Flowers in Milk Glass ~ Debbie Bosworth
Dear Sisters,
Are you the sort of farmgirl who likes to dabble and doodle? If so, I’ve got a fun ( and easy) way for you to get started on your Make It Pretty, Merit Badge. Follow me and bring your pencils and paint brushes! Continue reading
is a certified farmgirl at heart. She’s happily married to her beach bum Yankee husband of 20 years. She went from career gal to being a creative homeschooling mom for two of her biggest blessings and hasn’t looked back since. Debbie left her lifelong home in the high desert of Northern Nevada 10 years ago and washed up on the shore of America’s hometown, Plymouth, MA, where she and her family are now firmly planted. They spend part of each summer in a tiny, off–grid beach cottage named “The Sea Horse.”
“I found a piece of my farmgirl heart when I discovered MaryJanesFarm. Suddenly, everything I loved just made more sense! I enjoy unwinding at the beach, writing, gardening, and turning yard-sale furniture into ‘Painted Ladies’ I’m passionate about living a creative life and encouraging others to ‘make each day their masterpiece.’”
is a “MaryJane Farmgirl” who lives in a large metropolitan area. She is a lawyer who has worked in both criminal defense and prosecution. She has been a judge, a business woman and a stay-at-home mom. In addition to her law degree, she has a Masters of Theological Studies.
“Mustering up the courage to do the things you dream about,” she says, “is the essence of being a MaryJane Farmgirl.” Learning to live more organically and closer to nature is Rebekah’s current pursuit. She finds strength and encouragement through MaryJane’s writings, life, and products. And MaryJane’s Farmgirl Connection provides her a wealth of knowledge from true-blue farmgirls.
an old-fashioned farmgirl with a pioneer spirit, lives in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. As a “lifelong learner” in the “Live-Free-or-Die” state, she fiercely values self-reliance, independence, freedom, and fresh mountain air. Married to her childhood sweetheart of 40+ years (a few of them “uphill climbs”), she’s had plenty of time to reinvent herself. From museum curator, restaurant owner, homeschool mom/conference speaker, to post-and-beam house builder and entrepreneur, she’s also a multi-media artist, with an obsession for off-grid living and alternative housing. Cathi owns and operates a 32-room mountain lodge. Her specialty has evolved to include “hermit hospitality” at her rustic cabin in the mountains, where she offers weekend workshops of special interest to women.
“Mountains speak to my soul, and farming is an important part of my heritage. I want to pass on my love of these things to others through my writing. Living in the mountains has its own particular challenges, but I delight in turning them into opportunities from which we can all learn and grow.”
Dori Troutman is the daughter of second generation cattle ranchers in New Mexico. She grew up working and playing on the ranch that her grandparents homesteaded in 1928. That ranch, with the old adobe home, is still in the family today. Dori and her husband always yearned for a ranch of their own. That dream came true when they retired to the beautiful green rolling hills of Tennessee. Truly a cattleman’s paradise!
Dori loves all things farmgirl and actually has known no other life but that. She loves to cook, craft, garden, and help with any and all things on their cattle farm.
describes herself as a goat charmer, chicken whisperer, bee maven, and farmers’ market baker renovating an 1864 farmhouse on an Ohio farm. With a degree in Design, Mary says small-town auctions and country road barn sales "always make my heart skip a beat thinking about what I could create or design out of what I’ve seen.”
Rooted in the countryside, she likes simple things and old ways … gardening, preserving the harvest, cooking, baking, and all things home. While you might find her selling baked goods from the farm’s milkhouse, teaching herself to play the fiddle, or sprucing up a vintage camper named Maizy, you will always find her in an apron!
Mary says, “I’m happiest with the simple country pleasures … an old farmhouse, too many animals, a crackling fire, books to read, and the sound of laughter … these make life just perfect.”
is a budding rural farmgirl living in Palmer, the agricultural seat of Alaska. Alex is a graduate student at Alaska Pacific University pursuing an M.S. in Outdoor and Environmental Education. She lives and works on the university’s 700 acre environmental education center, Spring Creek Farm. When Alex has time outside of school, she loves to rock climb, repurpose found objects, cross-country ski on the hay fields, travel, practice yoga, and cook with new-fangled ingredients.
Alex grew up near the Twin Cities and went to college in Madison, Wisconsin—both places where perfectly painted barns and rolling green farmland are just a short drive away. After college, she taught at a rural middle school in South Korea where she biked past verdant rice paddies and old women selling home-grown produce from sidewalk stoops. She was introduced to MaryJanesFarm after returning, and found in it what she’d been searching for—a group of incredible women living their lives in ways that benefit their families, their communities, and the greater environment. What an amazing group of farmgirls to be a part of!
Suburban Farmgirl Nicole Christensen calls herself a “vintage enthusiast”. Born and raised in Texas, she has lived most of her life in the picturesque New England suburbs of Connecticut, just a stone’s throw from New York State. An Advanced Master Gardener, she has gardened since childhood, in several states and across numerous planting zones. In addition, she teaches knitting classes, loves to preserve, and raises backyard chickens.
Married over thirty years to her Danish-born sweetheart, Nicole has worked in various fields, been a world-traveler, an entrepreneur and a homemaker, but considers being mom to her now-adult daughter her greatest accomplishment. Loving all things creative, Nicole considers her life’s motto to be “Bloom where you are planted”.
Loved this post, Deb. Very inspiring. I do paint on an canvas and love it. The best part is if I don’t like it, I paint over it. I use water based acrylics and out my music on and let the bush do its thing. Oil pastels are fun to play with too and make a great combination with the acrylics – just out your paint down first snd the past use your pastels where you want over the top, when the paint has dried. Loved your artwork and hope you put it up around your house to enjoy everyday. Looking forward to seeing what else you create for your merit badge. To create is to release the joy from inside and share it
. The best feeling ever!
Hi Denise!
Wow. I’ve always worked with acrylic paints and never thought of using Oil pastels over the top… I’m going to try that! Thank you!
” To create is to release the joy from inside and share it”. I like that.
Happy February! Deb
Deb, your picture turned out beautiful! Your mom is a fantastic teacher. I really like how the app helps change a picture into a painting. I would need this sort of help when I first start painting and I would need a teacher as well. When I was in college I always wanted to take the beginner art class but could never get in. Now I may have to look around and see if there are any classes I could sign up for. I can’t wait to see the rest of your paintings! Congratulations on finishing your Make It Pretty Merit Badge!
Hi Krista!
Thank you so much. My mom sure helped me get going and I loved the time we had together too. I hope you find time to give painting a try too!
Deb
Hi Deb,
BLOWN away doesn’t describe it!!! I’m so in awe. I have never, ever, ever been a painter. (I would’ve said an Artist but the way you describe being an Artist is so sweet, that maybe I’m an artist in other forms – just not painting!!!) Anyway…. you make me want to try. 🙂
My grand girls are taking private art lessons this year and every week when I see what they’ve done I’m so amazed and I always say “I want to take art lessons with you”! And maybe I should!
Thanks for this inspiring post!
Hugs and Happy February!!!
– Dori –
Hey Dori!
You definitely should take art with your grand girls! I think they’d get a kick out of you learning right along with them. Especially because they’re used to seeing you in a ” teaching” role in the craft room! I think you’d love it! Hugs back at cha!Deb
Wow! Wonderful. Mom is a good teacher.
She sure is, Sandy. Thank you! Deb
Wow! Wonderful! Women! with art of the time. Hmmm now you did peak my interest, will see what I can do here some day. My projects right now are hip deep but I won’t forget seeing your lovelies.
Hi Joan!
Glad to hear painting is on your list…:) You’ll ” feel it” when it’s time… 😉 Thanks for the note! Deb
Lovely paintings.
Marilyn
Why, thank you, Marilyn!
Deb
So cool I love this. You did great. how fun. 🙂
Thanks, Netta! It was fun! xo Deb
Your painting looks like it was done by a seasoned artist. Great work! Your simple instructions give artists of all stages some really good pointers. I have painted for a while but there was something so encouraging in your words that made me feel less stressed, and more into enjoying the process. Thank you.
Hi Carol,
Thank you so much! I think that’s the key, to relax and just enjoy the process as much as possible. It’s only paint and if you don’t like something you can paint over it or try something else.
It’s okay to change your mind! I guess, I’ll never be one of those ” serious ” artists. 😉 Happy Painting! xo Deb
Thank You this the best instruction/description I have read I wanted to be an artist long ago but life always got in the way. The best beautiful painting luv Irene