What to do with all those glass jars...

Saturday, May 30, 2015
I'm totally addicted to candles.  Like, I need an intervention or just buy stock in the company I'm keeping afloat.  I normally always have one burning from the time I get up until the time I go somewhere or bed.  I mean, it's okay for the house to be a 'should be condemned' mess as long as it smells nice, right?!  Anyway, my addiction has provided an over abundance of glass jars.  I hate throwing them out and our recycling center is a good distance away, so I came up with this idea instead.  You could use whatever glass jars you have on hand.  Canning, candle, food, etc...

First, start off with a clean jar.
 
Next, use painters tape and tape off a design (you can get as creative as you like).  I'm a simple girl, so I just did diagonal stripes. 
Lightly spray your jar with whatever color spray paint floats your boat.  Hey, it's a free country!  I've found a couple light coatings work best to avoid paint runs.  Once dry, you can remove your tape. Boomshakalaka.
Now, I KNOW there are little things that get scattered all over your house.  These worked perfect for some of my sewing things, not to mention keeping all those blasted bobby pins in one place.  I could have teased and had the PERFECT poof of hair, but does ANYONE know where all the bobby pins have disappeared to?!? Heck no!  The possibilities are endless with these babies. You should feel really good about what kind of person you are, for real! You DID just repurpose an item by customizing it to your specific style and needs. You go, you! 

Happy crafting! XOXO

My Ultimate Dream for Gus and Jean's

Friday, May 29, 2015
A few people have asked what/where do I want this "thing" to do/go?  What's the bigger picture that these smaller steps might take me one day...  My ultimate dream for Gus and Jean's is to be a brick and mortar store in a local square type setting.  I don't want this to be any store.  We have enough of "those".  I want Gus and Jean's to support local artisans that need a public outlet.  I'm not meaning the artisan that has spent tons of money to learn a specific trade.  Rather, I'm referring to the working mom that is juggling family life and a full time job, but making The Best Candles Ever in her basement because it brings back fond memories of her passed mother, who taught her.
 I'm talking about the guy that just got laid off work, in between jobs, and is looking for a way to make an extra buck to get by for his family.  Or the guy that just became disabled, and the check isn't covering all the bills, BUT he does have this AWESOME wood that came from his Granddad's farm, and comes up with these...

What about that young married couple?  Man is working the best he can to provide, woman is taking care of the baby at home, wishing she could somehow contribute and help take some of the load off of her husband.  Guess what?  While the baby naps, she makes homemade soaps in her kitchen.  Like, hand-cut, she wraps every freakin' bar herself, soap.  And the stuff is OFF THE CHAIN AMAZING!
And I could go on, and on, and on...  I want LOCAL.  My hope is that more people realize the quality and BEAUTY of local.

Oh, and did I mention Gus and Jean's would have a coffee bar?!  Complete with daily brought in treats from a LOCAL?!  Guys, I don't hate myself, of course there would be coffee and yummies!  I want customers to come in and have a little piece of HOME.  Maybe even buying a creation that brings back wonderful memories of a loved one.  That's something that you can rarely get from the big box stores.

Thanks for taking the time to listen to my dream.
Much love,
Katie

Welcome Post

Tuesday, May 26, 2015
Welcome to Gus and Jean's!  I am SO excited that you have stopped by!  The FIRST blog post is somewhat A LOT intimidating, so hang in there, and I hope to soon have all this "new-ness" behind me.

What I hope to accomplish with this blog is just to inspire others to TRY, to DO, to BELIEVE in yourselves.  Sometimes we never even try to do the things that we want to do for fear of failure.  (raising hand frantically)  I'm the biggest offender!  But what happens when we do take that chance and great things happen?!  Now, I'm not talking about life altering decisions like marriage or plastic surgery!  I'm talking about things in your home. HOME.  The place that you are making a life in.  The place that your children will refer back to when telling THEIR children stories.  The place that might host family dinners, baby showers, birthdays, reunions, sleepovers, etc., and might even become the place that your teenage kid's friends name the hangout house.  How cool would that be?!  So, friends, make it a place that you LOVE.  After all, it is what's taking the majority of our paychecks. Ha!  Take a chance on that paint color.  Take a chance on that bold patterned fabric.  Take a chance on that DIY project that you've been dreaming of doing.  Take a chance on YOU.
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