Dear Santa, I've Made my Christmas Wish List!

Dear Santa,

I hope you are having a really good year. We are doing good and I've been wearing my Santa flannel shirts for a while now. I don't think you've stopped by our house since I got out of school. I usually don't ask for anything for Christmas, although this year, there are several things on my wish list. I've included affiliate links to all my favorite things, if you are able to help me with anything on my list.

Love yours truly,

Janice

Clothing - 

These Junk Gypsy Boots are pretty awesome! Not sure exactly what I would wear with them, but I love them and can we say Fringe! Size 8 please.

An old red truck, with a load of flowers... well that's just about perfect for me!


A Flower Truck T-Shirt...Love

Remember our shenanigans in the Junkin' Sisters Tribe and the funny graphic Charity Sparrow created? Well, she's got it on a shirt now! More Chickens and Rust. Less Drama and Fuss. I would take a medium in unisex size, as I hear the women's shirts are really fitted.

You may recall my search for the perfect dress - modest but cute and trendy, not have to wear leggings or show my white legs, can wear my boots, and has pockets? I think I finally found it in this long sleeve, vintage floral maxi dress!  It comes in several colors, although I like this navy blue. Of course, now I don't know of any events I'll be attending to need the dress, although it couldn't hurt to have it on standby.


For the House -
Alright Santa, I've just recently started drinking coffee and I really want to try one of the Keurig single serve coffee pots... it looks like it takes up less counter space than the bigger versions so that would be nice for our small house. Jeff has his perk pot and blends several types of coffee together, but I just want to make me a single cup when I want it.

We really need some new kitchen towels, as our are getting threadbare and I think this one applies for when I'm hungry. Poor Jeff!







These camper towels are just too cute as well.



And of course, I love this towel that says Support Your Local Farmers!


We could use a few new bath towels, as several of ours have made there way to the farm, used for the dogs, and used to clean up after DIY jobs outside. Turquoise or brown would be lovely and match my shower curtain.




For the Yard / Outdoors / Work

While browsing Amazon, I found this 20 pack of succulents and I really need to replant my vintage chicken feeder and wagon with succulents. Having some plants growing in the winter time would sure cheer me up!


I could really use a new set of drill bits, since I have a way of breaking them... I've been looking at estate sales, but I've yet to find an assortment pack to replace my broken ones.

I always need a good pair of fabric scissors and these are my favorites!
Planning for 2018

I'm really wanting to be more organized in the new year and keep track of all my business in one planner. I like this Leather A5 planner, because I can add pages to it and want to keep up with all my notes from wedding consultations together. So that when I have a meeting in January, I can find my notes in November. I can keep up with my calendar and add blank pages for notes each month. I've been searching for a rustic looking planner, because I'm not into polka dots, chevron print, or some of the other crazy patterns I've been seeing. (P.S. Someone in Santa's workshop really needs to get on board with some rustic planner accessories. I think that market needs some help.)


I like the color of this leather planner and that its handmade, although I really wish the pockets were sewn in, since I stuff all kinds of receipts and extra papers in mine.





(Post contains Amazon affiliate links to all of the products shown, except for the Santa flannels and tumbler wraps shown in the first picture - those are in my shop and created by me.)

Peace on Earth - A Christmas Vignette in an Old Drawer

I recently created this Christmas vignette in an old wooden drawer. 

The wooden drawer was destined for the burn pile, at a house we helped clean out. I just can't stand to throw away good wooden furniture, when its still in good shape.

First I chalk painted and waxed the drawer. 

Next, I inked and aged some book pages for an old timey vintage look and attached them to the drawer. Later, I added the 12 x 12 piece of scrapbook paper with the snowy pine scenery. I then added the piece of old chicken wire to the front of the drawer. 

 I've looked for old bottle brush trees and vintage deer at every estate sale we've gone to this year, although they have been few and very far between. I finally found these two gold bottle brush trees and decided they would fit in my scene. Still, I needed deer. I finally found a wooden deer that I liked and decided he was already painted a white distressed look that would match my vision.

I attached the deer and trees and then tucked a layer of "snow" (cotton) around them. I had the Peace on Earth wooden sign / ornament in my stash and decided it belonged on the back wall of the vignette. I loved that the sign had the pine branches incorporated into it and thought it helped pull it all together. 

 A piece of burlap ribbon is tied around the drawer pull. The vignette can be hung on the wall, without any additional hangers added, since there is enough lip in the drawer front to hang it from or it can be set table top, etc.

P.S. This vignette is now available in our booth at Uniques and Antiques in Mineola, Texas or you can follow the directions on how to create your own scene. 

I am a Small Business

I am a small business...

No, I don't have one of those "real jobs" that come with traditional 8-5 hours, a paid lunch hour, paid vacation, sick leave, or insurance. Therefore most people believe I don't really work, I'm flexible to just go and do whatever, and work when or if I want to.

We (both my husband and I) are self employed. No work or sales equals no grocery money or funds to pay our electric bill or insurance, etc. (I've paid my own health insurance since the day after I graduated college. Every single year, the rates go up. This year was a 20% hike and I just got my notice that it'll be going up 9% in the new year and I've only used my insurance twice in 14 years.)

I have an online business and people think that's simple to run. I must be inspired to create the item, source the supplies, make it, then set up a photo shoot, edit pics, upload to my shop (title, tags, description, measurements, pictures), blog, work on SEO, share to Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Google Plus. If I don't work, share, and promote what I'm working on, it will just set in my house/online and nobody can find it. 

For custom orders, I convo / email with potential customers. Often there are 10-50+ emails back and forth, for a single order. Orders are started after payment has been received. I've had too many people inquire, promise to order, and never follow through, when I had already purchased additional supplies for the order. (I do keep lots of fabric in stock all the time, although sometimes new colors, styles, or supplies are needed.) After the flowers are handmade and assembled, I send pictures of all items, for approval, before shipping. Once approval is given, I box up and ship the order. Some days I ship from home, although if my other jobs take me away from home (or we have a substitute mail carrier), I must go by the post office. 

It's important for my mind and body to stay healthy and focused. Drama, stress, and distractions can ruin the whole process. 

Lately I've been ask "so what do you do now?" Well, whatever it takes and whatever my wonderful customers want. My "main" job is making burlap and lace wedding bouquets, I also make wreaths, home decor, repurposed clothing, and other unique items that can be found in my Etsy shop and ship world wide. 

I take on local floral events and funerals as the need arises. (I don't keep fresh flowers on hand, so I must drive 35 miles one way, to pick up flowers for any request, therefore I do set minimum order rates for this service.) I promise to share pictures from this wedding very soon! 

We have a booth at Uniques and Antiques in Mineola (about 30 miles from my house) that needs restocking on a regular basis. We share the space with Angea aka Rooster Tails. We generally go junkin' on Thursdays, looking for new items to add to our booth or to makeover. This is also the day we usually devote to updating our space and social media about what we have added. Sometime, prior to Thursday, we have to clean/makeover/paint/sew/fix, price, tag, and load our inventory to take on runs to U & A. Yes, it's a fun girls day, that involves lots of laughter and lunch out, yet it is still work. 

We also have a minimum of two hours of farm chores, on a daily basis. 

As a small business, we do a happy dance and say thank you every single time the cash register cha-chings on our phone (for online sales) and we are appreciative of everyone who refers a friend or ask us to help with local events. It means so much to us! 

Some days we don't know how we will do it all, but every single day, it all works out. We haven't had a dependable Friday paycheck in almost 3 years. (Christmas week will mark my third anniversary of being self employed on a full time basis.) It takes a lot of faith to make it and I'll admit to worrying more than I should. We don't live an extravagant life and try to be content with what we are fortunate to have. When all of you trust me to make and design items for your special occasions, it really does make me happy and we are so very thankful. 

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Your support for small businesses and especially small, handmade businesses is truly appreciated. I've got a friend who thinks we won the lottery and didn't tell anybody... that's definitely not the case. There's a lot of work / hustle going on here, to make ends meet, although some days, it really feels like I won big, knowing that I get to make a living with my creative talents and help all of you! 

As a special thank you for all of my loyal followers and friends - I have a special coupon code for 20% off all of the clothing and most home decor in my online shop. Hurry though, this coupon is only good through Monday. Use SHOWLOVESHOPSMALL for 20% off. (Most everything else is also on sale, without a coupon code needed.)

Happy Thanksgiving

I try to have an attitude of gratitude all year long, although today I want to take a moment to say an extra thank you all for the support you show my small, handmade business. I appreciate each and every one of you who allow me to create something for your weddings or events, let me design tributes for your loved ones, wear something I've made, decorate your homes with something I've created, or those who shop our booth for Unique and Antique finds. To all of you who refer a friend, recommend my services, share about our events and work, comment, like, pin, etc, you are awesome and I couldn't do this business without you! So THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart. 

Wishing you all a very Happy Thanksgiving! 

All I Want for Christmas is a Red Truck!

All I want for Christmas is a Red Truck! 

Vintage red trucks are all the rage this season and you'll find several different styles in my shop!

Ok, I'll be honest, I would take a turquoise truck as well! 

 Several styles of tin trees and stockings are in my shop, along with this grapevine Christmas wreath with red truck bow and metal sign.

Where ever I go, Yeti style tumbler goes with me and of course, it has to have a cute wrap on it! 

 Dear Santa, A red truck full of junk would be PERFECT! I promise I've been a good girl this year!

 Most of the wraps are made for the 30 ounce tumbler, although I can / will be making more for the 20 ounce cups. Send me a custom order request if you need different sizes or quantity.

P.S. I can always add a Santa to the back of any of the shirts in my shop.

Thank you all for supporting Hand Made in America items this holiday season!