2 Chix and a Barn

When life gets busy, all too often, things slip away. Worst of all, it’s often the things we need the most that are the first to go.

Maybe you’re running the kids here and there so you neglect to exercise. But that physical release keeps you mentally alert.

Maybe your work schedule is super busy so you neglect to write your blog. But that outlet is how you process all the busy.

Maybe your holiday schedule is packed so you neglect your own home. But your home is your safe haven of relaxation.

All of these simple yet invaluable ways that we care for ourselves, seem to be the first to go when things get busy. We’re stuck in the days of the glorification of busy.

But we should never be too busy to care for ourselves.

Do what you Love and Love what you do...

It’s been said, that if you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life...

Here at the Barn, we are doing just that.

We’re in the eye of the storm these days in terms of things going on...

We just finished with a pop-up shop in NY...now we have to unpack, repack, and get ready for one of our biggest shows, The Country Living Fair in Columbus, Ohio.

Then we come home and get ready for three more shows in October...which include traveling up to NH and down to GA, sandwiched between a pop-up shop here in CT.

At the same time, we have to maintain surplus for our online store, plus our wholesale orders. All the while taking care of our kids and families...football and softball and soccer and laundry and dinners and lunches and homework...

There is so much to do....SO MUCH!

And yet is doesn’t feel like work.

Some days, there is so much to process inside our heads, and so much to do physically, that it can become overwhelming. Moments like these, we take a beat, and remember that we are living our passion.

To actualize all of this breeds an energy...an electric synergy that is palpable.

To be together working is anything and everything except work. It is blood sweat and tears of joy. It’s strenuous mentally and demanding physically. But when you are doing what you love, with people who bring out the best in you, to say that it’s worth it is just an understatement.

We realize how lucky we are to have found a way to make our passion our job. Not everyone can. But if you can find a way to work your passion into your life...you will have an outlet to turn to when the stress of the day overwhelms.

In the early days of 2 Chix and a Barn, as our friends and family were learning about this new adventure, I often felt that they didn’t take us seriously. That what we were doing wasn’t really work.

But you guys have so much fun.

But you are doing what you love.

But you’re working with your best friend.

That somehow, working with people you adore and doing something you love, while having an exorbitant amount of fun, can’t possibly be real work. 

That because our work is a labor of love, that the labor doesn’t count.

But it is work. And it does count.

I once got choked up when a book shelf sold. Each time I paint a piece of furniture, I think about where it was, how it came to us, and where it’s going. Maybe that’s a lot to attach to an inanimate object, but I spend a lot of time with these pieces. I put my labor into them; I do it with love. And just this once, a sweet little turquoise book shelf...that I thought would be perfect in a little girl’s room...was sold to a sweet little girl to use in her room. And it made me teary.

Each thing we make here at the Barn is a labor of love. We love to work. We love to inspire. We love that a little piece of us finds its way into your home.

Oh, Back to School Days. My love/hate relationship with you is only rivaled by my love/hate relationship with the dog days of summer. Back to school means back to schedules, back to afterschool activities, back to packing lunches…

Back to so many responsibilities! And here we are again, time for all the baby chix to leave the Barn and head to school. It’s one of so many times during the year that we as moms find ourselves lost in the shuffle. We’re hyper focused on our kids...new shoes, all those school supplies, so many lunches!

That last week before school starts is always a whirlwind...still holding on to summer, yet aching for the routine of the school year.

Shifting between the last lazy days and the first busy days.

Then suddenly…

Ahhh, is that the sound of an empty house I hear?

Yup, it sure is.

And it sounds great.

After a fun-filled summer of kids and family, there’s finally some alone time. It’s amazing how hectic summer can be, disguised with its lack of schedule and long, lazy days. But then the air changes and the feel of Fall ushers in the comfort of routine. This time of year is a sort of sweet spot on the calendar...just full enough to stave off boredom, not so full as to be overwhelming.

It’s also the perfect time to put a little extra focus on your home...before the craziness of the holiday season comes creeping in!

Here’s to a happy and healthy school year for all the little chix out there…

A place for everything, everything in its place - Benjamin Franklin

On a daily basis, but particularly before a show, there’s a steady current of excitement circling the barn...

So many steps to get us from point A to point B.

The hum of the sewing machine, the rhythmic cadence of hammer to nail....finishing projects, last minute touch-ups. That one last coat.

There are notes and lists....reminders and DON’T FORGETS!

Packing...lots of packing.

But before any of that can happen, before any one box gets checked off the to do list, there is one major detail that we never skip...

We ORGANIZE!

Admittedly, some of us are better at this than others. But, before we start preparing for a show, the entire 2 Chix team does the following to every aspect of our office and shop:

Group.

Regroup.

Compartmentalize.

Store.

Realign.

Refresh.

It’s no coincidence that those are the same terms used to reset the mind…

Being organized physically helps us to be organized mentally!

It isn’t always easy. With a small shop and a few chix in the barn, space can be tight. We are always finding new ways to neatly store all things 2 Chix. But the time spent is a small price to pay for the mental clarity that comes from having a place for everything, and everything in its place.  

Recipe for a Great Team

Here at the Barn, we love to cook. Whether literally or figuratively, we’ve always got something on the burners. Collectively, we have hundreds of recipes for all sorts of amazing creations.

But this one here, this is our tried and true recipe for building a Strong Team.

We’ve been following this recipe for quite some time now, and so far, so good.

First, you will need to pick a bunch of amazing individuals; this particular recipe calls for 6.

Then you will add:

Equal parts hard work and determination

A ton of passion

A handful of great ideas

A desire to always improve

A hearty dose of wisdom and knowledge

A cup full of gratitude

A healthy amount work ethic and flexibility

A pinch of sarcasm

Directions:

Stir up dynamics often. Slice the roles and responsibilities based on each person’s strengths.

Fold in creativity. Give the team plenty of time to rise and grow to its potential.

*Add humor if the team becomes too dry.

Repeat these steps as needed, and hopefully your team will turn out as great as ours has.

Welcome aboard!

Sooo... 2 Chix and a Barn is jumping on the blog train....and we are SUPER excited to let you in on who we are, BUT....There are a GUH-ZILLION blogs out there....and we’re not even 100% sure that we can even write a blog. 

But 2 Chix is pretty amazing...

Our Team. 

Our Products. 

Our Vision. 

Every work day is the perfect combination of creativity, hilarity, and good ol’ fashioned hard work. 

So we want to start sharing that with you. Let you in to see the magic.