the etsy shop is open!

FINALLY!!

The long-planned Etsy shop it up and running!! And it is soooo much fun to be a part of the Etsy world in this way! A little over a week ago I started listing things, and you girls have made me smile...over and over again! I had no idea you would support me in the way you have!

From the bottom of my heart...I thank you!

Now, to address all of those "why didn't you tell us your Etsy shop was open?!" emails...

I apologize! Its been a crazy, crazy couple of weeks! But THANK YOU for showing me the love...

So, here is a little preview...if you want to see more let your eyes wander over to the right...

you can click on my shop link over there...

 

I have so much more to get listed in the next couple of weeks. I have been picking every barn, junk shop and  estate sale for the last year with the intentions of opening this little shop. I have a warehouse literally overflowing with so many wondeful things. I can't wait to share them all with you!

And for those of you that have asked, YES!!! My painted furniture will soon be offered online, too!

Happy Day, my friends. I have a date with my paintbrush for the rest of the day today! Oh, how I love my job!  

Stay warm and cozy...

fabulous wreath alert!

My to-do list is so long for today I had to flip to the backside of my paper to keep adding...

so I am going to keep this short and sweet...

When I saw my friend Judy's creation, I KNEW I had to show you!

My friends Anita and Judy have the most fabulous booth at the same market I sell at during the summer months. They are the girls I always KNOW will have the best vintage goodies and handmade treasures.This month Judy made this wreath which sold...oh, somewhere about the split-second that the doors to the show opened!

Isn't this the BEST holiday wreath??

Handmade with love from the heart of Iowa...

I am in LOVE...the creams and whites...the delicate snowflakes...

and the BEST part..

SHE DECIDED TO SELL THEM ONLINE!

Woohoo!

Only $38 plus shipping...now that is fabulous, my friends!

If you want to place an order...visit their blog...Iowa Junk Gypsies

Have a fabulous day, my friends!

I am off to take more pics for Etsy, wait for a delivery of a new washer and dryer, clean the house, do some Christmas shopping, list some things on Etsy, finish the laundry, make beds, shovel my walk for the 85th time, write out my Christmas cards and paint a couple pieces for furniture for the orders that I am way behind on! Whew...I'm tired just thinking about it.

How about it I just get under my electric blanket and read blogs all day?

Yeah, that sounds much better.

i heart House of White...

A few weeks ago I stumbled on a blog that I am in *love* with and I just have to share...

House of White

Jenni and Lisa are friends, and creators of House of White. They love decorating with shades of white and a twist of vintage charm. They are both driven by the desire to have not only a beautiful home, but one that functions realistically for a family with small children. The imperfect charm of vintage and the bleachability of white made the House of White aesthetic both lovely and functional for their busy lives.

Jenni pointed out to me that since they both live in the Northwest, so much of the year is gray and rainy. And I cannot agree with her more, there is nothing better than coming home to a bright, cheerful house, filled with shades of white!

So here you go girls...soak up some House of White eye candy, then pop over to their blog to see for yourself.

You know how I feel about houses with wood ceilings...love. Pure love. I cannot stop staring and dreaming when I look at Jenni's living room!

Isn't it just beautful??? For a second I thought it was a picture out of a Pottery Barn catalog!

And that staircase garland with those beautiful ornaments...

made it herself.

yep. handmade.

AMAZING!

I think I am going to be getting my craft on this weekend, thanks to a little inspiration from the House of White!

And this is the photo that first drew me into their blog.

Jennie and Lisa painted these chairs and made those lovely covers for the seats!

Aren't they beautiful?! I loooove that pleated ruffle!

Now go on, click over to their blog and take a peek into the world of Jenni & Lisa...

Oh, and I have to mention the most fabulous part...they sell their painted furniture and vintage goodies!

If you are lucky enough to live near Camas, Washington...you can find their treasures at Camas Antiques.

Otherwise...if you are like me, and can only dream of spending hours perusing Camas...I am happy to say you can shop House of White on Etsy!

"Tis the season...and they have some fantastic things in their shop!

Happy Thursday everyone, once again I can't believe how fast the week is going by!

the christmas barn....



As promised...more of the 2,413 photos I took Sunday at Northwind Perinnial Farm.

This is my last post on this.

I swear.

~ wink ~

I just love this place, so I have to share it with you. I would feel bad keeping all this beauty to myself!

I have a serious 'thing' for barn doors. They are so beautiful...and the craftsmanship that goes into each one is unreal. I would so love to sneak this one off its hinges and bring it home with me!

Northwind closes down around the first part of October to prepare for the Holiday displays. They reopen the weekend before Thanksgiving...I really should have gone earlier. So much was already sold...it is amazing how many people come for a visit when they set up for Christmas...but it is still so gorgeous!

I love the industrial lighting and chippy, old paint furniture they use in their displays...

I am slightly obsessed with the farm table and the 3 galvanized buckets...

The grand piano inside the barn is pure genius...I love how it is a focal point...even from the outside. If you missed that in yesterdays post, have a look. Sliding the barn doors open so you can see the piano from outside was a fantastic idea!

I love the feeling of a huge old barn...the soaring ceilings and loft that you can see just a peek of here remind me of the barn at our farm growing up. I would say that wreath was about 6 feet in diameter...stunning!

I love this room.

The white beams, the industrial lighting, the chippy cabinets and natural tree.

* sigh *

so pretty.

Just for the record, I am on the hunt for a piece of fretwork like the one in this photo to the left of the green cabinet.

I must have one for my fireplace wall!

Here we go with that barn door obsession again.

That would look stunning at the end of my hallway.

Just in case someone sees one similar.

Remember me, ok??

Oh my, the stalls.

The stalls were my favorite part of the barn.

Truly.

Until you have seen them in person, you just can't appreciate them.

So dreamy with their worn wood and yet even more industrial lighting inside.

There is my little kitty friend again I talked about in yesterdays post.

Oh, and each stall was done in a different vignette.

They were soooo gorgeous, I cannot even tell you.

I did take some photos, but since I have no idea how you use this new camera, the industrial lights and my lack of skills did not get along very well.

But take my word for it.

They were...stunning!

My very favorite part of the day...

Kinda hard to make sense out of what this photo is, because it was a very tight space I was in.

But I know there is a farmgirl in the crowd out there that will get right away what this is!

.........they put their Christmas tree in the silo.

Genius!

      There was a big, beautiful real tree, surrounded by 4 chippy metal retro-motel style patio chairs.

I wish the space wasn't so tight...it was awesome!!

I have received so many emails from my Midwest peeps that want to go for a visit and soak in the beauty for themselves. Thank you for sharing the love! 

Here is the website for Northwind Perennial Farm. Their hours and directions are listed, but do call before you go, even through it says they are open through Decemeber 12th. I believe the owner told me they didn't have enough stock left to stay open through next weekend. I would hate for you to make the trip only to find out they are closed!

If you want to see the outside of the barn and photos for the gounds..check out my post from yesterday here.



northwind roadtrip...part one



This weekend I had a wonderful day with the girls.

We loaded ourselves in my truck, thermoses of hot chocolate in hand, wearing puffy down coats and long underwear with wool socks.

(Did I mention it was a high of 19 degrees here today! Yikes!)

We planned to spend the day driving backroads in rural Wisconsin until we filled the back of the truck with vintage goodness. There is little I love more than a day laughing and shopping with my sister and my best girlfriends!

Our first stop was my favorite. Northwind Perennial Farm in Burlington, WI. They are mainly a nursery of sorts that grows and sells perennial plants in the spring and summer. Their grounds are out of this world gorgeous when they are full bloom. For any of my Chicago area peeps out there....this place is soooo worth the drive!

I LOVE this place. Really, truly LOVE IT.

I visit in the spring when I am ready to do my planting for the year, again in the summer for a farmer's market or two...they have some of the most beautiful locally grown fruits and vegetables I have ever seen! Organic and lovely! But I am always drawn back in December, despite the cold and snow, to soak up a little Christmas ambience in their gorgeous red barn they deck out for the Holidays!

Today, I took so many photos, they asked where I was "from". Like I was big time paparazzi or something. So funny!

So here are my outdoor shots from the day, tomorrow I will show you what was inside that huge, old barn!

As you walk in you are greeted by a warm fire...

And a jar of these...just in case you need to sit a while to warm your toes...and have a little snack...

I have to confess instead of roasting a marshmallow...

I had one of these...

Notice there are not many left in the box.

That was not my fault, I swear.

But I did bring one...or two...of these beautiful treats below home with me...

For my husband, of course.

Yeaaaaah....for my husband...thats it...

...they were for him.

Again, I swear to this.

I got a little distracted by the baked goods there for a moment.

I almost forgot to show you why I went to Northwind in the first place...

it was to shop inside this huge old beauty of a barn...

I can't wait to show you the goodness that was inside in my next post...

but first...a few of the 1,214 photos I took outside of the grounds

I love barn doors. Their are simple and so beautiful all on their own.

Northwind has a kitty at every turn.

Each one sweet and friendly.

It just adds to the ambience.

This little guy followed me around during my visit.

Greenery is for sale around the outside of the barn.

I love how it is displayed...I was so distracted by the old wheelbarrows, galvanized tubs and old rusty urns they were displayed in...that I forgot to buy any!

But I did snag a basket of giant pinecones.

I sat in these chairs when I visited this past spring.

They seem so much more peaceful now...

Throughout the grounds, Northwind has the most beautiful "sculptures" made from salvaged moulding and old chippy painted wood...this gazebo is one of my favorites and has chairs inside it during the summer.

I want the hubs to build one of these for me for the backyard!

Even the goats have a fantastic house, I wonder if they realize how cool their digs are!?

This poor little guy had a limp, so wouldn't venture out of the barn. I had to go in and see him...

And our little visit was going just fine until he took it upon himself to nibble on my favorite scarf.

A word of advice for all of you.

Goats are cute.

But they cannot be trusted around fringe.

Again, my favorite green chairs...

Truer words have never been spoken....

And I leave you will a little hint of what lies inside...

I don't know about you, but when I walk up to a barn...and through an open sliding door see the back of a grand piano, I am only thinking one thing.

Oooohhh.....this is going to be good!!



I can't wait to show you some of the 2,413 photos I took inside!

I had a wonderful weekend...and hope you all did too!

So tell me, did you visit somewhere fun this weekend!?

silver lining giveaway...

One of my faithful readers, Rachel from Silver Lining Decor, emailed to ask if I would be willing to host a giveaway with her. Well, by now you girls know how much I like to spread the love with a giveaway...so I was honored she would ask!

Rachel is a girl that loves pretty, sparkly, vintage things and is passionate about making jewelry from those items that the modern girl can love and appreciate! She creates amazing pieces, and I especially love that they are made with love from bits and bobs of a vintage nature...repurposed, redesigned and given a brand new life!

These are just a few of my favorite things from her Etsy shop...

But there is sooo much more! So be sure to pop over and take a look! There are some beautiful things that would fit nicely into someone's stocking!

Now, about the giveaway...

One lucky reader is going to win this gorgeous pair of earrings!

The are made with vintage iris glass rhinestones that are set in vintage brass. I LOVE the pink, blue and green stripes!

To enter, all you have to do is pop over to Rachel's Etsy shop...take a look around...come back and leave me a comment telling me which of her creations is your favorite!

How wonderful would it be to find those little beauties in your mailbox this season?

Not only is Rachel offering a pair of earrings for her giveaway...she is also giving away a pair of these beautiful rosebud earrings with every purchase from her Etsy shop!

Just enter URBANFARMGIRL in the 'message to seller' box at checkout!

  Giveaway and gift with purchase promo will run until midnight (central time) Thursday, December 9th. Winner will be announced Friday December 10th.

(open to International readers, too!)

Good luck, girls!