The Farrier's Daughter

A Subtle Reminder~Artwork by Katie Daisy

2012-01-23T09:05:00.000-08:00

I recently got a package in the mail.

A fun package.

Not bills or junk mail, but a beautiful package.

We all know that I am in love with Katie Daisy's work.

It is bright, cheerful, and full of life!

Did you know that she moved to Oregon?

Yes maam she did!

So before Christmas, I emailed her and asked if she would be adding an Oregon piece to her Wanderlust

line. She responded and said that she would be working on it after the busy holiday season....

and she did!

And I bought it!

And I love it!

It came packaged oh-so-pretty with a little card that read, "You are so loved".

It was even taped in place with some super cute red & white gingham tape!

I had the perfect frame on hand that I think compliments the piece perfectly!

For now, it sits in our entry, by the front door.

During these days of mass flooding, it lends a subtle (and much needed) reminder...

I do love Oregon.

More of Katie's work can be found at her Etsy shop

The Wheatfield

InstaFriday~Wedding Flasks, Feather Chandeliers, and a Metalic Dresser

2012-01-20T10:29:00.000-08:00

I'm working backwards this week. Why?...that's just how we roll.

On Sunday, we attended a beautiful wedding for one of my husbands co-workers.

The ceremony was at the most magical little church.

As we sat waiting for the bride to make her grand appearance,

we peered out past the crystal chandeliers that dangled above, through the arched windows, at the most beautiful snowfall.

A gift for the bride and groom!

Blushing Bride Cowgirl Canteen™ and Mr. Right Cowgirl Canteen™

(more can be found in the shop)

They agreed to do some photos for me, and I am super excited to share them!

Saturday, I delivered a few items to the ladies at Salon Mecca.

I am super excited about how the feather chandeliers turned out. They were inspired by this one.

However, I think ours were MUCH ~~cheaper~~ cost effective :-)

Do you see that stunning piece of furniture behind me?

I. am. in. love.

The ladies are incorporating a lot of metallic finishes into their new space, so when they asked me to come up with another shelving/display piece for the front room, I decided to follow suite.

After building and installing the shelves above, we decided that more shelves would be overkill.

A piece of furniture was needed for the short wall.

I happened to have a piece that was waiting for a makeover that worked out perfectly!

This little cabinet had been sitting in storage, and as you can see, was pretty gross.

I wiped it down, cleaned it up, and removed all doors, drawers, and hardware.

Next, I gave it a quick once over with some nearly empty gray and black spray cans I had laying around. I was okay with it being splotchy, as I wanted the finished product to have an aged, metallic look.

I then added a light coat of Rust-O-Leum Hammered finish spray paint, and followed that with Valspar's Brilliant Metal. Once I was pleased with the coverage, I went back over the piece with light mists of the hammered finish. To get the smudgy look, I would spay the metallic finish then quickly go over the wet spots with a rag.

For the top, I cut and attached old fence boards to tie in the barn board on their reception desk.

Hardware is off of an old vintage dresser that I picked up at an estate sale solely for the purpose of removing and reusing the gorgeous distressed silver pulls.

Today I'm linking up with Jeannett at LifeRearranged

Insta Friday

2012-01-13T17:44:00.000-08:00

Wow!

What a wonderfully busy week!

It started out with my husband waking me up and saying,

"Let's go to the beach!"

If you live in the Northwest, you know that a day at the beach is like rolling the dice...

you just never know what you are going to get....especially in January.

But we got LUCKY!

A perfect day of family, sunshine, and good eats at the Pelican Pub

(a personal favorite).

The girls actually got along, the dogs ran and played, and everyone had a great time.

Later in the week...a little shopping...for me.

I know, I know, these shoes are not part of my normal mom attire,

but we have a wedding to addend this weekend, and this mama needs new shoes!

And then...a little more shopping...for clients!

I'ts really much more fun spending other peoples money-no guilt!

Stay tuned for some before and after pics of the Salon Mecca Project.

Since the stores aren't open at midnight,

I thought I better do some work at home while the littles sleep and the hubby works late.

On the list this week, feather light fixtures and baby quilt!

I am sooooo excited to share more pics of these lights...I am in loooove with them!

Now I just need to decide where to put one in my house.

To sum it up, it was a colorful week.

Lots of smiles, laughter, bead organizing, and 5 year olds getting a hold of my phone's camera (apparently). The toy was one of those things that grows in water that I got for the girls in the dollar section at Joanns...didn't know the pic was there until it popped up when I went to do this post...

hmmmm, I best keep an eye on my little photographer!

Hope you too had a colorful week!

Today I'm linking up with Jeannett at Life Rearranged

Cheers,

Lindsey

Old Friends, New Spaces

2012-01-09T22:04:00.000-08:00

Years ago (I'm talking High School), a good friend of mine (whose mother was a hair dresser) and I decided it was a good idea to try and dye my hair. We went to the grocery store, picked out a dark shade of brown (or maybe it was black), and a reddish/purple color, then went home to ~~color~~ ruin my hair. What is funny is that she later went on to go to beauty school! Not only did she go to beauty school, she rocked it!

She and her extremely sweet business partner have spent the last 10 years building trusting relationships with their clients, educating themselves in the hottest styles and techniques and making women feel beautiful.

After patiently waiting for a better salon location, they have found a new place and are preparing for their move. They have asked me to do some work for them, and I wanted to share a couple of photos I snapped on my phone.

The reception desk is faced with rustic barn board, and topped with slab of dark, sleek, walnut.

Just above the desk is a gorgeous crystal chandelier.

The salon's front door is nestled between two, large, street-view windows.

Guest seating will occupy one of the window niches, and the other will be used for advertising (this is where I come in).

Shades of grey, black and white give a very edgy, and classy feel.

Beautiful crystal accents lend a hint of glamour.

And these custom built shelves bring in a bit of an industrial element.

Do they look familiar?

They are much like the one I built for our home office.

For these, I opted to use new lumber

(we didn't want the ridges in the barn board to keep their product from standing up nicely).

I used knotty pine (because I was able to get some for free) and finished it with a glossy black stain by Minwax.

These shelves are also a bit deeper. In order to get the depth needed, I used two 1x8's and strapped them together using strips of metal.

Stay tuned for more projects.

Insta-Friday

2012-01-06T08:58:00.000-08:00

Whew!

Is it over? Can I look up?

You see, Christmas for the Frankus Family is a bit of a whirlwind tour every year.

We have A LOT of family to visit or host and just finished up with our last official Christmas gathering.

While I love Christmas, and I love our family...it's hard!

Hard on me, hard on Nick and hard on the girls.

Sounds like every kids dreams right? Multiple parties, dinners, presents, and people...

Our girls do love every minute of it, but what they don't realize is that amidst all of the festivities their little bodies are drained from all if the over stimulation.

See Raegen (on the right in the photo above), sleepy little girl...on the road...again.

Reese (on left in the photo above), got a new bike, and helmet for Christmas.

It is one of those balance bikes that doesn't have peddles. So she has been scooting all over the house.

Puppy Update

He is getting big...very big.

He loves the girls and likes to go everywhere we do.

Meet Baby-with-the-Flute (we'll call her bwtf).

During a family work day with my siblings, we came across this wooden figurine.

We were all a bit delirious, as we were tired, overwhelmed, and grieving the loss of a family member.

While cleaning the estate, if anyone found anything they thought someone may want to have they would hold it up and ask if there were any takers.

At one point, bwtf was held up as a joke and the question asked, "Does anyone want this creepy little wooden doll with a flute?" (yes, I know, it's not actually a flute...probably more like a recorder, but that's what she's called)

We all laughed a much needed laugh and went on about our cleaning.

The best part is that it didn't end there. Bwtf continues to pop up everywhere!

We secretively pass her off on each other, and it's become a fun little game between the four of us.

She went to IKEA with the girls and I one day, and I'm pretty sure she loved it!

Santa is not the only one checking things off of his list...

I have been switching some things up in our house that I've been wanting to do for a long time.

Blank hallway wall finally has frames and antlers...now I just need to get them all painted!

I'm thinking all white. High gloss white. Not 100% though.

Swapped out the pendant lights above the breakfast bar with something a little more interesting.

These are old rusty craw fish traps and I love the way they cast a subtle grid pattern on the ceiling. More photos of our 100+ year old house remodel can be found here.

I added some super cute vinyl wall decals to a wall in the nursery. They are perfect for the room and I am soooo pleased! I will post more pics of the room in a future Classy Coop post.

The pantry was in dire need of a cleaning so I pulled everything out. Got rid of a bunch of stuff and painted. I then started to stencil the walls...an idea found here.

Quickly realized that the project was going to take for-ev-er, and that I couldn't have my kitchen and dining room overtaken with pantry items until I finished. Soooo, I painted the stencil on one shelf, then put everything back in nice and neat. Now when I get time *chuckle*, I can take the contents off of one shelf, stencil it, then put it back without disrupting two other rooms.

I received a package from Serendipity, one of the stores that carries my Cowgirl Canteens this week.

It was in the most adorable envelope, and I just had to share. I think something like this would be perfect for mailing my flasks.

Today I'm linking up with Jeanette for insta-friday.

The Farrier's Daughter Gives Back~Toadally Tutus

2011-12-21T22:44:00.000-08:00

Have you ever read the book Languages of Love?

Ok, well neither have I...but from what I hear, the author points out that there are five basics forms of love. Once you have figured out your style, and that of your spouses, you are supposed to have a better understanding of each other. Someone once gave me a quiz out of the book (I'm a sucker for quizzes! I don't really believe in them, but let's face it, they are fun. You remember taking the quizzes in the Teen Bob Magazines in Junior High...I miss those days). Any who, I didn't think the results were super accurate for me, but I've never really been all that successful at fitting into a box :-)

Wanna take it yourself?

Check it out here.

I give love via gifts.

Not materialistic things. I like to find, or make meaningful gifts (the quiz didn't tell me this-I just know me).

Which makes perfectly good sense since I've become so enthusiastic about Toadally Tutus.

I like to get love via quality time.

Which is also great, because my daughters and I have spent many hours working together on this Children's Charity.

We just wrapped up our first season of giving and I am so excited to share!

(That's my oldest in the pictures above...she is such a great helper! The youngest helped by providing entertainment-you can see for yourself in the videos below)

At the Tutu Making Clinics, we hand out tags to all of the participants, and invite them to write messages for the little girls receiving the donated tutus. The sweet, scribbled notes are enough to melt your heart.

We (my hubby, kids and I), loaded up 20 tutus today in a variety of sizes and colors and headed up to Legacy Emanuel Children's Hospital.

We were greeted at the door with a very warm welcome, and rolled our loot inside.

The amount of fluff and vibrant hues were stopping men and women alike.

So many thanks were given, and while we didn't get to actually see the little girls receive them, I know in my heart it will bring some smiles this Christmas!

It meant so much to me that the hospital worker we were in contact with took the time to tell my daughter thank you, and explain what a good thing she was doing.

Ok, now for the entertainment...the future class clown will demonstrate an alternate activity with a tutu waistband (aka- undy wear).

And a little more silliness for your viewing pleasure...

Recipe Roundup~3 Cheese Breakfast Bake

2011-12-18T21:28:00.000-08:00

For our family, the holiday season is one that is full of get-togethers and travel. With all of the attention on the holiday meals (which tend to be dinners), I like to have a good breakfast/brunch recipe on hand for overnight guests. It would also be great to prep ahead of time and take along for overnight stays away from home. What a better way to say thanks to your hostess than to take the guesswork out of breakfast the next morning!

I wanted to share my most favorite and most popular breakfast dish...

The 3 Cheese Breakfast Bake.

Below are 4x6 printable recipe cards for you.

Both recipes are the same, I just wanted to include a less colorful version for those "ink-conscience" readers out there :-)

Please feel free to click on the images for printable versions.

Here is a photo of the finished product...isn't the prettiest thing in the world, but it ranks up there with the tastiest!

I like to prep this the night before and let it chill in the refrigerator over night. It also makes mornings less hectic when I have a house full.

I don't have a linky tool ready for this, but would love to know if you have any favorite recipes. If so, leave them in the comments to share with Blogland!

Versatile Blogger Award-Yeehaw!

2011-12-16T21:26:00.000-08:00

Have I ever mentioned how much I love Blogland?

It's like it's own little world where you can easily find and connect with people of like interests.

Just recently, I met (always feel weird saying met, when it's not in person) Shannon from Espee Trading Co.

She is super sweet, and awarded me with The Versatile Blogger Award!

Not only does Shannon love to sew, she loves a farrier!

See, even though you may have never heard the word...

They Exist!

As a funny little side note, I will share with you that I am also a the farrier's sister.

Noooooo, my mother did not reproduce with my brother, also making him my dad...that would be sick, and wrong on soooo many levels.

I am one of four children, and one of my brothers went to school to become a farrier and now does it as a side job. Whenever I ask him to weld something for me, he teases that he will not help in any way until I rename my business....

The Farrier's Sister

It doesn't have quite the same ring to it, nor does it play off of the farmer's daughter...which is where my real business name came from. Well, that and the fact that my Dad is a farrier.

You can read some of his guest posts here and here.

Ok, so now for the fun part.

As part of the award, I am supposed to share 7 things about myself.

1.) I'm a list maker. The funny thing is that I rarely look at the lists I make once I have finished them. When my husband teases me about it, I remind him that it is the act of making the list that helps me remember and organize my thoughts :-)

2.) I am married to a Police Officer, SWAT team member, wonderful father, supportive husband, extremely handsome, highly intelligent man who I am VERY proud of....did I mention he is not too bad on the eyes?!?!

3.) As a young girl, I had a cow for a best friend. I bottle raised him from the time he was just a calf. One time, I brought him inside my parents' day-light basement...it was just the once, because my mom caught me (which is actually a story I will need to share someday).

4.) My husband and I ~~remodeled~~ rebuilt a 100 year old farmhouse. It was 103 when we finally moved in. You can see read more about it here.

5.) I have a fear of driving on bridges over water. No joke, my heart pounds, and if I don't remind myself to breathe, I catch myself holding my breath.

6.) In high school, I broke and held the girls bench press record.

7.) I have been a procrastinator since at least the third grade. It was then that my teacher told me so. After he let me in on this revelation, he asked me if I knew what that meant...I didn't at the time. Unfortunately, he was right. Thanks Mr. Graham!

The next part of the Award is to Pass it On!

Christine Marie Studio

A beautiful woman, making beautiful jewelry!

Modern Prairie Girl

Laura Blair is an amaaaazing photographer, cowgirl and mama!

Teresa Sheeley

I have been lucky enough to meet Teresa in person, and she is a gem!

(she too has a farrier in the family)

The Fancy Farmgirl

Tiffany is another cowgirl that I am happy to have met in person.

She too is a fabulous photographer with kindness that exudes her.

Auntie's

Joy is one of those gals whose name fits her to a T!

She is a joy to be around, and has been making some must-have jewelry.

The Strawberry Patch

Miss Christy Donoho is a great example of the friendships that can be made via blogging.

Though miles apart, we have formed a friendship that is very special to me.

Christy is in the Junkin' business, and puts on barn sales with a colorful twist that is sooo refreshing!

Blackberry Farm

Kimberly Taylor (you may recognize her as Mimi Charmante), has a blog full of eye candy, thanks to her superb photography! The best part is that she is just as sweet as all of that eye candy!

A note to the award recipients: Pick up the award graphic and place it in your post.

Pass it on to 15 more bloggers(make sure to go tell them) and tell us 7 things about yourself!

Small Business Experiences-The Early Days

2011-12-15T20:50:00.000-08:00

Going from stay-at-home-mom to, "I want to start my own business" was a life changing event for me. I had earned a BS in Social Science, and Psychology, and worked as a counselor to kids with mental illness, and was, at the time, learning the ropes of motherhood with my first daughter along for the ride. I had always had a creative edge (I even started off as an Art major in college), but had never thought of turning my passion for design into a business. My other love has always been children, but I had never thought further than combining the two...teaching art, or art therapy!

Since my decision to become a momtrepreneur, I have realized that a lot of what you need to know can quickly be learned from experience. That said, if you can learn from others' experiences...even better! Which is why I have decided to begin posting some of my own experiences. I have also found that it is scary to start your own business, to put yourself out there. It is especially scary when you are going into a business that is a somewhat unique.

When I started out, I wanted to ~~refinish~~ sand, paint, and distress furniture. I saw the prices on pieces in the local vintage shops, and loved the idea that I could get a piece of furniture for cheap, work my wonders on it, and sell it for a profit....the best part-the buyer was getting a good deal too! The furniture at vintage shops are not only cheaper than buying new furniture, they are typically higher quality than a lot of the press-board stuff out there these days. Unfortunately, there is not a lot of information out there on the shabby chic furniture business. If I wanted to do this, I was going to have to figure it out on my own.

I started by visiting the local library and some book stores. What I found was a lot of information on how most people start a business. The problem here, is that I am not like most people. I am lucky enough to have a family of entrepreneurs, that have taught me some very basic, but very valuable lessons. My grandparents owned a successful tole painting shop out of the first floor of their 3 story home for many years. Their business model was much more simple than anything proposed in the pages of any Business books out there these days, but believe it or not...it worked!

It went a little something like this...you save your money until you have enough to buy something. Once you have made a profit, you pay yourself back, put some into savings, and some gets reinvested in the company ie. another purchase for the business. You build slowly, with patience, and only borrow what you can pay back at the end of the month. By doing this, my grandparents grew their business to be a successful one. It employed and supported both of them, and at times, a few others as well. They stressed the importance of minimizing overhead, which I believe to be another key factor in their success. All of these are things that I have attempted to mimic in my own adventures.

My first realization:

Just because the literature out there repetitively tells you that you need a formal business plan, and a hefty bank loan, does not mean it is the only way or the right way.

All the Pretty Horses-My take on Equine Art

2011-12-14T23:20:00.000-08:00

In looking for a piece of equine art for my own home, I learned a few things....

1. You need to first establish exactly where the piece will be on display.

2. You need to understand horses in order to appreciate good horse art.

and

3. Good equine art is hard to come by.

While scouring the ~~internet~~ ok just etsy, I found a handful of extremely talented artists, and I wanted to share their work. If you are looking for a piece to help set a certain mood in your space, I would strongly suggest perusing Carol Walker's etsy shop, Wild Hoofbeats.

In my opinion, Carol gets horses.

What do I mean by that?

Well, take a look at these photographs and then go out and compare them to some other equine photographer's work. In the photo above, the horse is not just staring blankly at an open field...that's boring and doesn't evoke any feelings. If I had to guess, I would say that this horse was interrupted by a startling sound and quickly jerked it's head over it's front shoulder to investigate. It stood alert, quiet, and waiting for another sound or movement before it went on about it's business.

As I poured over the endless pages of equine art, I found that there were a few things that made for what I call, "good horse art". While not crucial, I like to see movement. The photo above doesn't exactly have movement; however, the way the horse's forelock (hair in between it's ears) is awry, leads me to believe it just stopped running and possibly tossing it's head about like in the photo below.

In this shot, the horse itself is not all that attractive to me.

The angle of it's head makes it appear to have a very narrow muzzle.

What I love about it though, is that the horses hair shows the force of the animal.

The muscles in the chest are flexed and this horse is probably snorting and kicking up it's heals!

This shot of a wild stallion is one of my favorites!

This feisty equine appears to have come to such an abrupt stop that it's hair was still in motion when the shutter was pressed. It's almost as if he was caught being naughty and stopped as soon as he noticed he was being watched...carefully looking at the photographer out of the corner of his eye.

Another great action shot!

The one above is another example of something I tend to look for...

See how the crest (top of the neck) is arched?

To me, this says power, and royalty.

I wasn't sure that photography was right for the location I was hoping to put my own equine art, so I continued my search. Luckily I was able to find a lot of other artists with horse pieces on etsy as well. The piece above is mixed media and I LOVE it!

The colors go well with the grey, white and black in my home. The mixed media elements give a modern twist to the somewhat classical shape of the horse, and the unique shape of the head offer a whimsical touch.

(also note the strong arch of the neck-perfection)

This piece can be found here.

While not right for my space, I do appreciate the beauty in the simplicity of the piece above.

Strong and soft at the same time make it intriguing.

The next four I am sharing because of their color value.

This is where it helps to know exactly where you want your new artwork to be in your home/office.

image here

I leave you with one of my favorite finds of the night.

Colorful Horse

A stunning watercolor piece that just so happens to be done by a local gentleman!

Such a small world...honestly, this guy probably lives less than an hour away!

Lindsey's Leather Lovin' & a Birthday

2011-12-14T00:25:00.000-08:00

I have a thing for leather.

It's timeless, smells good, natural, durable and timeless...

What's not to love?

I recently found out about Emily Rosendahl.

She has a beautiful line of leather goods that make me drool!

If only I had known about her when I was still lugging a diaper bag around, I would have definitely sported the one shown above. It's so cute, that I've even played with the idea of having another baby so that I have an excuse to buy it!

Check her out online:

Emily Rosendahl Leather Goods

The pouch above is by Lovejoycreations

Not only is it attractive with it's antiqued leather and turquoise accents, it is a steal at only $24!

Another etsy find is by Moxie & Oliver.

This seller has a ton of super cute leather goods.

These leather cuffs are by Lipstick Gypsy and they are wonderful!

I had the pleasure of meeting Robin at The Farm Chicks show last year, and she is the kindest woman around. You've got to check out her etsy shop!

This very special birthday morning has gotten off to a wonderful start (I'm choosing to ignore the fact that as I type this, my oldest daughter spilled milk on the carpet in the bonus room). I am also looking past the fact that even though I am not a morning person, and woke up to my youngest yelling from her crib, at the top of her lungs, "Mama, Mama, I go potty!"

What I did get, was to snuggle my baby in bed for few minutes of pure bliss.

I then got to reheat a cup of yesterday's coffee (yes, fresh is best, but I'm being positive here) and savor a bite of chocolate fudge. Mmmmm!

Birthdays are special to me.

I believe they should be celebrated.

After all, we never know just how many we will get.

I'm thankful for mine, and all of the people who celebrate it with me.

Some people dread a Birthday, see it as a reminder of getting older...

That blows my mind!

Come on folks, if we aren't getting older, we are dead, and being dead is much less fun!

Today I am 31 years young, and will claim every single one of those years with pride.

Each one has been part of the recipe that has made me who I am today.

I am...

a strong woman.

a proud mother.

determined.

happily married.

creative.

adventurous.

messy.

spontaneous.

happy.

thankful.

family oriented.

grateful.

a lover of the past.

excited about the future.

a private person.

honest.

healthy.

blessed.

addicted to coffee.

a fabric hoarder.

vertically challenged.

loving.

a farm girl.

family oriented.

a dreamer.

31.

Lindsey Brooke Frankus.

Ok, so I probably missed some descriptive words, but these are the first ones that came to mind.

Wishing everyone a Happy Wednesday!

On the Eleventh and Twelfth Day of Christmas...

2011-12-12T09:18:00.000-08:00

Eeek!

A great big heartfelt apology to anyone looking for the deal of the day yesterday!

We had some very special friends in town, and I spent the day in my pj's baking Christmas treats!

To make up for my mistake, I am combining yesterday and today's deals and making any flask in the

Shop

30% Off

Use the discount code CHRISTMAS at checkout to receive your discount.

On the Tenth Day of Christmas...

2011-12-10T07:28:00.000-08:00

On the tenth day of Christmas, The Farrier's Daughter gave to me,

25% Off

(Grey & Yellow Ruffles Cowgirl Canteen™)

This offer is good only on today's featured flask.

Offer begins at 12:00am December 10th and ends at 12am December 11th.

Purchases can be made in the Shop

Use the discount code SALEDAY10 at checkout to redeem.

Not sure this one is just right for that special lady (or yourself)?

Check back daily, as there are 2 more days of deals!

On the Ninth Day of Christmas...

2011-12-09T07:17:00.000-08:00

On the ninth day of Christmas, The Farrier's Daughter gave to me,

25% Off

(Coral Lace Cowgirl Canteen™)

This offer is good only on today's featured flask.

Offer begins at 12:00am December 9th and ends at 12am December 10th.

Purchases can be made in the Shop

Use the discount code SALEDAY9 at checkout to redeem.

Not sure this one is just right for that special lady (or yourself)?

Check back daily, as there are 3 more days of deals!

On the Eighth Day of Christmas...

2011-12-08T09:31:00.000-08:00

On the eighth day of Christmas, The Farrier's Daughter gave to me...

25% Off

(Grey & Coral Floral Cowgirl Canteen™)

This offer is good only on today's featured flask.

Offer begins at 12:00am December 8th and ends at 12am December 9th.

Purchases can be made in the Shop

Use the discount code SALEDAY8 at checkout to redeem.

Not sure this one is just right for that special lady (or yourself)?

Check back daily, as there are 4 more days of deals!

On the Seventh Day of Christmas...

2011-12-07T08:48:00.000-08:00

On the seventh day of Christmas, The Farrier's Daughter gave to me...

25% Off

(Mustard & Aqua Cowgirl Canteen™)

This offer is good only on today's featured flask.

Offer begins at 12:00am December 7th and ends at 12am December 8th.

Purchases can be made in the Shop

Use the discount code SALEDAY7 at checkout to redeem.

Not sure this one is just right for that special lady (or yourself)?

Check back daily, as there are 5 more days of deals!

Today I'm linkin up with Lindsey over at The Pleated Poppy for What I Wore Wednesday!

Tuesday was spent dropping Raegen off at school, and then shopping with Reese.

Dress: Macy's (wish this picture showed the detail and all of the wonderful ruffles-love them)

Black tank under dress: TJ Maxx

Black leggings: TJ Maxx (Yes, I'm a Maxanista)

Boots: Macy's (again, I wish the photo showed detail on the boots-they lace up the back, but only at the top, and they have buckles!)

Silver Heart Necklace: A gift for my Birthday

Ok, so I feel that this outfit needs a little explaining...

This was the Saturday of Toadally Tutu's second Tutu Making Clinic!

It was an amazing day, that deserves a post all to itself.

Top: Ross Dress for Less (added the Toadally Tutu logo)

Big Girl Tutu: Toadally Tutus

Tights: Ross Dress for Less

Leg Warmers: Payless Shoes

Silver High Heels: Nordstrom

On the Sixth Day of Christmas...

2011-12-06T09:28:00.000-08:00

A Giveaway is in the works!
"Like" us on Facebook, then share the link on your wall and be entered to win a free Cowgirl Canteen of your choice at the end of the Twelve Days of Christmas Sale!

On the sixth day of Christmas, The Farrier's Daughter gave to me...

25% Off

(Aqua Lace Cowgirl Canteen™)

This is one of my personal favorites! If I were a saloon girl back in the day, this is what my bloomers would have looked like!

This offer is good only on today's featured flask.

Offer begins at 12:00am December 6th and ends at 12am December 67h.

Purchases can be made in the Shop

Use the discount code SALEDAY6 at checkout to redeem.

Not sure this one is just right for that special lady (or yourself)?

Check back daily, as there are 6 more days of deals!

On the Fifth Day of Christmas...

2011-12-05T07:32:00.000-08:00

Wow!

This sale has forced me to blog every day, and I must admit, I love it!

There have been busy days, and tired nights that I would typically let get in the way of posting, but this has held me accountable. It's great!

Before I get back to the sale though, I wanted share link. Today's Creative Blog has put together a Creative Holiday Gift Guide that features small, mommy owned businesses...

And get this...The Farrier's Daughter is on the list!

Yeehaw! Thanks Kim!

So head on over and check out all of the other amazing women and their creations.

Happy Shopping!

Ok, so where were we?

Oh yes, uh uhm...

On the fifth day of Christmas, The Farrier's Daughter gave to me...

25% Off

(Hippie Chick Cowgirl Canteen™)

This offer is good only on today's featured flask.

Offer begins at 12:00am December 5th and ends at 12am December 6th.

Purchases can be made in the Shop

Use the discount code SALEDAY5 at checkout to redeem.

Not sure this one is just right for that special lady (or yourself)?

Check back daily, as there are 7 more days of deals!

On the Fourth Day of Christmas...

2011-12-03T22:18:00.000-08:00

On the fourth day of Christmas, The Farrier's Daughter gave to me...

25% Off

(Pink & Brown Cowgirl Canteen™)

This offer is good only on today's featured flask.

Offer begins at 12:00am December 4nd and ends at 12am December 5th.

Purchases can be made in the Shop

Use the discount code SALEDAY4 at checkout to redeem.

Not sure this one is just right for that special lady (or yourself)?

Check back daily, as there are 8 more days of deals!

Ok, now for those pictures I promised...

And yes, the star is super crooked...kinda matches the tree aye?

No worries...that is my motto this Christmas!

With a puppy, cat, and two small children, the tree is always a mess around the lower third.

I've decided to embrace it, and chose to decorate the lower portion with non-breakable ornaments...most of which are Dollar Tree ornaments!

To mix in my love of vintage, and pretty up the base of the tree, we plopped the ordinary (and very ugly) tree stand in one of my old galvanized tubs.

Eventually, I will pull out some burlap and ruffle it around the base in place of the traditional tree skirt.

Plain vases get a sprig of red berries to transform them from everyday decor to a simple festive display.

Tis the season for wood burning fires, and oh how I love a good fire.

This old wooden supply box comes in handy for holding firewood and newspaper.

I kept the mantle simple this year, the antique wooden drying rack came from a century farm estate sale, the tin star was a bargain at Goodwill, and the santa, reindeer and pipe-cleaner tree were all on clearance at TJ Maxx after Christmas last year.

This coat hanger (made from barnboard, salvaged trim, and old door knobs) hangs in our extra-wide hallway. One of my favorite Christmas items is this plush Santa.

He is a Woof & Poof brand and plays the sweetest Christmas song.

Take a good look at this nutcracker and tell me what you think my husband does for a living!

Haha, it's almost certain that every police officer out there has received one of these over the years.

We love him...broken pieces and all.

Last, some close ups of different ornaments on our tree.

I try to have a good mix of very fancy, good quality ornaments and throw in some bargains as well. Last year I started tearing white strips of cotton fabric to hang my ornaments instead of the cheap, and very frustrating bendable ones. I love the mix of torn cotton with fancy ornaments!

My hubby and kids say our tree is pretty, but boring...so this year I added in the aqua and shades of blue. I found some vintage glass balls at Goodwill, and fell in love with them immediately. The blue is beginning to come off and reveal the silver underneath and it is perfection!

I'm Linking Up with Where Women Createhttp://www.wherewomencreate.com/?p=6374

On the third day of Christmas...

2011-12-03T08:21:00.000-08:00

Come on, sign along...

On the third day of Christmas, The Farrier's Daughter gave to me..

25% Off

(White Mum Cowgirl Canteen™)

This offer is good only on today's featured flask.

Offer begins at 12:00am December 2nd and ends at 12am December 3rd.

Purchases can be made in the Shop

Use the discount code SALEDAY3 at checkout to redeem.

Not sure this one is just right for that special lady (or yourself)?

Check back daily, as there are 9 more days of deals!

I snapped some Christmas photos of our house that I am looking forward to sharing!

Unfortunately, I can't do it today...our charity, Toadally Tutus, has it's second Tutu Making clinic today! So I'm off to surround myself with lots of adorable little girls, giggles, and miles of tulle!

On the Second Day of Christmas...

2011-12-01T21:53:00.000-08:00

On the second day of Christmas, The Farrier's Daughter gave to me...

25% Off

Chevron & Rosette Cowgirl Canteen™

(third one in from the left)

*This offer is good only on today's featured flask.

Offer begins at 12:00am December 2nd and ends at 12am December 3rd.

Purchases can be made in the Shop
Use the discount code SALEDAY2 at checkout to redeem.

Not sure this one is just right for that special lady (or yourself)?
Check back daily, as there are ten more days of deals!

While I sit here ~~writing~~ typing this tonight, I have the Country Music Christmas special on. I don't know what it is about Christmas music that I love so much, but I do. Maybe it is the memories that the songs bring back, or maybe it's that sense of warmth I get...

No, I'm not one of those wierdos that listen to Jingle Bells in July, I just look forward to this time of year...the cheer!

There are a few songs that stand out as favorites...
A Christmas Carol by Skip Ewing
Angels Among Us by Alabama (not sure this is actually a Christmas song, but for some reason they only play it at Christmas time.
Santa Baby by Marilyn Monroe

What abut you?
Got a fave?

On the First Day of Christmas...

2011-11-30T23:39:00.000-08:00

On the first day of Christmas, The Farrier's Daughter gave to me...

25% Off

Black & White Damask Cowgirl Canteen™

(shown in the middle)

*This offer is good only on today's featured flask.

Offer begins at 12:00am December 1st and ends at 12am December 2nd.

Purchases can be made in the Shop

Use the discount code SALEDAY1 at checkout to redeem.

Not sure this one is just right for that special lady (or yourself)?

Check back daily, as there are eleven more days of deals!

12 Days of Christmas Sale Starts tomorrow! Get your hip flask for women here!

2011-11-30T14:33:00.000-08:00

Here is a sale you are not going to want to miss!

These Cowgirl Canteens™ (designer hip flasks for women),

make perfect Christmas gifts!

Be sure and check back tomorrow!

Insta Fridady Take One

2011-11-18T14:28:00.000-08:00

Today I am linking up with Jeannett over at Life Rearranged for Insta Friday...

Today's blog post is being created in front of a cozy fire while the girls are (supposed to be) napping. I say, "supposed to be" because they so badly wanted to sleep in our bedroom so that they could be close to the our new puppy. Yes, we got a new puppy...soon to be horse!

These first two shots are of my view. I just added that painting above the mantle last night. I had actually intended on getting rid of the painting and using the frame as part of a bigger display in the house, but as I walked by it in my craft room yesterday, it spoke to me.

What did it say?

Well, let me tell you what it said...

It said, hey lady! If you would take a minute to actually look closely, you would see that I really am a pretty painting. If you would just give my frame a face-lift, I would be a beautiful piece of art for your home!

A couple of coordinating colors, and a dry brush later, wallah!

I love it!

On Wednesday, Raegen requested we do an art project, so we painted blocks of scrap lumber and covered the edges with fabric. I had seen this done by an amazing artist that sells her goods at The Strawberry Patch barn sales...and had been wanting to give it a try.

Back to the new puppy.

We currently have a huge rottweiler that weighs more than I do, and I can't tell you how much I love having her! She is the perfect combination of big teddy bear and watch dog. However, she is getting old, and we wanted to get another big dog. Soooooo, we did just that.

Sir Galahad (The Great), is a mix of great dane and mastiff. Around here he goes by Gally, and he is much loved by all of us!

Reese and I decided to take Gally to the park for a little fresh air and play!

Hope you have all enjoyed your week!

Cheers from The Farrier's Daughter!

The Tutu Shoppe

2011-11-17T18:03:00.000-08:00

After a year of brainstorming and preparing for my Children's Charity,

Toadally Tutus is beginning to come together!

We just completed our first ever Tutu Clinic in our little town of Molalla and I wanted to share the setup with you.

The idea is that all of the participants get to choose their own colors of tulle, and then we teach them (along with their mamas) how to make one for themselves.

For every tutu we sell (or that is purchased and made at a clinic), we donate one to a child in the hospital at Christmas.

I'm currently calling it, The Tutu Shoppe and trying to give it the feel of an old time candy shoppe.

Instead of candy in jars, I have the tulle choices!

The framework for the awning is made of 1/2 pvc pipe and held together with pvc fittings. I then drilled holes in 2x4's to sink the base of the legs into. It sits atop a 6' folding table that has two table cloths on it. I'm loving the combination of satin and burlap...so unexpected!

I'm not so happy however with the color combos.

It's what I had on hand, so it will do for now.

If you are interested in purchasing a tutu to support our cause, please check out my shop, or email for a specific color.

DIY Bookshelf

2011-11-16T09:00:00.000-08:00

While moving into our new home, we asked all of our helpers to pile the boxes into the office. It worked out nicely since the office is right off of the front door, it also saved a lot of time and confusion. From there, we would take the boxes and unload them in the appropriate room. The downside is that when it was all said and done, we still had those lingering boxes that didn't really have a place. Sooooo, they sat, and sat, annnnnnd sat. My husband waited patiently for his office to be unburied. Finally, when he was away at training, I tackled the dumping grounds!

(Restoration's $1375 version)

A large portion of the boxes were full of old books that have been in his family for generations. I knew they were special to him, and wanted to give him a way to display them.

After looking around, I found this industrial looking shelf at Restoration Hardware and fell in love!

Next came the big challenge...how to recreate the $1375 shelf on a tight budget.

(My $150 version)

I headed outside to my stash of barn board and found some that were just the right width.

Next, I found some steel casters for the base for only $5 each at a local discount store.

I then headed to The Home Depot where I purchased 16 lengths of threaded galvanized pipe (each at 18" long), 8 threaded flange fittings for the top and bottom, and 12 couplings.

Here is where things got a little tricky.

The easiest way to do this would have been to bypass the couplings and just buy 32 flange fittings for each place where a pipe needed to join to the wood shelf; however, the flange fittings are much more expensive than the couplings and that would have put me way over budget.

My fix was to drill holes in the corners of the middle three shelves, slide the pipe through the hole and let the shelf rest on the coupling below. I know that sounds super confusing, and if anyone is interested, I would be happy to do a tutorial with better pics and instructions!

What I Wore Wednesday:

Linking up with Lindsey at The Pleated Poppy

Playing at the Park with Reese and picking Raegen up from School

Jacket: Sadly, it's so old I can't remember where I got it, but i LOVE it

Flower pin: off of a different jacket that I got at Old Navy

Blue top: Old Navy

Gray Tank underneath: Ross Dress for Less

Jeans: DKNY

Shoes: Naturalizer. These are my new fave! The are cute, comfy, and have a sole that holds up to our rainy, Oregon climate.

Bracelet: Made by The Farrier's Daughter it is a vintage silver spoon that I shaped on an anvil, and stamped the word, "LOVE"

Taking the Girls to Visit Family

Headband: The Farrier's Daughter

Sweatshirt/Jacket: Ross Dress for Less

Black ruched tank: Target

Pants (yes, I am wearing pants in the pic): Wide leg, dark wash jeans with braided detail on the pockets, from Old Navy.

Art Party-Birthday in Bend

2011-11-02T08:50:00.000-07:00

We recently took a road trip over the mountain for my niece's

5th Birthday Party!

It was an Art themed party, and my sister-in-law pulled off another amazing event.

I snapped a few photos of the day to share with all of you...

I know how we all like some eye candy and good ideas :-)

Happy Birthday Miss Gracie!

Cake: In the shape of a paint pallet with dollops of colored icing to look like paint.

My Father, The Farrier (guest posts here and here), was in attendance.

Being a bit of an artist himself, he was like a kid in a candy shoppe!

No, a small child didn't attach the pom poms to his boots...

He Did!

Haha!

Everything was super cute and "themefide" (I think I just made up that word-just roll with it).

Snacks were all part of the theme too.

The Rice Crispy paint brushes seamed to be a big hit with the kiddos.

(Rice crispies and a stick, dipped in colored frosting-so smart)

A colorful balloon wreath was made by the proud mama and hung above the food table.

There are a ton of online tutorials out there, but this one seems to be very popular.

The venue was a place located just across from the Old Mill District.

The Art Station was the perfect place for this party.

They supplied everything a kid could dream of for getting their craft on.

Stations were set up for the kids to try a variety of things.

Birthday Crowns were at one of the stations.

This is my youngest sporting her new sign of royalty!

As a mother of two party goers, I was pleased to see the row of smocks!

Blank rainbow shapes were waiting at the tables for the kids to paint.

This is my oldest standing under her masterpiece...

Does this make her a leprechaun?

(unfortunately, she is going to be vertically challenged like her mama,

I probably shouldn't make jokes!)

Debbie (sis-in-law), made these yarn pom garlands that also hung above the food table.

Can never resist a picture of fresh cut flowers...

It's a condition :-)

Swimming Pool Art!

I had never seen this done before, but it's super simple, and the kids Loved it!

1. Place big sheet of paper in the bottom of a small pool.

2. Squirt globs of paint in a few piles on the paper.

3. Drop in a handful of old golf balls.

4. Allow eager kids to grab the sides of the pool.

5. Gently roll the balls around.

6. Admire some funky, abstract art!

Gracie and Debbie at the food table.

Another cute idea:

Splatter paint on a white table cloth!

Colorful Fruit Kabobs drizzled with white chocolate!

Yumm!

Messy hands? No problem!

Concentration? Lots of it.

A whole group of budding artists? You bet.

Rainbows hanging out to dry.

They all had a blast....

And it was written all over their faces!

Happy Birthday Gracie D,

We Love You!

Great Job Debbie!

Fall Frenzy

2011-10-26T08:27:00.000-07:00

It is Fall....and I'm in a Frenzy!

We moved into our house at the end of summer last year, and didn't get around to finishing the front porch before the rain came.

So we waited, and waited, annnnnd waited for the rain to stop.

When summer finally did hit, we had a small window to work with, and before I knew it,

it is Fall, and again I'm in a race with the weather to finish this deck.

We decided to go bold and stain the deck red!

Funny thing is, these pictures are actually the "after" pics!!!!

I am super bummed about the way it turned out.

On a positive note, it is now sealed and protected, and I have new plans for her!

Our oldest is keeping us very busy with all of her activities.

Saturday mornings are now spent in the cool fall air cheering her on.

I managed to snap a couple of pics of one of my outfits for What I Wore Wednesday,

and will be linking up with Lindsey at The Pleated Poppy.

Infinity scarf: Made by me

Corduroy Jacket: Hand-me-down from my sister

White eyelet tank: Victoria's Secret (purchased at Goodwill)

Jeans: Calvin Klein from Macys

Leopard flats with super fun red buttons: Naturalizer

Purse: Vintage Nordstrom bag from my Grandmother

Belt: Ross Dress For Less

One of my Favorite things about fall is taking the kids to the pumpkin patch!

The battery was dead in the camera, so I snapped a couple of pics with my phone.

Reese was old enough to enjoy the festivities this year.

Raegen was quick to teach her all of the tricks....

"Dad, we're ready!"

This kid cracks me up!

She never misses an opportunity to pose...look at that hand on her hip!

When we told Reese to pick a pumpkin, this was her first choice!

Taking a break from the obstacle course.

Another fall favorite....Football.

And who says football and tutus don't mix???

Around here, you are either a Beaver or a Duck fan.

It is a serious matter.

Can you tell which I am?

This "Beava Diva" tutu should give it away!

Fall=Sunflowers....Love them!

And the last bit of good news.....

Our hens are laying!

Raegen wanted to take a picture of one of the eggs, so she found,

"a pretty place" to set the egg for the pic!

That's my girl!

And that is what has been going on around the Frankus Household.

Balancing Act

2011-10-11T11:55:00.000-07:00

Between motherhood, trying to run my little business, and the charity,

I have been swamped...to say the least!

Are there any other mamas out there who wonder where the idea of a "lazy" SAHM came from?

Soap Operas and Bon Bons?

Yeah Right.

While the to-do list grows longer, I find myself gravitating to the charity...could also be because the end of the year is upon us, and I haven't given it the attention it deserves.

Sooo, I am coordinating two Tutu Workshops before Christmas!

It's amazing how motivated I am when I am passionate about something! I have been dreaming about tulle and decorations to make these Clinics special for our little guests and their mamas!

Interested in learning more?

Check us out at Toadally Tutus

Oh, and I almost forgot to mention this...

I am currently working on a ginormous amount of Cowgirl Canteens to be sent out for the launch of a new online flasking company!

The Company is currently hosting a contest, so if you like to write...

head on over and check it out!

www.flasking.com

Fall Fashion...Cowgirls and Indians

2011-09-21T08:57:00.000-07:00

Fall is in the air, and while I have been fighting off the reality (summer just got started here in the NW), I really am happy. Fall is hands down, my favorite season!

The mornings are cool and crisp, the sun is shining, and there is a smell in the air that is indescribable.

This time of year, my oven returns as the most used form of cooking and the bbq gets covered for the winter. Baked goods, homemade chili, and soul food are abundant.

My closet also welcomes the change of seasons.

Time to put away the summer clothes and dive into sweaters, boots, and jeans!

Ahhh, cozy clothes, that not only keep me warm, but cover cellulite as well.

I am loving the style this year...here are some of my personal faves:

Fringe.

It is everywhere, and looks good on so many things.

It's playful and relaxed and I love the earthy feeling of all of the leather and suade.

Feathers.

Since I no longer have them in my hair, I have to incorporate them in other ways.

I found a belt similar to this one at Ross Dress For Less for $7.99 that I will be purchasing if I can find it in a size smaller than 1x!

This gal has it figured out.

Feminine, stylish, aaaaaand comfortable!

I am a sucker for coats.

After shopping with my Mom yesterday, I learned that I got this obsession from her.

I have been drooling over this one from Anthro. The ruffles seal the deal.

However, the Anthro price is a little much...found a great mustard colored toggle at Forever 21 that might find a new home with me!

Another great fashion statement.

A girl's gotta wear socks with her boots, so why not make 'em pretty and show 'em off?

Love that gals aren't limiting themselves to skirts, but doing over the pants as well.

Rosettes, Riding boots, and Tall socks!

Check out this adorable girl...

Love how her tall socks are lacy and tie in with her top!

This dress is my idea of perfection.

Some fun jewelry, boots, and a cute denim jacket....yes please!

These Minnetonka Boots are on my wish list this year.

I already knew I liked them, then I found them in grey, and it was all over.

Seems like anything that resembles those braided rugs is also in right now. At first I was a little hesitant, but I'm warming up to the idea.

Lastly, I just found this cowgirl the other day, and fell in love!

She has a business called The Rusty Rose, where she sells clothes and jewelry to the fashionable country girl.

It's fun, and classy all at the same time!

The picture above is from her facebook page.

Look close at her bootlegs...

Yes, those are fur leg muffs!

Add those to my list of fall must haves.

I am so happy that this years style incorporates the rugged, and earthy elements that tie in well with a cowgirls wardrobe.

Feathers, fringe, boots, leather, colorful woven fabrics that scream Pendleton blankets...

I like to refer to the 2011 Fall Fashion as

Cowgirls and Indians

Sweat Shop Friday

2011-09-16T12:56:00.000-07:00

So far, most of the day has been spent in the sweat shop....errr, studio!

One by one, I busted out over 100 blanks for what will become Cowgirl Canteens™.

Meanwhile, my kids/ragamuffins either watch TV, make beautiful art for me, and sometimes...

decorate small tables for tea parties!

She may be only 5, but I think she's onto something!

Nonetheless, she definitely has her own style!

This is my main work table.

I recently splurged...I mean, invested in this awesome new cutting mat that covers the entire table top!

This table sets in the middle of my craft room.

It is where I cut and play with fabric and trims.

Looks like I'm going to need to add a Beware of Dog sign to the door.

Meet Lexi, she is a ginormous rotty that doubles as a body guard for us Frankus girls!

While she sheds a little...ok, A LOT, has a goopy eye, bum back leg, and broken tooth...she is part of our family and we love her!

She likes to sit outside the door and watch over us while we work and play in the studio.

A view from my seat..fabric, scissors, trim, and don't forget my addiction...

COFFEE!

On days like today, I like to be comfortable and productive.

That's right, no time for showers, or big people clothes...

on sweat shop Friday, we mean business!

Slippers, and PJ pants...that's just how we roll.

(which is also why I hate it when people show up at my door unexpectedly and look at me like, "why aren't you dressed yet lady?")

The work horses.

A brother sewing machine that my wonderful hubby purchased for me years ago,

and a Janome serger.

See the beautiful artwork above my sewing machine?

It's a one-of-a-kind piece by Raegen Frankus age 5.

It makes me smile :-)

Tattooed

2011-09-07T06:59:00.000-07:00

This week I decided to link up with Lindsey at The Pleated Poppy, for "What I Wore Wednesday".

As a stay-at-home mom, who also works from home, I tend to gravitate to the PJ Fashion...you know what I mean, hair in a pony, and super comfy pajamas, alllllll daaaaay looong (or until just before my hubby gets home). Laugh if you must, but it really is amazing.

However, with our oldest entering Kindergarten I am required to actually get out of the car to drop her off, and then walk her across the street, and into the classroom. Now, you may think that at age 5, kids don't notice what's appropriate.....wrong!

My little fashionista has taken note of everything I've said along the way. She is no dummy, and wouldn't be caught dead with a Mama in PJ's in public. Which is good because I would actually never do it. So now, every school day I too get dressed (and then take advantage of only having one in tow, and run my errands).

Because I am new to this (my first WIWW), I only have one day to share.

Top: Forever 21

Necklace: Claires

(again, no laughing-Raegen wanted Mother/Daughter necklaces so she could wear it to school)

Shorts: GAP

Shoes: Ross Dress for Less

Brand Spankin' New Tattoo: That Tattoo Shop

Yes, it's real!

I did it!

If you look close, you can see that the heart is made up of two back-to-back R's, for our girls, Raegen and Reese.

In honor of the new tattoo, I have a new flask (sorry for the crummy photo)!

How much more Farrier's Daughter could this get? Turquoise...check, horseshoes...check, a little bit country...check, a little rock n' roll...check, some ruffles for a girlie touch...check!

Happy Wednesday!

Cheers

The Petticoat Saloon at Molly Mo's Antique Faire

2011-08-25T16:43:00.000-07:00

Another great show by Diane of Molly Mo's has come and gone, and I am so happy to have been part of it!

Since my original plan was to simply showcase my Cowgirl Canteens, I stuck with the Petticoat Saloon theme!

I went with a color scheme of pink, red and black...

and had fun with splashes of color on the lighting.

This ragamuffin lamp shade was super easy to do (aside from the fact that I gave myself my worst glue gun burn to date-OUCH).

These chairs are some that I have been holding onto for some time now. They got a fresh coat of glossy black paint, and some pink vinyl seats!

And of course in my chaotic state of preparation, I left my camera in the wrong truck the morning of the show...lucky for me, two other vendors, and my phone's camera came to the rescue!

We had cowgirl bling...

boots...

and Poker!

This beauty hung above the poker table in the gazebo.

Hats

Belts

And a bar!

I had so much fun setting up for this show.

I couldn't serve any alcohol, but what's a bar without drinks???

I decided to make sweet tea (a nod to my southern mother), and serve it in souvenir mason jars. The perfect addition for a 90*+ day!

I know I've said it before on here, but I have the best sister ever!

She is so supportive of my crazy passions, and is always right there beside me on sale days.

No matter how early I ask her to be awake and ready, she comes with a smile on her face. She makes me laugh, wears whatever I ask her to, and helps me lift heavy things...

See her there behind the bar?

Isn't she cute?

Thanks to all of you who came out.

Like always, I met some great new people, connected with old friends,

and had a Wonderful time!

Molly Mo's Sneak Peek

2011-08-17T16:08:00.000-07:00

Molly Mo's is less than a week away and this Farrier's Daughter has kicked it into high gear getting ready to present the Petticoat Saloon!

What was supposed to be a low key, simple, half-booth to highlight my Cowgirl Canteens has turned into my outlet for selling off all of the treasures that I've been storing at my parents barn.

Two full days in the sun were spent sanding, painting and scraping.

I hope there are some college girls in need of some apartment decor, because I have painted everything in black, red, and pink...and the best part, prices will reflect the fact that I need to get rid of this stuff!

I've got dressers, table & chair sets (that would also make a super cute Bunko Table), beds, chandeliers, pillows, jewelry, and yes...Cowgirl Canteens.

What girl doesn't need a super cute, girlie flask???

Look for the pink bar at Molly Mo's this weekend.

We'll be serving up some of Mom's Sweet Tea in souvenier Mason Jars!

Welcome Home Wednesday #4

2011-07-27T09:28:00.001-07:00

Welcome to our Classy Coop!

Today's featured room is our Living Room/Entry.

Before moving in, I always new I wanted an old horseshoe above our front door...being the daughter of a farrier, I just figured I would get our lucky shoe from Dad. Imagine my delight when during construction, we found an authentic, antique draft shoe!

Our house is over 100 years old, and we continually find treasures scattered about the property.

As you enter through the front door, this built in sits to the left. It is original to the house (used to be in the dining room), we just relocated it. It has glass doors that we have yet to put back on. The previous owners had busted out the amazing leaded glass doors, so they will have a more simple, craftsman look when we put them back on.

Off to the right is the living room. This room has undergone some MAJOR changes. The built-ins to the left of the fireplace are original...again, we need to put the doors back on. We couldn't strip the original chipping plaster from behind the piece, so it's now backed with bead board. I'm not sure what the original fireplace looked like. When we purchased the house, there was the ugliest pellet stove shoved into the opening, and the whole thing was a mess. Not able to afford rebuilding the masonry chimney, but wanting a wood-burning fire, we opted for a zero clearance insert, and a wood chase. We then pieced together a mantle using leftover crown molding and trim from my grandfather's woodworking business. I did all of the tile work in our house and am so pleased with the surround. I used some small, glass subway tile that I found at the Home Depot in a beautiful aqua color, then accented with some tiles scrounged up at the Pratt and Larson seconds room. The hearth is covered in slate.

The view from the dining room...

To the right of the fireplace is an original wood box disguised as a seat. We added some wall work to help with flow. I plan to someday add a cushion and some pillows. Another thing on the "to do" list is to cover those green swivel chairs. They are from my Great Grandmother, and I was lucky enough to inherit them!

The sofa caught my eye last summer as I drove past an auction house. It was sitting on the side of the road with a sign on it that read....well, you don't want to know how cheap I got that antique sofa for!

It is in amazing condition, has down cushions, and gorgeous tufting!

The lighting in our home is another thing we had to save on.

It's one of the last things to purchase, so we were running low on funds. This is when it helps to be creative. I purchased the living room light at the Habitat Re-use It Store for $7.

It was an awful avocado green, and covered in grease.

I cleaned it up, gave it a coat of paint, and used some Amy Butler gift wrap to spruce it up.

Over the Entry, is a reproduction schoolhouse light from...gasp, Lowes! Believe it or not, Lowes has some decent repo's for only $40 each!

That beats $140 any day!

My mantel is ever-changing...I envision a painting of a wooly brown cow. I am crossing my fingers that Teresa Sheeley will do a custom piece for me. I would even take a print of a past piece if she had one.

Ah, I see another project...that coffee table.

It has a great base and will soon get a fresh coat of paint.

Loving this new mirror I found on my latest trip to GW, and the horse head purchased from Sarah at Roost ReImagined.

Thanks for visiting!

SUNday

2011-07-24T10:45:00.000-07:00

Happy Sunday!

There is something about Sunday mornings that makes me happy.

I enjoy a slow morning with a hot cup of coffee and Legends and Outlaws playing on the radio.

One of my favorite songs is, "That's what I love about Sundays" by Craig Morgan...

(I even had it on my labor playlist while in the hospital delivering our second baby).

Any who, while folding laundry this beautiful Sunday morning, our oldest decided to "throw me a party "! A girl after her mama's heart. She decorated my bedroom, got all dressed up, and sang me happy birthday (even though my birthday is not actually until December).

It was the sweetest thing ever, we had hair bows on hand towels (in the master bath).

Barbie scarves tied to knobs.

Cinderella books with pretty jewelry around the base.

Rosette pins on the curtains.

And butterfly clips too.

Little gems and colorful rocks were scattered about.

Necklaces carefully draped over the TP dispenser.

We are off to a good start around here!

Hope you enjoy your Sunday.

Molly Mo's and The Petticoat Saloon

2011-07-19T09:10:00.000-07:00

August 20th is just around the corner...have your saved the date?

Molly Mo's is a wonderful outdoor antique faire, and The Farrier's Daughter is so excited to be one of the many vendors.

Focusing on my Cowgirl Canteens, I have decided to go with a Petticoat Saloon theme for my display.

I'm seeing swinging doors, whiskey barrels, pistols, and wanted signs...

Only The Petticoat Saloon wont be your typical Old West Saloon, nope, we are going putting a cowGIRL twist on things!

Try imagining a marriage between the photo above and below.

Are you feelin' it?

Family Camping, The Paleo Plunge, and Shop Talk

2011-07-17T16:40:00.000-07:00

Wow, it's been one of those months where I look back and wonder where the time has gone.

How quickly it goes by when we are busy having fun!

We just returned home from a week long family camping trip to the Mt. Hood National Forest.

After nearing being eaten alive by mosquitoes at Olallie Lake, we hopped back in the truck and changed plans. We needed a new place to camp, and preferable one with less blood sucking insects.

On map duty, I spotted a place that sounded interesting: Bear Skull Springs

Only as we entered that area, we ran into a mama bear and her cub (almost literally), so we decided we would press on...to any place that didn't include bear, or cougar in the name.

We soon found Summit Lake, and decided to call it home for the week.

For our little campers, we took lots of fun stuff for activities, arts and crafts. A big hit this year was rock painting. Our youngest turned two when we were there so we also had a birthday party. It was soooo hard for me not to decorate and make a big deal about it. At the last minute I contemplated painting a banner with the paints the girls were using for their rock masterpieces, but knew that my husband would give me a bad time, so I resisted.

We did have cupcakes, a candle, song and gifts.....oh and music, because our 5 year old insisted it's not a party without music!

Luckily, we had very few neighbors (I'm talking maybe one other person every night). It was quiet...well, except for our own noise, which I am used to. We hiked, laughed, played, and napped. It was a rejuvenating trip, that I needed dearly.

The girls were in heaven, picking wildflowers, hiking, and getting filthy.

Our oldest even did a little photography (she took the one above)

We ventured out to nearby lakes...this one, Little Crater Lake, was indigo blue, 45' deep, and you could see all of the way to the bottom.

While away, the fresh air got to my head, errr, should I said cleared my head.

I decided it was time to make some much needed changes.

For some time now, I have been feeling tired, low on energy, and just not very good. Having a family history of diabetes, I started talking with my hubby about his new food lifestyle...

The Caveman Diet

aka Paleo, Primal Blueprint, whatever you want to call it-it's the idea that our bodies were not designed to process grains and that it is best to eliminate them from the diet. This sounded absolutely absurd to me when my husband first started looking into it. In fact, I will admit to making fun of him for it on more than one occasion.

I will also admit that I am a carb-y.

I love my carbs.

But, after doing some internet research (or rather after picking my husband's brain about his internet research), I decided it was time for a change, and this could be a good one for me. I am not, and will never be a dieter. I am just going to take this one day at a time and see if it works for me. So far, I have not had grains since yesterday morning, and it is HARD. However, I am assured that once over the hump, it gets easier. I also started looking into ways to satisfy my hunger, and carb urges. I picked up some Almond Meal today and am going to attempt substituting for flour/breadcrumbs.

On tonight's menu, bread less meatloaf...I will let you know how it turns out.

On to Shop Talk

There are new women's flasks, aka Cowgirl Canteens™ listed in the shop. Blogger isn't cooperating with my on the hyperlink, but if you click on the big pink cash register in the right sidebar, you'll find them!

Serendipity...A New Place to Find Flasks For Women

2011-06-27T08:27:00.001-07:00

The Farrier's Daughter is happy to announce...

Cowgirl Canteens™

can now be found at Serendipity in Bend, Oregon's

Old Mill District

Serendipity is shop that is bursting at the seams with cuteness!

With a tasteful mix of cards, and gifts, this place is perfect for one-stop-gift-shopping!

As if that weren't enough, the shop owners are the sweetest gals you could ever hope to meet.

Gifts for...Weddings, Bachelorette Party, Bridesmaids, Graduation, 21st Birthday

2011-06-21T14:14:00.000-07:00

Looking for a unique gift idea?

As summer gets underway, gift-giving seems to heat up with the good weather.

If you are looking for a unique, handcrafted gift this summer, be sure to check out the Cowgirl Canteens™. New designs will be in the shop soon! Just click the big pink cash register to the right!

(these beauties just found themselves new homes with a rowdy bachelorette party-have fun ladies!)

Cowgirl Canteens™ are stainless steel hip flasks are covered with removable fabric sleeves for easy filling and washing. They are the perfect wedding, bachelorette party, bridesmaid, graduation, and/or 21st Birthday Gift!

Cheers!

A Father's Day Project

2011-06-17T06:49:00.000-07:00

I am not sure of the exact year that my father decided to torture me in this bee-ridden clover field, but I remember the day like it was just yesterday!

As a youngin', I didn't go to daycare...nope, I traveled the road with my dad as he drove from barn to barn shoeing horses, and trimming hooves.

From these experiences, I learned the gift-of gab-from my old man, and grew accustomed to roaming the roads.

With an artists soul, his eyes were always on the hunt for a found object to repurpose, the beauty of a landscape, and in this case...a photo-op!

I left out the pics that show my true feelings about the experience, but let's just say they were not pleasant. I remember being so confused.

Why must I stand in the epicenter of bee heaven?

Years later, and that day still haunts me.

So what do I do the very first time I pass a clover field with both of my beautiful babies in the backseat...camera on hand?????

What any good daughter and mother would do of course!

Out of the car, and right into the field we went.

As you can see, my little ham didn't seem to mind the clover field half as bad as I did.

I will add in my own defense though that there were no bees this time around.

My youngest however, must have a little more of mama in her blood, because I couldn't get a smile out of her to save my life.

So for Father's Day this year, I will be putting a grouping of some of these pics in a frame for my dad, aka Papa.

Happy Father's Day!

Luke's Local Artists

2011-06-16T12:39:00.000-07:00

It is Thursday and I have finally recovered from Luke's Local Artists!

While doing so, I completely missed Welcome Home Wednesday this week, and I am so sorry, but to make up for it I have lots of pics from this wonderful event that I was honored to have been part of.

In honor of a Luke Jensen,

people came together to enjoy art, live music, and friends as they helped raise awareness for some very special organizations.

Written by the wise Luke Jensen, this was just one of the many things on display that Luke's loving family shared.

I have to admit that for the first time ever, I started to second guess my style and setup as I gazed out at the Beverly Hillbilly-looking load in the back of the truck.

Being amidst some very talented, traditional artists, I worried that I may stand out...and I did. However; in the end, I think it was in a good way.

After entering the building and walking down a wide hallway, the building opened up to a big room where the stage was setup for the band, and I was directly off to the left.

I wanted to define my space, but still allow people to see in, so I put up this old fence and went for the, "gypsy cowgirl abandoned her bike on the side of the road" look.
Loved the "Release Your Inner Cowgirl" guitar case!
I just spray painted an old case, then took a sharpie to the front.

This antique frame, turned cork board is another fave.

The main fabric for this is actually from an old box spring mattress I found while out junking with my sister! I had no clue what I would do with it, but I was in love with the fabric so it came home with me.

I had a few Hillbilly Headbands™ up for grabs, along with my Cowgirl Canteens™, and some fun, colorful jewelry.

Some one made my day by saying all on her own, no prompting I promise, that it was, "very Anthropologie"!

Our bootlegs were lonely...

Ok, but really ladies, this is how it is done!

The event was held at Disjecta Contemporary Art Center and some of the art was still on the walls. I just so happened to score some beautiful crochet wall art behind my booth!

Looks like it was meant to be huh?

As heavy as it is, I try to pack this little anvil around with me to shows...believe it or not this is mini compared to my Dad's full size anvil.

A funny side note:

While unloading the truck I had set this in the driver's side floorboard. When a city slicker walked by and asked, "Isn't a little hard to drive with an anchor at your feet?"

Hahaha! Gotta love it. Needless to say, I called that guy sailor the rest of the night!

Here I am with my lovely sistas!

(Sister-in-law, Debbie on the left, Me, and my Sister Darcie on the right)

I tried to mix in some natural elements to my booth this time with some wood and river rocks that came from our property.

My oldest brother Ryan, and my sweet hubby showing off their bow ties.

Aren't they handsome?

I volunteered to make the handouts for guests at the door.

Luke's Mom, Vikki shared a day helping me make bow ties for the men and felt flower pins for the ladies.

I know in my teaser leading up to this event I showed a super cool sofa...well I decided not to haul the sofa all of the way to Portland, but I did finish it and wanted to share some "after" pictures:

I am very pleased with it, and look forward to seeing some of the professional pictures that it will be used in.

Danielle of Sweet Country Photography

something is wrong with my computer or maybe blogger, so I can't hyperlink, but the website is

http://sweetcountryphotography.blogspot.com/

Welcome Home Wednesday #3

2011-06-09T07:53:00.001-07:00

Welcome Back to Our Classy Coop!

How did I choose which room to feature this week?

Welllllll, if I'm being perfectly honest, it's because it was one of the only clean rooms in the house!

As I prepare (ok, more like cram) for Luke's Local Artists, the house is in disarray. This happens every time immediately leading up to an event...

and is a result of my nasty little procrastination habit.

This is the entry to the upstairs bathroom.

The entire upstairs is new construction, as we "went up" to gain more square footage.

The original plan was to simply punch in some stairs and finish the existing attic space.

Hahaha!

Like everything else in this project, we had a surprise awaiting us.

As we got into the demo phase, we learned that the ceiling joists were not sitting atop the side walls, but rather tacked into the sides! Eek!

The house with it's (then) current construction would not hold a finished attic, and we would be lucky if it held a heavy snow.

So, off with the roof, and a new second story.

I was terrified that the new construction would look "new". So we stuck with the natural roof line where possible, and added as many old things as we could.

The door to the bathroom is originally from the house and is amazing. The glass is perfectly imperfect with it's dimples, and seeds!

And guests are happy to know that I finally got around to hanging a fabric curtain in the window :-)

The towel rack is one that I made using an old cabinet door, some paint, and fleur de lis knobs.

There was a tall narrow "dead space" that I desperately wanted to have a laundry shoot in, but the HVAC company stole my prime real estate and dropped a huge duct in the way.

So, in front of the duct, our framers built in a wall shelf for towels, tp, and toiletries.

My inspiration for the shower/tub combo was one that I had seen in a Pottery Barn Kids Catalog. Fiberglass surrounds scream new construction to me, so I knew that wasn't an option. It was either the bead board that I really wanted or subway tile as a backup.

Not able to find what I needed at a reasonable price, I had actually already purchased the tile and was ready to dig in...then, Yay, I found some vinyl bead board and trim pieces at Home Depot. Granted, I had called before and been told they didn't have anything of the sort...but that's a different story. They had it, and I am soooo happy!
The sink in the upstairs bathroom is one of my favorite things in the house.
I started off shopping for a wall mount, trough-style, sink. Kohler made some new reproductions that were close to what I was looking for, but the price tag was out of this world, so I kept searching.
At an amazing salvage shop, I found this beauty!
The base and legs were kelly green when we purchased it, but with my sidekick daughter, we gave her a face lift with a quick coat of a soft pink.

I love the fact that there are three faucets...
No more fighting over sink and/or mirror.
Now all we need is one more child :-)

I found the mirrors at Big Lots for about $10 each. They were an ugly gold color, so I hit them with some light pink spray paint.

The main light in the room is a schoolhouse light.

And the lights over the sink were made by my.

I found these copper shades for $2 each at a local Habitat store, and with a little spray paint, stencils, and a pendant kit from Home Depot, we now have lights numbered 1-3!

The flooring is the same black and white hex dot tile from Home Depot that we used in the Laundry Room.

This is one of the only rooms I actually painted white. I wanted the sink to pop, and the room to feel fresh and feminine.

What Happens at Farm Chicks....Stays at Farm Chicks

2011-06-06T17:19:00.000-07:00

My friend Danielle and I have been dreaming of attending Farm Chicks for years now; and finally, we made it!

And like the sign says, we had FUN!

Not only was the show a first for both of us, it was my first weekend away from my girls....yes, your math is correct, I have not taken more than a night away from them since Raegen was born...5 years ago!

I was nervous, but it was a much-needed trip for me.

We took the advice of so many and ate our 1st dinner out at Chaps.
It was delicious, and the decor was nothing short of perfect for the Farm Chicks crowd.

We planned ahead and upon arriving in Spokane, went directly to the event location where we purchased our tickets for the next morning. This proved to be one of the best decisions ever!
Opening morning of the show, we arrived and walked right past the extremely long lines of people standing in the hot sun waiting to get in...

Once inside, I felt as if I had entered a vintage wonderland.

Great antique and vintage items displayed to entice the swarms of shoppers that hovered over booths like bees ready to enter their hive.

From handmade, to found treasures, and homemade specialty chocolates...

this place had it all!

I tried to snap some quick shots of things that jumped out at me as we walked from booth to booth, but to be perfectly honest, I was so overwhelmed that I could hardly focus on what I even went there in search of.

It may have been in part due to the events that took place the night before, but like I said, "What happens at Farm Chicks, stays at Farm Chicks"!

Which is also why I wont be able to share a story that makes me laugh so hard, I cry a hundred tears each time I tell it :-)

I did manage to pick up some fabulous finds though, and will be sharing them soon.

These flowers were all made of paper!

The artist was the sweetest gal, and could make the most realistic looking flowers.

Something about this is very inspiring to me....gets my wheels turning.

These lights were also amazing...love the bird overlay on the music sheets.

I was in love with this vendor's setup.

Beautiful.

And lastly, this shot was taken at another gorgeous booth, Lipstick Gypsy. A mother with her daughters and cowgirl cuteness bursting at the seams!

This was a wonderful trip, that will definitely become a yearly tradition.

Welcome Home Wednesday #2

2011-06-01T14:58:00.000-07:00

Welcome to our Classy Coop!

While I would have loved to invite you in the front door, our landscaping/walkway to the front door is not yet in place, so I thought I would have you come in the same way our other guests (and our family) enter...through the laundry room!

Our laundry room, which was originally a covered porch, sits just off of the kitchen.

We left the slanted ceiling, added french doors and a back porch for easy BBQ access, and to let in some much needed sunlight.

The aqua colored corner shelf is original to the house-same color and everything!

Score!

I had to add these pictures with our youngest daughter in them because in the only photo of the original room, our oldest is about the same age and the room looks much different.

I did all of the tile work in the house, and went with this black and white hex-dot tile from Home Depot. It comes in 12x12 sheets and was actually much easier to work with than it looks like.

The old lockers were given to me by my dad, and serve for some much needed storage space. Up top we keep medicine, and cleaning supplies, and down low, the girls get their own lockers for shoes, sports equipment, etc.

The vintage wire shopping carts sit along the wall and are used to sort our darks and lights.
I have an obsession with wire baskets, and love the way the toilet paper looks on display...much cuter than the paper wrappers that it comes home from Costco in.

I found this sink, faucet, vanity combo on Clearance at Costco and it's perfect!
It has a slanted, washboard front for scrubbing out kiddo stains.
The old window is out of my stash that I have for etching projects.
It does not open, and has purposefully been left chippy.
Our kitchen (on the other side) has no windows, so this beauty is a life saver.

The porcelain, pig towel hanger is a prized possession that I picked up while thrifting.

A place to leave notes/reminders and drop your keys by the back door.

The wire shelves were another salvaged item. I actually have more on hand, so if you are interested, let me know.

My laundry soap has a home in this old candy jar, and the fabric softener is nestled in the galvanized box.

This photo was taken when we were viewing the house.

My husband always looks at this picture and says, "What were thinking when we bought this place?"

I look at it and say, "What were we doing letting our baby walk around in such filth?"

Do you see that open door? It was sooo creepy, and I am so glad it is no longer! Now we only use the top of that cinder block room for storage and housing our furnace/water heater.

That's all for this week. I had a request for our Master Bedroom this week, but didn't have the time to get it clean enough for photos! Eeek, sorry. Maybe next week! Thanks for visiting our much-needed remodel.

A Very Happy Anniversary

2011-05-31T07:15:00.000-07:00

May 28, 2005 I married this man...

We have spent the last 6 years on quite an adventure. Between a crazy remodel, two babies, and the stresses of everyday life, we are 6 years strong.

He is my friend, my partner, and my biggest fan.

To celebrate, we spent a day with just the two of us (something that doesn't happen often). We went to the Pearl District in Portland, and hit the streets. Shopping, walking, laughing...hand in hand. It was so enjoyable.

When walking made us thirsty, we would pop into a favorite pub and quench our thirst with a micro brew while dreaming up future vacations.

On our walk we stumbled upon this place:

It's called Cargo, a kind of Indie-inspired flea market.

Lots of things to look at; however, my favorite was their eclectic railing at the entrance.

So much color and character!

And of course I couldn't just walk right by my favorite store without paying respect.

Love how Anthropologie designers created a loft here by suspending one platform bed above the other. Note the railing turned on end to serve as the "ladder".

Who wouldn't want top bunk in this room???

Love all of the texture and color!

And quirkiness.

Did you know that chevron are in????

In Denim!

After shopping, we checked into our room and headed out for dinner at Henry's.

I will be dreaming of this meal for quite some time-delicious!

I had a fresh herb and danish blue cheese top sirloin steak, paired with a crispy potato cake, and swiss chard & shiitake mushroom skillet hash. Mmmmm.

Did I mention this place has over 100 beers on tap?

Poor bartenders practically need a map!

To end the night, Ben & Jerry's ice cream, and the Barrel Room!

Happy Anniversary!

Welcome Home Wednesday #1

2011-05-25T12:18:00.000-07:00

Today I am starting a weekly blog topic:

Welcome Home Wednesday

Featuring The Classy Coop (aka The Money Pit)

In this picture you can kind of see the garage doors-I love them! Oh, and you can also see the high chair on the front porch, we don't really make the baby eat outside...just getting rid of baby gear :-(

Many people have asked to see our home, and after the challenging journey we had to take to get this far, it only seems fitting to set aside a special day of the week to highlight what we Frankus family members refer to as our Classy Coop, aka "The Money Pit".

A quick recap for those of you who haven't heard the story (please feel free to skip over this if you've heard/read it before):

In 2007, my husband and I decided to get back to our small-town roots and purchase a 100 year old home (scratch that, fixer) in the quaint town of Molalla, Oregon. We currently owned a very nice home in a subdivision, but both of us were feeling the walls closing in on us. With the housing market hot at the time, we purchased the fixer with plans of dropping the equity of our perfectly good home into improvements. Little did we know, the housing market would flop within the month after our purchase, leaving our one income family with two mortgages. Skip forward 3 years over all of the extra expenses, surprises (driving up to a shadow box-only 3 walls standing and no roof) and battles, and alas we are home sweet home!

Here is a photo of our home when we purchased it in 2007:

My husband and I had were constantly struggling to meet in the middle during this remodel. My goal was to maintain the character and integrity of the old farmhouse, and his was to make it efficient, durable and practical....oh and did I mention we were on a tight budget?

We were able to save all of the original columns and corbels for the front deck-Yay!

One thing we did have to change was the siding material. My husband really wanted the easy maintenance of the Hardiplank lap siding, but I was afraid it would make it look too much like all of the new homes being built...so we compromised and instead of going with the 6.75" reveal we got the 4" reveal giving it more of a shiplap siding look.

Here we are as the proud new owners...I laugh as I type this because we had no idea what the next few years would entail.

I wanted to start outside and work our way in. As you can see, we still have a lot to do. This summer our goals include finishing the picket fence, painting it, getting gates up to keep our littles safe, sprinkler system, a yard, and the beginnings of some landscaping/flower beds. I envision a full and whimsical cottage garden, but know it's going to be years in the making.

This is the view from our front door. Our house sits just off the road and our little slice of heaven extends via pasture to one side, and down a hill off the back to a little creek.

This is the view I wake to every morning. A stately lilac bush that smells incredible when the winds sweep through, and an open field that I would love to run through.

This is directly off of the backside of the house. My husband added this deck, and I am so excited for all of the summer dining we will do here. In the distance you can see the log mill. We weren't quite sure about it at first, but now that we are here we love it! The sun comes up over Mt. Hood in the morning and rests atop the stacked logs making them look like an artistic sculpture. All day long, we have the hum of mill as background noise.

Next week I will invite you inside, where we'll take it one room at a time. I am hoping to share before and after photos and explain any special projects/techniques we used. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask. I'm thinking of eventually turning this into a linky party so that we can all share in decorating/remodeling ideas.

Farm Chicks 2011

2011-05-24T07:22:00.000-07:00

The annual Farm Chicks show is just around the corner and I can almost taste it!

Spokane County Fair and Expo Center

404 N. Havana Street, Spokane Valley, Washington

Saturday, June 4th: 10am-6pm
Sunday, June 5th: 10am-4pm

This stay-at-home mom (who in 5 years has yet to take a ladies weekend), is so excited to be breaking away for two whole nights to take part in the vintage wonderland the vendors are busily planning for us eager shoppers.

Since deciding to take a break from junking (from a business standpoint) so that I can focus on my handmade goods, I have really been missing the hunting, and staging process.
I know that for now, the decision is best for myself and for my family; however, I also know that when I enter the show there is going to be a slight feeling of, "What was I thinking?"
I'm sure I will get over it as I drool over the many treasures and beautiful displays.

On my list of things to purchase is a unique, chippy desk for our office. Our office sits right off the front door, and has been the unloading/storage room since we moved in. My husband says it's embarrassing to have guests walk in and be greeted by a hodge-podge room (a little hard to hide, as the door is half glass). He is soooo right, and if I read him correctly, that means, go shopping and decorate that room!

How about you?

Will I see you there? It is always so fun to meet blog friends in person, and actually put a face to the name!

Is there anything you have been on the lookout for?

Staging for Sweet Country Photography Portrait Studio

2011-05-22T17:09:00.000-07:00

In the small town of Turner, Oregon you wont find much more than an elementary school and swimming pool. However, there is one thing you are sure to find, an adorable boutique owned by the sweetest gal you could ever hope to meet. Not only is Danielle Adams kind-hearted, she is the Jane of all trades! With help from her hubby, she has turned what used to be the town post office into a shop where you can purchase a gift, get your hair done, and tan all in one super cute place. A few months ago, Danielle asked me to tackle transforming the front room into a Portrait Studio, ideas started flying and we are now officially "Under Construction"!

Yes, that would be an empty BL Lime bottle, and yes, it would be mine....that's how we roll around here :-)

I picked up this antique sofa for free on CL and am giving it a faux Anthro-upholstery job.

Burlap, old buttons, hanging threads, exposed whip-stitching....so excited!

Here is a shot of her backside. The darker colored burlap is original and is amazing. The original plan was just to strip down to the burlap, only the material has worn so much over the years that there wasn't much between the fabric and the springs and we didn't want wee ones getting stuck...hence the new burlap. I'm just going right on over the existing fabric.

Here she is at the end of the BL Lime, I mean, the work session. Still have a little ways to go, but we are getting there.

I'm Linking Up:

Guest Blogger by The Farrier Himself~#2

2011-05-20T08:35:00.000-07:00

**For those of you who don't know my father, let me preface his guest post by saying that he is a jokester, a funny guy, he is the founder of sarcasm. His writing reflects his exuberant personality that he is well known for.

Hey again from the farrier part of The Farrier's Daughter. After shaking and squeezing the creative juices into the form of a rustic bird house, I was shamed into retreat-nary a bird showed interest. It couldn't have been the design. What wouldn't like a dwelling tacked together with horseshoe nails and junk wood? It was time for a change in venue. My granddaughter needed a bird house for her birthday present. We'll see how fussy the nut hatches are in Molalla town.

Image Here

Since our bird feeder is a revolving door of chirps, squawks, beaks and feathers I thought I'd give housing one more try. Shoeing season warms up with the weather so time is short. This project has to be no frills and efficient. A pull of Gatorade from Lindsey's cloth-clad flask (see the shop), fortifies my will and genius triumphs.

Image Here

A chunk of 5" plastic fence with factory cap, a hole, wood base, and boom! I'm done!
It takes longer to refill the flask with Kool Aid than it does to build the bird castle. Site placement takes a little longer, and is thirsty work. Installation time coincides with refilling the flask with apple juice and the job is completed.

Image Here

The chickadees have moved in and the mayor of Birdville has ordered an entire subdivision of houses for friends and family. I'm so excited I'm refilling the flask with non-alcoholic whisky to celebrate. "Don't soil my handiwork," my daughter informs me, "because you are paying for the next flask!" I'm not worried because I'm making my own flask covers out of the rear pocket of my old Wrangler jeans. Her cute, girly flasks are for the birds.

Image Here

Luke's Local Artists Charity Event

2011-05-17T07:03:00.000-07:00

I am honored to announce that I will be one of many amazing local artists on display at Luke's Local Artists Charity Event.

Nine-year old Luke Jensen was a young man who valiantly fought AML leukemia for three years before his death in May 2010. His passion and zest for life, family, friends (and Legos) continue to inspire us all.

On Saturday June 11, 2011 2600 Strange Ave will host an event in his honor that combines creative, artistic activities for children in the afternoon with an event that evening featuring local Portland artists, two critically acclaimed Portland bands, beer, wine and hors d'oeuvres to raise money in support of the Children's Cancer Association, Children's Healing Art Project and Providence Cancer Research Center; three organizations that did so much for Luke during his battle with cancer.

Come celebrate Luke's legacy at this unique event fostering an environment of creativity, vitality and community!

Here is a little glimpse into what is going on inside my head as I prepare for this event...

image: Apartment Therapy

image: Anthropologie

Country Living

I will be bringing lots of jewelry perfect for summer.

It wouldn't be a proper Farrier's Daughter apperance without the rusty, tin walls.

Cowgirl Canteens will be front and Center.

Planning on using lots of natural elements.

If you live in the Willamette Valley and are free June 11, please consider attending this special event.

Anthropologie+Head Buyer=Big Surprise!

2011-05-01T00:54:00.000-07:00

Say the words Anthropologie to any young woman and she instantly grins from ear to ear. In fact, if she is a true fan, the corners of her mouth started perking up before you even finish the word. Anthro. This store had me at hello. I will never forget my first time…Santa Barbra, CA, a kind of split level loft, great windows, and a mix of eclectic and cheery goods that left me dreaming of the day I could return. Unfortunately, Santa Barbra was only a vacation, and I would soon return to my broke college days in an Anthro-less Oregon.

Luckily for me though, we now have two within an hour’s drive from my home. You know how in the old- school cartoons when someone fell in love, their eyes morphed into hearts? That is what happens to me when I walk into an Anthropologie store….(oh, and also when the catalog comes to my door, can’t forget the beauty in print). I become engulfed with the great design, nod to a character-rich past, and want to breathe in the freshness of the colors.

I still haven’t decided if my infatuation is driven by the fact that things are waaaaaay high priced for a frugalista like me, or if the merchandise and displays would pull me in with the same great strength regardless. It doesn’t matter really. It is a beautiful place where many young women are able to enjoy the flea market finds while feeling like they are at shopping at Nordy’s. Not that Anthro is like Nordstrom, but that you can get the vintage without the hunt (which for some of us, let’s face it, is where it’s at).

I read about Anthropologie, look at a ginormous amount of photos, I study Anthro. Is that nerdy? Hmm, maybe a little. Here is my latest finding that left me a little taken aback. Did you know that the head buyer of Anthropologie is a…..ummmm….a…uh….MAN! I am in no way shape or form a feminist (no offense to those of you who are, I’m just not), but really? A man? For a store who is, “…geared to delight the fashionable, educated, and creative woman, aged 30 to 45.” Before I react (ok, maybe it’s a little too late for that), I will need to mill this over. I am in a state of shock. I am sure that Mr. Keith Johnson is a super guy, and clearly he does his job magnificently, but I would be lying if I said I didn’t feel a little duped. What else are you hiding from us????

Oh, and to Keith Johnson, kind sir, if you ever decide to sell some wonderfully handcrafted flasks in your stores…you know where to find me ;-)

Play Ball! {Sports Themed Baby Shower}

2011-04-28T07:06:00.000-07:00

I was honored to have recently thrown a very close friend of mine a baby shower!

The only catch (I know, cheesy joke-but that's how I roll), was that the happy parents are expecting a baby boy. Being a mom of two little girls, I forced to put the pink tulle down and think a little differently.

Baby Jack will be welcomed home to a beautiful sports-themed nursery, so I went with that (Plus his uber cool parents are both sports nuts).

I didn't get a ton of pics, but here are a few:

To keep the desserts simple, I went with white cupcakes with white frosting and chocolate cupcakes with chocolate frosting...Wilton's makes some great stuff called Sparkle Gel (I had to get some sparkles in there somewhere). So, I simply snipped the top and using the red gel on the white icing applied a couple of curved lines to each. I then went back over each line with a toothpick, pulling the red gel into the white icing to create the stitches.

(Now, for all of you non-sports gals, here is a little tip if you decide to do the baseballs-the stitches should point one direction on one stitch and the other direction on the other.)

For the footballs, I used a tube of the white sparkle gel to draw the lines. Oh yes, and the mitts/baseball pieces were pre-made. I wasn't sure if I was going to like them, so I just bought one pack and mixed them in.

For this shower I actually accepted help! I know, totally unlike me, but I must tell you...
It was Amazing!
One friend was in charge of games & prizes (thanks Heather).
And baby Jack's auntie headed up the food category (wonderful job Tara).

So, that left me to have fun with the decorating.
I filled an apothecary jar with old baseballs and softballs that my mom had kept from when we were little. If you don't have this luxury, I recommend hitting up your local Goodwill. They always seem to have bags full of old baseballs. I also found the old glove at Goodwill, super cheap and can double as decoration in the nursery after the shower.

**Side note-if you are ever throwing someone a baby shower, it is a great idea to have the shower theme (whether it be specific like "sports" in this case, or even colors), coincide with the baby-to-be's nursery. That way, if the parents like any of the decorations, they can use them in the room later

The centerpiece for the dessert table was a diaper cake I made. These are very quick and easy to make, look fabulous, and again...double as a gift! I wrapped mine in baseball ribbon, topped it with an adorable pair of sneakers, and added some paper pendants (scrap booking paper rolled and glued to skewers) to add some more sports flavor to the mix.

For the gift table, I covered a folding table with a ruffled, burlap tablecloth. I then pinned a paper pendant banner to the skirt.

For some larger decorations, I picked up 3 sheets of foam-core board at the local Dollar Tree. I sketched a simple ball on each with a pencil, then went back over the lines with a craft knife. After scoring the lines and removing excess paper, I went over the lines with black charcoal. The next part is messy, I used my fingers to rub the charcoal down into the scored (haha, another great joke) lines. Lastly, I used craft chalk (yes, it's different than your kiddos sidewalk chalk), and with two different shades of the same color, filled in the white space behind the balls.

Oh and I almost forgot...A GIVEAWAY

You won't believe what Skip to my Lou is giving away! Cricut Imagine! #cricut http://bit.ly/fu1Iam

Feather Hair Extensions

2011-04-18T08:42:00.000-07:00

Depending on where you live, you may have noticed that people are walking around with feathers- in their hair! The feather trend is catching on...more rapidly in certain locations; but, like skinny jeans, it's coming whether you like it or not. I was recently at a trunk show where a hip friend of mine was sporting the feather look. As we stood talking, I caught a glimpse of a white feather, and being the stay-at-home mom that I am, thought, "hmm, poor thing has down feather from her coat stuck in her hair." I attempted to pluck it out for her.

I soon learned that it was a feather hair extension and began searching my memory bank to see if I had any recollection of feathers in hair...American Idol, Steven Tyler, Yes! I knew I wasn't soooo out of it-just a little.

photo credit

Days later, my sister-in-law who lives in Bend, Oregon came over to the valley for a visit. She too was wearing a feather extension! However, hers was removable, and had a couple of strands of tinsel in the mix. Super cute!

As I'm starting to warm up to the this new hair craze, I visit my hairdresser only to find a few feathers floating about her workstation. She had just finished up with another client and suggested we put a few in my new do. "Yes, please!"

So I did it, I took flight with the feather trend. I went with the natural feathers (they come in colors too) and I must say, they are amazing!

*Side note*

Because this hasn't caught on everywhere, I recently encountered the following:

The cashier at a local grocer says to me, "Is that a feather in your hair?"

"Yes, it, is." I reply.

He adds, "Oh, is it that bird crap?"

Me, taken aback, stand there mouth open not sure how to respond to his rudeness. "Uhhhh" is all I can get out.

He quickly follows up by telling my that, "Bird Crap" is a brand of feathers!!!!!

Hahaha! These feathers are really throwing me for a loop!

Are feathers "in" in your neck of the woods?

If you live in the Salem, Oregon area and want to take flight...

Call my friends, and hair experts, Lindsey and Krista at Salon Mecca

Now, if you have a daughter that is a natural fashionista, like I do, then she too will want feathers. Which, I must admit, we put pink feathers in her locks and it is very fun! However, I know that many people wouldn't be comfortable with the crimped-in feathers for their little ones. Why not get them a Hillbilly Headband from The Farrier's Daughter?!?! Many are adorned with feathers galore!

I think the feathers are great for all of you gals that like to bring a little trendyness to your western style. I can't wait for the warm weather so that I can sport my sundress, cowboy boots, and feathers together. Very cowgirl chic in my opinion!

Another Match Made in Heaven-Cowgirls Trading Post

2011-04-16T07:58:00.000-07:00

Nestled just between the Deschutes River and Hwy 20, in the small town of Tumalo, Oregon is a small house, turned business and what I call a Cowgirl's Paradise! It is the boutique of two charming gals that have an eye for style and are passionate about bridging the gap between fashion trends and western style.

The Cowgirls Trading Post

will have Cowgirl Canteens on their shelves in the very near future!

The Farrier's Daughter is Now in Stores! Desperado Couture

2011-04-15T11:36:00.000-07:00

Great News...

The Farrier's Daughter is Now in Stores!

But not just any stores...

My Cowgirl Canteens are now being carried by Desperado Couture in Bend, Oregon's, Old Mill District. And I must say, it's a great fit for me. Walking in, I feel an overwhelming sense of at-homeness. The walls are painted in a wonderful hue of aqua with pops of red, and a huge longhorn is mounted high on the wall. Boots of all shapes and colors, chunky jewelry, and blingy belts, oh my! Yes, the Cowgirl Canteens have found their long-lost family.

Other shops are in the process of ordering as well, so check back for more information on other locations to find me!

Keepin' It Real

2011-04-09T22:43:00.000-07:00

When I first started blogging, it seemed like the fancy backgrounds were all of the craze, and in some niches, I suppose they still are. I remember scouring site upon site looking for just the right one. I wanted one that really portrayed my style, and my vision for my little business. Since then, I have changed it a few times, but try not to stray too far. I have noticed that some people just pick things they like, things that are pretty, maybe a holiday theme. I think that is great for things like family blogs, but for businesses, it just seems more appropriate to keep things somewhat consistent. I mean, when a potential customer stumbles upon my blog, I want them to say, "Yes! I love this style!" And, if I am lucky enough to have them find me again, I would like for them to recognize me. So, for me, it seems logical to stick to a certain style.

I found my current background at Shabby Blogs, and I LOVE IT! In fact, I love many of their designs. For me, it was choosing one that said, trendy, vintage, fun, and a little bit country...after all, my business card reads, "A Unique Blend of Rockin' Cowgirl, Vintage Art Chick, and Boutique Betty". If you are in need of some super cute designs, check them out. They are fabulous!

So, why do I bring all of this up? Well, as I peruse other blogs in the craft sector, I find that many of them that I like are very simple. They typically have solid white backgrounds, black text, and inject color with their use of photos, logo, and sidebar info. They feel clean, crisp, and fresh to me...and sometimes I think maybe my blog should feel that way too. But, when it comes down to it, I don't think that is me. I compare it to my house. While I enjoy the clean, simple, organized home-it just doesn't happen around here! I am a work-at-home mom. If I want to accomplish anything creative, I must get into my zone. If I were to stop and pick up an entire snack trap's worth of cheerios off of the floor every few minutes, my zone would be gone. When I work, there is no rhyme or reason to the order in which I do things (Ok, so that's not entirely true-I do prioritize. Oh, and make lots of lists that I never look at twice-I think the act of writing it down is the helpful part for me). Same goes for my blog and business. My husband is always telling me to scale back...not to make so many different things. "Just keep it simple", he says. I CAN'T. I have this problem where I get inspired, or have a new idea, and I have to try it.

Sometimes it stems from saving money.

Just the other day I wanted some of those cute resin cabochons for some of my projects. Instead of just buying the darn things, I spent hours and many phone calls, trying to round up the correct supplies so that I could make my own. Really, I did. However, it was a waste of time. I will not be making my own.

I digress.

Back to blog design.

I will be keeping my Shabby Blogs background. It just fits me, and my multifaceted business. It's a little grungy, a little fun, feminine and flirty and so are the things I love to create.

PS-I just added a couple of new images (thanks to Shabby Blogs). One is my new fairwell at the very bottom. I think from here on out I will sign off with

Keep It Fancy!

You know, kind of like Anchorman, keep it classy San Diego

DIY Custom Slipcover

2011-04-06T16:04:00.000-07:00

A couple of years ago, I found an ugly armchair at Goodwill for only $25!

Yessss, I thought to myself, it was in near perfect condition, didn't have any offensive odors, and it was a rocker! With a quick, white slipcover it would work wonderfully in the baby's nursery.

(The wall color is the same in both pics...funny how lighting changes things. Also, please excuse the chandelier chain hanging from the ceiling-our electrician is a flake and never returned to finish his job)

Only, for the past couple of years it has stood out like a sore thumb, uncovered, and maroon!

Back in my early days of sewing, I once attempted to make a slipcover and it was a complete nightmare. I wasted fabric, cursed, and threw the chair away!

I was sooooo nervous about trying again, but I have been sewing a lot lately, so I mustered up the courage, searched blog land for tips, and got to it.

The first part was actually the most fun for me. I loved the whole draping, cutting, and pinning process. It was like a huge fabric puzzle. A great piece of advice that I found online was to hand baste along my pins before heading to the sewing machine. This was super time consuming, but in my opinion, well worth it. I stabbed myself much less than usual :-)

Another time consuming step was making my own cording to sew into the seams. However, I really believe it makes the whole thing look much more professional. I didn't have enough fabric left over for the knife pleats to go around the entire chair, so I just did the front and about half of the sides. At first, this really bothered me, I felt like they had to go all of the way around the chair, but then I realized that it was my project and there was nothing that said it had to be any certain way.

Far from perfect, but I still LOVE it! Do you have any DIY slipcovers to share? Add a link in the comments, I would love to see them!

PS-I used my Joann's coupon and bought the light weight, white denim for my project. I'm linking up at Faded Charm's, White Wednesday!

Toadally Tutus Children's Charity

2011-03-31T07:32:00.001-07:00

Wowzers, there is A LOT that goes into starting a charity!

I suppose this is in part because I am a "one-woman show". The other part could very possibly be that I am a perfectionist, and when I get a vision, my brain automatically starts thinking about all of the ways to better that vision. My husband is always reminding me to slow down. In fact, as a little side note, there is an artist by the name of Katie Daisy who has a beautiful painting that says...SLOW DOWN. I need it! I would hang it by my coffee maker, since that is the only daily definite :-) Yes, you are probably thinking, "What about the medicine cabinet, or shower?" Good question. See, as a stay at home mom who is not a morning person, when I drag myself out of bed, I head directly for the coffee pot. My girls have learned that while I may look awake, until the caffeine enters my body I am nothing more than a walking zombie :-)

Ok, back on track...

Tutus!

I have finally decided on a name and logo...

(with the help of a quick Facebook vote)

Another side note: The Farrier's Daughter is now on FB

www.facebook.com/#!/pages/The-Farriers-Daughter/56876937703722

Toadally Tutus!

I'm happy with it. It may change down the road, but for now, it's a start. I have already started receiving orders and needed a tag to attach. Here's where the stress of being a one-woman show comes into play. On top of ordering, cutting, and making the tutus, there is so much to be done before a tutu goes out in the mail.

Ideally, I would have a very pretty web site and/or blog in place with a handy-dandy counter so that visitors can see our progress. In the last few days I have found myself needing to wear many hats...graphic designer, printing service, web designer.

The plan is to have a website (blog for now), where people and/or businesses that donate their services (ie-graphic designer, web designer, printing, building for clinics, boutiques that sell commission free) can be linked to in the side bar as an incentive for helping!

Until then, I am slowly working on the Barn Babies blog. Where updates about the charity will be posted.

If I had it to do all over again...the perfect wedding decor

2011-03-25T13:27:00.000-07:00

The picture in my last post (of my father and I on my wedding day), paired with a wedding I saw featured on the Green Wedding Shoe site got me thinking. If I were to marry my husband all over again, how different it would look. Not to say I didn't absolutely love my wedding; I did! It was a magical day. We were surrounded by wonderful people, and it was fun. In fact, to this day, I haven't been to a wedding where I have such a good time (sorry friends and family, but it was mine so I suppose I am partial)! Isn't it funny how our likes and dislikes change over time? In 2005, lavender and green were colors that made me happy, so much so that they set the scheme for our wedding decor. So this is what my wedding actually looked like:

Doves (ok, so they weren't really doves, but no one knew the difference) were released as we had our first kiss.

These furry fellas greeted guests as they drove up to the vineyard.

My handsome groom and his crew.

All of the ladies getting ready.

Loved the rustic tin backdrop.

Polka dots were also in the mix.

My extremely talented aunt arranged all of the flowers and made all of the bouquets and boutennieres.

Did I mention we had fun???

Who doesn't love the money dance? And where better to stash your cash when your hands are full?

Since our wedding was in the evening and lasted well into the night, we opted for a sparkler send off in lieu of the traditional rice.Now that I am older, and know myself a little better, I would make a few changes. Only in the decor...not the husband, location, or experience. How you ask? Well, it would be more colorful. Much like Roselyn and Ben's wedding (like how it sounds like I know them?).

Take a look at some of these photos (from Green Wedding Shoes), or visit their site. It is full of eye candy, and bursting with wonderful ideas for all of you brides-to-be.

Love, love, love the rosettes!

The turquoise color in the strawberry crates paired with the rich red in the berry is natural beauty at it's best. And how genius is that? It's beautiful and practical...the guests can much on juicy strawberries!

I also enjoy the relaxed feeling that the centerpieces give off. Such a clever idea to use old, farm related photos.

Head on over to Green Wedding Shoes for more photos of this gorgeous wedding. From what I can see, the only thing missing were brightly colored Cowgirl Canteens for Roselyn and her bridesmaids!