The Handmade Hangout #147

So glad you are here for this week's linky party:

Handmade Hangout Linky Party

The Handmade Hangout #146

So glad you are here for this week's linky party:

Handmade Hangout Linky Party

DIY Barnwood Ceiling

You guys know that you don't have to buy reclaimed wood to have the reclaimed-wood look. Right? Alder is my most popular wood species for new projects, because it's an inexpensive hardwood and it stains so pretty! You can this look ready to install through Home Depot- like I mentioned in this instructional SHIPLAP tutorial.  But here's how to stain the wood and do it yourself. 

The Handmade Hangout #145

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French Country Console Makeover

OMG! Zack and I went on the craziest Ghost Tour last night. We are down in Key West and took this tour with Ghost Mysteries. It was as good as the many other tours we've taken, but something different happened on this tour. We didn't see a ghost or anything like that, but what we learned about was this doll named Robert. It was made by a woman who worked as a servant for this family. She practiced a weird religion called, "Santaria." This all takes place in the late 1800's. Anyway, a goat, a chicken, puppy washed up on shore headless and word spread that the Santaria worshippers were in full practice. Santaria is apparently a combination of Catholicism and Vodoo (says our tour guide). So this family found out that their housekeeper was a practioner and fired her. Before her last day, she brought a doll as a gift to the family's son who she deeply loved. The doll was about the same height as the boy and he had an immediate affection for it. Why wouldn't he? 

The Handmade Hangout #144

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DIY EBONIZED White Oak Floors

The other afternoon I was sitting on the beach reading the Spring issue of Magnolia Journal. I came across an article that struck me to my core and I thought I'd share with you. There was a story about a woman who decided to purchase a ranch rather than retire from her normal job to a life of leisure. She was not a "rancher" so she had a lot to learn. On her first day of horse back riding lessons, the horse was spooked and when it jolted, the reins were wrapped around her fingers, pulling off the tips of two of them. She rushed to the hospital but the finger tips were lost. She became doubtful and fearful of her decision to start a new "ranching career." How many of us can relate? I know when I started the MBA I had similar doubts that I was making the right choices and that I was cut out for the program. And again, starting as an entrepreneur, I had those doubts and risked our income anyway. Well, the woman's daughter writes her a letter, and I'm paraphrasing, "If you continue to live by Fear, the world will get smaller and smaller." I can tell you for a surety that this is true. Live by faith, live with joy, and love failure, because it teaches you something. Let's commit to live without fear, the best we can- ok?

The Handmade Hangout #143

So glad you are here for this week's linky party:

Handmade Hangout Linky Party