Share your heart...two awesome GIVEAWAYS:)

Hi girls!!!  It's been a whirlwind around here with the Feb 2-6th shop opening!  You blessed our little shop once again and we are forever grateful for your support. Thank you...thank YOU!! We've been busy stamping and setting like crazy people.  In the midst of all that I am so honored and delighted to share something that I'm pretty excited about. My crazy talented friend Courtney wrote another book and I was invited to be a part of her #ShareYourHeart blog tour.  WOOT!!!!

You can get your copy here.  

I've been too busy to read more than the back cover, but I can't wait to dig into this book.  I've read her others and I just know it's going to be good.  Big Chick was eyeballing it too.  That girl knows a good book when she sees it:)

This is the book trailer.  Watch this video!  It's the sweetest.  And it can easily become a new family tradition:)

To go along with her inspirational trailer, Courtney started a #ShareYourHeart campaign and challenged a bunch of her friends to create their own version of a "paper heart".  And naturally because we are in full on cuffing season right now here is my version:)  

This cuff will be given away on her blog...go here to learn more:)

Courtney is also giving you a chance to win a pretty amazing PRIZE package!!!  All you need to do is find her on Facebook here and SHARE the Paper Hearts Book trailer with your friends... Then enter the Rafflecopter Giveway.  Good luck girlies!!



And HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!  Spoil those people you love:))

Be a blessing.

November shop is LIVE!!!

I have that famous Christmas poem going through my mind except mine goes something like this... 

 

Twas the night before our Opening, and all through the house...

not a hammer was pounding not even mallet (doesn't rhyme).

The cuffs were hanging on their trees with much care...

in hopes that all of you would soon be right there;) 

 

I in my nightie all snuggled in bed,

images of leather twirling through my head...

Excitement was brewing. 

The anticipation was great.

No sleep would be had...

unfortunately it would have to wait;)

 

I'm a dork...what can I say?!  Maybe I should stick with cuff making;)

 

We've been working SO hard to get ready for this day.  Months of gathering leather, cutting, punching, hammering, snapping and unsnapping, photographing, editing, listing etc...  But alas we are ready!!!!  And I feel like a kid the night before Christmas morning.  I'm super excited this time.  Like READY!!!!  I've got help. We've got a system:)

 

Some last few shots of the shop.  This is hopefully our last opening in this room.  As I type this hammers are nailing in drywall to finish up a bedroom and bathroom in our basement.  The girls playroom will become our new FGP headquarters and the bedroom will be my art space EEEEEEEK!!!!  It really needed to be done.  With honey working from home our current situation wasn't working out so well.  We'll be WAY down in the basement.  Hopefully no hammers will be heard;)

My lifesavers;)
Tamara, Adele and Deanna

The shop IS OFFICIALLY open...today through November 20th!!!!  ***Please note this is the last opening until February 1st!  Hopefully we've got what you need...BUT if we sell out or you are looking for something specific please ask.  We've got buckets of leather we can maybe whip something up for you special.  We're nice like that;) 

Also please read through the listings.  We've tried to thoroughly explain the whole process from beginning to end including our shipping policies etc...  If you read it most of your questions will be answered:)

Oh and we're going to start a fun new thing on the first day of every opening to help spread the word that the shop is open and give word ideas.   If you've bought a cuff in the past we would love to see you wearing your cuff... a little cuff selfie:)  YOUR FACE and cuff in one pic!

EEEEEK!!  Here are a few from last night.  Love LOVED seeing your faces:))  Please tag #farmgirlpaintsetsy on IG (public users only) or blog about it, let me know, and you'll be entered to win a free cuff.  I'll announce the winner Monday evening around 5pm EST.  Thank you girlies:))

****************************************

PSSSSSS...Don't forget to check out
this month's awesome shop sponsors for your
coupon codes!!!


 Casey @ Casey Leigh

Susan @ Charming Lucy
Shannan @ Flower Patch Farmgirl
Kristi @ barnowlprimitives on IG
Nick @ nickholden on IG

 

 





Be a blessing.

November 11th is finally here:)
sweet sweet helpers!
lots of amazing belts
the ability to work from home and create meaningful things
YOU!!!
 

silent night...all is calm all is bright:)

 

Hello sweet friends... 

No your eyes are not deceiving you.  I have Christmas lights up in August!!! 
 

My talented friend Tara is promoting her sign shop for Christmas and asked a few us to show them off in our houses.  I'm a huge Between You and Me fan.  Remember my porch sign?!! Anyhoo I've been following along with the linky party and her signs really make any space look incredible.




Silent night is one of my very favorite Christmas songs.  It seriously evokes a sense of peace immediately doesn't it!?  I may just leave it up year round.  That's okay right?  There are no rules in decorating in my book...just live with what you love period.

It makes sense to go ahead and show you the rest of the room.  We recently painted in there.  I had tan walls.  I think it was called Richmond Tan.  Hmmmm wonder why I painted it that?;)  Anyway good old black chalkboard paint was calling me...more like YELLING for me to repaint!! The other walls were repainted Navajo White and even though they still look tan in the pic they are a creamy white. 

 

 

The polka dot rug came from IKEA for $20.  YES people 20 DOLLARS!!!  Goodness I love me some IKEA!!!

 

 

Now to do something with that area in the corner above the board games.  My friend Tamara suggested empty painted frames to keep score tallies in.  Kinda love that idea.

 

 

 

But I'm also toying with the idea of doing an art chalk design.  You see them everywhere.  I'd love to get brave and see if I could do it.  I found this awesome video on Pinterest.  Isn't this artist amazing?

So addition to painting (my honey actually painted...God bless him!!!) I made curtains...WITH RUFFLES!! Uh not sure what made me so ambitious, but I did it and they make me literally giggle with joy when I look at them! 

 

 

I actually broke my machine making these cute curtains, but it was worth it and FYI buying a new sewing machine is actually cheaper than getting your old one fixed.  What a ripoff that is!  I'm probably going to end up with a dozen broken machines over the course of my life;)  Cause you know this Farmgirl is gonna do that again...it's just inevitable!

 

 

 

So there you have it.  Christmas in August:)) 


Go check out the other amazing signs Tara has out there, and if you buy by Nov. 15th it will be 10% off if you use the code FARMGIRL10.  Yippeeeeeeee!!!!!

 

Edie from Life in Grace

 

Melaine from My Sweet Savannah

 

Tricia from A Rosie Note

 

Paige from Simple Thoughts

 

Jennifer from Life in the Green House

 

Laura from Finding Home

 

Erin from Blue Eyed Bride

 

Sasha from Lemonade Makin' Mama

 

Holly Mathis from Holly Mathis Interiors

 

Linsey from LLH Designs

 

Kari from Thistlewood Farms

Be a blessing!

changing things up
signs...words

chalkboard paint
ruffles!
a new sewing machine
decorating with what we love
thinking about Christmas...EEEEK!
 

Thoughts on Kim Kardashian and a give-away!

Good morning sweet peeps.  Hope you all had an amazing Easter.  We did!  It's Monday morning and as you read this my girlies and I are on our way to meet a very special someone!  Eeeeeek:))  We are road trippin' people!!  Spring Break has sprung and we are pouncing on it.  Can't wait to tell you all the details...if you want follow along on IG...my name is farmgirlpaints.

So in honor of my sweet friend I thought I'd try my hat at random again. She's sorta the queen of that:)

 

It dawned on me the other day that one of my biggest fears about moving here was losing my sunset views. If you follow along with me on IG you know that was a really silly fear of mine. 

I may not see the ground in my views, but they are still spectacular.  When we lived in MN our house was positioned perfectly to take in the most amazing sunsets night after night.  We overlooked an old farmhouse with cows and barns and all the things I hold dear, and it was just a very special place.  I really mourned that view initially.  I know that sounds crazy, but the sun and I have a thing.  We just do;)  I thought the trees were going to ruin my view, but I was wrong.  They are different, but wonderful all the same.

 

 

It became clear to me that we may have a certain idea in our heads of the way things have to be and God may have something entirely different in mind.  He knows what we love.  He knows what we need and even if it's not exactly the way we want it, He's gonna take care of us.  Love Him! 

I've really been having fun painting lately.  I can't tell you how good it feels to swirl paint again.  I've had a few people ask me if I would do custom pet paintings and I can tell you with 100% certainty that no I will not do custom pet, house or really any other paintings.  At least right now.

I felt such relief when I finally decided to stop the home paintings.  It was fun initially and then I made it WORK!  And any time painting becomes work I hate it!  That sounds nuts, but it's true.  When I paint what I want, when I want it's pure joy.  Pure BLISS!  I will figure out how to get prints made though.  So keep a look out for that:)

This week I finally took time and pampered myself BIG.  Honey gave me a gift certificate for Christmas to spend at a day spa and it was way past due that I checked myself in! 

Let's just say I'm not good at taking care of certain things.  Like my feet;)  They were so bad the poor girl had to get three different kinds of "cheese" grater things out.  My friend Tamara made fun of me soooo bad.  She's good at that;)  It's just my genetics I guess to have really callused, really thick heels.  Not any more though...my feet are soft and smooth like a baby's butt now.  It's moving up on my priority list to do this more often.  We need to take the time.  It's pretty important.

Okay so my honey travels alot and when he's gone I have nothing to watch on tv.  Nothing!  Because all our shows are on DVR I have to wait for him!  I'm explaining this because I feel like I need to clarify that Kim Kardashian is not the first thing I would pick to watch, but when you are doing the elliptical machine you need something to entertain.  And entertain she does. 


Is it weird that she breaks my heart??  Literally my heart hurts for this girl.  She is so wrapped up in the superficial...the clothes, her outward appearance...the glam that I fear she is going to go mental someday.  What in the world is she going to do when she looks in the mirror in the future and she's old?  Outward beauty fades.  I can attest to that.  I'm starting to see it myself.  OR that day when her fame will disappear...remember Paris Hilton?  I can, but just barely.  Anyway I just want to open her vacant eyes and fill it with something...Someone that can change her focus.  Let's pray for Kim.

The Journey of Letting Go Trailer from Revilo Designs on Vimeo.

Okay if you're still with me you deserve a cookie or something.  So here it is;)  My multi-talented friend Jeanne is offering 5 spots to her new "Letting Go" class.  I have no doubt it's going to be AMAZING!  I know alot of you have that inner desire to create and you don't know where to start.  Jeanne is really good at taking you by the hand and teaching you some amazing techniques.  So even if you don't win check into it.  Sign up.  It will be so fun to spread those art wings:)  To enter leave me a comment and be random.  What's rolling around in your mind??  I'd love to know.  I'll pick the winners after I get back from my ROAD TRIP!!!!! 

Linking today...

Be a blessing!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

freshly painted fingers and toes

scalp massages

friends that make you giggle

a soon to be "neighbor"

time with my girlies

meeting a special blogger face to face

 

the soft place

Happy Friday friends.  I hope you've had a great week.  To be honest I've been kind of a hot frazzled mess.  I'm 100% blaming hormones.


The other night I dreamed I was sitting in my daughter's third grade class getting ready for her Valentine's day party when in saunters Kelle Hampton.  Love her!  She's my blog crush.  She's also 9 months pregnant.  Anyway she sashays in...looking gorgeous and all put together as usual and she starts handing out lovely handmade Valentine's to MY daughter's class.  Meanwhile much to my horror I realize I don't have any Valentine's for little chick to hand out and she starts sobbing on the spot...so disappointed in me.

I mean what in the world kind of convoluted dream is that!?!?  I woke up in a teary panic..heart saddened.  I mean isn't that every woman's worst moment...dropping one of the many balls we have flying in the air. Letting down the people we love the most.  Grrrrrrrr!


Then there was the lunch with a friend that had me in a sobbing state when she just casually mentioned she might move. Might.  Probably won't, but might.  Did I say might??  I lost it.  Seriously I couldn't even make eye contact.  It's no secret moving was hard for me, but finding and keeping a friend that I have so much in common with...who gets me.  Well that's like a lifeline right now.  It took a feather to push me over that edge.

Seriously I blame hormones, but I also know that I love deeply. I'm emotional and sentimental and one giant sloppy mess most days, but that's okay.  I care a whole lot about the people in my life and sometimes that sets you up for big hurt.

As much as I love them, I know that I know, that it's just a teeeeeeny tinnnny speck of how much my Savior loves me...Valentine's in hand or not...emotional hot mess and all;)   Resting in that soft place of reassurance.  

**Thank you all so much for sharing your love stories with me.  I read each one.  It's so good to remember back isn't it??  Okay so the winner of the Eco Natural Soap give-away is:

Lindsey at Piecefully Home!  Congrats girl!!  

Her love story is here.  It's a good one.

Be a blessing.

985.  my big chick who turned 13 today!  

986.  cuban food with tamara

987.  sunsets that set the sky on fire

988.  cupcakes in my near future

our love story & a give-away!!

 

When Danielle asked me to write our love story I didn't hesitate. I love thinking about how we met...how God brought us together. I've written our story before. It started in high school. Long story short I fell for the bad boy. We all do it. We think they need us...that we can change them. I fell hard and got majorly hurt. My honey came after that hurt. He was ALL good. He saw past the pain and took care of me. Nice role reversal...

TO READ THE REST CLICK HERE...and then come back for the give-away;)

 

Okay friends...I've got a little treat for you.  I was asked recently to try out some products from an all natural, organic, family owned business called Eco Natural Soap.  They sent me a selection of products and I have to say I'm completely smitten. 


The Citrus Sunshine dry skin balm is absolutely heavenly.  It takes just a little bit and your hands are instantly soothed and moisturized.  The smell is amazing!!! 

The lemon-rosemary lip balm was a surprise.  It's bumpy on your lips, so that threw me, but my lips LOVE me when I put it on.  It's my favorite product!  It has completely won me over and you know I'm the lip balm queen.  I can't get in the car without applying.  The smell is beyond good and it's all natural.


The soaps they sent...The closest shave , The coconut milk/honey oatmeal bar and The Jojoba, shea and flaxseed bath and body bar are awesome.  I collect soaps.  I'm fussy.  I love to smell good and it needs to make me feel squeaky clean, but not dried out.  These all delivered!  I'm really excited that one of you will win 2 soaps, 1 body balm and 1 lip balm:)!! Go check out their site and let me know what you would pick...also just for fun if ya want...I'd love to hear YOUR love story. 

Be a blessing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

980.  friends over for the super bowl

981.  brownies two days in a row...eeeek!

982.  dinner and board games with the sweetest family

 

983.  CUFF sales that blew my mind...THANK YOU!!!!

984.  going down memory love lane 

Daniel Fast results and a winner!

I'm sitting here with shaky hands.  My Daniel Fast was over as of Tuesday, and I've been reintroducing coffee.  Out of everything I cut the one thing I missed terribly was my morning coffee.  It was almost unbearable the first week because I just couldn't bring myself to drink anything cold in the morning...and then it dawned on me I could have hot water with lemon.  Duh!  That became my go to.  And as I sit here stomach a little in knots and caffeine coursing through my veins that hot water may stay my go-to.  I actually really love it.  Change can be good;)


It's weird how cautious I feel about food.  I've had 21 days to develop new habits...to clean out the garbage and rest my body.  I'm not in any big hurry to start dumping it all back in.  And as much as I missed normal food and was sick to death of eating the same thing meal after meal...I'm going to continue a lot of the same principles.  I really would like to limit dairy.  I would love to stay off bread and sugar.  I can do without these things.  I've done it and I'm amazed at how much better I feel.  I didn't have the constant cravings.  I wasn't that hungry. 

 

If I liked to cook and used the resources that were out there this fast would have been a piece of cake.  Unfortunately I'm LAZY with food prep.  I ate almost the exact same things for 21 days:/  We ate at certain restaurants and I ordered strictly.  It was hard.  This wasn't easy at all, but I did it.  And despite a few minor things...like butter flavoring on my rice crackers, and some hidden sugars that I didn't know about in my restaurant food, I didn't veer. 


I weighed this morning and I've lost between 6-7 pounds.  Which is wonderful if you consider I hardly exercised.  The lack of protein wasn't doing me any favors.  I was pretty weak and didn't have much energy.  Even though I didn't start this fast as a diet I was hoping to have it kick start my weight loss.  I've been up about 15 pounds and it just wasn't coming off.  Now if I can continue to watch what goes in and add some lean protein I think I will feel great and the rest will drop. 

Spiritually I started bible and notebook in hand.  I made a prayer box and vowed to pray over it every single day.  And I did in the beginning, but as the days went on I got lazy and "forgot" to delve in.  My prayers were more arrow like.  Just fleeting and sporadic.  I'm reminded of how weak the flesh is.  How flawed and imperfect I am, but I also know that despite my shortcomings He met with me this month.  He helped me tremendously to get through this fast.  I never had headaches.  I've fasted before and the headaches were almost unbearable.  I get headaches regularly...and this time I don't remember having them.  That was some major grace. 

He also helped me get some things in my house in order.  It's a process.  There's more to go, and I haven't really begun my "project" yet, but I'm on the path.  I'm focused.  I'm willing and wanting to be used.  My heart is lined up with Him and I'm ready to see what's next. 

***Thank you so much for sharing the things that made you happy recently.  Reading good news, grateful things does a body good!  The winner of the Chrissie Grace $25 store credit is:

 

Amy from Blissful Blooms.  Congrats Amy:)

Be a blessing.

 

966.  mashed potatoes
967.  hot water with lemon
968.  tool for my shop that makes cuff making quiet
969. completing this hard thing
970.  a God that loves me despite my shortcomings