Latest sign...

Hi Everyone!  I hope you're having a great week.  I've been busy this week trying to get all of the last minute things done for the fair this weekend.  I have a lot to share with you next week....if I remember to take pictures.

But today  I want to show you one of the custom signs I made.  I've never made one like this with the black background.

But I think it turned out alright.

It took several coats of white paint to get the white to cover the black.

It looks so much better in person. 

Now I need to get some sleep.  Thanks for stopping by.

Headboard remake....

Hi Everyone!  I hope your week is going well.  I've been busy working in the shop this last week since the weather has been nice.  This is one of the projects that I was working on.  If you remember, my aunt gave me this headboard which you can see here.  It needed a lot of work so I knew I wasn't going to turn it into a bench.

I cut the legs off.  And will use them on another project.

And used parts of a Jenny Lind crib to make the pegs.  I attached them with glue and long wood screws.

I painted it with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Old Ochre.  Then sanded it down.

I hand painted the letters on in black.....

...and painted the bird silhouettes and the branch.

I really like how it turned out.  I will be taking this to the fall fair.  I've never made one like this before.  I thought about cutting the peg part off and turning it into two separate items.  What do you think?  Should I leave it as is?  Or should I separate it?  I'd be interested in what you think.  Thanks for stopping by.

Linking to:
http://www.uncommondesignsonline.com/2012/08/uncommonly-yours-link-party-43.html 
http://blackberryvine.blogspot.com/2012/08/tuesday-to-do-party-76-and-75-list.html 
http://shadesofamberinc.blogspot.com/2012/08/chalk-paint-link-party_28.html 

Playhouse sign...

Hi Everyone!  I hope your week is going well.  It was hot again today.  But it should cool down again tomorrow.  Just in time for school to start.  The first day is tomorrow.  Which really doesn't affect me, but does a lot of my co-workers. 

I thought I'd share with you a custom order sign I made for a client.  She asked for a sign that said Mary Jane's Playhouse.  Then I had the idea to plaid the background so I had her pick the colors she wanted.  She picked a burgundy and forest green.  And this is what I came up with.

I hand painted the lettering in an ivory color and outlined them in black.

It was fun to make.  And a bit different than my normal signs.

It really does look much better in person.

My client was happy with it and that's what really matters.  I took these pictures before I drilled the holes in the upper corners and inserted the wire that became the hanger.  But I didn't take any pictures of it.  Tonight I'm working on three other signs...none this involved....and I need to work on the table I'm building.  But we are in for some storms so I might not get too much done on the table.  Thanks for stopping by.

A brand new day....

Hi Everyone!  I hope your week is off to a great start.  I wanted to share with you one of the custom order hand painted signs I made last week.  I think this is a great saying.

 I made this at the request of my client.

 I think I'm going to have to add this to my list of signs that I make for the fair.

It's simple and would look great in different colors.

I think I need to make one for myself.  Thanks for stopping by.

Work in progress...

Hi Everyone!  Sorry I disappeared for a couple of days.  I've been working on a few projects but I don't have anything truly finished.  I did a little bit of yard work yesterday.  I have more to do.  I've been working on a few paintings...a few signs...and that bench for my co-worker.  I've been stuck on that bench.  I had limited instructions but then again too many instructions and I just hadn't figured it out.  But it finally came together today and I should finish it on Tuesday.

 This is where I started...the most unappealing part but probably more important than the outer part...the supports and structure of the bench.  I basically built two separate small benches and then put them together.  I did it this way because the drawing I was given had that look on the end (see the pic below) where the legs had that space between them.  And by making two smaller benches I could make it structurally sound and give it the look that my client wanted.

 Then I wrapped the base with a 1"x 6" that I shaved down a bit and gave it a "finished" look on the ends.  And then I put three 1"x 6" boards for the seat plus a board I cut down to 1 3/4" where the back will be attached.  I had to clamp the last 1" x 6" board down since it had a bit of a twist to it and didn't lay completely flat on one end.  Once the glue dries then the clamps will come off and the back can go on.

 It's very structurally sound.  As my mom would say, "It could hold and elephant."  I think it can stand up to a couple of kids climbing on it.

And here's what the back is going to look like.  It's just a solid back.  This doesn't have the end pieces on it.  I can't add the ends until I've attached this portion to the seat/base.  The piece of plywood isn't attached yet either.  I need to attach this frame to the last board that makes up the seat of the bench, then attached that to the base. 

Then I can attach the end pieces of the back to the frame and the base.  Clear as mud, right?  Well at least I know what I mean.  If I were making this for myself, I would add a cushion or upholster the seat and I'd upholster that piece of plywood inside the frame...but that's just me.  I would also be painting the wood instead of staining it, but the client wants what they want.  At least I don't have to stain it.  Staining is my least favorite thing to do.

I've also been working on a trio of paintings for another client.  Here's a peek at them.  I'm not yet finished with them.  This is not the best picture of them, you can't see the details and it looks more green than they really are.

 And here are a couple of signs I'm working on for another client.  I was hoping to have them finished earlier this week, but I ran out of my favorite outdoor sealer and had to order more.  Nobody carries it around here and I did not have time to get anywhere that does have it, so I order it. 

This is actually only one sign.  I made it two-sided instead of making my client two separate signs.  I still need to put the sealer on and the hooks or holes in it so it can hang and flip.

Don't they all look great together?  I think they do and I'm pretty sure my client will love them.  She's already seen pictures of the Daycare sign and she love it.  So I think she'll be happy with the Open and Closed sign. 

That's a little peek into what I've been working on.  I've never had three separate projects take me so long to complete.  My allergies have been going haywire lately.  Plus there's been more mowing these last two weeks than I normally do (at the farm and at my parents).  I feel a little off my game.  I can normally get more done than this...maybe I can turn it around on Tuesday.  I HAVE to start building up my inventory for the upcoming fairs and I have three more orders to work on.  A cedar coffee table for a deck...a headboard bench....and a padded coffee table/storage box. I hope you have a great week.  Thanks for stopping by.