Project 13: Musuem Worthy Gallery Walk (DIY for Busy Gals)

So.

Clearly, I didn't get all 31 projects done in October.
That was an ambitious task with the travel I did (17 nights away from home).

Then came Thanksgiving,
and Christmas/Kwanzaa
and then it was friggin' 20112 already!

So let's just carry on shall we?

10 minute project
(not really a project so much as an inspiration post)

You'll need:

electronic viewing device
(computer, smart phone...carrier pigeons not so good for this one)

eyeballs
(for looking)

fingertips
(for typing, scrolling)

You are going to explore alternatives to this:

Traditional Gallery Wall

In pictures:

For the readers:

Everyone and their mama has a gallery wall in their house.
Most variations I have seen,
all focus on the frames
(the shapes, styles, colors, empty or not)
but I wanted to show you some variations on a gallery wall.

Why?

Because if you have ever been to a gallery,
you just might notice the surprisingly FEW
frames they actually have on the wall.

Here are some ideas for variations on a theme:

1. Beginner Art Collection

The focal photograph is a picture I took
at the Center for Wooden Boats Cama Beach opening

To complete: 
I chose a theme (sail boats)
and scoured thrift stores for sketches, water colors, oil paintings and photos.

2. Traveler's Wall

These are all postcards I bought at a Pow Wow
(can't remember if it was in NM or WA)

To Complete:
I took basic dollar store frames,
a sheet of kraft cardstock
and mounted the postcards in each of the frames.

3. Function Meets Form | Calendar Wall

These are all pictures snipped out of an Ansel Adams calendar
that I snagged for free off of FreeCycle.

To Complete:
I tore the photos out of a calendar,
trimmed and inserted into frames
(no matting needed)

4. Starving Artist Supply Wall

These pages were ripped out of a watercoloring book
that I snagged for 75 cents from Goodwill.

To Complete:
I tore the 6 pages out of a vintage lighthouse coloring book
I pegged them straight to the wall with tiny finishing nails

5. High Seas Code Flag Wall

These size 2 code flags were snagged for a steal ($60)
from the 2011 CWB Annual Auction.

(I might or might not have threatened to cut a sister when she tried to outbid me)

To Complete:
Stalk the silent auction at the annual CWB Auction.
Or go all out and buy some from the US Flag Store for $405

I tacked each of my flags to empty frames
(see, upper left corner, you can kind of see some frame poking through).
Finish with an oar above.

6. Vintage Regression Session Coloring Book Wall

These pages were ripped out of a coloring book
that I snagged for 25 cents from Goodwill.

(the pattern? It pays to shop the kidding books at Goodwill)

To Complete:
I tore 24 pages out of a vintage lighthouse coloring book

I pegged them straight to the wall with tiny finishing nails
Clearly, I have a thing for tiny holes in my walls.

 7. Cozy Textile Wall

This throw was one HECK of a find

(ready for it)

at the Goodwill.

Here is how I mangled another textile find, 

here is what I usually look for in the textile sections of thrift stores 

and, one day, I'll blog about what I DIE for

(and spend big for)

in the textile realm.

To Complete:
I ventured bravely into the stinky textile section of my thrift store.
I peeled my eyes off of the usual Indian blankets
and held my nose.
A little dry cleaning
and it is now draped over the upper half wall/railway of my stairs.

8. W3 (Woven Wicker Wall)

These wicker rounds are a long time collection
No round cost more than 3.99, most were only $1 ea if not 50 cents half price.

To Complete:
I waited until I had a sizeable collection (18 of them)

then I eyeballed it and used nails to hang them on the wall
I fill in the gaps as I go along and have JUST started to collect vintage and tribal rounds.

Takes a bit more care to hang those, but they are awesome en masse.

9. Message Board Wall

These letters are an inexpensive way

to take my typography fix to the walls.

I could paint a chalkboard wall,

but some messages are enduring

and everyone has one of those anyhow.

To Complete:
I used a 20% off coupon from JoAnns Fabrics and Crafts
and bought these paper mache 8" letters

This project is actually NOT complete.

I'm going to paint them and properly attach them to the walls.

I'm gridtastick like that, so I actually purposefully

chose a message that resonates

(see the mountain of clothes peaking in on the right)

AND that was easy to evenly space

(4 letters per line).

There you have it.

Some unique takes on Gallery Walls
that go beyond the standard

"look at me, I painted a frame"

approach.

Just. Saying.

Linking up to 
Thrifty Decor Chick's Before and After Party
The Stories of A to Z Tutorials and Tips Party
 

Check out other DIY projects for Busy Gals by clicking the logo above.

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Pinehurst Christmas | 2011 | Christmas Tree 1

For some reason,

the decorating bug is just nibbling

around Pinehurst

this year.

Trying to get up the gumption.

The big faux tree was gold, brown and green last year.

It was a sight to see.

This year, it is red, white and silver.

And.

It isn't in my bedroom.

I wish Ashley was still here to nibble at it.

One tree down.

8 more (or so)

to go.

Enjoy!

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Project 5: Pumpkin Eater...err...painter (DIY for Busy Gals)

31 minute project
(plus drying time if you do a pumpkin patch full of pumpkins)

You'll need:

Pumpkins (craft or real)

White latex or craft paint
Paint brush

You are going to "create" this designer white pumpkin:

In pictures:

For the readers:
1. Gather your pumpkins (mine: craft, multiple sizes, thrift store finds)
2. Grab your paint (mine: latex, freecycle garage purge find)
3.Use a big brush on big pumpkins and slap on some paint.
4. To hold on to (and flip over)  smaller pumpkins, I left an unpainted top ring

5. Impatiently, I painted most but not all of the bottom
(so I could sit them on newspaper to dry w/o getting stuck)

6. Set pumpkin down on newspaper to dry
(mine: about 10 minutes; depends on your paint/thickness)

7. Go crazy and paint a whole patch's worth.

8. Depending on the crafty quality of your pumpkins, some will look more real than others.

9. In the right light, that big one actually looks like the coveted blue pumpkin I want.

Locally, Fred Myer is selling pumpkins at .18 per pound.
If you want White pumpkins, they are .48 per pound.

Now you can be cheap and designer at the same time.

Bonus Pictures:

Check out what's to come with 31 DIY projects for Busy Gals by clicking the logo above.

Linking up to:

Show and Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home

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Learn from Me | Freecycle Deck Chair Fail

Remember how I came back

and showed you how horribly wrong

my DIY wood shimmed sunburst mirror

turned out?

All ganky and like?

Well here's another of those million year projects

that just started out sounding so good

and went so horribly wrong.

Off of Freecycle, I picked up these three chairs.

Do NOT let the photoshop skills

and rad camera angles fool you.

They were TORE up,

stained,

scratched.

In need of some loving.

First, I thought I would use the stain from our fence

to redo the wood.

Then I realized that you might have to strip off the sealant to do that.

So plan B.

I decided to paint them.

And to that, I decided to take them apart.

Which meant I would have to put them back together.

You will notice,

there are lots of "extra" pieces

laying about in my garage.

I just couldn't even deal.

And I'm a girl that LOVES her a puzzle.

Impatience is my worst enemy.

The paint started chipping off 

because I wouldn't wait

weeks for it to dry. 

I'm okay with chippy.

he (who shall not be named)

is so not okay with chair parts all over the garage.

Matter of fact, he took one look at the covers

and started to chuck my chairs into the truck for a trip to the dump.

I have plans for those covers

A little dye.

A little drop cloth leftover action from the yard sale.

Another 18 months...

I call this miserable DIY fail.

They were supposed to be done for this summer

Preferably the Boeing Classic party.

Not. 

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Reading Nook Part 2 - In progress

In my August finds post,
I may have hinted at a new obsession | collection

 

Okay, really, it is two new obsessions:

globes

vintage children's books.

I do work in education after all.
No, I am not an educator.


Let it settle in.


Across from my reading nook 

which I detailed on b3hd part 1

There was an empty space just big enough for one of my fave Craigslist deals ever
I redid the chairs for the dining room and you can see them in this post.
But the table...


I painted the top with chalkboard paint and started on the sides.  You'll have to wait for that.
What I did finally get around to though
is that since we built the built in shelves for the office downstairs,
I have these bookcases.
I stacked them on top of the table.
After I cut off about 18 inches from the top so that they would fit.


Gave me lots of display space for thinks like this

and this

and across the top, I just laid out my newest collection

 

Along the side, in the mini windows letting in all of the light

that is a rare sight in these parts,

I lined up the first collection that stole my heart

(the cameras)

What are you collecting lately?
Any other camera, vintage children's books or globe collectors out there?
Do you have a globe that lights up?
I might or might not have one of those...(smile)


Linking up to Funky Junk's Themed Vintage Link Party


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Latest Thrifty Finds

A while ago,
I stopped by an estate sale
that my better half actually found for me.

See, we had gone to the church sale in Snoqualmie propper
And I left behind a wood, wheeled chair
That I was convinced I could repair and make into an awesome
office chair.
For $5.

I was pouting about leaving it behind.
wishing I had gone to sales on my own.

When he spotted the estate sale sign
on the way to the yard sale
where all I got were some lousy wreaths

Anyhow,
You can probably see in that shot,
that he more than made up for the grump enducing
fun making he was having at my expense
about The Chair.
Yes, Capital T, Capital C.

At the estate sale,
I picked up three items I've been wanting to collect
for a while now:

 zinc flower tub

A clear demijohn

Glass Fishing floats

Could have called it a day and been in heaven.
But we took our chances at the Ridge sales.

I was under the impression that one of the sales
is basically a kiddie sale
(all kid stuff, all the time).

We drove down a street at the end of the sales.
And low and behold, the rocking chair I desperately wanted
was in the driveway.

I blew past the real beauty of this sale
but because I really don't have "empty"
begging for furniture spots in my home
my better half wasn't 100% sold.

And really.
What do I need a rocking chair for?

Instead, I bought this beauty for $3

All in all,
I would say
it was almost as good
as the first set of Ridge sales this year

A bit pricier (the fishing floats were a good price, but he knew what he was selling)
but worth it

Even managed to pick up some more vintage books (free)
and some piano flashcards (also free | Freecycle).

Awesome.

Linking up to August Thrifty Treasures at Southern Hospitality

Stop by and check out the eye candy.

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Natural Decor |Twigs

I picked up this basket at the thrift store for $2.50
And I also got these twigs for free off of Freecycle
(here's to people with cool trees in their backyard)

  

Combined them and came up with this get up, for this space that was looking a bit sparse

Nice bit of impact for a small out of the way space.

We'll see how Ashley feels about that.

I love Freecycle for my fave DIY supplies:
free, natural or at least inspired by nature

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Cheap Gardener

I admit it
I'm never going to pay a landscape architect
(sorry Cornellians)
to plany my yard for me

To design my firepit/swimmable water feature...
that is a different story.

But for my garden,
I am really fortunate that I have a very green thumb.

I stick it in the ground
or I forget to stick it in the ground for a few weeks

and the next year

I get these



I am cheap.

Aside from the clearance,

no really, just take them because they are dead

pots of plants I bring home regularly from

Home Depot and Lowes,

I also have a super secret supplier up the road

who sales GORGEOUS

peris mostly (you know, the ones that come back)

for dirt cheap wholesale prices

To the public.

Large plot of land,

but I like how uncrowded it is.

Not that the masses read my blog

but also, it starts getting close to home

if I post that address

But if you really want to know

and you live in East King County

(you know, not really Seattle)

let me know.

I would even say with $50 in your pocket,

it is worth the gas to come from the south and north ends

and even the west side. 

You will leave with a carload of

GORGEOUS

HUGE

plants. 

If they don't bloom the color they are labeled

or don't perform spectacularly for you

You get a credit to come get some more

Fred (oops) might even have a way of getting you your funds back.

Yes, because, you see,

to pay, you write on a slip of paper what you took

and you either tightly fold up some bills

and slip them into the cash box

OR, I've seen folks leave IOUs

OR, I've seen folks slip in a $50

(there is no change available,

unless there is the rare other shopper on site)

and shop on "credit" for a couple of visits.

It is awesome.

It is what I love about small town living.

Yes, this "city" girl said it.

Anyhow,

Another great source for me

is Grocery Outlet.

Yes. Grocery Outlet.

This time of year,

they often have out tomato plants

(I got two on my way to Costco for their plants which I skipped this year)

I am growing one plant upside down (it is HUGE)

and the other traditional

We shall see which I like better.

But, of course, you know what else I got

at Grocery Outlet

Thought I would not like pink ones.

I thought so wrong.

Especially next to the

tall, yellow spikes of Columbine

and the heavenly lavendar and purple allium

Man.

I love this time of year.

Found This Week (June 19)

A little early this week.

Happy summer time!

A while ago

I got this calendar

Off of Craigslist for free

I have calendar printed a wall of my home

And you've seen it before here and here and even here.

Remember?

Well,
Imagine my delight
when I found this calendar

I so can't wait

for the wall

and the weekly photos

that this will be on.

While the vintage Ansel calendar

was what started my obsession,

unique wall calendars are some of my

favorite DIY supplies.

Wall decor really cheap.

Especially if you love grid displays like I do.

Stay tuned!