Barn Sale 2015

Where has the time gone?! My last post was just before Halloween, and now it is almost Christmas! Things have been very busy here - baby's first Halloween, two shows, baby's first birthday, and two bouts of illness for me all within five weeks. Time to slow down!

I was so excited to get back to Gonzales, TX for my third Barn Sale after not being there last year; turns out this was my best show yet, and I had such a great time with all my immediate family from Illinois here to help. I didn't get a picture of my sister (she was working hard the entire time!), but here is a picture of my parents and little boy:

My parents drove down from Illinois to help! 

His mischievious personality is already showing! Here he is modeling Barn Chic Boutique's Milkbarn baby line - cardi, leggings, one piece, and even a burp cloth turned lovey.

This sale is in a small town, but it boosts major crowds and the nicest shoppers. Show hostess extraordinaire Suzanne of Rusted Gingham pulls out all the stops and really makes the sale an event complete with live music, inspiring fall decor, professional photography, wonderful vendors, delicious food (the chili and puppy chow were amazing!), and shoppers from all over.  The best part about selling baby clothing is getting to see all the adorable babies that come through my space with their mamas!

The weather was warm and sunny on Day 1, but a storm came through Friday evening and it brought much cooler weather, rain, and strong winds. I was so worried Saturday morning when I woke up and heard the pouring rain, as I had displayed lots of the baby clothing up against the outer wall of the barn; the top half has chicken wire and a tarp to keep the elements out, and I panicked thinking that all of my screens with clothing blew over and were ruined by the rain and mud! I was so relieved to arrive and see that nothing was out of place - whew! I got lucky and definitely learned my lesson to think ahead. 

My best selling baby line is Milkbarn organics, and they have the most adorable prints. The cotton is super soft, durable, and washes well. I love that they have expanded their line to include leggings, cardigans, and hooded rompers. This is in addition to their hats, footies, one piece bodysuits, bibs, kerchief bibs, burp clothes (which make the best little lovies), swaddles, stroller blankets, and 'big lovey' three layer bamboo blankets. 

I was so excited to receive my first shipment of a local, handmade, and organic line, Mount Zi, just in time for the Barn Sale. The trademark item of this line is the harem pant with knee patches - they are *so* precious! These were a customer favorite at the Barn Sale. 

These are so perfect for Christmas! I have just a few pairs of the fir tree harem pant left! 

Another new baby product in the boutique are waterproof bags by Logan and Lenora; they are designed as wet bags for all things baby, but are great to take to the gym or the beach too. The waterproof zippered 'petit pouch' is perfect for a reusable snack bag or for concealing pump parts in the office refrigerator :) There is even a waterproof clutch and I had one customer buy every clutch in the arrow pattern! The large day tripper tote is a best seller for this brand. 

I was curious to see what would do better - baby or ladies. Turns out that I sold exactly the same number of ladies' clothing and accessories as I did babies! My best selling ladies' line is by far Grace and Lace - their fall and winter styles are so on point with blanket wraps, scarves, two fit cardis, ponchos, lace extenders, boot cuffs, and hats. 

I took a 6 x 12 U-Haul to this show and it was filled with farmhouse furniture and decor; I still have some antiques left but my stash is dwindling and I am mainly selling display pieces now. I was excited to sell a few heavy and awkward pieces like the massive plow disc pictured below - I had two and a girl bought both. I asked her what she was planning to do with them and she told me that she and her boyfriend were going to make some sort of BBQ smoker with them. Awesome! Glad to see them repurposed and useful! 

The antiques add a lot to the Barn Chic look, but they just don't sell like the clothing...yet they require lots of storage space, a U-Haul for shows, and extra hands to help load and unload. So, Barn Chic went mainly boutique for Vintage in Verdi as it was my first "one-woman" show! Check back to see how it went! 

A big thanks to Suzanne and her Barn Sale crew for a great event, to the shoppers for being so wonderful and pleasant, and for my family for working so hard to support me with this endeavor. It was a great weekend! 

Have a chic week,

~Sarah

One week until the Barn Sale!

If you are in the Central/South/East Texas area, 1) I hope you are safe after all the storms and rain, and 2) I hope you are planning to come to Gonzales next Friday or Saturday (November 6 and 7) to shop the greatest Barn Sale there is! As I started the title to this post, I wrote "Two weeks until the Barn Sale!" - and then realized that it is next week! This time next week, I will be at the Barn Sale, all set up and having already done Day 1 of the 2 day show.

Suzanne of Rusted Gingham has been revealing the 2015 Barn Sale vendors on her blog over the past few weeks (she did a nice little right up on Barn Chic here), and I am really excited to sell AND shop at this year's event - there are more vendors than ever before and there is an impressive collection of handmade, vintage, unique, and funky junk available! You seriously could get so many gifts checked off your list in one spot, and support artists and small business owners. My own space is going to be my most eclectic yet, as I will have a smattering of Christmas decor, a new crop of antiques (freshly picked from the Third Sunday Market in Bloomington, IL this month), as well as ladies clothing (lots of new fall looks from Grace & Lace) and TONS of adorable baby clothing and accessories - including the launch of a new line handmade right here in Austin! I am so excited to see how it all comes together.

Details:
Friday, November 6- 4pm-8pm
Saturday, November 7- 9am-4pm
$3 admission (correct cash is much appreciated- gets you in quicker!)
Free Parking
Food, Drink and Bathrooms
Covered shopping
 
For more details and directions, visit Rusted Gingham's Barn Sale page.

I hope to see you there!

Have a chic week(end),

Sarah

A Barn Chic Beauty

Stunning.  The couple, the landscape, the sunset, the sweet moment...this photo captures such a magical time in this couple's life.  

There is nothing quite so beautiful as a glowing mama-to-be anticipating the arrival of her little one. This pretty lady is a long time friend from my hometown, and here she is wearing Barn Chic for her special maternity pictures.

Jenny and Travis were on Team Green - they didn't find out the gender of the baby until the day she delivered! 

Congratulations to the couple as their little cowgirl arrived a few weeks ago, and huge thanks to Laura Kruger Photography for the use of her gorgeous pictures! 

Have a chic week,

~Sarah

Barn Chic

Barn Chic Boutique

Rachel Ashwell's The Prairie in Round Top

I had the great pleasure of staying at Rachel Ashwell's "The Prairie" Bed & Breakfast in Round Top, TX last summer with my mom and sister. It was so wonderful and I took tons of pictures to capture the essence of the property to share with you and realized that I never actually posted about this gem! I promised a post earlier this month, so here it is. Better late than never, right?

I first wrote about Ashwell's Texas inn back in 2012 (you can check out that post here), and it has been by far my most read piece on the blog. Rachel Ashwell is the queen and originator of shabby chic, so it is no surprise that her Round Top property is gorgeous and on point with shabby decor. I am no photographer, and these photos don't come close to doing the property justice, but I hope you can get a taste for the beautiful decor in and the serene environment around the quaint farmstead.

First up - the main house, called "The Liliput Lodge":

The living room downstairs for all house guests to enjoy. 

We had the upstairs suite, which has two bedrooms, a shared bath for both rooms, and a great balcony with view of the lane.

This is the Bella Blue room. 

Here is the Pink Primrose room. 

Even the furniture on the balcony had that shabby charm that invites relaxation. The house has such a familiar feel and cozy comfort about it. 

View from the balcony. 

There are four other buildings on the property to rest your head. 

The Cornflower Cottage 

The Bluebonnet Barn

Gorgeous landscaping around all the buildings. 

The Faith Cottage

The Meadow Manor

Where the breakfast magic happens: The Rangers Lounge. This is where guests gather to enjoy a home-cooked breakfast with farmhouse tables and perfectly mismatched shabby linens. 

Resident kitty greets the guests. 

Outdoor gathering area. 

This is a gathering area for all guests to enjoy in the Rangers Lounge. 

This picture epitomizes Rachel Ashwell's uniquely shabby style. 

The dining room. 

Dishes and wrapped flatware. 

View from the back patio- what a way to enjoy breakfast! 

The other two buildings are the Pearl Barn and the Shabby Shack (the store which sells all of Rachel Ashwell's goods). 

The Pearl Barn holds lots of special events - what a great wedding venue!

Side of the store and the rusty old truck. 

My wonderful travel companions!

Thanks for taking a tour with me. I hope you get to see the property (and this sweet kitty) for yourself one day! 

Have a chic week,

~Sarah