Moving Soon

Hi, dear friends. This is just a quick note to let you know that I've been hard at work designing a new website! In just a few days, when you visit here, you should (if we've done our work right) be automatically redirected to my new site. There you will find most of the blog posts from this site. And, coming in spring 2020, I will be launching a SHOP! I'm super excited about this, and I hope you will come along for the journey!

Update on Changes to Wonderful Life Farm

Starting a new business is a tremendous amount of work. But reinventing one might be even more work! As many of you know, I'm planning BIG changes for Wonderful Life Farm coming in spring of 2020. I thought it was time that I give you a bit of an update on what's been developing. I've spent the first few months of the year figuring out my "why" and doing all the in-my-head stuff...lots of silent days processing all my thoughts and making sure this was a good direction for me, my business, and our family. 

And just when I thought I'd be completely overwhelmed with the enormity of the task before me, I was chosen to be interviewed in a mentoring episode of Josephine Brooks' podcast, "On the Make". Josephine is a productivity mentor for side-hustlers, and I'm completely hooked on her podcasts! And did I ever need her help! She helped me sort through all the tasks, develop areas of focus, and figure out how to break the whole job into manageable chunks. If you'd like to listen to the episode, click here. I will warn you that the day I was interviewed was day three of the cold that turned into pneumonia, and I sound dreadful (but only half as bad as I felt!). I'm grateful that you can't hear me sipping hot tea in the background to keep my voice alive. 

Photo credit here.

Josephine has a great system that utilizes one of her 12-week wall planners. On it, you focus on three areas to grow your business over a span of three months. Then you break each area into tasks divided up and spread out over those months. After talking with her, I spread the planner out on the kitchen table with my list of tasks and set to work filling it in. It now hangs on the bulletin board in my sewing room, where I am gleefully crossing things off as the weeks go by! Currently, my three focus areas are: 1.) travel and sewing for my current Etsy shop, 2.) branding and blog redesign, and 3.) all the learning things (content planning, SEO, Lightroom, and on and on.)

I've also spent an enormous amount of time and thought on my branding. What is branding? According to Fiona Humberstone, the Brand Stylist, "Branding is everything people expect, experience, and remember about your business." It involves everything from the colors you use, to the fonts you choose, to packaging, to how your website looks (big changes coming to this one!), to your photographs, and more. Using Fiona's two books, How to Style Your Brand and Brand Brilliance, as my guides, I've been completely immersed in building the identity for my new brand. And, I have to say, I found it to be one of the most creatively challenging endeavors I've tackled in years. It made me want to pull my hair out and made me euphorically happy...sometimes all in one day! 

When I was satisfied with my work on the branding, I created a branding guide and a mood board. I am absolutely thrilled with my mood board and how it perfectly expresses my brand! And the branding guide is now in the hands of the talented graphic designer I've hired to design a logo!

That's a little sneak peek at what's been happening behind the scenes here at Wonderful Life Farm. Here are some useful links, if you are creating or recreating your own business:

- to read more about my journey, click here

- Josephine Brooks, productivity mentor to side-hustlers.

- Josephine Brooks' 12-week wall planner

- Josephine Brooks' podcast, "On the Make"

- Fiona Humberstone, The Brand Stylist

- How to Style Your Brand by Fiona Humberstone

- Brand Brilliance by Fiona Humberstone

Changing Directions

This is where I've been the last few months. Well, I've been here and completely lost in my head. So many afternoons spent this winter, cozied up by the fire with a cup of hot chocolate and reading, reading, reading. Thinking and pondering and talking it all over with family.

I’ve been immensely challenged to shake things up! I’ve done all the inward processing and I’m pushing the self-doubt behind and starting to vocalize a bit of my dreams and plans! Although I love my Etsy shop, I realize that there’s a greater WHY behind what I do...that I LOVE creating happy memories for my friends and family! Hoping to transition off of Etsy and open my own online shop by spring 2020 focused around helping people to create happy memories for the people they love!

I may be a little less present here for the rest of the year while I make this big transition. But I hope that when I do post, it will be more of what I do best and a whole lot less of whatever's on my mind that night. But mostly, I hope it's more of what you want and need!

(And don't worry, I will still be making and stocking the shop with costumes through October/November of this year.)

And in very exciting-slightly scary news(!), this Friday I’m being interviewed by Josephine Brooks, a British productivity coach, for an episode for her podcast on the topic of pivoting my business!

(P.S. You may also note a name change. When I first starting blogging years and years ago, our children were young and I wanted to protect their privacy. But now they all go by their own names online, so I'm making the switch too.)

Love my Customers!

My day was made today by a lovely customer, who left the following review of the Revolutionary War Soldier Costume she purchased for her son! My customers are the BEST!

This costume is beautifully made. The fabrics are high-quality, the craftswomanship is excellent and the finishes (buttons, etc.) are high-quality. The design is expertly done to perfectly evoke the era but still be functional and play-worthy. We wanted a costume that would do all of that because our now-12yo will really use it for play and holidays. He understands what accurate period costume is, and loves this.

Kate was lovely to work with: quick, responsive, a super-capable problem solver and helped us make sure the size was right. She shipped right off, even fitting a haversack we ordered last-minute and refunding that postage. Couldn't imagine better.

I highly recommend the costume. Definitely worth the money. Compared to similar items it looks like the highest quality for similar price points.

More of those costumes coming soon to the shop!

Sold Out

The busy time of school programs is open us and the shop has been hopping! Although they're sold out now, I do plan on restocking these two costumes in the next few weeks. Meanwhile, if you just need it now, check out the other options in the shop by clicking here.

Fully Stocked

I am happy to report that the shop is fully stocked in George Washington/Alexander Hamilton Costumes! I've been sewing like crazy, and there is one costume in each size listed in the shop right now. Click here to visit.

Early American Costumes in the Shop

I'm so excited to show you the latest costumes in the shop! These are perfect for the child who is portraying an early American patriot in a school program, trips to Colonial Williamsburg, Patriot's Day celebrations, 4th of July parades, and so much more! There are three different variations, each with a different vest color. And there are three sizes of each type available. Click here, here, and here to visit them all. 

And, I must add, that it was a super fun photo shoot with my own grandson! Isn't he a adorable? I'm not biased, of course!

Sale on Marketing Bags

Farmers' market season will soon be here! I don't know about you, but I can't wait for all that fresh goodness, the community spirit, and the thrill of supporting our small town farms. If you want to treat yourself (or someone you know) to a new marketing tote from Jiggety Pig, I'm having a sale for blog readers only! Just enter coupon code BLOGREADER at checkout, and you will receive 30% OFF the total of any regularly priced merchandise. Here are just a few of the totes available (many more to choose from in the shop). Click here to go to Jiggety Pig. Offer good until March 31, 2019.

Happy Presidents' Day!

Costume link: https://www.etsy.com/shop/wonderfullifefarm

“I hope I shall possess firmness and virtue enough to maintain 

what I consider the most enviable of all titles,

the character of an honest man.” 

― George Washington

Winter White

We had a delightfully snowy day this week. I was giddy that I got to spend the whole day at home...sewing...and watching the snow fall. My little helper seemed quite fascinated by it too and spent a lot of time looking out the window and cocking his head side to side.

Everything outside was white. And everything on my work table was white...ripples of white linen. I'm working on finishing up nine new costumes for the shop. Coming soon!

Presidents' Day

President's Day is less than two weeks away, and the shop is stocked with costumes! There are even a few haversacks still in stock, if you want to add an even more authentic touch to a costume. Click here to visit the shop!

Click here for the George Washington/Alexander Hamilton Costume.

Click here for a Revolutionary War Soldier Costume.

Click here for a haversack.

Presidents' Day is Coming

Presidents' Day is one month from today, and if you've been waiting for George Washington Costumes to be restocked in the shop, you are in luck! Just in time for all those upcoming school programs! Click here to view it.

Christmas Sale!

For the first time ever, I am having a Christmas sale in the shop! From now through Jan. 25, 2019, all Christmas merchandise (stockings and sachets) are 40% off! No coupon code needed. Click here to go to the shop! Happy shopping!

Just a Little Over 24 Hours

Just a little reminder that cut off for Christmas delivery for shop purchases is 3:00 p.m. (EST) tomorrow, December 18th! Costumes, stockings, balsam fir sachets, bomber hats, and more are in the shop! Click here to visit.

A Few Days Left

There are still a few days to place Christmas orders in time for delivery before Christmas! The last day to order is Dec. 18th! I ship USPS Priority Mail, so your package will be to its destination in three days. And I can ship directly to your gift recipient! Click here to visit the shop!

Free Shipping

Just a reminder that all stockings ship for FREE this Christmas season! There is still plenty of time to receive them before Christmas! Click here to visit the shop.

The Scents of Christmas

Balsam fir sachets are in the shop again for the season! These make great small gifts for friends, teachers, secret pals, co-workers, and more! They can be separated and serve as favors at everyone's place around the Christmas dinner table. 

Click here for the full details about the Christmas Carol Sachets:

And click here for details about he Tweed Sachets:

30% Off All Shopping Bag

I've never had a sale in my Etsy shop, Jiggety Pig, before now. But it's happening! From now through Cyber Monday, you can take 30% off all shopping bags by entering the code: ETSYCYBER2018 at checkout. I make my bags super sturdy, so you can carry a heavy load in them...easily a gallon of milk and several other items in one bag, or a load of books from the library. Each one is machine washable. A great gift for someone who lives in a place that has banned plastic bags, a farmers' market devotee, or just treat yourself! Here is just a sampling of the ones that are still available. Click here to visit the shop and see them all.

Bomber Hats

The shop is freshly stocked with bomber hats, after Colette and I scooped up the littlest grandkiddo and went for a photo shoot in the snow. SO much fun! We discovered that, away from his siblings, he never stops talking! Not for two solid seconds was there silence. Hilarious chatter and non-stop action, wild expressions, throwing of snow, throwing himself into the snow, and all the antics one would expect from an active three-year old.

And to say a bit about bomber hats. Actually, I probably shouldn't say this, but...I really do NOT like making them. They just aren't that fun to make. But I do...every year. And I do it for one reason...because it breaks my heart to see a child who is cold. So, when I set about to make these hats, I created them with warmth in mind. How to create the perfect, winter hat? 

- made from 100% American-made wool

- lined with fleece and sherpa suede, so that nothing itchy touches their head, because a hat that itches will be torn off and tossed, and then they're not warm

- the combination of wool and synthetics creates a warmer hat than one of just wool

- ties under the chin

- comes in sizes 1-2 years AND 2-4 years

And this year, 10% of the proceeds from every sale go to support a charity that helps children and women who are in need of care.

Click here to visit them in the shop. Makes a great Christmas gift for the little one on your list!

Pilgrim Boy's Costume

If you guessed on my hint in the prior posting that the new costume was a Pilgrim boy's costume, you were right! Super pleased with this one for a number of reasons:

1. I adore the Pilgrims with all their hearts devoted to God and their trust in Him and His Providence.

2. The woolens I made the doublet and breeches from are just fabulous quality...top notch!

3. Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays.

4. My own, adorable grandson was the model for my photo shoot!

Click here to go visit it in the shop!