DIY: Valentine Wall Hanging

Happy Tuesday!

Today I have a super cute DIY project for you!

Awhile ago, I found these pretty colored strings at a thrift store.

Then the other day when I was snowshoeing I was looking at the bare branches and really wanted to do something with them.

I also have been cleaning up post Hearts and Crafts mess and notice I have tons of scrap felt.

Then it hit me, a craft was born.

For this craft you will need:

-Pretty colored string or yarn

-felt scraps

-sticks

-hot glue gun

-hot glue sticks

-scissors

-cardstock

1. First clean up your sticks any small twigs be sure to pull off.

2. Start wrapping your string it can be as wide as you like. When I switched colors I continued wrapping over it so there would only be one dot of hot glue.

3. I cut out the arrow (both sides!) and glued them to the end of the stick.

4. I cut "feathers", then hot glued them standing straight up.

5. I continued this is various colors and sizes. I was sooo happy with the way they turned out. But I wanted to do something a little more with them.

6. I took a large stick I had collected and attached a string to either end.

7. Then I attached the arrows with strings

8. Lastly, I cut hearts out of cardstock and attached them with strings.

The cutest nature valentine mobile the world has ever seen:)

And not even too much of a mess!

Yay for crafting! Hope you all enjoyed this super sweet little Valentine craft. I have another I hope to post last this week!

xo jess

Its a beautiful thing when you love somebody.

I AM FREAKING OUT!

I have been dying to share this with you all forever now but I had to wait until post christmas.

So my boyfriend, you know the tall tree resembling one? Well, he is absolutely the most impossible person to gift for. Simply because he wants nothing but would be happy with anything. For instance if I brought him a stick from my backyard with a bow on it he would find it to be the most thoughtful thing and save it forevermore.

This is both one of the very reasons I love him and one of the very reasons he is so difficult.

Then one day it came to me.

A friend of his who graduated from Houghton, the very lovely Miss Elizabeth Jancewicz, does some of the most beautiful work I have seen to date. You know when you're looking at something that someone has produced and you cant believe you are actually lucky enough to say you know that person? Ya its pretty awesome.

Here are a few of my favorites..

Anyway I approached her and asked if she wouldn't mind doing a portrait of Greg and I. I knew it would be something he treasured, he loves her work very much. She happily accepted and told me her magical brian started moving right away. I gave her no guidelines I really wanted her to have freedom.

I met up with her in Rochester and she handed me the package. I sat down and opened it and my eyes immediately filled with tears. I was speechless. I know that may be hard to believe but it true, I had no words to express not only how beautiful it was, but how thankful I was to her.

Ya, I know. That's us. It is us in every way.

A big big biggggg thank you to you, Elizabeth, you totally captured our souls. Sending love hugs and thankfulness your way.

And to everyone else please check out her page and enjoy all the beauty.

Greg and I just sat and stared at it for hours. So perfect.

Elizabeth asked me if I would be interested in doing an art trade which I have never done before. So in turn for this beautiful work I am making aisle chair hangings for her upcoming wedding. I cant wait to share my sketchbook and prototypes for this! SO excited.

Hope you all had a lovely holiday!

xoxo, j

Friend of the week part II

I AM DONE WITH THE SEMESTER!

That's right. I made it. I finished.

I am so excited to have some time again for blogging and other goodies.

But I just had to blog, RIGHT NOW!

Sometimes I see something and I am so overwhelmed with beauty and joy and inspiration I just absolutely need to share it.

So here goes..

Friend of the week: Hayden Welch

Hayden and I went to high school together and I had the pleasure of taking some art classes with her. I graduated two years ahead of her, but I always knew she was going to make it. She had something super special. It wasn't just her talent, it was her soul, her spirit, she is a lovely human being to share any time or space with.

Today she posted some of her newer work. I cried. By now in reading my blog I'm sure you know I am a complete sap, but really I was just moved.

She has just grown into herself even more than I could have imagined and what she is producing is simply beautiful. She is currently studying in Italy, and I hope she is soaking every moment.

A few years ago I wrote my first children's book. Hayden immediately came to my mind and I asked her to illustrate it.

The first time I received any of her drawings in the mail, I was speechless, it was like she took my brian and translated it for me. I was so thankful. It is on my back burner for now, but my story and her beautiful work will be revisited. For sure.

Sending love to you dear!

Whew! I just had to get all that out!

I have the next 5 weeks off of school. Do you know how much time that is?

This evening I have been compiling a list of everything I would like to accomplish in that time, I hope to share that with you later tonight or definitely in the morning.

xoxo jess

Surround me with Your unfailing love.

It's been a few days. I'm really trying to stay on top of this.
So right now I'm in Atlanta, sitting on a king size bed that that is long than me, width wise.
I am here for my brother graduation into the military but I thought that deserves its own post so quick update for now.
The morning before I got to have breakfast with Coach Jen and her two little tikes. She is still one of the most amazing people I ever met. So much of who I am came from the things I learned from her. About team work, support, love, acceptance, and family. I she's one of those people that has been in my life so long, she knows everything. She knows where I come from and who I've grown into, I love that. I'm so thankful for her and the fact that we've kept in touch through so many years and life changes. Its truly beautiful. Here's her little Nicholas as I was buckling him in his car seat.

After that I went yard sailing for a bit, back to the house to pack, then out to tea with Rach Farley. This tea date was so needed. We had so much catching up to do and so much creative process planning to start. We're doing our first collaborated project in a few weeks and I'm so super excited!! Rach is another person I hold so dear to my heart. She is my sister. She is a beautiful, beautiful spirit with so much to offer. I love when she gives me glimpses into her brain because its quite magical in there.

She is so artistic and I feel lucky that I've had the chance to watch her grow into the truly talented artist she is today. I love her. Sometimes she lets me take part in her projects. She painted me a few times this past year, but one series was shown at Art Awake and then into a gallery until August. We also done some photo stuff together which I always adore doing:)

I know I am surrounded by truly amazing, wonderful, talented, and loving people, right?

So I'll be here until the start of next week, I'll try to do another post but were having some serious fam time and catching up with my brother. Its amazing to see him. I cant wait to show you how cute he is:)

ps were going to an aquarium tomorrow, I may not sleep from excitement. I'm five, I'm aware.

xo jbird