All My Little Words

I've done so many versions of this style sign, I forget all the phrases I've used. Essentially any short quote or phrase works.  It's just figuring out the font style, colors and spacing. I have some Realtor friends who have been ordering these custom signs and giving them as closing gifts to their clients.  So fun for me to keep seeing what they come up with in terms of sayings. This is the latest one being given to a client who moved into a new house on the lake.

That's where I'll be this week with one more beach vacation to be enjoyed before 'back to school' September hits. 

The window/sign below recently sold at my booth at Not So Shabby.  It wasn't actually a window at all, but the top part of my neighbor's back door. (Thanks Michelle)!

 I used the same stencil that I had cut to do this pallet sign a few weeks ago:

And why not use it again on this metal tray that we had removed from the back of a rusty cart?

Sold right away.

 I think I enjoy making signs so much because I've always had a love of letters and numbers...font styles, graphic, crisp lettering, thought provoking phrases or verses.  Can't. Get. Enough. 
This wall mural (which was actually a large vinyl sheet) mounted to the side of a boutique up in Glen Arbor, Michigan caught my eye recently. 

 How great is that?
This one below I haven't ever done before in an all white palate. This color scheme always works with any type of decor. Most fun hung on the walls of a pool shed or  mounted outside on a lake house.

 This one just sold this week. Made me chuckle when I first saw this phrase online.

I did this custom sign for my neighbor Kim who's nephew(?) was getting married.  She requested it in black and white and asked for it to be personalized at the bottom. 

Keep this in mind for wedding shower gifts, or baby announcements-(different phrases of course could be substituted).

Always a good seller.

So many ways to do this thing.

Classic

I also wanted to show you the amazing desk area of my talented client and friend Jenn.  This space is located in the hallway of her adorable cape cod style home in Holland. It used to be a main floor laundry area/linen closet with bi-fold doors. Can you picture it? 

She was so anxious to transform the area into a preppy and functional work space for she and her two young girls.  Armed with some photos she tagged from "Houzz" and "Pinterest", her talented husband set to work to demo and dry wall the nook.  She hired out help to retro-fit the shelves, desk and cabinetry and accessorized everything herself!  She loves red and was glad to pull her favorite color through this space as well as in her kitchen. 

Where do I come in on this one? 

Sometimes I'm just moral support. :)

I was a cheerleader in my former life and these days those skills still come in handy when working with you amazing Do-it-yourself-ers!

"Rah, Rah...Siss Boom Bah!

You Did it Jenn-I oooooh and ahhhh!!"

Isn't that an incredible use of space? And sooo smashing with all the red accents?! 

Hip Hip Horay!!

I'll stop now. :)

Call me if you want me to cheer you on throughout your next home dec. project! 

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Ramblings from the Heart

Sigh :)

Lake Michigan sunsets.  They never get old.

I've missed you Champs.  I cut my beach vacay a little short due to this lovely (?) fall- like weather and am actually feeling more motivated work- wise which is always a good thing.  I don't have the paddle board or beach calling my name which helps on the productivity front. 

Kennedy, Alex (my 18 year old nephew) and I biked our annual 100 mile trek up to Pentwater three weeks ago to kick off the week of camping at the state park there. 

Here's a few shots of our adventure.

And we made it. 

I found myself singing out loud the old country song, "I ain't as young as I once was, but I'm as young ONCE as I ever was".  It was a long day-9 hours and 40 minutes to be exact but I loved every minute of the time I got to spend with my oldest daughter and my nephew who leaves for college tomorrow. 

I posted the picture below on instagram (follow me at christyboeve) and hash tagged #100milesofmemories

#notenoughtime

#lovethisboy

We had a going away party here last night for Alex. "My first born son". He's not my first born and he's not my son but I've always lived like he was.  I've cried countless times in the last month reflecting on how quickly these years have flown by.  This day will rank up there with one of the best days of my life. Uninterrupted time with my "kids".

#don'tblink

100 miles that day on the bike and 50 miles on Saturday with Ken up to Grand Haven and back made me stiff, sore but oh so thankful for my body's ability to do this.

Health and strength-something I haven't been taking for granted lately with so many of my friends, friends' parents and client's struggling with health issues. 

 A shameless shout out and prayer request for my dear mother--n-law, Marge who was recently diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer. 

She started chemotherapy last week is doing well overall.  Ken gets his positive outlook and optimism from his mom and she is certainly still modeling that throughout this challenging  journey. 

My sis-n-laws and I had 'fun' (?) wig shopping with her and helping her select her new 'do' last month. Here's the winner. 

 After lots of wig modeling by all of us, and some good hearty laughter, things got a little somber when it was time to make the purchase.  We all held it together but I teared up a little as I snapped a picture of this clipping that was posted on the wall by the check out counter.

Mom Boeve, "Camera Grandma", "Photo Marge" and "Gma Moogie Boeve", you will beat this thing. We're all in this together and we love you.

I know I can count on you for prayers Champs and I thank you in advance for it.

Must be all these rainy days that get me so reflective and mushy.

I'll lighten things up by asking you to come visit me tomorrow at Not So Shabby.  I'll be 'working' (which for me means, networking). Wink. from 3-7.

Last time I worked, I snapped some photos of a sampling of my  co-vendors' creative items.

Check these out.

Hope to see you sometime soon. 

Thanks for checking in with me here. 

XOXO

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To the BeAcH!

I'm sure you've seen this Pinterest tutorial countless times posted by several different bloggers, so I won't bore you with the overplayed details, but I wanted to try my hand at transforming these Hobby Lobby paper mache letters into Anthropology metal letter knock offs.  I followed the steps posted on a site I googled  and got to work in my stuffy garage/workshop last week.

Here are the unfinished letters. $2.99 each. I usually only buy them when they are half off, but I was anxious to get more 'smalls' in my booth at Not So Shabby, so I bought them full price.

 An old dingy pool towel becomes a drop cloth after several years of use and away I go:
First step, painting them with a bronze paint that (NO LIE) I've had sitting in my garage cupboard for 11 years. (I know that because I remember buying it for a project I had, two houses and two moves ago).

 Here's the gallon to prove it. What I didn't know was that this paint had fermented and it would NOT dry (for hours)! First coat proved to be a nightmare, but I was NOT going to give in and buy more. Plus, the hardware store was already closed for the night. :)

 Second step was to spray the entire letter front and back with metallic spray paint,  (of which I also had in my cupboard waaaayyy past it's due date) and the nozzle kept getting clogged.  I was not going to accept defeat and simply found a new spray can and replaced the nozzle. 

Because the bronze first coat wasn't dry underneath yet, I could easily take an old rag and wipe off the wet silver to reveal the darker paint underneath. I also took a fine grit sandpaper pad and roughed it up wherever I felt it would look aged.

 Upon the advice of one blogger, I dabbed a little orange paint on the corners and edges to give it a rusted out look. (sorry, must not have snapped a pic of that).

 Here's the finished product. The pictures really don't do it justice.  I have to say that it really was pretty convincing as metal. Must've been 'cause they sold right away at the booth. 

Fun project to do but I will be replacing the bronze paint before I attempt this again. The paint was still tacky the next morning! But they finally dried!

And off to the beach I go. Paddle board loaded up, camper full of gear and bike tires filled with air for Kennedy and my annual 100 mile trek up to Pentwater for vacation this week!

 Stay tuned for a beach blog when I return!  Enjoy your lazy days of summer, Champs! YOLO! :)

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Retail Wednesday

Just got home after a big day working my 8 hour shift at my favorite store in town..."Not So Shabby".  It's so fun to be there to chat up customers, walk the floor to see what's new & observe what the hot sellers are in my booth.  Here's a few things that didn't last long at Room for Change and some others that are waiting for a new place to call home. 

This sold today right when I walked in the door!

This old chicken coop coffee table won't last long but the new owner will be one who loves urban rustic decor!

 "Fun" to display on a bonus room or playroom wall.

Teal colored star is gone already, so is red thin cabinet.  Lots of vintage items, signs and pillows still there!

 LOVE these honeycomb printed pillows, do you?

 Antique Rustic Shovel: gone.
Bright cottage style pillows: Here today, gone tomorrow. :)

 LoVe banner sold a few days ago, along with the beat up barnwood birdhouse. Several rustic pallet board signs are left. They make a great textured accent over a headboard in the bedroom.

 Antique Fans are always good sellers. I'm shocked the white antique radio stand hasn't sold yet.  No storage space inside is perhaps the reason, but I think it's great eye candy even though it's not so functional.  Use as a side piece with a trendy lamp and photos on it in the foyer.

 Black primitive side table sold right away.

Allegan Antiques Find:

Letter "D" sold the hour I went home for dinner today. Don't know who bought it but she was going to put it on her front porch. Sweet.

I'll be replacing it with the giant metal letter "N" soon. 

 Nienhuis, Nardin, Nykamp, Negelkirk-have a wall for it? :)

Love the lines of this wing back, (laundry line pillow sold right away), but I had already slipcovered it once and don't have the energy to do it again. I was thinking it would look so fetching reupholstered with a dark charcoal grey fabric with nailheads or a light shabby chic linen. Wait...I want it back now. :)

Love this primitive piece on wheels. This didn't last but a day.

Lots of little reasonably priced accessories.

This light grey dresser would make a great changing table for a nursery or a side piece in a small dining area. 

Below is something I spotted at Allegan Antiques. 

Again, this piece didn't last long. I thought it would make a great jewelry display.

 I brought it 5 more planked style signs today.They're probably my best seller.

 Can't remember if I saw this still there today or not. I think it might be gone, but I'm making another one soon. Email me if you want it before it gets 'put out on the floor'.

 Sweet little Pier One birdie print. Totes Adorbs.:)

 One more shot of the super stylish and uniquely repurposed coffee table.  Do I make a better crafter than I do a saleswoman?

. Not working there again until August 6 from 3-7 but I'll post pics soon of other vendor booths and some things you might think you need. :)

C-

A shout out to one of my favorite "Chumps/Champs", my SIL, Shar who stopped by to visit me today. Made my day, sis. LOve you.

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