Posts from a homeowner.

Welcome Cjane Readers! If you are new here, take a seat and stay a while. There is lots going on here...and it's great to meet ya!

We are all moved into the house, and though I am still digging through boxes to find socks, we are feeling so at home. We have entered the ranks of homeowners, and I love this title. There is a lot to do still to the house (did I mention we still need to install a couple toilets?) but those are just details. The wonderful part is that we have an address and a neighborhood and feel such a part of this wonderful community up on the mountainside. Our breakfast table overlooks the city below and there was a beautiful red-breasted robin singing to us from his tree this morning with branches that look out over the valley. This house is an artists paradise. I can't wait to show pictures!

And believe it or not, I have been still able to chisel away at the Christmas Book I'm working on with Katherine Tegan books at Harper Collins. I have a deadline to finish completely in just over a month, and I couldn't think of a better place to finish it up than at the new house. The art studio is proving to be a great place to work. I'll get some boxes out of the way and shoot some pictures soon!

But to start off the week, there are some great giveaways over at CJANE celebrating the birth of her upcoming baby. I designed the invite (Can you tell I am into this retro feel?) and it should be a lot of fun!

I am giving away a $50 gift card to my shop here and you can visit more giveaways here. Come on over and dig in! And all orders with the mention of CJANE get a free card of choice in their orders this week!

Have a good one!

xo

sarah jane

PARTY IN THE SHOP!

CELEBRATION TIME!

Oh wow. In my hand I am holding keys to a new house!  A yard. A front door. Trees. Our own kitchen. Our FIRST house.

Granted, it's an older home. And needs a lot of TLC. But we have a lot of love goin' on....

We spent the weekend ripping up flooring, chair rails, cleaning, prepping....

Well, my husband did 99% of it. He's super hot covered in dust and using power tools.

And I have a new golden key on my keyring. It's surreal.

And so folks....TIME TO PARTY!

BUY 2 GET 1 FREE THIS WEEK

Yep. Everything. Cards. Journals. Prints.

Every Party Has Rules:

1. Purchase TWO items and place them in your cart. TWO items. 2. Deux. Dos.

2. Mention the 3rd item in the "message to seller" box at the time of purchase.

3. Again. DO NOT PURCHASE THE THIRD ITEM.

4. The third item must be LESS than or EQUAL to the other items purchased.

5. If you order MORE than 2 items, you will still only qualify for ONE free item.

6. SALE ENDS FRIDAY NIGHT 10pm MST.

And to keep on with the festivities.....

We have a NEW item in the shop!

Now offering LARGER GICLEE PRINTS

Size 11x14 inches on Any image in the shop! Horray!!!

(Picture above is only 8x10 but the matte is 11x14 in. to give you an idea)

I am really excited to offer this new size....I hope you enjoy!

So click HERE to do a bit of shopping. Have fun!

I'm signing off to go let the roofers in...and the plumber...and the drywall people....

It's a party every where!

Cheers!

Follow me here.

I know a lot of you have emailed or tweeted the sad news that you can't attend the conference this weekend. But no worries. I plan on tweeting about it, so stay tuned.

So, if you tweet (Do you tweet?) you can keep up by following #altsummit, or follow me on Twitter by clicking the little orange button just to the right.

Sorry...I just have to say that I never thought I'd ever be using words like "tweet" to refer to correspondence. Who'da thought. Communication is so fascinating, ya? But, it's all about using what works! More about that tomorrow!  Happy Weekend!

Huge Sale!

In case you haven't heard, these lovely things are 50% off until they are gone! Presents all around!

Hope you are having a good Monday!  I'm currently the head captain of Battle Earache this week.  Yup...all 3 kids are sick with nasty ear infections...all at the same time. Wow....I don't think I could have planned that one any better!

I am starting to watch the calendar for warmer weather to come. This cold/flu season has been a bad one at our house. Yours?

And for all our movie watching this week with sickies at home, I was so excited to see this and this new to hulu. Love it.

Back to cuddling warm bodies...I really do love my job;)

xo, sarah jane

Give.

Last night I decided to tell the children a Christmas story every night until Christmas. Not from a book, just stories that I remember from my childhood, and in my own words.

I started to tell the story of the Gift of the Magi. Telling it aloud, in words that a 3 and 4 year old could understand brought tears to my eyes. What is the story about really? Two people who love each other so much, they are willing to give up their most prized possessions to purchase gifts for the other. This is one of my favorite stories because it illustrates so clearly that gift giving is really only a symbol for pure need we all have of wanting to make someone happy. Some one we love. Someone we care about. And at this season: sometimes it's people we don't even know.

I was introduced to Benson and Claire just a couple weeks ago, and as a mother of 3 children right around the same ages, I can't even begin to imagine the daily struggle their parents have to keep their children alive.

I can't really explain the story in my own words very well, so this is what the parents have to say:

Benson and Claire were born with a rare genetic disease in which their liver produces too much oxalate--called primary hyperoxaluria. Claire's condition has progressed much faster than Benson's. She has been on dialysis since she was 3 months old and is on dialysis 3 hours a day, 6 days a week. She is now on the waiting list to receive a combined kidney / liver transplant. It is expected Benson will eventually need similar transplants. Over $500,000 is needed for the procedure.

Making it to the hospital every morning with a 2 year old keeping her happy in the hospital for 3 hours takes creativity beyond what I could ever try to do. I witnessed my close friend try this kind of lifestyle with her toddler for 7 months, and it is so hard. Claire has lived in the hospital basically her whole life (2 years) and the family it trying to raise money to give her a transplant. You can watch a video here of what is takes to go through the process day in and day out. I am amazed at this strong mother and her brave children.

There is a silent auction today (December 10-12) and I am auctioning off a$50 gift certificate to the shop. Come and offer what you can, and help this sweet family. I know there are so many people to help this Christmas season, so if anything, you can offer your prayers.

Click here to see more of their story.

Click here for the auction.

Sale.

Hello Friends!

Sorry for all of you who subscribe to my newsletter....this is the second time you'll be hearing this. But I had to let you know!

Prints are priced down now through Christmas! They will be on sale up until the holiday, but remember to check the shop for shipping dates to get there for the holidays.

Oh, and those popcorn balls turned out great. I wish I could fit them in your packages. I might just have to post the recipe soon.

Happy shopping!

xo

sarah jane

PS: PLEASE come visit the silent auction with a gift certificate to the shop here.

For you and you and you....

It has been snowing here. A lot. And I love it! The entry way (our kitchen) is muddy from snow boots, getting out the door with 3 kids and all the gear is going to take some major skills that I don't have yet, and I almost got stuck in my driveway just trying to get the mail. But hazzah! This winter wonderland is really getting me in the mood for christmas.

And keeping in line with the Christmas Spirit, here is the LAST promotional for the year in online Sarah Jane land:

20% off all prints through Christmas (prices are already marked down)

and a yummy giveaway on Bloesem Kids

I'm off now to make some carmel popcorn balls. Here's to hoping they actually get out to the neighbors like I planned...homemade-gooey-warm-and-soft carmel popcorn is on my top 10 "I would be happy dying from this" list. Happy Christmas!

Cyber Monday Deals & More Christmas Stuff

I've never gotten Christmas ready so fast in our house. The day after Thanksgiving, we put up our tree. It feels wonderful!

Last year we moved over Christmas (please...I beg you...don't ever try that!) and so this year, I'm ready to really enjoy every single day. Even if there are still a few boxes of Christmas decorations that got lost in the move. Humbug.

But really, I wanted to say, Hello! Happy Christmas season! Lots of new fun things going on the shop!

New Christmas Labels:

(Insert sad sigh) The Snow on Snow print didn't make it to a card this year. The order came back faulty, and well...no time to redo. More Humbugs.

And this card which is a personal favorite (I'm still convinced my kids are going to stay in size 3)

But, on a Happy Note:

I'm joining the throngs of Cyber-Monday fanatics and offering

FREE 2010 CALENDAR with $40 purchase! (savings of $24!!!)

FREE CALENDAR MONDAY ONLY!

So I guess it's official: Christmas is here. I just love every bit of this season, and this year is extra special: We aren't in the throngs of boxes and get to enjoy the smell of pine and the sight of twinkling lights. I love it all.

Click here to go to the shopping.