The Farmers Market - A Story
(sign reveal below)
Lacy sat down on the floor with a deep sigh. Crumpled up paper was strewn in every direction. Selling her father's beloved Farmers Market had turned into quite the project!
But she refused to put it off any longer. The Market had finally sold and it was time the back stockroom was emptied out so the new owners could finally claim the place.
Standing up, Lacy winced from the cramp in her leg, but resigned there would be no excuses this time. She had become somewhat of a master at delaying tasks that involved tieing loose ends ever since her father Ned passed away. But not today! Determined, she hobbled over to where her keys hung, grabbed her warm wool coat and head for the old Market.
~ ~ ~ ~
Greeted with the familiar jingle of the brass bell, Lacy pushed open the squeaky shop door that wore many rich layers of patina worn down from many happy customers. The sound made Lacy's heart lurch. The bell reminded her of many afternoons she spent with her dad as she stocked the grocery shelves after school. "I need to remember to hang onto that bell," she reminded herself.
Shuffling her way across the creaky wooden floors, dust motes swirled into the neighboring sunbeam as if to halt her progress.
"No. I have to do this. It's time. I have to let this place go."
Lacy walked past all the tall vintage display racks and head for the back stockroom. Hesitating, she closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and pushed the swinging door forward.
As her eyes refocused to the dimly lit surroundings, her eyes traveled up and down the tall racks that housed everything under the sun. Old tools, vintage tins, and stacks of soda and food crates appeared to be a passion of Ned's. As her head swung wearily to the left while taking it all in, something caught Lacy's eye.
What?!? It can't be! They're here?!?
Against a far wall, half covered with an old white cotton tarp, peeked out hundreds of old authentic signs. Lacy's eyes grew wide as she gazed over her father's vast collection. A smile lit up Lacy's face.
Before Ned ran the Market, he use to be a well known sign painter. However when Ned's dad fell ill, the Market was handed down to the only son in the family, which left Ned with the task.
An artist always finds a reason to sneak back to his roots though. While Ned ran the store, he'd whip out a new sign whenever the need arose. And always searching for an excuse to paint, he'd create signs for most anything he sold, even if the item could have sold itself.
Lacy had no idea Ned had held onto
all the signs. This was indeed a windfall! And that's when Plan B came into effect.
~ ~ ~ ~
The auction house was full to the brim. Everyone knew and loved Ned so they were all excited to claim a small part of him any way they could, one last time. Lucy had hung onto the nearest and dearest signs that were now mounted to her own walls in her home, however was so very pleased to be able to share the wealth with her father's friends. And so the bidding began.
~ ~ ~ ~
Walking through town had become a very different experience. It seemed as if every store or home Lacy walked through housed one of her father's precious signs! What a wonderful way to honor and remember someone that had touched so many hearts.
~ ~ ~ ~
And it gives me great pleasure to announce, I was able to capture one of Ned's infamous signs!
(you do know I made this story up, yes?)
Ned loved old hardware and hinges and had buckets of them on his back shelf.
The hinges are a fun element which allowes one to hang up anything desired.
Old hinges can be held in this position with a quick touch of a welder.
I took it one step further and added a shelf bracket under the sign, which the clay pots are attached to.
This gave the wall art a little more extension and dimension.
Ok, so why the story?
A good friend of mine says every project needs a story. I'd like to create more vintage market type of signs on boards and other creative things, so they had to all come from somewhere. :)
And for the record, Ned is my dad, and I'm Lacy.
The Farmers Market sign is very simply a tribute to my dad. For you see... walking out into the yard and barns was a virtual Farmers Market of all things farm, cows, machinery and rusty trinkets galore. Dad's farmland WAS his market, and he tinkered endlessly with all the things he loved.
And when he passed on, so did his treasures. I have many of them today and I love him even more when I glance their way.
The Farmers Market sign is an old board coated out in white ceiling paint with no primer prior, lettering was created with a computer cut decal used as a stencil which I made with my own pro signmaking equipment (it's my day job), distressed with a palm sander, then the works glazed with a mix of paint and water to slightly tone the bright white down.
The sign is all decked out for spring today. :)
It'll be fun to change this one out from time to time.
One more thing...
Happy Anniversary to my mom and dad. You are missed! xo
(video is from
THIS post)
music: Remember When by Allen Jackson; thanks for such a beautiful song!
