our little guy turns 2

 My little great nephew turned 2 yesterday.  He's such a sweet baby (yes he is our baby).  Such a happy guy, who has so many people who love him.  My niece Katie has been planning his little party for awhile now pinning things to her boards and looking for cookie cutters and decorations.  I didn't take photos of everything but, of many things.  To the left is the party hats with construction paper ears attached.

Of course we had HOT DOGS!!!!  My Mom, his "GIGI" watches him twice a week and they usually sing along with Mickey.

  These cookies were so good and HUGE!  Sugar cookies with Red sprinkles.  Katie did a great job. At 25 she is never overwhelmed that 40 people are coming to her house for lunch.  I don't think people entertain much anymore and I am glad that she is willing to do it. 

 My nephew Mark, step dad Jim, Mom "Gigi" and my brother, Roger his Grandpa.  All came ready to party with little LUCAS in their Mickey Mouse t-shirts.

 Great balloon!!!! 

 

 

 Little chocolate cupcakes with white icing and mini oreos to go along with the Mickey theme and they were YUMMY!!!

 

 

                                                    

So I made this Mickey Mouse photo op canvas and decided to write Happy Birthday Lucas on it to double as my birthday card. :)  Unfortunately, I didn't get a photo with him in it.   I had this canvas on hand  24" x 48" canvas painted with acrylic paints.  Then I just cut out the hole.  You could do it for any theme party. 

 

It was all too much for him.  So many presents, so much l o v e.  Happy Birthday little Lucas. xo

Hello it's me!

I have always had good intentions to BLOG....after looking through old photos lately and realizing that we have very few physical photos on hand.  Having a blog and being online writing about my LIFE experiences is MY scrapbook photo album and I need to make an effort to give it the attention it deserves.  So why not start today!

 

If you haven't met me before let me introduce myself.  My name is Jenny Elkins.   I just turned 50 this year (blog post in the near future)  I am an artist, wife, doggie momma, daughter, sister, aunt, great aunt and friend.  I maintain a studio in a old neighborhood east of downtown.  I also, have 476 square feet of retail space at the Olde Shadeland Antique Mall at 3444 N. Shadeland Avenue, Indianapolis, IN open 7 days a week 11am to 6pm.  (devils in the details!) I have 2 etsy stores www.jennyelkins.etsy.com all vintage and www.jennyelkinshandmade.etsy.com all handmade by me and my assistant Sue (aka Mom).  I have been making things my whole life (no joke!) and I have loved every minute of it. If you are a creative person you know what I am talking about when I say it is my lifestyle.  I think about what I am working on what I will be working on and what I want to be working on.  I have been married to Ed Angleton for 11 years.  We met online through Match.com only after I had stopped my membership.  They (Match) called me and asked if I would like a free month.  I gave in and said yes.  Ed was the only person who contacted me that month and I was the only one he went out with through Match.com.  We married 6 months later.  The rest is history. We are as Sugarland says STUCK LIKE GLUE.  He's a pretty interesting guy too so I am sure he will get some bloggie time.  We have recently made a move from our historic eastside neighborhood that we loved to a more practical condo on the northside and in the near future I will start to show you what I have done to the place. I will be sharing with you all of the new vintage items I have for sale and all the art projects I am working on including for an upcoming show called "Art on Music".  I hope to share with you some tips and how to's of different art and craft methods.  I also adore my 4 legged GIRL she is LUCY and is so funny.  I have to sneak pictures of her because she doesn't like her picture taken anymore.  You'll continue to see more of her. 

She's a trip!  I took this one from inside while she was outside.  Stinker!!!!  Until next time! xo

instagram auction for Catherine Thursby

Wow...if you saw my blog you would think I have been eating bon bons and watching daytime TV for a month. My husband and I moved....but, we didn't just move we are remodeling and we moved. So after over a month things are better and moving along and I am hopeful before long we will have it all together and I can share some of my new spaces. In the mean time. Jenn from Noodle and Lou and myself got our heads together and decided that our friend Catherine Thursby of Red Shoes Home Goods in Ann Arbor, Michigan needed some help. She is in the midst of treatment for breast cancer. AKA kicking cancers ass. So we have started an online fundraiser for her (link at the top right hand corner of my blog) online at youcaring.com. Jenn has been putting together an art auction that starts this Sunday on Instagram. So follow @auctionforcatherine on instagram and bid on the items and then the artist will send the item to the highest bidder when the auction closes. catherines sweet daughter Fiona has donated a piece as well. See you Sunday on instagram!!!!!!

Is it MARCH 12th already????

 

This truck will be at our house in less than 2 days.  Almost ready....still have to pack the last minute stuff and take the dog to Grandma's etc. etc.  The closings on our old place and our new place was smooth as silk until....Ed fell (he said he tripped) coming up our deck steps.  Landed on his chest,  911, trip in an ambulance and several hours in the emergency room.  Left him with NO broken bones, several big bruises and a very sore chest.  So Ed will be enjoying the move in a hotel room for 2 days.  He really can't catch a break.  But, while the move is happening I have put my online shops on vacation mode.  I will be back sometime next week.  You can always visit my vintage and some art at Exit 76 Antique Mall at I-65 and Exit 76 in Edinburgh or The Olde Shadeland Mall at 34th and Shadeland here in Indianapolis. 

 

I know the move is the best move for us.  I am so thankful that it has all gone quickly and I am excited to put my spin on the place.  See you soon! 

so much has happen in such a short time.........

So much has happened in such a short time....after the holidays were over and Ed was recovering from another hospital stay we made the decision to sell our OLD house in the Historic neighborhood of Irvington, Indiana.  Within a week I met with a neighbor who is also a realtor and I de-cluttered, patched holes, fixed tile and cleaned my house.  She had a buyer in mind and they LOVED it.  The wife cried when she saw the house.  It made me feel like it was the right thing to do. 

 

SO.....this is where we are headed.

 I never thought I would even want to live a condo but,  I am.

 The couple that own the condo are really sweet and are moving into assisted living.  The rooms are huge, in fact the condo is 500 sq feet bigger than the house we live in now.  I am decorating it in my mind already.  I want to make it feel like home asap.  So carpet will come up, curtains will be hung, walls will be painted and of course lots of artwork and knick knacks will be unpacked.

We move in 20 days which seems like a long time but, there is a lot to do here on my end.  Lots to pack and a bunch that I will take to my booths.  We are loosing a garage, attic and basement so I want to be more organized and be willing to let things go especially once I get in there. 

 

Can't wait to get in there and make it my own place.  I hope our little LUCY behaves.  That is my biggest fear that she will bark too much or misbehave and get kicked out. 

 

I'll be back with afters!!!

Theodore was right!

 

 

I'm convinced that no one reads my blog anymore and I think it is kind of given me a sense of freedom.  So maybe I will blog more.  Who knows.  So, at this time of year I do feel a sense of starting over.  With that comes analyzing my business, my home and of course weight and finances. 

 

With what I have....For the past couple of years I have been saying what Mr. Roosevelt has said when it comes to my studio and business I am trying to use what I have and do the sales and shows that will work best for me. 

 

Do what you can...I did more shows this year and I have to say the shows have been a challenge because of my husband's health.  I will keep doing them but, I am going to try to be super organized and work way in advance. 

 

Where you are....Thinking of selling our 2 story house and finding something with a bedroom and bathroom on the first floor.  If you have moved lately you know what kind of work this involves.  I've been looking.  We could live anywhere in central Indiana....just not sure where we need to be right now.  

December 27th, 2013

 

Where has the month gone?  I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas Holiday.  

 

I had a great first time Holiday Sale at my home on Dec 6,7 & 8.  It was so nice to see everyone come out despite of ice and snow.  I even created a little pop up shop on my front porch after the sale was over and made a couple of sales from there.  Really makes me want to have a retail store again.  (in my future?....not sure)

 

My Eddie Lee (hubs) had a set back during my sale and my folks had to take him to the Emergency Room.  Thankfully, he had one issue that lead them to find an even bigger issue and after a little surgery he is on the mend.  He deals with a long list of chronic issues so it is our normal here but, we always appreciate you thinking of him. 

 

Once the sale was over and Ed was home from the hospital it was full on Santa's workshop.  I felt like I was down to the wire getting my house decorated and finishing up my holiday lists.  I painted my little great nephew a little wooden stool with his name on it.  I made 12 flannel pillowcases for my side of the family.  Have you seen the different patterns of flannel today?  Real cute!  For example my step dad is a Bowler and so his was bowling theme.  I made running, outdoor, dragonflies, homemade, cupcakes, beer, Japanese pattern, basset hounds, bowling and dinosaurs.  just something warm and fuzzy from me.  They got other goodies as well.  I had some other goals but, had to put those aside.

 

Ed and I are trying not to eat sugar and carbs, it was tough getting through the holidays without baking.  Even tonight I had an overwhelming desire to have something sweet.  Luckily we have nothing in the house so I had cheese and olives.  I have lost around 30 pounds since July 4th and it has been the slowest weight lost of my life.  Trying to change how I deal with food forever and not just for the length of the "diet".  It has been a real effort for me.  I am taking it "a meal at a time". 

 

*I had a picture of Lucy painted by my friend Jim Kelly of our Lucy the Basset Hound. for Ed for Christmas this year.  I love his work and he did a portrait of our other Basset, Magic over 8 years ago.   I love that painting and I love this one too.  His work can be seen at www.madlabstudios.com

 

I'm looking forward to 2014.   It always feels like a new start when the calendar changes from year to year.  Best Wishes for 2014!!!!!