| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| ChicChick |
Posted - Feb 15 2006 : 11:20:20 AM
Hi Everyone,
I'm Joy and I'm new to this forum and website. My older sister is obsessed and told me about it and I can see why she's found it so intoxicating!
I was reading a post under "Opening a Shop" (or some similar title) and Kay from the Rustic Cottage had posted about holding a Farmgirl sales event a few times a year. I'm fascinated with this idea as two of my sisters and I are very interested in doing something similar to what the "Farm Chicks" do. Here's their site in case you've never been: www.thefarmchicks.com
We are planning to start small, probably have an outdoor event the first weekend in May (before the lawnsales begin) and have our own vintage home decor items, handmade items and baked goods, all with a pretty vintage theme (pastels, retro colors/motifs, etc).
Can anyone offer any other suggestions or advice for this event? We're planning to advertise in the local papers and put up posters and flyers everywhere. I have a seasonal vintage decor shop now so I will be using some of my merchandise from that, as well as a lot of other things. We have a canopy and will be getting one or two more in case of rain.
I love holding events: Teas, book clubs, etc. I love to organize and do all the planning and then see the results. Share any ideas with me please! 
Vist my shop at: http://chicchickbiz.etsy.com and my blog at www.chicchickbiz.blogspot.com |
| 16 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| therusticcottage |
Posted - Feb 20 2006 : 3:22:41 PM
Patti -- if I ever run across that fabric again I'll be happy to make you an apron. It had Royal Albert tea cups and tea pots on it. I'll check my fav little fabric shop to see if they have any left. Thanks for all your kind words about our booth. I can't take credit for the display -- that is all Missy and Cheryl. I just put things where they tell me to!
Mine is just a little old fashioned garden where the flowers come together to praise the Lord, and teach all who look upon them to do likewise.
-- Celia Thaxter
http://therusticcottage.etsy.com
http://rusticcottage.blogspot.com/ |
| sqrl |
Posted - Feb 20 2006 : 12:25:10 PM
yeah, too bad the weekend are so darn short. I stuff as much as possible into those two days.
Blessed Be
www.sqrlbee.com www.sisterhood.sqrlbee.com
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| applelady |
Posted - Feb 17 2006 : 5:15:09 PM
Debbie and Melissa, it's good to know that I'm not the only one that works somewhere that isn't exactly stimulating. I work as a Contract Administrator at an aerospace company. It's very hectic and high pressured. There are days that I do like my job but most of the time I want to be somewhere that I can feed my soul!! I guess that's what weekends are for! |
| applelady |
Posted - Feb 17 2006 : 5:10:46 PM
I just checked out the rosy little things website. I love it!! Lots of pretty stuff! |
| sqrl |
Posted - Feb 17 2006 : 4:43:03 PM
Debbie, I too work in a very non creative job and use every inch of my time outside work to do the things I love. I t can be so frustrating.
Oh and Kay I just love you stuff, displayed so nicely, everything is just so..romantic.
Blessed Be
www.sqrlbee.com www.sisterhood.sqrlbee.com
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| sqrl |
Posted - Feb 17 2006 : 4:39:05 PM
Hey Joy I visited both your sites, great stuff. But I wanted to thank you for turning me on the two site that you recommended. Ladies you must check out these sites their great.
http://brocantehome.typepad.com/brocante_home/
http://www.rosylittlethings.typepad.com/
your shop is so cute, I wish I could visit.
Blessed Be
www.sqrlbee.com www.sisterhood.sqrlbee.com
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| Utahfarmgirl |
Posted - Feb 17 2006 : 12:58:05 PM
Kay, I wanna go to your sale!! My kinda place, your booth. Fabulous! Can't say enough! Maybe someday...
Come visit my Etsy store at www.chezPatricia.etsy.com |
| happymama58 |
Posted - Feb 16 2006 : 7:22:28 PM
I have fallen in love with the apron in those pictures! I saw it earlier today when I checked in and now I cannot get it out of my mind. If you ever have another apron like that, I want it 
Your entire booth is adorable, and I would love to have been at that show. All of you do great work!
Some people search for happiness; others create it. |
| therusticcottage |
Posted - Feb 16 2006 : 11:29:54 AM
Thanks for all your kind words. We're in SW Washington near Vancouver. About 20 miles north of Portland, OR. My very talented daughter, Missy, did that dress with the upholstered mirror. She found an old dresser that had the drawers missing. She painted it, added baskets where the drawers used to be, and created the memo board where the mirror used to be. Unfortunately for her it didn't sell. But lucky me -- she didn't have any place to store it so I'm using it in my living room until the next sale!
Mine is just a little old fashioned garden where the flowers come together to praise the Lord, and teach all who look upon them to do likewise.
-- Celia Thaxter
http://therusticcottage.etsy.com
http://rusticcottage.blogspot.com/ |
| blueroses |
Posted - Feb 16 2006 : 11:12:50 AM
Joy,
You're right. I just have to save up all the creative energy til I get home. And - I have Monday off, so hope to get a lot done.
Debbie
"You cannot find peace...by avoiding life."
Virginia Woolfe |
| blueroses |
Posted - Feb 16 2006 : 11:10:59 AM
Kay,
You have such great things for sale and it was set up beautifully. I'd love to come to a sale, but I'm not sure where you are. Are you anywhere near Spokane, or much further West?
Debbie
"You cannot find peace...by avoiding life."
Virginia Woolfe |
| ChicChick |
Posted - Feb 16 2006 : 06:07:06 AM
PS, Kay, I meant to also mention how lovely all the items in your pictures were...I love the bags, the furniture, the bath products and especially the mirror that it looks like was upholstered? What a clever idea, it turned out great...
Vist my shop at: http://chicchickbiz.etsy.com and my blog at www.chicchickbiz.blogspot.com |
| ChicChick |
Posted - Feb 16 2006 : 06:04:33 AM
Oh my goodness! Thank you so much for all your kind welcomes and words about my bags! I LOVE making them, and a lot of other things too, but I'm just beginning with Etsy. It's wonderful!
This is so exciting to me, to meet other women with similar interests and talents. I live in northern Vermont and especially in winter I can feel a little cut off from others. Thanks so much for welcoming me!
Debbie, it definitely can be frustrating working in a very non-creative environment, but I try to look on the bright side and think that my job allows me to save up all my creativity for when I get home...then I'm ready to create and keep right on going!
Jenny, I will check out your Etsy site also. Isn't Etsy fun? Thank you for the compliments!
Kay, THANKS for posting those pictures and giving a little more detail about your sale. It looks SO great! I wish I could attend. I would love to participate in a Farm Chicks sale but living on the opposite coast would make it a bit tricky. You have renewed my excitement for getting this project going...I sent two of my sisters the link to this thread so they can read/see your great ideas. Thank you!!!!
Well, ladies I've got to get back to work, but it was lovely meeting each of you. I'm sure we'll chat again soon!
-Joy
Vist my shop at: http://chicchickbiz.etsy.com and my blog at www.chicchickbiz.blogspot.com |
| therusticcottage |
Posted - Feb 15 2006 : 2:13:31 PM
Hi Joy -- Welcome! Your tote bags are too cute!! The Farmchicks are way cool. We wanted to go to their last sale but just couldn't swing it. But when the North Clark County Farmgirls grow up they want to be like the Farmchicks - LOL! My daughter Missy and I have been doing this type of thing for a while now. Only since she closed her store 2 years ago have we joined with other gals. Now we're known around La Center as "The Farmgirls" and people are starting to anticipate our sales. We do cottage chic, garden, and rustic decor stuff including some furniture pieces, etc. I've sold my aprons and tote bags. Missy does soap, I do lotion bars, a friend makes yummy bath fizzies, etc. We hold our sale once a quarter, put ads in the paper, have lots of signs (that is key), and also have an email list. I recently started using Constant Contact to send really cool emails to our list. At Christmas we did the La Center Bazaar so I sent out a mailing for that. We had lots of our customers come because of it. You could do your sale more often if you wish. We've just found that by only doing it once a quarter that it creates more excitement for customers to buy. I have a huge metal carport and we set it up just like a boutique. That way people feel like they're walking into a store and it also discourages those that think they're at a garage sale! Here are some pics from one of our sales. Let me know if I can answer any other questions for you. Just go for it!! You'll learn as you go along! We don't make tons of money but we sure do have fun.
Mine is just a little old fashioned garden where the flowers come together to praise the Lord, and teach all who look upon them to do likewise.
-- Celia Thaxter
http://therusticcottage.etsy.com
http://rusticcottage.blogspot.com/ |
| Aunt Jenny |
Posted - Feb 15 2006 : 1:57:13 PM
Welcome Joy...I loved your etsy site!! Cute stuff!! I love tote bags and have a hard time resisting them!!! Will have to read your blog too!
I love your idea for sales..bet you would do great!! Good luck..I am glad you found us!
Jenny in Utah
It's astonishing how short a time it takes for very wonderful things to happen...Frances Burnette
http://www.auntjennysworld.blogspot.com/ visit my little online shop at www.auntjenny.etsy.com |
| blueroses |
Posted - Feb 15 2006 : 1:55:40 PM
Hi Joy,
I read some of your blog and we sound a little alike. I love to create also, but where do I work? In a stodgy financial office. Why? Cuz I know I can make a living doing this. Am I happy? Sometimes - don't want lie. I do a good job, but I want to be able to use my creativity more. I really don't have any ideas to share. Just wanted to say hi and welcome. I know a lot of the ladies here will have some great ideas to share with you. One day, I'm just gonna go for it!!! Welcome.
Debbie
"You cannot find peace...by avoiding life."
Virginia Woolfe |
