Numbers...

Hi Everyone!  I hope you are having a great weekend.  I've been busy working on projects and playing with the puppies!  But I had to show you one thing I finished last week.  I was looking through my stash of stuff that has been given to me and found three galvanized buckets.  And as soon as I saw them I knew exactly what to do with them.  I love all the things with numbers on them that I keep seeing, so to join the crowd, here are my numbered pails.

I painted them Country Tan and lightly sanded them, then added the numbers in black.  Then I sprayed them with a matte finish, just on the outside.  I like them but I'm not sure where to put them.  There are so many choices.....maybe in my workroom to hold some of my odds and ends...or in the kitchen...or maybe I'll just take them to the shop.  Thanks for stopping by.

To my surprise....

Hi Everyone!  Happy Saturday!  How surprised was I to learn that my custom bench was featured not once, but twice!  I was reading Sommer's post yesterday and realized I was looking at my bench!  Shock!

Then this morning I was reading Terri's post and shock once again.  There was my bench again!  So I had to share!

Thank you so much ladies for featuring my bench!  Now if I just knew whether my client's mother liked it or not.....I'd call and ask but what if she didn't like it?....What would you do?...Well thanks for stopping by!

I just couldn't resist....

Hi Everyone!  Happy Friday!  Well, I had to show you my version of the jar attached to the board that I've seen in blogland.  I turned mine into a multi-purpose item.  I added the hooks because you can never have to many hooks, plus I liked the way it looked with stainless steel clamp.  Then of course I had to add a hand painted sign to it.  I like it. 

Showing it here with flowers in the jar.  It would make a nice entry way addition.  You could hang your keys or the dog's leash from the hooks or have it as a place for guest to hang their coats.

It has so many uses and can be used in so many different places.  It can be used below a message center or in a guest bathroom.  And as usual, the board is a scrap piece of the baseboard that came from a 1880's home that was torn down.  Recycle and reuse when ever possible.  The jar came from my grandmother's canning stash so the only thing I had to buy were the hooks (which I actually had left over from another project) and the stainless steel clamp.  Too bad I don't have a place to hang it, yet.....Well, thanks for stopping by.  Have a great weekend!

A shop annoucement....

Hi Everyone! Well, I finally did it.  I opened up my very own Etsy shop.  It is called fullcirclecre8.etsy.com.  I only have a few items in the shop right now.  I've listed a few of my handpainted signs but I'll keep adding items as I have time. 

Full Circle Creations by fullcirclecre8.etsy.com

This is the banner I made for the shop since my blog header was to large to use.  I just might have to change my blog header to something more like this.  Well, thanks for stopping by.

Two down, one to go....

Hi Everyone!  Happy Wednesday!  Once again I've been MIA but I'm now ready to show you the other bench I've been working on.  This one was ordered by a girl for her mother.  I finished it on Monday and she came by last night to get it.  It is to go in the entry way of their farm house.  I just hope that her mom likes it. 

The funny thing about the headboards used to make this bench is that they were both headboards without  their foot boards.  I got them at two completely different times, from two completely different sources.  And to my amazement, they had the same lines to them.  And appeared as though they would look good together.

I had to cut down the legs of the spindle headboard so that the arms would be at a decent height.

I like how the arm is open and not solid, it makes it a bit more feminine, even in all black.

 My mom made the cushion for me.  The fabric looks like a quilt which is a little countryish without screaming country at you.  The gal that ordered it wasn't really into home decor so trying to come up with the right combination was a little work, but after getting her to "paint" me a picture of where it was going, this seemed to fit.  I just hope that her mom agrees.

I handpainted the letters of their farm name onto the back.  It took several layers of white to cover up the black paint, especially since the black paint is satin (it doesn't soak in very well), and then I put a coat of matte finish protective spray (not exactly poly) over the letters.  I'm happy with how it turned out, I just hope my client's mother is happy.  One of these days I'll remember to take the camera out to the shop while I'm building one of these.  Thanks for stopping by.

Puppy adventures....

Hi Everyone!  I don’t have a finished project to share with you today so instead I thought I’d tell you a little story.  As some of you may know, I live on a farm with my dogs Bailey and Bo and their litter (until they go to their forever home).  I thought I’d share some of their adventures with you.  I started a dog blog about my dogs and their puppies as a way to document this adventure, to be able to easily share pictures with my family and friends, and as a way to share the puppies with their prospective families.  My family and friends have enjoyed seeing this process unfold, almost as much as I’ve enjoyed it.

 I don’t always have the greatest pictures to share of the puppies (they don’t always stand still for our photo sessions).   And since I live alone, there isn’t someone there to help me keep an eye on them and take pictures.

My dad is always teasing me that I “speak” for my dogs and make them seem human.  But all animals have their own personalities and if you spend enough time with them, they do “speak” to you in a way.  I’m just beginning to see the personalities of my puppies coming through and can pick out which ones are most like their parents.  I have two extremely smart puppies, one girl and one boy.  They take after their mother.  And I have two of the sweetest puppies you’ve ever seen, also one girl (she went to her forever home on Sunday) and one boy and they take after their father.  The last boy is a great mix of both parents.  I think he just might be my favorite.

The puppy nursery is set up in my bathroom and extends out into the room outside the bathroom that serves more as a hallway then a room, where there is a puppy playpen.  It, like the bathroom, has a tiled floor so it’s easy to cleanup accidents.  When I come home from work for lunch, I leave the front door to the porch open and then go and open the bathroom door and stand back.  The puppies, moving as a group, run out of the bathroom, take a lap around the dinning room table and then head out the door to the front porch and then out the front door to the yard.  It’s really a comical sight.  And when it’s time to come back in, they head through the door again as a mass.  My smart girl will not go in unless she is leading the pack.  So she stops at the door and waits, the pack take a lap around the table and then head back out through the door where she is and then she leads them back inside.  They take a lap into the living room and around the dinning table and then to the play pen area and onto the bathroom. 

While they are taking their laps, I move to the bathroom, fill the water dish and clean up any accidents, then they head in and I head out closing the door as quickly as I can.  Then it’s onto the big dogs.  They too need to go out only it’s less entertaining and usually all business.  Then I can go back to work.  I’d share pictures of this action, but there just is no time to photograph it and get everyone where they need to go. 

Each one of my pups is named according to the color of their collar.  Blue is Little Boy Blue, Black is Black-eyed Pea, Pink is Pinky Tuscadero (Happy Days), Red is Red Rover, and Green is Mr. Green Jeans, or John Deere Green.  It’s been great fun but this time is now coming to an end.  The pups are 8 weeks old and it’s time for them to go to their forever homes.  I’m sad as each one leaves, but very happy to have had them in my home for a while. 

So as you can see, I’ve been extra busy the last 8 weeks but I’ll have new projects to share with you soon.  I promise.  I hope you have a great weekend.  Thanks for stopping by.

Headboard bench and cushion...

Hi Everyone!  I'm still working on a list of projects including a custom bench but wanted to share this headboard bench with you.  I wish I had taken a picture of the headboard/footboard before I started, but I wasn't thinking clearly.  And please forgive the tractor wheel in the background.  I share shop space with our John Deere tractor.

 And thanks to my mother for making yet another cushion.  One of these days I'm going to get my own sewing machine and make them myself.  But until then, Mom to the rescue.  Her sewing machine is 50+ years old and requires a special touch that I don't have, but thank goodness Mom does!

 Even though I've made plenty of benches, this is one of my favorites and of course the pictures just don't do the lines of it justice.  This set did not come with the turned ball finials on top of the post.

I added those to give it a more finished look and I'm really glad that I did.  It went to a really nice lady in town that just loves everything I make.  She ordered this back in September at a Craft Fair and told me not to hurry, just sometime next year (meaning this year).  And thank goodness she wasn't in a hurry as I had so many orders to fill for clients that didn't want to wait.  I think that's why I probably went the extra step to add the finials to the posts.  I'm still working on the other custom bench and have taken another order for a garden bench.  Busy, busy, busy but that's good news!  Too bad I don't get to do this full-time (yet) and have to get to go to a regular job.  Thanks for stopping by.

I can't believe he's graduating...

Hi Everyone!  Happy Thursday!  I can't believe my nephew Ridge is graduating from high school.  It just doesn't seem possible.  Tonight is his graduation ceremony and unfortunately, I can't be there.  I have to work and I have the puppies to take care and to try to find homes for.  My brother and his family are going, my parents are going, but the timing was just wrong for me to make the trip.  And boy do I feel bad! 

 I lived in the same area as his parents did when he was born and for the first 6 months of his life, I helped take care of him everyday!  He slept through the night for the first time at my apartment.  He had colic and when his parents just couldn't take it anymore, they would call me and I'd make the 15 minute drive to their home and not more than 10 minutes after I got there he would settle down and go to sleep.  I moved and then his parents moved and then they got divorced.  And despite all the things that have gone on his life, he has remained a very kind hearted and sweet boy who has put God at the forefront of his life.  He goes to church, Sunday school, and on mission trips and I've been so impressed with him. 

He use to come and stay with my parents and I for a month or so every summer, but hasn't the last couple of summers and I've missed spending that time with him.  But he had a summer job and his friends.  And now he's enlisted in the Marines because he wants to serve our country and make a difference.  And I couldn't be more proud of him.  I just hope I get to see him before he leaves in the fall. 

 So, Congratulations Ridge!  Wish I could be there!  Love you!

Garden art....

Hi Everyone!  Happy Wednesday evening!  I'm sorry I've been MIA the last few days but you know how life sometimes gets in the way of blogging!  My allergies have been keeping me down and out.  And it didn't help when I mowed the yard on Monday.  As some of you may know, I live on a farm and it takes me 3 hours to mow the yard (just the main yard around the house and near the road) and that's on a riding John Deere mower!  I couldn't imagine if I had to push the mower.  And I've been busy with the puppies.  One sweet girl puppy has gone on to her forever home.  She left on Sunday with a very nice young man.  I think she's going to have a good home with him!

So I wanted to show you one of the things I made earlier for the flower garden.  It's made from recycled boards that were cut to look like they came from a picket fence.  And you all know how much I love bird houses.....

The pictures just don't do it justice.  But I really like how it turned out.  It looks old and that's the look I was going for.  Well, thanks for stopping by.

Bookcase made from recycled wood...

Hi Everyone!  Now that blogger is back up and working, here is one of the posts that I did that was lost.  I wanted to show you the bookcase I made to replace the one that sold at the shop.  It's made from recycled boards that were given to me.  I love it when wood is free!  It makes me happy to know that it didn't just go in the landfill or into some one's burn pile.

 I forgot to take a picture of it empty before I loaded it up with merchandise to sell.  All pieces have to double as display pieces because the shop is not that big.

I painted it cream and then put an antique glaze on top of it and sanded it down.  I like how it turned out and if it doesn't sell I have the perfect spot for it in my living room.  Thanks for stopping by.

Michelle at Ispirato Design is having a giveaway...

Hi Everyone!  Michelle at Ispirato Design is having a giveaway once see reaches 100 followers which is any hour now.  She does the sweetest pet portrait pencil sketches.  Head on over and help her reach 100 followers and sign up to win a pet portrait.  And while you are there, check out some of her other posts and get inspired.  I know I did.



Thanks Michelle for hosting a giveaway.  And thanks for stopping by!

Blogger issues...

Hi Everyone!  I don't you if you are all as frustrated as I am with the problems blogger is having, but I had three posts deleted. One from yesterday, one that was scheduled for today and one that I was working on for tomorrow.  UGH!

So needless to say I'm not very happy.  :(

I hope you are having a better day than I am.  Happy Friday the 13th!

Display easel...

Hi Everyone!  I'm still busy working on the bench that was ordered this past weekend, not to mention the other four projects I have going on plus work and caring for the puppies.  But I wanted to share with you a custom order I did recently for a client.  My client has this wallpaper border in her shop and she wanted a stand that would go with the border that she could use to set announcements on and could also go with the decor when it wasn't needed for announcements. 

So this is what I made for her.  I drew a jug shape and a crock shape out of 1" pine and used my handy dandy jig saw to cut it out.  Then sanded the pieces and painted them.  Then using some left over plywood for the back and scrap pieces of wood, made the easel portion.  I sanded and painted those pieces and then glued and nailed the jug and crock to the plywood.

I liked how it turned out.  And so did my client.  Although I've been in there several times and I've yet to see her use it to display announcements on.  I guess my timing is off.  Well, thanks for stopping by.

Interrupting the regularly scheduled post...

Hi Everyone!  I hope you are having a  nice Wednesday.  We've had a heat wave here the last couple of days which turned into high humidity and now it's pouring rain.  We've had hail and now thunderstorms.  And a good chance for some really severe weather.  I hate thunderstorms.  The lightening and thunder which is going on right now.  And I especially hate the wind and tornado's. 

There has been some work going on at the farm and thank goodness they finished this big terrace project before the rain came.  Too bad the weather didn't hold so the soybeans could be planted, but we did need some rain.  Just not the rest of it.  You see that really dark soil at the top of the picture, that's a new terrace which will be planted with grass seed and will look like the two rows of green in the middle of the picture.  I live on a hill and the farm ground sits where there are lots of hills that have been contoured and terraced and tiled so that the ground can be planted.  The terracing holds back the soil when it rains and is tiled to drain the water away.  And we needed some more terraces. 

Now the new terraces will need to be seeded.  Too bad the rain didn't hold off for that, so hopefully we won't have too much rain.  We also had a waterway worked on and the corner of the dam that had given away with the flooding that happened a couple of years.  I'll get back to sharing projects soon.  Thanks for stopping by.

Heat wave and adding new stock...

Hi Everyone!  I hope you had a great day.  We had record highs here again today.  It was 99 degrees.  I think spring has definitely gone.  I stopped by my retail space last night to check to see if things needed to be changed up or new stock introduced and it did, so tonight I did just that.

 I brought in the signs I've been making.  I see I also need to make some more magnets, the board is almost bare.

 I made this stand last winter to display my handmade Christmas ornaments but realized I could hang my signs on it if I added some twine to the back of the sign, so that's what I did.

I have a few more things to bring in and a few to take home but I'll have to do that next week.  I have to get working on that bench that was ordered this weekend.  Thanks for stopping by.

What happened to spring?....

Hi Everyone!  Happy Monday!  I hope you all had a great Mother's Day weekend.  I planted flowers for my mom in the brick bed outside my parents front door and my dad cooked.  It was a nice time. 

So now I'm wondering what happened to spring.  We just went from needing the heat on to needing the air conditioner.  The temperature today was in the high 90's!  Like 96!  And tomorrow is suppose to be just as hot if not hotter.  So before all my spring flowers disappear, I thought I'd share a few pictures of them.

My dogs went to the vet today and got a clean bill of health.  In fact, he was very impressed by them.  They weren't wild and crazy like some puppies are and by the end of the appointment they were all asleep.  So it was a good day but I didn't get any projects done.  But I did get an order last night for a headboard bench.  So all other projects (besides the puppies) will be one hold until I get this bench done.  Thanks for stopping by.