April Showers & Advice.

Thanks so much you guys for filling out the survey! (I'm going to have it open until Monday, so come on over if you haven't filled it out.)

So many great suggestions, so thank you!

Some of you suggested I offer a discount for the "Month-by-Month" prints in the month that we're in!

Brilliant.

Every Month I'll be offering the corresponding print 25% off ($17.50).

So, welcome April. We're a little late. But better late than never!

(And a little about this print: It's perfectly easy to take the text off the print as well as to make it an standard 8x10 size. Just mention it in your order!)

*And if you are in Utah this weekend, please swing by the BIJOU MARKET. I'm slashing away tons of stuff: Framed prints, Frames, and lots, lots more!

Take this short survey & get free stuff

Hello! Wow...thanks for all the love on the puppet theater! It was seriously so fun to make and the kids are still playing. Addie has been making the wolf do ballet moves for a couple days now. Love it.

On a more personal level, I've been really interested in making this blog and my shop....what's the word? MORE. More useful, more resourceful, more colorful, more happy. The past few years have been so awesome as I've rather blindly carved out an accidental career for myself. And I really would love your feedback so I can get a better sense of who you are, and what you are liking and wanting to see more of. Would you be willing to take this (very short!) survey? I think there are under 10 questions, and a place for you to leave anonymous feedback with what ever you want to say! I really would love you know your thoughts. For instance, hearing so many of you thrilled about  these PDF Downloads, and how you'd like to do more of these things at home was really telling for me....thank you! So be specific in your feedback....I really read it all!

At the end of the survey, there is a code for a BUY ONE GET ONE FREE coupon to my shop. Yep...purchase just one item, and get a second item of the same price or less for free! I don't ever think I've done that before:) But don't worry...the nice thing is that you can use the coupon through July (since I plan on adding more stuff for you through the spring!)

Ok, so be my friend, and take a small survey. I know we're all busy people here, so I'm signing off now instead of making you read a long blog post. Can you believe it? Not even a picture in the post. That's how serious I am:)

CLICK HERE for the survey.

Thanks a million.....

xo

sarah jane

{SURVEY IS CLOSED. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!}

Peter and the Wolf Puppet Theater

This weekend was snowy (Bleh!). Friday was 72 degrees, and we were enjoying every second of it. Then a good 5 inches of snow dropped on us, and we've been bundled up in the house all weekend.

Spring, and I tend to forget this every year, is like that. You never know when those 'inside' days are going to hit. And I wanted to have some fun.

So, I made a puppet theater for the kids. And it was so much fun to make, I've decided to post it here so you can play too!

Peter and the Wolf is a long time favorite in our house. I grew up listening to the record and my husband, who is 1/4 Russian himself, grew up the same way. Our children were listening to this story before they could even talk! It's just such a classic. You know the music, right?

In case you are unfamiliar, Serge Prokofiev wrote Peter and the Wolf (the first symphony for children by the way) in 1936. It's a narrative symphony about a boy (Peter) and his animals as they encounter a wolf from the nearby woods. Here's a fantastic 1941 recording for you.

Peter and the Wolf Recording with Basil Rathbone (22 minutes)

The story goes like this:

One day, Peter opens his gate to play out in the meadow beyond his house. He meets a bird, and soon his duck and cat come to join in the play.

He comes back inside and his Grandfather scolds him for leaving because beyond the meadow are woods filled with wolves (just like a Russian Grandfather would).

Grandfather locks the gate and tells him to never go out there again. But, Peter paid no attention. "Boys like Peter are not afraid of Wolves."

Peter is inside the gate, but his friends, the bird, cat and duck are still out by the pond. The wolf swallows up the duck in one big gulp and goes after the cat and the bird who are up in a tree.

Peter gets a rope and climbs over the gate and into the tree where he ties up the wolf and catches him.

A hunter comes and sees the wolf and is about to shoot when Peter cries out that he has caught the wolf. They tie up the wolf and take him to the nearby zoo.

In the story, the duck is still alive inside the wolf's belly as they parade heroically to the zoo....and our version, we like to say that the wolf spits up the duck and they all parade together.

And that's the story! But the music is what makes it. I can't get it out of my head. And it's so good for children!

Last Christmas, my husband's parents made us an incredible hand carved collection with all the characters and the book and CD in a hand painted wooden box. We have spent the past year acting out this story at least once a month. The children listen to it over and over again, using the characters to follow the musically narrated story. It's been such amazing play for the kids, I've wanted to do something similar for YOU! But I've not been able to come up with how to do that. I nearly came up with a paper doll version, but it didn't seem to be as fun.

But with paper puppets, the body parts move....and can be played with even outside the stage. Hours of fun.

So here's what you need:

A Paper Stage:

This is a FREE download in hopes that you can use it for more than just Peter and the Wolf. You can cut it out and fit it to any kind of box, but a cereal box works great. The stage is very close to a full size sheet of USA standard paper (8.5 x 11 inches). So find a cereal box that works with that size. The crown of the proscenium is easy to tape on, or even better, fasten on with brads so you can change it out and replace it with others that title the performance.

Download the Stage HERE.

Peter and the Wolf Characters:

I debated on this one....I wanted to make it completely cost free, but since it is rather elaborate, I'm charging just a small fee: $5.50 for the entire set. I plan on making more stories, some of which will be more simple will be a free download.

You can purchase the full PETER AND THE WOLF set HERE.

Other Household Supplies:

Cereal box

Scissors

Tape

String

Small brads (these are used for scrapbooking and are smaller than normal brads used for school or office. You'll find them in any craft store that sells scrapbook materials).

Safety pin (to pre-poke holes before fastening with brads)

Sticks for puppeting These are found at any craft store, wooden skewers used for barbequeing work as well. Popscicle sticks are going to be too wide, so don't try.

MUSIC:

The Disney animated classic can be viewed on You Tube HERE.

Another favorite version is here, but there are lots more.

But feel free to LISTEN OFF THE BLOG for free whenever you want. (It's not the best recording out there, but it is the best FREE recording out there. But the voice of Basil Rathbone? Fantastic!)

So there you go! I really hope you like it....in fact, I'd LOVE your feed back on this one. Please comment and tell me your thoughts....I have been wanting to add this kind of thing to my shop/blog for a long time.

Is this something you'd like to see more of?

Can you think of other favorite (copyright free) stories that you'd like to have characters of?

Would you prefer a PDF download, or a KIT with all supplies included that you can purchase and have mailed to you?

I can see this as a collection you can keep adding too....some with just black and white print outs that children can color themselves, some more elaborate and entertaining.

I'd love to know what you think! I can't think of anything out there quite like this....so spread the word and we'll see if I can't get more little "performances" put together. It's the perfect creative play, and I can promise you it's going to be a big hit at your house. Tell me how it goes!

Do you Bijou?

Ok! Save the date!

If you are going to be in Utah on April 8th & 9th, swing by the Bijou Market. I haven't done a market it possibly 2 years, and I may not do another for a while....

We're selling art and stationery (and frames to go with!) at a huge discount, so if you've been dying to get your hands on something, now's the time.

Have a print you're wanting to get? Mention it in the comments and we'll be sure to have it available.

Happy Monday!

xo

sarah

Penpal from the Netherlands.

Thanks for all the Amsterdam and Paris love you guys! These are continuing to be so fun to illustrate.

Speaking of the Amsterdam and the Netherlands....

A few years back, I fell in love with something I just couldn't have.

I thought maybe I only loved it because I couldn't have it. But then, I found a e-friend who lived in the netherlands who was willing to send me a copy of it and....I loved it.

Ariadne at home is a popular magazine in the Netherlands....kind of like a Better homes and Gardens Magazine, or a Domino Magazine. All Dutch interiors. But they also have a Children's magazine that is delightful: Ariadne at Home-Kinderen. (Don't you love that word? Kinderen? I am telling you. I will learn Dutch someday.) But you can't get it sent to the states!

So when Nicole of Follow the White Bunny (ETSY embroidery designer in the Netherlands) offered to send me a copy, I was so thrilled! And look what she sent me along with it! Some dutch fabrics and ribbon, and a fun illustrated card. There is just something about getting something from a penpal that makes opening it feel like Christmas Morning.

But the magazine is full of such fun ideas and colors for children. I love the creativity invested....it just has it's own flair, and I love that it's not tainted by American branding. They do their own thing, and I get so inspired by that.

Anyways, thanks Nicole! I have sent her some "american" goods, but they just don't seem as wonderful, that's for sure:)

How about you? Have you ever thought of having a penpal? Try it. It's sure to please.

Ah, Paris!

Paris!

It's here.....the long awaited Paris print that I promised was next in line for the Children Around the World Series. Oh ya, remember that? I finally finished it!

So many of you have been waiting on this one....I am so sorry for how long it's taken me to get it done. Truth is, December came, and I was in the throws of making fabric deadlines. During art sessions, I'd work up drafts of this, and nothing satisfied me!

To be honest, I felt a lot of pressure....It's Paris, come on! So many people have their own experiences with this city, as do I, and I just couldn't seem to find it's essence in a way that would get across as much as possible in as little as possible.

There's the romance, the food, the sounds when you are walking through the park. There is the vintage and almost feminine charm. What about the colors? Those neutral blues of the rooftops against a pink Paris sky. Paris is sassy, but charming and old school all at the same time. I wanted Hot Air Balloons....mimes....children in the streets....accordian players....flowers....checkered table clothes....painted sidewalks.....How to say it all?

Well, I couldn't say it all...nor did I want to. Instead, I focussed on a feeling that most people have while they are there....and I can't really put it into words (thus my art) but it has something to do with a romantic feeling that you can do anything. You can go anywhere, love any way you want to and live by your senses.  You know that feeling when you are walking through Paris at dusk, and there is that gentle breeze through the streets that makes you just want to keep on walking forever? Notice every flower in the window? Every different kind of lamppost?

But somehow, in the details of this amazing city, you are compelled to pay more attention to what's right in front of you...most often a best friend, a lover, a soul mate. It truly is the city of love. I am sure many of you can say that Paris made a lover out of you. It did for me! And my first time was before I even had a ring on my finger.

But with that romantic notion, comes the thought that Paris is a marvelous place, of course. But unlike most places in the world, Paris is also an idea. A really good idea. There is something that we've all captured for ourselves in the "idea" of Paris, and so...to capture the fact that for most of us, Paris a really special memory (or place we hope to have memories of some day) I've made this print on the cover of an Airmail Envelope...kinda like a postcard ....which is the way most of us know Paris. A snapshot, if you will.  For those of us who don't live in France, I think we can all say with Audrey Hepburn: "Paris is always a good idea."

paris closeup
paris closeup

And so here's my tribute to Paris. Something sweet. Something wonderful. Something to remember.

In the shop here. A long with Tokyo, London & Amsterdam.

à plus tard!

xo

sarah

Amsterdam.

Two in one!

So, Amsterdam. I have only been there once, and it was a short trip. Just a couple of days. But I loved it. I love the Netherlands, and while I could have spent most of my time in the country, I really love the intimate feel of the city.

And like you, I mostly just love the bikes. Wow. I've never seen such art...bikes and trams and cars all working together (and nearly running over eachother!) But it's gorgeous to watch and be in. I've never seen so many people cycling in one setting...it made me really wish that Americans could adopt that culture a bit better. It does help that Amsterdam is all below sea level and flat.  Too bad I live at the top of a really steep hill...but hey...i'd have much sexier calves, that's for sure.

children around the world 4
children around the world 4

So, now we have four fantastic cities in the shop! You'll notice that they are all a bit different...so if you are collecting these, please don't expect them all to match. (Since when was the world matchy-matchy?) But do expect them to look superb all together.

Click here for the shop.

There is more coming. I plan on doing 12 cities around the world. You can read about it more here. Enjoy!

I'm really getting the travel itch, you?