Dear Heidi,

Thank you for courageously taking a leap of faith so many years ago to help pull your family out of a financial tailspin. That one decision created a ripple effect that eventually reached me at a time when I was SO READY to hear your message of hope! I took a deep breath and made a leap of my own. I have been totally astounded by what happens when you combine passion and effort - than you for giving me the courage to try it for myself. Thank you for mentoring me through the first shaky steps. Thank you for your continued support as I navigate my own path. Thank you for being vulnerable and putting your heart out into the world - you changed my life and countless others because of it

With deep gratitude,

Jenny

Dear Erica,

One of the challenges I face as an artist is laying my heart open for others to see. You are so kind and appreciative of the work I do - I deeply value the support you offer! You also have the ability to see beyond my art and into the depth of what I am saying and then somehow articulate it back to me in a way that gives me insight into my own motivation and process! I don’t know how you do it but you do it so consistently that I know it’s a gift you possess. That this gift is coupled with a wonderful human that I enjoy spending time with makes you all the more precious to me.

Thank you so very much.

Jenny

Dear Lorri,

You are a huge part of one of the sweetest moments of my life. [Note to the reader: this may be TMI if childbirth is on the edge of your comfort zone]. I had just welcomed my daughter into the world with a birth that unfolded in the most beautiful way. When it came to time to tend to my wounds you gathered my sweet friends who had been assisting me all day to my side and we all laughed and chatted as you made careful stitches to repair the tear. As I was surrounded by these dear women I marveled at the underestimated power of “women’s work.” We had all toiled in the labor the day as only women could and then we to finished it off in a unique sewing circle of sorts. I owned my divinity that day and have not minimized my work ever since. Thank you for being a part of that precious experience. Thank you for believing in women and beautifully supporting the remarkable work that they do.

All my love,

Jenny

Dear Brittany,

I come to you looking shaggy and feeling slightly out of control and you are able to work your magic every time to make me feel clean and polished. Paraphrasing Michelangelo, you just snip away what isn’t me, revealing the true Jenny underneath all that extra hair. Thank you for sharing your talent with me and our community. I’m so grateful for the confidence I feel every time I leave your chair.

So grateful,

Jenny

Dear Shannon,

Grocery shopping has never been my favorite thing in the world - I try to minimize my time in Fred Meyer as much as possible. I have to tell you though - you have elevated that experience for me. You are so much fun to chat with and I’ve never seen anyone work as fast and as accurately as you. I truly look forward to our Monday morning chats and I know I’m not the only one. Thanks for being your fun, tough-love, work hard, play hard self. You make aisle 12 the best place to be!

You’re awesome,

Jenny

Dear Amanda,

In my years raising of my children your writing helped me stay rooted in what I aimed for as my ideal. I have appreciated your grounded words, your recognition of the beauty of the mundane, your appreciation for the home-made, and the way you have nurtured your children to be who they are - not who you imagine them to be. It’s a breath of fresh(ly baked bread) air to settle into your essays and observations. Thank you for sharing them so generously and religiously. You are a huge part of my child-raising years - thank you for being there in a way that’s only possible in this digital age.

With deep gratitude,

Jenny

Dear Cheryl,

I created these hearts for you as a way to show you how much I admire your two sides and how well you balance them. You are both gentle and fierce - and I love that about you! Gentleness and kindness can so often bleed into timidity (my own struggle) but girl, you are anything but timid. I have watched in admiration as you’ve owned your opinion and not put out a “for rent” sign. As someone who struggles with the fear of settling down into myself, your confidence is incredibly inspiring. That you can couple this with a deep tenderness is doubly amazing.

So grateful for you,

Jenny

Dear Erin,

I am so grateful for the energy and positivity you bring to our family. You are bright and vivacious and have boundless energy. I am impressed by your ability to weather storms with a smile. I’m pretty sure there is no hardship you haven’t loved in the end. Thank you for being such a force for good in the world.

So much love,

Jenny

Dear Librarians,

This is the only heart in the project that is for a group of women...and what a group you are! I love that you know each of my children by name. That you can recommend things that might enjoy. That you have created a second home for them - one that is filled with interest and excitement and so much possibility. I am so grateful for the way that you have shaped the lives of my children in such positive, life-long ways. You do such meaningful work - thank you.

In gratitude,

Jenny

Dear Kari,

As we’ve ebbed and flowed in and out of life’s experiences and contact with each other I love that we can always reconnect and start right where we left off. You’ve taught me how important it is to reach out and maintain relationships - that a quick email to start the ball rolling is all it takes to make a really nourishing afternoon happen. Thank you for your listening ear, your kindness, your optimism, and your tenacity. I had no idea that I lucked out so completely when we met all those years ago.

I am so grateful for you.

Jenny

Dear Elise,

Thank you for giving me the tools to identify myself, my mission, and my place in the world. The confidence I feel knowing that my work is aligned with my soul is priceless. I’m grateful for the lesson that saying no allows room for the YES! of life. That our work IS our life. That business done well nourishes all involved. Thank you for making the first taste of my own entrepreneurship so delicious.

All my love and gratitude,

Jenny

Dear Lara,

Explaining the way I created this heart helps to explain what you mean to me. Prior to this heart, I had never tried this technique before. It involves mixing a flow agent into the paint to make it more pourable and then pouring each color onto the canvas. Each color pushes the previous color out of the way and eventually the entire piece is covered. I was pretty nervous about it - the fluidity could be off, the flow pattern could be wonky, it could be a TON of wasted, expensive paint, and it could just be plain ugly! I finally took a deep breath and drew on your lesson to “just go for it” and did. It’s not perfect but it does perfectly express my gratitude. Thank you for teaching me to be bold, to quit holding back, and to just pour it on. I have drawn on your counsel countless times and my life has filled with color because of it. Thank you. I mean that deeply.

Thank you.

Jenny

Dear Reva,

Thank you so much for teaching me what it means to work hard for an organization. I learned so much from your work ethic, attention to detail, and professionalism. I loved our time together and am grateful that I had the opportunity to learn from you. I’ve had many opportunities to lean on your example and think “what would Reva do?” You have also inspired me to live a life of passion. From baking bread in your Airstream to cultivating an incredible garden, you teach by example how to live the best life - the one you love.

So grateful for you and all the hats you so beautifully wear,

Jenny

Dear Ellen,

I created this heart for you out of Shrinky Dinks because, honestly, I can’t think of anyone who would appreciate it more. Your sense of humor, wit, and charm are unparalleled. To leverage these gifts for the uplifting of millions is astounding. Thank you for sharing your time and talent with the world. It’s a happier place because of it.

With love and gratitude,

Jenny

Dear Geniel,

Thank you for teaching me how to run a home. Thank you for teaching me how to be a generous host. Thank you for teaching me about faith. Thank you for teaching me about love. Thank you for teaching me how to garden. Thank you for teaching me about the love of music. Thank you for teaching me about forgiveness. Thank you for teaching me about me.

I loved you then and I love you now.

Jenny

Dear Pat,

I can’t thank you enough for our few days together on the Oregon Coast. You reminded me that art is a language and, more importantly, that I had something to say. You helped me find my voice and validated the importance of it. I have found that the more I do the less I falter, the richer it becomes, and the wider its range. Thank you for this incredible gift. I mean, really. Thank you.

With deep gratitude,

Jenny

Dear Ani,

You provided the anthems of my young adult life. I identified so deeply with your expressions of angst, longing, beauty, optimism and rage. You truly provided the soundtrack to my life. I poured over your lyrics - gulping them down like I was starving. I was starving. Now, coming back to your work after the deep dive into the parenting of young children, I am filled again. It’s the tenderness of your work that touches me most now. You are truly an artist with a body of work that timelessly inspires. Thank you for the way you’ve shaped my thoughts and my heart. Thank you for fighting to be heard. We’ve listened.

In gratitude,

Jenny

Dear Addie,

Thank you for the support you’ve so generously and genuinely offered me. I can’t tell you how much I value your observations in the moment and visions into the future. I love our conversations and always leave them ready to get it done. We share so many of the same values and philosophies around business - your insights are pure gold! I am incredibly grateful for the re-crossing of our paths where and when they did. I think we have some incredible things ahead.

With love,

Jenny

Dear Svetlana,

Thank you for teaching me that the world is small, that language isn’t much of a barrier, and that friendships can span distance, culture and time.

All my love and gratitude,

Jenny

Dear Erin,

I am so grateful for the way that you have cared for my son. To give someone the gift of clear communication is priceless. We all want to be heard - thank you for helping him find his voice.

With deep gratitude,

Jenny

Dear Dawn,

What a road it’s been. Thank you for continuing to love our family through all the twists and turns and potholes. You’ve had ample reason to be unkind but instead you’ve been an example of loving through it all, come what may. You are a bright light and I’m both astonished and grateful that you continue to shine it our way. As you would say - “God bless you, honey!”

With love,

Jenny

Dear Alecia,

You have always astonished me with your pioneering and adventurous spirit. You are always trying new things, pushing boundaries, and expanding horizons. Now, a few decades in, the tapestry that you have woven has depth and variation and stunning color. You inspire me to keep to the loom.

With love and admiration,

Jenny

Dear Edie,

You are a FORCE! I’ve never met anyone with so much passion and tenacity as you. I am inspired by the way you have focused on the life you want to live and then worked tirelessly to make it happen. I know it can be done in my own life because I’ve watched you do it with yours. Thank you for your example - and your enduring friendship.

With gratitude,

Jenny

Dear Nera,

You bring such a bright light to a place that has a reputation for long, boring lines. I love how kind and patient you are. I’ve never seen you get frustrated - even when you could easily do so. You have a friendly comment for everyone - and there are A LOT of everyones! It makes me teary to think of all the lives in our community that you’ve touched with your optimism. Thank you.

In gratitude,

Jenny

Dear Lauren,

Though we’ve never met, you’ve still served as an important role model for me. While I’ve habitated in my body for the last 40 years I really hadn’t owned it or taken it seriously. You showed me what it looks like to push the limits of what I am capable of. I’ve found a deep love of running and count you as a mentor of sorts to show me what it means to truly show up in my own skin.

Thank you.

Jenny

Dear Grandma Tutu,

I’m breaking the rules by painting for you - I decided when I began this project that I would paint for the living; but some rules are meant to be broken and this seems like a good one to break.

Thank you for showing up for me in both life and death. I’ve felt your presence throughout this entire project - in both the celebrations and the times of self-doubt. You’ve always been a supporter of big, crazy ideas and this was no exception. I’m working hard down here to carry on your legacy of living a loving and adventurous life.

Thank you for being here as I close the door on this incredible experience. Thank you for the nudge to start it in the first place. Thank you for loving me - it’s made all the difference.

Yours,

Jenny