Super Summer SALE!

Happy Summer Y'all! 

Let's celebrate by having a Super Summer SALE! I've marked down many of the items (almost 1/2 my shop) anywhere from $3 to over $25 off original price. Items in the sale section include pillows, flannel shirts, denim and lace shirts, jackets, and skirts, floral wreaths and arrangements, tote bags, and more.

When you go to my shop, click on the Summer SALE! section to see all the discounted merchandise. 

Oh, and did you know, you can now check out on Etsy as a guest and not have to have an account? No hassle there! 

Here's a sampling of what you will find in the sale section - 

Distressed flannel shirts with "Gone Junkin'" patches. - perfect for fall flea market shopping

 Distressed denim shirts

Several white shirts with pink floral crosses and heart doilies.

 This patriotic wreath with an American flag and red, white, and blue flowers.

 Denim and lace jackets.

 There's a couple of these denim and lace skirts... so fun!

All items are one of a kind and once they are gone, there's not another one, just like it, so grab them up now!

Oh, and did you notice my new blog header? Been working with some fun graphics this week and created some new logos. Whatcha think?!?

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! 

Today... Or Yesterday

Today, or by the time I finish this blog post, it'll be yesterday!

~ I worked from home, in my fuzzy pajama pants, listing lots of new items in my shop. This release has a very Rustic Romance / Love theme, since Valentine's Day is coming up and love is always in season. 

~ I boxed up orders to take to the post office.

~ Met a client for a consultation for a big event next week. By this time, I had showered and put on my "town clothes!" Heehee

~ Answered emails and convos from customers, checked Facebook a kazillion times, because all the glamper group was liking and commenting on my pictures. 

~ Stopped to eat a late lunch and use a gift card from my birthday last month. I'm not afraid to eat alone... 

~ I actually had a "business lunch", as I answered more messages, got my flower order ready for the event next week, and posted more pictures from the new items on Instagram and Facebook. 

~ Shipped out a dream catcher and wedding bouquet. 

~ Went shopping and found a dress for the event at a small new boutique in town. #shopsmallbusiness 

~ Went to feed my horses and cows and set in the old barn, answering more messages. 

~ Ordered a vest from a boutique on Instagram, that I can wear with my new dress and ordered more turquoise burlap for upcoming wedding orders.

~ Stopped at the feed store and gas station on the way home. Somewhere around this point, I thought I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my job and the ability to be flexible, to not be tied down to a job in a cubicle, to be able to communicate with customers from wherever I am, thankful for my phone and iPad that go everywhere with me, to be able to work at home or wherever I roam and hope I never have to go back to a regular 8-5 job! 

~ The sunset was pretty as I opened the gate at home. 

~ We fixed supper, watched Duck Dynasty,  boxed up orders to ship out tomorrow / today, checked Facebook a kazillion more times, watched the Blacklist and started making roses for the next wedding and now I blog and Jeff snores. It's been a busy day, but I love it!  

I'm so thankful I am able to have a creative business and you allow me to decorate your homes, events and weddings and be apart of your special days! 

A Rustic Christmas - Gift and Decor Ideas!

Have yourself a Merry Little Rustic Christmas! Several new items just hit my etsy shop this week, including new Christmas decor and many giftable items! 

 The heart with wings pillows and the "What if I fall? Oh, but my darling, what if you Fly? e.h." pillows have been restocked, along with a couple new cross pillows.

 There are burlap stockings that are customizable, with either a  red burlap, lace, plaid or camouflage ribbon sash

 I had one customer tell me she was going to tie duck calls or shotgun shells in with the sash and another was on the search for wooden initials to personalize the stockings.

I found a couple more rope wreaths that I had not listed in my shop, so they are now available as well!

 I love this Sleigh Centerpiece, filled with red poinsettias, berries, holly, pinecones and Christmas greenery, along with gold ornaments and ribbon. While I love to mix it up and do other colors for Christmas, you just can't go wrong with the traditional red and gold!

 A close up of some of the pillows - all very shabby chic, French country style, perfect for gift giving!

 For that coworker, friend, hair dresser, mail lady, holiday hostess or  person who you don't know exactly what to get - How about a twinkling wine bottle lamp light? Each wine bottle has been transformed into a lamp with 20 twinkling lights and an original lamp shade. These would look great sitting on a cabinet, along with a collection of your favorite wine bottles and add a soft glow to the room.

 For the Dreamer! Vintage lace and doily dream catcher with white feathers.

 I have several styles of rustic gift sacks to wrap the perfect gift in! A hand cut and inked gift tag, bow and tissue paper comes with each sack, all you need is something to go inside them! They will ship free with as additional item from my shop!

You can add a card or small item inside the pocket as well!

Don't forget to look around while you shop! There are several styles of birdcage centerpieces, more stockings and lots of different pillows. 

 There is the Camper / Glamper pillows and totes in many colors.

 The tote bags also make great gift sacks as well. I would love to spend the holidays with my camper, parked by a huge Christmas tree and exploring somewhere new!

More centerpieces and the pillow covers, for sprucing up your home, before the Christmas guest arrive! Pillow covers will fit an 18 x 18 in pillow form. 

Thank you all for shopping small business and hand made this holiday season! We are always thankful for everyone who chooses one of a kind, hand made gifts or allows us to help decorate your home and special events! 

Getting Ready for Open House!

Deep down inside, I really wish I had a vintage truck to pull my camper! Wouldn't that be cool? Last week, I had a Facebook fan ask about a vintage Christmas truck pillow, to go along with the glamper.  I woke up the next morning and it was all I could think about, so I went straight to drawing a pattern and then to sewing. This is her order that will be delivered this week, but here's a little secret, I have more and they will be available Saturday at the Starry Nights Art Studio Open House! 

We are loading our camper with all kinds of decor and gift ideas for Saturday's show. We will be set up with Gussie and she will be gussied up and open for you to come in and see her. 

Lots of new pillows will be available, including wings, campers, crosses, and some with quotes. I've got a couple new photo albums available as well. Print out pictures and fill the albums for a very personal gift! 

I've got several new dream catchers with lots of vintage lace and feathers. 

I was 99% sure I had 2 new white Christmas trees in my storage building. I decorated one and went back to get the other one and I can't find it. It's driving me bonkers, so I guess that 1% is right and I only had 1 white tree. It's a small table or desk top tree that is decorated with handmade burlap and lace flowers, pearls and ornaments. Oh, so shabby chic! Now, if that other tree would miarcously appear, I'd be tickled! 

We are getting excited about setting up again and still putting the finishing touches on a few more items, including some Christmas centerpieces and lamps, so I don't have them photographed yet. 

The sewing machine has been busy sewing new stockings as well. I'll have a big box of ribbon on hand for customizing the sashes on the stockings or for making Christmas tree bows. 

So here's the fine details: 

Hope you can come see us! For all you too far to come, all the new items that do not sell Saturday, will be available next week in my etsy shop!