June 29, 2012

Painting Preview

Finally completed the 3 24X30 Canvas painting!


I am very pleased with the piece and cannot wait to hand it over to its owner this weekend.

Here is a sneek peek of one of my favorite parts. Stay tuned for the whole thing!



June 27, 2012

Vintage Toolbox - What do I do with it?

While attending the Junk Jubilee in the Spring here in Des Moines (a.k.a. The Best Place on Earth), 
I purchased this awesome vintage toolbox!


When I got it home my husband asked me "where is that going to go?" 
I said "I don't know....pause...but I will find a place for it!"

And I did. Of course I did, there are endless possibilities for this beauty!

It sits right by our dining room table on our console table turned buffet.

Contents:
Rolled up printed table runner, cork coasters, rope knotted napkin holders ($1 bin at Michaels!), Fun wooden letter 'B' and some moss rocks, wine cork trivets, and placemats.

June 11, 2012

Old Windows Turned Into Frames

I love the distressed wood in the form of basically anything.

Especially with white paint on it!

Tie in family history and these are one of my favorite things in my home.


This was my favorite project that we did this past weekend.

These windows are from an old barn at my Grandparent's house and have been hanging in my living room, waiting for a makeover and this weekend was it.

I used some twine, stapled it to the back, and purchased the world's smallest clothespins from Hancock Fabrics. One of my favorite places on earth.

My husband and I both LOVE how it turned out. 
And against this yellow they look really great!

I know that I will have fun easily changing out the pictures.

12 Traits of Creative People

Fun post on 12 traits of creative people!

Saw this on Barn Owl Primitives fb page today.

12 Traits of Creative People

June 10, 2012

New Design for Fall 2012 - The Aviator Hat!


I'm excited about this hat, so many options!!!!
From the top of the hat and yarn...

It is absolutely darling on!


This hat is pink yarn, with denim goggles.


A little ruffle on the back as an added touch.


What I love is the options that I have for this hat.
Options for boys and girls!

Check it out!



I cannot wait to get a model for this hat! It is so so so cute on!!!!

Custom Baby Hats - Top Options

I have made a. lot. of hats.

Most of my hats are custom ordered and I usually get a few out-of-the-box "can you do this?" types of orders. 

I am in the process of trying to make it even easier to custom order a hat through my shop.

First on the agenda: 
Hat top options.


;


Old Painting in Ugly Frame...turned New

Scored a 'seventies' looking painting with a not-so-cool frame a couple of weekends ago.
Here it is all ready to paint the frame (The blue edging is painters tape).

I love all of the colors that are within the painting. So many possibilities....
A hint of Impressionism, yet abstract. Has a complete nature feel to it, looking like a vase of flowers with butterfly looking petal shapes mixed into it. 
All put onto what feels like a dawn or dusk sky.

Here is the final look.

What do you think?

June 6, 2012

Vintage Furniture - Does it contain lead?

Vintage furniture is showing up just about everywhere these days. I have begun to wonder, with small children of my own, if some of the items I have purchased contain lead (enter fear here).


Just using this picture of some windows for sale off of an etsy store. 
I do not know whether or not they have lead based paint on them.

Even with the popularity of these items I have not been able to find much on it. Here are a couple of good posts that I found:


From Country Living
Apartment Therapy - great comments


Here is a general explanation:


About Lead Poisoning


I will be hitting up the local hardware store for testing, which seems like the best route to take when you have little ones. I called today and it is around $12 for a test.

June 1, 2012

How Chalkboard Paint Changed my Life

Let's face it, having a baby no matter what number of baby in the birth order it is, rocks your world in at least one way.


Last week, was my slump week. I was totally off in a lot of areas of life! When I didn't want to get out of bed one day I decided something needed to change. Maybe more than one thing but I started to look at the different areas of my life and dust them off.





2 or 3 weeks prior, we had painted the door going to our garage with chalkboard paint. I thought it would be fun and interactive for my little ones to draw on. And it would hide the marks that were happening on it from magnets ;)


As I was doing some dusting in the areas of love, finances and (most importantly!) my relationship with God, I started using this door in more ways than I ever thought I would.


Here's what has happened:


1. I implemented a "I love you because _________" for my husband. For all those random small or big things that I absolutely adore about him and think of daily. He just wasn't knowing all of those things, and I needed him to know. Babies change your marriage, not for the worse, but they just change it because of less time for each other. Less time to say what needs to be said. Writing down random things of why I respect him has been really great so far. I look forward to it and are constantly thinking of new things to put on there!


Because when I look at him. I love him to the bottom of my soul. Seriously people. We could have a movie with our story. I will fight for our marriage to be strong no matter what! And if that means writing on a door every day, I will do it! There is a canvas print in our living room that is from our engagement pics. If you saw it, you would understand. Not because it is cheesy or something bad, just because of the way we are smiling at each other.


2. I've started to write random things that I have learned through books I'm reading, scripture, etc. etc. It is right there by our kitchen table and what we see when we leave the house. Perfect placement! Another positive is that it holds me accountable and because I am a teacher (side note from Beth Moore: You know you are a teacher, when you learn something you just want to shout it out to everyone!) this helps me 'shout'.


3. Time with my children. I cannot wait to start writing notes to my kids on this, when they can read, which won't be for a while! But for now, I get to draw and imagine with them. Going on adventures and of course, teaching them how to draw. I love to draw. Another bonus: helps me with a creative outlet.


4. Plain and simple: helps me to stay organized. To-do lists. I love them. Here I cannot escape them.


Needless to say, it has helped me in a lot of ways. I will always have a chalkboard door. You should too.