DIY // How To Steal Art For Your Home (And Not Get Caught)

No matter your budget there are ways to decorate your home to show off your personal style.  It's obvious I'm a thrifting addict and I find tons of decor items and art at my local thrift stores.  I'm also not against stealing, repurposing or even making art from scratch.  Yes, I said steal but not in the "dress in all black slink into a museum and caper that Monet you've been coveting" way.  Things like magazines, cards or finding free illustrations online are all fair game.  Just take the art from our DIY industrial shelves for example.

Internet // The framed whale illustration I found online, printed on cardstock and stuck in a crate and barrel frame is one of my favorites. The camera print on the opposite shelf (scroll down for photo) which is another favorite is available online as a free download from Design Editor (as well as a photo of a vintage brownie camera.)  Both can be printed up to a 24x36 inch print.

Home Organization: Living Room Chapter 2

Continuing on my quest for a more organized and all-around more relaxing home, I hit the living room for the second time.  With the eastern side of the room cleaned up it was time to hit the western half. Since I had already picked up the toys and books, plus cleaned up the sofa - this side of the room was pretty well organized.  What it was lacking was any sense of style or personality - just like the east side of the room before the addition of the vibrant draperies which are intentionally rocking a high-water style and the throw pillows.

Since I moved the large map from the large wall to the mantle (which seems to work better) the wall is back to being a large blank wall.  I didn't tackle that bare space, but I did work on the wall to the right of the fireplace.

"Only Fish In The Sea" Art

I'm not digging the art behind the couch.  I think it's the map.  I have a plan for something new so the frames that were hanging are now up for grabs.  I have this long 5 photo frame that we had family photos in and then it housed some typography art for the holidays.  I took it down a few days ago and set it across the room.  There it sat - taunting me.  Daring me to make something to put into it.  And so I did.

You ever have those moments where an idea just hits you and you're like...Hells Yes!?  This was one of those times.

I love this simple art - a fishing pole, a pond...

DIY // Vintage Reproduction Postcard Wall Art

I've always been a fan of postcards.  With their beautiful landscape photography or the photo and hilarious quip combination plus a short and sweet message from the sender - nothing beats getting these in the mail.  Josh and I still write each other and I'm sure to send a postcard or two during our summer absences.  This year I picked up a pack of the WPA National Park Service vintage reproduction postcards from REI to send to the hubs.

We're a camping family and these are perfect little reminders of where we've been or want to go.  These prints are gorgeous.  I knew that I didn't just want to send them and shove them in a box to be forgotten.  So I took the postcards and four IKEA Ribba frames at $1.99 a pop and created some amazing graphic wall art for just around $10 total.

DIY Nautical Chart Art

Ever since I was a youngster drawing countries for my book reports, I've had a fascination with maps.  That fascination carries over into decor.  I'm all about showcasing a map in the home and if you haven't noticed, so is the rest of the home decor world.  We've seen them in vintage, modern and contemporary forms of all shapes and sizes.

We've long displayed a world map in our home with pins to showcase where we've traveled and now we're rocking another map to show another important place in our lives.

The hubs, while in addition to being an amazing teacher, is a commercial fisherman.  He spends his entire summer break in Alaska out on the Aleutian Chain catching halibut and black cod.  It's incredibly difficult having him gone for months at a time, but it allows us to raise our son the way we want ~ with Mama at home.

To make the transition easier and to help our {almost} two-year old son TRY to understand why Daddy is away and where he is, we picked up a couple nautical charts of the fishing grounds where he typically fishes, so we could show him exactly where Daddy is.  You can pick these charts up at most marine supply shops, ours was Longship Marine in Poulsbo, Washington.

Rather than just throwing the chart up poster-style, I created a piece of art that is both practical and beautiful by cutting the chart into four panels and framing them with simple glass frames.

DIY // Marine Life Shadowbox Art

Ever wonder what to do with your sentimental items?  We have hundreds of ticket stubs, cards, letters and other mementos crammed into our keepsake box, tucked away out of sight.  Some things are better left in there but there are a few things that we wouldn't mind seeing out in public.  I was completely inspired by this framed sanddollar by Katie Bower of Bower Power circa 2008, who was initially inspired by Nate Berkus .  How can you NOT be inspired by Nate B?  or Katie B. for that matter?!  With two Ikea shadowboxes found at the thrift store, fabric, cardboard and craft glue I made my own heartfelt decor that is sure to inspire some happy memories.

Knockoff: DIY Lord Bodner's Octopus Triptych

I about died when I first saw the Lord Bodner Octopus Triptych while I was feeding my brain...err, I mean, while watching Giuliana & Bill.  The original is a copperplate engraving by Lord Bodner and was published in 1826 in London as part of a series studying creatures of the deep.  You can purchase the framed triptych version from Natural Curiosities for $3550, a framed print from Outer Banks Trading Group for $1590 or there's another original artwork created by Julie Canale for $3550 that's just as swoon worthy as the Bodner triptych.  So, feel free to fork over your hard earned cash, but might I ask why, when you can make a smaller scaled version for pennies on the dollar?

Supplies:

14 Days of Valentines: Day 10 Our Song Lyrical Typography Print

It's day 10 of 14 Days of Valentines, my attempt at one Valentine's inspired craft each day.

I am always finding frames at thrift stores and purchasing them.  To say that my husband is a bit annoyed with our abundance of frames is an understatement.  But, I think it gives me flexibility for projects.  Like this one!

"Our Song" Lyrical Typography Print.

Recognize those lyrics?  It's Tom Petty's "The Wild One - Forever."

Art @ the POP

For those of us that live in the Pacific Northwest, we know rain.  And we outsmart rain.  In Astoria, there's a great indoor play place, called the Port of Play, where the kids can burn some energy and the parents can socialize.

Our visit today had me appreciating the rain cover, as well as the art.

So what about you?  Where do you take your kids when the weather is less than stellar?

DIY // Van Gogh's The Starry Night Mosaic Art

This is a piece that I created a few years back.  Back before the creation of Revamp Homegoods, even before the creation of blogging.

Vincent van Gogh's The Starry Night has had me mesmerized for as long as I can remember.  The deep colors and the night's energy are awe-inspiring.  Did you know that this was his view from his room in the sanatorium in Saint Remy and was painted just 13 months before his death.  He would stare at the view at night and then paint from memory in the morning.  I, too, could stare at it for hours. (Que sappy music.)

"The Starry Night" Vincent Van Gogh 1889

An extremely long time later...

Being one of the most replicated paintings of all time, I decided to jump on the bandwagon and create "The Starry Night" in glass mosaic form.  I made a trip out to Bullseye Glass, in Portland, Oregon, to pick up the supplies, which were:

• Glass cutter
• Sheets of colored glass