Assembly Line Creation: This and That

Assembly line day...

On today's plate:

1) My client, Nancy, wants a montage of white items for a brown wall in her office.

2) My client, Bonita, wants a Lobster sign for one of her beach house bedrooms.

3) I have a couple other pieces…trash and yard sale finds….

that I might as well work on, while I'm at it..

So off to my garage for supplies.

And the assembly line gets cranking on the sidewalk.

 The purple pieces are wood from a shelf I took apart. 

I plan to use them for the sign.

The oval gold frame is a yard sale find.

On the left, a rectanglar gold frame.

Center, an old mirror frame I found in an alley...

Right, a strip of styrofoam insulation 

I'm going to use for the memo boards.

 Let's get this party started.  

Step one: I cut out inserts from the insulation to fit in the frames.

Step Two: Painting.

I'm using Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Old White for all.

 Before of gold mirror.

After painting.

After waxing.

Montage ideas for the brown wall.

Before: Detail of gold frame.

 After painting.

After waxing and covering the styrofoam with fabric.

Close up of frame detail.

I used a remnant of this awesome Ralph Lauren striped fabric

that I purchased from Ufab ages ago.

These are going to really look great together.

On to the sign.

I hinged the two pieces of wood together 

by using metal plates on the backside.

Then I base painted in ASCP in Old White.

This is my reference for the lobster……

So I just freehand pencilled everything,

and then I used Sharpie Paint Pens, and chalk paint...

After completing the lettering and art,

I started adding layers of dry brushing:

brown, then black.

 Then I dry brushed over the colored areas with the tiniest bit of white...

It's getting there….

 Then I added some stain to further age the sign.

 And the final step, 

doing a little light sanding over everything with my orbital sander.

I think it's done!

But who knows….

tomorrow I might decide it needs something else...

And lastly, back to this piece.

I decided to use this for a jewelry storage piece.

I lined the holes with a Schumacher fabric sample.

On the left and right sides, I first stapled in chicken wire.

 That's for hanging earrings...

 And the center piece can be used as a memo board, 

or to hang necklaces, and hold pins.

Investment: Zero.

I love that!!!!!!!!

My work is done here.

Time for Masterpiece!!!!

Scuffletown Park Birdhouse Makeover...

A block away from my house in the fan area of Richmond, 

is a sweet little park called Scuffletown Park. 

A neighbor mentioned that the birdhouse was in disrepair, 

so I went over with my drill yesterday morning, 

and took it down, and brought it home for a SheShe Makeover!!

Here's what it looked like.

Someone years ago had obviously put a lot of work into it.

 It was a little model of a typical fan row house..

But the wood veneer was falling off…

What was the little front porch, and architectural elements, 

had all fallen around on the ground.

 So I  picked up all the pieces, 

and brought them home, 

where I began to rebuild it with LOTS of glue and caulk..

 And you know me, I decided it needed a little makeover….

So I added some pieces of trim and little wooden finials, etc.

Once I got everything back together,

I primed everything...

 And began painting…….I used exterior house paint.

I gave it a sign….

Used a peg to replace a missing column….

 …I even added a tin roof! ha.

And I stenciled some decorative designs above

the windows…

But I felt like it was lacking oomph...

 So I decided to give all the windows, some window boxes….

…with colorful flowers!

Yes!

 …and I put a little bird on top….

 It's actually a salt shaker so was totally easy to attach: 

I just nailed through the holes.

 Maybe it will attract some new birds.

 I mean, if I were a bird, 

I would shack up here!

I was in a hurry to put it back up, 

which I did early this morning…

cuz the part I didn't tell you….

 ….was that when I took it down, 

I found this in the top…in a plastic bag.

 It was dated three days ago, 

and I was afraid that I had ruined someone's treasure hunt….

I don't know who this guy is, 

or exactly what this necklace is,

but heck, how romantic!!!!!!!!

So Kelsey, I hope you find it!!!!

 

It's safely back in place…

up on the roof….

waiting for you!!!!!!

I must have a thing for heads….

Heads, heads,

everywhere heads….

 Obviously I have an attraction to them.

 They're everywhere in my house…

 I even have one that I turned into a lamp.

She gets a costume every halloween, 

just like all the other party attendees.  Hee.

So it isn't surprising 

i was drawn to a pair of these concrete planters at Class and Trash, 

one of my favorite "eye candy stores."

 I wasn't particularly enamored with the finish…

It was glazed and very shiny,

but I knew I could change that. 

 And I did….

they were home for only about five minutes 

when I got the paint brush out.

 The after…….isn't she beautiful? 

I used many layers of different paints to achieve 

a time worn verdigris appearance.

 Here are the before/after side by side.

And here they are finished.

Very art nouveau.

Love them.

For sale: $85 each

$150 for the pair.