Behind the Scenes at Mod Mom Furniture

11/25/12

Nativity Sets For Sale -- A Sam Brown Design for Mod Mom Furniture

11/22/12

Facebook Fan/Black Friday/Small Business Saturday Sale That Lasts All Weekend!!

I think I've come up with the longest name for a sale in the history of the world!!

Facebook Fan/Black Friday/Small Business Saturday Sale That Lasts All Weekend!!

So here's how this works... you can get 20% off any MMF storage item sold on www.modmomfurniture.com if you're a Facebook Fan of MMF starting tonight and going through Sunday at 11:59pm! Shipping cost is included in the discounted price!

Shipping time is still 4-6 weeks from date of purchase and we'll do our best to get them shipped before Christmas! If not, you'll have a nice storage piece after Christmas for all those toys you're stepping on throughout the house!

Spread the news to friends to become Facebook fans to get the discount! www.facebook.com/modmomfurniture

To get the discount, you have to purchase using the buttons below....

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Gracie Toy Box -- Walnut Stain or Natural Birch

Regular Price: $475
Sale Price: $380

Bertie Toy Box

Regular Price: $395
Sale Price: $316


Noah Owl Toy Box

Regular Price: $395
Sale Price: $316

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Maude Toy Box

Regular Price: $450
Sale Price $360

11/16/12

Don't Miss the One Kings Lane Sale going on Now! Ends Monday, November 19

Get up to 34% off regular retail price when you purchase through www.onekingslane.com between now and Monday, November 19! But hurry...they are going fast!! They will ship by December 18th just in time for the holidays!!

Available are Maude, Noah Owl, Bertie, Owyn and Gracie Toy Box!

11/13/12

How to Build Your Own Toy Bin!

Modern Wood Toy Bin on Casters (approx cost to build = $80-$100)

Wood: 1/2 Baltic Birch plywood (about 30 per 5 x 5 sheet at lumberyard)

You'll have left over wood so you can make other things. Step stool? :)

Cut List (either cut on a table saw or have lumber yard cut)

(2) 30inchL x 11.5 in tall (front and back panels)
(1) 30 in L x 14 in tall (bottom)
(2) 13 in L x 11 in tall (side panels)

Other Supplies needed:

Miller Dowel Kit (21747) Mini-X Quick Drill Kit $27.99
http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=10483&site=ROCKLER&filter=miller%20dowels

Sand paper for hand sanding or for orbital sander
Casters of your choice
1/2inch long wood screws (12) for attaching casters.
Wood glue
Rag for wiping glue
Hammer

Detailing:

cut veneer or wall decal or scrapbook paper cut into favorite shape
decoupage paste

Finishing:

Water based polyurethane
foam roller

11/11/12

Veteran's Day Tribute

Happy Veteran's Day! And a big thank you to veterans, soldiers, and all those amazing military families who miss their loved ones on a daily basis.

I've been thinking a lot about my family members who served today and wanted to honor them in some small way . My mom was kind enough to share some of what she knows about my grandparents so I've included it below. Thanks Mom!

(Juanita Pennington, 1945)

My grandmother, Juanita Pennington was member of the WAVES (Women's Navy) and worked in D.C. during WWII. (Photo above was taken in D.C.) One of her jobs was to decode Japanese messages. She was put on a train with other WAVES. Juanita had no idea where she was going or where she ended up due to the black-out curtains hanging in the train windows. She got off the train at a secret location and worked on the messages. The women would be brought back to their bases the next day.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My grandfather, Lawrence Pennington was a paratrooper during WWII. He was in Africa fighting Rommel (German) as well as parachuting into Europe where he was one of the first paratroopers to drop over the Ziegfreid line when Americans invaded Europe. Most of the men were killed as they parachuted, but he landed safely and hid under a snow-covered tree. He was discovered and held as a prisoner for nine months. The Russian army liberated him and when he came back home to the US he was sent to the Biltmore House Estate in North Carolina to recuperate due to his poor health.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(Clifford Parsons with my dad, Barry Parsons)

My grandpa, Clifford Parsons, was in the Army Engineers division who was responsible for building the roads and bridges before the rest of the troops advanced. He fought in Europe and was ordered to invade Normandy. A week before the invasion, his units' orders were changed or he would have been one of the first men there.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(Charles Hathcock)

Scott's grandfather, Charles Hathcock, also served during WWII. Charles came from a family of six siblings; he was the youngest of four brothers. At one point during WWII, all of the Hathcock brothers were serving in the war. Charles was recruited much later in the war and served in Austria Germany in two main roles. His first role was as a Military Police(MP) officer watching over German war prisoners. His second role gave him the opportunity to explore the German countryside as part of the communications reconstruction team. Charles helped hang telephone lines and open back up communications between German villages. He never had to fire a single shot in either role but instead left the war with an appreciation for the German Austrian people and their countryside.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

My grandpa, Calvin Deeter, served in the Navy aboard the The USS Conklin DE439. There's a wonderful website dedicated to those who served on the Conklin: http://www.ussconklin.org/index.htm.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

11/3/12

Thanks Pregnancy and Newborn Magazine!

If you pick up Pregnancy and Newborn magazine this month, you'll see something that looks familiar! Check out the Owyn Table and Stool Set on page 96!

10/17/12

Well what do ya know....MMF was nominated for an award! Help us win our category!!

What a fun day! Got a bike ride in before work AND found out MMF was nominated for a Red Tricycle award! There are so many amazing companies on the list -- very cool to be in their company.

But screw sportsmanship! (HA!) Help us win the "Best Eco Room Decor" title this year!

Go to this link to vote: http://awards.redtri.com/?contest=eco-decor&phase=voting

Thanks so much for all your support. Still pretty blown away that all of this started a few years back with a table saw and a badly made modern toy box!!

10/16/12

I love Lumberjocks!

Back when I first started MMF, I joined a website called Lumberjocks. It's such a great place to get support and help. When I came up with the idea to sell some lower priced items that are handmade, I didn't want to overload L&JWoodworking (Amish manufacturers) so I reached out on Lumberjocks and asked if anyone was interested in producing eco-friendly, modern keepsake boxes and other items for me and lots of guys wrote in to say they are interested.

I've worked out a deal with a fantastic woodworker from Missouri who has his own garage shop and I couldn't be happier! He's helping to take care of his mother who is ill so the extra income is helping him while the boxes are helping me! It's a perfect partnership.

You know it's right when things fall into place easily and just feels like all is right in the world.

Lumberjocks Rule!

http://www.lumberjocks.com

10/11/12

This Little Light of Mine

I've gone over how I would say this a million times in my head. And as I sit here at the computer drinking coffee out of a mug that says, "I'm a carpenter," I am reminded that I really am so many different things all wrapped up in this 39-yr-old body of mine. We all are, aren't we?!? So many times we get labeled and pigeon-holed into narrow categories because it's easier for all of us to process who that person is within a rigid framework. I'm guilty of doing it, too. And boy is it easy to do that during election season.

But it's not that simple, is it?

I have been keeping a secret about a "side" of me out of fear. Fear that I would be judged. Fear that it would hurt my business. Fear that I would let people down. I've come to the realization over the past year that we are not meant to live in fear. It holds us back. We're given gifts and talents by God not for us to hide away but to really own, respect, and share. Basically, stand in our truth.

So here's mine. In addition to being a daughter, wife, mom, carpenter, designer, CEO, amateur hair cutter, and a whole slew of other things, I am a medium. I was born with the gift of being able to communicate with loved ones that have passed on.

This gift of mine is something I've always had but at a very early age, I turned off. Probably due to fear. It started to awaken in me about three years ago but really came on full force over the past year and a half. Out of nowhere, I started to hear and see things other people were not. And for the most part, the messages I was receiving were from children who have passed. There is so very much to this complicated story of mine but in a nutshell, I have been helping families reconnect with children who have crossed in an effort to help everyone begin to heal. This isn't something I do for income (I do not charge for my help) and I do not seek out the children, they come to me. Some I know through friends or family and some are complete strangers.

In an effort to stand in my truth and move forward with what I know will ultimately be one of the most important things I do in my lifetime, I started a website called The Little Light Project. You can read more about how it works and how a handful of families feel about the work I'm doing and more importantly, how it is helping them cope with their loss.

I know this is a very controversial subject and I completely respect if you do not believe in such things. All I know is that for me, this is very real and is my truth. It might not be yours, but it is mine and I want to do the best I can in my lifetime to live authentically.

So there you have it. No more hiding for me. I wouldn't be able to stand in my truth without the support of my amazing family, colleagues and friends who love me for me. It's hard to put into words how thankful I am for their support. And I especially want to thank my husband, Scott. It takes a strong man with a lot of faith in God and his wife to endure what Scott has had to go through over the past few years. His love and support have given me the strength and confidence to do what I'm doing now. Scott, I love you and thank you immensely for not putting me in an institution. And mostly for believing in me, even when I didn't believe in myself.

As always, thank you immensely for your support of Mod Mom Furniture! I am working on incorporating more giving through MMF by donating a percentage of sales to organizations that help abused and ill children. Check out a sneak peek of a beautiful wooden Nativity set we will be replicating, retailing and donating a portion of sales to charity on the Mod Mom Facebook page. It's a design by Scott's late grandfather, Sam Brown, who was a Baptist minister and carpenter.

I sincerely hope every one of you reading this has the opportunity to live your authentic life and ditch the fear. Coincidentally, my dear friend told me that today is National Coming Out Day. I couldn't have picked a better day. :)

9/26/12

Celebrities who love Mod Mom Furniture!

I'm sometimes asked about what celebs own Mod Mom pieces so I thought I'd do a fun photo collage of who has what! :)