Pumpkins Made from Spools of Crochet Thread

A few weeks ago, we were out junkin' and I came across some spools of crochet thread. I immediately knew I wanted to make pumpkins out of the spools of thread. 

 After getting home, I realized each spool had a started piece of work poked in the center of the spool, (most still attached.) 

 One even had the ladies needle in there. So the sewing became the leaves on the pumpkins and the needle became the stem on one.

 I had a random bag of sewing things that I had picked up at an estate sale last year, which included several wooden thread spools, so I decided to use them as the stems of the pumpkins, then I added some burlap flowers.

Looking back, it was an older man and most likely his daughter working the garage sale. I’m thinking these were started projects left by his wife and her mother. While I can’t complete her sewing or know her vision for these, I did make something new with what she had, without discarding what was started.

While I'm considering them pumpkins, they could really just be decoration in someone's sewing room all year long. They certainly remind me of my Grandmama's house and days gone by... 

Christmas in the Camper

Miss Gussie's Christmas Decor - 

The week after Thanksgiving, I found a little pink Christmas tree, while at our favorite thrift store. I didn't know what I would do with it, but it just called out to me and I couldn't pass it up. At first I was like "Christmas show next year... or booth space next year." Later that afternoon, it hit me - the camper needed the pink tree! The quilt I have in the camper has lots of pink in it and of course all the lace... so that's where it went! It was just the right size to fit on the tray that I leave sitting on the bed.

 As I was rearranging the camper, I was reminded of the white rag / ribbon garland / bunting / whatever you want to call it and wrapped it around the tree. It instantly made the little tree fuller and give it that shabby chic look. Another white tinsel garland and a few gold ornaments (purchased at same thrift store) and I was almost done.

  For my tree topper, I gathered a few feathers from my workroom and tucked them in the branches. I already had the pink doilies and scarf on the tray and they work great to hide the tree stand. Simple and less than $5 spent on the tree (since several things where already on hand and I've already had to rob a few feathers for a wedding bouquet!)

 Now to the front of the camper  - while it still has burlap and lace, this area has a little more color. This is where the table would have been, but it was missing when I got Miss Gussie, and I've been leaving it made as a bed, instead of the two separate benches. The front quilts have more red and blue in them, so it worked with this Texas flag I found. I originally thought about hanging the flag over the back window as a curtain, but it just didn't fit back there. I finally settled on this corner and was able to drape it without having to staple or make any permanent alterations to hang it.

A few fresh cedar branches were tucked around the camper in places. (I won't be lighting this lantern with the cedar attached.)

 Miss Gussie serves as the " Gypsy Farm Girl World Headquarters!" Sometimes (OK, a lot of times) extra inventory gets stored in the camper and such is the case with the silver platter turned Christmas wall hanging.

Because we all need LOVE...

 and to DREAM...

I've failed to get good pictures of the outside lights and tree, so here's a phone snap shot. If you saw my earlier video, you know that I prefer white Christmas lights and Jeff likes colored. We compromised and I've got white in the gazebo and inside the camper, but we've got colored lights on the outside of the camper. I've been meaning to do a camper Christmas video, but haven't got around to it, yet. Maybe tomorrow... (it's raining today)

Merry Christmas Friends! Wishing you all a wonderful holiday season. 

I know many of you are suffering the loss of loved ones, sickness, and other problems and we send our love and prayers for all of you, that this time can be the best possible under the circumstances. 

Save the Date - Backwoods Market at Blackstone Ridge

We are excited to announce that we have been selected to be a vendor at the Backwoods Marketplace at Blackstone Ridge this spring and will be joining with Angea from Rooster Tails for the event! 

A few weeks back, I was having a gloomy, cold, and unmotivated few days. I had got a big fat "no", to something we really were looking forward to. Cold and gloomy weather sucks the life out of me and I was having a major case of the blahs and everyone was announcing their big business plans for the new year. I questioned mine. What direction would my shop go in? New products? More of the same? Of course, the wedding business would continue on, but what other items would I make? Hmmm??? 

The morning after I had the most unproductive day ever, Jeff sent me a link to a Facebook page about vintage campers. I liked the page and looked around and was inspired! Things were looking up and I got in my workroom and got started on a wedding order. 

I was still thinking what's next? It was the after Christmas blues. After all, I had worked on Christmas off and on since July and had prepared for 2 fall craft shows and several Christmas events and I wasn't sure what to do with my newly organized work room and extra time. The thought crossed my mind "if only I had something to work towards, a deadline... Something to motivate me to create new and different stuff...." Most of the craft fairs in the area are all in the fall and it's hard to work on something that far in advance. 

 I walked to the kitchen for a glass of tea and came back to my workroom five minutes later and there was a Facebook notification that my sister in law had shared a link on my wall. I opened it to read about the Backwoods Marketplace looking for craft vendors for their spring show! It is a local market, wanting to support and show case handmade, vintage, primitive, shabby chic, repurposed crafters, which totally describes me! I know God was working on me and providing a way for me and Lisa was used as a messenger. Lisa had been to their fall market and said it was a wonderful experience at the Blackstone's old homestead. 

(Picture from last springs market.) 

I really got excited after reading on their group page and after being so gloomy the day before and not caring about talking to anyone, I came to life and started talking Jeff's ear off! It is a juried show and I would have to submit an application and hope they liked our stuff. 

I  text Angea from Rooster Tails, asking if she wanted to set up again together. Of course she said yes, that she was wondering what she could work on for spring as well. We both needed some direction and motivation. 

So, I submitted pictures from our 2 past markets and then I was expecting to wait several weeks on the announcement of who got into the four new vendor openings. (There are several returning vendors from their fall show, but they opened up space for 4 new partipants.) Well, the very next day, I got an email saying we were in! Our products and display was just what they were looking for and fit the look they were working to achieve! Yeeehaaaa! Wow! Hot diggity dog! 

I was talking to the lady who is organizing the event today and she said all the other vendors are trying to out do our booth setup from the Yamboree! That just upt the pressure and is motivating Angea and I to come up something even more creative and we will have a full day to set up, opposed to 2-3 hours! So it will be an exciting time as we prepare! Stay tuned for further announcements, exact directions (it will be located 7-8 miles outside of Gilmer, Texas) and what all we are working on. 

A One Woman Show?

  A Facebook fan posed a question on a bouquet picture today - "Do you do all the work yourself?" 

My response - "I'm a one woman show. I'm the designer, maker, photographer, and computer person." 

Although I should point out, I do occasionally get some help from the mister! You know, the lifting, some building, IT/computer networking (he makes sure the internet connections are working), occasionally shipping and receiving and he's got the brains to figure out how something works or why it's not.

I got a helping hand, twisting the wire,  when I was working on this chandelier. 

He pulls me out of the mud, when I get the feed truck stuck and fixes the tractor when I break something! 

So I guess I should say we are a team, 

although, he doesn't make or design any of the flower bouquets. 

He does help work on the mechanical elements of my sewing machine, 

but he doesn't paint! That's my department for sure! 

He keeps the internet running and printers connected, but I handle all my own social media, email, blog maintenance / design, etsy shop work and the such. So if you ask a question, you get a response from me. 

Customer service, inventory management (shopping), design and production all point my direction.    

I do all of my own photography as well, except for the occasional time I hand Jeff the camera and tell him to snap a picture for me. I see individuals and businesses that take pictures off the internet and post them as their own, without giving credit, misleading viewers to think they did the work. That makes me mad! My pictures may not be the best and honestly, most of these were taken with my phone, but they are my work! Occasional I repost or share customer's pictures or repost inspirational pictures, but credit is given to the source. Simply, "saw this on Pinterest, fb, love this idea,  yada, yada" would be better than claiming someone else's work as your own. Whew, sorry, I got on a rant there! 

So, yes, I do most of the work behind GypsyFarmGirl, but I've got a great guy that helps me out behind the scenes, 

who broke all the rules here! (Don't try this at home!) 

I certainly couldn't do everything I do without him! Sometimes I wonder how I did everything I do now, plus work a 9 hour a day job in town. I really don't know how I did it all! 

 

Sweet Dreams

So, its kinda, sorta, in a way, our first Valentine's Day this year, yet Jeff and I have been together for over 13 years. Now that's got you thinking, doesn't it? As a florist, this is the first time in 15 years that I haven't been working in a flower shop at Valentines. We would work an insane amount of hours this week and by the 14th, I would come home and crash on the couch by 7:00 pm, feeling like I had missed an entire week of my life. I'm not missing the stress of Valentine's this year and have taken some time to do a little decorating in our bedroom lately.

 Remember my $3.00 light I found at a garage sale a few weeks ago? Its a little tattered, but the "love lamp" is perfect to me! 

 My side of the bed! While I was on my French Country streak, I printed these two signs on drop cloth. I had picked up the frames at a garage sale and painted and distressed them. Printing graphics (from the Graphics Fairy) on the drop cloth was super easy. The sign with the sheep is for a fabric shop and the bottom is from a flower shop - both my loves! 

 Our room is really tiny, err cozy. As I look at these pictures, I really think my bed needs painting or that I need to build an awesome head board. I've made almost all of the decor in our bedroom, or it has been repurposed from garage sales. The lace wedding dress hanging in the corner came from the same sale that I got the lamp at. I've used it as a back drop for my burlap bouquets a few times. I really need a model to wear it for me to do a photo shoot! 

I came across Parachute Home recently and how dreamy is this bedding? I'm sure the dogs would love to snuggle down in this! We would really have a hard time getting up in the mornings. 

 The daffodils started blooming in my yard this week, so I had to bring in a bouquet of fresh flowers! I'll take a mason jar of daffodils over roses any day. 

On Jeff's side - a reminder to Always Kiss Me Goodnight! The wall pocket is available in my etsy shop. I'm storing it on my wall for now ;)

 Happy Valentine's Day and Sweet Dreams Yall!

4 Year Anniversary and Coupon Code

Wow, Y'all! It's hard to believe that it has been 4 years since I started GypsyFarmGirl. It all started with a few caps and wreaths and has turned it to more than I ever dreamed. I've lost count of all the burlap bouquets that I've created for many brides-to-be. I never would have thought this business would become my full time job either. 

To celebrate, for 4 days only, I'm offering 10% off a $40.00 or more purchase and for the first time, the sale includes custom orders! So, if you are planning a wedding and been thinking about ordering, be sure to take advantage of this sale. Please contact me today and submit a request for custom orders on my etsy page and I'll be happy to help you. 

The sale is only good for 4 days and for custom orders to be eligible, purchases must be made by February 5, 2015. Use coupon code FABULOUS4 when checking out.

These wine bottle lamps are a new item in my shop. You can pick your wine bottle and pick your lamp shade. Very shabby chic and oh so fabulous. I've been adding several new home decor items to my shop over the last month, so its not just focused on wedding bouquets. There are several different lights, wreaths, and arrangements available.

 I was looking for pictures with 4 items in them and these were a few of the items I found. 

4 pink and white bridesmaid bouquets. 

4 turquoise and yellow bridesmaid bouquets.

 4 boutonnieres.

 4 bridesmaids, pairs of boots and bouquets

 4 piece custom wedding order with turquoise burlap bridal bouquet, 1 bridesmaid and 2 boutonnieres.

 4 red, white, and tan burlap bouquets with feathers. 

 4 Jade bouquets for the bride and 3 bridesmaids.

 A wreath with 4 white sunflowers, and lots of burlap and lace. 

Thank you to everyone for supporting me with your encouraging words or sharing my work and allowing me to be a part of your special day or have a place in your home. Its been a great  4 years and I'm looking forward to many more years to come.  I will 4ever be thankful for you! 

P.S. I had a problem with some not being able to comment here. After connecting my blog to Google+, it seems as if only people with a Google+ account could comment.  I think that is now fixed and I apologize for any inconvenience. Everyone should be able to leave comments, just like before.