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Sarah Jane

More updates on the newsfront: Sarah Jane is in Paris…again! L’affiche Modern (English translation is “the modern poster”) is a French fine art print e-shop with work from graphic artists, photographers and children’s illustrators. Their prints are for adults and children a like, and they are now selling 4 of my prints on fine art poster paper! I am thrilled! The company contacted me a while ago, and everything has finally gone through! (Sending contracts and proofs from Paris and back does take some time!). I love their designs! And I love that I don’t have to package and ship anything I sell! This is so the way to go! You may remember Lilipinso & co. who is also distributing some other pieces of mine…also located in France. I may just need to be making a trip out there sometime…any excuse I can get, right? Check out the site here.

Much awaited: Cards are here! These packs were so much fun to put together. Most of my cards just come with cards and envelopes. These have an added bonus: pretty box and gift tags to match! I had a lot of fun making these! I wish you could just see them in person. They are just yummy.

“Winter Cheer” Stationery Set

“Handmade Just for you” Stationery set

“Wellesley and Winslow Christmas Post” Stationery Set

I hope there are more Holiday cards coming, but I as far as “sets” complete with gift cards, this is it folks!

And while we are on the subject of GIVING….

How about a BUY 2 GET ONE FREE sale? Sound good? It does to me!

Just purchase TWO products, and mention the THIRD product in the message to seller box at the time of purchase, and I will include it in your order! Quesions? I’d love to hear from you!

Thanks to those of you who have been so patient waiting for these! Happy gift giving!!!

Have fun in the shop!

Remember the fun Addie and I have been having with Paper Dolls? Well, time to do some paper-dolling together. This is Mazie, named after my great-grandmother. Though I don’t remember her, I bet she was as cute. I may just get some paper dolls in the shop…all colored and ready to play with. But I thought I would test the waters first and also let you have fun coloring in all the details! Get some ideas on how they look colored here.

So have some spooky fun! This Mazie is a lot like my daughter…you never really know what she is going to wear…Especially for halloween. A vintage-y witch, a french Dutchess or Little Red Riding Hood. Have fun choosing! Download the Free HIgh-Res PDF file here.

Feel free to spread the word and tell your friends with a link here.

Happy Halloween!

Categories: just for kids, my art, updates
17 Comments

I am really excited about this print. I remember as a girl sitting at my kitchen window at the snowy forest behind our house so calmed by the misty gray that winter brings. I really love the magic in the winter forest…so delicate and quiet. But then the Cardinal would come and draw my complete attention. He was like a sign of hope. My heart would race, and I would beg him to say a while. It amazes me the God would be so creative to think of making a RED bird that loves to come out in the white winter. He is such an artist:)

And so, this new friend of mine gets to meet this little fellow and share a moment. or two. or three. Just a stare. nothing more is needed to be filled with warmth of the red bird.

So…A new print for the shop! And this same image is going to be used for my GIFT CARDS coming up!! I am so excited! I think these are so precious, and I would love to get one of these in the mail, or as a present!

The way these will work is simple:

When you order the gift card, you will specify whether you want this emailed to you or snail-mailed to you. I will then write, or email you, the CODE that the recipient will use when purchasing. To redeem the gift card, all your recipient needs to do is to email me at the email listed on the card, and I will fill the order!

Simple, eh? Hope so! (there are more details in the actual listing in my shop)

Ahhhh….though it is still fall, this print is making me long for the quiet snow!

In the beginning was my shop. And the shop was my world. And my world revolved around my shop. I didn’t sleep. I made art and art only.

And after two months was over, I crashed. And I cleaned my house. And I didn’t create art because I wanted to be sane…and have a clean house. And I got very sad.

Then one day, a blessed man came and said “I will take the kids out all day on an outdoor adventure and you can stay home and enjoy a quite house.” And I said, “Will you marry me?” And he said, “You already did.” And then I kissed him. And then I went into my studio and locked the door and barricaded it from all distraction (including food) and got to work.

And now…I have art. It doesn’t look like much when I consider I had a day all to myself. But art is SLOW folks. That is just how it is. And how it should be. And this wasn’t even done in a day. It was finished in a day. I may just need to call that blessed man back and tell him my children need a second all-day-outdoors adventure. And I know he will say “yes” because that is what married people do. They give lots and lots to each other. And then after I kiss him again, I will make more gingerbread waffles.

We also have “The Rocket Launch Club” print in the shop now, with (shhh…don’t tell) some free pdf downloads in the works coming soon.

And, in my efforts to get this in the shop with some other storybook dictionary prints, this one never ended up in the shop. But here it is now!

Well, there you have it folks! Whew! I can’t wait to get my hands into my sketch book again. Maybe I really DON’T care about a clean house….

Meanwhile: Visit the shop!

Just when you thought I would never post new art again….We are on our way to some pretty great activity going on here. I am hoping to have a big shop update on Friday…but in the mean time…feel like making some homemade vintage-y rockets? Yes? Great! But first, you gotta join the club.

No, it isn’t my birthday….it is Sarah Jane Studios 1 year anniversary!! WOW! I still can’t believe the shop has been going for an entire year! And what an amazing journey it has been the past 365 days! I truly believe that what you feel most comfortable doing as a child, you will find yourself doing as an adult…or wish you were doing, which if that is the case listen to your inner wishes! That is what I did. If you asked me when I was 7 what I wanted to be when I grew up, it was to be an artist and a mom, and maybe even have a shop. And presto: 22 years later, that is what I am doing! No…It hasn’t been easy…but it has been SO rewarding on so many levels!

So, the actual anniversary of my shop opening was on Oct. 4 (but I have been sick as well as husbandless the past several days which means ZERO mommy time) But we can’t have a birthday without a celebration!!! I just feel so grateful for the past year…the friends I have met, the support you have given…it is truly overwhelming sometimes. Thank you!!

This year’s present…in honor of the 12 months that have transpired…I am giving away 4 of my new calendars from my “month by month” series.! Yes, they are finally completed! I think you will just love them. These calendars are really more like a piece of art for your wall, with a few numbers that happen to be on the bottom. Just darling!

They will be in the shop by tonight for only $24. They will make the perfect gift, or mini art peice for that empty wall next to your phone or desk. Each page measures 8.5×5.5 inches and is completed with green grosgrain ribbon perfect for hanging!

But for you, my dear friends: A free gift from me!

To win a calendar, all you need to do is:

• enter a comment below with a suggestion for something you would like to see in my shop for next year
• Your name and a way to contact you (email, or blog link)
• Comments will be closed on Oct 10th at Midnight EST
• Check back on October 11th at to see the 4 lucky winners!

Thank you so much for all your support over this past year! I have loved getting to know you, and if I haven’t met you yet, pop in and say hello! I am nice…I promise:) In the mean time…Happy commenting!

I know. It is only October. But last year I PROMISED myself (after many sleepless nights) that I would do Christmas in September. Um….September, what happened to you? You could have warned me you were going to be in an out in a flash (how rude!) October is now all I have before the made rush of activities, baking, visiting, (packing and shipping) and of course…ENJOYING THE SEASON!!

So, in my efforts to really be PREPARED for the holidays, I made myself a little ELF to remind me that October will no doubt rush as fast as September did! And, I am determined to make a HANDMADE CHRISTMAS this year. That is right. No last minute stops to Best Buy, or surfing AMAZON. We are making and giving from our hands this year (and hearts) or supporting handmade from our dearest friends. And in order to do that, I really must get started today!

This little ELF friend of mine (doesn’t he have the greatest hat?) will be soon available as a set of cards to let your family and friends know that you spent time (not money) on your Christmas gifts this year! I should have these in the shop soon, but I want to get them perfectly ready just for you…I am adding in a few little extras! So, Merry Christmas…Think Handmade…Happy making!

They are here! Another bookplate (which I wish you could see in person…they are DARLING!) and 2 more cards for the shop: “I love my sister” and “I love my brother.”

I also have both of these prints for sale together as a set like the other elephant and giraffe set. So fun! Oh…and there is more coming soon! I am signing off to get back to work! xoxo sarah jane

Ok, so I am about ready to start putting my seasonal prints and stationary up for sale…but before I do, I would love to know what you think about this one. I am trying out a couple new things in photoshop, and I thought it was perfect for a vintage-y halloween spookiness. Haven’t decided if I want to order these as postcards…what do you think?

So yesterday I picked up the mail on the way home: ho, hum, bills, yucky junk mail…Oh WOW! My art is up and running in France! Lilipinso and co. is a children’s wall art company, and their stuff is SO fun and whimsical. I was so flattered when they contacted me about licensing some of my prints. Their work is all reproduced on canvas, and looks stunning. The catalog is chalk full of artists who I wish I could just hag out with in their studios. Very French, very European…I love it. Here you can see my LOVE bunnies, as well as my other French animal prints.

I love how they made vinyl stickers with my little ‘love’ bunnies. These prints have been in the shop for a little bit, and they are just my favorite. They look SO great on the walls. They haven’t been as popular for some reason (maybe it is the square shape…harder to find frames) but I just love them.

And you can even see the pictures for display in one of their display rooms. I was so happy they picked mine! The photo doesn’t really show you very well, but they look super-duper cute!

Here is the link to the website, and here is the link to the new 2009 Catalog (I’m on page 10). They don’t have all their new work up online yet, but the catalog is available on their site. Have a look…and start wishing you were living in France. (I do!) Happy Wednesday!

Last weekend I spent the morning with my cousins shooting pictures of my products. I snapped these pictures while Jesse was taking a break. I couldn’t help it…I love photography…and loved spending the morning with such great models (some of my youngest cousins). I’ll have to show you more pictures later…things have been pretty busy around here lately. But since I don’t have a very large studio (the spare room in our apartment) it is so interesting to see your work all in one place…or at least on a screen. It teaches the eye. And it sure was a lot of fun! Thanks Emma, Libby and Sadie! And of course Jesse!

Just kidding. This print has been on my mind for a while…and it was worth staying up to finish. I am liking the educational value here. Actually, the colors are my favorite. Be watching for a shop update soon…There is more where this came from.

Or at least that is what it feels like. Ironic, that my last Monthly print is finishing in September, just in time for school to start. Is she really done? Has she really been with me a year? So much has happened this year, and it is all coming to this dramatic finish for me. Well…I’m not finished, but this set is, and I am not really sure how I feel about it.

I have to be honest with you. My October in Polka-dot wellies was never intended to be more than just that. People just liked her so much, I got email after email saying “Are you going to make a whole Calendar set?” I am really honest when I tell you that I had no intention of making one! I just really love the month of October, and that just happened to be the month that I opened my shop. So, I answered back to all those emails saying, “Sure!” And I have loved the journey.

This series is so revealing of my journey as an artist this year as well. You will notice, that these girls aren’t exactly the same in each monthly print. Some have said that they don’t think they are all the same girl…and some say they are. I will leave that up to you. In some prints she seems taller, or her hair seems straighter, etc. But really, it is even more revealing of my favored technique at the time. There is a consistency, but there are a lot of inconsistencies as well, which I hope you find a bit endearing. I do.

So here we have “Month by Month” for girls. And because I am so sentimental over this parting, I will also announce, that I am making the very same set for BOYS!! Starting in October, of course. I am really excited, and I have a feeling there will be some really fun moments with this one as well.

So, now the entire year is up for sale in the shop. I have deliberated over the price for a while…I really believe in making all my work affordable. SO, it may seem like a lot to offer the whole set at $200, but it ends up being a savings of $88 total. And, for those of you who have been buying the monthly prints as they come (you know who you are!) I am reminding you that August and September’s prints are on me! (as well as a few extras:) If you haven’t contacted me about that, please send me off an email with your ETSY name and email, so I can look up your orders and address and I will send your prints on their way!!

And, coming soon…in a few days/weeks (or what ever my children allow) will be some really great stationery featuring this year’s set as well as a calendar!

And again, thanks to all of you for all your support! I will be writing more about my journey over the past year…this post isn’t intended for that. But I can’t place this last print up for sale without saying THANK YOU! Really…here is a e-hug from moi!

I am convinced that she gets more free time at the end of the day.  But then again, she doesn’t look as good in heels…

Happy monday everyone! I have to first say…WOW! What a weekend I’ve had! I was featured on ETSY’s homepage, and I will tell you, I have made so many great friends and met so many incredible people because of it! I heart ETSY!!! It’s like this amazing art gallery shop full of incredible products, but even more, really cool people! I love that ETSY encourages so much communication between artists for support, advice, etc. So, thanks to all of you who popped in to say hello! I have loved looking at your shops, and hearing your experiences! I have tried to reply to most all of you, but if I haven’t replied, I will be soon. In the mean time…know I have loved meeting all of you this weekend! I love the internet, but honestly, I would much rather throw a BBQ and meet all you in person:) You are all an inspiration!

Speaking of inspiration, I have been thinking “what made me want to become an artist.” There is never one single answer to this, and the one that I gave in the interview is the most true to experience. I don’t remember a time that I wasn’t an artist. But there are always supports a long the way, and I wanted to share one of mine (there are many).

My Grandpa Knell was an artist. He was an architect professionally, but I think that a lot of architects start out as artists. He loved design and the functionality of design. But he also had a big imagination. He died almost 3 years ago, but he instilled in me a great love of drawing and somehow gave me the confindence to pursue my talents. I often remember him at the kitchen table sketching out designs with his sons, or drawing with the grandkids. This weekend, we had a family reunion and my aunt had brought some drawings grandpa had made on paper lunch bags who knows how many years ago. How precious! Not only because he is gone now, but also because they are doodles on lunch bags which to me represents that a true artist will draw on just about ANYTHING!! His caricatures were always so artsy/funky. I love it!!

My grandfather was one of my many inspirations, but something about being his grandaughter gave me permission to live my dreams.

So, I would like to know…who has inspired you to do what you love? Family? Fellow artist?

She’s here.

OKee dokee. One more left, and this year’s set will come to an end. Can you believe it?

So, here is the deal:

There are a lot of you who have been faithful and wonderful and have bought each month as they have come out. You know who you are. I know who you are! If you have been buying all along, or have all 10, AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER ARE FREE!!!!

So, please just email me making sure to include your name and your ETSY ID name, and I will send you the rest of the year free of charge…mostly to say “you are awesome, I love you, and thanks!!”

For the rest of you who may be new, once the set is complete, there will be a discount for buying all 12 at a time. And, a calendar is in the works, so be watching!

Anyways, can you believe it is AUGUST already?

AHHHHHHHHH!!!!

Does your brain ever feel like this:

“Foldthelaundrymakebreakfastfinishthedishescleanupbreakfastcallthedentistgotothelibrary

getgasinthecarpickupperscriptionpickuptoysgothepostofficebuystampscatchuponemailpaybills

vacuumfigureoutwhatinthehecktomakefordinnerfinsighaugustandseptemberprintssortthroughmail

takethekidstothepoolsendbirthdaycardblahblahblahblah!!!!!!”

Ok. So how do you snap out of stress-crazy-mommy-brain? Do tell.

Today my therapy was crazy monkeys and stationery.

Me: Ian, time to wake up!

Ian: Opens his big puppy dog eyes, looks me in the eyes, and says “Hi Guys!”

Addie: “OH mommy! We love our chudders!”

(For a girl with a bright vocabulary, I just love that she still mispronounces “each other”)

Oh, and one more. Before dinner, Addie comes up to me, and in a British accent says:

“Mother, may I have a spot of cheese?”

Just melt me now!

What else to do when my brain is on overload?

I instinctively create really simple art. It’s not planned, it just comes. And I have to do something about it, or my brain stays fried.

OK…so here we have NEW stationary!!! Horray!! I have only been selling postcards really, and as much as I love postcards, I am a sucker for hand printed paper! This paper is lovely. It has a similar feel to my art prints: almost watercolor paper. Slightly textured, and soft. Love it. I just can’t get over how cute these cards are! These animal pairs really come to life on these printed cards.

I also have another addition to the shop: Grace is in card size now. Perfect for pinning up, or sending.And since we are talking about updates: My AUGUST print is coming! Late, but for good reasons:)

Ahhhh…so the brain is feeling better now. Now to sneak that Key lime pie Kenneth made today (baking it was his therapy). I love my life.

Ok…this post is full to the brim…but read it all! Yummies at the bottom:)

Happy Monday everyone! This week is exciting for me for a couple of reasons: I have completed some new art that I just added to the shop, it’s my birthday this week, and I am heading out of town again to see my family back East. So many reasons to celebrate!!

But before the party starts, I wanted to show you some new prints I just added to the shop.

This set is so exciting to me because I love getting more diversity in the children playing around here in these parts. My inspiration has always been vintage storybooks and vintage illustration…most of which sport “Dick and Jane” type characters. So, here are these girls (aren’t they just beautiful?) ready to play! The Chinese and Japanese characters I think will be optional, but I do think they add so much to the pieces. I had fun with these!

Oh…but there is more! Do you remember these? Well, I am just now getting around to adding them to the shop. “I love my sister” and “I love my brother” are now companions to “I love my Mom” and “I love my Dad.” Too cute!

And now what I am really excited about because I have been waiting to post these for a while now…color alterations on these two prints are going to go so much better with the rest of my shop. When I first opened, my color palette wasn’t as defined as it needed to be, and now, I am changing my “Read with me” and “Dress up party” prints to fit in with all my other prints in the shop. Before they were a dusty pink…almost fleshy colored. Fine for then, but not for now. Welcome fresh, bright, and more alive with color:

and, like I mentioned a bit ago, these lovelies are getting added too:

So…We have completed (for now) the Asian, French and Pink…now on to more fun! But before all that…the best part is…

BUY 2 GET 1 FREE !!!

(within the ENTIRE shop, that is!)

I can’t help having a little party to thank you all for your support and friendship! I wish I could just have a backyard party and invite you all for lemonade and cupcakes (hmmmm…that would be fun!)

But I can’t, so this is the best way I can say thank you!!! Here’s how it works:

Details: July 14th-17th (Mon-Wed)

Free item: equal to or less than the items purchased.

Purchase 2 items: mention the 3rd in ‘Message to seller’ box

Orders made July 17th-July 28th: All orders will be shipped July 28th

So, happy Monday and have a great week!!! Thanks a billion, and have fun!

xoxo

Sarah Jane

Categories: my art, updates
6 Comments

Hello Hello!

These prints have been folded up and hiding in my pocket for a while now.  I am planning on putting them up for my grand restocking of the shop coming soon.  Again, different than the vintage children you are seeing a lot more of lately, but these little bunnies go so well with my vintage-y, French-y animals.  They have been needing some more friends, and these two were happy to oblige. They just look so snuggable, and I just wish they weren’t so two dimensional so I could just reach out and squeeze them! This set was really fun, because you can’t tell from far away, but the bunnies were actually hand painted.  Most of my coloring is all digital (which was a conscious choice with having babies around).  It was really fun to get the paints out again.

Just wanted to pop in an also say thanks for all the kind words about the magazine article, and the new Asian theme going.  You make me blush!  In the mean time…back to the studio to finish up some more fun stuff! C-ya around!

xoxo,

sarah jane