Rockford, IL Farmers Markets

I'm a HUGE fan of fresh produce! I shop 4 times a week for my groceries and am in actual HEAVEN when I am out of the Country at open air markets. My favorite time of year is when the snow has melted and the sun is shining bright, the breeze is light and the farm stands are up. Farmers Markets are a way of life for me during the summer months and I love hitting them up as often as I can. Here is a list of Rockford Area ones that I frequent and some that I hope to visit this year. It's a fresh list, since the season has just begun and I have not gotten all the start dates yet, so I will be updating it as the times and dates come in!

Rockford

COLONIAL VILLAGE FARMERS' MARKET

Newburg Road & Alpine Road

Late May through October, Fridays from 9am to 1pm.

815-398-3350

Rockford

EDGEBROOK FARMERS' MARKET

Edgebrook Shopping Center

Wednesdays. May 5th - last week in October: 9 am to 1 pm.

815-226-0212

Rockford

KLEHM ARBORETUM FARMERS' MARKET

2715 South Main Street

Mondays, 4pm to 6pm.

815-965-8146

Rockford

MIDTOWN FARMERS' MARKET

222 Seventh Street

Fridays, 3pm to 8pm.

815-961-1269

Rockford

NORTH END COMMONS FARMERS' MARKET

1400 North Main Street, West lot

Saturdays, May 22 through October, from 8am to noon.

815-962-1234

Rockford

RIVER DISTRICT FARMERS MARKET

YMCA South Lot, 215 Y Blvd

Tuesdays and Saturdays, 8am to noon.

815-964-6221

Rockford

PERRYVILLE FARMERS MARKET

Perryville Commons, South Perryville Road and Fincham Drive

Saturdays through October from 9am to 1pm.

815-229-3000

We usually spend our weekends in Geneva and they have a FANTASTIC open air French Market in town near the train depot. It's a great market with fantastic produce, I love the Granola and the flowers! This Market is on Sundays and on Saturdays is the Community Winter market, so as you can see I cover my bases wherever I go!

Share some of your favorite markets, no matter where you live!

Weekend Treasure Chest

This weekend took me to Geneva, IL where I found the BEST Antique Market. The prices and the selection can't be beat. I was looking for buttons for a custom order that someone had and I fell in love with a few other things as well! I bought the buckles because I love to make impromptu belts out of Mens Vintage Ties. I also found the CUTEST EVER gold tone nautical bangle. If you are ever in town be sure to stop here! Even my husband found a lot to look at! I will hopefully be back next week! Enjoy your visit and share your treasures!

There are a few other Antique places in town on State Street. The one in the little house a bit out of town is alright, but the one right in downtown near the Starbucks is incredibly over priced and not stocked very well. Definitely stick in the Berry House and you will not be disappointed! Be sure to schedule in a lunch while you are there over at the Egg Harbor Cafe, always divine and will also give you the energy to keep hunting for amazing finds!

The Feedback Phenomenon...

Ice Cube Tray Ring by MCW 10.00

Sooo....feedback right? I am constantly wondering if it's really a helpful tool or just the bane of my existence. I want it to work similar to Ebays where blank spaces are NOT allowd for Neutral or Negative feedbacks and most importantly, I would love if it would have a POP UP window when someone wants to leave Negative or Neutral. I would love if the pop up window could tell them to CONTACT THE SELLER FIRST! I am sooo 100% make that 1000% flexible and willing to work with someone. But without communication, how will I know what's wrong? I don't pester people for feedback and since over 50% of my customers sign up JUST to buy something from me, I don't get that feedback, so that also makes it a bit of a pain to deal with. So please remember to leave feedback when you receive your item OR contact the seller if you are upset about something. I am thinking of including a little note at the bottom of my stationery that will say something like Don't forget the feedback or something along those lines that also tells them to let me know if they have any problems. I will be working on a mock up of this today and tomorrow.

Donut Tray Necklace by MCW 12.00

Then it moves onto my other problem with the feedback system. It's not monitored properly. There is so much vindictive feedback it's not even funny. There are time when I have seen people only leave neutral feedback and with no comment!! There are times when I have seen someone leave feedback for something that had NOTHING to do with the transaction itself and there are times when I have seen someone leave feedback for something they didn't even pay for. I've given a heads up to many of these sellers, that if requested, Etsy sometimes will remove them depending on a case by case basis, I only hope they make the attempt to contact Etsy!

Donut Bow Brooch by MCW 14.00

Which of course brings me to my final problem with feedback. Fear?! Yup, fear! I'm a seller on Etsy and i'm terrified of leaving honest feedback. I don't want them to complain about me in the fora, litter my inbox with negativity, or worse yet be totally upset with me. I find myself just ignoring leaving that feedback and letting it sit there and not leaving it haha! I know that I need to be as honest as I want people to be with me, but it's hard. It's hardest being a seller on the site where my feedback actually matters. I wouldn't want them leaving me a neutral in return just because I was upset with something. As a side note I do contact the sellers with which I have problems with first. Customer service goes a long way and unfortunately not everyone has picked up on that yet. Oh well, until feedback is eliminated, I guess I will just stand proud and confused by my 7 unexplained neutrals :) Have a great day everyone! Remember to jump into my shop and look around! This post features all the new goodies found in store!

Monday Monday...

Watermelon Earrings by MCW 10.00

I have a total case of the Mondays! I miss the weekend already and the next one just seems too far away. It''s been a rough week with alot of business going on and I even got 2 wholesale orders last week! Which of course means more work! I've been thinking of opening up a new shop that will only hold my wholesale items that people can buy in bulk. That way I have everything made and don't have to worry about making them all on the fly. It's still just in the thought-process mode and I will keep you all informed if I decided to go through with it.

Remember it's MONDAY! Time to freshen up that shop and change around your featured items! Today i'm going with a cofee shop type of theme. Fun, Sweet and Yummy! The last 2 wholesale orders have allowed me to slim down my shop to right around where I want it. I'm thinking 10 pages works well for me. I will be having an online 'yard sale' of sorts soon to slim down the rest of my stash and reorganize my shop some!

I'm featuring these 2 Eclair pieces on my blog this week! The eclair brooch is super cute dangling under a vintage silver tone bow brooch. This pistachio eclair looks so sweet hanging in the clutches of a pair of ornate silver tongs. The Strawberry Eclair Necklace dangles oh so elegantly in another pair of silver tone, detailed tongs. The pair together is so cute and fun that I am offering a special sale for my blog readers! Buy the pair together (regularly priced at 24.00 for the pair) and I will give them to you for 17.00!! That's a savings of 7.00!! use code; BLOGFAN when you check out and wait for the revised invoice. Hurry up, it's the only pair i have in the shop!

Have a great week readers!

Another Monday....

Purse Charm coming soon to MCW

So it's monday and i'm saddled with an upset stomach and 2 kids with runny noses...blahhh...it's been a lazy weekend and i'm sorry about the lack of blogging going on here lately! It's been busy getting into the height of craft show season coming up! I can't believe how fast Spring is approaching!

I wanted to be sure to remind you to change up your featured items today and select 2 items from your shop that need to be rephotographed! It will be a great way to bring some life into your shop! Have you thought about changing up your backrounds?? I have an idea in head that I will try and work out this week sometime and see if I like how it turns out!

I have also been featured in a treasury today! It's so pretty and bright! Thanks so much to MonarchDancer for the feature! Please stop by and click and comment on the treasury!

Did You Know?

This Weekends Goodies!

Ten Random Thoughts About Me!

1> I love Antique Stores, Estate Sales and Flea Markets.

2> I collect Vintage Tupperware and Plastic 80s Charms

3> I was Married in Walt Disney World

4> I am studying Japanese Slooooooowlllllllyyyyyyyyyyy

5> I love the smell of gasoline and new plastic

6> My signature color is pink & I try to wear it daily

7> I was a cheerleader in high school

8> In grade school I was the biggest nerd EVER

9> I have only 3 really good friends

10> I find rain very romantic

730 Views 28 Hearts and no Home by MichellesCharmWorld 12.00

Take this necklace home today and get free shipping off your next purchase at MichellesCharmWorld! and a free lollipop cell phone charm!