a little pink announcement...

Just found out today that my creations will now be for sale at a local shop...The Pink Doehr Flowers and More in Williamsburg, Iowa

I don't have anything available in the store just yet, but hopefully by the end of next week you'll be able to find all kinds of good stuff right there onthe square in Williamsburg...

So, in honor of my debut at The Pink Doehr, I thought of something pink to give for the 100 followers Giveaway that I posted earlier today....

It isn't all pink, but has some pink in the background... and, it's just what you need for Easter!

So, leave a comment between now and Sunday night at midnight....comment about anything! But, remember you can only win if you are a follower!

100

100... My kindergartner recently celebrated his 100th day of school. He had to take 100 pieces of something...than, I believe they all had to tell what they wish they had 100 of...I can't remember but I am guessing he said that he wanted 100 tractors... I would love to have 100 pairs of shoes....wait, I actually might have 100 pairs of shoes. :) I would love for it to be 100 degrees outside...

It would be great if I could find 100 more pink zippers, but the kind with the metal teeth. I just can't seem to have enough pink....the girlies love pink!

I would also love to have all 100+ cartridges for this wonderful machine...

MOST of all....

I would LOVE to have 100 followers! I am pretty close ~ 96! And, even though I just did a giveaway I think there could be another one if I get 100 followers. However, I need some ideas on what to giveaway! Give me some ideas, but be reasonable...no trips to Hawaii or brand new cars, sorry!

So, leave a comment and tell me what I should giveaway, or even tell me what you would want if you could have 100 of anything....This giveaway will be open to followers ONLY...

I guess the prize will be a surprise...Become a follower (if you aren't already) and comment from now until Sunday, April 3 at midnight, central time...

What I Wore Wednesday #3

Here I go again... This was an "ego outfit" week...Ya know, those outfits that just make you feel fantastic. I had a student coin that phrase years ago and I still use it. I was able to take these photos in my hotel room at the Marriott in Des Moines. I took 8 students to state FCCLA Leadership Conference.

Striped top ~ Banana republic outlet

Black skirt ~ Target/Merona

UNBELIEVABLE cream/black heels ~ Connie brand from Famous Footwear....I JUST LOVE THESE and they were a great deal. The LAST pair in my size...it was meant to be!

Red Flower pin ~ made by me

Black Cardi ~ Gap outlet

Grey lightly blinged scarf ~ Gap outlet

Grey pants ~ REAL Gap

Grey suede heels ~ Target

Zippy pin ~ made by me

2nd Day of Parent-teacher Conferences outfit:

Dress ~ Dress Barn

Black Heels ~ Unlisted from Famous Footwear

Earrings ~ Target

Necklace ~ my Grandma's, but I added black organza ribbon to make it longer

Blingy Fake Ring ~ JCPenny's nail Color ~ "I'm Not Really a Waitress" by OPI

I am linking up with The Pleated Poppy

Junker Blog/Event/Party post #2

I just posted this on the Junk Revolution Community message board...any of you that are not on the Junk Revolution board but are intersted in a blogger get-together in Iowa/midwest area, pleaser shoot me an email or leave a comment... I guess I will plan something for anyone in my area that wants to come. If I set a date, please tell me if you can make that date. If we do not have a good number of people than we might have to cancel....Ok, before I dive into the planning...I need to know: - are we thinking summer??? fall??- during the week? weekend? how many days? 1-2? 2-3? - what do you want to get out of this experience??? a lot of networking? a speaker? (experienced blogger or shop owner/junker), some hands-on fun?? (crafting/junking) - what are you willing to spend? Obviously, I want to keep it LOW! Whatever else -- please tell me

a rerun...

No one likes a rerun...well, except maybe reruns of Friends or Sex and the City...anyway, I am rerunning a couple previous blog posts. I have had several questions recently about trunk shows(especially from the Junk Revolution Community), so thought I would repost this information...

TRUNK SHOWS!!!!Don’t wait for my next sale – host a trunk show in your home! Schedule a trunk show and I will bring a mix of vintage and handmade items for your guests to browse through and the best part is that you will reap the benefits of the sales!

Guest Sales Free Product
$150-299 -- 10%
$300-499 -- 10%
$500-749 -- 15%
$750-999 -- 20%
Over $1000 -- 20%

Additional Benefits:- Hostess will ‘shop’ the trunk show selection prior to guests arriving and set aside any items that she may want to purchase with free product benefits.- Hostess will also receive a $10 gift certificate for each booking made at time of the trunk show. Booking gift certificates can ONLY be used on future purchases, either at other trunk shows or sales held by The Farmer’s Wife. Booking certificates are valid for one year from the show date.- If hostess cannot find enough free products to fulfill her free product amount at the time of her show, she will be given a gift certificate for the remaining amount. Gift Certificate will be valid for one year from the show date.ALL products will be cash and carry. NO orders for custom made products can be placed at trunk shows.

If you are interested in hosting a TRUNK SHOW in your home, please contact me through email: thefarmerswifeiniowa@yahoo.com, or by phone at 319-430-9597.


Some questions answered....

What items/products exactly will you bring to the show?
A variety of created items- upcycled jewelry, tote bags, wall hangings, small furniture, hankie garlands, painted boxes, etcALSO - 'as is' vintage items, meaning that I have not done anything "crafty" with them...anything from vintage quilts, scales, frames, small furniture, dishes, wooden boxes, advertising signs, books, kitchen utensils, etc.

Can you customize a show with the creations that my friends and I like? For example, a show with mostly jewelry & tote bags?
YES! Absolutely! We can discuss any kind of direction or theme you want to take with your trunk show.

Can you send me some pictures of some examples of what I can expect to see at a trunk show?
Certainly! You can also look on my blog - in the 'blog archive' wayyyyy down at the bottom of the page...there you will find lots of pictures from the last few years...


FINALLY ~ more recently I have had people ask me why it is called a trunk show...HONESTLY, it was the only thing I could come up with! I didn't want 'home show' or 'home party' or 'style consultation' like many of the direct selling/home party businesses do. I wanted something different...There currently is no 'trunk.' :)

Cookie Recipes

About a year ago I posted a blog entry about finding the world's greatest chocololate chip cookie recipe...because it has been my goal for as long as I can remember to perfect the chocolate chip cookie...ANYWAY, I think I may have found an EVEN better recipe...


Above is a photo of the ones my students made yesterday and today to serve to parents at our parent-teacher conferences...here is the recipe:

4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 cups butter, softened --- don't mess with this, use ALL butter!!
1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
2 (3.4 ounce) packages instant vanilla pudding mix
4 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
4 cups semisweet chocolate chips
2 cups chopped walnuts (optional)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Sift together the flour and baking soda, set aside. In a large bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar, and white sugar. Beat in the instant pudding mix until blended. Stir in the eggs and vanilla. Blend in the flour mixture. Finally, stir in the chocolate chips and nuts. Drop cookies by rounded spoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes in the preheated oven. Edges should be golden brown.

They also made my favorite recipe for monster cookies...I have used this recipe for probably 10+ years and get compliments all the time. They are pretty much fool-proof!

1/2 cup soft butter

1 1/8 cup brown sugar

1 cup white sugar

1 1/2 cups peanut butter

3 eggs

1 tsp corn syrup

1 tsp vanilla

3 1/2 cups oatmeal

2 tsp soda

1 medium size bag M & Ms (or more if you want!)

Mix in order and drop by heaping spoonfuls on cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes. Do not overbake. Note -- NO FLOUR!

HAPPY BAKING!

Julie's trunk Show - little SNEAK peek!

Just a few pics of some of the great stuff going to Julie's trunk show tomorrow night...

If you can't tell already, I use this word a lot!!!

I've been experiementing with some of Tim Holtz's new products...I love thise little acrylic tiles and here I made a few into magnets.

These next few pics are not the greatest...still learning about that new camera!

Burnt flowers...again, sorry about the photography!

More of Tim Holtz's acrylic tiles ~ into necklaces!

A few more....now, this picture looks good, why didn't the others turn out better?!?! UGH!

This necklace might be on the "I tried, but not my greatest work" discount pile tomorrow night! The flower is just a little too flimsy for the beads!

AND, of course, more banners...these just need some ribbon and they will be finished!

More parent-teacher conferences tonight and then back home to make more stuff!!!!

Junker Blog Event/Convention/Party/Gathering?!?!

Over the last few days there has been some chatter on the Junk Revolution Community board about possibly doing some kind of Junker Blog Event in the Midwest...would any of you other junk/diy bloggers out there be interested??

I am not 100% sure on what we are thinking...maybe a little get together/over-nighter at a hotel or conference center. I said that I could plan it, but if I did it would probably be in Iowa this year. When I say this year, I mean that it would be a great annual event, moving it around to other Midwestern states from year to year. OR, if someone else wants to take it on, if there is a more central location for this year, than someone else could plan it - I am open to any ideas...

Some other ideas ~~
- social time to just match faces with blogs!
- maybe a guest speaker -- someone who has been blogging for a long time and has lots of ideas for those of us that are still learning
- some kind of goodie exchange -- everyone bring something to share with everyone else
- shopping, of course, at the local junk spots

Like I said, I am open to ideas!
Please let me know if you are from the Midwest and might be interested!

What I Wore Wednesday...

Deciding to start doing WIWW was probably a really great idea because I am realizing how extremely unflattering some of my clothes are! This past week was exceptionally unflattering! Not sure I even want to show you! :)

St. Patrick's Day ~ had to wear a little green!

Jean jacket ~ Old Navy

Green ginham shirt (that looks maternityish) ~ Old Navy

Zippy pin on jacket ~ made by me

Earrings & bracelets ~ SUPER CHEAP at Rue 21


I wore this outfit for Parent-Teacher Conferences. It WAS NOT what I planned to wear but I was having one of those mornings and this was the best that I could do. I also felt very maternityish in this top and it went on the thrift store pile when I got home!

Top ~ Rue 21

black flare pants ~ Gap

Earrings ~ Maurices

Pointy black heels ~ Nine West

AND again...not sure what I was thinking...AND I have worn this like 3-4 times this school year! UGH!!!!

Chambray dress/tunic thing ~ Tommy Hilfiger

black leggings ~ Old Navy

Earrings ~ Rue 21

Bracelets ~ from Liz Claiborne, like 6 years ago when I used to work there!

Spoon ring ~ Cracker Barrel....yes, the restaurant with the awesome gift shop :) I bought this 10 years ago on a youth group trip with my church!!!!

Nail color ~ "Already Famous" by Sephora/OPI

Flats ~ Victor brand, bought at Younkers, SUPER cheap on the clearance rack

So.....guess I am going to go home and evaluate my wardrobe! With much hesitation, I am linking up to the Pleated Poppy

Stay tuned for previews of Julie's trunk show...pictures will posted late tonight/early tomorrow!

Giveaway Winners!!!

Sorry for the delay....had a crazy busy weekend....


The two winners are....

Tammy ~ A Primitive Place said...
How wonderful!I am a follower and would love to be entered.
Tam

and

Allison said...
I'm a new follower - your flowers are super cute!

Shoot me an email with your address, girls!! I want to get those goodies out to you ASAP!

Stay tuned for more stuff this week. I have another trunk show this Friday so I will have some new creations to show off!!

Pay it Forward

Whoa!!! TWO posts in ONE day!!! Heard about this on the Junk Revolution community and just had to try it!

I am joining
Jeanne from Junxtaposition
my home to yours
in this year's
Pay it Forward

Here's how it works....
The first five people who comment on this blog post
will receive a handmade gift from me.In return, you must FIRST write
(dont forget to leave an email address)
a blog post explaining
Pay It Forward 2011
Then.... send out a handmade gift
to the first 5 visitors who leave a comment on your post.

Take your time...you don't need to send them all today
or tomorrow. Any time in the next few months.
No pressure. This is to be a joyful experience.
"It's not the size of the gift that matters,
but the spirit of paying it forward."

bottle caps

I did a little junk jewelry workshop last Saturday. The biggest hit of the day was the bottle cap pendants/necklaces. Soooooo....I started looking around for more ideas....AND MORE bottle caps (I am bidding on some on ebay right now - wish me luck!)

Look at this great frame!
Great purse ~~

Christmas decor from jillruth ~~~ check out her blog!

She made them into garlands...

Some of the projects my "students" completed ~ prior to filling them with diamond glaze to set the paper/words/letter...

These pictures are not the greatest...I have that new camera, but still trying to figure out all the fancy settings!

Like I said, I am on the lookout for MORE bottle caps so that I can make some!!! ...hopefully, you'll be seeing my bottle cap creations at my next sale...

don't forget about the giveaway!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!