Made, Found & Reimagined
I HAVE SO MUCH FUN AT THIS SHOW! It just never fails! The vendors, the inspiration, the happy shoppers, the organizers – all of it is top notch! I met up with old friends and even made some new ones! This year I almost sold out of treasures, which made clean up a piece of cake! I can’t wait until Spring 2022!
We had a family reunion up at the Hiner Farmhouse in the mountains of Highland County. It’s where my grandfather grew up and I am so thankful to still have it in the family. Only a handful of people were able to make it to the reunion, but we shared stories, laughed and ate delicious food, including Donna’s delicious rhubarb pie. It was perfect. I know my dad and grandfather were smiling from above.
I feel extremely connected to this place and I am making a conscious effort to learn about my past, get to know and enjoy my family and to take care of the house and property so we can all enjoy it for many years to come. See how happy the old farmhouse seems with her newly painted porch? She seemed to be alive that day, with the smell of delicious food cooking in her kitchen and with the sound of the slamming screen door and children laughing and running up and down the steps.
See the post below to read the blessing that I wrote just for the occasion.
I love this spot.
Up on the porch in Great Granddaddy’s chair overlooking the Holler. The fabric covering it has been the same since I was a child. It’s comfortable. And comforting.
Comforting, because time seems to stand still here. And that’s how I like it. In a world full of chaos, this place remains calm.
I have made so many memories on this property and they all seem to be preserved here; as if they’re sealed away in an air-tight Ball Jar sitting on a shelf in the cellar below me.
The sun shines right where I’m sitting and I watch it warm up the land around me. The dew sparkles and steams up from the grass.
I watch a family of deer come down the hill and eat the fallen apples under the tree. I wonder if they feel my presence…. because I feel completely and utterly present in this moment.
I listen to the creek flow and the birds sing. They all sing a different tune, but it’s music to my ears. I close my eyes. I want to memorize the sound. Bottle it up in that old Ball Jar and take it home with me.
Maybe when I die, I’ll come back as a bird. Build a nest on this porch and fly over this place. I bet it’s even more glorious from above.
I wonder if occasionally my dad does just that. And his dad. And his dad, as he is the one who built this place for us all to enjoy. I am so thankful for him. I wish I had known him, but in a way I feel like I do. Because he was a part of my granddad and a part of my dad and his blood runs through my veins too.
I feel like they are all here. It’s a family reunion. I’ll put this feeling in the Ball Jar with a dash of humbleness and a heaping pile of gratefulness to be a part of this family.
Dear God,
Thank you for this place. For this family. And for all of the Ball Jars of memories. Thank you for our time here together and I pray that you always remind us to live in the moment, never take anything for granted and always choose faith over fear.
In your name we pray, Amen.
In just a couple of weeks I will be hitching up the camper and hitting the road up to Berryville, VA to sell at the Lucketts Market! I’ll be joined by 200 of the best vintage-hip vendors on the East Coast! I CAN’T WAIT!
I have to be honest, it was the name of this event, Chippy Hippie, that intrigued me the most when the show promotors, sister team Melissa and Monica, reached out to me via Instagram to participate as a vendor. This was their first event and I was blown away by how well organized it was! The show took place on their farm in rural Appomattox County and they had a terrific group of vendors that seriously brought the goods – and styled them beautifully – it was inspiring! One of my favorites was Kathryn of Mimosa Hill Farm. She was selling the most beautiful bouquets and I really enjoyed being her neighbor all weekend!
Since I was bringing my camper pop-up shop, they invited me to camp overnight on their property and let me tell ya, it was so magical! They could not have been more gracious hosts and the weather was absolutely perfect even though earlier in the week it was threatening to rain all weekend!
I met some really cool people that came to shop and support small businesses – Like Edna who was a widow and shared stories about her late husband and their love story. Or Deborah who purchased a camper of her own and wants to fix it up. That’s my favorite part – meeting and inspiring my customers. I love sharing stories with them and telling them about the treasures they are purchasing. They see something that either reminds them of the past or maybe it’s something they’ve been searching for for awhile to add to their home. It really is special!
I will absolutely participate in next years show and I feel like I have added these Chippy Hippie sisters to my tribe. Thanks for an amazing weekend ladies!
This market was formerly the Vintage Home Market and I have been participating as a vendor for YEARS! The Street Faire takes place in the Sears parking lot of the Chesterfield Town Center Mall. Saturday’s weather was PERFECT so it was so nice to be outside! My camper pop-shop was snuggled right next to the One Rose Decor bus and we had a blast meeting customers and selling our handmade / upcycled wares. Thanks to Jason and Heidi for putting on another successful event and for everyone who came out to shop small and support local businesses!
I was honored to be a part of this market on August 20th. Emily with Dainty Chic Roadside Stand puts organizes a couple of markets a month and the Boho Market had my name written all over it! The markets all take place in the heart of the small town of Bowling Green, VA and people flocked near and far to shop the amazing group of vendors that were set up. I had a blast and can’t wait for the next one!
Save the date ya’ll! On September 17th and 18th I will be set up with the camper pop-up shop at a new Vintage Market located in Appomattox County. It sounds like they have some amazing vendors lined up and I can’t wait to be a part of it! You can get more info and purchase tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/chippy-hippie-vintage-market-tickets-161217276213
I have the coolest friends! Heather is the owner/maker of Naked Goat Soap Company. She is the most genuine and giving person I know and she pours herself into her handmade products – from soy candles to soap bars, making everything by hand on her farm in Hanover, Va.
She just released her new facial line, lovely called “Earth Wise.” This line was created around the double cleansing method and includes:
I went to visit Heather at her studio on the farm and she shared so much wisdom with me – about basic skin needs to how the hand picked ingredients work together in these beautiful products. I am the proud owner of the entire line and I am happy to say that I LOVE IT!
I have always had really sensitive skin and it has been a challenge finding products that work without breaking me out or drying out my skin. The botanical smell relaxes me when I wash my face in the evening and it wakes me up when I cleanse in the morning. I was so proud and willing to be a part of her photo shoot for Earth Wise so she can spread the word and help so many other people. Head on over to https://nakedgoatsoapco.com/ to learn all about and purchase these products that are absolutely infused with love.
All dressed up and nowhere to go, but sometimes putting a cute outfit on can make doing the daily chores around the farm a little more fun! At least that’s Little Rachels attitude! She believes in romanticizing your life because that’s when you truly start living. I followed her along as she collected eggs, weeded and harvested the garden, cared and talked to the animals and prepared breakfast in her adorable camper she calls home. It makes my soul happy to spend time with someone so connected to the land all around her. Stay wild my friend!
