My Favorite Sign So Far - The Ball Mason Jar

I love, love, love my latest sign.  It's a large picture of a vintage blue Ball Mason Jar.  Someone said it reminded them of an Andy Warhol painting... sort of like his Campbell's Soup painting.  My hair is looking a bit like his these days, too.  Ha! 

The idea of painting any two wood signs alike doesn't appeal to me, but if this one sells, I may have to make an exception.  I was torn about even putting it up for sale.  I'm hoping to create more signs soon - enough to fill the walls of my booth.  Then I'll bring this one home!

By the way, I can't take full credit for the artwork.  I used a picture of a jar I found on Graphics Fairy to create this.   That sight can lead to all sorts of wonderful projects!

Here's another I finished this week -

It's a little smaller and easier to handle.  On the downside, it was just as much work as making a large sign, but I won't get as much money for it.  Bummer.  These are not quick projects.  On this one, I particularly liked the font for EGGS.  My least favorite part are the circles.  Handing painting a smooth circle is not easy!  Will I ever master that brush???    I'll pretend that it adds to the charm and hand-painted folk art look.

Update:  I decided I couldn't let the ball jar sign go.  I love it too much.  It's now on my marigold cupboard.

Linked to Funky Junk Interiors Saturday Nite Special party - the topic is mason jars!!!

Moved to a New Booth... AGAIN!

I cannot believe I moved my booth again.  I have promised myself to stay put for a long while this time.

I did have good reasons for the move.   I need wall space for my signs.  My new booth is the same size as my previous one, but it has an extra 5 feet of wall space.  The location is good and it happened to come available at exactly the time I needed it.  Isn't it wonderful how things often work out that way?

My sweet sister-in-law, Nancy, helped with the move again.  She volunteered.  What would I do without her!  She made the move lots of fun, but we were both worn out by the time we finished.

I did manage to take a few photos afterwards -

There are till areas I know can be made to look better.  There are also things I need to take home and things I need to bring in.  But mostly, I want to get some more signs made to take advantage of that wall space!

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.