I think it's officially a hobby...

...sign making, that is.

I made my first handmade sign and wrote about it here, and I've been addicted ever since.

I've become a little obsessed with salvageable wood...a simple board that someone wants to throw in the dumpster can be transformed into a homemade sign masterpiece! And the more beat-up and weathered it is, the better! I live in a neighborhood where there is new construction going on all around me. Scrap wood is plentiful! I find myself out on a run around the block, taking mental note of cut wood lying around that I can come back and steal salvage later. I'm like a little wood bandit.

Here are some of my creations, all in one spot for your viewing convenience :)

{Family Rules}

{The Harmon Baby Farm! My favorite of course}

{"Welcome Friends" freestanding board}

{"Loved by Our Grandbabies" yard sign...made for Jade, Cole, and Ivy's grandparents}



{"Work, Play, Love, Pray" plaque}

{"Get in my Belly" kitchen sign}

{"Clean your Mess" Mudroom/Laundry sign}

{"Happy Home" over-the-door sign}

{"Family Roots" quote sign...this piece is unfinished- I plan to paint on branches}

I have so many more ideas (and TONS of wood stored in the garage ready to be salvaged) and I plan to post my art (yes, I'm going to start calling it art...it takes some confidence to say that!) here. I think I have a pretty neat hobby going on...I love this sign making thing!

When I made my first couple signs, the "Family Rules" piece followed by my "Get in my Belly" kitchen sign, a friend of mine told me that my signs reminded her of  Barn Owl Primitives, and I was like "what's that?" Believe it or not I hadn't heard of her work before I made that first sign, but once I checked out her Etsy shop, I was completely inspired! First of all, it was by viewing her site that I realized the art I was creating was actually called "typography" and second of all, I realized how beautiful, meaningful, and special handmade signs can actually be...oh the potential!!! She has created some amazing stuff. And just to be clear, I have no desire to make knock-offs of her stuff! I would never knowingly copy anything that she has created...I really just admire her and am inspired by her creations! I look at her signs and think, hey, I might be able to do that! or do something like it :)

I am loving my new hobby so much, that I am considering making and selling custom pieces for people. I love that my signs say what I want them to say, that they bear our family name, that the words mean something unique to me...and I would love to bless another family with a decorative piece of typography that means something special to them, and handmade with love by me. I just am not sure if people would actually be interested??? I guess I need to just put myself out there and see...

Anyway, look for more creations on the blog in the future :) Hubby is out in the garage cutting up some pallet wood as I type!