Souvenirs:
Barn Sale

Out of the generosity of their hearts... for the love of creating... the passion for teaching... and because you all deserve a little time away...
Jeanne, Jen and Jill are giving away a package worth $500!!!

This is in conjuction with the October 7th and 8th Barn Sale/Event (45 min. West of Geneva, IL)

Can you believe it???

To make it a little more special, Jason and I are giving the winner VIP parking up by all the fun + some homemade goodness... we're putting extra care into your winnings!
(a little hint: it'll be so sweet...)

The winner will receive 2 SPOTS FOR EACH OF THE 2 DAYS OF ART classes... AND You will also get a FREE HOTEL ROOM courtesy of the three of them at the 4 star hotel: Holiday Inn Express! To enter the giveaway all you have to do is:
1. Blog about the Art on the Farm classes at the NaDa Farm Sale and the Girls Weekend Giveaway. Once you have blogged about it come here to my blog and let us know.
or
2. Talk about the art classes and giveaway on Twitter for a second entry! Once you have talked about it let us know here on my blog.
or
3. Talk about the art classes and giveaway on Facebook for a third entry. Once you have talked about it on Facebook come back and let us know here on my blog. or
4. Pin it to Pinterest! Once you have pinned it, come back and let us know here on my blog.

All entries to be entered here (on Anne Marie's blog) only make sure you leave a comment for each entry you do
DRAWING WILL END THIS FRIDAY! (Sept 23rd... at midnight)

Classes are filling up quickly as the NaDa Farm Sale date is getting closer.

If you want to sign up for the art of business, vintage journal or vintage mixed media class you can email Jeanne at Jeanneoli@hotmail.com to register.

If you want to sign up for Jennifer Rizzo's Reflections of the Prairie class you can email her at thecraftyhome@comcast.net.

To sign up for Jill Harris' Salvaged Treasures class you go can directly HERE to sign up.

***GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***
WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED MONDAY!

Can't wait to see who wins!! peace+blessings,

The new Spring 2011 issue (the one on stands now) of Romantic Country Magazine, features the Farm Barn Sale from this past October!!!
Actually, this issue is really great! So much so, I'd like to giveaway a copy to you! (along with a few other surprise goodies)
Just leave me a comment on this post.
DEADLINE WAS DECEMBER 22nd, midnight

* GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED*
WINNER!!! from Random.org is...
comment #34:

Laurie said...
Congratulations! I'll have to get a copy if I don't win:)
12/19/2010

CONGRATS LAURIE!! email me your address!! Merry Christmas!!

I recently had some girl friends over... I encourage them to bring a friend... and I'm so glad some of them did... it's so nice to meet new people...

the night of Cupcakes & Cocktails was so nice...

I got to showcase some new recipes for some cupcakes I want to sell in October here at the event...
= lemon and lavendar with a white chocolate/buttercream frosting
= apple pie cupcake with buttercream frosting
= gluten free chocolate cupcake with whipped cream mint frosting (the total favorite with the ladies)
= carrot cupcake with classic cream cheese frosting
= my classic (favorite) chocolate cupcake with white buttercream frosting (the other favorite)

i made these simple flags and inserted them into the cupcakes to let the ladies know what was what

I rearranged the rooms (more on this new look later this week) which was so fun to decorate for the get together

the table Jason made is perfect in the corner of the room for a buffet...

and of course... the cocktail...

when I have the 'hub' in the kitchen, I put my large cutting board on top of my stove, and use it for extra counter space... it works out great...
here's the cocktail I made up (yumoramma... but after 4 o'clock only:) -for one drink — 2 oz. gin 2 T. na.da.farm pure prairie honey 4 oz. freshly squeezed orange juice 4 oz. freshly squeezed lemon juice
-put all together in your cocktail shaker and shake it up good... serve over ice-

A hit with old and new friends alike!
I would like to thank Midwest Living Magazine for such a nice article on me and the event/barn sale my husband and I do twice a year... thank you!! (there was a 'typo'... we are 80 miles WEST of Chicago, not East:)

The article is in the Out and About Section...


there really was no need for my picture!! 
for more information on the upcoming events, you can follow our homestead website: na.da.farm
What to expect this October here? -ART on the Farm is back again... so very excited about the diversity we are presenting to you — BARN SALE... theme this October?? Prairie Holiday Jason and I are presenting a new area to the event... I'm working hard in the kitchen to offer my very best cupcakes and baked items for sale...
enjoy the day!
xo+blessings,

• LOCALLY RAISED ALL BEEF HOT DOGS & BRATWURST (Chi-town style)
• ANTIQUES
• VINTAGE ITEMS
• PAINTED FURNITURE
• HAND SEWN BAGS
• CUPCAKES & SWEET TREATS
• PICNIC IDEAS + ITEMS
• HAND PAINTED SILHOUETTES
• ART JOURNALS
• HATS
• SHABBY-CHIC STYLE HOME DECOR
• COLORFUL VINTAGE ITEMS
• CAKE PEDESTALS
• FARMHOUSE DECOR
• CLOTHING — prairie style
• and so much more

~safe travels~

xo+barn sale blessings,
Jason &

and family...

you all know how I am getting ready for the sale tomorrow
but no stress this time
busy — yes — very
but with my husband's support and everyone in the family helping, it is such a blessing

that doesn't mean I have time during the day to sit and relax
however
I do take the time early in the morning with Jason and my coffee
and water the gardens and make my list

on mother's day, our daughter wanted a picture of her and I together... (it was her birthday the day before mother's day)

and then she took the camera to catch me... I am not one to take my picture
she has a way of getting her mother in a photo... which I am not fond of... being behind the camera

getting ready yes, but also so very excited to see you
as soon as I open my eyes tomorrow morning, dealers will be setting up, cupcakes will be frosted, a few last sales tags will be put on some of my items, and bouquets made
if you are coming from far off, I will have a white dresser inside the entrance, where Greg Wheaton will be playing his acoustic guitar there will be flyers from all the wonderful shops in the area
here's a sampling of Greg's music an honor for him to play here Friday night 5-8pm

fresh rhubarb gathered from the garden

some plants are from my Hungarian grandfather, some others are from our kids' piano teacher... both together make a wonderful fresh organically grown rhubarb pie... the strawberries are a tip of the hat to my dad (his favorite pie)

strawberry rhubarb pies... getting all set for the bakery at the sale... we are so excited to see you all, and meet more of you too
and remember, if you are coming out of town, there are a few rooms left at the Holiday Inn Express with a discounted rate (just make sure you mention Farm to get that deep discount!!)

preparation, music playing and fresh to me vintage sheets on the line...
what am I listening to? First Aid Kit... love their grassroots/folk sound and I am so pleased they are making it in that tough business... been a long time listener

xo+strawberry-rhubarb blessings,

my uncle needed some love recently... coming home to heal from surgery, I brought his favorite: carrot cake with cream cheese frosting

I make these in cupcakes too (but with frosting on the top!) maybe even later this spring... like May 18th and 19th?)
xo+sweet blessings,

Farmstyle can be romantic, and Polly Hood has shown us just that

she also joined us here at the farm when she participated in the event last October... 

these were the coolest tags she made just for the saleshe brought some amazing architectural pieces... hand made items... even a light made out of an antique pinafore... all the while looking stunning in her Magnolia Pearl dress her husband Steve bought for her (what a great guy he is!)
We are the ones Counting Our Blessings... because we are just so excited to have her back this May... with her Romantic Farmstyle
here's some of the items she's planning on bringing...

I love the touch of gypsy love with the feathers...

(I also think she takes wonderful photographs)

She and her husband own and operate French Cupboard... an online shop featuring many wonderfully talented people (kind of like Etsy) AND In her spare time, she travels around the country searching out treasures to sell online, and now, for the farm here, all the while taking photographs and gathering some great information and compiles them into PORCH magazine:

Visit/shop French Cupboard HERE
Follow along with Polly's romantic farmstyle HERE
and order her PORCH magazine, go HERE
If you missed meeting all the dealers joining me in the barn this May... or just want some great shopping... just scroll down my blog... I featured a dealer every day...
The Farm Family is growing isn't it???
*no baby yet* but my midwife says any day
My husband and I wish you all the best of weekends

xo+blessings,

passionate about organics... art... making connections... Jennifer Rizzo is a very unique and treasured friend


photo taken by Tracey from French Larkspurshe's so pretty as a farmgirl... don't you think?  she lives over an hour from the farm, has three little kids, yet, took time out of her busy schedule... went out of her way, to help me decorate for the October sale

and made me smile
what I received in return was a genuine friend
not caring of the hours of drive time and hustle and bustle...
the most astounding thing is that I come up with an 'idea' and the next time we talk, she has either done it already or had just thought of it too
I have seen her creativity organically blossom
her new art, and the collection she is bringing to the farm is really... well... awesome...
She, of course, is coming to the sale... and bringing one of a kind art with her
How great is that??

HANDMADE
ONE OF A KIND
MADE RIGHT HERE... IN THE USA...

you cannot find items like this anywhere else... except for at my Farm Event... and I so appreciate... beyond words... Jenn and her constant support

I can't forget to mention that she never... and I seriously mean NEVER stops decorating... painting... creating... inspiring us all with her understated organic elegance

for constant inspiration, you can read her blog HERE to shop for Jenn's items, you can go HERE

xo+blessings,

I followed Jeanne's blog for awhile... and thought her art and perspective on life co-existed and were portrayed beautifully on her blog
we started talking through the e-mails once and awhile
I sent her a link to a farm just West of mine... (I am always looking for a replacement farm with an old barn)... and lo and behold it was her Dad's listing!!
No idea she grew up nearly 20 minutes from Farm until that day
We were able to meet last summer... our daughters are pen pals... our sons are pen pals too...

and I'm so blessed to call her my friend
she really is that special... always listening... never needing anything... so very caring... when my son had a severe accident this past summer, Jeanne and her son were more caring than even most of our family members
sending books and prayers, calling to see how he was doing... (it really meant so much to my son and I... she is truly a genuine person!!) and THAT is the reason her art and items she creates are so special... because she is a true artist... letting her life and self be expressed through her art 

her original art work
I'm just so amazed she wants to be a part of my sale here... but she is!
SHE'S COMING HERE TO THE FARM EVENT!!

She's debuting her NEW product line in my barn... I can. not. wait.
Her and I are totally doing karaoke that night... laughing... dancing... laughing at ourselves... she cracks me up
Jeanne will also be TEACHING a class on mixed media art in our summer house, the second day of the Farm Event... May 21st
What a great vacation with your girlfriends!!!! Come to the Event... shop... drink champagne at the Boho-Ball... meet other bloggers... get inspired... eat... laugh... (swim at the hotel pool!)... and take Jeanne's Mixed Media Art Class!!
Seats will be limited for this... and details will be given out soon

and I really hope she understands how special I think she is and how I can't wait to see her again
in the meantime...

let's SHOP for her items HERE and read more about her life HERE

xo+blessings,

I am so happy to tell you all that Beth Quinn, of Beth Quinn Designs is coming all the way from Arizona to be here on the farm to
be with her friends
meet new ones
and sell her beautifully made jewelry... 

her new children's line of jewelry... so darling

I definitely think that my favorite pieces are these "happy" ones...

yes, I bought these earrings and LOVE them...

She has been featured in such publications as: *Belle Amour* *Somerset Magazine* *Artful Blogging* *Haute Handbags* and many many more... Beth is making a whole new line just for the Farm Event...
one of a kind pieces! (it's a secret as of now... I haven't even seen any of her new line yet!!)


Beth Quinn and her husband What a blessing it is to know that Beth will be here... I'm truly overwhelmed... she's quite the artist...
you can shop for Beth's jewelry HERE
and visit her blog HERE

xo+blessings,

Many of my new interests seem to include calligraphy, floral art, feminine and light clothing, and a touch of gold. Some of that may be due to the May sale approaching and I am planning my space, the feel and the overall design. I am really looking forward to once again working with my younger sister in that bakery of ours. She completely sold out of all her wonderful baked goods (and quite frankly, I wasn't surprised... those baked giant pumpkin doughnut holes were amazing!) I do think she is planning on including some special items, such as myself, like candy — no added 'goo' or colors... just natural and a small treat.

One might think that I eat sweets all the time, but on the contrary. I tend to make them for the family, and I do enjoy them from time to time, but oh my hips if I kept making them and eating them, you could definitely then call me 'big mama'. Funny enough, when I am a Grandma (if I am a Grandma) I want to have some meat on my bones and be cuddly... not a skinny one... but that is besides the point, and I don't want to rush those cuddly squeezes yet — not by a long shot. I want to savor this day and all the rest.

However, days are hard, and diving into motherhood, when I hate diving, has lately put me in a state of flux. Not being able to make decisions is one of them (and I suppose Pinterest isn't helping me in that fact either). The days are too long some days, and too short the others. My zeal... the 'oomph' has left me lately. I know the good Lord knows what He is doing. Keeping quiet. Keeping still. I don't get talked to by the Lord like I hear so many women proclaim. That they 'hear the Lord' speak to them. Truthfully, I do hear the Lord in Church, and when I do happen to make decisions that are important (that little 'no no' or 'nudge nudge').

In my mind there are days when I am elsewhere... sometimes that is dreaming of me being an artist in my barn (when i can't paint a lick) or other days it is in a bit of quiet contemplation (when I usually end up knitting or crocheting).

There are those pictures that are so unlike me, yet, I gravitate toward them like it is what I do see in my head, and being a stylist, I see things that way... the light... how they captured the dress just so beautiful... or the cake just at the right level and color in both the foreground and the background...

It seems today is a bit of ramble... and that might be due to the fact that my journal near my bedside has been empty since i don't remember when. It is very unlike me not to write, to journal, etc. Life is so full sometimes, and that fullness is both of the good and of the bad, we just have to accept it all because it is in our life. But if you choose to focus on the bad more than the good, then, well, you just don't see things as a blessing, but of darkness. I find it really poignant that the Lord made the Light first... and that the sun is an enormous star... and just those two things could keep my mind occupied the rest of the day. Finding inspiration from that golden sun is one of the reasons I am liking the gold, the rest is quite uncertain, but I am enjoying the process within my soul finding out the reasons the "why" of the rest.

*it's been such a pleasure reading all of your comments on the GIVEAWAY* (you still have time to enter if you haven't yet!) go HERE
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The past year of the sales/events here at our farm, I have decided to make that transition from just 'barn sale' to an event
it gives me the opportunity to really get creative with the events...
May 2010 was the Patisserie (to see more pictures visit my good friend Tracey)
October 2010 was all about the story of Bridgette (she encapsulated my spirit, and I'm still working on the ending to the book)
_________________________________________________________________
This May, has been in the works ever since last fall, and I'm so excited to share it with you...

__________________________________________________________________ (further this February, I will be feauturing each of the amazing/creative men and women participating in this event)

I know a lot of you cannot make it to the event... and I so wish you could...
so I came up with an idea!
One of the displays I'm erecting for the event is a huge inspiration board

photo credit: Canadian House and Home
So I thought it would be fun if you want to be a part of the event, that you could send me your business card... no bigger than a 5"x8", to the farm, and I'll put it up on the board... the more the merrier!!
and when people come to visit the event, they'll see "so and so" from "that blog I love!" up there on the board...
If you are interested in participating in this idea, then take the flyer picture and put it up on your blog's sidebar, and feel free to tell people YOU are a part of the Farm Event!
I do hope to meet some of you... and if you do come... make sure that you introduce yourself okay? I'll be the one with the newborn snugly wrapped around me...
email me at: ndfmama@gmail.com in order for you to get the address to send your business card to add to the inspiration board!
xo+blessings,

practicing for the upcoming May Barn Sale, my family is thoroughly enjoying these extra large salad plate size cinnamon rolls... smothered with a powdered sugar glaze... oh my hips!

I am always amazed when working with dough... the yeast just blows my mind... so fun to work with

one takes up a whole salad plate!!

the inside, even though enormous in size, were perfectly flaky... a must!!!

as you can see... our family of eight... all of us... and some of us eager participants liked them twice! imagine?! not I..no... no... this girly figure is perfectly womanly enough thank you very much
(but one was like 2 regular so what the heck)

seriously cannot believe it's Friday already! this morning I am securing all the dealers for the sale... they are all picking out which space they'd like, and reserving them... it's quite chaotic I must say for about 3 hours...
there is so much to share with all of you lately... and I'd like to do that next week...

if you are new to reading my blog, hello! and if you are a "seasoned" reader, thank you... all of everyone's feedback with my questionnaire about content was so fantastic... and I took it all to heart, prayed on it, and am now acting upon all of the ideas/thoughts/pondering...

NEW to the farm!!!

My eldest daughter and I created a new product line (it was all her brilliant idea) called
"the sweet life"

here's a peek at what we've been creating for the May event together:


adorable hand-stitched stuffed little birdies to perch on top of your cake
and colorful — striped bunting
*made by daughter* cupcake toppers... 

*made by daughter* a few items I have been working on...


hand embroidered kitchen towels
(made from antique linen from Scotland)

let me just say, she has inspired me... *thank you sweet daughter*

We have had so much fun with this new product line... and there is so much more I didn't share here...
I have SO broken out of my box with working with only linen products, and now have embraced recycled felt (like on the cake I made for her display) and vintage trims I have had accumulating... always loved the colors, and now have a use for them!
a great way to brighten up your days! is working with color!!
xo + "sweet life" blessings,

A super light cotton material with a natural wrinkle and stretchy nature was paired with vintage trim and some ruffles...

with most of my tops, a matching hair accessory will come with it...

available at the May Event here at the farm

for more information visit: Farm Events
Don't forget to book your hotel stay... see the post below for more details...

xo+blessings,

Our oldest daughter celebrated a birthday recently, but I had planned long before her celebration...

Tracy from Tied-Up-Memories had made this custom necklace just for her! ~white horse locket (she loves our white horse Jordan... and lockets) ~ keys (she has something for old keys... I wonder where she gets that? lol) ~ A few beautiful religious medals ~ old glass beads surrounded by wonderful chains and craftsmanship

I have bought a number of Tracy's beautiful jewelry
she's such a good friend to make a custom piece of jewelry isn't she?
We once did a barter for her jewelry... for one of my long skirts I designed just for her:
her sweet post on it

The necklace she made for our daughter, goes quite well with this new feminine/satin/watercolor design top I just finished sewing...

the feel of this top is so feminine-boho...

it's part of my new line of clothing... for the sale!

*a special thank you again Tracy* she loves it!!

If you are interested in purchasing a similar necklace, visit Tracy at her Etsy Shop:

Hope you are all enjoying the week... if not... start now!
xo+blessings,