Party 50's Style

Check out this funky 50's house warming party! Click here to see more pictures!

Old made new again

I was looking on the Urban Outfitters website when I saw this green Daisy Ashtray and I knew I had just seen one. And lo and behold I had a yellow version saved in my Etsy favorites from Etsy seller Junk Trunk. The new one is $12.00 and the vintage one is $5.50. Which one would you buy?

Mid-Century Monday! Yay!

Welcome to Mid-Century Monday, my new recurring series of blog posts about some of my favorite design classics. Let's start things off with a piece by Danish cabinet maker Hans Wegner: the Papa Bear Chair (a.k.a. the Teddy Bear Chair). These were originally manufactured in the 50's and 60's. PP Møbler, the original manufacturer of the chair's frame for Wegner, began making a reissue version a few years ago that goes for over $12K (the vintage ones go for a lot less.) I wanted to start the MCM series with this chair because I saw one for sale on Craigslist just four days ago, going for $50! It must've been up for only a couple of hours, but by the time I saw it, it was already gone. I was so bummed out!

What to look for:
The legs and arm inserts should be teak wood (a staple of Wegner's and Danish design in general). Wegner signed most of his works, so look for a signature. If the chair has its original fabric in good condition, the price will go up - but a lot of the older ones you'll find will be either pretty beat up, or they will have been reupholstered. Wegner designed an ottoman to go with the chair starting in 1954, but it's not as common, so finding a chair with the matching stool is a good thing.

Cost:
Vintage, in good condition: $2,000 - $3,000
PP Møbler PP19 reissue, new: $12K+

Lenka- Trouble Is A Friend

Cute music video I wanted to share.

Have a good weekend!

This weekend I plan on working on my office. I want to put up panels of peg board and cork board and put in some counter space. Hopefully I will have some pictures up next week.

Yum!

I had a really nice Christmas Eve with my husband's family this year. My husband actually attempted to make a Venezuelan chicken salad that came out absolutely delicious! I garnished it with carrot flowers inspired by the great idea I got from www.kitchen.com.



Anyway, here's how to make it. Try it, it's delicious!

What you will need (this was enough for 9 people at my house last night):
2 1/2 lbs. of potatoes, cut into 3/8"-1/2" cubes,
1 big carrot, cut in 3/8"-1/2" cubes,
3 large split chicken breasts with bones,
2 medium onions,
1 can (8.5 oz.) of peas,
1/2 of a yellow apple,
1/4 of a cup of vinegar,
1/2 cup of olive oil,
1 1/2 cups of mayonnaise,
salt and pepper to taste.

Preparation:

1. Cut one of the onions into four pieces. Place the quartered onion and the chicken breasts in a pot with enough cold water to cover everything. Add salt and pepper to taste, and bring to a boil. Once the chicken is cooked through, take it out and let it cool. You can save the broth and boiled onion for a soup, or whatever.


2. Bring a big pot of water to a strong boil, add a bit of salt and drop the cubed potatoes and carrots in. The key here is to boil the vegetables just enough so that they're edible, but still firm. About 7-8 minutes should do it. Test the potatoes periodically as they boil. As soon as they're ready, take them off the fire, drain the water using a strainer and pour cold water on them to arrest further cooking. It's really important that they stay firm, or they'll fall apart into mush in the salad!


3. Pull and shred the chicken off the bones, and mix it lightly with the boiled potatoes and carrots, being careful not to mash the vegetables in the process. Add about 3/4 of the can of peas (the rest will be used for decoration later). Set aside.


4. For the vinaigrette, liquify the other onion, the apple half, the oil and the vinegar at high speed, so it froths and emulsifies a little (a hand blender or food processor works great for this.) Blend in the mayo and add salt and pepper to taste.


5. Pour the vinaigrette on the chicken/veggies mix, mixing it carefully with a wooden spoon. Once everything is thoroughly mixed, pack the salad lightly into a serving bowl and flatten the top. Sprinkle the remaining peas on top as a garnish. Refrigerate for a while. Serve cold.

Important Notice

Hi All

I will be taking down a lot of my older prints on my website and there will be some slight price increases for the new year. So If you want to get some prints for $39 please act before Jan 1st.

It's tomorrow!?

I can't believe Christmas Eve is tomorrow night. I haven't done a thing yet and the party is at my house. EEp!

I wish my car was working.

Must shovel snow... Ugh (update)

Luckily my next door neighbor came by yesterday and snow plowed my driveway. The bad thing is, it kept snowing and it doesn't look like he did anything.

So instead of shoveling, I've been doodling on Illustrator and I used an old newspaper as a texture. I can't wait to use more of it in the future. I wish I had a magical machine that could make printed fabric. Sigh... These patterns would look awesome as pillows.

*Update I put them up for sale on www.jennski.com

New Thomas Wold

The Thomas Wold Store will be offering some original designs as well as prototypes, random pieces of furniture and some of the better known designs direct.

Currently the Store is featuring some light Sculptures that are being produced in limited editions. Each design expresses a unique light pattern and are made from castaway and scrap material. These lights are a great way to get a hand made Thomas Wold original at an affordable price.

Freebie Friday!

Free Subscription to Nylon (US & Canada) Link doesn't work on safari :(
Free Alterna Haircare Sample (US)
Sample of Tide (US)
Free Clinique Happy Mini for Facebook Members (US)
Free Ziploc Gift Pack for the first 20,000 (US)
Sample of Aveeno Lifting & Firming Night Cream (US)
Elf your self (any where)

Angela Adams

That is the cutest vanity I have ever seen! Wow!
Check out more on the Angela Adams website

Modern Planters

I'm really liking these modern concrete planters by Obleek Objects. They were designed by Leo Estevez and individually poured using a custom concrete blend which is 40% lighter than standard concrete.

Gifts From Your Own Hands (Brini Style)

Ice Ice Baby

Here are some images from the ice storm we had in NH. I'm so happy those huge tree's didn't fall on our home.

It's back!!!

Oh, yay! I finally have power! Hooray! My husband and I came back home to a house full of lights. We were screaming and hopping around like two little kids.

Here are some pictures I found on flickr from the Design Nearby show. If you missed the show like I did, they usually keep up the work for a few days longer.

Found on Flickr

Oh Bummer!

UPDATE (12/15/08): No power still. We have been stuck in the house in front of the fireplace for most of our time. We are going bonkers! The fire wood supply is getting low :(
UPDATE (12/14/08): So cold so very cold...
UPDATE (12/13/08): Third night without power, internet, water, or heating. Yay... :-(

I got stuck in an ice storm and I've had no power and internet for the last two days. (I'm currently stealing internet from a local business.) :P

Hopefully I will be back up and running on Monday.

Tonight!

Design Nearby is tonight! If you plan on coming you can RVSP here on facebook.

Yee-Haw Industries

Woodbock type makes my mouth water! :P
Check out more work by Etsy shop Yee-Haw Industries.

Dada exclamation print <-click here
Dada pointy finger print <-click here

Season 2! Yay

My favorite show Flight of the Concords is returning for it's second season in January and I'm so excited! (Jan 18th on HBO) Yippee!

Dust Design Co

How beautiful are these! When I showed my husband the cufflinks I saw a bit of drool. Check out more upcycled jewelry at Dust Design Co on Esty.

Tote bags

I finally got around to taking some nice pictures of my new eco friendly tote bag. It is now for sale at my website. Yes that is snow behind me.

Holiday fun

Yay! I finally got my christmas tree up last weekend.



Sorry for the lack of posts yesterday. I've been getting ready for the Design Nearby show this coming Friday. I participated last year and it was so much fun. I never do art shows and mostly sell my art online, so I never get to see how people react to my work. I'm looking forward to seeing my Boston-area readers there!

Boston Events (help support local artists)

New England Open Markets is very proud to announce the opening of their new market, the Prudential Center Artisan Market. Open every Sunday, starting November 9th through December 21st! The market will offer an ever-changing group of New England and Boston-area artisans, providing residents and visitors of Boston a unique and exciting holiday shopping experience!


The Boston Bazaar Bizarre is December 7th, Noon-7pm at The Castle at Park Plaza. Be prepared to be packed in like a sardine, but it's totally worth it. Check out images from my trip to it last year.


The annual Design Nearby show at pinkcomma gallery kickstarts the holiday shopping season with “Cloth, Paper, Scissors." This year’s show focuses on printed, sliced and stitched works by Boston-area artists and designers. Whether on paper, canvas, t-shirts, or textiles, the sixteen featured artists display a variety and breadth of design sensibilities. Each designer will present two to six pieces, with editions available for sale. This event will be held December 12th, from 6pm to 11pm at the Pinkcomma Gallery 81B Wareham Street. I will be part of this event!

Freebie Friday!

*Testa Tea samples (World Wide)
Small sample bottle of Sabatino Tartufi Gourmet Olive Oil (US)
Free TiVo logo cookie cutter (US)
Dinner made easy newsletter from Betty Crocker (US)
1$ off Rayovac batteries coupon (US)
Free Sample of Glad Tall Kitchen Trash Bags (US)
Elf your self (any where)

New tote bags for sale!

I was so worried they would't come out right, but they look great! Also the bag feels great over the shoulder. These will be up for sale on my website very soon! And I will also be selling these in the Design Nearby show in South Boston. I hope to see you there!

Bag Info: Just like my pod pouches the fabric is made from 80% Ecotec, a recycled yarn made from excess cotton fabric from industrial clothing manufacturers - stuff that would otherwise end up in a landfill. The other 20% is made from recycled plastic soda bottles! It's hard to believe that this amazing fabric is made from 100% recycled materials. It feels just like a nice thick cotton canvas!

Retro carrot flowers

I found these posted over at Black Eiffel, but the idea was originally posted over at thekitchen.com. I'm suddenly in the mood for carrots...

How cute!

This so made my day! One of my customers sent in some pictures of his daughters Natalie (7) and Ella (6) with their Jenn Ski-inspired pod art. Aren't these great?



Keep up the good work, girls!

Julie Lake contemporary jewelry

I have fallen in LOVE with Julie Lake's jewelry!
Those umbellet studs pictured above are so on my wish list.