Wooden Signs

Hello Lovely Friends!

Today I am thankful for inspirational people. The ones I personally look up to and that I probably will never meet (mind you if I got the opportunity I would try ;). The ones where I check their twitter account everyday just too get inspired or be a better person for the day. The ones, who despite their challenges and even tragic circumstances still reflect love, peace and God, I am very grateful for such people! Personally the last two years have been incredibly difficult but it is these lovely leaders like Joyce Meyers, Rick Warren, Greg Laurie, Darlene Zschech and Nicky Gumbel who really have inspired me personally and encouraged me to keep looking up!

My reason for writing this is because I couldn’t decide what quote I should finish this post with as there were too many inspiring ones... so I went with a few today. :) 

But before you get to them, here are some photos of wooden signs I have been working on for the markets. I have taken a leaf or two from Aimee Weaver’s lovely artwork which I reference at the bottom of the photo.

I find painting really relaxing ...when our little one is sleeping at the end of the night Nathan and I sit on the sofa and while he watches T.V. or a movie, I paint, of course while watching the movie half heartily! For some reason lately, I find it more relaxing to paint than watch a movie or T.V. isn't that sad? I wouldn't have said that 5 years ago...  ha I’m showing my age now! ;)

Well enjoy the pictures as much as you can given the quality of the photos. If you have any questions please feel free to email. :) 

The idea for hinges I got from Aimee Weaver Designs!

http://aimeeweaverblog.com/

This was totally Aimee Weaver’s idea I just changed the quote.

http://aimeeweaverblog.com/

In you're future are many uncertainties, but God’s love for you isn’t one of them.

Twittered by Rick Warren

Trying to forget doesn't work. But you CAN let God give new meaning to bad things that have happened to you. Rom.8:28  

Twittered by Rick Warren

Trusting God completely in radical abandonment, even when it doesn't make sense, is what turns ordinary people into saints.

Twittered by Rick Warren

God makes a promise; faith believes it, hope anticipates it, patience waits for it.

Twittered by Nicky Gumbel

Don't cry over the past, it's gone. Don't stress over the future, it hasn't arrived. Live in the present and make the most of every day.

Twittered by Nicky Gumbel.

Happy Weekend Friends

Love Anita x

Wooden Sign Gift

Hi Friends,
 

How are you? I hope you had a lovely weekend. I read a post from ‘Kingdom 1^st Mom’ blog that it is the unofficial start to summer over there in the U.S. Lucky you, I’m sure most Aussies were wishing it was summer here! Down under is very cold at the moment, which I am loving at the moment because our summers can get really hot and the last one felt like it went on forever. (Mmmm I can hear certain people disagreeing with me in my head while I write this.) J
 

Anyway, I wanted to share with you my happy news. I just opened up a shop on Etsy where I am selling some of the wooden signs I have made from pieces of wood we had left over from our renovating. So if you get a chance please check it out. I am also more than happy to take custom orders!
 

Here is one of my latest signs which I thought would make a lovely baby gift.

Anita X

Family Memories on Wood

 

 

Hi there!

I hope you had a great weekend. Thank you everyone for the lovely comments about the Chocolate Ruffle Cake and Thomas the Tank Engine Cake - they made my day. J

So the last few days I have slowed down a bit as I haven’t been feeling the best thanks to that thing the doctors call Crohns... I have been wondering if Paul the apostle had a Crohns because I consider this a thorn in the flesh – it is always slowing me down. Well you never know ... with the way I feel physically I have to constantly keep my eyes focused upwards so I keep my mind positive and stay in joy despite how I feel. If I start feeling sorry for myself I seem to lose my sense of purpose in life, does anyone feel like this too? Every now and then though I do get on the pity pot I just don’t stay there.

Anyway, moving on from my ramblings, we finally finished our kitchen renovation yay! And because we had heaps of plywood leftover I thought I would make signs out of the scrap pieces. So I have also been busy working on a few, you can check them out in the wooden signs gallery.

I made one for Noah’s room to glue photos on because my in-laws live interstate. And since Noah is only two he doesn’t recognise them all that well, so I thought I could remind him who is who if I had some photos hanging up in his room. I just didn’t want the usual photo frame, so I decided to paint a saying and then modge podge the photos on the wood. I think it turned out ok, what you do you?

Btw I think my trusty old digital sony camera is on its way out. That might be why these photos are not very clear J apologies.

Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. Habakkuk 3:18

Have a super amazing day.

Anita X

When It Rains...

It’s a rainy day today, but I must admit I love it when it rains. I love the grey clouds and being cuddled up at home with my family, it’s so warm and cosy being together. But no matter how much I love it this weather, I still feel bit blue when there is no sunshine!

So when I sense this blue feeling coming my way I always like to remind myself of this verse, ‘This is the day that the Lord as made I will rejoice and be glad in it.’ So much so that I decided to paint this verse so I will always remember that no matter the circumstances, no matter how I feel I can choose to be grateful and happy for the day I have been blessed with. Of course, some days are easier than others mind you but after struggling with my health for the last two years, this verse has helped me to keep a cheerful and hopeful perspective!

 

I reclaimed the timber for this from an old cupboard door my dad gave me that he was going to throw away. I added some wooden  beading around the inside edges to finish it off and make it more decorative.

Well, stay gorgeous and happy today!

LOVE Anita X

G’day to another lovely rainy day

Well, apart from renovating our kitchen over the weekend I had a lovely weekend.  We went to a 1^st birthday party which was fun and I got to catch up with my lovely friend who visited from Sydney and that was fun.

Today, I am looking at making some signs and was going through others I have made to decide what colours I want to go with. I made the sign below as a gift. I like the colours and think the white writing is quite effective.

 

As the quality of photo is not great, I included two photos, one which I enhanced and the other unedited. I added them both for you to decide which you prefer!

 

 

 

Well, just to keep you informed I am working on selling some signs on Etsy (http://au.etsy.com) in the near future therefore if anyone interested in ordering one please feel free to email me. I will provide more details soon. Please keep me in mind though the signs are made from reclaimed wood therefore every sign will be unique.

Out of His fullness we have all received grace. John 1:16

LOVE Anita X

Family - Cherish Always

For 2012 Christmas gifts I made several wooden signs for family and friends. Here is one I came across in my pictures. My husband was very fond of this saying and wanted me to paint it for family. I wasn’t really sold on it but decided to do it because he really liked it.

 

 

I found the saying on More Than Sayings Blog (although we added a sentence)

See link:http://morethansayings.blogspot.com.au/2012/08/one-of-lifes-greatest-blessings.html

The piece of wood I used was from an old looking 1970’s cupboard we took down in our dining room. It was really nice to work with and very smooth.  I think even cheap wood was better quality back in the day!

Some simples step to creating this sign:

• Although it didn’t need it I sanded it lightly just because I got a new sander and wanted to use it!

• I painted the bottom coat with a grey Dulux paint (Grey Cast to be exact) I had in the garage. I really wasn’t sure what effect I was trying to get, but I love greys and whites.

• Once the grey coat dried I applied Wattyl Aquatrim white paint which I had left over too.

• When it completely dried, I sanded it by hand with 150 grit sand paper to get that weathered effect. I tried using a lower grit paper but it left scratch marks so I just stuck with the 150 paper.

• Once I had positioned the writing on the wood and applied it with carbon paper and a pencil. I gently sanded the letters a little before painting them. This is because when writing the letters on the carbon paper it can smudge on wood and leaves marks.

Final result:

Admittingly this is my husband’s favourite sign not so much mine but I think it turned out ok considering I was not sure what effect I was going for.

Now for some more sign ideas.

 

LOVE Anita X

Inspiring Wooden Signs

 Creating beautiful wooden signs has become one of my favourite creative outlets.

 

                                           

 

It all started when I came across what is now one of my favourite blogs ‘My Pink Life’ by Aimee Weaver. See aimee-weaver.blogspot.com

I instantly fell in love with the ‘Beloved’ sign she created and I really wanted one for my room. FYI I don’t usually want everything I see but sometimes that special something comes along that you just got to have.

Anyway, as I live far in the land down under delivery can be a bit of hitch actually it would be ridiculously expensive. So instead I spent months looking for something similar in Australia and found nothing.

Then one day after encouragement from my husband I decided to try it out for myself.

And thanks to Aimee’s tutorial it was a success and so much fun. Thank you Aimee! :)

See http://aimee-weaver.blogspot.com.au/2011/06/sign-tutorial-how-to-make-wood-sign.html
 

I loved every part of the process from choosing the wood, sanding the wood, nailing it together, painting it and painting the quote! Now it has become one of my creative outlets and they make great gift ideas for family and friends.

Here are a few signs I have made as gifts. I just love looking at them they're so pretty! J and I find myself getting better the more I practice and experiment with colours and different woods.

 

 

 

 

Well, enjoy what is left of this lovely Sunday night.

 

 

LOVE Anita X