Destinations & Directions Sign

Hi all.  Long time, no post.  I know.  Annoying.  I have consistently been waking up an 1 1/2 later than I usual.  This is not a bad thing because I do need the sleep and I am now waking up at an acceptable time.  Having said that, the 1 1/2 hours I am sleeping through used to be when I would blog and edit photos.  Normally, I wake up between 5 & 5:30, make my coffee, then sit on the couch with the dogs and edit photos and type blog posts.  Now, I don't have that much time in the morning so blogging, once again, has been neglected and put on the back burner.  One day I will figure out how to do it all...or at least that's what I tell myself to stay hopeful.  :)

We have had several home projects going on the past few weeks plus tons of furniture I haven't shared.  Today, I want to show you the destinations and directions signs we made for our yard.

In 2012, Blittle and I went to the Exumas in the out islands of The Bahamas.  (If you have never been to an out island....go.)  We stayed on Great Exuma but there was an island across the bay that had a restaurant/hang out place.  Chat n' Chill is the place to meet your friends for volleyball, cards, or lunch on Stocking Island.  This is where we saw our first destinations and directions sign and knew that we wanted to make one for our home.

We were living in New Orleans at the time, which we knew was temporary, so we wanted to wait to make the sign when we were in a more permanent place.  I originally thought I would place the post in a planter, concrete around it to make it heavy so it won't blog over, and put the sign on the dock.  That way everyone can see it that passes by or is at the house, and it can be moved if it is in the way or we decide we don't want it anymore.  Well, Blittle had another vision.  We ended up putting it in the corner of the yard on top of the fence.  I am not going to lie, I was nervous.  Before, I thought it was going to be an understated conversation piece for the dock and now it is going to tower over the yard and be an attention getter.

This project did not cost much.  The post was $4 and the signs I made from left over wood and paint.  I used a paint pen to right the destinations and sprayed them with a spar varathane to try to protect the color from the sun and rain.  We used bolts to secure the sign to the fence so it can be removed if a hurricane comes or we want to move it.

The places we chose all have special meaning to us and are places we have been to together.  We did not put every destination we have been to.  As you can see, we travel to the east a lot!  That's where the Caribbean and Florida is.  So we felt it was a little monotonous to have more arrows pointing in the same direction.  So these are the places we did choose:

Ludwigshafen, Germany - This is where my parents currently live.  It is the only destination on the sign we have not been to but we are going in the Spring.

New Orleans, LA - We lived in New Orleans for 2 years.  It will always have a special place in our hearts and we love to go back and visit.



Turks & Caicos Islands - BLittle and I did not go on a honeymoon.  Long story short we moved our wedding date and planned a wedding in 3 weeks.  He had started a new job and there was no time to worry about a trip.  We decided to go on an amazing 1 year anniversary trip and  Provodenciales, TCI had been suggested to us.  At the time, very few people we talked to knew what the Turks & Caicos islands were and where they were located.  It was our first time to the Caribbean and at the time, I was treating it as the only time I might see the Caribbean.  You never know what is going to happen and traveling is not cheap so our attitude was to do it all while we are there and enjoy what could be our only trip like this.  We snorkeled, ate amazing food, went to some crazy places that felt like the end of the earth to fish.  It was unbelievable.  Such an adventure.   Grace Bay is hands down one of the most beautiful beaches I have ever seen...EVER.  I just thought I loved the beach and Caribbean, then we went there and I became obsessed.  :)

Shimeck, TX - This is where Blittle's parents live.  It is no longer called Shimeck but years ago, the land that they live on now, was called that.


Long Island, The Bahamas - Every trip we go on we love.  Every island we have been to, we have enjoyed.  Every time we go to the Caribbean our vacations are a little different.  One time we rented a boat and island hopped on our own.  We stayed in a nice resort.  We have stayed in a house on the bay side and could fly fish behind the house.  We have stayed in a elevated, camp house with no air or tv right on the beach.  They have all been so different so we love them each for different reasons but Long Island was special.  Something about it.  This was one of those trips were you have to get on a small, chartered prop plane to get to it....don't even get me started on the duck taped windows....thought I was going to die.  Anyway, Long Island was gorgeous like all the islands and the place we stayed was great and it was the first time I fly fished on a trip.  Blittle always brings his fly rod and we either fish on our own or get a guide.  On this trip, we got a guide and it was an amazing day.  He was patient with me and waded with me all day constantly giving pointers and helping me improve.  I hooked my first bonefish but a shark got him before I could reel him in all the way.  The water was so calm and flat that you could barely see where the water stopped and the sky began.  We saw a 6-prong and 5-prong star fish.  It is a place I would definitely visit again...scary plane included.

Sabine Lake - This area is where I grew up, where BLittle and I met, and where we lived the first years of our marriage.  Obviously, it means something to us since we named one of our dogs after it.  :)   Most of my family still lives there and where my parents have their home.  Although, I never plan to live there again, it will always be special to us.

Charleston, SC - I know this sign isn't up yet but will be soon...and it to will be pointed to the east.  We loved Charleston.  It really is a great city and I was pleasantly surprised how much we enjoyed it.  To be honest, BLittle and I have not traveled in the USA much.  I have been LA, NYC, DC and other random spots but we didn't do any of those places together.  We have been to Destin and have visited family all over Texas but Charleston was the big USA trip where neither of us had been there before.  BLittle kept saying, "I want to do something America", so that's what we did.  It was so much fun to see and hear about all the history that city has and the food was just....there are no words.  The food was unbelievable.  And lets not forget the fishing.  We fish every where we go.  Learning about the flood tides and to witness it was so interesting.  Thanks again to our guide for that day.  We had an amazing time and the sunset was gorgeous.  I can't wait to go back and see more of the city.

We have a long travel to do list so there will be many more islands and cities added to this sign over time.

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Sunday - That DIY Party (DIY Show Off)

Monday - Inspire Me Monday (Sand & Sisal,  My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, Domestically Speaking, Sweet C’s Designs)  Made by you Monday (Skip To My Lou)

Tuesday - Twirl and Take a Bow (House on the Way, Déjà Vue Designs, All Things Heart and Home,

Designed by BH, Art is Beauty and A Few Miner Adjustments) The Makers (Tiny Sidekick, Persia Lou, Upcycled Treasures) Show and Share (Coastal Charm)

Wednesday:Wow Us Wednesday (Savvy Southern Style), Inspire Me Wednesday (Seven Thirty Three, Happiness is Homemade)

Thursday: What To Do Weekends (Crafts ala Mode ), Friday Favorites Link Party  (I’m Not a Trophy Wife),  The Best DIY Party at the Handmade Hangout (A Glimpse Inside, Christina’s Adventures, From Gardners to Bergers, Redoux Interiors, Too Much Time on My Hands), Inspire Me Please, (Liz Marie Blog) Catch as Catch Can (My Repurposed Life)

Friday:  Best DIY Projects and Recipes Party (The Idea Room, 30 Handmade Days, Whipperberry, The 36th Avenue),  Anything Goes (Bacon Time),  Be. You. Tiful Link Party (Chic California), Creativity Unleashed (Practically Functional, Shaken Together, One Project Closer, The Bold Abode)  Fabulously Creative Friday (Jennifer Rizzo Blog)  Anonymous Weekend Party (Remodelaholic) Little Friday Link Up (The Grits Blog,  Living Lavender, Fleurty and Fit), Anything Blue Friday (The Dedicated House)

1 INCH SCALE END TABLE TUTORIAL - How to make a 1 inch scale end table from mat board and tooth picks.

This is the inspiration for this month's blog.

This is the finished table made from mat board and tooth picks.

These are the patterns.  Thank you Nancy.

Directions for getting these patterns to size is under " HOW TO RE-SIZE THE PATTERNS", that's in the "Things to do, Things to see" list at the left side of the blog.

Trace your patterns onto mat board, 1 layer for each pattern.

The legs are 2 layers of mat board.  Trace twice, cut out and glue the layers together with yellow carpenter's glue.  Make 2 sets of legs.

Just in case you haven't seen this bottle before!  This is what we will glue everything together with.

I use wood glue because it dries hard.  Tacky glues always stay flexible.

I am going to show you how I cut multiples with my scroll saw.

I've traced the leg pattern and I am gluing to the second piece of mat board.

When I glue pieces together I smear the glue like this until the glue is about to seize up.

Slide the pieces back and forth until it gets hard to move them, then line up the pieces.

I glue up another set.

It would really be best if we let these dry.  If I were taking my time I would set a heavy book on top and go do something else for a couple of hours.

I am applying dots of glue at the edges on the plain set of mat board.
Just the edges, not all over.

Press the 2 sets together.

I use "skip tooth" blades in my scroll saw.




I am beginning to cut the legs.

I've got the sets of legs cut.

That's how I cut multiples of things.

Since the glue is only on the edges the layers are held together without gluing my legs together.

Cut out the table top.

The table top and apron are cut out from 1 layer of mat board, each.

Apply glue to the table top and center the apron on.  Smear the apron around a bit until it seizes up and then center it onto the table top.

This is how it should look.

Cut out the shelf.

Round off the edges of the table top and shelf.  I used 220 grit sand paper.

I am showing the table top rounded off.

Round off the edges of the legs.

Mix equal parts of yellow carpenter's glue and paint together for a sealer.

Brush this onto the edges of the mat board.  If the mixture is too thick, you want it to be smooth and easy to apply, add more paint.

I will apply this mixture a couple of times.

Measure and mark 1/16" from each edge of the shelf.

Glue the legs onto the shelf leaving the 1/16" on the edge.  To get the glue to seize with butt gluing I lift the leg on and off a couple of times.
Please, let this dry.

Cut the tip off of the tooth picks and measure and mark 1 1/8".  You will need 6 tooth picks.
You can decorate the tooth picks by using small files and sand paper to create a "turned" spindle.  You can also buy miniature spindles from Hobby Builders.
The inspiration picture shows 4 spindles but I thought 3 would be easier to do.

Cut from 1 layer of mat board 2 pieces 1/4" wide and 13/16" long.

Mark and measure the center then mark and measure 1/8" in from each end of these pieces.

Mark with a "T" pin and drill holes the diameter of the tooth picks.

Glue the tooth picks into the holes.

Set this tooth pick assembly onto the shelf and leg assembly.
Center it over the leg with equal amounts left on each side.
Mark where the tooth picks are with a pencil.

Pierce a hole into the marks you've made.

Carefully hold the legs in one hand and the "T" pin in the other.

I am holding the camera or I would be holding the legs.

I am going to drill holes into the shelf and the top of the legs.  You know how I don't like to butt glue anything and this will be doweling the legs on.
I used graduated drill bits, starting out tiny and moved up the the diameter of the tooth pick.  This makes it easier to drill into this delicate piece.

After the holes are drilled I did a dry fit.

Glue the tooth pick assemblies into the shelf/leg.

Measure so that both are the same height.  This glue doesn't dry too fast so you have time to adjust.

Apply glue to the tops of the tooth pick assembly.

I added this piece of mat board to the top of the tooth picks because it would have been hard not to drill through the table top.

Center the assembly onto the table top and I used tweezers to press the mat board down.

Let dry.

Just showing another angle.

When this join was dry I used 220 grit sand paper to sand a bevel on the edge.  This will make this piece less noticeable.

Showing you how that looks.  I didn't bother with the inner edge.

Here it is waiting for a nice shabby chic finish.

On the left side of the blog in the "Things to do, Things to see" list I have a tiny tutorial, "How to paint an aged finish" you could try.












This looks like a nice tea time table with bit of lace draped over it.  I  had fun doing this, didn't take too long.  By the way this table could be made from basswood following the same directions.



Keep sending in the pictures for the Gallery to    camceiling@frontiernet.net

If you have any questions send them to me at the same address.

Have fun, Expand on it, make it Better . . . .

Just keep making minis!!!

TTUL  Kris