Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Happy Halloween!






HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Wishing everyone a safe and happy night! 

Tonight, I will be at my new shop handing out candy to the little ones...




My mom is coming to town to help get the shop ready...we will be unpacking boxes all night, so we figured we would share some treats with the kiddos in the neighborhood while we are there!







{both photos via my Pinterest board 'autumn'}


If you are local, we would love to see you! 

2202 Rural Street
(At the corner of Rural St. & Rome Ave.)

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Urban Farmgirl - a brick-and-mortar SHOP!!!





Last night I had a life changing moment. 

I signed on the dotted line...and now I am proud to say I am OFFICIALLY a shopkeeper. 

Urban Farmgirl will soon be it's own little shop in Rockford, IL!




I didn't seek out this shop...I feel in a way the shop has found me. There was a chain of random events that led me here, all starting with a conversation between a mail lady that knew of my work and a building owner looking for a tenant. Proof that relationships with everyone you meet are more important than you can ever imagine. You never know when that one little moment is going to lead you down a new path...



I am such a lucky girl...I get to be a caretaker of a lovely old building. It looks a little 'woody' right now...but it is going to be incredible, I promise! Those walls are awesome...they are 100 year old beadboard. They have had the old paint sandblasted off...yet bits of chippy paint still remain in the cracks. The floors are salvaged from a turn of century factory here in my town. I love this building. Every fiber of my being tells me  I was meant to be here. That this is my place. My shop. Of all the places I could have handpicked to represent me, and Urban Farmgirl...I could never have found something more perfect if I had set out and tried. 

I am super excited...but yet nervous. So many thoughts are running through my head. Will my town support me? Will they like what I have to offer them? Will I be able to survive? 

Time will tell. I work hard. I love what I do. I have faith that it is all going to be ok. 

Today I have so much work to do...but I promise to keep give you more details soon!

Saturday, October 20, 2012

creatively made home...STARTS MONDAY!!





Last call to get your registrations in for this incredible e-course, girls!!

Monday all the fun begins!



 The 5 lovely ladies shown above have put together an amazing line-up of videos, Q&A sessions, recipes, photos and a private Facebook group so you can connect with other people take the course!

You've seen their blogs...these girls KNOW what they are talking about. They have good advice on all things home. I don't know about you, but I get a little flustered when I know the Holidays are coming. I want my home to look cozy and inviting, yet fresh and put-together. Such pressure, don't you think? Well, I for one, am hoping for a new perspective on my home with this course. I just want to take the pressure off and ENJOY!

I am focusing on my home office and guest bedroom this month...I am switching rooms and giving each a new look! I am so excited to get inspired and get to work!


Here is a little run-down of all the goodies you can expect from this course...

* Each week you will have amazing truthful videos from not only the five teachers but other creative women.
* Each week we will take a room from one of YOU and all five women will give their suggestions telling you how they would transform the room with their style.
There will be 50+ project videos.
These will be incredible videos that include everything from gardening, cooking, gift giving and decorating.
* There will be written tips from each woman telling you how she starts a room, picks paint, fabrics, etc.  You will learn where to start when putting your own home together.
* Tons of beautiful house photos from each of the five women.
* Videos that truly reflect what life is like in each of their homes.  The stuff that life is really about.  
* Each woman will share their own truthful journey about how they started making their home a reflection of their hearts.
Each person registered will get an easy entertaining e-book to download.
It will contain go to recipes for beautiful and easy entertaining (they do go together), photos of table settings that take the stress out of having people over, favorite drinks and so much more (and their funniest entertaining story).
* There will be a private Facebook group to connect with other class members.
* There will be a once a week live discussion with one of the teachers!
* You will get printables and pdfs to keep and use again and again.

Class begins October 22nd
Registration is now open
The price is $58 for all 5 weeks


Want in on the fun?? I am already registered, so hope you will be, too! 
Click the button below to go to Jen's blog and register..



 Come on! You know you want to!


Thursday, October 18, 2012

amazing VINTAGE SHOPPING this weekend!!




If you live in the area...clear your calendar, girls!

There are 3 good places to shop for vintage goodies this weekend!


Susan from Maple & Magnolia is having her 'Cottage Sale' on Saturday...this is a don't miss event. She has cleaned and purged every room in her home, guest house and garage. Email her at mapleandmagnolia@gmail.com for an invite & directions. Her blog has lots of preview photos, too! 

{And yes, she is selling this dining table, those awesome metal chairs and loads of ironstone!}




Tattered Tiques in Lake Barrington, IL is open this weekend, too!! (their shop and Susan's house are only about 2 minutes from each other so you can hit BOTH!) Sooooo much good stuff here, let me tell you first hand. Industrial goodies, farmhouse wares and painted furniture, too!



The shop is open today, Friday and Saturday from 10-3.


They carry Annie Sloan Chalk Paint

AND 

the newly released Miss Mustard Seed's Milk Paint!!
{used on the chest below...such a cool, chippy look!}




Also, the Nada Farm Sale is this weekend in Esmond, IL! 

There is a loooong list of amazing vendors in the line up this year! Click over to Anne Marie's blog for a list and a map of the layout. Amazing shopping having so many great girls at one sale!
'



There you have it. One weekend. 3 awesome places to shop for vintage goodness. 

 I just may see you there!



Wednesday, October 17, 2012

passing time on Pinterest...



As some of you know...I have a love for Pinterest. Somehow over 37,000 of you have discovered this. {Which totally cracks me up! Where the heck did all you Pinterest stalkers followers come from?? Well, glad you love what I love. Happy to have you following along! Now, if only I could channel this into my blog. Hee...hee!}

I am a girl that find inspiration everywhere I go. The wheels are constantly turning in my head, and I just can't seem to shut it off. This is where my love affair with my iPhone and Pinterest comes in. 

For example:

I was in line at the grocery store when I came across Melaine's tutorial on how to paint a 'chalkboard' sign on your wall...I mean seriously?? Does this woman ever sleep? She constantly comes up with the most amazing things for her home. Love her. And love her ambition. 



I was waiting for my tank to fill at the gas station when I found this idea for polaroid coasters. Again...fantastic idea! These are not my mama's cork coasters from long ago. These are super-cute, conversation-starting, memories-on-display-in-a-cool-way kind of coasters. I WILL be making this one snowy day this winter. 



Long line at Barnes & Noble??...well...I better see whats happening in Pinterestland. 

That is when I came across Jill and her genius bookcase idea. Beautiful slat-backed bookcases made possible with...are you ready for this....3M tape??? I mean really, how AWESOME is that? Love Jill. She has amazing style, and to know she pulls it off on a dime...love her even more. 

Another snowy-day project. Check.  



Now my Pinterest love runs deeper than just project inspiration...I just love pretty things. 

Waiting at the DMV I found this lovely photo...

Cool old bike + fall leaves on the ground = I am totally sucked in and will TOTALLY repin you. 

It made the whole DMV 'experience' more enjoyable, I have to say!




Another of my favs? Words. Words that make me think...long after I have put the phone back in my purse after leaving the waiting room at the doctor's office. Or is to distract me while I am there?? Either way, it works. 


(all photos can be found via my Pinterest boards

I have had a few people tell me they just don't get the point of Pinterest. To each his own, I say. But for me...it brings a little 'pretty' into my day when I am doing things that are quite the opposite. 

{Happy Wednesday, girls!} 


Monday, October 15, 2012

maple & magnolia SALE PREVIEW




Just in case some of you missed my post the other day, I wanted to remind you that Susan from Maple & Magnolia is having her sale this week!! 

NOTE: Due to possible bad weather, the date has changed to:
 this coming SATURDAY October 20th, from 9-1. 

She announced today she is PRESELLING a few of her larger items, so if you see something you want  click over to her blog for pricing and email her right away! Everything must be picked up at the sale on Saturday.


Her surveyors cabinet...which is beyond words. Soooo cool!


Her AMAZING work table, which I have coveted for some time now...


A HUGE card catalog...


Annie Sloan Aubusson Blue sideboard...gorgeous!


An antique watchamaker's cabinet...imagine all the things you could put in those drawers!! I {heart} organization!


An incredible double-sided insurance sign...totally original in all its awesomeness!


And finally...her Glen Oaks Inn sign which came from a hotel in New Hampshire. LOVE it!


Good luck girls, let your fingers fly across that keyboard so you can get your name in if you want one of these beauties!!

I am off to work on a little project I have going on this week...I hope to be posting about it by Friday! 

Happy Monday!!

Friday, October 12, 2012

chicago area SALE OF THE CENTURY




I am still suffering from heart palpations, but I think I can get through this post. 

My girl Susan, from Maple & Magnolia fame is HAVING A SALE!!!




Do you know what this means, my Chicago peeps?? Good stuff. REALLY, REALLY good stuff is on the chopping block!

Everything from new to old, vintage to Pottery Barn will be at her sale. Stuff from HomeGoods, Target, Ralph Lauren, repurposed goodies...you get the idea. 

I have been in her house. Her guest house. Her garage. And let me tell you first hand....this is going to be a GOOD one. 

Would it be weird if I set up a tent in her ditch so I could be the first in line on Friday morning??



Need more enticing? Check Susan's blog often. She will be posting preview photos leading up to the sale. 

To be sent an invitation please send an email to mapleandmagnolia@gmail.com with 'sale' in the subject line. (And tell her the Farmgirl says Hi!) Invitations containing the address, map and details will go out via email early next week. 

Hope to see you there!


Thursday, October 4, 2012

kane county flea this weekend!



It is going to be an BEAUTIFUL fall weekend here in Illinois! A little nip in the air...I can't wait for the flea - are you coming out to shop? I missed last month...the first time in 6 years...but my Dad was so ill, I just had to be with him. I had a friend run the booth for me, but I missed seeing and talking to everyone!


For those of you that have shopped my space I want you I will be there, but the selection will be small this month. So much went on last month, and I have been out of town basically the whole month helping my mom adjust to her new life, I just didn't have time to get as much done as usual. 


I will have a few chalkboards...


And a cabinet that would be PERFECT for under a flat screen...or as a buffet...or a changing table...


A couple of pieces with some cute details...


And a china cabinet that is so much better in person...pale gray beadboard & chippy white chicken wire...


Of course I will have a ton of frames...


all shapes, sizes and colors!


Hope to see you there!

Oh, and just for fun if you hop over to Susan's blog today, Maple & Magnolia, you can see a piece of my painted furniture in action. I love it when I see how they fit in at their new homes! 


Happy Thursday girls, I am off to load a truck!

Hope to see you this weekend!