Oscar's Celebrity Gifting Lounge and Sunshine Farm Girl Co-op!

Drum Roll!!!!........Big Announcement!!!  Hot of the Presses!!!...................The Sunshine Farm Girl Co-op is going to be participating in this year's Oscar's Celebrity Gifting Lounge on February 24, 2013.  Woot!!!  We have joined The Indi Exhibit to make this year a spectacular year for the SFGC!  Gifting our products to famous people is not for the faint hearted.  We feel that our handmade products stand up against the commercial mass produced stuff any day of the week!

If you have ever bought one of our Eco-Gift Sampler Bags then you know what I'm talking about.  We launched our sampler bag program last April and 5 sampler bag themes later we have blossomed into a unique and very specialized product.  There is no other group or company on the market that offers full size handmade products for just the cost of shipping and handling.

I am sending my Secret Compartment books that have been embellished with beautiful wood overlay trim.   My daughter Kayla of Delecto Art is sending her artwork of the daisy drawing on note cards and a bottle cap necklace.

These are both available in our Etsy shops. Jeanpatchbymk and Delecto Art.  Join our co-op Buyer's Club to receive a coupon code for Free Shipping!  Sign-up for our co-op newsletter and get a coupon code for 20% off one of our Eco-Gift Sampler Bags!

If You Had the Power To Change One Thing......

If you had the power to change one thing in your life......what would it be?  I have asked that question many times of people in the community and their answers range from topics of worldwide change down to change in the community.   But, I'm not talking about things we can never change like crime, violence, hunger, sickness or global warming. 

Those are all things that will take a higher power to change.   I'm talking about personal things in your life.  When you work on "you" the one thing you have complete control over, it gives you a feeling of self-worth and a feeling of power.  It gives you the feeling that you made a difference that really counted for something.  Why?  Because, when we change something about ourselves that makes us feel better about ourselves we become a better person, a better friend, a better wife, a better mother.

And, when we see that other people are drawn to us not for what they can get out of us but because of who we are, a real friendship develops.  Tell me one thing that you would change about yourself if you had the power to do so?  This is the time to look deep inside and find out what you have been wanting to change to make yourself really happy.  

Okay, by now you are probably wondering well, Marsha what is the one thing you would change about yourself if you had the power to do so!  Well, here is it, the one thing I would like to change about myself if I had the power to do so.  IT would be to learn how to be poised and relaxed when I speak to a group, whether I know them or not.

The reason why this is so important to me is that whenever I know I am going to speak in a group my heart starts to race and I get short of breath.  Panic attacks!  I actually met a woman that has a business  where she teaches you skills for communicating with class!  I'm going to give her a call and see if she can help me.

I hope you'll share your one thing you'd like to change about yourself with me so I can get to know you better as a person.

Warm Regards,

Marsha  

New Item and News!

I hope you are having a great day today!  It is a nice cool day here in sunny Florida.  I wanted to share a flower from my rose bush with you today.  I often think of what it looks like at my friends houses around the U.S. since the weather is so different in the winter time from our state.  Show me your yard or plants.

I may not be able to grow a vegetable garden here in this sandy soil, but I have no trouble at all with flowers, trees and shrubs.   Can you smell that wonderful fragrance it has?  

What's New!

I introduced my new children's line a few weeks ago.  Did you see it?  I have vintage Little Golden books and turned them into writing sets for children.  I will soon be adding more altered books for children to my shop that will make great one-of-a-kind gifts for kids.
Now, here is what a friend of mine thought would be a great addition to my sustainable and useful product line.  Beeswax candles, but not just for looking pretty remember I said useful too.  So, here on the east coast we have Hurricane season from June to November every year.  
Well, how about having emergency candles for you car, purse, garage, shed and of course the house too silly!  Take a peek at what is coming to my Etsy shop today.  Be the first to order a set and I'll add an extra surprise gift of my companion product to my emergency candles for you to enjoy.

They come in a cute metal tin with lid and a set of book matches so you won't have to go searching in the dark for where you put them either!  I bought pure beeswax from a local farm in my area.  The aroma is wonderful.  Did you know that beeswax when warmed or burned gives off negative ions that attach to bacteria and mold in the air and drop it to the floor?  They work like an air purifying machine only they smell good.

My pure beeswax candles will be sold in sets along with a cute candle mat also made by me.  Visit my Etsy shop and pick up a set today!

From my Home to Yours,

Marsha
 
 

New Blog Posting Schedule!

If you haven't noticed by now I am not on any kind of blogging schdule, but that is soon to change.  You will now be able to set your calendar by my posts! Yay!  I hope you will subscribe to my posts so you don't miss any of the fun this year as I share my life with you.

2013 Blogging Schedule:  Thursday and Saturday!

My goal is to post twice a week around this time.  Let me see... it is close to 11:30 a.m. est. so, expect my posts at this time on the days mentioned above.  I will also be sharing my coop blog posts with you weekly and my members posts with you monthly so you can get to know us all better.

Please share with me in the comments section if you like this new schedule I'll be doing with my blog posts!

Have a great day!  Here is a picture of our day yesterday here in Florida.  A baumy 80 degrees yesterday.  Today, cooling back down and we will be in the 60's by the weekend.  My poor sinuses!   



 
I hope your day is filled with laughter and sunshine!

Hugs,
Marsha

Etsy Farmgirl Team Wins Etsy Team Spirit Award for 2012!

I am jumping for joy today!!!  Why?  Because my humble ltitle team on Etsy of only 40 members managed to make it on the top 10 list of Etsy teams that show just how much their team means to them!!!  As Captain of the team and Owner of the co-op I have been blessed with a wonderful group of woman who give me 100% of their support for all the activities we plan and undertake.

It is no small feat to accomplish what we did in 2012.  Take a look for yourself!


DID YOU KNOW.........Sunshine Farm Girl Co-op Won!!!! 

DID YOU KNOW.........Sunshine Farm Girl Co-op advertises as a group with the Eco-Gift Sampler Bag? 
DID YOU KNOW.......Sunshine Farm Girl Co-op published their first book in 2012?
 DID YOU KNOW.....Sunshine Farm Girl Co-op won the Etsy Fellowship Award? 
 DID YOU KNOW......Sunshine Farm Girl Co-op won the Etsy Team Spirit Award for 2012? Now you do!!! 
Want to be a part of our group?  You can!  Join us in 2013 and be a part of our great cooperative group. Sunshine Farm Girl Co-op

Here is what we have coming up in 2013:

*  Celebrity Swag Bag Events
*  Publish our 2nd book
*  5 Eco-Gift Sampler Bags
*  Teacher Gifts
*  Car Care Gifts
*  Gift of the Month Club

Turn your hobby in to an income with us!  What are you waiting for, sign-up today!!!

Congrats! to these team members:

Country Cents
CJW Design Village
Kallie's Cotton
DLA Bead Design
Creative Designs
Creative Craft Supply
Sunshine Sister's
Delecto Art
Wood Stream Dream
Wood Stream Papery
Pages of Ages
Dala Designed
Printed Words of Wisdom
Hillsidebees
Sharon's Candle Shop
Peace O Cake
The Garden Garage
Murray Designs
Sweet Ties Hair Ties
Quilted With Prayer
Forest Pure
RT Styles
Michelle Rose Boutique
Wee Princess
Idemas Gifts
Carla's Creative Corner
Biscotti Queeen
Eastwood Designs NH
Jeanpatch by MK
Femmes Leigh
Printed Bible Games
Fractek Designs 
   

Sending you Best Wishes!!!

Marsha Jaramillo
Owner       

 

Watkins Fragrance Free Laundry Detergent & O Magazine

O The Oprah Magazine (circ: 2,461,464) provides women with information and tools needed to follow and reach their dreams and lead a more fulfilling life. Content offers stories and ideas stamped with Oprah's unique vision on health, fitness, personal finance, careers, finance, relationships, self-discovery, beauty, fashion, home design, books and food. Gives readers the "you can do it" message, trumpeting individuals' triumphs over adversity.

Watkins Fragrance Free Laundry Detergent in O Magazine!

We're happy to share that Watkins Fragrance Free Laundry Detergent will be featured in the December issue of O The Oprah Magazine in their "December Beauty Forecast." The article offers recommendations on smart ways to defy the effects of winter weather. There is a great image of the product featured next to tips about updating your laundry routine, including switching to fragrance-free laundry detergent.

You can buy this product on my website! Click Here!  I use this myself and for my family the lemon scented one is fantastic!  A very mild lemon smell that leaves your clothes fresh and clean.

My Etsy Team Wins Etsy Fellowship Grant!!!

I am shouting this from the rooftops!!!  I am the Captain of the Sunshine Farm Girl Co-op Etsy Team.  We are a small team of 38  members, but we are strong, motivated and supportive of each other.  I keep my team busy with activities in our weekly training classes on Facebook.  They never complain that they can't keep up, they pull up their bootstraps and plow right on through the task at hand.

With a team like that I was moved to apply for the Etsy Fellowship Grant in September 2012.  I had no idea whether our little team would matter to Etsy Admin folks, but it was worth the chance of at least putting ourselves in front on them and to say 'We are here'!

When I first received the email with the subject: 'Your teams fellowship grant application,' my heart skipped at beat.  I said a prayer and kept calm deciding no matter what it said it was at least a response.  Well, I could have been blown over with a feather when I read that they wanted to get more information about our team activites.  A phone appointment was set and suddenly I was astir with all kinds of emotions.  

I could not spill the beans until I knew for sure if we were going to get a grant or not for our fundraiser.  Well, today Etsy sent me the funds so that we could place our order and get our fundraiser rolling!!!  Wahoo!!!!

Get ready for the first in a series of books from the Sunshine Farm Girl Co-op team.  It will be available for sell on our website in a few weeks.  It is a recipe, tips and diy project book rolled into one!!!  All the members of the co-op contributed so you'll get to visit each of their shops as you read each page.

I am so proud of my team and hope you will support our fundraiser by buying one of our first books.

Please let me hear your thoughts about our great news!!!!  Leave a comment here for us!!!

To join our co-op visit SUNSHINE FARM GIRL CO-OP!

Many Blessings,

Marsha Jaramillo
Owner

Special Shopping Discount Code From Sunshine Farm Girl Co-op!

  I wanted to show you a sneak peak at my new children's product line coming soon to my Jeanpatchbymk shop!  You can use the special coupon code above to pre-order your children's mixed media art journal.  They are absolutely adorable!  Tons of pockets for little hands to reach in and pull out a fun project.  Lots of special surprises on each page.  There is even a chalkboard!  I used vintage Little Golden Books and altered them into these fun activity centers for kids of ages 5 and up!  

 

Each art journal comes with my own mini handmade book as seen at the bottom left side.  These are all unique and one of a kind.  I also do custom themes and colors.  If you would like a great fun sustainable gift for the little one in your life I'd be happy to make it for you.

 

Getting Started on YouTube

To YouTube and Beyond!!!

Do you YouTube?  If not, it is a great way to promote your business or a great place to show off your DIY projects.  Do you know how to add the little share buttons at the bottom of the posts here on Blogger?  You can make a video about how to do that and it will get tons of views and likes.  From there you can just keep adding more videos and the next thing you know you are popular and go viral.  

I had no idea what I needed to do other than have a web cam or camcorder.  I first googled "How to make a video on YouTube with your laptop".  There was a great YouTube video done that showed exactly how to get started.  It did take a little time for me to figure out how to upload it and find it in my documents file.  But, after that little research I was 'live' on YouTube!

I've made two videos so far.  One is about my website, Sunshine Farm Girl Co-op and our sampler bag.  The second one is about one of my mixed media art journals.  It is so much nicer to see a product on live video than just seeing it in a picture.  YouTube even has their own fix-it features built right into the program.  So, if you are a little shaky there is a fix-it button for that!  If the lighting is not bright enough there is a fix-it button for that.

And, the cool thing is it tells you these issues so you can just hit the button and in a flash your video is now close to perfect.  Of course, being an amateur at this means that your first few videos will be like a "B" movie.  But, that's okay.  It is fun to tweak your location and gain confidence in yourself and then over time your videos will improve and it will show. 

Here are my first two that I made.  Check them out and please 'like' them and subscribe!  

Mixed Media Art Journal

 
Eco-Gift Sampler Bag 

 

If you've already made a DIY video on YouTube please share it here in the comments section.  I'd like to stop by and 'like' it for you.  Stay tuned for more of my fun videos coming to my channel real soon!

Thanks,

Marsha 

Join A Winning & Supportive Team on Etsy!

The Sunshine Farm Girl Co-op Team would like to invite all Work-At-Home Mom's and Women who work outside the home but love to craft and sew to join our Etsy team, click here >>> SFGCTEAM!

What is so special about our team?  Well, for one thing we are very supportive of those with health issues.  Several of us on the team are dealing with chronic health issues.  Others, have young children and have limited time for their shop but need a support group that keeps them motivated.  We have members of all age brackets too.  So whether you are 20, 30, 40, 50 or 60 you are a perfect fit for our team.

We conduct weekly classes to keep you on track and help you stay focused on your goals.  We never give up on ourselves or each other.  So, if you have been looking for a team that will support you and really help you grow your business then give us a try!

Be warned we are an active team and we expect everyone who joins to give their best to support our team activities.  Read the rules on our join page at this link and if you feel you'd like to give us a try then just apply and I'll review your application and help you get started on the best experience on Etsy you'll ever have!

We not only have our Etsy team but we also have a blog, Facebook Fan page and website all linked together.  We advertise on a national level on major websites and in magazines all in our niche.

I hope this has given you the motivation you've needed to get off your chair and on your feet and join the handmade marketplace called Etsy!

Happy Crafting,

Marsha Jaramillo
Owner/Captain  

A Sampler Bag Full of Handmade Gifts and More!

Today is Blog posting day for the Sunshine Farm Girl Co-op Team!  Happy Thursday!!!

I'm going to share a preview with you today of a new and exciting program we are launching in January 2013 on our website.  You may be familiar with us or you may not be, yet!  I hope after reading this post that you will be curious enough to head on over and check us out.

There are not very many people who can be thought of in today's handmade market that truly are giving a helping hand at no cost to others.  I'm speaking of a great website called Mary Jane's Farm forum.  It is a free forum where you can barter, swap, sell anything.  Plus, you can share your ups and downs of family life and business life and someone will listen and have a word of encouragement or excitement in return.

I've been to several other Mom forums and Mary Jane's Farm is the only one that I have had success on.  Why?  Because, it is a group of like minded women who truly care about other women.  I'm not saying that the other forum's don't have women who truly care about other women.  But, that for me personally I have not found the same warm and caring environment elsewhere.

That is until I started my own website based on that kind of warm and caring attitude.  You can really make friends with the women who are a part of my website, just like I did on Mary Jane's website.   I hold weekly classes in our private Facebook group where we share marketing strategies, promotion ideas and a word of support along the way.

We work together as a team, not against each other behind someone's back.  This is a real gift if you can find it in yourself to give for the good of the group. If this is you, then we'd like to invite you to share your gift with us.

At the present time we are promoting our (click here>>>>>) Eco-Gift Sampler Bag.  It is filled with 14 wonderful handmade gifts and direct sells samples.  All in one cute bundle for just shipping and handling! 

In Our Handmade Gift Sampler bag there are two direct sells products.  One is from Watkins Naturals and the other is from Thirty-One Gifts.  You'll have to buy a bag to find out what the other 12 full size handmade gifts are.  I can promise you that you won't be disappointed.

I promised you a preview of our new program coming in January 2013.  Here is a picture of one of the seller's item.  See if you can figure out what it might be about from the picture.

 I'll give you another clue in November and in December I'll make the big announcement.  And, give you a sneak peak at other seller's products from my website that are participating in this new and exciting adventure with me.

Don't forget to visit our website and pick up you Eco-Gift Sampler Bag today! 

Have a Sunshine Day!

Marsha

 

Etsy Shops and Sunshine Farm Girl Co-op!

Here are my 5 featured shops I picked to share with you this week from my Etsy team and Sunshine Farmgirl Co-op members!

  Murray Designs              
   It's A Matter of Passion
Sweet Ties Hair TiesThirty-One Gifts Rep Dawn Hernandez

Hillside Honeybees
Here are the 5 picks from Reflections of Kayla!
 
Fun Bible Games   DLA Bead Design
Creative Craft Supply  Fractek Designs


Sharon's Candle Shop

Here is the featured 5 picks from Vintage 50s Treasures shop!
Jeanpatchbymk   Woodstreamdream


Pages of Ages  Sunshine Sister's



  Carla's Creative Corner

You'll find all of these shops on our Etsy team and website! Click here!  Become a member today and help support our mission!

Want Free Gifts?!

How many places have you found in your search on the web that offer free samples of their handmade products?  They will laugh you right off the page!!!  If they do give a sample you might need a microscope to see it once it arrives in the mail!!!

That is not the case at Sunshine Farm Girl Co-op you'll find that you can buy full size handmade gifts and direct sales products for just the cost of shipping and handling!  And, you don't just get one product you get over 10 full size products in their Eco-Gift Sampler bags!!!

This is what came in the July Summer & Family bag!  If you didn't get one you may still be able to by visiting the website at: Sunshine Farm Girl Co-op!  

1. Sunshine Sister's offered a free bookmark
2. Country Cents offered a free reusable cosmetic wipe
3. Reflections of Kayla offered a free hand drawn note card
4. Jeanpatch by MK offered a free crochet dishcloth
5. Vintage 50s Treasures offered a free vintage fabric gift tag
6. Kallie's Cotton offered a free fabric coaster
7. CJW Design Village offered a free daisy hair pin
8.  Dolly Madison offered a free clay button
9.  Pages of Ages offered a free vintage paper art work
10. Printed Words of Wisdom offered a free French mini journal
11. Creative Designs by Della offered a free mini scrapbook
12. Creative Craft Supplies offered a free Thank you stamp
Plus, a free Watkins Natural Products!

Their next Eco-Gift Sampler Bag is now on sale and has a fun Tea party theme!  It is chock full of wonderful and adorable handmade and direct sales products that will delight you!  Fourteen in all!

Here are the shops you'll find in the bag:
1. Country Cents
2. Jeanpatchbymk
3. Reflections of Kayla
4. Vintage 50s Treasures
5. Wood Stream Dream
6. Wood Stream Papery
7. Kallie's Cotton
8. CJW Design Village
9. Pages of Ages
10. Wee Princess
11. DLA Bead Design
12. Creative Designs by Della
13. Thirty-One Gifts
14. Watkins Natural Products

If you are a fan of the Sunshine Farm Girl Co-op and love their Eco-Gift Sampler Bags then we'd like to hear from you.  Leave a comment and tell us what you like best about these free gifts!

Have a Sunshiny Day!

Handmade Gift Product Review

This post is a product review of my website's Eco-Gift Sampler Box for April 2012.  I do a handmade sampler box 4 to 5 times a year with a different theme.  In April I presented a Spring themed box of handmade gifts from members of my Sunshine Farm Girl Co-op website.

Here is what was in the box.  

Reflections of Kayla - original artwork drawings made into note cards.   


Country Cents - One-of-a-kind sewing creations.  A lovely mug rug or snack mat.

On the left is a adorable handmade fabric tissue holder for your purse or office.  Made by Sunshine Sisters where you'll find more great designer fabric custom made housewares.


Finally, there was a handmade product by Jeanpatch by MK.  My very own sustainable shop and I specialize in altered vintage books,  journals, weekly planners and greeting cards just to name a few.  I made a drawstring bag out of beautiful bird and butterfly fabric.

Our July Eco-Gift Sampler Box is filled with 12 handmade gifts with the fun Summer & Family theme.  You can have your own surprise party when you open the box and take out each adorable item.  The hard part will be if you want to give some away or keep them all for yourself!


Order one for you and a friend on our website, click here.  As soon as they are all sold I will do a product review for each of the 12 shops that are in the box.


Please sign up for our weekly newsletter on the home page of my website at the above link.  You'll keep updated on all the co-op happenings and get to meet each of our 140 shops of our Etsy team each week.

 

Here is a sneak peek of the July Eco-Gift Sampler Box!