When I’m not sewing, I am s l o w in my crafting.
Thus, I don’t have a finished project to share today… Not exactly. It’s sort of finished but not on the walls. And not finishing off my room.
Here’s what I worked on with my friend, Mardel, last night:
I used a design from Lena Corwin’s Printing by Hand for the plaque on the left, and I used the template here for the other one. I’m still adding flowers around the owl so it coordinates with the flower plaque. But I thought you might want to see it in progress. :)
And here is (a very pregnant) Mardel at my house this morning, trying to help me figure out the problem that is My Huge Wall:
EDIT: I removed this picture. :) But there are plenty more living room pictures to be found here and here and here.
See the new lamp? I picked that up at Target last night for $30. I think I like it, but you might note that the tag is still on it. I love to return things when I feel unsure about them. :) (By the way, that style of lamp is what I meant when I said “swing-arm lamp,” although I’ve since learned that it isn’t called that! It’s a “pharmacy lamp.” Don’t say I never taught you anything.)
So… Do you have any suggestions about the wall? My friend, Eric, says we need something tall in the room. Evan and I have been thinking about cool (framed) movie posters. Got any ideas?
June 19th, 2009 at 5:51 pm
what about making a cute quilt that coordinates with the colors of the room to hang on that wall? :)
June 19th, 2009 at 6:06 pm
Mirrors!!!! Mirrors solve everything!!
Ratehr than tall you could go long and narrow above the TV and move the kids’ portraits to the opposite wall so you get reflected silhouettes????
Loving your interior design!! Giving me an outlet whilst my other 1/2 says “NO!!!” to decorating related money requests! (Actually he says “NO!!!” to ALL money requests but that’s another story!!)
Tia xxx
June 19th, 2009 at 6:25 pm
We, too, have a HUGE wall. The style of our living room is much different, but we put a bunch of black and white photos of the fam and ancestors (no one famous, just dead people) up in various mismatched frames I’ll FB you a pic tonight. I also agree that Mirrors fix everything. But, since mirroros can be expensive we ended up taking a decent sized frame with matting and shennegans (I’ll Fb a pic of that too) and took the print out and put in a cheap mirror. Our local goodwill often has some useful matted prints. maybe yours has some that match your style a little more. Just an idea :D Also, just curious… where’d the old coffee table go? It was so cute!
June 19th, 2009 at 7:37 pm
I say a big map, mostly because I just got one (well, found in the trash, whatever) and the colors are awesome and it’s huge! And has proven very useful in settling arguments. I also have a lamp just like that (umm, it too was from the trash) and I love it. It’s super adjustable and has worked in many, very different living spaces.
June 19th, 2009 at 9:23 pm
How about a couple of fake fiscus trees to divide the space? I know fake flowers and follage are a no-no according to the professional decorators, but for me, in many cases the choices are fake or dead. I prefer fake.
June 19th, 2009 at 9:27 pm
How about some large pieces of fabric stretched over canvas stretcher bars (marimekko or ikea fabric)?
June 19th, 2009 at 11:39 pm
I think something big or with a big print. I like Rebekah’s idea. That big ole TV needs something to balance it.
And.. hmmm.. I actually like you old lamp better! I think the height is needed with the big couches, big TV, and big window. The pharmacy lamp gets a little lost in there.
Love your pillows and other crafts!
June 20th, 2009 at 1:26 am
I’m not sure its a big wall its just a huge telly! you need to get things in scale with the screen or people will only notice the negative space behind the pictures-wall mounting the screen actually makes it much easier and leave more space for cute lamps!
June 20th, 2009 at 9:41 am
I think you need something green. Like a tall-ish plant on a stool of some sort. Or a taller table. Or maybe even hanging from the ceiling in the corner if you’re worried about the wee ones getting it. :) I also vote for mirrors and maps. :) The new lamp is really cute.
June 20th, 2009 at 10:32 am
http://kirstencan.typepad.com/kirstencan/2008/11/big-red-canvas.html
a big canvas like this might me a little expensive, aound 30$ or so i think. especially the nice thick ones.
but you could use left over wall-paint, it does a wonderful finish. (i actually paint a lot with that for artwork.)
i think its awsome that your kids would have been part of the renovation. or if they,re not into it, this style doesnt seam to require a michealangelo…..
June 20th, 2009 at 12:43 pm
You know, because you sew, you probably have a bunch of fabric lying around. A good idea is to take a blank painting canvas, stretch an interesting print over it, and staple around the frame. This way, you wall will have some dimension, and some pattern, but it isn’t permanent. You could always remove the fabric and apply a new one whenever the season changes! (I found this idea online somewhere a while back and thought it was a cool idea. They had a picture of a finished one, and they used a really nice patterned fabric). Good luck, and I love your blog!
June 20th, 2009 at 8:37 pm
Hmm, definitely something substantial. If you don’t have something large, them maybe a grouping?
June 22nd, 2009 at 7:43 am
I agree with Eric, I think it needs something tall. Cool floor lamp?
June 22nd, 2009 at 11:22 am
I agree with Ruth, Plants always ‘warm up’ the space, and make it feel vibrant and homey.
However, I personally don’t care for ficus (too busy looking) I would go for a palm with nice BIG leaves:
http://www.breathing-space.co.uk/images/products/large/Areca%20Med%20Logos.jpg
or a dracaena like this one:
http://images.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http://www.houseofplants.co.uk/Resources/PicPlants/D_JanetCraig190.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.houseofplants.co.uk/Dracaena_deremensis%2520_JanetCraig.htm&usg=__vjbEbvy6VAsIGdQV1rkPXmw_ZrQ=&h=800&w=404&sz=81&hl=en&start=2&um=1&tbnid=4hPfczgvZp5i0M:&tbnh=143&tbnw=72&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dtall%2Bhouseplant%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1W1SUNA_en%26um%3D1