Monster Of A Weekend

I was hoping to do several fun things this weekend, but it looks like good fortune eluded me.  After a rough ankle injury for Addison on Saturday, I was stuck in the ER awaiting xray results for a good portion of the day, so I unfortunately had to cancel dinner plans with my bff Mary and her daughter Anna Kate.  Sunday Addison was unable to walk and it forced me to cancel a much anticipated lunch date with fellow bloggers.  I'm now wondering what all I missed and hoping that my pal Gina (aka guru blogger) can fill me in.  Even thought things didn't go as I had planned,  I was however able to break out the sewing machine and make some super cute Monster Tooth Pillows.  I have posted these in my Etsy store and they are so much fun to make.  I really like the fact that the Monster's mouth pocket is really deep and that the pillow is a full sized throw pillow.  Children can sleep with these guys all the time and then when luck comes calling, they can put a tooth inside and wake up with goodies in his mouth.  My Addison never wanted to pull her own teeth but I'm certain if I had made her a pillow like this, she would have been on board.  Later in the week I plan to post a my first tutorial and it will be on this particular design.  Prepare for my quirky non traditional way of doing things.  Stay tuned!

be. designs: Reclaimed Goods- Pallet Style

be. designs: Reclaimed Goods- Pallet Style: Reclaimed Goods is an Etsy Store created by Jessica that features beautiful pieces of art created from used wood scraps. Among the pie...

Move Over Mauve!

     Spring is in full swing and with it comes the desire for me to paint  my world in hues of blues and greens.  It's funny how the warm weather trend causes us to not only Spring forward in time but also Spring right out of the darker deeper colors of the color wheel and with mind, body, and paint, we head straight for the beach.  I would also like to mention that Valspar is currently giving away samples each morning at 10 am EST for those of you who "Like" them on Facebook.  Be quick because they go fast, but you can chose from any color available, and it comes with a nice coupon and a mini roller kit.  Might I suggest Sea Waves..It's such a lovely color of light aqua-ish blue.  LOVE IT!
     We have several new developments in the world of Reclaimed Goods, and I am busting at the seams to see them come to fruition and share them with you.  In less than two weeks we are going to be traveling to our first on the road gig.  We are headed to Memphis, TN to take part in the Spring opening date for the Cooper Young Community Farmers Market.  I really feel a good vibe coming from this place and I just know that we will fit right in and hopefully bring something fun and new for people to enjoy.  We will have everything from re-purposed burlap sack window valances, to toy crates, and painted pallet wood signs.  We will also be participating in the Green Streets Market here in our home town of Lawrenceburg, TN.  It takes place on our local square and I am really hopeful that people will participate and show their support to local artisans, musicians, and food vendors.  It's hard to say where you may find us.  Our success solely depends on our ability to make people happy with our creations, hard work and dedication to putting ourselves out there and showing everyone what we can do.  Here are some pictures of our latest items.  I hope you enjoy them and please feel free to contacts us with any ideas or custom orders.  Reclaimedgoods@gmail.com

   

Tennessee To Tanzania.

     For those of you who friend me on Facebook I'm certain you have already read about one of my most recent orders, but I wanted to share again with those who are not on Facebook or anyone who may have missed my feed.  Before I go on and on about this particular order, I want this post to not only be about order itself,  but I also want everyone to see how life sometimes leaves us jaded and unfaithful of the kindness of others.  We tend as we get older, to go day to day and sometimes expect the worst and hope for the best instead of simply expecting that we will get what we give.  Last week I received an order from my Etsy store for one of the Latitude/Longitude signs that I do quite often.  Most people get them to hang on their front porch, some people get one with the coordinates of their favorite vacation spot or their honeymoon destination.  This time was just a bit different.  The young lady that placed the order lived in Texas and was about to travel to Africa, Tanzania to be exact, and wanted me to make her a sign to hang outside of an orphanage that she was about to open there.  As I read over many things daily, I tend to skim it first to get an idea of what it will be about, then I go back and try to decipher the details.  Why?  I have no Earthly idea, but that is how I operate.  The first thing I saw in the message was "Africa"..then "Tanzania", and honestly my first thought was "well great..someone has a million dollars that some King of Africa has stashed away for me and all I have to do is give them all of my information".  I doubt I'm the only person that has ever gotten one of those emails that has managed to sneak it's way through the email filter.  I decided I would have to switch gears and head into "Decipher" mode.  As I read the order it was actually really simple.  She was from Texas and gave me the coordinates of the orphanage and said that she thought the children would love for it to hang outside and could I paint the continent of Africa in the middle with a little heart where Tanzania is.  PERFECT!  That is exactly what I did.  I mailed the package out today and I hope that the children in this small Tanzanian orphanage are thrilled by it.  It really showed me several things.  I will try harder in life to go into things with hope for the best in people and situations.  Sometimes things may not go my way, but I will keep on going and know that expecting the worst and hoping for the best doesn't actually prepare you for disappointment, instead it leaves you with nothing to look forward to.

The Divorce of Workspace

It has slowly become apparent that our new workspace that the hubs and I had created and shared for a few weeks now is experiencing irreconcilable differences.   It seems as though with a multitude of orders flowing in, and the saw cutting constantly, the dust in our once happy workspace has now become a place of pain, noise,  and sawdust.  Due to the fact that my fabric, paint, sewing machine and other essential tools that run the show, I am having to file for a workspace divorce and leave the space to head for the higher ground of our bedroom, where things are still happy LOLOL.  Luckily I  can now work in the dust free noise free happy place and we can still work together but separate.  I would venture to say that this makes the hubs a little bit of happy inside now that he will be able to spread out in the garage a bit more.  I hope that everyone is having a spectacular weekend and enjoying this wonderful weather we are having.  I am off to paint and create with the hubs and then off to the park to bask a while

The Other Side of TGIF

Here at Reclaimed Goods headquarters, things have been booming.  Orders have been coming in almost daily and I am steadily painting, creating, blogging, and networking as fast as my hands will allow. Around these parts, the weekend is the busiest part of my work week, as it' is the most amount time I have to collaborate with the power behind the tools that is my hubs . We won't tell him that although he can demo and build faster than me, I consider myself to be the brains around these parts..shhhhhh lol.   I wanted to post some picture of the newest things we have made together.  I love to create things for people that define them as a person or as a family.  It's these phrases that move us and make us who we are.  Have a great weekend everyone!

It's Me.

     I made this blog to share the things that I make and to promote my business, but I have to add something that is intertwined with my business and how it makes me feel as a person.  I have always loved to paint and create things, but before starting this business, for many years I sort of lost myself in motherhood and life and literally for 10 years did not pick up a paint brush.  You get so wound up in life sometimes that the hobbies you love take a back seat to the things you have to do, and sometimes circumstances arise that you don't expect and before you know it, your favorite past time is just that, a past time.  A little over a year ago I started to paint again.  I realized that I was one of the lucky few these days that could stay home with my children. I wanted to still contribute and also add something therapeutic to my day.  Before I knew it I was pretty slammed most of the time with orders and such and I decided to create and Etsy store.  This last year has been a whirlwind of wonderful experiences.  I have wonderful and supportive friends and family and I couldn't be happier.  My husband Shane and I have started working together to build more furniture and things. We love working together and it gives a whole new life to Reclaimed Goods.
     Now, last night as we do each year we got together with my best friends Mary and Barry and went for our traditional Valentine's Day dinner and this year we had decided on Square Market Cafe in Columbia (my favorite spot).  Much to my surprise when I arrived there was a bigger table set up for us and there sat Sandy and John.  I had been duped!  I thought it was gonna be our annual Valentine's dinner but instead it was a surprise birthday dinner with guests I hadn't expected.  I received wonderful cards AND....A gift certificate for a local tattoo shop woooohooooo.  Well, that may seem like an odd gift but I had been pondering the idea of having a tattoo that adequately described how I feel about my journey over the last year, and I had found something that told my story.  I feel like a bird let out of a cage.  I forgot how wonderful it feels to create and to be received so warmly by people who purchase my art and admire it. After my awesome dinner with friends, Shane and I headed to the tattoo shop to put my gift to good use.  Here is a photograph of the finished work. To some it may not seem very origional, but  for me, it's my story. 

~Your Dreams The Catch, The world The Cage~  The Avett Brothers

WINNER WINNER!

Today's winner of a "Family" sign is Angela Martin!  Congrats Angela. Everybody stay plugged in...Hopefully my blog numbers will continue to rise and I will continue to do giveaways each month.

Family Rules

A friend of mine brought these rules to my attention and they couldn't be more true.  So, with her request in mind, I painted the rules for her and this was the result.  If you like it, let me know.  I can customize one for you in any color and the charge is $50.  It measures 30x33 roughly so it's pretty big and would make a great focal point in any room.

The Name Game.

For those of you who think your name ROCKS!  Check out my burlap letters.  There are so many color combinations available and are perfect with those Spring and Summer colors.  I'm also putting together some really cute Easter door hangers so check those out on my Etsy as well.  Also don't forget that Friday I will name the winner of  the February giveaway.  Keep an eye out..It may just be you.

Get In Gear!

  

We are really getting things ready to have a great Spring and Summer here at Reclaimed Goods.  The hubs and I have been making plans to take things on the road this Spring and I'm nothing short of ecstatic about it.  I am hoping that our first stop will be the Cooper Young Community Farmers Market.  We have prepared items to sell and have turned in all applications for different spots where we feel like we will fit in comfortably and will be as well received as we have in our home town.  Say a little word to the powers that be, that we get to participate in some of these great shows and festivals, it would be greatly appreciated.  Now that we have acquired a way to transport all of the items we have to offer, things should be kicking into high gear and hopefully we will be too busy for words. I have decided that during the Spring while the temps are favorable we will just throw up a tent and sing a few lines of Kum Ba Ya.  Live Simply is going to be my mantra...Lets go!

February Giveaway!!!

It's about that time guys and I'm so glad to share with everyone I know.  On Feb 10th I will be doing another giveaway and one lucky person will be taking home a lovely "family" wooden sign with ribbon hanger and lovely Fleur De Lis embellishments.  Keep in mind everyone that you must "Like" my Reclaimed Goods Facebook or subscribe to my blog here..If you do both I'll enter your name twice and you may just be a lucky duck.  The winner will be contacted via email on Friday, Feb. 10th.  GOOD LUCK!

When Bragging Is A Must

     There comes a time when the front of your refrigerator is threatening to become what looks like a complete hodgepodge of those special pictures that come home from school everyday.  This is where I come in to help you take back your fridge and stop picking up things that fall off each and every time you open and close it.  Now...Keep in mind that this one is not ready just yet because I have to mount the clips to hold the art along the bottom, but I couldn't help myself from posting what I had done thus far.  As I'm sure you can tell from earlier posts, I LOVE aqua and the polka dots are a fun vibrant orange color.  I did burlap and orange on each end which I love as well.  You just hang this cute display anywhere you see fit and it suddenly takes the jumbled pictures from the fridge and turns them into something you can show people while giving the little ones a bit of praise at the same time.  So there ya go..This is also made from reclaimed wood and hand painted.  It had triangle hangers on the back to make it super easy to hang.  Let me know if you are interested in ordering one of these and what colors you prefer.  The one shown here is $18 (with the clips mounted LOL) I am working on others that range from $18-$25 depending on what I paint on them.

Coffee, Sunshine, and Meatballs...What?

What could be any better right?  THANK YOU for this crisp beautiful sunshine we have today so far.  I haven't looked at the weather for the day because I fear that it won't last as long as I would like it to.  Last night I was concerned about the possibility of a power outage, not because I can't rough it, but because my sewing machine doesn't work without it LOL.  I was able to accomplish most of the things we set out to do this weekend.  I finished the pillow for Heather (the winner of my first giveaway), made one of the two ring bearer pillows that I received orders for, and just for the fun of it I made an owl pillow that is super cute.  Now for today there are a few things that are "must do's".  My new friend Bridget who might I add is the mother of Cole..who is the boyfriend of Addison....who is the daughter of ME! (did you get all that?) oh well..either way, she has ordered a cute wood sign that I'm certain she will love when it's completed.  I may just have to be on saw duty for the day while my counterpart is away at his 9-5, or 7:30-3:30, you get the point.  One of my favorite parts of the day will be a visit to Sherwin Williams to try and haggle over paint prices and leave there with a sense of accomplishment.  I will then take my dog to the vet..who has more allergies than any toddler or child I have ever seen.  Her hair falls out in the Spring which is apparently in January this year, and she is obviously more allergic to the Advantix then she is the fleas that it prevents.  To top my afternoon off I will make homemade meatballs for my spaghetti in hopes that when the hubs gets home, he will dive into his wonderful plate of spaghetti, forgetting all about the tools I have misplaced, lost, or damaged while taking on his role at Reclaimed Goods for the day.  Wish me luck Reclaimed Goods lovers..It could be a rock and roll kind of day, but the sun is out and I can't control myself.

Happy Weekend!

Looks like things are going to be super productive this weekend here at Reclaimed Goods headquarters.  We will be busy busy designing new furniture items and coming up with new ideas for Spring inspired home decor.   I will be working on new pillows, painting a few barn wood pictures, shopping for that perfectly lovely vintage fabric that catches my eye, and also creating the burlap pillow for this weeks giveaway winner.  Congratulations Heather Ayres!  Shane and I are anxious and excited to begin revamping a space of our home so that we can easily collaborate together without having to clear the kitchen table every night for dinner.  This may prove to be a bit of a daunting task, but the payoff will be great.  Hope everyone has a wonderful and productive weekend, and be sure to let us know if you have any custom orders.  I also would like to add that I am PUMPED to be able to hang out with my bff Mary (also one of my biggest customers)...Look out Little Texas, HERE WE COME!

And The Winner Is???

Heather Ayres...You will receive a Burlap Pillow. Message me @ reclaimedgoods@gmail.com for arrangements.

Giveaway? Did Someone Say GIVEAWAY????

Ok lovers of Reclaimed Goods.  For those of you who wanna join my blog, there just may be something in it for you.  At then end of the day tomorrow I will randomly choose from my list of followers and someone will receive a cute burlap pillow with a Fleur De Lis.  Come on!  Winner will be announced Friday morning.  Good Luck!

Time to Blahhhhhhh-g

     Today will be a busy day so I'll make this one short.  We have lots of items in the works here at Reclaimed Goods.  Bar Stools, tables, shelves and signs that are all made from reclaimed pallet and barn wood.  These items will be listed on my Etsy as well as on my Facebook so that my locals can check it out.  I am pretty pumped about the bar stools.  We have lived in our current home for 2 years now, and although we have a bar, I have never purchased bar stools.  It just seems like one of those things that wouldn't be much fun to buy.  Sort of like a iron..one of those convenient things that are really nice to have but you could make things work without it.  Sooo, Shane and I will be working together to make our first set of bar stools and also to spark a bit of interest in the eyes of Reclaimed Goods shoppers.  I will be posting pictures very soon, so stay tuned!

Look Ahead! That way you can see where you're going.

New things on the horizon at Reclaimed Goods.  I have just finished using the last of my Navy fabric to create yet another pillow in the same Birdie collection.  I am now out of my favorite fabric but I venture to say there is more where that came from.  I have recently acquired a truck that I am testing out for a few days before I commit to purchase it, but it's looking like it's going to be the perfect vehicle to allow me to gather wood, haul materials, and transport my products to art shows and crafting venues.  YAY ME!   So grateful that my dad was nice enough to let us drive his vehicular while we waited on the right thing to come our way, and I'm certain he will be more than happy to have it back.  Thanks Dad!  So....This Spring Shane and I are planning to take Reclaimed Goods on the road and visit various art festivals to sell and promote the things we make.  As it turns out, they can often be expensive, so we will start slow and see what happens.  If we are lucky enough here in Lawrenceburg to have Green Streets Market again, we will for sure be set up there and it runs I believe April through October (fingers crossed).  I will be blogging information regarding dates and times of Green Streets as well as the other festivals we will be set up at.  Let me remind you that although my Etsy contains all of my merchandise, I do take custom orders and prices vary.  Hope everyone has a great day..and please keep in mind when reading my blog that I am an artist, NOT an English professor.  My spelling and grammar will be sub par, my punctuation improper, and my sentences will run on....and on....and on.   Have a great day

www.etsy.com/shop/reclaimedgoods1

Support The Local Artist

I am still learning the ins and outs of this blog thing and I can already tell that it's something I will enjoy.  It will give me an outlet for our business as well as share my hopes and dreams.  Today I am hoping for all artisans and creators of things to be supportive of one another.  There is plenty room for everyone to exist in the world of art and each and every person has something new and exciting to offer.  It's important for me to encourage others to create and to use their natural abilities to make something special.  I started this journey with one simple thought...."Hey..I can do that", and it has all been worth it.  Certainly there will always be people out there that feel like there is always a competition involved, but those are the ones who feel as though their creative ideas may soon cease to exist.  I'm not one of those people, and as someone who loves to shop locally (when I can shop) I have found that all in all, true artists support one another and work together to make sure we are not a dying breed, and that although it may be easy to shop at huge chain stores, handmade items have a certain amount of passion and love that goes into each and every piece. 

Chirp Chirp...Chirpy chirp Chirp ...Ok ok..I realize that I have over the weekend created many "birdie" options.  Perhaps it's because birds make me soooo happy, or maybe it's because birds always make me think of Spring.  Either way, you will be seeing lots of birds from me for my Spring items and I hope they make you as happy to see them as it has for me to create them.  Don't forget about my Etsy guys!  www.etsy.com/shop/reclaimedgoods1   All of the items that I post will be on there and ready to sell and deliver.  If you have any questions on custom orders, feel free to email me @ Reclaimedgoods@gmail.com...or on etsy.

Birdie Canvas...Love the Rustic look of the burlap and the layering of the different fabrics.  Can't wait to add a special monogram or name for the buyer.

     Today is a new day.  I've thought often of how I haven't the the time to dedicate to the maintaining of a blog, but today I've decided...How can I not?  I have spent the last year trying to create and cultivate a business that will allow me to do things that make me feel whole, and at the same time will allow me to be home with my children and be the best mother I can be.  I want to share my stories and creations with people who want to take time to read and see them, so here I am.  I will spend small blocks of time over the next few days developing my blog and also adding pictures and links.  Be patient and be connected and we will have fun along the way. 

Take the first step in faith.  You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step. -MLK