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AMY BIERSTEDT

AAmy Bierstedt has a passion for handmade items. Not only are the products that she sells at her own business, From Scratch Farm, handmade, but she has now opened up her location on north Main Street in Boerne to other makers as well. The newly reimagined store is now the home of Handmade on Main.

“I love supporting my fellow makers and small business owners,” said Bierstedt. “From Scratch Farm was solely occupying the space, but there was plenty of room to add more vendors and create a really fun handmade co-op. A place where shoppers looking for handmade products can come and find so many great things in one spot!” Handmade on Main’s current vendors include From Scratch Farm, Doubleside Toffee Co., Bear & Roo Candle Co., Craft Tree and Dusty Square Designs. “We love that each of us offer such diverse products. It makes for a really fun shopping experience with so many different things to choose from. We have natural home and body products, candy, candles, children’s toys and even wall art,” said Bierstedt.

Amy began her handmade journey about seven years ago SMALL BUSINESS OWNER, SHOP LOCAL SUPPORTER, HANDMADE ENTHUSIAST by Lauren Stumberg | photos by Shutter-Happy Photography

when she began creating products that care for you and your home, made with the most natural and simple ingredients she can find. According to Bierstedt, “I went through my home and looked at the products that I was using. If I could make it better I did.” In fact, the products created at From Scratch Farm consist of about two to six ingredients, all of which are natural, non-toxic and almost always contain essential oils and never any dyes or perfumes.

The From Scratch Farm products include items to cleanse and freshen your home, pamper and moisturize your skin, and refresh your soul. There are lip balms, vapor rubs, body scrubs, soaps, room sprays, laundry detergents and allpurpose cleaners just to name a few. “We offer low-cost refills on many of our products too! This is a great way to restock on your favorite products without the waste of needing a new container,” she said.

Amy also began carrying additional sustainable products that compliment the From Scratch Farm line. Sleep masks, stainless steel straws, tote bags and luffa sponges are just a some of the fun, green products that have been added.

Bierstedt is very active with From

continued from page 17 Scratch Farm on social media. “I try to inspire my followers to live a bit more green, to eat cleaner, home cooked meals, that sort of thing. One of my favorite ways to do that is through recipes or celebrating fun, quirky holidays. As I began to observe these holidays such as National Ice Cream Day or National Margarita Day, I noticed that there was no National Handmade Day, so of course I had to make one!” said Amy.

According to Bierstedt, the app that she was using to find out about these holidays actually had an application form. She filled it out, it got approved and just like that she created National Handmade Day, which is celebrated every first Saturday in April! “This year we are having an event to celebrate National Handmade Day here at Handmade on Main. The event is April 4th and will be a celebration of makers, making and all things handmade! Come for the fiesta (chips, queso, margaritas) and stay for the fun!” The event will feature a few make and take bath and body projects, and Craft Tree will offer intro to crochet lessons! Next Door at Gina Marie’s Art Studio will be a fiesta-themed art or craft project and Waligora Signs will be offering a special custom-sign

class. Rambling Rose will also be on-site selling women’s clothing. Keep watch on social media for even more fun announcements too! From Scratch Farm is preparing for a busy spring as well! In addition to the National Handmade Day event, Bierstedt will be participating in numerous markets throughout San Antonio and the hill country.

As much as Bierstedt loves handmade, she also loves small businesses. “As the owner of a small business, I know how much it means to me and my family when people choose to shop with me. I need my business to do well, to support my kids and set a good example for them. I am trying to teach my sons the importance of shopping small and have really shifted my purchasing habits. I realize how hard it is to get people through the door and I not only want to encourage everyone to shop small, but I want to practice what I preach,” said Amy. “Through shopping small, I not only get to support my fellow local businesses, but I have created so many wonderful friendship and connections.” Some of those connections Bierstedt is referring to are members of the local Boerne Retailers’ group. “I have never felt such support for my business as with this group,” she said. The Boerne Retailers’ Group organized their first Style Show &

Shopping Event last fall and it was a huge success. Bierstedt, who has been an integral part of this event, is one of the main organizers and head marketing person for the event. “The Boerne Retailers’ Style Show & Shopping Event was the brainchild of Joli Boutique and is a fantastic way for the Boerne community to come together, support local businesses and raise money for a fantastic charity, the Kendall County Women’s Shelter. It has grown and this year will have even more fashion on the runway, more pop-up shops and an exclusive after party with music from The Klocks! It takes place on March 21st, be sure to get your tickets!”

Through all of her hard work, Amy hopes to inspire others to join her in her support of the shop small and shop local movement. Bierstedt ends by saying, “Being a business owner is hard. Doing it as a woman, in what has been a man’s world, is harder. For me, doing it as a maker and single mom has been the most difficult thing I’ve ever done. I am shouting from the rooftops that Boerne is an amazing place to spend the day and shop because it SO matters to me! And my retailer friends! You will find that you can’t beat the superb customer service, unique products and warm hearts you will find along the way.” BBM

Meet the family: Amy, along with sons Evan & Ben

FROMSCRATCHFARM.COM Follow From Scratch Farm & Handmade on Main on Facebeook & Instagram! 347 North Main Street, Suite A – Boerne

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103 N. Saunders St. – Boerne (830) 816.2131

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MARCH 14 JEWELRY MAKING: SHAGGY LOOP EARRINGS 10:30am to 1:30pm Patrick Heath Public Library 451 N. Main – Boerne REGISTRATION REQUIRED by calling Robin at 249-3053. Space is limited. Ages 18 & up please. A fun morning learning to make shaggy loop earrings from artist Jacqueline Stensrud! SPARTAN RACE All Day Joshua Springs Park and Preserve 716 FM 289 – Comfort Build a team of friends or family and head out for the Spartan Race in the mud! Journey through the obstacle course for time or for fun. Groups of women, men and all ages are released into the course throughout the morning of the race. Challenge yourself and see what you're made of! Spartan.com for more info!

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Erica and Jonathan Jennings Owners, Boerne Boat & RV Storage

20 “We have a long history of trusting Sonora Bank with our banking needs. Their friendly and knowledgeable team makes banking so simple and easy, allowing us to spend our time focusing on our customers.”

BOERNE EAST 1570 River Road | 830-331-8300 BOERNE WEST 122 West Bandera | 830-331-9118

| March 2020 KUHLMANN-KING MUSEUM TOUR 12:00pm to 3:00pm | 402 E. Blanco Road – Boerne The Kuhlmann-King house gives the public the opportunity to step back in time to see what a historic Boerne home looked like “way back when”. Open every Second Saturday of each month. Please email pegazeus45-bahps@yahoo.com to schedule a personalized tour.

SECOND SATURDAY BLUEGRASS JAM 1:00pm to 3:00pm | The AgriCultural Museum 102 City Park Road – Boerne Every second Saturday of the month, bring your instrument and play along, or just come to listen to the Bluegrass Jam at The AgriCultural! (Formerly the Agricultural Heritage Museum) This event is free and open to the public.

MARCH 14-15 BOERNE MARKET DAYS 10am to 5pm on Saturday, 10am to 4pm on Sunday Main Plaza | 100 N. Main Street – Boerne Since 1850, Main Plaza has been a center point of trade for the people of Boerne. In the present day, on the second weekend of every month, Main Plaza is home to an outdoor market that blends the traditions of the Texas Hill Country with the creations of today’s culture. Hundreds of festive booths display everything from collectibles and remembrances of the past to modern innovations.

MARCH 17 SAINT PATRICK’S DAY

BOERNE PERFORMING ARTS: THE TAP PACK 7:30pm Boerne Champion High School Auditorium 201 Charger Boulevard – Boerne Inspired by the infamous “Rat Pack”, the famous talents of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Junior, THE TAP PACK is a high-energy performance of mind-blowing tap dancing, smooth vocals, a swinging live jazz band and witty on-stage banter. This new, highly entertaining act, features five of Australia’s finest tap dancing performers that storm the stage bringing a new, invigorating energy to a timeless style. boerneperformingarts.com for more info!

MARCH 19 GBCC RIBBON CUTTING FOR PRETTY POSH BOUTIQUE 11:30am to 12:00pm The Greater Boerne Chamber of Commerce 121 South Main Street – Boerne Pretty Posh Boutique is a non-profit organization which accepts donations of gently used formal wear, dresses, shoes, and accessories and donates them to teens in need in the Hill Country area.

GBCC BOERNE AFTER 5 MIXER - HOSTED BY FORD OF BOERNE 5:00pm to 7:00pm 31480 I-10 – Boerne

FFebruary 8th just may have been Boerne’s sweetest day of the year! On that day, the annual Boerne Chocolate Walk took place and event ticket holders flocked to the Hill Country Mile to shop and gather up their chocolate treats from the participating stores. The walk allowed participants to visit firsthand Boerne’s unique stores, galleries and restaurants. Each year, tickets for the Boerne Chocolate Walk sell out quickly and each ticket includes a map of the participating businesses, a bag to collect your treats and a raffle ticket. As ticket holders shop downtown Boerne, they make sure to visit each participating location, receive their special treat, and once they have visited all the stores they then returned the raffle ticket for a chance to win some very nice prizes that were donated by the participating store owners.

This year’s participating locations were: The Flower Shop, From Scratch Farm, Mommy 2B, Salty and Sweet, Soda Pops, Black Rifle Coffee, Pixie, La Te Da, Laurie Saunders, Jolie Boutique, Maker’s Place, Lady Lina Vintage Home and Floral, Texas Gourmet Pantry, Corner Cartel, Bear Moon Bakery and Café, The Pearl Antler, The Sanctuary for the Vintage Soul, Calamity Jane’s, Shopping with Siobhain, Flashback Funtiques, Boutique Chloe Rose, The Christmas Shoppe, The Victorian Rose, The Dienger Trading Co. and Southern Voice.

A fun time was had by all at the 2020 Boerne Chocolate Walk! Be sure to mark your calendars for next year’s event! Boerne Chocolate Walk BBM