7th & frederick

Watercolor Relief Canvas

I apologize now for the lack of step by step pictures for this.  It was late at night and I was busy watching a movie while crafting - aka I was too lazy. 

I really love this quote from Mumford & Sons, even if it is from a break-up song.  Taken out of context it can really apply to anything that you are struggling with.  I used masking fluid to protect the areas that I wanted to stay white (in this case the words) and then painted over it with watercolors.

Supplies:

• watercolor canvas
• light board
• masking fluid
• wood skewers and paper towels
• water color paints (high quality) and brushes

Step one: I used a calligraphy font that I like for inspiration and sketched out the phrase on tracing paper.  I taped that to the back of my watercolor canvas and placed the canvas on top of the light board (you can see now why I did this at night).  You have to use watercolor canvas because watercolors are not compatible with standard canvases.

Step two: Dip a skewer in the masking fluid and trace over your letters.  You will need to wipe off the skewer often as masking fluid will build up on the tip.  Masking fluid dries quick, but once it is dry if the placement is wrong all you have to do is peel it off.

Step three:  Paint over the canvas with your watercolors.  I used the brush as well as poured the paint directly from my little paint pots.  You should do whatever suits you. 

Step four: Let the canvas dry overnight.  No joke.  Do not attempt to peel off the masking fluid before the canvas is completely dry.  To peel off the masking fluid use the tip of your finger to rub over the fluid to get it to roll.  You can also use a skewer to lift an edge and then pull the rest.  Try not to rub to much or you will smear the watercolor onto your white space.  

Step five:  Spray a sealer over your canvas to protect it. 

My parents and I vacationed in Taos, New Mexico last week.  Long story short it’s amazing.  I highly recommend it.  Of the 5000 Taos residents, 1000 of them are artists.  The city is one gallery and excellent food eatery (the struggling artist’s real employment) after another.  Speaking of food, I was very worried my Irish blood would be too sissy to handle the hot New Mexican food- not so at all.  I had a taco salad and chicken tacos and it wasn’t hot at all.  I’ve deduced that “New Mexican” food translates to mean fantastic organic ingredients and whole beans- none of that refried crap I’ve been trying to get my dad to stop buying.  And for the women out there- my hair has never looked better.  There is something in the water in New Mexico. 

AnnieB’s First Spaghetti!

For an early Christmas gift my parent’s bought me Totally Rad Actions-Rad Lab, which is a photo editing software.  It is most definitely RAD.  It works as an add on to Photoshop (I purchased Photoshop Elements 10 as a gift to myself) and it applies what are called “recipes’ to your photos.  You can add any number of recipes and determine each recipe’s individual strength.  You have to watch the video, it would take me a lot of words to explain all the cool recipes. The Recipe for this set of photos included: Lights On, Oh Snap!, Claire-ify and Pool Party (great names, right?).  I then added a photoframe using Photoshop.  I am by no means anywhere close to knowing how to use Photoshop Elements in any sort of meaningful way, but I LOVE RadLab.  I know there are other action sets that you can buy from other companies or individuals, but RadLab was recommended by a blogger I trust and respect, and it’s more than worth it. 

DIY Knotted Curtain

For the past few years I have refused to hang a curtain to cover my closet.  The opening is low so doors won’t work and I never liked any curtains enough to purchase.  I just got over the fact that anyone who enters my room could see my messy closet.  Well, no more!  I made this fun, flirty curtain that looks fabulous next to my blue walls.  I used a bent sterling silver spoon as the tie back- it works perfectly and adds a nice vintage touch.  I happened to fall in love with some rather expensive fabrics at a quilting store and had just enough to make this curtain and the bunting in my room. Later on down the road if I can purchase more, I might add a second layer of knotted fabric so that less of the base curtain shows. 

Here’s what you need:

A base curtain

Numerous quarters or yards of fabrics you like

Step one: Hem your curtain if it is too long.

Step two: Using a roll cutter or scissors, cut your quarters or yards into strips; varying the length and the width.

Step three: Lay your curtain out flat and pin the strips of fabric to the top of the curtain.  You’re going to sew along the top seam of the curtain (below where the rod goes through), so fold the fabric over and make sure it crosses the top seam in the back.

Step four: Use a sewing machine to sew the top strips onto the curtain.

Step five:  Lay your curtain flat again and randomly knot more strips to the ends of the fabric you sewed down.  You want to alternate colors, patterns, widths and length.  So really when I said “randomly” I meant “well planned.” 

Step six: Once you get to the bottom, cut any overhang that ends well beyond the end of the base curtain.

Hang and marvel at the fact that your messiness is now hidden!

Custom Vanity

I am happy to announce that I am back in my old bedroom!  Such a relief to be on the tail end of my bedroom redo.  I’ve had this vanity done for a while now but it was tucked away so I couldn’t get pictures of it.  The vanity was purchased at an antique mall in Centralia for $35.  I had to use a power sander to remove what I can only assume was NASA’s Shuttle-grade black paint.  I then did two coats of both primer and feather gray paint.  The Ruby Red paint on the drawers was quite a project.  The red paint that I originally purchased was too hot pink, even though the paint chip said otherwise.  I then tried four other reds until I found the right one.  Thank god for paint samples.  Red is a color that NEVER matches the paint chips and will take a good 4-6 coats to get right.  Luckily, in the end I found the one that was not blood red like my last room, nor hot pink, nor magenta, nor fuchsia, but rather the perfect shade of ruby.  The drawer pulls were from an antique store downtown, and the blue pulls match my wall color beautifully.  Finally, because makeup can be messy and latex paint has a residue stickiness that lasts for years, I put 3 coats of varathane on top.  This will make clean-up and dusting a breeze.  To top it all off, my lamp from this post and a vintage frameless mirror. 

Another DIY to come later this week!