Good Morning. Ah, yum. There is nothing better than snuggling up on the couch with some good coffee and a quiet morning to sit down and type and talk with you. I am definitely having one of those moments where I’m feeling so full. Full of gratitude and excitement over the launch of the new magazine! Yes, we have a date!! It will be out Tuesday May 28th. (You have until then to purchase it at the pre-order price).

My hope with the Summer Issue of Homebound is to inspire you to tackle some new projects, and give yourself grace to do plenty of relaxing too. I am famously not the greatest at relaxing. As soon as I sit still an idea pops in to my head, which I have to jump up and try it immediately! Hello many unfinished projects and failed endeavors, right? This summer I’ve decided to be MUCH more intentional about relaxation.

I am very inspired by Courtney’s contribution to the magazine. I’m sure you know French Country Cottage already, but isn’t she amazing? I love her blog. It seriously just calms me right down and makes me want to go in to total relaxation mode. It also makes me motivated to entertain. And I don’t mean huge dinner parties, I mean being more intentional about making things special for my own family. And doing it in a way that totally satisfies my creative cravings!

I haven’t yet decided what my ‘summer rules’ are going to be to force myself  into more relaxation. Any ideas? I’m thinking along the lines of a social media hiatus, unplugging, lots of camping (which with 5 kids, probably doesn’t belong on the relaxing list), hammock breaks…….

Yup, best problem in the world is working from home with more passions, hobbies, and kids than I can handle!

Thanks again for all your support, encouragement, pre-sale orders, and just for being here!

xoHeather

where I plan to sit my butt lots this summer!

I told you I’ve got much too blog about! Sheesh, I can’t remember a week where I blogged this frequently. It is FUN FUN though! Today I’m sharing something special with you….

This class by Jennifer Rizzo hosted at Jeanne Oliver’s site.

I am in love with these Santos dolls! I can’t wait to learn from her how to make them. The best part? You can follow along at your own pace from the convenience of home. Awesome, right? I am obsessed with learning and teaching lately. In the past I’d beat myself up for trying so many things and accomplishing relatively little. But I am learning to embrace this and smile on myself for trying…..

Cause how can we ever figure out what we love if we don’t bother to try?

See you in class!! (starts May 24th but is up for a full year! You can read more about it + sign up here)

xoHeather

I’m signing up for this beekeeping school too!! I am soper bummed as my honey bees died  I know!  …… fail forward, right??

Alabaster Rose….. yes, that name does roll off the tongue so nice, doesn’t it? I am so fond of the name, the person, and the style behind it all! I am seriously considering naming one of my new piglets after her shoppe. (Melinda, that is a compliment… just trust me!)

I love this clean and fresh style. Yet full of french farmhouse quirkiness too. What do you think? Melinda Reyes makes me want to head off to Sherwins and re-paint every last wall in my home white. And those grain sacks…… ’nuff said, right?

With home and decorating it is all about creating a space that makes you FEEL the way you want to feel. Do you want to feel calm? Energized? Connected? Inspired? As my life get busier I am more and more digging the calm look.

I am SO excited because Melinda is working on publishing her very first Magazine, Inspiration Vintage which will be out in June. (I can’t wait!!) Check out her blog to stay up to date and grab your copy when it becomes available!

Thank you so much Melinda for inspiring me and all of the Homebound Readers! I can not wait to share her awesome work with you in the summer issue of Homebound Magazine. And thank you SO much for all of the pre-orders! If you’d like to order early and save you still have a few days!

ok, I am off to look for a paint brush and some white paint now. After I muck up with the pig chores that is.

xoHeather

(new PRV members…. so darn cute!)

Today I am excited to share with you someone’s work whom I really admire. I am so pleased to have Jami from FreckledLaundry.com contributing to the Homebound Magazine!

Jami is a laundry queen. I so admire her for that! Don’t worry, she won’t bore you with the ironing, folding and putting away. She makes it look fun and creates the sweetest projects out of natural linens, and repurposed clothing.

Don’t you love her sweet and simple style? It resonates with me oh-so-much. You can see more of her amazing work in the Homebound Summer Magazine (available for pre-order now!) or on her blog FreckledLaundry.com

(sending out loads of prayers and this today to those in OK affected by the recent tornado!)

xoHeather

Pre-order your print copy of Homebound Summer now and get free shipping!

Also, all past issues in digital form are marked down for this week only.

Top of the day to you! How have you been? Are you busy working on the 12 month challenge yet? I am, and will share with you my progress soon! But in the mean time… I’ve got something else exciting to share!

Yes, my friends, we’ve got a cover! It is so darn close to being finished up. I’ve decided to take pre-sales this week only! If you want to save the shipping cost you can order the print version in my shop right now for only $15.55. (Including shipping). If you have subscribed already, thank you so much. The subscription price will also be going up just a bit next week to reflect the new six times a year publishing. (Instead of quarterly).

I’ve also marked down all the back issues of Homebound in digital form for this week only!

xoHeather

I will be sharing tiny sneak peaks all this week….. featuring each amazing contributor. The cover work was done by Annetta Bosakova. She is so inspiring. Go visit her site now…. you’ve been warned!

Pre-order the Summer Issue HERE. (available this week only at this price). Next week there will be an additional shipping charge.

Do you ever wish you could put yourself in a time capsule and multiply it somehow? That’s how I’m feeling lately! I’ve got so much to blog about and share (my new classes, honey bee adventures, sneak peaks of the Homebound Summer Magazine, random musings) that my fingers, brain, and pencils can not quite keep up!

(I hauled my painting junk off to my mom ‘n dad’s to re-do this chair for the next Magazine.. so inspiring to project here!)

Whenever I’m getting ready to publish another magazine it is especially intense…. how do the kiddos always seem to sense when you’re really trying to pump something out? Good thing for them though, for the gentle (and not so gentle) reminders to chill and focus on what really matters. It looks like I’ll be pulling some late nights and early mornings this week.

But what I have discovered (especially as a Mom), overwhelm can be very intense at times. Why not be intentional about WHAT is overwhelming you? When I am overwhelmed with things I LOVE I can handle it. When I am overwhelmed with things which are BLAH my hair starts standing on end and I become another person of whom I’m not so fond of.

I’m not trying to say that we should bow out of all obligations. But what I am saying is to recognize what makes you happy and gives you energy. What do you do that after you feel MORE energized (not less). And then figure out how to do more of that each day. (even 10 minutes can make a big difference.) OK, I will be 100% honest here. I do not feel energy from housework. So even though it is essential for me to keep on top of it, it will never be in my DNA to perfect it. Instead I have my sisters help me out when possible. I also set the timer when working around the house and then ‘reward’ myself by doing something really fun after. (Like writing this blog post, or taking a walk with the kiddos, or checking on my new bee hive)

It sounds so cliche, but doing what you love can absolutely change your life. It can chase away those scarcity and inadequate feelings. Instead you will find abundance and gratitude. Not just in tomorrow or the next thing, but rather in today and in this moment.

ok, go have fun now. You are so worth it!!!

xoHeather

limited space available to sponsor the next issue of Homebound! Please email me for more info! I would love to help you get your message out to moi farmhouse loven’ readers! (heather@postroadvintage.com)

Well howdy-do my paint splattered friends! Ok, maybe you’re not all that splattered, but I am about to invite you to be!

I am hosting a painting class party here on Post Road (Lake Linden, MI) on Saturday August 24th 2013. This will be an all-day, out door, painting good time! I will share with you my favorite painting techniques. You will learn different styles and how to achieve them. I will help you to discover your own favorite look and painting patinas.

Are you ready to be inspired? Are you ready to learn? Are you ready to get your hands dirty? Are you ready for camaraderie and sun on your back? We will be painting in my yard (unless weather chases us to the garage.) We will be enjoying lunch in my garden. (Unless the weather chases us indoors.)

I can not wait to personally welcome you into my home, yard, and garden. I can not wait to meet you, learn with you, inspire you, and create with you.

The class is $85 and is first come-first serve. (Limited space available.) I will have a PRV style coat rack ready for you to paint! (Yes, we will be custom making these… you let me know the dimensions when you sign up so it fits seamlessly into your home). You will be welcome to use all of my paints and stains. (Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, Miss Mustard Seed Milk Paint, Homemade Chalk Paint, etc….) I will show you how to create and paint signs on salvaged lumber. (You will have access to my juicy ‘scrap’ pile!) You will also have plenty of time to paint your own furniture pieces from home. (Or start looking at yard sales for pieces you want to re-do!)

(the style of coat rack you will be painting… you tell me dimensions!)

Lunch will be romantic in my garden. And by romantic, I mostly mean delicious! Surrounded by aromatic flowers, veggies, and probably a few weeds! (not the illegal kind.)

oooh, it can’t come soon enough! Hope to see you there!

reserve your seat here

xoHeather

I’ve felt stuck in a rut with my home for a while. Not for a lack of ideas for decorating and renovating, but rather for not making the time to clear the clutter (and the subsequent cobwebs in the head.)

NO MORE!!!

I’ve decided to start a fun YEAR LONG challenge, you in? I am picking one room each month to make over. I will post the before pictures here (yes, BEWARE!) and I will share the inspiration and ideas with you. I will be sharing many of the projects with you here and in the Homebound Magazine. What do you think? And we’ll end each month with a parade of homes. A link party, or if you aren’t online you can just send me a picture. This way if you choose to join in the challenge you get to take part too!

I may have actually found a way to get myself excited about the idea of cleaning out closets! :p

I’ve got a hankering to get rid of everything and start fresh! (If you are local keep your eyes out at ReTreat Design, I will be dropping off lots of goodies there in the coming months!)

I wouldn’t trade my life for anything, but there is a certain amount of chaos that comes with 5 kiddos, business, hobbies, marriage (and I could go on and on). I am sure it is that way in your life too! (I can’t believe how ‘swamped’ I thought I was with only one kid and no business, garden, farm, etc…) Overwhelm is an awesome thing when it’s things ya love. HOWEVER, I am really hardcore about having some down time / dream time and consequently my housework seems to be the first to slide.

(what you can’t see beyond the lens frame can’t hurt you! haha)

But first….. before we get started on the EXCITEMENT I want to be clear…. this is a ‘do what you can, with what you can’ challenge. Which means there is a very good potential that I may bomb out more often than not. I will be doing only what I have/make time and money for. This need not be an added stress, rather inspiration to tackle something fun!! I am all about fun motivation, so we’ll see if this works!

ya’ll ready?

Here is my bathroom. I love the bones of this room. But it is too cluttered. It needs new paint. Maybe wallpaper? I would love a new vanity that is long enough to double as a changing table. It needs a shower curtain. Trim. A door on the closet. Once I’m in dream mode how about salvaged tile flooring? Or an old claw foot tub?

c’mon and tell me….. what would you do with this space?

Thanks so much. Please let me know if you’re joining in the challenge!

(a tricky room to photograph… but it already looks a bit better after removing some of the junk. I think the next thing I will do is sweep the floor…)

xoHeather

p.s. sale price good for only a bit longer on a Subscription to Homebound Magazine!

ah… Sunshine on my back, dirt in the nails, and manure stuck to my boots…… I am one happy gal right now! I feel like a mamma bear, coming out of hibernation. Though I’m not really hungry for anything other than SUNSHINE and FRESH AIR!

Yeppers, I’ve got sunshine on the brain as I’m working on the summer issue of Homebound right now… I can’t wait to share with you, as I’ve also been blessed with an awesome line up of contributors (again!!)

I am so excited to announce that the Homebound Magazine will now be published six times a year!! (Instead of quarterly). So if you are a subscriber already you just got a bonus two issues! For one week only the yearly subscription price will remain the same as it’s been for fours issues ($80). So if you’ve been thinking of subscribing and receiving some lovely farmhouse inspiration at your doorstep now is the time! In a couple of weeks the subscription price will be going up to reflect the additional two copies. (You will still be able to purchase the magazine individually and digitally.)

You can check it ou here.

Thanks so much!! I hope you have a great week!

xoHeather

p.s. can’t wait to create with a bunch of you HERE! If you’d like to join there are still seats available!!

Hello dearlings!

I hope your week was filled up with all sorts of good things! (Mine was a solid mix, with the good really knocking down the marginal!) Today may be the high point of my week though…….. my heart is knocking inside my chest. And whenever I’ve got that feeling, I know I’m on the right path!!

Today I am so excited to announce that I will be teaching at the Vintage Charming Marketplace in Forest, Virginia! You can read more about the amazing market here (including lodging, etc..) which is hosted by my friend Sonia from Creating Vintage Charm and Stephanie Humphries’s shop, From Shabby to Chic.

I’ve had a blast working on the content!! Watch the video below to learn more-

you can reserve your spot in the class here! (The first 5 to sign up will be gifted the next issue of my Homebound Magazine!)

Yes, we will be creating that toolbox/organizer (no woodworking experience required). I will be sharing my favorite painting and designing techniques with you. We will also create a mood board / dream board from a vintage frame (everyone will get to make their own of each to take home with them!) We will be talking A LOT about our dreams, how to visualize them, believe them to be possible, and actualize them!!

Wow, yes….. I will be getting really vulnerable sharing with you my own dreams and processes. What has worked (and hasn’t) to follow my own heart with courage. Not because I’ve got everything figured out, but because I’ve found that life is so much better lived with a FULL HEART. With courage and our authentic selves lying out on the table. And that trying and failing is always 100x better than wondering ‘what if’.

Thank you so much for allowing me to share with you. It will never stop amazing moi.

xoHeather

(my first day of kindergarten)