I Realize I Have a Thing for Turquoise

I am excited to be back to my blog after such a long time! I had to let it go last year and focus on my little business and family. Things are more in order and I even had time to paint a piece of furniture for myself! I recently painted this vintage dresser with the help of my honey. Well, he did the painting and I told him what to do was the artistic director for the project.
The result was this bright and happy little charmer of a dresser! All turquoisy (is that a word?) and preppy with the shiny red knobs. I am known for making things look "old" or "vintage", but lately I like the look of satin to shiny, bright colored furniture.
This started off cream with gold leaf accents. I forgot to get good before pics! I have one that gives a little idea of it in it's vintage state:

I loved it like this for many years. It was time for a change! Did I mention I bought this dresser at a yard sale years ago for $10?! It is solid wood and well-constructed. 
We used a paint sprayer that I've had for a while, but never used. Now, I want to paint everything with it!

A paint sprayer is an amazing tool for your furniture painting arsenal. The result is a smooth, even finish... a professional finish. They are inexpensive, too. The only drawback is cleanup. You have to take it apart and clean and dry each piece.

While he painted, I headed to Hobby Lobby to change out the bohemian, hand painted knobs I had purchased for shiny red ones. After we began painting, I felt I wanted a preppy look more than bohemian. Sometimes that happens! You think you're going in one direction and then inspiration strikes and you take a whole new direction. Just go with it!

When I got home, he was already done! Teamwork is awesome, especially with your Honey! 

I had to drill bigger holes for the knobs to fit. That took all of 5 minutes. I put those bad boys on and stood back and smiled! She's so bright and happy! 

He didn't want to paint the inside of the drawers but I made him told him how much better it looks when the inside of the drawers match. After seeing it, he agreed.

I am going to use it in my closet-less bathroom for storage. I lined the top two drawers with a mustard yellow liner. 

I am really happy with the result and can't wait to paint my bathroom walls white and finish redecorating it so I can share pictures with you. I will share as I go. 

By the way, I am noticing that I have a "thing" for turquoise, considering my front door and, now, this dresser are dawning this classic yet eclectic &  chic color, which reminds me of the beach. If i can't live there, I'll just bring it home!

Sign Inspirations

I am inspired and love signs with simple fonts with only 2 or 3 colors. If I paint a sign, I want it to look as authentic as possible. I do not want it to like a store print with too many graphics and no soul. However, I did find some very graphic farm signs I love! They are handpainted so theygot the soul I love. 

I needed some signage inspiration and these are what I found this morning. 

I love the distressing of this authentic post office sign!

Paris subway signs

not a subway sign, but beautiful inspiration for a cafe sign

Good 'ol American BBQ signage inspiration like this pig shaped one make me smile! I need to recreate this one:

Farmers' market signs 

Farm signs

Bakery signs

this one has a touch of humor and I want to make an inspired version of it:

I won't be making this one, though! lol:

love this, too:

Cigar shop signs

I love the name of this cigar shop!:

Feelin' the Love

Today, was one of those days where I had so many obligations because I was out of town for 5 days. By evening, I was really cranky because the work didn't seem to have an end! You know what I'm talking about? Those days where you notice how everyone in your home seems to leave everything out for you to clean up. Every time I put 1 thing away, I found 5 more "things"! Well, I don't mean to whine on here, but I just want you to know.... I know how you, moms, feel.


After, my rampage  lecture to the fam about why they need to help me out and pick up after themselves, I decided to check my email on my phone. I'm glad I did and I'm sure my kids were, too because Jen from

Harrison Home

let me know she had recognized me with the 

That made my day! I'm fairly new to the blogging world, but from what I understand, this is an awesome way to promote your blog and possibly meet other cool and creative bloggers. Well, I'm so happy to pass it on to 5 other bloggers! It is awarded to bloggers with less than 200 followers, and this is how it works:

1. Post the award on your blog

2. Show thank to the one who chose you by linking back to them

3. Reveal your 5 picks for the award and let them know

4. Kick back, give yourself a pat on the back, and feel the love from the other supportive bloggers in the blogosphere

5. Share the love, love, love!

Be sure to checkout Jen's sweet site. She has goodies like pretty mantel design, ruffled sink skirts & stencil signs tutorials, pinterest inspiration, and much more goodness for the home.

Thanks! Jen for recognizing Pamela Joyce Designs! xoxo

......................AND NOW THE AWARD GOES TO (in no particular order)

1.  Laura & Lisa at maison de stencils

2. Michael and Kaitlin at Le Man and Wife

3. Amy at Faveritte Creations

4. Kristi at the Nib and Quill

5. Alli from Daniel and Alli

Congratulations! to all the winners! Bask in the love and share, share, share!

Painted Picture Frames with Super Cute Mats

I was up late last night painting these picture frames, trying to get some new things finished before I head out of town next week. I can't wait to put these in my home! I've been meaning to print some of my pictures of my kids and now these have motivated me to do that. Until, I get those printed, I put some vintage photos I had found on Pinterest in the frames for an example of what a black & white will look like in these bright frames.

  

You can make this too! If you have an old wood frame that needs a new life, paint it.

Take a mat and cut out scrabpook paper or fabric by using an Exacto knife, following the outline of the mat. I use a super hold glue stick to stick the paper to the mat because liquid glue will make it wrinkle.

Happy Making!

Pam

Farm House Pillowcases

In the middle of a lot of orders from last week, I took some time to make these farm house style pillowcases. Atleast, that's what they make me think of:  a farm house out in the country filled with vintage goods and burlap and these pretty pillowcases stacked on each bed, in all different colors and patterns. 

I found the calico fabrics and pompom trim at Joanns. I used a standard pillowcase I already had on hand and used it as the template. I cut the fabric and sewed the hem one of the ends. Then, I took matching embroidery floss and hand embroidered the pompoms to the pillowcase. Last, I folded the case, right sides together and sewed the unfinished edges. Turn it right side out and I was done. Not very complicated, but I must warn you, for pillowcases, the fabric and trim isn't cheap. It takes a yard of fabric for each case. You'll only have about 5" left on the end to use for another project.

Well, I'm off to finish some work around here! I'll be back soon with another project that has to do with picture frames...

Happy making!

Pam

Many Smiles

Recently, I was asked to make a custom sign for a sweet Texan lady. She saw a sign on Pinterest and wanted something similar but with southern charm. ;)
The inspiration sign came from a really sweet blog called Team Turnbow, which I discovered, today.
She offers cricut directions for making this sign.  I don't have a cricut machine, so I have directions for those who are cricut-less.

source: Pinterest

Maybe, I should show you my finished sign, first...

I changed "YOU" to Y'ALL"! I love it! 

It reminds me of a vintage Coca Cola sign. 

Now, that's a Southern sign!

You can change the words up for your version. You can change just the last word or the word smile to something else. What's important is that it fits you. 

Make It:

First, I went to my favorite store......LOWES to get my wood board. You can find boards of various sizes, there. I usually buy 4'x8'x.5" sheets, since I use all the wood. You can have them cut it to the size you want, too. I learned how to use a circular saw, so I just had them cut it in half, so I could fit it in my car.

When  I got home I cut a 30"x40" piece. 

Prep:

Sanded the edges.

Brush the dust off with my little dustpan broom.

You will need satin paint in the color of your choice. 

Brush on 2 coats of paint to cover the whole board. Paint the sides if you don't want to frame your sign.

Words:

* You have to work from right to left with this one. For example, I started with the letter "F" in the top right corner. Work your way to the left. I know, I know! Not like it isn't already a huge task. But well worth it. 

I only had Helvetica style stencils, that can be found at your hardware stores. Unfortunately, they have gaps in each letter, so they're not solid letters. I hand-painted each "gap" only to realize, afterward, that I could have used painter's tape to cover the "gaps" and make them solid letters! I know better, now. 

I used 6" letters on the 1st row, 8" letters on the 2nd row, and 3" letters for the 3rd row.

The last row, I hand drew. However, you can print it out on legal size paper, letter by letter, and trace onto board with tracing paper.

It took 3 coats of acrylic paint to do each letter.

The crazy thing about my style of signs, is how I mess it up after I paint it! Yep.

You can skip the distressing part if you like it the way it looks at this point.

Distressing:

Now, that all the letters are in place, take a medium grit sanding block and sand your little heart away. Make the letters look worn and gritty. I like it to look like I found this "old" sign on the side of the road. Like a discarded vintage gem! Ok, back to the task at hand...

Once you have it as worn-out looking as you like, then pour an antiquing glaze (also found at LOWES in the paint section) in raw umber color or use acrylic paint mixed with equal parts water and pour in a disposable cup. 

Dip a trim paint brush in the glaze/acrylic mix and wipe excess off on the rim. Then, brush all around the edges of the sign. Use a damp rag to dab where you brush so it looks more muddled and not brush-stroky.

Brush some on the letters and dab some more. Keep doing this till you are happy with how gritty you made it look. 

*don't forget about the sides of the board if you're not adding a frame.

You can build a frame around it like I did. I used hardwood (oak) 1"x2" to make the frame. 

Making a frame is a very difficult task that I will share how to do in the future. 

Most of my signs are unframed and look good that way,too. You can opt to paint the sides black.

Hanging:

You can screw in a heavy duty picture hanging wire set on the back. You must hang this on anchored screws or a picture wire hanger (found at Hobby Lobby). 

FYI: expect this take, without making frame, about 6-8 hrs to make (add another 3 hrs for the frame). There is a lot of time involved in the  hand-painting and distressing. It's worth it, though. 

Now, this is going to Texas to hang proudly and, hopefully, bring many smiles to y'all's faces! 

The Scramble Dog

I dug up this old post and wanted to share it, again. Mmmm, it makes me hungry, too. 

Living down South means you sustain yourself with foods full of flavor. There is no such thing as bland down here. The Scramble Dog is no exception to that rule. In Columbus, Georgia there is a small town pharmacy in Midtown know as, Dinglewood Pharmacy.  Generations of Columbusites (I  don't know if that's even what you call them, but that's their name, now!) have been frequenting this quaint soda shop/pharmacy to enjoy a Scramble Dog and a Coke Cola. It's really a tradition. If your mom and dad haven't brought you here, then your "Papa" or "Mema" has brought you here at one time and,for most, it's a regular thing to do.

Lieutenant Stevens (his nickname, not an actual military name), seen above, while he didn't create the Scramble Dog, he did perfect it. Hungry customers wait, normally, 30 minutes to get their "fix" for some Scramble Dog. Across from AFLAC headquarters, Dan Amos, CEO, has been known to stop by for one.

So, what is this Scramble Dog? It is served in a boat, akin to a banana split.The hot dog is cut-up and placed in a Southern Maid hot dog bun.Add mustard, pickles, onions, chunks of cheese, and cover with chili, raising the bun while you smother so that the dog floats in the 'top-secret' chili. (The chili was flown to the White House during the Carter presidency.) Top with oyster crackers and eat with a spoon. *A lot of southerners top it off with hot sauce, too.

Serve up this southern goodness at home. You can find these ingredients in your local grocer.

Hot dogs

hot dog buns

chili

onion

pickles

cheddar cheese cubed

oyster crackers

mustard

*hot sauce

While it may not be exactly like the original, it is still so yummy made at home. These are great for Sunday football gatherings, too. Just layout the toppings in serving dishes on your table or kitchen island and let your guests make their own Scramble Dog. Don't forget the Coke and sweet tea, too! (I will post directions for perfect southern sweet tea, soon)

Happy making!

Pam