Bird Tag Swap

I participated in Karla Nathan's Bird Tag Swap and this is the tag book she put together for me. What talented artists we all are! We had to send her 7 tags and then she matched up tags she thought would look good together and sent us each (there were over 100 of us!) a book of our own. The tags I received are shown above, from (left to right) Cher, Donna, Cami, and Elaine Paullus.
The tags shown above are from (left to right) Karla, Sharon, Tina, and Darlene Nahre.
These are the tags I made. I didn't really read the directions completely, so I decorated the front AND back of the tags. And I didn't put my name prominently on the back so I've only heard from one of my recipients. If the others don't have excellent eyesight, they may not even see my name. Oh well.
It was great fun making them all and if you've never been in a swap, I highly recommend it.
Thanks Karla, for putting these all together for us!

I'm so humbled!

I'm beyond humbled. Mark of Room 363 put a whole bunch of pictures of my booth from last week's 3 French Hens Market in Morris, IL onto his blog. If you go to his blog, start with the picture of the blue chair, and the next 23 pictures are of my good junk, thanks Mark! Most of it sold but if you're interested in anything you see on there, let me know. I'm currently working on an alphabet banner for a lady who's house is on the Christmas House walk this year. Everyone seemed to like my alphabet letters that I strung across the back of our booth that spelled "juliejayne", my alter ego name. I've started taking orders for Christmas already!

My son made me switch to a Mac, and I am a PC, so once I figure out how to work with the pictures, I'll put some up.

A Perfect Summer Day

Yesterday was the second 3 French Hens Market in Morris, IL for this season and my first attempt at being on the vendor side of things. I am an expert shopper but as a vendor, I have a whole new appreciation for you folks who do this week in and week out in markets all over Chicagoland. Thank goodness it's my hobby or I'd starve to death, not to mention die of heat stroke! Here are a few pictures of our booth.

This is my hubby after we spent 2 hours setting

up, beginning at 6am. I definitely could not have done it without him, thanks honey!We hung my tag name in altered cardboard letters above the tables and wouldn't you know it people were asking if I sell the alphabets!

It was almost 100 degrees but we had THE best spot in the whole park, next to a huge shade tree. Thanks Traci! Mark from Room 363 even came and took pictures of some of my things, hopefully they'll make the 3 French Hens blog.

Some things I learned: what you think will sell, won't, and what you brought just a few of will fly off the shelves, Square is an awesome way to take credit card payments on your iPhone, and it's a great feeling when people actually want to spend their hard-earned money on things I've made. Check out this lady below taking a picture with her phone. I'm sure she's thinking "I can make that"!

It was a Perfect Summer Day.

Happy 4th of July and 3 French Hens

Happy Birthday America!

Less than one week until my first 3 French Hens Market vending debut. I just learned that 3 French Hens has just been named one of the country's 10 best Romantic Flea Markets by Romantic Homes magazine! Yes, I'm nervous. Yes, our 5'x8' trailer is FULL of stuff to take. Yes, I have lists all over the place on what not to forget. I have been writing to others who are more expert in the field to ask for tips and tricks and have received some valuable advice. Here are a few pictures of some of my wares:

I have a thing for glass cloches. I like to change them up to be a one-of-a-kind artwork. This one had no knob at the top so I made one out of a percolator coffeepot top and a watch face. There's a picture of the whole thing down below. Another one of my passions is blinging up ordinary metal pieces. This is a candelabra that stands about 3 feet tall!

I also love old chairs. This one has a hole in the seat to put a flowerpot.

This is the cloche whose topper is pictured above. I have much more stuff so come on out and take a look next Saturday, July 9th from 8am-2pm. I would really love to quit my day job and open my dream business. But, since it took me about 2 years to acquire and alter all of the things I'll (hopefully) sell out of next Saturday, I guess I'm not quite ready yet. My studio looks so bare nowadays. I've decided what to spend my earnings on: a designer for my blog banner, business cards, and logo. Let me know if you know a good one! Have a happy holiday weekend.

Springfield Antique Show, 3 French Hens & Law School

On May 20th hubby and I took a road trip to central Ohio to the Springfield Antique Show & Flea Market. We had a blasssst! We live near the Kane County, IL flea market which is huge but Springfield blew Kane County away! I didn't take nearly enough money. I cruised through my stash AND hubby's stash, then pulled out the plastic! I got some things to keep and some things to sell. These birdhouses are made from old barn wood. We had to make several trips to the car to unload the granny cart full of junk!

I couldn't pass up this great piece of art! It's now prominently displayed in my studio.

I took lots of pictures to use as examples for displaying my own wares as I have recently been accepted to be a vendor at the Three French Hens market in Morris, IL on July 8th!! My next few blogs will give a sneak peek at my goods. If anyone has any tips or tricks for me please feel free to contact me. All advice is welcomed.

This is a great sign I saw while we were in San Diego helping our son find an apartment last weekend. He'll be attending California Western School of Law this fall. Good luck Bub!

Easter bonnet wishes

I bought this hat so I could cut the flowers off of it but when I got it home, I couldn't do it! So now it is my Easter bonnet.

I hope you have a Happy Easter weekend with your family and friends. We will be with all of our kids and a new puppy, Maci. It will be a welcomed visit, since we had to put our beloved 13 year old black Lab, Marco to sleep last weekend and it's been very quiet around here all week.

Although we're still having freezing weather here in Chicagoland, we're hopeful it will changeover soon and let us get outside to start the season's cleanup and planting. Happy Easter all, safe travels if you're going over the river and through the woods.

I'm on Etsy!

I have listed my first piece of art for sale on etsy! I'm so excited, I just checked it and in 5 minutes there have already been 6 views. Better go check it out before it sells!

I'm getting so brave in my old age! I've also sent in an application to vend at a local artists market called 3 French Hens in July. I hope they accept me and my crazy altered art. Thank you to all of my new blog friends who are also amazing artists who have give me the nudge to put my art out into the world, instead of in my studio on a shelf.