Dusty Antique Junk into Fantastic Wall Decor

So I have been spending way too much time on Pinterest and Craftgawker (and just discovered that they have a Foodgawker...swoon!)! That being said, I feel so inspired, and have stumbled upon some amazing blogs along the way.

I love digging through Antique places, and imagining what kind of treasures can be found...and then turned into something spectacular! :)  I happened to stop into one of my frequent haunts a couple weeks ago in downtown Defiance...when I came across some Victorian wood wall blocks (used in molding, door surrounds, etc). They were pretty banged up, and super dirty...but I saw some potential.

What you can not see from my photos is that there are tons of little nail holes in the flower carved piece, which I chose to not fill in. I thought it would take away from the piece to remove some of the history.

So I cleaned up the pieces, and picked up some spray paint from Menards (the Hammered finish was about $7 each, and the Painter's Touch was about $3.50). I planned on spraying the flower carved piece with the creamy white color, and then handpaint the carved flower. I still need to do this, and I think it will give it a very Dutch Hex feel to it.

Here they are on our living room wall (which the blue is much brighter than the color portrayed here), and I think looking at them I might go back before handpainting the flower one & fill in some of the nail holes & respray it. What do you think?



Projects...projects...and more projects...

I am sad to announce that Kylie decided to close down the Art Boutique portion of her shop, still keeping the space for her photography studio though. It was a fun ride, which gave me some insight into whether I would like to open my own brick & mortar shop...which I've decided that it's something that I don't feel ready to do.

I have loved getting to know Kylie, and our friendship will continue...but I'm excited to just focus on my own business at this time. Along with this, I have made the decision to go BACK to school...a decision that was pretty easy to make, but I needed that little glimpse into being a shop owner to realize.

Now that the formalities are out of the way...it's on to the "good stuff". :) 

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I have been spending WAY too much time on Pinterest lately, and there have been several projects that I have come across that I am in love with!!

I had initially seen this on Curiously Wrought on Etsy, and fell in love...hard! The only problem...the price. I thought to myself, "I can do something similar for much cheaper for my wall at home". So, I 'hearted' it on Etsy, and some time passed & I pretty much forgot about it. Then one day when I was perusing Pinterest when I came across a blog (that I can no longer find) that recreated their own rendition of Curiously Wroughts State Love series. So this spurred me into a crafting tizzy...I had to acquire all the needed supplies, and I would have to do this DIY for myself...right...now! :) 

So I painstakingly found all the required items, and then went to work. The initial project only took me a couple hours to complete, and it wasn't bad for a first try. I am thinking that I would like to make a couple (maybe on a slightly larger scale since mine was only 6" x 6") for friends and family that live on the other side of the country.

I think I will also change some things around also, using different nails (since the ones that I used had some sort of black icky coating...that then got all over my hands & I now have to do a little touch up because I got some on the plaque itself)....and next time I won't wrap the thread so many times around the nails. B-Real & myself were pretty impressed with the first round results. I still need to touch up the paint, and hang it proudly where everyone can see. :) 

Here are some of the other projects that I have come across that I REALLY want to do for our home:

Mason Jar Herb Garden : For our Kitchen

Wood Plank Wine Rack : For our Kitchen

Name Carved Tree Embroidery : For our Bedroom

Thread Holder : For my Studio

Home Sweet Home Decor : Will go right next to my Ohio Love plaque! :)

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There are many projects that I must work on for the shops, and coming this spring we will be doing some home remodels. Our downstairs bathroom...is pretty gross...and NEEDS to be done, and this summer I will be tackling the kitchen. I hope to paint all the cupboards & lower wood wall paneling a wonderfully creamy white, and the upper walls will be a green color. Something beachy, lovely, and laid back feeling. :)