Howdy!

I love saying "howdy," don't you? People who know me know that I love saying it ... maybe it's because it sounds so friendly and so welcoming, and so playful. As a fan of "howdy," I was delighted to see it displayed in this year's tank tops made available at The Farm Chicks Antiques Show that I attended last weekend. So cute, don't you think? Can't wait to wear it.

There were just so many wonderful vendors with yummy offerings. I ended up picking up some treasures and thought I'd show you some of it. Here are some vintage quilt blocks that I picked up. I love the color palettes and the potential they hold ... not sure what they will become but I have lots of ideas.

I also picked up some vintage crochet and lace pieces, and some doll heads ...

And check out these embroidery stencils. So cool, don't you think? They were used in the past to create designs on fabrics that would then be embroidered. I can't wait to try them out. I loved finding the one with "M M," for my Monica.

And here's a vintage Big Ben clock, which I love. I've been wanting one for a long time and I'm so thrilled to have it. I've always loved clocks and watches and this one is just perfect.

During the event, I was so impressed to learn a bit of the history behind The Farm Chicks show, which was founded in 2002 with just a handful of vendors. Today, the show has more than 200 vendors and thousands of attendees ... who all share an incredible sense of community together through the show.

I love knowing that story. I love knowing that the community did not develop over night. It took years. It took lots of hard work. It took developing authentic relationships one person at a time, one "howdy" at a time.

It reminds me of a great book titled Outliers by Malcom Gladwell, where we learn about success stories. In it, Gladwell shares the secret behind most success stories, which is the 10,000 hours rule. Basically, that when stories of authentic, lasting success are examined, we discover that the leader invests a minimum of 10,000 focused hours into the project before the much revered and desired "success" starts happening.

So I'm back at home. Puppies by my side wagging their tails. Kids scurrying around with final exam preparations as the year winds down. Husband concocting good meals for me to eat. Loads of laundry being done, and lots of yoga for me as I get back to work and continue investing my 10,000 hours ... one focused hour at a time, one relationship at a time, one howdy at a time. No short cuts. Just hard and focused work.

I'll be posting more pictures soon to show other goodies that I picked up from the show. In the meantime, I hope you'll hop on over to Serena's blog and enter her wonderful giveaway for a chance to win lots of Farm Chicks goodies by leaving a comment by this Friday.

:)

Comments

[Marybethvolpini]

Thank you for suggesting The Outliers to me during our session. I had read Blink and I found both books very good. I love the stencils that you bought!

[Nikki]

It was fun meeting you at the show! Glad you enjoyed it!

[gladys hanning]

Hi Jenny! So happy we had the opportunity to meet you and visit a bit. Next year I hope you bring your daughter, she would love the show!

XO Glad & Celia