The best birthday gift...

So yesterday was my birthday...

Three years ago, I turned in my resignation to my then boss. I had worked at the flower shop for 15 years and 3 different owners. My etsy shop and farm were keeping me busy in every spare minute outside of the day job. As things changed at the shop and my personal business kept growing, it became clear that I should work for myself and leave the stress of working for someone else's dream.

But still, I was scared to leave the world of a dependable paycheck, to go full time self employed. Could we make it? I would be lonely working from home and not seeing my friends... So many doubts from a person who likes dependable and a sure thing.

 I made sure I was there for some obligations and then my birthday rolled around and I knew I had to give myself the best gift I could. So the Friday after my birthday, I finally handed over that letter I had typed and carried with me for weeks. I had to believe in myself and give it a try.

What if I fall? Oh, but my darling, what if you fly? -e.h.

Since then, I've been blown away by the friends and clients who have supported me. I never dreamed I would be ask to do fresh flowers after I walked away from my former job.

That fear of not ever seeing my friends? Jeff likes to remind me that my tribe is better now than ever before! I have a tight circle of good friends and I'm so thankful for them.

I'm on the go all the time. Quite frankly, I really want a few days that I don't have to go anywhere and just be able to stay home and work on whatever / create some new items.

Anywho... the best gift you can can ever give yourself is to believe in yourself.

Are there days that are still hard? You betcha!

Do I still have fears? For sure and sometimes the anxiety and doubts sneak in.

Would I do it again? In a heart beat! I'm so glad that I finally decided to take a chance on myself!

There's still stress, but those daily knots in my neck and feet that I couldn't hardly stand on at the end of the day - those seldom occur. There were days that I couldn't hardly walk through the grocery store when I got off work, because my feet hurt so darn bad.

Back to my birthday this week - age has never bothered me. Some friends thought we were old when we turned 30, although I never thought that. This isn't a big birthday with a 0 behind a number, although this one has me thinking and looking back on things from the past few years and goals for the year to come. Once again, I must remember to believe in myself!

So whatever it is you are wanting to do - believe in yourself! Chase those wild dreams and make them happen! 

Roots and Wings at the Backwood's Marketplace

Roots and Wings ~💗~

Our Roots ~ make us who we are, those ol' timey community churches we were raised in, our history, our story, our family... 

Wings ~ you can know where you're from and still want to fly....

We are working on some new items for the Backwood's Marketplace, April 8-9. Our area will have a Roots and Wings overall theme and also feature a spring garden center! Yes, you read that right, we will also have plants for this market! 

 

Roots to plant and Wings to decorate with!

There will be items repurposed from the barns our grandparents built, vintage treasures from our past, paintings of churches, with long standing history in our local communities, and of course lots of fun junk!

So far, I have paintings of  5 different historic churches, all located within Upshur County. The painting is Hopewell Church, (I've actually got two different versions of this church) located just down the road from the market. It reminds me of a Little House on the Prairie type church and one room school house. 

The one on the board is LaFayette (pronounced luh-fet, not like the town in Louisiana) and it's the community church, where my family comes from. Our roots... I'm calling this collection "Another Sunday in the South" and the art will be available in several different mediums. 

I listen to music as I work and it inspires me. (I seldom turn on the racket of the tv.) If you've listened to Miranda Lamberts newest album, you may recognize the lyrics from her song "For the Birds" 

Cause I'm for the sun

I'm for the breeze

Old dogs sleeping at your feet

I'm for the girls with the curls and the curves

I'm for questions

I'm for freedom

Celebrating every season

For the trees, and the bees, and the dirt

I'm for feathers, I'm for wings, I'm for twiddle-le-de-de

For what it's worth, for what it's worth

I'm for the birds, I'm for the birds, I'm for the birds

I'm for the birds, I'm for the birds, I'm for the birds

I'm for the birds

Twiddle-le-de-de

Part of our booth will feature all things "For the Birds" - tin bird yard stakes,  bird cages, houses, artwork, wreaths with birds, etc. Every week, I find something bird related, while we are out junkin' and of course it goes with the spring garden theme! 

Wings...several different styles of rustic tin wings will be available at the market and they have roots in my past. The tin was salvaged from my granddaddy's hay barn. The mangled pieces of tin no longer work for roofing, but they will carry on in new ways. I certainly plan to add a pair of wings to my yard decor this spring. 

We've got about 9 million projects in the works, ok, maybe not quite that many, but I've got lots of things to finish up before the market, so stay tuned to for more sneak peeks and make sure you mark your calendars for April 8-9! 

New Tumbler Wraps!

Fun new tumbler wraps are now available online. Show your Yeti some L-O-V-E with a new rustic sleeve, just in time for Valentine's Day. Of course, they can be used anytime and will fit other 30 ounce cups (mine is not the name brand)! I can't pick a favorite one. 

I mean pink Mason jars, leopard print arrows, heart with wings, lace, and jute - whats not to LOVE about all that?!?

Junk is Love, with fun furry fringe! And with some strange turn of events, I'm starting to like leopard print (but only in small batches.) 

 Gone Junkin' and Vintage trucks and glampers - see why I can't pick a favorite? Turquoise and now Hot Pink fringe options, after someone inquired about pink fringe on these.

 Fun and Flirty Vintage Cowgirls and Lace

 Or just a little rustic and shabby.

Seven new styles, seven days of the week...hmmm, maybe my tumbler needs a different outfit for everyday of the week! So tell me - which one do you LOVE the most???

Find all these and more in my etsy shop. 

Additional wraps and styles available in our Uniques and Antiques booth in Mineola, Texas