A little seasonal paint job...

So I don't always just work on my computer! Sometimes I actually paint stuff too! I painted the snowman theme and deer for Christmas at my son's school  (I've been going along with the seasons. I started with a big yellow bus, some flowers and fun stuff to start the school year) then I did a fall theme with pumpkins on a white picket fence and a cute scarecrow. I knew that I could keep snowmen around for several months  (we are in northern michigan lol) so I erased the trees, presents, bulbs and garland greenery,and replaced them with hearts and twine!

Hope this brings you a smile! :) the kids love it~and my boys are so proud that mom is a "well known artist" haha
I hope it teaches them to use their own gifts to serve their communities and inspire others.

Jen

Online market for AFK brand and other children's design...

I've been operating on Etsy for a long time...six years now! I can't tell you how rewarding it is to be able to do what I love in my pretty office (at home) I truly feel lucky. I know that sounds cheesy right? Right now your like " whatever b----!" Lol but seriously if I made more money it would be ALOT cooler!!! Hahaha...I've been dreaming about having a retail shop and studio for literally EVER! So now the time is right to make my move. Right here on our property is a small house we've been abusing and using for storage and such. It's long been my plan to renovate this little gem and transform it into a retail shop where I can sell my work and other related home goods and have a place where people can find me to do custom things and help them with their decorating needs! So I'm happy to say the journey has begun. Check back periodically on the AFK blog or 13101 blog for updates on The Summerhouse project!

The Summerhouse project...

Working on lots of stuff...nursery art is going out and canvas pieces are coming in, along with pillows and other goodies for my retail business The Summerhouse! It will feature art and textiles under my children's brand  Area Fare Kids...as well as painted furniture, rugs from Dash & Albert, Surya and The Rug Market, home accessories items, lamps, florals, art, cards, wallpaper, textiles and lots more! Coming in June 2016!

Check the blog on our progress here...

Thesummerhouse13101.blogspot.com

Thanks
Jen ♡

The passing of fall and what lies ahead...

I love fall. Have I mentioned that before? Oh, I'm sure I have! We live in Northern Michigan and the spectacular colors have passed their peak and I'm sad about that. However, now I'm starting to receive all the Christmas catalogs from Ballard, Land of Nod (my fave), Pottery Barn and a host of others so I'm feeling like I have something to look forward too as far as decorating goes! This year they are filled to the brim with little woodland creatures as holiday decor~or that stuff is just catching my eye for some reason. I've already decided to decorate the tree with cute plushy foxes, squirrels, acorns and of course owls! You can't go wrong with a bit of owl here and there right? Anyway I was inspired to create this little barn owl art this afternoon as part of a collection I'm featuring in my home. What do think? Maybe he'll just end up in my Etsy shop too one of these days! Happy Fall and beyond....

STARRY NITE BARN OWL~AREA FARE KIDS  JEN SNYDER

custom crib bedding on Etsy...

Oh my gorgeous! Check out these super cute patterns for crib bedding from Lil Slumber on Etsy... Buy premade sets or customize your own....it's love!

customize your crib...

adorable!

can't go wrong with this color palette for a boy or a girl...

this one has a mid century modern feel

awww~nautical theme

 

rugs with graphic punch...

Ok~I'm nutty over rugs! I'm not quite sure why but I just love a great big colorful statement piece underfoot. It's amazing how the right rug can change the look of a room or pull it all together for that finished look!

Check out these lovelies with a little graphic punch from Xavier & Me...

pretty right~HOT SPRINGS OMBRE $835

Can't go wrong with Chevron~ CHEVRON STRIPE $730

COASTAL STRIPE $705

SOUTH BEACH STRIPE $705

Imagine this in a little boys room...TARTAN $750

HOT SPRINGS

RECIPES FOR THE KIDS...

Today I'm sharing a recipe that I found over at the blog High Heels and Grills~ Sarah and Zachary's blog is super user friendly with tons of great recipes the whole family will love! These are sure to be a hit with my first grader and his class this Halloween! 

LOVE...

Ingredients:
Cookies:

• 1/2 cup salted butter, softened
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 and 1/2 Tbsp. sour cream
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 2 and 1/2 cups bread flour (or all-purpose flour is fine)
• 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• Orange and yellow food coloring

Frosting:

• 4 cups confectioner's sugar
• 1/2 cup salted butter, softened
• 1/4 cup half & half
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract {I used clear vanilla, so the frosting would be more white, but any kind works}
• A pinch of salt

Directions:

1. FOR THE COOKIES: Preheat oven to 375°F and grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
2. In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
3. Add egg and combine well.
4. Add sour cream and vanilla and mix until completely blended.
5. In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt. 
6. Slowly add the flour mixture to the wet mixture and stir until well combined.
7. Separate the dough into two equal parts and color one half of the parts orange and the other part yellow.
8. Press the yellow batter into the greased baking dish and spread out to the edges with your hands. {If you butter your hands, this will help with the stickiness. Also, it may seem like it's not going to cover the bottom of the pan, but don't worry, it will.}
9. Spread the orange batter over the yellow batter evenly. {I found it was easier to roll the orange dough out a little with a rolling pin before putting it on the yellow batter.}
10. After it's all spread out and ready to go, bake it for 17-20 minutes, or until edges become lightly golden.
11. Set aside to cool completely.
12. FOR THE FROSTING: In a medium bowl, cream powdered sugar, butter and half and half until light and fluffy.
13. Stir in vanilla and salt and combine well.
14. Frost your cooled cookie bars evenly.
15. Cut into triangles and serve.

Cuties from the Etsy universe...

how cute are these kids infinity scarves from the Etsy shop Poncho Dean...

giveaway from Area Fare Kids...

There's still time left to enter the contest to win any 8x10 print from my Etsy shop Area Fare Kids. Just head over to Sarah's lovely blog~Just the Bee's Knee's to enter until Thursday March 7th (psst that's tomorrow so don't wait) Don't forget to check out her blog too-she has great little DIY tutorials regarding decorating and sewing-you'll love it!

Jen

MLB LA ANGELS ABC...CUSTOM TEAMS ALWAYS AVAILABLE FOR NO EXTRA CHARGE!

HOCKEY ABC'S...

DECORATE YOUR NURSERY WITH YOUR FAVORITE NHL TEAM FOR YOUR FAVORITE LITTLE FAN! CUSTOMIZE YOUR ABC FREE!

NHL ABC'S FROM AREA FARE KIDS