Lilipinso and Co.

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!

Life Balance in your business.

OK. So just when I was feeling a bit overwhelmed with how to be a great mom AND a great entreprenuer/artist, I am reminded of this GREAT event coming this month. Startup Princess is an organization I stumbled upon last year, and WOW! I am so glad I did. This online magazine and organization designed for women in start up businesses, is designed to help and support women in all stages of their business. Whether it be a service, or creating children's art work like me...there is SO much support here! Articles, network contacts, you name it. They have done away with monthly meetings, and are now hosting a few big conferences every year. The next one is SEPT 26 in Salt Lake City, UT and will feature a new favorite speaker of mine, Heather Madder. Life balance, workshops, networking, one-on-one mentoring...all there is so much support and "feasting" to have that weekend! So, if you are in the area! Come see! I am planning to be on a "raising your children while running a business" panel as well. Click here to register.

And, I will mention this as it comes up later, but in NOVEMBER, there is an overnight retreat in Park City, featuring my very favorite Gabrielle Blair from the ever popular Design Mom. How fun is that!

In case you were wondering, I was not asked to advertise...I just really believe in this group, and their efforts to support women with their dreams of staring a small business. Horray! Have fun meeting new friends and I just might see you on the 26th of September! OH...and be the first 50 to sign up...there is FREE one on one mentoring. I'd love to see some of you there! If you are coming, let me know!! It would be so fun to have a meet up!

EDIT AND UPDATE: I was just reminded that if you sign up before the 9thyou can get in for $99. Sign up after the 9th and it is $119, or $139 for late registration. And be sure to mention my name at the time of registration! Thanks!

There is goodness in the world.

And Ian is doing his "happy dance" in response to your generosity!

Auction Closed!

Thank you so much to LANA who was the final bidder for the FULL set of my Calendar prints. $300 was the closing bid, and I am SOOOOOOOO grateful to all of you who put your 'money' in. If you want to keep bidding and contributing to the Neilson Auctions going on this weekend, check DESIGN MOM. There are still MANY amazing auctions going on.

And, if you are wishing you had won the calendar set, I will be listing them in my shop by the end of the weekend.

Thanks you all! This blogging service fest is proof enough that there are good hearts all over this wonderful world. God bless you all.

xoxo

sarah jane

Thursday Auction for Nie.

The past week I have been so affected by the Nielson family, and the tragic situation they find themselves in. I am sure you have heard by now...but if you haven't, Stephanie Nielson and her husband Christian were in a tragic plane crash last week in Arizona which killed the pilot and left Stephanie and Christian in critical condition at the Maricopa Burn Center. They are both in a chemical induced coma while Christian sustains third degree burns on 30% of his body, and Stephanie sustains burns on over 80%. They are likely to be in sedation for months, while their 4 children (all under the age of 5) are living with family in Utah. The expenses are expected to be in the millions, and it seems everyone in the blogosphere world is committed to contributing. Stephanie wrote an extremely poplular blog Nie Nie Dialogues" which I have to admit, I had never heard of until this accident. But I wish I had. Or I am glad I have now. She graciously invited people into her well dressed yet humble abode, expressing her love of life, creativitiy, children, and family. I just know that if I new her, we would be kindred spirits.

But until I do get to meet this awesome family, they need your help.

Design mom is posting a Gift certificate to my shop for the auction on Thursday (the formally declared Nie Nie Day) so visit there to bid on a generous gift certificate. But since I can't hold back...I want to do a separate silent auction here.

This is how it will work:

I am auctioning off my FULL set of calender prints. I will start the Bid at say, $10. I will then let you all place your bid in the comments section of the post. Keep checking the last bid made in the comments section, and If someone bids higher than you, go ahead and place another and another, until Sunday at 9pm MST I will close the auction. The final bidder will pay the money to the Neilson Fund.

I don't even know these people, but I can't help but do something about it. One of my best friends went to school with Stephanie and her siblings, so I do know that Stephanie is only 2 years younger than I am and with 4 children...I just can't even imagine the emotional costs going on. But the amazing thing, as I am reading her sister Jane's account (who has taken all 4 children in her home and is documenting the families progress) their faith in Jesus Christ is so solid. They know that God is watching out for their family, and that their family has a divine plan. I am so relieved to know of their complete commitment to God and to each other.

So, come by on Thursday and bid! Check out Design Mom as well for another auction for my shop as well. And most of all...pray for their family. And pray for all families. Separation at any level is so challenging...and I am determined to stick by mine. See you Thursday!

Therapy.

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.

CELEBRATE! BUY 2 Get 1 FREE!

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