Monday, September 21, 2015

Pinterest WIN!

We have all seen the PINTEREST FAIL posts... lordy, there are so many!  This is a particular favorite of mine (and seasonally appropriate, BONUS!) ....

If you haven't seen any of these yet - you should just Google "Pinterest Fail" and you will have hours of entertainment at someone else's non crafty expense.  I personally am not brave enough to post my own FAILS - however, rest assured there are many.  A whole STACK of signs in the garage under the label, "Firewood," that we shall never discuss.  NEVER!  Because, I, like so many others, only post the pretty stuff here on social media .... life is, after all, sunshine and butterflies.  

A few months ago, my Bestie and I decided to share some retail space in a local boutique.  Since it was summer, and all our kids were afoot - there was little time to build out or perfect it much - we were lucky enough to stop by and throw our items against the wall. As the weeks have passed, we've had plenty of time to decide how we REALLY wanted the space to look and feel.  And then, PINTEREST!
I came across this little pin - and viola! Idea meets DIY Pinterest Instruction.  (You can find the actual link via the BYW Pinterest page, luring you further into my social media web....)

First stop, the wonderful Cedartown Home Depot store. I followed the very detailed shopping list, courtesy of the pinner's excellent instructions.  

First stop, plywood. Boy, lumber smells gooooood. Am I the only one with this problem? Really?

Home Depot DIY Chick Helpful Hint : It's totally cool to ask for HELP getting down large sheets of materials.  ESPECIALLY with wood - be SELECTIVE - look for knots, warping, etc - FEEL FREE to move on to the next sheet in the stack before putting a damaged piece in your cart. 

This project calls for (2) 1/4" 4x8 sanded plywood sheets.  

There are cheaper options. Sanded plywood gives a nicer finished look for projects that will be "seen", or are focal points. 


Next, had the friendly men folk (I do love the kindness of strangers,  after all) cut my 4 x 8 sheets of 1/4" sanded plywood into the specifically sized strips.  

Home Depot DIY Chick Helpful Hint : the Home Depot employees do not mind cutting wood for you - however, you should always have your specific cut list prepared and ready to go.


This saw is BIG man. BIG. 

Since I knew I'd be painting the strips of plywood to match the pin I was using as inspiration - I headed over to the Paint section. Home Depot DIY Chick Helpful Hint: ALWAYS check out the OOPS Paint - and, if you don't need too much - like me - you can always have a "sample" tub of paint mixed of ANY color for less than $3 each. 

Loaded those puppies all by myself into the mini van too, yall. All. By. Myself.  At this point, bam, the story is over - did y'all read that ? I LOADED ALL THIS STUFF UP BY MYSELF! 

Brought everything home - and laid the plywood strips out in the yard in size order. This made it easier to see how the wall eould look with the colors / sizes in place. Slapped some paint and stain on, the boards, the grass and myself - and let them dry right on up. Loaded them all into my van (AGAIN!) and off we went to install. 


Aren't these colors dreamy? I am pretty in love with them.  

The installation of the wall was super simple - as is everything when you have Pa around - however - all the labor needed was to simply install the planks in your preferred color or size order.

Look how pretty ! We aren't quite finished yet, going to add some 1 x 4 trim pieces around the edges,  and then move on to the other wall ! So fun and great visual impact. Aren't my design terns fancy ? 

So, from this blog post, you learned : 

1. How to shop for plywood at Home Depot.
2. Buying oops paint / sample size paints will save you $$ when you just need small amounts of trendy colors.
3. Look for pins of DIY projects with GREAT instructions.  
4. Pa can do anything.  
5. Jenna and I are really cute. 

More DIY projects coming your way soon ! 

Sunday, June 7, 2015

Semi Annual Soap Box. In honor of my fellow Makers. Yall get the word out, wouldya?
I realize there are about a billion pins, articles and the like on "FINDING a Great Craft Show," and "Being a GREAT Craft Show Vendor."  Then, there are a least a million more on setting up the perfect booth, what to bring and what not to bring - and, how to grow your craft business.  I know because you know, I have obviously read every one of them.  
After hearing a friend's horror stories from a weekend show - my cake was iced. 
Without further, adieu - I present : 
How to Be A Great Craft Show Customer 101
1. Shop. I mean for real. Lets be honest. Actually shop. Bring your money and lavish it on the vendors. With it, we are buying groceries, keeping the lights on and occasionally getting our nails done. Come. To. Shop.
2. Please. For the love of all things Holy, do not stand in our space, that we have rented, hauled, sweated, carried and almost been to divorce court to set up, and start talking about how you can do this yourself. Let's face it, you aren't, are you? Or, worse, how you and your girlfriends should get together and do "this" for a craft night. We are glad we inspire. We love it, even. Talk about how you can EASILY copy this privately, after you've walked out of our actual booth.
3. Standing in or right outside of a booth, trying to covertly photograph a vendors products, setup or etc is a NO NO. Let's just call it, well, TACKY. Would you like a photo of something? Here's an idea. ASK. If you display such wonderful manners, we probably won't mind at all, no matter what the reason. Just walk right up, say, I REALLY LOVE THIS, would you mind if I take a photo? Our eyes will glaze over and we will do whatever you want.
4. Look. Most MOST of what we "makers" are doing is no trade secret. If you can use a sewing machine, paint brush or hammer, you can probably come up with some similar ideas. Don't ask us HOW to do it, mmmmk ? We've probably been up til 1 am a few nights too many to get our inventory done, fed our kids mcds drive through, in the car, the week prior to, had our husband on the couch and haven't had a decent shower in a week. It's really not a good time for us to just SHOW you how we make this stuff. K?
5. Be patient. If you place a custom order at a show, don't call us in two days demanding your order. That two days post craft show is speng in a zombie like state, washjng our family some clean underwear and scraping the psint glue and etc out from under our nails. Give us about a week, maybe two. THEN, you can blow our phones right up. We too are people, with families, lives, grocery lists and even chickens to feed. We are grateful and humbled by every order. Seriously. We never EVER "plan" for something to go bad. Or take too long. Or be the wrong color.
6. Did you read the sign? This is a CRAFT SHOW. AN ARTISTS MARKET. No where in those titles do the words YARD SALE exist. Please don't try to haggle the price.... because really, after HOURS of time and frankly, mad skills, we then spend HOURS lamenting over the price of our goods. That $25 price tag came w some serious baggage. And yes, plan to be offended when we, the bleeding sweating crying artist would rather not sell anything than haggle over her SELF WORTH.
7. Idea. How about we show up at your house, and just release our children?  We could send them with explicit instructions to touch, pick up and throw everything they can find.  Cool, right? NO.  Yes, most of our stuff is breakable and delicate - because, hello, it's not made in China. We love your kids - most of us have at least a small soccer team living at our own homes - but, we would appreciate you keeping a close eye on your littles while in our booths.  Don't make us parent your young uns. And don't think we won't.  We tend to be a teensy bit protective of our goods.  
8. See #1 .  :-)
With this - you are equipped to go forth and LOVE ON your Crafters.  Go! RIGHT NOW! :-) Training session complete. 

Thursday, June 4, 2015

There She Goes...(a Throwback Thursday)

I am fairly certain I dreamed up the idea of a Backyard Wonders blog about the same time I dreamed up the idea of a sign painting, furniture building business.  I think two years later is a nice place to start - don't you?

If you are reading this - then you must be a fan. Or my mom. Hi Mom. Before I begin anything - I want to humbly express my deepest gratitude for every LIKE on social media - every follower - every order - every repeat customer - every referral - and yes, mom - every load of laundry you did when I couldn't dig my way out from under a stack of orders.  THANK YOU. Those words are not even enough.

So - shall we take it back - to... the beginning?  A nice place to start.  And, being that it's Throwback Thursday and all...

There she is - the First.

Sometime two years ago - my precious Man called me from his job in Texas.  Away from his babies - and of course, me - he had had enough of the traveling life.  "I am coming home," he said.

I'm sorry. You're doing WHAT?

I will skip the um - colorful few days that followed.  A few choice words.  Some tears.  A whole lotta worrying.

Truth be told - Sweeter words could have not been spoken.  God was already at work.  In an effort to give Josh a project to keep us all happy and busy - and you know, out of divorce court - my father and law and Josh set out to work on a fancy farmhouse table for my dining room.


As you can see - it was not too shabby.  The word got out.  And I may or may not have had anything to do with that....  We built a few more tables - and it quickly became a family affair... brace yourselves, this next photo is a DOOZIE.


And we filled our garage

ith sawdust, stain and lacquer and sprayers and .....

And off we went - on an adventure that would and IS teaching us more about marriage and business and working together than ever before. And, buying our groceries, which is always nice.  

Oh, and, in case you are wondering - I painted a few more signs along the way... 


Here are my two Chiefs of Operations / Head Carpenters working away. They have this part down to a SCIENCE. That's my presh dad on the right, by the way. Just a footnote - He's the Man, just in case anyone ever asks you. 


And, as you can see, I do occasionally give everyone the day off.  Because I am nice. VERY. NICE.

Summing it up - the past two years havr been a lesson in TRUE partnership.  Partnership with my husband, parents and even my children as we have been on the RACHAEL TRAIN for two years now, seatbelts unbuckled and hair a hot mess. And even moreso than that - a lesson in humility and gratitude, for each one of you that have supported us in even the smallest way. We love y'all!