SHERYL CROW WILL BE A GUEST VENDOR AT THE CITY FARMHOUSE HOLIDAY POP-UP FAIR.

Yes, you read that right!!!!!! Can you believe it? We hardly can.

This is a first for our Grammy-winning friend, who will donate all of her #City FarmhousePopup Holiday sales--happening November 13th through 15th at Jameson Hall at The Factory at Franklin--to the World Food Program U.S.A.

Sheryl will be offering a range of treasures from her own personal stash to our shoppers over this three-day pop-up event, and selling antique and vintage home decor pieces she has personally collected over the years. PLUS, she'll have clothing and other items to sell too!

First dibs on shopping Sheryl's collection will take place during the market’s Preview Party on Friday, Nov. 13, from 5-9 p.m. The $40 ticket offers four hours of early buying, plus complimentary wine, beer and a holiday Chex Mix bar! It also includes a live performance by Nashville’s own Jamie Higdon.

In addition to selling, Sheryl will also personally host an autograph session at select times during the pop-up!!! She'll be on-site to meet guests during Friday’s Preview Party from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., and again on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.

So how do you get Friday’s Preview Party tickets--which grant admission throughout the weekend? Those can be purchased in advance here, or at the City Farmhouse brick-and-mortar shop at 230 Franklin Road, or by phone at 615-268-0216!

General admission tickets for Saturday and Sunday are $10 and can be purchased at the door of Jameson Hall at The Factory at Franklin, each day.

Obviously, you DO NOT want to miss this. Keep reading below for more......

So -- how did this all come about?

Well, Sheryl first approached us after the October show, to say she wanted to be a guest vendor at the holiday market and donate proceeds to a charity near to her heart.

Everyone has things they accumulate, and need to purge.... and Sheryl had the brilliant idea to do that, while benefiting others too! She's shopped with us for years, and is very hands-on with designing her spaces and selects everything in her home. You could say she’s a fellow picker who loves the thrill of the hunt! We know you'll love her stuff.

The City Farmhouse Holiday Pop-up Fair, which is going to be held in Jameson Hall at The Factory at Franklin, is hosting 35 hand-selected vendors--including several past Pop-up Fair favorites--who will bring antique and vintage goods. In keeping with the spirit of the season, the November event will also offer a range of timely gift items for shoppers, including upcycled clothing, handcrafted jewelry, handmade art, and repurposed pieces. Plus, some vendors will sell fresh holiday greens, garlands and wreaths for decorating.

The Holiday Pop-up Fair kicks off on Friday, Nov. 13 with the early-buying Preview Party from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. General admission is on Saturday, Nov. 14, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 15.

To purchase tickets, or learn more, go here.

More about World Food Program U.S.A.
World Food Program USA (WFP USA) works to solve global hunger, building a world where everyone has the food and nutrition needed to lead healthy, productive lives.

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide, reaching more than 97 million people in 80 countries with food assistance last year. World Food Program USA builds support for WFP through fundraising, advocacy and education in the United States.

Those of you who missed our October show don't need to worry -- next month we’re hosting a Holiday ‪#‎CityFarmhousePopup‬ Fair for shoppers looking to score one-of-a-kind gifts, seasonal decor and the most unusual of items to add vintage charm to the home!

The Holiday Pop-up Fair will take place November 13th through 15th, at Jameson Hall at the Factory at Franklin.

Our vendors will place their usual emphasis on creativity and styling to inspire shoppers, while also paying special attention to stocking booths with the holiday flair!

We’ll be featuring several favorite vintage and antique vendors from past pop-ups, including The Feathered Nest from Illinois, Natalie Grace Home from Georgia, The French Market from Alabama, La Casita Home Decor from Florida and French Laundry from North Carolina.

Worried about finding that perfect present for friends + family? We’ve got ya covered -- shoppers will get to choose from a range of timely gift items, including upcycled clothing, handcrafted jewelry, handmade art, and repurposed pieces. Not to mention, some vendors will be offering fresh holiday greens, garlands and wreaths! 

Plus, you never know who you’re gonna run into -- odds are you’ll be browsing alongside local celebrities and personalities who are regulars at the shop. 

The fair will kick off with an early-buying event on Friday, Nov. 13, from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m. giving those ticket holders four hours and a first-chance to buy at the show, plus complimentary wine and beer. Tickets are $40 and can be purchased through our website at http://www.eventbee.com/event?eid=136637854.

Then, general admission will open on Saturday, Nov. 14, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 15. General admission is $10.00 per day and tickets can be purchased at the gate.

Photos by Alissa Saylor Photography

‘Tis the season, y’all -- see you in November! xx,

We ended up having OVER 70 vendors from across the country who brought their own unique design flair down to Leiper's Fork with some truly amazing antiques, treasure and more that made for a real picker's paradise. Beyond all of the one-of-a-kind pieces we got to peruse, everyone partook in fare from a number of tasty food trucks (the FGTBLT {fried green tomato BLT} was a hit!), gained a little know-how from demonstrations featuring some of the best design and DIY celebrities in the biz, and enjoyed talented musical performers -- all of which set the backdrop for a wondrous weekend to see after months of planning. 

In addition to visiting with old friends (like Sheryl Crow and plenty of others), we made lots of new friends who came out to join us from all corners of the country and the globe, with both coasts well represented, and even the GOLD coast (Australia). 

Fellow Franklinite, friend and blogger, Cindy Laverty, wrote about her experience at the fair that can be found here -- we always love hearing what y’all have to say after it’s all said and done! 

"You can almost feel the energy as you approach and everyone is filled with anticipation about the treasures that await," she said in the post, which truly embodies (in words) exactly what I hope for the City Farmhouse Pop-up fairs to mean to people. 

Now… onto the next! The Holiday Pop-up fair is mere weeks away and it’s gonna be a doozy. Check back with us tomorrow for all the details!

Sheryl Crow picked some great stuff! 

Booth of Rusty Rooster, LA

Booth of The Feathered Nest, IL

Long line of eager early buying shoppers!

Booth of Carolyn Westbrook Home, TX

Booth of J. Hill Designs, TX

A crowd favorite, Judy Hill, in her booth!

Booth of Desirable Junk, TX

All photos by Alissa Saylor Photography. 

xx,

The City Farmhouse Pop-up Fair is almost here and we can't wait to introduce y'all to our friend Cari Cucksey, host of HGTV's Cash and Cari! When it comes to repurposing this chick has a knack for reinventing, so we caught up with her to help y'all get to know her a little better before the weekend...

1. How would you describe your personal design aesthetic?

Very eclectic but tasteful (of course). I love a variety of periods -- my own home is a mix from the 1700s all the way to the 1950s! Obviously it doesn’t look like some crazy flea market but it’s all about melding together color and texture.

2. Where does your love of antiques & vintage stem from?

Well, I grew up in a 1908 Sears Roebuck and was surrounded by both sides of the family. My mother was a teacher and had a huge love for antiques, so when she was off in the summers she’d drag me around to go shopping with her, always wanting to teach me everything she knew about antiques. On the other side of the family was my grandfather -- the first American picker (way before Mike and Frank!). He taught me all about repurposing… after going through The Great Depression, he had so much gratitude and was just astonished at what people were willing to throw away. He would go shopping every day alongside the road and pick up what other people considered trash, then turn those items into things that were useful and beautiful. He really instilled in me a love for repurposing.

3. How do you know when you've found the perfect piece to refurbish?

I guess it’s just a gut feeling… sometimes I find pieces and I have no idea what I’m going to do with them. It’s all about your gut in this business though, and taking a chance and being willing to put in the sweat and equity to make something come to life!

4. What's the coolest piece you've reinvented?

It’s so hard to pick just one since I’ve repurposed so many fun things out there… I guess my favorite project though was for our wedding. We created 20 vintage vignettes and one of them was a cast iron tub that I cut the front off of and turned into a little vintage couch!

5. If you could only choose three tools to use for the rest of your life, what would they be?

A paint brush, my staple gun and mascara -- definitely can’t live without that one!

6. What's your favorite part about what you do?

I absolutely love the fact that I’m able to inspire people across the globe. Cash and Cari on HGTV airs in 40 countries and it’s so neat to me that so many different people are looking at objects in a different light. We’re bringing back the stories of these pieces and their owners -- if we don’t keep telling that history and educating people about what those items were and can be recreated into, they’ll get lost.

Catch Cari at the demonstration tent this weekend where she'll be teaching fair-goers the art of repurposing with Matthew Mead and Wagner spray tools! For more on Cari and show details, go here.

Aaaaaand, he's back! One of our favorite celebrity stylists is returning to the October 2015 City Farmhouse Pop-up Fair, and this time -- he's bring his secret weapon. We caught up with Matthew so y'all could get a peek into his creative genius and what to expect from him at next week's show!

1. How did you earn the nickname the "Lifestyle Guru?"
I've been doing this for like 20 years now, and I think it's the fact that I have so many different ideas -- I can dream up just about anything.

2. You've been a guest at the CFH pop-up fair twice now -- what are you most looking forward to about the October 2015 show?
I love to see all the great vintage items the dealers have with them, plus I've made lots of great friends at the show over the past couple of years. The vendors are all so talented and stylish, and they ALWAYS bring something new and unexpected to the table. So much inspiration.

3. Will you be looking for any pieces in particular at the Fair this year?
Well, I'm coming with a paint sprayer from Wagner so I'm looking for thing I can upcycle. Things like furniture and small pieces that are stylish but that I can also personalize with my own color palette.

4. What three tips would you give people who want to get into upcycling, but don't know where to start?
Upcycling can start at home, so look around your own house and find things that you already have that can be made better with a coat of paint. Also, don't be afraid to experiment with color -- think about the colors you like to wear or the paint on your walls. They're great for furniture too! Finally, consider the fact that upcycling isn't just limited to indoors... it's perfect for pieces outside too, like a park bench or patio table. You can even paint a doormat, a rug, or a lamp base. It's totally unlimited what you can do!


5. What can fair-goers expect to learn from you at the show demonstrations?
I want to get everyone really excited about being creative and the discovery of this incredible tool that can help them with such a variety of things that will just make their lives more beautiful.

6. Why do you prefer Wagner tools over others?
This one is special, no only because it is studio sized but because it also sits on a countertop and is very transformational. Plus, it doesn't leave any brush marks allowing it to turn something from really blah to beautiful in just minutes.

7. What do you like about City Farmhouse style?
I think it's just so engaging -- it's a real lifestyle that has that casual, comfortable, put-your-feet-up look but is super stylish at the same time.

Learn more about Matthew Mead and the demonstrations he'll be doing at the pop-up fair here.

Well, all our hard work paid off. The June 2015 #CityFarmhousePopup Fair was a success if I do say so myself.. and chock-full of surprises!

People came from all over – New York to California & just about everywhere in between – to dive into a picker’s paradise. With over 70 vendors from 20 states, there were gems around every corner you turned! We had some truly special pieces, like furniture made from old Nashville homes, beautiful stained glass windows from 1800’s churches, antique rugs and linens all the way from Europe and so much more.

There were things happening all over Buddy Killen’s estate, including fantastic live music (bluegrass, country, jazz, you name it) in front of his mansion and design demonstrations about everything from floral arrangements and table settings to gardening!!

Guests had an array of local food and drink trucks to fuel their pickin’, including the BLFGT (bacon, lettuce, fried green tomato) double-decker sandwich from Fried Green Tomatoes. My personal favorite treat was the delicious peach + ginger ale float from Bradley’s Creamery. Y’all seriously have to try one if you ever see them out and about!

One of the things I love most about my job is getting to meet people of different backgrounds with all sorts of tales & talents. We wanted to focus on the wonderful folks that came out this year by doing a Humans of New York-esque series (if you haven’t heard of it, look it up here. You’re welcome!) throughout the event. Head on over to our Instagram page and check them all out, there's some cool stories. It’s so special to me that all types of people are brought together by a deep appreciation for finding the beauty in old things. Pickin’ people are the best people.

A big THANK YOU to everyone who came out (including Phillip Sweet of Little Big Town & Holly Williams. We're famous!). We’re already working on gathering the goods for our next Pop-up Fair on October 16-17, and we can’t wait to see y’all there!

To see pictures from the Burlap Carpet event, click here. To see a Facebook album the shows off the June 2015 Pop-up Fair, go here!

Oh, and don't forget to click on Instagram hashtag #cityfarmhousepopup. There are 693 photos to look at, lots of inspiring snaps!

To see a Facebook album the shows off lots more of the June 2015 Pop-up Fair--and the booths--go here!

What's a event without a red carpet soirée? My favorite part of the City Farmhouse Pop-up Fair, is meeting new people from around the country + talkin' "antiques with new friends. That's precisely why we're rollin' out a burlap carpet (yep, burlap) on Friday morning for our early buyers. You can think of it like a red carpet pre-show event--you'll get the latest news about the Fair, hot shopping tips, predictions, PLUS we'll be serving complimentary mimosas from 8-10 a.m.

Early shoppers will have the chance to take a picture in front of our "wall of fame" and "walk the burlap carpet!" And you better start getting those voices warmed up, ya'll! We are hosting a friendly competition where one lucky shopper will win the chance to participate in early buying, meaning they'll get to skip the line and enter the show 15 minutes before anyone else--this fortunate individual will have access to the most sought after items, minus the crowd!

How do you enter? You must sing Tennessee's favorite tune "Rocky Top" as loud as you can in front of the entire audience. The participant with the most enthusiasm and gumption will win this coveted pass.

There's nothing we love more than a fearless personality who's willing to lay it all on the line and embarrass themselves for the sake of priority pickin'! Am I right?

For those over achievers, we've posted the lyrics to Rocky Top below so you can start brushing up. We'll also have copies of the lyrics at the show, for those that need it.

Rocky Top
Wish that I was on ole rocky top,
Down in the Tennessee hills.
Ain't no smoggy smoke on rocky top,
Ain't no telephone bills.

Once there was a girl on rocky top,
Half bear the other half cat.
Wild as a mink, sweet as soda pop,
I still dream about that.

Rocky top, you'll always be
Home sweet home to me.
Good ole rocky top,
Rocky top Tennessee, rocky top Tennessee.

Once two strangers climbed on rocky top,
Lookin' for a moonshine still.
Strangers ain't come back from rocky top,
Guess they never will.

Corn won't grow at all on rocky top,
Dirt's too rocky by far.
That's why all the folks on rocky top
Get their corn from a jar.

Rocky top, you'll always be
Home sweet home to me.
Good ole rocky top,
Rocky top Tennessee, rocky top Tennessee.

Now I've had years of cramped up city life,
Trapped like a duck in a pen.
Now all I know is it's a pity life
Can't be simple again.

Rocky top, you'll always be
Home sweet home to me.
Good ole rocky top,
Rocky top Tennessee, rocky top Tennessee.

Rocky top Tennessee, rocky top Tennessee.
Yeah rocky top Tennessee eee eee eee.

We are officially two weeks away from the first City Farmhouse Pop-up Fair of 2015 (June 19-20)…TWO WEEKS. David and I are starting to feel the craziness of it all, but we’re so excited for y’all to see the amazing group of vendors we have this year!

To help you get ready for the weekend, we’ve asked local interior decorator and City Farmhouse customer Betsy Brittain to share with us her "dos and don’ts" of shopping during our two-day event.

This girl knows her stuff! See what she has to say.....

DO bring a shopping bag with a small tape measure, color swatches and a pencil and notepad. Along with the tape measure, bring a piece of paper with relevant sizes and dimensions of what you’re looking for written down. If you need a new side table, know how wide and how tall it needs to be.

The color swatches are important if you’re looking for an item to match to an existing pattern or color scheme in your home. You might have an idea of what you’re looking for, but when put next to the color swatch, it could look completely different.

I use a pencil and notepad to keep track of my items. Whether I’ve bought it and need to leave it at the booth while I continue to shop, or just need to walk around and think on it, I take a picture of the item on my phone and then write down the booth name and number and a description of the item.

You can also use the shopping bag to carry around smaller items you purchase at the show.

DON’T wear shoes that are difficult to walk around in or that will give you blisters, and wear clothes you’re comfortable bending over, kneeling down and lifting things in.

DO negotiate on the price. You can always ask, “Is this the firm offer?” Especially if you’re buying multiples, dealers will often give you a bulk deal. However, if you see a tag with ‘ND,’ it means ‘no deal’ and the price is usually final.

Dealers are also usually more willing to negotiate closer to the end of the show, but waiting to buy an item is a big risk, which leads me to…

DON’T hesitate. If you see something you love and know you just can’t live without it, buy it! Great finds and great deals at the show go quick so if you don’t buy something when you see it, I can almost guarantee you someone else will. Be prepared with a shopping list before you go into the show so you can make a firm decision right of the bat.

Also, I do not ask dealers to hold items—it can come across as rude.

DO bring multiple forms of payment—bring cash and your checkbook along with your credit cards. Dealers will sometimes give you a better deal on an item if you pay in cash as opposed to with a credit card.

DON’T roll up to the show in your two-door convertible, no matter how beautiful the weather is that weekend. Take a car you can fit things in if you plan to buy something.

However, if a bigger item can’t fit in your car, ask about delivery options. Don’t let the size of an object deter you from buying it—there’s always a way to get it to you! Local dealers will even sometimes offer to deliver it themselves after the show.

DO look at things with the eye that you can always repurpose it. A picture frame can be repainted and chairs can be reupholstered.

DON’T be afraid to ask dealers what items are and how they suggest using them. The City Farmhouse Pop-up Show is a great place to learn—look to see how the dealers style their booths and look for different ways to use everyday items.

DO have fun! Bring your friends and make a day out of it—they’ve got live music, food trucks, how-to demonstrations and more all weekend long!

What do you think -- some pretty good advice for shopping our show, don't you think?! To learn more about our #CityFarmhousePopup happening June 19th and 20th, go here!

A clever idea from the 2014 Pop-up that caught Betsy's eye: an old iron hoop repurposed as a sculpture

A creative way to set a holiday table from the 2014 Pop-up that caught Betsy's eye

An iron container filled with antlers, squash and winter gourds from the 2014 Pop-up that caught Betsy's eye

Today, we're featuring guest bloggers Joni and Casey McCarty, local farmers who will also be hosting a demonstration at the Modern Gardener exhibit for the June 2015 City Farmhouse Pop-up Fair! 

The couple act as the agricultural curators for Homestead Manor, a new hospitality concept in Thompson's Station, TN, that will include an event barn and a Tuscany-style restaurant supplied by an on-site farm, opening later this month. They manage the farm and organically grow the vegetables and fruits for anyone dining on the property! 

Below, they offer a super-easy gardening tip that I'm bookmarking--and had me wondering.... why didn't I think of that?!?

Joni and Casey McCarty

WINDOW SILLS AND SPRING PLANTING: A MINI GREENHOUSE

By Joni McCarty, Homestead Manor Agricultural Curator

A couple of years ago, I noticed that our local garden store were selling these neat little greenhouses to help start seeds. Basically, it was just a plastic container with preformed cups of soil covered with clear plastic. You could then start a dozen seeds on a sunny window sill and be ready for spring planting for when the warmer weather hit.

My first thought was, "Someone is a genius for thinking to market something so simple." My next thought was for those poor unsuspecting souls that will pay for something they could easily do at home with materials on hand.

Here's how you can create your own little greenhouse that is best for spring planting prep but can be used all year 'round:

1. First, we begin saving all of our lettuce containers -- the ones with just the clear plastic boxes, and a lid.

2. Then, we organize the seeds and decide which seed will go in which container, and we label the containers accordingly.

3. Next we poke holes in the bottom of the containers, and set them on "drip trays" to catch any moisture. This also helps to more easily water, later on: we fill the drip trays with water and let the soil pull the moisture to the seed.

4. We then put the planted seedlings in our garage against a sunny window--but any place with lots of sunlight will do. Because we have tons of seeds and need the advantage of the full sun, we also hung a grow light above the seedlings near the back. When it's too cool (you won't have that problem in June!) we also put a heater set on low under the tables since our garage is unheated.

5. We keep the soil moist and the lids on the containers until we see the seedlings peek their heads up from the soil.

6. We planted these seeds in March (when it was still cool), and took a photo 5 days days later.... by then, we were already seeing good progress on their growth!

7. A few weeks laters, we prepared the garden to receive those seedlings (and more). We had a head start on our work too.

If you want to learn more about growing your own garden, be sure to come see us at the City Farmhouse Pop-up Fair, happening June 19-20. Our exhibit, "Creating & Growing Vegetables in a Raised Bed Garden," is on Saturday, June 20th at 10 a.m. We look forward to meeting you!

More About the McCartys 
For the past decade, Joni and Casey McCarty and their children have been traveling the country and “living on the land".... which means they are the perfect family to teach our City Farmhouse Pop-up Fair guests how to create a raised bed right in their own yards. This farmin' experts will offer easy tips on what seeds to choose, and how to care for your homegrown crops. Don't miss them on June 20th!