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.”
Column contents © Mary Murray. All rights reserved.
Farmgirl
is a condition
of the heart.
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!
Column contents © Alexandra Wilson. All rights reserved.
Libbie Zenger
Previous Rural Farmgirl,
June 2010 – Jan 2012
Libbie’s a small town farmgirl who lives in the high-desert Sevier Valley of Central Utah on a 140-year-old farm with her husband and two darling little farmboys—as well as 30 ewes; 60 new little lambs; a handful of rams; a lovely milk cow, Evelynn; an old horse, Doc; two dogs; a bunch o’ chickens; and two kitties.
René Groom
Previous Rural Farmgirl,
April 2009 – May 2010
René lives in Washington state’s wine country. She grew up in the dry-land wheat fields of E. Washington, where learning to drive the family truck and tractors, and “snipe hunting,” were rites of passage. She has dirt under her nails and in her veins. In true farmgirl fashion, there is no place on Earth she would rather be than on the farm.
You’re definitely getting the hang of boothin’! I would love to pop in. On a routine basis for sure. What cheer. And SASS! I’m sure Burlap and Bling is going to do very well. Thanks for the virtual tour. Loved it.
Thanks so much MJ! Let me know when you’re in town… ( grin )!
xo Deb
Oh Deb, thanks for the shopping trip – if only you weren’t East and me West – L O V E LOVE your special corner in the big mall !!!! You do have the eye for displaying. I have a whole lot of my Grandmother’s and an Aunts handkerchiefs – many had never come out of the box – what a great way to display. God Bless
Hi Joan! So glad you stopped in… There are so many great ideas on pinterest for displaying and crafting with vintage hankies. I’ll bet you come up with something genius for yours. Blessings to you! xo Deb
I don’t know whether your shoppe is more cute or clever, but it is wonderful. Congratulations and best wishes for a very happy and successful season with many sales to delighted customers.
Howdy Adrienne! Thanks a bunch! I’m hopeful for a busy season… we need the warm weather to bring out the shoppers here in New England! 🙂 Thanks so much for the visit! xo Deb
Deb, I LOVE LOVE LOVE it. I want a booth something terrible. But everywhere I look where I might can afford one is usually too far out of the way of traffic.?? I am still searching and was thinking maybe even turning my workshop at home into one. Will have to check on taxes and that sort of thing, and move a young man’s (my son) stuff out of it so I can fix it up. You are getting my creative thoughts going. Loved the hankie idea with the spoon holder, got me thinking where can I go and find one. lol. Keep living my dream and sharing on your blog so we can all enjoy. Be Blessed. Neta ps we are camping in our camper this week, and going next week to camp at Edisto Beach SC. Cant wait, I just love this little camper. I had an idea while we were here and I will have to send you a picture when I get it done, but I dont use the oven except to store bread, so I am thinking of some sort of way to make my oven look like one of those old enamel stoves and put Bread on the front like an old timey bread box.?? any ideas on how to cover it. It is not magnetic so I am not sure. appreciate any ideas you might have. Thanks
Hi Neta! So nice to hear from you! I bet you are having a grea time in your little " glamper"…I’ll think about your stove idea an send you an email if I come up with something you can use! And, don’t give up on your booth idea… Maybe you could do a little online boothin’ and open a VINTAGE ETSY shop! That way you can still have fun collecting on your glamping travels!
Thanks for your note! xo
Deb
I love your shop….if I lived closer, I’d be there often. And all of your before and after pictures give me such good ideas. I use to be afraid of messing things up, but after seeing all the beautiful ways to re-use tired, worn out items, I’ve been doing some "jumping in" of my own lately. This weekend I’m turning an old, very boring tv cart into a glam nightstand for my teenage granddaughter.
That a girl Rebecca! Good for your for beating your fears back and letting the creative juices flow! Your glam nighstand sounds like a great project to let loose on! Thanks for your note! xo Deb
I just love your store…I used to have a booth in an antique mall, but it became too much for me, and I had to give it up.
Hi Marie! I’m sorry to hear you had to give up your booth. It is A LOT of work… gathering, pricing, cleaning, and hauling it all back and forth… What is wrong with us? LOL!!! Thanks so much for your note 🙂 x0 Deb
Deb, I am totally charmed by your shop, and I can’t wait to see it next month! You have great taste…love all of the china and lace, and the hankie display is soooo cute! I hope that you get lots of business during the summer tourist season, so that you can refill your stock with new burlap and bling!
Well, thank you Pam! What dates will you be here next month? Would love to meet you for tea downtown! xo Deb
Oh, I think this is wonderful. My problem would be giving up anything I found….I would only want to buy things I like to put in a booth and then I would not want to give them up. Would have to find two of everything. I saw your use of the spoon rack and I want to find one to do the same with some hankies I have been collecting. Funny thing is I used to own one that I was putting those little collectible travel spoons in years ago, wonder what I did with it. Probably at goodwill waiting for me to buy it back! lol. have a great weekend Deb and Happy Mothers day!
Hi Brenda! I can relate to your ‘ problem’. My husband is fun to go picking with but he doesn’t want to let it go.. and truth be told, I get very attached to the pieces that I do over… they are like my little babies! But then again, I’m always fussing about a cluttered basement… it makes no sense at all…! How many times have we all tossed out something we want to buy back later? Too many, right? Thanks for your note and happy planting! xo Deb
Deb
your shop is great I have an Antique shop also,I love the idea for the hankie display,I’ve been in buiness for three years and this has been the best, I wish you so much Luck with your shop your going to Love Love Love it.if you want you can check me out on facebook under Farmtiques and Uniques. I’m so happy for you.Penny
Hi Penny! How wonderful for you! You are so right. The longer I do it the more hooked I am getting on the whole experience. I will come see you on facebook… Thanks for inviting me and for the good wishes too! Happy Boothin’ as MJ says!
xo Deb
Hi Deb, your shop is fantastic. You did such a great job and it is a great way to display your talents. Keep following that bliss!
Hi Laura! Thanks so much… I am really enjoying it and hope to inspire others to dive in and try on their dreams too! xo Deb
I am amazed at how the finish on your oak frames turned out. what was your method to refinish them. I have those same frames and want to just have an upscale yard sale. Those items I have would sell better if I did a little make over on them… very nice !!
Hi Deborah, I painted the oak frames with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, in OLD WHITE but you could get a similar finish by dry brushing an off white or linen color latex matt finishe paint, or even an acrylic craft paint in an antique white or color of your choice. Good luck with your frames and your " upscale " yard sale too!
xo Deb
Hi Deb, How exciting to see your shop and say I was there. I could have spent much longer there but not enough time. I will on my next visit. It sure looks great. Now that the weather is getting better you will really be busy. I can just see your big smile to greet the customers. Wish I could be there to visit the beach house in the summer. So I’ll be waiting to hear about all your many adventures. Love the shop.
Hugs
Merrilyn
Hi Merrilyn!
Always great to hear from you! Burlap and Bling is coming along and I’m looking forward to a busy season… been gathering and painting furniture to get it filled up for summer! If you and Michelle come to Plymouth this summer we’ll take a trip to the cottage for sure! How’s that sound?
Hugs,
Deb