Etsy Shop for jenwojtowicz

St. Monica Prays For Her Teenager

Sat, 12 Dec 2009 17:49:07 -0500

$20.00
St. Monica is the patron saint of mothers. Her son, who grew up to be St. Augustine, was the absolute worst teenager in the world. He really gave his mom a lot of gray hairs! Fortunately he got his act together later on in life and turned out fine (according to his mom, historians may actually debate this). Regardless, it is REALLY HARD being the mom of a teen!

I've done some reading on the subject and the teenaged years are the hardest developmental stage human beings go through. Some kids have family dysfunction, depression or other mental health problems, disabilities, addiction or other factors making it even worse!

As a mother, I try to remind myself to pray instead of worry. Doing this small painting helped me through an especially tough time. St.Monica is deep in prayer, her teenager visible in the glowing doorway. Is he on a good path? What kind of person will she grow up to be? Is he safe? What kinds of choices will she make? Her heart is following her child on wings as he goes. The message on the TV set reminds her to pray for courage.

This archival print is 5"x 6.5". It is printed on archival paper with archival inks. The original is acrylic on paper.

St. Dominic De Guzman- The Truth is Out There

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 15:13:34 -0500

$15.00
When Saint Dominic's mom was pregnant with him she dreamed that her child was a white dog with a torch in it's mouth who set the world on fire. At her baby's baptism she saw a star shining from his chest. The dog became the symbol of the order he founded in 1215, the Dominican friars. Because of the star, he is known as the patron saint of astronomy. He is also known for working miracles, like raising people from the dead, and for being just about the sweetest and most patient guy ever.

I think of Saint Dominic when I think of all things heavenly, like the mysteries of the universe, angels, and (my favorites) space aliens and UFO's .

This is an archival print of the original gouache painting. The image size is 4.5 x 5, not including the blue border.

St. Joseph, Patron Saint of Fathers

Mon, 07 Dec 2009 11:11:39 -0500

$20.00
If you are any kind of father- biological,step, adopted, foster-then St. Joseph is your patron saint. He was Jesus' foster father after all. He is also the patron saint of families, pregnant women, married people and working people among many, many other things. He is shown here as the young father of a baby girl and his halo reflects the special, tender bond between them. This image was inspired by my husband and my daughter.

This is a print of the original painting, which was done in gouache. It is printed on archival paper with archival inks.
The image size is 5.5" x 6.75" and has a white border.

Our Lady of Guadalupe

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 00:19:24 -0500

$20.00
Our Lady of Guadalupe is the patron saint of Mexico and of babies yet to be born. She is thought to be the Catholic representation of Tonantzin, the Aztec goddess of motherhood. She is one really powerful holy mother. If you are in need of a mother, are having fertility issues, or need protection for your baby she is the one for you. She is shown here surrounded by an abundance of fruits and flowers, with Saint Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin, and an angel on the hill at Tepayac where she appeared. One of my favorite books is "The Road to Guadalupe" by Eryk Hanut. He alternates between he and his partner's modern day pilgrimage to Mexico City to see St. Juan Diego's tilma at Our Lady's shrine and the events of December 1531 on that same hill top. I highly recommend it!

This is an archival print of the original acrylic painting. The image size is 6 X 6.75 inches and comes with a white border.

Lil' Red Birdie Upcycled T -Shirt

Fri, 27 Nov 2009 23:59:22 -0500

$25.00
This soft, beautiful aqua t-shirt is a little girls' size 8, but it fits my daughter, who is in a 12-18 month size, beautifully as a dress!

Decked out with vintage trims, insets of beautiful orange flowered fabric , and a cute birdie appilque made by me with new and vintage fabrics and machine embroidered with colorful threads.

100% cotton, wash and dry on gentle cycle.

Comfy Baby Book (car)

Fri, 27 Nov 2009 22:31:24 -0500

$25.00
I've been having so much fun making these fabric books for my baby girl and other baby friends that I decided to make some to share! They are a great way to introduce your baby to the pleasure of books and the pleasure of art! They are fun for baby to explore and are full of pictures, colors and patterns. for you and your baby to talk about together!

These one of a kind books are made from new and vintage cotton fabrics, new and vintage man-made ribbons and trims, and filled with organic cotton quilt batting. Each book is a fat six pages of fabric collage heavily stitched with colorful threads. They are well constructed for optimum safety- double stitched and zigzagged seams and edges and firmly secured ribbons. They are made to last, either to pass along or keep for the next generation!

This book features a car, cowboy, kitty, fishes, cupcake, and a heart on a ribbon that tucks into a pocket with a little girl on one side and the word "LOVE" hand stitched on the other, two peek-a-boo flaps and silky ribbon appendages .

These books can be thrown in the washer/dryer but I recommend a gentle swish in warm water and mild soap, rolling in a towel to remove excess water, and drying flat so that your book will last a long, long time. Always check for and remove loose threads, never allow your baby to sleep with this or any other soft toy, and supervise your baby at all times while they play. This book was made in the smoke-free home of one Shih Tzu.

St. Margaret of Castello

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:21:13 -0500

$10.00
St. Margaret of Castello is the patron saint of children with disabilities. St. Margaret's noble parents rejected her because she was born blind, lame and with a spinal problem. They had her walled up beside the chapel when she was six years old so that no one would see her and kept her there for fourteen years. They then brought her to a shrine to pray for a cure. When none occurred they abandoned her. St. Margaret became much beloved by the people of Castello, known for her kindness and patience and her service to the poor, the sick, and to prisoners.

She is shown as a fairy God-mother, protecting and appreciating the small child she watches over.

This is an archival print. The original is gouache on paper. The image size is 4.75"x 5".

St. Francis of Assisi

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:13:29 -0500

$30.00
St. Francis of Assisi is the patron saint of animals, animal welfare organizations,and the environment and one of the most beloved saints. He is the founder of the Order of Franciscan Friars, who owned nothing and served the poor and the sick. He is famous for preaching a sermon to a flock of birds, for writing beautiful prayers (including Canticle for Brother Sun), for his gentleness, and his wisdom.

"Jesus is happy to come with us, as truth is happy to be spoken, as life to be lived, as light to be lit, as love is to be loved, as joy to be given, as peace to be spread." - Saint Francis of Assisi

This is a print made with archival ink on archival paper. The original painting is a gouache. The image size is 7"x 9.5".

St. Martin de Porres- Justice, Equality, Peace

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 22:46:20 -0500

$20.00
St. Martin de Porres is the patron saint of social justice and African-American people. Because St. Martin's mom was African and his dad was a Spanish nobleman ( a creep who abandoned his family), he is also the patron saint of bi-racial people. And as anyone with two eyes and a working brain can see, if you aren't white in America, a rich white guy even more so, then you really need someone to have your back, and St. Martin is your man. Because race isn't the issue in our country, racism is the issue, and until all the racist jerks out there decide to take responsibility for themselves everyone of color needs some special protection from above. Amen.

This particular St. Martin de Porres reflects activism, social justice and African-Americans in American history. Each of the symbols surrounding St. Martin de Porres represents an important person or event. I made this painting for my daughter, because she loves to point at everything and have us tell her what it is. It's a good way to start teaching her about history, literature, and social justice. The symbols stand for as follows:

Rose=Rosa Parks
Bridge=Ruby Bridges
Crown=Martin Luther King
Staff=Harriet Tubman
Wheat=Phillis Wheatley
Panther=the Black Panther Party, Mumia Abu-Jamal, Assata Shakur, etc.
X=Malcolm X
3 Onion Flowers=James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, Michael Shwerner. The onion is a symbol of eternity, and the word derives from the Latin “unio”, meaning one or unity.

This is an archival print of the original gouache painting. The image size is 5.5" X 5.5".

St. Dorothy, Patron Saint of Gardeners

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:23:17 -0500

$10.00
St. Dorothy is the patron saint of gardeners. She is traditionally shown holding a basket with three roses and three apples that came from the kingdom of heaven. She is shown here as a joyful young woman on a beautiful sunny morning surrounded by the abundance of her garden. I imagine her as an organic farmer, or part of a CSA co-op!

This is an archival print of the original gouache painting. The image size is about 6.5" X 3.5" and has a white border.

St. Dymphna the Protector

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 12:31:03 -0500

$20.00

St. Dymphna is the patron saint of people who have mental illness and those who love them as well as survivors of incest. She is shown here in the midst of a storm, offering protection and solace to a person in need of her patronage. The oak tree border symbolizes the strength we need to overcome our wounds. The words around the painting read "Heal. Live. Remember you are loved. Remember to take care of yourself." She is protecting the person's light from the fierce storm surrounding them, making sure it doesn't go out. St. Dymphna embodies a prayer for serenity, tenacity, and freedom from fear and anxiety.

This is an archival print of the original gouache painting. The image size is about 6" x 7.25"

St Dorothy Buries Land Developers to Make Room For A Field

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 12:07:12 -0500

$20.00
Saint Dorothy is the patron saint of gardeners. We all know what the issue is: who hasn't loved a beautiful field, a forest, or stand of trees even, and seen it destroyed to put up a WalMart or some other retail atrocity? St. Dorothy is shown here clearing up those money driven, egocentric destroyers(they are the true eco-terrorists!) so that a place of natural beauty can thrive. St Dorothy is your lady if you love to see fields and gardens grow, instead of shopping malls!

The original of this painting was done in acrylics on paper. The print is archival, printed on archival paper with archival inks. The image is 7x8".

St Dymphna

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 13:29:40 -0400

$5.00
St. Dymphna is the patron saint of people who have mental illness and those who love them as well as survivors of incest. Shown here in the midst of a storm, trying to keep her flame from going out, St. Dymphna embodies a prayer for serenity, tenacity, and freedom from fear and anxiety. She is a nice pocket size that can go anywhere with you.

This is a print of the original watercolor made with archival inks on archival paper. The image is 3x3".

St. Monica and Her Baby

Sat, 24 Oct 2009 12:48:13 -0400

$25.00
I am offering both of my new Saint Monica (the patron saint of mothers) prints for 10 dollars each until June 30th, so that everyone who wants to can buy their mom, wife, partner, grandma, or any other fabulous mom they know a lovely Mother's Day gift!

This St. Monica painting celebrates being the mother of an infant and the impulse to want to surround them with all that is soft, sweet, and happy for the short time in their life that you can. She was inspired by my baby daughter and my mom, the wonderful woman who supported and encouraged me as an artist from the time I was small.

Archival ink and paper, image size 5"X 6".

St. Monica

Sat, 03 Oct 2009 18:05:51 -0400

$25.00
I am offering both of my new Saint Monica (the patron saint of mothers) prints for 10 dollars each until June 30th, so that everyone who wants to can buy their mom, wife, partner, grandma, or any other fabulous mom they know a lovely Mother's Day gift!

This painting is about how hopeful we are, as parents, that everything will go well for our children, but how little control we actually have over what will be. We have to accept that and still do our very best for our children. St. Monica is shown here praying for the well being of her unborn child, serene and centered despite her precarious surroundings. In her halo is my favorite quote from St. Monica -"Nothing is far from God."

This particular St. Monica was inspired by my mother-in-law, who is incredibly cute and pretty and who nurtures all living things, be they children, animals or plants.

Archival ink and paper, image size 6 X 8.50

St. Anthony of Padua at the Gaurd Rail

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 10:35:55 -0400

$25.00

St. Anthony Of Padua is the patron saint of lost things, whether it is a person, or faith, or an object. Loss is experienced in many different ways, and the most powerful losses involve the people we love, either through death, estrangement, or disappearance. Here St. Anthony is shown at the scene of a disappearance, searching for the lost person so that their loved ones can be comforted .

This is an archival print of the original acrylic on paper painting. The image size is approximately 9x11 inches.

St. Jude

Sat, 26 Sep 2009 20:35:05 -0400

$5.00
Saint Jude is the patron saint of hopeless causes or difficult situations, and I think that the world at large could use his help right now. There are a lot of people who are being adversely affected by the economy, and there are many more people who have never, even in the "good" times, known financial security. I work for a private, not- for- profit human services agency. I see good people struggling every day to provide for their families on less than ten dollars an hour. If we are lucky and the state budget allows there may be a 1 or 2 % increase on occasion, but these cost of living adjustments don't cover the actual cost of living and no one ever gets a raise just because they are a great employee who does a wonderful job, yet we have so many people who are caring and dedicated employees . In honor of these people and the valuable work that they do, and everyone who is out of work, under-employed, or working for minimum wage, I am offering Saint Jude prints for 5 dollars every day so that everyone who wants one can have one.

I always base my St. Judes on my brother Wally because he has turned a lifetime of difficult circumstances- autism, epilepsy, ALS- into a beautiful life full of meaning and love for his fellow human beings. Jesus told St. Jude that whoever loves Him, He will find them and make his home with them, which is why I like to show him in or with a house.

Archival ink and paper, image size 5.25"x 4.25"

Blues St. Cecelia

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 11:30:42 -0400

$20.00
Saint Cecelia is the patron saint of music! This incarnation of Saint Cecelia is for the Blues- everyone who loves them, sings them and feels them.

The original of this painting was done in gouache. This is an archival print. The actual image size is 4"X6.5".

St. Anthony of Padua Comes By Boat

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 12:29:20 -0400

$40.00
St. Anthony Of Padua is the patron saint of lost things, whether it is a person, or faith, or an object. Loss is experienced in many different ways, and the most powerful losses involve the people we love, either through death, estrangement, or disappearance. Loss can also occur because of the passage of time, erosion, and change. We ourselves can become lost if we are overcome with feelings of loss or regret, or are unable to let go of the past.

The person in this painting is not able to let go of the past. Perhaps she really misses someone. Maybe she longs to recapture a happier time. Maybe she is haunted by questions about what happened here. She is so caught up that she does not see the beauty all around her, nor does she understand that her loss is part of the wholeness of the universe and that change is the only constant in life. Help is coming, though: Saint Anthony is out on the ocean, heading for the shore, carrying his light so that he can find her.

This is an archival print of the original acrylic painting on paper. The image size is 9" x 11".

St. Dymphna and the Lights of Gheel

Mon, 07 Sep 2009 11:38:04 -0400

$50.00
St. Dymphna is the patron saint of people who have mental illness and those who love them as well as survivors of incest. Shown here in the midst of a storm, trying to keep her flame from going out, St. Dymphna embodies a prayer for serenity, tenacity, and freedom from fear and anxiety. She is shown here with the lights of the village of Gheel in the distance behind her. Gheel, Belgium is where St. Dymphna took refuge when she fled Ireland. She was fleeing her own father, a powerful chieftain who tried to force St. Dymphna to marry him, and who was suffering from a mental illness. The village of Gheel became a safe haven for people with mental illness when pilgrims came St. Dymphna's shrine to pray to be healed, and were taken in and cared for by the people of the village with love and compassion in a family setting.

This watercolor is about 3.5 X 5.25 inches and is painted on Stonehenge paper, which is acid free, and comes matted and framed.

St. Christopher-Patron Saint of Travelers

Sat, 05 Sep 2009 12:31:09 -0400

$20.00
Saint Christopher is the patron saint of travelers and motorists. I pray to him constantly while driving and I know for a fact he has saved my butt about a million times

The story of St. Christopher is that he had the job of ferrying people across a deep, wide river.One day he carried a child across when the current was strong and raging . The further they went the heavier the child became but St. Christopher did not drop him. He got him safely to the other side. The child revealed himself to be Jesus. He was so heavy because he was carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. St. Christopher was strong and capable and didn't give up and that is why he is your man when you are on the road!

Happy Travels!

This is an archival print of the original gouache painting. The
image size is 4.5 x 5 inches.

Grandma Annie Paper Dolls

Sat, 05 Sep 2009 11:43:56 -0400

$10.00
Do you love your Grandma? Miss your Grandma? Maybe you never knew your Grandma, or life dealt you a really disappointing one? Then have we got something for you: The Grandma Annie paper doll is for anyone in need of a Grandma! Her namesake is Saint Anne, the patron saint of grandmas everywhere. She is a composite of all of the best grandmas we know and includes all of their most endearing qualities: she will listen to all of your problems but ONLY offer advice when asked. She is wise, funny, tells great stories, and can cook circles around anybody! Best of all she will love you unconditionally!

Grandma Annie was created by my husband, Marcus Kwame Anderson, who never really got to know his own grandmothers. All of her outfits were designed by me, who was blessed with four wonderful grandmothers growing up. She has some really cool accessories that come from my stash of vintage stuff, some of which belonged to my beloved Grandma Sara. Grandma Annie comes printed on 8.5 x 11 card stock nicely packaged. Your set will include one doll and six really fun outfits with accessories.

Not meant for children under three.

St. Laurence/The Chinese Kitchen God

Tue, 25 Aug 2009 16:17:22 -0400

$20.00
I recently read an excellent cookbook called: The Wisdom of the Chinese Kitchen: Classic Family Recipes for Celebration and Healing by Grace Young. I heard Grace Young on NPR talking about Chinese New Year and the Chinese Kitchen God, and it was so interesting I got her book to read.

I learned that the kitchen is considered the heart of the family, and that the Kitchen God is a benevolent god who watches over everyone in the family. I felt that he had a lot in common with St. Laurence, who is the patron saint of cooks and who was famous for his jolly good humor, so he can be one, the other, or both depending on your needs. I surrounded him with some of the lucky things I learned about: bamboo, moon cakes, and the wok hay, which is the breath of the wok. The Chinese writing in his halo are the words for "love", "harmony" and "family" in Chinese.

I can't wait to have this happy Saint Laurence/Chinese Kitchen God presiding over my kitchen, where my family spends most of it's time together!

This is an archival print of the original gouache painting. The image size is about 5.25 x 6 inches.

St Claire of Assisi

Mon, 17 Aug 2009 14:17:51 -0400

$10.00
St. Claire of Assisi is also known as "The Illuminator". She is the patron saint of television and known for transmitting powerful prayer. She is shown here visiting a living room near you, with a message from my favorite TV show ever- The X-Files!

This print is archival. The original painting is gouache on paper. The image size is 4.75" x 5".