FOLLOW YOUR ARROW

I am taking a little time while sipping my second or third cup of coffee to check in with blog (myself).  HA!  Recently I finished a gallery wall in our new house and I am really happy with how it turned out.  It consists of a collection of our key from our rental where it all began, pictures of my baby love and other neat stuff from my shop.  I did have some inspiration from Pinterest but once I started hanging stuff, I got my flow.  I think that is really how a gallery wall happens, just find your flow.  Sounds corny and a little weird...lol, but its true.  

Here are a few amateur pics of our gallery wall in our new house.  

LOVE!

The Follow your Arrow sign can be purchased from my shop HERE and the wooden Arrow was made by me and I should be adding that to my shop sometime next month. 

~Steph

DICE FOR FATHER'S DAY!

So we have been busy since our big move.  Our Dice sets have been a big hit this year for Father's day!  I always love seeing new trends take height and apparently this was one of them. 

Each dice is done by hand by me from the cutting to the smooth sanding.  It definitely takes it toll on my hands when I am finally finished but the outcome is always worth it.  

I wonder what July's big trend will be?  Also for July we will be closing for 2 weeks at the end of the month to prepare for the Fall items and take a much needed break.  Thanks for stopping by!

~Steph

THE UNEXPECTED GIFT

We have recently moved into our new home that I will be sharing more of on each room and the design and decor that follows, but first wanted to share my "unexpected gift".  

This move has been difficult, plain and simple.  But probably not in the way you would think.  Sure my feet hurt and I have that spot of paint on my arm that refused to go away no matter how many times I scrub it with soap.  Sure I have a bruise on each knee from the moving truck tow ball thingy that apparently is just my height...SWEET JESUS that hurt.  But it has been hard because of my attachment to my small now run down rental home.  It was the house that holds so many memories and if I could I would buy it so no one else could have it! I had the best neighbors that a person could ever ask for and it so hard to say goodbye.  

So it doesn't help that on the way home late last night from visiting family that is down for my brother's wedding, my son cried that he wanted to go home to his "old home".  It was difficult to find the words to try and explain to a 3 yr old that its not our home anymore that we have a new home, especially when in some way I wanted to pull in that driveway instead myself. 

Its all a process that we go through, the battle between feeling so overwhelmed with this blessing of a new home and having to say goodbye to the other that was also the blessing that we needed at that time.  

So on this ride home when my son finally fell asleep I drove by our old house and in the dark of night it looked so lonely and as if it could talk, maybe missed us as well.  

I pulled into our new home driveway, scooped up my son out of his car seat and made that dark walk to my new door. I unlocked it with my one free hand and as I went to walk in, there it was. A small package in the little light that my porch allows , waiting for me.  I can't even be sure when it arrived because where it was placed it could have been there for a day or so, but tonight, it was in just the right amount of light to be noticed.  I bent down child in arms and brought it inside and set it down while I put the boy down in his bed. I walked back and opened it right up to find The Sweetest Gift. 

A book from one of my favorite blogs I follow on making a house a home and this beautiful hand made needle work of my State and button for my hometown in the colors of my new office.  You see the person that sent this I don't think knew this blog was one of my favorites and I am not sure she even knew that these were going to be my new office colors but somehow manage to make it the sweetest gift and so amazingly at the right time.  If you have not read this book you might want to pick it up or even follow the blog thenester.com because she is spot on about making your home into something that you share with the people you love. 

For the wonderful person that sent this, Sabrina from Neverlandnook.com .  You have become such a beautiful friend and I am so thankful.  

~Steph

NEW TABLE

I have a confession.  I finished a table today that has been in the works for almost 3 months!  Ugh...  But with a side of "ahhhhhh".    I have so many visions for tables and I just don't have space or time to complete them so when one gets finished it is such a relief I almost take a nap afterwards.  When I finished this table today I went inside, got a chair, tea, and phone and sat with feet propped up.  As to say "job well done body, job well done.".  LOL.   I am so sore.  I have to give mad props to my husband for helping me because when I took on this project I did not take into account how heavy it would be and that I would not be able to complete it by myself.  So happy with my choice in a strong husband today.  ha!  

Anyways, enough talk, here is the table. 

I love the look of it and get so excited about furniture! I will admit I did sit and stare for awhile after it was done.  There is something so beautiful about turning stacks of a wood pile into what you see here. 

The stain on this table is the vinegar, steel wool mixture.  

Awww...I am in love with the finish.  Even if it did take a 5 step process. Yes, those are 6x6 legs!  

So there she is and now listed on our Etsy shop page HERE. Of course it is only for local pickup or delivery. I am going back to resting as tomorrow is complete orders day!  Thank you to all who have supported Rustic, it means so much to me and my family!!! 

~Steph

FEELING FAMOUS

WAY TO GO RUSTIC HOMEMADE!!!

For the full article visit HGTV GARDENS

At first I read it and thought...."a DIY project?!!!?"  Come on HGTV! LOL. But I can't help but feel proud and positive when I read my business name on a blog post.  It drives my passion even further and gives me the boost of positive reinforcement that I probably need more then the people around me think I do.  

This is the reason for the post, to remind myself to see the positive and not the negative, which has been my motto lately.  I am happy where I am with Rustic and very happy about where it is going.  I am so lucky to be able to do something I am so passionate about especially after the long 2 year journey that got me where I am today.  

The dice that we sell in our shop can be found HERE

~Steph

NEWEST OBSESSION

My new house. 

I can't sleep and I am having a very hard time focusing.  I am so excited and nervous I can barely stand it!  The hubby and I randomly drive by the new expected house just to get a glimpse to ease the wait time before closing.   Pinterest can not even stand me anymore with all the pins and steady searching for the "perfect look".  

I think until we finally get the keys this will not seem real.  Can I finally decorate a house that is my very own? Ahhhh! YES!  

But on to our REAL life.  Our son has his first sleep over this weekend!  I wish I had taken some cute pictures of them playing or even snuggled up sleeping, but I don't think that fast.  I did manage to snap a few of them fishing the following day at a local farm.  It was one of those beautiful spring days here in Florida where the sky was so blue you found yourself staring and admiring the very beauty it all is...

One OTHER thing that is helping keep me busy are the sudden surge of "likes" and purchases for our Easter Sack bags found HERE.  We will stop selling these on April 14th, so get yours now!  

~ Steph

UNDER CONTRACT, 3 YEARS IN THE MAKING

The title can tell most of the story.  About 3 years ago hubby and I set out to fix our credit, get some things paid off and try to buy a home.  Where it may just come easy to most people proved to be harder for us.  With the upset of changing jobs (both of us) and the state of the economy we started to believe that it would never happen for us.

WELL today, we are just a little closer to moving out of our rented, small 2 bed home (with no backyard).  I am almost speechless on how it all came about, and since I am a moderately private person I will leave out most details, but this is nothing short of a miracle.  We are so blessed beyond words and are in a state of disbelief that all that hard work and prayer has finally been seen and heard.  

This may also seem a little to deep to most and might have one saying "geez its just a house", but for us its 3 years of hard work and came at a time when we had given up.  So NO, its not JUST a house, its a blessing.  And blessings are a BIG DEAL!  

We are still under contract and have a few more processes to overcome, but I had to share and could not hold this in any longer.  

So please continue to pray, celebrate and cry with us as we finish the process.  And for our friends who have been there for us encouraging us to stay strong, thank you.

~Steph

FINDING PEACE

Today I am stuck with the "did I make the right decision?" phase.  Feeling so scattered and trying to pull everything together my mind is left running in circles.  I hate having to do things 2 or 3 times to get it right and lately it feels as though that is ALL I am doing.  I am just into my first month at taking Rustic full time and I am scared more now then I was before.  It could do with the fact that I am trying to juggle too many things and not getting myself out there.  But i am discouraged none the less.  I ran across the below picture on facebook and it was just what I needed to read today. 

I need to stop trying to make everything fit before I find that peace, I need to find peace first.  And luckily I know just where to look.  I cannot allow fear to absorb my thoughts and time.  I need to overcome and press on, afterall I am a fighter.  

~Steph

HAPPY NEW YEAR

So here I sit again, 3 months since my last post.  Ugh...So many things, so little time.  One day I will keep up with this and actually have some what of an audience. lol.   But for now I am happy just telling my story to cyber space.  

As of January 1st I took my Etsy shop full time! Wooohoooooo!  I am beyond excited and beyond scared.  I love doing what I do so much I hope that I can provide for my family and also treat everyday like a new adventure.  It is weird to look back at the last year to see where I have ended up.  You see I was in a job that had ended a long time ago and I was very unhappy.  I had to sit back and watch as people that I trusted turned their back on me for reason they never felt lead to tell me about.  I was crushed and my heart was broken.  Then I left that for another job in July to which I thought was good but ALWAYS had reservation because in my heart I wanted to do Rustic Homemade full time and thought that was where I was suppose to be, but I had to provide for my family and so far Rustic had not been able to do so.  

BUT as it would turn out, that job had a dark side as well.  So, basically forcing me to trust in God even more and take a HUGE leap of faith.  I cannot begin to even describe the sense of peace that I feel even though everything and everyone around me is telling me I should be scared.  Sometimes we ask, how is this possible?

 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!  Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.   Philippians 4:4-9

That is how it is possible. I know in my heart that God has brought me through so many trials so that I might appreciate the gift it is to have my own business for however long that might be, I am so very thankful that my prayer has been answered.  I am not saying that I have all the money I had before with a steady paycheck, but I know that ALL my needs not wants, will be met.  I have no complaints.  

So I wanted to share a little of where I have been and also a little Christmas photos of my home ;)  

My husband and I's next prayer, our very own home.  We have been watching this one home go up for sale then not for sale and now back up for sale.  It is such a fixer upper and I am in love with its property and potential. I will try to keep my blog updated on that, but for now, admire the beauty of THE tree. 

Ahhhh.........Christmas Eve. 

One of my many other trees plus my Luke sign also sold in my shop ;)

This is my pallet wall art decorated with a Noel burlap sign that I made.

My Santa bags sold in my shop :)

Another banner made by me to help decorate my home on a budget for Christmas

 Without gifts

 Homemade pinecones ornarments.

Homemade Flower pin ornaments

Burlap Bow

Some of the many ornaments I made that might make my Etsy store Christmas 2014

So goodbye for now.  I will be back later this month with photos from my entire home.  

ABSENT FROM MY BLOG BUT NOT MY LIFE

Where has the time gone?  I have come to the realization that for me to be truthful with my self and to succeed with the blog and my shop that I am going to have to be truthful with this blog.  Make sense?  For so long I have been so frightened of putting myself out there, writing about my life and what is really going on because in the past with just Facebook and one small status I have caused and stirred up so much conterversery.   But I guess I am tired of being scared and I guess a little tired of being worried about what certain people think of me.

First off, here is what you should know, the basics to what you should always come back too.

I have a huge heart
I love my family and they come first
I love God, and without Him I truly nothing, even though I may not quote scriptures daily on my blog. He is my world and light unto my feet.
I cannot sit still and must stay busy
I am people pleaser.

So Here is where I am today.  I am gone from my previous full time job of 8 years and am now totally working from home. STILL working 2 jobs, which are my shop, Rustic Homemade (found here on Etsy) and for a big Company that has made it possible for me to do everything from home.  It has taken a bit of getting used too since I was used to seeing people everyday and have your run of the mill conversations.  Now, I just have conversations with my self and I am not that intersting.  All this happened back in July and also since then Rustic has stayed fairly busy and I anticipate the holdiay season will be as well.  I love that!  I have a brain that never rest, always thinking of new ideas, things I need to do and building helps me focus and relax.  Who knew a circular saw could be relaxing?  LOL.

I also have a few more dining tables in the works for a few friends, some I have built, some I am building.  Really I am waiting for the weather to be a bit more cooler because here in Florida building in 90 degree weather is brutal!

Jackson contiues to do well and is too smart for his own good.  We are almost potty trained and he will be turning 3 on the 24th of this month. WHAT!  Crazy.  I still think of all the people that have yet to even meet him, even family and think, "man, how can time have flown by so quickly?"

So my future hope with my blog is that I will stay up with it, posting more of my shop and maybe some do's and don'ts.  We will see where this part of my life/journey takes me.  Wish me luck and try to be nice to me as I slowly enter the blogging world.  Well I have been here, just I have never shared it with anyone before.

I always like to leave with a random picture of Jackson, because, well...he is cute.  This is from the Air show this past weekend.

NEW FAVORITE ITEM

Every now and then I get a chance to do a special order and sometimes I fall madly in love with that person's item, so much sometimes I make it for my own home!  Shhh...this will be our secret. 

So a couple of weeks ago I was asked by one of the sweetest customers to make a 24x36 version of my 1 Corinthians bible scripture in a horizontal version with a white background and that pretty spa/blue vintage color.  My first thought was, “wow that will be really big”.  Lol. 

Well I finished it, and I can’t think quick enough of where I am going to put my own and what scripture I am using! The color combo is spot on and she allowed me to pull out ALL my rustic methods and craziness.  Thanks Kammy! 

Here it is! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Visit us on Etsy for more items!

 

NEW OFFICE DESK

I have been wanting to talk a bit about my new desk and my husband's first trip to Ikea.  And by talk I really mean, document.  haha. 

Side note:  Looking back on my first year dating my husband I realized I can't remember very much, so that is the main reason for my blog and the random not in date order posts.  I want to remember these good and bad times and of course my Etsy shop. I want my son to really know us.

Ok, back.  A couple weeks ago when my husband was actually off from work on a Sunday.  Saturday night we (I) decided with the help of Pinterest that I wanted to make a new desk.  We did actually need something a little more functional as I was getting a new HUGE printer and needed some work space for my Etsy shop that is basically taking over my whole house.  Must get organized!  So I turned to him after hours of searching on Pinterest for the right one and said "hey, Ikea has the desk legs I need, lets go tomorrow".  His response "yeah, lets do it!".  I love my spontaneous husband. 

BUT we maybe should have checked with our son first to see if he was on board for the almost 2hr trip to the closest Ikea.  And I am pretty sure his answer would have been a big fat NO and then followed with "I want treats".

The trip up was fine but our son has this thing that if he is woken up before HE IS READY, then it awakens the beast.  Yes.  Don't look at his picture and think somehow I am lying, I am not.  He is cute and that is the reason he still breathes.

As soon as we got to Ikea we decided to stop and eat first then shop on full stomachs.  Well apparently our child was not hungry as he made the biggest scene and would not calm down. I ended scarfing down my food and waiting outside.  Bad service did not help.  We were able to get a little bit of time Ikea until my son starting up the beast again so we got our desk legs and some other stuff.  Come on! You can't leave there with only one item especially when the closest one is 2hrs away from you!!!  My only regret is I wish I would have got 2 sets, as now I have plans to make the desk longer against the longer wall in the den. 

Our son finally feel asleep on the way home and stayed asleep till we got home and then he was normal again.  NEVER, Ever Wake a sleeping Toddler!

Here are some not good pictures of the desk.  I am very proud of the top and how smooth it is and how I got all 4 pieces to evenly match together.  Regret...Wish I would have not used 2x6 and instead used 1x6 as it is SUPER heavy.

 

We still need a chair...I want this one from World Market.  So pricey...

 

We also have some organizing to do to make room for this desk in the space we have.  I am going to end up moving it to the long wall on the left and make the desk the entire length of the wall.  Hence why I wish I would have gotten 2 sets of the legs.  :(  

WHO'S TIME?

It has been a discouraging couple of weeks.  And when that happens I try to read back through the things that somehow made it a little bit better.  Here is one. (pic is a little distorted) 


This is what I need to hang in my office at home so I can constantly remind myself  that there are stepping stones.  Some people are lucky to have made it right away, others, it took awhile.  I am just so anxious because I finally am doing something I love, but only part-time and its killing me.  I mean destroying personal relationships and my health.  I am constantly trying to find the balance and ALL I CAN  think is, I want to do it Full time.  But God is constantly reminding me that once again, there is a time for EVERYTHING, BUT one catch, in his time.  I just wish HIS time was My time right now.  lol. 

GARDEN BOX

This post is a little behind but that is how my WHOLE life is these days.  I feel as though I am constantly running to keep up leaving a whirlwind of disaster behind me.  Example, this morning I picked up everything to take with me to work and apparently somewhere in there I sat my lunch down a forgot to pick it back up.  Didn't even realize it till my husband called and said "do you know your lunch is on the foyer table?"  Nope, sure didn't.  So ok, I will have to buy lunch today.  Order lunch, look for wallet, there is no wallet.  Whats that?  I left it in the backpack I used for Sunday and its still there AT HOME! Yeah, so basically I have been driving around for 2 days, and no wallet.  Smooth. 

 

 

BUT I am trying to focus on my accomplishments and leave the failures behind.  Its hard, but it is good to stay positive and I NEED a lot of positive these days.  The husband and I are starting a new life of eating healthy and we wanted to have a garden to support that, fresh herbs, veggies and so forth.  Not wanting to spend too much on things to put them in that didn't fit our space, I went to building.  My ultimate FAVORITE upon FAVORITE past time.  I used some of my old pallet planters for the front porch for most of my herbs and I made a garden box for the tomatoes, peppers and hopefully cucumbers.  So with 2 1x8 boards and half of a 4x4 I had in my garage I made this lovely.  

We love it.  And my husband whom actually has a green thumb waters his plants with pride.  I also called this his Father's Day present.  BONUS! 

I actually have another posted drafted about my desk I made and a wonderful tantrum my son had while visiting IKEA this past weekend.  Must document that one for his graduation, the little stinker! 

WHERE DO I BEGIN?

Where do I even begin to describe this month?  It has been a roller coaster of feelings and continues.   

From wanting to buy a house and still not being ready, to being successful with my Etsy shop and still not having the time I want to put into it, but still being very thankful for being busy and meeting such incredible people along the way.  But it constantly seems as though the goals the husband and I have set are not obtainable.  It is discouraging.  We also battled with some more sickness, I think my tonsils were swollen for 2 weeks. Something I never want to experience again.  A Rustic Homemade non successful flea market appearance (which was alot of work), to a 75th surprise Birthday party for my grandmother for which my oldest brother, niece and nephew came to visit.  It was very busy.

Then to top of that, my toddler son is going through the extreme fits phase.  What is that ALL ABOUT??!?!!?  He is a boy, we are not suppose to have these issues with him, right?  I mean its EXTREME!  From any given moment you don't even know what will set him off.  It could be touch of the hand to taking off his shoes.  It really is severe.  I hope it ends soon or there will be no more children, he will be an only child.  lol

One thing that the husband and I have started, which was one of our goals, is to finally loose the weight we have gained since we were married, or even started dating.  I think I put on close to 100 pounds.  There, there it is for all cyperspace to see.  Took me 6 years, but yes I put on that much weight!!  NOW that is severe.   I actually told my husband the other night that I think I am addicted to food.  He laughed and said " might be".  Thanks.   But seriously, I love food.  I love the different flavors, cultures and so on.  Plus I love cheese.  That doesn't help either.  But so far so good, lost 7lbs so far. Hey! I will take it!

So I need to stay encouraged and set out on the path God has for me.  Its just going to be a long summer I think because there are so many goals we as a family have to make happen.  But when you have God in your heart there is a reassurance that comes that even though it hard and you may second guess it sometimes you have a peace, a peace that certainly passes ALL understanding.  Its heart warming. 

So I leave with this, Giant Yard Dice!  I am in love with them.  I hope others think the same.  They are fun to make and it helps me with my stresses of life.  You can purchase them HERE in my shop.

MY SECOND WIND

WOW!  Just WOW!  I don't know where my energy level came from this weekend but I am not going to questions it and thank Jesus for all that he has given me.  

Saturday I was fortunate enough that my Mother-n-law was willing to watch little guy so that I could finish some building projects, Thank you Cindy!!  Other than the sunburn I obtained it was rather successful.  Actually I guess that makes the sun successful too.  No thank you sun, no thank you.  Later that night I choose to tackle finishing the master bedroom.  I only made a dent but it was a really good one.  

Sunday is where the second wind comes in to play.  Little man has been waking up really early coughing and not being able to go back to sleep and with the husband working overnights it sums up to me not getting rest.  But thankfully my body is getting used to a few hours.  I started with waking up and looking at my coffee table and saying..."hmmm..I think I am going to finish that today." Usually it really is a good idea to not have 3 projects in your home going at once, but I was sure I could finish it in a reasonable time.  I had already measured out the length days before when I was supposed to finish it so all I had to do was get the placement of the boards the way I want and get the coloring down.  I finished the cuts and started the distressing look.  I had an idea that I wanted a sort of driftwood and white wash look but wasn't sure I was going to obtain that certain look.  And at first it had looked like I had made them too dark so I added some more white and then sanded them.  I could have not been happier with the outcome.. I find myself just steering at it in the living room. It took me around 30-45 mins to finish the table and that is cutting, painting and installing.  Not too bad.  Then i cleaned the house so it will REALLY showcase our new addition.  

BEFORE!!!!

 

I finished it off with dark green colored deck screws to give it more of a rustic driftwood feel.  More pics? Sure ok!! Also notice I finally hung my deer silhouette. 

I have more pictures of the finished result of little man's room but that will have to be a post for later maybe even along with our master bedroom that has endured I think 5 changes this year alone.  lol, I still don't think I am happy with the comforter but I am too afraid to tell my husband I want to change it.  

So that was my second wind.  Woke up at 5am and didn't go to sleep until after midnight because I did finish cleaning our room when I told myself I did not want too after coming home from shopping with my mom and sister.  Secret was I got some REALLY cute night stand lamps for the room and wanted to showcase them. I love Target.