A New Chapter...

Hi Everyone!  I can't believe how the summer is flying by.  I certainly hope you are enjoying it.  Today I want to share some exciting news with you.  I've been busting at the seams to tell you about it, so much so that I couldn't sleep, so instead I decided to share my news one day earlier than planned.  A new chapter of my life is about to start...today is my last day of employment as a bookkeeper for a local plumbing company.  And tomorrow is the first day of my full-time self-employment!  I am throwing caution to the wind (it will be alright Mom), taking a chance on myself and following my dream of taking this little business I've started and seeing just how far I can take it.  Amazingly, I'm not nervous or apprehensive about taking this leap.  I'm so excited I can hardly contain myself (which is why I couldn't sleep).

It's been difficult the last couple of years as my business has grown to keep up with my job, my business, this blog, the farm and everything in between.  But now that I will be working for myself, I hope to do a better job keeping up with everything, especially this blog.  I have missed sitting down and writing.  I've missed the comments from you and seeing what you've been up to.

One of the things I have avoided doing on my blog is running any ads, but now that I'm self-employed, that just might have to change.  And at some point I might have to change platforms but that will have to wait for a while.  I have so many projects to share with you that I'm not sure which to share first.  I currently have 9 orders just waiting for me to finish/begin so that seems like the best place to start.  So look for me to be around a little more often.  I plan on taking you along for the ride as I navigate self-employment.  I know it won't be easy but I'm looking forward to the challenge.  And as always, thanks for stopping by.

Spring Open House.....

Hi Everyone!  I know it's been too long and I missed sharing with you all the projects, fairs and open houses that occurred throughout the fall and winter and for that I'm truly sorry.  This fall my dogs decided to have an unplanned litter.  Bailey had 13 pups right before Thanksgiving and in the middle of four weekends of Open Houses.  She had such a big litter and stressful delivery that only 8 of them survived.  And that was plenty!!!  They were adorable!  And all found homes by the time they turned 8 weeks old!

But this weekend was my first open house of the year.  And it's been wonderful.  I tried something different this time and opened up for three days, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  Going forward I plan on having them about every month.  So on with the pictures!

It was a great weekend.  I want to thank everyone that came out despite the uncooperative weather.  It's always nice to see old friends and meet new ones.  There were a lot of new visitors this time.  I'm so grateful for all the support.  And a big thanks to my biggest supporters, Mom and Dad!

And as always, thanks for stopping by!  I'll try not to be gone so long!

Paintings from the Open House...

Hi Everyone!  So much to do and so little time...you know how it is.  I've started working on custom orders and items to take to Clarinda in less than three weeks but thought I'd stop in and show you a few more pictures from my Open House.

 If you've seen any of the pictures from my Open House, you would have seen the paintings on display by my friend Heather.  I thought I'd show them to you up close.

 This one is called "Wind power."

 This one is called "Field of Hay."

This one is called "Early Morning Hay."

This one is called "Sunflower."

This one is called "Wine." 

I don't know what this one is called.  Heather decided to give it away in a drawing and I never learned what the name of it was.  Unfortunately, none of her other paintings sold.  So if you see any that you like, contact me for details as they are still available.

Except for this one....

.....this one is mine.  We traded work...she wanted some things built, which I did back in April and she painted this for me.  Isn't it fabulous!  I love it and have it hanging in my living room.  I think I got the better deal in this trade!  Thanks Heather!  And thanks for stopping by!

Never enough storage...

Hi Everyone!  I thought I'd show you the new storage piece in my studio (you've seen it in some of my open house pictures) is an eight drawer dresser that belonged to my friend Lynett.  I had asked her to keep a look out for something for me and she found a few options, but none of them were right for me, but one of them was right for her.

So I received her dresser.  Just look at all of that storage!  And the drawers slide like a dream.  But the color, or lack of color, just wasn't me.  So I painted it!

 Don't you just love that bold color?!  I certainly do.

The color is called New Life by Americana Decor, from their chalk paint line.  I painted it and waxed it but I decided not to distress it, yet.  It works wonderful in my Studio and holds a bunch of supplies.  I certainly do love it!  Would you have painted it such a bold color.?  Thanks for stopping by.

Fall Open House...

Hi Everyone!  My Fall Open House was this past weekend and it was wonderful.  I'm almost at a loss  for words except to say that I feel extremely blessed.  I took a chance and had it Friday and Saturday because the town festival was also this weekend.  Friday was the best day, Saturday was almost as good and then Sunday, I received several calls asking to come out and had several more sales and a couple of orders.  The Studio was full on Friday and I'm sitting in it now and it feels empty.

I moved a lot of the pieces that were already in my Studio around since the last Open House giving it a better flow.  I moved the pay counter to behind the front door and switched out the large black piece for this smaller rolling cart that had been my kitchen island pre-remodel.  I painted the base grey and the top old white then added my banner to the front of it.  I really want to paint on the new design like I did for the outdoor sign.  That's on my to do list for this winter.

 This post is picture heavy but I'll just let you take a look at the pictures.

 The paintings on this table were done by my artist friend Heather.  She is so talented!  I have one of her painting in my living room of a windmill.

I want to say thank you to all of those that came out and supported me, told their friends and family about it and even brought people out to see my Studio.  It was a great weekend.  The sales were great and I received a handful of orders that I need to get started on plus I have less than three weeks (just two weekends) to get ready for my big show at Clarinda.  Thank goodness I am about half ready for it.  Thanks for stopping by.

There is a season....

Hi Everyone!  One more day until my Fall Open House.  I'm almost ready for it.  Just a little more cleaning to do, some decorating and a couple of signs to finish up.  I thought I'd show you another one of the silhouette paintings I did.

 This is painted on four wooden canvases, each canvas painted with a base coat of black and then different color to represent the four seasons.

I painted the tree and the saying using black paint.  The saying says For everything there is a season...  A simple painting but one that I really like.  It will be available at my Open House on Friday and Saturday and then listed in my Etsy Shop.  Thanks for stopping by.

A fairytale....

Hi Everyone!  Last night I finished hand painted 6 signs for my Fall Open House on Friday and Saturday and thought I'd share my favorite one with you.

 I took an old foot board that I've had for a while and cut off the side posts, painted it with Old White Chalk paint and distressed it.

 Then I had painted the saying...(it's one of my favorites!) onto the board.  It says "Every once in a while, int he middle of an ordinary life, love gives us a fairytale."  I used the same saying on the back of a headboard bench I made.

I envision it above a  bed without a headboard or in a Master suite.

I really like how it turned out.  This sign (and others) will be available at my Fall Open House on Friday and Saturday.  Thanks for stopping by.

Linking to:
http://www.myrepurposedlife.com/2014/09/catch-as-catch-can-182.html