Sunday, October 9, 2011

Some enchanted evening at Na Da Farm






On Friday night
 I went with my sweet friend Jeannie,
of The Gilded Junque Yard
to the fall event at Na Da Farm!

It was my very first time at the farm, 
and we arrived in the dark unfortunately, 
so I did not get any really great photographs.








It was a perfect night, probably 70+ degrees,
a lovely breeze, a nearly full moon  
and not a cloud in the starry sky. 


We drove for miles and miles
out into the prairie heartland of Illinois.
Cornfields in every direction as far as the eye could see
with a barn or farmhouse
popping up in the distance here and there.


Aside from the gorgeous weather,
 Anne-Marie and her family and
friends created a setting that did not disappoint.
Now I understand what all the Na Da Farm buzz was about!





Anne-Marie of Na Da Farm at the homemade organic cupcake bar welcoming guests as they entered the barn.




The inside of the barn was set up with vendors in small booths.... each booth artfully arranged.


These photos were all taken
with my cell phone and without a flash.
Some of these are blurry because
I was literally shaking with excitement.
Please, bear with me.




This archway led into the vendor spaces. The other side of the barn was set up for gathering to eat and listen to the live music.



Maybe it was better that we arrived later.
They said there was so much of a crowd
early on that there was no room to walk or move!


For those of you who are not familiar 
with Na Da Farm,
please go visit Anne-Marie at her blog 
for more and
detailed information. 


You can link here.






Beautiful acoustic guitar music added to the ambiance. A small gathering area to sit and enjoy.



Living in Illinois, it is a much talked about
and blogged about area favorite. The two day
event includes several classes that you can take including
art and craft-related topics, Etsy and internet 
sales/blogging classes. There are several vendors 
selling antiques and vintage items, 
and local crafts people selling their wares to include
jewelry, artwork, handmade clothing & pillows, 
upholstered and painted pieces, sculptures, etc.





This swing hung from the barn rafters. There were branches and rustic light fixtures made by hand to illuminate the barn.





Anne-Marie's family and friends 
provided a variety of foods and beverages 
to enjoy along with musical entertainment.
You could purchase canned goods 
and organic baked treats made on the farm.
 Everything was delicious.  

I am so sorry I did not take more photos of the details.
(I was a Chatty Cathy and talked and visited too much!) 



The barn was decorated so naturally and beautifully 
creating an enchanted barn fairy tale setting.
The evening was magical. 
Needless to say, Jeannie and I 
were among the last girls to leave. 
(I wanted to hide in a corner 
and live there forever.... 
really.... I am not kidding. )






Christie was there selling us Annie Sloan paints and painted pieces too!




A perfect evening.

Thanks so much Anne-Marie
 for a night I will forever remember.
You have many gifts!  Your warm and sweet
smile and personality are ingrained in my memory.


You are a blessing to know.


xx,
Alison







These sweet little white vendor tents lined part of the pathway to the barn.

 My pictures didn't turn out, 
but Anne-Marie had taken tall white chippy
shabby support columns from a farmhouse porch 
and lined the path to the barn with them.
 Then she swagged them with a line of roping 
and covered it with fresh prairie wild flowers. 
It was beyond gorgeous. 
(Borrowing a picture from her blog to show you.)









So clever.... these old windows were used in pairs around candle-lit hurricanes to light the path from the tented vendors to the barn.





Special note: So great to see and/or meet fellow Illinois bloggers you may know to include not only Jeannie and Anne-Marie, but also  Jen Rizzo of JenniferRizzo.com, and Christie from CartersCottage.blogspot.com, and Kelly from Dreaming of Vintage, and Polly from countingyourblessings.blogspot.com/ , and Nancy, Julie and Anne from tatteredtiques.typepad.com/ 

You all are the best! xoxoxoxox






Greg Wheaton
 

27 comments:

Kelly said...

Oh I'm jealous that I didn't get to go! I don't live in Illinois so I have to live vicariously through you on this event. It looked amazing. I don't blame you for not wanting to leave. It sounds like it satisfied all your senses, music, eye candy, good food and sweet smells.

Kim @ Savvy Southern Style said...

Looks like so much fun and those are good pics coming from your phone.

SLR said...

So glad you enjoyed the event...I had a wonderful time selling there (Maggie Jane's Vintage) in one of the tents!
The barn was truly magical!
-Stacey
asortoffairytalegirl.blogspot.com

Salmagundi said...

Looks like a great event. Thanks for sharing it with us. Sally

Amy Chalmers said...

It does look magical!

Debbiedoos said...

WOW, that looks like an awesome night out with the girls. And you even got to meet some great blogging friends.

Anne Marie said...

Dear Alison,

Meeting you was so awesome...you are making me very sentimental right now!! seeing the evening show through your vision/your heart/your experience is such a blessing...thank you so much!!

p.s. for camera pictures, they are pretty darn good!
peace+blessings,
Anne Marie
(glad you liked the food!)
GREG WHEATON is the guiatrist :) you can purchase his CD's - just google him or email me okay?

debra @ 5th and state said...

so sad to have missed that event! will you be doing it again? probably not thinking in that direction as you must all be so tired. great idea girls and lovely besides!
debra

Lynne (lynnesgiftsfromtheheart) said...

Hi Alison, thanks for taking us along.. I really want to go for real. What a wonderful place. Love the porchposts lined up.. genius idea... I know you had a blast.. hugs ~lynne~

The French Hutch said...

Looks like a great Fall Festival. I think you did a good job with your photos. Everything always looks so magical under twinkling lights and stars. Thanks for taking us along.

~Emily
The French Hutch

Brenda Pruitt said...

What a truly enchanting place!
Brenda

Unknown said...

Next time I'll definitely have to come in and go... looks wonderful... just what this girl needs every now and again! Thanks for sharing Alison.

Rosemary@villabarnes said...

I still haven't made it there. I always seem to have a conflict. Thanks for sharing your experience. Anne Marie was one of the first people to comment on my blog. She has such a warm spirit.

Lisa @ Fern Creek Cottage said...

Oh man...I think we just missed each other! I left right before it got dark. I looked and looked for you before I left. Well no wonder I couldn't find you...you weren't there yet! Bummer that we missed each other. It was a really lovely night. Heidi and I have talked of coming out to visit you. Hopefully we can do it soon!

Pinky at Designs by Pinky said...

This looks like a wonderfully FUN evening! Wish I could have gone but thanks for the "tag along"!!! I think your pics turned out great for your phone. XO, Pinky

Barbara Bussey {The Treasured Home} said...

Looks like a wonderful, "feel good" evening. Build it and they will come! Glad you had so much fun!

The Tuscan Home said...

How exciting and fun!! Glad you had a great time and I enjoyed your pictures! XO ~Liz

Barbara Bussey {The Treasured Home} said...

Also, I can't find your e-mail address. Thanks for featuring The Treasured Home! I'm thankful!! I'm adding your lovely blog to my blogroll this week. Secondly, on another issue, could I ask your opinion on selling at your shop? Thanks a million!
Barbara@TheTreasuredHome.com

Linda @ Itsy Bits And Pieces said...

OH this looks wonderful, Alison! So many wonderful goodies and meeting special friends, too! Lucky you! Thank you for sharing with us!

michele said...

looks magical! so different to have such an event at night, yes? sort of like getting up before dawn to hit a flea market.

no time for this blogger to shop on the weekends...it's all work on the reno, and we got a ton accomplished.

off to yoga!

michele

Anonymous said...

That looks like such a great event...and I probably would have hidden along with you to stay there! In fact, I think I need to just live near you to check out all the fun places you shop because you always find the most wonderful finds.

Have a great week Allison!

Rebecca said...

Your evening pictures WERE enchanting! A whole different slant on this Na Da Farms event...I would have been right there with you - among the last to leave!

Heidi said...

Looks amazing as always! Wish I didn't have to miss it this year~ and your finds from MN look incredible!
:)Heidi

Dreaming of Vintage said...

Hi Alison! I had a wonderful time at Na-Da and it was so nice to meet you!
Hugs,
Kelly

Our Hopeful Home said...

Didn't make it this time but I'm glad you did! Next time you're out this way we should get together!

xoxo
Kathleen

Anonymous said...

It was so fun to finally meet you! You and Jeannie were such a blast to be around! The event was so great, we were so honored to be a part of it. Thanks for mentioning us in your blog! Try and make it out to the shop soon!

Connie (aka LOU) said...

Alison -

Wow, it did seem magical through your blog! I was okay missing it Friday night until I saw your post and then my heart became heavy. So pretty! Glad you were able to share it with a friend as well. Memories in the making! You can't beat that.

Connie (akaLOU)