subject: I've been naughty this year

  Okay, lets just take a moment to address the glaring fact that I have not posted a single thing on this blog for a whopping 139 days.  What have I been doing for the last 4 months and 16 days?  Well, I can assure you, dear readers, that I have been making lots of art and that I have photographed many things which I intended to post about.  Doesn't that count for something?  I'm not going to make excuses, people.  I'm going to blog.  Mark my words.  Do it.  Yeah.

  Moving on, please don't hold it against me that I've neglected you for approximately 3,336 hours.  I'll make it up to you.  I have a funny little Thanksgiving story to share.

  Have you met my cat?  Readers, its about time for you to meet Charley.  He and I spend a lot of time together.  I work here at home, so we are best pals.  Lets try to pretend that I don't talk to him all day long because I don't want you to think I'm a crazy cat lady.  But I do and I am.  He's just so lovable, you'll see.  Whatever. 

This is a story involving pumpkins: 

  Jarrahdale, (Ghirardelli)  -  Sort of a flattened shape and deeply ribbed, this one is a light blue/grey kind of slate color and a beautiful smooth skin.  This pumpkin is an Australian heirloom variety.  The flesh is golden yellow with a mild, only slightly sweet, flavor.  This variety has a very dense rind - you may need an axe to cut it in half!  But that thick skin pays off, you can store this pumpkin for up to two years!  Some say this is the best pumpkin for pumpkin pies.

  Galeux d’Eysines  -  A French heirloom with salmon-peach skin covered in tan peanut-looking warts.  The longer these fruits mature, the wartier they become.  This corking results from expanded fractures in the skin that occur because of the fruit’s high sugar content and thin skin.  The flesh is very creamy and smooth and is a favorite for pies and soups.  Its name means “embroidered with warts from Eysines” - the small city in France from which it hails.



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This is the first pumpkin Brian gave me (last year).  Notice, it has fewer sugar deposits compared to the Galeux d’Eysines that were harvested this season, it was still very sweet though.



  My friend Brian brought me five (YES 5) pumpkins this year.  Aren't they beautiful?  It all began last year when he brought me one of the Galeux d’Eysines from the farm of a family friend.  I made my first pumpkin pie from scratch and oh, my, my.  Actually, that one pumpkin made two pies, dozens of muffins and a batch of pumpkin-apple butter.  So when he asked me if I wanted some more pumpkins this year, I said "YES please!"  So in the midst of Thanksgiving preparations, I was photographing the pumpkins before roasting and pie-making.  Then I put the first pumpkin in the oven to roast.  I love the smell of vegetables roasting!  I noticed Charley hanging out in the kitchen doorway.  Its one of his favorite spots to survey the action.  Then I noticed something funny in the background.  Apparently Charley was feeling thankful and wanted to get in on the celebratory action too.  He was 'roasting' his birdie over the floor vent.  (He chooses not to participate in our vegetarian lifestyle but we're okay with that.)  

All right, now that I've entertained you with a story, beautiful photographs of luscious pumpkins and introduced you to my snoozie-woozle cat, can we please agree to just forget about my 200,160 minute lapse in blogging?  I'm so embarassed!  We must never mention this again!

Oh, I almost forgot to tell you about all the lovely new things I have been making for my Etsy shop!  Check it out right away if you want to get something in time for Christmas!

http://www.pair.etsy.com/

We are delighted to be included in another Etsy Treasury!

  About Treasury:

Treasury is Etsy's ever-changing, member-curated shopping gallery. Create and share lists of items.
Beautiful, diverse lists may be featured on Etsy's home page.  (This potential is why its exciting to be featured in a treasury.)

You'll always discover gems when you hunt for treasure in Etsy's community-curated treasury lists  — you can find your favorite themes or create your own collection and share it with friends. These amazing Etsy Finds come from bouncing around Treasury and exploring associated tags, and this is just the tip of the iceberg. There's something for everyone, so dive in!

This morning I have awakened to a lovely surprise.  I fed the kitty and sat down at the computer with my morning coffee, only to discover that my 'citrus and melon - handmade fabric flower corsage' (pictured above) has been chosen for ellabelleboutique's treasury called 'cool summer melon'.  See it here!  I just posted this corsage in the shop yesterday, its one of my favorite new pieces.  Find it in the shop here.

Handmade Cards on SALE this week!

Lets get the new year off to a good start, how about a SALE!  Handmade cards (just the singles, not the sets) no longer $5, NOW $3.00!  Sale ends this Friday, January 8th at midnight.  Just head over to my Etsy shop to check it out.  http://www.pair.etsy.com/

Weekend Deal

I'm participating in another of Etsy's Weekend Deals:

FREE Worldwide Shipping 9/11 - 9/13 on all items in my Etsy shop!

Please enter code: "Weekend Deals" in the Notes to Seller and I will promptly refund the shipping cost into Buyer's PayPal account. (If you prefer to have the price adjusted prior to purchase, please send me a convo and I will reduce the price for you.)
http://www.pair.etsy.com/

Find these earrings in my shop.  Follow this link:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=vl_other_1&listing_id=30601342

 I have recently listed two sets of handmade notecards featuring the butterfly girls on gorgeous patterned background papers.  They look so cute all wrapped up with my labels!  A set of these notecards would make a great gift.  See the listings here:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=30597996

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=vl_other_1&listing_id=30599472

This is one reason why I love Etsy...

There are so many people I can connect with and learn from, who have the same kind of (sometimes wacky) interests as I do!  FINALLY, I've found my peeps!  Check out this video about Mimi Kirchner, she makes dolls.   I've always wanted to learn all the 'Little House on the Prairie' home crafts.  Sewing, embroidery, knitting, weaving, etc...   Last week, my mom and I spent a few days canning green & yellow beans and salsa.  I felt very satisfied after "putting up the harvest" in my pantry and looking at all the cans.  I loved learning the whole process with my Mom.

  Anyway, back to dolls and back to Etsy.  In the spirit of doll-sharings, I'd like to share my first doll project.  This is Dolly Madison.  I made her for my neice (her name is Madison -- ha, get it?) on the occasion of her first birthday.  The basic pattern is from one of my favorite Etsians, http://www.theblackapple.etsy.com/  Find the pattern here:  go to her blog http://www.theblackapple.typepad.com/
click on "Watch Emily & Martha Make Dolls" scroll down a bit its on the left.  Or just go to the Martha Stewart website and search for 'Black Apple Doll'.  I embellished the basic pattern with lots of tiny treasures from my stash (and som specially purchsed new items).  I used the lovely tan color leather (furniture swatches, originally meant to be thrown away but I rescued them), cut the edges with pinking shears, to make the scaloped collar on her dress.  I used some beautiful and soft espresso color sueded leather to make her hair.  I wanted her to look like baby Madison.  I made her little leather mary jane shoes out of more beautiful leather from my stash.  I used new materials for the body, the stuffing, the dress, the striped stockings and the glittery pink button.  This project was a such a hoot.  Dolly Madison just cracks me up!  After watching Mimi Kirchner's video, I'm feeling inspired to dig into the stash once more and see who emerges this time...

Labor Day Weekend SALE - check out my Etsy shop!

I've posted some new items in the shop (see above).  I've been participating in the regular schedule of sales/promotions that Etsy offers.  There is always a different theme, such as 'Free Shipping', 'BOGO', 10% off accessories, etc...  I also host my own sales and promotions, so the sweet deals are abundant at http://www.pair.etsy.com/ (I suggest you check in now & then to see what's hot!)

Here is the scoop:
15% off entire order!  Enter code "Weekend Deals" in the Notes to Seller when prompted at checkout. Discount will be applied (pre-shipping) to the buyer's PayPal account.  If you prefer to have the price adjusted prior to purchase, please send me a convo and I will reduce the price for you.  Sale ends Monday, September 7th at midnight.

SALE gift sets - jewelry & handmade cards

So I've been noticing lately that many of my jewelry items match my cards (probably because I'm naturally drawn to colors I like, so I use similar colors and color combinations a lot). I thought it would be cool to offer the earrings with your choice of a matching card. I would also like to offer sets with a necklace, matching earrings and a card. Free gift wrapping if its for someone special. (Although my 'regular' packaging isn't too shabby either). So, here it is:

SALE!!!

Choose 1 pair of earrings plus 1 handmade card = $10.00 the perfect small gift!

Or, choose 1 necklace, (get a FREE pair of matching earrings)

plus choose 1 handmade card = $30.00

This offer is perfect for gifts or keep the jewelry and give the cards away. You will find that many of my cards 'match' the jewelry, so you can likely achieve a matching set. The cards are frameable. Enter code "Sale gift sets" in Notes To Seller. The discount will be refunded into the buyer's PayPal account. Offer expires Friday Sept. 4th at midnight. http://www.pair.etsy.com/

BOGO SALE!

Buy any item in my Etsy shop, get a second item of equal or lesser value for free! Sale ends at 12:00a.m. Monday the 31st. Choose from any of my handmade jewelry and cards. I posted three pairs of new earrings today and a super cute card featuring unicorns and hearts. Check them out here:

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=30035425

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=vl_other_2&listing_id=30040858

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=vl_other_1&listing_id=30041950

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=vl_other_2&listing_id=30037329

New items listed in the shop...

Tweet Tweet earrings

Bronze diamond-shape earrings and matching choker on brown waxed cotton cord

Bronze circle earrings and matching choker on brown waxed cotton cord

http://pair.etsy.com

Free earrings with purchase of matching necklace

How can you get these earrings for free? Purchase one of the matching necklaces from my Etsy shop! This week only, free earrings with the purchase of select necklaces. http://pair.etsy.com/

Today's "Set"

Photographed a bunch of earrings yesterday. Here is my 'set'. You can see how I've used the elements in the above photos. Example: the dahlias out of focus in the background of one shot, earrings lying on a book cover, etc... What you can't see is that there is a window on the left and I have a big round silver reflector propped on a chair on the right.

Out with the old and in with the new!

Sale, handmade cards - buy 2 get 1 free! Thats 3 for $10.00, what a steal! Choose any three cards in my etsy shop, mix and match to make a set.

I keep on making more and more cards, its time for a sale to clear out existing items and make room for more. Also, jewelry has been photographed - look for new items in my shop!

www.pair.etsy.com

Currently in a paper obsession...

Being very headachy lately, I cannot bring myself to photograph items, I cannot post items on Etsy or sell them to the flower shop. All I want to do is keep on making more and more new cards. All I can focus on is making the stuff, not doing anything with it after I've made it. Oooohhh, the cards are so delightful! As soon as I can bring myself to stop cutting, glueing and glittering for a few minutes I'll take a few sneek peek photos. I just purchased some earthy new cardstock and envelopes. They have the 'market-day freshness' and all natural goodness of brown paper bags. I'm offering a new size (#10 square flap envelope) and my standard A2 size in the brown paper.

Etsy shop launched!

Attention world, please visit http://pair.etsy.com/ to peruse the selection of handmade art by Jen and Jeff Long. Currently featured are a variety of cards, but look out for photographs and jewelry to be made available in the shop sometime in the next few days.

Gift wrapping!

I've been making these lovely paper giftboxes. They will be used for packaging the jewelry and other small trinkets available for sale in our Etsy shop when you purchase the "gift wrap" option. So cute! Each one is different, so you'll be surprised when you recieve your package from us. You can be sure your handmade little box will arrive all dressed up (with buttons, ribbon, or a handmade tag).

If you choose not to purchase the additional gift wrap option, never fear. When I send something in the mail, I love to make it pretty. Each item I send out from the studio recieves special attention. I'll post photos of some standard packaging items soon.

What are we going to sell in our Etsy shop?

Here is a sneak peek: a few of the jewelry pieces I've been working on. I'm striving to complete a selection of things for Mother's Day. There will be lovely cards, jewelry sets and flower brooches which will be available with lovely gift wrapping.

Preparing to launch our very own ETSY shop!

( Jewelry items hanging from our dining room chandelier.)

For those of you who have never checked out Etsy.com you should do it today. Its your place to buy and sell all things handmade. Besides collecting/organizing photographs for sale, I've been making jewelry, fabric flower pins (out of recycled fabric scraps), and cards. There are some more things in the works for the near future (Jeff has been working on a group of sculptures - more on that later). I'll be posting photos of items here as we're working on them. I'll also post updates here when I put new items in the shop.

While the shop isn't active quite yet, we hope to oficially open for business within the next week or two. Keep checking in to see what's new!

Look who's sitting on my front porch!

When Jeff & I were in Washington this last Christmas, I became interested in creating plush toys or stuffed creatures. I requested old socks and Jeff's Dad offered several pairs. Then I asked for buttons and Jeff's Mom supplied me with a lovely little pile of vintage buttons, YAY! I have just completed my first experimental version of a sock creature and he's made out of recycled materials! Thank you to Mom & Dad for the supplies, I hope the little dude makes you laugh. Every time I look at him, I just crack up! It's not his fault that his teeth are out of proportion. Don't tease him, he's very sensitive. He had a little run in his belly so I made him some pants. His waist isn't very defined so I had to add some suspenders. I turned the sock inside out to give him a stubble effect (rather than the tiny dots on the right side of the material).




I just had some lunch followed by a lovely short walk. It's 45 degrees outside! Yay!


Charlie is napping on my ironing board, how cute.

Patrick & Cori's Engagement Session

What have I been up to for the past week? Editing! A week ago Sunday, I photographed Patrick & Cori's Engagement Session, oh boy did I take a ton of photos! I took too many, really. I was just having fun, and Pat & Cori were so cute and in love. In the middle of the shoot it started snowing big, fluffy, lazy snowflakes. You can really see them in some of the photos, I was just loving that. Hare are a few of my personal favorites.






Patrick and Cori were game for any requests in the name of cool photos. We had great lighting in some brick alleys and then they had a snowball fight. I just know their Wedding is going to be so fun, I can't wait! It was all great until I sat down to edit and then I realized that it was going to take FOREVER. I had such a difficult time choosing my favorites for the slideshow! I couldn't cut it down beyond 100, it goes pretty fast, though. The entire show is less than 5 minutes long. Without further ado, please enjoy the slideshow!