a THANK YOU & a RECIPE...

THANK YOU to everyone that attended Junkin' Around the Christmas Tree...

It was the best show I have ever had at my home!! By the end of Friday night most of the Christmas items had been cleared out! I couldn't believe the crowd. Thank you, again! This has been an amazing year and I am really looking forward to 2011.

Hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving...


And...many of you asked (actually begged) for this recipe...here it is!

Layered Peppermint Bark (from allrecipes.com)
20 ounces white chocolate, coarsely chopped, divided
30 peppermint candies, crushed, divided
10 ounces dark chocolate, coarsely chopped
6 tablespoons heavy cream
1 teaspoon peppermint extract

Directions
1) Line a 9x12 inch baking pan with aluminum foil or parchment paper.

2) Melt half of the white chocolate in the top of a double boiler over just barely simmering water, stirring frequently and scraping down the sides with a rubber spatula to avoid scorching. Spread the white chocolate into the prepared pan. Sprinkle 1/4 of the crushed peppermints evenly over white chocolate. Chill until firm, about 15 minutes.

3) Meanwhile, melt the dark chocolate, heavy cream, and peppermint extract together in the top of a double boiler over just barely simmering water, stirring frequently, until just melted. Quickly pour the chocolate layer over the chilled white chocolate layer; spread evenly. Chill until firm, about 20 minutes.

4) Meanwhile, melt the remaining white chocolate in the top of a double boiler over just barely simmering water, stirring frequently, until just melted. Spread quickly over the chilled bark. Sprinkle with the remaining peppermint pieces; chill until firm, about 20 minutes. Cut or break into small pieces to serve.

This is probably the last post I will write in preparation for Friday and Saturday's sale...I am almost ready, just need to price several items tonight and make some goodies. I should also sit down with my kids and help them with their homework for once this week! At least I have been able to see them since I have just been working in the garage.

This will be the LAST sale of 2010. I will NOT be doing any custom orders after this sale. I apologize for this, but I need the time to enjoy with my family. I will still be posting on here occasionally but will not be doing regular posts again until January. I will be making some changes in the new year and I look forward to sharing them with you then. This has been an awesome year for The Farmer's Wife and I look forward to many more years of having this fun creative business.

Onto more pictures...Some of these pictures are not the best...the garage was kind of dark and I do not have the greatest camera!

Old painted cupboard door...
Boxes, lots of boxes...

Perfect example of a bad picture :( This is a cute little somewhat RUSTY galvanized cubby...

This doesn't look that interesting now, but imagine the depression glass dishes with ham & cheese crescent wraps, chocolate covered cherries, and peppermint bark!! AND, of course, a variety of wine and champange...AND non-alcoholic drinks, too!

ALL of the seed sacks that are crammed into this bucket have been marked down!

Peace on earth...

MORE boxes...

Super cute vintage Santa mugs...

A few vintage light bulbs...

Not sure what this was used for??? A little treat box, maybe?

Some black and white...

Child's rocker...repainted, distressed...

cLeARanCe cORneR!!!! There are also lots of other markdowns throughout the garage!

Looking forward to tomorrow night....hoping it will be.....

holiday cheer!!!

Glass ornaments....
$1 each for plain ornaments
$2 each for printed/flocked ornaments

Sweet little blue basket for your little trees...

Button necklaces...$5 each

Tons of JOY all around...
Little boxes, signs, and more...

Some non-holiday junk as well ~ check out this sweet pink baby scale!

...and this fun laundry soap box

THERE WILL be clearance items...some Halloween and other items will be marked down!

Sorry, but need to remind everyone again....NO early sales.

Looking forward to seeing all of you this Friday and Saturday!

...more Christmas junk

Starting to set up the garage today....hopefully there will be more pictures tonight...

Just a few bags ~

Here are a few of the bags that I am working on for Junkin' Around the Christmas Tree...

I took these pictures at school, since I have been sewing along side my students. Sometimes I wonder what they think about all the stuff I make! Some of the girls tell me that they like the stuff that I create, while others say nothing. I have a student right now that is in love with the light blue and brown plaid bag below.

These are kind a twist on a messenger bag. They don't have straps yet. I may use some vintage neckties for some of the straps.
Close ups...

This isn't the greatest picture. I tried to prop it on a sewing machine and it didn't really work. This fabric is from an old set of drapes. It is great fabric - really sturdy! The lining is a really funky woven cotten fabric that I picked up at Junk Bonanza.

I'll be junking/crafting/setting up alll weekend....will post more pics, too!

Other Holiday Junk Events...

This weekend get yourself to Fairfax and check out Barb Conner's Hoilday Open House! She always has tons of fun stuff! You can look and look and look and still not see everything! It is like a treasure hunt!

Next weekend there is a great holiday open house that is running about the same hours as mine. So, if you are coming from a little distance, you can make a day of it! Sisters' Garden in Kalona has TWO buildings full of beautiful shabby junk!

Check out both of these (and mine!) and you'll be sure to have a very Junky Christmas!

Green Gifts Fair Preview

I am off to the Green Gifts Fair in Des Moines tomorrow. Here are just a few of the items that I am taking...


Some shabby upcycled frames with sweater backgrounds and blingy snowflakes

Little ceiling tin piece with burlap and blingy reindeer

More frames

Button boxes

My first attempts at these...Anthroplogie inspired? Maybe not just Anthropologie - I have seen them everywhere! All of the necklaces that I used are vintage or thrifted. Most of the fabrics are cut from old clothes or scraps that I had.

Lastly, remember this lady??? Emily? Well, I have been decopauging like crazy the last few weeks and finally got her all "covered." She looked great until...

...until she met 'Poly'....polyuerthane, that is!

I wanted her protected! I plan to use her quite a bit! The poly left some spots, some of which seemed to go away after 24 hours, but some stayed. I guess she still looks ok, actually, she looks great with this necklace.

Looking forward to the Green Gifts Fair tomorrow- if you are in Des Moines, come check it out! Hopefully, I will get lots of pictures and have them on here tomorrow night!