Feed Sack Sign

I'm really having fun with these signs.  I'm picking up new ideas and tricks along the way.  I've been reading about lots of different techniques that I can't wait to try out.

My hubby gave me a lesson on how to make the wood part.  I am loving those power tools.  He has everything and knows how to use it!  I am now able to make these without help.  I still refuse to do it when he's not home.  If I chop off a finger, I want someone close by to be able to put it in a cooler and get me to the emergency room.  I am very nervous around power saws of any kind.

I saw a picture of a fun feed sack on Pinterest.  I worked out a similar design on my computer, then printed it out extra large  I used the printout to help in cutting out a stencil... by hand... with an Exacto knife.  All those small letters.  OMG.  I will never, as God is my witness..  Oh dear.  I sound like Scarlett O'Hara.  Anyway, that process is tedious and still had to be touched up, which was also tedious. 

Stencils... &^%$#@!

I'm selling the sign for $69.99 which means I probably earned 2 cents an hour.  (Only a slight exaggeration)

The sign works perfectly in The White Booth right now.  Our current accent color is green.

More Signs and Flags

I'm getting into making signs.  I had a successful venture with my first wooden flag. It sold really fast.  I'm taking that as a sign that I'm on the right path.

Last year I wore myself out searching for treasures for my booth.  I found some great things, but it took lots of time and lots of gas.  I seemed to always be in a hurry and my house was never "company ready".  In fact, I'm not even sure it was ready for the health inspector!  I'm determined to keep things more balanced this year.  I am thinking my treasures this year will be split between some that I find on the road and some that I make.  I have a number of projects planned and some actually in the works.  Plus, I've completed a couple more. 

I made this farmers market sign for The White Booth, which is currently accented in pinks and greens.  The sign has layers and layers of paint and took waaaaay too long for the $24.99 I'm selling it for.  Lots of people complimented it, but I'm not satisfied.  My next one will have a few added details and another color.

This picture shows some of the layers, but *I think* the sign is a little prettier in person than it looks in this photo.  The green is really nice. 

If I'm going to make this worthwhile, I need to find some shortcuts. I don't know which way to go.  Do I get a Cricut or Silhouette?  Do I go to a vinyl printing company?  Do I get an overhead projector, which wouldn't save all that much time?  Anyone have ideas or tips?


I also made another flag, this time on canvas.  I definitely prefer the wood.  But I had a canvas with a picture I had painted ages ago when I had visions of sitting in a garden outside with my easel and a bonnet with the wind blowing through my hair.  Ha.  The painting wasn't very good and the world is a better place for having it painted over.

Interestingly, canvas was just as easy to sand over the as wood.  I could layer and do all the same treatments with the same results.  It looks nice, but the wood ones will sell better at a higher price.  If I were a buyer, I'd want the wood one despite the price difference.  However.... a barn wood frame might equalize things a bit.  So canvas isn't ruled out.

Fluffing the Booth

I can't sleep.  With the full moon, it's practically daylight outside.  I finally gave up, got out of bed, and here I am... blogging in the middle of the night. 

Today, I fluffed my booth.  I had two main themes to work in the booth, neither of which are right for the time of year.

The first was a wooden flag my DH built and I painted.  It's made from wood planks.  The paint is layered in multiple colors and distressed.  This is my first sign effort and I am fairly pleased.  You can't tell from the photo but it's quite large - around 46 inches wide.  I have plans for other board signs.

Here's the flag at home.  I propped it in a chair just before putting it in the car.  Miss Sissy struck a serious pose in front.  This picture is far cuter than the one of the flag in my booth.  Miss Sissy agrees.  Oh, my goodness, how I love this cat!

The other thing I worked into the booth was a group of Easter things.  I only meant to price the things and get them boxed up. Really.  I wasn't going to put the stuff in til after Valentine's Day.  I planned to play by the holiday rules.  But then, after I had them packed up, we had all this warm weather.  Spring Fever struck and the next thing I know, I'm loading the box into the car. 

I put it all together on a table.  These little bunnies and eggs and holiday knick-knacks are definitely not my usual style.  They were picked up here and there over the last year and I ended up with quite a collection. I am shocked at how much I had.  I think with each thing I found, I must have been telling myself that I would create a small Easter basket vignette. My booth look is moving in a very different direction these days, so I don't think I would choose these things again.  What's crazy is, despite myself, I like this display.  It feels happy.  Apparently, others are affected, too.  I had customers stopping by to admire.  Spring Fever has rendered us all hopelessly tacky!  Luckily, tacky is permissible in an Easter basket.

Unfortunately, with the red white and blues and the Easter pastels and the other assorted colors around my booth, including my small collection of Fiesta Ware that I decided to part with, I am missing a unifying theme.  I hope to change that soon, but for now, it's just an eclectic mix.

I'm still not sleepy, but that's all for this post. 

Spring in February

Global warming has certainly made it's mark in Georgia.  Spring is here.  This is what I see as I come down the driveway.  It's just the beginning of February.  Everywhere I go I see things in full bloom.  The temp was in the 70s yesterday.  Now, I have a really bad case of Spring Fever!!!