jules and juniper

The inaugural seersucker social was held this past Saturday at Hillwood Museum and Gardens not far from my home in Mt. Pleasant. I wore a 50’s straw hat, seersicker camisole, vintage high-waisted eyelet skirt, harachi (sp?) sandals, lace gloves, a vintage stule necklace I made the day of and a straw handbag covered in colorful flowers. Sean dressed up his summertime cutoffs and t-shirt with a foulard from the Shakespeare Theater Company costume sale, vintage brooch from my collection and a vintage silk flower pinned to his pocket. For all the effort I put in to my outfit, he got just as many compliments on his…!

We passed the leisurely afternoon with friends, including illustrator, Elizabeth Graeber, vintage and style expert, Mia Gipson and fashion blogger, Lora Reuther. Please visit Lora’s blog  to see her two lovely posts on the day. And here’s a photo taken by Lora’s boyfriend on the lawn of Hillwood. My pics will be coming very soon….

Lora, Mia and Me!

At least that’s what my office mate wrote in my birthday card… Yes, I turned 28 on Tuesday and I will continue to celebrate this momentous occasion with a week of birthday magical events.

Tuesday night, close friends came to my house for a “house” dinner turned birthday gathering. Pictures will come later, but for now just keep in mind that it looked something like this…

…except that the cake was a paleo carrot cake that Lindsay made especially for me (yummy), and Chris Chen was the only one dressed so formally (Matt Hemerlein came pretty close).

Yesterday was dinner at Kramer’s Afterwords, one of my favorite restaurants in DC. I reconnected with a great friend and enjoyed a paleo friendly meal, no dessert (go me!). Thanks Rayhan, you are the bestest.

Tonight, I am going to see Avatar (finally!) in IMAX, no less. Ronald is calling this my “birf week” movie. And so it is, and we shall have a wonderful time geeking out to scifi plots and mind-boggling special effects. I should note that he has already seen this movie twice.

Saturday is the big birthday pajama party! Details here: BANANAS IN PAJAMAS!!! Elizabeth did the art for the flyer. My friends are spinning. There will be cake. People will wear pajamas. Fun will be had by all.

And for the final stretch of this birthday jubilee, family Brunch in Richmond the morning/day after my party. After which, I fully intend to look like/do this…

For the first and probably only time, I was a hair model for Salon Cielo (Dupont Circle)  and the lovely, hilarious and talented Lisa Gordon. I worked (?) the runway (?), posed and played with my hair to the delight of my friends who came out in support. It was a surprisingly educational experience and I made a great friend. Definitely ask for Lisa if you want great color and cuts that lean towards edgy/interesting, no soccer moms please. Actually, Lisa is so nice that she does soccer mom cuts too, but IMHO even soccer moms should look like models. The best part about the whole thing. I STILL run into people who remember me from the show. Hair, fashion, jewelry  - they’re all related and all things I LOVE!

you do now. :)

RSVP here.

from Time LIFE, obvs.

The Holiday Shop and Stroll is tomorrow! I’ve been prepping all week,  making heaps of new jewelry, getting lost in the work, remembering why I do what I do and why it makes me so gosh darn happy. Now if only I could get my body to do a little more…. I am SO tired (but so happy).

One more day, one more day. Then it’s big nap time and book time, I promise.

Elizabeth and I will be in booth #33! Suuuper excited for this one!

Title: Handmade Mart: Holiday Shop-n-Stroll
Location: Downtown Silver Spring, MD
Link out: Click here
Description: Handmade Mart, FRESHFARM Markets and Downtown Silver Spring are joining forces to bring a one-day holiday shopping event to Silver Spring on Saturday, December 5. More than 60 artisans and crafters will be selling their perfect-for-gift-giving handmade goods, alongside FRESHFARM Market producers and farmers who will be selling their local, seasonal produce. With an ornament-making workshop at the Pyramid Atlantic Store, ArtSpring, carolers, and the official lighting of the of the holiday tree, the Holiday Shop-n-Stroll promises to be a fun, festive event for all.
Start Time: 10 am – 3 pm
Date: 2009-12-05

Gayle is a friend of Corcoran Jewelry (my scho0l) and her studio is a lovely place for holiday shopping.

Title: Studio 4903 Holiday Show
Location: 4903 Wisconsin Ave, NW (2nd Floor)
Link out: Click here
Description: Please join us for our 3rd Annual Holiday Show!
Saturday & Sunday December 5 & 6 from 11 – 6

Jewelry: Analya Cespedes, Gayle Friedman, Mimi Masse and Katja Toporski

Fine Arts: Kate Clark, Dave Peterson and Ellyn Weiss

Accessories: Allison O’Flinn and Jean Zakotnik

Hope you can come, and do bring a friend!

4903 Wisconsin Ave, NW 2nd Floor WDC
gaylefriedman1@gmail.com
Start Date: 2009-12-05
Start Time: 11 – 6
End Date: 2009-12-06

UPDATE: Jess is sick and unable to make the event so I am staying in and prepping for the Handmade Mart instead. See you at Cake and Kisses in January!!!

Come eat some cake, give some kisses.

Title: Cake and Kisses
Location: Asylum, DC
Link out: Click here
Description:

I’ll be selling my jewelry alongside Hella Tuff vintage by Jess.

What is Cake & Kisses?
————————–
Cake & Kisses is a FREE monthly party that revolves around an “organic open mic”. The jam session is backed by a live band while the mics are opened up to any vocalists, emcees, etc who are in the venue. There is no list, the artists simply vibe off each other. Free cake & Hershey’s kisses are available at every party.

Cake & Kisses
Thursday, December 3rd
@Asylum
2471 18th St. NW
Washington, DC
ft. Substantial, Gordo Brega, D-Madness & DJ Jav
Free | 21+ | 9pm – 1:30am
Flier: (Coming soon)
Start Time: 20:00
Date: 2009-12-03
End Time: 24:00

Celebrating tonight with family and friends. If you can’t make the opening, the Exhibition runs through Dec 13.

<3,

jennifer

I’ve had plenty to be sad about over the past couple of weeks. All the adjusting has left me drained – lately I’d rather stay in bed and watch 30 Rock (thank god for 30 Rock) than be out socializing with people who all seem so much happier than me…

by lindsay <3

So,  it’s extra nice when I get to take a break from my mildly disastrous personal life to dwell in the warm glow of my successes and those of my friends. Eventually my mind wanders back to my broken heart, but always with that extra bit of energy and faith that I need to work my way back to being the happy, confident, positive and productive person I used to be.

On that note, see Lindsay’s photos from the opening at SOVA, here. The photo above is a soon to be classic “Jenn taking over the world” pose/outfit/expression.

Meet me (and hug me and high-five me) at the opening for the Corcoran CE 2009 Juried Exhibition this Thursday night (6-8 pm).  Or see the works on display from Nov 18 through Dec 13 at Gallery 31.

Then, come out to SOVA on Friday for Matt’s cd release show. Elizabeth will be doing live illustrations. I’ll be selling jewelry. We’ll  be drinking red wine and talking about how we have the same heart and will always be there for each other. All this with Matt and other musicians so talented they’ll make you want to cry, hug your best friend, call your 8th grade crush… etc. If you’re lucky, a little of the creative love will rub off on you and make you want to start that project you’re always talking about but never actually doing.

Thank you to my friends and family, for listening and encouraging and supporting me and for just plain showing up to all of my events because you know how much it means to me to have you there.