Giraffe String Art Tablet

Hello everybody! And a big welcome to all our new subscribers just tuning in... I've been crazy busy lately with string art orders.  The best part? A lot of the people ordering have all kinds of fun ideas, so we've been working together to come up with some new (fun!) designs.  Check out this giraffe:

What do you think? I love him (or her?), I'm considering making one for our house.... hehe. I had trouble deciding what pose to do - straight on, side profile, etc - and settled with straight on.  The ears were too cute, and the tail is a nice touch.  So now that I've made one, I can make more for those who want one too: You can order them in my etsy shop by clicking here, or on the "My Etsy Shop" Tab above.

Here's another one I did this week, with the name "Jace" - I'm really diggin' this color combo that the person chose. The stain is "Weathered Oak" and came out so differently than I'd expected. In a really good way! It's kind of brown gray, and looks like it's description....weathered!  Plus the blues, white, and light green string they chose look great together.

Name tablets can also be ordered in the shop if you're interested, I tried to make ordering easier by putting up generic listings that say "3 letters name tablet" or "5 letters name tablet". This way, you just buy the ad with the number of letters you need, choose your strings, stains, nails & fonts - and BOOM! Done.  You can find those types of listings here.

On a side note, I also wanted to show some new fonts I have! Everyone seems to love the classic, but I think it would be fun to play around with some of these on a name board:

Market and Remachine are my favorite, and I'm making a few in those fonts right now. So I'll show them soon. 

Anyway, hope everyone is having a great week, and if you haven't already - don't forget to enter the Father's Day Ryobi giveaway! There's still $400 at stake here... Hop over to this post if you  missed it. 

Take the time to enjoy your day today..   :)

-Jesse

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1000+ Fans String Art Giveaway

Whoah! 1000 fans on facebook? Aw shucks you guys... gonna make me blush. I'm so flattered and as a big THANK YOU to you all for hanging out here with me, I'm going to host a string giveaway as well as a mega discount giveaway.    One winner will get a free custom string art tablet. That's ANY string art.  Your name? Sure, let's do it.  An animal? Alright, those are great! Got a different idea? I love it.   On top of that, 10 winners will get a 50% off coupon for my etsy shop, good for half of of anything you see, or we can drum up something new together.

Click Here to Enter

4 ways to enter, as facebook fans that's a freebie - plus some other options for all you pinners & tweeters alike.  Each option gets you another entry.  This is open to everyone, so feel free to let your buddies know.  And again, HUMONGOUS thank you to you all, I love your comments, input and ideas - the pictures you've shared on facebook of all your amazing projects.. things just wouldn't be the same without ya.

Thanks again for all the love, and good luck in the giveaway!

Hugs!

-Jesse

If you feel like embedding this giveaway widget on your own blog or page, here's the link:

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/share-code/YjExZDcxMDNkMWEwODJhNzk5NTU2YTE2YWMxNTkxOjI=/

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String Art: Otis the Owl

***Update: Otis the Owl Complete Pattern download is now available in my etsy shop, as well as complete kits that come with everything you need: Pattern, board, nails, string... you name it. Check it out here***

Hey, hey! So his name doesn't have to be Otis, I'm just a sucker for the whole alliteration thing... I'm excited to show you my newest string art design - this was a project for the winner of the String Art Giveaway I did on Better After a while ago.  The winner and I discussed all types of ideas, she showed me a board on Pinterest she had created that focused on many styles she loved.  She really wanted an Owl.  So I took inspiration from her ideas, and combined them into this:

I love how it came out! It was so challenging to figure out all the details (especially on the feathered chest) but it all worked out great - I'm happy, the recipient is happy, Otis is happy, we are all happy.  It's bigger than usual too, about 11.5" wide by 23.5" tall, and for a new trick I mixed some paint action in there. The wood was hand distressed using the Aged Wood trick from a while back. This one takes longer than usual, but so worth it.  Hope you like it!

I'm going to throw this design into the etsy shop, which you can access by clicking here or the My Etsy Shop tab above.

If you want to make it yourself, I have downloadable patterns & directions here, and complete kits here. 

Let's make it a good week ahead! 
     -Jesse 

Want to see other string art designs? Clicky Clicky....

Up next on the blog: DIY Floor Mirror - huge wood frame!

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More String Art Tablets: Wrap it up

I'm the type of person that tends to start a lot of projects at once, and then get sidetracked and start more, to the point where I have to really be strict and stick to a list just to finish everything up. I get excited, and motivated, can you blame me? Everything seems like "oh this will only take a second" and it actually takes a few days, or more...

Ok after reading what I just wrote, it's decided - that's my goal this week, wrap up all these random projects.  I have a folder of literally 200 pictures of these random projects, waiting to be cropped, edited & assembled into posts. That being said - some of you may have seen a recent tablet order I finished up, if not - take a looksee:

This was a mega-order. Four tablets. 23 letters.  A LOT of string......

This was for a customer's 4 boys....

The colors are so fun - came out cute! It's so funny, I love trying out new projects or ideas that I have, and when I think it's 1) something others might enjoy and 2) something I wouldn't mind making more of, then I pop it the shop. You never really know what will be a success and what will sit there, but these string art tablets have taken off. I've been so flattered & excited to make them for people's homes, and I haven't lost steam on them at all, each one is still exciting.  Plus - sometimes I need a break from perpetual home improvements to just work on a satisfying project.  Know what I mean?  Here's one from a few months ago that never got posted (see!? time flies....)

 Love that blue stain! Hard to tell in the photos, but it totally shows the wood grain.  And actually, the person who ordered this one chose 4 different shades of white for the letters, but on the blue your eye just groups them all into one color.  Learned a little tip there....

If you're interested in ordering a tablet or want to discuss a new project with me, I'm always accepting orders - keep in mind I need about 2 weeks (usually less) to do a custom job start to finish.  Check out examples in my etsy shop: here.

Alright, what are your goals this week? Do you make endless lists like me, only to stray away from them? I've got clipboards & to-do lists for days... days that I don't have - heh....

Do something you love today, hope you are having some spring weather in your area! Warm rain over here, it's so nice...

     -Jesse

Up Next: Let us decorate with wood that washes ashore... driftwood mobiles baby!

Let's keep in touch: Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter, Subscribe & of course, Email me.

Want more? Here are some related moments on the blog:

New Designs: Owl String Art Tablet

My favorites: Mod Patterns

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How To: Jute Wrapped Chandelier

***UDATE: Guest room? Check.. See the full tour here*** 

Hello again my friends! I've just wrapped this project up (ha! wrapped...get it?!) and it came out even better than expected.  It was surprisingly easy, and costs SO much less than the popular Jute wrapped chandies that are springing up in stores these days.  Doesn't take many supplies either, and a chandelier is pretty easy to come by.  Thrift stores are usually overflowing with old brass lights no one wants, but are perfect for this project since you'll be covering the whole thing up.  Let me walk you through how I made this little baby:

This is one of the many projects associated with the New Guest Room adventure, remember I want to keep it lightly nautical? Well I thought the addition of a Jute element to the room would help me stick to that, without going over the top.  I think it came out pretty swell....  Read on!

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Giveaway Alert: Free String Art!

Yup. Anyone one you want, sugar! I'm finally doing a giveaway for the string art.  Lindsey, of Better After, was kind enough to host the giveaway, and the prize for a lucky winner is absolutely any string art installation your heart can dream of. This includes names, which aren't cheap! (Hey, they're a lot of work!) So run, don't walk, over to Better After, and enter this giveaway right quick.  There are four ways to enter, which totally quadruples your odds.  Run, and share with your friends! Someone's going home with a customized string art tablet.  In case you missed my subtle linkage in the text above here, here's the direct link: Custom String Art Giveaway.

Love ya!

     -Jesse

Up next: A DIY Cardboard Chandelier. Yes, Cardboard!

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New String Art: The Owl

I don't know about you, but lately I love owls. It all started when were in San Francisco and I saw these adorable owl Salt & Pepper shakers in Chinatown.  Funny side story there actually, I noticed there was a huge shelf full of different owl themed dinnerware. I asked the shop owner if there was some meaning or significance to the owl, and she smiled and said "No, white people love them".  Ha! I thought that was pretty funny.... anyway.... I recently did this owl tablet for Joel, which he requested for a Christmas gift for someone.  Take a look:

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How To: Wiring Pendant Lights

Hello again! I figured since yesterday I posted a DIY light fixture, that now would be as good a time as any to touch up our knowledge of some wiring tips and tricks.  Wiring up lamps & lights is one of those things that always intimidated me, but now thanks to the internet & actually trying it a few times, I'm no longer scared! Still though, when dealing with electricity it's always good to proceed with caution & get an expert if things don't seem right.  Otherwise, It's fairly straightforward.  One of the most helpful posts I've seen was over at The Ambitious Procrastinator, where they give a step by step on wiring up a set of decanter lights.

Aren't those things awesome?! Maybe I should just do a huge cluster of those in our kitchen, or maybe that Mason Jar Chandelier from a little bit ago. So many choices! Maybe I'll start collecting decanters just in case. Hop over to The Ambitious Procrastinator for the full scoop on not only wiring up those beauties, but how they made them in the first place. 

As for what I've been up to, things are getting crazy hectic with the moving, but I've had a few spare moments here and there to play with some new string art ideas.

I love that blue elephant! I had actually done a red one prior, then someone wrote me asking if I could do blue. Of course I can!   The "home" tablet was a really fun one, and has been on my  mind for a while. Not only the aspect of filling in the negative space vs. the letters, but finally tackling cursive. I think it came out pretty good, and would work with any word.  The modern ones are still my favorite, and that set of 3 was a custom order I was thrilled to do. I can't get enough of those circles lately.

If you are interested in a string art tablet, I'm still making them, but if you need them before Christmas get in touch with me ASAP.  Things get SO crazy during the holidays! Here's a link to my etsy shop to get started. 

Make it a good day!

-J

 

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String Art Name Tablets: New colors!

Happy Monday! Is it legal to say that?! Shouldn't be. Oh wait, it's also October 1st..  Happy October! That's better. So, I mentioned recently how busy I have been with  my string art orders, and they are finally done! I have a moment to catch my breath and finish up my twin chevron side tables that I'll share with you soon finally!  For now though, here's peek at the latest string art names, these are all for the same family:

What do you think? Tanner & Landon are brothers, and Ava the sister.  I love the color combos she chose, really fun.  For Ava's, I did something a little new - I put a layer of pink underneath the final colors - not sure if you can see that! And finally, to make things easier for everyone (and to see all the amazing color choices at our fingertips) I set up some color charts for new orders: 

This should change really speed up the order process.  Before, it was a lot of back and forth, and when I showed people the choices I felt like it was a little overwhelming! Hope this helps. Oh, string too:

Look at all the  beautiful colors....... this way we can be more exact. Before it was like, 

Customer: Can I get a reddish... but a deep reddish?
Me: Sure, you mean like a rust? 
Customer: No, like a brick... or wine....
Me: more burgundy like?
Customer: Definitely not burgundy... more orange.. maybe?

And so on! Most important to me was to get the right color for them, so waiting for the package to get to them and see it in person was always nerve wracking, hoping they like the color I chose.  So these codes are the same I use at the store, so I can get the perfect match.

Now that I'm caught up, I'm thinking of toying with a few new fonts, styles & designs. I'll show you soon!

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Ultimate Flattery

I love getting emails from my readers, and this weekend I got not one but two wonderful emails regarding projects they've tackled.  I was so flattered! It's so fun to think that something I've posted about has inspired someone else to tackle it in their own home, and wow did they ever tackle it! These two did an amazing job.  Amy wrote me saying she followed my wall string art tutorial from way back, in her own home. Check out her awesome wall:

Boom! Oh wow, I love how it came out. I think my favorites are the large one on the left, and that one directly over the bed.  Wait, and that large one that is almost a wreath - oh they are all great! The placement is nice too, very good design Amy! She also plans to do a ladybug theme in her daughters room, and I hope we're lucky enough to see those pictures too. (Please share with us, Amy!)

Another reader, Abby, wrote me to share that she tried her hand at the Striped Round Table tutorial (that seems to have really been popular on Pinterest, thanks y'all!) and now has an adorable kitchen table.  Take a look at her table before, via craigslist:

 

Brace yourselves for the after shot:

Came out so cute! I love that she did matching chairs, they look incredible. You can tell by the glare that the finish is probably so soft.  I really like her stripes here too, the middle one is a little larger than the surrounding two.  This looks really nice, kudos Abby on a fantastic job!  Some tips we were discussing, that I should share with you, is how horrible & boring of a time painting spindles can be!  She was about to seal it when I suggested getting a spray seal for those chair spindles, when she replied saying she had done just that! Great minds think alike I guess, hehe. Seriously folks, this is a wonderful project to do - and if you try it, it's no longer just me suggesting some spray for those areas! It's just easier, and more fun.  And these things are supposed to be fun, too!

What do you think, didn't these ladies do a great job?  Special shout out & thank yous to Amy & Abby for sharing there projects with me, and allowing me to share with all of you! Give them a round of applause, or some comment-love since we can't hear each others clapping...

If you've tackled a project, I'd love to see it & share it with everyone here, just shoot me an e-mail and include your photos.  Have a fantastic Thursday - know what will make today even better? Tomorrow is Friday!

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New String Art Designs: Halloween & Elephants

What a bad blogger I've been! I haven't been posting nearly as much, forgive me. After the vacation, I had to rush to finish up a ton of new string art orders, and I'm happy to say I'm caught up.  I'm also excited to show you the new designs! One of the great perks about having the string art so customizable, is the recipient and I come up with brand new stuff together.  I snapped a few photos before sending them out today,  here is a larger version of my sea snail - came out great:

She wanted it for a gallery wall, should look nice! Here's a festive take on my winter tree, a Halloween tree! This was a custom request, why didn't I think of this? I love it! Perfect Halloween decoration:

Another custom request was a spin off the bird tablets, this elephant:

I really like the Elephant! No - it's not political at all, that was a coincidence, haha. But I guess it could be, for the right person. Elephants are just plain cute. This is a birthday gift for someone, and was completely customized too.  So that's what I've been up to, plus three name plaques that I hope to be able to show you (and ship off!) tomorrow.

If you would like to order a custom tablet, get in touch with me here or browse the shop, I have a lot of custom orders set up & ready to go.  All colors of stain & string are customizeable.  Have a fun day!

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Retro Avocado

I just finished up another string art name plaque, but this one is a little different.  At the request of the new owner, she asked for the color "Retro Avocado" by Behr. I've never seen this color, and I loved it! I think it came out great.  Plus, I did something a little new and different this time, I edged each letter in a darker string. What do you think?

I'm getting quite the collection of custom orders completed, and I'm about to embark on another four (holy cow!) as soon as we get back from vacation.   Very exciting!  Here's the group:

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Giveaway Closing Soon!

It's the LAST day for the giveaway, it will be closing tonight at midnight (EST) and I'll be picking a winner in the morning! Exciting! If you haven't entered yet, you can do it in the widget below.  Be sure to share with friends!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
In other news...

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New String Art

I'm just finishing up another batch of string art orders, and thought I'd share since these are some new designs & color combos. I'm really liking the red with the dark walnut stain...these were all custom requests.

Eight Letter name sign, this was the last name of a recently married couple. Cute idea! Isn't the red on brown great? I may borrow those colors for a piece of furniture I'm working on....

This was a full on custom request, I didn't have an example to go off of - but the customer had asked if for the third tablet, some sort of nature themed design, hopefully with the moon, and there we have it. Love that red!

This was another of that persons set of 3, she requested a red bird on the dark walnut stain. Looks great, I wish I could see how they look in their living room!  All these are off to their homes, and everyone has said they are happy with them.  If you want to order a set for yourself, there are many examples in my etsy shop, or you can message me directly to discuss what you are looking for. Thanks for checking in!

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New String Art Tablets

I've gotten a lot of string art orders lately, which leaves me with a lot of extra tablets of wood to play with.  I jotted down a few ideas, and started with my favorites.  I Just wanted to take a moment to introduce two new patterns: Sakura & Circular Geometric

There they are! Of course they can be customized to fit different rooms.  I think my favorite of the two is the yellow geometric, it gave me all kinds of ideas for other patterns I want to tackle.  The really rewarding part of making these is stringing them up. The nailing... WOW.. you just feel like it will never end!  But it's all worth it once I get to see the finished product.  I really think these would look great in a set, and in our next house (hopefully soon!) I plan on doing a really large installation of 9 square tablets.  I'm not sure what image to depict yet, but I'm thinking about one image that goes across them all - like a face, or a large scale pattern.  We'll see.  Well thanks for reading, have a great weekend! 

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String Art Tablets

Just a quick post today, I've been getting more & more requests for custom string art tablets - which is great! Since they are custom orders, people have been requesting many new design & color combos, one in particular really stood out for me.  They asked for light grey, weathered wood, and this was a first for me.  I tried the steel wool and vinegar trick from this post, and it worked like a dream. Then I did a grey color wash over the whole piece of wood. And here it is:

 They chose all the colors, and requested copper nails. I think the navy blue string looks really nice on the grey, I'll definitely be doing this combo again.  It's leaving today for it's new home, and I hope they like it!

 I also finished up this bright bird tablet for my mom, in her requested colors teal & purple:

 It's been fun, I'm glad people like them as much as I like making them! Have a great day everyone.

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