Thursday, November 29, 2012

today is the day!





I cannot believe it is finally here. It feels like Christmas morning. 

Today is the day my little shop opens for business!

 I am excited yet nervous to see what will come to be after tonight. The shop is stacked and displayed...vintage goods at every turn. At 5:00 I will unlock the doors and hope there will be girls on the other side, ready to laugh, eat a few cupcakes and maybe even shop a little. 




I am excited to have a few of my favorite people along on my little adventure. When the idea of this shop first came to be, I knew immediately I wanted to support other girls that love what I love. I didn't want to fill my shelves with things I just ordered from a catalog and were shipped in from who knows where. I wanted to support those that have always supported me. Girls that love their craft. Love vintage. Fellow bloggers, local artists and etsy shop owners were at the top of my list. 

You may recognize some of these amazing women...and if you are coming tonight, I hope you will support them as well. 


I will do a little feature on them one by one...but if you are local...stop in say 'Hi' to some of them in person. Stacey, Traci and Mona will be at the shop tonight along with one of my favorite friends and bloggers, Susan from Maple & Magnolia

I better run. Lots to do before 5:00. I hope to see lots of smiling faces tonight! And remember, if you can't make it tonight...I am open Friday & Saturday from 10-4!

Want a little sneak peek of the shop today? You can follow me on Facebook or Instagram under 'urbanfarmgirlandco'. I will post a few photos from around the shop as I am working away today!


Monday, November 12, 2012

your 'shop' questions...answered!




Happy Monday, everyone! I have a full day of furniture painting today, but I wanted to take a minute to answer a few questions that I have been getting regarding my new shop adventure! Thank you SO MUCH for all the sweet emails, comments and messages through Facebook you have sent since I posted my grand opening announcement! You have no idea how much it means to hear you support me and my crazy ideas!

So...on with the show. Your most common questions...answered.  


What will your hours be at the shop?



The shop will be open at least 2 weekends a month. It will not be an every-day-open kind of shop. The reason for this is two-fold. One, I want to be able to offer a new shopping experience each and every time I open the doors. New merchandise, new displays...to keep it interesting and fun! The second reason is just pure logistics. My thrill is in the hunt. There is nothing I love more than being on the road and finding all the goodies I have to offer you...and I need time to get all the furniture painted! 

However, I live just a few minutes from my shop, so anytime you want to stop in you are welcome to call and I will be happy to run over and unlock the doors! 

My hours may change in the future, and I may be open more...but right now it will be 2 weekends a month...Thursdays from 10-6, Friday & Saturday 10-4. Watch my blog and Facebook for dates. I will post them 2 months in advance. 


What is the address of the shop?

2202 Rural Street in Rockford, IL


Will you still be a vendor at the Kane County Flea Market in St. Charles, IL?

YES!! This will be my 7th summer at the flea...and I wouldn't miss it! You will still find me in the same location I have always been in. I will be back each month starting in May, and October is my last show of the season.



Will you be selling your painted furniture at the shop?



Of course! When I go to the flea in St. Charles, my painted furniture is all I bring. I have been talking a lot about the vintage goods I will be selling at the shop, but I will have painted furniture too. Dressers, nightstands, hutches, cabinets, desks....if it is made of wood and stands still long enough, I will paint it!


Will you still have your Etsy shop open now that you have a brick-and-mortar shop??

YES!! I {LOVE} Etsy! And I love my Etsy customers! I still want to be able to reach everyone, no matter where they are geographically located. Look for my Etsy shop to open again for the season right after December 1st! It will pop up on my sidebar when it is up and running again!


Can I sneak in to shop prior to the store opening on Nov. 29th?



I am getting this question a lot! And you have no idea how grateful I am to hear you are excited to see what is happening at Urban Farmgirl! (I hear from the neighbors I have have seen several 'peepers' in the shop windows since the grand opening was announced on my blog last week. Haha!) As much as I would LOVE to open earlier, I need some time to whip this little shop into shape. I need to make it pretty for that first day I open those doors! As much as I would love to sneak you in with a 'backstage pass', but I really need to focus on moving in right now. Hopefully you understand. There is so much work to be done!!

You mentioned you are carrying handmade good from fellow bloggers in the shop. Who are they?

I have several of my fellow bloggers that will have their handmade goods sprinkled around the shop. One of my main goals with this shop was to help support these lovely ladies and their work. I want to support other small businesses, too! I will be doing a post of each and every one of them, as I am SO HAPPY to have them come along for my little adventure! You know them all well, and I am happy to be able to make their goods accessible to my local peeps!

What sort of things will you have in the shop?


Well, that is one thing about me...I love everything! You will find a little bit of everything including ironstone, old silver, wood crates, wire baskets, chippy furniture, painted furniture, old clocks, vintage milk bottles, chandeliers...just about any kind of vintage decor you can imagine. There will also be artisan jewelry, handmade soaps and lots of painted wood signs. Oh, and more vintage cameras than you have ever seen in one place. {I unpacked those yesterday...and couldn't believe how many I have!}


I hope I have touched on the most common questions you have been sending me...if I missed something please don't hesitate to ask! Hope to see you at the shop on the 29th! 


Thursday, November 8, 2012

GRAND OPENING of Urban Farmgirl - the shop!




I have been painting furniture, hunting for amazing vintage finds and working up all the magic I can to pull it all together...all in preparation for the most important dates in my little shop's history. The grand opening weekend!

  Thursday night will be special - the very first shopping night - full of food, fun and giveaways! I do hope you can join us!



In addition to featuring my painted furniture, there shop will be loaded with my favorite vintage finds as well as the work of some of my very favorite bloggers. You will find the most amazing handcrafted jewelry, photography and home goods from around blogland! I am so very honored to have the opportunity to support these incredible women and their craft! 

I have received so many wonderful emails from girls traveling from afar...and from those right here in my hometown that are making the trek to my little shop's debut. I can't wait to put a face with the names I have known for so long and to make new friends right here in my own town! 

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for all the wonderful emails, Facebook & blog comments I have received from every one of you in support of my new adventure. I means more than you will ever know! Whenever I feel moments of doubt or nervousness about what I am doing, I just think of those and it make me confident that this little shop is going to feel the love! 

Hope to see you all on November 29th!




Tuesday, November 6, 2012

just do it...





I look forward to this day every 4 years. There is something so special about walking into that little booth and pulling the curtain behind me. I scan the page, then fill in the circles next to the names that I think will serve my country the best. 

I walk away knowing I did MY part. 

I hope you will do yours, too. 



Happy Voting, everyone!