Farmers Market with a Friend

The sign for the day read:  Cards, Postcards, Calendars, Free Advice.  Art for you wall!  It was a  beautiful day.

I had small chalkboard coasters that I used to display prices on some of my items.  Erin was my inspiration this week for becoming more innovative with my displays.

The coaster display came in handy for the items in the suitcase as well.

Erin filled in for the stand next to us , in  10 minutes she made 2 sales.  The lady was so appreciative, she gave  Erin  fresh flowers at the end of the market.

Erin made vintage art that she transferred to 6x6 canvases.

Her vintage inspired 5x5 inch calendars were adorable and displayed so well.

Here are three sides of the calendars for 2013. You can purchase these calendars on her
Etsy shop Hello Wall.

Attached her framed art to a wooden box for dimension.  The images looked stunning in the white frames with white mattes.

Erin had 40 handmade cards available with her work displayed on the front .  They all looked so adorable as they were displayed  in this old dresser drawer. 

Another image of the calendars and a great use for mini clothes pins. 

My birthday is in April and I love how this month turned out :)

Wow, so much fun at the farmers market.  It felt like we had a little shop on the corner for everyone to come into and look at our vintage inspired art.  I love the moments I get to spend with Erin, but this was a moment we had been talking about for years.  For it to finally happen felt so natural.  We had a blast talking with people, giving free advice, and making sales.  The interaction with people is really what has made selling at the farmers market worth it.  Being accompanied by a friend was a blessing.

I feel so blessed to have Erin in my life.   She has an amazing talent to photograph, as well as display things.  Her attention to detail is a gift on its own, and I love the small things I learn from just watching her get ready for something like this.  It never fails to amaze me how she can change the look of something by how it is presented. She adds so much beauty to something that is already beautiful.  I think we are blessed with many amazing talents. When we allow them to work for us, it looks so effortless.  I read a quote recently that I absolutely love... If you know, teach and if you have, give.  So truly amazing to share your talents with others. I feel that by just being around Erin I am filled with her talents.  I see things the way she wants people to see things.  I am joyful and excited for what is to come, but feel blessed and honored for what we were able to share in... a day at the market.

Prayer for today:  Dear Lord, please allow me to be present today with the people in my life.  I praise you for the blessings I have, my family, friends, good health, and my surroundings.  Please Lord watch over my heart and allow me to continue to see the blessings each day.  I thank you dear Lord for all you have given me. Amen

Farmers Market #2

The start of the market:   fish string and bungee cords worked like a charm.  ( I tied every piece possible down)

My sign!  This will bring them in:)

My display from above!  I kept things down so they wouldn't have the chance to blow over!  (It worked)

I love how it looked!

This suitcase that my dad gave me years ago is an inspiration for my art and a perfect place to display some pieces.

Ahhhh!  Josh and Ann!  Thank you so much for your support and purchases!  You two are so cute!

This is Katie and Lucas (she has a way of inspiring  people with her presence).

From our long talks to a great supporter of Hart Things, she is such a beautiful person.   She has pretty much been my life coach. Thanks for the support and smiles over the last 10 years!

Jessy, Me, and Katie

Claire and Barb... They were so full of life and Barb knows my mother -in-law... It's a small world after all!

I love this print and I was glad to see it go to a good home! 

  I fell so honored to meet the most amazing people.  Everyone has a beauty about them.  

The morning started out so amazing!  I met these two ladies, Kelly and Christy, who made me feel so special.  The raised me up and I feel so blessed that we were able to share in the moments we did.  I realized how amazing it is to feel so connected to another person through the pieces that I create.  I am so touched by the power of one.  One person's words had such an impact on me.  One person's affirmations carried me throughout the day.  We are given the opportunity to raise people up daily...... it truly is a powerful thing.  Going into this I didn't think about the people that would cross my path.  This in itself is the blessing that will carry me through. To all the people who crossed my path this week I thank you for kind words, you smiles, and your support.  Love Always, Liz Bladorn  

Pray for Today:  Dear Lord, Thank you for the beauty that you have given to us all. Help me to continue to see the beauty in everything.  Remind me that Your love  for me is greater than I can comprehend.  I believe You are in front of me, behind me, and for me.  

First Farmers Market and Lesson's Learned

Set up for the Oshkosh Farmers Market in my garage the night before with some very special help from  Erin  Schoonover  a great friend who has been an inspiration to me.

This amazing door, my friend Jessy and I found in the trash and I re-purposed it as my new art hanging door.  Thanks to Jessy and all the support I love how this turned out (Erin organized the images for me:).  The door stand was borrowed to me by The Crescent Moon Antiques and Salvage.    This shop is located on downtown Oshkosh and sponsors the farmers market (check it out they have amazing things there).

The start to the farmers market.... the streets buzzing with music and people. 

The beautiful flowers lined up for people to purchase.

This is me!  My booth looked awesome and here are a few images of the little touches that made it so beautiful.

Butterfly Wings :)

I sold postcards of all the different art I have created.  I think sending a postcard to someone is the best way to brighten anyone's day.

This bookshelf looked so cute and had little touches like books and butterfly jewelry boxes to compliment the art.

The tags were made from the vintage images that came with the frames ( the frames I hand pick from different antique stores) so each image has a unique frame to compliment the art.

The door at the start of the day of the market.  I was so excited for  people to experience how beautiful it was.

Darlene and her husband were a craft stand to the left of me.  I am so blessed to have met them.

My sign board.  I had people throughout the day sign on my board.  It was a great  way to interact with everyone.  Below are a few of the people who I met along the way and signed in.

Terry - an veteran who I enjoyed talking with.  I have so much respect for those who have served and continue to.

Dan and Jen  were a great surprise to see and a wonderful support of what I had displayed.

Katie and Lucas came out and visited me.  They bought the image above.  She wrote about it on her amazing blog.  Check it out at Lukeyloo Designs.

Steve and Me ( my husband's friend).....enough said 

Katie, Meadow, and Me 

Marie and the image she purchased.... Thank you so much!  

Heather (she along with her husband taught Doug and I in our Love and Respect class) signing the chalkboard.

Abby  - she is so cute.  She loved all my butterflies and bought one of my postcards.  

Julie and Erin - Team Support

So it all came together.  I had a great feeling..... everything was going so smooth until about 10:00A.M.  The day of my first farmers market was going well, until 20 mph and 30 mph gusts of wind tipped over two of my art pieces  (broke the frame on one piece and cracked the glass on another). Soon after more pieces began to tip and fall.  My emotions got the best of me and I choked up... tears came rolling down my face.  All this hard work and now it is over.  I felt hopeless and upset that people were not able to see the beautiful display that we (my friend Erin and my husband Doug) put together. With some great words of encouragement, I recouped  and laid everything on the floor so that the my booth would continue to be seen.  

A part of me felt that this problem was a sign saying "Stop".  Soon after I collected myself I realized that this wasn't a sign to stop but a challenge to overcome.  I need to be better next time and come prepared.  We face obstacles all the time in our life.  The biggest challenge is to decide if the obstacle is their to change our path or to make us stronger as we continue on the journey.  I feel so alive when I am creating my art.  I love looking out into the world and seeing what will inspire me next.  I feel so at home in this journey that no matter what obstacle comes my way I know now that it will only make me stronger.  I thank everyone who came out and supported me.  If they could read my heart they would know that it was touched and I can not thank them enough for the encouragement, support, and amazing words they offered  me.  (To my friend Erin,  you saved me in so many more ways than I can tell you.) Love Always, Liz Bladorn 

Prayer for Today:  Fill me with your love and truth oh Lord.  Take all my worry.  I give it to you.  Please continue to bless me as you have.  Bless me with so much love and give me the hope and courage to keep going.  Amen