Figuring It Out

I am a creative person. It's who I am. There. I said it. No shame, no remorse. Just acceptance. My brain is ALWAYS going....constantly thinking of new things to try and new things to make.  Or if I see a photo of something, my brain yells, "Hey! I can do that!", regardless if I can or not. That's just the way it is. Sometimes though, my brain gets ahead (haha, a-head????) of me and, well, I get paralyzed. I can't move forward with anything......anything!!!! I guess it would be like writers block to a writer. Crafters block? Hmm.

Last night I decided I had had enough of being paralyzed. I sat down with a pen (well, a pencil) and wrote out (literally) "What do you want to focus on?" (see?) Turn your head to the left...

Whew!!! What a relief! I can move again! I have clarity and I am on a mission!!! The Old English Barn is my first love and I will be true to her. Soaps, soaps and more soaps! Plenty of lotions and healing balms and a few new items joining the mix very soon. Next is doTERRA essential oils because, well, because they are truly a gift and it is my mission to share this gift with anyone who will listen (and even with those who will not.....you have been  forewarned). Next, classes and classes. Essential oil classes, which I absolutely LOVE teaching, because I get to meet the most AWESOME ladies and I learn so much from them! And I would very much so like to start teaching soap making classes. So what didn't make the list? My crafts!!! Which really took me by surprise. But I have found that I am just not enjoying it like I used to (with the exception of punch needle) and they seem like more of a chore to create than a treat like they used to. Sorry brain.

I plan on going forward with the blog as a way to explore soap making and such with you and to share useful information regarding essential oils. Of course there will be the odd days when I  have to tell you something either hilarious or ridiculous (or both) that has happened on our little homestead. (Always lots of those days around here.) I am also planning on having a website up and going by Nov/Dec to offer soaps and such for sale. I will need your feedback on favorite items so I can be sure to have them available. 

This is Golem....the meanest rooster around. He will tear into your legs if you walk by him. This is a close up, he is a bantam and very small. He can actually fit in a green bean can. Don't ask how I know that.....

I love that you are on this journey with me! I am also so thankful for my family who lets me be this crazy creative person that I am and who continues to support me as I get this 'stuff' all figured out.

p.s. Did I mention how much I loooove flowers and want to make an English garden so I can start selling beautiful dried flowers for you to decorate your home with? No? Well, .......stop it brain.
***************************Have a beautiful day!******************************

The Giving Tree

We live in a house built in the early 1950's. It was owned by a couple who never had children but raised lots of dogs and flowers.

The house itself is very small with little storage space. (And let me say, finding a place for over 300 jars of honey each year is a challenge - not to mention all the jars of preserves and of course the 5 of us.) But the backyard! Oh my goodness! How I love it. Filled with blueberries, figs, grapes, pears and apples. And trees! Lots of trees.

 It was actually the property and all the trees that seduced me into agreeing to buy our home. It is only 2 acres, but we manage to fit a menagerie into it. The home is situated right off a busy highway that I dont like but I try to focus on the bird songs and not car sounds. There are 3 massive oaks out back surrounded by pines, sweet gums, pecans, dogwoods, and a slew of others. The oaks provide us with wonderful shade in the warm months and a sweet melody on breezy days. But my favorite tree is an old, craggy apple tree that sits out by the garden.

We have no idea just how old the apple tree is, but we think it was probably planted when the home was first built. It still gives apples, although they are tart and kind of bumpy. It loses branches each year and juts out at strange angles. But I love this tree for so many reasons. Like it was the only one around for almost 10 years, yet it survived and still bore fruit. It has the most wonderful lean to it - almost like it is leaning over to say, " Here, take an apple!". It's branches are the most disorganized I have ever seen.......yet it keeps providing. It is filled with holes from I am not sure what, but it only adds to its beauty. I love this tree and so many other crooked, half broken, generous and giving things around our homestead because they remind me of what life is like. Life is imperfect and even sometimes a little ( or a lot) broken.  But we can still find beauty in it all if we take the time to look....and we choose to see.

                     **Have a beautiful day and I hope you see something today.**

Farm & Friends

Good afternoon! I don't know about you, but our yard is looking lush after all the wonderful rain today! And I can practically hear the garden singing it praises.

This past Saturday was Farm Day at Thames Farm. The morning started overcast but turned into a gorgeous day. We had a good turnout with lots of repeat folks visiting and quite a few first timers who truly seemed to be enjoying themselves.

There were cupcakes, yummy breads, eggs, lamb, pork, beef, goat cheese, soaps, veggies, essential oils, jewelry, and various crafts to choose from. And of course all the animals to see! Chickens, pigs, sheep, horses, goats, and even a lone bunny to "oh" and "ah" over. Truly a beautiful farm. Always such a pleasure to spend time with others enjoying it all.

Here are a few shots of some of the different vendors that came out yesterday.

Getting ready

What a beautiful morning it was around here. I just love waking up to the sounds of the birds and soft drizzling. Found this amazing creature yesterday and just had to share.  Isn't it gorgeous? Loads of inspiration.

So today and tomorrow are all about finishing up projects and getting ready for Saturday's event. My mind is in full whirling dervish mode. (I drive my family mad right before events. They just kinda stay out of my way in fear that I might run them over.) This morning I broke out the sewing machine to stitch one last vintage small pillow that I stuff with old fabric remnants like the old days. I pretty much so hand stitch everything, but once in awhile I like to have the extra strength that a machine stitch gives. I do enjoy hand stitching though.

I  am really happy how these turned out.

The small cloth baskets turned out very nice as well. These are great for holding both necessities and trinkets.

I hope everyone has a great weekend! I plan to share lots of photos from Farm Day in a few days.

**************************Have a beautiful day********************************

Labels and soaps and glue...oh my!

New Honey Almond lotion bars. Yum!

Whew. Just under 90 labels made and attached today. But they look gorgeous. Pictures do not do them justice! 7 beeswax soaps, 4 different lotion bars, 4 hand and body creams, and 3 kinds of lip balm.  I added a new scent called Honey Almond (completely different from the Almond & Honey already in the line) and it is amazing! Has undertones of vanilla. So good!!!



Soaps done, now time to move on to lip balms!

Looking forward to Farm Day this Saturday!

Finished!

If you are able come on by Thames Farm from 9 to 12 Saturday.
*******************Have a beautiful one*****************

Crafty days

One thing about being an artist and crafter is that there is always an abundance of handmade objects about. When I finally unleashed the artist within me about five years ago it became clear, in a hurry,  I was going to have to find a venue to sell some of my creations. (I must have been making up for lost time or something because it was just crazy around here!)

This weekend is one of my favorite venues to set up at - it's called Farm Day. One Saturday a month a local farm hosts a day to come visit and pick up some delicious grass fed meats, eggs, locally grown veggies, and peruse local artists wares. It is a wonderful day filled with seeing old friends and meeting new ones. At The Old English Barn booth there will be lots of handmade beeswax soaps, lip balms, lotion bars and of course a smattering of the different crafts made over the past couple of weeks.

Small cloth baskets to hold your little things.

I did a run through yesterday to play around with the set up and snapped a few photos. Let me know what you think. (But only if it's positive......hehe.)


I love rustic, primitive looking signs and stitchings.

***************************Have a beautiful day!****************************

A season for everything

Albino out for her morning stroll.

His beard was out before - trying to impress the ladies.

Can you see the robin on the left?

My absolute favorite season is fall. Something in me sparks alive that time of year. I can feel the change in my very being. Crisper air, cooler nights, colorful leaves (fewer spiders), and the ending of the growing season. Maybe it's because I was born in October. I just feel so much more comfortable in my skin in the fall. That being said, who doesn't love a much needed gentle spring? Here in SC, we have had a gorgeous one. And, oh! How much I appreciate it!!  (Not the spiders though.) Flowers blooming, trees coming to life, our bees gathering all the sweetness around us, and happy chickens scrounging for bugs. My heart truly feels as if it will burst sometimes for all the beauty around me in the spring. So while a part of me pines for the autumn air, I will appreciate and be glad for this season. (Will someone be sure to remind me of this post come August when I am sweltering of the heat and complaining in a corner somewhere? Thanks.)  Enjoy some photos from around the homestead this spring. And as always, have a beautiful day.

First ladybug of the season

Grape vines coming to life.

Apples!

Beautiful rose.