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Part II: Barn Wood Upcycle

Part II: Barn Wood Upcycle

Remember a few weeks ago when I tried to make an awesome clock with a not so awesome clock kit? (link) I was so excited about that barn wood upcycle project and truly was disappointed when it didn’t work out.

So I looked and looked for more inspiration to make this project really great. Every morning, Samantha and I Snapchat back and forth. She was studying for finals a week ago and snapped me this inspirational quote that was the background on her laptop.

If you work really hard and you’re kind, amazing things will happen.

I’ve noticed that crafts with sayings and quotes on them are really popular right now, so I thought I could give it a shot myself.

It was relatively easy to write the quote on the barn wood where the clock had previously been. I used gold-metallic permanent Sharpie marker to write out the quote initially, then added a shadow effect with a black Sharpie.

Just like the finished product with the clock, I still didn’t like what I had done to this barn wood. In my personal opinion, it was too “crafty”.

I could not get my mind off of the idea of a clock made with this barn wood, so back to Part I.

When Wade and I were at the Haven Conference, we got a freebie product called Scotch Blue with Edge-Lock by 3M.

The packaging describes it as a “pre-taped painter’s plastic with dispenser”. I used it on the frame by taping the inside edge of the wood and letting the plastic part drape over the edge.

I wanted to cover up the Sharpie letters completely, so I used three light coats of Rustoleum’s “Universal Paint and Primer in One” spray paint called “Hammered Brown” letting each coat dry before applying the next. Here’s a look at the finished product.

Now all I needed was a good clock. Remember way back when I made a clock to put in my bathroom so I wouldn’t be late anymore? Well it didn’t really end up serving its purpose (read: I am still late all.the.time.) so I decided to use it for this project. All it took was a couple of nails centered within the frame and voila!

I think the third time was a charm for this barn wood project, but I have a few more on the way that I hope will only take a one-time charm!

This table and bench are from the estate sale that Sam and I went to after wedding dress shopping. I want to sand out the scratches, restain the tops and touch up the paint on the legs and apron.

From that same sale, I got this settee, which I plan to reupholster in a Farmhouse fabric.  

Finally, these square slate pieces I picked up from Rustic Revival Barnwood will make unique holiday signs.

Sam gave me the idea to share with you the ideas I had coming up after the Haven Conference because she felt that I had left her “hanging”. I hope she feels better now 😉

~Wendy

Old Lake George’s New Products

Old Lake George’s New Products

Recently we cashed our reward check from Costco. You know that cash back you earn throughout the year from your purchases. It shouldn’t come as a surprise how quickly a 1-3% stacks up considering I never check out from Costco with a bill under $100. Tell me I am not alone on this.
Yes, I take a list. Yes, I only go down the isles that have those items. And Yes, I eat before shopping.

But than Costco puts these front and center as you walk in the door.

 

What can I do when they jump into my cart not even giving me a chance to justify to them that I didn’t NEED them and that they weren’t on the list.

Don’t they look amazing? Blooming tulips in February, in Minnesota. Be still my heart.

So just as Costco has a way of presenting me with cool things that I didn’t even realize I needed, I would like to take a minute and show you the new Old Lake George products!

The day we shot all of these new products created for Old Lake George’s Shop was a great day.

The reason? The day was spent with Spencer.

As I’ve said before, we usually spend the first hour or so catching up on our personal lives. The next hour we review what has happened on the business end of our companies, the third hour we set up and style photos. Typically after that we have some type of training, goal setting and homework for the coming month. Spencer is always teaching me something. Bless his patient heart.

In between all of that, there are always tons of laughs, questions, comments, concerns, patting ourselves on the back and finally bringing each other back to reality and getting to work.  🙂

This first vase comes from an estate sale. I shared its story here.

The second vase was also purchased from an estate sale. I consider this vase a rescue vase. The estate it came from was overflowing with high end home decor. But this elegant white honeycomb patterned vase got lost in the shuffle. So I rescued it and took it home. I hope it can now find a forever home.

Another vintage wood level rack came into my life last weekend. It was part of this weekend. The level received a good cleaning, a massage of hemp oil to rejuvenate the wood, and two rustic iron nails to complete the vision.

And now for the icing on the cake. These tallmedium and small candlestick pillars and their origin.

Thanks for looking through my front door of the shop with me.

See you on Friday,

Wendy

THE APPLE DOESN’T FALL FAR FROM THE TREE (29)

 

So Many Questions

So Many Questions

Have you ever been in a check out line and it takes forever?

When Sam and I were shopping in Des Moines we got stuck in the slowest line known to man. Finally it was our turn and she started putting her things on the conveyor belt.

It didn’t take long to figure out why this process was so slow.

The clerk was a nice 17 year old young man who was very chatty and full of wisdom. He was similar to the game 20 questions but his questions were always centered around what you were buying.

Sam found some great sales so she had several pieces of clothing, a couple new pair of boots and some other odds and ends. She shared with Clerk 20 questions that she had an interview next week for Occupational Therapist Grad School.

His response, “Ohhhhh, you look like an Occupational Therapist!”

Okay then, good to know.  🙂

Now it was my turn and I was so dreading where these questions were going to end up.

I was buying a bra, 9 pair of underwear and frozen chicken wings.

Mr. 20 Questions Smirk Face had only one question for me.

“So what are your plans for the evening?”

To say that moment was a little awkward, would be an understatement. I burst out laughing, but Sam jumped in trying to break the awkwardness and quickly told him that later on we were going to work on my blog.

The young man back peddled a little bit and restarted his game.

Mr. 20: “What kind of blog do you write?”

Me: “A home décor based blog.”

Mr. 20: “Are you an expert in that field?”

Me: “In my own mind.”  🙂

Mr. 20: “Well, it’s not how good you are that matters, but how others perceive you.”

I told you he was full of wisdom. 🙂

So collecting all of my expertise, I finished my vision for the piece that I picked up at the salvage yard.

Using my chop saw, I cut this into four pieces. Here are three of the four sections.

I love the architectural difference between the three pieces but I wanted them to look a little sharper.

I painted them with varying coverage using a white chalk paint.

After letting them dry for about 30 minutes, I then sanded them until I thought they looked like they were related in a second cousin once removed sort of way.

The rest of the afternoon I staged them in different spots until they found a home.

I picked the mantel by the bird cage cloche as their new home. The area needed a little more depth and these did the trick.

I’d ask you what you think, but I am tired of questions.  🙂

See you on Friday,

Wendy