Charmed By MaryJane…

I have been loving my new MaryJanesFarm magazine.  There is so much in it that inspires and motivates me.  I only subscribe to two magazines right now {both of them happen to be gift subscriptions} and this one is certainly a favorite each time {thx.mom}.

One of the reasons that I’m loving this issue is her feature on fun uses for vintage wallpaper.

I LOVE vintage wallpaper and I LOVE it that MaryJane has featured one of my very own charms in this issue.   This charm was made using a snippet of vintage wallpaper from my collection and the addition of some fun words…Farm Girl Style!

Thanks MaryJane for thinking of ME!  🙂

Published!

I am thrilled to be one of the Spotlight features in the new Apron•ology magazine.

They did a beautiful job {true Stampinton & Co. style} with the photos.

There are a lot of wonderfully creative aprons represented in this issue.

I’m already dreaming about what my next submission will be…

vintage{y}apron

If you’re a regular here, you’ve noticed that I love apron creations made from vintage assortments.

I call them vintage{y} aprons.  Which fits them so well but I worry about it sounding a bit quirky (I would be interested in your thought on this).  The title I give it here has, up to now, had no importance because I am quirky…I encourage quirky…it’s a safe place to be quirky…

But, now it’s changed just a bit.  Remember when I submitted an apron to Apron•ology?

They informed me last week that I will be featured (not sure what that means) in their next issue…on the shelves for February.  This makes me excited (can you hear the shrill shrieks in my words?).

So, now I basically have to write the article that will go with it and give my ‘creations’ a name.

Vintage{y} Apron?…maybe

but they would have to use the pretty brackets not the boring ones! ( )

all comments left during this month will enter your name into a drawing

I’ve Been Published…

Well kind of ~ OK…not really…

I’ve told you a few times, recently, how much I really love this magazine.

I also told you that Mary Jane {herself} called me last month to talk a bit of ‘business’ and mentioned that I would be pictured in a ‘spread’ they were doing hi-lighting the July 4th vendor’s fair.  I was a little nervous about what that picture would look like.  It was taken at the end of my most exhausting day all year.  But the photographer was fun and I enjoyed the distraction.

So, with the exception of the sunglasses and the double-chin – I guess I can live with it.  Besides, I’m so excited to actually be in a magazine and her magazine that I certainly won’t complain!

More Mary Jane…

I’ve mentioned here that I am a true friend, follower and supporter of Mary Jane’s Farm.  From the moment Amber introduced me to Mary Jane, through books and magazines, I became an immediate admirer.

Admirer: person who holds someone in high regard

devotee ~ enthusiast ~ fan ~ follower ~ groupie ~ patron ~ supporter

I was a country girl trapped in the city and the words that I read on Mary Jane’s pages always managed to feed my hungry, country-girl heart.  {now, I’m a happy country girl, forever living in the country!}

You can imagine my delight when Mary Jane’s son-in-law, Lucas, called me a couple of weeks ago requesting some charms for their Moscow, ID store.

Imagine how even more thrilled I was {sorry Lucas} when Mary Jane {herself} called me this week to discuss some potential custom orders.  She is a delightful gal and I feel truly honored and blessed to work with her in any possible way.

*apparently, in the next issue of Mary Janes Farm there will be a picture of me that was taken @ the vendor fair that I did on July 4th. …more to come on that one~

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I’m going to share a hi-light from her June/July issue:  There’s a story about a modern day milkmaid…  It goes on to say…”If you’ve ever had milkmaid fantasies, let Jenny’s story inspire you to go shopping for the cow…now!”   then you turn the page and @ the top it says:  “What did you get for your birthday?  For her 46th, Jenny got the gift of her dreams: a Jersey milk cow.”

Well,  I have had {and do have}  milkmaid fantasies and guess who’s really, super close to turning 46????   …coincidence???   …a sign????   …reality????   …probably not! 🙂  but one can always dream {and make one’s husband a bit crazy}

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my Mary Jane experience~

Yesterday, my involvement in Mary Jane’s Farm Fair was wonderful, for many different reasons.

Having an opportunity to meet Mary Jane was a hi-light ~ bare feet and all :-).  I walked up to her and said, with my hand held out for a handshake, “I would love to meet you!”  She grabbed me for a great big farmgirl hug, and proceeded to make me feel like she also would love to meet me.

She’s a sweet, beautiful lady and I mentioned in my last post that I have loved everything I’ve seen that she has had a hand in.  My favorite magazine is hers {thx. Mom for the gift-subscription}.  Printed on recycled paper, just the ‘feel’ of it makes me smile.  If you haven’t seen it, I highly encourage you to check it out.  Every page is thoughtful and beautiful.

I have a lot of pictures to share.  It’s hard to describe the beauty of the area.  The backdrop was Mary Jane’s Barron’s Historic Flour Mill in Oakesdale, Washington.

This was behind me…

and this was in front.

A view inside a tent that was set up…

…total Mary Jane style.

Here is Mary Jane’s teardrop trailer ~ the perfect addition to begin your own glamping {glamour camping} adventure.

shots from my booth

There were a lot of great vendors although I would have enjoyed even more of the home-spun, earthy, vintage feel woven throughout the choice of vendors.

There were also many other great attractions to enjoy.

We enjoyed live animals, including horse rides…

and wonderful entertainment all day long.

darling girls enjoying their fresh-squeezed lemonade

One of the things I enjoyed so much about the day was that it was noticeably a family event.

I was so impressed with these beautiful, RED wheat grinders.  {when I unload my vehicle 😦 I’ll find the address to link to these}

and I bartered some charms for several of these gorgeous hand made bars of soap.

I hope these pictures show what a wonderful day this was – such a great family-friendly way to celebrate the 4th of July.

What they don’t show is how much work is involved.  I can’t even begin to describe with my own words how exhausting this job is.  I always feel that I give the same response {sorry for this} to my friends/family when they ask, “How did you do?????” {each time they ask with such great enthusiasm}  My answer generally is…it was a great day – I loved being here – the people were wonderful – the event was beautifully organized – but….my sales were a little disappointing.  The bottom line is that when you have a cottage industry it’s nearly impossible to get paid for the time that’s involved.  Yesterday began @ 5am – we did set-up, sales and tear-down in the same day – I was quite blessed to have my niece, Lindsey, there to help me.  Because I live about 2½ hours away from the event I pulled in @ home @ about 11:30 last night.  I was so tired I couldn’t even talk – I went straight to bed.  Luckily, on my drive home I had sunflower seeds, black licorice & coffee working their magic to keep me awake.

Oh, can I add here that it was a 95°.

Crazy as it sounds…I love what I do!

In the mail…

I haven’t sent this apron into Apron•o•logy yet.  I wanted to send it with a special letter and the idea for that letter just wasn’t coming to the surface.

A couple of days ago the ‘thoughts’ that I had been looking for began to formulate and this is what I will be sending off with this apron creation!

When I create these aprons I use a fun variety of found items.  This tag will give the owner of the apron an idea of what was used in it’s creation.

I come from a long line of gals who were devoted to their aprons!

Ooo!  Last minute here…I think I need to add a charm»

grandma and grandpa Carpenter

side 2

I know – I go overboard…you don’t have to tell me!

Check this one out!

I just received my Dec/Jan issue of Mary Janes Farm – This is a FAV…and a great buy!!!  If you haven’t peeked at one yet, I’m telling you, it is a visual treat.  It has a home-spun, vintage, organic, FARMGIRL feel.  Each magazine is put together with much thought and detail.  You can imagine my pure excitement when I discovered a dear friend, Karen, was featured in this current issue.  She has co-authored some children’s story books with a gal who lives in the same community as her…both in farm country, Washington state.  Here is a sneak peak:

Karen is the beautiful gal on the right

I mentioned that I would share a Santa pic, custom soldered charm – This is a pic of my sweet sis…she’s lookin’ a little reluctant!

Here is an update from Joan’s family – Joan continues to improve every minute. Her breathing tube was removed this morning at 10a.m.(the doctor thought it would be removed late afternoon or tomorrow). She is very coherent and remembering just about everything. Her swelling is going down and she does have a fair amount of hair left. She is complaining of numbness in her fingers but the nurse says that is normal. She was able to visit with all of the family and friends. We thank God for lifting Joan through this surgery and we thank each one of you for your countless prayers.

(this comes the morning after her 15 hr. brain surgery)  I think I’ve cried reading every post, but this one…it really has caused the streams of joy!

Thank you for joining with me in praying for this family!

Custom soldered charms…

Here are a few orders that I am getting out today

These two girls, who are on their way to Tennessee, are two of my favorites. – They seem to be on opposite extremes but farmgirls all the same.  They would both fit in at Mary Janes Farm.  I’ve got to tell you that she {Mary Jane} puts out the best magazine.  I’m so excited that just this year it has become a regular subscription (she used to put out 1 or 2 a year…and it has always been a quality magazine).  With each issue that comes I just get tingly all over.

I wanted to say thanks to a new blogging friend @ Diane Knott’s Musings, for giving me some painting advise.  What a delightful gal with some great inspirations…as an added BONUS, she has vintage images that she shares throughout her blog.

I was just reminded that my original artwork of the girl picking the apples has this on the bottom.