Handmade Art with Heart

The Copper Tone

Published on January 16, 2014January 16, 2014 by Our Humble Abode5 Comments

Some of my creations are a way to use left over materials. Whether fabric scraps, left over wood veneer, or in this case, wood ends.

Ben kept these scraps from the Bubinga counters, but had no use. While cleaning out the garage last weekend, he brought them upstairs and set them in our wood pile. Knowing I could make something, I saved them from a firey death. Of course Ben accused me of hoarding, but it’s worth it. After seeing these beautiful jewelry blocks, I knew what I wanted to do. I cut a 1 3/4 inch cube (because my pieces were already 1 3/4 inches, which also happened to be the width of the tube strap) and bought a 1/2 inch copper air chamber and copper tube straps, both found in the plumbing aisle. Add a few screws, a tooth hanger, and we’ve got a chic, industrial, wall mounted bud vase.

If you want to make your own, start with a wooden cube, dealer’s choice. Because the Bubinga is super dense, I used a small drill bit to make pilot holes for the screws. Both front (for the strap) and back (for the hanger).

Short screws hold each in place. I couldn’t find copper screws, so I used brass instead. I might get a copper leaf pen to paint the heads.

A small nail hangs the vase on the wall, but I didn’t like the slight lean it gave the piece. A few sticky back felt dots bumped up the bottom to hang parallel to the wall.

If I han’t already hung the astrological cut outs about the toilet, I’d want three or five of these instead. Loving how the copper popped against the dark bathroom walls, I hung it in the little space between the shower and bathroom door.

A cheap, colorful carnation brightens this dreary winter.

Now I have an excuse to keep fresh flowers in the house. Sometimes, small projects like these are my favorites. Simple, affordable, and brighten a room. What do you think of this DIY vase?

Not Welcoming Welcome

Published on January 14, 2014January 14, 2014 by Our Humble Abode12 Comments

We’ve been busting our butts to get the master bathroom done, but other areas of the house are completely neglected. First impressions are important, and this is that we’ve got:

Not completely untouched. We did remove a small arch that was over the railing, along with a few pieces of crown that were around it.

Our friends wanted the Tiffany style Fleur de Lis light, so we gave it a new home. So really, at this point, it looks worse than it initially did. Hopefully this summer we’ll replace the windows and front door for something more energy-efficient. I’m hoping to cover up the knock down texture with a wall treatment, too. New crown while we’re at it.

The light box is centered on the dividing railing, which kind of makes sense, but also kind of drives me crazy. Moving it over about 6 inches would center the light on the window and door.

Speaking of lights, we ordered the Mobile Chandelier from West Elm mid-December.

When we placed the order, it said the fixture was back ordered until January 20th. Now it says April 1st. Fingers crossed it’s still January, though I haven’t gotten an update. While we have the big ladder out to hang the light, we’ll get this big, bad bottom dude up:

My grandpa got these Longhorns in the late 50’s, then gave them to my mom before he passed away. I told my mom I had the perfect place for them, so she gave them to me.

Perfect sculptural, manly addition to the entry. They’ll fill up the wall without looking busy, and I love the sentimental value.

Our little console is still working well.

Man, I really want to paint over the peachy paint. Sadly it makes the most sense to wait until we’ve replaced the windows. I’d rather not climb a high ladder more than I have to.

& Here’s Some Art

Published on January 10, 2014January 10, 2014 by Our Humble Abode25 Comments

Thank you so, so much for all the support and sweet comments about the curtains and bathroom progress! You are all so wonderful.

Not sure if you have this same problem, but finding bathroom art is tricky. Anything with eyes seems creepy. And I wanted something large for our back wall. As usual, I made something.

A giant, simple ampersand on a white canvas.

I’m having a hard time deciding if I like how simple it is. Or if it’s just boring… Thoughts? A colorful, abstract painting would be really awesome.

However, I know I love the Astrological sign art above the commode. Originally, I made these to live in our bedroom, but they looked puny. After hanging the Carried Away art, the stars stayed in the closet.

When I pulled the set out again, I thought I’d change the frames/mats or both. I think I’ll hold off, because I like the black and white. Especially with the patterned towels.

Above the tub, I took a less traditional approach with vintage arrows. Handy Sammy had them and they’re an interesting addition.

To hang the arrows, Ben drilled two tiny holes in the shaft of each. I marked the center of the space, then set two 2 by 4 boards on the ledge to give my height and keep them lined up.

I started nailing in the bottom of each, then leveled each arrow before nailing in the top, then tapping the bottom nail in the rest of the way.

The fletching has seen better days, but I like the character each arrow has.

There’s the bathroom art. Until I change something. What art do you have in your bathroom? Wishing everyone a happy weekend, too!

2013 Favs

Published on January 2, 2014January 2, 2014 by Our Humble Abode5 Comments

Hey, everyone! Happy New Year! Our 2014 is off to a rough start with sick kiddos, but we’re so excited for a fresh start. While Ben and I both love projects, sometimes it’s tough. Roadblocks hit, things take longer than anticipated, or just an itch to get started on a new project. It can feel like treading water. Plenty to keep busy, but you’re not getting anywhere. A look back on what has been accomplished or finished is an easy way to feel better. What better time to reminisce than a new year? So, here are some of my favorite projects from 2013.

In January we: Built wood storage and shelving, organized the main bathroom, crafted tree slice art, and art for our freshly finished fireplace.

February included: A little demo, followed up with freshly painted walls (man is that a good feeling!), a thrifted dresser makeover and reveal, hey-o, a finished bathroom, then, of course, a toilet set back.

March was our guest room revamp month: Starting with cutting out the existing bookshelves, then styled shelves and a blue headboard, a DIY pendant with wrapped cord, finished off with warm yellow walls. Hey, we finished a room in a month. That has to be a record for us.

April we had less focus: The beginnings of a waterfall and landscape filled summer, embroidered constellation art, modern rectangle quilt, and yet another thrifted dresser makeover.

May was furniture filled: I crafted some cute hooks, found, refinished, upholstered, and revealed $5 thrifted chairs, made and installed a PVC pendant.

June was a little slower: Our biggest, most time-consuming project was building a reclaimed beam deck. Between decking, I scraped off a popcorn ceiling and patched it, made a quick, rough (read, not museum quality…ever) large painting, cheaply and easily built canvas frames, and put a walnut to the test.

July was filled with landscape work and a fresh boys room: Ben finished the deck, built a bocce ball court, custom beds while I made text bubble pillow cases, and painted Green Eggs and Ham art.

August, another month of outdoor work: stained the deck, building beam stairs, turn a book into a game board, how to cut a round top for our thrifted table base, nail and string plus art, and surprise, another thrifted chair!

We wrapped up outdoor work and did small crafts in September: Finally painted over the crazy blue in our bedroom, cringed while our landscaping washed away (lesson learned. If I declare a project finished, something will happen to prove me wrong), created a wheeled stump side table, initial bottle labels, wood wrapped planter, knock off clay wishbone, jewel toned fall scheme.

In October we: herringboned (now a verb) a table top, DIY’d an outdoor gas fire pit, fixed the damaged back yard, plotted our bathroom remodel, updated our coffee table top with V stripes, under $5 lyric art.

November was busy with family, but fewer projects: demoed the master bathroom, brought our MCM bench inside and gave it an update, sewed more pillows (shocker!) got crafty with paper mâché, built an entry console shelf, set a colorful Thanksgiving table with a painted plus table runner.

December had a lot of bathroom work and Christmas crafts: bought a real dining table, easiest way to sew in a zipper, got in the Christmas spirit with a colorful scheme and felt garland, tiled the heck outta the bathroom, planked the ceiling and walls, debated colors then painted the bathroom walls dark. What a way to end the year.

Whew, makes me happy and exhausted going through it all again. Now I’m even more excited to wrap up the bathroom and get started on another project. What project have you tackled this year that makes you giddy? Or makes you happy you’re done?

Carried Away

Published on October 30, 2013October 29, 2013 by Our Humble Abode10 Comments

Often, I get carried away. Start cleaning the kitchen and then go organize the rest of the house. Wipe up the bathroom floors and end up cleaning it from top to bottom. So it’s no surprise I got carried away when I met Ben. Head over heels. That phrase doesn’t make sense. Aren’t we almost always head over heels? Anyway, I knew when I met him I needed to know more. It’s only fitting George Strait’s Carried Away was our first wedding dance. And now we have those words on our wall. I used Bombshell Pro to create these black and white designs.

I thought I’d paint the design on old canvases. Then I took the easy way out. Engineer prints to the rescue. Again! By formatting two 16 by 20 inch designs on one 2 foot by 3 foot page, I paid only $4.50 for the two.

Back in May I bought two acrylic frames for three bucks each and finally put them to good use. The old astrological sign cut outs were too small, so we’ve got new bedside art.