GypsyFarmGirl Seven Year Anniversary with Highlights from My Favorite Projects

7... Seven years ago today, I did something

big, crazy, and scary

all while 

sitting on my couch.

So what exactly did I do? 

 I listened to the encouragement from Jeff and the friends who always said "you need your own store". That night, I opened an Etsy store, established an email account, and this blog with the name GypsyFarmGirl, but I didn't tell anyone but Jeff. Quite frankly, I didn't think it would ever work. My goal was to use my creative passions to make a little extra income on the side. 

I only went by Janice from Texas, because I didn't want anyone to know, in case I failed (or for it to interfere with my day job). I started using Pinterest, Twitter, and Instagram because all my friends were on Facebook. True story- I didn't create a Facebook page for a long time! 

 Honestly, the first year was super slow and it would have been easy to give up, but I kept blogging and occasionally sharing what I was making. I got featured on some blogs, with some of my projects that weren't necessarily related to the things in my etsy shop, but it brought some exposure to my blog and in return my shop, so I continued on. 

Here are a few of my favorite projects and features from way back then.

This little vignette in our bathroom was featured by

Funky Junk Interiors.

Burlap and Belt Buckles Chair Covers  - this was inspired by The Junk Gypsies and Miranda Lambert's wedding. I still remember how I excited I was when the Gypsies tweeted me and then Tip Junkie picked this project as a Top 10 Crafts to Make This Week and claimed them perfect for a western themed party. 

It looks like I have a thing with chairs! 

Jeff and I toured the Ennis Bluebonnet Trails a couple of times and my pictures and story were included in FOLK Magazine.

 A bucket list item was to be featured in a magazine! 

The week before my one year shop anniversary, I made a burlap bouquet and things started to pick up and you started asking me for custom wedding bouquets! I found my niche and I've not quit making fabric bouquets since then! Six years ago, there was less than 10 fabric bouquets with burlap flowers in them on Etsy, so I guess you can say I'm a pioneer in the burlap and lace bouquet business! 

The Original Burlap Bouquet in my Shop! 

A few other highlights from the past seven years.

 Funky Junk Interiors, once again featured a project and y'all went crazy over my rusty bucket of flowers. My post on how to plant in a bottomless bucket is my most popular blog post ever! 

Of course, our gazebo makeover and the reveal of our "junk yard" was another fun project, a reader favorite, and featured on many Facebook pages and blogs! 

One day, I received an inquiry for turquoise burlap in a bouquet. I had no idea such colors of burlap existed, but I found the fabric, completed the order, and shipped it out for a wedding in Canada. Now I have over 40 colors of burlap in stock and have shipped to over 47 states (at last count) and several countries! Turquoise has remained one of the most popular wedding colors, along with navy.

Along the way, I found an ugly camper and turned her into 

"Miss Gussie the Glamper" and I quit my day job! 

 For years, I just knew a camper would be a part of my future. Knew it deep down in my soul and would be so upset when I couldn't find one or couldn't afford the one I found. One day, I deposited my Valentine's overtime check into my savings account (for a florist, that was the very best pay check of the entire year and I do miss that bonus.) The very next day, I withdrew it and bought a 1959 Arrowhead Camper! That was in February 2014. Little did I know at the time, I would be quitting that job before the end of the year and GypsyFarmGirl would be my full time business. Miss Gussie has found herself the backdrop for many product shoots, gone to fairs and vintage markets and even got her picture in Mary Jane's Farm Magazine!

In October 2015, Angea Howell and I teamed up to do a show together and it has led to us having a blast junkin', more shows, and now we have a year round booth in Uniques and Antiques in Mineola, Texas. 

 We went big with our first show setup! See Miss Gussie hiding back there?

From the bottom of my heart, I thank you for all allowing us to be a part of your special events over the last seven years! I love helping all of you and you've all been amazing to work with! I never dreamed all of this would ever happened or that I would be celebrating 7 years with this business. I look forward to helping you for many years to come! 

Some of my friends think we won the lottery and didn't tell anyone. We did not. We hustle, we work hard, and we have faith that everything will work out some how, some way. (We may be known to stress about a few things as well, but we won't go there...)

I hope along this journey, I can be an encouragement to you to

  dream big and follow your passion!

 Warning: Some days require more strength and patience than others.

Five Years

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 

My etsy shop turned five years old this week! Five, y'all! How has that happened?

Seriously though, it's had for me to think that this little side venture has turned into a full time business.

Several people told me "you need your own shop," but I didn't see myself leaving my job at the flower shop. Jeff read about etsy and encouraged me to check it out and low and behold, I opened a shop, this blog, and started a Twitter account, without ever using my full name, location, or even telling my friends. I had occasionally sold on eBay, to make some extra funds and figured this would make a little extra "Christmas money" and that would be about it. I certainly didn't want to tell everyone what I was doing and everybody keep asking and then say I failed, which is what I feared would happen. Read, I didn't have confidence in myself.

The first year, Christmas funds was about all I earned and I don't do elaborate Christmas gifts, but I continued on. It was the second year when I made a burlap bouquet and things started to change. My shop started with caps, wreaths and a few random craft items.  Needless to say, I still have a stack of caps and visors that I'm embarrassed to be associated with and my shop progressed into a wedding shop. When I started making the burlap bouquets in year 2, there was less than a dozen fabric bridal bouquets on etsy that had any burlap and lace in them. That has changed a lot too! 

When I first got a request for turquoise burlap, I didn't even know colored burlap existed! I found it and it became a popular item and still one of my most requested bouquets! Later that year, I had a customer order for bubblegum pink burlap and then bouquets with purple. I still thought it was a fluke and would brides continue to order from me? Now, I have 40 shades of burlap fabric in stock! 

Year 3 and 4 found me staying super busy! Full time job, farm chores, and working on custom orders till late at night and all weekend. Jeff shipping for me and helping cut fabric, and other prep work so I could get more done at night. Finally in year 3, I told a few more people about my shop, but never advertised it locally or even mentioned it on my personal Facebook account. I was loyal to my job in town and didn't want my wedding business to ever compete with the shop. By the end of year 4, things change there and I felt like I was living the definition of insanity. No personal time and not a spare minute to do anything outside of work and a weekly trip to the grocery store. I ordered supplies online, because I didn't have time to go to the store. From January through November, I was never caught up on wedding orders and had no time to create all the other items that were dancing in my head.  It was time to make this full time! About two months before my shop turned 4, I turned in my resignation. That was the gutsiest thing I think I ever did!

Year 5 - I have NO IDEA how I did it all before! So I've caught up on a little sleep this year and I have time to occasionally go eat lunch with a friend or go shop at estate sales, in pursuit of vintage lace and goods to repurpose. I have flexibility and can enjoy the things I do and have expanded to offer more home decor and some gift items. Year five was also the year I finally got my camper fixed up and got to set up at 2 craft fairs / vintage markets and I've started taking on a few freelance fresh floral jobs for local weddings and events. Turnaround time for bouquets is not near what it used to be (2-3 weeks average now, opposed to sometimes 6-8 weeks when it was my night job) and I can take on rush orders if needed. 

That brings us up to now, with year 6 starting this week. Thank you, thank you, thank you to EVERYONE  who has ordered from me, encouraged, commented, shared, and believed in me, even when I didn't believe in myself. Y'all are the best and I appreciate each and everyone of you! Thank you for allowing me to be creative and getting to be a part of all your special events and most memorable days of your life! 

The March Report

It was a busy, busy March and I am so appreciative of all my customers who have allowed me to design bouquets for their weddings and special events, including a quinceañera  and a 10 year vow renewal. I love hearing everyone's story and feel like I get to know a few customers through our email correspondence!   (I know it's now the middle of April - I just realized this did not post as I had intended... Better late than never, right?) 

Lavender burlap was popular this month, with the first bridal bouquet having lavender, purple, and grey roses and bling and coordinating lavender boutonnières. 

This turquoise bouquet is going to be used at a quinceñeara later this year. 

Navy burlap bridal bouquet. 

A wine bottle lamp was sent for a birthday gift from a very special friend. 

Turquoise bridesmaid bouquet 

Turquoise and coral

Deep red and earth tones medium size bouquet. 

Jade or aqua bridal bouquet, small bridesmaid bouquets and boutonnières. 

A burlap and cotton bridal and toss bouquet. This bride wanted just a hint of orange in with the turquoise and tan bridesmaid bouquets, so a few tufts of the orange burlap was nestled among the roses. 

I will admit that when a bride ask for "true timber white snowfall camo," I had to jump on google and see what that was! She wanted a few of the satin white camouflage roses included in the turquoise bouquet. 

Bridesmaid bouquets to match. 

I made a little flower girl basket to coordinate with the wedding colors and included mini roses in the camo, turquoise and brown. 

A sunflower arrangement in a watering can. 

Navy boutonnière 

Denim rose bouts. 

Neutral colored boutonnières in tan and cream burlap. 

More lavender bouquets, 

With coordinating hair piece and 

Boutonnières. 

Turquoise rose buttonholes. 

Cream and tan, with a touch of jade bouquets for a ten year vow renewal. 

Jade boutonnières to match for the guys. 

Brown, tan, and cream bridal bouquet. 

This was a totally new color combo, with the billow blue, light pink, and cream roses, lace, bling, and feathers for a special bride to be. 

Along with coordinating boutonnières and 

A pillow for the ringbearer to carry. He gets that little boutonnière to wear as well. 

This bride wanted a lime green, grey and black long stem bouquets without lace. Tufts of black tulle were included between the roses. Here's a fun fact about me-  When I was a kid, I could not stand lace! Hated it, didn't want a lace slip under my church dress or touching my skin anywhere. My grandmama had to sew me lace less clothes and now I work with it everyday. I bet she's shaking her head at me right now for all the times I cried about hating lace! What can I say? My taste have changed and I'm making up for lost time! 

Ruffley layered burlap table cloth. My eight year old, tom boyish self would have ran kicking and screaming from that much lace! 

Heres a sneak peek at something exciting coming in April! I am preparing inventory for a soon to be released Roots and Wing Collection. Lots of pillows are being sewn, along with tote bags, and caps. I hope to have everything finished and listed in a few weeks. I'll be sure and share more details soon. 

Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who allows me to help create your dream bouquets! I appreciate each and everyone of you and send my best wishes. 

Please contact me through my etsy shop if you need rustic wedding bouquets for your upcoming events. Some ready to ship inventory is available or I would be happy to create custom bouquets for you.