High Tea in the 17th Century

I just spent the most amazing afternoon with six other women, having high tea at the Brewster-Randall House in Janesville, Wisconsin. The private home is owned by French national Yoinai DuKunze, who cooked us amazing European style meal.

Yo (as he's commonly known) has an amazing life story that he shares with you throughout the four hour meal and house tour. He came to the United States five years ago to receive a heart transplant. He knew that he would have to stay in the States for some time to recover, and didn't want to rent. After seeing pictures of it on the internet, Yo bought the rundown 1840's Victorian home. He's lovingly restored it and has decorated it with 17th century furnishings that he shipped over from his family home in France. Besides shipping over 10 shipping containers of furniture, he also shipped 4 Olympic caliber horses and 5 dogs! If you couldn't tell already, Yo comes from a very wealthy family. They have a chateau in the south of France that has been in his family for 300 years for goodness sake! And I'm telling you the short version of the story!

Now for the food! We started with hor d'oeuvres on the sun porch including brie baked in brioche, olive and anchovy bruschetta, bacon and quail on toast points, with a champagne and pomegranate punch. I really could have just ate this and have been in heaven, but we had two more courses to go!

We were served our main course in the dining room. I wasn't able to get a really good shot of this room, it was a bit dark. But I did manage to snap this pic of the chandolier. Amazing! Our lunch consisted of pheasant quiche, french green beans, potatoes and the most decadent croissant ever. We ate, we talked, we ate some more. It was very leisurely and relaxing.

For desert we were served an Italian style cheescake with fresh berries, a lemon tartane, and French press coffee with lavender infused creme. Delish!

The whole event was a foodies paradise. And don't get me started on the interior design. I could have walked around that house for another four hours! I could write and write about this experience. What a day!

If you'd like to see more photos of the house, head on over to my flickr photostream.

A Little Bit Disappointed

A few months back I applied to the Renegade Craft Fair, that will be held in Chicago in September. I haven't ever done a show of this size, where I'd have to put together my own booth, but thought this could be a good opportunity for me. I've been making work all summer in the hopes that I got in.

Today I found out that I was not chosen. Bummer. On the positive side, I get the hefty $300.00 booth fee back that I had shelled out.

I'm disappointed that I don't have a show lined up for the fall now. I have a lot of work that needs to be seen and sold!!!! I am hoping to do Artscene somewhere this fall. (Artscene is a twice yearly event in Rockford, where businesses and galleries all over town host art exhibitions.) If anyone knows of any places looking for exhibitors for Artscene, please let me know!

I'm also looking to do a holiday show somewhere, and I would appreciate your suggestions. I'd be willing to do a good holiday market in the Rockford, Chicago, or Madison areas.

Until then, I'm concentrating on Etsy and I guess I have to start thinking about school since its now August! I'll leave you with this currently unnamed piece. (Suggestions appreciated.) This little piece measures 5" x 5" and was completed on mustard colored paper. It will be for sale in my Etsy shop just as soon as I come up with a name.

Cheers.

Lazy Summer Days Coming To an End

I have to admit, I've been a little lazy when it came to arting and blogging this week. It's the last week of July....The last full month of summer vacation. In less than a month, I'll be back to work. Ugh.

This is my newest piece. "Need to Know" measures 5" x 5" and was created on blue cardstock. I was feeling the need to move away from the neutral color palette I've adopted this summer and I'm happy with the results.

This weekend my artwork will be exhibited in the Culture Tent at Festa Italiana in Rockford. Festa is a yearly celebration of Italian culture that my family and I have been involved with for years. My brother Kyle and I were founding members of the Amici Italiani Youth Dance Troupe back in 1989. My mom was the co-director of the group and still is. Its fun to have a connection to your heritage like this.

There is an artist "meet and greet" in the Culture Tent on Saturday, from 4-6 pm if you'd like to come out and meet the artists. I'll be there!

Happy weekend all!

Weighing In on "More to Love"

Last night "More to Love" premiered on Fox. As stated on the Fox website, " MORE TO LOVE, the new dating competition show from Mike Fleiss ("The Bachelor"), follows one regular guy's search for love among a group of real women determined to prove that love comes in all shapes and sizes." OK, so this premise sounds noble enough to me and I will admit that I have been known to watch The Bachelor, so I turned on "More to Love" last night. The new bachelor, 26-year-old Luke Conley was milling around the first cocktail party, meeting his new dating prospects. As each new woman was introduced, her name, height and weight appeared on the screen. I promptly changed the channel.

Why on earth was it necessary to reveal the height and weight of each woman? You don't see this on The Bachelor and Bachelorette. This doesn't seem to jive with the stated intentions of the show, that all people, no matter what their size, want love. What does their weight have to do with finding love? I wonder if the women who are participating in "More to Love" were aware that their weight would be revealed. Would any woman want their weight revealed on national television? The whole thing just disgusts me and brings to light some of my own insecurities.

Like most women, I obsess about my weight. I know that to most people, I look healthy and normal. But at 5'3" and 144 pounds, I am in the "Overweight" category of the BMI scale (Body Mass Index.) (I can't believe I just wrote that and am about to post this on the internet!!) I've got a gut that bothers me to no end. My boyfriend thinks I'm nuts and tells me that I look great. That doesn't seem to appease me, I still obsess. I work out on average 5 times a week and watch what I eat and drink. I feel like I'm always on a diet or thinking about a diet. I've been trying to lose 10 pounds for 2 years.

I wonder if I will get to a point in my life where I will let this obsession go, and be comfortable with my body. I don't know if that day will ever come. My cute and tiny mom who weighs less than I do obsesses about her weight just as much as I do. I know that part of the reason I obsess is because she does. (Not blaming you mamma, but it's the truth!)

I hope that someday I can embrace myself as is. I hope that someday our national obsession with the perfect body will turn into a national obsession with health and happiness. Someday.

A Fun One

A Fun One - An ACEO, originally uploaded by Jennifer Mullin.

There are times when I make art and I am just satisfied with the end product. There are other times when I'm just plain thrilled with what I made.

Meet "A Fun One". There is just something about this piece that I love! I don't even know exactly what it is, but it works. This isn't my favorite color scheme (the red, yellow, and blue triad can be difficult to pull off) and the flowers themselves aren't particularly novel. But it all comes together to create a very pleasing little piece.

"A Fun One" is available in my Etsy Shop.

Go Cubs Go

Cacciatores and Cubs, originally uploaded by Jennifer Mullin.

My parents took my boyfriend and I to a Cubs game yesterday. What a great day!

Pre-game festivities commenced at Goose Island brewery, eating ballpark fare for lunch washed down with some 312 brews. We met up with my uncle Joe and aunt Chrissy here, who were also going to the game.

Wrigley Field may be ancient, but there's just nothing like the atmosphere there or the Cubs fans who love it. So much tradition in that place!

The weather for the game was perfect - upper 70's or low 80's, a little overcast, and a breeze. We had great seats and watched the Cubs win 8-5 over the Cinci Reds. 4 home runs, lots of action, and good company.

Lets see if the Cubs can pull off another win at home today. Go Cubs Go!

My Delve Onto Canvas

For quite some time, patrons have been asking me to make larger sized pieces. I resisted, there is something very endearing to me about tiny art. Eventually I decided to try out a bigger format and using a support other than paper.

I had a set of 8" x 10" stretched canvases sitting around my studio for years and decided start with those. I forgot how much fun it is to glue with gloss medium and really how much easier it is. I don't have to worry if it oozes out the edges like I do with my PVA glue on paper.

Instead of using a micron pen to add the detail, I used paint. It had been ages since I had painted and I was worried that I'd lost my mojo. But, the more I did, the better I got. I remembered how nice it is to be able to repaint something that doesn't quite look right, which is just not possible with ink and paper!

Stretched canvases don't necessarily require framing, which is major plus for me.They look great as is, especially with 1.5" or 2" stretchers like I've been using. I haven't yet found a good and economical way to frame my paper pieces.

I quickly worked through my collection of canvases and have since then purchased a bulk order from MisterArt.com. I got a great deal and fast shipping. I'd certainly order from them again!

My next support adventure will be cradled hardboard. A few of my Flickr friends have inspired me to try these!

What is your favorite support? I'd love to hear.