I came across a quote by Thomas Edison on Pinterest that has a whole lot of wisdom in it, and thought it would be the perfect quote for the door. I created a vinyl stencil with my Silhouette, using the font Birmingham Bold, for the words Opportunity and Work. It’s one my favorite new fonts to use.
The door was originally white, so I painted another coat of chalkboard paint over that, then distressed the whole thing after adding the words, so some of the white would show through. I didn’t fill in the holes where the cabinet handle was, because I thought I’d reattach it, but decided against it. I rooted through my junk stash to find something to cover the holes and this antique hammer did the trick.
It already had a hole in the handle, so I screwed it in, but knew one screw wouldn’t hold it in place, so I added E-6000 glue also. Concerned that still might not hold the hammer firmly, I did something really stupid.
Really, really stupid.
I added another screw into the handle without pre-drilling a hole for it first.
It split the handle. See…really stupid.
In fact, as I was getting ready to put the screw in, I even thought about drilling a hole first, but someone had borrowed my box of drill bits and I didn’t feel like going to look for them, so I ignored my inner smart self and listened to the stupid self that usually prevails in these situations.
I thought about removing the hammer, but I couldn’t find anything else I liked as well to replace it with and since it’s such a super old hammer anyway, I decided to leave it. Thankfully, it didn’t split all the way through the wood, so the hammer is firmly attached still.
I really think this sign has an important message that if you are able-bodied, and willing to work hard, the most amazing opportunities can be yours…not from hand-outs, not from free rides, not by whining. Just hard work and some gumption. Thank you Mr. Edison for such wisdom!
Blessings,
Angie
This is just fantastic! The hammer is the crowning jewel and as always your work is simply spectacular!
I had never heard this quote before and then oh MY look what you did with it…this is just amazing!! 🙂
Hi Angie. Love this sign. Have seen the quote before and believe it! Why don’tcha take the hammer off, use some wood glue to repair the split and then put it back on. If you can even see the split after that, it will look like one of the many lines in the wood. You could pre-drill a better hole before you attach it back so it won’t split again. But the sign looks terrific. Mind if I pin ?
Don’t Touch That. The Knick of Time version/title of the MC Hammer song. That means leave the hammer on the sign.
Bliss
I think the split is no mistake. It makes the hammer look like it has worked hard in its day!
Love the sign and the quote!
Great quote and great sign. Blessings
Spectacular Angie:)
I even love the split in the hammer!
I’ve been meaning to put that on my kitchen chalkboard for months for my kids.
The hammer was a genius idea and I wouldn’t have even noticed the split, but once you pointed it out, it still looks like it belongs!
Liz
I love your sign & the hammer….but impatient as I am for details…I would back out the Philips screw glue in a wood dowel in it’s place, or not……. Yoou are creative and honest to a fault! A fan always, Marcy