How Wonderful Life is…

I am suffering from a serious case of ADD lately.  I should be posting more about the Handbuilt Bedroom, but I keep waiting for some LIGHT outside to I can take some better pictures INside.

 Hasn’t happened yet.

Then while my little girl was sick last week, I started painting our downstairs bathroom.  I mixed some colors I had on hand for the walls, but decided I hated it after I had done all the cutting in.  Plus I ran out of paint before I could finish the ceiling, and haven’t gotten back to it yet!

Then there’s my little girls’ room…I bought new beds for them off of Craigslist a couple of weeks ago, and sold their bunk beds right out from under them…so they’ve been sleeping on mattresses on the floor while I try to get motivated to work on their space!

Well, in their case, I have done a couple of things.  I got inspired to work on some artwork for their as-yet-unpainted walls!

Here’s the first…

(the “o” is a little globe, in case you can’t tell!)

…and the second…

…and the third!

I have had a three-pack of 9x12 canvases sitting in my closet for oh, about a year now…  Glad to have finally done something with them!

I will eventually make these designs available in my Etsy shop.  E-mail me at redhenhome@gmail.com if you’re interested before then!

 

Linking up here:

The Scoop!	Elizabeth & Co.
My Repurposed Life	Thrifty Décor Chick
Friday Remodelaholic	Common Ground
Funky Junk’s Saturday Night Special	The DIY Show Off
Beyond the Picket Fence	Coastal Charm
Knick of Time	My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
From My Front Porch to Yours	All Star Block Party A Little Knick Knack

@ Ruffles & Rust

Even before we moved to the Seattle area, I had heard from my little sister about a delightful little tourist-trap of a town called Snohomish.  Isn’t it just lucky that our new home is only 10 miles from there?

One of our first outings then, naturally had to be to check out all the fun shops that line the main street of town.  There are several that are definitely worth a visit, but one of my favorites is Ruffles & Rust.   So one day when I was feeling particularly brave (it doesn’t happen that often), I asked one of the proprietors if maybe…possibly…if it wasn’t too much trouble…would they be interested in having some of my wares in their shop??  When she said YES, I was on Cloud 9 for the rest of the day!

Although I dropped off a few things (just to test the waters) last week, I had to go back to take a few pictures of what MY things look like in their delightful store!  And of course, I have to share ;-)

Here are a couple of my ever-popular “Biscuits & Gravy” signs…

“Lemonade”’ and “I Love You Like Cupcakes” make an appearance…

Here’s one of my great big beadboard flags…

One of my “extra” chalkboards perches up high…

Here’s a “You are the Bubbles to my bath” canvas.  You can’t tell, but “Bubbles” and a few of the bubbles are glitter-i-fied!

 I made two folding tabletop chalkboards like the ones from That’s My Letter.   These turned out so cute; I’m in love!

One thing that made me laugh was seeing my little chalkboard easel next to the Flea Market sign—because I made my own version of it last year!  It made me do a little bit of a double-take!

There were a couple of things that I couldn’t find, and I hope that means they have sold to someone who will love them like I do!

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I do love selling through my Etsy shop, but there’s just something about a brick-and-mortar store, you know??  Don’t miss Ruffles & Rust if you’re in the area!

No Whining!

I just finished a custom order for someone through my etsy shop.  She sent a photo of a cute chalkboard design she liked (at least I think it was a chalkboard), and I re-created it for her on canvas.

Love the sentiment…I’m thinking maybe I need to hang one in my sons’ room!

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Linking up here:

Domestically Speaking	Elizabeth & Co.
Primitive & Proper	Thrifty Décor Chick
Friday Remodelaholic	2805
My Simple Home Life’s Simple Creations Friday	Miss Mustard Seed’s Furniture Feature Friday
Funky Junk’s Saturday Night Special	The DIY Show Off Stone Gable
Beyond the Picket Fence	Someday Crafts
Knick of Time Mod Vintage Life	My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
Perfectly Imperfect
Common Ground	My Repurposed Life
From My Front Porch to Yours	All Star Block Party A Little Knick Knack
The Scoop! Thrifty Décor Chick	{aka} design Coastal Charm

Moving Sale!

This morning I started going through my stash of already-completed signs and canvases, and discovered…there are a lot of them!  Since we will be moving before Christmas, I decided to take this opportunity to “lighten the load” a little bit!

If you’re not thinking of Christmas presents yet…now would be a great time to start!

Most of these are available in my Etsy shop, and they will go on sale there in the next few days.  So consider this a pre-sale.  If you are interested in any, e-mail me directly at RedHenHome@gmail.com with what you want and your zip code, and I will send you a PayPal invoice.  I am happy to combine shipping!

Note:  For ease in shipping, the beadboard signs do not have hangers on them.  I recommend the 3M Command strips; they work great!

Groceries. Antique white lettering on herb green background with black shadowing. 24” x 8”. $17 + shipping (estimate $8 Priority Mail)

I Love You Like Cupcakes. Antique white lettering on a bright pink background with black shadowing. 24” x 8”. $17 + shipping (estimate $8 Priority Mail)

Homemade Pumpkin Pie. Antique white lettering on a soft yellow background with orange shadowing. 24” x 8”. $17 + shipping (estimate $8 Priority Mail)

 

Groceries. Antique white lettering on soft yellow background. 24” x 8”. $17 + shipping (estimate $8 Priority Mail)

Homemade Doughnuts. Antique white lettering on a mottled orange and yellow background with black shadowing. 18” x 6”. $14 + shipping (estimate $7 Priority Mail)

Beautiful Things. Antique white lettering on medium blue beadboard, distressed. 13.5” x 20”. $22 + shipping (estimate $9 priority mail)

Useful & Beautiful. Antique white lettering on gray beadboard, distressed. 15” x 20”. $22 + shipping (estimate $9 priority mail)

Village Mercantile. Antique white lettering with black shadow on tan recycled cupboard door. Includes sawtooth hanger. 22.5” x 13.5”. $18 + shipping (estimate $12 shipping)

Frosty MALTS. Antique white lettering with black shadow on purple recycled cupboard door. Includes sawtooth hanger. 27” x 12”. $18 + shipping (estimate $12 shipping)

Juicy Berries. Antique white lettering with black shadow on bright green recycled cupboard door. Includes sawtooth hanger. 23” x 16.5”. $18 + shipping (estimate $14 shipping)

Vintage Goods.  Black lettering on antique white beadboard, distressed. 28” x 10”.   $22 + shipping (estimate $9 for Priority Mail)  SOLD

Guest Cottage.  Black lettering on antique white beadboard, distressed.  32” x 10”.  $22 + shipping (estimate $9 Priority Mail)  SOLD.

Biscuits & Gravy. Black lettering on red background with white shadowing. 24” x 8”. $17 + shipping (estimate $8 Priority Mail)  SOLD

 

Antiquities 27.  Black lettering on a red background, heavily distressed.  16” x 9.5”.  $13 + shipping (estimate $7 Priority Mail)  SOLD

 

Beach. Antique white lettering on pale blue plaque.  Includes sawtooth hanger. 16” x 6.5”. $10 + shipping (estimate $7 Priority Mail shipping)  SOLD

Babies Don’t Keep!  Antique white lettering on aqua background, faded and distressed.  16” x 20”.  $20 + shipping (estimate $9 Priority Mail)    SOLD

All You Need is Love.  Gray lettering, red hearts on antique white canvas, aged and distressed.  16” x 20”.  $20 + shipping (estimate $9 Priority Mail)   SOLD!

 

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I am happy to take custom orders as well!  E-mail for prices.

RedHenHome@gmail.com

Sunrise / Sunset

I tackled a different kind of painting project.  I should be working on furniture, based on the size of my stash…but a bit of a sore throat and a cough seemed to indicate that staying inside was in order!

It’s well known that I love signs and quotes in all their varieties (you can see my Etsy shop if ye doubt).  I’ve been pondering ways to make mine unique and separate from the many other lovely versions that are available.  I thought about using some ombre backgrounds, and that idea morphed into this:
Here is an 18” x 24” canvas that I painted Sunday night.  “What is it?” you may rightly wonder!  Well, lacking the skills to actually make a painting that looks like something…I decided to settle for reminding you of something!
To me, the reds, yellows, and oranges are reminiscent of a sunset.  But I suppose it could be a sunrise, too...although if it is, I keep thinking, “Red sky the morning: sailor take warning!”  And I don’t even sail!

I over-laid the scene with a favorite quote from Mother Teresa:

“We can do no great things; only small things with great Love.”

I used my Silhouette to cut the lettering out of vinyl for this project.  I used the negative space for the canvas, which left me with the “positive” space for another go.
This time I applied the quote to a piece of beadboard, and then painting another sky scene right over top of it all.  This time I used many different blues, as well as black, white…and a little pink.  Is it sunrise?  Is it dusk?  I’ll let you decide! 

I can’t really decide which I like better.  I like the softly faded, worn look of the beadboard (I had to distress it a little, naturally). 

…but vibrant reds and oranges speak to me, always!

Which one do you like?

(and if you really like one…they are both available in the Etsy shop.)

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Linking up here:

Domestically Speaking	Elizabeth & Co.
	The CSI Project
Friday Remodelaholic	2805
My Simple Home Life’s Simple Creations Friday
Funky Junk’s Saturday Night Special	The DIY Show Off
Beyond the Picket Fence	Someday Crafts
Knick of Time Mod Vintage Life	My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
Perfectly Imperfect	{Primp}
Common Ground	My Repurposed Life
From My Front Porch to Yours	All Star Block Party
Cowgirl Up!	{aka} design Coastal Charm

Two Years & a Giveaway!

 

Two years ago my daughter pushed me to stop drooling over other people’s blogs, and start contributing to my own! 

So I did!

It didn’t stop the drooling…but it gave me a constructive outlet for my own projects!

Not only has blogging proved to be another great time-waster (like I needed another??), but has also inspired my creativity and encouraged me to learn new skills (like power tools!).

I’d like to say THANK YOU to all of you who make blogging worthwhile through your

kind comments,

genuine praise,

helpful suggestions,

and gentle good humor. 

I feel blessed by the “virtual friends” I have made over the last two years, and I look forward to getting to know more of you!

Now for the important part:

To celebrate two years, I will be giving one reader a FREE 24” x 8” beadboard sign of their choice, OR a $20 credit toward any other item in my etsy store.

TO ENTER

Leave a comment telling me of a favorite past project.

That’s it!  Giveaway will end Friday, July 20.

If you don’t want to wait…use coupon code TWOYEARS for 10% off any item in my etsy shop!  Code valid through Friday, July 20.

Farmers Market Canvas

Yesterday I showed off the Flea Market Canvas I created for my living room, based off this beautiful artwork by Mandy Lynne.

You didn’t think I could stop with just one, did you?

Well, I was happy enough with the Flea Market canvas, so I started sketching for the next one…

Ever drawn a bicycle?  Me neither.

My style is definitely not as “refined” as the original!  I wish the colors translated better to the computer screen…the border and the lettering are actually a brick red color, and the background is a pale green.  And again…flowers are not my strong suit!

So here’s the set…the original, gorgeous, Mandy Lynne’s:

And the debut artwork of the amateurish Red Hen:

Am I happy?  I think so!

(Photo courtesy of Chicklet #3)

Are you excited to see how they look in my house?  Coming soon!

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This project has been featured at Elizabeth & Co., DIY Showoff, and Knick of Time Interiors. 

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Linking up here:

Domestically Speaking	Elizabeth & Co.
Sisters of the Wild West	No Minimalist Here’s Open House Thursday
Friday Remodelaholic	2805
My Simple Home Life’s Simple Creations Friday	Miss Mustard Seed’s Furniture Feature Friday
Funky Junk’s Saturday Night Special	The DIY Show Off
Beyond the Picket Fence	Someday Crafts
Knick of Time	My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
Perfectly Imperfect	{Primp}
Simply Klassic Sundays	My Repurposed Life
From My Front Porch to Yours	It’s So Very Cheri
Cowgirl Up!	{aka} design

Flea Market Canvas

I have been keeping a secret from you.

In addition to working on my front-room-to-office transformation (you can see the latest installment of that here), I have also been working on a major living room redecorating project!  I never know if I’m “supposed” to show it off in bits and pieces or with a major reveal…so forgive me if I’m not doing it right!

So while it may be a bit backward, I’m going to show off the most recent project for the living room first!

I fell in love with these vintage-y canvases from Mandy Lynne when I saw them at an upscale furniture store.

There are posters available through her Etsy shop for about $65/each (canvases are considerably more expensive), but that was both out of my price range and not the look I was really after.

So I spent a lot of time scheming how to “knock-off” her work.  I created a whole Silhouette design, but the thought of the layers of stenciling I would have to do to recreate the color scheme intimidated me more than a little.

Then I had the great idea of using the overhead projector, like I have on so many coffee tables, but on the night I wanted to do it—I found that I couldn’t get the image to be the right size for the canvas I had prepared.

So…I took a leap and just started sketching.  And to my great great great surprise…it wasn’t all that bad!  My layout differs slightly…it changed as I filled up spaces too quickly 

In fact, it was good enough that I took the next leap…painting!   I was able to choose colors that complemented my home better than the gray of the original.

Here’s how they look side-by-side!

I won’t lie to you…I’m super excited with how this turned out!  It’s my first EVER real painting!  (We’re not counting furniture!) 

I hung it on the living room wall today, and I’m not embarrassed to have it there…I think!

I’m proud at myself for attempting something so new and different.  I have a mother and a sister who are incredible artists, so trying anything remotely like painting or drawing has been very intimidating for me. 

But at least I can say now…I tried!

Updated to add:  Yes, I had to make the Farmers Market Canvas as well!  You can see it here.

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This project has been featured at Elizabeth & Co., DIY Showoff, and Knick of Time Interiors. 

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Linking up here:

Funky Junk’s One Scary Thing Challenge

Domestically Speaking	Elizabeth & Co.
Sisters of the Wild West	No Minimalist Here’s Open House Thursday
Friday Remodelaholic	2805
My Simple Home Life’s Simple Creations Friday	Miss Mustard Seed’s Furniture Feature Friday
Funky Junk’s Saturday Night Special	The DIY Show Off
Beyond the Picket Fence	Someday Crafts
Daisy Cottage Designs	My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
Perfectly Imperfect	{Primp}
Simply Klassic Sundays	My Repurposed Life
From My Front Porch to Yours	It’s So Very Cheri
Cowgirl Up!	{aka} design