Studio 4:13

A peek inside a custom order

Recently I received a few custom order requests, from both new and repeat customers.  I have been blessed with great customers as well as referrals!

I thought I'd show you what it looks like to complete a sign start-to-finish.  For any job, especially the custom ones, there is some conversation between myself and the customer.  They might send me a snapshot of something seen on Pinterest, or have an idea of colors and wording and let me make suggestions.  For the Pinterest re-creations, I like being able to add my own "twist" so it's not an exact copy.  And for the customers that give me a general idea and let me go to town, I'm a teensy bit nervous (about meeting expectations) but a whole lot of excited having that freedom!

For starters, after the requirements are gathered around size/color/theme/wording, I plan it out on my Silhouette Designer software:

In this case I had a 2' x 4' sign in mind.  The silhouette cuts 12" wide, so once I've designed it to look how the end will be, I then create separate templates to cut out all the wording with the 12" width limitation.  Here's a shot of everything cut and laid out ready to go:

And then the fun part comes, painting!  Originally I was going to do this sign in black and white and then distress it, but it's a playroom, so it needed color!

Once this was painted and dry, I lightly sanded and sprayed a couple coats of poly to seal the deal.  My husband then took some 1" trim and we nailed a frame around the exterior (unfortunately I do not have a photo yet of the final here).  This sign now adorns the new playroom area at Restore & Restyle of Baldwin!

Sign Updates

I've been busy creating some new signs for sale at the shop, as well as quite a few custom orders from new and repeat customers!  Below are some snapshots of ones you may find at Restore & Restyle in Baldwin:

At the Shop

Last night Johanna (owner of Restore & Restyle) and I redid the booth space I rent in her shop.  I'm loving the transition and it feels more "me" in style.  I've been working on banners/pennants, candles and signs, as well as now selling jute webbing and jute twine! 

Be sure to stop in at Restore & Restyle in Baldwin, WI right on the main drag, you can't miss it!  So many vendors with different styles to offer for you and your home.

Day 17

A favorite photo of yourself and why

 

6 years ago - pregnant with my first child, so excited, luscious thick hair, not a care about my big belly.  Love it!

Day 16

Something difficult about your "lot" in life and how you're working to overcome it...

I have a good life.   A job, a roof over my head, plenty to eat, great kids and husband, so what is there to complain about, or what is "difficult" about this life?  I struggle with a few things and when I think about how I'm working to overcome those things, I think well, maybe I'm not meant to "overcome" them?  Maybe by having these struggles, it makes me more empathetic to those with the same issues?

One of those struggles is with weight and overall body image.  Can anyone relate?  Ladies?  I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism 16 years ago and have been on a synthetic hormone ever since.  When I was diagnosed I was like, this is great!  An excuse or a reason as to why it's hard to lose weight!  And ooh, a magic pill that's going to cure it all!  But, alas, it's not like that.

I've tried every diet program, some with success, but I'm tired of the word "diet".  So this is what I'm doing, now it's only been a week, but we'll see how this goes.  I'm going to eat sensibly!  What? You've never heard of that?  Seriously.  I'm doing my best to make good choices.  More Paleo-inspired, cutting out the carbs.  But nothing strict.  If I go to dinner at a friends, I'm not going to not eat because they served bread.  So, doing that and tracking everything on the app "Lose It" and weighing myself daily. 

So that's what I'm doing these days to help with the weight I've put on (and off and on and off) and setting some "incentives".  This all came about because I went summer clothes shopping a week ago and was in tears.  So no clothes shopping until the first 10 are gone.  And we'll just go from there.  It's personal, everyone's weight loss/weight issues are.  I don't like the scrutiny of what you eat when someone hears you're on a diet.  I want to set a good example for my kids that food isn't our enemy, making good choices makes us feel good.

So that's one of my struggles of my "lot" in life.  I wasn't blessed with the skinny genes and so while I work daily on weight loss, I also work daily on body image.

Day 14

10 things that make you really happy...

Jesus

Kids

Sunshine

Crafts

A good book

Vacation

Sunday drives

Family

A clean house

Old friends

Day 12

Today's topic:  what do you miss?

simpler times

unplanned family gatherings

grandparents

no technology times

writing letters

talking on the phone

my waistline

good family television

Disney World (hey, I could seriously go twice a year!)

Happy Mother's Day!

Day 11

Sell yourself in 10 words or less...

Organized Christian crafty mother will work for chocolate.

Day 10

Most embarassing moment...

That's a toughie, either I don't embarass easily or haven't done anything embarassing lately.  I fell in our company's parking lot while walking in a couple weeks ago.  Straight onto my butt, there was no stopping this fall.  Thankfully ?? I was walking amidst rows of cars and noone but the extra large security monitors saw me.

Day 9

A moment in your day (photo)...