Jenna Lou Loves You

Helper

This is my little helper Zoey. As much credit is due to her she doesn't get much face time on my blog. Not sure why... I think it might be because she is so sweet that I just like to hid her away and keep her all to myself. Yesterday as I was sewing she was sitting in the chair next to me snoozing. And when I would stop sewing or stand up to iron something she would peel open her eyes and give me that look.

Today I think we are going to go for a walk. It's a warm 40* out today and the sun is softly shining down... just perfect for a tour of the neighborhood.

I'm taking this weekend off to enjoy and relax. Things have been crazy since the wallet pattern release and I can finally say I'm caught up!! Then it'll be three weeks of sewing like a mad woman to get ready for some big shows starting in the end of April (more on these later).

I hope you all have time to take a look outside and enjoy the various stages of spring that are upon us. It's really a spectacular time of year!

xo,
Jennalou

Photo-Happy

YEY!! My camera finally made it's way back to me. Yesterday I was surprised to hear the doorbell ring as I wasn't expecting a package.... but there she was. All shiny and rested up... and just as good as new. What a hard couple of weeks it has been camera-less. Everyone knows a blog post needs a photo, so as you can imagine I have been quite uninspired to post.

BUT I'm back! After getting her out of the box and miles of bubble-wrapping I ran around the house and shot photos with glee. Here are just a few of my tea fortune. It was simple, but right on the spot as they always seem to be.

See you tomorrow with more photo goodness.
xo,
Jennalou

Loaf

Artisan bread. It's so romantic. The smell drifting through the air, filling your home with warmth and comfort.

The problem with bread is time. I don't got it. I don't know if you got it.... but I don't know many people who do.

The solution. I first read of this book over on Amy's blog, but have since seen it popping up all over blogland. I was a little skeptical that this method of bread making would really work. It seems too easy. To straightforward.

Bread had always been a bit mysterious to me. There is so much waiting and kneading and making sure everything is just right and oooo be careful! It seemed like a craft that hid many secrets. That to master it you would have to spend years experimenting to find the right methods. But at last, the secrets are spilled, and really.... it's not hard at all. It's not too fussy, not too messy... and really really FUN!!

Upon receiving my copy I mixed up a batch and let in rest overnight in my refrigerator. The next day it was all ready to go and with only about 2 min of prep time. We ate the first loaf in about 15 minutes.

Yesterday I made the second loaf (still from the first mixing), but before shaping it I quickly added some organic garlic and freshly grated asiago cheese. Let me just say that despite making this loaf much larger it was too gone within an instant not a crumb remained. I think I am now the bread-making-super-girl of our family!

xo,
Jennalou

ps. I dearly thank each and everyone of you who sent kind and warming words my way on the last post!! Every thought and prayer is heard.

Making it.

It's been a rough week since my last post.

We had some bad new come our way. After a surgery to remove a lump from my step-dad's chest it came back as positive for cancer. After the accident last summer that left him with one eye and spending the fall and winter getting healthy and back in shape, this was the last thing I had expected. He'll be going through a mastectomy sometime in the next couple weeks. At that point we will find out if it has spread at all. The surgery will be followed by 6 months of chemotherapy.

I can't even explain how deeply saddened this mess has made me. He's just so undeserving, which makes it all the harder to grasp. I know he will be strong. I know he will rid his body of cancer. I know he will survive and our family will be brought closer by it. but it just sucks!

I'm sorry to bring this gloomy subject to a place I like to keep cheery and crafty, but it is something I felt I needed to share because of how it has and will impact my life. It's something to acknowledge, but not to slow us down.

Jennalou

Water Lily

Sorry to leave you all hanging with promises of new projects.... but it's really not my fault this time. As I was getting ready to do a photo shoot on Friday to show off a new skirt I made, my camera stopped working. Just like that and it's all over. The poor little thing... It's gets lots of loving attention and use around here so it must have just puttered out. I understand that... and why it would want a vacation to the camera guy for a thorough spa cleaning and repair... I get that! Maybe it was just the winter blues... it has been awfully cold around here and we did have some snow too this weekend. It was dreadful! So here's hoping that she's having a lovely time getting all mended up somewhere where the sun is shining. Hoping that she comes back as good as new!

{Click Image for larger View}

In the mean time I did manage to steal the bf's camera for my own purposes. On Friday I took a bit of me time to do some sewing. It's a bit cold to be dreaming of sun, but I've always been a dreamer so I made myself a lovely skit. It started out as the Amy Butler Barcelona A-line skit, but soon (very soon) turned into a one of a kind creation. I have to blame the zipper. I have to admit that when it comes to clothing and sewing for myself I can be a bit of a slacker (understatement). So I scrapped the zipper and sewed the panels straight up. Then I lowered the waist by 1 1/2" so it would sit just where I like. I also scrapped the muslin lining because many reviews had said it was a bit heavy and I want this to be my summer, running through the grass, enjoying the sun and lemonade skirt, so I just didn't need it. To keep it up I added a waist band of really soft elastic. Then  a simple hem to finish her off and I was golden.  And I gotta say I LOVE this skirt.... I mean I really LOVE it!! So practical and fits/feels like a dream.... now if the weather can just get about 50* I'll be a happy skirt wearing girl!!

xoxo,

Jennalou

Ginger Blossom Lauch TODAY

Today is the Launch of Ginger Blossom on Etsy! If you haven't already got some of Sandi's yummy Ginger Blossom you better do so and quick!! Rumor has it that it's been selling out like crazy and some prints are even on backorder already! Good thing I snatched up some yardage right away!! To see all the lovely Ginger Blossom creations on etsy just type the key search "ginger blossom" or even better yet.... click here.

I've added a wallet done up in the same fabric I used for the cover shot of the GBF Wallet sewing pattern... but as you can probably already guess I'll be adding more Ginger Blossom goodies as soon as I get a chance to make them!

Happy Thursday!!
xo,
Jennalou

Flickr Group

ok.. I sorta lied. One last post about the patterns. I started a flickr group so you can share your photos of complete projects! I SO look forward to seeing all the GBF Wallets and Fionas!!

You can see a rotation of the current photos over there to your left in my sidebar. ENJOY!!

Thank You

Whoa. I've hardly even noticed that a whole week has passed by since my last post! Sorry for that unannounced break... I guess things just got REALLY crazy with the pattern release. I had about 500 emails to answer each day and I was really just over all exhausted from weeks of working on the pattern. So the weekend was purely mine. We took it easy. We ate out. We went to a movie. We snoozed (well I did) and yesterday the power was out from 2:30pm until sometime in the night when I was already sleeping. It was nice to sit around wit candles everywhere. No urges to check email, to answer questions. We simply relaxed. It was quite nice.

I have to say THANKS to each and every person who ordered a pattern or has one way or another shown their support for me!! It was an amazing week and I can't believe how many patterns were sold. You guys are great!! I got the patterns from the printer a little early, so on Friday I addressed 100... 200... 3....well, lets just say A LOT of patterns and got them in the mail so they should be arriving anytime for many of you.

I think this will be my last pattern post for a while... sorry if it seems like that all I talk about anymore. I have so many other cool projects to share. I've been knitting, and baking, bread making and I have plans for a summer wardrobe, it should all be loads of fun so stay tuned for that goodness.

xo,
Jennalou