A sign painting tutorial has been much requested! Claire my wonderful assistant teaches the sign painting classes here at the store and helps me with all of the fun graphics that you see on the paint labels and the craft kits! Claire joins me this week to help with some sign painting tips! Find out more about Claire’s sign painting and graphic design services on Claire’s new website!
Before I get into that I wanted to tell you what happened to me about an hour ago, I wasn’t going to share this, because it’s humbling, but it was also very encouraging to me and I hope it will be for you too.
As many of you know this year has been challenging, I almost lost my Mom and I made a big decision to transition to a new paint line. you can read all about that here.
The end of the year is a time for reflection, this year especially because January marks 20 years that my shop has been open!
After 20 years you might assume that business is great but this year has been one of the hardest. I try to focus on the many blessings I have and give the worries to God, but this morning I woke up struggling with worry again… I know I’m not alone , many of you write and tell me your stories, I can often relate more than you might think.
Here’s what happened this afternoon, I went to the thrift store looking for a piece of furniture to paint for the next video, this video was something I agreed to do months ago, anxious to get caught up and scratch this obligation off of my ‘worry list’ I ran over in search of something for my new milk paint video after shipping orders at the post office.
I left the thrift store with a wonderful $10 table in my car, so big that it was hard to see out the back.
I put the car in reverse and backed out of the parking lot past three stalls because I couldn’t see well enough to do it the proper way. When I finally found room to turn my car forward there was a sheriff waiting stopped in the middle of the street.
I saw him and my heart started racing, I thought to myself , oh no was that illegal? the last thing I need is a ticket! I tried to casually roll by the sheriff praying he wouldn’t stop me as he motioned for me to roll my window down….
me-“hi” …( no God pleeeeese don’t let him give me a ticket!)
sheriff – “hi there, how are you today?”
me “fine, I’m fine, how are you?” ( just tell me what I did please, just a warning would be great, I really can’t afford one more bill!)
sheriff- “Are you Christmas shopping?”
me- “no, just buying a work table”
sheriff- “oh where do you work?”
me- “oh I own a small antique shop in Solana Beach” ( why is he asking where I work?)
Sheriff- “well we are giving out $100 bills today, and I have one for you” 🙂
me- ” what? is this real? ( oh man it looks like a real bill!)
sheriff- ” yes it’s real, do you need it?”
me- ” yes I do, I really do, wow thank you so much!” ( wiping tears away)
The sheriff waves and smiled as I drove away. I headed back to work bewildered and thankful, God knew how much I could use the 100$ to help get a little more caught up, more than that it was encouraging to me that god knows my worries and he cares.
Then I called my mom, ” Mom you will never believe what just happened!” I started t tell her when she interrupted half way through the story…
Oh my gosh Debi, I think I know what happened , he gave you a hundred dollar bill!”
“yeah mom how did you know that? ”
“I saw it on youtube, they’re giving out 100$ to people who look needy!”
Crispy new ones with the fancy hologram.
well maybe it was the paint splattered clothes or old boots that are coming apart, or the fact that I didn’t take the time to hem my skirt and cut it off letting the edges fray because it looks edgy…
Whatever the reason I’m grateful, and I hope sharing my story somehow passes the encouragement on to you, I believe that God knows and cares about all our worries no matter how big or small.
UPDATE, since posting this yesterday, I sent a thank you email to the Sheriff Dept. here’s a copy of the response,
Good Afternoon,
I am so glad to hear that you were touched by the Secret Santa program. The gift to you and others were made possible by the donations of some very caring people and we were happy to be a part of the program. You can read more about it on our news release http://goo.gl/rZd7VS
Thanks for including us on your blog!
Ken Culver
Public Affairs
I hope that the people behind the Secret santa Program will find their way to this post and know that their generosity is appreciated. Thank you so much!
I can only imagine how much fun it was to be the sheriff’s handing out the bills yesterday!
I don’t have cash to hand out but thanks to Heirloom Traditions I do have a fun paint giveaway!
Here’s a list of tips that Claire put together for you!
Have you ever painted a sign?
Has anyone ever given you an unexpected gift?
I’m super excited to offer some free paint, courtesy of Heirloom Traditions! We are giving away a half dozen 6oz samples of DIY Paint and white wax!
There are two ways to enter, simply LIKE and leave a comment, with a creative quote to paint on a sign, on the DIY paint Facebook page or on my Youtube Channel.
The winner will be announced in a video on Christmas Day!
PS, my mom wants to personally thank you for the prayers , she will be in the video with me announcing the winner!
DIY paint comes in 20 beautiful colors that I hand selected just for you, and there are five new colors coming in March! You can shop online for DIY paint here, or inquire about where to find it in your area and get info about becoming a DIY paint retailer at hello@debisdesigndiary.com
Wishing you some encouragement this Holiday season!
Merry Christmas,
Debi
need it ,want it,paint it !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
love love love your work,Id love to win ao i can try your paint !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I would love it! That is such a cute sign you and Claire created!
That is a great story. I’m so glad that happened to you!!
I’m so happy for u!!! Love the sign!!
I love all your work.and i do mean all ,i look foward to all your vidios
What a great story to share, the story of hope.
Deb, I just love this. I am thinking about trying it, but I couldn’t find the template.
This opens up some many ideas, thanks for creative minds !
Oh I forgot the quote ” she sells seashells by the seashore “
So cute! I’ve been wanting a sign that says ‘God bless us, every one.’
Merry Christmas!
Hello, so long since I heard from you, was wondering? I saw that on the news and thought how wonderful. So happy for you. May this new yearbe your best ever. Love your painting and signs..
Hi my love Debi, I have been blessed many time this year. I keep you and your mom in my prayers. I’m so happy for you with your amazing paint! Stay strong. God Bless. Love ya’ Patricia B
Hello Debbie,
What a wonderful story, and what a wonderful God we have. I think when things like that happen it’s a God wink. He’s letting you know he has you covered. Have a super blessed day and the Merriest of Merriest Christmas.
Congrats on your new paint line AND the feature Interview with you and your studio in Where Women Create Nov/Dec/Jan issue – how cool is that! One of my favorite quotes for a sign: Nothing is impossible. The word itself says ‘I’m possible’! – Audrey Hepburn
So glad to have you back. I have missed your site…
I’m so happy for you! You seem like such a nice person and so deserving. I love your videos and plan to try your paint soon! Going to go check it out now. Merry Christmas!
Thanks for sharing your blessing with us. I think it is wonderful and I love that your mama already knew something good had happened to you! So glad she is doing much better. Sending continued prayers for healing and comfort,and wishing you all the merriest of Christmas’s and Happiest and healthiest of New years’. (I am sure I have some grammar errors in there, lol).
God bless,
xoxo, Tracy
Very cute sign. I have been putting off painting the kitchen island i built because I have been afraid to commit to a particular color, but Frayed Burlap is exactly what I’ve been looking for. hmmmm…..
“Love and Laughter Found Here”
This has been a favorite saying of mine for years…You know you have succeeded with your children when they can afford their own therapy
This is one my grandmother used to say to me, what doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger
Fabulous tutorial! So enjoyable to watch just a few days before Christmas! Here’s a fun quote to paint: “Never underestimate the power of a passionate DIY-er!” Merry Christmas to you and your great staff! ~Heidi
Just found heirloom traditions and your new line yesterday. Gods timing for things is perfect. My friend and I have just opened a new shop and want to give paint classes. Looking for the perfect paint. Think I just found it. Already emailed my info for wholesale. A few things we say All the time are, “this is why we can’t have anything nice”. We say that like when we spill something or the revolving tree gets caught in the curtain. Another favorite is “pray hard”
So happy for you, I so know the struggles of trying to make it work every month. We have opened a small business in our little town and it is very hard. When I started watching your utube this weekend I just assumed you had it all together, meaning financially. Assumptions are not to smart, I have been in and out of self employment for 30 years, crafting is in my blood, not good for the pocket book at times even though everything I look at I am making it into something else in my head.
I will share with you something happened to me many years ago. We had moved to Corbett Oregon, not knowing anyone, quickly made friends with parents of my sons friends . We were invited to dinner one day by a family that had 7 boys, the mom had just had a baby and she had breast cancer, the house they lived in was at the top of a mountian the winds would get 70 miles per hour at time’s. I pull up and she comes out and says someone left u a gift.
A gift?
Yes a gift.
I get out of the van and she comes over, hands me an envelope and says Jesus brought you a gift.
The envelope had money in it (I wasn’t going to be able to make my Electric payment), at this time my son ran out of the house screaming Mom your not going to believe all the bags for us.
I look at my friend she says “don’t be upset ” Upset? I was in shock. I walk in the house and there are bags triple stacked in an L shape along her living room, Filled with FOOD!!!. We had none.
We ate dinner, me crying, something like that really does humble you. Soon after that I found a job, well God found me a job. He knows what we need and how we should receive it.
I do not share this with everyone, but the point to this is…..this family had nothing, the Love of a Great God, the Love of Family and Friends, they had Everything! !! She told me sometimes they would come out of church and there would be food and money in their truck. GOD is Awesome!
Bless you with your business and personal life, I will be seeing you on the Tube, all my new love to u…..
Dodie, thank you for sharing your beautiful story, very encouraging. wishing you a wonder 2015!