My Story...

scroll down for all the pics.

Hi! Thanks for stopping by to my website, my very own creative outlet here on the web. I love being able to showcase my work and creative ideas for anyone to see. And I'd like to tell you a little bit more about myself where my ideas come from and a little piece of my life.

When I was growing up I never really thought of myself as creative, even though people told me I was, I did Not see it at all. I was always a unique individual and loved clothes at an early age. My sense of style was definately different from most though, and many people probably thought I was weird: I just thought of myself as open-minded. Yet, I didn't really feel artistic or creative at all, I didn't take any art classes, it just didn't interest me that much and I was more interested in music at that time in my life than anything else.

That music took me to a show in Ann Arbor Michigan, where I fell in love with the town and its unique style. Ann Arbor is home of the famous Hash Bash and of course The Naked Mile, a site to see might I say (In the middle of winter, lol) That is where I was seriously introduced to the Jamband scene. By this time it was 1997 and music wasn't in its very best hour, no more grunge, nothing but backstreet boys on the radio, what do I do now? Then I met a group of people who changed me forever (thanks*) who listened to some great music, i.e. Panic, Gov't Mule, Cheese, (many others) and of course The Grateful Dead. Where had I been? The music was so great and inspiring, I fell in love with it away, and the people who I met were so amazing and generous, it changed my whole outlook on life. This was the scene for me!

I loved all the handmade clothes that I saw, and I bought so many wonderful things. Then I thought to myself, "I would love to do this, I want to create my own ideas," so I got my mothers old sewing machine out of the garage and started in. I figured I could make all of my clothes and it would be easy. Boy, I can't say I was real good in the beginning and it wasn't as easy as I thought. I ripped out a lot of stiches in that first year. Eventually I started to get pretty good at it and people were admiring all the color combinations that I was creating. Then one of my friends liked something of mine and wanted a shirt of her own, then another wanted a bag, then a dress, and that demand then evolved into my own little business...!

In the now...

After I graduated from college, I decided to stay at my "summer job", full time. So I moved to Jonesville, Michigan, a far cry from Ann Arbor, to continue to work at a residential treatment facility as counselor. (if you know what residentai treatment is, then you understand : ) After about a year of this, I was pretty tired of it and began to wonder what the heck to do with my life. I was just partying, going to shows, and working. I had a bachelor's degree, but there were no jobs in Michigan, and I wasn't sure what I even wanted to do. But I knew it was not work everyday 40+ hours a week, of that I was sure! I was sewing and working and just feeling like I was stuck in a rut. It was then that I met my husband, Josh. He was exactly what I needed at that time in life, a laid back, sweet, guy who I had fun with right away~

After I got fed up with my job, my then boyfriend (now Husband), Josh and I decided to pack it up with a couple of our friends and head to Colorado! I had grown up and lived in Michigan all of my life, I love the thick green grass, gorgeous fall colors, and all the awesome lakes to swim in all summer! However, the winters are not short of torture and the lack of sun drove me crazy. Where to go for sun? COLORADO!

I have lived here in Golden, Colorado for two years now and it is certainly home for Josh and I as well as our sweet dog Rock (she rules the household!) The mountains are an inspiration for me and my creativity and sewing ability have grown in the years out west. Since we have been here we have met some *great* friends who have made Colorado a home away from home for us. There is so much adventure here and we love to ski, board, hike, camp and spend time looking at the great backyard that is a backdrop to Denver. *And of course go to shows*

Josh and I got married last October, and had a wonderful wedding and a great Caribbean honeymoon. And now I am ready to spend my free time sewing and creating works of art for all of you! Building a website was my first goal which was achieved with a lot of help from my awesome friends Heather and Erin. Thanks Ladies! So here I am, sewing, and creating  art for the world to see.

There is so much more to say, thank you for reading this much. If you are ever in the Denver/Golden area for a show, especially at Red Rocks, (which is the best venue ever : ) you might see me selling in the lots or dancin' in the aisles!
Thank you for listening to a little piece of my life, and much love to you and your families.

Take care, love and peace,

*Jennifer Renee Mason (Rainey)*

The outside pics are my favorites, October in Michigan with the beautiful maple trees was incredible!  Unfortunately, it rained on our wedding day, or we would have taken so many more outside.  

We had such a wonderful wedding day...it was great to wear a beautiful dress, carry a bouquet, and see Josh in a tux!   I wanted a wedding which was very fancy, much unlike our normal lives. : )

First House Pics

This is the outside of the house, in the front.  This is the first day we got posession of the house, so we have not mowed the yard yet, or anything.  But we did put our chairs on the deck to check out the views and drink some tasty brews.

The back of the house is brick, the brick was taken off the front for the edition that was added by the people before us.  It also helps with curb appeal.  The brickwork on the back of the house is really pretty though, and you can see Green Mountain over the top of the house.  

Josh in the doorway with our sweetie dog Rock.

THe kitchen and living room.  These pics don't do it justice, the kitchen is very pretty and a great earth tone brown, but in these pics you can't even tell.  The living room on the right.  

Here you can see why we were able to get such a nice house so cheaply in Colorado!  The cracks in the basement are from years of water damage, and the dry Colorado soil.  Fortunately, we were able to get a grant to fix the house and here you can see the "under contstruction" poles going in, to anchor the walls.  There were 8 holes drilled on 2 walls, then a huge anchor was driven into the hole.  They pulled the anchor out and you can see the pole sticking out (left), that pole is 30 feet into the ground from the house.  They finished it off with a metal plate screwed into the pole, the walls are completely straight now, and guaranteed for life.  We are happy that it's done, now we just have to finish the basement : )  

More pics to come soon.  

Quandary Peak Pics

Quandary Peak 14,265 feet, Colorado's 13th tallest peak

My father has wanted to come to Colorado and hike a 14-er ( one of Colorado's 53 peaks which reach 14,000 feet) for some time now.  This August he was able to do that, with Greg, Josh, Rock (our dog) and myself.  Now, this is Josh and my second 14-er, we figure one per year is good ; )

This lunch area had a great view (left pic) at 13, 150 feet it was the summit of the peak.  Here Josh, Rock, Dad and I continued the rest of the way.  You can see other people climbing to the summit (rt pic) they are in blue in the middle of the picture,very teeny.  What you are unalbe to tell in this photo, is that there are lots of people hiking the summit, but it is reeeaaallly far up there.

Cell phones DO work at 14,000 feet in the middle of the wilderness.  (hmm, those "do you hear me now" commercials dont seem too far off, yet why cant I get reception in my own house?) Talking to Gram at 14k with beautiful views in the background.   On the left Josh and Rock at the Summit of Quandry Peak, with only 1000 vertical feet to go, whew!

Yellowstone Trip

Josh and I were fortunate to take a trip to Yellowstone late this summer, a 10 day camping trip.  Here are some of our beautiful photos from the Tetons & Yellowstone.

The left is Jackson Lake, Tetons at sunset you can see the peaks in the background.  The pics do not do these views justice! The right is the top of Signal Mountain, Tetons.  

The pic on the left is the sunset at Jackson Lake looking to the North of the Tetons, I loved the boats, and the steam coming off the water.  It was Cold!!  The pic on the right is the view from our campsite!

On the left, I really enjoyed the geysers and pools, it was also really warm there : ) It is amazing to just think that this entire valley under where we were walking, is flowing with hot lava!   This pool is my favorite, the blue color is the hottest color, the brown color has only come about in the last few years due to people littering into the pools.  Aweful!  On the right we have Mr Male Elk, who we watched (after this pic was taken) for several hours with his herd in Hayden Valley.

I call this my Lion King picture on the left (in the beginning of the movie, all the animals living in harmony : ) 
Here are the elk and buffalo herds just frolicking together in the field, we watched their interactions for several hours until the sunset.  We were much closer than this picture depicts, as close as 70 yards at some points.  The buffalo were fighting with each other, the doe elk were following around the male bull, it was mating season, & the weather was cool enough so the animals were very active!

On the right above, in the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar in Jackson Hole, Wy.  The barstools were saddles, I loved them!!

The picture on the left is of the beautiful red barn to the right of the barn is one of the National Forests Hot Springs.  We went and sat in the springs for about 3 hours, it was so much warmer than the 40 degrees we had while camping!  The photo on the right is our view from our first campsite in the Teton National Forest.

A few of my other favorite photos below:

Jen and Grandpa, October 2004 after the honeymoon.  On the right, Josh and I at Loveland Ski Area with Sara and Sean.  December '03

Thanksgiving 2005 at Russ's new house!  We had such a great time with all of our phamily~