Madeline's Nail Art

While up at my parents house for 4th of July this year, Madeline got to messing around with a bucket of nails and some scrap wood. She was hammering away out on the driveway, and after a little while came trotting in with the cutest thing I've ever seen. A sign that said "I love the Newells", which she proudly gave to my parents :) Then she marched back outside and a little while later, came back in with ANOTHER treasure... This time the sign said "God is real" and she wanted her younger cousins to have it (which I hear is proudly displayed in their bedroom). Both recipients were totally thrilled and loved her creations.

This interesting day kicked off some big ideas for this little entrepreneur. 

Kyle was gone on a fishing trip, and yet the wheels were turning. She couldn't bear to wait for Dad to get home. He is, after all, the one who usually helps with these big ideas. She went out in our garage, rounded up all the nails and scrap wood she could fine, and made a "sample sign" to be used for advertising purposes. This girl had a business idea! "The Corrigan's" was her sample sign, and she asked me if I would post on Facebook that she would custom make any sign for $3. She got a BUNCH of customers, including one of our favorite teachers at Quatama. This teacher, once she got her sign made for her classroom, asked if Maddy would consider a bigger project for the school garden. A large, painted nail sign that could be mounted in the school's section of the community garden. 

Madeline spent the entire summer working on these signs, and I would say the only mishap was when Dad came home from fishing only to discover that all his "scrap" wood had been used up. I use quotation marks because it was his really nice wood that he was saving (oooooops). But, the awesome Dad that he is, didn't flip his wig, but instead took her on a shopping trip to Home Depot to buy her a bunch of her own supplies. 

Her final project was the school garden sign, and (while her business is on hiatus during the school year), her wheels are already turning on what new business plan she can come up with.

Marin's turn  is next... (a little preview: Marin's Fabric Company... "it's sew amazing"! she already made a commercial!!!)