A Re-Make without a Before Picture :(

These used to be a garish orange with green polka dots or stripes--I can't remember. (I didn't take a before picture, but trust me, they were ugly.) I got them from Hobby Lobby years ago. 

Last year I primed them and never got around to finishing them. The other day I pulled them back out and got to work. I am so happy with the result! 

Basically, I painted them black to paint down their original color and to create a good base coat. I then painted them with an uneven coat of white, then distressed them by scraping some of the white paint down to the black and also by hammering some nail holes into the surface of the wood. I also did some image transfer onto them. Then I painted them a soft fall orange and added stamps, stripes, circles and pencil marks. I then added some brown paint to distress the ridges and edges. I also painted the stems brown and twisted some thin wire around them. 

I think I'll keep them out through Thanksgiving.

Newest Name Signs

All personalized Teacher and Child Name Signs are available in my bumblebina ETSY shop.

IF - Beneath

How often have I lain beneath rain on a strange roof, thinking of home.

--William Faulkner

Keeler Wedding Painting

IF - Proverb

Dream Trees, 12" x 24", Acrylic and Mixed Media on Canvas (SOLD)

A fool sees not the same tree that a wise man sees.

William Blake, Proverbs of Hell, 1790

New Paintings!

It's been a while.

I finally got back in the studio and got some work done! And oh did it feel good.

Some good friends came to visit and wanted "Take a Look Around" (the painting on the left) but also wanted a second companion painting. So here they are together. I'm just getting ready to ship them off to their new home.

And these trees (below) are brand new. I seem to always go back to painting trees. These are completely different though. The colors are softer and I've added lots of mixed media elements.

Dream Trees, 12" x 24", Acrylic and Mixed Media on Canvas (SOLD)

Newest Teacher Name Signs

Teacher Name Signs are always available in my bumblebina ETSY shop.

Another Buckeye Sign

This one was an ETSY order. The Buckeye Nation is everywhere, people! I love it!

Child's Name Signs are always available in my bumblebina ETSY shop.

Ever Heard of Plarn???

Plarn is plastic yarn you make from recycled grocery bags. And what do you do with it?

You knit with it of course!

Grocery Bag Bag
Pattern: Everyday Grocery Bag Handbag by Trina Brielle
Needle: US 11
Yarn: Handmade Plarn made using only the finest Walmart and Alberston's bags :)

This bag is made entirely from recycled grocery bags. It is 100% recycled and 100% recyclable. How cool is that?

I made the flower accessory using the basic singed fabric technique but I used all grocery bags. (Just be careful because they singe VERY quickly and can burn faster than fabric.)