25 days of memories!

In the past few years I've tried to come up with creative presents to give my family for the holidays. 

When thinking about what to make this year I became stuck on the idea of sharing and saving memories.  To make this into a lasting gift I designed a printable template that reads "25 Days of Memories".  The template has four black and white memory card illustrations with various bunting designs that can be cut out and filled with color or left blank.  Each day between tomorrow and Christmas I will be filling out a memory I shared with a particular person and mailing the memory card to them.  By the time the holiday season comes to an end each person will have a collection of 25 memories that are unique to our relationship.

Tomorrow I'll add a memory to each card and mail them out!

Please feel free to use the template below to send your own memories this holiday season! 

Take care! Jen

tuesday to dos

I hope everyone had a lovely turkey day.  I know I did!

I had so many studio ideas while I was hanging out with the fam.  I wrote them down on whatever scrap of paper was available and used yesterday to consolidate everything.  I now have a laundry list of to dos.  Here's my main pick for the week.

1. Create a scarf from "French Daisy" fabric

I scored this absolutely gorgeous hand-printed french daisy fabric from a local antique store a few months back.  So far I've used it to re-cover my ironing board and to make "Rescued Fabric Bones".  I think it deserves to be turned into a more wearable accessory.

2. Research how to create my own font(s)

I tend to use a lot of hand-written text in my designs which ends up planting me in front of the light table for long periods of time.  I have a couple font ideas in mind and it's time I get movin'!

3. Make time for coffee with a friend

I absolutely LOVE that so much of my time is spent in the studio... but I've pushed many of my relationships to the side in order to make that happen.  I plan on having a mini get-together with a friend once a week to keep me focused on what's truly important.

4. Visit a local pet boutique with dog toys

I planned on going after work today but my car is back in the shop (4th time this month...)

5. Finish "25 Days of Memories" template

Holiday template surprise!  I'll have it posted this Wednesday.

6. Make a screen for my new antler design

Yet another dog toy idea.  My previous Marine Critter line wasn't quite right for the dog world.  I'm hoping this one will work better.

I have a bajillion more to dos but I think this is a reasonable amount to get done during the week. 

cheers! jen

dreaming of trucks

Happy Monday!

I know this is well off the beaten path of my usual blog focus... but I've been drooling over 1950's trucks recently.  For the past few years I've had a minor obsession with the beautiful rounded body of these trucks and for some reason they've been taking over more and more of my day dreaming.  

So I've made myself a little deal... once I pay off my credit debt (my card is currently frozen in block of ice next to the brocolli in my freezer) I will open a special account solely for the purpose of purchasing my dream car.  And then Harper Marie and I will roll the streets of Rochester listening to bluegrass and trying not to stall... such a beautiful dream.

courtesy of

courtesy of

gettin' stuff done!

Check out my new dog toys on Etsy!  I'm calling the line Rescued Fabric Bones as each toy is made from salvaged material that I find in antique stores, second-hand shops and at local fabric providers.  All the toys are double-stitched for durability and stuffed with 100% organic cotton.  

French Daisy Rescued Fabric Bone

Damask Rescued Fabric Bone

Striped Rescued Fabric Bone

Floral Rescued Fabric Bone

Red and White Rescued Fabric Bone

13 bones

I've  had a lovely Saturday!  Besides geeking out and watching the first Lord of the Rings movie (extended version) and eating homemade chili with a friend I also created 13 more dog toys.  Tomorrow I'll add the final touches to the toys, photograph them and get them up on Etsy.  But for now it's time to get myself and the puppy home to eat more of that chili!

sold some stuff :)

The store opening was a success.  Pistachio Press had a great turnout and my studio mate Jim and his wife both sold paintings! Thank you to everyone that came out!

I had no idea how my own products would do but I managed to sell 2 dog toys, two bags and one garland.  I've also had a few people mention they might commission me to make some custom items!

yellow floral dog bone

However the hard work is far from over.  I see many more late nights in the studio.  I did finally get my first dog toy on etsy.  Here's to a good start!

the lobster

With the help of a friend I finally have a decent screen burned.  I pulled my first prints last night and was less than thrilled with my rusty screen printing skills.  Thank god my studio mate also teaches screen printing!  By 1:00AM I completed my first lobster toy model.   Some things were great, some things were not so great.  I'm hoping tonight I can iron out the malfunctions and have the final product completed.  At least the studio pit-bulls got to enjoy the reject lobster.

Dolly with the reject lobster

studio progress and weekend fun

The studio is finally starting to look like a studio!  There's still a lot to be done but after a weekend of painting and organizing the space is coming together. Pistacio Press' retail shop is looking spectacular as well!  But you'll have to come see that in person :)

Given the choice I probably would have spent every spare second working this weekend but I managed to get out and have a little fall fun.  I navigated my first corn maze then rode a tricycle through the childrens' mini maze.

I've been having a bit of trouble getting things going with the dog toys... The first screen didn't burn quite correctly so I'm giving it another go tonight.  I now have 6 designs that need to be printed (in multitude), sewn, stuffed and squeeked by Friday.  Bring on the coffee and late night studio drinks!