Love is in the air...and Some Big Fun News!!!


Since registration for Art is You 2011 opened I have been getting soooo many emails...peeps wanting to know the little details and stuff like that...or gals just touching base to let me know that they've signed up or soon will be once they figure out their calender. I know it's still quite a while away but I'm so excited for it! Can't wait to see new faces and to reconnect with friends from last year. So keep the emails coming...if you're sitting on the fence or whatever...heck, maybe you're trying to find somebody to room with so you can split the cost...maybe I can play matchmaker...who knows?!

Here in Jersey we're still covered in snow. Last week's blizzard just got a couple more inches dusted on top and there is quite a chill in the air! We've got Mexican pups, bred for the warmer climates...yes, that old cliche, the shivering, shaking Chihuahua is true. But our guys are pretty used to the snow now. They walk outside and they're like "oh yeah, this pain in the neck white stuff...oh well." ...and then they go about their business. But that's not to say that they can REALLY handle it. Midway through the walk Carlos will stop dead, pick up one foot, hold it in the air, and stare at Aaron...this stare and this raised hand are his ways of saying to Aar: "Dad, pick me up. My feet are too cold to walk any further." So Aar picks up Carlos, rubs each
individual foot, blows his hot breath on each one, and after about a block's rest from the cold asphalt he then places Carlos back down and he trots with glee, feet restored to working temp. It's adorable. And the little guy Jack is a different story. When you tell him that it's time for a walk he gets all excited...but then it seems like he remembers how cold it is out there...and within a second he is burrowing his way into the back of my closet! Hiding I guess...but really just delaying the inevitable. But what's great is that once he's outside, he is a little TROOPER! He never asks Aaron to pick him up, never raises a cold paw...just runs around like a nut...well, he does whine if Aar and Carlos don't keep up the proper pace...He's a quick little guy!

So, we let the snow come down outside and stayed indoors working on a bunch of things...matting up lots of Everyday is a Holiday classic prints for the shop, etc... AND working on our Valentine's Cupcakes! Many of you old school Everyday is a Holiday collectors own our Holiday theme cupcakes...we've got plates like this for just about every Holiday. For
Valentine's we wanted to totally revamp our cupcakes and go with a more sepia, parchmenty, antiquey look. (jeez, spell check didn't like those words!) We actually worked with our old Valentine's painting and 100% re-painted it so the details were crisper, colors brighter, polka dots bigger and more playful. We have a batch of 'em in stock and ready to ship, in a few different formats, with more to come very soon. They're listed in the shop now...and we already have some on hold for you gals who emailed asking about them! ;)

Ok, nowww....probably should have addressed this wayyy up at the top of this post...in case you thought you showed up at the wrong party...but I'm sure you're sharp enough to figure out that I gave the blog a bit of a makeover. It's a new year...I'm blogging more...I needed a fresh start I guess. I wanted to clean things up a bit...put some "air" around the details and such. I think this new look is much more me... more "us"...
But what good is a new party dress without a party?! I didn't want to be all dressed up with no place to go! So as promised...new year, new blog, new energy...lot's more fun, creating...and lots more FRIENDS! Me and Aaron may be closed up in our Jersey shore apartment but I swore I'd use this blog to connect and re-connect with all the great peeps out there who make my world go round (yourself included dear reader!) So without further ado...I'm thrilled to announce:

The Everyday is a Holiday Design Team!!!!

well wait, I guess there is gonna be a tiny bit more ado before I list the names, but would you expect any less from me? The Superfluous Wonder...The Over Explainer from the East!... let me explain...

Me and Aaron absolutely Love teaching...and we love putting our design elements in the hands of other crafters /artists...of all different skill levels. When teaching a class (I know it seems like cheating) ...it's sooo cool to learn from the students! It's sooo cool when you put your designs in the hands of other creative people and they totally flip the script and do stuff with your stuff that you never dreamed of. That's why we really love designing kits and sending those off into the arts & crafty world. Here are some blasts from the past...you may remember them...you may own them...

Our Springtime Greeting kit...Wow, we really loved this one! And a lot of other peeps did too. We totally ran out of 'em in a week!



And there was Let Them Eat Cake. That one was from Silver Bella.
and our Sweet Dreams Mobile and Beaux Gateaux were both from Art Opera last year.

Well, those particular kits were all very project oriented...they all had a definitive final design in common. With super detailed step by step instructions for one final outcome. So with our new kits that we're working on we're going the other way. We really really love the idea of providing Inspiration Kits! Using our artwork as design elements in a project of your very own. Our hand painted papers, patterns, imagery... All for use in any which way...Our stuff as a medium in YOUR artwork. The possibilities are endless...whether Art Journaling is your thing...or Collage...Assemblages...Scrapbook Layouts...Greeting Cards...Paper Craft...Sculpture...etc...

We just have so so many ideas!!! But I don't want to give away too much right at the outset. We're working hard on Inspiration Kit # 1. Which will then find it's way into the gifted hands of our brand new Everyday is a Holiday Design Team!!

Ok, are you ready for this amazing line-up:

(click names to visit blogs)


Jenn Hayslip

Natalea Kandefer

Mary Holcomb

Kari Ramstrom

Chelsea Ling

Elizabeth Andrus


Aaron and I are just soooo excited!! It's an idea we've been baking for a while and now was just the right time to get it out of the oven! Each of these ladies possess a big dose of Magic...all are uniquely creative... super stylish stylists... and all around Elite Aesthetes. If you don't already know them...now's the time to go visit their blogs.

So thrilled to put our art in their hands to see what happens! They are sure to dazzle & inspire!

I'll share more specifics with you guys very soon! I just couldn't keep this to myself.

In the next few posts I'll be highlighting each and every one of these fab ladies so you get to know them and their style beforehand.

And first on the list is a great friend from the Beautiful South:




Jenn Hayslip of Eye Candy Creations



(Jenn completely transformed this table & chair set into a dream like tea party! We love what she did with our designs!)

Here is a little bit about Jenn:

Fanciful and whimsical is what best describes Jennifer Hayslip's assemblage creations. Jennifer is a self taught altered assemblage artist that enjoys creating vintage inspired 3D collages and paper arts. She loves collecting and creating with vintage found objects, and putting lots of charming details into every piece. Jennifer also has a passion for decorating and hosting art workshop events. Her home and her artwork have been published in several publications including Romantic Homes, Romantic Country, Artful Blogging, somerset Life, and more.


We've been online friends with Jenn for a long long time and we were lucky enough to spend some time with her in our class at Silver Bella... AND she actually took a vacation to the Jersey Shore and me, Aar, my Sis, Jenn & her husband Curtis, and some other friends met up for dinner and had a smashingly great night! I LOVE breaking the fourth wall of online friendships and hanging out for real! Jenn really is as sweet as her artwork looks...I know that sounds too easy to say...but in her case it's absolutely true! I am so so excited to have her on the team!!


Alright, I'm glad I could share the exciting news of all the fun that's on the way. Again, I'll be back soon with some more details and up close and personal info about the other Design Team members. Thanks so much again for stopping in. Love you guys! xoxo, Jenny