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Last year I started out the year with several goals in mind and one of them was to stick with homemade gifts through the year as much as I possibly could.
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Debbie Bosworth
is a certified farmgirl at heart. She’s happily married to her beach bum Yankee husband of 20 years. She went from career gal to being a creative homeschooling mom for two of her biggest blessings and hasn’t looked back since. Debbie left her lifelong home in the high desert of Northern Nevada 10 years ago and washed up on the shore of America’s hometown, Plymouth, MA, where she and her family are now firmly planted. They spend part of each summer in a tiny, off–grid beach cottage named “The Sea Horse.”
“I found a piece of my farmgirl heart when I discovered MaryJanesFarm. Suddenly, everything I loved just made more sense! I enjoy unwinding at the beach, writing, gardening, and turning yard-sale furniture into ‘Painted Ladies’ I’m passionate about living a creative life and encouraging others to ‘make each day their masterpiece.’”
Rebekah Teal
is a “MaryJane Farmgirl” who lives in a large metropolitan area. She is a lawyer who has worked in both criminal defense and prosecution. She has been a judge, a business woman and a stay-at-home mom. In addition to her law degree, she has a Masters of Theological Studies.
“Mustering up the courage to do the things you dream about,” she says, “is the essence of being a MaryJane Farmgirl.” Learning to live more organically and closer to nature is Rebekah’s current pursuit. She finds strength and encouragement through MaryJane’s writings, life, and products. And MaryJane’s Farmgirl Connection provides her a wealth of knowledge from true-blue farmgirls.
Cathi Belcher
an old-fashioned farmgirl with a pioneer spirit, lives in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. As a “lifelong learner” in the “Live-Free-or-Die” state, she fiercely values self-reliance, independence, freedom, and fresh mountain air. Married to her childhood sweetheart of 40+ years (a few of them “uphill climbs”), she’s had plenty of time to reinvent herself. From museum curator, restaurant owner, homeschool mom/conference speaker, to post-and-beam house builder and entrepreneur, she’s also a multi-media artist, with an obsession for off-grid living and alternative housing. Cathi owns and operates a 32-room mountain lodge. Her specialty has evolved to include “hermit hospitality” at her rustic cabin in the mountains, where she offers weekend workshops of special interest to women.
“Mountains speak to my soul, and farming is an important part of my heritage. I want to pass on my love of these things to others through my writing. Living in the mountains has its own particular challenges, but I delight in turning them into opportunities from which we can all learn and grow.”
Dori Troutman
Dori Troutman is the daughter of second generation cattle ranchers in New Mexico. She grew up working and playing on the ranch that her grandparents homesteaded in 1928. That ranch, with the old adobe home, is still in the family today. Dori and her husband always yearned for a ranch of their own. That dream came true when they retired to the beautiful green rolling hills of Tennessee. Truly a cattleman’s paradise!
Dori loves all things farmgirl and actually has known no other life but that. She loves to cook, craft, garden, and help with any and all things on their cattle farm.
Mary Murray
describes herself as a goat charmer, chicken whisperer, bee maven, and farmers’ market baker renovating an 1864 farmhouse on an Ohio farm. With a degree in Design, Mary says small-town auctions and country road barn sales "always make my heart skip a beat thinking about what I could create or design out of what I’ve seen.”
Rooted in the countryside, she likes simple things and old ways … gardening, preserving the harvest, cooking, baking, and all things home. While you might find her selling baked goods from the farm’s milkhouse, teaching herself to play the fiddle, or sprucing up a vintage camper named Maizy, you will always find her in an apron!
Mary says, “I’m happiest with the simple country pleasures … an old farmhouse, too many animals, a crackling fire, books to read, and the sound of laughter … these make life just perfect.”
Alexandra Wilson
is a budding rural farmgirl living in Palmer, the agricultural seat of Alaska. Alex is a graduate student at Alaska Pacific University pursuing an M.S. in Outdoor and Environmental Education. She lives and works on the university’s 700 acre environmental education center, Spring Creek Farm. When Alex has time outside of school, she loves to rock climb, repurpose found objects, cross-country ski on the hay fields, travel, practice yoga, and cook with new-fangled ingredients.
Alex grew up near the Twin Cities and went to college in Madison, Wisconsin—both places where perfectly painted barns and rolling green farmland are just a short drive away. After college, she taught at a rural middle school in South Korea where she biked past verdant rice paddies and old women selling home-grown produce from sidewalk stoops. She was introduced to MaryJanesFarm after returning, and found in it what she’d been searching for—a group of incredible women living their lives in ways that benefit their families, their communities, and the greater environment. What an amazing group of farmgirls to be a part of!
Nicole Christensen
Suburban Farmgirl Nicole Christensen calls herself a “vintage enthusiast”. Born and raised in Texas, she has lived most of her life in the picturesque New England suburbs of Connecticut, just a stone’s throw from New York State. An Advanced Master Gardener, she has gardened since childhood, in several states and across numerous planting zones. In addition, she teaches knitting classes, loves to preserve, and raises backyard chickens.
Married over thirty years to her Danish-born sweetheart, Nicole has worked in various fields, been a world-traveler, an entrepreneur and a homemaker, but considers being mom to her now-adult daughter her greatest accomplishment. Loving all things creative, Nicole considers her life’s motto to be “Bloom where you are planted”.
You have no idea how much joy you bring me. I look forward to your blog posts, and I am continuously inspired by your creativity. Thank you!
Dear Angela,
Well… I think that comment just about made me cry. Thank you so much.
– Dori –
How delightful! I would gratefully receive these gifts in a heartbeat from a friend as it is evident there is such caring behind the thoughtfulness of a homemade gift. I love your gift tags, too. Very creative. My meditative way to relax is with my new found gadget “yo-yo” maker. Using scraps to make yo-yo’s is relaxing and addictive. I have given several to my friends along with fat quarters and scraps of fabric that I have in my stash. I enjoy your blog very much!
Dear Ann,
I’ve been wanting to get one of those Yo-Yo makers. Do you have a brand you recommend??? I love those little yo-yo’s. And YES! They are the perfect gift! Do you ever make the little Hexie’s out of scraps? I’ve gotten kind of addicted to making those too!
– Dori –
Love your ideas re: crafts made at home!
Well done!!
Mary Jane,
Thank you!!
– Dori –
How delightfully creative! You are blessed with talent and the time to be creative. Thank you for sharing your wonderful work.
Dear Adrienne,
Thank you for your kind words. And yes… time to be creative is something I am so thankful for. A few years ago my husband and I were building our house and we were so busy that I didn’t have any time for my own creativity and I really felt it. I’ve valued that more than ever.
– Dori –
I love this post–I want to “take a page from your book”
Dear Maxine,
Thank you dear friend.
– Dori –
I’m with you! Everyone got super warm slipper sox from me this year. We sure need them, the snow and cold have been relentless here in Colorado. I love your posts! Thanks for sharing with us!
Dear Maureen,
Super warm slipper socks would be THE BEST GIFT EVER!!!! I love warm socks. And in Colorado? Totally perfect!
Thanks for writing!
– Dori –
Dori,
Your creativity is inspiring and your farmgirl spirit is infectious. Good for you for slowing down a little and paying attention to the little details in life. That’s where the joy and the best gifts are!
I love all that you share here dear friend! Happy New ” farmgirl ” year!
Farmgirl hugs,
Deb
Awww Deb.
You know how I feel and you know how much you mean to me. A lot.
Hugs to you dear friend of mine.
– Dori –
Dori,
It is I who thanks you for blogging. You are always an inspiration. I must admit I’ve borrowed many of your ideas and this blog has a couple I will also borrow. Thanks for your creativity. God bless.
Dear Joan,
Thank you so much. I can tell you in all honesty that so many times I feel completely lacking in having anything to share or inspire so I appreciate your comment so much. And I hope you do borrow from me!
Happy New Year!
– Dori –
Thank you for your special reminder that homemade means “I care enough for you to give my very best” (sounds like Hallmark, doesn’t it!) I want to go right home and get to sewing…and stitching…and well, you get the picture. Hugs!
Dear Laura,
Thank you for wording it so perfect. I think those words were in my mind too!
And I’m so happy about your reaction to go right home and get to sewing! I need those little motivational things too!
– Dori –
Love to read your blog Dori. It’s always informative and well written. I love hand made gifts also. Something doesn’t have to be elaborate to be from the heart. Love the picture of you two. It’s always fun to make new friends. Happy New Year.
Dear Bonnie,
It is always so fun to make new friends isn’t it? I do love the farmgirl friends I’ve met through blogging.
Thank you so much for always commenting… I love it!
– Dori –
Oh Dori, I love your blogs!! When I read them I feel just like I am there visiting with you. You are so gifted and with such a “sharing heart”. God sure did bless you. Thank you so much for sharing your talents and gifts with us.
Happy New Year!
Dear Doris,
Thank you so much for “visiting” with me today! I so appreciate everyone’s comments to me.
– Dori –
I love this post as I do all of yours in the past. It is such a joy and treat. One of my goals in 2016 is to try to learn to sew. i admire your talent and ingenuity. Thank you for the posts you put on this blog. Wishing you and yours a Happy,Healthy New Year full of blessings.
Marilyn
Dear Marilyn,
You know there are so many great online free classes for learning to sew. And so many sewing blogs really having great tutorials and things now. I’ve been able to learn so many new techniques for doing things simply because someone posted a great tutorial.
Thank you so much for your kind words and for writing.
– Dori –
I truly love reading your blogs! You always have such creative work! I am completely jealous of your talent. Please send some my way!! Your bags are absolutely adorable and perfect for your grandchildren. I also love the idea of your name tags. I would never think to sew them together instead of gluing. Thank you for sharing your amazing ideas and reminding us all of the importance of homemade versus store bought.
Dear Krista,
Thank you for your sweet words. Those little gift tags were SO easy. I made about 50 of them in just a matter of minutes. And my sewing machine was sitting right there and somehow it just seemed like the thing to do!
– Dori –
Dori, I totally agree that handmade gifts are truly gifts from the heart. I was fortunate enough to receive your handmade dish cloths and think of you each time I use them. My gifts are almost always handmade or homemade and most everyone is so appreciative.
The towels you made for your grand-girls are absolutely adorable! Thank you for sharing so much of your talents and creativity with your readers…it is almost as good as a handmade gift!
Dear Rosanne,
Thank you! I’m so glad you love your dish cloths!
And speaking of homemade things… your lovely homemade thank you card you sent me is pinned to my inspiration board in my craft room! A reminder to make cards! It is one of the most beautiful I’ve ever received.
Happy New Year!
– Dori –
I recently found your blog and began following it and I must say that I am thrilled to be reading it. I greatly enjoy your homemade items and would love to do more of those type things myself. I know nothing about sewing or quilting but I am wanting to make a quilt.
You are SO inspiring! I think you really hit the nail on the head ~ gift giving is much more satisfying when you have put a piece of yourself into it. I tried that this past Christmas and, while a little hectic trying to get things done (okay, it was flat out crazy), the unexpected joy from the recipients filled me with something I have not felt in a very long time… like, since when my Daddy loved a drawing I made as a child so much I found it in his drawer after he passed some 50 years later. This year I’m starting, er… have started earlier.
Love your picture, too!
I always love giving and receiving homemade from the heart gifts. Loved your gift tag idea as well. Happy Blessed New Year.
Neta
Hi Dori,
Those towels are so cute! I agree wholeheartedly. A homemade gift is from the heart. I love to do homemade gifts. My Farmgirl Chapter and I made tags, too, together. I am also “known” for my gifts of homemade jam. Aside from knitting, that’s one of my favorite past times and I love to share it. Wish you lived closer to me! Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole
Beautiful post Dori. I love your creations – very inspiring. You are inspiring me to be more homemade in my giving this year too. Thank you.
We are very blessed to be able to connect through these blogs. Technology gets a rather bad rap, but I be honest I love it. It allows me to connect with people I’d never be able to otherwise considering you all live across the other side of the world alone.
Many blessings to you and yours this year
Denise
Australia
lovely gifts…I usually make a lot of gifts but sometimes easier yo just buy them…because people just don’t always appreciate the time you took to create them. But I fogind when I mskethrm….I can actually give more and not go into debt. Thus past year I couldn’t to much creating because my hubby was sick and was hospitalized. Then he died, then my daughter got married so there was no time for any creativity. I am hoping to get back to my sewing and creating this year. Just hard to get back to living…too depressed to sew…but you inspired me with your simple things so hopefully i get to it. Thanks for the inspirations. Love the tags…good use gir my scraps…as gir me…I save my paper bags and plastic ones… I never throw anything out…I even save plastic orange bags….majes goid reinfircing fir other things. Wish you lived close by…we could have a crafting day together. Susana
I love all the cute things that you’ve shown on your blog! Is there somewhere I can find the patterns? I’m not real creative but I can copy anything! Also I’m anxiously waiting for Momma #88 to give birth…..what a great informative article! Thanks so much! Liz
Hi Liz,
I don’t really have any patterns for the things that I’ve shown here. A lot of it is finding things on Pinterest and other places and then sort of winging it to my liking!
However… I just remembered that the hooded animal towels are from a great tutorial here: http://crazylittleprojects.com/category/hooded-towels
Momma #88 had her calf and all is well! I’ve added a picture of the baby at the bottom of my post!
– Dori –