Like Bees To Honey :: Na-Da Farm Barn Sale

So this past Saturday I made my way up North  to the Na-Da Farm Barn Sale, for the third time now.
I love this sale.
LOVE it.
I love the location, Anne Marie's farm which is kind of(but not completely) in the middle of nowhere, I love the size of the sale
(not too big and overwhelming but definitely big enough) and I love the vendors that are there, they really do have some really cool stuff there.

I absolutely love the creativity of the booths and of all of the women there, it is amazing and that is really my most favorite part of all of it.
Like bees to honey, women(and some men) from all over the area are drawn to this Barn Sale for some good old-fashioned handmade shopping.
That makes me happy-- women supporting other women and their handmade and/or small businesses, friends spending the weekend doing something fun together.... I am so happy I was able to go again.

This yarn-bombed tree was not at the Farm but in the town nearby that has some super cute shops we always go to.
This Shop is my favorite one if you ever happen to be in the area... which you probably won't.
I love this tree and think I really need one in my yard... and then I remembered that I don't knit.
Oh well.

Now this camper was at the Barn Sale.... Can you even stand it? It was the cutest thing ever and decorated just as cute on the inside.
I LOVED this lady's booth, I was in love with her stuff... which really wasn't surprising to me because I saw a couple of things
in her booth that I have for sale in my shop, too.
If I was to paint a camper, these would be my colors. They are just HAPPY.

I am a little mad that I did not end up buying one of these potted herbs.
Aren't these adorable?! WHO has the patience to make these things?!
I really wish I did.
I loved the little basil plant and if I was going home that day I definitely would have bought one.
Basil is one of my most favorite smells ever. Like, ever.

A few snapshots of a couple of the booths, it was really too crowded to get many good pictures.
And the ducks? Ahhhh... the ducks were so cute. I think I need a baby duck now.
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And a few more of the most awesome vintage shop ever in town.... I think this might be the third time
now that I have blogged that same picture of the hoop wall(last photo).
I can't get enough of it, I really wish it was in my house, that's some of the best fabric ever.

If there is another one in again in October, we'll be there again!
Seriously if you are anywhere near the area, or not even super close at all, you should go check it out.
Then go to the cute little shops in DeKalb, you won't be disappointed.
Oh--and the next time I am there I want to check out Northern Illinois University, we passed by it twice and I wish we would
have had time to stop.
I bet it would be really beautiful in the Fall.

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{encouraged}

i am still not done talking about last weekend.
nope, i'm not.
i needed that weekend away for so many reasons.
it was a gift, it really was.
in so many different ways.
if i had not won the weekend away, i wouldn't have went, simple as that.
i would have liked to...and would have wished i had gone afterwards, but i wouldn't have gone.
i would have talked myself out of it...you know, it would be a hassle to figure out who would take
care of the kids...eric would have to take the day off...he had a class saturday so i would
have to find someone to keep them for part of the day....
i would have told myself there is always next year, i'll go another time.
why do we (I) do that? talk ourselves out of the things we really want to do?

{art by Jeanne Oliver}

i am so glad i went.

 it was a wonderful feeling to be surrounded by such cool, creative women, it really was.
people that are inspiring and helpful and encouraging and that share their wisdom with you.

people that tell you that you are an artist, you have potential and your very own individual 
gifts and talents.

people who share their stories with you on where they came from and where they are now.

that show you there are so many possibilities.

that tell you it is never too  late.

{mine}

i liked all of the classes but i just loved the art journaling class.

we made our own journals using old book covers and vintage ephemera.

it was so much fun.

i love books and i am a journaler, so this class was right up my alley.

using found/salvaged items...no rules, no right or wrong way to do it.

oh, and i loved jeanne oliver. 

i tend to think people kind of overuse the word "inspiring" when describing people, 

but it truly describes her. perfectly.

i came home feeling so excited and inspired-a hundred creative projects spinning around
in my head.

relaxed and happy and fulfilled.

i am still thinking about it and what it all means and how it applies to me.

i am excited for the possibility.

and do you know what else i learned?

that i am a photographer.

and an artist.

there, i said it.

i am a photographer.

{art by Jeanne Oliver}

it is easy to get caught up in thoughts like; "I am only a photographer if I am being paid for it"

or; "i am only a baker...painter...cook...speaker...writer...artist...designer....

entrepreneur....if  I am making a living from it "

it's not true.

i am going to stop telling myself that. you should, too.

i am a photographer.

how about you?

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