Markets Away!

So graphic design has never been my strong point, but when you own your own business I guess you just do what you can. Here's my first attempt:

We'll see if these ever see the light of a computer screen besides here, I guess! It has been a fun project, though!

Video Editing.

So I do realize that I've strayed significantly from the original intent of this blog, but I simply have run out of furniture to re-do!

In light of that fact, I've decided to use this as a platform for the creative projects I've been working on, whatever the medium.

My most recent project: Video Editing. I'm still learning, but here's what I have so far:

What do you think?!

SixThirty.

My brother named this piece that is over my couch in my living room.

BEFORE:

AFTER:

I really like over-sized pieces and enjoyed putting previously used canvases together to create one cohesive piece. I left the string and nail I used to paint the circle because I really liked the color combination and it made it just that much more interesting!

White Side Table

So what started out as this (and, incidentally my favorite video I've made so far):

Click Here

Has become this, several renditions later:
*Please note the cheesiness of the effects. They were put into place to conote emotion. You are welcome to choose that emotion for yourselves.

Estate Sale Bliss

So, this is a bit of a different post...again. But I had to share the amazing finds my mom and I found at an Estate Sale. AND everything was 1/2 price. Observe:

Pappagallo Clutch - $3.00

Delman Boots - $5.00

Palizzio Purse - $9.00

Etienne Aigner Purse - $5.00

Ferragamo Heels - $4.00

Jones New York Sweater - $1.00

Unknown Designer Scarf - $1.00

This side table was at a different garage sale, but was a whole $8.00

Purse & Clutch

So.
I've been busy.
Just not on this blog...

I've been working on opening up an online retail shop.
It's called Purse & Clutch.
It's at www.purseandclutch.com

I'm really excited for multiple reasons.
First, I'm able to help create markets for my wholesaler, JOYN.
JOYN is a fair trade company with a vision to connect the poor with Western markets.
Second, I'm able to explore the branding and marketing on my own.

And I'm loving it!

I'd love to hear your thoughts and feedback.

Bookshelf Turned Blue

Finally! A new project:

Photo Project

So I'm on vacation (ish) this week and decided to take the opportunity to work on a little idea I've had floating around for a bit:

Here's how the little ones I mentioned turned out:

Cute, right?!

Just a Little Side Project

I just can't throw anything away. Ever.
Observe:

Red Dresser Part 2

I guess it's a good thing, but it's happened again.

I like how the dresser turned out and I want to keep it for my art supplies. It could look so cute (!) in my new apartment living room. With my orange button-tufted leather chair in front. Sigh.

Alas, I will put it up for sale (see side panel).   ------------------------------->

Red Dresser

Finally! A free Saturday for a big project. Here are my plans:

El Computador

So my designing has been less kinesthetic and more point and click as of late.

Between working on my boyfriend's portfolio for the Austin Center for Design and making a flyer for a new organization I'm falling in love with called JOYN, I've been making the most out of my 30 day Adobe Suite trial cd.

One day I'll finish the peacock table. But that day is not today...!

Un - ...

So for whatever reason I'm feeling a mixture of un-inspired and un-confident. Not a great combination for doing art projects.

I promise I'm not quitting. I'm just waiting for inspiration and confidence to return.

Be back soon.

More About that Table...

The jury's still out on whether or not this is going to turn out in reality as it looks like in my mind:

That Table I Found by the Dumpster

So some videos turn out better than others. My previous one with this table is my favorite so far.

But anyways.
Here's a short clip of what I've been working on:

(Jessica's Design Studio Blog)

So what do y'all think:

Paint the top and drawer a solid contrast color

or

Paint a design of some sorts (peacock?) on the top and possible a detail from the feather on the drawer. 

Too much?

Chair of Sarah - Continued

And now, a short intro:

 Sarah had already stripped the previous fabric & batting off this chair that goes to her bedroom vanity set.

 I gathered the necessary supplies from around the house & set up my workspace on my front porch. 

I went out last night & got some batting & an exacto knife that I'd been wanting for a while.  

 

" It's like cutting a cloud" - Jen Ardill

I added a little glue to make sure the batting was nice & secure.

 I should have written a secret message. Next time I guess. 

 I trimmed the fabric (read: fantastic sheet Sarah found at a thrift store) & started stapling. 

 Done & done. 

I just need to screw the new cushion on & deliver it to it's owner. 

Let me know if you have any projects you'd like to commission me for! 

Check out my portfolio for other examples of what I can do...

Chair of Sarah

     <-- So here's a different take on a video.

And here's the aforementioned fabulous fabric -->

Ben's Chair - Part 3

Another possible title could be:
The Chair That Was Determined Against Jen's Will to Be Problem Ridden.

Observe:

I'm Coming...!

So I promise I've not abandoned you. I'm just currently engrossed in a really good book series. Update on Ben's Chair coming soon!

Spring Fair 2.

Update!

Business Cards

As I get ready for the Spring Fair I decided to invoke the blossoming talent of my ex-coworker and present-day friend Miss Rikki Marler.

I gave her three words: quirky, lovely, and surprising.
Here are the WONDERFUL options she gave me:

It was seriously such a hard choice! I narrowed it down between Swine to Divine and the orange bird.

But I decided to go with the orange bird (top right). If you need any creative graphic design done, I would highly recommend her services. Now I have a great new phrase to use: furniture re-beautification. Love it.

A Week to Go!

So I'm one week out from the Spring Fair and I feel pretty good about my progress. Out of 18 frames to paint I've done 10. I've designed my price tags and have my business cards being printed (post on that soon!)

I got these cute frames for the price tags and I'm looking for a good way to display all of the frames on my tiny table. Ideas? 

Anyways, here's a video of my progress thus far:

Discarded Table

Here's a little ditty I cooked up.
Notice how happy the birds in my neighborhood are!

Ben's Chair - Part 2

Yeah, yeah. I'm realizing this blog could always have post titles such as "Oops!" or "Fail." Give me time. This one is just a small bump that the hand saw in my trunk (don't ask) can solve. Enjoy:

18.

Let the painting begin!

Candlesticks Part 2

I'm really liking the way these turned out!

How Many Sides Does a Barrel Have?

  

Here's a short video about my progress with the riddles.

 Let the fun begin!

Spring Fair.

So I've decided to have a table at the Spring Fair during SXSW this year with a friend of mine, Stephanie, who has a great eye for vintage (see her site here). I'm planning on framing and painting more of the cute children's sketches (as seen in this post), using the same frames and sewing some of the little birds I love to do (see a much larger example here). I've also toyed with the idea of writing out some interesting poems or quotes. We'll see where that goes. So for the next month or so, with the exception of an update on the Candlesticks project,   I'm thinking  you'll get to see quite a bit of what I like to do best - create interesting and unique color combinations. 

Candlesticks

Just a little ditty I threw together about my next project. Check it out here.

Red Chair. Taking It to the Next Level.

When I was working on this chair (painting it red, adding batting and covering the seat with white fabric) I had a general idea of what I would do with the seat in mind. I was thinking of some kind of striped embroidery of sorts. (See before picture in my portfolio here)

So I started laying out which colors of embroidery floss I wanted to use. I've been experimenting with almost monochromatic schemes in my daily wardrobe and decided to try pinks with a pop of yellow.

I was planning on using the left line as a guide to sew next to, but ended up liking the effect if just the floss over the fabric. So I started adding more lines.

I tied the string on the back of the chair...

Trimmed the ends so they wouldn't hang down, and taped the floss so it would stay in place as I screwed the seat cushion back into the chair frame. 

And tadaa! 

A subtle accent to make this chair a bit more interesting. Yeah for a free garage sale find from my mom!

Framed Riddle.

{Before}

{After} 

So - what do you think about how it turned out? 

I'd initially chosen a different riddle to frame, but I accidentally cut my thumb and may or may not have dripped a bit of blood on it. I'm kinda happy I did - I think this one ended up pretty dang cute!

For Sale soon...

Lamps & Frames

So I went to IKEA with my boyfriend this weekend (see a video we made here) and got this lamp to help with the pictures & video I've been taking. Once I get a light bulb for it we'll be in business! I also picked up this raw wood frame I thought I could do a little something with to house one of the cute pages from the Riddles book (see post here).

Jade's Bookcase Fail.

Well, not all projects go as expected. 

This is one of those cases.

 I'm going to stick to what I know: unique color combinations, paint, and chairs. 

Sigh. 

I hope you enjoy watching me flounder...!

Note: Never fear. If commissioned, I would only take on pieces I have experience and confidence in doing. Experiments like this one will only happen on my own time with my own furniture.

Jade's Bookcase

My beautiful friend Jade was moving apartments a few months ago and decided to get rid of her red dresser and bookcase. Of course, I snagged them. 

The bookcase has seen better days - it's peeling red paint over laminated wood would be hard to cover with paint so I think I'm going to try my hand at covering it with the rest of my fabric. 

I'm not sure where to start, and it's pretty wobbly so I'll have to come up with quite the inventive solutions, but I'm looking forward to the challenge! Also, this piece will be going up for sale when it's done (hint hint...!). 

Okay, off  to put on a Lissie playlist and get to work! In the mean time, you should go to the right hand corner of my blog and follow me...

Fabric Table Top Update.

What do you think of fabric on a side table top?

A Tip.

I live in a very small small space and really don't like clutter. I'm amazed at how stacks of inspirational magazines, cups of paint brushes, and half used bottles of super glue tend to add up to one ridiculous drawer of mess. So recently I discovered that when buying paint, instead of buying a small tube of every conceivable color and have a box overflowing, that... 

...it makes a lot more sense to just buy the primary colors and white and black and mix my own. I don't know why it took me so long to figure this out - turns out I LOVE the specificity. Maybe everyone already knew this, but I'm excited as I'm working my way through small seemingly endless bottles of purples and greens to clean our my paint box. 

Also. I'm thinking about covering the top of this side table I got from Target my freshman year of college and have painted more colors that I can remember with my new fabric. Yes. That's how I'll be spending my evening. I sense a new video coming soon...!

I'm also planning a trip to IKEA this weekend to purchase a lamp - picture improvement coming soon...I hope...

New Project

So my dad was going to bring the piece of wood for the bottom of Ben's Chair, but can't come this weekend after all (my grandpa's in the hospital). Ssoooo...I may have to put this project on hold until I can connect with my pops. In the mean time, I've managed to find this amazing bed sheet ($4.99) at the Value Thrift store on E. Riverside that's just begging to be made into something:

...and this pretty darn cute children's book from 1964 ($0.10) that is brimming with possibilities of tables or canvases: 

Which do you think I should work on next?