JO Blog

Cozy, eclectic, artsy, warm and comfortable are words I would use to describe how I hope our home feels to my family and friends. Cozy is the best word and it instant makes me think of comfy pajamas, my hands wrapped around a huge mug of something hot, a good book, the fireplace going, my […]

Welcome to the Piper Art Bag! This bag was inspired by my The Living Studio series and retreats and the idea of not just creating in our studios but out in the world and creating around what inspires us. This art bag is made from brown linen, lined with cream ticking, has an adjustable strap, […]

One of my most popular online course is Creatively Made Home {home for the holidays}. This three week course is all about the heart of home and how to make the holidays all about the people you love. I wanted to offer this beautiful and rich course at a discount for the next 48 hours. […]

All of my courses come from an authentic place of walking through something, discovery and/or personal growth. One of the biggest lessons I learned creatively in 2015 was that it was time to really tell my story.  To hold nothing back and to start letting it spill all over the page.  There is art I […]

Intro To Hand Lettering begins on Monday! I am constantly surrounded by the most creative people and it is my biggest joy and honor to have them teach on our creative network! Many of you will probably remember Jen Wagner from our popular Becoming free series in January. You knew she could sing and write […]

My travel and teaching schedule will be much closer to home next year but I do have a few extra special workshops that I want you to know about! Registration just opened for Sketching and Sculpting and it is almost sold out. Join me for a two-day workshop all about finding your sketching style and […]

I hate running from one place to another and nothing makes me happier than a slow day at home so I can’t tell you how happy I am that I am your last stop on the Finding Fall Home Tour. I get to spend more time with you and we all can take a big […]

I MAY be a few days late for this! It was my intention to open the giveaway the day Art of Home | Modern Simple Living began and then we have been so crazy busy with the new courses that I didn’t make it over here! THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED Better late than never […]

 Tomorrow the online course the Art of Home | Modern Simple Living will begin! We would love to have you join us as we celebrate home and simple ways to create an artisan lifestyle. Here is a peek into week one…the Art of Farm To Table. (Keep in mind that this is only week one! […]

  I am thrilled to announce that I will be back at Studio Cresendoh teaching a two day workshop this coming January! Jenny’s studio is intimate, has great light, there is always lots of laughter and it is surrounded by the coolest coffee shops and restaurants. Teaching in her studio is way too much fun […]

Scribble Art with Julie Johnson begins on Monday! This week I shared a sneak peek into the Art of Home | Modern Simple Living on social media.  Julie Johnson took that image and did her mad scribble art skills with it! How fun is this?! We have put together just a PEEK (because this course […]

Guys! I am exited to announce that we have some of our prints available as gallery wrapped canvas prints! You guys have been asking for them and we are thrilled to finally have them in stock. They look gorgeous and we are can’t wait to see these on your walls.  Don’t you just love when […]

Good Morning and happy Labor Day! I hope you have a fun day relaxing or catch up on fun projects around the home (that is usually what these days mean for us). The crispness in the air this morning was a sweet reminder that fall is coming and we wanted to offer you a fun […]

There are so many awesome online courses out there and sometimes it can be hard to know which one to choose! I know that your time and money is so important and that is why I wanted to make finding the RIGHT online course easier for you. The first step we did was create an […]

Sometimes I get to do really cool things like review books by artists I admire! Danielle Daniel has recently released her book Sometimes I Feel Like a Fox! So beautiful on so many levels! Today my Benjamin and I read this book all snuggled up. We even read it a few times in a row […]

Is it getting a bit cooler at nights where you are living?  I can feel the little changes that are everywhere and they are telling me that fall is coming.  It is always hard to say goodbye to summer but fall will always have my heart. Fall is when the house gets cozy, yummy foods […]

There are so many awesome online courses out there and sometimes it can be hard to know which one to choose! I know that your time and money is so important and that is why I wanted to make finding the RIGHT online course easier for you. The first step we did was create an […]

For those of you that are new to the blog I want to tell you a little bit about the free series. My creative network offers free videos, new online courses, live “chats” and now interviews with courageous lovelies from around the world. Over the past two years I have had the opportunity to interview […]

We are thrilled to announce that we have added a ton of never before offered prints in the shop! Come and take a peek… You can find these all in our Etsy shop and our website for your convenience. We have gallery wrapped canvas prints coming soon! Look for that announcement in early September. If […]

**This giveaway is now closed and winners have been announced below.** (All winners have until September 11th to claim the giveaways) *** Each online course, collection and retreat has truly become a labor of love. This is an investment of so many that I truly love and admire. It has never been just me. As […]

Hello, I am Madolyn Oliver.  I started a free series on this site called Creatively Made Kids (if you haven’t joined us yet please do so you can get free project videos each month).   I LOVE doing DIY so doing the series is really fun for me.  As we were getting ready for school this […]

It has been awhile since we had updated our Maddy’s room and wouldn’t you know it that in the meantime she has become a young lady! Her last room update was vintage linens, sweet colors and her favorite color at the time…turquoise. As we were pulling together ideas, colors and patterns of what direction to […]

  I grew up with a large garden, morning cereal often had fresh berries from the backyard, clothes hung on the line, the sound of the sewing machine filled our home and my mom’s homemade grape juice is still one of my favorite things on earth.  I have always loved home and home is the […]

I am constantly surrounded by the most creative people and it is my biggest joy and honor to have them teach on our creative network! Many of you will probably remember Jen Wagner from our popular Becoming free series in January. You knew she could sing and write and now you will see more of […]