Dreams Can Come True!!!!

Snowflake: Good Day Folks! So glad you could join us this fine Monday Morning! We know you are anxious to find out who will be our featured shop this week so let's check in with our roaming reporter and see who it will be.

Sunshine: The winds are blowing and the birds are singing and the plants are starting to bloom! Well, here in the south anyway. This week we have an extra special member to introduce you to. Let's welcome Nicole of Wood Stream Dream!!!! Woo Hoo!!!!

She is a wife, mother and artist. Let's see what she had to say in my interview.....
 

1. Why did you start your business?

I started WoodstreamDream because I love to create and I just cannot keep or gift all the things that I make! I've been stamping since 2004, crocheting since 2006, and stitching my upcycled flowers since 2010. I like to try different mediums for expressing myself artistically. I love to reuse items that otherwise would be discarded. Currently my passion is for fiber and paper arts.

2. How long have you been in business?

WoodstreamDream opened October 5, 2010; so one and a half years ago. I started working craft fairs in April 2011.

3. Can you share a diy project with our readers?

This DIY project is one that's been in my head for a while now. We moved to our home in August 2009. While packing, I came across old linens that were my grandmother's. Some mis-matched items and odd valances. I have all of them, still, because I know I'll be able to give them new life. Here's the first one:

The Gathered Valance Apron - An Up-cycled Accessory

Take a vintage print valance - mine is poinsettia printed - festive for Christmastime.

Take a 2 yard length of 5/8 inch or wider ribbon (make sure it fits through the rod pocket on the curtain). I used 5/8 inch white grosgrain ribbon.

Open the rod pocket and gather in your hands. Feed the ribbon about half-way through the curtain.

Hold the ribbon in the center of the rod pocket and pull the curtain out flat again.

From the other side, gather the rod pocket until you get to the ribbon.

Pull the ribbon through to the open end.

Now gather the curtain, even out the ribbon ends and tie a pretty bow! The Gathered Valance Apron

If you would like to secure the ribbon, you can stitch the ends of the rod pocket closed.

 

4. Where can folks find you online?

I can be found many places online... My shop is www.woodstreamdream.etsy.com My blog - where you can learn more about me, my upcoming craft shows, and see custom creations is www.woodstreamdream.blogspot.com   I'm also on Facebook www.facebook.com/WoodstreamDream Twitter @WoodstreamDream, and Pinterest   www.pinterest.com/woodstreamdream

 

Be sure to leave a comment and check there for our blog reader only specials we'll post each week.

Snowflake: You are so right, Sunshine, Nicole is a very special person. She is super supportive to all of the team activities! And, I know the folks are glad you are keeping them in the know about all of our co-op happenings!





Snowflake: Anymore great news?

Sunshine: Glad you asked Snowflake! Yes indeed there is. I just wanted to give a reminder to our readers to not miss out on ordering their very own 'Eco-Gift Surprise Sampler'. They will be mailed out starting on April 1, 2012. Supplies are limited so buy yours today!


Snowflake:There you have it folks straight from our roaming reporter. Did you catch the little goodie she shared with us? Leave a comment to find out what special discounts we'll be posting there for you to use in the craft show each week.

Tune in next week! Same co-op time! Same co-op blog!!!!

Sunshine Farmgirl Co-op Team Spotlight Member

Snowflake: Welcome! to this weeks spotlight addition. Let's check-in with our roaming reporter to see who is in the spotlight this week.

Sunshine: I'm here with owner Melissa Carr of HoneybeeHolistics and see what she had to say in our interview.

1. Why did you start your business?

I started my business 5 years ago in anticipation of starting my family & being a Work-at-Home-Mom! I had a need for Organic bath & beauty products, so I started to make my own! I joined in with the Farmers Market in my small town and Honey Bee Holistics was born! I saw it as a way to help others with the same issues I had with main stream bath&beauty products, AND a way to grow a business so I would be able to provide for my family while raising my daughter!
2. How long have you been in business? 

    5 years

                                        

3. Can you share a diy project with our readers? 

I make my own Organic Laundry Detergent in a 5 gallon bucket. It lasts SO much longer & it is less expensive & doesnt contain all of the harsh chemicals that the most popular detergents such as Tide & All (even the so called "Free" versions still contain harmful chemicals that are absorbed into the body viz the skin & intimate parts).
Recipe:
Get a 5 gallon bucket from Home Depot with a lid
1 - Box of 20 Mule Team Borax
1- Box of Arm&Hammer Washing Soda
1- box of baking soda
1- 3oz bar of Organic Soap, shredded with a cheese grater (I make my own handmade soap & have some available that is plain for this reason www.honeybeeholistics.com ) just fine to use one you use for cheese as it will only clean it & is not harmful)
1- bottle of Lavender Essential Oil

Using an empty gallon container (milk container/vinegar container) fill up the bucket with 3 gallons of the hottest water from your tap. Fill up your 5 gallon bucket. Now add in 2 cups of each : borax, washing soda & baking soda. Stir well. Usually count to 60 & that will work. 

                                     
While you are doing this add the soap shreds to a large spaghetti pot with water to cover & let it simmer until the shreds dissolve(approx. 20 min) When all of the shreds are dissolved, add it to the bucket. Stir well again. Then add your last gallon of hot water. Stir well. Its ready to use.
When it cools down & you go to use it again it will separate a little. Just give it a quick stir & you are all set! I use a recycled pickle jar to scoop out what I need. Approx. a 28-32oz jar works well if you dont have a pickle jar. I use 2 jar fulls for my diaper loads.

                                             

Now for the essential oil...... After the soap is in the load of diapers. add in 2 capfuls of lavender essential oil. Lavender Essential oil not only smells great but is a natural anti-bacterial & anti-fungal.....What you need for your diapers!! You can find it inexpensively here at www.supersup.com

After the load is complete, I reset it to the rinse cycle & add in 1 cup of white distilled vinegar. This also is a natural anitbacterial & helps fight the odors, plus is a natural softener!

I have used this on not only my cloth diapers, but on my regular clothes as well. They smell great & are soft....WITHOUT all of the chemicals & brighteners that the main stream detergents have in them. Good for your family AND the environment. All ingredients used are naturally found in the earth, so nothing chemically about it!

4. Where can folks find you online?

http://www.honeybeeholistics.com

http://www.honeybeeholistics.etsy.com

http://www.facebook.com/honeybeeholistics

Snowflake: Visit our Calender of Events at the top of the page for the location of our online craft show. You'll be able to shop with Honeybeeholistics and our other Etsy team members.

Tune in next week.....Same co-op time! Same co-op Blog!

What to do this weekend? DIY Project!!!

Mom's Medicine Cabinet

Here is a great tip I came up with today for saving money on kleenex this flu and cold season. Instead of spending $10, $20 or $100's of dollars each year on those boxes of tissue made with all kinds of ingredients these days. Why not make your own.

Okay, you are wondering how on earth are you going to make your own snot rags as my Dad so affectionately called them. Take your old t-shirts and cut them into strips the size of 3x3 inches square. Don't get fussy just cut the strips and eye the 3 inch sections like I did here in this picture.

    
My dear hubby has about 100 t-shirts and he doesn't wear even 1/4 of them. He just uses the same ones over and over each week. I took the ones that were ugly and filled with holes and cut them up.

You can also go to your local thrift stores and garage sales and start buying them up at dirt cheap prices. I'd say start with about 20 t-shirts for each member of the family. Cause when you get one of those head colds where you are blowing your nose every 5 seconds you're gonna need that many. Ha-ha!

Now you have washable tissues. That's right don't throw them out, oh no! that would not be 'green' now would it? Get a bucket and fill it with pipping hot boiling water and put your used snot rags in the bucket and use 'green' bleach and soap and let it soak for an hour. Now they are ready to wash with your towels the next time.




Happy Friday!
--

www.sunshinefarmgirlcoop.com

                                                  

"How To Green-Up Your Shop"

Snowflake- Welcome to this weeks blog post. Let's check in with our roaming reporter and see what this weeks topic is all about.

Sunshine- Thanks Snowflake! As usual I have an interesting topic based on our featured spotlight member of the week. Which just happens to be my own shop, Jeanpatch by MK on Etsy.

I'd like to talk about the co-op mission a little bit. Smart, sustainable lifestyle. Do you recycle? Why? If you say it is because I care about this planet we were given to live on and not just that your city passed a law that you should to help save the landfills then you are someone who is 'greening up' your life. Wahoo!
Why be 'green'? Are you turning green all over? That might seem like a silly question to some of you. But, to those of you who are trying to 'green-up' your shops you know exactly what I"m talking about.

It really is easy to do. First, start off by adding a section in your shop with a name that folks will know immediately they will find Eco-friendly products there. Or, you can add it in your shop announcement section that you use recycled products to make some of your items with. However you choose to tell shoppers that you are doing your part in 'going green' is up to you, but just take the step towards 'greening up'.

You can find my shop by visiting the Sunshine Market section of the website. Also, check out our Calender of Events here at the top of this page.

Never put off til tomorrow what you can do today. Why not head on over to our online Craft Show on Etsy and support our many Eco-friendly shops this week by making a purchase. Remember our products are all useful and beautiful.

Snowflake- That was truly a great topic you shared this week Sunshine. We'd like to thank all of our readers and followers for supporting our blog. Word of mouth is our best friend, so spread the word about our site so we can grow and flourish.

There you have it folks! Tune in next week! Same co-op time! Same co-op blog!

Co-op News Update!!!

Week of March 5, 2012

Snowflake:This just in from our roaming reporter!
Sunshine: New additions to the co-op are creating quiet a buzz........how about checking out the new 'Classified' section on the home page. You'll see all the new links in blue under the 'Welcome Announcement' to the co-op.

Next, up is a very important reminder. If you are participating in the sampler program you need to mail out your samples by March 15, 2012 with a tracking number. Please remember to fill out the application on the sampler page too!

The sampler box will go on sale April 1, 2012. We are very excited to bring you products from our members. You won't want to miss this great opportunity to try some of our handmade items and direct sale products for the cost of shipping and handling.

This will give you the opportunity to see how well made our items are and experience the excellent customer service each shop offers. We hope you'll put us on your gift buying list of shops and support these hard working women.

A final note, join us today at 5 p.m. est/ 2 p.m. pst on Tophatter for our first member auction. Click on this link to reserve your spot and put a note on your computer so you don't miss out on the fun!

http://tophatter.com/auctions/435

Snowflake: There you have it folks, all the great news from your Sunshine Farm Girl Co-op roaming reporter! We hope you'll continue to check in with us daily for more exciting happenings with your favorite website.

Tune in tomorrow, Same co-op time! Same co-op blog!

Look What The Blue Bird Of Happiness Brought In.....!!!!!!

Snowflake: Howdy! Have you seen what the blue bird of happiness brought to us this week? If you missed it don't worry were going to share the news with you here on our Sunshine Farm Girl Co-op Blog!  Let's check-in with our roaming reporter and see what she has scooped for this coming week.

Sunshine: YeeHaw!!! Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.....so the saying goes when you are about to get married. But, what else does that refer to you may ask? The online craft show this week on Etsy! We are spotlighting Vintage 50s Treasures! What you may not know is this is my hubby's shop!

We are a 'one for all and all for one' kinda family! It was fun interviewing my dear hubby, Rafael for this weeks blog post. Here is what he had to say:

1. As a self-employed worker in the Remodeling field, how did you come to open a vintage shop on Etsy?
That's easy, my wife suggested it would be a good thing for us to do to bring in an extra little income. I agreed, it was something we both liked to do, hunt for bargains and sustainable things.

2. What part do you play in the business?
I do volunteer work on the weekends in the community and include going to garage sales as part of my work. It accomplishes two very important purposes. Helping others and helping my family too. I also share in the deliveries to the post office with my daughter. The days she can't get there, I take up the slack and go myself.

3. Where can folks find your shop online?
The best place to look is here in the Sunshine Market section. It will take you right to my Etsy shop.

There you have it folks, straight from the owners mouth! I hope you will join us this week at our online craft show. Click here to read all about it!

Snowflake: What else do you have for us Sunshine?

Sunshine: Glad you asked Snowflake!
We are starting our first event on Tophatter Monday, March 5th at 5 p.m. eastern time, so that is 2 p.m. pacific time for all you west coasters!

Click on this link to join us for an auction of one of our artists- Reflections of Kayla- she will have her Tiger Lily Thank You Card set up for auction.
http://tophatter.com/auctions/435

Snowflake: That is impressive Sunshine and encouraging to see such wonderful family love and support. Folks, you can join our Etsy team as a buying member if you don't have a shop on Etsy. Or, you can join as a seller if you do have a shop.

We'd love to have you join the co-op as a Buying Member too! Your support helps us to continue to bring you great activities and fun news each week.

Please leave a comment and let us know how you liked this post! Thanks for joining us today and have a great week!

Blessings,

Snowflake and Sunshine

Did you get it?? Did you Read it??

The March Sunshine Newsletter is out!! Did you get your E-card? Did you read all the great news??  If you missed another great newsletter then rush over to the website and sign up on our front page... you won't want to miss out on all the latest news, updates, coupons, freebies and more!

If you received your E-card, please be sure to use the link provided to head on over to read the latest news and happenings. . . PLUS, be sure to download your FREE DIY Project. . . then head back here and leave us a note!

Oh, and since your here already. . . Please be sure to join our growing list of followers. . . you never know what surprises are coming your way, it's the best way to stay "in the know!"

Remember, if your a member of the Buyer's Club, you will receive extra FREE DIY Projects along with all your other benefits. . it's never to late to join. . simply click here to learn more!