urban farmgirl

...and I'm off to Nashville!

2012-02-27T15:08:00.003-06:00

I am getting a SUPER late start to my road trip to Nashville today...but what's a girl to do?! I had the 'closing ceremony', as I like to call it, on the house the hubs and I flipped and sold this morning...I still had laundry to do, and just finished packing my suitcase a few seconds ago. Now I have to cut up celery for 'road snacks', load the car, leave 1000 notes for the house sitter...and then...MAYBE I can finally get on the road. Is it just me, or is the week leading up to vacation just a whole lotta work??

{but I LOVE every minute in the car rolling down the highway so it is all worth it!}

I am leaving posting behind for the week. So I thought I would leave you with a few of my favorite 'pins' from the weekend...not a lick of sense as to how I chose these photos. Thats how I roll.

I just love 'em. Each and every one.

Oh, and almost 5,000 you have signed on to "follow" what I love on Pinterest! How fun is that?? I didn't even know 5,000 of you knew I existed! But somehow you discovered and SHARE my obsession with pretty things!

Ok, on with the show...Enjoy!

{sigh...}

No words needed. You all know how I feel about old trucks.

White bike = a MUST have for this summer. I mean really, how cute is this???

And should it not be a requirement that we spend at least one night in a tree house in our adult lives...just so we don't forget to have a little fun in life?

Ok, so this is just a teeny bit more elaborate than my childhood treehouse, but I like to think I have evolved!

And if there has ever been a photo that totally and completely sums up what I hope my path to heaven looks like, this is it. Who knew a driveway could be so dreamy??

Whose mailbox is this, anyway?? I would love to send them a letter just to say they are the luckiest people in the whole world!

Ok, now a quick snap back to reality...when I get home I am making half of my basement into a studio space. Here's hoping I find some cute little things for organization like this in my travels this week!

Again, a cute lard bucket?? That sums up why I love vintage. Lard is even cute!!!

And then something like this pops up on Pinterest and stops me in my tracks. Thoughts of my silly little studio space completely leave me head when my eyes fix on this photo. Oh yes, it is Teresa's {STUNNING} greenhouse.

Dear Teresa, I know nothing of plants...but could I move to your farm and become your apprentice??

{pretty please...}

So how was that for a totally random post that really made no sense at all...but we all love pretty pictures, right??

Over and out.

I have a highway waiting for me.

Nashville, here I come. You may never be the same.

{smile...}

goodbye crazy week!

2012-02-25T22:34:00.002-06:00

Holy cow, this week flew by! I have been MIA from the blog this week except for a quick post or two. My sister had a biggie surgery Monday...and she is recovering nicely...THANK YOU for all the emails and well wishes!

I am getting ready to leave for my trip to Nashville on Monday, but I just HAD to get some of this week's finds up on Etsy tonight!

I have a few unique things this weekend...surgical sterilization trays...I {love} wacky things like this to organize everyday 'stuff'...

and a drawer from an industrial cubby cabinet...

this is the very last one I have...

and a cool old door to a cracker bin from an old grocery...build a little box for it, and you would have a super cool storage/display piece to hang on the wall...

and yet more ironstone plates...

and a {GORGEOUS} ironstone teapot...

and the sweetest little trio of books I have ever seen!

I am in {LOVE} with the colors! perfect for a cottage style vignette or nursery!

It's 10:30 at night..I should be snuggled in next to the hubs watching movies...instead I am lining up blog posts for while I am away, doing the 412 loads of laundry that always seem to happen right before you leave for vacation...and freaking out because no matter how many clothes are in my closet, I ALWAYS feel like I have nothing to pack.

Ugh.

Listing a few things on Etsy was a nice distraction from reality tonight.

{smile...}

Have a happy Sunday girls, I have a feeling I am going to be in that day-before-vacation whirlwind!

ironstone palooza

2012-02-22T23:16:00.004-06:00

I posted this on my Facebook page, too...

but I have had about a million emails the last couple weeks asking when I was going to list more

WHITE IRONSTONE in my shop...well, you asked and I delivered!

Ironstone-palooza is happening over in my Etsy shop tonight! A lot of it has already been snapped up, but promised so many of you I would let you know when it was up and ready to go! I thought this may be faster than answering all those emails tonight...

Sweet dreams, girls! It has been a long day of Etsy-photo-taking today...so I am off to bed! More goodies going in the shopir Thursday morning!

numbered cabinet tutorial...

2012-02-22T08:44:00.002-06:00

It has been a crazy week around here! My sister had an unexpected major surgery on Monday, so I have been at the University of Wisconsin hospital with her the last few days. Needless to say, I am behind on everything, as the whole turn of events kinda threw me off...but I am home today, trying to get back into the swing of things.

While I was waiting in the hospital all that time I was trying to go through my inbox and get caught up on emails. I still have 4,876 to go. And no, that is not an exaggerated number, I really have 4,876 there patiently waiting for me. Yikes!

One subject that kept popping up in my inbox was about the numbered cabinet I painted as a project for Heather's Homebound E-Zine a few months ago. Since so many of you asked, I thought I would revisit the project, as it seems many of you want more details and info about what I used and how I did it.

So...here we go.

Let's start with the 'after' photo, shall we?

I {LOVE} this cabinet soooo much! I found it sitting next to a dumpster on one of my weekly "cruise the old industrial plants around my city to see what they are trashing trips". This one was at a building that was a printing company for almost 100 years.

It now resides here, in my home office, and sits right next to my desk to hold all my supplies. Everything from a phone book to post-it notes are neatly arranged and organized. I like things out of sight, but easily accessible.

This is what the cabinet looked like before. Now, the last time I showed this you were all wondering why I didn't keep the original paint. Well, had you seen it in person or if I had remembered to take a "before" shot of the whole piece, you would understand. Because it was in a working print factory the bottom of the cabinet was splashed with dark blue ink...all. over. it.

It looked ugly and dirty, not cool and chippy like we all love. No worries, I choose my painted pieces wisely, I never paint over {good} chippy paint.

These are the supplies I used:

-leftover BM paint in my favorite shade of gray...Gray Owl

-a nicely worn sanding sponge

- a sample of a darker gray paint I already had on hand

- silicone number stencils (purchased at Michaels and I LOVE them!)

- a 1 1/2" Purdy brush and an artists paint brush

I first gave the drawers a light sanding to try and remove some of that old splattered ink and clean up the finish. I couldn't believe I had found old numbers below the layers of paint! So cute, but they didn't come out this well of every drawer, that is why I decided to duplicate them.

Once the drawers were sanded, I gave them a "gray wash" over the entire surface. I cut my Gray Owl paint with water to about a 50/50 mixture. That put it on nice and light so that the original finish could still show through a bit...

I know most of you will find this next technique to be a little unconventional, but I have found it to work well for me, and I use it all the time. It's one of my personal 'painting secrets' that I have just found over the years.

When I am doing a piece like this that has an original paint finish that I want to retain the character of, I take sanding sponge to the surface when it is still slightly wet. Use an old sanding sponge that is quite soft. It is perfect for removing most of the paint wash but leaves behind the perfect amount just where you need it so the piece comes out looking like it still has the original, old paint finish...but it is just a little refreshed!

I cannot stress enough that this only works if you are using a paint 'wash', meaning you have cut your paint with water. If you try to do this with straight paint, you will have a mess on your hands. A rag does not seem to work the same for me either, it has to be the sanding sponge.

Once it was dry...I dug out my favorite $5 silicone stencils from Michaels. I cannot tell you how much I love these! They are removable from the clear block, you can use them over and over, let your paint dry on them when you get distracted with something else like I do...then just wash them in the sink and they are brand new again. Best. stencils. ever. And for $5?? Love it.

These gave me 2" numbers on my cabinet, so are a good size!

I brushed on my paint, but you could dip it, too. I tried both, and liked the worn and inconsistent look the brush gave the best.

The clear block makes it so easy to find your spot...then just press it down firmly...

and viola!! A perfectly vintage looking number!

I didn't want them to look to 'perfect'...just a little worn with a hand painted quality.

I finished the piece off with a light coat of wax, lined each drawer with a vintage map...and she was ready for her new life!

Painting a piece that I want to maintain the feel of the original finish on is so different than how I paint a "normal" piece of furniture...but I love the result! This one was an easy project, I finished the whole thing in about 2 hours.

And to answer a lot of your emails asking if I am selling it...well...not right now, but I do change my mind so you never know! 10 minutes from now, I may give a totally different answer! {smile...} But if I do, I will mention it in a post before I bring it to one of my shows, I promise!

Ok, I am off to take a zillion photos for Etsy today. If white ironstone is your thing, you may want to check my shop tonight...I have embraced the act that my collection it out of control, so will be selling around 25 pieces. {someone hold me, I can't believe I just said that!} I also have some old drawers, books, wire baskets...all kinds of goodies I found recently!

nashville or bust!

2012-02-17T09:17:00.001-06:00

In a little over a week the hubs and I are headed South!

{Destination: Nashville, TN}

{via}

You know I love me a road trip! There is something about getting in the car and hitting the road that makes me soooo happy! I love the unknown...the conversations in the car, it is in my blood to want to discover every nook and cranny of this big old world we live in!

I love my hubs. He supports me and my wanderlust no other man could!

So here is where I need your help! I already know I have one SUPER SPECIAL destination in mind...I just know this is going to be the highlight of my trip...I am stopping in to see Michelle at Vintage Junky in Spring Hill, TN! If anyone in the state of Tennessee would like something from Michelle's shop, you best get there before I do! I have a feeling a whole lot of vintage love is going to be leaving that little shop in my car! I am soooooo excited to finally meet her!

Here is what I need from you...I am looking for shops, restaurants, hotels, wacky roadside attractions, museums...you name it! If there is something along my route that I MUST see, I want to know about it! I hope I have some readers out there from the area, or that have traveled to it that can give me some advice!

I am taking this route to Nashville:

But this route through Kentucy to get back home...I like a change of scenery on my trips!

So hit me with it girls! I want to pack a lot into a short time so I hope you have some ideas for me!

Happy Friday, girls! I am off to clean house and do a little laundry today! {super exciting, I know!} I am soooo behind on answering emails, so if you sent me something and you haven't heard back from me, I will try to get through them all today!

pure & simple love...

2012-02-14T09:27:00.000-06:00

Last year I found a packet of World War II love letters at an auction. Bundled together with cotton twine, they were an accounting of a love that stretched across the world between a couple named Helen & Irwin. He was in the Navy and at sea...a world away from their little life here in Illinois.

I have every letter written back and fourth...for almost every single day he was away from home. It is like being present for a conversation...I read his letter, then hers. They are sweet, sometimes romantic...but mostly I can see how much he missed her, and missed home and the simple things they shared.

The speak of going bowling together, how much he misses her cooking...and how he is saving his pay to buy them a new home when he gets home. She is saving dimes for their little 'nest egg'.

I can't tell you the last time a dime meant so much to two people.

And I cannot tell you how much I love that he started each letter with "Dearest Darling Helen"...

and how beautiful it is that his first line of his Valentine letter simply started "Twilight is gradually coming upon us"...unknowingly, this simple man named Irwin from a small town in Illinois was writing a poetry, of sorts.

{sigh...}

So today I am wishing you a Valentine's Day full of the love like Helen & Irwin had.

Simple....and Sweet. Full of little joys and appreciation for love and life.

Happy Day, friends.

Lost & Found...and the giveaway winners!

2012-02-10T09:28:00.000-06:00

I have been thinking about a little something lately. It involves you, me and my Etsy shop. Oh, and my painted furniture, too! Let me explain a little...

I first started selling on Etsy last winter, and your warm welcome made me feel all warm & fuzzy...you support me endlessly, you encourage me to keep hunting for new things, and your creativity with the finds from my shop never cease to amaze me!

I love sharing my finds with all of you, and what I love even more, is when you get them home and share them right back with me! What I mean by that, is how so many of you send me photos of my little finds in your home. I {LOVE} that soooo much!

I have had you show me where you hung the sign you bought from my shop, the jewelry you made from my old game pieces, your silver collection with a few of my pieces sprinkled in....or how the dresser you brought home from my booth was the finishing touch in your little girls room! It is so awesome to see such love being given to things that were lost and unloved before I found them.

I am not exaggerating when I say each time I am wrapping a package I always, {ALWAYS} wonder about what happens once it reaches its destination! And I am so happy that so many of you show me the 'goods' in your home, without me even asking!

Here is what I have created to showcase your creativity...a little series on my blog I am calling Lost & Found. A form of Show & Tell where I share the photos of things you have purchased from my little shop in your home! I have been keeping all these wonderful photos to myself for so long! Then it dawned on me one day, why am I not sharing these so others can be inspired? Fast forward to today, and this is what I came up with the share the love...I will do a post when I gather a few photos, so it could be weekly or bi-weekly...it is all up to you!

All I would need from you is a photo of the item and how you have it displayed in your home! That is it - easy, peasy, right? I will show your photo on my blog with a link back to yours! Even if you don't have a blog - send me your photos, I still want to see how and where you put your vintage find to work!

This is going to be fun, so I hope I get good feedback on this. I just love sharing the love of all things vintage!

(I will have a little blog button ready for your sidebar, too!)

So get those photos to me, girls! I can't wait to showcase your creativity!

And now to announce the winners of the Sarah Jane Studios giveaway!

Jill Elaine from Sew a Fine Seam

Stacey from A Sort of Fairytale

Congratulations, girls! Email me to claim your patterns!

Urban Farmgirl invades Tattered Tiques!

2012-02-08T17:41:00.001-06:00

I had so much fun this morning! The hubs and I got up early and loaded our truck Beverly Hillbillies style! Wire baskets were stacked on top of an old laundry cart...chairs with old chippy paint were handing over the edge, white pitchers and old toolboxes rattled in the back seat the whole way there....

Destination?

Tattered Tiques shop in Lake Barrington, IL

I am so excited to let my Chicagoland friends know that now you can now shop all the vintage goodness of Tattered Tiques...with a little Urban Farmgirl and Maple & Magnolia sprinkled in!

Now doesn't that just sounds like it would be one crazy-wonderful, vintage-loving experience!?

(I took about 100 photos while I was there this morning, so thought I would share...)

I {LOVE} the thrill of the hunt when it comes to looking for vintage & antiques!

To be able to share my finds with some of my local friends at a wonderful shop full of amazingly talented women is incredible! And just look at the merchandise...I have a feeling I will be spending every penny I make on this little adventure before I even walk out the door!

Julie & Anne are sisters and they own this cute shop along with their Mom, Nancy. All 3 of them are just so talented and SUPER fun which is just the cherry on top of it all! It was an instant click when I met them...I love girls with a great sense of humor!

I was so excited to finally get to meet Susan from Maple & Magnolia in person today, too! She is just as fabulous in person as she is on her blog! Sweet, so very down to Earth. Her work is beyond incredible, as you surely must know. She works some magic with a paintbrush like I have never seen before! I have a feeling we are just going to keep buying each others things when we are in the shop!

I brought in this antique wood laundry cart today. The shade of gray is just delicious...and the sound of the wheels and the slats of wood...I was {smitten} when I first found her! I hope someone gives this one a home quickly before I decide to bring it back home.

And this workbench they have in the shop...AMAZING!!

(the little collection of clocks is calling my name, too!)

Tattered Tiques also carries Annie Sloan paints and waxes...so stop in if you need supplies!!

Ok, I am totally carried away with the photos on this post. This is just a teeny tiny sample of what you will find at the shop this weekend!

If you stop in, tell them the Urban Farmgirl sent you!

And I want to hear what you brought home! Show & Tell anyone??

You can find Tattered Tiques at:

22029 Pepper Road

Lake Barrington, IL

They are open Thurs, Fri & Sat

Feb. 9th, 10th & 11th

Feb 16th, 17th, 18th

10am - 3pm

i'm calling in sick today...

2012-02-06T09:35:00.002-06:00

I'm calling in sick today. But I am not sick. I am just feeling naughty like I did at my first job when I was a teenager and I just wanted to the day off. So bad, I know. How I went from that to the workaholic I am, I have NO idea, I swear.

Seriously though, I just need a day off. I am tired. Pooped. Wiped out.

I planned on telling you about a little something I have been working on for my Etsy shop, but it is going to have to wait until tomorrow. So I thought I would put a little post together today about what is on my mind today.

The little house we took a chance on and "flipped" in this CRAZY market SOLD!! Can everyone please stand up next to your desks and do a little Snoopy dance for me? The very first person that looked at it - bought it. I was so worried about what we had done. Everything is so volatile in real estate right now, so be able to say sold within the first week on the market is AMAZING. I feel so lucky!!

On top of reeling from the mountain of work I had just tackled at that house, I took Saturday and Sunday to tear apart and reorganize my warehouse. It was so out of control! My selling season starts again in May, so I have to start working soon so I can get a head start. I found so many cool pieces among my "stash"...I am excited to get started for the year. I came home last night and took a look through my Pinterest board for "Furniture Inspiration" (trying to get the juices flowing for projects) and found I had pinned so many pieces I already have in the 'archives'.

Just thought I would show you a bit of what I will be working on...

I found a cabinet so similar to this...except the top of my doors are not rounded. I love the gray, but think I will paint the inside white so it is not so dark.

I have been holding on to this bench for about 2 years, avoiding the tedious paint job of the back. I really love how this looks, so think I will make it a point to have it done for the first show this year.

{sigh...}

wall cabinets with old windows as doors. These bring back such memories. This is where I first started in the world of painted furniture. In 2000, I was 25 years old and turning these babies out by the dozens each month. My friends thought I was crazy!! That was when I was selling on Ebay...waaay before blogging and before I even knew what Etsy was. This photo has inspired me to start making them again...I love the double doors on this one.

And I came across a stack of windows about this size...yay! for being an old window hoarder!

I have a few dining tables I need to get done, too. They take up too much real esate in my warehouse, so I think after these are done, it may be a rare day when I buy another to re-do.

I love the natural, slightly whitewashed top Shaunna gave this table...I have one that is almost exactly the same. I think I might try this look...I love how it looks!

I have a few cabinets with lots of little drawers...this one is in my office at home...but I may paint another similar since I love it so much...

I have quite a few 3 drawer dressers, and the more I see the Union Jack...the more I love it. This gray is pretty awesome, I have to say. Maybe I should try it on one...hmmm.....

And finally...I have a table that has been tucked away for sooo long that is similar to this. I was marked to go in my studio space in my basement...but it is 7 feet long, and won't fit down my basement stairs. So sad! So...I have to part with it. Or I could hold onto it for 10 years until I move again. But that may put me at the top of the list in the hoarder category, so I guess I will pass it on to someone that could give it some love now.

Hope enjoyed my little stroll down inspiration lane. It makes me feel productive to talk about it today, even if I am just going to sit home in my sweats all day.

{smile...}

Happy Monday, girls!

I love the promise a fresh, new week holds!

Oohh...and don't forget, there is still time to enter my giveaway from Sarah Jane Studios!

sarah jane studios giveaway!

2012-02-03T09:10:00.000-06:00

I {heart} Sarah Jane Studios!

One day as I was clicking away, hopping to blog after blog and I came across Sarah Jane. It was love at first sight! Have you seen her blog, etsy shop and website? You really must pop over and pay her a visit. It is a 100 kinds of happy, I swear!

Sarah is a girl with AMAZING talent and her style is out of this world! I really think of her as a wonder-woman of sorts, designing patterns, papers and fabric...illustrating children's books and greeting cards. Her website is full of all sorts of fun and pretty things for purchase, which made me REALLY excited!

Lately, I had been thinking I needed something new to do when I had a little 'down time". Not that I get much of that, but I wanted to find something that would make me WANT to have a little time to myself to create. And then I stumbled on Sarah Jane's embroidery patterns! PERFECT when I just need a little time to unwind...but still need to feed my need to create.

When I saw the 'Make It Do or Do Without' pattern, I was sold. Nothing speaks to this farmgirl more than that mantra! Those words ring in my ear daily...I can hear my sweet Mama's voice telling us that when we were kids. NOTHING was wasted, vintage seemed to be our way of life. Not because it was cool and in style...but because that was just how it was done. You did not waste, you reused and recycled almost everything. Pretty cool when I think back on it.

Sarah and I are {TICKLED} to be able to give away not one...but TWO complete sets of Sarah Jane's embroidery patterns from her "Children at Play" series.

Each winner will receive 8 patterns:

3 Little Birds

Classic Play

Just Stay Little

Make It Do

On Parade

Playing Dolls

Rocket Launch Club

Summer Flowers

(all in PDF format, so they will be delivered right to your inbox!)

Ok, now for the "HOW TO ENTER" info:

Just leave me a comment on this post. Easy peasy!

Want extra credit?

You can do any or all of the things listed below!

Leave me a SEPARATE comment for each one you do, that is how you get multiple entries!

1. Click over and LIKE Sarah Jane Studios on Facebook...

2. Click over and LIKE Urban Farmgirl on Facebook...

3. Pop over to Sarah Jane's website HERE and tell me which pattern is your favorite...

4. Tweet, Blog or post on Facebook with a link to this giveaway...

Good luck, girls!

(Giveaway ends Wednesday, Feb. 8th, winner to be announced Thursday morning)

a few new things in the shop...

2012-02-02T09:15:00.000-06:00

Just thought I would show you a few new things I listed in my Etsy shop. I love, love, LOVE my job! Being able to find vintage treasures and antique furniture...giving them new lives and new homes...I love it so much! I had a wonderful time hunting for new things over the weekend, so I just had to show you some of what I found. I filled a truck and a huge trailer...so there is lots more to come!

{I will be listing new items today through Sunday...}

So lets take a little tour of just a few of the things I got up so far...

This farmgirl is having a really hard time letting go of this folk-art barn!

{love}

I will be listing a bunch of white ironstone this week...this bowl is quite large...love the pattern on the outside...

I have a box full of beautiful old books...most of them french and swedish

...and I found a bunch of these industrial metal part bins...

{i heart industrial}

a little milk glass...

and one FABULOUS antique bait shop sign...isn't that chippy paint just the best!?

I'll have lots of silver...tarnished and beautiful...

and these beautiful girls are still looking for a good home...they are quite large...so would be great on a shelf!

So if you are looking for a little vintage goodness this week...be sure to check back. I am hitting it hard this week with Etsy. And I have a super-special project in the works for my Etsy customers...I can't wait to tell you about it on Monday!

Ok, I am off to take photos. Everyone keep your fingers crossed we get a little sun here in Illinois today!

Oooh...and don't forget you can keep up with all the latest on my new Facebook page!

urban farmgirl is FINALLY on Facebook!

2012-02-01T08:05:00.002-06:00

I have finally come into the 21st century!

Urban Farmgirl is on Facebook!

(the Stash booth at the Country Living Fair last fall)

I created a page quite some time ago...but I never told anyone. Somehow a bunch of you found me even though it was my little secret! Starker-ish and just my style! {LOVE} you girls!!

I will regularly be updating my Facebook page...so if you want to click over and LIKE me, I would love you for it!

So why the decision to start using Facebook?

1. I knew it was time I get with it and stop denying Facebook was awesome.

2. I have been getting a LOT of emails and convos through Etsy asking if there was a mailing list buyers and lookers could be on so they could be notified when I put new things in my shop. Some things seem to go really fast, so I thought this was a great way to reach everyone and let them know when new things have popped up in the shop.

3. Flea Market season will be here before I know it. My goal, if time allows, is to post photos of what painted furniture I will be bringing to the shows. Again, I get a TON of emails the week before hand asking to see my inventory for that particular show. Thought this would be a great way for everyone to see the pieces as I get them done and be a huge time-saver for me, too.

4. I take A LOT of road trips looking for cool "junk"...I take a million photos while I am on the road, but only a select few can make it into a blog post. I thought this would be a great way to show things I find along my little journeys and name the places I shop, just in case you jump in the car and decide to go snooping around the backroads of America, too!

So....there you have it. One more way to keep in contact with what is going on in the world of Urban Farmgirl. I cannot tell you all how much it means to me that you support me, and my little blog, my Etsy shop and my booth at the flea. {THANK YOU!} from the bottom of this Farmgirl's heart!

Click here to visit my little Facbook page...

Happy Wednesday, girls!

I am off to take a TON of photos for Etsy today!

vintage junky giveaway...

2012-01-31T13:58:00.002-06:00

I just wanted to spread the love and be sure you all heard about a {FANTASTIC} giveaway going on over at Vintage Junky! Michelle and her husband are so generous...she is giving away one of her his gorgeous creations on her blog - a custom chalkboard created for one lucky winner!!

When she first announced a few months ago that he was going to be selling his work in a new Etsy shop, I was so excited! I snapped one up right away for my booth at the flea this summer!

I am going to made a frame from salvaged wood and hang it near the checkout.

{LOVE it!}

It was adapted from this gorgeous sign I saw in the Custom Chalk Etsy shop....

I think this one is pretty awesome...my sister would LOVE one of these! I think my birthday shopping for this year just got reeeeeally simple...

But then there is this sign...the sign of ALL signs...I not-so-secretly covet this one. We are talking full-blown love affair here. And sadly, this ones not for sale. It is a special one created just for Michelle.

Lucky girl.

{sigh...}

I am heading to Nashville at the end of February, and can't way to stop into Michelle's new store while I am there. I'm gonna wear a reeeaaallly big coat so I can stuff this under it on my way out the door. I don't think she will notice, do you?

{wink...}

The giveaway ends tomorrow! So head over to the Vintage Junky blog to see get your name in, girls!

(all photos courtesy of Vintage Junky and used with permission)

Good luck, girls!

If you are the lucky winner, I want to hear about it!

why I've been MIA...

2012-01-29T21:37:00.000-06:00

Whew! What a CRAZY couple of weeks!

I have been working an absolutely insane amount of hours on the little house the hubs and I gave CPR to and put up for sale. (I decided I dislike the term "flipping a house") I think in the last 11 days, I worked a minimum of 13 hours each day at this house. That would be my excuse for not getting a blog post up for...well...forever. For some reason I decided this house needed to go up for sale this week, so there was this huge push to get it done. My hubs was working all week, so it was kinda all up to me. What was I thinking? I can tell you what I am thinking now...Calgon, take me away! (someone please tell me they remember that commercial!)

Here is a "progress" photo. My hubs thought he was helping me out with the "staging' today. I walked in the bathroom, and he had hung the shower curtain and a couple towels. He is so cute...but he better not quit his day job. I had to kinda change it up, but lets not tell him, ok? I don't want to hurt his feelings. You know how guys are, they do one little thing and want a round of applause for it. {hee...hee...} Although I did think it was cute when I saw he had folded the toilet paper end like they do in hotels.

I will try to get a photo of the {correctly} staged bathroom this week if I have time. I didn't plan on showing you these photos, I took these just as a reference for us to use on the next house, but then I decided what the heck! I will throw a little reality at you tonight and you can see it in the "during" stage.

Here is what we had to start with.

Yikes.

It hurts my eyes to even look at it! I had forgotten how bad it was until I uploaded these photos tonight. Wow. What was I thinking when I signed on for this project?

Who ever decided "flesh" was a good shade for toilets, sinks and tubs?

And you just have to loooove that space-age vanity cabinet. All metal, baby!

This is a tiny little starter home...only about 1000 square feet. This is only one bathroom in the house. I have learned from experience that when I reno houses like this, it is best to keep things clean and simple. It is not how I would decorate my own home, but it does seem to be what buyers in this price point, and in my area, are looking for.

The flooring is a new product put out by Allure. They have a standard planked-strip vinyl, and a new one which I used, call Allure Ultra. It clicks together much like Pergo, but is 100% vinyl so can be used in wet spaces like bathrooms and basements. I {LOVE} the look, it has a hand-scraped rustic look to it.

I always use the same beadboard painted white, the same white vanity and tan Corian top. Buyers always seem to love it, so I just keep using it. I think its so funny that there are multiple houses in my city that all have the same exact bathroom. I'm sure some paint the walls their own color, but I use white because it gives them a blank slate to work with once they move in. And it makes a space look so crisp and clean!

The tub was in incredible condition, other than the mildew and awful color. Oh, and the stick-on daisy appliqués in the bottom of the tub. I decided rather than tear it out, I would have it professionally reglazed. For $500 it was the best solution for this house. I know 2 people personally that had their tubs glazed by this same man. One lasted 15 years, the other 17 before they had to be redone. I thought that was a pretty good track record, so I gave it a try.

I am happy to have life back to normal again. It was not an easy week. I was feeling achy and old every night when I got home! I lost 4 pounds in the process, so that made me a little happy! But now I have to get back to reality with mounds of laundry waiting for me...dishes piled up by the sink and tumbleweeds of dog hair floating through my hallway.

{sigh...}

I am off to find that Calgon. If you don't hear from me for a few days, I really did take me away.

your questions...answered. part 1

2012-01-19T07:49:00.000-06:00

Last week, when I wasn't feeling well...I asked if you girls had any questions for me. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would get so many! Well over a 100...so I think I best break my answers down into multiple posts. I didn't know so many of you would be so curious about this Urban Farmgirl!

This post is a little wordy and very random. Just so you know. Oh, and I am going to keep you in suspense and announce the winner of my little giveaway that went along with the questions when I answer the next round in a couple days.

{smile...}

So let's dig right in, shall we??

"Is that sweet little toy truck in the photo actually yours or just a random photo?"

I am the proud owner of that sweet little ride. I found it at an auction...and got it for a steal - only $6. It is one of the possessions that qualifies for "save it if the house is burning down".

"What is your favorite source for vintage home goods?"

Hmmmm...that is a tough one to answer, because you truly never, ever know what you are going to find. I looooove a yard sale, but estate sales and auctions are my most consistent means of supporting my 'habit'.

"Do you know the people in the truck photo that is in the header of your blog?"

I have no idea who the guy in the truck was! I will say this, it was like a moment out of a movie when that photo was taken. The hubs and I were driving through rural Kansas and I spotted the tailgate far ahead. I freaked out because I just KNEW it was going to be a cute truck. My hubs (being the AWESOME man that he is) drove Nascar style until we caught up to it. I was snapping pics all the way up to it, beside it, and after we passed it by. And can you believe the guy driving it was good looking, shirtless, tan...and wearing aviator sunglasses? If I didn't live to talk about it, I was SWEAR I had died and was driving on the highway to heaven! I mean, when does that happen???

(bad photo, sorry. taken out a car window while going 70 down the highway!)

Have you ever seen the scene in Chevy Chase's Vacation movie where he see's Christie Brinkley driving the Ferrari down the interstate. If so, you will understand why me and the hubs refer to that moment in my life as my "Christie Brinkley Moment." It will go down in history as one of the best moments on a vacation I have ever had.

"What kind of camera/set up/editing tools do I use"

Hmmm...so have I fooled you all into thinking I actually know what I am doing when I am behind my camera?? Hahaha! I received a number of emails complimenting my photography and wanting to know how I learned to take photos. Here is my 100% honest answer.

{ I have absolutely no idea how to use my camera. }

Most days I turn it on, and hope for the best.

There. The facade has been broken down. I can tell you I have a Canon T1i I bought a couple of years ago. BUT, I am soooo busy hunting for my treasures, painting furniture, renovating 2 houses and trying to have some sort of life...I have yet to find time to figure how how to use it. I will tell you I have a TON of great tutorials saved in my Pinterest files, and I am going to take a class a local photographer offers. I also own Photoshop, but have yet to figure that out. I use Picnik.com to edit my photos right now. For lenses, I I normally use the kit lens (18-55mm) but for some of my Etsy photos I use my 50mm.

"What is your all time favorite comedy movie"

Wow, that is a tough one! I am kinda old school when it comes to comedy. "What About Bob" with Bill Murray is one of my all time favorites. I never, ever get tired of that one! I love the Chevy Chase/Bill Murray/Steve Martin/John Candy era of comedy. Totally 80s.

"If you could go anywhere, where would it be?"

Impossible for me to pick only one! I cannot play favorites when it comes to travel. I have wanderlust flowing through my veins! My parents made sure we were well traveled when I was growing up. They wanted us to see the world. As a little kid we went everywhere - from camping at state parks to traveling by train through Europe. If I had to pick tropical I would say The US Virgin Islands or Bora Bora. I MUST stay in one of those little huts out over the water someday. But Norway is at the top of my list, too. I feel it is an overlooked country in terms of travel. It is sooooo beautiful!

"What is your favorite meal in the history of the world?" {If I couldn't decided, said I could give my top 5 favorite foods, so I'm going with that one.}

- Pasta. Specifically the Rigatoni D from Maggianos restaurant. If for some wacky reason I am ever on death row, I told my husband to make sure that is my last meal.

- Ice Cream. Not the soft serve kind...the good old fashioned kind that involves using a scoop. Mint Chip, Cookies and Cream, Butter Pecan...those are my favs.

- Bread. Any kind. I have never met a slice I didn't like.

- A cheeseburger with everything from Portillos restaurant. My Chicago area peeps will know why. Its pure heaven!

- A Dole Whip Float. It is Pineapple soft serve with pineapple juice. (These can only be found at Aloha Isle under the Swiss Family Robinson treehouse in DisneyWorld. You will see me in line there once a day when I go there this June, and again in September. LOVE!)

"Do you sell smalls at the flea market? I just saw your Etsy shop and love it!"

Well, I get asked this one a lot. And right now, I still plan on selling only furniture at the flea market. I am just so busy with the furniture, I find I can't divide my time in order to do it properly with a good set up, etc. However, I do bring things for customers to pick up at the flea all the time! If you see something you like, just let me know and you are welcome to pick it up in my booth!

Ok, that has probably bored you enough for one day!

I am off to work on the house were 'flipping' today. I need to finish painting the kitchen cabinets and install some lights today. Oh, and tear out a counter top and sink. This should be interesting to do all by myself. The hubs is working today - convenient, no?

Happy Thursday, girls! The weekend is almost here!

this is SO four months ago...

2012-01-17T10:36:00.000-06:00

I was going through the card from my camera this morning...and realized that of the 2,134 photos that were on it, I had some good shots from my trip to the Country Living Fair that I never showed you. This is totally old news...and maybe I should have just filed these away, but decided they should make their debut after all.

{I hear there is a 3rd Country Living Fair this year! And it is coming soon! April 27-29 in Austin, TX}

These first four photos were from the same booth...I can't seem to locate their card, but I remember they were from New York. I have no idea why I didn't buy that lodging sign. I was in love with it, and came back to their booth 4 times to look at it. I think I was visually overwhelmed. There was so much to see I wanted it all! But this would have been perfect in my guest room.

{sigh...}

A fun sign for a kitchen...

If my name was Sarah...this one would have been mine!

Great Stuff By Paul was there selling all sorts of European antiques. My friend Andrea ordered some French Bistro chairs from their website, and I was all set to bring some home with me...but the colors I wanted were already gone. Although, now that I see it again, that pink one would have been quite nice for a photo prop!

Love me some suitcases!!

This cabinet is another one of those {KICK MYSELF!} moments. I need to dig up the card from this booth and see if she still has this one. Seriously, does't it remind you of Maria's cabinet from Dreamy Whites?

Modern June's booth is always 10 kinds of happiness! Isn't all that color fantastic!!?

We snuck over to the flea market in Springfield, OH while we were there. Cabinets like these were EVERYWHERE, and I didn't think the prices were too bad. This one was $425.

Oh, and I think I was going to tell you about this a while ago...but I had a great meeting with Cari Cucksey from the HGTV show Cash & Cari. I was the first one in her booth {I headed straight there when the gates opened}. Everyone else started at the first booths inside the gate, which was nice because I actually got a chance to talk to her for a while. We are BFF's you know...since I set up Estate Sales like she does, I have deemed it so. Her show is actually very accurate to how the process of having an estate sale works. Nice to see something that isn't staged.

She was very nice and down to earth. I was going to show you the photo of us together...but this girl is

T-I-N-Y! I look like Godzilla standing next to her, so you are so not seeing that one. Isn't she just so cute? She has a great boho-vibe about her. She is getting married this fall, and is having her wedding in a barn. That, my friends, is going to be awesome...and I can't wait to see the photos!

Country Living had huge banners all over the grounds with photos from the pages of their magazine. This one caught my eye. So yes, I took a photo of a photo. Isn't that sink AMAZING!!?

Nothing is off limits when I have my camera. If I like your boots, I will shamelessly take a photo of you as you walk away. But these were just the perfect shade of gray! I should have asked her the brand....I am still slightly obsessed with them.

When I road-trip, it takes a little longer to get to your destination than a normal person. I stop constantly. Do brake hard, do u-turns on 4 lane roads...all in the name of beautiful things! I saw this old house outside of a small town in Indiana on my way to CL. In her prime, she was such a beauty. Look at the moulding around each window! She needs to be saved!!

Ooohh...this was another u-turn moment. I have a {LOVE} of the old, 1-story motels from the 1940s and 50s. I have a secret little dream to own one someday. This one in a small town in Indiana has been turned into an apartment complex, but the sign was still out front. Oh, how I would love to own it!! The pale aqua background was so beautiful...

Just in case you are interested in going...here are the dates of this year's Country Living Shows.

April 27th - 29th - Austin, TX

September 14-16 - Columbus, OH

October 26-28th -Atlanta, GA

I am off to take Etsy photos today! I have some goodies to list in the shop tonight. Here is a run-down in case anything sounds interesting! I have an old white scale, small metal pie safe cabinet, swedish books, a few old metal toolboxes, crusty old bottles, ironstone plates and platters, old sign letters...and whatever else I pull out of my 'archives'. So check back - I will start filling this shop this afternoon!

right now...

2012-01-14T08:51:00.001-06:00

I never really like to do a picture-less post. We all love the pictures, you know. But tonight, I just felt the need to do this post. Susan (Hometown Girl) did this one last week...she got the idea from Tara (Between You & Me), so I thought it only fitting I follow suit (with permission, of course). Thanks, Susan for ~~letting me copy you~~ inspiring me!

I am starting to feel better...thank goodness! Thank you for all the well wishes, I will announce the winner of my giveaway on Monday and then start answering all those questions you left for me!

So here is what I am doing...right now.

watching: American Pickers. I just turned it on, and it is the episode where they are in my town, picking an old warehouse that is not far from mine!! How weird is that??

eating: Don't tell my Beachbody coach, but I just had pizza for dinner. And italian salad. And maybe a little cheesy garlic bread. Hey, I'm doing the P90X workout. I haven't eaten real food since I was blessed with this lovely virus. I thought a few calories should be part of my Friday night plan. Feed a cold, right??

drinking: I have switched from the throat soothing Diet 7-up to Hot Apple Cider with a splash of orange juice. Bliss!

needing: To take my Christmas wreath down from by my front door. It slaps me in the face every day when I get home, but yet I cannot remember 10 seconds after I walk in the door to take it down.

wearing: Ooooooh, you are all going to stop reading after this. Brace yourself. Light green fuzzy polar fleece pjs with a pepto-bismol pink polar fleece robe over them. Oh, and slipper-boots. I looove slippers that are tall like boots. My favorite thing - ever!

I have been sick. I wanted comfort. Don't judge.

avoiding: Filing the 1,698 pieces of paper on my desk. Paper is my nemesis.

feeling: Sinus pressure.

missing: The ability to breathe through BOTH my nostrils at the same time.

thankful: For Pinterest and my iPhone. Talk about a way for a girl to pass the time! I am in line at the grocery store pinning away...I just cannot be idle for one moment in my life. It's a sickness I tell you. I must do multiple things at all times.

weather: 36 hours ago it was sunny and 54 degrees here in Illinois. Within in the last 24 hours we got whopped with 6-8 inches of snow and the official temperature right now is 7 degrees. Gotta love the Midwest!

praying for: This is a shallow answer, but I am going to an auction this weekend at an old sign factory. It is full of old signs and an antique card catalog I have my eye on. Please, please, please let me come home with a full truck! I never thought I would say this, but I am soooo excited to stand in 23 degree weather for 6 hours just to see what I can snag at this one!

needing to: Finish the house I am 'flipping' with my hubs. It seriously needs to be on the market by the end of the month. Tomorrow I have to paint kitchen cabinets and some pretty new beadboard in the bathroom, and I am sooooooo not feelin' it. Why oh why have I lost my DIY mojo?? If someone finds, please let me know. I am sure my hubs will offer a reward.

thinking: That if I hear Mike from American Pickers say "I'll pop on that" one more time in this episode...I am going to get in my car, drive through the night to LeClair Iowa and just let the man have it.

Ok. Sorry. I'm over it now. But while I was typing this, I swear he said that phrase 6,245 times! Alright already!

loving: These boots. Aren't they fantastic?? I NEED them!

via

Happy Weekend, girls!

I'll be back on Monday!

new goodies in the shop!

2012-01-12T16:07:00.002-06:00

FINALLY! I am starting to feel alive again! I am still not 100%, but I needed to get up and do something today to force myself into getting better. I am not used to being down this long. It makes me c-r-a-z-y!

Anyway, I couldn't do too much...but I did get a few new things in listed in my Etsy shop, so thought I would give you a peek!

A beautiful Swedish cookbook...dated 1899. This one is a GEM!

I have 2 of these metal baskets...perfect patina, great size! Storage should be cute and efficient!

These old opera glasses would be perfect perched on top of a pile of old books...

And you must know by now how I {loooooove} old metal toolboxes! I use them for storage all over my house! My studio has a line of them up on a shelf! I can just grab it and go when I have to create on the run!

And I cannot believe someone has not taken home these gorgeous french vanity jars yet! I listed these a couple days ago...they are quite large...an unusual size, so would really make a statement if you have a shelf or long bathroom counter!

Oh, and here we go with my toolbox obsession again! It it was not the middle of winter int he Midwest, I would have styled this old beauty full of pink peonies! Spring is just around the corner..this would be a cutie for the middle of your dining room table! {wink...wink...}

Well, that is about all the energy I can muster for today. I guess it is back to the couch of me. Hopefully tomorrow will be better! I need to squeeze a little TLC out of the hubs tonight. (Hey, I have to milk it while I can, right!)

I can't believe how many questions you girls came up with for me on my last post! We are over 100...I had no idea you girls would be THAT curious! Thanks for taking the time...each one was fun to read, I can't way to get the posts going with the answers!

{smile...}

I'll be back tomorrow!

Q&A...and a giveaway!

2012-01-09T12:41:00.002-06:00

Hey, that title rhymed!

Not too bad for a girl that is delirious with a head cold and bronchitis right now! I have one whopper of a virus right now, and I just can't seem to shake it. Ugh.

I thought since I don't have enough brain cells to compose a post today we would do something a little fun...

I'm holding a little Q& A session for the Urban Farmgirl!

Ask away!

Anything you would like to know about me personally...or my little biz...my home...you name it! Just leave me a comment on this post with your question. I always wonder about the girl behind the blog, so I know you probably do, too!

And just to add a more little fun, I will hold a little GIVEAWAY to go along with it! I will randomly choose one winner from the questions and send them a little surprise package of vintage goodies! (I have some awesome things set aside...but it's a secret...so shhhhh!)

I can't wait to see what you come up with! Its been a while since I have done this but it is always fun to read through your questions!

Happy Monday, girls! I am off to curl up on the sofa...

Oh, and on a side note...did you know that if you suffer from those crazy coughing fits - rubbing Vics vapor rub on the bottom of your feet and putting socks on stops the coughing?? I know, sounds TOTALLY crazy...but a friend told me about it, apparently her Grandma swore by the method. After another sleepless night last night, I was desperate enough to try it. My hubs insisted she was pulling some practical joke on me...and I did feel a little weird doing it, but I have to admit, it actually worked! I have not coughed once since I tried it. That is my helpful hint for the day!

i {heart} pine...

2012-01-04T10:29:00.000-06:00

I am hoping to get a little makeover to my home office completed this month. Notice I say 'this month'...I am always amazed when I visit a blog and see someone complete a room transformation in just a few days. How do they do that?? I have to sneak a few minutes in here and there between client orders, working on the house we are flipping and the never-ending laundry pile. Please tell me I'm not the only one that takes this long??

Anyway, I use the smallest bedroom in our home or my office. The room is only 10x12 and the interior wall that is only 10 feet, has 7 1/2 feet of closet on it. The two outside walls have huge windows on them. Each one is 4 ft wide x 5 feet tall. Those are big windows for such a little room, so it makes furniture placement a little tricky.

I have an 'odd' corner between those windows, and nothing every really seemed to work right in that space. I walked in to the room last week, and I decided it was time, literally, to do something with this room. I have those moments...I ignore a space and then like flipping a switch I decide its time to change it up. As in RIGHT. NOW. My hubs probably thinks I am crazy. But, he goes along with my whims without saying a word, so we drove to my warehouse to see if I had anything on hand I could use.

And there, buried waaaay in the back I found this old girl...

I picked her up at an auction last winter, hoping I would find a place for her - someday.

I cannot tell you how much I love this cupboard! The perfect piece to go with my crisp white walls. Thank goodness I never sold this piece. I can't wait to fill her with pretty things...

Since we are on the subject of my home office....I'll show you a few inspiration pics from my Pinterest files that I am using for this space.

I also found this exact.same.desk while I was dragging things out at my warehouse. It is solid oak...an old teacher's desk from our school district. It is being painted white as we speak, I hope to have it finished up and in place this weekend.

Above the desk, I am thinking I need a bulletin board. I rather love the 'unstructured' style of this one...

Maybe that would help tame the 6,247 pieces of paper that somehow accumulate on the top of my desk.

Well girls, Happy Wednesday to you!

I am off to pack Etsy orders. I loaded the shop with some new things last night and they went so fast! I am going through the treasures from my grandmother's home right now...so if you see a lot of roses this week, that is why. She loved her pink roses!

well hello, 2012...I have plans for you!

2012-01-02T12:56:00.001-06:00

It has been a fantastic couple of weeks around here! I hope all of you had wonderful Holidays! I have some blog reading to catch up on so I can get up to speed on what you have been up to!

First of all, I have to start by sayingTHANK YOU for making 2011 so incredible for me! Thank you for taking time out of your busy life to stop by my little corner of the blog world and for all your support of my Etsy shop and my booth at the flea market. You are what make it possible for me to do what I love and be able to make a living doing it. To hunt, to gather, to create. It truly fills my soul to be able to spend my life exploring nooks and crannys...all in the hope of bringing a little piece of happiness into your home.

{HUGS to all of you!}

I don't usually get into all the "New Year" hubbub, but for some reason this year I am feeling refreshed and renewed! 2012 already has some AMAZING things on the horizon for me, both professionally and personally. I don't really do 'resolutions' but there are a few things that I am so stinkin' excited to change around here! There is something about turing that first page on a new calendar makes all things seem possible!

One BIG thing for me that is going to change...my business. I am sooooo excited to revamp things a little so I can improve on aspects of it I have let take a backseat for too long! Yes, that means blogging. I really need to be better about posting more often. I just have an insane amount of furniture to paint for clients, everything else just seems to fall to the wayside when I have deadlines. But, I am going to change that this year. I am not saying I am going to do a daily post, because quite frankly, that is just unrealistic for me. But there are going to be more project posts, more business information posts (I get so many emails about that, I think a post once in a while is the best way to answer everyones questions) and I swear I will actually take time out of the craziness to show you inside my home. I know, I know...I have been so bad about that, because I have been all work and no play for so many years now. It is time to bust out of my old ways...and do things a little differently! Do what I want to do...not what I feel obligated to do.

And for my Chicagoland friends that shop my space at the flea market in St. Charles...my 2012 schedule is now on my sidebar. I have will still have my regular space with the sea of white furniture you love so much...but this spring I will be rolling out a new line of custom made pieces. Everything will be made from salvaged bits from old barns and farmhouses. Just think old chippy paint and naturally weathered wood. Farm tables, locker-inspired cabinets...I am soooo excited about it! I have had this in the works for so long, I am over-the-moon I could finally make it happen!

I am considering offering some of my furniture for sale on my blog, too. A special piece here and there, just for fun.

(all photos are via my Pinterest board 'words to live by')

And while we are on the subject of new things...before Christmas, I had a fabulous Saturday spent with 3 new blog friends and it was such a great time! Stacey, from A Sort of Fairytale and I went to the Tattered Tiques sale in Lake Barrington, IL (their next sale is Jan. 13-15th...if you live around Chicagoland, you MUST go!). Two sisters, Anne & Julie, have an incredible space and they are HILARIOUS! Just my kind of girls! Isn't it AMAZING when you meet someone you have only known through their writing and there is an instant 'click'? So rare and so awesome when it happens!

{sigh...}

Happy New Year, friends!

I am off to eat a little dinner and cozy up by the fire with my hubs. It was a nippy 20 degrees here and really windy today. Brrrrr!

merry christmas...

2011-12-25T20:13:00.001-06:00

I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas!

The festivities are now over. I am back home in my cozy sweats...make-up washed off for the day....my hair in a ponytail...and all I can say is.....ahhhhhhhh.

Hope you all had a wonderful day.

I know I did.

Good food. Lots of laughter. And fun. And family.

Life is good.

its a wrap! (and a giveaway winner, too!)

2011-12-20T08:26:00.000-06:00

This is one of my favorite days of the year! Sounds crazy...but tonight it is gift wrapping night in our house! I love saving all my gifts until I am done shopping so the hubs and I can have a little 'wrapping party'. I went back to my Pinterest board "gift wrapping" this morning for a little inspiration, so thought I would share.

Tonight, I will make a couple appetizers. (Also ideas from my Pinterest board "yummy") The hubs will build a fire in the fireplace, open a bottle of wine and we wrap gifts until every last thing is under the tree!

He is the official gift wrapper in this house...you should see his attention to detail - amazing! I design, he executes. We make a good team that way. (Actually, he couldn't care less what they look like, he is just the man that has a mind like an engineer, so the gift come out wrapped perfectly every time.) Most guys I know wrap like a 5 year old, but this guy has some skills when it comes to paper and scissors, I tell ya!

(And yes he would DIE right now if he knew I was telling the world this right now. Thankfully the guys at work don't read my blog! Haha!)

I like to use simple things...I don't spend a fortune of all kinds of glittery paper. My favorite thing to use brown or white kraft paper, since I already have big rolls of that around the house. (I use it for the dust jacket backings on the mirrors I sell.) When my show season ends in October, I bring the big roll home from my warehouse so its ready for Christmas!

Oh gray, how I love you so. So simple and pretty.

And I have to say, I cannot believe that I do not own a single shred of this pretty baker's twine yet! I am trying to find a good source where it doesn't cost a fortune.

Trader Joe's bags used as wrap....what a fantastic idea this is! It mixes my love of kraft paper...white...with the perfect amount of red thrown in for good measure!

{LOVE!}

This is my favorite idea for this year...as soon as I am done with this post, I am heading to Home Depot to steal a few paint samples in reds and greens! I won't even need to write the "from" portion on the tag. Everyone will already know!

(I am a little famous for being ~~the nut that is obsessed with paint swatches~~ the diligent and prepared business woman that carries every fan deck of paint colors with her. You never know when you need to whip out 500 shades to find the perfect color for a client, right?)

So my friends and family will get a kick out of this.

I am off to steal paint sample cards and buy some food and wine for tonight. Wish you could all come over for a wrapping party...wouldn't that be awesome? How fun!

Oh, and do you want to know who won the giveaway I hosted for the $50 credit to Post Road Vintage?

Sasha from Lemonade Makin' Mama!

Thank you to all that entered! I have a few more giveaways up my sleeve, so stay tuned!

Last Call - POST ROAD VINTAGE GIVEAWAY!

2011-12-18T19:12:00.001-06:00

Just a quick reminder...

My giveaway with Heather from Post Road Vintage ends tonight at MIDNIGHT central time!

Go here to get your name in!

You could win a $50 credit to her beautiful shop!

Good luck, girls! I will announce the winner in the morning!

POST ROAD VINTAGE $50 GIVEAWAY

2011-12-13T07:32:00.000-06:00

{GIVEAWAY CLOSED...WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED LATER TODAY!}

Giving is such a fun part of this time of year! In that spirit, my friend Heather from Post Road Vintage has so graciously offered one of my readers a $50 credit to her shop!

Have you seen the beauty that resides in her shop?? It is beyond amazing...I love her style...her craftsman ship...whoever wins this giveaway is going to be truly lucky!

She has {GORGEOUS} handmade coat racks...

And these lovely white soap dispensers! Heather was sweet enough to send me one of these, and it was one of the happiest packages I have opened in a long time. I couldn't wait to run over to my sink and fill it up with my favorite yummy Holiday soap!

And another of my {FAVORITES}....her blue Ball jar soap dispensers! So simple and pretty, aren't they? Who wouldn't love to have one of these by their sink?

{sigh...}

So here's the scoop on how to win...

1. LEAVE A COMMENT ON THIS POST.

2. FOR A SECOND CHANCE TO WIN, SIGN UP FOR HEATHER'S INSPIRING NEWSLETTER HERE. (Be sure to leave me a separate comment to let me know you did!)

Oooohh...and did I mention....Heather is offering a 20% discount in her shop right now! If there is something in her shop, that you must have, she will guarantee arrival by Christmas (within the Continental US) if you order by Dec. 19th! Just use the discount code MERRY20 at checkout.

Good luck, girls!

Giveaway ends Sunday night at midnight Central Time! I will announce the winner Monday morning!

$50 ETSY SHOP GIVEAWAY!!!

2011-12-09T08:46:00.001-06:00

So who wants to win $50 to spend in my Etsy shop????

If YOU do...click over to visit Heather at Post Road Vintage!

There are 7...yep, thats right....SEVEN ways to enter so you have a great shot at winning some vintage goodness before Christmas!

Good luck!

(And just so you know...my shop was almost picked clean yesterday...THANK YOU! I will list more goodies tomorrow so come back to take a peek!)

Ok, now go over and see Heather and get your name in to win!

2011-12-08T06:57:00.001-06:00

Just wanted to let you know I added a few new things added the the Etsy shop...

A little vintage ironstone...rusty metal...scales...more to come this weekend, too!

Happy Thursday, girls!

I am off to rural Wisconsin to visit a man that makes dining tables out of salvaged barn wood! Someone may just have a new table for Christmas dinner...fingers crossed!!

Northwind Perennial Farm 2012

2011-12-07T11:23:00.001-06:00

Hello, girls! I have a busy day today...taking LOADS of photos of new things for my Etsy shop! Today I have scales, signs, transfer ware, a few industrial pieces and a collection of roses china and paintings from my grandmother's estate.

Just thought I would check in with some photos from my weekend...I went to Indy on Friday and Saturday to pick of these 'ugly duckling' pharmacy cabinets but Sunday I made the trip to my beloved Northwind Perennial Farm in Burlington, WI.

I love this place. Seriously.

I would move into the barn and live there if they would let me. And not even care that I didn't have running water and heat. It is that beautiful in person.

{sigh...}

Anyway, just some photos from around the grounds. If you want to see the barn or more photos when there was snow on the ground...you can read my two posts from last year here and here.

On with the show...

Oh, amazing industrial light fixture, how I love thee.

Have I ever told you I dream of owning one of those little old 1-story motels someday? I have had that dream since I was a little girl. The kind of retro hotel that used these chairs outside each room...it is a dream of mine. But in the mean time, I will just obsess over the pile of rusty chairs. SO pretty!

Rusty goodness is everywhere on the grounds at Northwind...

And we all probably know by now of this farm girl's obsession with a barn. This is one of the many little ones around the property.

{Love...}

I have always had an obsession with doors! Simple beauty. It is what I love the most.

But this one is my FAVORITE!!!! Wouldn't this make a fabulous Christmas card for Urban Farmgirl this year??! Hmmm....I think I just had an 'ah-ha' moment!

If you are from the Illinois/Wisconsin area...you MUST make the trip to Northwind. (This weekend will be the last they are open for business for 2011.) Springtime here is the BEST! Amazing plants fill the farm (just about everything for my landscaping comes from here) and in June they have an antique show on the grounds that I LOVE, too! When I was there on Sunday we talked a little about my being a vendor in 2012! I have a warehouse busting at the seams with things waaaay to large for Etsy. I think its time to let some go!

Ok, I have to get back to work. The Etsy shop needs stocking! Don't forget to take a peek tomorrow morning for new things!

pharmacy cabinet potential...

2011-12-01T18:54:00.001-06:00

I do the craziest things.

Constantly.

I fly by the seat of my pants, jump in with both feet and hope it all turns out for the best.

And I think this time I've done something that just might turn out to be quite fabulous!

Today my sweet hubs is taking me 5 hours to Indiana to pick up {FOUR} of these beautiful old pharmacy cabinets....once upon a time they were all lined up along the back wall behind a pharmacy counter. I found them in a little town in Indiana on my way to the Country Living Fair in September. They are so worth the trip back to pick them up! I hope you can see the potential like I do!

( My apologies for the ugly photo...but I took it with my iPhone in a very dark antique shop. )

Not so spectacular now...but just you wait!

Each of the 4 cabinets has had a 1960s refinish job that went bad. Very, very bad. The pulls they put on are just tragic, the shelves hurt my eyes and the color of the stain....well...I am not having a love affair with that either.

I plan on spending a little time this winter giving them the library pulls that would have been original...the kind that hold the little paper card - {LOVE!}....new stain....new 'old' shelves. I think the cabinet may reach out and hug me for making it pretty again.

Happy Weekend, girls!

Indiana here I come!

are yours real or fake?

2011-11-30T20:46:00.001-06:00

Ummmm...the subject of todays post is GREENS....as in Christmas Trees and Wreaths.

Lets not let our minds go crazy places with what I am asking is real or fake, ok?

Trees. Wreaths.

That is all.

Just thought that title might wake everyone up this morning.

{wink...wink...}

Artificial trees & wreaths have always been part of my Christmas. My parents always had a 'fake' tree and I have 3 of them for our house, but truth be told, I {LOVE} the look of a real tree.

I love the irregular shape, the smell, the natural look it has. It is just so "me".

And to be honest, I love the idea of not having to store anything in my basement the 335 days of the year I am not using it.

(By the way, isn't that mini flag bunting on the tree below just the cutest??? I am in love with it! I have a feeling we will be seeing bunting on one of our trees this year. It is just so simple and sweet. )

I feel a little guilty about cutting down a living, thriving tree only to let it decorate my house for a month, then throw it to the curb as soon as its loveliness fades. But after talking to a blog friend on the phone last night, she has me feeling a little better about it. She pointed out tree farms grow Christmas trees just for this purpose, so I am not just randomly kiling an innocent tree.

And I realize she probably things I am a total nut for even worrying about it in the first place. But I am making my annual trek to the Northwind Perennial Farm in Burlington, WI this weekend and I need to decide if I am going to come home with a tree strapped to my roof or not.

(By the way...if you are anywhere near Southern Wisconsin and love big old barns, french pastries, gorgeous Christmas greens and fabulous antiques & home decor...you have to make the trek to Northwind. You can read about my visit last here and here. It is AMAZING!)

(all images can be found via my Pinterest board - Christmas)

So I just have to know, girls....

REAL or FAKE??

What are you doing this year?

giveaway winner!

2011-11-28T07:24:00.001-06:00

Happy Monday, girls!

Hope you had a wonderful Holiday weekend!

I am back today with the winners of my Artful Blogging magazine giveaway, then I am off to photograph things all day today for the Etsy shop! Stay tuned, I have some awesome finds getting posted later this afternoon!

But before I get to that, did you all download Heather's fabulous E-zine?? Nothing like a little eye candy...and can you believe...it's free!? You can sign up on Heather's blog, Post Road Vintage. I am between the virtual pages giving you a little info on how I transformed this cabinet for my home office. You can find some of my favorite bloggers in it, too!

Ok, onto the fun stuff....the 2 winners of the Artful Blogging magazine are:

The UnSoccer Mom

and...

Kat from Pretty in Pink & Green

Congrats, girls! Email me so I can get your package on the way!

I am off to photograph some vintage goodness now...keep your fingers crossed I get sunshine all day today! Darn this Midwest winter weather!

Homebound e-zine!

2011-11-24T20:16:00.001-06:00

I have some exciting new to share!

Heather, from the beautiful blog Post Road Vintage has put together a GORGEOUS new e-zine for everyone to enjoy...and I am so lucky to have been a part of it!

You may remember me showing you a "before" of the cabinet below on my blog last month....

(click here to subscribe)

Between the virtual pages of the e-zine, I am giving some info on how I took it from 'before' to 'after'!

You can also find projects and decor inspiration from some of my very favorite bloggers:

Andrea - Faded Plains
Carol - Raised in Cotton
Lynda - Lynda Naranjo Photography
Courtney - French Country Cottage
Heather - Post Road Vintage

If you would like to have pages of endless inspiration delivered straight to your email inbox, click here or below the photo above.

No strings...no spam...and best of all this Holiday season...it doesn't cost a dime!

Just sharing the love of all things home...homemade...and vintage! I hope you will take a moment to check it out! It is Heather's very first e-zine, and I think she did a FABULOUS job!

I will be adding new goodies to my Etsy shop after the weekend, so stay tuned!

And there is still time to enter my giveaway! You could be one of 2 lucky readers to win a copy of Artful Blogging! Click here to enter!

thank you Artful Blogging...and a giveaway!

2011-11-23T09:25:00.001-06:00

I just added one more thing to my list of things I am thankful for.

I received an email a couple of months ago, asking if I would be willing to be featured as one of the bloggers highlighted in the issue they were working on.

I thought for sure they had the wrong farmgirl. I mean, really....Moi?? In the pages of Artful Blogging? I double checked the email address, and read the email a few times before I answered. And sure enough, as crazy as it was...they were indeed asking me! Exciting, right?

I am forever grateful to Stampington & Co. and Jennifer Jackson Taylor for seeing a little something in my little corner of the world they wanted to share with all of you.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

You have no idea how you made a girl that constantly doubts herself...feel so very humbled and just plain happy!

I thought I would share a little of that happiness this weekend...I am giving away 2 copies of this gorgeous publication!

Some of my very favorite bloggers are in this issue...

Anne from Fiona & Twig

Tracey from French Larkspur

Tricia from A Rosy Note

and one of my all time favorite photographers...

Lynda Naranjo

We are taking some serious eye candy between the pages! I am in good company, or what?

Just leave me a comment on this post, and I will draw 2 names Monday morning!

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Have a happy, happy Holiday...and safe travels!

*** COMMENTS FOR THIS GIVEAWAY ARE NOW CLOSED ***

I'm flipping out...

2011-11-15T07:47:00.001-06:00

Well, really just house-flipping, as they call it!

I have been an absent blogger these last few weeks, so I thought I should explain a little. I have missed everyone...and THANK YOU so much for all the "Mary where are you??" emails! It sure makes a girl feel good to be missed! Here is the low-down on whats been going on in my world.

I have been CONSUMED with trying to finish a house project we have taken on. The hubs and I do this about once every-other-year. We stumble on a house that had LOADS of potential but needs LOTS and LOTS of love. We give ourselves a time frame of 6 weeks to get the house done, and then its up for sale and ready to be a cozy new home for a new little family.

I do 75% of the work...and I love every single minute! Choosing finishes, hanging light fixtures, painting walls...I just WISH I had more time to blog about it.

Darn it. Reason #379 I need a personal assistant. Wouldn't it be fun to see this process step-by-step in real-world time...not edited HGTV time where it looks all fast and glamorous? Trust me, it is far from either one! Its exhausting and dirty but I looooove it so much!

Want to see photos of the house I am taking on at this very moment??

WARNING: The following photos may hurt your eyes. They may cause burning, stinging or for you to gasp out loud when you see them. We are talking some major ugly here, girls.

Living Room

Living Room/Breakfast Nook

Bedroom #1

Bedroom #2

I cannot wait to make all those cherry-wood walls and ceiling beams bright white!

It is a petite little house, which has unintentionally become my specialty. I have found a niche in the market of small starter homes, usually the buyer is a single, younger person. In my corner of the world, I have found the secret is making the house very "Pottery Barn". It appeals to the young, first time buyer that can't afford a large house with a large payment...BUT they cannot find what they like in their small price range. So, it has worked for me to make it cute...clean, simple, classically modern...and it sells fast every time! Lets pray this one goes the same way!

The last time I sold a house we had redone, it was only 850 square feet..and I redid every single surface in the house for under $2000...it had new and cute everything! Bathroom, kitchen, flooring, windows, gutters, fixtures....we had seven offers on the day of the very first open house. Crazy for this market!! I hear the same thing over and over when I sell this size of house "I can't find anything this nice in my price range". Bingo! If anyone is thinking of doing a project like this, small houses seem to be the way to go!

I am not even going to show you the kitchen or bathroom yet. I didn't want to do that to you on a beautiful Monday morning. There are some painful 1970s memories going on in those rooms, so I will save it for when I can show the before-and-after in the same post.

Happy Monday, girls!

I am off to start my workday! Paintbrush, here I come!

I'm over at Vintage Junky today!

2011-11-02T08:11:00.000-05:00

Just checking in to say hello to everyone! I really thought life would slow down a little and I would have more time to blog when my show season ended a few weeks ago...but the whirlwind continues!

I am a busy little bee setting up an Estate Sale at my hubs grandmother's home and planning the updates to her cute little bungalow in hopes of a quick sale when it is finally on the market. So don't forget about me! I will show you some of my projects as I go through the process of updating her cute little home. Sorting through 85 years of "life" has been all-consuming the last few weeks. But I am finding some amazing things I will be adding to my Etsy shop over the next few weeks!

And for some fun news...come see my post over at Vintage Junky today! Michelle is doing a fabulous series every Wednesday called "What I Keep" and I am spilling the secrets of the finds I just can't seem to part with! I'm even going to add a few new goodies to my Etsy shop in honor of the occasion!

I'll be back soon! I just need to get through this Estate Sale this weekend so I can breathe again!

made-to-order roman shades??

2011-10-20T14:55:00.002-05:00

Anyone out there know of a good source for made-to-order roman shades?

Maybe a fellow blogger...or an Etsy shop?? I like to support handmade, you know!

I am working on a master bedroom makeover, and I need to have some made to fit a large corner window.

Next question...anyone out there have a corner window like the one in the photo below?

Do you use drapes or another type of window treatment. Do tell!!

Most of the photos I have found on Pinterest or Google with corner windows show no type of window treatment at all. Not an option for a bedroom.

It is the HARDEST kind of window to dress, I swear! I would use white drapes, but then my hubs would have fabric hanging behind his nightstand, which seems kinda weird. (Our bed sits where you see the sofa in that photo, so his nightstand is positioned under the window for the most part.)

I thought a white roman shade would be a perfect solution. Our bedroom overlooks a large and private, somewhat wooded backyard, so privacy isn't a huge issue.

(all images via my pinterest)

Ideas, anyone?

let's talk halloween...

2011-10-14T08:00:00.000-05:00

Every year the hubs and I organize our part of a Halloween event at our local museum.

It is SO. MUCH. FUN!

(I love seeing my 6'3" hubs wearing a mask that makes him yet 4" taller towering over the kiddos...they LOVE it!)

It gives our city's kids a safe and unique place to come out all dressed up and trick-or-treat. Behind the museum's main building is a town...a general store, an old hotel, a white clap-board church, a firehouse, a big barn. There are quite a few buildings and businesses, and they make up the most charming "Little House on the Prairie" type town. Each a historic building that has been moved from its original location to the Museum's ground.

A local business signs up to sponsor one of the buildings. They employees volunteer to decorate their building, they dress up in costume and hand out candy to the kids. There are other events too, bobbing for apples, hayrides...the usual old-fashioned style fall party.

Last year my hubs was Frankenstein and I was Red Riding Hood.

(I never realized this until I uploaded this photo on the blog...there is a mini Red Riding Hood behind my hubs - so cute!!)

Oh, and just so you know...I cannot be held responsible for what looks like huge 1980's bangs piled high on my head.

I blame the hood.

I swear I don't walk through my normal life like that.

Anyway, I need help. Ideas. Creativity.

What should I go as this year?? Do I give Red Riding Hood one more run before I retire the outfit, or should I try something new?

Any ideas from all you creative ladies out there??

Oh, and for any of you in the Northern Illinois area, this event is soooo worth the trip out! It takes place at the Midway Village Museum in Rockford, IL next Friday October 22nd from 2-8pm. You can find me in the Police Station handing out goodies all day!

a happy accident...

2011-10-12T13:53:00.003-05:00

I normally wouldn't post such an ugly pic...but I just had to show you the "happy accident of the day"...

Remember my last post where I showed you a photos of the cabinet with all the small drawers I picked out of the trash?? Well, I know some of you wanted me to leave the original finish. And trust me, I would have if I thought I could. I {LOVE} me some chippy, old paint!!

BUT, since it was in a printing factory all those years there was ink all over the bottom half of the cabinet. Someone either dropped a big jar of it, or a machine was continually splashing it in the direction of the cabinet...whatever it was...I hated it. It just looked so gross and killed the look of the cabinet.

So I took my palm sander to it this morning, and look what I found!!

(See...I told you that ink was gross. Blah.)

Each drawer has a number underneath, and the gray paint lightens and brightens to be a PERFECT shade for my office.

Isn't it wonderful when something works out even better than you planned??

Ok, its back to the sander for me, girls! I can't wait to get this one finished!

what I'm doing today...

2011-10-10T14:50:00.001-05:00

First order of business...Midwest girls - can you BELIEVE this weather??

A-MA-ZING!!!

I feel like I am living in the South! Shorts and flip-flops in October?? I love it!

I am doing yard work, painting trim, getting my flower beds in order for winter...so being a procrastinator hasn't proven to be a bad this this year after all!

Anyway. just thought I would check in and give you a tiny peek at what I am going to work on when I have some spare time this week...I know she is not much to look at now, but she has such potential! I have always been a sucker for cabinets with lots of little drawers.

16 drawers of loveliness...

{sigh...} I think I am in love.

old, chippy gray paint that needs a little 'sprucing up'...

not a full paint job, because I love the character of this one...but a fresh look is in order for this old girl

{removing old stickers...a dry brushing of a fresh gray paint...and old maps to line each drawer}

she served an old printing company in my city for over a 100 years, then was discarded and headed for the landfill. I rescued her and can't wait to give her a new home in my office!

Back to work for me, girls! The huge tree in my front yard decided to drop every single leaf it had overnight.

Anyone want to help me rake??

recovery mode...and a winner!

2011-10-04T09:37:00.003-05:00

{aaaaaahhhhhhh.....}

That is all I could say as I plopped into my super-cozy down filled sofa Sunday night.

My flea market season has officially come to an end for 2011.

(thought I would show you a few photos from the weekend. It was c-r-a-z-y busy...I tried to get some before we opened...so sorry they are not the best, but at least you can see some of the things I brought to the show.)

And now I am in what I call "recovery mode". After 6 shows in a row...and hundreds and hundreds of pieces of furniture later, I am tired. My house needs to be cleaned. I need to regroup and work on some projects in my own home.

It was an AMAZING summer, to say the least. You girls rocked my socks off with the support you showed me and my little biz this summer!! I have been doing this so long, and every spring I wonder if this is going to be my last. If you will get tired of my work. Tired of seeing everything painted white.

I start every single show off with those same fears, and every single time you come through and show me the love. This month was no exception, and all I can say is THANK YOU!!!

I have a fantastic giveaway coming up next week to show just how much I appreciate you. So stay tuned! I think you are gonna {LOVE} it!

Speaking of giveaways....

How about I announce the winner of the $50 La Posh Style giveaway!?

Chosen by random.org...the girl that better be ready to get her shop on is....drumroll, please....

KELGIRL

Email me, KELGIRL. Its time for some new boots!

HGTV magazine & a flea market weekend!

2011-09-30T17:13:00.000-05:00

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!

$50 La Posh Style gift card giveaway!!!

2011-09-26T07:24:00.000-05:00

The change of season is upon us...and I know that means one very important thing for me...SHOPPING!

I love, love, LOVE that very first crisp, autumn day when I can pull on my boots and a cozy sweater, don't you??

Well how about pulling on a brand spankin' NEW pair of boots or a NEW cozy sweater?

Even better, right??

La Posh Syle has graciously offered one of my readers a $50 gift card to use on their website! Have you seen their site?? I am not kidding here girls...such cute stuff and the prices are amazing!

You could have some cute new things arrive on your doorstep...like maybe this sweater that is sooo cute...

or this amazing camel colored coat...

and check these out...aren't they fabulous??

{sigh...}

I could go on and on...

So here is what you have to do in order to be entered to win...just leave me a comment on this post!

So easy, right?

BUT, if you DO want a little extra credit...hop over and "LIKE" LaPosh Style on Facebook. Just be sure to come back here and let me know you did in a separate comment, ok? That way I will be sure to enter your name twice!

{comments for the giveaway will close at 11:59pm central time on Sunday, October 2nd. Winner will be announced in a post on Monday morning, October 3rd}

Good luck, girls!

country living fair 2011...part one

2011-09-21T08:27:00.003-05:00

I am finally getting back into the swing of things after being gone most of last week to the Country Living Fair in Ohio. The trip was a-ma-zing! We stopped in so many cute little towns along the way...and I can't believe I am admitting this...but we had the van totally packed less than 24 hours into the trip!! (There were many discussions through the miles about which of the 3 of us would be nominated to be on Hoarders first. Since I was the only one in the car that had an industrial warehouse full of my goods...I won hands down. Ha!) Needless to say, the packing tape and boxes I brought along came in very handy!

As I was going through the hundreds, yes HUNDREDS of photos I took...I knew I had to show you this booth first. It was beyond amazing!!

I caught some sort of bug a couple of days into the trip. I wasn't feeling myself by the time we arrived at the CL Fair on Friday morning. I had moments where I was 100% fine...then it would hit me and I was tired, dizzy and had an awful headache...then I felt ok again. Weird. It was not how I planned my tour of the fair to go. But, nothing can come between be and a beautiful display of wares, so it didn't hold me back a bit.

Despite this crazy onset of not feeling well...my eyes were still razor sharp when I saw this sign out of the corner of my eye.

It was metal. It was gray. It was industrial. I was instantly in love.

It was about 6 booths from where I was...the girls I was with tell me I stuffed what I was holding into my sisters arms and sprinted through the crowds straight to this booth...Stash. Thankfully my illness keeps me from remembering any of this, as I am sure I looked like a bumbling idiot as I swooned over everything they had for sale.

Stash had such an eclectic mix. Everything worn and rusty...with a bit of an industrial edge. It was beyond fabulous in person.

I love words on things, especially old things. Isn't the concept of this door fantastic??

And I have a serious love for quotes! And rusty things, and boots. Basically everthing and anything in this photo.

The sign above their clothing line, is well...genius! I see these old embroidery hoops all the time! Hmmmm...I just might have to come up with something similiar...but different for my shows next year!

This pillow they had almost gave me permission to make a sign like that for myself, don't you think?? Haha!

I am not sure which I love more...the gorgeous bags or the chippy piece they are hanging from...

So much vintage-y goodness. I think I was overwhelmed. Do you ever get like that at shows or flea markets? I am kicking myself for coming home with only 2 little things from their booth. I loved everything!

loved this...

Such perfect words, and the paint brushes are so me!!

{Sigh....}

For those of you that couldn't make the trip to the Country Living Fair in Ohio, you still have a chance! The Atlanta show is coming up in October! I think next year I am going to try going South...I hear it is going to be in Texas! I would love to meet up with a few blogger friends down there, so it would be a perfect weekend!

I'll have more photos to come Friday. I can't wait to show you who I was lucky enough to have a little chat with first thing when I arrived at the fair! This beautiful girl and I are long lost best friends, she just doesn't know it yet!

{wink...wink...}

I'm baaaaccck...

2011-09-19T07:52:00.001-05:00

What a weekend it has been!

Last week I mentioned I was off on a roadtrip to Ohio...

And while I was there I spent a little time at an incredible show you that may have heard of...

I can't wait to download all my pics and get a post up about my trip!

But until then, I just wanted to spread the love a little and let you know about a FABULOUS giveaway!

You could win a $50 coupon to use in my sweet friend Andrea's shop! The giveaway is being hosted by Heather over at Post Road Vintage...pop over and get your name in! (Oh, and there is a great little Q&A interview with Andrea, too!)

Happy Monday, girls! I will be back tomorrow with details from my trip!

country living fair...I'm off!

2011-09-14T07:13:00.000-05:00

Au revoir!

I am off to the Country Living Fair in Ohio today!

And thanks to all the fabulous suggestions yesterday, I have lots of places to stop along the way! I am super excited about visiting the flea in Springfield, OH and the Pottery Barn Outlet, too. I have a feeling I am going to pack the car before I even get to the CL show! Good thing I remembered to pack a few boxes, packing paper and some tape. A girl should always travel prepared, you know!

I will be back on Monday with lots of photos, but until then...you can find me on Twitter yaking on about my adventures, my finds and whatever random thoughts pop into my head while I am on the road...again!

Want to follow along?? You can find me on Twitter under the name {urbanfarmgirlco}.

Ahhhh....have I ever told you how much I love a good roadtrip?? Yeah...yeah...I know I have many, many times!

Oh, and the photo above has absolutly nothing to do with my trip...I just found that stack of books at a sale over the weekend, they may soon find their way to my Etsy shop! Aren't they pretty?? {wink...wink...}

Did I mention there is something FUN in it for you, too?? I am going to host a giveaway when I get back! What kind of girl would I be if I went to all these fabulous places and didn't bring a souvenir back for my friends?! I promise I'll make it a good one!

Have a great week...and weekend, too!

{On a sidenote: Blogger isn't letting me leave comments on your blogs...again. Anyone know what is up with this? Ugh. Wordpress is looking better and better all the time. Grrrr...}

roadtrip time...suggestions needed!

2011-09-12T14:05:00.001-05:00

I can't believe how absent I have been from blogging this summer! I have just been so overwhelmed with painting furniture and orders...I totally lost my mojo for a while. But, now that my show season is winding down...I feel it coming back again!

I am leaving for a little trip on Wednesday, and I can't wait. A little R&R before selling at my last show of 2011...and I am READY! I am hoping it will be me in the mood for projects I have to start around the house and making things pretty for fall!

I am heading here...

to the Country Living Fair in Columbus, Ohio.

I am super excited to take in all the beautiful displays and shop my little heart out. Oh, and I am also VERY excited to meet up with this cutie blogger while I am there, too! Stacey is just so sweet and I just know we are going to love spending a little time together while we are away! So funny that we only live about an hour away from each other...but we are meeting up 3 states away from where we live! Isn't the blog world fantastic that way??

Ok, back on track here regarding the trip. I am leaving Wednesday so I can hit every little antique shop and junking spot along the way! I know I showed this to you in a post before...but thought I would put it out there one more time...just in case any of you had a new ideas of where I could stop along the way.

Here is what I need from you, my fabulous readers...where should I stop to shop along the way?? We will be spending our first night in Indianapolis...then on to Columbus on Thursday. The Country Living Show starts Friday, so I will have some time to spend checking things out.

In know of a few bloggers that have shops along my route...but I don't want to miss anything so PLEASE share with me if you know of a shop that I just can't miss! There may even be a little sometin' somethin' in it for you when I get back!

{wink...wink...}

Happy Monday girls, it is sooo good to be back!

I missed you!

we have a winner!

2011-08-27T07:26:00.000-05:00

We have a winner for my Cabbages & Roses giveaway!

My apologies, I am a day late on announcing the winner. We were laying in bed the other night when there was a huge explosion in our backyard. Apparently the transformer on our electric pole blew. Wow! Now that will wake a person up, it was like a cannon going off in our backyward! We have been without power until some time early this morning. I am just sooo glad it is back, selfishly, because it means I can use my blow dryer again. {smile...}

Anyway, on to the winner...

2 yards of the Cabbages & Roses fabric will find a new home with...

AMANDA from SIMPLY HOMEMADE

Congratulations, Amanda...random.org has chosen you as the lucky lady today!

Thank you to all that entered!

Email me, Amanda!

just spreading the love...

2011-08-24T08:47:00.001-05:00

Did you hear?

My sweet friend Andrea, over at Faded Plains is having a Cabbages & Roses giveaway, too!

2 yards of gorgeous farbic, and one of Christina Strutts books, too!

It ends on Friday, so hop over to her blog and leave a comment to get your name in!

Tell her the Urban Farmgirl said "Hi"...

{wink...wink...}

And just a little reminder...my giveaway ends tomorrow...so click on the image below if you didn't get your name in yet!

Good luck, girls! I can't wait to see what the winner does with all this gorgeous fabric!

cabbages & roses GIVEAWAY!!

2011-08-18T07:58:00.002-05:00

I {heart} Cabbages & Roses...and I know you do, too!

I was super excited when they asked if I would be part of a giveaway for their new line of fabric with Moda! The BEST part??? It is going to be sold in the United States, through Moda beginning in September!

To celebrate with my readers, Cabbages & Roses wants to send the lucky winner of my giveaway 1 yard of the gorgeous fabric shown below..

and a coordinating solid blue, too!

Did I mention the fabric is 54" wide, and is 55% linen/45% cotton?? Just think of the project possibilities! Need ideas?? Visit the Cabbages & Roses website for some stunning inspiration!

If you have not yet heard about C&R new collaboration with Moda, click here to read all about it and see some stunning photography on the C&R blog!

Now for the rules of the giveaway...

Easy peasy...just leave me a comment on this post telling me what you would do with the farbic!

Would you make pillows? Cover a chair? How about a new fall skirt? Hmmm...the possibilities are endless, so do share!

Giveaway comments will close on Thursday August 25th, at midnight Central time. Winner will be chosen via Random.org and announced Friday August 26th.

Good luck, girls! I can't wait to hear your project ideas!

***comments for this giveaway are now closed***

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

2011-08-09T08:39:00.003-05:00

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...

2011-08-01T08:46:00.000-05:00

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!

country living fair 2011

2011-07-20T13:41:00.000-05:00

Oh, happy day!

Look what I received in the mail today!

Are you going?

I am making my list...and counting the days.

I've rented a big 'ol cargo van and reserved the hotel.

Any ideas of places I should stop along the way!?

Because you know I want to turn every little shop and salvage yard along the way up-side-down!

*sigh...*

Have I ever told you how much I love these kind of roadtrips with the girls?? Yes. I think I have. Many, many times. But they are just so much fun! Shopping, laughing, shopping, eating, shopping...you get the idea.

So are you going too?? If you are...lets meet up!

totally random...

2011-07-18T15:49:00.006-05:00

I just realized how little I have posted this summer. Between trying to keep up with furniture orders, getting ready for shows, getting my mother-in-law moved into assisted living and her home ready to be sold...the time has flown by so fast!

So today I thought I would check in...say hello...and release a few of the random thoughts floating around in my head.
Here we go...

- I went to a county fair on Saturday night. I love a good fair! What could be better than farm animals and food on a stick?? Oh, and cute farmboys, lets give them and their tight jeans a little credit for the ambience at a fair. {wink...wink...}

- Anyone out there have a magic cure for summer allergies you can share?? I am miserable. It is like having the worst cold of your life...that never goes away. I've tried Zyrtec, Singular, Claratin...they provide zip in the relief department. Ugh. Help. Please.

- It is going to be HOT here today. So it is Barbeque Chicken Pizza done on the grill for dinner...oh, and Margaritas are on the menu, too. We must stay hydrated on a hot day, you know.

- Right now I am drinking lemonade. And I put frozen strawberries in it rather than ice cubes. It is my very favorite summertime drink. You should try it.

- Remember my post about wanting a white slipcovered chaise for my office? Well, Ilast week I bought the 'armless' Etktorp chaise from Ikea. *LOVE* it!

- Have you ever had a fried Snickers bar?? I am just taking a survey. I did not partake. I was too scared. Fried foods kinda freak me out. But I do love a Snickers ice cream bar. Those things are so bad, yet soooo good.

- As I type this I am looking out the window at my sister's Hydrangeas (she lives next door). Hers are huge and pink and beautiful. Mine are dinky and barely blooming. What??

- It is 12:41 and I am still in my pjs. Oh, how I love being my own boss.

- I found a beautiful quilt at a garage sale this weekend for $3! Three bucks!? That was an awesome moment.

- I am trying to plan a vacation for the Hubs and I in December. Any ideas for me? We are thinking Key West. Anyone visited during the winter months? Is it going to warm...like beach weather...or no?

Ok, thats all I got for today. I will be amazed if any of you made it to this end of that post, and didn't click off somewhere around random thought #3. I am off to paint furniture in my garage. I brought 4 dressers home from my warehouse just so I could go in and out of the air conditioning today. I am such a whimp.

Stay cool, girls! I will be back tomorrow to share an up-and-coming roadtrip!

dash & albert rug questions - help!

2011-07-11T08:31:00.002-05:00

I am in the middle of a little make-over of my home office. I brought in a farm table I had sitting in my warehouse for the last couple of years...bought a beautiful white slipcovered chaise for the corner...and now I am have thoughts of a rug swirling around my brain.

Specifically, Dash & Albert rugs.

And I have a few questions for anyone out there that may own one...or maybe has a shop that sells them...or just dreams about them the way I do.

One thing I really need to know...how heavy are they? Are they going to wrinkle every time I try to move my desk chair, which is on wheels?? That would drive me insane, so someone please give it to me straight if that is the case. I will forgo the whole rug idea for this room. I am looking at a 6'x9' rugs for this space, if that makes a difference.

Second questions...how easy are they to clean? My dog, Jake, apparently thinks I cannot function for a moment without him by my side, so as I sit at my computer (or lounge in my chaise watching a little TV when I am really supposed to be working...shhhh!) he lays in the room with me right where this rug would be going. He tends to shed...and I have to vaccuum...well...daily. Thank goodness for the invention of the Roomba! But, if he wanders in after being outside with a muddy paw or two am I going to freak out after finding I can't clean it up?

And lastly...what is your favorite Dash & Albert rug?? I can go any direction with this room. At the moment, it is a wonderful, dreamy white. I could go bright and fun or neutral and rustic. There are so many gorgeous rugs, its so hard to choose!

Thank you for your help, girls! I can't wait to read your comments! You know how you get a project in your brain and you want to finish it...well, like...yesterday? Yeah, that is the stage I am at right now. I just want to get it done!

snippets from the flea market...

2011-07-05T09:57:00.001-05:00

Whew! What a weekend it was! It was hot, hot, HOT here...and of course in the Midwest you can't be hot without being slapped with 90% humidity to add to it. But, despite all that it was a *fabulous* weekend selling at the flea. I was worried it would be slow since it was a Holiday weekend, but as always...my customers ROCKED! They came early, stayed long...and gave my furniture new, happy homes!

I just thought I would show you some snippets of what I brought to the show. Now, keep in mind the photos had to be taken in about 2.5 seconds before the crowds came running in the gate on Saturday. So they are not pretty, staged shots...just a "here it is so you can see that YES, I do actually paint furniture for a living. I- am-not-making-it-up-I-swear-kind-of-shots." Hee...hee!

I say that because I always laugh when someone is in my booth and they look at my business card...their head whips around and they say "YOU are Urban Farmgirl?"...I say "Yes"...and then they say "I read your blog, I had no idea you painted furniture and had a business." I am soooo bad, I know! I never, ever show before-and-after shots. I never, ever really talk about what I am doing for the biz. And the simple reason is this. I paint between 80-100 pieces every. single. month. There is just no time. By the time I find the pieces, prep them, paint & distress, put hardware on...in all honesty...I am pooped. I am stressed. I wonder if I have lost my mind trying to do all this and blog too! I need a personal assistant. Anyone out there want to apply for the job? I will pay you in furniture. Haha!

Anyway, on with the show. Just a day in the life at a flea market with painted furniture. Most of what you are going to see it white. I do paint any color, I antique some pieces etc...but at this flea, my cusomters want white. So white is what I shall bring them!

This armoire is so huge...and awesome...and it found a new home in a nursery. I love being part of something like that. Makes me *smile...*

And this dresser?? Beyond awesome...why o why didn't someone take it home? It is just so pretty! A lot of people wanted it, but no one had a car big enough to haul her in. Sad.

And this little cabinet was one of my favs of the weekend. Pale gray...distressed to show the white underneath...and white painted checken wire. *sigh...* I miss her already. This one should have been a keeper. Oh well, maybe I will find another one someday.

This little gray desk was so much cuter in person, I didn't do her justice with my quick photo. She is so curvy and dainty...

and her drawer is lined in antique french books...

and then there was the barrel top desk...such a cool piece!

I always paint my cubbies inside. I just don't feel a piece finished unless all parts are painted. The little extra time it takes to do it is so worth it in the end. It would look funny when you roller her top back. Not an easy paint, but necessary in my eyes. And anyone at home that has one they want to paint...don't be scared. The cubbies come out, most are just held in my 2 little nails. Soooo much easier that way!

Oh, and I lined the pull-out tray with an antique map, too.

I love the curved top...

I brought frames, frames and more frames...big and small, simple and ornate...every singe one found a happy home!

I had quite a few ornate mirrors...

desks of all shapes and sizes...

and last...but not least...this antique french bed, which I just *loved*!! She found a home with a girl that I know is going to dress her up pretty with soft, flowing shabby chic bedding.

I hope she sends me a photo!

So there you have it. Little bits and pieces from my weekend. I hope you all had a safe & happy 4th! Mine was spent at home, relaxing and recovering!

Happy Tuesday, girls! Don't you love it when a Tuesday feels like a Monday? Ahhh....I {heart} long weekends!

urban farmgirl

...and I'm off to Nashville!

goodbye crazy week!

ironstone palooza

numbered cabinet tutorial...

nashville or bust!

pure & simple love...

more answers to your questions...

Lost & Found...and the giveaway winners!

Urban Farmgirl invades Tattered Tiques!

i'm calling in sick today...

sarah jane studios giveaway!

a few new things in the shop...

urban farmgirl is FINALLY on Facebook!

vintage junky giveaway...

why I've been MIA...

your questions...answered. part 1

this is SO four months ago...

right now...

new goodies in the shop!

Q&A...and a giveaway!

i {heart} pine...

well hello, 2012...I have plans for you!

merry christmas...

its a wrap! (and a giveaway winner, too!)

Last Call - POST ROAD VINTAGE GIVEAWAY!

POST ROAD VINTAGE $50 GIVEAWAY

$50 ETSY SHOP GIVEAWAY!!!

Northwind Perennial Farm 2012

pharmacy cabinet potential...

are yours real or fake?

giveaway winner!

Homebound e-zine!

thank you Artful Blogging...and a giveaway!

I'm flipping out...

I'm over at Vintage Junky today!

made-to-order roman shades??

let's talk halloween...

a happy accident...

what I'm doing today...

recovery mode...and a winner!

HGTV magazine & a flea market weekend!

$50 La Posh Style gift card giveaway!!!

country living fair 2011...part one

I'm baaaaccck...

country living fair...I'm off!

roadtrip time...suggestions needed!

we have a winner!

just spreading the love...

cabbages & roses GIVEAWAY!!

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

its that time again...

country living fair 2011

totally random...

dash & albert rug questions - help!

snippets from the flea market...