Happy 4th of July

Rustic Barn Birdhouse

We recently got this Rustic Barn Birdhouse in at the shop. I fell in love with its rusty tin roof instantly. I had my husband attach ours to a post and place it at the edge of our garden. It was easy for him to tackle this project, as the birdhouse has a door in the back for cleaning. He was able to fit a screwdriver in no problem. It took him all of 20 minutes to complete, and it looks great in the garden. I was amazed at how fast the bluebirds came and made a home for themselves in their new barn. Home tweet home. Available at Farmhouse Wares.

catch of the day

While on a trip to the beach this weekend, I caught this guy having a fine lunch. I was glad he found his own snack, so he wouldn't be tempted to come after mine. Last year, my brother-in-law told me he waited in line for quite some time at the beach snackbar for a hamburger, only to have a seagull dive down and steal it from him on his way back to the blanket. It seems these handsome creatures are getting more aggressive, but they'll have to put up a good fight before I let go of my fried clams.

Happy Summer!

Happy Summer Everyone!

May you enjoy lazy days under blue skies

and long nights catching fireflies.

Garden Decor

Cultivating a garden, whether it’s packed with perennials or produce, is a labor of love. Some plants need endless TLC, weeds seem to win the battle by July, and insects can wreak havoc in the blink of an eye. But garden décor…well, that’s the fun part.

For me, adding small pieces of man-made garden décor, is like adding the final touches to a freshly painted room. It’s the easy part, and it’s the moment when I feel like I can finally sit back and admire my hard work. These little garden jewels, such as the cast iron Garden Sign, tend to put a smile on my face, as I stumble across them.

Some act as more than décor: our Rustic Wire Picnic Basket gets put to work at harvest time, and Numbered Row Markers look handsome as they organize little seedlings. Bee Skeps, made with natural fibers, add a touch of cottage garden charm, but they also come in handy for protecting small plants against the danger of frost.

My motto: Keep garden décor simple. It should blend into the landscape with ease. After all, Mother Nature is the real star of the show.

Wire Mesh Cubby and Coat Rack is Back in Stock

They're back! The Wire Mesh Cubby with Coat Rack helps to bring function and style to any room in your farmhouse. Its industrial vintage style offers rustic elegance, and it features four wire mesh cubbies, so you can store mail, books or bills. There are nine coat hooks, making it ideal for a busy mudroom. The wood shelf has an off-white, distressed finish.

Special Offer

Farmhouse Wares invites you to save 10% off your next purchase.

To save 10% just enter coupon code "new61411" during checkout.

Available today through midnight June 16, 2011.


Offer available while supplies last. Not valid on previous purchases.


CLICK HERE TO VISIT FARMHOUSE WARES

New: Vintage Style Black Striped Table Runner

Whether you have a sturdy, rustic farm table or a picnic table, this French-inspired, Vintage Style Black Striped Table Runner always looks relaxed and elegant. Made of 100% cotton, this striped runner has the look of old french linen without all the maintenance. Its warm oatmeal color and fine black stripes give it pure farmhouse charm. Easy to care for, it gets softer with each washing. Vintage style farmhouse decor never looked so appealing. Machine wash and dry.

hay fever

Spring is such a busy time in our little rural town. The only traffic jams we see are created by slow-moving tractors. Farmers are the move; gardeners are dreaming up landscapes, softball and baseball games send cheers into the night air. It seems no one has rested since March. Perhaps this is why I always love haying time. Though the farmers move fast, taking full advantage of sunny days, the hay bales seem to stand still and quiet, at least for little while.

Doe a deer

I spotted this family of deer across the street at dusk the other night. One-by-one they made their way from the brush to the clearing. There were about five or six of them. Every sighting is exciting to me. Such beautiful creatures.

Flea Market Time

Wow! This week flew by and didn't offer me much time for blogging. I hope to be back at it next week. In the meantime, I'll leave you for the weekend with this: Our Flea Market Section is brimming with new sale goodies, so stop on by. You can save up to 20% on many items. Have a great weekend!

Keep the Bugs at Bay

We've had so much rain this spring that the mosquitoes are out of control. Last weekend, I had swarms of them around me, and they seem to be the size of small cats. I'm so happy we finally have Insect Veil Spray back in stock. Just in time for the summer season.


Insect Veil Spray is a natural insect repellent. Utilizing age-old herbal wisdom, this effective repellent combines lemongrass, wintergreen and catnip oils with good old Soy Oil. Research suggests that Soy Oil contains insect repelling compounds that are very effective. No Deet, chemicals or synthetics are used, so this is great for kids and those with sensitive skin.

Galvanized Cake Stand Shout Out

I want to thank Layla and Kevin of The Lettered Cottage for making our Galvanzied Cake Stand a little star today. At the moment the cake stand is sadly out of stock, but we're expecting more in mid-June. Feel free to shoot us an email at customercare@farmhousewares.com, and we'll contact you as soon as they are in. I also want to thank Kevin's mom for sharing her Key Lime Cake recipe. I'm wild about key lime anything, and this could be trouble for me as I enter into bathing suit season.

eat your fruits and veggies

Now that local farmer's markets are beginning to crop up for the spring, you can start getting fresh, seasonal produce with ease. Those of you brave enough to tend your own garden know that soon you'll have a plethora of veggies and not nearly enough recipes. (Any new recipes for zucchini are always welcome here.) Stop by the Daily Green for a helpful guide to cooking up 13 different spring fruits and veggies. Make sure you sign up for email newsletters, as you'll be sure to get great tips for green living.

New: Vintage Style WC Sign

Give your bathroom door a touch of European style with our new cast iron WC sign. Used throughout Europe to indicate public toilets or water closets, the WC sign is a whimsical way of helping your guests find their way. Inspired by vintage enamel signs, this sturdy cast iron sign is white with raised black letters.

Just Beachy

Our Coastal Bayberry Soy Candle, by Sweet Grass Farm, is one of our best-selling scents for a good reason--it smells heavenly. It takes me right to the sandy shores where the bayberry bush thrives. Spicy with clove and woodsy notes, this candle creates a warm feeling. The best way to describe it is like being inside a rustic beach cabin with exposed wood beams, sandy floors that need to be swept and fresh saltwater air streaming in through the windows. When I can't get to the beach, I bring the beach to me with the Coastal Bayberry Candle. Available at Farmhouse Wares.

chicken report {no. 12}

Note to self: do not wear sparkly flip flops when tending to the chickens...ever!

Summertime Savings

With Memorial Day just around the corner,

we hope to inspire you to find time this summer to slow down

and enjoy life's simple pleasures.


Farmhouse Wares invites you to save 10% off your next purchase.

To save 10% just enter coupon code "summer11" during checkout.

Available today through midnight May 14, 2011.


Offer available while supplies last. Not valid on previous purchases.


CLICK HERE TO VISIT FARMHOUSE WARES

a fine farmhouse

I recently painted my living room, but I haven't rehung a lot of my old art, as some of the pieces don't feel like they fit anymore. When I go through all that trouble of painting, I want everything to feel fresh and new. I've fallen in the love with the quiet simplicity and bold green background of this farmhouse painting. I found it via Illustrator, Julia Icenogle's blog. It keeps haunting me.

Got Milk Bottles?

The Philadelphia Inquirer knows a good thing when they see it. Our Glass Milk Bottles were recently featured in their Market Basket section, and we couldn't be happier that the good word is spreading about these charming, yet practical milk bottles.

what a face

Look at our boy, Fluffy. Doesn't he just steal your heart? He stole our hearts when he came as a stray around this time a few years ago. He's a real charmer, too. I just love that pink nose.

New: Square Enamel Cake Stands

If you fell in love with our round Enamel Cake Stands, with their sweet scalloped edges, then you'll be happy to know that they are now also available with a new square shape. Entertain with these elegant Square Enamel Cake Stands. The scalloped edges add a touch of vintage style, and they are perfect for displaying your creative creations. Use them separately or layer as shown. Great for cheese, cookies, cakes and more.

Easter Time

I'll be taking a little break from blogging to celebrate Easter with family and friends. Hope you all have a wonderful weekend, too!

spring cleaning

It's that time of year again when we throw open the windows and give the house a good scrub down. To lift your mood and make your house smell fresh and clean, try the Farmhouse Fresh White Lilac line of home goods. This environmentally friendly line, by Sweet Grass Farm, includes laundry care products, dish soap, linen spray, furniture wax, an all-purpose spray cleaner and more.

happy times

Spring is starting to bloom around here. After another round of snow last week, Mother Nature is finally giving us a break with a blast of warmer weather. My daughter and I had a bet as to when our piles of snow in the driveway would melt. She guessed April 11 back in early March. I scoffed, and more optimistically chose April 1. Well, yesterday there was a little sandy patch of snow when we went down to the bus. It was gone by afternoon. April 11 on the spot. She is quite pleased with herself, and I am pleased that this new warm air is making my gardens begin to unfurl with happy colors.

Today...

seems like a good day to play hooky and search for beach glass and shells.

Rustic Horse Door Stop

Our farmhouse has become a little crooked over the years. If you drop a marble on the living room floor, it will roll all the way to the other end of the room. Crooked also means doors never seem to stay put when they are left open. I need door stops in several rooms, so we can avoid cracking our baby toes on the bottom edges when we walk by. This Rustic Horse Door Stop is perfect for keeping doors quiet and still, especially on breezy days. Made of cast iron, the Rustic Horse Door Stop makes a handsome helper with plenty of farmhouse style. The handle makes it easy to pick it up and move it around as needed.

Vintage Style Bait Bucket Lantern

Our new Bait Bucket Lantern is well-suited for easy rustic living. Inspired by vintage bait buckets, it captures the feeling of a day spent walking dusty country roads, sitting by cool streams, waiting to catch the biggest fish ever.

Wire Mesh Cubby and Coat Rack is Back

I'm pleased to tell you that our Wire Mesh Cubby and Coat Rack is back in stock! They went so fast last time. I just love its industrial vintage style, and it features four wire mesh cubbies, so you can store mail, books or bills. There are nine coat hooks, making it ideal for a busy mudroom. The wood shelf has an off-white, distressed finish.

what's wrong with this picture?

Remember naughty Katrina? I told you about how she was stalking this birdhouse. As I mentioned, a family of bluebirds is living in there. I was finally able to capture one of the bluebird parents. Amazing color on this sweet little bird. So far, Katrina has not gone back up. Let's keep our fingers crossed that the birds prevail.