Junk in the Trunk - Market Style!

We Are headed to Minnesota! My mom, 10 week baby Harrison, and I are packing up our aprons and heading to Minnesota to the Junk in the Trunk, Market Style Show! This is going to be so much fun! Here is some more information about the show:

Mudd Lake Furniture Co.

Junk in the Trunk

July 22 – 23, 2011

Watertown, MN

What is Junk in the Trunk?

Style and junk merchandiser, Ken O’Brien, is assembling a cast of more than 40 artists and “junk” vendors to sell “junk in the trunk”…it’s a little play on words.

• Artists and “junk vendors will be selling their wares literally out of their “trunk”. You can expect local art, fine craft, along with vintage finds, one-of-a-kinds and artisan-repurposed goods.

• This event is “Junk Market Style” APPROVED!

• You will also enjoy great food and music throughout the weekend.

About Mudd Lake Furniture Co.

Mudd Lake Furniture Co. is located just 25 miles west of the Twin Cities, Mudd Lake Furniture is a unique home décor destination with an assortment of eclectic imports and eccentric finds. Set on a picturesque lake farm, Mudd Lake Furniture is owned by a former NFL football player, Bob Kratch. Mudd Lake Furniture Co. has been a Retail Escape/Destination for more than 14 years.

When you visit Mudd Lake Furniture you’ll find a bohemian blend of European imports, accessories, artwork, fixtures, Furniture and of course, flea market finds remodeled by a little paint and a lot of love to create affordable heirlooms to make Bob’s mother proud!

Bob is dedicated to helping you define your lifestyle with inspiration. Come explore Mudd Lake Furniture, a gem of a place just west of the Twin Cities.

“Junk in the Trunk” will be set on Mudd Lake Furniture Co.’s Picturesque lake farm.

About Ken O’Brien – “Who Knew?”

Who Knew is Ken’s side biz. It stemmed from people he would work with that didn’t really know or understand his creative background: “Who knew you could do that?” “Who knew you knew how to do that?” Who knew you…” He loves it! He lives it! It’s where he lives in a world that is visual, creative, design driven and sheer bliss. It is where anyone that needs anything creative “By Ken”, does. He stages, decorates, consults, wardrobes, shops, organizes, hosts, curates, promotes, reps, makes jewelry, makes lamps, creates, markets and is truly creative force.

When Ken’s not at his day job, he is at Mudd Lake Furniture doing staging/visuals, organizing and/or curating art events, working with Sue Whitney side by side at the “Junk Market/Flea Market Under Glass” creating amazing things.

**Some other exciting things this week for Queen of the House of Boys: We have been linked on Facebook by Annie & Isabel...if you haven't joined their Facebook page yet, you should! Also, our Fancy Apron & Custom Creation business, J&J Inspirations, has been featured on "The Iowa Housewife" blog this week!  What an exciting week for us!

Junk Market Style Approved Vendor Show!

We are headed to Minnesota! Remember when I went to Mudd Lake? You can also read about my first trip here. Mudd Lake Furniture is this completely awesome antique furniture store which is owned and ran by Bob Kratch, ex-NFL player! Well...I literally dreamt of living in that store for a good month after that trip...and since I just bought a new house triple the size of my last house...daydreams of returning soon have been in my mind. Not that I needed a reason...but now I have an awesome reason! Mudd Lake is holding a "Junk in the Trunk" show July 22nd through 24th! This event is "Junk Market Style" approved. What does being Junk Market Approved mean?? Well..it means that this junk vendor show is going to be phenomenol and kinda big deal in the world of antiques and "junk". Not only am I going to be attending and shopping...we...J & J Inspirations...will be selling our aprons there!

Check out Mudd Lake Furniture's official website and also join their Facebook page! You are sure to be instantly inspired! Oh, and if you go to their website...you will see my arm in an orange sweater on the main page! ha!

This is definitely NOT your average junk show and definitely not something you will want to miss!

If you would like to tell your friends about the show, feel free to share the flier on your blog! Just be sure to link back and tell us if you do!

**disclaimer...I understand there are an excessive amount of exclamation points in this post...I do not apologize because I really can't convey to you how excited I am without them...and trust me...I held back, I could have used more!**

Sale!!!!!

J&J Inspirations is having a Presidents Day Sale!

Just enter the coupon code: PresDaySale upon checking out and you will receive 15% off of your order!

Fancy Aprons & Custom Creations

Happy shopping!

If you all would be so kind to share this sale with your friends...we would so greatly appreciate it!

Here is a twitter message for you to send:

www.jandjinspirations.com Fancy Aprons & Custom Creations! 15% off sale from today to Tuesday. Coupon code: PresDaySale

From 5 to 55!

Woah! I remember when I was excited to have 5 followers...now I have 55! That is exciting! I love connecting with new people! I love hearing and seeing how other people live! Since I do have several new people following my blog now...I just wanted to take a minute to remind you all that I also have another website!

My mother & I started J&J Inspirations back in June. We make fancy aprons and custom creations.

My mother has been sewing since her early teen years, and her seamstress skills are top notch! The detailing she puts into her sewing is brilliant. I, on the other hand, haven't totally received the golden sewing touch..but I HAVE received the shopping and designing touch. I love looking for and buying new fabrics. I LOVE the smell of a fabric store! So I do the buying and matching up of fabrics and assigning what design to what fabric...and my mama does the sewing, which to me is the biggest job of all! While we do have several aprons on our website, we have even more listed on our Facebook page.

And last but not least...we do custom orders! See a design you like but would prefer in a different fabric?? We can create something custom just for you!

Aprons make the most wonderful gift! Whether its Christmas, birthday, Valentine's day...anything! We make women's, mens, and childrens aprons. Men LOVE to wear our aprons tailgating or hosting their barbeque's. Children love to dress up like mom and dad...we can make matching aprons for the little ones!

We are certified through Paypal!

Why did we start the business? Because after being home for a while, you start looking for something more. Something out of the every day ordinary. Something that makes you feel like you are using your creative intelligence for something more than laundry and family meals. We love to create things, and nothing beats seeing the look on a customers face who has just fallen in love with something you have put your heart and soul into!

Thank you for joining my blog. Thank you for following our handmade business! We appreciate each and every one of you!



Where are they?

Where are they? Can you tell? James & Xavier went on a road trip. The kind where you just get in the car and start driving...no direction in mind...no plans of any particular kind...no schedule. Just get in the car and go. They ended up here:

Must have been something fun and "boyish" to get my son to genuinely smile like this:

Topic of their discussions: "Mom would freak if she were here with us!"

And they are probably right.

So where are they? And why is there a random polka dot turquoise bench in the middle of this little town?

Oh, and don't forget to stop over at my other blog for J&J Inspirations. There are changes taking place...and the ability to purchase online should be something of a reality in the near future!

Fancy Friday-Black & White

Did you know that my mother and I have a business? It is called J&J Inspirations....and we are so official that we have our own Facebook page! Cause after all....a business isn't official until you have made it big on Facebook...right? ;o)

This is Fancy Friday! The theme this week is "Black & White"! I love black and white photos...and I just LOVE these new black and white aprons that my mom has made with my designs!

We haven't made or designed the apron for this cute black and white owl fabric yet. I can't wait!

If you would like to see all the photos of aprons we have completed, make sure to check out and join our Facebook page!

Here are a couple other of my favorite black and white entries:

The above collage is hanging on our wall on stand out photo printed on metallic photo paper. I will get all of our photos that go on our walls printed on the metallic paper...it brings the colors out so vibrantly!

I hope you have enjoyed my version of Fancy Friday...Black & White edition. Head on over to Love Feast Table to visit the original Fancy Friday creators and join in on the fun!

J&J Inspirations...in the beginning

In the beginning...there was a vision...that all started from a Blog Frog discussion on Mckmama's forum.

Do you know what all this is? Inspiration! My mom and I have decided to go into business together! This is the beginning of:

J&J Inspirations

We will have a plethora of products, but our first mastering will be aprons. Aprons of all kinds! We have 22 different fabrics here to start with. Should be able to make 40 or so aprons to start. My mom is a seamstress, woodworker...basically you name it she can make it! I have crafty/artistic skills as well, and am helping with the design of the aprons and probably some cutting, but as of right now I do not know how to sew anything but a measly pillow.

Do you see anything that catches your eye?

Do you currently wear aprons?

Do you have a craft or pastime you enjoy doing?

This toile fabric...well...it's mine! I will be re-upholstering my dining room chairs! I am so excited. I have wanted to do this for 6 years!