Fall Ball

Since we're based in St. Louis the world series is what we'll be watching tonight!  In between games Jan has been working hard on making upcycled signs for any baseball lubber out there.  Could they be any cuter?  Go Cardinals!!

"The Art of ReUse Contest"

We are so excited to be taking part in "The Art of ReUse Contest" sponsored by Etsy and Green is Univeral.  The contest is such a perfect fit for our company because it is all about how we can keep things out of our landfills by reusing them to create art. 

It was so fun to share our story...but we need your votes!  

Follow the link below and here are the official rules:

Click LOGIN to become a registered user (they will send you a confirmation email with a password). Once logged in, return to this page and click the CAST YOUR VOTE FOR THIS CATEGORY button just above the comment section (the button doesn't even appear if you aren't logged in) under all our pictures and explanation. 

We need your votes to win! - spread the word - spread the LOVE - and don't forget to register to win the sweepstakes  (a $500 shopping spree on Etsy). 

http://www.greenisuniversal-reuse.com/home-decor/trash-to-treasured-home-decor

Voting ends this Friday, April 15th.

Inspiring Minds

Adonna and I love a good quote, a sweet phrase, a powerful word.  

This has been at the very core of so many of our creations and, of course, our wall graphics. 

Well, my daughter has an 8-year-old friend who loves all our quotes 

and is curious about all my current projects.  

She is always coming up with sayings of her own.   

The other day for my daughter's birthday she made this card: 

"If I had a cake for every time you love to laugh and smile, I would have a birthday everyday."

It was inspired by a favorite quote we have on our wall:

 

What a clever little girl!  

And what an honor to be a small part of what inspires her!

TV time for Old Barn Rescue Company

Virginia Kerr, a host on KMOV's Great Day St. Louis, contacted us to run a feature story on Old Barn Rescue Company. 
Well, of course, we couldn't say "no"!   

Virginia found us searching the web for local "funky junk interior" types.  

She shares our passion for old, rusty, weathered materials
and was excited to share what we do. 

We were excited to meet her and have the opportunity to tell our story! 

"No more monkeys jumpin' on the bed"

You can't go wrong with this timeless quote!

Busy!!!

We have been so busy lately we totally forget we actually have a blog.  Case in point...our last entry was from last spring!!  Well now Jan is in the midst of final prep work for a show at John Burrough's in St. Louis this coming weekend.  She's made all kinds of fun stuff from old doors and windows.  I must admit that I am kind of jealous.  We have so much fun creating in her basement together but I had to sit this one out (insert sad face here).  I had to hold down the fort for our Etsy site which has had amazing sales this month thanks to some awesome bloggers out there that have gotten the word out - thanks to you all!!

If you live in St. Louis Jan would love for you to stop by the show this weekend and say hi!  I'll be at home in WA watching the snow fall (predicted for Sat) and  plugging away with our wall vinyls wishing I was there too!  Here's hoping she comes home on Sunday with an empty van!

Suburban Journals | Life | Of old wood and ‘ elephant ears ‘: Artisans will bring out their wares for Gypsy Caravan

Suburban Journals | Life | Of old wood and ‘ elephant ears ‘: Artisans will bring out their wares for Gypsy Caravan

Well, we had another successful showing at Gypsy Caravan!

Adonna flew in last Wed. evening so we could go crazy creating right until the last minute and that we certainly did! It was so fun to work side by side again!

Then for the first time in 3 years, we started Gypsy Caravan without torrential rain. It was extremely hot and tiring, but we are thankful that the rain held off until 4 pm. It was great to meet new people and see many returning customers. We love that! It was also great that this time Adonna got to be on TV! Fox 2 News showed off our booth and interviewed Adonna. We got a great laugh out of it, esp. as so many people stopped by later in the day telling us that they saw her on TV in the morning. We also found out from our customers that we had a very nice write-up in the paper last week. We were so busy creating that we forgot to look for it. We're crazy like that when we start working.

Thanks again for all who came out!

-Jan

Old Barn Rescue Company's TV interview

Come see us at Gypsy Caravan this Memorial Day!

 http://www.ksdk.com/video/default.aspx?aid=127959&storyid=202857#/Gypsy+Caravan/88246538001

Construction Zone!

. 

I definitely feel like my basement is a construction zone because I had ideas and boards laid out everywhere!  Then this morning I had to pick them all up because we have someone coming to seal more cracks in our floor.  UGH!  Three steps forward, two steps back.  Oh, the dream of having my own workshop! 
   

Labors of Love

As Adonna said we are in the throes of creating and burning the midnight oil.  Some of our creations simply are a labor of love.  They just take their time coming to be.  This was one of those.  It was the old silver ruler that finally brought it together and made it right.

...and one more!

Here's another one!

Up-cycled decor or words on wood!

Recently, people have asked to see samples of our wall vinyls on reclaimed wood.  Well, to tell you the truth, we forget to take pictures of a lot of these one of a kind pieces and then they fly off the shelves (mostly at a wonderful store in St. Louis called The White Rabbit!) never to be seen again.  But we took a few minutes recently to snag a few pictures of what we are working on in our quest to be ready for not only the Gypsy Caravan in St. Louis on Memorial Day but also our first show in the Pacific N.W. at a July 4th celebration in N. Idaho called Bayview Days.  Tag that onto some record days of fulfilling vinyl orders and you've got two busy woman who's husbands have recently been know to ask when they will get to see us again!  Check out our vinyls at www.oldbarnrescue.com or www.oldbarnrescuecompany.etsy.com!

4 a.m.

We have been so busy lately with custom orders. It's a great "problem" to have though it is causing me some anxiety! Thus the early morning hour...seems to be the best time to pump out the work. Here's my latest creation which is really a great promise!
Jer. 29:11

Planting seeds

I truly wish I was a better gardener because I LOVE flowers.  I have many ideas in my head of what I would like my yard to look like, but the reality is, anything that goes in my yard better be hardy and self-sufficient because it's not going to get much assistance from me.  This past Christmas my mother-in-law gave me an abundance of seeds to plant...so today was the day!  It was absolutely beautiful, the perfect weather for gardening and there aren't any bugs yet!  I had many seeds to plant, so I am posting this in hopes that a few a those little guys will become the flowers of tomorrow. --Jan

http://www.etsy.com/listing/29062158/the-flowers-of-tomorrow-are-in-the-seeds

First day of actual spring

I'm exhausted.  I don't know if we were actually crazy or just dumb but we decided, in a heartbeat, to buy 5 acres out in the Pacific NW last September.  We were moving closer to family and had looked at a bazillion cookie cutter houses.  We didn't actually look inside this one...just did a drive by.  But, of all things, it had an adorable red barn.  It haunted my dreams until we made an offer...never having seen the inside in person, only through snapshots my sister took.  It's great, don't get me wrong.  I LOVE waking up to the gorgeous view of the mountains and the alfalfa all greening up.  I love seeing deer and hearing bird calls I've never heard before in my life. I love my extremely friendly neighbors and being able to feed the neighbors horses their daily carrots. What I don't like is the prairie grass that takes over every piece of unclaimed soil and, that, my friend, is why I am tired.  I spent a good chunk of the day, in between processing orders and scrubbing my kitchen floor, digging up the prairie grass.  Such is the life of a home business mom/"farm" owner!  Would I trade the weeds for having winter show up again - not on your life!

Oh Happy New Year and Oh Happy Day!

 With the New Year underway, we are saying "Oh Happy Day" at Old Barn Rescue Company because Adonna's arm has healed enough for her to design again.  Fabulous new designs they are!  

Take a look:

 I think we are all longing for the beach right now.

I can't help but smile when I look at this one.

 

And a great motto for the new year:

"Nothing is worth more than this day."

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=38063474

We are so happy Adonna is on the mend!!

Winner of our Beautiful Mendala Giveaway

Congratulations to the winner of our Mendala Giveaway -- Annie the Nanny!  We thank you all for participating and look forward to offering more giveaways in 2010.

As for a few updates:

We are happy to report that Adonna's surgery went well, but was certainly significant.  She now has a plate and 10 screws in her upper arm.  Recovery is slow - we rejoiced over her ability to tie her shoes the other day by herself. And sleep is very difficult - so your continued prayers are appreciated. 

Business has been booming and for that we are incredibly thankful!  Our windows with our vinyl graphics have been a big success this Fall.  They are a great reuse for our old windows and make such a dramatic statement.  The color of the wall shows through the glass and a 3-dimensional affect is created with the shadow of the lettering.  BEAUTIFUL and so much fun to create!

Enter to win -- Beautiful Mendala Giveaway!!!

Become a follower of our blog and you will have a chance to win this beautiful leaf mendala.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=32404567

 Don't worry, becoming a follower of our blog will not add to your e-mails or spam.  It simply helps us with our numbers and awareness with marketing.

The drawing for the winner will take place after 9 pm. on Dec. 17th, and the decal will be shipped out in time for Christmas.  This would be a wonderful Christmas gift or great addition anywhere in your home.  Thanks!  -Jan and Adonna

A big "THANK YOU"!

We want to extend a big thank you to all of you who came to see us at the Ladue Chapel Holiday Mart.  It was a huge success and so much fun to see so many repeat customers and meet new ones.  Interacting with you all is truly one of the greatest rewards of our creating.