Welcome to The School House | Meet the Team

Welcome to my "cute" warehouse.  Whenever people ask what the School House is, I usually say it is basically a warehouse, but a cute warehouse.  Instead of a typical warehouse, I decided to take my business to the country where good help and charm abounds.

I've heard my entire life, "You live in a dream world."  For the most part, it was said with an eye roll.  I've always thought that everything has the potential to be a little dreamy - why not?  This sort of attitude can get you in trouble (hello, perfectionist), but it can also bring you a life that is completely full of all of the good things.

If you missed the first introduction of the School House, read the post here >

If you'd like to see the Blue School House Kitchen, here the post here >

The School House Team

front left to right : Aunt Phyllis, Laurie

back left to right : Amanda, Claire & Me

To have my own team is a complete Dream. Come. True.  Not only do I have people that are able to do anything and everything I need them to, but I have people that I can share this dream of a lifestyle with. Our team works Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday, 9am-2pm.  A dream schedule, right?  I wanted to give them a work schedule that would work for a Mom.  I didn't want there to be a hectic morning rush, and I wanted them to have an hour after work to stop by the store or go on a walk before Mom duties resumed.  They work like crazy during the 5 hours they're here, then the rest of the day is their own.

Me

I'm just so excited by the energy of being here.  While I will not be here on a daily basis, I will be here from time to time to pop in, pick up new product samples, take photos and to just be amongst the buzz.  The School House is in Lexington, Mo., my hometown.  It is about 5 minutes down the road from my parents house.  Mike, Emma and I have spent lots of time here on the weekends and plan to use it as a country muse - gardening, projects and spending down time here.  However, for the most part, I'll still be working at home in my comfies most of the time.  Which is my other very happy place.

Claire, The School House Studio Manager

This is Claire.  The stars perfectly aligned for me when I thought of this concept - Claire is the only reason all of this works!  When I thought of this dreamy warehouse idea, she was the first and only person I thought of for this position.  She has a Textile & Apparel Management degree from MU, has worked for Corbin Bronze and has a retail background at Kate Spade.  And she's SUPER organized and has excellent taste.  She manages the School House - the inventory, the staff, the business.  She'll also assist with product development and marketing efforts in the future.  You may get emails from Claire when it concerns product questions.  For instance, if you are wondering about a color or dimension, you can email Claire and she can check on it for you, or maybe send you a snapshot since she is here with the product, she'll be the expert.

claire@jennysteffens.com

On a side note, Claire is married to my brother.  (Minor detail!)  Do you remember the engagement dinner we hosted for them?  They just had their first baby last Fall.  I love to be able to offer her a creative job that doesn't keep her away from him for too long.

Laurie

Many of you already know Laurie.  She has worked with me (and you all) for the past 2+ years as my customer service specialist.  Laurie will continue being the customer advocate and communicate with all of you.  If you have questions about your order status, Laurie will help you get whatever you need.  She is the nicest.  Laurie also has a great knowledge of sewing, so she helps me with the production management component of our textiles as we continue to grow that part of my product line.

email : store@jennysteffens.com

The Packaging Team

Phyllis

This is my Aunt Phyllis.  (A very family friendly business, you might say!)  She had a floral design business for 30+ years.  I grew up at her house on the weekends tying bows for weddings and playing with flowers.  She is a true creative.  Not only a talented floral designer, but painter, calligrapher and gardener, as well.  Just one of those overall crafty people.  (Wonder where I get it!)  She also is the Mother of TRIPLET boys who are in their 20's.  I'm so humbled that she has joined my team.  Fun Fact : Phyllis's mother-in-law went to school in this school house in the 1930's!

Amanda

I've just met Amanda this year while searching for one more person to fill in our team.   She has been a follower of the blog for years and a customer of the store - how could I not hire her!?  She's a mother of two littles, and she and her husband and getting ready to build a home in the country.  She also leads a craft and storytime at our local bookstore, The River Reader, in Lexington.  Welcome, Amanda!

This is our meeting and kitting table where we spread out big projects.  It is also where we have meals and coffee : )

I promise, I will share a tutorial on how we transformed the entry very soon.  I know many of you are anxious to hear about the pegboards we made.  I am so in LOVE with how it turned out.

As I mentioned, the packaging of the products happens on the big table, and the shipping boxes are packed one by one on the island.

Claire's Desk

Isn't this a great table?  I purchased it from one of my favorite suppliers.  I love how utilitarian and simple it is.   If you are interested one, contact us and we can give you a quote.

The island counter is also from the same supplier.  It is great for standing while packing the boxes and the drawers hold all of our supplies like packing tape, notes and stickers.

Mr. Darcy inspecting in the background.

Each order is packed into a basket by one team member, then another team member double checks it and packs it in the box.  We always have two sets of eyes on each order to make sure they are perfect.  We are really trying our very hardest to make the fulfillment process as errorless as possible.  Putting these systems in place has helped tremendously - we hope you agree.

The girls at work packaging some new Strawberry Copper Cookie Cutters.  They each get a recipe card for my sugar cookies and are tied with a bow - a really nice gift.

Each order gets a note signed by me, as always, and we've added some new touches, like the JSH stamped box and the sticker seal.

The interior of each box is lined with a sheet of Kraft paper and sealed with a JSH sticker.  The sticker is removable and will not tear the paper - which was a must for me!  I love being able to reseal the paper and sticker for gift giving.  So many times the sticker tears the tissue or the paper and the effect is ruined : )

Handwritten Gift Notes

I am so excited about this - at the School House we are able hand write notes to be included with your gift orders.   We write them on our School House Stationery and put them in a luxe textured envelope.  So, if you are sending the order to someone, just let us know in your order Notes what you'd like us to write.  There is no extra charge for this service.

We've made so many improvements to our systems this past month.  I'd love to hear more about what you'd like to see from us.  This new "cute" warehouse has endless customer service boundaries - I love it.  It is so fun to think of new ways to make your orders special.

Happy Weekend!  We'll be planting our garden at the School House and about 40 peonies and 10 lilacs. Wish us luck!

If you missed the first introduction of the School House, read the post here >

If you'd like to see the Blue School House Kitchen, here the post here >

Thanksgiving Collection | Tomorrow, Wednesday at 8am Central

The Thanksgiving Collection will launch tomorrow morning, Wednesday, Oct 25th at 8am (central).  Thanksgiving is my favorite - it is all that is good, don't you agree?  Bounty, Graciousness, Family, Friends that are like Family, & a Pretty Table : ) The collection will include new Block Prints (all with Pillows & Table Linens), Velvet Ribbons (in new and old colors), everything for Setting the Table, and inspiration for Thanksgiving Hosting and Hostess Gifts.  Of course the annual We Are Thankful For Thanksgiving placards will be a part of the collection, as well as a new Tablet designed for Party Planning.

I'll see you here in the morning : )

The Everyday Occasions Store

The Making of a Block Print | My Process

For about a year and a half, I've been designing my own custom block print designs that are made into textiles for my store.  I have them stitched into cushion covers and table linens.  I also have some fabric left as yardage so you are able to have any item custom made for your home projects.  I get so many questions about how this process works, so I thought I'd show you.  

Each season I pull together swatches, photos, paint chips, tags, anything that is speaking to me.  This is my current board in my office right now.  I'm getting ready to launch the Harvest Collection full of browns, greens and burnt oranges.  That collection will also transition into Holiday in the month of November.  I always like these two collections to merge well, since the seasons are so close.  I don't like to do exclusively orange in October, then red in December, I want each to work together so you are able to just add/change a few items for each season to really change the feel of your home.

The Harvest Collection will come out October 4th (next Wednesday).

Shop all of my Block Print Fabric Collections, here.  

The Block Print Fabric by the Yard is currently on sale, $36 for 3 yards : )

This paper is the original that I sketched these little prints on.

I take a photo of the sketches I like, then crop them out so I have a rough jpeg.

I lay out the design as a pattern for a 6" wood block.  I send this document to India and my producer has  a wooden block made from my design.  In the meantime, I work on sending her colors.

I love neutral based, in-between colors.  They feel most natural to me.  I created a collection of Benjamin Moore paint swatches for my producer in India to keep on hand.  I give her the swatch color number to match the dye.  

I wanted this Berry Sprig to remind me of the Rose Hips that I find this time of year - a muted umber with brown stick/stems.

The final colors were Greenfield Pumpkin + Whitall Brown.

The wood blocks are hand printed on 100% cotton.  About a month later, I receive a sample of the block and paint colors.  Often times we go back and forth several times to get the colors perfect.

This is the newest Berry Sprig with autumnal colors that will launch with the Harvest Collection next week.

This is the topiary print that I introduced last month.  I like this pattern because it is more saturated in color so it gives the appearance of all over color.  It will be a great essentials to use in different color each season.  The next color in this design will be a deep brown, which I love to use Nov-Jan.

The Hydrangea Print is one of my favorites, too.  It is so elegant, yet clean and graphic.  Last month I featured it in a deep blue and cream.  

Shop all of my Block Print Fabric Collections >

Shop all of my Block Print Fabric Collections >

This season I had a mossy green made that will transition perfectly from autumn to holiday.

As I mentioned, I also carry unfinished yards of fabric for you to create your own projects.  I have some for my own home planned in the next couple of weeks.  I've gathered up some inspiration photos to help me design them

Shop all of my Block Print Fabric Collections, here.  

The Block Print Fabric by the Yard is currently on sale : )

A lamp shade is going to be 1st on my list - well, two actually.  I'd like to make a pair for our master bedroom that will go with a matching pillow in the center of our bed.  I love a pattern repeated at least twice in the same room.  

I LOVE this roman shade made out of a print.  I might try to fashion some fabric trim bands that I would run along each side of our existing cream linen roman shades in our room.  

See how the fabric is repeated in this room?  I think it is so chic.  

Here too, the drapes match the sham and the bedskirt.  It is a perfect way for a white wall and bed linens loving person to add a coziness and level of finish to a room.

I love how a clean, simple piece turns into something really special with this fabric.

Again, another repeating pattern (but a plaid - you get the point). 

Of course, I'll document my projects here.  I'm thinking the lamps are going to be first.  Wish me luck!

Shop all of my Block Print Fabric Collections, here.  The Block Print Fabric by the Yard is currently on sale : )