The Paisley Farmhouse

By Misti England at Studio M Designs

Hi and Happy Spring to all of you Paisley Farmhouse fans! The ladies of Paisley Farmhouse have graciously asked me to contribute to their monthly newsletter, and I am so excited!

Spring is in the air! Can you smell the sweet blossoms all around? I can just imagine all of the southern women bringing out their best tea sets, polishing the silver, cutting fresh blooms for the perfect centerpiece, and preparing for the first outdoor parties of the season.

Imagining the perfect party got me thinking about hostess gifts. Being invited to a party doesn’t make you obligated to bring a gift, but, the best guests know never to arrive empty handed. Just remember -different occasions call for different protocols.
For instance, a cocktail party requires no gift, but, you can show your appreciation to the host by offering a small gesture. Paisley Farmhouse carries wonderful drink mixes like Mint Honey Iced Tea and Old Fashioned Lemonade. Either mix, along with a great mug or stemmed glass, would make a simple and pretty gift. Just wrap the two together in a clear bag with raffia or ribbon to finish it off nicely. Dianne and India can also wrap your gift in their complimentary gift bags…they do it so well!

For an afternoon party, there are several options. A great girly party deserves a fabulous hostess gift! Think out-of-the-box and surprise her with one of these…
Vintage-style dish towels with bunny cookie cutters are just adorable! How beautiful this would be presented in a basket of cookies wrapped in the towel.

Any hard-working hostess will appreciate Luna Blue Bath & Body products. All natural and F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S!
After the party is over she can pamper herself in luxury.

Wooden picture frames are always a welcome addition to any home.

A colorful tote bag with fresh bread or a dessert wine tucked in would be so much fun!

Potato sack hand towels and hand soaps, too.

When attending a dinner party, remember that the host/hostess are going all out to impress and entertain you. Showing up with gift in hand shows you care and will definitely get you invited back!
Paisley Farmhouse has a wonderful candle collection to choose from, and you have got to see their new line of matchboxes! They are almost too pretty to use!

Flowers are a wonderful sentiment, but not practical for a dinner party. The hostess will be busy with her duties, and shouldn’t be expected to find a vase and make an arrangement while charming her guest, and getting dinner ready.
On that same note, if you prefer to bring a dessert or wine, do not expect it to be used at the party. The host or hostess surely has the menu planned out already.

This monogrammed cheese board paired with a tea towel and cinnamon-sugar pecans is a great alternative…

The gift of a journal is thoughtful and heart-felt. I assure you, these are no ordinary journals.

One final idea… if you prefer giving the classic gift of wine, add a personal touch with a monogrammed bag and bottle stopper. Now, that’s adding a new spin on a classic idea!

Thank you Dianne, Shanda, and India for allowing me to rummage through your store and have my way with it! You know I will be back soon.

~Misti

Spring has sprung on the table! The new season tabletop accessories have arrived and can't wait to find themselves on your table. My daughter and I stayed up until the wee hours of the morning organizing and displaying them all. I must say ... we have a mighty fine assortment this season! Come on over to see them in person.

Place a pre-order for Valentine Toffee to make sure that you get some! You may let us know how many you would like over the phone, by email, or by dropping in the store. They go quickly from our shelves once February hits, so place your order today.

If you are planning to give your loved one a photo transfer for Valentine's Day be sure to place your order by February 3rd.

Me & India. We were about to start our last day (Thursday) at the mart ! Gotta have my Starbucks 1st- it's a Paisley Farmhouse tradition! At the end of January we are off to New York!

Rachel (the maker of our Luna Blue bath line) just sent me these pictures of her new healing balms- Rosemary/Mint, Lavender, Pomegranate/Orange, and Unscented. Healing balm is much like lip balm, but it can also be used on dry areas of your skin such as knees, elbows, hands, or patches anywhere. These balms are made of completely natural ingredients that are safe for even the most sensitive skin. Look for these useful balms (great for stocking stuffers) at The Paisley Farmhouse in the next week or two!

Do you wish your husband, kids, and friends could read your mind? Well, they can when it comes to buying a gift for you at The Paisley Farmhouse from your Wish List!
If you are a woman that knows exactly she wants you must try creating a wish list with us this Christmas. Then, send your husband, kids, and friends to us (before the celebration) and we will be happy help them find a gift for you (from your Wish List) within their budget! This will save them time and money by taking out the stress and guesswork as well as save you from having to pretend to love bad gifts!
The birth of this concept at The PF stems from an overwhelming number of requests for this convenience. Now that we have it- we can't wait for you to use it! It's quick and easy to do right in the store. Create a list for 1 item or 100 items- it's your Wish List and it's never too early!

I'm Shanda (Dianne's daughter)! I may chime in on these blogs every now and again when something inspiring catches my eye, so here I go! I just had to show you a few pictures of this beautiful baby shower I attended last weekend in Brooklyn...
The pictures pretty much speak for themselves, but this shower was just like walking through a Martha magazine! Sweet Fall was the theme of the celebration of Baby Loretta organized by my friends Lisi and Alisa!
I arrived and was immediately struck with the beautiful outdoor table settings. Very simple yet elegant. Quiche for dinner; pumpkin pie, apple pie and cupcakes for dessert. I also couldn't resist taking some pictures of the pies sitting in the office... Brooklyn apartments are very SMALL! Oh, and notice the photo transfer- yep, I made that!
-Shanda

Yes, our photo transfers are back and better than ever! We took a break from them during the summer to allow my daughter and photo transfer artist (Shanda McCloskey) to move to Brooklyn, NY! But don't worry- we are still offering photo transfers the same as before.

We have changed a few things (for the better). We are now transferring photos onto plain wood or stained wood for an even more antiqued effect. You may also choose whether you want holes drilled with a ribbon to hang the wood art or a wire attached to the back. Another change is that we now finish the sides of canvas or wood with distressed paint to complete the piece. We have also lowered the prices of some of the larger sizes to make it a little easier for you to give the perfect gift in a less than perfect economy. And since Shanda now lives in NYC and must ship the orders to us (with no additional charge), please allow a week and a half to two weeks for your order to come in.

She has just sent us a bunch of new samples for you to see, so please drop by The Paisley Farmhouse to see them for yourself! We are so proud to offer you this very unique gift ONLY at The Paisley Farmhouse!
So go through those photos and get your Thanksgiving orders in by November 15th and your Christmas orders in by December 15th. See you soon!

Nothing welcomes in the Fall season like a wreath on your front door! Donna Hicks, a local artist of Canton (and my sister), makes a variety of wreaths and arrangements for the holidays exclusive to The Paisley Farmhouse! You must come see them for yourself...

Some of our new arrivals include horse themed journals and photo albums which are adorned with Swarovski Crystals on the front cover for an absolutely unique, elegant, high-end gift.

Also, we now have new flour sac towels that are horse themed among others. This is a quick and easy grab for a hostess gift or any gift!