History repeats itself... Before & After

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I have had my eye on this sign for awhile now. Lately it seems I have been gravitating to the Ballard Design creations.  There isn't too much I don't like from their vintage collection.  They make my heart sing.  Their pieces speak to me... I love the challenge of stepping out of my comfort zone.

I loved the shape of this sign, rather than a straight board.  It promptly went in my inspiration file for future consideration.  The first thing I do when I am bored is pull up the file and see if something bites and hope it will motivate me to get back down to the workshop.

Yesterday, was one of those days.  Housework was all done, outside work was on hold due to rain... hence a guilt free play day. 

A friend gave me this board a year or so ago and there it sat in my garage along with all the other piles in waiting.  I didn't quite know what to do with it... I knew that heart absolutely had to go and that was the last I thought about it...

until I needed a large board for my newest creation...

I cut it on each side of the heart, then screwed the two pieces together and drew the design...

using my miter and jig saw (first time using that, another one mastered) it was starting to take shape... 

I attached the two pieces using my Kreg Jig, Gorilla glue and a couple brackets for reinforcement...

I pulled a frame back out of my trunk that was destined for the Sally Ann...

cut it and used it for the top border...

glued and air nailed it in place.

Now onto the fun part...

this was my inspiration for the wording... if pictures could only talk,

I'd have a thousand questions for you.

This is my Great Great Grandfather, Andrew McNutt at his store in Nova Scotia.  Circa 1880 - 1910.   He was a very successful business man in his day... 

he went on to own the whole block, which was named after him.

My niece put me on to a long lost relative that provided me with this information along with numerous photos of the family.  Thanks so much Tim, I can't thank you enough. 

Who would have thought that making a piece of history would open so many doors. 

Before I made this I knew very little of my history.   

I used the Cricut to cut the letters (thanks Gail, I used contact paper to save on vinyl, worked great)... applied them to the board which I had previously painted black... painted the second colour over the letters... not so patiently waited for the paint to dry and peeled them off... (wait for the paint to dry,  not that I messed up a few because "Impatient" is my middle name)

I gave it a good sanding with 150 grit...

then applied ebony stain and a coat of Light Pine Briwax...

It now proudly hangs in my kitchen...

Now I have my own little piece of history to enjoy.

Looks like a piece that has been hanging around for 100+ years...

don't you think?

The best part is that it didn't cost me a penny... I had all the materials left over from other projects, even the paint was given to me.

Now you wanna know what Ballard Design charged?

So what do you think? 

I'm off to see what new piece I can steal borrow from them next...

Hugs,

I also found a great tutorial while snooping researching, check it out...
http://www.gwennypenny.com/2011/05/ballard-wall-plaque-knock-off-tutorial.html

Linking  to:
http://funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/2011/10/sns-103-fall-mantels.html

Another workshop project...

I went window shopping Thursday in the tool section and I don't know how it happened but a 18 gauge trim nailer gun and compressor followed me home... I just couldn't help myself.  I am obsessed with tools lately.  I just can't seem to get enough. 

To think a couple of years ago I was afraid to use a drill... now there is nothing stopping me.  After mastering the table saw it seems everything else is just a piece of cake.  The more tools I try the more I want.  The hardest thing I am experiencing is what to make with them. 

Right now I am just tweaking a few areas in my house and building things as I go.

I couldn't wait to try the little duo out... they are going to make my life so much easier. Putting things together

is now a breeze. 

This little ledge took about an hour beginning to end

I needed something on that wall that could hold some weight... 

note to self, cover those screw holes

 

I made the game boards a few years back and they never really found a home...

I also dug out this old telephone shipping box I have had on the top of my fridge...

it fits in perfectly with the telephone display.

this was the wall last week...

the wall this week... and who knows what it will look like next week...lol

What do you think?

Cost:

leftover wood - $0.00

leftover stain - $0.00

Total project cost - $0.00

New toys for the workshop...

As promised, I thought I would share some of my new toys that I added to my arsenal.  

Mr. D. asked me what I wanted for Valentine's Day and my birthday... without hesitation my answer was tools.  So off to Harbor Freight we go to pick out what I wanted.  He was so patient and he went through every isle with me he was too afraid to let me loose and helped pick out some cool things that I know I will use in my workshop. 

First up let me introduce you to Mr. Dust Collector  he is a must in the workshop...

thank you Carol for putting me onto this... the large one was far too big, but this one was perfect for what I needed and it just rolls under my work table when I am finished with it...

I can now use this in my inside workshop... 

 and with this little adapter I can put it in any tool, no more endless hours of cleaning up sawdust...

next up... a needed tool belt and a new tape measure to keep right in that little pouch... no more searching for one...

screw driver bits for the drill... look at all those pretty colours... less chance of losing them now...

hex drivers for the drill too...

some needed drill bits... I like these you just pop them in your drill, no adjusting...

these are the coolest bits... they drill and cut... I am a little anxious to try these out...

the cutest little can to store all my bits...

 A finger saver featherboard for the table saw for cutting angles... 

a post level... great for those table legs...

now I have a square everywhere I work... I liked the one with the built in level it came with the post level...

you can never have enough clamps... they are like growing another hand...

another organizer box... we know that these are a must...

back savers roller ball bearings... these will be great for so many things...

workshop gloves that I know will end up in the garden when summer hits...

sandpaper for my little mouse...

I just had to have these cool little scissors... they just scream prim to me...

more third hands clamps... great for the Kreg Jig...

wire wheels... my garden tools might get a good cleaning this year...

I found this little gem at Big Lots... check out that price...

I am always looking for these... great behind pictures to save the walls...

I always use ear protection with my saws and the small ones just don't cut it... a face shield for those nasty jobs...

Now if I could just find the mojo to go use these little puppies I would be a happy girl...

I am so lazy today.

It's such a gray dismal day with high winds and snow flurries... I am so sick of this winter I could just scream... I need sunshine, desperately.   

Hope you are all having a great weekend...

Hugs, Deb



I smell obsession...

I don't mean in the perfume scentsse.  Geeze I hope I never smell that bad...lol

After reading Gail's blog tonight I realized I have a serious problem... she has a great little sander as a give away and I want it bad...

So I went around and did an inventory...
one belt sander... hmmm 90 day warranty,  that one has expired...

one sanding station... another expired warranty

another small sander... which I absolutely love by the way... this is well used by me...

Dremel tool....

 that I just had to have so I could start engraving... yeah, yeah someday...

note the plastic wrapped pieces...

another orbital sander (well used by me), jigsaw (used twice), electric nail gun (used, but not by me), router (used, but not by me) and a circular saw (used once, gave me nightmares for a week)...

a scroll saw... looks brand new because it is Silly... another warranty gone bad...

 I used to be afraid of this little blue beauty but now it is my best friend...
I even bought it a new purse, I love it so much...

so what possessed me to go out and buy this scary thing tonight??

oh my what big teeth you have...

See it isn't the tools that I am obsessed with, it is the fear of using them.

I have big plans for the orange beast and Rose and Gail are my inspiration.  I am sure at one time they were both afraid too.

What better way to overcome your fear than to tackle it head on...
hopefully with all fingers in tact...

so the next time you see this corner in my garage... it is all going to be in the burn pile made into something useful...

I have big plans for this $10.00 garage sale find... hence the new addition...

but I had big plans for the rest of these relics... let's hope I can stay on track this time... hopefully all the other pieces will come into play. 

tomorrow I will be using a few pieces of these...

and a piece of this... oh yes I have to "rip" this first... oh I love that term.

and those white spindles peeking out are part of the project also... any guesses??

Well I am off to bed to count fingers sheep... I hope I can sleep from all the excitement...

Have a great night folks... see ya in the morning.

Big Hugs,