Hello, My Lovelies! It is with deep sadness that I write today's Tales of the Traveling Tote post.
Our beloved Jenna Meon from The Painted Apron blog has passed away. She was a very sweet friend to me and a fellow artist. I was fortunate to know her not only virtually, but in real life. I enjoyed getting to know her, and I am missing her so much.
Jenna, Emily from The French Hutch Blog, and I enjoyed getting together and do the "ladies who lunch" thing.
The top photo is at the carousel at the Galleria.
The Christmas tree at the Grand Bohemian has our totes nestled underneath
The last photo is a picture of Jenna and Emily in Jenna's backyard.
These are a few of Jenna's colored pencils and alcohol markers that I took at her house.
Here are three things that I want you to know about Jenna:
1. She was kind, and she was an encourager. Jenna was very thoughtful, and she liked to share. She cared and listened to me during trying times. I also loved how she encouraged me in my pursuit of art.
2. She was a gifted artist. Not only did Jenna and I have collecting MacKenzie-Childs in common, we also had art in common. I will miss her Fearless Friday art posts, and it's fitting that her last post on October 17 was a Fearless Friday post.... and it was about wine!
3. She had a wicked sense of humor. She made me laugh, and this year especially as I've faced challenges with caring for my mother. She always wanted the "tea" when I visited her, and her commentary was always laugh-out-loud funny.
The last time I saw Jenna was in September, and I was telling her all about my art teacher's opening reception for her show at the Canary Gallery in downtown Birmingham. This was probably our last conversation, actually. Jenna would probably want me to share it with y'all because she was always all about sharing art.
My sweet and beautiful art teacher Dori
The opening reception was a huge success, and there were lots of people in attendance. The gallery also sold several of Dori's paintings. Dori also taught a creativity workshop at the gallery in October in conjunction with her exhibition. I attended it with a friend of mine, and we had so much fun!
I know that Jenna would roll her eyes at this post (except for the part about Dori's opening reception). She would tell me to stop it and go make some art.
And I will do that today in honor of Jenna.
Please make sure you visit the other blogs in today's hop and enter our giveaway.
Debbie with Miss Aurora @ Mountain Breaths
Linda P with Miss Lola @ Life and Linda
Patti with Miss Kenzie @ Pandora's Box
Rita with Miss Luna C @ Panoply
Sarah with Miss Merri Mac @ Hyacinths for the Soul
Jackie and Miss Madi K @ Purple Chocolat Home
Ricki Jill and Countess De Monet @ The Bookish Dilettante
Until next time...
Blessings!
Ricki Jill
Ricki Jill
What a beautiful post in loving memory of our dear friend Jenna. Today I will smile thinking that Jenna would roll her eyes at this post and would tell you to stop it and go make some art. I hope you will show us your art that you make today in honor of Jenna. Many hugs, Deb
ReplyDeleteA most beautiful tribute to my virtual and your real life friend in Jenna, Ricki Jill. Thank you for sharing even more about her (wicked sense of humor) than I ever knew. Perhaps my sister Jackie will spot her and her tote in Heaven so they can share a glass of wine and see ALL the tea on all of us. ☺️❣️
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to your art teacher on her successful gallery showing!
Happy December, friend.
Ricki Jill, our hearts are broken with the loss of Jenna. It makes me smile though, to think of Jenna, Emily, and Ricki Jill sitting across the table laughing and sharing in real time. I always enjoyed hearing about those outings. We will all miss this gifted, gracious, funny friend. Thanks for sharing this beautiful post in Jenna's memory.
ReplyDeleteAll the best for happy holidays ahead. Merry, Merry!
This was a sweet post and brought tears to my eyes - Lucky you that you knew her in person!! This is such a sweet tribute and I will miss hearing about the three of you TTT girls meeting up in Alabama. Awesome gallery showing, too! Happy Holiday month!
ReplyDeleteRicki Jill, such a sweet and loving tribute to our dear Jenna. We shall all miss her sweet personality, artwork, recipes and decor. So very special you and Emily got to know Jenna in real life. So many happy times, visiting, laughing and sharing. I love that you said Jenna would roll her eyes and say, stop that and go make some art. Thanks for sharing more about Jenna, that only you and Emily know. Happy Holidays.🎄
ReplyDeleteRicki Jill, such a lovely tribute to our dear friend Jenna. We are especially missing her this month when we always had a December lunch together.
ReplyDeleteGreat photos of of the opening of the gallery. Congratulations to your art teacher. Jenna would have enjoyed this..Hugs and Happy December sweet girl......
Dropping in through dear Linda's post, and sending my sympathy to all of you steadfast, lucky friends of your sweet Jenna. You all have made me so welcome to this enchanting sisterhood, just through your travels and adventures and marvelous displays of your fabulous gift for art and decor and arranging things so splendidly.
ReplyDeleteLosing a Sister of such lifelong accord and bon homie is a great DOLOR, but the knowing and the time together we're granted---we wouldn't swap that for miracles. rachel@LAWN TEA
Hello Friend, I did not know Jenna, your tribute is moving and I can feel how special of a friend she was to you.
ReplyDeleteSending extra prayers during this time of grief.
Love, Carla
Thank you for this beautiful post in honoring our beloved friend, Jenna. Although I never met her, I “knew” her from our many years of blogging. We will all miss her, and her family especially.
ReplyDeleteOh Ricki Jill I'm so so sorry to hear that we've lost such a beautiful friend! Jenna was so kind and encouraging to me. I'm going to miss her so much! If you talk to her family, please pass on my sincerest condolences. The blogging world has lost a light. But we'll always have the memories. 💛 Thank you so much for sharing the news with us.
ReplyDeleteWow....so sorry to hear that Jenna has passed on. I enjoyed her blog so much. Will send up prayers for her and her family. Thank you for your loving tribute. Peace to all.
ReplyDeleteI agree with everything you said about Jenna. I saw her in person in August of 2024 at her house in Orange Beach. We sat on the porch and laughed and whispered and dished it all out like teenagers. Like you said, she was easy to talk to and so very creative it was amazing. Our virtual blogging world will be much more gray now that Jenna is gone. - thanks for your beautiful tribute.
ReplyDelete