Look Who Just Flew In

Flying in on the fresh Spring breezes, this new series of paintings honor two of the most important things in  my life -- Love & Home.
I'm about half-way finished with this flock of six mixed media beauties and will post them into the shop as I finish. These two pictured here incorporate map bits from my homeland, Michigan. The next ones will have scraps of fabric.
Love to hear what you think!

All Around the Mulberry Bush

Mulberry Farm - Fresh in my Shop!

New and Just For You!

Forest's Edge

Michele's Lake

Jessica's Farm

Karla's Lake

I thought I'd share with you some of the reason's I've been so neglectful to my dear sweet readers. I've been up to my ears in custom orders — delightful! 

I love working with folks from around the globe to get just the right piece for their home. It's a great way to recharge my batteries and bring back wonderful ideas for all my lovely customers.

Back to the studio for me — I have a super cute painting I'm finishing up. I promise to share with you soon. But, in the meantime, stay  tuned — I've got big news coming around the bend, you won't want to miss!

xo

nancy jean

What's New: Love on Paper

For all the fans of my Custom Love Nest Paintings I've got a new treat in the shop: Custom Love Nest Prints! Another option for the perfect, personalized wedding, anniversary or baby gift!

These beauties are printed with archival pigment inks on velvety cotton paper.

This is a great option for folks who would like a larger piece without the larger price tag. I'm offering 3 sizes: 8" x 10", 11" x 14" and 13" x 19". All are sized for easy fitting into ready-made frames.

Another great thing about these darlings, is that they can be ready to ship within a day or two — perfect for last-minute gift giving!

Stop by my shop and check them out!

Chickens: There's No Stopping Them

I've had a keen eye on the political hen house here in Maplewood, NJ: The clucking over granting residents permission to keep chickens in their yards has ruffled more than a few feathers. But it looks as if the chickens are coming home to roost! I read in our local Patch that last night, the Township Committee members asked Town Counsel Roger Desiderio to draft an ordinance that would allow 14 households to pilot a one-year program that will be introduced on Sept. 6.

Now that's something to crow about! (Okay, I promise, no more chicken puns.)

Chickens aren't new, but they have gotten quite hot, as the locavore movement spreads rapidly through cities and towns all around the country.

I just love the idea of chickens in the backyard. I have a soft spot for any animal, and I quite like the idea of having an egg-laying operation. Besides, chickens are just so cool!

The Front Yard Coop!

There was squawking (oops, sorry) from some residents, with worries about raccoon raids, poop-y yards and noise. Not to worry: Chickens will happily lay without the noisy rooster, and for the style conscious, here's the Frank Lloyd Wright of chicken coops — called the Front Yard Coop. Touted as the The World's First Self-Propelled Chicken Coop , it stores power from a solar cell in a marine deep-charge battery and inches along your yard at a safe and subtle 16 feet per hour. When it bumps into something, the circuit board reverses the coop’s direction. This distributes the flock’s impact on your lawn, spreads its beneficial manure and constantly offers your birds fresh forage.  The stored solar power also provides power for the electric fence that keeps predators out. 

Besides, it's so darn pretty! 

If you like your chicken abode to be a little more of a permanent structure, Country Living Magazine's July/August issue has a great article on building your own super-de-lux chicken coop. It's very stylish as well — I think any hen would feel proud to call it home!  

The plans for this darling coop-cottage are from FreshEggsDaily.

I thought I'd round this article out with a few of the delightful items I found, as I searched through Etsy, with the keyword "chicken".

This gorgeous Burlap Pillow from Samantha2818 comes complete with a French accent!

Isn't this this needle-felted Chicken Rattle from countrywildflower darling? It even comes with it's own needle-felted nest!

You can always count on finding some prime "chicken" cuteness, shopping in the vintage section. These charmers are from maplestreettreasures!

Katie's Kitchen: Fresh Fruit Fraisier

 I use to cook.

There was even a time in my past — as an unhappy art director working for an ad agency — that I thought of giving it all up and becoming a chef. It took me exactly one catered affair to change my mind.

It's been many years since; living on both coasts, meeting the love of my life, raising 2 wonderful daughters and finding the passion I was searching for in an easel and brush. 

But, even now I still can't resist the lure of recipes. If you saw my cookbook collection, you might think I was an accomplished cook, or at the very least someone who actually did cook. Nope. I just love reading about cooking! Especially the pictures.

Juggling my work, kids and sanity keeps me busy enough for a good excuse to not cook. Until the time comes when life slows down, I will live vicariously through those who do spend there time, lovingly creating culinary works of art. With the appreciation of a connoisseur, I will continue to enjoy my voyeuristic pastime!

All this brings me 'round to my addiction to Katie's Making Michael Pollan Proud blog. (Her tendancy towards luscious desserts helps, too.) 

Katie recently featured a Fresh Fruit Fraisier — as a challenge she completed for a very fun web-based group called Daring Baker. Katie explains, "Daring Bakers brings cooks from across the world together once a month to create a common dish and try out recipes they might not have dared attempt on their own."

I think Katie's gorgeous confection looks like just the thing for a hot summer party. Visit Katie's blog to find out how she made this dreamy dessert!

Come On Down, Mon Cher!

Little Red Barn, a sweet little 8 x 8 inch gem!

If you're in the Asheville, NC area this weekend, stop by Atelier 24 Lexington Gallery for the Bele Chere Festival. The gallery has many of my American Farm paintings to see, as well as my new "Little Farms" that are the perfect size for groupings or shelf sitting!
  
The Bele Chere Festival is an annual 3-day event, featuring live, local, regional and national performers, on 4 stages. I looked up the origin of the name and found out that Bele Chere comes from an ancient Scottish dialect, meaning "beautiful living". Sounds like a good plan!

 

One of the bands I looked up — purely because I took a shine to their name — was Hoots & Hellmouth. I took a listen and found them quite delightful They definitely got me in the mood for some outdoor music, food and art this weekend. Enjoy!

Here's the scoop:
Bele Chere 2011 Dates & Times:
Friday, July 29 Noon to 10 p.m.
Saturday, July 30 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Sunday, July 31 Noon to 6 p.m.

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