Christmas Signage

I must say, I feel like it has been forever since I've blogged...and yet it's only been a few days.   I have missed you all!

First, let me start off by sharing my excitement to have some holiday Knackage coming my way!  I ordered one of these {awesomely unique} ornaments from Knack's Etsy store and can't wait to put it on the tree!  Aren't they lovely?  Thanks Barb!

{photo courtesy of Knack}

So, speaking of the holidays, things are beginning to turn a little festive around here.  We have the tree, although there is yet to be a single ornament hung.  The mantle is an active work in progress.  The Christmas lights are out of the attic, but still in boxes.  Slowly but surely we'll get there....eventually.   :)

I do have one little project to share...something I'm linking up to the Painted Holiday Challenge over at The CSI Project.  Very simple and "plain-jane," but also super easy and free!

I started with an old pallet from my husband's shop.  He has...oh...about a few hundred sittin' around up there.  {The perks of being a landscaper's wife!!} 

I had every intention of making a console table out of these pallet boards.  I had a good friend come over and help me tear apart the pallet {which was the most difficult step}, but after that, everything else was easy-peasy.  I used a circular saw for the first time ever during this project and went crazy over it!  Serious fun right there.  And I was able to enjoy the smell of sawdust for an entire afternoon! 

Needless to say, the pallet table didn't turn out quite as I had hoped, so I compromised.  Instead, I made a couple Christmas signs to use around the house.  I've only made two so far, but I have six more boards to play with. 

I sanded down all the boards {using a belt sander} and made them super smooth:

I wanted the boards to have more of an "old barn wood aged look" so I whitewashed them three times each.  Here you can see the difference:

Then I pulled out the stencils I used for the Drafting Table and painted my signs.  For one I used gray and for the other I used a rosy-red.  After I stenciled the letters, I sanded the boards again to give the painted letters a weathered look.  Still, the boards were not "aged" enough for my taste, so I antiqued them with my standard dark stain.  

 And that's it!  Project complete.

For now, I have one hanging and one on the mantle.  As I said before, our holiday decor is still a work in progress, but I'll give you a little sneak peak.

Eventually, I will attempt to make a coffee-filter wreath for the mirror, but for now I'm using a filler.  The mirror {which is the heaviest mirror EVER....and I'm a little afraid our mantle may come crashing down from the weight of it} used to look like this and hang in our garage:

But I made her over and now she looks like this:

My "Merry" sign is hanging here for now, but he may be moved eventually.  We'll see.

I also have another painted project in mind using this old guy:

If it goes as planned, I'll let you know :)

I can't wait to see all of your holiday projects over at CSI!  Hope you all have a fantastic day!

xoxo

LeAnne

Linking To:

Thankful.

So, my "real" job, or my "8-5" job, is working for my husband's landscaping company.  I love every minute of my work with him and am so fortunate to have a job that keeps me active, outdoors, creative, and on my toes.  But it also wears me out.  So today I'm especially thankful for a day of relaxation!

This junking thing is simply a hobby {obsession maybe is a better word?}  However, even during my "real" work, the thought of re-purposing and re-storing found objects never leaves my mind!  Earlier this week, while we were cleaning up and doing this...

...I came across some goodies...

like these dried berries which were headed for the burn pile:

and this truck load of old tin.  gorgeous!

and this antique liquor bottle, which will get a good cleaning and be added to my collection of old jars:

So what does all this have to do with Thanksgiving?  Well this morning, while creating a centerpiece for our Thanksgiving table, I used some of these findings as well as some other natural items to make this:

Completely re-purposed and FREE :)

Don't you love that word?

So, Happy Thanksgiving to all of my blog friends, who love to re-purpose right along with me.  I wish you a day filled with  love, joy, reflection, family, friends, and thankfulness.

And before I go, the most important part of this post...

I am thankful for:

*A Father who loves me unconditionally and created me for a specific purpose in this world.  I am thankful for his forgiveness and sacrifice, two things that I take for granted too often, but He loves me anyway.
*For family and friends and their encouragement, support, inspiration, and love.
*For a husband who laughs with me, cries with me, grows with me, and again, loves me unconditionally.
*For my new blog friends, all your visits, sweet comments, and companionship.
*For my Barley Boy, the best Christmas present ever.
*For my health and the physical ability to do what I love.
*For an eternal home where I will celebrate and give thanks to the One who has given me all of the above and more.

I'll be signing off for a few days {a long weekend nestled away in a cabin in the woods with family}, but I look forward to meeting up again next week.

xoxo
LeAnne

Linking To:

Barley the Boykin Spaniel

Ok, so this has absolutely NOTHING to do with decorating, repurposing junk, painting, restoring furniture, or anything of the like.  But it's just too darn cute not to share!

I picked up this figure of a spaniel at a recent auction for $1.25.  

Is it not a dead ringer for our Boykin Barley?

Love it!

xoxo

LeAnne

Weekend Projects

It's been a busy two days around here at Mossy Rock Interiors.  Many projects going on!

I'm happy to say that I completed a few projects AND had time for a nice dinner out with Mr. Mossy Rock, as well as a haircut and bath for the pup, all the standard household chores, a few good chats with friends, and a great Sunday morning at church {the fridge, however, is still empty.}

{Side note...to all you readers involved in any kind of significant relationship...I would highly encourage you to check out our Lifegroup's blog at http://wedlifegroup.blogspot.com/ where you can read about The Five Love Languages, our current series.  It's great information, promise!} 

Ok, so this is what's been going on in the garage for the past two days:

Refinishing this set of spectacular old wooden boxes:

All they needed was a quick clean-up and a treatment of Tung Oil Finish.  Can't wait to put some of these to use around the house.  {What I decide to do with them will come in a future post.}

This salvaged side table received some treatment:

This one took a bit more work than the wooden boxes.  I started by sanding her down first, then layered on a coat of primer.  She also received a coat of gray, a whitewash treatment, an antiquing glaze using dark walnut stain, and a top coat of polycrylic for protection and shine.

And finally these two guys got a makeover as well:

.

I LOVE their chippy white paint and brown cane seats.  Sigh....wish I had a place for them in my own house.

So there it is.  A weekend in my garage.  Thanks for stopping by my little corner of the world.  Please do share what you've been up to.  I would love to see your work!

xoxo

LeAnne

Linking To