Been working on new whimsy studios things for the upcoming holidays. Playing with ideas that have been rolling around in my noodle. These newbies are straight out of my sketchbook...
and even a little Christmas in July!...
I've got so much more to share with you. Stay tuned!
|
|
i see pickets in my sleep.
seriously, i've painted thousands of them. Sold hundreds of sets. Everyone asks similar questions, so i thought i would take a little time to address the most frequently asked questions here.
What's the most popular location requested?
I would say definitely, DisneyWorld. But, NYC, Las Vegas and Key West would come in close behind.
What's the most unusual location requested?
Oh, there have been many places that are takes on songs such as "St. Somewhere" and "Margaritaville". Sometimes people request their hometown bar, their backyard, Grandma's house, etc...
We've done a few magical or make-believe location signs...like this one...
All pickets are completely personalized. You supply the places and mileage.
What font is that?
That folks, is my own handwriting. Not a font. The pickets are not stenciled. They are 100% hand lettered and hand painted.
Can i request fewer than 10 pickets or more than 10?
YES! You simply send me a message telling me how many you'd like and i will create a custom listing just for you. To find out how much that might cost, just know this: each individual picket is $7.50. You do the math. Shipping costs will vary based on your quanitity.
Can i request colors?
YES! Some folks want them all one color, or don't like a certain color, or want the picket with their alma mater to be in their school colors... simply send me a message with your order. It's never a problem.
Do you sell the post that they hang on?
NO! It would be super expensive to ship those out and i would need a forklift to carry them into the post office. We suggest a landscaping timber that you can buy at the hardware store works best. We even pre-drill the screw holes for you.
How long will they last?
Well, that depends on a lot of different factors. The biggest factor is the climate in which you live. If you live in a very wet or very sunny climate, your sign may weather faster. If you live in a climate with harsh winters and you leave your sign outside, your sign will weather faster. This is why we recommend that you re-apply a clear coat on your pickets once a year. (you can buy an inexpensive clear coat spray at any hardware store). We also recommend that you remove your sign from the outdoors in the winter, if you live in a harsh winter climate. These are actual wood fence pickets; they will weather just as an actual picket fence would.
My hubby actually planted a wide pvc pipe in the hole where we put our sign. He put some pea gravel in the bottom of it. The sign post easily slides in and out of the pvc pipe seasonally and that way we don't have to re-dig the hole each spring before we put the sign up.
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
So, there you have it! If you have any other questions, please don't hesitate to message me. I'm a real friendly girl. Let's chat.
Katie took that picture of me with the pickets. On my garage floor. If you drove by our house and saw what we looked like while she was taking those pics, you would have laughed.
Or sped away faster. LOL
To order your very own Favorite Places Directional Yard Sign, visit my etsy shop here!
|
|
Hot off the presses...introducing whimsy studios pinback buttons and magnets!!!
Aren't they yummy? I just love them.
Available in the shop today!
You pick: button or magnet
More to come...very SOON!!!
|
|
i have really missed working in the studio. there are truly a million new things that i'd love to be making...they fill the pages of my sketchbooks and on scraps of paper all over my desk. i am so anxious to get back to it full time. As i was uploading pics off of my phone, i discovered that i had actually made quite a bit of new art over the past few months. I guess it was just the sporadic nature of it that makes me feel like i've not been very productive. Most of it has been custom requests. Thought i would show you what i have been up to.
i painted that sign to put over my desk, to remind me...
the wallpaper on my monitor is also an original painting of mine...made for a sweet friend.
i used white water based sharpies to leave these messages for Mark and the kids...
I made 30+ of these lucky signs for St. Pat's...
a custom request from a dear friend, for her home...
My nephew needed a raccoon mask for the school play...coming right up! I painted it on acrylic paper and attached it to old 3D glasses from the movies...
another special request...client supplied the bucket. But, i'm thinking this might have to be a new item from whimsy studios. Can't you just see it filled to the brim with icy cold beverages or rolled up beach towels this summer? Ahhhhh, summer...
Made these for my church's Mardi Gras silent auction...
Mini hand painted canvases for a baby shower...to match the bedding...
Finally, i had always wanted to create a whimsy studios sign to hang over my studio window. This puppy is 8 ft. long...
Making art is who i am. it is like breathing for me. thank you for letting me share with you, the gift that God has given me. So much more to come, friends....
|
|
So, i'm just jumping back in here. Yes, i'm still here. It's been a very busy few months. We have been getting Mark's parent's home ready to sell. It has been a very big undertaking. Where do you even begin? Packing up, giving away, keeping, honoring and sorting through a lifetime of love? So many treasures and memories. It's overwhelming. I'm thankful that my mom and mark's brother were able to devote so much time and energy to the task with me. The house went on the market yesterday.
We still have much to do. We were in a hurry to take advantage of the spring market, so we packed much of their things and brought them over to our house. There is still a lot of sorting to do. I've never felt more motivated to get my own home organized in my life. {the main reason i have been absent here} I have a new clarity about the worth of things...and a new appreciation for letting things go. I'm very sentimental and have always been a keeper. But, after this experience i want so badly to pare my possessions down to what is truly important and meaningful. When you really examine what you own, and you look at it from that perspective, it's easy and liberating to purge the excess and make room in your life for what really matters.
I'm using the same approach when it comes to my health and the health of my family. We ate our way through our grief. Comfort food. 'nuff said. It's time to prioritize and get serious about it. And honestly, it feels good.
Through it all, we have been surrounded by love. From both friends and family. So much kindness and support and understanding. I am STILL writing thank you notes. Having been on the receiving end of this outpouring of love, i just want to say that every little message, hug, smile and gesture has meant so much. I know how awkward it is...not knowing what to say...how to say it. But, just know that it all helps. I only hope and pray that i can be that kind of light for others when they are in need.
As early as i can remember, my grandmother and mom have both always had a candle on their countertops in their kitchens, which they would light as an offering in prayer...in the midst of their busy everyday lives. i think it's a Catholic thing, primarily, but i don't see why anyone can't do it. Whatever is on your heart...light a candle and say a prayer. It's that simple. My grandmother had these big chunky candles that would melt over time and eventually would reveal a plastic Virgin Mary statue. as a kid, it was kinda magical and i loved them. i have continued this tradition and often buy those tall, colorful Jesus votive candles in the Mexican food aisle in my grocery store. My store also sells some that are simply clear glass and i of course only see that as a blank canvas.
So i made these...
I found those words on Pinterest, but i don't know their origin. If anyone out there does, i would love to credit them. It sooooo speaks to me. I have put them in my etsy store because i posted that picture on instagram and was happily surprised at how much interest they got. They're sparkly and pretty and hopefully encourage prayer. They're available here.
I pray that you all know how much i appreciate you and that you are blessed with much happiness!
Here's to happier days ahead! xo
|
|
I've got two brand new prints to share with you today that are inspired by two of my very favorite movies. The number one movie OF ALL TIME for me is...
i keep this little framed picture of the Bedford Falls welcome sign in the front hall of our home.
and that was the inspiration behind this print...
{Our Bedford Falls in the shop here}
The second print that's new in the shop today is inspired by another favorite movie of mine...
i love ALL things Jane Austen...don't you?
{Our Pemberley print in the shop here}
If for some unthinkable reason you have not seen these two movies, you need to drop everything. Get in your jammies, pile on the couch with a big comfy blanket and watch...now!
(Really...i can't think of a single reason why you wouldn't have seen them)
I'll be sharing lots of new things from whimsy studios in the coming weeks. I'm so excited to show you! xo
|
|
You can totally do this.
I'm not so great at tutorials. But, i'm going to do my best to show you how to make this very easy wreath.
Start with a basic 14 inch straw wreath form. I even left the plastic wrap on it to make it less messy.
I bought this great burlap ribbon at Hobby Lobby.
It was $4.99 and i got it for 50% off. I simply wrapped it around the wreath form, slightly overlapping and was careful not to leave any gaps. I secured it with floral pins, but you could hot glue it or use opened paper clips, too.
For the leaves...don't be intimidated. It's easy and super fun to do.
You will need one double newspaper page. It's best to use pages that are mostly text, as opposed to photos or ads, but a few pics are ok.
I used these paints...
Using whatever paintbrush(es) you have on hand, squirt some of each of the colors on the page and using big strokes, paint them on the newspaper. You will want to mix a little together and swirl them. Just have fun with it.
Be careful not to over-mix them as the color will begin to get muddy and brown. You want your colors to be vibrant! Simply mix a couple colors here and there and then let them mostly dry before adding more colors next to them. This paint dries pretty quickly. Just keep doing it in small batches on the paper until your whole paper is covered. Try not to leave any newsprint showing. You will be cutting your leaves out of this paper, so use nature as your color inspiration. It's ok to see the newsprint through the paint like you see in my picture above.
I hand drew my leaf shapes, but you can use actual leaves as your templates for shapes, or surf pinterest for leaf shape stencils. There's a ton of them on there for free downloads.
You will trace the leaf shapes onto the back of your dry, painted newpaper and then cut them out.
I attached my leaves using straight pins, but again, you could hot glue them if you like.
and finish it off with a coordinating ribbon of your choice! I am ga-ga for all things black and white striped! It works well on my front door, me thinks.
I hope you will give it a try! Happy October!
Those are the same leaves that i used in my new autumn print...!
And, we have a giveaway winner to announce, don't we?! The big winner is...
Becky Kerr!
|
|
Do you love to decorate for fall and Halloween as much as i do? My mom always decorated in fun ways for Halloween when i was growing up. It's a cozy time of year...I just love it!
I've loaded my etsy shop with brand new Halloween hand painted signs today!
{striped skull glittered sign}
{chevron glittered skull sign}
I love to make custom signs, too! You can always email me or message me for requests! Wouldn't those skull & crossbones signs be cool in hot pink? or lime green?
So many possibilities...
|
|
Happy Fall, friends!
I'm celebrating the arrival of this lovely season with a giveaway! One winner will receive this brand new print along with one other print of their choice from my etsy shop (non personalized)! Simply leave me a comment at the end of this post for one entry. You can earn one extra entry for each of the following:
I hope you are enjoying all of the beauty of autumn, wherever you are!
This giveaway will end on Thursday, September 26th at midnight. Winner will be announced on Friday!
Good luck!
|
|
Wowzers...that was fun! A Fair in September was a hit. The weather was perfection and our friends and family came out in big numbers to support us. We made lots of new friends, too! If you couldn't make it, allow me to walk you through...
Meet the Fair girls...
Jenny and Kristin created this fun art fair a few years ago. Jenny hosts it in her backyard every year.
Sue is Jenny's mom and Sandy is her friend. They helped in countless ways to help the Fair run smoothly. Couldn't have done it without them!
Be sure to search for A Fair in September and follow on facebook to get updates and info about next year's Fair! A big heartfelt thanks to Jenny and Kristin for inviting me to be a part of this awesome event this year. I loved every minute of it!
|
|
"Fall is my favorite season. I live in Florida where we don't really have a
Fall so my solution is to bake pumpkin bread, make homemade applesauce and
decorate for Fall. Your print would be a great addition." Posted by: Becky Kerr
Congrats, Becky!