Chicken Scratch 5/29/16

Just dropping in to say hello. It has been a quiet week here. Summer vacation started for my daughter and I am just finishing up barter orders, making salves from infused oils I bartered for as well as the dandelion oil I made from the land we are on. The big hemp dish scrubbies have been a hit with fellow barterers. I have a handful to finish up and ship out in return I have some handmade items coming my way. Can't wait to get them and share with y'all!

I made more labels for my jars with my Farmgirl Freckles logo on them. They are adorable. I filled some of my containers and jars with Calendula & Comfrey and Dandelion salves...They are delightful. My dandelion smells like a fresh picked dandelion! I love love love how it turned out. 

I also designed and ordered a mug online especially for my 

tea while I make goodies for my shop... Here is a little peek at what it will look like. 

Lastly...I had signed up to win Handsome & Gretyl's new album/vinyl....I was not only picked as a winner but blessed by a whole package...They sent me their new vinyl plus the CD and CD's of their other albums!!! Now I have a bunch of happy music to listen too...After such a rough beginning to our year...The gift of music really made my day!!!! Now off to finish up projects...Will be back next week!!! Have a great Memorial weekend!!!

Farmhouse Finds & Barters

A lot of my finds for my home has been thrifted. I love the hunt and the the bargain. I have found some of the cutest things for our home through frugal shopping, as well as very useful items for our home, and saved so much money buying second hand. My recent find was this lil vintage pig creamer. Not that I needed it...But dang it was cute and for a buck...He had to come home with me. And look how cute it is filled with flowers. Other ways I save money is buying items from stores like TJ Maxx or Ross. I have found a lot of my essential oils, kitchen items, bath and home goods for a fraction of the cost. Recently I have decided to buy some better quality cookware for our kitchen/cooking...I have used second hand or cheap cookware for years...

A lot of times buying cheap isn't necessarily the best choice... I consider cheap cookware to be disposable. I am glad I finally decided to buy quality cookware because it will last so much longer (probably forever) and pay itself off many times over. I will also buy some vintage pieces as well because let's face it...They just don't make most stuff like they used too....Most vintage cookware lasts forever! Some of my favorites are collecting Pyrex dishes, Cast Iron, and enamelware. 

I was thrilled to find this Tala Large Enamelware roaster made in England at TJ Maxx.....It is so well made, heavy and beautiful. The awesome thing was getting a great bargain for it. This very piece is sold in the UK for about $80.00-$100.00...TJ Maxx had it priced for $40.00...But guess what? It was on clearance!!! I ended up getting it for $30.00! I am so excited!  just can't wait to make suppers in it! This baby is going to get a lot of use in our kitchen!

Lastly I recently received two more barters from a couple ladies. Both barters came from Virginia. I am so thrilled with getting five jars of jams...Since I may not get to can much this Summer due to our temporary living situation. I don't want to can a bunch of food and end up moving with it, fearing they would break etc....I am so blessed to have received the jam, which my family will enjoy. In return I am sending her five of the crocheted hemp dish scrubbies, which she asked for. 

 I also received a big bag of homemade loose chamomile mint tea...MMM MMM...If you know me, I love tea! In return I sent her a couple of my weaved potholders. Bartering is a great way to meet others that are like minded and the items your barter are extra special because it's something made by their own hands in their home. It has been a fun & rewarding experience so far! 

Happy Friday y'all....Come on back ya hear!

Chicken Scratch 5/23/16

I know it has been some time as I have been refining my little business and my personal life...Many of you know I started this blog just about six months ago from a blog I kept since 2007. Check Frolicking Freckles if your interested in past posts etc. I left that blog for new beginnings, leaving some hard times behind me and having to protect myself and my family from some difficult stuff. Six months have passed and we have healed from much hurt and pain. I am still not completely safe here since my new blog was found and yes, it is public...So knowing this I will not allow anyone to steal my joy, or my freedom to blog about things I love and to share real life stuff. I just have to learn to go on and cope with it...And I'm ok with it now.

 I just hope this blog is an inspiration to y'all.

It has been a while since I used to sell vintage and handmade items on Etsy due to life stuff...But now I have finally found a spark that has inspired me to start creating and selling again. It's a slow go, hence we are living in a temporary place, unsure as when and where we will go. But while we are here, I am creating and prepping for my Farmgirl Freckles shop. And will continue to do so as much as possible. I designed some labels for jars and containers...And so thrilled with how they look. Can't wait to fill them with homemade, homegrown, homespun goodness.

I have been drying out dandelions for product and making Eco friendly 100% wool dryer balls from these lovely skeins of wool. I am also working on hemp kitchen srubbies and vintage up-cycled sheet potholders. I continue to work on salves, scrubs and soaks as well as handmade face scrubbies. I made a list of ideas for more items like zippered pouches, bags and more.....I hope to open this Summer sometime! If not it will be Fall....I'll keep y'all posted!

Check out these funny vintage mugs I found thrifting! 

I couldn't resist. So cute!!!

Farm Scenes

This is pretty much a picture post of some of the extra photos I took from the barn where my daughters barn/square dance was held, from the last post. Enjoy the sweet faces I encountered including the rooster whom I fell in love with. He was so sweet and came to me allowing me to just scoop him up in my arms...We had a little chat then I let him go on his way. From there he continued to follow me for a time...Then he was gone. I wanted to bring him back with me...But couldn't.

 (BOO HOO)

Here's to a good week ahead!!!!

Bootin' Scootin' Square Dance

Well it's Summer! 

What fun to kick off the Summer with a good ole' square dance! This is my girls last year at the Academy that she has been a part of for the last two school years. Even though we don't know where we will be moving...We decided to finish off this year and figure things out for the Fall later down the road. It has been a bitter sweet few days spent with her gal pal's with lot's of tears and hugs all around. Eventually we will end up moving away and that means moving away from the girls she has built close friendships with. My heart aches for her but, I  know she will be fine in time. I am just happy that she was able to attend this fun kick off to Summer with her friends!