New Western Rope and Farm House Style Wreaths

It's been a while since I've made any new rope wreaths. Honestly my used rope supply has been very limited until recently. We went on a junk pickin' trip a few weeks ago and found a huge pile of used lassos in a shed, so we are back in wreath making business! I've started with a few summer wreaths that can easily transition into fall, such as this sunflower rope wreath. 

 This lasso has a fall feel about it with an assortment of Autumn flowers, gourds, pumpkins, and burlap. There's some glittery gold branches that add a bit of sparkle and glitter and grit touch.

 This rope wreath will add a touch of elegance to your western home decor! Deep red peonies and turquoise blue hydrangeas and burlap ribbon give this lasso a classy appearance.

 This rope wreath can definitely transition from summer to fall (or honestly be used almost year round) with the red and yellow sunflowers. A few blue flowers are included along with an assortment of greenery.

 Glitter and Grit! This is a fall lasso wreath with rich colors, textures, and flowers, along with the orange glitter branches. Peonies, sunflowers, burnt orange dahlias, a burlap sunflower, cattail, and fall leaves are abundant on the rope.

Now the next wreaths are made on grapevine wreath bases instead of ropes, although they still have  a rustic, farmhouse look. The first wreath is a smaller style with gold burlap sunflowers, fall berries, and cotton. 

This is a larger grapevine wreath in creams and white, so it's great for your neutral farmhouse colors. It has cotton, cream silk peonies and white burlap peony and assorted greenery and foliage. I have several customers who like to send this style wreath for a sympathy tribute that the family can take home after the service. I try to keep a few of this style wreath made up for local deliveries that need to be made on short notice. Of course, it can also be shipped as well. 

Currently all of the wreaths are available in my etsy shop. I'll take a few to the Mineola Antique Fair this week (the second Friday and Saturday of the month). If you would like to save on shipping, you can pick up there. Although please message me which wreath you want, so I'll make sure it gets on the truck to go to the show. 

I am a Small Business

I am a small business...

No, I don't have one of those "real jobs" that come with traditional 8-5 hours, a paid lunch hour, paid vacation, sick leave, or insurance. Therefore most people believe I don't really work, I'm flexible to just go and do whatever, and work when or if I want to.

We (both my husband and I) are self employed. No work or sales equals no grocery money or funds to pay our electric bill or insurance, etc. (I've paid my own health insurance since the day after I graduated college. Every single year, the rates go up. This year was a 20% hike and I just got my notice that it'll be going up 9% in the new year and I've only used my insurance twice in 14 years.)

I have an online business and people think that's simple to run. I must be inspired to create the item, source the supplies, make it, then set up a photo shoot, edit pics, upload to my shop (title, tags, description, measurements, pictures), blog, work on SEO, share to Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Google Plus. If I don't work, share, and promote what I'm working on, it will just set in my house/online and nobody can find it. 

For custom orders, I convo / email with potential customers. Often there are 10-50+ emails back and forth, for a single order. Orders are started after payment has been received. I've had too many people inquire, promise to order, and never follow through, when I had already purchased additional supplies for the order. (I do keep lots of fabric in stock all the time, although sometimes new colors, styles, or supplies are needed.) After the flowers are handmade and assembled, I send pictures of all items, for approval, before shipping. Once approval is given, I box up and ship the order. Some days I ship from home, although if my other jobs take me away from home (or we have a substitute mail carrier), I must go by the post office. 

It's important for my mind and body to stay healthy and focused. Drama, stress, and distractions can ruin the whole process. 

Lately I've been ask "so what do you do now?" Well, whatever it takes and whatever my wonderful customers want. My "main" job is making burlap and lace wedding bouquets, I also make wreaths, home decor, repurposed clothing, and other unique items that can be found in my Etsy shop and ship world wide. 

I take on local floral events and funerals as the need arises. (I don't keep fresh flowers on hand, so I must drive 35 miles one way, to pick up flowers for any request, therefore I do set minimum order rates for this service.) I promise to share pictures from this wedding very soon! 

We have a booth at Uniques and Antiques in Mineola (about 30 miles from my house) that needs restocking on a regular basis. We share the space with Angea aka Rooster Tails. We generally go junkin' on Thursdays, looking for new items to add to our booth or to makeover. This is also the day we usually devote to updating our space and social media about what we have added. Sometime, prior to Thursday, we have to clean/makeover/paint/sew/fix, price, tag, and load our inventory to take on runs to U & A. Yes, it's a fun girls day, that involves lots of laughter and lunch out, yet it is still work. 

We also have a minimum of two hours of farm chores, on a daily basis. 

As a small business, we do a happy dance and say thank you every single time the cash register cha-chings on our phone (for online sales) and we are appreciative of everyone who refers a friend or ask us to help with local events. It means so much to us! 

Some days we don't know how we will do it all, but every single day, it all works out. We haven't had a dependable Friday paycheck in almost 3 years. (Christmas week will mark my third anniversary of being self employed on a full time basis.) It takes a lot of faith to make it and I'll admit to worrying more than I should. We don't live an extravagant life and try to be content with what we are fortunate to have. When all of you trust me to make and design items for your special occasions, it really does make me happy and we are so very thankful. 

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Your support for small businesses and especially small, handmade businesses is truly appreciated. I've got a friend who thinks we won the lottery and didn't tell anybody... that's definitely not the case. There's a lot of work / hustle going on here, to make ends meet, although some days, it really feels like I won big, knowing that I get to make a living with my creative talents and help all of you! 

As a special thank you for all of my loyal followers and friends - I have a special coupon code for 20% off all of the clothing and most home decor in my online shop. Hurry though, this coupon is only good through Monday. Use SHOWLOVESHOPSMALL for 20% off. (Most everything else is also on sale, without a coupon code needed.)

New Western Rope Wreaths for Christmas

Several New Rope Christmas Wreaths are in stock and ready for you to decorate or gift this holiday season.

Christmas greenery, red berries, burlap ribbon, gold accents, and pheasant feathers are the feature of this lasso wreath. 

A rustic acorn / bell is tucked in with the bow on this rope wreath. 

This lasso has an abundance of greens, berries, and a rustic pine cone ornament made of multiple jingle bells. 

This lasso wreath has a burlap poinsettia, bow, and rustic bells, stars, and branches tucked among the Christmas greenery. 

All are perfect for your Cowboy Christmas, are one of a kind, and ready to ship now. Hop over to me etsy shop to grab them up while they last! (Etsy account not required to purchase.) 

New Rustic Rope Christmas Wreaths

Y'all, it's only 89 days till Christmas! Say what??? 

This weekend, on facebook, I saw someone sharing only 90 sleeps till Christmas eve... 

This year is been flying by! Anywho, Christmas will be here before we know it and now is the time to start gathering up your Christmas decorating essentials. There just happens to be several new Christmas rope wreaths available in my shop now! 

The lasso wreaths are all one of a kind. This one features a rustic bell Christmas tree, snow covered greenery, along with a burlap bow, holly, and pine cones. 

A couple of different wreaths have the jute webbing, Christmas greenery, horse shoes, and pheasant feathers.

 A little glitter and grit - Gold glitttery Merry Christmas signs adorn several of the rustic wreaths.

 Another bell Christmas tree. I only have one of these trees left (and its a different size,) so there won't be any duplications of the wreaths with the metal tree.

 The rope is intertwined among the Christmas greenery and red burlap poinsettias for this wreath.

The Cowboy Santa will be going to the Backwood's Marketplace event, November 19-20. 

 When I got in ropes this time, there was several red colored ones and they are perfect for Christmas! Red berries and a burlap bow, also accents this lasso.

Have a Merry Cowboy Christmas! A rustic, hand painted sign, horse shoes, the city marshal's badge, pheasant feathers, berries and assorted Christmas foliage make up this wreath. 

There are several more styles in stock, so please go check out my shop, now for best selection! 

I will be taking some of the wreaths to our Yamboree booth in October and Backwood's in November. If you will be at one of those events and want to pick up a certain wreath, please let me know and I can save it for you / give you a coupon code to purchase now and save on shipping. 

Howdy! A Preview of New Wreaths Available

"Howdy!"

 (In my best Minnie Pearl impersonation!)

I've been working on several new wreaths for my shop inventory this week. The Howdy Rope Wreath has been a customer favorite and I have made a few of those in different colors along with some one of a kind, rustic, elegant grapevine wreaths and one for the bird watcher / enthusiast. 

Howdy rope wreath with burgundy peonies, burlap, rustic sign, pheasant feathers, and assorted greenery and foliage. 

Brown and white Howdy lasso wreath with peonies, gerbera daisies,  feathers, cattails, chevron burlap ribbon, raffia. 

Lariat rope wreath with Howdy sign, burgundy peonies, lotus pods and assorted greenery. 

Welcome western rope wreath with orange flowers, cattails, greenery and welcome sign. 

For the Birds! nature inspired bird wreath with magnolia blooms, birds, bird nest, and burlap ribbon. 

Mama bird watching her nest.

Bird nest wreath with magnolia flowers.

Rustic elegance - grapevine wreath with cream peonies, lotus pods, burlap ribbon, along with assorted greenery and foliage.
For my local customers and friends - this wreath can be displayed on an easel and delivered to the local funeral homes or churches. The family can take this wreath home after the service and have a keepsake memorial to keep. Please message me to confirm details, card message and appropriate delivery times. Even if they are not listed in my online shop, I try to keep a few grapevine wreaths made up all the time for local customers and delivery, so don't be afraid to ask, if you need a sympathy tribute. 

Plum and green grapevine wreath with cross, burlap bow and assorted greenery, feathers, and lotus pods. This style wreath is also great to be displayed on an easel for a memorial. 

Fall Wreath Sale!

Hey Y'all! I wanted to give you a heads up that I've marked down several of the wreaths in my shop, including all of these fall rope wreaths! I must make room for new Christmas inventory that's in the making! 

Prices have been marked down $5-$15 already, so no coupon code is needed! Get ready for Thanksgiving guest and pretty up your front door! 

Head over to my etsy shop and grab one now! 

Yamboree Recap

I'm finally getting a chance to write a follow up to our Yamboree booth at the fair. Simply put, we had a blast! It was wonderful getting to meet and talk to everyone in person and we loved hearing "y'all have the best booth here!" Most folks couldn't believe it was our very first show and we heard "this looks like something the Junk Gypsies would do" several times! We were also told it looked like something out of a magazine! Gussie got lots of attention and loved showing off to all the visitors who carried on about her. 

Customers were able to mingle through our booth and shop like in a real store. We vowed not to have simply a table top display and there would be lots of levels and a welcoming feel to our set up. This was right before we opened Thursday morning - I'm on the left and Angea from Rooster Tails is on the right. 

We both had lots of stuff and intermingled all our goods. 

Each morning before we opened, we rearranged the set up. Saturday morning we had an Texas Aggies vs Texas Longhorns look. Maroon / red vs burnt orange and fall colors! I think the Aggies side won ;) 

For anyone that remembers the desk post and how Jeff wanted to keep it - well it came home with us! Haven't unloaded it out of the trailer yet, but we are working on a place to put it in the house. 

Friday, long time Instagram friend Jen @city2countrygirl drove up and we were able to meet for the first time in person! 

These two sweet chicks had fun hanging out while they shopped and we visited with Khloe's mom. 

They picked out a headband each and then had played with Vanessa (the headband model). 

We were in the process of closing for the evening and they helped us rearrange and fixed Vanessa's hair and used one headband to form a choker necklace! 

Then they helped model the peacock bouquet! Apparently real peacocks are on Khloe's Christmas list! 

This sweet girl was excited to pick out a dream catcher and had to step inside Gussie to look and I asked if I could take her picture. She was a sweetheart and posed for me! 

We had a Yam good time eating Angea's yam pie for breakfast! I had bought all the ingredients for pie, but ran out of time to get them made. 

Here's a few more of Angea's goodies - she had a lot of fabric pumpkins and they were a hit! 

We also made gift bags and baskets for the livestock sale, that were given as buyer thank you gifts. 

And then we were on the road again, headed home with dirty fingernails, tangled hair and a smile on our face! We had fun and in fact, we were invited to do a show next month! So stay tuned for our next adventures! We are working on more Christmas items and holiday decor to be added to my shop asap. 

I had several fall rope wreaths left after the show and these have all been listed in my shop. I've also got the first ever Gypsy Farm Girl T - Shirts available, along with several other new items. It's come a flood all weekend (10+ inches) so as soon as the weather clears up, I'll be doing another photoshoot with some more exciting items. 

We are so appreciative of everyone who shopped, stopped and visited, shared on Facebook or Instagram and encouraged us along the way! Saturday our booth got really busy and we couldn't personally speak to everyone as they came by and that's the only part that made me sad. 

We know it was a crazy week with everything happening with the Yamboree, so if you didn't get a chance to stop by, stay tuned for our next event!