I’ll spare you my sunsets, but I just have to share the great vintage farm finds that come my way.
Take a peek at the ca-ute cosmetics bag Carol found on Zulily for just under $7.
With a tapestry-like pouch and felted wool flowerpots and blossoms, it couldn’t be ca-uter!
Zulily is a treasure chest of “sale events” that last just 72 hours … or less. You’ll find clothing for women and kids, home décor, and more … all priced to sell (many items are up to 70% off). Lots of unique styles, lots of kitsch, lots of cute! The down-side is you’ll have to wait 2-4 weeks for most shipments (you place your order, it’s shipped from hundreds of companies direct to Zulily, then Zulily ships to you). The up-side is that anything you order in a 24-hour period is shipped for just one $8.95 shipping charge, even though the items will be shipped to you from Zulily in separate shipments as soon as they arrive there. So, you probably wouldn’t buy this pouch online—by the time you paid for shipping, it might feel too expensive. But since Carol was buying a pair of shoes, a dress, a special-sized cast-iron pan, and a purse (it was a shopping spree, after all!), the one-time shipping charge was negligible.
At the least, Zulily provides lots of fun window-shopping. Carol’s hooked!
Winnie Nielsen says: I recently was with a friend who knows all those deal sites like Zulilly and constantly finds incredible bargains. This little pouch shown is totally adorable. Places like Zulilly just overwhelm me. How does one know what and where to look? How do all those coupons, codes and deals work simultaneously? One needs a PhD in Shopping to figure it all out to your advantage. Clearly, I missed those courses in life. Sounds like Carol, however, hit Pay Dirt this go around a Zulilly!
Winnie Nielsen says: This is a clever way to top odd pieces of vintage what-nots for a touch of whimsy. The old mug would be cute with sewing notions.
Big WELCOME to another Project F.A.R.M. (First-class American Rural Made) business, Heather’s Handmade Soap of Lookingglass, Oregon.
Heather Coffel (Sister #5853) says:
“Heather’s Handmade Soap started from a desire to help my daughter’s dry skin problems. Once I started selling my soaps, I discovered that this is actually a big problem with children’s more sensitive skin and in many older adults as well. Most store-bought soaps remove the natural glycerin, which provides moisture, but also allows the bar to “melt” faster. In some cases, detergents are again added … to harden the bars. The removal of natural glycerin and addition of unnatural detergents severely dries out the skin.
For me, making soap is a wonderful artistic medium. Each batch of soap is unique not only in fragrance, but also colors and ingredients. I also make a fragrance-free soap. All of my soaps have the same base ingredients: Water or Goat’s Milk; Lye (Sodium Hydroxide); Fats; Colors; and Fragrances or Essential Oils. Fats range from Olive, Palm, Coconut, and Canola Oils to Shea, Mango, and Cocoa Butters to Palm Kernel Flakes.”
To find out more, visit Heather on Facebook.
Winnie Nielsen says: Ohh, Heather, these bars of soap look like little pieces of art! If a person is not on Facebook, is there an alternative way to order from you?
Mary Jane, I have always admired the entire Project F.A.R.M concept and program. From the first time I read all about it in your first book and on your site, I loved how it helped people move their craft forward in becoming an entrepreneur and possibly self supporting. Opportunities for endorsement are hard to come by and this program lifts talented people upward when they are getting started. I love it!
Heather Coffel says: You can call me at (541) 817-2071 or e-mail me at hmcoffel@douglasfast.net. I happen to be running a special the month of June . It is 1/2 off shipping.
Thanks
Heather
Heather Sandoval says: I also am named Heather and also make soaps, though not to sell. We have an out of state reunion coming up and I am making a series of 5 soaps based on areas of California and their respective scents. Just made my ocean scent soap over the weekend, and it turned out lovely! It is truly fascinating to see the process. I do not have the patience to wait the 6 weeks or so for cold-process soap, so I do a modified oven-process soap. That way, if one wanted to use it the next day they could. It always is better to let it sit for a bit though. It is hard to do for me-I want to try them all out!
Heather Coffel says: Yes the waiting is hard, but I really enjoy how the scent make my house smell during the waiting period. I hope you soaps are a hit at your reunion.
Hi ya, MJ! Here’s the art I got from the Art-o-mat I found because of your post.
Here’s my friend and me with the man who collects art-o-mats. He has two operational machines plus a mini one for his private collection of the little artworks along with bigger art (like the steer below).
It was so much fun! Who knew? Well, I guess, you! Thanks again for helping me cope with the stuff of life.
Love, Karen
{Karen’s beloved husband is in treatment for cancer.}
Winnie Nielsen says: Whoa Karen, how cool is this?? Where are you located in the US? I love the little art works you purchased too. What a fun day you and your friend had tracking down this collector!
karen england, farmgirl #89 says: Winnie, we are in north San Diego county. It turned out that this collector and his collection is just down the street from me. So much fun!
Alice says: How wonderful is that?! Yes, MaryJane does share some wonderful books, places, recipes, people and things with us, doesn’t she? My best wishes to your husband, Karen.
karen england, farmgirl #89 says: Thank you Alice! Thank you.
Winnie Nielsen says: Speaking of old books, I am half way through my Mary Jane Holmes, Meadow Brook, and I can hardly put it down! First published in 1857,the story’s heroine, is based on some of the details of her own childhood and early home. The third publication, which is my issue, was in 1900 and the publisher includes this note:” Handsomely bound in cloth. Price $100 each, and sent free by mail on receipt of price.”
Nancy Coughlin says: Much as I love books, that $100 price tag is too high for this bibliophile.
And the winner of the fifth and final Milk Cow Kitchen book I’m giving away …
is … 
Karen Osterbauer, who wrote on May 15, 2014: “Come boss. I would make butter, cream, and homemade pumpkin pie with fresh milk awesome!!!! I grew up with cows, used to sit on their backs.” Watch for an email from the farm, Karen. Congratulations!
Winnie Nielsen says: Congratulations Caroll! You will love reading this book from cover to cover.
And the winner of the fourth of five Milk Cow Kitchen books I’m giving away …
is … 
Nancy Couden, who wrote on May 15, 2014: “My cow’s name would be Mammie. I want a Dutch Belted. My mother’s mom was Pennsylvania Dutch and we called her Mammie. I’d make buttermilk, buckwheat waffles with blueberries, bananas, walnuts, and plenty of maple syrup.” Watch for an e-mail from the farm, Nancy. Congratulations!
Winnie Nielsen says: Love these names for future backyard cows!
And the winner of the third of five Milk Cow Kitchen books I’m giving away …
is … 
Jill G., who wrote on May 15, 2014: “I would name my cow Franny, because I just met the most wonderful woman of the same name. She is 85 and she volunteers to mentor teens. And, I would drink my first cup of milk warm from the cow!” Watch for an e-mail from the farm, Jill. Congratulations!
Winnie Nielsen says: Congratulations Jill! Each day, I am reading it word by word and loving learning about all the information. This book truly is a beginners manual of all the basics one should know and look out for with the set up of a backyard cow.
By the way Mary Jane, I realized on the page about making butter that I could do that right now with a butter churner of sorts. Last night I was lost in link after link of Ebay options and store options. I am not sure if I should purchase a new one that I know I can use or risk a vintage one I can’t really look at first. Do you think the vintage ones with wooden paddles would still be a good choice? There are some adorable depression glass ones in colors that immediately caught my attention.
MaryJane says: You’re welcome to send me links and I can take a look. Main thing is to avoid aluminum paddles or a churn that might have rusty parts that the butter would touch. I love my vintage churns that are fully functional. Lehman’s has one modeled after the wooden churns. Good luck! Soon you’ll be meemawing it on your Florida porch. I know you have the frock already.
Winnie Nielsen says: Thanks Mary Jane. These are good points I never considered as I was so enamored with the look of the churner and the entire idea. Lehman’s is really the best choice for a new one but at $149 I was wondering if I would really use it enough to warrant the investment. Most likely yes. I guess the best idea is to try your jar and marble idea, taste the difference, and then decide if I would use the new one. The problem with Ebay is purchasing sight unseen, which is fine for collectibles , but for real use, some cutie might be full of rust, aluminum or who knows what else. Meemawing on the Florida porch reminds me that someone on the connection made your Bug Off bar from the Outpost book. Is is possible for you to do another post with this recipe? Meemawing on the Florida porch gets dicey in the early am and evening. There is a joke down here that the state flower is mold the state bird is the mosquito. Sad but true!
MaryJane says: Heehaw meemaw, mold and mosquitoes!!!! Stay inside and make better butter (free of the dreaded M&M). Watch for the June issue of MJF Sister Issue for bug-off bar recipe. Good idea!
Winnie Nielsen says: Good idea!Thanks for giving us the bug off bar recipe in June. I for one will use it till November!!! And one more thing, I finished reading your cow book this afternoon. It was wonderful, insightful, informational, and packed with so many wonderful recipes and related cow ideas. Thank-you for all of your hard work! I wrote down a list of things to try and now comes the fun part of trying them out.
Cheryl Moser says: LOOOOVVVVEEE your magazine!
MaryJane says: Thank you Cheryl!
susanne bender says: great winners
MaryJane says: I agree. My grandgirl did a great job digging into that milk bucket to pull out five names.
Jill, I love that you’d just want a warm glass of milk! My husband is a good sport and has let me aim for directly for his mouth when I was practicing. Results…hilarious! Congrats!
And the winner of the second of five Milk Cow Kitchen books I’m giving away …
is …
Kimberly Selders, who wrote on May 15, 2014: “We will be getting our first milk cow next year and I’m so excited!!! We will probably name her Sally May, and with the first bucket of milk I will of course skim the cream for butter. We are a huge milk drinking family so I’m sure the first bucket of milk won’t last long. Can’t wait to see your book!!”
Watch for an e-mail from the farm, Kimberly. Congratulations!
Winnie Nielsen says: Kimberly, congratulations! You are going to LOVE this book! The name Sally May is such a sweet old fashioned name for your first girl.
Carolyn A. Rewitzer says: Congratulations! I love, love, love the name you chose!!
ann says: congratulations!!!
Kimberly Selders says: Thank you so much!! I’m so excited!!
Buy props used in MaryJane’s books and magazine!
5% of profits will benefit www.firstbook.org, a non-profit that provides new books to children from low-income families throughout the U.S. and Canada.
Here’s how:
MaryJane will post a photo and a description of a prop and its cost along with a few details as to its condition here: https://shop.maryjanesfarm.org/MaryJanesCurations. It’s a playful way to be the new owner of a little bit of farm herstory.
These lovely vintage beauties are a lost art form. Grandmothers sat in the evening making these crocheted items for their homes. Now , we dig through thrift stores and antique stores to save them once again.
Winnie you are so right. My Mother and Oldest Sister crocheted beautiful items. I always that they would be around forever to make things for me. Not so my Sister died of compication from cancer and my Mother got arthritis in her hands while I was still a young Mother. Now I have only a couple of my Mother’s crocheted items. It is not the same to get them any where else. I am very proud of my Daughter who is learning how from her Husbands Daughter. Maybe she can make me something special. Love and best wishes
Beautiful! Looks like some of the linens I have at my house! But I’m pretty sure I would have know if you were here taking pictures of my linens!
Lovely!
CJ
Have many of the hankies my grandmother decorated with her crocheted edgings. Keep a plan/hope in the back of my mind to redo an old folding screen with those hankies (and more I have collected over the years) so that there is a constant presence and reminder of her and the other women who shared this particular talent.
Couldn’t agree more. It keeps them near us.
My Grandmother, Hazel Logan, was born in 1898 and learned all those lovely handcrafts as a girl. Well their farm had to be sold in 1955 and the lovely old marble tops on the furniture (nobody wanted them) were broken up and lots of her handwork was sold to an antique dealer. The only think I have left are two sheets with hand crocheted lace trim, and these I have given to my granddaughter, Shannon. I explained that these were made by her great-grandmother and she should treasure them. Perhaps one day she will pass them to her children and tell the story of who made them.