A Little Lamp Update

Remember when I posted about this lamp?

And showed you the replacement shade I picked up for it at ReStore?

Then left you with a cliff hanger and only showed you this much?

Well, here’s a little glimpse at how this revitalized lamp looks when it’s placed with a few friends.

Abstract Painting by Sea to Canvas

Not so bad for a $2.00 shade, right?

Click here to see the mystery project that goes with this lamp!

Do you recognize a few pieces in the mix?

THANKS FOR STOPPING BY!

Photography: Sheila Zeller

Treasure Seeking in a Thrifty Kind of Way!

Last week my treasure hunting created a mystery with the large vintage shortening bin I picked up at a garage sale. And Andrea was super sweet in featuring it this week! Thank you so much for the feature, Andrea!

Well my mystery is no closer to being solved, but this week you might think I was becoming a tin collector!

Here’s what came home with me from a little thrifting excursion :-)

That’s right. A vintage Empress jam can, c. 1940s-50s! That’s the tin collecting part, but I’m not actually ‘collecting’ tins… not yet, anyway  ;-)

And this great little piece of vintage luggage. Love the old cardboard luggage!

The glass at the bottom of the old bottle is super thick, and poured on an angle.

I don’t know what it was used for, but I thought it was kind of cool. And I liked this wine carafe because of its shape. Most the ones you find, are round from bottom to top.

So these are my treasure finds this week! A little vintage and a lot of loooove!

When I bought the jam tin, the cashier asked me what I planned to do with it. I told her it might hold pens and pencils on my desk! What would you do with it?

Today I’m heading back over to the Junkin Joe Linky Party, ’cause the last one was just way too much fun! I hope you pop over and check out all the other vintage treasures, projects and thrifty finds!

And here’s a special shout out toAndrea at The Cottage Market for hosting! Thank you, Andrea!!!

This week coming up is going to be a busy one for me. I’ll be getting myself organized to head over to idsWEST in Vancouver where I’ll be joining the DLBwest blogging gang for another blogging gala of fun! And I will be making a quick little ‘vintage’ stop along the way! Watch for that post next Friday to find out why!

Thank you for stopping by!

Photography: Sheila Zeller

Rainbows On the Floor

Last Friday I was delighted to guest post for Luciane over at Home Bunch. Did you catch this ‘Cool or Fool’ feature? Well, today I thought I would expand on the multi-coloured striped theme of that post. Read on… and warning, this post is photo heavy, but I think you will be amazed at what you see!

Jenna Ration G

Contemporary visual artist Jim Lambie specializes in colourful sculptural installations made from everyday modern materials. And one of his trademarks is applying brightly coloured vinyl tape in patterns of continuous lines to floors, most often of galleries. The vinyl tape Lambie uses is an everyday material, but has the capacity to alter the dynamics of a space. The tape is applied following the shape of the room and its architectural details, transforming it from a soft, quiet area into an energetic and emotionally charged sensory zone. Lambie’s creations often trick the eye, confusing, even disorienting, the viewer. According to Lambie, covering an object somehow evaporates its hard edge, and so the artistry is in creating so many edges that they all dissolve, leaving one to wonder if the room is expanding or contracting…

Would you alter the dynamics of your space in this way? Let’s take a look.

Apartment Therapy

Did you notice, this is the same floor from the first photo? Isn’t it interesting how the perspective changes when you see the whole area compared to just a snap shot of it?

Hirshhorn Museum

Since the tape follows the shape of the room and its architectural details, what do you think the shape of this room is? And even though the photo is straight, doesn’t it look like the bottom edge is cropped on an angle? That’s an example of how the multiple edges can trick the eye.

Apartment Therapy

Notice how the tape curves around the far side of the column, but mirrors the shape of the stairs on this side? This is an example of how the tape is applied to follow the architectural details in the room.

Walyou

Dying to know what’s in this space! Do you think it’s from the same space as the photo above?

Walyou

Here the tape follows the square base of the column rather than the column’s curve. This creates the illusion that the floor is an extension of the column base.

iiiinspired Blog

At first glance, doesn’t it look like there could be a step down on the right?

iiiispired Blog

Even though the square columns are outlined flat against the floor, doesn’t the diamond shape in the middle make it feel like there is a gradual incline to the base of the columns?

Didactic – Richard Cassel

Have you noticed the slight variations in the colour combinations of the designs? Lambie picks the tape colours and layout for each design, but he leaves it up to his assistants to coordinate how the colours are put together within the design.

Walyou

This is a great example of how Lambie’s design can trick the eye. Doesn’t it remind you of a kaleidoscope?

Chic Cham Blog

Imagine applying the tape to a set of stairs. This close-up gives you a better idea of just how intricate the process is. Every mitered corner must fit perfectly or the design will become skewed, especially when you factor the risers into the equation.

Floorcrunch

Can you tell where each step starts and ends? Look closely to the left, and you’ll see…

Joanne Mattera Art Blog

Did you notice this photo is from the same space as the one above it? A lot easier to see where the steps are now, right?

Oh My News

See how the design of this floor leads you to, and emphasizes each sculpture, yet still manages to mirror the long lines of the ceiling?

Well, are you ready to take the leap yet? Want to create a ‘Lambie’ design in your home? What if I showed you spaces you might relate to a little more?

Freshome

Yes, this is a Lambie staircase. But I think it would be easier to paint! How about you?

Freshome

And how do you not get dizzy going down these stairs? Do you think they’d be easier to navigate in the dark?

Freshome

Notice how the base of the newel post is mirrored on the step below it. And see the green in the center of the stairs? That’s the mastery of this application. You have to make sure as you extend the design, you retain the overall perspective of the design. Because remember, the tape is applied by following the shape of the space and its architectural details. In this case, the newel post is an architectural detail.

Apartment Therapy

So, now I’m curious. Do you think it would it be fun to live in geometric colour like this everyday?

I  hope you have a bright, cheerful weekend! And don’t forget, today is the last day to enter our special GIVEAWAY. You have until midnight tonight, and tomorrow we will announce the lucky winner :-)

Thank you for stopping by!

Artist Easel to TV Stand ‘Before & After’

Featured by…

TV Cabinet Solutions

 Thank you so much!

You might remember waaaaay back about this time last year I posted in excitement about wanting to turn an artist easel into a TV stand. This was inspired by Vicente Wolf’s very creative idea, and if you missed my post you can catch up on it here. And then in House & Home’s June issue this year, an art easel turned TV stand was a featured DIY project!

This was exactly the push I needed to get back on track and tackle my year-in-waiting project!

Here’s what the easel looked like in its ‘before’ state.

Art Easel

Notice there is just one shelf.

There was a concern that the TV would be too top-heavy for the stand once it was mounted, making it tip forward. A test-run proved this stand to be a lot sturdier than you would think, and with the added weight of the audio equipment on the bottom, it wasn’t going anywhere.

Here’s the TV console we were replacing along with all the audio equipment that would have to make the move. I forgot to take a true ‘before’ of it, so you’ll notice the TV is missing!

Without getting too lost in the details of this project, one of the things we did was add two more shelves to accommodate our equipment.

I had my heart set on painting the stand black, because I wanted the equipment to blend in. I opted to brush rather than spray the stand, and oh boy, what a chore that was! Just the sanding and taping was more than I bargained for! You see, I had to sand off a clear coat finish, and then tape all the knobs and exposed hardware. And this stand has a lot of grooves, not to mention a bunch of knobs, back and front, as well as ample hardware!

I used CIL’s low VOC, low odour DUO paint (Dark Secret, DL51 in semi-gloss), so was spared the priming. I haven’t used CIL’s 2-in-1 paint before, and was curious about its coverage. In the end the stand got two coats, and needed some touch-ups just where the frame was adjusted once the TV was mounted. The frame was tedious to adjust, which is why I didn’t mess with it when I was painting.

Next hubs drilled the frame so he could mount our center speaker for the surround sound right in the center of the stand. Makes sense, right?

The TV, by the way, was mounted with steel strapping.

We used the TV’s pre-existing screw holes meant for a wall-mount bracket to attach the strapping, and wrapped it snugly over the back rest of the easel.

At first, I wasn’t too sure if I liked the outcome.

But then when I went back to the living room ‘before’ photo with the TV console…

And looked around the room with the new TV easel finished and in place…

Well, I decided there was no comparison. I love the sculptural feel and uniqueness of the stand, and how compact the equipment is sitting on the stand. I like how the stand works with the clock, and the decor. But most of all, I like that the stand tucked perfectly into the corner… it’s such an awkward corner. Did you notice that?

This was a case of, if you can’t disguise the TV, then go all out with it instead!

I’m curious to hear what you think! And, I’d love your thoughts on the wall behind the TV, too. Would you put anything there, or leave that spot empty as is?

Today I’m linking up over at Primitive & Proper…

You might want to pop by to check out the other projects. Thanks for hosting, Cassie!

And thank you, my friends, for stopping by today :-)

PS – don’t forget to enter our special GIVEAWAY here… Giveaway ends Friday, September 7, 2012 midnight PST!

Simply Spectacular… Totally Affordable!

Adding a little touch to your space doesn’t have to be costly or time consuming…

Have you got a second?

 

 

Hydrangeas picked fresh from my Dad’s garden…

Displayed in a vinaigrette bottle thrifted for $1.00.

Simple, affordable style.

Created in minutes, enjoyed for days!

How about you? What’s your favorite way to add a dash of style to your home?

Sometimes it’s the smallest things that bring the greatest pleasure. I walked around my Dad’s yard with him while he cut some of his flowers for me. We wandered and chatted, and like always, bantered a bit, too. ;-) When I got home, putting the flowers into vases was a nice extension of the time we spent together. And now as I enjoy them, these moments are imprinted with this little added touch of simple, affordable style!

THANKS FOR STOPPING BY!

All Photos by Sheila Zeller

The Story Behind the Scrolls

I teased you in my last post by promising a little story behind these two scrolls hanging on our wall.

Do you remember them?

Well, to tell you the truth, the story isn’t anything mind blowing. It’s just an example of how a moment in time was preserved, another fibre woven into a tapestry of stories whispered in a space.

You see, these scrolls came from Korea, a business trip my hubs was on a number of years back. Only then, we weren’t an official Mr. & Mrs., just a couple figuring it out! So he brought home one scroll for me to hang in my home, and the other for his. A pair, even though they lived apart.

This is the background on the scrolls, which was included inside the box with each one…

So when you know this piece, it suddenly helps you see the scrolls from a much deeper perspective.

I’d like to show you a close-up of the Jeon-gak of each scroll.

This is the one that hung in my home first.

And this is what it means.

Jeon-gak 'A Beautiful House'

Can you see the house in the red square? Hubs picked this out for me because it spoke to him of creating beautiful spaces, and making a home.

Here’s the one that he picked out for his place.

And what it means…

This meant to him that you need to be surrounded by that which is important to you.

And now, the scrolls hang together in our home.

The rest they say, is history!

And yes, a part of our story that is shared in our space.

How about you? What special moments have you featured in your home?

It’s a great time to assess those things that are special to you. What things have you got tucked away? Anything you can think of off hand? Why not pull them out, and give them a chance to shine?

Thanks for stopping in!

All Photos by Sheila Zeller 

DIY: Zipping Up A Lamp Shade, Painting It With Colour!

I picked up a little glazed ceramic lamp base at the thrift store not too long ago, but had no idea what to do for a shade. Knew I wanted to DIY something, but not sure what.

And then I came across a tutorial by Courtney over at A Little Glass Box. A very cool idea that I hadn’t seen before.

First, I had to buy a cheapo shade, because I needed the frame to work with.

Home Trends Lamp Shade

And I knew from my DIY skeleton lamp shade that finding a thrifted shade to fit a small lamp was harder than you’d think. So I didn’t take the time to try and thrift one, but popped into Wal-Mart instead.

Even though the shade looks a little top heavy, I knew it wouldn’t be once it was taken apart.

And that’s because the bottom ring was only attached to the fabric, not the actual frame. I was going for a drum shape, so losing the bottom ring was exactly what needed to happen.

Can you see a drum evolving from this frame?

Frame of table lamp shade

No, not so much?

Next was cutting 1/4″ wire mesh to size for the new shade…

1/4" wire mesh

And attaching it to the frame with small plastic zip straps, to form the drum shape.

DIY Lamp Shade with Wire Mesh

And now the fun begins. Have you guessed how this shade is being created yet?

Here’s a peak…

Small Plastic Tie Strap Lamp Shade

That’s right. Staggered layers of zip straps will be used to fill in the mesh and create the shade! Crazy, I know.

You actually want to attach straps in every mesh square of the bottom row, and the very top row. It’s all the rows in between that are staggered.

Check out the layer of white!

White Zip Strap & Wire Mesh Lamp Shade

Looks kind of funky, don’t you think?

I really liked the layered colours of Courtney’s lamp in the tutorial, so I wanted to layer colours into my shade, too. But it meant spray painting zip straps!

So I figured out how many I would need in each colour, and counted them out. Yes, seriously, I did!

Zip Straps and Spray Paint

Did I mention, I bought a bag of 1000 small zip straps? And in total I used 575 of them, give or take a few!

I couldn’t figure out a fast and easy system to spray these puppies, so I just resorted to threading them – One. By. One. – :-|  onto fishing line, and then sprayed away, trying to cover both sides of the straps!

Tip:

Make sure you spray the straps ahead of time, because they definitely need to dry overnight, and the longer they dry, the better. Otherwise the paint will rub and flake off too much when you’re attaching the straps to the mesh.

Here’s the colour layering in action.

DIY Lamp Shade with Zip Straps

One thing to keep in mind is not to pull the straps too tight. The ones you see sticking out have deliberately been pulled tight to anchor the mesh to the frame, but they were only temporary until they could be replaced with the blue straps.

Are you feel’n it yet?

Here’s a look at the finished shade…

DIY Zip Strap Lamp Shade

I know it looks a little ‘Dr. Seuss’, but hang on… you haven’t seen it turned on yet!

I used a small 60w clear bulb…

DIY Zip Strap Lamp Shade

 

 

And was blown away by how different this little lamp looks when it’s on!

I love the shadows it casts…

And check out the reflection on the lamp base.

Doesn’t it remind you of a White Sea Anemone in an ocean of blue?

Here’s one more look back at the lamp and shade in its ‘Before’ state…

Martha Stewart Lamp Shade

And the ‘After’ of the total shade makeover!

What do you think of my little Crazy for Colour project? Would you zip up 575+ straps to make one of these shades, too?

Today I’m joining in the party fun, and linking my project up here…

I want to thank these awesome ladies for being such great hosts!

    

 

Such a fun project! And so many more to do :-) Why not pop on over and check out all the other projects, too? Who knows, maybe you’ll be inspired to do up your own crazy colour project… or maybe it’s just a crazy project. Seriously, zip straps turned into a lamp shade? Who knew???

THANKS FOR STOPPING BY!

All Photos by Sheila Zeller

My Design Ode to the 2012 Summer Olympics

Twelve years ago I started off a 5-week holiday in London, toured around the UK, and then enjoyed some of the great cities that Europe has to offer. When I holiday I like to buy at least one piece of art to remember the trip by, and on this journey I opted for a few pencil drawings.

The two large ones are from the City of Bath, and the small one is of Stonehenge.

Pencil Drawings of Bath & Stonehenge

I love these pieces, and have enjoyed them since the day my Dad matted and framed them for me. That is until this home we moved into last summer. You see, I’ve had a project for a TV stand brewing since about this time last year. I know, right. Who leaves a project for a year? You can catch my teaser post about it here.

Anyway, I always thought the space behind the TV stand (upon completion, of course!) is where these prints would go. You know, something like this.

With the TV stand sitting out in front, I thought they would be a good fit for this spot, both in their look and scale. And so they’ve remained unhung just waiting for the stand to be done! I’ll let you in on a little secret… the TV stand was finished 3 days ago, which is why you see the chaos of cables in this photo. We were in the middle of switching stands over, but I’ll be posting that reveal a little later.

To cut to the chase, my well-laid plan for the prints was a FAIL! And I didn’t have to hang them to find out. What I did first was make a template for each print out of newspaper, and then gave the placement a test-run. I got this tip from Young House Love way back when, and I’m so glad I did! I seriously recommend this step if you’re trying to decide on art placement before you bang the nail in!

When I knew this spot was a definite miss, I had to go to my option B location.

And test it out with my trusty templates…

Tip to hang multiple pieces of art

With the templates I could see this spot was best with just the two larger prints. With three, the top piece would fight for attention with the trim above the window… and that would just create visual pain for anyone looking that way! I tried the templates lower, but the lamp started to fight with the frame of the bottom print…

It’s hard to see, but the top print is slightly narrower than the bottom one, so getting these two pieces hung just right took a lot of measuring, leveling, shifting and re-leveling with the templates.

Template System to hang multiple art pieces

Did I mention how the templates made this part a lot easier?

And, voila!

Pencil Art of Bath UK

All this after living here for a year! And to think I could’ve been enjoying the prints so much sooner :-|

Here’s where I decided to hang the Stonehenge print…

Even though I was only hanging one piece, I still used the template, because I wanted to make sure the size of the print wouldn’t overwhelm this spot.

Template system to hang art work

Ooops! I wasn’t planning to feature my kitchen, and totally didn’t prep the space :-0  Oh well, it’s a day in the life of…!

I think the print looks great in this spot.

Template system to hang art work

Okay, I’ll crop the shot and remove the visual distractions for you! ;-)

What do you think? Do you like ‘Stonehenge’ here?

Here’s one more look at the ‘Bath’ prints in location B…

Artwork stacked vertically

When you see them in context, it makes a difference, doesn’t it?

Notice the stacked pieces over the fireplace? The top piece was also hung up today. I wanted to repeat the vertical stacking of artwork… but this particular piece also has special meaning and I thought it was a great place to feature it.

You see, it’s a cross-stitch that my Mom started, but never got to finish. She purchased it in England, and it’s of a little thatched roof cottage. We were on this trip together, and drove through the countryside where cottages with thatched roofs were scattered along the way. It was just so pretty and quaint. When hubs and I got married, my Aunt finished this piece and gave it to us for a wedding gift. My Aunt was on this trip too, and she was the driver… that’s right, wrong side of the road out in the English countryside! Can I just say, I’m so glad she was the one dodging the Hawthorne bushes, driving the M3, and navigating the 4-lane round-a-bouts?!!! :-)

The point of this post is to share a tip for hanging artwork, but it’s also to demonstrate something I really believe in. And that is the value of the stories behind the pieces in your home. There is a sweet irony in the timing of this post… the 2012 Summer Olympics are taking place in London at this very moment, and these special pieces just happen to be attached to my time in the UK twelve years ago, almost to the day! So as we catch some of the Olympics, and I glance at my prints, I am reminded of a time in my life that feels like just yesterday, and I feel connected… See what I mean about the stories?…

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR STOPPING BY!

All Photos by Sheila Zeller

A Little Gloss and Too Much Shine!

I love summer, and am seriously enjoying it while it’s here! You’ve probably noticed fewer posts per week, and I just want to say, it’s all good! I’m taking this time to enjoy the sunshine, my friends and family, and all that summer brings our way :-) And of course, a few projects, too.

So you’ll understand when I say I got sidetracked the other day with a mini project!

I’ve had this picture frame kicking around for quite a while now.

Dark Brown Photo Frame

But I’ve never loved the dark brown. No, not so much… in fact, not at all!

So, when I was busy in the garage the other day, just on a whim I decided to haul out the primer.

Primed Photo Frame for Painting

Wasn’t sure what I was going to do exactly, but knew I couldn’t go wrong with a coat of primer.

And since I had a can of gray spray paint handy from another project…

Gray Spray Painted Photo Frame

I decided I couldn’t go wrong with gray, either!

The frame took the paint really well, and the finished coat was awesome. It was smooth and even… but it was just way too shiny for me in the end. I guess glossy paint will do that, right?!

So I hauled out the sandpaper and started scratching up the frame, and dulling it down.

Distressed Photo Frame

Hard to tell there was any gloss to begin with. Do you think I got carried away?

You might remember that I was the lucky winner of a Sand Dollar print by Wooden Spoon Editions quite some time ago, which I wrote about here and here.

Well, I decided to introduce the distressed frame to my Sand Dollar print, you know, just to see how they would get along.

Distressed Photo Frame

The gray might be a little on the blue side, but I like the way these two play together.

How about you?

Have you changed anything up lately?

Remember, it’s all in the details… I had no intentions of distressing this frame when I set out, but when I didn’t like the shiny finish, I knew that leaving it would be no different than if I had left the frame dark brown. I wouldn’t use it. And what’s the point in that? Never be afraid to make the pieces in your home all about you. That’s what it’s all about!

THANKS FOR TAKING A MOMENT TO STOP BY!

All Photos by Sheila Zeller

Tweaking it up with Twine

It’s the little things that make a difference. Seriously. Do you think I would string you along?

Okay, that was a bad pun! You’ll see ;-)

Enter house plant exhibit #1.

Plastic Trays for Ceramic Pots

Notice the green plastic trays?

So pretty, right?

They’re in place because the ceramic pots in front aren’t glazed, and though the pot in back is, I wanted to elevate it a little from the other two.

Now, here’s the thing. Rope and twine is pretty hot in decor right now, so I decided to trend up these trays… you know, just to give them a touch of pizzazz like these plant pots have.

I picked up these balls of twine from the Dollar Store…

Dollar Store Twine

And applied the first row with a glue gun to set the twine firmly in place, and give the next row a solid guide to work from.

Twine DIY Project for Planter Trays

The rest was applied with Modge Podge craft glue. Notice the twine sitting in the basket? I fed it through one of the holes to keep the ball from rolling on the floor… just a little tip if you want to give a project like this a try.

Don’t worry about applying too much Modge Podge. It dries clear, and you want enough coverage to hold the whole length of twine in place.

DIY Twine Project for Planter Trays

I applied a thick layer with a toothpick as I went along. Just be careful not to completely coat your twine with glue, or you will wreck the look of the raw, fuzzy jute fibres.

DIY twine wrapped planter tray

You might have to stop and wash your hands a few times if your fingers get coated in glue. Mine did!

Once all three trays were wrapped, I set them up on containers to dry.

DIY twine wrapped planter trays

They don’t take very long to dry, but I let them sit for a couple of hours before moving them into place.

DIY twine wrapped planter trays

Now that the glue is dry, notice you can still see the fuzzy jute fibres? That’s what I mean about not coating the twine with too much glue.

Here’s a ‘before’ & ‘after’ of the larger tray, the one used to elevate the pot that’s glazed…

Jute wrapped planter tray

I like it better with the twine on it, but never thought to actually cover the bottom of the tray. I’m not sure about that green still peeking through, and might go back and finish it up by coiling a length of twine to cover the bottom, too. What do you think?

Here’s a look back at where we started…

DIY twine wrapped planter tray project

Notice the dirt in the pots?

And here’s where we are now!

DIY twine wrapped planter tray project

Twine wrapped planter trays on the bottom, and polished river rocks on top!

I got the river rock idea from my friend Jessica over at Decor Adventures. Makes such a difference to finishing the look, don’t you think? Thanks, Jess :-)

And in total this mini project only took an hour and a half!

Who would’ve thought? A Dollar Store ball of twine. That’s what I love so much about the inspiration I get from other blogs, and of course, from Pinterest. Some projects are definitely on the larger scope of make-overs, but then there’s these little things, too. It’s not how grand the scale of a project, but rather, how much difference a project will make to you!

 Have you made any tweaks to your place lately? If not, is there anything you’ve been planning to do?

THANKS SO MUCH FOR STOPPING BY!

PS – I forgot to mention a few things…

  • First, wishing all my friends south of the border a Happy Independence Day :-) I hope your day is filled with fun in the sun, the love of your family and friends, and great BBQ food!!!
  • Second… today is the 2nd anniversary of my blog! 352 posts later, who knew time could fly by so fast? To all of you stopping by, leaving comments, and showing your support, thank you so much for reading what I write. Truly, from the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU!
Hugs, xo

All Photos by Sheila Zeller