Holiday Decorating through the Ages!

Grandmother Lillian and her village.

I posted this story originally in 2014… Enjoy!

Holiday Decorating through the Generations!

The "Holiday Season" is upon us and in one week I will start decorating the house. 

 One of my favorite things to do! 

I come from a long line of decorators!  Generation after generation.  The photo above shows my Grandmother Lillian proudly standing next to her Christmas Village!  It took her well over a week to place it all together and we were all invited for the annual debut! My brother and I just loved it and would create stories about the all the figurines.  

The village was so meticulous and the attention to detail was fantastic!

My Mother was also an avid decorator.  She created many hand made ornaments and designed projects for us kids to work with her.  From paper mache projects to creating ornaments out of yarn.

Our Christmas tree was a work of art year after year.

I remember the year when my Mother hid elves and other characters throughout our rooms that we had to find!  It was always fun to find where she had placed them.  One year she gave me a "Santa Christmas" paper doll book.  The book was filled with elves and different characters.  

When I first moved out on my own it became my very first holiday decor item!

  I still have it today!

The book unfolded into a world of Christmas Magic! 

As the years went by I of course developed my own ideas for "Christmas Decorating".

However I never forgot where my love for it began!

Over the next few weeks I will share with you some of my decor ideas over my adult life!

"Happy Decorating" with your family!

Have a WONDERFUL Season!

Your Artist Friend,

Jennifer Lake

                                                   

 

The Great Pumpkin!

It’s the Great Pumpkin Week!

What a Joy! My First Pumpkin!

I cannot believe at my age to have raised your first pumpkin!

The Art Gallery Garden brought visitors from all over.

They all wanted to see Jennifer’s Great Pumpkin!

Amazing why? The Art Gallery is located at close to 5000 feet!

Who knew you grow pumpkins here! 

I hung the pumpkin up on the fence to see if it would survive…and it did!

 Weighing in at 12 pounds!  I was pleased! 

The pumpkin is called a Peanut Pumpkin and the seeds were a gift from my friend Miranda Fann from Oklahoma. We traded seeds this year from each of our gardens. Needless to say I had know idea what an amazing gardener she was until the day a box of seeds arrived!

She sent me seeds that I had never heard of. Heirloom Seeds! Everything from unique tomatoes to red beans!

 I instantly went to work planting many of them. 

The garden was truly fabulous this year!

The pumpkin inspired me to create New Products with a Halloween theme for the “Ms. Elizabeth Store”. 

All of the products have a vintage theme and are designed for everyone!

You can view them here:

https://www.zazzle.com/store/mselizabethdayoff/products?st=date_created

Here are a few photos from the Art Gallery Garden 2023!

Have a beautiful fall!

Your Artist Friend,

Jennifer Lake

Fall is in the Air! And Love!

“Fox Love”

Fall is in the air and so is “Fox Love”. The delightful painting was created near the Powder River in North Eastern Oregon.

 I think the painting is a feast of color and minute detail that captivates the eye. All my paintings tell stories. 
Mr. Fox was strolling along the Powder River and came upon a beautiful site. He discovered A  pretty fox on the other side of the river sleeping in the sun! “Oh what a beauty”, he thought. Note his giant smile on his face. She has Amazing eyelashes.

 The Fall Tamarack Pines are in their full golden yellow along with the bright red twig dogwood. 

What a site! So next time your near the river…look closely for “Fox Love”.
The original of “Fox Love” is currently for sale.

 You can enjoy more of my  Artwork by following me  on social media here: jenniferlakeart.blogspot.com.

https://jennifer-lake.pixels.com/featured/fox-love-jennifer-lake.html

 

Enjoy Fall Everyone!

Maybe You will also find Love in the Process!

Your Artist Friend,

Jennifer Lake

A Summer Wren Song!

Sketchbook Wednesday!

 It’s Sketchbook Wednesday! 

A happy little wren sings it’s “Summer Song” among the sunflowers. 

I hope you are enjoying your summer and my sketchbook series. 

The sketchbook allows me to create quick images with pencil, inks and colored pencils.

 A lot of the images are created in the field while hiking. 

Check out the entire collection thus far here:

https://jennifer-lake.pixels.com/collections/jennifer+lakes+sketchbook

Have a Fantastic Fourth of July🇺🇸❤️🇺🇸

 

 

Summer Puzzle Sale!

Over 300 to Choose!

Good Morning America! “You Puzzle Me”!❤️🇺🇸❤️👩🏻‍🎨🎨

Use DISCOUNT CODE: UXVGML

https://jennifer-lake.pixels.com/shop/puzzles

 

Summer Yellow!

Summer Yellow!

The Iris’s are blooming in the art gallery garden!

So Gorgeous.

A beautiful color combination of orange and bronze.

You could easily design an entire room with these color combinations.

I always look at nature for color ideas for interior or exterior design. 

Summer is in full swing here. 

The vegetable garden is filled with pumpkins, squash, runner beans, tomatoes, lettuces, etc. 

The greenhouse is filled with an array of plants!

My friend Miranda Fann from Oklahoma sent me seeds from her amazing gardens.

A wide variety of exotic seeds. 

The garden will be very interesting this year. 

I will post more photos shortly!

Have a Fantastic Day!

Your Artist Friend,

Jennifer 

 

 

Happy Mother’s Day!

Happy Mother’s Day!

Katherine Lake...My Mom!

What a “Special Day!

Congratulations to “All Mom’s Everywhere!”

I was very blessed to have been raised by one of the most 

fascinating woman I have ever known.

Katherine Lake’s life has definitely been lived!

Her diverse interests in the world provided me a lifetime filled with curiosity.

I can honestly say...”Most of what I learned about life...came from her”.

Her art career has spanned over 70 years and includes working with
some of the largest department stores in the United States as an Advertising Art Illustrator.

She received her first degree in Arts at Michigan State University and when onto
receive her MA in Educational Administration and the Fine Arts.
Many of my friends had my Mother as their educator.
Later, she went on to design spec homes, grocery stores, and remodeling historic homes.

Her life was also filled with raising four children.

 Amy, Melissa, Michael and myself and we now have children of our own.

 All of them are living all over the globe.

In 1979 she started with my father (the love of her life) the “American Bird Galleries”.
Located in New York, Florida and North Carolina.

They launched my art career at their art gallery in NY.
In 1993 they semi retired to the foothills of Northern Georgia.
Two years ago at the age of 89…they completed their last art show.

They now are enjoying their peaceful life.
My Mother has had many other interests over the years.
I asked her once how did she manage it all?
“Organization and simply being fascinated by the World” she responded.
I honor her legacy, talent, creativity, teachings and LOVE & Friendship!
Happy Mother’s Day!
🌸🌼🌸

Easter Basket of Fun!

Easter Fun!

Looking for fun things to create with your family?

Visit  “My Easter Basket of Ideas” 

Pinterest Page!

Crafting, Sewing, Cooking and Art!

Enjoy!

                                                                                 https://pin.it/XQjMjr8

 

 Happy Hoppy Spring!

What a snowy winter this has been! 

I am so happy to see the arrival of Spring! Aren’t you?

I created several new spring designs just for my clients. 

I hope they will add some cheer to your lives.

The new products are filled with lots of color and whimsy.

Here are just a few!

All the products here are located in all the stores!

If you need assistance just message and I will be glad to help!

Have a Fantastic Day!

Your Artist Friend,

Jennifer Lake