Lisa Souers Designs

spring love

a very laid back easter.

have my favorite girl and Mr. around...

you forget how "time flies" until you dig through old photos and smile....

 

I have to say, I don't really miss the "early morning hiding of the easter eggs before the wee one wakes up".  my tradition now is buying a "second bunny" days before Easter because I have already eaten the "first one" meant for my H.

 

super low key, but have been needing a "super low key" sorta day.

 

holidays for us are about family and hanging out together. 

 

there was alot of "walking dead zombie marathon" going on.  They chased me last night in my dreams.      stupid addictive tv.

 

i didn't even "work" much this weekend while my girl was home for the long weekend.

 

I probably should have as spring is here and it's tumbling fast with shows and fun just around the corner, but life has been at full speed the last couple months and a laid back weekend was just perfect.

what's really cool is the "full speed" ahead has been incredibly fun and planning for shows, junking and much unexpected fun as well....

catch me in April in Minnesota with my "minnesota girls, jane and sara"/

I cannot wait to hang with them and midwest rust and treasures for 5 days!

 

 

 then our yearly tradition ...Farmchicks.   This little show was just a handful of us 'years ago"...and now?  200 amazing vendors and people traveling across the world to shop and enjoy the Northwest best "treasures".  I stockpile like a winter squirrel for this show.

 

I'm not one to just sit around, so the fast paced of getting things acomplished, things marked off my "bucket list" is just perfect... these last couple months have been just that.

 

spring is here and I'm working on being ready to enjoy it with my friends and the adventures it has in store

 

xo Lisa

A Little Farmchicks Recap

 

It's taking me this long to find a moment to recap one of my most favorite weekends of the year.

It's all seems like a blur since the Big Show, but it was probably because I have been running like a "mad woman" every since.  Not to mention the weeks before the show as well.

You see, I have been doing Serena's amazing show since there were just a wee handful of us.  I think 6 of us at the "little grange" when this all started.

And now? 200 plus amazing vendors with treasures that I vowed I would not shop for.

* I only bought 1 item.  A killer small rodo-bin from one amazing dealer at the end of the second day.  (ROOST in Spokane... omg.  Check out that store when you are in Spokane!) 

This show is me and more than just displays and selling and such.

It's about seeing friends and shoppers that I only get to see at the show.  Hugs and laughter (and my friend Julie who takes the most amazing photos, captures me at my "most craziness" as we work through this weekend)

It's about madness and oh so much fun. 

And I thought we might "miss it this year" due to one special redhead feeling the need to graduate "oh so close to the FC weekend date".

And knowing that her bestie, "Hannah #2" as she has been so named by Heather would have to make the "hard choice" of finishing out her senior year and "missing the big show". 

 

And wanting her to know "some friends were thinking about you"

But this show has been more than just creating and selling.

It's about friendships.

And fun.

And having my "Minnesota girls" making the trek to be here and helping and displaying for hours on end. 

 

So by the end of Sunday.  Crazy pooped out, it looked like a tornado had come through our booth.  A crazy almost empty 24' Uhaul.

But super happy and content, not about selling.  But seeing everyone and reminding me why we do this .

Year after year.

All Grown Up

Seriously.

Where did the time go?

She's actually graduating the week after The FarmChicks Show.

And I think she's actually pretty "okay" with it...

Thank Goodness it wasn't the SAME week or I would of been on the

CRAZY TRAIN

I look at these three amazing girls and realize the power of best friends.

Through thick and thin, girl drama, boy drama (really, not these girls, but you get the picture of most girls I swear), and just plain "growing up" and growing together for so many years.

 

They have taught me more than they will ever know.

Alot about what it means to be solid with each other. What they have built will stay with them forever.

And most of all.

Never, ever, forget to have fun.

A Little Decluttering

 

Well, that was a bit of a misleading title.

It's more of a big decluttering.

I don't know the last time I have actually "seen" this side of our garage.  I am still wondering about "a random hole in the wall actually got there", but I am sure it is somewhat due to sloffing around gads of furniture and "useless crap" in this garage.

And I have to say. 

The "little decluttering" is feeling magical.

Even though I would much rather be planting all of these

I feel like I'm a fork in my junking road where , mind you, I really never had an emotional connection to "junk".  A few pieces.  Yes.  A few remourseful sell offs where I say "crap, I wish I would of kept that piece"

Maybe this will be one of them this year at The Farmchicks Show"

But where would I really put it?

It's not going to fit anywhere.  And I have no plans on opening a store where it needs to truly be for a front counter.

So nope.  No emotional ties to getting it out of my driveway and onto the Big Show.

So decluttering this year has truly been about just "getting rid of it all" for the sake of I "don't need it, don't want it, don't want it around, and I am not holding on to it for a garage sale, and would rather donate it to those who could use it" philosophy.

 

But decluttering in a different way too.

And today was very interesting when my little "bestie" text me a "one minute speech" her daughter was presenting today on "character".

You see.  I think "decluttering" also is about myself, the way I live my life.  Not just junk, but my thoughts, the way I treat others, or random chance encounters, or how I allow others in my world to change my path that I want to be living.

And then I get this text of the "speech" a very "wise little 18 year old is giving today".

 

I wanted to share it with you all.

If you say the word “character” to me, I will think of my father.  He is wise,
strong, authentic… but most of all, he is steadfast.  He is consistent.  My dad
is the same person everywhere he goes.  Abraham Lincoln once described character
as being a tree, and our reputation as the shadow.  The shadow is people’s
perception of who we are, but the tree is the real thing.  We must be in reality
what we wish to appear to others.  We see many people in our society today that
are adapted to cutting corners – who can walk in their surroundings and be one
person, and look in the mirror to find another.  Those with character have the
authenticity and the consistency to follow through with their morals, just like
my dad strives to do.  Like we say before our softball games – we have to leave
everything out on the field the right way before God, because at the end of the
day we want to look into the mirror knowing we gave everything we had and
remained steadfast to who we are.

 

Something to ponder while decluttering today. 

 

 

 

 

She's At It Again.

 

That Serena.

 

She's at it again.

 

Wait until you see what she's up to now...

 

 

Not only does she do one of my most Favorite shows in the world that I am stock piling for like a

fat winter squirrel

 

 

But she has this amazing thing called "My Favorite Find" coming soon that is the coolest thing since....well. 

You will have to be the judge of that.

We junkers like this sorta thing. 

Remember.  I said "junkers".

Not Hoarders.

That would have a "negative spin" on our little addiction.

 

"I can get rid of stuff". 

That makes me a Junker. 

I am in the category Serena calls "My Favorite Finds". 

 Not My Favorite Hoarder.

Hoarders can't get rids of their goods.

 

So after a little Beta Testing of her site...

I can't wait to play on it more...

 

And see what everyone else has been "finding" as well.

 

(until then, check out her facebook page to get caught up!)

 

So until then...I'll keep "finding" goods for June for The Big Show

 

I Don't Remember Names

I remember people's stories

I remember the woman from Alabama who couldn't even speak of the devastation from the relentless storms and the loss that families have endured without crying

Or the amazing vendor who one month ago lost her soul mate to Pancreatic Cancer and was buying "G" vintage Key necklaces for family members because "his name started with a G and I want them to remember him"

Or bringing "my Hannah's" little friend Hannah (as she is now so named H2 to the Big Show and didn't know names as much as I did and saying "those women over there"?  I don't know who they are, but they are the nicest ladies I have met....they are so down to earth and very kind and just very normal" . 

They were Serena's special guests

H2 had no idea.

They were just amazingly sweet woman who talked softball with H1, chatted about stories

just with them

And even before that when I was laughing with a customer over her as she called it "ridiculously small wrists and fingers" as she chose some gems, realizing I didn't know her name either.

H2 pointed out later it was Jenny Doh, another amazing soul.

 

And the story of the H1 and H2 laughing about the "gynormous cake run with Serena's friend" and balancing the 2 salads on top of 12 huge cakes and how fun that was to race through Costco on a Farmchick Weekend.

 

I remember the story of appologizing to Serena and her amazing husband at the Saturday evening dinner, actually "eating crow" for scarring one of their sons... as I was jokingly "giving Mr. Souers the bird",  as one of her sons, whom I still get their names confused, was delivering me "extra ones".

 

I remember asking the most darling "table guest" her name after we were laughing about her stories of "driving in Spokane and all those one ways"and not having a car in NY, you forget how to drive,  and "what is the deal with the Safari Theme in the Vintage Davenport Hotel"?  I remember telling her that she "really needed to visit the "other tower" and hook herself up with more Butter Brickle before she left.

I remember saying...aww. That's the Country Living Editor.  Another sweet, soulful person, that didn't need to have a "name" attached to her...just a great, great person, with another story to remember this weekend.

 

I remember this girl. 

 
 Every year

 

 Every year, she and her Mother trek to the Big Show, leave at 2am (did ditch the males of the clan this year) to come shop.  I remember her well.  And am always asking her name "every year".  They always stop at my booth first she says.  I feel like I am watching her grow up like my own daughter as I believe this is year 3? that they come to tell me stories, and be apart of my world.

Her name is Lily

(and I probably spelled it wrong as I remember asking her how to spell it and can't remember "one L or two?)

I remember my new friends from the show.  All of them.  They come back every year.  Wearing a piece of jewelry I "made last year" to show me, and "have to pick up a "new design" this year.

 

 I really remember my amazing "friend", who came this year without her husband ...  Right when I saw her I had to ask the question. 

 

 "How are you?" 

Because her story has carried with me for about 2 years. 

 

 "Cancer free for almost a year now"

 

I still have to fight to remember her name, but never her friendship or her story. 

 

I started crying as I met her at this show and consider her my friend.

 

I remember my Minnesota friend.  I still call her Jane at times. Because I don't remember names. She is not Jane. 

She is my "gut busting laugh out loud silly willy friend". She took over "selling for me" when I was trying to create a new chain for her necklace.

I remember her niece or grandaughter....my "friend" was so distracting with her "selling techniques" that I lost that part of the story. This darling girl was so excited to find one of my chunky rings with a Dictionary Piano image on it,

"because I am learning to play Piano"

I remember so many of you coming by and remembering you from past shows... I truely do not remember all of your names, but I do remember your stories, or pieces of them that are so impactful

I just remember, that if you just stop for a moment and "just listen", truly listen, everyone has a story. This is what the show is about for me.

 I don't have an emotional connection to "junk"

just to "people" that cross the path in my life

 

 Knowing that everyone has a story, I just love taking time to just listen

 

 So many of you made me smile this weekend, having you come up to me and laugh about "my silo story".... and your awe of "seeing it in person"

I loved hearing from all of you.

 

I just can't remember all of your names.

 

But I can remember your stories

 

Thank you for sharing them with me

Lisa

 

Come Find Me at The Big Show.....

It's Here

 

 

We wait all year for Serena's Big Show

 

 

We Create

 

 

We Hoard

 

We Pack

 

We Re-Pack

 

to fit it all in

 

 

We Design and Display

 

 

(image from last year's show)
 

 

We Bust our Little Booties

 

 

 

"Just for You All"

 

 

 
 

For The Most Amazing Show 

 

"This Weekend"

 

 

 So Come Find Me and My Most Amazing Family and Friends

  

(Say Hi to my "Two Hannah's this weekend")

 
 

 They should be out of their Fastpitch Gear and ready to work like crazy

(Our "second Hannah" has no idea what she is in for :)

 

At The Farmchicks Show in Spokane this weekend

 

I'm right when you walk in the door...main Plaza.

look immediately to the left.





You can't miss our

Huge Silo

(the neighbors are thrilled it's out of the driveway) 

and tons 0' industrial metal, found treasures, and gems I create

 

 
 

I look forward to seeing you all there :)

 

Lisa



 

 

Deconstructing "farm" art.

 
 
It all started with a text.

 

Hey.

 "We are cleaning out a farm and there might be a few things you might want"

 

Who knew it would of ended up to be "so much fun" in the world of

 

"Deconstructing Farm Art" 

(ok. not to her, or my neighbors, or to the little kids that lived there eating popcycles watching us, or to anyone else who "doesn't get it like I do when I see something I can create with")

 

Laughing with a Great Friend

 

Renting a Uhaul

My Neighbors again "Questioning The Sanity of The Girl Across The Street"

 

Facing my Fear of Clastrophobia

 

Appologizing to The Uhaul Manager for Being 2 Hours Late.

(Not for me being 2 hours late, for me reminding him of what customer service should look like and having a "back up plan" when his employee  shows up 2 hours late).

 

Getting ahead of myself.

 

It started with a text.

 

Then a fun ride with my great friend.

 

 

Then it went downhill after that

 

She got a gun.

 

 

(It was a bb gun.)

 

I got all excited when I saw this.

 

 

Holy Moly I said

"I want this"

 

She went

"Um Ok....I'll ask if it's Ok". 

Not what she thought when she text me.

 

Yep. 

Pretty stinkin excited

 

Text Mr. Souers.  "The logical one." 

 

"Um. Just how big is it" (he asked)

 

I didn't show him that picture right away.  I just said

"Oh...it's going to be the perfect Jewelry display this year at The Farmchicks Show"

 

He got happy. 

 But again. 

Mr. Stinkin Logical. Asking questions I avoided like the plague.  

Repeat question #1.  (how big is it?)

"Um. No tape measure sweetie, but I know we can deconstruct it and reconstruct it for the show". 

 "I have a vision"

 

Married 17 plus years.  Usually goes well.

I sent the picture. 

 

Silence.

 

Alrighty then.

Day 2 with Mr. Souers.

 

He's the logical one. 

 

 But I am the impatient one. 

 He's trying to "logically" figure out a way to take the pieces apart. 

 

I tell him

 

"Just Tip The Sucker Over"

 
  

 

I love getting my way. 

 

 Especially when it works.

 

It was rough going I tell you.

 

Not the right tools.  Torrential Rain Storm. Had to Face the "fear of clastrophobia" and had to get in the beast.

I usually dig rust. 

Not today. 

Not in a rainstorm and on rusty bolts that have no desire to turn unless I get "inside and hold them while Mr. Souers. is on the outside.

 

 

First time I am glad it's cold.

The wasps are sleeping inside.

Top comes off. 

Friggin Wasps are alive and well. 

 

 

Briefly. 

 

 Thank goodness I didn't wear "my other work boots". 

 

Those flip flops I usually wear are Mr. Souers favorite work boots I wear.  I thought I would be more helpful this time. 

Afterall.  I was asking "quite a bit" this time.

Still on Day 2 of our Desconstruction. 

 The question we are both thinking and still not really talking about is.  How is is really going to get home. 

 

We are getting it apart.

 

Sort of.

 

We hit Day 3.

 

Because Day 2 we had run out of time

None of the pieces fit into our trailer. And the rusty bolts have beaten us. 

Even with rust remover ( I would be a spokesman for this product I kid you not.) the damn legs have not come off yet by the end of Day 2.

 

 

But Day 3.

We are serious now.

 

We have brought in the "Big Guns"

 
 

 

A hacksaw.

 

 

 

And a U Haul.

 

 

*remember.  I had  gotten ahead of myself.

  Butt chewing to the Uhaul Dude. Back up plan if your worker doesn't show up.  Time's a ticking. 

 The Farmchicks Show is just around the corner. 

I don't have time to waste if someone's alarm doesn't go off. 

I did applogize thinking that something aweful had happen to his employee. But 1-800 customer service was not oh so customer friendly. 

I know.  It's my issue. My thorn.  Bad customer service. 

 

 

 

Start with an Empty Uhaul.

16ft. One.

 

Needed to haul this beast out.

 

 

 

 

Full Uhaul.

 

 

Then had to

Set it up in our driveway at home. 

I could be rich by now charging all the

"lookie loo's " that kept driving by.

 

I do miss living out in the country at times like this

 

 

After a "very loud trip home. 

 Thought we were being shot all the way home but the metal moving in the truck. 

 

 

 

Hannah was a bit concerned if we got pulled over that someone would of thought we had an "alien spaceship recovery project" in the back.

And that we might not make it home.  

 

Or worse . 

 

To the show in the next couple weeks.

 

I can't wait for you to see

 

"the finished product"

the Deconstructed Farm Art piece.

 

aka. 

 jewelry display in our booth

at The Farmchicks Show.

 

coming soon.

 

Hope to see you there.

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

"A LIttle Round of Applause"

A few of my little friends ...

 

Just want to give a little

 

"Round of Applause "

 

 

Okay, maybe they are playing a few instruments, but they were clapping before I took their picture....

 

To Serena.

 

 

 

Serena has created the most amazing Farmchicks Christmas Book that can only get us all in the holiday spirit.

 

 

 

 

Each and every page has any amout of joyful inspiration you might need to create a beautiful home with vintage finds and treasures.

 

 

And Celeste's black kitchen cabinets have finally given me the "Aha" that's what I need to do to finish this 1 year old project we like to call a

"Kitchen Remodel"

 

 

 

 

I'm not going to give it all away here...

 

It's your job now to get your own copy.

 

And remember truly what the Season is about.

 

 

Late To The Party

Farmchicks is over and done for about 2 weeks....

 

 
   
  
   
 
I am so late to this Blog Party post....

 

Not that I didn't thoroughly enjoy myself.

 

Or didn't get to pee for 9 straight hours due to over 4300 amazing people coming thorough the doors the first day.

 

Or finally meeting Deb from Retreat in the Women's Bathroom on that "oh so needed pee break" after thinking I really did know her from Facebook.

 

What a whirlwind of a weekend.

 

But you all already know that! 

 The pictures and stories that are already on blogland are amazing. 

Cake pictures, Ungodly amazing booths that I think were there that I never saw. 

Or Tiffany from Shabby Scraps, aka "Fancy Farm Girl" taking pictures and showing Jo from Where Women Creates around for 3 straight days has the gift of amazing photos. 

 

That's my real excuse for only taking about 3 real pictures.

 
 
  
  
    I swore last year. 

Never again would we rent a 24 ft uhaul and fill it and bring it to the show. 

 

Just Gems.  Just Gems. 

 
Easy Peasy. 

And create more style for Serena

 Yep.  Did it again. 

Ooh.  Britney Spears song just rolled through my head. 

 

Erase that quickly.

But just feel the need to fill that entire 3 spaces I just have to have each year. 

And fill and design with Serena her space. 

No, Serena dragged the Carnation Truck in......

A fabulous find. 

 She had to return it,  We all wanted to keep it. 

 

  And sell ice cream from it and quit our day jobs.

 

Okay maybe that was just me.

 

So Late to this Blog writing Party.  And late to the Chaps Party as well.

 

I was a bit anti-social there ....struggled with a bad headache most of the weekend, so tucked like a turtle and chatted with my friend Lana and gang. 

Ate food that I shouldn't have....

 

We all did, admit it.

 

How could you not if you attended Serena's party? 

 

After eating a cold Zips Burger that I was oh so grateful for...

I was one who didn't plan ahead for the long first day,

 

The Chaps food was to die for that night....

 

So back to real life.....

 

I started a Lisa Souers Designs Jewelry Facebook Page at the request of a few little buyers at the show...

 

Please join

 

Feeling a bit insecure looking at Serena's 6500 fans compared to my measily 29 :).  

 

I'll update my new gems there as well as here!

 

After the amazing show, went right to Couer de Alene to Hannah's Softball Tourney then off to a Garden Fundraiser this weekend in YakiVegas.... then up for air...

 

 

  

 

Then I think I can truly unpack, and really reflect on just how amazing the show really was. 

 

And catch up on the rest of my life.