New Card Designs: Halloween, Christmas, and More

I am very excited to announce the new series of designs for my Owen Says greeting card line.

The entire line is available to order this weekend at the California Gift Show in the LA temporary showroom or in my online catalog. Crow and Canary representation is in Booth No. 807. View more of my new cards or Read the LA MART sneak peek on the Crow & Canary blog.

 View more of my new cards

10 Downloadable iPhone, Android G1, and Other Mobile Phone Wallpapers

A monster appetite for tweet served donuts (inspired by Twitter), Guinea Pig splashing in puddles beneith a giant red umbrella, an owl pattern in pink or brown, pink robots, lost dog & flea, Tink in the forrest, gnomes, and others!

 

Click any image to proceed to Flickr and view all available wallpapers.  Cheer up your iPhone, Android G1, Blackberry or other mobile device today. Wallpapers are available in a variety of mobile phone sizes.

Follow me on Twitter or subscribe to my blog if you want to receive updates about new wallpapers and other free downloadable items. Thank you for stopping by!

Downloadable iPhone Wallpaper: "Portraits"

Family portraits hang in the dark hall of an old victorian.. a lost teddy has been abandoned on the floor.. Characters from the Owen Says card line re-imagined for your phone.

First up in the series of cellphone wallpapers I'll be releasing: a little something for iPhone enthusiasts. I had a lot of fun designing it. Click here or the image to download.

Check out all the available freebies from Owen Says. There are just as many mobile phone screen sizes as there are mobile phone brands.. so if there is a certain size you want, let me know! Follow me on Twitter or subscribe to my blog if you want to receive updates about new wallpapers and other free downloadable items. Thank you for stopping by!

Gnomes + Mushrooms Desktop Wallpaper Organizer

The gnome desktop calendar has been very popular, so I created this gnomey organizational version! Download the desktop wallpaper and get organized today!

Gnomes love to stick their nose in your business, it's only right they get organizing. Pass it along! Download the wallpaper for free in the size that matches your monitor resolution:

1024x768 | 1280x1024 | 1600x1200

See all the available freebies from Owen Says.

Instructions for changing your wallpaper: PC | MAC

Shaggy Dog + Depressed Flea Organizational Desktop Wallpaper

Let a happy shaggy lost dog and a depressed flea help you organize your desktop! Download the desktop wallpaper and organize by: take action, reference, delegate/defer.

Pass it along! Download the wallpaper for free in the size that matches your monitor resolution:

1024x768 | 1280x1024 | 1600x1200

Instructions for changing your wallpaper: PC | MAC

See all the available downloads from Owen Says.

Organize! Robot Desktop Wallpaper

Spring cleaning starts on my computer desktop. Join me! Download the robot desktop wallpaper and organize by: take action, reference, delegate/defer, and a worksheet where the love-bot can hold your most important file!

Know someone who loves robots or could use some organization? Robots love organizing. Beep. Beep. Beep. Pass it along! Download the wallpaper for free in the size that matches your monitor resolution: 

1024x768 | 1280x1024 | 1600x1200 

Instructions for changing your wallpaper: PC | MAC

See all the available downloadable items from Owen Says.

Uncluttered stainless fridge door no more, grocery lists come out of hiding

I love stainless fridges - but all those cool magnet and magnet-backed products don't work on stainless surfaces. So I was excited when last year at The National Stationery Show I came across the colorful and unique Happeez product line of clips, notepads, + frames. 

On my fridge: a doodle "teddies like breakfasts", a cloth-covered frame with a photo of me and my eldest brother, and a notepad for jotting down notes and grocery lists.  

The Happeez products will gladly stick to stainless, tile, glass, and just about anything else without a lick of residue. From their website: "Revolutionary material grips to slick surfaces, including stainless steel refrigerators, with no residue. Stick and restick again and again." How does it grip to all those surfaces? I have not idea! It is such amazing stuff that it is patent pending. I love my set in the Mod Dot pattern and I made fast fans of the recipients (and jealous friends) of the Happeez products I have gifted. Rid yourself of empty fridge door syndrome - get your own Happeez products.

{Peek} Donut Tweet Monster Wallpaper + Record Player Print

Dreaming of fresh donuts, glazed to perfection and delivered by an army of eager tweets. Mice hanging out by the record player, singing a tune.

I miss my drive-thru Krispy Kreme nights in Atlanta. Hot steaming donut deliciousness. YUMMY! Soon I will release my factory of donut producing tweets feeding a monstrous appetite. A new digital wallpaper series for your computer, phone, and the printable version too!

Rejoice! One of my favorite cards from the Owen Says line, Rocking Mice Record Player, is now available as a print. 

{BONUS} Near the end of the month I will release the popular gnome wallpaper minus the calendar - so anyone who wants to get their gnome-on year round gets their wish.

Stay tuned! Subscribe and be the first to get all the newest updates.

miss waxy fingers

Today I wish I were painting instead of doing chores. Unfortunately there is laundry to do. Boo! 

Saturday oldie but goodie

past artwork postings: morose teddy  |  tiny home

{artist spotlight}  

You might recognize Portland artist :: Amy Ruppel :: whose work popped up in Target's 2008 Christmas holiday campaign. Her charming and very popular encaustic paintings feature her signature bird images. 

~ buy amy's art 

~ amy's other projects

encaustic method info: text |  videos

search encaustic: on etsy

follow encaustic chat on twitter: 

@jamieribisi  @pizazzoart @Encaustic

Portland or Bust, How a sticker loving child rode the Internet bubble and burst into the greeting card industry

{ the early years }

Entering the scene, 1976--as a child my obsession with illustration and craft hit hard and fast with the discovery of sticker collecting. My idea of a perfect afternoon was browsing the wall-to-wall rolls of stickers, carefully selecting new items (sparkly unicorns or scratch and sniff?) and digging into an irresponsibly large "Turtle Sundae". This was all a careful ruse by my clever mother--soon enough I was passed out in the barber chair while he touched up my perfect bowl cut. 

Known for asking far too many questions, I was soon enrolled in art and music classes to keep me busy. Bless her heart, my mother already had 3 older kids running the show. I attribute my creativity and passion for handmade to her knowledge of antiques, clever crafting, perfect penmanship, and home-sewn homecoming dresses. My entrepreneurial bent--I can thank the tireless work and support of my father. My business efforts started early, when at the age of seven I hawked hand-painted pet rocks door-to-door (a secret strategy for meeting kids in my new neighborhood). My first art obsession came at nine-- when I built my first pin-hole camera. Once I was even an extra in an After School Special. 

{ experience }

After a short stint in art school I went on to work in 1995 as the seventh employee for a small employee-owned Internet startup located in Atlanta, GA. Soon we were plucked up from obscurity into what would be an international buying spree--and the creation of USWeb. Focusing on Internet site development and marketing, the organization grew leaps and bounds in just a few years. In 1998 USWeb merged with CKS Group (well known for their extremely successful rebranding of Apple - at that time launching the popular candy colored iMacs.) Now known as USWeb/CKS, the Atlanta office grew again to over 200 employees and to include traditional advertising staff and work. Website projects now included marketing analysis, print and radio ads, online advertising and often took a year to complete. My time spent working for my father's software company in high school was influential, and I developed a knack for e-commerce and interface-complex development projects and my workload bloomed to 80 hour weeks.  While working as a graphic designer/art director at USWeb a few of my clients included Coca-Cola, MCI, KinderCare, Royal Velvet, and MinuteMaid. 

5 different company names, 15 different managers, 5 different offices in close to 5 years... ah, the Internet, a story of excess, times of change, unbelievable opportunities and risk taking. Shortly after yet another merger in 1999 (and becoming the company known as marchFIRST) I left and started working with my own roster of Atlanta based start-ups and the couture bridal designer Anne Barge . My consulting and design work focused on branding, information design, developing strategies and assisting in the design and interface for what was usually a very complicated software backend. 

{ Portland bound }
Looking for a change, I moved from Atlanta, Georgia to Portland, Oregon in Spring 2001 on a mission-- find a new challenge and pursue the perfect cup of coffee, late-night spots with excellent french fries, and a vintage bicycle. Looking for a way to work with my hands, combining my original illustrations and background in graphic design-- I jumped and started Owen Says; Launching at The National Stationery Show--a NYC based stationery industry trade show hosted at the Jacob Javitz in May of each year--the Owen Says line of hand glittered greetings has grown to include many popular characters and the addition of gift items. Currently I am working on an expansion of the online store with new items not found as part of the wholesale line--like prints, limited edition greetings, and printable calendars and stationery sets. Licensing and custom work inject life and whimsy and provide new ways to expand on my specific style of cute and occasionally the weird.

MEET THE CHARACTERS + PATTERN BOOK |  visit OwenSays.com

info@owensays.com  | follow me on twitter: @owensays

GNOME & MUSHROOM PRINT now available

Visit the Owen Says Store for new products not found anywhere else. First up, two Gnome & Mushroom items to coincide with the free desktop wallpaper posted here on the blog earlier this week. 

Fine Art Print

 

Desk Calendar

 

two page downloadable and printable

Download free GNOME Feb/Mar Wallpaper Calendar

Do you need something to cheer up the your computer desktop background? 

This new Gnome February/March Calendar can be saved and used as a background wallpaper. Know someone who loves gnomes? Please pass it along to bring a little gnome to a friend's day. Download the full sized image here.

UPDATE: I've created other free gnome items. Click for the newest downloadable items!

Instructions for changing your wallpaper: PC | MAC

Watch my That's Clever segment on HGTV!

Get a chance to see me on TV!

That's Clever!
segment on HGTV
airing starting June 18 2007
Episode 348
Encaustic Picture-Gram Card - Jennifer Erts Wyatt embellishes her encaustic picture-gram card with a bear and photos.

chalkboard teddy Zzz

Chalkboards are really neat. The hard part comes when it is time to erase one picture and start anew. This is a really large chalkboard I found recently while digging at my favorite Portland thrift store.

It was a fantastic day for finding great stuff. I also picked up a wonderful 70s blue floral chair that is in amazing condition and oh-so-comfy. It is my new sitting-by-the-window-chair.

New Encaustic Paintings

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click the photo to view larger image

I have uploaded some photos to my flikr site, including images of a few new encaustic paintings entitled tick tock and little room 1 that I created by layering pigment mixed with beeswax, ink, papers, and colored chalk.

Also added: a photo of my encaustic painting set and a peek inside my studio.


original artwork is owned and copyright of the artist and cannot be reproduced without permission. thank you.

New commissioned illustration for KABOO Radio Guide

When it rains it pours! There are a lot of interesting little projects going on right now. Recently I was commissioned (by my sister-in-law Leigh Anne!) to create this illustration for the upcoming KABOO Radio program guide. It will accompany information on the show she is hosting discussing Princess themes in children's media and traditional fairy tales.
Topics will include how the princesses (and princes) have stereotyped roles that are revisited again and again in different stories, as well as the current facination with and popularity of the princess theme within today's hip kiddie culture.

Sure to be a button pushing Disney-centric discussion about how princesses aren't fullfilled until princes save them from a life of slavery or sleeping and how princes are man-boys until they have found the woman to give them direction. It is going to be really cool, so check it out!

friends don't let friends go on television

Coming to a television near you -- me dancing with my childhood teddy bear and other disastrously wonderful cheesy moments brought to you by Jenn (that's me!) and the Home & Garden Network (that's cable!)

Today I taped a craft themed how-to segment for the HGTV show, "That's Clever!" because yo, I am the cleverest. No, um, scratch that. Talking to a camera is freakin difficult. And I am happy that the format of the show is fun and silly and that they were super nice and lead me like a trained monkey dressed in people's clothes. Bless every single one of the crew. They couldn't have been any nicer or accommodating to me. According to them I did a pretty good job and managed to look not too shabby on video.

I am the girl who says strictly forboden phrases ("Now I will" and referring to the viewer as "you".) over and over without ceasing - instantly destroying at least 50 takes. OH and I can't forget how the mild speech impediments that I manage to get away with for the most part were magnified and so obvious. I come from a Georgia McEducation and frequently channel Yoda (and not necessarily in a good way). My Yodisms have been joked about many times, but I always shrugged it off. Try shrugging it off when you hear three people repeating the words that you just uttered just so they can relive how awkward you just sounded and puzzle over it for themselves. I fear it has put an abrupt end to my television career. (HA!)

Who is the girl who inverses words? ME! Who is the girl who combines two words into one nonexistent word? ME! Who is the girl with weird enunciation? ME! Who is repetitive? Who is repetitive? Who is repetitive?

Seriously, most days this girl can talk. Usually I can do a fantastic job communicating ideas and dotting my chatter with descriptive words. Get the camera in front of me and it was like.... der, um, what was I talking about? I had to be told very specifically what to say and I made the worst parrot EVER. I needed direction like a child does to tie his shoes. And I needed instructions cut into tiny pre-cut pieces, thankyouverymuch.

When the show finally airs in the fall I fully expect for my older brothers to tease me for the rest of my days with the numerous cheesy quotable ammunition they will have. Guess I will have to wait until Fall 2006 to see it myself. It was a fantastically challenging opportunity and I am really glad that I got a chance to experience it! I expect to have more to share once I have stopped internally siezing long enough to eat and sleep normally again.

So I am going to be on TV... hello insomnia!

So I got the call today that I have been picked to do a craft segment on the HGTV cable show called That's Clever! 

I am very excited, but memories of how difficult high school speech class was keep coming to mind. Thankfully I am fully committed to letting go of old fears. But there is no way I will be able to sleep until it is all over and I will prepare in the way that only a complete control freak can so that on the day of the shoot I can just chill.

Curiously enough last weekend I also found myself on the end of a camera, sans makeup with serious morning hair, to film a segment for a clip that should appear sometime online. It gave me a chance to see what it is that I do when you stick a camera in my face:

I babble
I nod A LOT, seemingly agreeing with everyone and everything
I glance at the camera
I become the person who compulsively winks at the cameraman
I added the host's name at the end of sentences with a hard syllable. "Thank you, LIZ."

And this is all for a bit that lasted maybe 60 seconds. But it was eye opening and I have some work ahead of me. The segment people will be around to film for five to six hours!

I worry:

That I will start talking and never stop from beginning to end
That somehow I will do something so horrible and so cheesy that it will be played back in my head like a doofus home movie clip forever more
I will mispronounce a word, or even worse, use it incorrectly over and over again
I will become supremely southern like I do when I drink too much or talk with lower state customer service reps
That suddently I will become bad-madonna british. This is something that has never happened, but what if it could happen. 
What if I fall and get a head injury? 
I can't think of anything to say at all
I say something completely wierd (this is not out of character for me
I say something that horrifies my mother
I wear something my mother dislikes so much she mentions it every five seconds any time the TV show is brought up forever
Something about my craft goes crazy like the time Martha Stewart's Berry Wreaths kept exploding all over the front doors of homes across america whenever it got too hot

I will keep everyone posted as the hilarity unfolds!

new encaustic teddy painting

"We used to be together always..."   © 2006 

I am really digging my new encaustic painting set. To those not familiar, just imagine painting with hot wax, then scraping and heating with various tools to achieve what you want. This is a crappy photo taken with my mobile phone.. so you can't see the translucent effects you can achieve through layering or any of the other details for that matter. This medium is a fantastic outlet for obsessive compulsive behavior and very zen as well.

Unfortunately I am about to embark on a major inventory push for Owen Says (my greeting card company) and must turn my back on the siren song of my wax paints. I am in the middle of a new painting and am anxious to get back to it.