A sign for the time....relaxing

This Indian summer weather is a nice surprise.  With the warm weather it is allowing me a last chance to finish some overlooked painting projects.   One of my favorites is  my signs.  From Welcome to our Deck, Come sit on our porch, or Scrooge lives here; each one is done in a choice of colors, white, red and black. 

I enjoy painting these signs on treated fence boards and giving them that old worn look.  To further enhance the look, each sign is stained in a warm oak color.   Hangers are added for displaying.

These signs have been a real hit with my shows in Ohio and I look forward to introducing them in Florida with my new garden line.

Working Wednesday

Yesterday I was able to spend a few hours in my studio on some new signs. I have a lot of ideas on paper, and now it is time to bring them to realization; I hope. I don't know about you, but sometimes an idea on paper just doesn't come out the way you had hoped. But that is another story. I am sharing a couple signs I got completed. My "Nana's Place" and "Gone Fishing.
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I wanted to incorporate my "nana" theme into some new signs and I want to start working on more floral work. Being self taught, I don't do well with the "one stroke" process. I once spent 4 hours at a show (not a good show) with a neighbor who did beautiful floral work. She tried for hours to get me to limit my strokes to the one stroke process, couldn't do it. Having the creative bug, I can't just contain myself. So I am working on flowers.



As well, it is springtime and I want to take some of my old tried and true favorites and enhance the work as well. I have been doing fishing signs for a long time, and it is going to be father's day soon, so here is a new fishing sign as well.


Hope you have a great day. I will talk with you soon!

Festive Friday

Been a busy week with flea markets, thrift stores and working on new merchandise for my upcoming show. This is a benefit to raise money for the Levy County animal shelter. I am looking forward to getting back out there and see how my new line of merchandise is working.

I repurposed several items that I found at the flea markets and thrift stores. I took a canvas that was mounted in an ornate plastic frame. It originally had fruit painted on the canvas; it was primed barn red over black and then sanded to give that well worn look. A frosty beer mug and the words "Free Beer Tomorrow" were added and then grunged with paint and stain. I think it turned out well.


I had several rectangular boards, so the perfect fit, a checkerboard. Again I used the technique of painting barn red over black, grunged and painted a black checkerboard pattern. And look, it actually has checkers. A hook on the back allows for a great wall accent.



The finale; I painted an old rusty hand saw. It was sanded, cleaned and painted in a warm cream. Note the handle was left as it was. Then after applying a warm antique process, the words, Faith, Family, Friends was added in black paint. Several barn red stars add the finishing touch. Another great accent for that primitive decor.


I hope you enjoyed these makeovers. I will be off to the show this weekend, my first of the season. Wish me luck and I will see you on Monday with a great recipe for blackened salmon.

Till we meet again.