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...jen o'connor's...Artful Adventures & Daily Inspirations

I Love Art, Adore the Handmade and Treasure the Vintage. I am the Fun Mom, the Silly Friend and the Writer who wants to make more room for beauty in the everyday.

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Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Vintage Finds











I love the years that old things keep safe; they make treasures from the everyday. And, in them, you have the single opportunity to see just a bit of yourself, though worn and loved, frayed and a bit faded, wonderful still the more.
Looking for the vintage and the old, The Petaluma Antique Faire never disappoints...the size of my suitcase and the distance to New York sure does! I can home with just a wee bit of loot...$21 took these three treasures pictured above...a "Mother" motto plaque, a woven purse with a Lucite closure and a pretty luncheon plate for the ever growing collection of transferware dinnerware....
I could have filled a plane with all that I saw there -- hardest to leave behind was the Victorian plant stand -- a steal at $165 and the fabulous concrete garden statues that just couldn't pass for carry-on luggage!


...the offerings were delish and the prices unbelievably reasonable...but we were heading to the airport...and the bags were already bursting...




Here are some of my favorite booths, vendors and displays....

























Last year I lugged home a bubble gum machine, the year before it was a wire dress form...but Nicky Bowen takes the award for most ingenious packing in 2008...she wore about 5 layers of clothing so she could fit her purchases in her bags! The step-in horse costume was a particular challenge!




Here's Marilyn's booth...it's among my favorites...









Here's she is with her hubby...she calls him her vintage "arm candy"...see her site http://marilynmarilynmarilyn.com/ for sneak peeks of what she'll bring to shows...but she doesn't take internet orders or hod items... so be there early and see her at Alemeda! I wanted to buy her entire booth and re-do several rooms in her wonderfully yummy palette and unexpected textures...

Magda found some lovely lace....she almost bought an old wedding dress...but no room!









...there were oodles of poodles that begged to be bought...















But best of all...









...look what I found at the Faire...a very "vintage" friend. Here's Michelle...we have not seen each other since 8th grade graduation in Queens when our paths diverged for high school. We walked to grammar school together in green plaid uniforms and knee socks...and it was a rare treat to have her walk back into my life on Sunday. She found me on-line and sent a note...she lives in Oakland now and knows Petaluma well, so what rare good luck that I was out her way for Halloween & Vine...We sat across from each other at a small table and caught up on 25 years, crying for the little girls we were and loving in each of us the women we have become...not too different at all, and still very much suited to each other!
This show is well worth your time and a drive... and you just never know what you might find when on the hunt for something "vintage".
xxoo Jen

Sunday, September 28, 2008

Halloween & Vine's Magic










I love Halloween's collectors, their enthusiasm and their passion for their favorite holiday. As ever, they turn out en force for Halloween & Vine. This event is autumn's fine salute to the harvest, the feast of all souls, the macabre, and the merry traditions of costumes, trick or treat and the mighty jack o'lantern.
I feel lucky to have experienced this event once again...






I am out here in CA this weekend to help Earth Angels' artists Magda, Laurie and Nick. We cannot help but have a wonderful time together....Here are some of our favorite images of the day! (Thanks once again to Loren and his lovely assistant Bonnie for the pics!)








We love these ladies...bring on the bling!









Magda in a hat of peacock feathers...













Laurie in a teddy... by Letty





Linda was there....and we loved seeing her...









Magda's work in the sun...
and the artist herself...

















Mud-Cakes galore...









More Mud-Cakes magic...


These dashing fellows....
















The room...





The displays were haunting...











Danyel and Darren... the dynamic bro and sis duo were our booth neighbors...












One of our favorite's on Nicol's table...

Nicky's fabulous critters...











Magda and Nick setting up...
A wee ghostie...












...and a yummy treat...
















Debrina Pratt and her daughter Emily made it over to Petaluma for a visit...it was wonderful to finally meet them both! Debrina confessed that she is really getting into this Halloween thing...hurray...we've brought her over to the dark side!
So I am now working on all the wonderful images of the art and goodies the artists will have me share with Earth Angels' customers...we're planning several newsletters chock full of Halloween creations...
In the meantime, me and the gals are off to the Petaluma Antique Faire in the early morning...if I find anything fab I will be sure to post on our adventures...
Until then
xxoo Jen

Friday, September 26, 2008

The Fair was Fab



...here's an image of the tent as it was when we arrived to set-up for the Fair...
This event was among the most wonderful we've done. For those of you that made it to see us in Columbus...thanks for making it more fun...and if you missed it...please mark your calendar for next year!




There are so many images to share and this blog is long overdue...I was having a hard time deciding which to share so here we go...I am sharing a ton!

Dara...and her lovelies...





Lelsie's pins were a hit...





Laurie and her son David entertain the CL editors...












Here's the line up of early birds waiting to come in on Friday...




Here we are on Saturday morning...this was after the rain and before the windstorm...








My ride for the weekend...





Letty and her bears...








Letty Stacey and Nick...









Leslie's rug detail...


















Leslie and Pat...








Kitty B's magic...







Jennifer and Laurie...












Jill and Cheryl...








Jean mugging by the dollhouse...









Debbee's wonders...









Earth Girl creations...









Cheryl and some of her new friends...







Nick's cuties...












Kitty's latest...


















...a glimpse of Jennifer's display...
and the artist...













Dara's necklaces were a hit...










Nancy Soriano and Leslie...
Me with Jane...






and here's my pal Julie!









Nancy, Debbee and I had a chance to visit...













I love these gals...Nick, Kitty and Laurie...













Valerie and her newest twin collectors...










Debbie and her Mom made the trip from Hannibal, MO...




















Mudcakes...

















It was wonderful and a BIG thanks to all of you who made this possible...the Country Living staff, the artists and the collectors and enthusiasts...
I cannot wait til next year...
xxoo Jen

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