Before & After - Thrift Store Frames to Modern Art!

Last week I showed you some nice wood
frames I found at a thrift store.

One frame was a sweet little gilded number. 
Here's the before:

 Since I love juxtaposing old and new,
formal and casual, traditional and contemporary,
I could not resist painting an abstract in this frame.
Here's the after:

Ditto for the pieces below, except for the 
fact that the frames were painted:

This piece had some pretty bad 
texture to work around.
Before:

So I added more.
After:

This piece had NO texture.
Before:

So I added some.
After:


I'm not sure WHERE or even IF
 I might use these little pieces.

I am sure I could find a place for 
them - fit my style and neutral palette! 
But I am seriously considering
incorporating them into my 
Vignettes to Go endeavor.

Speaking of Vignettes to Go...
I spent quite a bit of time on Sunday 
collecting and sorting items to
use in them, but the photos were
all lacking something. I began to
doubt my idea and my sense of design.

Then it occurred to me that 
the vignettes were missing 
the all-important vertical, 
grounding elements that a 
painting, mirror wall-piece or 
lamp bring to the composition. 
SO, I'm still working on them. 

These small paintings may end up 
as one of the components in some 
of my all-white vignettes. 
I am not giving up on this idea. 
It is still a work in progress!

We are all works in progress, right?

Word for the Day:
Philippians 1:6
And I am sure of this, 
that he who began a good work 
in you will bring it to completion 
at the day of Jesus Christ.

Linking With
Sunday
http://my1929charmerblog.com/	Sunday’s Best
http://www.homemakeronadime.com/	Creative Bloggers Party
http://www.niftythriftythings.com/	Nifty Thrifty Sunday
http://www.sistersofthewildwest.blogspot.com/	Sister Sunday
http://southernhospitalityblog.com	Thrifty Treasures
Monday
http://betweennapsontheporch.net	Metamorphosis Monday
http://modvintagelife.blogspot.com	Mod Mix Monday
http://houseinroses.blogspot.com/	Show Off Your Cottage Monday
http://boogieboardcottage.blogspot.com/	Masterpiece Monday
http://www.serendipityandspice.com	Manic Monday
http://howtonestforless.com/	Just a party with my peeps!
http://thededicatedhouse.blogspot.com	Make it Pretty Monday
Tuesday
http://www.knickoftimeinteriors.blogspot.com/	Vintage Inspiration Tuesday
http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com/	Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
http://farmhouseporch.blogspot.com/	Cowgirl Up!
http://www.newhousenewhomenewlife.blogspot.com/	All Star Block Party
http://myuncommonsliceofsuburbia.com/	Tuesday’s Treasures
http://www.elizabethandco.blogspot.com/	Be Inspired
http://creatingahouseofgrace.blogspot.com/	Twice Owned Tuesday
http://www.niftythriftythings.com/	Market Your Biz
Wednesday
http://www.fadedcharmcottage.blogspot.com/	White Wednesday
http://verymerryvintagestyle.blogspot.com	Share the Love Wednesday
http://micheleravendesigns.blogspot.com/	Primp Your Stuff Wed
http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com/	Wow Us Wednesday
http://www.notjustahousewife.net/	Penny Pinching Party
http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com/	What’s it Wednesday
Thursday
http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/	Under $100 Link Party
http://intheoldroad.blogspot.com/	All Star Block Party
http://www.theshabbycreekcottage.com/	Transformation Thursday
http://staceyembracingchange.blogspot.com/
http://nominimalisthere.blogspot.com/	Thursday Open House Party
http://www.the36thavenue.com/	Share Awesomeness Thursday
http://blissfulrhythm.blogspot.com	Home and Garden Thursday
http://www.jannolson.blogspot.com/	Share Your Cup Thursday
http://livelaughrowe.blogspot.com	Live Laugh Linky
http://akadesign.ca	Doin’ It Yourself
http://www.blueeyedowlboutique.blogspot.com	Thrift Score Thursday
Friday
http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/	Feathered Nest Friday
http://twenty-eight-0-five.blogspot.com/	Potpourri Friday
http://redoux.blogspot.com/	Friday Redoux Link Party
http://shabbynest.blogspot.com/	Frugal Friday
http://www.atthepicketfence.com/	Inspiration Friday
http://commonground-debrasvintagedesigns.blogspot.com	Vintage Inspiration Friday
http://homespunhappenings-tammy.blogspot.com	Rustic Restorations Weekend
http://www.findingfabulousblog.com/	Frugalicious Friday
http://chiconashoestringdecorating.blogspot.com/	Flaunt it Friday
Saturday
http://funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/	Saturday Nite Special
http://too-much-time.com	Get Schooled Saturday
http://www.bedifferentactnormal.com/	Show and Tell Saturday

Looking Beyond #2 - A Simple Coat of Paint

Are you a VISIONARY?

Even though you may not be at this moment,

you can BECOME a visionary. 

Why should you develop your inner VISIONARY?

• You will save a LOT of money.
• You will live a more "green" lifestyle.
• You will live "beyond" your means*.
• You will enjoy a great sense of accomplishment.
• You can be a visionary for less than $4. 
  (the price of a can of spray paint)
  
  
  Last week, we looked beyond the GRIME, 
  which is the easiest and cheapest
  fix of all. It is at times, disgusting.
  Click HERE to see Are You a Visionary - 1.

The Life of a Visionary:

*You will buy items made of fine wood, metal, 

stone and other natural materials...

  

...instead of chip wood, fiberboard, plastic, resin

and other synthetic materials that won't last.

You will see beyond the scratches and scuffs.

 

You will live in a unique, one-of-a-kind,

creative and totally YOU environment.

You will see beyond out-dated finishes.

When you find interesting items 

in colors that don't match your style...

 

...you will visualize how to make them work.

You will transform mis-matched items into a matching set.

 

You will create a harmonious, unified environment. 

Color is a great way to create harmony

and unity between unrelated items.

They can be painted the same color... 

...or they can be painted in a palette that

works  - brights, pastels or neutrals.

  

Very often, great items are hiding in plain sight, 

waiting for a visionary to find them and renew them.

Here are some items I'll be working on this weekend:

A dated vintage plaster owl...

A couple of mid-century vintage metal frames

(one has already been painted)

A metal, wood and marble pedestal bowl...

   

A funky 60's style metal tray with brass handles...

  

P.S. Here is the plaster face above BEFORE a coat of flat latex 

and a wash of dark gray watered-down craft paint:

Tips for Revising With Paint:

What can be painted:

Items that can be painted easily include:

wood

plaster

metal

ceramic

glass

Today, there is special paint for even plastic items.

Annie Sloan Chalk paint sticks to most finishes.

What to watch out for:

Painting latex - water based paint over an existing oil finish.

While you can paint a coat of paint, you might think you are ok, but It won't stick, and will peel off like bubble gum - on the SECOND coat. 

How to Begin:

Thoroughly clean anything before painting it.

Even if an item appears clean, dust, oils 

from fingertips, and other microscopic things

can interfere with how a paint adheres to an object.

Most times, a clean rag and a little dish detergent is sufficient to clean an item. Occasionally, sanding or de-greasing is in order. Never fear - if you begin painting and have problems with adhesion - sand and clean again. 

Is Priming Necessary?

Well, no, but it is a good idea.

Primer will act as a bonding agent between the paint and the old finish. It will also cut down on the amount of paint needed, which saves money in the long run. It makes an even finish on which to apply the new color - and can save extra coats of color and lots of frustration.

Other Considerations:

You might want to paint COMPONENTS of an item, and leave some of them natural (like the marble, wood and metal pedestal bowl above.) Just look for screws to take an item apart. (Tips: take a photo of the piece before you disassemble it to see how it goes back together. Put all screws and fasteners into a ziploc bag and label it.)

Whether you spray or brush a couple of coats of paint on an item, PAINT is the second cheapest way to revise. 

With a little vision, you can LITERALLY create 
your own unique and stylish home 
for very little cash. Be green and save green.

Look beyond the surface. 
See an item as it MIGHT be.
You ARE a visionary!

Word for the Day:

Joel 2:28
"And it shall come to pass afterward 

that I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh; 

and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, 

your old men shall dream dreams, 

your young men shall see visions;

Linking With
Sunday
http://southernhospitalityblog.com	Thrifty Treasures
Monday
http://boogieboardcottage.blogspot.com/	Masterpiece Monday
http://thededicatedhouse.blogspot.com	Make it Pretty Monday
Tuesday
http://www.knickoftimeinteriors.blogspot.com/	Vintage Inspiration Tuesday
http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com/	Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
http://cedarhillranch.blogspot.com/	Cowgirl Up!
Wednesday
http://www.fadedcharmcottage.blogspot.com/	White Wednesday
http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com/	Wow Us Wednesday
http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com/	What’s it Wednesday
Thursday
http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/	Under $100 Link Party
http://www.the36thavenue.com/	Share Awesomeness Thursday
http://thebrambleberrycottage.blogspot.com/	Time Travel Thursday
http://frommyfrontporchtoyours.blogspot.com/	Treasure Hunt Thursday
http://blissfulrhythm.blogspot.com	Home and Garden Thursday
http://www.jannolson.blogspot.com/	Share Your Cup Thursday
http://akadesign.ca	Doin’ It Yourself
Friday
http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/	Feathered Nest Friday
http://twenty-eight-0-five.blogspot.com/	Potpourri Friday
http://shabbynest.blogspot.com/	Frugal Friday
http://www.atthepicketfence.com/	Inspiration Friday
http://commonground-debrasvintagedesigns.blogspot.com	Vintage Inspiration Friday
Saturday
http://funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/	Saturday Nite Special