A Tale of Two Pictures

It is taking me a while to get to all the things I want to do to create the Gallery Wall in the living room.

The theme of my gallery wall will be "The Garden." Anything that pertains to the garden--birds, bees, butterflies, plants, garden plans, all are included.

These are just two of my most recent projects.

Here's the Before and After:





The whole Maghilla:

The old piece of framed embroidery I found at Value Village many years ago.


I've always felt that I could do better with it, though.

While on the hunt, recently, I found this original piece of art at Value Village. I believe it is pencil crayon on watercolour paper.


One of the reasons I planned out the wall was to see if some of the smaller pieces I had --like the embroidered bird-- would fit as they were or if I needed to put them in a larger frame. I decided the bird and the strawberry would make great companion pieces inside identical 8 x 10 black frames.


It's hard to see, but the original frame for the strawberry was a bronzy-pink coloured metal (above). Not my taste. So, after I found a screwdriver small enough, I started taking it apart.



The frame of the bird was much easier--I just ripped off the packing tape.



There was a surprise with each.

On the back of the Strawberry print was this partial piece of artwork:



Isn't that wonderful? The writing says,

Lillian Pierson
Cold Lake, Alta
June/80

L. Pierson is sketched on the front. I wonder why she cut this up. Was it not good enough for her? I would have loved it--better than the strawberry. I'm quite sentimental about grain elevators, though, seeing as I have watched them all disappear from the landscape in my lifetime.

Inside the embroidered bird was another print as well:



It's an illustration by George Cruikshank entitled August. It feels like a page from a book and it is a bit yellowed.

I knew exactly what I wanted to do with the artwork.

I found the idea on-line, on another blog, now lost to me in cyberspace. I'm so sorry. I'd thought I had book marked it, but now I can't find it.

Essentially, I double matted each piece of artwork. The interior mats on each are brown. (I just kept the one that came with the strawberries and cut a piece of brown cardstock for the bird). The second outer mat, though based on the original green mat of the Strawberries piece was customized for each piece of artwork.

To make the customized mats, I first made a base mat from a piece of scrap cardstock for each piece--the outer dimensions were the size of my glass. The inner dimensions about 1/4" larger than the opening of the brown mat, all the way around.

Then, for the bird, I found some vintage sheet music via our friend Google. I manipulated it to be the way I wanted it, printed it out and started tearing it up.



Once I had it to my liking, I modge podged it all down to the grey mat.

For Strawberries, I was inspired by the handwriting on the back and used a piece of scrapbook paper I've had for a long time. (I believe it was an old piece by 7Gypsies).

I placed them between sheets of waxed paper and weighted them down.

I cut the mats after they'd dried.


And now, here they are:

The Bird:


and The Strawberry:



Again, in case you've forgotten!

Before and After:




Here's hoping the other projects for the Gallery Wall work out well.

The Shopping Spree

I quite surprised myself yesterday. I went to Home Sense (a store specializing in less-than-full-price totchkes and trendy things for the home) to see if I could find a suitable tablecloth or sheet to use as fabric for lengthening my living room curtains (again!) and went nuts. I don't know how else to describe it.

There were a few contributing factors, though.

One. after I steam cleaned the couch last week, twice, I got out the cushions I had purchased at Pier One several weeks ago, when the Hybrid Cure began.


But, of course, they don't work. I need to put back the off-white slipcover and put up my Ikea tab top off-white curtains. The problem with the curtains is that I foolishly cut them one year--and I cut them much too short. Since then, I have been looking for a fabric to use to lengthen them.

Two, in order to pull off the vibrant peacock teal in these cushions, I also need new artwork and new accessories.

So...shopping I a-went.

The first thing which caught my eye was this pitcher.


A pitcher? Why a pitcher? Well, because, Miss Mustard Seed has one (or two) on the top of one of her cabinets (photo in this post of mine) and I love it. So, three, uppermost in my mind this trip was the need for large items to fill the tops of my China Cabinet,


Bookcase,


and Expedit.


I found these tablecloths to serve as my fabric for the curtains.


Funny how light changes things. Last night I thought the lighter teal one would work (I actually like it more than the other) but this morning it was obvious that the darker one will have to do--if it works.

After I found these things, I caught Consumption--the 21st Century kind--a sort of shopping fever.

Look at this plant pot: isn't it beautiful?


This bucket is such a cheerful green:


I found this and I thought, why not? I'd seen someone use something like this over her front door to simulate the arched openings in her hallways. I have arched openings in my hallways, hmmmm.


But it doesn't fit. It is about 1/2" too tall. Probably a good thing as it would likely make the whole door area too fussy. It'll be returned.

I was thinking of the foyer, though, when I found this charming plate on sale. Doesn't it look perfect here?


And last, but not least, I found this beautiful plate. It made my heart go pitter pat.

It will have pride of place in my soon-to-be-made over living room. Who knows when I'll get it all pulled together, but, do stay tuned. It'll be a treat, I promise.

Flowers and Finds on Friday

(There's the glorious happy sun pouring in from the east at 8:45 am! I'm going to have to wait another month to see it again once we switch to Daylight Savings Time on Sunday. Grrrr.)

They're just the thing for my new round table.

I don't know what they're called, though.


The plain glass vase was looking, well, a bit plain, so I put these plates I found at Value Village this week underneath them.

Two plates, two separate shopping trips, two different stores.



One price: 99 cents each. I would have preferred just the smaller one, but I found the big one first. I'm not complaining, though.

The back, in case you're curious:



I trimmed the flowers and put the "remainders"--you know, the bits at the side which don't quite reach to the top, in a glass and set it on my desk.


The lego sculpture showed up yesterday to keep it company. I don't know: they look like they're friends, don't you think?

I found these sweet needlepoint ducks, too, this week.



I need to re-frame them--something simpler. Though I kind of like the importance these fancy frames give the humble art.



I should probably paint those goldy frames white--right? At least tone them down a bit. Strangely, they seem to be growing on me. (My mind's eye is still impressed with the power of brass and grey (or gray.))

My last find is this lamp base. I had thought I would spray paint the black bits white.



It's just the thing for my desk. I'd like a cylindrical shade for it: I don't know if I'll be able to find it.

Linking up to these parties, today. Such kind women at these events--please check out their stuff, too. Thanks for stopping by!

Home Sweet Home #5 at The Charm of Home

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Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage



and Junkin' Finds Friday #19 at A La Carte.

3 Principles for Decorating the (almost) Spring Mantle

I don't care there's two feet of snow on either side of my front walkway. I don't care that the temperatures are hovering between minus 20 and minus 30 (Celcius) this week. I don't care that there are snowflakes the size of my thumbs swirling down from the sky right this minute.

It matters not.

It's (almost) Spring!

The weather just hasn't got the memo, yet.

We must encourage her. She must be wooed with cheerful colours, pleasing proportions and simple shapes-- and a few principles of good design.

And so, I offer you, the (almost) Spring Mantle.

(I will spray paint the plate stand white, I think.)

1) Use an odd number of items.

Here we have seven. The lamps and their new lampshades, the candlesticks (and candles) and the plate, plant and cat. That's it. Simple. Clean. Fresh.



2) Group things into triangles.

A long time ago, Anne in Reno gave me sage advice: Use neutral furniture, colourful lampshades and pattern in my curtains. So, when I saw these green lampshades at Ikea last week, I knew that they would be perfect.

The plant pot is the exact same shade of green as the lampshades. Not surprising, as I found it, too, at Ikea.

I hadn't planned it but the three things taken together, all the same colour, create a happy triangle. An implied inverted triangle, but one nonetheless.

Without the candlesticks, the plate, pot and cat create yet another triangle. See that?



Triangles make me happy.

3) Create depth: layer items.

I used one of the darling bread and butter plates I got at Value Village. I could wish it was a dinner plate, (so the triangle would be more pronounced) but it's OK.



The plate on its stand takes up a fair bit of room, though, and the mantle is rather narrow at this spot, so all I had room for was this sweet cat.



He's been in my husband's family for generations. When the kids were little, they loved to pick him up-- but my husband didn't want the patina worn off-- and I didn't want to fight with the kids-- so we packed him away. Happily, the kids are older now so the cat can come back. I suppose having a barn yard animal on my mantle means I've decorated it "farmhouse" style, doesn't it?

And though I could wish for Spring to hurry, it will take it's own sweet time. That's why I chose a potted flowering plant.



Primroses.
Simple garden variety primroses.
Aren't they gorgeous?

And so, there we have it. This is the memo.



Now we wait.

Inspired? There are some more lovely Spring Mantels at: Women Who Do it All




Linking to parties at Someday Crafts and the Green Party at CSI.

Flowers on Friday--and a Find!

Are you ready?



Really ready?



Here they are, then.



Hooray! Daffy down dillies.

On my desk, between the computer screen and the printer.
Let's take a closer look, shall we?



I love the frill:


Just the thing to help pretend Spring is around the corner.



Of course it isn't. It'll be a long six weeks of slush before we see green. But I found these to keep me happy--year round. I got eight of these pretty bread plates at Value Village for $10.00.



The kids think they're "too fancy." They said they are afraid to break them.
I say, good.

Linking to new parties today. If you've come from these great sites, welcome!

Home Sweet Home at The Charm of Home

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Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage



Junkin' Finds Friday at A La Carte.