I can’t decide what I want to write this post about.
Does that ever happen to you?
As I was painting this sign to go into the guest bathroom….I was thinking.
Thinking about what I wanted to say.
And there were so many random thoughts….so many things to tell you….that I couldn’t just pick one.
So in no particular order….here are the random thoughts from a wooden sign painter.
Random Thought Number 1: How many projects can you make from one $4.99 gray paint sample from Sherwin Williams?
I think I’m approaching Guinness World Record status at this point.
I painted parts of an entire alphabet project and parts of a 22 canvases for the Pass It On Project and parts of a vintage toolbox filled with book page flowers and parts of a kitchen hutch and the “beach” in this wooden beach sign…..
…..using this paint sample.
And I still have a 1/4 of the can left.
Seriously.
It’s like enough all ready.
There should be a warning label about this sort of thing.
Random Thought Number 2: Why did my husband think that the board I used for this sign should be used for a shelf?
He carried this board in yesterday and told me he was making a shelf for the closet.
Really?
Everyone knows that you don’t really see boards you use to make shelves in closets and you should always use non-cute boards for closet shelves.
And this board was definitely cute.
It was way too cute and had much loftier aspirations than simply to live its life as a closet board.
It wanted to live a good clean life and graduate from a four-year college and make its parents proud with its new career as a beach sign.
And look at it now.
It just goes to show that the sky is the limit for a good-looking, clean-living, college-educated piece of lumber.
Random Thought Number 3: Does a beach sign only work in the summer?
Will I feel weird in December when I stare at the beach sign and perhaps even more importantly….has the beach sign exhausted its ability to transcend from season to season?
Maybe I should have just made an all-seasonal sign like:
“Farmhouse”
or “Sailing”
or “Bless Your Heart.”
A real confidence booster of a sign if I ever saw one.
Random Thought Number 4: Why is my family always auditioning for this blog?
They saw me working on this project.
Actually they were trying to brush their teeth while I was photographing it.
So they start in.
Random things like “Why does the arrow point that way?”
And “Which beach are you talking about?”
And to prove they actually are reading the blog….I heard this real zinger “You need to get out your Lee Press-On-Nails to get this sticker off the board.”
They have to understand.
This is a high-class operation.
I’m not sure where they got the impression that these posts aren’t finely crafted pieces of literature.
And my family should know better…..
…….random thoughts or comments like that are never going to make the blog 🙂
PS I couldn’t help it. I laughed so hard I almost spit out my diet coke this morning. My wonderful, funny, creative, incredible workroom creator friend sent me this in an e-mail this morning after he read the post.
And I had to share his brilliance.
“No wonder my lumber is so expensive! College loans! I need to start shopping in the “dropped out of high school/thinking about taking the GED” section of the lumber yard.”
We will throw away no scrap lumber before its time. Who knows what sign might be lingering there.
Ha! I have a sign I painted like two years ago that says "Fresh Eggs" and I still get asked at least once a month "Where are the eggs?"
Once again you have made random thoughts into a thoroughly enjoyable post! The Beach sign would work here year round, except maybe in February which is our 'coldest' month. ;)
Random thoughts of the mind. Most times I can't shut mine up. Jump over here and think about this, then that. Doesn't it ever get tired of moving so quickly? Ahhh, Peace of Mind. Can get there when I am in nature. Does that work for you? Love your new sign. Do let us know in December how you are feeling about it.
Karianne, they are all fabulouso but that first photo caused an intake of breath! :) Have a marvelous beachy weekend!
I love the shelf with the baskets and I love the beach sign.... actually I love everything on this page! My family does the same thing to me..."Why did you put that there?" " Why is everything numbered?" "What does that French mean?".... Can't they just sit back and enjoy it? LOL Great post, great blog! Susan Homeroad
I know what you mean about how far a paint sample will go--I am going to start another art/craft project for my oldest little girl's room this weekend--and it's a teeny tiny valspar sample I got as a freebie! I keep wondering if I'm going run out! But no.... And auditions for the blog! Ha! My kids are too young, but the husband keeps making "helpful" suggestions! Keep up the random thoughts. Love reading them.
I love the beach sign! Just a comment about those sample paints from SW. Do you know that they are not great paints to use? They are meant for color choice only. They are not made with the same components as their gallon paints are. Thats what the salesperson told me anyway. I would not use them on my walls.
I love your "BEACH" sign!!! I have a small powder-room decorated in a "beach" theme, and I love it. It doesn't feel weird in the winter. I love it!
HAHAHAHA!! Other crafty/diy bloggers understand "cute" boards and, in my case, torn books on display and why Lee Press On's are the star of the show sometimes! The kiddies and the hubby just don't get it sometimes but we do, and when the kiddos grow up and have homes of their own to put their "freshy" spin on, then they'll be asking, no begging, Mom for her awesome skills, press on nails or not!!
Sounds like your kids have Mom's sense of humor. You could make it reversible so it is more seasonable. You could put "Christmas Tree Farm" on the other side with the arrow pointing the other way. That would really confuse your sweet kids. Hugs, Cathie
I just love reading your blog everyday it makes me SMILE and even sometimes laugh out loud. Oh and for the record, Lee Press On Nails were the BOMB!
Sooooo, which beach are you talking about? lol Love the numbered piece too ... look forward to hearing random thoughts about that sometime soon. :)
I bet someone would love to pick your brain apart and figure out why it thinks like it does. ha ha! Love the sign and your kids are smart for asking those questions.
Yes, beach may be a little summery, but Bless Your Heart could definitely get you through the winter months. Great sign, and as always, even better post.
Another lovely addition to your even lovelier home. :)
That college educated fine upstanding young board needs to meet one of my globe children! They would be perfect for one another and if they fell in love and got married, we'd be officially related! Just think of what we could do with all their offspring! There would be globe-board hybrids taking over the world! (and those little SW paint samples would make the cutest flower girls)! Oh no, I feel like I'm auditioning for your blog - finely crating my comments to elicit a guffaw! Kelly
Aren't Sherwin Williams paint samples the best? They're huge and the handle is just about the best. I think a beach sign is fine in the winter. I mean, it's not like the beaches go away in the winter right? Plus, everyone needs a little bit of a beach reminder in the middle of winter. I have shells displayed in my powder room and I leave them there year round.
Oh that sign of higher education knows exactly why you hung it there...When you walk into that beautiful guest bath, you sigh, you feel like you have arrived at a beautiful destination resort and ask yourself..."so where's the beach??....oh, that way!!"....pointing toward the faucet...to fill the tub and imagine you are in paradise.....and you are!!! Have a wonderful weekend...xo's xo's
The whole bathroom looks great, beach sign and all........I'd feel bad even going to the bathroom in there..... My husband reads my blog every day...I have to be SO careful! Thank goodness he hasn't figured out how to comment PUBLICLY..... We live in the US....water on 3 sides and eventually even the fourth side...just past Canada...so the sign is correct whatever way it points! sheesh.....critics...... Blessings (as always) Lorraine
LOL at the comments! And good googly moogly woman. Everything you touch turns into a pin for me.
You are too funny! I so enjoy reading your blog..a character you are! I love the sign! Do you have a tutorial on the letters you use or is it just the vinyl,pencil tracing, freehand way? I have several of those SW samples in the garage also but no mindful gray..darn it! Love your home and your talent!
Beach is a state of mind ... not a season. You and your sign and your 1/4 can of grey paint are good ....
What a treat reading this post with my morning coffee! I truly understand random thoughts...sometimes I think it's a way for our brains to organize the ideas swimming around. I love your beach sign...I live near the coast and I don't think it ever has to come down...just looking at it knock a few points off my blood pressure! And finally, I understand about finding good lumber...really any piece is fine with me, it can always be saved, right! Have a wonderful day! Sharlotte
Love the sign, but what really caught my attention is that your kids read your blog!! Wow! That's a feat in and of itself. What are your random thoughts telling you about that? Mine are in their 20's and I don't think they read my (or is it mine) or my husband's blog. That just shows how talented you are!!
LOL! your family is too funny!! This bathroom looks fantastic, is this the one you got trashed over?? People are insane! Love your sign, the shelf and those brackets are divine. Come help me with my bathroom please!!! xox
What is with all of their questions? I mean really. I get your sign. It speaks to me. Beach isn't necessarily a place. It is a state of mind. And, I am so there in my mind. We won't bother discussing the other things in my mind. It can be a scary place due to the way things dart in and out of it all the time. It is like Swiss cheese. What is that saying? Of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most.♥
Love the sign, the the bathroom and I love your random thoughts. I have so many randoms thoughts going on in my head I don't know what to with them. My boys are the same way. I love when they make comments. I think it is their little way of showing me they care what I do. Looking forwards to more random thoughts.
LOL!!! Karianne, you are so funny! LOVED the projects and the paint color!!! I love gray... About the comments... God, they think they are the smartest!!! My son loves to "pull my leg", too! I have thought for months to make a sign that read "Sherwood" as in Robin Hood "Sherwood". I want to hang it on my back fence. My house backs to a park and I thought it would be cute. I wonder how many comments about that I will get! Have a great weekend!
Hi Karianne, I'm not a blogger, just a nobody mom who isn't a very good writer and while I'd like to think I'm funny IRL, I never seem to be able to translate that to paper. My blogger friend, I just had to tell you that every morning I get a smile on my face when I see your blog update in my email inbox. You ALWAYS start my day off with a smile and a chuckle. And sometimes a snort or two. I just had to tell you. Keep writing about nothing, it works!!! :) PS Your home is drool-worthy too. :)
Random thoughts, my foot..Somehow you pulled them all together into a great post...Cute sign..Have a great weekend..
WIll you please let us know in December if you feel funny about the beach sign? Here's a thought - You could always paint the back side, and say "SNOW" :) -Revi
Get a new quart of gray and come make something look as beautiful as your bathroom. The best time for me to stare at a sign that says beach is December! ~Bliss~
Karianne, BEACH has no season. I enjoy thinking about the beach in any season. Great, funny post. Here's what I find hard to believe. You actually allow the kids to use that white bathroom? Joyous Wishes, Linda
Heh. SO awesome. And GREAT bathroom, truly awesome, too - well done! Lumber and cheap paint = priceless.
I love the beach sign! It's all about imagination! As you climb into the tub, no matter what time of year, you can imagine that you're at the beach soaking up the sun, listening to the waves. :)
Love your sign KariAnne, and your bathroom is to die for. I've been working a few sample cans of paint for two years. I hope they don't get wise to us and stop selling them! Always a pleasure to read your post.
Thats okay I am currently painting a sign for the boys' bathroom that says "EXIT" hoping that maybe they will get the hint.. or maybe I should put it in the shower! Ya know 'cause they think a shower isn't over until you've used ALL 50 gallons of hot water in the hot water tank!
one must ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS be careful about talking anywhere near a blogger...;)
Beaches are year round - but they might not sound as appealing in the winter. Maybe you could make a "bunny slopes" sign for winter or "pumpkins for sale".....or maybe one for the 500 mile yard sale....that would probably the most geographically correct! Or make all of them, that would help you use up your paint!
Those random comments of your family make me laugh. I love the Beach sign! If there isn't one close ... you could always say 221 miles with the arrow :) Hugs, Bj
Remember it is summer somewhere in the world so yes a beach sign can work year round, how cool that your kids read your blog mine could care less........lol What is it with men not knowing a cute piece of wood is not a shelve it is for better things then being stuck in a closet hidden from everyone.....
KariAnne--You funny, girl! I loved this post. And I agree, there is such a thing as cute wood. Have a wonderful weekend!
Love the sign and LOVE LOVE that bathroom!! Have a great weekend KariAnne :)
Ha ahahahahahahaha!! Only you could craft genius with a collection of random thoughts. And that comment about the GED/HS drop out lumber took the cake. :-D Thanks for my Friday night chuckle!! xo Heidi
Love this bathroom! The sign is perfect all year; it's wonderful! Silly man thinking a great piece of wood like that could be a shelf; that's why he has you! Have a wonderful weekend!
Oh boy... KInda hard to read your blogs and sip coffee at the same time. So unladylike to laugh out loud while sipping from a sweet little Independence Ironstone white ( very delicate) coffee cup and not have it clatter in it's saucer. College educated boards... Hahhaahaaa, will have to share that one with the hubs. Beautiful sign, and the guest bath is lucky to be the bearer of such. :D Bless it's heart!
Cute boards!!! I'm glad I'm not the only one who can look at a pile of wood and determine which pieces are worthy or not worthy. :)
Yes! Where is that "thinking about taking the GED" section?! Hahaha! The sign is beautiful. :)
That sign is gorgeous. Yes it will work in the winter. It will take your mind off the cold and snow. Do you live where there is cold and snow?!! Love the way your write. And I am SO glad you shared that email - that is too good not to share!!
You are so right, that board is way too cute to be just a shelf! Just a thought -- can you turn the board around and paint something else for another time of year? CAS
Love the beach sign! All your home photo pictures should be in Better Homes and Gardens or Good Housekeeping, or the loftier versions of such magazines. The beach sign in the winter will still be good - it will give your imagination wings on days that are cold or dreary outside, and remind you that better times are coming. Love your sense of humor. What genius to be able to stretch one can of gray paint so far! Your DH should be proud of you!
Great post ! The best thing about reading your blog is I'm almost always guaranteed to have a smile after reading ;-)
I have to say, you do seem to make even your random thoughts on college educated boards look like finely crafted pieces of literature! I love this! Literature and photographs both!
Oh my goodness this turned out so adorable!!!! You are always coming up with the cutest ideas!!
I love the sign ! And I think that arrow is pointing to a perfectly good way to get there !
This is all so hilarious and I will never look at any hand made signs the same again. NEVER! And....this month is Beach themed at my place of business so I will just be pinning this little number and making one myself! Hopefully my board will go on to help fund the 4 year college education of my kids! Thanks for the BIG LAUGH as always. You are a hoot!
I am seriously in LOVE with your house!! I think I would be content just living in your bathroom! I love the chest with the numbered drawers on it and, of course, your sign is adorable {no matter what way the arrow points!} Hope you are having a great weekend! Jenn :)
You bathroom looks fantastic! I must tell you I'm a serious contender for most projects made from a sample pot. I may have been able to paint an entire room with my $1 Martha Sterwart sample, as there's no end in sight yet.
I can see why you have used that color so much.LOVE that color! And that sign is way too cute to put away in the winter.You can leave it up so you can dream about the hot summer we are having.Hence you will not mind it being so cold.Unless you do no live in an area with snow then there are not worries at all :-) (((Hugs))) Anne
I think I need a "bless your heart" sign in my house! That's not weird, right? Even though I'm not from the south and don't say that... Maybe I just need it in a special spot for babysitters to see before I leave them with the three tiny ones:) Jessica stayathomeista.com ps- I wouldn't mind seeing your not-so-tiny ones on the blog, I love pics of other people's kids:)
Your sign looks seriously great, Karianne! I've never thought of using gray paint for the lettering, but I will now...thank you for the wonderful inspiration! The bathroom looks PERFECT!
I'm with your friend. And I found that place... the one with the GED option. Four year colleges are over-rated. We all get out and end up doing something completely different anyway.. don't we? Or is that just me?
You really know how to make me laugh! I to spit out a little OJ this morning! I can't pass up a random board to save my life. God help the pile that's in the basement. Mine don't seem to turn out as cute as yours though!
We MUST be neighbors! Your directions to your home in your top post (giveaway) totally bring you to my house on the KY/TN border! Don't know how I've never seen your blog but I love it!
Oh my goodness, why are the Sherwin Williams samples so large?! I just had my house painted in SW and it took us 12 samples to finally settle. That left me with 12 quarts--3 gallons!--of various grays (including Mindful Gray like yours). I'm glad to hear from you that they go a long way. Or maybe I'm not--what the heck am I going to do with these everlasting samples?! My husband has declared that I have to stop painting everything gray, so, um, that's limiting.
You always make me laugh Karianne. I love (in no particular order) the grey paint, the beach sign, all of your bathroom decor and the kids humour. Here's a thought, how about flippin that baby over and painting a winter theme word on the other side. This doesn't mean I think a beach sign can't perform all year. Take it from me... I live at the beach and that beach is still there in winter :)
So nice and LOVE the color! Which Sherwin-Williams gray did you choose? I like how one can buy it in samples there. I have lots of their paint sitting around in cans as well as in the cute little jugs! A beach sign would not exactly do around here, though it would work in my decor, but perhaps if I put the miles on it! I'd would have to come up with something clever and appropriate to here. I am sounding prosaic. "Beach" can be a state of mind too.
Love this post..so funny. A thought..you could paint the backside with another word/s that way you could flip it over if you feel like the "beach" is too summery.
Oh great idea Nicole, ooops, excuse my interloping thoughts. I love the beach sign KariAnne, so if you get tired of it, put it on a bus to me here in good ol' Jax, FLA? (GRIN)
Love your decorating and your sense of humor too!
I'm truly enjoying your sense of humor along with all these beautiful images. Loving the tour!
Those sample quarts really do go a long way. I painted an entire decorative end table and still had half of the quart left. I have always loved the color you're using and even though it's simple the BEACH sign is great!
I am looking for a gray paint for my kitchen and I love this color! I was just wondering, did you keep the beach sign up though the winter? You know, you could always paint something on the back and make it reversible so you could flip with the seasons!
Love the sign!! I just would like to know what font you used for your letters. I would be so grateful if you would!! Thanks so much!! Lisa