I hope everyone has enjoyed families, fun and food this Christmas.  I have had plenty of each...never too much!  Although, the only redeeming thing I have eaten in the last 3 days is the artichoke in my artichoke dip.  Yikes! 

I am enjoying a sign making free couple of weeks and am now able to reflect of some of the signs I had the privilege of making for gifts this year, and one stands out above the others.  Thanks Susanna for asking me to make these for you.  It was an honor.

May we all cherish the moments we have with our family while we can still touch, smell, hear, be with and love them.   Let's make our moments count.

I am almost ready for Christmas

I can't believe how long it's been since I have taken time to visit my little blog.  My life has been a little bit of crazy lately. 

I am on the countdown to finishing up special orders...prediction is that I will wrap it all up by the 11th. 

Fingers are crossed.

So thankful this year for a growing business, people who love my creations and a hubby that supports my sign-making craziness.  Also so thankful that I learned from past experience and limited the amount of custom orders I  took on for this Christmas season. 

Since November I have taken 69 custom orders....I have 22 to go.
All of this progressing while trying to prepare for craft shows and Christmas open houses....I can't even express how thankful and relieved I will be when it is all completed. 

As soon as that last sign is delivered, my home is going to become a winter-wonder-land!

I want it all for Christmas this year.  It is our oldest sons last year at home and I want it to be....everything.  I want the smells, the sounds, the lights and presents wrapped up with big bows.  I want this year to leave an imprint in my kids lives that they carry with them into their own future families. 

So...let's finish up the less important things and get to making some memories. 

Oh mistletoe...I want some mistletoe.
 Merry Christmas everyone!!

My current season

It is sure feeling like fall here in Southern Indiana.  That means watching the steam come off my cup of coffee in the morning, pulling out my favorite pair of Frye boots, opening up the windows during the day, eating lots of hearty soup, putting on my old, faithful jean jacket, cutting wood for the winter and sippin' pumpkin Chai from the Pourhouse.

It is also happens to be my birthday this week...41.  I never thought I would be 41!!   A lot of my friends are just starting their families.  They are still in that sweet time of parenthood when the necks of their children smell sweet! Not us. 

We are currently checking out colleges, meeting boyfriends/girlfriends, having senior pictures taken and paying lots of money for auto insurance.  
I wouldn't have it any other way.  I am so thankful and feel privileged to be able to watch my children grow into amazing young adults.   

Hope you are enjoying your current season!

success!

It is a miracle!  I set a goal this weekend and it actually got accomplished. 

BEFORE

AFTER

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 











 First I took off all the existing trim and marked my studs...well, actually my stud helped me find the studs.
  



















And then, with a little help from my saw and air-nail gun, I was off (how about that saw setup)

I used old boards that I found in my dad's barn (I love that place).  I  flipped them around so there was never a consistent pattern or look.  I have to admit, those first few boards I placed had me doubting myself, but the more I got done the more I loved it. 

Finished it up, rehung the trim and, TA-DA, fun spaceat my entry.  Hung a few of my old trucks, rehung the generic IKEA mirror and we are back to business as usual, except now the cute level has been raised.

I have to say, the hubster was pretty hands off with this project with the exception of finding the studs and helping with a trim corner.  If you are pretty handy with a saw and nail gun, this is a very feasible project for a party of 1. 

Happy Labor Day Weekend

My house, it is a cute little place and deserves a little attention now and then.  So this weekend, throwing out the detail brushes, not thinking about cute signs and gonna spend some time on my sweet home. 

Took a few minutes and looked at my house today and had to apologize to this sweet house for the neglect it has tolerated for the last few months.  Dusty floors, dirty windows, but more importantly, the lack of anything creative happening inside it's tiny self.  

But this is it, this is the weekend I make something fun happen.  I am picking a little spot that needs a pick me up.  There are holes in the wall from a much too aggressive DIY decorator (me),

a lack of privacy into a room that guest would appreciate more of it and a general ho-hum, boring-ness to the whole area.

I mean, seriously, 
could i have not done 
something more here?




I am not a gal for blah...take my ity-bitty kitchen for an example.

I love taking a space and giving it a bit of personality, don't you?  And, FYI, this is really my entire kitchen, there is nothing "kitchen-y" behind me.  =)

 The wallpaper is one of my very favorite things! Bought it on-line and it was a close-out clearance, so is was super cheap.








 
Wait till you see what I have in store...I can't wait to get started.    Hope you find something that you are looking foward to doing this weekend too.

Having so much fun

Who would have thought I could do this for a living, but it is happening and I am having a great time.  Gonna ride this wave while it is rolling.  You can always keep up to date with what I am doing on my facebook page, Little Red Porch.  I post daily with new and old stuff that I am working on, craft shows that I am gonna be at and general customer conversing.  Come on over!

Recently my friend, Johnnie, from Savedbylovecreations.com  came down to the studio for a how-to tutorial on my signs and things got a little crazy.  In appreciation for all the traffic I decided to do a give-away and it got crazier.

Hope you have got your name in the running!   Can't wait to see who wins.

This is my friend Deb.  
 
Today she posted this note on Facebook about this sign that I made her this week.

Things like this make me extremely happy!
 


"Not the greatest lighting and an iPhone do not do this sign justice. The cream on black looks great against a red wall. Yep. I got the first Little Red Porch "Eucharisteo sign" sign. Thanks, Pam Thompson Voorhies .

I fell in love with this word when I read the book. (You guys know which one.) Being a voracious reader and a bit of a writer, I love the very word itself. I love the sound of it, the rhythm of it, not to mention the meaning of it.

The Greek word and it's derivatives sum up so much. Eucharisteo. Thanksgiving. And at it's base, it's core.... Charis. Grace. Chara. Joy.

Gratitude is *not* just an attitude. (Oh, how I love platitudes. ;-)) It is a practice. It requires action, even if only to actually say the words thank you. (Thank you is a powerful prayer.) And it's something I forget.

Grace. Those who know me very long, or pay much attention, know that God does for me what I cannot do for myself every single day. (Well, more than one thing.) And it's powerful to remember that 'all is grace.' It's all a gift. In Him I live, and move, and have my being. Even down to my very breath, it's all a gift. Grace just blows me away on a regular basis.

Joy. Unspeakable joy. He doesn't just give joy, He IS joy. Deep, abiding joy. As long as I can remember to remember......

1000 gifts? #673: My friend Pam creating art for my home that will help remind me that all is grace, to practice gratitude, to live in joy, and just how immensely I am loved.

Take a seat on the Little Red Porch and tell us....
What's the story behind your sign? Why did you choose your word/verse/names/phrase?"



Thanks Deb for taking the time to share your "sign story".  
Love Ya!

Ex-Hausted

Ever need to hit the STOP button.  Am I ever feeling it this week.

We have so much happening in our family this month.   It was my daughters sweet 16th birthday party, and we threw a big-ole party, my niece decided 2 weeks ago to just go ahead and push up her wedding to this Friday,  school starts tomorrow and I have some special orders I can no longer push back. 

Here's what I know...I am tired.  Regardless, I have been fueled by the contacts and positive feedback I have been getting about my signs.  If you contacted me, liked me, visited my facebook page or asked for more information about my little business....THANK YOU!  Also, I have been given some suggestions for quotes and sayings.  It is always fun to work up a new design.  Sometimes I love it right away, sometimes it grows on me and sometimes I just have to revisit the drawing board. 

This is a suggestion from a gal in Mississippi, obviously.  I think I am gonna love it.  I may tweak it a little, but overall I am happy.

 

This one on the other hand....love the saying, love the concept, but I am not loving that word "when".  It will have to change

But let's get real...the "Moon and back" one is yummy!

Added a few color variations for "It Is Well" and "Enjoy the Little Things".  I am loving these and the little ones would be adorable in a nursery or kiddos room.

Overall, despite the crazy month of August, I did make some progress today. 

My Etsy Shop

It is official, I am on Etsy!

It Was An "Oh No - But Great" Kind of Day

Saturday morning I got up before the crack of dawn and went to the studio to put the backing on some signs before we headed out to sell our wares at the Orleans Farmers Market.  It was just misting a little outside but  I was still feeling good about our potentially grey day.  I packed up the car, picked up my niece and we headed south.  About five minutes out of Orleans the sky just opened up and we were being pelted by the rain. Not looking so good!  
We arrived, checked in and waited in the car for our spot assignment.  As we waited the winds began to pick up intensity and the rain was in a sideways motion.  So we discussed it...if the Weather Channel shows this nasty weather clearing up by 10 am, we are sticking it out and selling some signs, if not we are outta here.  
The Weather Channel showed that there was a 80% chance of  thunderstorms, high winds and rain until 7pm.  NOT GOOD!
We said so long to Orleans and headed back the way we had come only minutes earlier.
When we got home, this is what it looked like.

We felt lied to and betrayed by The Weather Channel.  And for all you who came out and wondered why we weren't there...we are so sorry!! 

BUT.....On the flip side, this is my little studio above the garage.

This is how I had to access my studio....not so much fun with an armful of signs.  Notice the lack of railing (oh, and the splotchy paint...that is to be rectified at another time).

  Can you say DANGER? 

Aaacck....don't look down.  If I were to trip, I would end up in the canyon of gravel below.

Kenny knew I was bummed about the farmers market so he got busy. 
Out came his handy-dandy tape measurer, some scribbles on some paper and I was told to jump in the truck.  I grabbed my cup of coffee and off  we went to Bender's Lumber, picked up some treated 4 X something's and headed back home. We put our game faces on, all the power tools came out, Kenny's shirt came off and stuff began to happened. 
I love it when this happens.

So my not so great day turned into a highly productiveand great day thanks to my amazing husband and his manly building skills.

 

Now my journey to the studio should be relatively safe and not require hiking boots. I love him!!!

Lots of time spent in the studio this week. 
I would like to thank Pandora for some serious music motivation and my 4 cup of coffee morning routine for getting me thru the day. 
I have some new  favorites  as well as some fun special orders.
I love it when people entrust me with anniversary and wedding gifts.

25X25  $54.00

It Is Well 16.5X16.5   $44.00

13X13   $34.00

 

ummm...what is wrong with me.  It has been February since my last post. 
It doesn't mean I haven't been busy, maybe just too busy to document anything.  Regardless, venturing beyond just my signs and playing around with some furniture and other decorative items. 

Today I  made a huge frame for an old mirror that I bought for 5 dollars from a friend.  Unfortunately after I  had finished everything I broke the mirror.  AHHHH!  I still love the look and will replace the mirror and move it inside (notice the sad crack at the bottom left corner). 

Here's how it went:
1. Took this sweet frame detail off of the existing mirror.  This mirror was old and scratched up and perfect for what I had in mind.  I am gonna hang on to the trim from the original mirror to spruce up some romantic signs I am making for my bedroom.  Notice the fun detail!

2. Gathered reclaimed material from the barn and built me a frame then added an additional layer of trim  around the edges.  I will cover frame building some other time.

 

3. Sanded and stained the frame.  I love rolling on the stain and then wiping of the excess with a paper towel. My favorite stain is MINWAX / early American.  I use it A LOT!   

                                                                                     

4. I then rolled my La Fonda turquoise over the scratched and worn spots on the back of the mirror.  That turquoise looks amazing peeking thru,

DONE!!