Meditation Room Decor - Creative Do Not Disturb or Shhh Signs

Meditation room décor has grown in popularity and is now a regularly requested door sign theme for me. I've also become very interested in the topic and recently thought, "I need to create a space in my house so I can meditate without interruption." This idea, in turn, reminded me about this theme of décor and how I should share it with my readers. While I've been painting these types of signs for a while now most of them have been in recent years.

I'm pretty sure this door sign is the first meditation themed sign I painted...Jacqueline must have liked to meditate with her dogs!

This next sign was based on a larger 18"x24" painting I created a few years ago that looked like a rising sun....

My customer asked if I had ever created any designs that had a meditation theme to it. I showed him a photo of this painting and he felt it fit the theme he was looking for. He requested I use that same design for the background of this door sign...

And here's another small door hanger I wanted to share. With this sign the customer requested a peaceful mountain scene. I've done many of those over the years so that was an easy request to fill. I love painting mountains! This meditating sign is also a popular image that has been repinned several times from one of my Pinterest boards...

And, finally, I wanted to share this sign. Peaceful ocean breezes, waves rolling off the sea...what a way to relax and clear your mind!

Okay, time to get myself back to painting. But...hmmmmm...now that I've gotten myself in the mode maybe I'll take a few minutes to meditate first! I'll be sharing more with you soon! Until then,

Custom Made Wood Signs - Painted Wood Signs

As a blog follower you are aware (hopefully) that I create and sell hand painted and personalized signs. While most of my signs are usually small I also create and sell custom painted wood signs in various shapes and larger sizes. Over the years I've created a large number of custom shaped signs in various sizes and I always enjoy creating something a little different. But I created one recently that was very heartfelt and meaningful.

A few weeks ago I was contacted by a female customer who was looking for a larger sized custom designed sign--about 7" wide x 36" long. The customer was inquiring to see if I could create a sign that included the words from a song that her father used to sing to her and her sister when they were little. She explained that her sister was having her first baby and since their father had passed away this cute little song held great meaning to them.

I began asking a series of questions regarding the colors and theme she wanted to use on the sign. Since the song was sung by their father every morning she explained that she would like a theme that showed the sky going from night to morning with a moon and stars along with some sunshine. This design was right up my alley since I've created several signs with that very theme. So I shared a few sample photos of signs that I had made in the past and we zeroed in on how she wanted the background theme to look.

Since the design calls for a varying degree of darkness and light I use what I call my gradient blend of colors from dark blue to light blue then I add in a tiny bit of yellow for the sun. After working the blended colors I finally got the background to where I wanted it...

Then I painted the lettering from the song. Here's how the sign turned out...

I was very please with the outcome. I shipped the sign off to my customer and while I never heard back from her I feel confident that she was happy with it as well. I've learned that I must keep this mentality in mind with any of my orders--'No news is good news!' I figure that if a customer isn't happy I will definitely hear back from them.

Well, I best be on my way. It's Friday morning--TGIF!! And I have a few orders to get ready for shipment. I'll be back soon sharing more fun! Until then,

Transportation Themed Nursery Room Decor for Boys

Transportation themed nursery room décor for boys is one of the biggest selling designs offered on my website. While a few other themes are popular as well--i.e. sports, trains and animals--cars and trucks are definitely a top choice. I don't know why but the name signs I have displayed below always stick out in my mind...I think maybe I like the color scheme on each of them...

I offer several items with this theme, not just name signs. Take a look...

Here's a 6"x6" door plaque with cars and trucks:

This is my transportation themed growth chart:

And here's a wall clock with the same theme:

Lastly, I want to share this cute step stool with you:

I've created so many more items with this similar theme, but I think these will give you a good idea as to what I can do for you. So if you find yourself searching for something for that special little guy in your life feel free to check out my website, Creative Name Signs. And please feel free to ask questions...since everything I create is hand painted I can always make small changes if you'd prefer something a little different!

I better run now...lots of things happening today and it's time to go! I'll be sharing more fun soon...until then,

Sock Monkey Nursery Room Decor

Over the years I've seen a variety of nursery room décor themes and trends come and go. One of the more recent trends that I really enjoy is the Sock Monkey theme.

I love the retro feel of this nursery room theme and I'm sure this fondness stems from the fact that I actually had a sock monkey that was a part of my stuffed animal collection. I can't recall how it ever came into my possession, but I know it was one of my favorites. Once I went off to college my mom probably stuck it in a bag with all of my other stuffed 'toys' and put it in the attic and it was never seen again. Oh well...we all must grow up at some point, right?

Regardless, I'm sure the reason I have such an attachment to the sock monkey theme is because of my personal history.

A few years ago I had a customer request a few room décor items with sock monkeys on them. I was somewhat surprised to learn of the trend coming up on the horizon, but I was more than happy to figure out what I could create for her new baby's nursery. One of my favorite items that I created for her was this stretched canvas wall art...

Since that first sock monkey order I've had quite a few customers request the same theme. Here are a few more of my sock monkey creations...

A sock monkey growth chart for a little boy...

And here's a sock monkey growth chart for a little girl...

And, as can be expected, I've created sock monkey themed name signs, too...

So room décor trends come and go. I'm sure someday soon there will be another theme that will take hold and sock monkeys will not be nearly as popular. But I will always hold sock monkeys near and dear to my heart!

Okay, I better get a move on...lots of work in front of me today! More fun to come very soon. Until then,

Chevron Print Decor - A Popular Pattern

As you might suspect I spend quite a bit of time online working with social networking sites that are heavy on images such as Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook and more. Over the past several months I noticed a design pattern that was trending--the Chevron print. I loved it right away but wasn't sure if I'd ever be able to reproduce it in my work since everything I create is hand painted. There are so many lines--and straight lines at that! I never thought it could be reproduced by my hand so I decided I would simply enjoy this print pattern and let go of any idea of ever painting it.

Then, as we all know, the universe unfolds in it's own mysterious way. A few weeks ago I had a customer place an order requesting I use this Chevron print on a name sign for a baby girl's nursery. I was excited at the idea, but then immediately I became nervous because I couldn't imagine how I'd be able to recreate the pattern and keep my lines straight and keep the final sign looking clean and neat.

However, after some thought I figured out how I could do it. I found a pattern online...there are so many from which to choose...

I resized it so the pattern would work well on the size sign I have. (I didn't want to make a pattern that was really small on a larger piece of wood--that would be very tedious and hard to paint.) Then I cut along the lines, traced the edge of the print onto the piece of wood...

Next I painted it...

And voila! Here's the finished Chevron Print Room Decor Sign!

I am very please with how it turned out and it wasn't hard at all!

OMG!! I love what I do!!

Okay...I have lots to do so I best be going! More fun coming soon. Until then,

It's That Time Again...Back to School!

Yes, it's that time of year for getting the kids ready to go back to school. I have to admit it can be bittersweet for me. On one hand I'm ready to get them back in some sort of a normal routine. I look forward to those beautiful autumn days where you can go for a walk and not end up being a big sweat ball. I enjoy going to the high school football games and feeling cozy in my hoodie and jeans. But on the other hand I get sad because I know this means cold weather will be upon us very soon. The days are much shorter and our daily schedules are overwhelmingly full. And my least favorite thing about the Back to School season is the fact that I have to set my alarm lock again for 5:30 a.m. Ugh!

Another signal that it's back to school season is my stack of orders through my Creative Name Signs website tend to be chock full of teacher name signs and door plaques. Many of these orders tend to be placed by a new teacher who wants a sign for his or her door. On other occasions the mothers of the students choose to give their children's teachers a 'Welcome Back to School gift'. I also had a principal of a small private school order a sign for one of her co-workers at a different school within her district. Whatever the reason this is the only time of year--aside from the holiday season-where my teacher name and door signs seem to a most popular seller.

Here is the teacher name sign design that is most likely the biggest selling design I offer:

Then this door plaque is the next most popular design:

This design is one of my favorites...I call it Crayon Theme Room Decor simply because it doesn't have to be a design solely for a teacher...it would look good in a child's room, a playroom, a day care center or whatever you can think of:

And I'm sharing these final few photos just to show you that any design you choose will work...take a look:

So if you're in the market for a teacher gift at any time of year feel free to contact me at Creative Name Signs. As you can see we a nice variety of designs from which to choose.

As for now my daughter begins band camp today, my youngest son begins golf practice tomorrow and my oldest son has to begin getting ready to head back to college in less than two weeks. Yes the "Back to School season" is definitely upon us!

More fun to come soon...until then,

Personalized Signs for the Medical Field

Here is another grouping of personalized signs with a theme...these have all been created for people in the medical field...

These were designed for doctors...

This sign was created for a couple who was getting married...
BOTH of whom were podiatrists! How cute is that design idea?!?!

These signs were for Nurses...

And someone even remembered their school nurse...

As usual, with any of my signs...the ideas are limited only to your imagination!

More fun to come soon...until then,

Name Signs Featuring Quotes

Very often I get requests to create personalized signs that include quotes. The quote can be something very well known made famous by a poet, songwriter, author or whomever. Or the saying can be an inside joke between the customer and the person for whom they want the sign made. When I get these kinds of orders I almost always end up loving the outome!

Here are a few photos of some signs I've created that feature various quotations...some are very simple in design while others can be somewhat detailed...

Over the years I've created many signs that feature fun quotes...these are only a few of my favorites. If you have any ideas for a sign fashioned with a famous saying please feel free to ask me...I am always interested in doing something unique and outside of the box!

More sharing on the way...until then,