found: new loving homes

I love it when I hear from a customer that found a piece of furniture in my booth at the flea! There is something so sweet about hearing how much they loved it once they got it home and put it in place! It makes a girl feel good to know her hard work has made someone happy. 

The other day I received a note from Dori from Bell Jar Vintage, one of my very best and favorite customers! Last summer she had  purchased a little gray table and small cabinet from me, and I was thrilled when she sent me a note to let me know she started a blog and had posted about them!

She has shown my Etsy shop such great support, too! Nothing better than getting a big box of goodies ready to ship off...I always wonder what they are going to do with everything once they get it home. Well, finally I am able to see for myself the pieces I found adding a finishing touch to someone's home! 

Last month, we had a HUGE storm blow through the flea! Needless to say, 80mph winds made shopping come to a screeching halt, so I came home with a few things. I posted a few pics I took before the storm hit, and in one of them was a pair of twin beds. My inbox went crazy and the beds found a new home. The person that snagged them was none other than Carol from Redeemed Vintage!

If you have not heard yet, Carol is from the Chicago area and holds invitation-only vintage sales at her home! Hop over to her blog and have a peek at her last sale - there was some awesome stuff to be had! If you would like to be on the list for notification of her next sale, drop her an email!

It was great to hear from these two lovely ladies...it made my day! 

If you have a quick minute, pop over and tell them give them a quick Hello!  

Carol - Redeemed Vinatge

Dori - Bell Jar Vintage

(Dori has a brand new blog, so I would LOVE it if you would show her some love!)

Have a great day, girls! I am off to distress a big pile of furniture today!

kane county flea market - July 2012

I am trying to come up with a phrase to describe this weekend at the flea...

EVENTFUL. 

Let's just call it that. 

I didn't have much time to snap pics this month. When the gates opened, it was pure madness. I was turning in circles to help everyone. It was such a great start to what ended up being a very wicked weekend. And it was HOT. Hot, hot, HOT...so if you saw me Saturday morning, my deepest apologies. By the time I unloaded 2 trucks of furniture, I was a hot mess. Literally. 

While white is still my best seller, I decided to bring a few colorful pieces this month. I miss painting things something other than white...so this fulfilled my need for this show. 

I wish I had 100 of this one, I could have sold each and every one. Such a unique style for a buffet...and I finished it in Provence by Annie Sloan. I love the white primer peeking through.

This is such a cute dresser...reminds me of one Pottery Barn has right now.

This is the sweetest pair of twin beds I have ever painted. Such cute detail...and love those curved footboards!

I have to admit...I kinda thought the Kane County Flea Market this past weekend would be my last. Not because I was going to choose to no longer be a vendor....but because I was going to get blown 3 states away in the wicked storm that popped up. It was soooo scary!

Things were flying through the air like we were in a tornado! We ended up getting on the ground behind a big dresser, fearing were going to be hit by something flying through the air. I have never seen anything like it. 

 I know others have done blog posts about their experience this weekend, so you may have already seen the photos. I cannot tell you how awful I feel for those that were outside vendors during the storm. If they didn't pack up before it hit, they lost everything. I was lucky enough to have a roof over my head, but the building I am in is the Arena Building (where they show animals at the fair), so it is really tall and has no sides. I had a front row seat of the carnage that took place this past weekend. 

It was so sad to see these nice people trying desperately to hold onto the legs of the tents while the 80mph winds whipped through their booth. It just wasn't enough. Totes full of merchandise were flying through the air like pieces of paper. I remember seeing lawn chairs made of logs being whipped around the ground like they were made of toothpicks. 

The water was coming so fast it was spraying out the sides of the gutters...my U-haul was in a lake after about 3 minutes. 

This is looking out the front of my booth. Looks like a beach, no??

I was just glad to hear everyone was safe. It was a very scary time, and I feel for all those that were devastated financially by this storm. I can't imagine losing everything, and for some...these shows are their way of living. 

I hope all my Chicagoland peeps will come out to the August show and show support to the vendors that work so hard to do what they love!

my weekend at the flea...

I wanted to get a post up about the flea market yesterday, but I was wiped out! To say the weekend was amazing, would be a total understatement. It was AWESOME!!!!!! I have been selling at this flea for 6 years, and this was the busiest weekend I have seen in a looong time! The girls that work in the market office said it was record attendance for the past 30 years! What I love most about that little statistic is that it reflects how many people in this big crazy world are embracing shopping somewhere that is an alternative  to a big box store. They are supporting individuals and small business. Buying vintage and being so darn excited about it!

That is just so cool.

Anyway, on with the show...thought I would show you some of the things I brought with me to the show this month...things were starting to get picked over before I could grab my camera, so I apologize everything is not so pretty at this point!

I did something I have never done at this flea before...I brought a few 'smalls' to sell as well...this photo is a bit of a mess, but someone had just dismantled my display to buy a few of the larger display pieces. 

I think I am going to do this again next month, too! It was fun just having one table of smaller things! Feeds my need to hunt for those when it is not the season for my Etsy shop to be open!

And after it was all said and done...here is the booth at the end of the day. Rather sad looking isn't it? Even that one lonely dresser had a sold tag on it and was just patiently waiting for it's new owners to pick it up. 

(taken on my iPhone, sorry its so fuzzy!)

As much as I love creating, and painting and giving new life to old furniture. One thing I love, love, LOVE about selling at a flea is meeting the faces that ready my blog! I will never forget these two gorgeous girls and how they so cutely asked 'are you Urban Famgirl'? They were so excited when I said yes. I mean seriously?!! These 2 beautiful young things read my lil 'ol blog??? Well, maybe they don't, but I know one of their Moms does! (Hi, Mom!)

Totally made my day. They were just so bubbly and cute and full of excitement! 

Moments like this make me feel eternally grateful for this crazy life I have. It is simply because of the support I receive from people willing to buy something that is not from a 'box store' I am able to do what I love! Thanks to these two girls I will be feeling warm and fuzzy about that thought for quite a while. 

Happy, Tuesday...I am off to pick up a dresser in Wisconsin for my guest room today! It is the perfect shade of blue, old and chippy paint! 

finally! pics from the flea!

Ok, so I think I was going to post these photos last week...but as usual I had a million things going on and  it just never happened. I had contractors here all week working on the exterior of my house. YAY!!

The flea market last weekend was...well...interesting. Saturday rocked! We saw so many people, and sold our usual amount for a Saturday. But then Sunday rolled around, and some wicked weather came with it. Oh yeah, it was super fun -  thunder and lightening and some of the hardest rain I have seen in a while. Not exactly my favorite way to start off the flea market season. 

I snapped a few pics when I could. I just took them quick with my little point and shoot, so they are not the best...but I can at least show you some of my usual 'goods'. 

If I had a thousand of these tall cabinets at the show, I swear I could have sold every one! It was by far the  'most wanted' for the weekend. It is an old art deco vanity that I took apart and modified so I could stack it and make a tall cabinet. I have one similar to this coming to the Nada Barn Sale this weekend, too. 

Dressers with mirrors are always a hit...so perfect for a little girl's room!

I had a HUGE queen headboard, too...it is super tall and ornate. Just a cool piece for a bedroom. 

12 drawers...can you believe 12 drawers?? I don't think in 12 years of doing this I have ever had a piece with 12 drawers. Let's say the number 12 one more time, shall we?? 

Twelve. Frenchy. Curvy. Beautiful. Drawers. 

I had a few twin beds, gray and white dressers, nightstands and mirrors. (By the time I took this pic all the large frames had been picked off my back wall but I will bring more next month, I promise!)

This bench will be at the Nada Farm sale this weekend!

And just so you know, this is the heaviest dining room table I have ever, ever painted. Solid oak. Heavy.  Love those curvy legs. 

Next stop - NADA FARM SALE!!!! 

Anyone out there coming to shop?? I am SUPER excited to just have a fun weekend! The weather is going to be beautiful!

I will be working on getting everything ready this week. I hope I can squeeze in a few preview pics so those of you that are coming can get a little peek into what I am bringing! Today I have 200+ pieces of English ironstone to price today! That is...if I can part with them. 

{wink...}

Ok, I better get busy! I have a full day - and my contractors are coming back! Today is siding, soffit and gutter day! Who knew new gutters could make a girl so happy!

feeling random...

You can always tell when Flea Market season is here...my blog posts become less and less frequent...and my days revolve around a paint brush and a warehouse busting with furniture waiting for a makeover. Since I have not posted this week, I thought I would just do a little 'follow up' to a couple recent posts and let you know what has been going on here at Casa Farmgirl. 

Let's see..

Speaking of furniture...I have been painting a LOT lately, so in just a couple weeks I will be back at the Kane County Flea in St. Charles, IL with a whole lotta this...there will be my usual white with a little black, gray, aqua and a few other colors sprinkled in. 

I had such a huge email response to my post about my trip our to my Mom & Dad's for Easter. To answer everyone at once...the photos of the barns and the cows are mostly from farms along Hwy 20 between Stockton and Galena, IL. A couple are from a road I don't know the name of that branches off of Hwy 20 outside of Galena going towards Platteville, WI. If you drive that route, you should be able to get some of the very same pics, but wear tall boots! You have to walk through some very deep ditches and over a barbed-wire fence. The things I do to get shots for you girls! Haha!

I have yet to decide on a color roof for my exterior reno. I am seriously leaning towards the charcoal gray roof with a light gray paint color on the body of the house and charcoal shutters. But I am sure I will change my mind by tomorrow morning.

My new Willow Sofa from Crate & Barrel that I discussed here has had delivery pushed back to 'early or mid May'. Grrrr....could they be a little less specific? I get so annoyed when a product that is always promised as 'in-stock' suddenly takes a month to arrive. I guess I am just excited to get my sunroom pulled together. 

I know I still owe you a post on the flooring I chose for my sunroom. Right after we installed it, we had a week of cloudy days and by the time the sun decided to come out so I could get good pics, I was in the throws of furniture painting. 

{sigh}...I need a personal assistant. 

I am been out 'pickin' like crazy because I am super excited to be a vendor at the Nada Barn Sale this year! I am collaborating with a few of the most wonderful girls I have ever met! Susan from Maple & Magnolia, Julie, Anne and Nancy from Tattered Tiques (they have an incredible shop in Lake Barrington, IL where I sell my vintage wares) and Stacey from A Sort of Fairytale.

It is going to be AWESOME! Be sure to come out and say Hi!

(and for those of you that have emailed, I will not be selling painted furniture here, but my very favorite vintage finds...look for a little preview here and on my Facebook page prior to the sale in May)

This found me yesterday on Pinterest. Something I so need to remember these day...isn't the photograph amazing??? This is from the equally amazing Jeanne Griffin Oliver...love her and her incredible style. 

Well, that is as good as it gets for today, girls! I am off to the mighty warehouse to paint today. The countdown is on...the flea is 2 weeks from Saturday...YIKES!

Have a happy Wednesday!

HGTV magazine & a flea market weekend!

Ok, how did this one slip by me??

HGTV came out with a magazine?

And I didn't know about it ahead of time? Did anyone else miss this or was it just me??

 I am a girl that has 2 major obsessions in her life (so sad, I know). HGTV & decor magazines. How in the world did I not know the 2 worlds were merging!?

I am happy to report I will be tucked in to bed extra early tonight, all in the name of curling up and seeing what is under the cover of this beauty. When I was flipping through at the grocery store, I did spy Sarah Richardson between the pages. Don't you just love Sarah?? I do. I think we should hang out. Or at the very least she should decorate my house. Whichever is fine with me.  

Oh, and just a reminder to my local peeps...this weekend is my LAST SHOW of the 2011 season! I can't believe how fast it has gone by! But, I have to admit I am slightly relieved to be able to give my paintbrush...and my wrists...a break for a little while. You girls have kept my sooo busy this summer! I am so very grateful...and humbled...that you love my painted furniture. I cannot thank you all enough...you are what keep me going!

I will be in my usual spot at the Kane County Fairgrouds in St. Charles, IL...the Arena Building...main aisle...just look for the sea of white furniture.

And while you are there..be sure to stop and say hello to some of my blog friends that will be selling this weekend...they have AMAZING booths and sell AMAZING things!

- Stacey {A Sort of Fairytale}

- Anita & Judy {Iowa Junk Gypsies}

- Jackie & Jill {2 Chicks & A Fancy Owl}

Polly {Counting Your Blessings}

Hope to see you out at the flea this weekend! It is going to be a gorgeous weekend in Chicagoland!

And I will of course give you a full report on HGTV magazine next week!

Have a fabulous weekend, girls!

new things in the shop....finally!!

Just checking in...I know I have been such a bad blogger the last couple of months. Once summer comes, my world goes crazy! I want to give a H-U-G-E THANK YOU to everyone that stopped by my booth at the flea this weekend! You never cease to amaze me with your support of my little biz. You are what keeps me painting in 110 degree heat! I love to see smiling faces when a client finds just the piece of furniture they had been looking for! I am truly humbled that you love what I do...as much as I do.

I was really hoping to snap some pics of the furnitue I brough this weekend. But as soon as the gates flew open it was insane...to say the least! The pieces were flying out of my booth before I could snap a single pic. So....maybe next month I will be able to give you a little snippet of my space at the flea.

Anyway...what I am getting at with this long tale-of-woe about my lack of time to post this summer....is that not only have I been neglecting my blog, but my Etsy shop, too!

I did add a few new things this morning, with lots more to come tonight or tomorrow!

Always one of my favorites...a vintage Big Ben with a beautiful chippy patina!

Vintage bingo numbers...but not just your normal bingo numbers...no sir, these are quite large. Perfect for a project or display!

This birdcage had me doing the "Do I keep this one or let someone else enjoy it" game. I *love* this one...it is just so unique and pretty!

Vintage cow ear tags...and these are paper, too! I never even knew such a thing existed! These were the temporary tags they would use at cattle auctions. I just loved the typography on each card. I hope someone out there has a project just waiting for these beauties! If you need specific numbers, let me know!

Folding wooden measuring sticks...I have one on my desk in front of me as I type this...it holds business cards!

Tarnished silver is always one of my favorite things...I am becoming quite the "hoarder" of this stuff, so someone needs to give this one a home before I do.

*smile...*



Hmmm...what else is coming?? Well, a beautiful large metal tool box in the most GORGEOUS shade of blue (old paint of course), more tarnished silver pieces, french books, antique maps...oh, and a couple of old metal baskets with ruffled liners!

Ok, that is for today girls. I am off to take more pics, do some laundry, clean bathrooms and weed the garden!

Have a happy Tuesday!

its that time again...



You always can tell when it is "flea market time" around here. You don't hear a peep from me because I am working like crazy getting things painted for the show.

I have a long list of pieces to paint for today, so just thought I would check in and say "Hi"...and leave you with a few pics I have saved in my "furniture inspiration file" on Pinterest.

If you are coming to the flea in St Charles, IL this weekend...the weather is going to be gorgeous! I will have my regular pieces...bookcases, dressers, vanity tables, and a matching pair of gorgeous french twin beds, too!

Oh, and for those of you that have asked...I'm bringing a couple of large cabinets with chicken wire doors and a HUGE armoire that is all girly and pretty!

I found this quote on the web this morning. I think someone is trying to tell me something.

*smile...*

I am off to get some work done girls!

Happy Monday!