New Artwork and ETSY Shop Updates

Hello lovelies!
I haven't done too many DIY projects to share lately cause I've been running around like a crazy lady. I had some issues with our septic tank, a week of fabulous family time, then a week of nasty weather that is just never super inspiring. But one thing I've done a lot of work on this year is my ETSY shop. I did some rearranging, added new sections, and have made some fabulous goals that I can't wait to reach :) I thought I would just do a quick update on the shop to share some of the recently added pretties!



My favorite update has been adding a Painting section. I have always done commissions and larger pieces for friends but was never very confident about adding one of a kind pieces on ETSY. I think all of my work is unique and I hand paint each piece so everything is super personal but doing something that I am not going to attempt to reproduce is really fun. These are mostly pieces that speak to me personally and if I lived in a house with more wall space they would be hanging everywhere :) This Painting section has allowed me to be more creative than the quick gift pieces I've been focusing on for so long. It has been super inspiring and very fun, so hopefully this section will continue to grow!!

I also did some updates to my Watercolor section. I LOVE watercolor and I always have. So by adding some one of a kind pieces I am able to get back in to the medium that really started me on my life as an artist. While my acrylic work is super fun I find watercolor to be so therapeutic. It is a super fluid paint and is so whimsical that its almost impossible not to relax while working with it. 

I did a lot of updates to my Tin Sign section. It is still my largest shop section and where all of my best sellers come from but I decided to build a photo back drop so hopefully the section will be a bit more orderly :) I am still working on this but as you can tell lots of tins have already been re-photographed. 

Of course I still have the Serving Tray section, which is the second best selling section :) It's a favorite because I get to do a little bit a building and painting :) These are often what people buy as gifts for weddings, anniversary, and this past christmas I had an order for TWENTY SEVEN!! Yeah it was crazy awesome!

 And finally what I think is my most unique section, Clocks. Most of my clocks are made from rustic tin and hand painted with all different designs. The tin is so stunning and just perfect the way it is but most clients tend to add a personal touch to match their home decor.

As you can tell the shop is going under some changes and I am loving the way they are going. I can't believe how people have supported me with all of my work. Having a small business is hectic and crazy and not really something I thought I would be doing at 24. But God is blessing me and in just 1 year my sales TRIPLED! I am trusting in God and that He is gently guiding me the way I am supposed to go and I think that direction is towards my passions. I hope this little business will keep growing and that these passions will never burn out :)

I would LOVE to hear what y'all think of the shop so please be sure to visit GraceLangdon on ETSY!!

Vintage Trunk Coffee Table Makeover

I've had this trunk since elementary school, I got it when I went to camp. Yep, I went to a camp that required a trunk not just a suit case. It was awesome!!
But we used it for years as our "dress-up" trunk at home then I took it to college and have used it as storage/coffee table ever since. I painted it brown when I left for school, just a flat brown and it still matched in our current living room. But I just wanted an update. So I felt like adding some legs would give it some great hight and help it feel more like a coffee table and fit our furniture better. And with my little baby Tepe being a white dog that sheds [boy does she shed!] the hair shows up every where and honestly I just wanted to make it a little less noticeable :)
Thats the gist behind the makeover...

I have tons of white paint laying around, well I did. Now I've used it for the studio and this I'm running low. But I didn't want to deal with spray paint, or sanding or anything. I just wanted to get this project done and watch my favorite crime solving shows all at the same time :) So I mixed up some home made chalk paint and set up in the living room with a drop cloth. 

To make the chalk paint I used: 

-3 spoonfuls of cornstarch

-1/4 cup of water

-1 3/4 cup of latex paint. 

super simply and looks great :) 

And to add the legs I got 4 short wooden legs from Lowes and 4 pronged T-nuts.

I painted the trunk with two layers. Honestly I didn't do the best job, there are plenty of little drip spots that I didn't notice. I guess thats what I get for watching TV while working :)
After the paint dried I measured and marked where I would place the holes for the legs. Then drilled out the hole just large enough to tightly fit the t-nut. I then hammered the nut in place so the prongs held on to the meat of the trunk.

Once the nuts were secured in the trunk all I had to do was screw the legs on. They aren't the most sturdy legs, so you can't really move the trunk by pulling it. But now that I like it, It shouldn't have to move often!

I really love the new trunk. 

The white just fits the room 100 times better, even though it does make the rug look a little dingy. But I knew I needed to figure out how to clean it sooner or later... I think the white just opens up the center of our little room. Doesn't seem so cluttered now :) 

Quick and easy projects are the best. I know it isn't done to last forever, but I just needed something new. Luckily this trunk is something that if I decide to take the legs off all I have to do is unscrew them! And like always I can repaint if I decide to. Do you ever just randomly decide on quick little projects that make big statements?

Be sure to check out where I linked up! Party page on side bar >>>