So What Do You Do Now?

So what do you do now?

Well, it's kind of a long answer!

 I get this question occasionally, so for anyone who doesn't know, I thought I would take a minute or two to answer it.

First off, I have an online wedding shop. I work from our home on the rural route and I create custom burlap and lace wedding bouquets that ship worldwide. I usually have about 40 colors of burlap in stock plus lots of vintage lace! Along the fabric theme, I also create one of a kind upcycled clothing items (think distressed graphic flannels, fun vintage pearl snap shirts with lace, etc) and recently I added graphic tee shirts to my shop. You can find them at gypsyfarmgirl.etsy.com 

 I've also recently launched my new website www.RustandRomance.com Why Rust and Romance? Well, because we love rust, junk, and vintage transformations and then we tie in the rustic weddings and romance. You can find many of the same items on the new website plus more of my junk finds and transformations. You can also shop this site, directly through my Facebook page: www.facebook.com/thegypsyfarmgirl (There are some ready made bouquets on this site, however Made to Order / Custom wedding work hasn't been added here, at this time, although always available - just send us a message.)

 Next, we have a booth at the Mineola (Texas) Antique Fair. This venue is open the second weekend of the month and we split this booth with Angea at Rooster Tails. While we do help each other on projects from time to time, we each have our own inventory, but our styles and products mesh really well, so the items are all displayed together! We've got all kinds of fun "junk" in our booth, along with vintage finds and repurposed items, home decor, and our clothing. It's fun having someone to work the booth and go junkin' with! (While some think Angea works for me or vice versa, all the finances are kept separate. Although, if either of us gets a big project, we are always there to help each other out and we have "board meetings" to bounce ideas off each other!) Watch for an exciting announcement about this venture, coming soon!

After 15 years working at the flower shop in town, I left to devote my attention to my online shop.
I didn't plan to do fresh flowers anymore, but "once a florist, always a florist!" By request and your referrals, I create fresh and silk flowers for weddings, funerals, and special events. I don't keep fresh flowers on hand, although I can get them as needed. I try to always keep a few nice silk wreaths on hand (even if not listed online) that work great for funerals and serve as a keepsake the family can take home plus they don't have to water it like a plant. Need something in a hurry for a service - this option works great. I also create silk cemetery pieces as well.

Plus we have a farm! Want to see occasional cute baby calf and funny donkey pictures? Come over to Instagram.com/gypsyfarmgirl or www.facebook.com/thegypsyfarmgirl to see them and for our daily dose of inspiration and see all the things we are doing, along with pictures from our flea market style yard and life in the country.

Or, I guess the short answer would be "I make pretty things!"

I'm here to help you, however I can!

What I've Been Working On...

Where has February gone and why haven't I posted anything lately??? Good question! 

Virginia, Kansas City, Columbus, Ohio, 

Duluth, Minnesota, Midland, Texas, Tennessee, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Las Angeles...  

It's wedding planning season and we've been busy making burlap wedding bouquets that have been shipped all across the country! 

When I tell people I make burlap wedding bouquets, most think its just for country / western weddings, but here's the thing - Philadelphia and L.A. are big cities (that's just about as for from the country as you can get!) 

I've had customers submit their photos and some are very rustic elegant, without the country feel to it, while others are very rustic country. (Check out the featured wedding tab to see customer submitted pictures.)

Recently, there's been several new color combination request. This dark purple and jade (light turquoise) is very springy and makes me happy! This order shows small and medium size bridesmaid bouquets.

This navy burlap wedding order has two toss / junior bridesmaid bouquets (top) and a small bridesmaid bouquet. 

 A medium size jade bouquet. I get questions regarding the different sizes of the bouquets, so these pictures show the different options. The medium size bouquet is similar to the bridal bouquet, since it has the lace collar (does not come standard on the small and toss bouquets) although it is not near as full as the bridal bouquet. Budget conscious brides have been ordering the medium size for themselves recently.

 This is a turquoise toss bouquet and boutonniere.

 Navy bridal bouquet, toss (bottom left) and small bridesmaid bouquet.

 So February has been very gloomy and rainy. It forced me to take pictures indoors and unfortunately, I don't have great indoor lighting or space to spread out 10 bouquets... Anyways, this order was completed with navy, gold, tan, and white burlap roses and extra white lace.

 Two toss / junior bridesmaid bouquets, one small and medium bouquet, along with two turquoise boutonnieres.

 Have I mentioned turquoise goes with just about any color? This was a new request for hunter green with turquoise!

Again, I had to get creative with the pictures, because of the rain and gloom, so I went to the farm and took pictures in the hay barn, while Jeff was feeding the animals. 

 Wristlet corsages accompanied this ordered. I imagine these are going to be worn by the mothers of the bride and groom.

This order was different, where the bridal bouquet was jade and the attendants bouquets (medium for maid of honor, 3 small for bridesmaids) had turquoise. Kind of an ombre effect with shades of turquoise and I like that idea! I would love to see pictures from any and all of my wonderful customers and feature your wedding pictures here! 

 On a happy note, the daffodils started blooming this week, reminding us that spring is coming soon! I meant to get outside and pick me a big bouquet yesterday, but didn't get home before it started raining again. We are dealing with flash flooding and heavy rains this week, so they are droopy at the today. This girl is ready for some sunshine and yard working time!

We also had our first baby calf recently! I had told the girls (cows) at the farm that it was TIME to start having babies. The very next day, this sweet little thing was born! 

So that just about sums up what's been happening lately - head down working on helping all of you with wedding flowers, checking on the critters at the farm, and trying to stay warm, dry, and waiting on sunshine.

I better get back to work now, I've got to get all our stuff ready to go to Uniques and Antiques tomorrow, work on a few more bouquets, answer several emails, and Friday is Career Day at the school and have to do a presentation (9 times) to elementary age students. I'm a little nervous about all that and got to get all my supplies ready... Wish me luck and hope they don't find me too boring!

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.

2016 Year End Review - July - December

Continuing on with the 2016 Year End Review -

As stated before, thank you to everyone who lets me help with your weddings, special events, and decorate your homes. The second half of the year was an exciting and busy time as we were preparing for our fall markets, along with everything else. 

July - 

I'm appreciative to all the brides who share pictures from their weddings and let me have a part of your special days!

Charlene and Preston's Western Wedding pictures were gorgeous! (You can see more pictures by clicking the links for the featured weddings.) Photo by Stacey Hansen. 

Work continued on the repurposed clothing line that unveiled in late summer. 

As stated in my earlier post, I have decided pretty much any color goes with turquoise and this wedding order proves orange and camo can be added to that list! 

Breanne's Wedding was featured in August. Photo by David's Gallery Photography.

Out delivering fresh flowers...

First Baptist Church flowers! A former flower shop customer scolded me for not calling her and telling her that I was working with fresh flowers again, so now I'm back to making her church flowers. 

Misty's shared a picture from her turquoise and red wedding. How cute are all the little dresses she made for the girls?!?

Labor Day weekend found Angea and I designing flowers together again.

Coral and Navy wedding bouquet - Always love when bride's share a picture with me! photo by Elise Photography. 

Fall is Homecoming time for the local football teams.

Turquoise burlap wedding flowers.

September brought news that I had been selected to be a part of the Junk Gypsy Book Launch Team! So much fun and inspiration came from being a part of the book team! 

The cactus collection was unveiled in September for the wandering, gypsy soul and I just happened to have a wedding bouquet that perfectly matched the furniture for the photo shoot!

Miss Gussie, my glamper, got her picture in a magazine! I held on to the secret for a while, because I wanted to make sure it made the final publication. I was over the moon excited when I got my Mary Jane's Farm Special FarmGirl DIY issue with my picture of my glamper in it!

Fall fabric pumpkins and flowers.

Alex and J.D.'s navy burlap wedding was featured in October. Photo by Kirsten Pribula.

Loved the romantic themed wedding flowers for this wedding bouquet.

I finally got to meet the Junk Gypsies! 

They were at the Pink Pistol in Lindale for a book signing party and Sharlette and I made the trip over there! 

Yamboree 2016! 

He may not admit it, but Jeff does have fun helping set up our shows! He came each morning to help us open up and he thought Angea's scarecrow needed to ride my hobby horse! lol

The two of them kept me laughing and nearly killed me from their "what not to recycle" conversation. I almost choked on Yam Pie while laughing at Angea and Jeff, who started laughing at me... Good times! 

Cheyenne and Brant's Wedding 

Luke and Andrea's Wedding - I loved all the textures and rich colors of the bridal bouquet. For sure, one of my favorite fresh flower weddings to design! 

Church flowers in all white for Baby Dedication Day. 

Pretty in pastel pink and lavender burlap and lace wedding bouquets.

Old truck and campers make me happy!

Backwood's Marketplace in November was so much fun! Love setting up over there and my peeps that help make it all come together!

Angea and I were cold that night, but it was a great time to wear my 25 cent coat! 

Best ever road crew! We couldn't do what we do without our men to help load, unload, set up, and take down all our stuff. Occasionally a little mumbling, but they agree to build us pretty cool displays! 

Our Gone Junkin' / distressed flannel shirts were a hit at the fall markets. Several of our fellow vendors at Backwood's shopped with Angea and I, so we had to get a group shot of everyone who was wearing our flannels! 

Fall is a gorgeous time to take a drive in the country. Work brought me to the cemetery joining this church. I had always wanted to photograph  the church and while I was there, I took the time to do just that.

Fall on the backroads.

I decorated Christmas trees for a family and this one was 12 foot tall! It took many trips up and down the ladder to pull this western tree off!

I love working and living on the Rural Route. After decorating the Christmas trees, I happened upon this old barn and had to stop and photograph it! 

Jeff and I took Christmas pics with Miss Gussie! My camper door has become a collage of pictures from our adventures.

Mid December, Angea and I opened our first store booth inside Uniques and Antiques in Mineola, Texas. You can now shop in person for some of our popular items, junk, and furniture items that we don't ship. See more details and info about our booth in this blog post. 

A caravan of vintage campers and trucks made their way to my etsy shop and this became my most liked photo on Instagram for the year! 

Shana's wedding on the waters edge - I always love sunset pictures and this one is spectacular with the bride and groom. Shana carried a navy burlap bridal bouquet. Photo by Ashley-Lynn Photography.

My upside down Christmas tree in the gazebo - read more about it here.

RaLeigh's wedding was featured from her December wedding. Navy bouquets were a popular choice for bride's this year. I haven't done the count on turquoise vs navy weddings, but I have to say they were very close and navy might have won the year. 

Mr. Dish Pan Snow Man! Love him, but he melted in the heat wave this week! The after Christmas cleanse feels so good and I'm ready to bring on the new year! Wedding season is upon us again (there's a slight break in the late fall) so I am getting back in my work shop and working on some new designs and item to come out in my etsy shop, very soon. I'm looking forward to helping everyone with their 2017 (and beyond) weddings, events, floral needs, and of course doing as much junkin' as possible along  the way. Plans are being made for our shows for the coming year and of course we will be restocking our Uniques and Antiques booth on a regular basis. Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who let us have a small part of your 2016 events. We are forever grateful and thankful for each and everyone of you!

Good night 2016, Happy New Year 2017! May you be the best yet!