Harper Street

New in the shop: "ROCKS" Wish Bracelets

2011-11-28T07:00:00.000-08:00

I'm so happy to have these new bracelets in the shop! I just love 'em... simple, colorful, and meaningful. So far we have "Calm Rocks," "Love Rocks," and "Luck Rocks" in stock. I think I'm going to wear a "Calm Rocks" today... I could really use it!

Find them here on HarperStreet.com, as well as in the Etsy shop.

Wordless Wednesday: Josie, my sweet girl

2011-11-09T07:00:00.000-08:00

New in the shop: SKYSCRAPER Earrings

2011-11-05T18:24:00.000-07:00

Gold & silver together... my favorite combination!

Find them here on HarperStreet.com, as well as in the Etsy shop.

Sur La Table - What would YOU buy?

2011-11-02T20:36:00.000-07:00

I'm currently having one of the best "problems" a woman can have - too much money, with no clue what to buy. Let me explain. For those of you who don't know, one of my biggest hobbies is sweepstaking. A few weeks ago, I won a gift card to Sur La Table - in the amount of $1,000! Yep, you read that right. I'm so excited with all of the possibilities, yet also a bit overwhelmed... I don't want to regret my purchases!

So here's my question for you. If you had "free" money to spend at Sur La Table, what would you buy? My first instinct is to buy a KitchenAid stand mixer. After that, what else? I need your guidance! (Also, KitchenAid mixer... what color?! I don't do well with decisions)

I'd love to thank the wonderful sponsor of this sweepstakes - ShopNBC. They were awesome, shipped the gift card in record time, and even announced my name live on air! See video below, if you're interested:

Welcome, November!

2011-11-01T11:09:00.000-07:00

I can't think of a better way to welcome in the new month than with a Starbucks red cup - happy November, everyone!

New in the shop: AUTUMN Necklace

2011-10-31T22:22:00.001-07:00

Gold, copper, and leaves... you just can't get any better for fall! I'm in love with this one.

Find it here on HarperStreet.com, as well as in the Etsy shop.

DIY: Vintage Postage Stamp Collage Art

2011-10-31T21:36:00.000-07:00

I've finally finished an art project, and I thought I'd share the final result with you. In the end, I really like how it turned out!

If you wanted to try this yourself, here is what you'll need:

1. Vintage Stamps - I primarily got mine in large "lots" on eBay, as well as some from Verde Studio on Etsy.

2. Photo Frames - I purchased 11x14 frames at the local craft store, Ben Franklin, for 2/$18 - for a total of $36.00.

3. Photo Mats - White 8x10 mats in the frames help the "art" look substantial.

4. White scrapbook paper - To the back of the white mats, I taped matching white scrapbook paper (about $0.50 per sheet). On this paper is where I put the stamps.

5. Adhesive Squares - one or two of these sticky squares on the back of each stamp does the trick! I used these, found at the craft store.

You can arrange your stamps however you wish - I did mine by color. When I got my big lots of stamps in the mail, I found that they all sort of fell into four main color groups: red/gray/black, yellow/brown, purple/pink, and green/blue.

I loved finding "art" in the tiny little stamps. I fell in love with some of the designs - these are a few of my favorites:

All-in-all, the project takes a bit of time to plan and assemble... but in the end, it's worth it! You'll end up with some unique art that will make your guests do a double-take.

If you try it, be sure to post back and let me know how it went! Have fun!

DIY: Fanged Pumpkins

2011-10-30T14:31:00.000-07:00

pumpkins, found this Martha Stewart tutorial for me this year... and I just had to give it a try. It's surprisingly easy, and very cute! For the eyes, instead of the "map tacks" that Martha recommends, I just used red sewing pins found at Joann Fabrics. The white mini pumpkins are key. Have fun!

My Loves: Mini Pumpkins

2011-10-13T07:00:00.000-07:00

I know, I know... so I'm a little late in saying "hello" to October. But come on, you have to agree... it's hard to believe that it's already the middle of October!

Fall is my absolute favorite season. While I don't necessarily decorate much for the season, there is something I must buy each fall --- mini pumpkins! I don't know why, but I just love them. I buy a few every October, and just place them around the house. So cute!

I found a few handmade stores that seem to share my affection for these tiny little gourds:

1. Hanging felted pumpkins by fuzzonme.
2. Decorative linen pumpkin by imali.
3. Pumpkin ring by dirtroadsouth.
4. Green glass pumpkin by stephenjacklyn.

Handmade Finds: Coffee Sleeves by thecozyproject

2011-10-11T07:00:00.000-07:00

dress up your morning coffee with one of these adorable coffee sleeves by thecozyproject? If you're a pumpkin spice latte fanatic this time of year, the pumpkin cozy is just perfect!

Around the Town: Seattle's Gasworks Park

2011-10-10T07:00:00.002-07:00

I love Seattle's Gasworks park - so unusual, and so beautiful. Great city views, too! My mom came into town (all the way to the east coast), so on her last day here we went out to Gasworks to get this awesome view of the city - and to see one of the attractions that makes this city truly unique.

Handmade Finds: Scarves by WhiteMoth

2011-10-07T22:29:00.000-07:00

Beautiful (but not bulky!) scarves by WhiteMoth. I think my favorite is the polka dot... I love polka dots this season!

A time for change

2011-10-07T21:21:00.000-07:00

Because I can't say it better myself...

Come gather 'round people
Wherever you roam
And admit that the waters
Around you have grown

And accept it that soon
You'll be drenched to the bone
If your time to you
Is worth savin'

Then you better start swimmin'
Or you'll sink like a stone
For the times they are a-changin'.

-Bob Dylan

WEEKEND RECIPE: OREO TRUFFLES

2011-02-28T06:00:00.000-08:00

I attended a beautiful baby shower this past weekend for my friend Kim, and the hostess made some fantastic desserts - one of them being Oreo Truffles. I had these for the first time this past Christmas when a family friend made them, and I forgot all about them until this baby shower. SO GOOD! I knew I had to make them for myself this weekend. There are only THREE ingredients! And no baking required! You can't get much easier than this.

The ones at the baby shower were coated in white chocolate (and sprinkles!), but I decided to go with milk chocolate for mine.

OREO TRUFFLES

Ingredients
1 (16 ounce) package OREO Chocolate Sandwich Cookies
1 (8 ounce) package PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened
2 (8 ounce) packages BAKER'S Semi-Sweet Baking Chocolate, melted

Directions
1. Crush the cookies to fine crumbs in food processor (Cookies can also be finely crushed in a resealable plastic bag using a rolling pin.); place in medium bowl. Add cream cheese; mix until well blended. Roll cookie mixture into small balls, about 1-inch in diameter. Refrigerate for 30 minutes prior to dipping in chocolate.

2. Dip balls in melted chocolate; place on wax paper-covered baking sheet. (Any leftover chocolate can be stored at room temperature for another use.) If wanted, sprinkle with reserved cookie crumbs, sprinkles, or drizzled white chocolate.

3.Refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour. Store leftover truffles, covered in refrigerator.

WHY "HARPER STREET?"

2011-02-23T15:26:00.000-08:00

One of the questions I get the most about my business is, "Why the name Harper Street?" It's been mistaken for my name a few times (nope, my name isn't Harper Street... it's Jen). It's not even named after a particular street. Harper Street is named, in a roundabout way, after my hometown of Harpers Ferry, WV. While I grew up there and my family & friends still live there - my husband and I live about 3,000 miles west of Harpers Ferry near Seattle, WA. I love Seattle, but I wanted this passion of mine - my business - to serve as an ode to the town who made me me.

So... why "Street?" I always assumed that my business would be e-commerce - online only. However, I didn't want to lose the personal touch that comes with a real brick-and-mortar shop. I'm trying to accomplish a comfortable environment in my online shop not only with my items and branding - but with my name too. So come on over to Harper Street!

My Experience in the Oprah Show Audience!

2011-02-20T21:04:00.000-08:00

I can't believe I haven't told you about my OPRAH experience yet! It was an absolute whirlwind and an incredibly surreal experience. I'm so happy to have made that trip to Chicago!

On the day of the taping of the Celine Dion episide this last Wednesday, my friend Heidi - a fellow Celine fan - and I were so anxious and excited for the taping that we arrived at Harpo Studios at 8:30am. They told us to arrive by 11:30 am, so we were juuuuust a bit early. As we were approaching the studio, intending to take our place outside in line, an employee yelled out to us asking, "Are you here for the show?" We said, "Yes, the 'B' show." (Oprah tapes two episodes back-to-back each day). Then, she asked us "Are you interested in seeing two show tapings today?" WHAT?! They had a few empty seats in the studio and were looking for seat fillers. Needless to say... we said "yes!"

Seeing Oprah enter the studio in front of you is such a surreal experience. I mean, c'mon... it's Oprah. I didn't even think I'd cry when Celine entered the studio later that day, but I teared up when Oprah entered. I just couldn't believe I was there, and with this being Oprah's final season it was definitely a once-in-a-lifetime experience. (Oh yeah... and I shook Oprah's hand!)

The Celine Dion taping was just incredible. Sure, I've seen her in concert many times, but watching her on that stage simply talking was very different. As usual, she was so sweet, so generous, and so funny. As expected, she talked about her newborn twin boys (so cute!) and her new upcoming Las Vegas show.

One of the most exciting parts of the day is that I was a part of an Oprah giveaway! Near the end of the show, Oprah surprised everyone in the audience with two tickets to Celine's show and two nights at Caesars Palace! The giveaway was a huge production, with Jubilee showgirls and Caesars Roman soldiers. Wow! Such an exciting day.

Don't forget to watch the episide tomorrow, MONDAY 2/21!

In case you were wondering what I decided to wear, here it is:

Light blue cardigan: New York & Co.

Bright blue tank: New York & Co.

Jeans: Seven brand

Belt: Macy's

Shoes: Steve Madden