ReThunk ReSouled

New Family Tradition
Every year my girls get a trash bag(s) and fill it with toys and stuff animals that they no longer play with, they then put under the Tree for Santa to take back to North Pole, and he can fix them up and give them to children next year. I love doing this with them, and they absolutely love it! (I will take bags to Salvation Army or a Toy drop for Children)

I love this idea and more should do it

Hi friends, Happy Friday!!!! I received many questions about the Iris Supply Company’s Family State License Plate Plaques, so I thought I would share some of the questions and our answers…

Q: Are real license plates used?
A: Yes! We use real license plates. Currently, only aluminum plates may be used.

Q: Does the customer have to provide the license plate?
A: The customer is welcome to provide an aluminum license plate, they just ship it to our studios and we perform our magic to create a unique keepsake for them. OR a customer may specify the state plate they desire and we acquire the plate. Visit the Iris Supply Company website https://irissupplyco.com to see the various price points for these two scenarios.

Q: Why the different size hearts?
A: Our original license plate plaques were created to represent a family’s members: Large heart for dad, medium heart for mom, and smaller heart for each kiddo. We quickly realized “why limit it to human family members?” So, we created plaques with an even smaller sized heart to include pets. Contact us and share what you would like the plaque to represent and we will work with you to make it happen!

Q: What color options are available for the wood board the hearts are attached to?
A: A customer is welcome to specify the color they want the plaque to be OR the artists at Iris Supply Co. can whip out a color wheel and determine the color that will best compliment the license plate being used for the plaque.

Q: Does it have to be a family name engraved, or can it be a company or team name?
A: I love this question, as the possibilities are endless! The plaques are not just limited to a family scenario, they can represent any grouping a customer desires: founding members of a company, high school friends, sports team members…you get the idea, contact us and we will work with you to make it happen.

Q: Can the hearts be cut from 2 or 3 different state plates?
A: Absolutely! The artists at Iris Supply Co. know we all come from different places, and we will have fun incorporating that detail into a plaque. Check out our website https://irissupplyco.com to learn about the various options available, and if we don’t have the intel you need: send us your questions so we may have fun creating an option you like…our artists don’t sleep much, so they love a good challenge to ponder at 3:00 am!

Q: Can you guys create a plaque bigger than the 12” x 5” wood plaque on your website?
A: Of course! The 12” x 5” size was chosen because it represents the inside dimensions of state license plates, and the Iris artists wanted the plaques to resemble hearts being cut form authentic license plates.

Contact us so we can work with you to get what you want!

The Goldsworth tradition of "A Non-traditional Christmas Tree" has hit it's 10th year!!!

Until this year our family has made a tree with items we have on hand, items that will be reused/repurposed after the holidays; and called for each family member to be involved with it; and it needed to involve thinking outside the box.

We hit two of those three goals this year: thought outside the box, and only used items we had on hand, items that will all be repurposed after the holidays.

The tradition of "each family member must be involved" was harder as our youngest son Grant is in the Coast Guard, stationed in Corpus Christi TX and unable to be here. The pewter snowflake ornaments nestled in the greenery are Grant's ornaments, so he indirectly had a "touch" in it.

We recently moved to Encinitas CA, and are living in a much smaller one bedroom apartment that has no room for a typical Christmas Tree; but, has panoramic views of a 230 year old Live Oak Tree, numerous palm trees and 25 foot bamboo plants our little "Tree House" nestles in.

This year's simple Christmas Tree reflects our new pared down surroundings and allowed us to incorporate our oldest son Nelson's photography...all the pictures of trees behind our non-traditional Christmas Tree were taken by him. This tree really makes be smile!

Additional photos in Comments.

For years our family has created nontraditional Christmas trees with items we have on hand, items that will be reused/repurposed after the holidays. This tradition has multiple goals: thinking outside the box each year for a new concept, family members utilizing individual strengths while working together towards a goal, and everyone insuring no items end up in a landfill.

This year’s tree focuses on family. The 7’ x 4’ backdrop banner displays extended family names dating back centuries, while the tree branches display pictures of our immediate family.

The tree topper includes a clock frame to reference the constant passage of time and how quickly it all flies by. The Scrabble pieces of “J,A,N,G” represent the first initial of each member of our family in chronological order. We jokingly call ourselves the “JANG Gang”.

The tree frame boards are repurposed boards from a prior project that I sanded, painted and stenciled. Old fur stripping was stained for the branches. The tree trunk is an old shelf piece covered with twine.

Clear balls are filled with screws to acknowledge that yes, we do have some screws loose! Also…there are actual nuts attached to some of the photos, ‘cuz every family tree has nuts and we are no exception!

After the holidays the green tree frame boards will be used to make planter boxes, the fur stripping for craft frame supports, the tree trunk is earmarked for a frame/photo backdrop, the family photos will be turned into coasters, Scrabble pieces will be returned to the game, clock frame piece will be returned to the Steampunk craft creation if came from, and the family name banner will be used as a backdrop for a new home décor installation piece I can’t wait to create and share. The screws get thrown back into the screw pile, and the clear balls packed up with Xmas décor until next year.