Feature Friday: Tout Va Bien Pillow

Happy Friday!

It hailed here today.  I've got a roaring fire in the fireplace and Graham and I are watching Barefoot Contessa.  (Nice break from cartoons!)  In other words, it's all good here in Oregon.  Which reminds me of this feature I've got for you today.

How cute is this little pillow?  Courtesy of Forgetmenotdreams.

It's so sweet and simple and I love that the stenciling is done in brown.   Tout Va Bien actually means roughly, "All's going well." 

You can purchase this pillow from Forgetmenotdreams' Etsy store.  She's got great stuff, I LOVE her tags.  I just have to show you these cat hang tags.  They have nothing to do with us, they just crack me up.

I have two cats schooled in this philosophy!  :)

If you want to check out the Tout Va Bien, please browse our fabulous French category. 

Have a lovely weekend!  See you next week!

Etspiration Wednesday: Damask-us Two!

Have I ever told you about our ladybug problem?

A couple preliminary things I should mention. 

1. We live in a mint green house (so relatively light colored).  
2. Our winters can get coldish. (20s at worst.  I know Midwest, don't judge me).  
3.  Our master bedroom has what's called shiplap.  It's tongue and groove solid wood paneling.  No plaster or anything.  So as you might imagine, the wall of our master bedroom that faces out has simply the wooden siding, wood frame, and shiplap interior paneling.  

I'm not sure if this is a Pacific Northwest phenomenon, but when the weather starts to turn, we start sharing the house with WAY more occupants.  Namely, ladybugs.  They are attracted to light colored houses and scoot their way into the house from our garden and we've never figured out where exactly they get in, but they like to party in our master bedroom.

So we'll be turning in for the night, the overhead lamp will have just switched off in the way that the light slowly fades and all of a sudden we'll hear the "plink...plink....plink" of the world's cutest bug infestation banging themselves against the lamp.

Seriously?  What do you do?  We cannot in good conscious fumigate against ladybugs.  I think there's a special circle of hell reserved for people who do that. 

But this year things are going to change.  My husband put up drywall on the exterior wall over the summer in an attempt to keep them out.  It's a little too early to see if the preventative measures will help, but I'm going to dress up the wall this weekend.  It's been a completely flat cobalt blue all summer and fall and I decided I'm going to use one of our damask stencils and do an all over pattern.

I've been looking at Etsy for color inspiration and I know we've covered damask before, but I just wanted to share some of these great items I found.

1A:  Damask Vinyl Decal for Mixer Image Courtesy LilPunkinCreations
1B:  Mahogany Finished Bergere Chair Image Courtesy LaVintageFurnishings
1C:  Damask M 12x12 Stencil Image Courtesy Maisondestencils

2A:  Vintage Damask Pill Box Image Courtesy RosePetalResources
2B:  Damask Ironing Board Cover Image Courtesy PomegranatePlace
2C:  Damask G 12x18 Stencil Image Courtesy Maisondestencils
2D:  Damask Birds Painting Image Courtesy LoriaMcKee

3A:  Gray And Yellow Table Image Courtesy UniqueNotions
3B:  Damask O 12x12 Stencil Image Courtesy Maisondestencils
3C:  Damask Vegan Suede Journal Image Courtesy OxtonBooks

4A:  Damask Lace Cupcake Wrappers Image Courtesy SundayRabbit
4B:  Brown And Teal Damask Recipe Box Image Courtesy TheAdornedAbode
4C:  Personalized Wedding Cake Topper Image Courtesy ScissorMill

Thanks to the Etsy sellers, back on Friday for a sweet feature!

Feature Friday: The Lucas Moller Bench

Happy Friday!

It's such a dreary Oregon day here in Astoria today, hoping some of you have a slice of sun left.  I've got a lovely feature for you today courtesy of Rhoda at Blue Creek Home.

She rehabbed a cute little bench using some know-how and one of our stencils.

I love the distressed paint!  She used canvas for the upholstery and then tea stained it for a vintage look.

Then she applied our popular Lucas Moller stencil with grey paint to give it that grainsack look.  I love the way it came out!

Lucas Moller can be found in our feedsack section of the website, which you can access here. 

Here's the original post for this bench, it went to live at the Old Bank Antiques Mall with some equally beautiful pieces. 

Blue Creek Home has a great blog, which you can check out here. 

She also sells on Etsy and had some super cool made and found objects.  Check it out here. 

Etspiration Wednesday: Coffee!

I love coffee.  Cafe au lait the color of caramel.  Turkish coffee so thick a spoon could stand in it.  Fru fru lattes for when I need a sugar and caffeine pick me up.  I don't discriminate.  I think there's a time and place for coffee any way you brew it.  My mom and my sister both make a killer cup of coffee.  I think there's something about having someone else make you a cup of coffee that makes it more special.  Just like when I'm visiting home and my mom makes me a sandwich.  It's always better, you know?  Even if it's the same exact tuna fish I'd make at home. 

We found out we're going to have another little one, so my nose has been turning up at the smell of coffee these past few months.  It's very sad because I still love the idea of coffee, but my stomach wants nothing to do with it. 

So today I cruised around Etsy just thinking about coffee while I ate raisins.  It's all that sounds good lately, lol.  And pickles.  I'm such a cliche.

1A:  Bee Queen Coffee Mug Image Courtesy mudstuffing
1B:  Woodland Bird Coffee Sack Basket Image Courtesy BrinandNohl
1C:  Dutch Enamel Coffee Pot Image Courtesy NorthSeaVintage
1D:  Coffee Subway Art Stencil Image Courtesy Maisondestencils

 I am blown away by how cool mudstuffing's ceramics are.  You absolutely have to check out the Etsy shop.  Great stuff!

2A:  Coffee Handmade Wooden Sign Image Courtesy ShopHomegrown
2B:  Espresso Stencil Image Courtesy Maisondestencils
2C:  French Peugeot Coffee Mill Image Courtesy ShopYU
2D:  Burlap Coffee Sack Africa Pillow Image Courtesy TheWatsonShop

 This Peugeot coffee mill is just off the rails.  I love the color, love the emblem. 

3A:  Cappuccino Stencil Image Courtesy Maisondestencils
3B:  Recycled Burlap Coffee Tote Image Courtesy TheGreenBeanBag
3C:  Syracuse Railroad China Demi Tasse Cups Image Courtesy Diantiques

 I don't think anything really needs to be said about how gorgeous the print on this recycled coffee sack tote is in 3B.  Wow! 

4A:  3 Red Enamel Canisters Image Courtesy BrimfieldFinds
4B:  Coffee Items Red Tea Towel Image Courtesy tlane
4C:  Mrs Claus Coffee Shop Holiday Stencil Image Courtesy Maisondestencils
4D:  Cafe Au Lait and Beignets Print Image Courtesy NolaTawk

I dig this red tea towel in 4B, which has sort of a 2D poppy Jim Flora feel.  Would look great in a bungalow kitchen.

That's all I have for today.  Got a snazzy feature for you on deck for Friday.

Etspiration Wednesday: Something to Crow About!

Hiya everyone!

Back in Oregon after back to back trips to Arizona and California.  I missed my pine trees.  I missed feeling cold!  I got back yesterday and there were crows perched on every roof and high wire.  I don't know a surer sign of Fall in the Northwest than that.

Crows are such a mainstay in Primitive art.  We don't do as much with them as our designs have more of a French feel, but we do have quite a few holiday listings with crows in them.  Etsy, as you might imagine, is chalk full o' crows.  I did some browsing today to see what crow treasures I could find. 

Here's some great stuff!

1A:  Halloween Crow Pillow Image Courtesy 112FarmhouseLayne
1B:  Paper Mache Old Crow Box Image Courtesy HanwayMillHouse
1C:  Crows Gather Here Stencil Image Courtesy Maisondestencils

2A:  Three Crow Brand Allspice Tin Image Courtesy DownEastCollectibles
2B:  Primitive Halloween Burlap Bunting Image Courtesy SweetMeas
2C:  1851 Hand Colored Bird Plates Image Courtesy LandofNodStudios
2D:  Roland Bauer Feedsack Stencil Image Courtesy Maisondestencils

3A:  Primitive Crow Candle Holder Image Courtesy HitOrMissTreasures
3B:  Blank Crow Note Cards Image Courtesy NatureGoods
3C:  Potting Shed Stencil Image Courtesy Maisondestencils

4A:  Farm Fresh Pumpkins Stencil Image Courtesy Maisondestencils
4B:  Halloween Silhouette Pillow Covers Image Courtesy TheBobbinsNest
4C:  Crow Handpainted Ceramic Mug Image Courtesy OtisRein
4D:  Hitchcock The Birds Sign Image Courtesy ZietlowsCustomSigns

See you on Friday for a wonderful feature!

Feature Friday: The Thorsten Eckart Pillow

Good Morning Everyone!

We have been so busy with our 20% sale.  Just in case you aren't on our mailing list, right now all our stencils are 20% off now through Sunday.  Just use code: stockup20 when checking out on our website!

I wanted to show you guys this great pillow though, courtesy of FunkyShique.

FunkyShique makes these out of feedsack inspired fabric as they are bed pillows.  The fabric has a more soft feel, which I can appreciate.  I don't think I'd want to lay my weary head on a grainsack.

She sells these in her etsy shop as a single listing and a two pillow listing.

They look just perfect on that bed!


Thorsten Eckart is one of our German Feedsack stencils, I just love it.  You can check out it and it's other German brethren in our Feedsack category.  

Here's a link to the listing for this item in FunkyShique's Etsy shop.  You should totally check out her Etsy shop, it is filled with amazing stuff!

Etspiration Wednesday: Alphabets

I love letters.  I am a font junkie, can't get enough letterpress blocks.  I obsess over old broadsides and vintage Victorian ads, and all for the letters.  Half of the fun of designing a stencil is finding that perfect letter style to compliment the idea of what we're going for.  We've got a number of complete alphabet sets in our Alphabet category now.   We also have quite a few selections for big 12x12 individual letters in the Alphabet category as well.  We also do some custom monogram stencils!  But as you well know, found letters are also amazing.  Here's a look from Etsy at some amazing alphabets and individual letters that tie in famously with our alphabets!

1A:  Custom Framed Cursive Alphabet Card Image Courtesy Oliverpoodle
1B:  Custom Spencerian Letter Stencil Image Courtesy Maisondestencils
1C:  French Decor Alphabet Book Coasters Image Courtesy CheltenhamRoad

 Love this Alphabet card in 1A, takes me right back to grammar school.  Fun fact:  My mom's handwriting actually looks like this.  Mine is basically illegible chicken scratch. 

2A:  French Animal Alphabet Print Image Courtesy ChildsTouch
2B:  Alphabet Softcover Notebook Journal Image Courtesy momentinthesun
2C:  Deco Style Winged Wooden Letter Image Courtesy EdiesLab
2D:  Serif Style 3x3 Alphabet Stencils Image Courtesy Maisondestencils

I dig these winged letters that EdiesLab does.  They can do a whole alphabet that way and I want to buy every single thing in their shop!!

3A:  Deco Red Alphabet Tape Image Courtesy KaynisKreations
3B:  Alphabet With Bird Letterpress Broadside Image Courtesy BigWheelPress
3C:  Ornate Western 4x4 Alphabet Stencils Image Courtesy Maisondestencils
3D:  Handmade Embossed Card Set Image Courtesy MichelleMach

 That alphabet tape is Washi tape, which is some of the coolest stuff around.  I'm not much of a scrapbooker, which is one of the primary applications I've seen for Washi tape, but the possibilities are endless! 

'

4A:  Custom Gothic Letter Stencil Image Courtesy Maisondestencils
4B:  Sign Language Custom Tote Bag Image Courtesy lilimandrill
4C:  Vintage German Wax Mold Hornbook Image Courtesy catsandthecradlesoap
4D:  Plastic Acrylic Sign Board Letters Image Courtesy willworkfordecor

This hornbook in 4C is pretty amazing.  This item was my requisite "I learned something" in the making of this blogpost.  So hornbooks were these handheld primers that small children used to learn their letters or religious passages, so called because they were protected with a thin layer of horn or mica.  (mica is a transparent-y sort of mineral).  Now most hornbooks were kept for quite some time, passed down, and are collectible today.  But this particular listing is for a horn book mold, which cake batter was poured into.  So you could have your cake and learn something too!

Thanks as always to the Etsy sellers for use of their images.

We've got a lovely feature coming up on Friday, stay tuned!

Etspiration Wednesday: Numbers

Another Wednesday upon us!

We've been adding some new stencil designs to the website, some of which are new number sets.  We get emails everyday from people asking us if we make this and that, and one of our most popular requests are for number sets.  It's literally been on our to do list forever.  So we put up a serif, san serif, and Western style number set, in addition to our very popular Old World Style number sets.  You can check them out in our Alphabet and Number category.  We also want to do a REALLY  big Ornate Western number set to compliment our REALLY big Ornate Western alphabet.  I have to show you the sign Laura made with that alphabet.  She took an entire butcherblock countertop and stenciled on it.  It's awesome.

Numbers are such a versatile addition to any craft.  They instantly lend age, suggest your item was repurposed.  They make items feel authentic.

Etsy is full of amazing numbers.  House numbers, bingo markers, I just couldn't get enough of them.  Take a look at what I found.

1A:  Antique French Wooden Lottery Numbers Image Courtesy CabArtVintage
1B:  Vintage Enamel House Number Image Courtesy ArtisanetVintage
1C:  Serif Number Set Image Courtesy Maisondestencils
1D:  Vintage French Embroidered Number Trim Ribbon Image Courtesy petitbonheur

Okay the Number trim ribbon in 1D sold in the 24 hour time span between researching and writing this post, so clearly I have good taste.  The good news is petitbonheur has more of it in stock.  Check out that shop, it's fab.

2A:  San Serif Number Set Image Courtesy Maisondestencils

2B:  Vintage French House Number Image Courtesy onemansjunque

2C:  Vintage Cash Register Flags Image Courtesy TheOldTimeJunkShop

2D:  Vintage Hotel Number Tag Image Courtesy kijsa

I think the possibilities for these cash register flags are ENDLESS.  And they're really affordable.  So if I don't go buy them all out, you go buy them and show me what awesome things you can come up with. 

3A:  Antique Letterpress Number Blocks Image Courtesy PreserveCottage

3B:  Vintage Copper or Brass 1/2 House Number Image Courtesy MiTipo

3C:  Laurel Wreath With Crown No 7 Stencil Image Courtesy Maisodestencils

I had to include my letterpress love for these awesome numbers.  PreserveCottage has some really good blocks in their store.  Also, check out MiTipo because all they do are alphabet and number listings.  Great stuff!! 

4A:  Western Number Set Image Courtesy Maisondestencils

4B:  French Enamel Flea Market Sign Image Courtesy RuffbyMargo

4C:  Giant Ceramic Number 4 Sign Image Courtesy EuropeanModern

I really love this 4 in 4C.  Do you remember that Sesame Street bit that the Pointer Sisters did about numbers?  You know, 12345, 678910, 11-12, doo doodee doo dooo?  Okay maybe it's just me that remembers it.  Anyway, I think this 4 was plucked right out of it.  It is so completely cool.

This Etspiration has been brought to you by the number 4 and the letter L.  Stay tuned, great feature for you on Friday!

Special Saturday Post: Astoria Craft Party

Well Hello Everyone!

Sorry no feature on Friday, we were having a blast over at the Astoria Craft Party.

This event was created by Etsy as a way to bring crafters together to demonstrate what they do.  So our focus wasn't really selling stencils, but showing people how to stencil.  We brought three different size bags and two different size pallet signs.  I talked about the pallet signs a few weeks ago. 

Since there's never been an event like this in Astoria, we weren't really sure what to expect.  We didn't know how many people we'd have, if they'd like our product.  We thought at worst, we'd get to hang out in an awesome venue for a few hours with some great artists.  As it turns out, stencil fans started showing up 15 minutes before the event started and we never stopped!  It was a huge success!

 

The event was held in the taproom of the Fort George Brewery, which is a popular public house and brewery here in Astoria.  It's an amazing space.  Check out this angel who hung out in the corner and oversaw things.  Laura and I were obsessed with these barrels they have everywhere.  Covetous even.  We will have one, one day! 

 

We probably had about 75 people walk away with something they made with our stencils, which is awesome.  We only had one 12x18 stencil with us, so lots of people improvised and threw together 12x12 and 6x12s on our big signs.  We were continually impressed with how creative and inventive our budding artists were. 

How cute are these little bags?  The kids loved these.  We had little Dala Horses, little moose, and a small key to stencil on there.

It's a lot of fun teaching people to stencil because there's such a great "reveal" moment when you peel back the mylar and see what the end result is.  Here's one of our young artists painting the Maison stencil onto a 6x12.  Her brother later added to it.   It was a collaborative effort!

Our Astoria subway stencil got a workout.  It looked so great on bags and signs.  We're going to add this one to the store because we had quite a few people interested in purchasing it.

I'd be remiss if I didn't talk about the other amazing artisans who were present.  We had a blacksmith who brought his mobile shop, a glass blower who made ornaments (gorgeous, no?), pinback buttons, papercraft, rag dolls, a silver stamper (we wanted one of these spoons badly and never had a chance, she was too popular), fabric dyeing, photo walks, picture frame crafting, and my most favorite shop in all of Astoria, Vintage Hardware did all kinds of repurposing crafts. 

It was a total blast.  Where else can you hang out, have some really great beer, meet crafty people, and talk about stencils?  Only in Astoria.  :)

Etspiration Wednesday: Bees Bees Bees

Around the corner from my house, we have this old church with a steeple that was converted to a residence at one point.  It's on our walk route we take the little one on, so we walk by it most every day.  We started noticing around a month ago that there's a hole in the siding with bees flying out of it.

The first time we saw it, we were thinking, "Huh, I bet they're bummed.  They've got bees in their house."  Then, being the worry wart that I am, we started monitoring the progress of the bees.  Then we realized, the bee house church was vacant.

What to do?  Let the bees exist there?  Inform no one?  Was it really even our business?  Bees need a home too, and bees are not really thriving the way they used to.

In the end, I called the police department because I couldn't really think of a better place to warn about bees.  We don't have a bee hotline here.  When I called, they literally said, "You've got bees?  Oh yah, here's two numbers."  So I guess this was not nearly as random a question as I thought.

I ended up talking to a really nice beekeeper who removes and rehomes bees for free. 

I've always liked bees.  They pollinate flowering plants.  They give us honey.  They're pretty much terrific.  And while these bees were all cozy up in their church house, they needed a new hive.

After the bee saga, I took to etsy to see what buzzworthy listings I could find.  Here's what I came up with!

1A:  Leather Journal featuring Vintage Bee Image Courtesy inblue
1B:  Vintage Guerlain Eau Imperiale Bottle Image Courtesy Villavillacolle
1C:  Beautiful Honey Bee Hive 12x18 Stencil Image Courtesy Maisondestencils
1D:  Antique Printers Block with Bees Image Courtesy Reclaimability


This bottle in 1B...wow!  It is gorgeous.  You've got to check it out.  And you know I had to throw in a printers block.  From what Reclaimability states, that printers block was from a high school.  What a cool school crest!

2A:  Bee Love Paris Pillow Cover Image Courtesy TheWatsonShop
2B:  Vintage French Honey Carton Image Courtesy candly
2C:  Bee Crown Laurel Wreath 12x12 Stencil Image Courtesy Maisondestencils
2D:  Recycled Vintage Mug with Honey Bee Image Courtesy ReCycleCeramics

ReCycleCeramics takes old mugs and china cups and sand carves small graphics on them.  The results are very clean and sweet.  Love this bee mug.  They also have really cute mugs with trees and bikes on them.

3A:  Bee Lady Letterpress Card Image Courtesy FerdinandHome
3B:  Honey of Brittany Bee Crest 12x12 Stencil Image Courtesy Maisondestencils
3C:  Blue Bees on White Fat Quarter Image Courtesy MakingStuffUp
3D:  Wooden Box for "Mad Bees" Image Courtesy BlueberryBeastie

I think that every home needs a wooden box for containing mad bees.  You never know when you'll need to threaten mad bees, and who would believe you unless you had a tasteful wooden box dedicated to such a purpose!

4A:  Pair of Bee and Skep Candles Image Courtesy SweetBeeHoney
4B:  Vintage Bon Bon Label with Bee Image Courtesy StellaTheresa
4C:  Queen Bee 12x12 Stencil Image Courtesy Maisondestencils
4D:  Natural Raw Honey from Columbia Gorge Image Courtesy Vyne

This bon bon label is stunning!  I love the art nouveau motif!  Love the color, love the gold leaf.  Perfection! 

We'll be back with a bee-autiful feature on Friday!  Stay tuned!

Etspiration Wednesday: The Equestrian Style

Bonjour!

We're having a mini celebration this week for two reasons.

1:  We've discounted all our Keep Calm and British stencils in the store.   Everything in those 2 categories is 20% off in celebration of the close of the Olympic Games!  I watched a lot of the coverage and I have to say, I'm so not athletic.  LOL!  I tip my hat to those Olympic hopefuls who trained for years to get where they are.  I have just enough athletic wherewithal to walk my child on the river for half an hour a day.  In any case, celebrate the spirit of London with our Olympics sale.  They sure did a great job beautifying the East End.

2:  We've launched a new category.  It's small at the moment, but we're proud to present, Equestrian Stencils.  We're shooting for the category to be a meld of American country and French equestrian tradition.  I did some designing these past few weeks for the category and when I was done, I scoped out Etsy to see what wares I could find there that were horse related and I was pleasantly surprised.  There are so many great items, particularly lithograph tins for soaps and such.  I wanted to buy each and every one them.

 Check it out!

 

1A:  Vintage Fairmount Park Horse Racing Booklets Image Courtesy TotallyVintage

1B:  French Alphabet Le Cheval Print Image Courtesy barkdecor

1C:  French Horse Racing Program Image Courtesy wilshepherd

1D:  French Vintage Welcome Sign Image Courtesy lapomme

You simply must check out barkdecor.  Really amazing prints.   Love her color choices!

 

2A:  Horse Trader 12x18 Stencil Image Courtesy Maisondestencils

2B:  Pony Express Pillow Image Courtesy StacieAnn

2C:  Monogrammed French Horse Notecards Image Courtesy No9DowningStreet

2D:  Ethiopian Repurposed Burlap Bench Image Courtesy bDagitzFurniture

I want to mention here that StacieAnn (feat. in 2B) has awesome pillows.  My personal favorite was, "I like big books and I cannot lie."  As a former librarian, I can attest to the truth of that statement.  Someday I'll do a books Etspiration and throw that pillow in!

 

3A:  Antique Horse Remedy Tin Image Courtesy bellusvanitas
3B:  BF Equestrian Bucket Image Courtesy Bravura
3C:  Propert's Saddle Soap Tin Image Courtesy TroutsJunkShop
3D:  Hippodrome De Longchamp Stencil Image Courtesy Maisondestencils

 You've got to look at the Horse Remedy Tin (3A) close up.  The type is fantastic and that horse is skeletal and so macabre!  I love that there's a line on there that says, "Death to heaves."  Prescription bottles nowadays are so sterile and boring.  Death to hypertension!  Death to arthritis! 

4A:  Dala Horse Red Swedish Pillow Image Courtesy LilleputStudio
4B:  Scandinavian Dala Horse Stencil Image Courtesy Maisondestencils
4C:  Vintage Hippodrome Circus Poster Image Courtesy KingPaper

I adore this Dala Horse pillow in 4A.  It's so cheerful and it's even got little rams on it.  Too cute! 

Feature Friday: Pallet Signs

Hi Everyone!

Sorry no Wednesday post.  I was traveling back home.  A layover and a baby does not a blogpost make.

I wanted to share with you one of the projects we're doing for the upcoming Astoria Craft Party.

Oregon is a very eco-conscious state.  We recycle a lot, try to make do with less, and try to reuse what we can.  So when we were in the planning phase of the Craft Party, it was suggested that I use pallets as my medium for stenciling.

I'd never worked with a pallet before.  It seemed easy enough.  I was just sort of baffled.  How do you take it apart.  How do you assemble it?  So I did what any normal person would do, went to Pinterest and spent 3 hours drooling over amazing things people have made.

I found this really nice how to guide here.  Just wanted to plop that there so people don't think I'm some pallet disassembling genius.

Here's what I started with.  Slightly dusty, unloved pallets.

(Please don't judge my dirty garage!)

The deconstruction was simple.  Put your pallet on the floor, get a pry bar or a hammer and pry every board off.  For the purposes of my project, I completely disassembled pallets.  If you look at Kelly Simon's blogpost I linked above, she only disassembled one side.  Both ideas are rockin.  But I wanted to make several smaller signs, so a complete disassemble was the way to go for me.  If your pallets are like mine, they will split a bit and break at the edges.  Don't worry, it's no big thing.

So the bones of a pallet are these thicker 2x4 type brackets you see here.  In a normal pallet, they are standing up vertical.  What I did is lay two of them on the floor and they became the bracing for my sign assembly.  Same concept as cleats.  I wanted to make a 12x18 sign out of this pallet wood, so I just did the bracing 18 inches apart.

Then I started laying the wood perpendicular, two or three slats depending on width to make 12 inches.  

When I had everything laid out, I was ready to fasten the slats to the bracing.  I could have used a drill and screws for this, but we had a collated screwdriver.  This is one of those tools my husband wanted to buy where I fought him and said, "When are you ever going to use that thing again?"  We bought it when we drywalled our basement.  (You can see who won that little battle!)  In any event, it is awesome.  The screws are on a strip and you just press down and the screws go in instantly.

This is what I ended up with.  3 groupings of slats that are 12 or so inches wide.  I drew some straight lines to make them conform to 18 inches in height and then my husband went back and cut them with the circular saw.  Then he cut the signs off the bracing.

He painted one for me while I was in So Cal, and this is what we ended up with.  The paint is just leftover satin finish paint from one of our bedrooms.  I'm very flexible about what I use for base coats.  The sign's a bit rough and the boards aren't perfectly even, but that's the whole point!  So here it is with the stencil on top.  Always secured with blue painter's tape.

The stencil, if you're wondering, is all sorts of famous things in Astoria.  The Old 300 is our trolley, the George Flavel House is this fantastic Victorian (featured in The Goonies), the Peter Iredale is a shipwreck.  I digress!

I used Folk Art paint for the lettering.  12x18 signs take some time to stencil, I think this was every bit of 45 minutes.  That's one of the concerns I have for the show, so I'm bringing a bunch of 6x12 signs too.  Those go quick.

Here it is all done without the breaks filled.  Really, it looked nice just like this.

And one with the breaks filled.  I love the way this turned out.  We're also going to put this stencil on market totes.

I bought a bunch of burlap bags to bring to the Craft Party as well, and I did a little Swedish Dala Horse on one of them.  Stenciling on burlap is so forgiving.  The weave is wide and it absorbs paint really well.  Just make sure you always put some sort of flat filler in between when you're stenciling otherwise your paint might leak through to the other side of the bag.

This was a fun project.  Just for an FYI, one pallet yields 3 12x18 signs.  I have not done the math on how many 6x12s it will yield.

We have a few AMAZING features in the upcoming weeks, stay tuned because you are going to be blown away.

We also have some very fancy news to share with you as well, but we want to have all our ducks in a row before we do so.

I'll be back on Wednesday as regularly scheduled.  Have a great weekend!