when your home is your canvas
So where do I begin with the massive undertaking of cleaning up my office/loft/art studio?
The art table?
The front desk?
Or maybe the back desk?
I think we’ve found a winner, folks. The back desk seems to be the least offensive, so I think I’ll begin there.
Just keeping it real, people.
Would you please pour me a cup of tea?
Oh wait. Something’s off. Looks like someone put Sharpies in the teapot.
Oh yeah. That was me. Because I love to use things for purposes other than their original intent. Like Sharpies in a funky Midsummer Night’s Dream teapot.
Clever, too, since I wasn’t serving up tea very often.
It’s cute, don’t you think?
Who have I been kidding?
I’ve said that I haven’t been doing any projects because I’ve been, um, short on funds (ie, broke), but seriously that’s no excuse. Because it doesn’t cost anything to clean. And boy does my office/studio/loft need a good cleaning.
I should really be embarrassed to post a pic of it here, but since I have no shame (in addition to no money), here goes…
OK, this is an old pic, so it’s not quite this bad. But bad enough.
So I decided that until I can scrape up some cashiola for my next project, I will begin the massive undertaking of cleaning my office/studio/loft space.
I started at the entrance of the loft space with Megan’s desk.
Megan’s desk is so named because it was a desk that I trash picked from my former neighbor Megan’s house when I lived in California. Now almost 7 years later, we still call it Megan’s desk. Kind of an endearing name for a desk.
Here is Megan’s desk, in all of her cleaned up glory…
Isn’t she loverly? (The chair I picked up from Target a couple of years back.)
If I recall correctly, the desk was Ethan Allen that Megan dared to paint a creamy white. Also if I remember the story correctly, Megan may have had to revive her mother when she found out that she had painted classic furniture. Of course I adored Megan for that and many other reasons!
At some point, Megan was ready for said desk to move on, and she was living across the street from a trash picker at the time. The rest was history.
Until last weekend, Megan’s desk was loaded up with crap, basically a repository for things that needed to be moved, stored, donated, or thrown. So I cleared it out and here she is.
In fact, now that she’s all available again, I may have plans for her elsewhere in the house in the future. But first things first. I still need to finish cleaning the rest of this space, even if it takes all winter.
And at the rate I’m going it might. But I’ll share the embarrassing pictures every step of the way!
This is a broken vintage bracelet…
This is a broken vintage bracelet used as art…
Pretty clever, huh?
As much as I would love to wear this bracelet, there was no fixing it, because the metal wasn’t strong enough to repair. But I still love the vibrant colors and beautiful design, so on the wall it went.
Works perfectly next to my print of First Kiss by Bouguereau, which I bought at Target a number of years back for $3.78. Can’t remember what I ate for breakfast today, but can remember how much I paid for something clearance 10 years ago! Go figure.
Yeah, it’s the little things, people…
Showing off this project at Funky Junk Interiors.
Recently I found an awesome and inspiring pin on Pinterest…
While the room and colors are great, I was really moved by the inspirational art work. And of course I thought, “Hey, I can do that!”
In the spirit of daily affirmations and getting my single ladies groove on, I decided to create a similar art piece to hang next to my bathroom mirror, so I can read it and feel the love every day.
My tools were simple. An 8″ x 24″ canvas and a black Sharpie. But you could use any color Sharpie. And you could paint your canvas if you’re not into the black & white scene.
Then I started writing “I love you” repeatedly, being careful to space my wording so that the words didn’t line up perfectly line after line. You can use any phrase or affirmation that’s meaningful to you.
Here’s the awesome result…
This was a super-quick project…it only took about 15 minutes, including hanging the canvas. About halfway down the canvas I threw in an all caps “I love you” just for extra emphasis…
Looks super-cute, and the best part is that every time I step into the bathroom I’m reminded that I’m loved, which makes this single girl feel great.
What are you gonna write on your canvas?
When I was out Christmas shopping. I spotted this awesome clock…
It appealed to all of those things that make me go weak in the knees – my love of letters and numbers, wood and metals, and vintage meets modern.
So, in the spirit of one for you, two for me, I bought it. Let’s say it’s a little Christmas present to myself.
I probably wouldn’t have splurged if I didn’t have an empty wall just begging to be filled…
See? Barren.
I used the toothpaste method to hang it that I learned on Pinterest. Add a dab of toothpaste to the hooks on the back of the piece you’re hanging…
…then place it exactly where you want it on the wall, and it leaves a glob of toothpaste on the wall exactly where your nail should go. Frankly, it worked better than I expected…
Perfect placement and minty fresh!
Doesn’t it fill out the space perfectly?
Love all of that vintage-y goodness! Plus it works perfectly with the two sepia tone pics to the right. And with the cat hiding on the stairs above!
Merry Christmas to me. And to you too!
OK, so I know it’s been a while since I’ve posted a project, and now all of a sudden I’ve had a burst of creativity with 2 projects in 2 days.
Why?
Most likely because I’m avoiding cleaning my house, since I’m hosting Thanksgiving dinner in a mere 4 days. There’s nothing like it to inspire projects!
But mostly, I haven’t been doing much because I haven’t had the funds for new purchases. But then I began to tidy up a bit and found a little frame that I’ve been meaning to use for years.
I wasn’t back in cleaning mode not even for 5 minutes after hanging the little frame when I saw the same gorgeous frame that’s been leaning against my desk for probably several years, also waiting for real home, where it would be loved and cherished as it deserves. (Yes, my office/studio is like the land of the misfit toys.)
Don’t mind the crappy photos…it’s late and my iPhone is tired.
And I thought, “Damn it, after all these years, this frame deserves a real home…where could I put it?” Which sent me on a wild goose chase through my house trying to find a place for this awesome frame, while I conveniently avoided cleaning.
With this crappy quality closeup photo, you may or may not be able to see that the frame has lovely rosettes and a layered look with gold metallic topped with a creamy off-white paint.
I found this bad boy at Michael’s for a mere $13. It was originally all gold metallic, but I spruced it up with an antique white finish. Then I let it cure for a couple of years.
Since the frame is a little bit ornate and a little bit shabby chic (sung to the tune of Donny & Marie’s Little Bit Country, Little Bit Rock ‘N Roll. And yes, you’re welcome for ensuring that tune that will be in your head all day long), I figured I might find a place in my master bedroom, which is full of shabby chic awesomeness.
I stopped dead in my tracks when I got here…
The heavens parted and the angels were singing, until the record scratched when I realized that this spot, while a clever vignette, was missing a little something. Something along the lines of an ornate, yet shabby chic empty frame…
The heavens once again beamed down upon me and the angels resumed their singing. It was the perfect addition to top off this vignette. And because I’m getting comfortable with imperfection, I LOVE the off-center look! It makes it unusual and a bit mod.
(However, don’t ask my 12-year-old-son for his opinion…he walked into my room and shouted, “THAT FRAME IS OFF CENTER. YOU NEED TO FIX THAT!” To which I said, “No, I’m getting comfortable with imperfection.” His response was to turn on his heel and run screaming from my room. If I’d known it would have had that effect, I might have tried it years ago!)
So now that I’ve got that project wrapped up, it’s back to my pre-Thanksgiving attempts at cleaning. Let’s see how many more awesome projects are spawned by my avoidant behaviors.
I’ve had a little empty frame sitting around my house for quite a while now. Probably years, if I’m honest. Been thinking that eventually I’ll do something with it.
Today I finally got tired of that frame curing. So I found a place for it.
Looks like there’s an empty spot just waiting for something, wouldn’t you say? Well, how about this…
There. That’s better.
OK, so that little project took me literally 5 minutes to complete. Now would someone like to tell me why the hell I waited for years to do it???
One of the many unsolved mysteries of the world we live in.
Go complete a super-quick project. Don’t be like me. Do as I say, not as I do!
We’re going on a Road Trip!
Road Trip! is when I leave my humble abode and take it on the road to someone else’s place to share their decorating savvy.
So let’s Road Trip! to my friend Brandi’s home.
This is Brandi…she’s lots of fun!
Brandi & the Most Interesting Man in the World (I’m sure she’s going to love that I used this pic!)
About a year and a half ago, Brandi bought her first home – an awesome 70s condo. I’ve been sharing unsolicited decorating ideas ever since!
Last winter, Brandi and I were lamenting about her really long living room wall.
I asked Brandi if she’d consider a stencil. Brandi liked the idea and before you know it, the stencil was ordered and work started (Brandi’s a real doer…once she decides on an idea, she moves on it. No curing for her. I like that in a person. Except for me.) There was even a Sunday evening visit from me to help with this awesome project.
Taping the stencil…
The first section complete!
So far, so good!
I’m not going to show the whole project…let’s cut to the finished product…
Doesn’t it look fabulous? I love it! I especially love how it honors the era in which the condo was built. The rug adds a perfect pop of Brandi’s accent colors. And don’t you love the TV stand? Brandi’s dad made it with a pattern from Ana White.
Another angle…
The stenciled pattern really gave definition to what was otherwise a boring wall. Good work, Brandi!
A couple of vignettes by the TV…
Brandi loves all things beachy, and it’s a subtle theme throughout her home, like these shells in a vase…
Let’s travel upstairs to take a sneak peak at Brandi’s bedroom. But first check out this terrific 70s light fixture…
Thankfully Brandi agreed that the 70s light needs to stay. Super mod! The art is by Brandi’s teenage daughter, Madison.
Brandi’s bedroom is still a work in progress, but I couldn’t resist sharing some unique features, like this print, which totally makes me smile…
…framed in this awesome gaudy gold frame…
Then there’s her new shabby chic mermaid lamp on her newly repainted nightstand…
With some fabulous tchotckes from her recent vacation to Florida, like this lobster matchbox…
..and a clock…
…that has a compass on the back…
What a unique piece!
And finally, some art photos that Brandi recently added…
…displaying the calming colors of the sea that Brandi loves…
That’s the end of our Road Trip! today, but I’m sure there will be another trip to Brandi’s, especially after all of the great projects we chatting about today! More to come…
If you have kids or ever were a kid, I’m betting that you have an old recorder lying around. Didn’t everyone play recorder in school? I know I did, my sister did, and both of my kids did.
And I’m guessing that you also have some weird little strip of wall that is too small for just about anything decorative. Well, guess again, people!
Dig up that old recorder make it sing again!
No, you don’t have to play Lightly Row…just find an awkward spot and hang that recorder up, just like this…
It’s just a tiny little speck of wall between two door frames. Perfect for a recorder! Don’t you think?
How much did it cost? $0, since I had not one but two recorders hanging around. And if you want to get all funky and colorful, you could spend about $5 and get one of these…
Now go play Lightly Row while you’re looking for a place to hang your recorder!
