Christmas Decor Makeover

Sometimes our Christmas decor just needs a makeover to make it feel fresh and pretty again. Last week, a client called wanting to update their wreaths, swags, and order a new mantle piece. I went and looked at her pieces and home to get an idea of what she had to work with. The home had been decorated for a Christmas tour several years back and the teardrop / swags were about 12 years old. They had a great woodsy base, although new bows were much needed. She wanted to lighten them up a bit, so I added some snowy greenery and gold ribbon. She already had a large supply of feathers, berries, and some other foliage, so I used as much of what she had, as possible.

 I completed the makeover at their house and when the owner came home, she was so excited and happy with how everything turned out!

The tear drop swags hung with the garland at each post on the staircase.  

I should have taken a before picture of this piece. There was a poor pheasant setting in the middle of this nest that sits on the stair rail. Oh, he was pitiful! I used some of the elements the client had and gave it an updated look. 

They have a large stone fireplace where this wreath hangs, but said it didn't show up very well. So more of the snow covered greenery helped lighten it up come, along with lots of feathers. A snowy bird nest replaced balls that were missing their covering. Not real sure if they were originally moss orbs or what.

 She had an inspiration picture with a mantle piece with the cascading pheasant feathers, so we created this piece for them. The wreath has a very rustic, winter lodge look to me. I suggested that it could be left up all winter and they liked that idea.

We were happy to help give their Christmas decor an updated and fresh look for the holidays! 

Santa and Glamper Flannel Shirts!

Santa said he's trading in his sleigh for a vintage camper and truck this year! ;) heehee! 

Ok, maybe not really, but there are some fun flannel shirts with Santa's, Glampers, and Vintage Trucks and Christmas Trees in my shop! These have been popular at our shows this fall and in my etsy shop. I've been selling out or running really low on these at every show. 

Santa Claus is watching YOU! 

The shirts can be tied up, if they are too big. I have one XL flannel that I wear and tie the ends up this way and cuff the sleeves (I usually wear a medium.)  

 This one was a new design and sold out at the last show, so more have been made and listed in my etsy shop.  There was a group of ladies who were glamping at the Mineola Civic Center a few weeks ago and many of them came over to the Mineola Antique Fair. They were the funnest group of shoppers. I had to drive through their campground when we closed for the night.

The pink glamper Christmas shirt was a popular choice for the glamper group and one of them even had the vintage Shasta to match it!

Santa says Support your community - Shop Small! and oh how we appreciate everyone who shops and supports our small handmade business!

Mooey Christmas! Ah, this sweet cow face reminds me of my little red calf that we have been bottle feeding at the farm!

How I wished we had a vintage red truck to carry our Christmas tree and pull our camper! (Or a turquoise one!)

We wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday Season! We do appreciate each and everyone of you who let us help decorate your lives - from one of a kind clothing to arrangements for your special events! 

Shirts can all be found in my etsy shop at GypsyFarmGirl or we will have them at the Mineola Antique Fair on December 7-8 and a bonus show date the following Saturday, December 14. 

Vintage Style Gift Tags and Bookmarks

I'm the one who loves to wrap gifts in boxes, with pretty bows and unique tags. I like my gifts to have a pretty tag or ornament included, so the recipient has a keepsake.

Recently, I created tags, that can be used as bookmarks or planner page markers afterwards. I used girls from the front of vintage patterns and added motivational quotes or words to them, and most have a piece of vintage lace that can be used to tie them on a gift. I love them and was excited how they turned out. A few are attached to a magnetic page holder. I use one in my planner, to mark the month. 

I love to reuse items and used the paper instructions from the pattern to wrap the small box. (Side note - I buy old patterns to use the tissue paper to wrap my items that I ship out. You'd be surprised how many old patterns have never been cut and you can often find much larger pieces of tissue, compared to the smaller pieces now found in stores.)

I tied a bow with vintage lace and added the stories tag. Can you imagine the stories these two could tell???

"Enjoy the little things, for one day, you may look back and realize they were the big things." -Robert Brault  

"They are able because they think they are able." -Virgil

 Read and tell your story

 Here's the thing... This book marker comes with a magnetic page holder.
(Love her sassy look and can hear her say "Here's the thing."

 The Glamour girl - she's also a magnetic bookmark.

 Back side of the magnetic marker.

I grew up reading, and loving Laura Ingalls Wilder and when I saw this quote in a magazine, I had to cut it out and use it! 

"It is still best to be honest and truthful;

to make the most of what we have;

to be happy with simple pleasures;

and to have courage when things go wrong."

 Now that I think about it, wouldn't this be the perfect gift tag on a box of Little House on the Prairie books and then it would be a book mark as someone read the set of books?!? All the tags are laminated, so they will hold up to use. You can take a Sharpie or permanent marker and right the "to: and from:" details on the back of the tag.

All the tags are now available in my shop and ready to be shipped now.

Member Junkers {not so} Anonymous

Last week, when we had a conversation with one of our friends and customers at the Mineola Antique Fair. Their family has come 4 shows in a row and even came twice last weekend (and they won two of the door prizes being given away.) 

As they were leaving they said "we'll be back next month, it's like Junker's Anonymous... We have fun and can't stay away!" 

Junker's Anonymous... It immediately hit me that it had to be a graphic and most likely it's a new shirt in the works! 

Are you a member of the 

Junker's {not so} Anonymous Club?

You know, we can't keep it a secret that we have junk everywhere...the back of our trucks, yard, storage sheds, house... we love junk and we aren't afraid to show off what we do with it! 

We aren't really anonymous at all!! 

Whatya think? Should it be on the back of a shirt????????

Christmas Shows and New Items!

It's been a busy time of year and we realize we haven't set down to share here on the blog. So we thought we would play catch up today and share a few things. Over the lat few weeks, we have had 3 shows and been super busy sewing and creating, plus we've had some extra responsibilities, behind the scenes.

Last weekend we were at the Mineola Antique Fair and we had lots of fun! Here's a few pictures I shared on Facebook after the show.



The weekend before, we were at the Christmas Bazaar at the First United Methodist Church in Gilmer. My mom joined Angea and I for that show, with some of her leather and crochet items.

If you couldn't make it to one of our shows, I have added lots of new things in my etsy shop! These are some of the shirts, new tags, and ornaments that are now available.

Everyone ask us "when we sleep" and "if we are doing anymore Christmas shows?" 

Well, for several weeks, it seems like we slept from 12:30-6 ish, although this week we are catching up on some of that as well! We have enjoyed a few quieter days to work on orders, add new items to my shop, and breath a little. 

Our next show is December 8-9, 2018 at Mineola Antique Fair. We want to enjoy the holidays and also focus on adding more items to my shop and we have some Christmas decorating jobs on the schedule.