Sunday, December 2, 2012

Holiday Craft Shows

I've been introduced to a whole new world as of late: Holiday Craft Shows.

Oh my goodness.

Who knew there were so many talented crafters out there?

I participated in a party this weekend, sold several signs and took several orders. I have another, much bigger party, coming up next weekend. Which gives me little time in between shows along with my full time job to get ready to have enough items to sell.

Not a bad problem to have!

So I spent most of today sawing and sanding at my parents house then painting on my porch in preparation to do some painting this week.

Here is the awful sight on our porch right now, the smell is even worse! I hope my
neighbors can't smell all the paint.. Although it might keep them from stomping, ha!



Thursday, November 22, 2012

Monday, November 19, 2012

We're live!

The etsy shop is up and running!

I've had a bunch of requests for a website to see signs...and I feel completely awkward saying "hey yeah just got to my blog". So I FINALLY created an etsy page

Check it out!

AdrienneLeighDesigns




Saturday, November 17, 2012

A very friendly Thanksgiving

Friday night, my lovely friend Laci, who happens to be one of the most talented hostesses I've ever known, decided to throw a friends Thanksgiving feast for our group.

It was such a special evening for many reasons, the biggest being just how thankful we are for each other and
that God has brought us all into each others lives over the past year.

Laci's Thanksgiving table was simple but very warm. She said it cost around $60 for decorations, starting from scratch! Not bad for things she can use year after year!

The table had neutral fabric as the table cloth then was diagonally covered with a layer of burlap. The center piece was made of garlands of fall leaves, candles, and pilgrim and Native American figurines!

She also personalized mason jars for each of us with our own hand print.

(Somehow, years ago, thanks to a silly friend and high schoolers I used to work with, the nickname datgurladrie was given to me, as you can see it has stuck around. ;) )

The feast was perfect and a great way to kick off the holiday season. If you've never done a friends thanksgiving, give it a try... You'll love it! And let me know how it goes!

Cheers to you and yours!

Timberwolf market


I was so nervous I almost didn't even take my signs out of the car. "What if it looks bad compared to everyone else's stuff? This is my hobby, why am I sharing it to potentially get judged?"

These were all the thoughts running through my head Thursday because my school was having a craft fair that I over enthusiastically, weeks before, said I would participate in.

It's no secret in the past two months because of my job I haven't been able to build and paint as much. So I felt like I needed more inventory. Better items. More time!
However, I worked on a few items this week and filled my little cart with signs I had painted over the past few months and set up shop.

And you know what? It went GREAT! Many coworkers, some that I know pretty well and some I had only smiled at in passing (our school is really big and I'm pretty new) were so KIND!

A few signs sold and I took a bunch of custom orders which was so exciting!

What a fun start to the holiday season.!

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Year 2: Traditional or Modern

My husband Cole and I will be celebrating two years of marriage in December.

Our first anniversary flew by without much celebration, but in all fairness we were in the middle of leading a high school ski trip and then were heading to a 5 day trip to Disney with the organization he used to work for a few weeks later. So a trip just didn't even hit our radar.

For the 2 year we began dreaming. Ski trip? Cozumel? A redo of our honeymoon cruise?

Then one of us said it. I don't remember who, probably Cole he's real smart like that, "What about a new bed?" And that was it. We were smitten with the idea.

Apparently the 2 year mark is something traditional or modern.

See? We're traditional and didn't even know it!

And a bed we got. The biggest, almost the best, and definitely our whole trip budget.

To be able to afford the amazing tempur pedic, the manly man I live with decided to build us a bed frame.

He did a fantastic job!

My father in law got in on the building action and then I put him to work helping make some more signs to paint!

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Pinteresting ideas

Have you seen these photos floating around pinterest? Adorable right? But who has an antique rake just lying around?



Well, my awesome in-laws that's who. They live in the historic section of sweet home College Station (football team ranked #8 in the nation right now!) and have an awesome house filled with amazing antique treasures, some Amazing homemade pieces and my mother in laws quilting company, Bridges Stitches. Have I mentioned I think it's amazing?

Anywho, they gifted to me a lovely rake end from their patio and I've turned this gorgeous piece of furniture we have into a little drink station.





Mind you the only thing we have currently available is some sparkling apple cider, but we're hoping to become really rich someday, probably from blogging, and buy really expensive wine.



So this little station's theme is made with the sentiment, "If you build it, they (expensive wine bottles) will come."


 

Sunday, November 4, 2012

Chalkboard

I'm so excited with how the rescued mirror-turned-chalkboard turned out!

I did three coats of the chalkboard paint, the last one done with a roller. Which from now on I'll just use from the start because it gave it that smooth chalkboard look.

Voila!

Thursday, November 1, 2012

Crafting Hobo

If it's not IN the dumpster it's not trash, right?

Monday was an odd day and I got to leave work for lunch...so I ran to Jason's Deli and then home to let my little hethen out of his cage for some play time.

As we were walking around, I saw a giant mirror in the dumpster area and promptly went and claimed my treasure! No shame.

This mirror is seriously heavy and huge. And a perfect excuse to try out my new can of chalkboard paint. It also needs a few nails here and there but overall, is in pretty good condition.

It has some killz on it in the bottom picture and I'll try out the chalkboard paint tomorrow...wish me luck :)

Sunday, October 28, 2012

October Ramblings

I've had a lot of ideas swirling around in my head lately of projects to work on, but somehow I blinked and October has flown by!

It has been marked by:
- lots of work
-  a dog who has torn up more things than I care to think about...one of them being the thermometer.... which I need right now because I have self-diagnosed myself with the flu...
-cooler weather and the excitement of fall!

Anyways.....

Here is a sign for the laundry room I made. I stained the wood, painted lettering and added the hinges for a country effect:




And I made another pencil sign for a sweet friend at my school.  It's her first year teaching and she is doing a GREAT job! 



 I'm loving the cooler weather and gettting to wear scarves...hope everyone has blessed week. :) 




Also, I'm in the market for a camera. Please let me know if you have any suggestions! 





Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Butcher Block finished!

Here are completed pictures of the butcher block!

The top drawer pull is replaced with a sparkly glass ball that I love.  The side has hooks that match the top, for hanging towels, and there is another level of shelf still to insert.  (it's actually sitting on the chair behind the pumpkins!)


 Cash heard the camera and came running.  He looks so nervous because he is...the pumpkins have for some reason sent him over the edge.  Everytime he sees them he barks as if it's a person entering.  Silly boy. 


Sunday, October 14, 2012

Lessons Learned

I've been working on two projects lately. The desk from the previous post and a butcher block redo.

Here is the butcher block, formerly white and in the process of becoming black (and awesome):



These two projects have become the bane of my existence.  Because,  while they present themselves as solid wood, they are thoroughly laminate.  And don't believe those cutesy pinterest bloggers who talk about how "easy" it is to paint laminate.  It isn't.  They lie.  And they have really good cameras to make their ridiculous creations look awesome.

Ok rant over.

But...I've learned a few things.  Feel free to disagree or offer suggestions.

1.  Don't sand the laminate first (unless it's in awful condition).  It creates an awful backdrop that no number of layers of killz, primer, paint + primer, will make smoothe again.

2.  Do many layers.  1 at a time.  And don't go over what you just painted, unless it's to quickly remove dripping.

I finally figured this out on the backside of the butcher block and the drawer.  But one side of it is a *hot mess.

(*my husband says I only look at the flaws and that it looks fine.)

Here is the drawer with it's first quick layer.  FIGHT the desire to go over it again until dry.


Here it is after several layers. See?? pretty. (drawer is on top)


 I'm heading to get some cute knobs for the drawers/cabinet doors tomorrow and off it will be sent.  Will show a final pic when finished.

Hope we all have a blessed week!
xoxo



Monday, October 8, 2012

A little Monday Night

Life is what happens when you're busy not blogging.  Tis true.

Since the last time I've blogged I've read: 

Bossypants...



I've graded ~4000 papers

I've done ~8 loads of laundry

 and worked out ~6 times. (only because my friend Laci is crazy awesome and makes me do it)



Also,  I've found this little gem at a local goodwillish type store.


 (The best part of this picture is Cash playing with his Homie, (large sized Homer Simpson doll he's OBSESSED with)


And here it is after lots of sanding and a coat of killz...just a typical Monday.


 (Please note, this being a significant amount of time after the previous picture was taken, Homie is left to rest in peace and a bone is now the object of affection.)

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Red Love

For once I got to pick something up from craigslist and it was not a torrential downpour.

I spotted a side-drawer type table and thought if it's in decent shape, it'll be awesome.  (Sidenote, the couple also gave me a little tv stand, that still needs some tlc, but two for one. whoop! that's a big work in progress though)

I've sanded and painted a few coats....and think it's adorable...




I am in love with the red color and even more so, the knobs.  


If you are interested in purchasing please contact me at adrienneleigh83@gmail.com



Hope you're having a great week.  It's only Tuesday.  Did anyone else have a moment today where you thought it was Thursday because of your level of exhaustion? 

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Lovely Tuesdays...



It's a lovely Tuesday night.  I somehow "forgot" my work binder at school today, so OOPS, I can't write lesson plans tonight.  :)  That is leaving me reorganizing my HOT MESS of a craft room and cleaning for our Modern Family Premier watching party slash my 29th bday fiesta tomorrow night!



Recently I made my wonderful friends a name sign to hang in their new home. They are gettting married in November and have recently purchased a new house.

I built and stained the wood sign awhile ago and have been wondering what to do with it.  I decided my dear friend and her beau need a very newly-wed gift.  I'm going to paint the metal hooks black for a sleeker look.   

Also please note the awesome lamp my sister bought me as an early birthday gift!!


If you would be interested in a personalized family name sign for your home or as a gift please contact me @ adrienneleigh83@gmail.com 

Monday, September 24, 2012

It's been awhile....

since I've been gone....


 LOADS of work and little play leaves little time for blog updates.   But I've managed to squeeze a little building and painting in between the craziness of life. 

This below was part of an old fence my dad rescued from being burned that I cut, rebuilt and painted into this cute little sign.  I was thinking of a special person when I made it.  A sweet friend that used to be one of my Young Life girls...she's now away in college and her life, light and love makes me so proud to know her. 

Val, this one's for you:


Sunday, September 16, 2012

If you blog it, He will build.

well.....so as I mentioned in my last post I've been dreaming of a bookshelf wall in our house.  Things in the living room seemed very blah. Basic. Boring.  

Well...I showed the Mr. some of the pic ideas for a bookshelf wall and he went crAzy. The idea of a bookshelf wall was just great to him. You see, I consider myself an avid reader, I've gotten book reviews published for goodness sakes, but Cole out-reads me 3 to 1.  No joke. The boy is a reading machine. 

We spent Sat getting all the supplies and Sunday building.  It was all done way quicker than we anticipated.

If you remember here is my before view of our little apt: 



Then we began the building process....(please note we are watching hgtv as we build)


Which Cash wanted NO part of :



 And ended with this:



And got so excited we had to put SOME stuff of the shelves....but it is by no means finished....: 




We couldn't be more thrilled with the results. It gives the room height, and the picture truly does not capture the difference it makes. There are still more changes we will make to it, I'm contemplating staining the shelves. And the biggest issue with this room, despite what it looks like in the picture, is there is NO light! So more lighting is the next project to tackle.
  But all in all, loves it. 

 


Saturday, September 15, 2012

School supplies, bookshelves and all things September

"Don't you love New York in the fall? It makes me want to buy school supplies." 
~You've Got Mail



September is here in full force....in Houston we've had a break from the scorching heat with some rain and cooler temps.  It's amazing how 92 can feel cool...

September has always been my favorite month.  It's a month of new beginnings.  New school year.  And of course, it's the month of my birthday...:)

I wanted to take a moment to look at a few things I'm thinking about right now...we still have some decorating to do in our apartment, the two biggest projects being doing SOMETHING.....ANYTHING with our master bedroom! I'll save that debacle for another post.  It's just not flowing right.  

And second, building a bookshelf wall in our living room

This is my dream:
.   




But this is my reality: 















I think this is the compromise I'm looking for, simple shelving that can fill in the space. (however sad face for low ceiling and no need or space for a ladder.)


 


Hope you have a great weekend.....enjoy some football,  September weather, and new beginnings..and let me know what projects YOU are working on this weekend!


Wednesday, September 12, 2012

What I wore Wednesday

Just kidding.  I won't take a picture of myself and make you tell me how cute I look. 

But apparently Wednesday is the day that most bloggers do that as I glance through my rss feed.

I'm not judging.   I'm just not participating.  Unless Cole let's me have another wedding and  I can buy a new pretty dress.  

Until then, how about pictures of what I WISH I was wearing:


Can't you just see me and Cole in this sweet number?   This isn't serious. But I do wish I was in my jammies in bed. I'm tired.


Have you googled swimsuits lately?  Well, me's couldn't find an appropriate pic so here's a picture of a beach in Hawaii.  Where I wish I was....IN MY SWIMSUIT! 


But I would choose to wear THIS dress again any day!  wedding memories... :)  

We did it.  We made it over the hump. Have a great rest of the week! 



 
SITE DESIGN BY DESIGNER BLOGS