Oh Say Can You See?

I took on some big sign orders this year.

Time consuming-stretch of my "talents" signs.

I enjoyed the challenge but found myself very ready for them to be over.

 

I painted these for the sweetest, most patient women ever.

Both of these signs were HUGE!

The American Flag one was based off of this one that she had seen and loved but wanted painted by an artist.

Artist. Ha.

 

 

The Cycle Shop sign was a copy of one I had done for myself (then sold) a few years back.

It was customized with their family name to make is personal.

 

 

We did some big projects over the summer that I look forward to showing you soon!



That Beachy Feeling {a new sign} & a Story

My mom is an auction guru.

She picks up some pretty cool stuff now and again.

Whenever I make it to Virginia then I have a blast picking through some of the loot.

(She does sell some of it on her own etsy store here)

One such time I was wondering through the forest beside their house,
(being careful to leave a breadcrumb trail for myself).

when I stumbled upon an old broken table.

I took the top to it and turned it into this lovely sign.

The legs and body of the table I sadly had to leave there.

My mom happens to be a kind and thoughtful lady though and before I know it, a broken down table arrives on my doorstep.

I had plans for it.

I truly did.

My plans got delayed and waylaid until I had no plans at all.

I sadly dismantled the poor, forlorn table and started to haul it to the trash...

But the beautiful old wood called my name and I could not bear to leave any of it behind.

Some of its sturdy legs are now working as a trellis for my soon to be dead cucumber plants. 

(How was I to know the trees would leaf out so much that there would be no sunshine for the poor things?)

Some scraps of it still await my imagination.

Some have come to fruition.

 

 

I happen to love them.

 

 

But the call of the brokendoorslableakdentalworkandmore call me to sell.

Plus, that's why I painted them anyway.

For you.

 

 

 I have two, both different sizes. 

 

 

You can find them in my etsy store.

 

The table is happy again.

I am happy for the table.

Jillian

Join Me For Coffee? {A New Sign}

Why have they not made an authentic smelling coffee candle?

The kind that fills not only your nose but your whole head with that aroma that makes you want to crunch right into the whole coffee bean.

The aroma that makes non coffee drinkers wish they were coffee drinkers.

Why?

How hard can it be you candle makers?

I am a coffee lover.
Not a connoisseur mind you.
Just a lover of coffee.
I like coffee you can chew.
Yup.
I said chew.

I will admit that I drink a latte every morning.
I'm not ashamed.
You can chew espresso too.

Unfortunately this slice of coffee went off to new lands.
I sold it to my brother-in-law in Virginia.
It will be for sale at his store there.

Bottoms up you coffee fans.
Chew that coffee down!

(and somebody get busy on that candle)

Etsy Spring Fling & A New CHRIST IS.. Sign

If I had a dollar for every time someone has emailed me about this sign...

I still wouldn't be rich.

But, I would have made a decent chunk of change.

 

I painted a few.

I plan to paint more.

Sometime...

 

 

You can find this lovely gray and white one here.

 

Or this dark brown stained and creamy white one here.

 

And lastly, this rustic, weathered gray and white one here.

Believe it or not, this one is my favorite.

It actually didn't photograph as neat as (I think) it looks in real life.

 

So to celebrate the glorious arrival of Spring and of these new items, I am having a SPRING FLING sale!

Stop by my Etsy Store and pick out something special for yourself or someone dear to you.

 

Enter the code SPRINGFLING when you checkout and get 10% off!

Sale will end on Monday, April 8th.

 

Wedding Signs... again

If you're still in the wedding mood then raise your hand!

 

 

 

 

Nobody??

 

Okay...well the great thing is, these don't have to be wedding signs.

 

They can be front porch signs, pool signs, bedroom signs, kitchen signs.

 

Well maybe some of those would be slightly odd.

The point is...

Anywhere you and the Mr. or Mrs. are, there can be a sign to make sure you know that you're there.

Or is that odd too?

Whatever.

Decorating is 50% trend and 50% whatever makes you happy.

Go with the happy.

It'll last longer.

 

 

I added some new signs to my Etsy Store.

(Not the one right above since it would require a U-haul to transport it)

 

Make yourself happy.

Buy a sign.

Signs For Wedding Times

Does Spring make you think of Love and Glorious, Beautiful Weddings?

 

Me neither.

 

But if I were single and had a inkling that he may be thinking of nudging towards the alter...

Then now would be a great time to think of weddings.

 

As a matter of fact, I got married in the Spring.

10 years ago this April.

Great time of year to get married.

 

 

I got a bee in my bonnet and painted up some faux chalk wedding signs.

 

 

 

I had these sitting in my front hall for a while.

If 100 people had walked through my front door then 99 of them would run their finger over the painting to see if they could rub off the chalk.

Makes me giggle.

 

 

Some of these will be listed in my Etsy store soon.

I'm thinking of running a Spring Sale soon.

Just because I love Spring.

So if you're getting hitched or think you might want to get hitched one day....

Then keep an eye on my Etsy store.

Can't get hitched without a proper sign.

Can you?

A Silver Sign

My pal Sheldon from The Silver Craftsman is going to be at an upcoming show called Funky Finds.

So, he had commissioned a sign for his last show in November and I....

failed.

I misunderstood the deadline and...

failed.

 

So I was ready this time around!

(thank you for your patience and forgiveness Sheldon)



 

I can't wait to see his stuff all set up at the show with his own custom sign adorning the booth.

Oh the joy!

;-)

 

 

The cool thing is, Funky Finds  is doing a giveaway from The Silver Craftsman right now.

Go check it out their blog to enter for your chance!

Let's Get Chalky!

I'm super excited to be working on some new stuff...

Signing Up For The Circus!

Throughout the year my sons school does a thing called "Marvelous Me".

Basically a week is dedicated to the student and they encourage the parents to come in and tell about what they do and so on...

Good thing they don't ask about the things we don't do.

Like laundry.

Anyway, it's a fun time for the kids and parents alike.

I so enjoy going up to Beau's school and spending time with all the kids there.

My day during Marvelous Me was no exception.

 

As you all well know, I'm a SAHM (stay-at-home-mom).

No need to talk to a bunch of Kindergartners about that!

Instead I chose my "Sign Painting Profession".

*snicker*

 

 

I decided to go fun and funky with this sign.

Not only to catch their 2-second attention span, but also to catch mine.

Yeah sometimes I need something out of the box too.

 

I also wanted to make a little memento for Beau's wonderful teacher who I am eternally grateful for.

I had all the kids add their names to the back of the sign so she can look at it a remember each one from this year.

Even if she wanted to forget them;-)

 

So a big round of thanks to all of you teacher's our there!

Bless you for putting up with our little ones for most of the day.

All the while trying to actually teach them stuff.

Sizzling Summer Sign

So now that we are starting to sadly watch summer take a back seat and fall peaking it's fally head in....

I have for you a very summery sign I painted a few months back for a customer.

 

 

I must admit that sometimes custom work can kind be somewhat hum-drum.

Not so with this one!

He wanted a "Margaritaville" style sign.

 

 

The customer (a local contractor who did our pool redo) has commissioned a few custom pieces and it's always interesting to see what style he'll have me do next.

 

 

So there ya have it!

And you thought I've just been sitting around didn't you?

Easy Rustic "Subway" Art

I'm not sure that I would necessarily classify this as Subway Art, but you get the idea.

And for those of you who want to make your own art but need a shortcut...

...here's your answer

the white ones are ones that I "made" out of other letters that I was not using
 since there wasn't enough of each letter that I needed.

I made the mistake of getting letters that were NOT precut.

It took me hours to cut them out but I was determined to do this project for pennies.

(they are vinyl letters that you would put on your mailbox, but make sure you buy letters that are cut out and not blocks)

Next up lay them out on your prepared board(s).

I used some that I had laying around and just stained them.

Figure out how they will fit.

Once I figured out my layout then I took a level and drew lines to make everything nice and even.

I then stuck my letters on, using my lines as guides.

sorry about the blurry photo

I taped off the sides because I wanted them to remain stained and not painted.

I then took my paintbrush and started blotting the paint on.

I tried not to brush at all so that I wouldn't get any paint under the edges of my letters.

This was the part that Jack called "magic".

I carefully peeled each letter off...

It didn't turn out perfect.

That's okay.

The reminder that it brings is worth each crooked line and letter.

We'll Call This One Goulash

If you're a goulash hater then moooove on out of here.

Me?

Eh, I could take it or leave it.

I find that having 3 little boys (or children in general) is keeping me a tad busy.

This one is growing so quickly and wow he keeps me hopping.

Most people think he's laid back, quiet and calm.

Hmmmm.

He loves me.

He doesn't want to leave my arms.

Ever.

I love him too, but for some reason I find cleaning, painting, washing and ironing (HA) difficult with my two hands working and his two hands grabbing everything in sight and flinging it hither and yon.

Love him to death.

I painted this sign for a customer recently.

It kicked me in proverbial tail end.

I painted it 3 times before I was halfway happy with it.

This picture is bad because it was taken with a bad camera.

I wish I had a better close-up photo because it has a porcelain crackle finish on it that gave me fits but looks puuurtty fine!

 

For those that are thinking of having a custom order done...

This was the sign designed on the computer before I painted it.

As you can tell, you can get a pretty good idea of what it will look like before I start on it.

In other news.

I'm working in this room a little and will be showing it to you soon.

A side note...

It's almost summer here.

I like summer.

Nope.

I LOVE SUMMER!

If you don't see me as much around these parts then you know where I'll be.

Visiting with my friend summer.

My kids are only young once.

Summer only comes once a year.

I must make sure I don't miss either.

I will be back this week with an Amazing giveaway!