Hearts and Tag

Hi Everyone,

Out here in the middle of nowhere, aka,  NA DA Farm, I thought I would take a second out and grab a pic of some of our newest additions. This new iPad takes pictures that can be cropped on the Pad! Yes, no more sideways pics, something I will not miss at all.

First up is the new embossed hearts I mentioned earlier. I love these on our little edged bags. Simply clip one on and spectacular gift wrap. Kinda' like spontaneous combustion for gift giving. (Guess who was up too late last night?)

 Then I made a couple of small accent tags, one stenciled and one stamped, that also made the trip.

We are praying the weather holds out, wouldn't be NA DA without some rain I guess!

I wil try to grab some pics of the new jewelry boards we finished last night as well as the new memo board.

See you at the farm,

Suz
the Muze

First you take a hundred yards of . . .

Hi Everyone,

Thank you for all the questions and prayers about the Mother unit, as we refer to her around here. 

Here's the update: She is home, resting, feeling a bit feistier than usual?, and a handful right now. 

The good news today was the nurse that checks on her after each hospital stay deemed she was a bit stronger than she expected and that I should indulge in a glass of red wine at night to help lower my newly discovered, slightly high blood pressure. Before you all go off the deep end on me, yes the Dr knows and we both contribute it to the added stress of her illnesses of late. (3 hospital stays in 9 weeks. There isn't a nurse or facilitator I don't know on a first name basis at this point) So, she will be monitored and I will be monitored and we will go from there.

It seems a question I get a lot, especially on the road is how we actually 'do' handmade things and stay on the road. These people would freak out if they knew the half of it. One CHF patient, one heart patient, one very full time business and then, there is everyday life. I am thinking about trying out for the circus in my next career change because I can juggle like no one else!

The other secret tho is planned quantity.

Like one of tonight's projects.

I have needed to replenish some a lot of items on our Elements board. You know, that skinny board with all the cool tags, ribbons, naked runners and embellishments on it? 

Well, here is the secret,

Quantity

Yup, like today's adventure. I needed scrunched ribbons so I took 400 hundred yards of ribbon, added the secret sauce and started the process. Tonight, while catching up on Scandal, that show is insanely intriguing, we got 'bundles made'.

Tons and tons of beautiful bundles just waiting to go on the road for our 4 shows in 3 weeks program. They are going to look so good.

Just shoot me now . . . please! They are going to look a whole lot better than I at the end of this next leg.

Now I need to stop typing and finish the new embossed hearts I am working on. Maybe a picture before Friday for NA DA, maybe not. Who knows these days. It would also help if I had the foggiest idea as to how to finish them right now.

Here's that schedule, you read it, it drives my blood pressure up I think,

May  17 - 18  2013  -   NA DA Farm Event  2423 South Woodlawn Road, Esmond IL 

May  24 - 25  2013  - The Vintage Farmhouse Spring Market  9180 Hunt Club Road Zionsville IN

May 26  2013  -  Allegan Antiques Market, Allegan County Fairgrounds, Allegan MI

June 1- 2  2013 - The Shabby Experience @ Michigan Antique and Collectibles Festival, Midland MI

June 30  2013  -  Allegan Antiques Market, Allegan County Fairgrounds, Allegan MI

July  6  2013  -  Indie Arts and Vintage Market,  Glendale Shopping Center Parking Lot, Indianapolis IN 

I do know sitting quietly at night, creating magic does indeed lower your blood pressure. I think I will move over to my other desk now, if for nothing else, health reasons and the sheer joy it still brings,

Suz
the Muze

Little and big blessings

Hey Everyone,

It's late Saturday evening and we just got off the road from our unbelievable stay in Allendale Michigan, more about that in a moment.

Since we were only home three days last week, I was unable to correct the huge boo-boo on my last two posts, so here goes,

On our way to beautiful but oh so cold Iowa, we encountered a snow storm worthy of Chicago standards as pictured below

Couldn't see 10 feet in front of the truck and trailer in the middle of ABSOLUTELY nowhere. pitch black Iowa.

We finally check in at the hotel to get our much needed rest, thinking this is a freak thing and will be a distant memory in the morning when we see

Yes, everything coated in snow. So we head to breakfast to see these fine folks

who had driven over 400 miles for the tulip festival in the next town over (Iowa speak for 23 miles away)! Tulip festival cancelled due to the fact the tulips refused to show up, didn't blame them one bit.

So we head off to the flea market we had driven all night to get to and it was the worse disaster we have done in a long time. I am sure under different weather conditions this would have be fabulous but we encountered a snow covered, already soggy county fair ground. This ends up in the worse mud I have ever tried to navigate. Tractors are everywhere pulling huge trucks and SUV's out of the mud, me and a whole lot of other folks are covered up to our knees from trying to get between the buildings and praying out loud that you didn't fall on your behind and did I mention that it is now POURING down rain? 

After 2 hours, I was so cold, wet and sore from trying to walk in the muck I take my cold, drowned self back to the warm truck and trailer where you know who is waiting, ("go ahead honey, I'll wait here with the trailer) and we now head to the market in Indianapolis for the show the following day.

7 hours later of driving in RAIN, we arrive in Indy and collapse. The next day it is cold and overcast but never did rain. I figure there wasn't any water left because it had all fallen on us the day before.

We were home 3 days before we headed out again to the Shop the Barn Boutique Sale at our friends the Grzybowski's in Allendale Michigan.

This was so worth all the effort. We had seen bits and pieces of this fabulous new/old barn that they were building and it was so great to be part of the first boutique sale there. Wednesday and Thursday were so hot and humid during setup, I foolishly said,"Gee I wouldn't mind if it did rain a bit to cool things down, we'll still be fine"

Open mouth, insert foot.

Overnite it dropped about 45 degrees or so and we froze our backsides off. Oh and yes, it RAINED, both days! And then the sun came out an hour before we closed. Figures.

Customers still flocked in, enjoyed some of the hundreds of fresh homemade cookies and a cup of lemonade (should have been hot chocolate!) that Michelle and her fabulous kids whipped up, and that was on top of the 40 or so loaves of fresh all natural, hand ground wheat bread they made for sale. And did I mention, Karis, my favorite cat was a new mother to four kittens? So we had baby kittens to love as well. The perfect event.

Business was good but nothing topped getting to spend quality time with all 8 of those incredible young people of theirs. We were privileged to share several meals with them and just interact on a daily basis. Each and everyone is so uniquely individual, have wonderful talents and the best manners I have ever experienced. Just a cool group to be with and this is coming from a person who is not fond of misbehaving children. (Mildly stated)

They even have a built in entertainment.

And he is only 5.

If you remember correctly, I tried to steal him away back in October last year and I tried again this year. This little one is pure gold.

One of the great thing about Brian and Michelle's parenting is that they have raised these young people with a great sense of responsibility. You need to do something, there no shortage of young folk asking if they can help, we never had to ask, they just instinctively show up, willing to do anything and never a cross word and disapproval. And if it happens that you are not needed at that particular moment, well, you find a seat in the middle of the chaos and have yourself a snack.

This is Elijah.

We never knew what great one-liner was coming from him and he kept all of us in stitches all weekend long. He has perfect comedic timing and he's only 5.

When we were packing to go, he had to be included with the big boys helping load, so the very last thing was my purse. He was positive he could carry it, heck I have trouble carrying it!  I handed my very heavy bag and told him to put it in the front seat of the truck. Off he went, up the hill with my bag.

We had to laugh at him, so determined to make it up the steep hill and after a couple of minutes, he succeeded and couldn't have been more proud of himself. We congratulated him and his reply was that great grin, like he knew all along he would make it.

So to Brian and Michelle, we were honored and thrilled to have had such a great weekend christening that gorgeous new barn and participating in your fabulous event. Thank you from the bottom of of tired and cold hearts for all your hospitality!

To Luke, Joshua, Isaiah(Bill), Josiah, Victoria, Sarah Grace(Mary Clare), Isabella and Elijah, Thank you to each and everyone of you for all of your hard word and kindnesses you showed us this weekend. We think all of you are just the best and can't wait to see in you in Allegan in a couple of weeks. Help Mom as much as possible because she sold almost ALL of her furniture! and will need new pieces to show. 

We are home for a couple of days to get ready for the NA DA Farm Event this coming Friday. It is the only Illinois show we will be doing for the rest of the year, so come on out if you can.

Here's the rest of the schedule:

May  17 -18  2013  -   NA DA Farm Event  2423 South Woodlawn Road, Esmond IL 

May  24 - 25  2013  - The Vintage Farmhouse Spring Market  9180 Hunt Club Road Zionsville IN

May 26  2013  -  Allegan Antiques Market, Allegan County Fairgrounds, Allegan MI

June 1- 2 2013 - The Shabby Experience @ Michigan Antique and Collectibles Festival, Midland MI

June 30  2013  -  Allegan Antiques Market, Allegan County Fairgrounds, Allegan MI

July  6  2013  -  Indie Arts and Vintage Market,  Glendale Shopping Center Parking Lot, Indianapolis IN 

off to bed, I am really tired!

Suz
the Muze

Heading to Allendale Michigan

Hi Everyone,

Just a brief reminder that we will be at Michelle's Shop the Barn Boutique Sale over at Re-Imagined Just For You starting Friday.

We are giving away 3 gift certificates and if you haven't entered yet you can go here

http://reimaginedjustforyou.com/temp/blog and click on the sale banner..

See all of youI in Allendale,

Suz
The Muze

First, we start in Brazil . . .

Hi Everyone,

I am actually in the middle of sorting a new load of our wonderful coffee bean bags from Intelligentsia and thought I would share a bit about them.

We refer to our friends at Intelligentsia as a real coffee company based in Chicago who really is a repurposing, recycle green company. Their coffee is so superior in flavor and taste and we love when the people we meet in our booth hear their name because we always hear the following words,"Ohh, Intelligentsia, we love that coffee". 

So I thought i would show you why we love this coffee as well.

It all starts with a container that arrives from any of the 13 countries we have bags from. 

Today's container is from Brazil. Top to bottom, side to side, full of huge bags.

Each one of these bags weighs about #150 -160. Gentlemen 1 and 2 pick a bag up and Gentleman 3 body blocks it so it will sit on the pallet, nice and straight. A job I couldn't even think of doing on a good day when I was younger.

What incredibly hard work!

Then the full pallet is picked up by our sweet Dan, he is the one that emails me and nicely pleads for me to get the several thousand bags out of his way on a regular basis. "Uh, Susan, the bags are overflowing and we need you to come get these bags out of here!"

There are literally thousands of these full bags everywhere you look. And because they are in close proximity to the massive roaster, the entire warehouse is a scent not to be believed. Fresh roasted coffee beans is right up there with one of the greatest scents of all time. And they always have a fresh pot brewing for visitors. Sweet!

So then our bags, still full of their great beans make it over to the roaster and packaging areas.

After they are all emptied and put aside, our friend Jason then brings them by the pallet load to our trailer.

As seen in the photograph above, a few may end up outside the trailer during transport. Oops. I never said this was a perfect operation on our part.

Then our precious bags get man handled by the public . . . 

and hopefully look gorgeous one day as something like this . . . 

 or this . . . 

 or these. . .  

Pretty amazing, huh?

We think so.

Our thanks to everyone at Intelligentsia for letting us grab pictures and explore the warehouse, while they worked around us at a high speed efficiency. Such polite, courteous professionals, we love having them as our partners.

Suz 
the Muze

Okay, someone always has it worse off . . .

All of these folks drove 400+ miles for the tulip festival in the next town over.

News update: tulip festival has been cancel, flea market is still open

Figures.

It is still snowing like a banshee outside.

Oh, boy

Meanwhile . . .

It is May 2, 2013 and in BFE Iowa, IT IS SNOWING!

Stay tuned, this can only get better.

Suz

"You write well" and magnolias

Hi Everyone,

These next few weeks are going to be daunting to say the least, lots of shows, lots of work needing to be done and lots of Fran Care.

The other thing I haven't written much about is a big change coming soon in our business. I hinted about it a couple of weeks ago and we will soon be making an announcement about it, but not just yet. In getting ready for 'it', on top of everything else going on, I am doing tons and tons of research. Most of it online and some of it way over my head. While I will be the first to admit I am a bit of a tech nerd, so much of it is way beyond my comprehension when it comes to the behind the scenes stuff, programming, IT and so on.

This morning I read an article about encryption and was so shocked at the end of the article that I actually understood what was being said. Now for those of you who know me, you know I am the first to reach out and thank someone for making anything I have to do easier. So I took a moment out and sent off a short email to the author of the article.

You could have knocked me over with a feather when I opened his return email. This is a professional IT person, 35 plus years, a published writer and he was grateful that I had written to say thank you. I get that part.

Then he wrote:


I visited what I believe is your blog site and it was fascinating. Everything I know absolutely nothing about. And, I see that you are one busy lady, who happens to write well. 
Kind regards, 
Michael

OMG! ! !  "who happens to write well"? I am floating on cloud nine. Thank you Michael, you made my day and I now understand about encrypting my files before I send them to the cloud. A huge win win all the way around.

Meanwhile back at the ranch, it is finally spring at my Mom's gardens. I am trying to get her outside every day, even when it isn't quite warm enough to enjoy these gorgeous babies.

Hold on to your shorts, we are back to sideways pictures, please shoot me and put me out of my misery.

Rows and rows of gorgeous jonquils, daffodils, tulips and hyacinths, all in their glory right now.

So I bundle up Fran and we go out to the gardens. Believe it or not, she is having a good time.

And then we move to the front where it is MAGNOLIA time. I wait all year long for these unbelieve works of art.

All of the trees in our area are in full bloom.

 Just hundreds and hundreds of beautiful blooms.

So while I was out enjoying floral and fauna, the DH was in the workroom working on our newest addition to our line.

For years I have had a soft spot for the hardest substance one could ask for, iron. Brackets, sconces and my all time personal favs, finials.

If it weighs more than paper, I am all for hauling it from show to show. The heavier the better, at least that is what he says! Seriously, these are going to be spectacular as accents. They will be making their debut in Indy this Saturday as we begin our outside shows in beautiful?, (it is going to rain again in) Indianapolis. Really, every single outdoor show in Indy last year was rainy and it looks like it is going to rain AGAIN on Saturday at the Glendale shopping center. Let us not break with tradition.

Oh well . . .  So is the life of an outdoor vendor.

On the road again.

May  4  2013  -  Indie Arts and Vintage BACK OUTDOORS ! ! ! Glendale Shopping Center Parking Lot, Indianapolis IN update IN THE RAIN bring your umbrellas!

May 10 - 11 2013 - Shop the Barn {boutique} Sale @ re-imagined just for you, 10545 78^th Ave, Allendale, MI 49401

  

May  17 -18  2013  -   NA DA Farm Event  2423 South Woodlawn Road, Esmond IL 

May  24 - 25  2013  - The Vintage Farmhouse Spring Market  9180 Hunt Club Road Zionsville IN

May 26  2013  -  Allegan Antiques Market, Allegan County Fairgrounds, Allegan MI

June 1- 2 2013 - The Shabby Experience @ Michigan Antique and Collectibles Festival, Midland MI

And for everyone who has emailed me about Brilliant Reuse from JdL, we have plenty coming in, so contact me about yours today.

Suz
the Muze

Thank you Allegan Michigan and Mr Wonderful, Larry Woods

Hi Everyone,

Let me start by saying how much I appreciate everyone asking about my Mom's health. This go around has been extremely rough on her but we are making progress and with each sunny day, she has gotten stronger and stronger. She will appreciate me telling her about all the nice well wishes she received. Thank you so much for your kindnesses.
                    
We started our 'outdoor' season yesterday in our all time favorite market venue, Allegan Michigan. When we awoke at 4:30 AM, it was drizzling and all we could think about was being wet and miserable all day. It finally stopped drizzling and it was FAR from miserable, just gray and cloudy. Thanks to all the hard work Larry and his crew does, it was a beautiful, well run, well organized, wonderful market. For all the hard work on all of our parts, this is such a great venue. If we could only work on the food and lodging parts of it. I would never leave!

I found myself telling the same story over and over yesterday as I do believe every single customer and acquaintance we have ever made here, stopped in to see us yesterday! Thank you to each and every single one or groups of you who came in and made us laugh, cry and the wonderful new joke that came about, made us go nuts. (Side note, when I figure how to type it so it won't get flagged, I will post it here. Needless to say, it created a Depends moment for several women!)

Our biggest stir was created by this little guy,

I fully expected to see quite a few of our regular Jeanne d'Arc LIving Magazine customers yesterday but what I didn't expect was the overall reaction to their new book, Brilliant ReUse.Yes, I think it is the best idea they have ever had for a book but I am highly prejuidiced when it comes to the genius at JdL. It literally flew out of the booth and with it, EVERY single copy of the older past six months of JdL. Since our regulars haven't seen us since October of 2012 at this market, they just waited til we showed up and bought every single back issue I had that they had missed. George had given me static about packing the old stuff and was so shocked to NOT have to pack it back into the trailer, and that is always a good thing.

The good news is that we are getting more books and they will be available again.As well as this month's incredible issue of JdL, Outdoors.

The coolest thing in this issue is about picnics. As usual, there are really good recipes but then they have instructions as to how to build your own picnic basket cart. Too cool! Plus all the beautiful florals, homes, accents, everything you expect from them every month.

Well, I have to get to work as we have Indy in just a few days and as per usual, I am no where ready. 

Remember, we are then headed to our wonderful friends at Re-Imagined Just for You for their annual Shop the barn Boutique Sale in Allendale Mi. We are going to have a great time with  Michelle and her family, can't wait for this one! We are so honored that they included us to be part of this fabulous event in the NEW barn no less.

Here's where you can catch up with us for the next couple,

May  4  2013  -  Indie Arts and Vintage BACK OUTDOORS ! ! ! Glendale Shopping Center Parking Lot, Indianapolis IN

May 10 - 11 2013 - Shop the Barn {boutique} Sale @ reimagined just for you, 10545 78^th Ave, Allendale, MI 49401

  

May  17 -18  2013  -   NA DA Farm Event  2423 South Woodlawn Road, Esmond IL 

May  24 - 25  2013  - The Vintage Farmhouse Spring Market  9180 Hunt Club Road Zionsville IN

May 26  2013  -  Allegan Antiques Market, Allegan County Fairgrounds, Allegan MI

June 1-2 2013 - The Shabby Experience @ Michigan Antique and Collectibles Festival, Midland MI

Is anyone as tired as I am just reading that?

Later,

Suz
the Muze

We interrupt your regularly scheduled blogpost . . .

Hi Everyone,

While things are in frenzy gear in Rockford this morning getting ready for The Vintage Market to happen, we are taking a slight detour south. Good luck Polly, we hope everyone has a great time!

You know it is going to be a great day when you are on a plane that looks like this. Absolutely quiet and comfortable. Bless Southwest Airlines hearts. They probably heard we needed to make a quick, top secret trip despite the fact the Mother unit decided to head to the hospital . . .again and blessed us with an empty flight. When was the last time that happened?

For you sports fans keeping track, this will be the fifth back surgery in under two years. Friday, completely without warning and no trauma on anyone's part, another vertebrae cracked. So sweet Candy is holding down the fort while we get this trip in, only a couple of days to make an appointment we couldn't cancel and Fran has another surgery.

Other than that, nothing else's happening.

Sent from over Colorado, where it is SNOWING . . .

Suz
the Muze

They're Here ! ! !

Hi Everyone,

These lovely pots of lavender are already here and getting prepped for The Vintage Market in Rockford next weekend. These are specifically grown for our Illinois climate. Imagine fresh lavender in your garden or patio pots.  Put this one on your calendar for sure as a "can't miss event"! It will be lavender crazy, fresh potted lavender, dried hand-tied bunches and sachets all at one great market.

A wonderful, century old home, gracious at every turn and chocked full of goodies from 15 outstanding vendors, all bringing their very best wares to share with you.

We also picked a couple of these beauties as well, I really got into this shopping for really fresh plants!

Beautiful, manicured topiaries of many different varieties, rosemary and myrtle to name a couple. We will offer different sizes and varieties, something for everyone and every need. They are such a nice addition to any room.

We will also have a few pots of gorgeous blooming plants, tulips, hydrangeas and violets, all in glorious spring colors. I would take a picture but they are currently in our shower, don't ask!

In the meantime, runners are being stitched, journals designed and banners assembled, other than that, not a thing happening. So I need to get back to work.

Just make plans to get to Rockford IL next weekend, April 19 and 20, for this wonderful event. Shabby, vintage, French, romantic, farmhouse, whatever you call the style, it will be there, lots of it and in every form.

Suz

the Muze

Sachet this way Dear . . .

One of us is really tired today, can you tell?

Hi Everyone,

Despite rummaging thru 1880's barn doors and corrugated steel roof panels, there has been a huge flurry of activity here the last couple of days. Oh and don't forget the 'estate sale' I stumbled on in my Mom's neighborhood. Sorry folks, but a total of 43 pieces of assorted items, (mostly dirty Rubbermaid) one riding lawn mower and four pieces of furry furniture does not constitute an estate sale! But I did score a 42" round to 60" oval kitchen table for $5. It will make a good display piece down the road. Remember me saying this in about 6 months. Just saying . . . 

After an afternoon of sewing at Fran's, I finally finished our little sachets. Two little packets tied with a stem of our dried lavender finishes them up nicely. 
















Now Mom's house smells like wonderful lavender. And pizza. She was in a pizza mood and who are we to deny her want for pizza? Not I, that's for sure. I didn't have to cook tonight! Yeah!

So, now we have lots of little bundles, all dressed up and ready to travel to Indianapolis next week. And then on to Rockford, hopefully there will still be a couple left.

Here's that schedule again . . .

April  6 2013  -  Indie Arts and Vintage, Indiana Sate Fairgrounds, Indianapolis, IN

April 19 - 20  2013  - The Vintage Market, 919 Garfield Avenue, Rockford IL

April  28  2013  -  Allegan Antiques Market, Allegan County Fairgrounds, Allegan MI

May  6  2013  -  Indie Arts and Vintage BACK OUTDOORS ! ! ! Glendale Shopping Center Parking Lot, Indianapolis IN

May 10 - 11 - BIG ANNOUNCEMENT COMING   STAYED TUNE ! ! !  

May  17 -18  2013  -   NA DA Farm Event  2423 South Woodlawn Road, Esmond IL 

May  24 - 25  2013  - The Vintage Farmhouse Spring Market  9180 Hunt Club Road Zionsville IN

May 26  2013  -  Allegan Antiques Market, Allegan County Fairgrounds, Allegan MI

We are cutting butterflies this evening, designing tags and playing with a new box of lace and burlap that arrived yesterday,

Later,

Suz
the Muze