The Best of Backwoods 2011

As this year is winding down to its final hurrah I am attempting to get a list compiled of what I need to accomplish (or would like to accomplish) in the coming months. 
This month marked the 1st anniversary of this blog.  My how time flies!  And do you know the most popular post of all here? 

The building of my studio..



It has been so popular that we posted the plans as others wish to build one for themselves.  These are not your run of the mill plans but a step by step for the novice builder. 

Plans

Many of you also enjoyed the inside look at my studio.  This is the tidied up version.  The before shot of this post is what it looks like a good portion of the time.



In third place was the building of the potting bench..



Not far behind was the transformation of a plain piece of linoleum into a Tuscan Floor cloth.



But my favorite (which did not make it even into the top ten of my readers picks) is my Pottery Barn Clock knockoff..



I am currently working on some Farmhouse sign designs, it seems Farmhouse style is all the rage this year.  I have some vintage type fruit signs rattling around in my head and other farmhouse staples like Fresh Eggs, Farmers Market and all that..I need to get them painted up and listed on my website. 

  If you have any suggestions of what would you would like to see or may be a good one just let me know, I am all ears. 

Until next time…ta ta

Pottery Barn Clock Knock off MY way!

I know this clock has been done a few times.  Original from Pottery Barn Catalog:



Then a Knock Off at Twenty Something



And another at Alchemy Junk



this next one is from Creative Juices Decor



I enjoyed how each put their individual spin on it.

So here goes with my version. First I cleated some 1 x 6 cedar fence boards together and painted them white.



I found a big ol’ flower pot to trace for my circle



I used my Silhouette and an old used file folder to create my numeral stencils.  I only did the basics as I planned to combine them to make all the numerals.  (ignore the ED on there, it was for another project)



I was running out of room in my studio, with the wet weather I had to move this bookcase inside to paint it and it takes up quite a bit of space. I had a several signs in different stages of completion all over the place so I had to use the side of the bookcase as my work area.



The circle I traced with the pot was not large enough so I used it as a placement marker for the bottoms of the numerals, then I traced another circle using a pencil and compass from the first circle.  Not precise but I wasn’t aiming for precise.



Here it is nearing completion but it needed some distressing.  The center circle was too much so I wet a cloth and started to scrub at it to wipe it down some.



I used the damp blackened edge to run along the edges of the boards and here and there to add a bit of aging and darkening smudges.



Better but it still wasn’t me.  So I took it to the garage and sanded the goodie out of it.   Still was not there….



Finally I had to do it…I had to put my signature touch on it…



Roses…now it really is my version of Pottery Barns clock.  I still make tweak it a bit before putting on the varathane.  I had thought of some wording above and below the roses, I am just not sure yet.  

I definitely had a good time with this one, I have another in the works with a heavy crackle background and I may do yellow roses on it. 

While working on this I got 3 other signs painted and I have 2 more now on order. 
The sun shone today and it was a sight for sore eyes.  It is easier for me to run between the garage (where I saw and sand my signs) and the studio when it is sunny and pleasant out. 

I did practice some shots with a new setting this morning in the mist.  I will share them soon. 

Enjoy!