Mixed Emotions

I am having mixed emotions about this blog. I created it as a place to post about my funky junk and Ebay listings. However, I am no longer making/selling funky junk (except for myself! ha!) and I closed out my Ebay store a couple of months ago. So....I think it is time to hang up this blog too. Life is so busy and in the chaos of it all, I am trying to eliminate and simplify things a bit. I still have my Swedish Cowgirl Facebook page, which I will post updates on for shows and maybe a junky post here and there. As I get older, I am slowly but surely (slowly....) learning to say, "no" and to let things go. I can't do it all and as hard as it is to accept that fact, (really hard!) I am going to embrace it. So, this will be my last cowgirl post. (For now. Never say never!) Thank you for riding along on this journey with me, and I hope it was as much fun for you as it was for me. Happy trails....until we meet again.

Landon's Lucky Magnets!

 

Landon will be selling lucky magnets that he made,

at the Farmer's Market tomorrow.

He's a pretty lucky kid. You might want a few of these... :)

Farwell Ebay!

Farewell Ebay! After much consideration, I have decided to close my Ebay store. I couldn't list my purses, because there were already 5,433,444 or so purse stores on there and I could not compete with their prices. Those stores buy by the truckload. Me. I buy one box at a time. While the hats and flip flops are cute and fun, without my purses, my heart just wasn't in it. So, the new plan is, (Alw...ays have a plan B! And a C and a D....I think I am on plan X about now...ha!) I am in the process of either adding a shopping cart to my existing website or start a new website with a shopping cart altogether. It's all a time consuming process but eventually it will all come together. Bear with me, once again. It will happen!!

 

Sissiton Horse and Buggy Days

If you are in Sissiton this weekend, head on over to the park for a weekend full of family fun! I'll be there with my purses and a few other goodies too!

Prairie Pioneer Days

If you're in Morris this weekend, head on over to the park for the 29th Annual Prairie Pioneer Days Festival. Two days of family fun and entertainment! The best part is, I'll be there with my purses!

Jamestown

If you are going to be in Jamestown, Mn on Saturday. (July 6th) Head on over to the Whitecloud Festival. I'll be there with my purses! Just for a few hours though. But, there will be tons of fun the whole weekend. Something for everyone!!

New Visors!

 

New Visor's for the Wheaton Farmer's Market!

Also a few coming for Ebay too!

A little sneak peak at what's going over to the the Vendor Alley store!

http://desireeschicanduniquehandbags.blogspot.com/

Big News!

I've got big news! Starting June 4th, I am going to have a permanent booth with my purses, belts and hats in the store, Vendor Alley in Starbuck! In this store are several other vendors selling new and fabulous products such as, Pampered Chef, Sentsy, ect... Also in this store are two other business. One is called, Little Angels Consignment Shop. A little haven for gently used children's clothes, toys, etc... Check that store out here:

https://www.facebook.com/littleangelsconsignment?ref=hl

The other is called, A Touch Of Class. An upscale Bridal/Formal wear boutique. You can check that out here:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Touch-of-Class-Starbuck-MN/109448009089378?fref=ts

The best part is, I don't have to be there! I just pay for my spot and keep it nice and stocked and they do the rest! Love it!! They are also looking for more vendors. This is a brand new business, opening on June 4th. If you are interested in purchasing a spot, (The price is right, folks!) here is the contact info:

https://www.facebook.com/littleangelsconsignment#!/vendoralleystarbuck

I'm so excited!!! Yee haw!

P.S.
For the local folks....don't worry. I will still be at the Farmer's market here in Wheaton, this summer. I've got enough to go around. :)

This Is Why I Cry In The Winter...

Yesterday, my dad stopped over and said, "Look what I found!" He then handed me a photo Christmas card that I had sent to him almost 15 years ago, when I still lived in Florida. Those orange trees were in my back yard! (I put the sunglasses on my cat to be funny. His name was Roll-O. Like the candy.) This is why I cry in the winter. I miss my orange trees. :)



Summer Time....

Summer will soon be here....look for new summer purses coming soon!!

Momma Tried...ha! ;)

Necklace Bling

Little new bling for ya!

 

http://stores.ebay.com/The-Swedish-Cowgirl?_trksid=p2047675.l2563

Visors and Caps!

 

Lots of new visors and caps in the Ebay store tonight!

Check the rest of them out here:

 

http://stores.ebay.com/The-Swedish-Cowgirl?_trksid=p2047675.l2563



Hot Pink Flip Flops!

Hot Pink Flip Flops

will be in the Ebay

store at the end of the week!

Piano Piece

I was checking out one of my favourite blogs today over at:

http://www.myrepurposedlife.com/2013/05/big-ole-table.html#comment-35957

and she had a piece from a piano that she had repainted and was wondering what to do with it. Here are the before and after pictures.

 

 

I too have a piece just like it and have been wondering what to do with it. I shared with you awhile back, how I hung a decorative piano piece above my fireplace, but I still have a plain one like in the photos here, and was stumped. As soon as I saw her photo and her dilemma, I thought to myself, "Why, I would lay that on top of an old trunk and make a table for the end of my bed! Well....(it took a few seconds) then it hit me. I have a piece like that, and I have several old trunks! I could do the same thing! How can it be, that we can see something so clearly and so easily give advice to others, but when it comes to ourselves, we are are just stumped? Life is just funny like that I guess. Good thing people naturally like to give advise so we are never at a loss what to do. heh heh....

 

P.S. I did leave my suggestion in her comment box. I can't wait to see what she comes up with! 

 

 



Wash Your Fruit!

This next post has nothing to do with antiques, junking, purses or Ebay. At all. But, sometimes something comes along that is just too good not to share. So, here is a little, BIG tip for the day.
Wash your fruit!!

Recently a friend of mine posted a recipe for washing fruit. We all know the horror stories of fruit and veggies being treated with chemicals and such, so I won't go into the ugly details regarding that! Anyway, it said to place your fruit in a pan of cold water, add a cup of white distilled vinegar and stir it up. Yesterday I made a trip to the big store and loaded up on fresh fruit. (After a long winter of sky high fruit prices, yesterday was the first time the prices weren't the same as a buying a new house! Well, you get the drift.) I have to admit that when it comes to washing my fruit, my recipe involves a strainer, cold running water and a good shake. That's it. No vinegar. Well....let me tell ya. Vinegar is my new best fruity friend! (BFF! haha) Take a look and see.

First I loaded up my pan with my fruit,

water and vinegar. Gave it a few

gentle swirls and let it sit a minute.

Swirled again for good measure

and then I picked out my fruit,

rinsing it off in the other side of the sink

before drying it with a linen towel.

The water was a weird yellow color.

At first I thought maybe the strawberry seeds

that were laying on the bottom

were contributing to that factor.

No. It was not.

LOOK!!!

You can see the chemicals/dirt/crud in the water droplets!!

I will ALWAYS be washing my fruit and veggies with vinegar.

I hope you do too.

Life is too short to eat poison.

Updates

I've recently made some changes in my websites, and I'd like to update everyone.

*I decided to close my Etsy store, as I just don't have the time or energy to keep up with the "funky junk" business. I am still very much into repurposing/creating. I just want to keep it as a hobby I enjoy and not as a business. I very much appreciate all the support I was given during this event in my life. It was one of those "live and learn" experiences. No regrets.

*I still very much have my purse site. I will probably always have that business. I love it too much not too. Here is that link:

http://desireeschicanduniquehandbags.blogspot.com/

I have a little fun blog, on which I share bits and pieces of my life, friends and family. If you are super bored one day and have nothing better to do....you can check that out here:

http://desireesiegel.blogspot.com/

I also have an Ebay store. However, I am finding it very hard to compete with the other Ebay vendors with their purse prices. So, there aren't very many purses on there. Just lots of cool fun accessories and whatever else I find fun to put in the store. You can check that out here:

http://stores.ebay.com/The-Swedish-Cowgirl?_trksid=p2047675.l2563


I also have a Swedish Cowgirl Facebook page, where you can contact me with questions and requests.

https://www.facebook.com/events/list#!/TheSwedishCowgirl

And of course, there is always email...

tdsiegel@hotmail.com


Have a WONDERFUL day!!!

Coming Next Week! What Do You Think?

 

Hats $18

Burnout T's $22

This Is Why

This is why I support small businesses. Being that I am one, I am all for the little guy. I recently started using essential oils on myself and my family. I was going to do a post on it, but there is so much to tell, I don't even know where to start. I will say, I can't say enough good things about them. Recently I was wondering what I was going to do this summer with the oils and Landon. I was concerned about when he went to the pool and the oils washed off. (They do get into your bloodstream, but it still helps to reapply them.) I know he would not be too keen on pulling out a bottle of oil and rubbing it on his feet in front of the "guys." (The oils help keep him calm and focused. He's like a new kid with the oils!) I happened to come across this web site for terra cotta pendants. You simple put one drop of oil on the pendant and the aroma is almost the same as if you were to apply it to your skin. Since half the boys in Landon's class already wear necklace,s and I found one shaped like a basketball, it was the perfect solution! Now, check this out....

 

Not only did the owner send me a thank you note, hand signed by her...

she sent me candy!!!

Oh, yeah...

I will be ordering from her again.

And...

 

 

I would be more than happy to promote her business

by sharing her website with you.

www.Terra-Cotta-Pendants.com

I love that she writes,

"Have a wonderful day!"

on her notes.

I write the exact same thing on my Ebay invoices!

Now is that cool or what?

Load em' up!

Last summer, I tried my hand at repurposing junk/fun stuff and selling it. Let me tell ya, that's hard work! What was a fun little hobby, became a very stressful, time consuming, labor of work. So, I decided to hang up my junkin' business apron and just go back to doing the fun repurposing/creating that I love, when I want and for who I want to. (Usually me. ha!) So what's the problem? The problem is, I now have a shed and a basement FULL of cool stuff that is just begging to be made into something awesome!The solution? SHADY HOLLOW FLEA MARKET! I love that market. It's located in Detroit Lakes, Mn on US Hwy 59. Providing the weather is good, I plan on being there May 25th and "maybe" May 26th. (Memorial Weekend) I am sure I won't sell everything in one weekend, so I plan on showing up there a few more weekends over the summer. I'll keep you posted on which ones. Here is a link to the market, should you like to check it out. I'll be the vendor with the mile long row of good stuff, reasonably priced! See ya there!

http://shadyhollowfleamarket.com/

Foldable Flats

Check these out! They are the neatest thing ever! They are foldable flats that you tuck in a little pouch and then tuck in your purse. Perfect for wedding dances, when your high heels are starting to feel like vise grip. Instead of dealing with black bottom feet, you just slip these babies on! Or how about when you check into a hotel, but don't want to walk on the carpet? Come on, you know they don't shampoo those rugs very often. Even in the fancy joints! Let me know what ya think. I'm thinkin'... Ebay!!



 

May the Lord bless you and keep you,

on Easter and always.

Spring Has Arrived!

Well, maybe not so much weather wise here in good ol' Minnesota...

But it has at least arrived purse wise!

Gonna put these in the store uptown on Sunday

if you want to check them out in person!

 

Blue Raspberry

$36

Pink Bubblegum

$36

Caramel Popcorn

$36

 

*UPDATE

Howdy!
Thank you for bearing with me this loooong, cold, winter. I haven't been posting as often as I would like, but now that Spring is just around the corner, I'm getting my groove back and things will once again be hopping right along!! I have been selling a few purses and other fun stuff over on Ebay, and want to remind you that you can order over there too. Here is the link:

http://stores.ebay.com/The-Swedish-Cowgirl?_trksid=p2047675.l2563

I also want to let you know that I will be closing my Etsy store. While I do love the funky junk part of my business, the Etsy store just isn't working for me. It's a lot of work, and I can only put the little stuff that can be shipped on there, and I just don't have the time to do it justice. So, I will be closing the store this week. I have also decided to sell the "junky treasures" I've accumulated, at the Shady Hallow Flea Market this Spring. (Hopefully in May! I'll keep you posted.) I am going to let someone else make something fabulous out of it all. I have found that while I like to make/re-purpose/upscale old junk, I am better at doing it when something inspires me, for me or my friends. Not on a schedule/demand for a show or a market. It took the wind out of my sails and became work instead of fun. So, I will return my focus to my first love, my purses. My funky junk love, will be my hobby to fulfil my need for fun. I truely believe in the old cliche's, "You never know until you try." and "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again!!" I do believe this is my 3,577th "try" for the decade. And I'm not out of ideas yet! The ride is far from over. Yee haw!!

Have a WONDERFUL day!
Desiree

Little Summer Bling!

Got a little summer bling in the Ebay store today! Check out the other styles and colors here:

http://stores.ebay.com/The-Swedish-Cowgirl?_trksid=p2047675.l2563

Keeping Shop

After much going around and around and around....I've finally decided to put my efforts into Ebay and let Etsy slide. I don't have much in my Etsy store and what I do, really hasn't moved. I think I've had 8 or 9 sales. Not too good. I've been doing much better on Ebay and I think it's probably because the items on Ebay are new, cute and blingy! (Of course!) So, my loooong term goal is to get all my purses over to Ebay, along with all the other fun stuff, and maybe just maybe, I will be able to not have to do anymore shows. I do love my shows, but my legs are starting to protest those 6 to 8 hour stand fests! So, if you feel like doing a little shopping, check out my little store. (And feel free to share the links with your friends!) It has a long ways to go, but I try and put a little bit in there each night and slowly but surely it will get there. Baby steps...

Here is the link to the Ebay store:

http://stores.ebay.com/The-Swedish-Cowgirl?_trksid=p2047675.l2563

Here is the link to the Etsy store, although I am not sure how much longer it will be up and running...

https://www.etsy.com/shop/TheSwedishCowgirl?ref=si_shop

Happy Browsing!!

Bling Bling

Got a little bling put up in the Ebay house tonight. It's coming along, bit by bit, baby steps...

http://stores.ebay.com/The-Swedish-Cowgirl/Bracelets-/_i.html?_fsub=4015476017&_sid=125848847&_trksid=p4634.c0.m322

Got a few blingy belts and flipflops over in the Ebay house...Just a few. It's getting there one piece at a time! Actually, it's here. In my own house. But, getting the pictures taken and posted and writing the descriptions and figuring out the shipping....well, that's a whole 'nother job in itself! But, I won't give up and I'll keep on truckin'! Bear with me. Good things come to those who wait. (And work! ha!) Have a WONDERFUL day!

http://stores.ebay.com/The-Swedish-Cowgirl/Western-Bling-Belts-/_i.html?_fsub=4035742017&_sid=125848847&_trksid=p4634.c0.m322

*UPDATE

O.k. here's the latest....

Sometime next week or next weekend, (Depending on when my orders arrive) I will be posting Western/Bling Belts, Flip Flops, Necklaces, Bracelets, Sunglasses and Purses on Ebay. (Plus a few other fun items!) These items will not be on my purse site, (www.desireeschicanduniquehandbags.blogspot.com) or at the Wheaton Farmer's Market this summer. If you are local and see something on Ebay you would like, just send me an email or give me a call. Do not order on Ebay or your credit card will be charged for shipping!

I will still be posting purses on my purse site too. Those purses will be going to all the shows and the Farmer's Market with me.

Have a WONDERFUL day!
Desiree

To check out my Ebay store, go here:

http://stores.ebay.com/The-Swedish-Cowgirl

Here's a little taste of what's to come....

Happy Birthday, Landon!

Today my baby boy is eleven years old. He is my one and only rebel child, love of my life, my pride and joy. Without even trying, just by being himself, he has taught me so many things. He has made me realize just how strong I can be. When he was nine years old, he climbed out of an upstairs window and up to the top of the house in 3 seconds, to rescue his cat, Lucky. (You will have to go back to April 15th 2010 to read that story! www.desireesiegel.blogspot.com) In that situation, while I stood on the ground below, helplessly watching, he taught me to just breathe and hang on. It will be o.k. (Thank goodness, it was!!) He also taught me how to cope with life's messes. When you've had a horrible day, and you think you just can't take any more, and all you want to do is lock yourself in your bedroom and scream into your pillow....He knows what you really need is just a big bowl of ice cream, with your favorite topping and extra peanuts. Just the way you like it. And the words, "There. Doesn't that make ya feel better. Huh, Mom?" (I have to admit, it certainly does help!) He reminds me how fun life can be, and how it's o.k. to get a little wild and crazy and let my hair down. Not everything has to be all serious, all the time. It's o.k. to get a little dirty sometimes. Be a little messy. It's not the end of the world if everything doesn't go according to plan. Sometimes the best days, are the most messed up days. The past eleven years have been one wild and crazy roller coaster ride. Many ups and downs and crazy curves. But, you know what? I wouldn't have it any other way. What a boring life we would have without Landon. Just an ordinary life, day after day. Today is the day my son was born. My life was changed forever, and I am the luckiest mom in the world.

Gypsy Hippy Sunglasses

Look what's coming in, next week!

Gyspy Hippy, Rhinestone Encircled, Sunglasses!

Also available in Chocolate,

but the website wouldn't

let me copy the picture.

Sorry about that!

$15

Northern Lights Casino

If you are in the Walker, Mn area on March 2nd, head on over to the Women's Expo at the Northern Lights Casino. I'll be there with my purses and a little funky junk, along with many, many other fabulous vendors from 9 A.M. to 3 P.M. When you're ready to drop from shopping, plop down in one of the hot seats in the game room. Who knows. You might get lucky!

Olive & Pique

Look What's New!

Olive & Pique

(Yes! The very same Olive & Pique that you see in the BUCKLE stores!)

These hats will be in sometime next week.

(Today is 2/11/13)

I wasn't given an exact date, and since this is the first time ordering from this company, I honestly haven't a clue how speedy the delivery process it. Patience....

Trust me, I know how you feel. I'm lacking in that department too. haha...

I will also be posting these in my Ebay store when they arrive. You can check that out here:

http://stores.ebay.com/The-Swedish-Cowgirl

# 1285

Olive & Pique

Zebra

Handstiched

Rhinestone Flower

Cadet Cap

$32

 

#1284

Olive & Pique

Tang & Aqua

Handstiched Rhinestone Flower

Ball Cap

$32

#1283

Olive & Pique

Smokey Grey

Hand Stiched Stone And Beaded Cross

Cadet Cap

$32

#1282

Olive & Pique

Khaki

With Ivory Cotton & Lace

Rhinestone and Pearls

$32

#1281

Olive & Pique

Lite Chocolate

With Ivory Cotton & Lace

Rhinestone and Pearls

$32

#1280

Olive & Pique

Golden Honey

Lace Bouquet

Cadet

$32

#1279

Olive & Pique

Olive

Lace Bouquet

Cadet

$32

O.k. here's the deal on this one...

The camo was not available,

however it was the only one pictured.

I order one in black and one in white.

When the actual cap arrives, I will post pictures.

Sorry!

$19

#1276

Olive & Pique

Denim

Heart Vines

Cadet

$19

#1275

Olive & Pique

Camo Peace

Ball Cap

$19