Creatively Made by Jeanne Oliver

Have you heard about the online class that Jeanne Oliver is offering?


It starts on January 9 and closes on March 31.


You work at your own pace ~ your own time schedule.  That's the beauty of it.

The first week is "Accepting the Gifts You Were Given".  


Am I the only one who hasn't figured out what my gifts are yet?  I hear it often in church, "we all have gifts, use them wisely".  


I'm in my fifties and the path is still muddy.  


Some days can be discouraging.  Today was one of those days.  Still waiting.


So I'm sitting at my computer tonight and I keep getting drawn to Jeanne's blog. 


"Accepting the Gifts You Were Given" keeps repeating in my head.   


So I signed up.  Paypal.  Simple as that.  


Something new. 


New year ~ fresh start ~ embrace the new. 


I will offer an open heart. 


Living is a form of not being sure, not knowing what next or how.....The artist never entirely knows.  We guess.  We may be wrong, but we take leap after leap in the dark.
                        ______Agnes De Mille  


If you want to join me on this journey, details can be found by visiting Jeanne's blog here. 


If you sign up by November 1, you get $10.00 off.


She knows her gifts.


She is inspiring.


She teaches with such enthusiasm and passion that it is contagious.


Now.....I can't wait.

Amazing Na-Da Farm and Anne Marie!

This is how I spent the weekend, YES, I said weekend ~ at the Na-Da Farm. Friday night Bo-Ho Ball, Saturday more shopping, AND the mixed media art class in the afternoon.  See?  The weekend.  Sunday was rest.


I left work just a tad bit early and took to the road.  Back roads of course, because I'm just that kind of girl.


Drove the roads between Dixon and Oregon, and picked up Rt. 64 in Oregon and continued heading east.  Just past my uncle's farm and Rt. 39, here was this little ordinary sign.  Perfect for this simple girl.

Ah, but there was nothing simple about the Na-Da Farm.  It was beautiful with nothing out of place, or it appeared that way to me.




The entrance to the pole building.  Look how they framed the welcoming "desk".  Check out the sign.  Isn't that the best?   

A new way to hang clothes.  Love it!

This is Anne Marie (she lives here), and Jeanne Oliver (she doesn't live here).  Anne Marie and her family did an AMAZING job putting this all together.  It takes an incredible amount of work making everything look just right.


I am in awe.

This paper garland is fascinating.  Who thinks of things like this?

This lady is waiting for the Bo-Ho Ball to begin ~

Love this metal FAMILY sign.  It set the mood.  I think it was exactly what Anne Marie was trying to convey.


I only have a tiny Nikon pocket camera but hope you enjoy the rest of the pix.  

Fifi O'neill, editor of Romantic Country Magazine was here both days to autograph her book, Romantic Prairie Style.  (Yes, mine is now autographed.)
http://fabulousfifi.typepad.com

This was part of the bloggers tent on Friday night.

Fifi ~ I think she is ready to head out.  So cute, she called me Connie Lou.

Our pic taken Friday night ~

This is the garden area.  Isn't it beautiful?  So tidy.

AND the flower garden going to the house.  Amazing!  Did you know besides her five young children (and husband of course), she has a new born too?

Saturday 1-4 was our mixed media class with Jeanne Oliver.  It was fun ~ 
What did I learn?  I am no artist.  But I suspect if she does it again, I will be back.  btw, look at THOSE tables.  SO creative.  I didn't want to mess mine up.

Jeanne Oliver ~ SO inspirational!  SO encouraging!  SO funny!  SO confident!

SO much energy!  SO talented!  Check out more of Jeanne's work http://jeanneoliverdesigns.com/

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THANKS so much Anne Marie.  You and your family are amazing. 


If you would like to check out more about Anne Marie, here is her link http://nadafarmlife.blogspot.com/



AND to the vendors who participated ~ THANK YOU!

In the "Shop".....

Polly Hood (French Cupboard)

Jennifer Rizzo

Jeanne Oliver (a Bushel and a Peck)

Beth Quinn

Jill Harris (Gypsy Brocante)

Anne Marie (Na-Da Farm)
Christina R. (Simple but Different)

In the "Market"...

Traci and Mark

Jeanine (ChiPPy!-SHaBBy!)

Laura (Verbena Nested Treasures)

Janice and Denise (Denise Adornments)

Outside Market

Eclectique Boutique - including a dealer of all natural goats milk soap
(from Plano, IL)
Carrie and Todd - (Hot House Market)
Diane Passi  (you can find her at the Kane County Flea Market)