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Art by GardenGoose Etsy Store .

New Year's is over. You've begged, borrowed, and finally bought the Christmas gifts you've been dreaming of. For most of us, this probably means some mass produced item from any number of large shops country-wide. For many others, there is a newfound trend away from corporate produced items to the much simpler, American made items that once marked this country's greatness.

That same craftsmanship exists in today's farmgirls. You can find embroidered, knitted, sewn, and crafted items of quality and charm in many places, even online! Perhaps the best example of this is in the collective online community known as Farm Girl Flair.

What exactly is The Farmgirl's Flair Group? The simple answer is that it is a part of the large online craftmarket community known as Etsy.com. Ask any of it's participants, however, and a much more pertinant answer quickly becomes clear: it is a sisterhood of women from many places who claim the "Farmgirl" ethic. Some are lifelong farmgirls, creating works of embroidery, sewing, soapmaking and more on their own farms. Others are farmgirls in their hearts, aspiring to living the farmgirl life, even if no barns or acreage exist in their lives. Mostly, these farmgirls are friends and colleagues, rallying around each other with wit and wisdom on in the subject of "Homespun Crafting."

It's accomodating leader, Kay Butler, enthusiastically aides each member to success with advice, humor, and charm. Besides tending her own Etsy business, The Rustic Cottage, she monitors the Farmgirl Flair Forum. In her own words, she describes the story of how the Etsy Farmgirl Flair Team began:

"Several Farmgirls from MaryJanes Farm Forum had expressed a need for help to promote and grow their businesses. I had been a part of a seller's group on eBay and thought an Etsy Team would work for Farmgirls. So I posted a topic and people started joining. The goal of the group is to support each other, network, share ideas, and encourage each other while building our businesses on Etsy. It has grown into much more than that as we are all becoming good friends and each other's cheerleaders. Farmgirl Flair Etsy Team is the best!"

So, again, we start 2008 with 8 GREAT Farmgirl Flair Businesses. Each provides unique and varied goods and services. We also encourage you to check out the MUCH LARGER, and complete, list of Farmgirls at the OFFICIAL Farmgirl Flair website:

Auntie Em's House
An Introduction....

I love to sew! I grew up on a farm and my way of relaxing since grade school has to been to sew and create new things. In my shop you will find more than just the basics but also some rather unique solutions only a farmer's daughter would think of trying.

My business started by sewing clothes for my daughter and making gifts for my friends and family. Soon they were asking me to make them one of "these" or one of "those" that they just love. The next thing I knew I went from being a stay at home mom to a busy WAHM - now with a little one on the way!

My goals for 2008 are simply to keep sewing, creating and enjoying life.
http://auntieemshouse.etsy.com
http://auntieemshouse.blogspot.com

Bebe Bella
An Introduction..

Bebe Bella...essentials by a mama for a mama...

We lived in LA when I was pregnant and I had a very difficult time with the conventional wisdom about what a family needed for a new baby. There was so much pressure to buy, buy, buy and I longed for fewer, finer things that were handcrafted from natural materials for my new baby.

Unable to find them I taught myself to sew by making a small quilt just before we moved back to the Northwest to have our baby. Once I started making slings, changing pads and hand knit toys, friends took notice and began placing

orders. Before I knew it I had a business and this is my fifth year outfitting families all over the country!

I make organic baby slings that include patterns for personal use, nursing pads, moon pads, waldorf-inspired dolls and natural toys. It is work that I do with my children at my side and we have fun talking about who this sling or that scarf is headed to and what it is like where they live. I do stray a bit from baby items now and then to include things like fine silk scarves, moon pads and hand embroidered knitting needle cases for mamas- true essentials if you ask me.

My Etsy Store is: www.bebebella.etsy.com

Resolutely Outmoded
An Introduction...

My name is Elizabeth Barlow, and I am Resolutely Outmoded. I have always had an interest in the "old skills" - spinning, weaving, knitting, handsewing, bookbinding, printmaking, and anything else that strikes my fancy.

I believe in living a simple life, and this is the inspiration behind the things I make. I am also a musician, fascinated by traditional folk songs, and a writer, and many other things besides. You never know what will turn up in my Etsy shop! But the common thread binding it all together is that everything is done by hand,

and as simply and beautifully as possible.

I follow the advice of E.B. White: "We should all do what, in the long run, gives us joy, even if it is only picking grapes or sorting the laundry."
My handcrafted goods can be found at:
http://resolutelyoutmoded.etsy.com
My music can be heard at:
http://myspace.com/elizabethannbarlow

Shadows of the Goddess
An Introduction

I am a multi media artist and focus primarily on jewelry design and fabric arts. I have many interests from farming to dance. I love to go to ren faires and use to merchant at SCA events for about 12 years. SCA is Society of Creative Anachronism --medeval re-enactment . I also collect old toys for a hobby and clean them up and donate them to various places.

I am a big believer in STARTING MY DAY WITH ART. This is really my outlook on things. I keep hearing this phrase from time to time and decided to actually implement it as part of my life. I do check my email and then pop over to see all my friends blogs. I love to see what neat items they have been working on. Then i try to work even just half an hour on a project before i go to work. It really makes my day go better. I find i feel like a zombie if all i do is work and work and go back to work without slipping into the craft room and refreshing myself.

I was really lucky and got to take quite a few years off "WORK" and create and then go to craft faires and events and sell my wares there and on ebay . But change is always inevitable and it was time to get a regular job . I find that even though i hated it when things didnt sell during the lean times that i was" SO ALIVE "inside and out. It was alot of work since i did the events by myself but it was worth it . Times have changed and i have been working for few years now at a "regular" job and i truly hate that i cant create like i use to. I define part of myself as what i create .

Greetings, I'm Patricia and my business is The Playful Farmgirl. I sell my hand made totes, checkbook covers, and some vintage linens (quilts, household linens, etc.)

I believe strongly in the Farmgirl ethic and in my Farmgirl sisters. I look forward to 2008 as our best year yet! My etsy website can be viewed here: www.theplayfulfarmgirl.etsy.com.

I've also been a professional psychic for over 30 years, specializing in pet communication. My website is www.petreader.com.

I have always loved bath and body products. I started making my own soap and bath products about two years ago because I wanted to know what I was putting on my skin and into my body. Little did I know that I would become addicted to making soap! The whole process is so fascinating and fun. You get to play scientist in your kitchen and come up with new recipes and scents.

Then when the soap is ready to be taken from the mold it's like unwrapping a present! I have spent hours getting my recipes just right to make sure that they are wonderful to use and good for the skin. I also make shea butter lotion bars and linen sprays.

I will be expanding my product line in 2008 to include salt scrubs, shea body butter, and shea butter lotion. My long term goal is to develop a natural skin care line targeting women with more mature, fragile skin.

Well, yes, it's the "storefront" version of Big Town Farmer. We are proud and happy to be part of the Etsy Farmgirl Team. You can see our products at the STORE section of our website, or at our etsy store: www.pumpkinpatchparlor.etsy.com