself something you've been wanting to do.
Smiles!

Firsts

2009-05-31T19:10:00.000-07:00

I don't know about you, but it's been a weekend of firsts here at our home. Firsts are funny, you seem to wait so long for them to arrive, almost wishing them away, and then they come, and you just want them back...
Not all of them, of course. There are many firsts I have no desire to repeat LOL! Like that time at college... like that time when I was on spring break...like that time I called 911...like that time my purse was *stolen* (or misplaced by Grant)... or when I wrecked my Dad's brand new Sea Doo into his brand new boat... (yeah, I could go on and on...), but the ones that happened this weekend...well, that's another story all together. These are some firsts that I will always want back. To be honest, no matter how bad, I'd not let a single one of my firsts go. It never ceases to amaze me that all of these things can happen, all at once, in real time and in real life. Sometimes all of these firsts just seem so surreal. Some are good and some are not at all good. But they all teach us something if we are watching. It just so happens that in MY life, this weekend, it was all good. Good firsts are so very sweet. Hell, they all are really...Isn't it fun when lots of good firsts happen at once though?

Hey here's a shot of my heart...

From blog shots

It was a perfect weekend here in Minni (MN) - 70's, with the most gorgeous sunshine you've ever seen! We pay most of the year, but you simply can't beat a beautiful MN summer day. That was small tomatoes compared to what was coming....

My sweet daughter, Sarah (one of *the people*), who is 7 learned to ride a bike (almost!). That crazy husband of mine, who I mention in my profile, well, he's topping my list at the moment! This was no easy feat! My Sarah is smart, funny, fabulous and CAUTIOUS! A good combo, but yikes, he (Rob, my dh) had his work cut out for him! For the first time she did laps in our yard and even tried the street. There were falls and there was frustration but in the end, sweet S knows she can do it. She was even chanting it, "I can do this, I can DO this, I CAN do this!" I know she believed for the first time, that she could do this (ride a bike). These are the firsts a mom longs for. Firsts we dread too! LOL! It's funny how we tell so many we love that they CAN do it, that they can do anything, when there's so many things we secretly think we can't. Why do we do that? Not all of us...but many. It's hard to try something for the first time and believe we can I suppose. It's like we grow out of that magic along the way...

From blog shots

My next good thing was being a featured artist on a friend's blog. I hope she doesn't mind my calling her a friend, as we've just met, online. But that is how I feel. She (Donna) has been so kind and has offered me worlds of help in a world I'm just stepping foot in. Again, firsts. If you put yourself out there a little, you just never know the kind souls you may meet. It's worth the leap of fear and firsts in my opinion! Donna is a very kind soul. It was most definitely a first and now I just have to teach myself to chant, "I can do this, I CAN do this..."

Just when I was enjoying the sunset and the end to a perfect, patio and flower-filled weekend, there was more.

My Grant (one of *the people* too), my baby (don't tell him I said that) shouts from the swings in our yard, "Look, I'm doing it, I'm swinging"! There he was - swinging. All by himself. A first. He didn't ask us to push him over and over, he just kept saying, "look at me, I can do it!" And he was doing it, all alone and my heart both swelled and sank with all of these firsts.

From blog shots

A part of figuring out these firsts (or helping others do so) is a job well done and one that is seemingly over. Only it's not. Not if you are to grow still. It's just a beginning of all new firsts. That is something to smile on.

Seeing my loves conquer all of their firsts, having my precious *jems* celebrating themselves and supporting me in my firsts...( not exactly a first there), has just been amazing. Amazingly sweet and wonderful all at once.

Big smiles to all of you. Celebrate your firsts, as ugly or as fabulous they were and make new firsts every chance you get. You just never know...

This is crazy fun...

2009-05-31T09:23:00.000-07:00

Check this out! Found out I'd be a featured artist last night!

Click on the link above!!!

Thank you a million times to Donna at dzfantasy! Check out her cool blog and creations and all of the great artists she features there!

More from me later! Hope you're all having a great weekend. We sure are here!

Places

2009-05-27T19:07:00.000-07:00

It's a quiet Wednesday night at my place and here I am. Somewhere I did not see coming. My very own blog. It's funny how life takes you to all of these places you never thought you'd be...places on a map, places of the heart, soul and mind, places in time, and of course there are also the places you dream of going, even the ones you never dreamed. These are some of the fun ones, the scary ones and the ones that will change and grow you. I've been to many of these places before and will no doubt be there again. This is one of those places for me at the moment.
Cyberspace, websites, dreams, business, BLOGS???
To think I was just in a rain forest gecko and princess-filled place just hours ago...
More on that and *the people* later...

Maybe I should introduce myself to those who don't know me...
I'm Jen. I'm a Mom of 2 wonderful people, a wife, a daughter, a sister, a friend and a creator. I suppose those are just a very few of the things that I am, but the most important to me. I'm also apparently a cook, house cleaner, laundry fairy (Mom, that's for u), chauffeur, nurse, puke and snot-getter and encyclopedia! Who knew? Oh, I'm a detective too. More on that later too...LOL!
It all reminds me of a fabulous book Oh, The Places You'll Go (classic Dr. Seuss)! Everyone should have at least 2 copies of that in their home btw!

Lately, I'm trying to focus a bit more on Jen, the creator. I guess I've always created, I just never did anything beyond that...I created and these things would sit in a room, on a shelf, on a floor. Waiting to go. Somewhere, anywhere. Maybe it was given to a love, maybe it was given to a stranger and my things, *jems*, as I call them, will still do all of that. I just want to see them go more places now. I want to go more places...with my *jems*...
So here I am on my adventure. Heading places. Places I've dreamed of and places I want to go. It will be filled with the usual crazy - of THAT I'm sure! I'm going anyway - haven't met a place I wouldn't go yet...
Well...LOL!
Hope you'll check in and see where I'm heading. Even if it's in circles sometimes! LOL!
Hope you're smiling tonight! I am...

I simply cannot throw this blog, my website, my etsy shop and all of this out there without thanking my most precious *jems*, those who have always been there telling me to try this ages ago and you know who you are...xoxoxox!