It's beginning to look a lot like...

There are two kinds of people in this world. There are those who get utterly psyched when they see an all out blitz of Holiday stuff in the first week of November. And there are the other ones who just want to scream: "TOO SOON!" 

And If you read this blog, we'd guess you are most likely one of the psyched individuals. I've been looking back through my Instagram feed at all the pics from last Holiday season. It was months of non-stop production line style work over here. Ornaments galore! Cutting and sanding, and glittering, and packing. Some of the longest days ever. Sure, it was exhausting, and the whole season was pretty much a whirlwind…but we loved it, and it seemed like it was over in the blink of an eye. So now all of the sudden it is that time of year again! We are trying to get a jump on things. We spent the last few days splitting our time between working on current orders, and finishing up the prototypes of our ornament offerings for this year. We are so excited about all the new designs! And of course some of our best selling classics are back! 

We've got Pizza slices! plain or pepperoni. And if you are vegan...we'll send you a daiya cheese, and veg pepperoni version! (wink wink)

A trio of macarons! 

Of course we have donuts! 

Yep...Pancakes! Who wouldn't want these on the tree?! They bring to mind cozy Sunday mornings with the family. Perfect for the holiday season.

Kitty cats! We just launched these 24 hours ago, and already we are blown away by the response! Lots and lots of Kitties will be on their way to new homes.

Our classic vintage inspired "cardboard" houses. (with glittery accents…which you can't see in the photo…but the glitter makes them magical.)

And another classic ornie…our cherry topped cupcakes! These come as a set of 4 just like the houses.

We have a bunch more coming over the next few days, and we are bringing back our Starlets as well! We are so excited! Can't wait to share them with you guys!

We've also been working on lots of diecuts around here! The most popular right now are the Donuts. 

And apparently the cold weather has been the cause of lots of pizza cravings. We're shipping a bunch of these!

It never gets old to us seeing stacks of pizza boxes and bakery boxes.

We are really looking forward to the holiday hustle. We just ordered a bunch of supplies and made lots of lists. And from what I've been seeing online…most of our maker/crafter friends are feeling the holiday buzz! I'm loving all of the fun previews of whats to come in the handmade world this season! I look forward to buying lots of handmade gifts this year! 

Are you working on any holiday designs? Getting supplies together for December Daily albums? Planning cookie baking recipes? 

I'd love to hear about what you've been doing in preparation of the holidays. 

Thanks for popping in!!

xo Jenny…and Aaron says hi!

Ice Cream, Macarons, and a little make over

Weather is a HUGE deal for me and Aaron. Or I should say seasons are a huge deal. As soon as the temp warms up, and we can keep the windows open all day long, we both seem to come alive. We're instantly more productive, and we finally can find the time and energy to realize all of the ideas we had been storing up all winter (we do the opposite of those squirrels with their nuts). 

The past couple weeks have been paint filled and positive. On some days we could start a project from scratch in the morning and have it photographed and in the shop by early afternoon. That would never happen in January or February. For some reason, the birds chirping in the trees, and the sound of itty bitty kids gleefully screaming on the playground down the block, inspires us to create. Well that, and the sunshine...and not having to blow into our fists to warm our fingers up. It was a crappy winter...but so far it's been a glorious Spring. The requisite Jersey humidity has not yet kicked in...and for that we are super thankful. 

I guess we express our thanks by painting a whole lotta new stuff!

This Ice Cream pennant is our latest finished piece. Again, this is something I sketched up ages ago but could never find the time to bring to life. I'm a huge fan of vintage souvenir pennants. I loved going on class trips, or daytrips with my mom, or vacations with the whole family, and coming home with a pennant from whatever touristy place we had visited. 

So the idea for the Ice Cream pennant was to capture the feel of those souvenir pennants, but to celebrate a classic summertime treat instead of a tourist destination or sports team. We definitely root for Team Ice Cream. 

And yes...or I should say Yaaaaaaassssss! Macaron diecuts are finally here. We always wanted to paint a trio of 'em, so we started with the pink one that you see above, and told ourselves that we'd get around to doing the other two in maybe a few days or a week from now.

But as soon as we saw this one done, we said 'nope...we cannot wait.'

And so right away we painted an aqua w/ chocolate ganache version.

And pretty much before the paint was dry on the aqua one, we then did a chocolate/chocolate version. We love how they look up on our wall. Like giant flying macarons are coming in for a gentle landing. If UFOs looked like these I'd drive to Roswell tomorrow and wait in the desert with upraised arms. 

And by the way...if you're interested...all this stuff and more is now in the shop. And there is still time to take advantage of our 20% off sale. Just use code: PIZZAPARTY.

And somehow, I've even been able to find time for some little personal projects! I picked up this super adorable piece when we were at Art is...You in Tennessee. Our friend Lesley was at the vendor table directly next to ours, and she gave this to me for a steal. When I originally brought it home and looked at it with all my stuff, I considered keeping it as-is...unpainted. I really love the look of the old wood. As-is it looks exactly how it would look if you pulled it out of a dusty attic...and I'm all about the dusty attic thing. But then I put a pic on Instagram and asked what everybody else thought I should do with it. In my head I was pretty much 50/50 on whether or not I'd paint it. But an overwhelming number of friends said I should paint or do something else creative with it. So, I took the pro-painting response as a little boost, and over the past couple days I got it done. 

First off...that roof could never ever remain one solid color. Those squares were just screaming out to be "tile-ized". I love the random pattern of colors...varying shades of pink, some tan, some black. And little dollhouse-esque compartments like these lend themselves perfectly to collage backgrounds. I used some pages out a ledger from 1905!, some amazing little patches of vintage pink floral wallpaper, and a couple fave vintage photographs. Notice that I put the car pic where the garage would be!

 A hint on fitting your little squares of paper ephemera into their respective cubbies: always cut them a little small instead of trying to wedge them in there perfectly. In the end, a tiny space around the paper won't matter. And plus, after I sealed the whole piece with a clear coat and let it dry, I then brushed an antique wash (I actually call it a "dirt wash") into all the nooks and crannies. When the wash settles in around the outer edges of your collaged backgrounds it looks perfect.

I'm definitely happy that I painted it.

Ok, just wanted to stop in for a quick progress report. I still have to share all the pics and details from the Country Living Fair. I'll be back very soon. In the meantime, we hope the season is treating you guys well. If you need us, we'll probably be painting.

xo, Jenny...& Aaron

Meet our Feature Sponsor: Pei Li the Miniature Patisserie Chef

One of our very favorite things to do is to share. Share art, art techniques, vintage finds, recipes, favorite blogs... And what's most rewarding is to share the work of our talented friends. Every once in a while we come across an artist who's work is right up our alley. And currently, that credit goes to miniature artist Pei Li! Her work hits me on several levels. First, the sheer cuteness of her miniatures absolutely tickles my heart. Her choice in subject matter is exactly what the doctor ordered...I love the itty bitty macarons, and the diminutive cakes and cupcakes with their icing and frosting that looks tastier than the real thing. The next thing that grabs me is her color palette...so soft, dreamy, and enchanting. And then, what completes my love for her work is the admiration I have for her technical mastery. As a lifelong professional artist I have firsthand knowledge of the effort that this type of work requires. (though my work isn't even a fraction as demanding) In looking at Pei Li's art, and seeing the attention to perfect detail, the pieces come alive...they are physical embodiments of her passion and dedication.
We are honored to have Pei Li as our Featured Sponsor this month. It's a thrill to be able to share all these adorable pics of her work. And she was sweet enough to take the time for a little Q & A so that we can all get to know her a little better. Enjoy! 

What is your name and/or business and blog name?

    Hi, my name is Pei Li and my business name is Pei Li Miniatures. I'm also known as the Miniature Patisserie Chef.

What do you do? ...and when did you start?

     I started making 1:12 scale dollhouse miniatures after taking a class teaching paper clay in 2005. I never looked back since and have been making miniatures. I opened my Etsy shop in 2008 and after a few years, I also started to turn some of my creations into cute jewelry items. After another few years, I had my own website where I slowly started to sell some supplies and teach individual workshops locally in Singapore. 

What/Who are you inspired by?

   I get a lot of inspiration in real life....such as shops that I visited, or photos and pictures that I see on Pinterest, or in magazines. I love the zakka style, as well as the shabby chic, feminine style. A lot of the creations that I create are a reflection of the things that I love in real life: desserts, pastries, home decor, flowers etc.

Where do you create? home studio? kitchen table? sofa?

   I currently live with my family in Singapore. All my crafting is done in my own bedroom. I have a long work desk, and I usually craft while listening to music or videos! I really do listen to videos more than watching them as I need to pay attention while I'm crafting. When I conduct classes, depending on situation, I will do that in my kitchen or dining room. 

What are some of your fave movies/shows/bands/music?

   I listen to a variety of music, and what I like listening to largely depends on my mood. Sometimes I like classical music, or flute pieces combined with nature sounds. I find that really relaxing! On most days, my music playlist is comprised of songs by Samantha James, Sade, Blue Six and Urban Humming Stereo.

 Do you collect anything?

  When I was a kid, I used to collect stamps, post cards, stickers and letter pads. I outgrew that, and then before I started making miniatures,  I collected cross stitch magazines, charts and books. As for miniatures, I am more selective and do keep a few items that hold a special place in my heart. 

 Favorite art/craft supplies?

  My favourite craft supply would have to be air dry clay, which is what I use mostly in my work. I'm also a fanatic of paints, from acrylic paints, to oil paints to watercolours. I have quite a large collection when it comes to paints as it is also one of the important supplies that helps to transform my work. I experiment with different kinds of paint and am always excited to try different things.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

  I don't really have a long road map. All I know is that in 5 years time, it will be a blessing to be enjoying what I'm still doing, continuing my creative journey, being happy, contented and healthy! 

Three favorite websites/blogs/shops...etc?

  Pinterest is definitely one of my favourite websites, I get so happy and inspired when I see beautiful things! 

Another one of my favourite websites will be Zita Elze. From her website, you can find other resources to view her fantastic flower work. My work has no resemblance to her style, but it is her dedication to artistry that inspires me to strive for the same in my course of work.

Is there anything else you'd like to add? 

  Being able to share my love for dollhouse miniatures on the internet has been one wonderful journey. Having people telling me they smiled when they see my creations brings an unexplainable sense of happiness. And oh, I don't have a dollhouse, if you ask me (due to tight space constraints), but it doesn't stop me from making these mini accessories! 

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Isn't she great?! We'd love for you to pop over to Pei Li's blog and say hi! And it would be extra sweet if you let her know that Jenny & Aaron sent you. Thanks so much again. We hope you love what you see!
xo, Jenny & Aaron