Creating A Life Studio: Junk

Sunday, November 10, 2013

Junk Style Photo Board

A few weeks ago, I took you up the gondola on Aspen Mountain with me and my family, as I celebrated "the big 4-9".
As I told you then, I am really looking forward to my 50th birthday, but there's just something special about the year leading up to a milestone birthday.

My forties have included some of the most painful experiences of my life, and I want this last year of being in my forties to be unique and memorable for some happy and fun things! Amen?

Last weekend my two oldest girls {22 and 16} and I went up to Aspen (my daughter's treat!) for a super fun film/concert event with the band Switchfoot.

I am a pretty big Switchfoot fan, but nothing compared to my 16 year old. She has admired these guys practically her whole life, and standing shoulder to shoulder with them, singing her heart out was a dream come true for her.
Thank God for being 49 and being able to have a blast at a rock concert with my girls!

Okay, back down to earth now with a little junk style decor :)

Last week I shared our Nature Inspired Fall Foyer and stairway.

Today I just wanted to share a last detail in that area, that I didn't mention in the last posts, which is the junk style photo board next to the large pine armoire in the entry area.

Several months ago I was poking around at one of my favorite thrift stores, and spotted this crusty old industrial style metal shelf behind a rack of clothes. Surely, I'm not the only one who looks behind and under everything in the thrift store? : )

I asked the clerk how much they wanted, and she said she didn't even know it was there!
"How about a dollar?", she asked. Sold!

I was thinking since I have ZERO shelving in my chaotic mess of a garage that this might be useful. The truth is, this wouldn't even make a dent out there. Sigh..

Clearly, it was meant to be a junk style photo board! This is how I did it:

I slipped a vintage wooden hanger through the end of the shelf.

I attached an old cabinet hinge to the wall to hang it from. Let's just pretend we don't see whatever else was going on back there the day I took this photo, okay?

The shelf is pretty heavy, and I wasn't sure the old hanger could carry the weight of it without coming apart, so I also added a few screws for extra support.

That old key chain belonged to my grandmother. When I was in California this summer, my mom said I could take it, since no one could remember what any of the keys went to anyway!
I hung a favorite Autumn quote from one of the extra hooks on the key chain.

I hung some old book covers with tattered ribbon, and pinned some vintage family photos to the covers with my grandma's antique hat pins. Those little blonde girls on the hay wagon are my mom and her twin sister! She says growing up on a farm has given her some of the best memories of her life.

This old watch also belonged to my grandma {pictured here}. I think I'm going to turn it into a necklace.

I just added a few clips and some twisted wire. I love how easy it is to change up whatever I want to have displayed here! I'm going to use the brackets for another project.

We are getting in the Christmas mood over at The Penny and the Pearl! We will be listing more handmade and vintage items this week, so be sure and pop over to say hello and see what's new!

I hope you're having a wonderful weekend, friends. I appreciate you coming by for a visit today!

Jeanette

Linking up at these fun parties-

Party Junk at Funky Junk Interiors

Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch

The Scoop

Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style

Be Inspired at Common Ground

Fabulously Creative Friday at Jennifer Rizzo

Make it Pretty Monday at The Dedicated House

Thursday, June 27, 2013

Summer Living Room

I think I'm well behind everyone else in sharing their Summer mantel and general Summer decor. That's ok, I'm pretty sure I'll be behind everyone else when Fall rolls around too! : )

The other day I showed you the vintage trunk coffee table I finally finished. As much as I love this piece, I will be selling it. But I'm going to enjoy it in my living room for a few days more.

I promised to show you around some of the other Summer details in this space, so be prepared for lots of photos. Grab some coffee or iced tea and let's have a little visit in the living room today!

The piano is actually between the living room and eating area. I don't think I've shown the piano since Christmas time!
It was overflowing with winter goodies back then, but in the Summer months I like to keep the decor to a minimum here.

I try to keep the colors pale and light and decorate with our nature finds and some pretty glass.

My vintage window is just propped in front of the mirror with a botanical print tucked behind, and a chunky white candle in an old pickle jar in front. You'll be shocked to know I already moved the other candle :)

Ticking stripes (even brown) always seem summery to me.

Vintage sheet music wreath still holding together after all these months!

Over on the faux mantel I turned over a heavy aqua glass vase, and thought it hinted at the look of those gorgeous glass fishing floats I've seen all over online. Use your imagination ; )

Driftwood, a bird's egg shell and a rusted piece of boat chain all gathered on a recent trip to our local lake, and an abandoned wasps nest from our own back yard make for my idea of perfect Summer decorating elements.

This wall map and globe are well used during our school year, but for now they can just look cute tied up with burlap and sitting in a vintage galvanized bucket!

Back in April I won my first ever giveaway, and showed you the pretty linens I was able to choose from the Frugal Ain't Cheap Etsy shop. Daniela makes the prettiest kitchen towels, and I ended up using the two larger ones as curtains in our t.v. cabinet in the living room!

I mentioned before how badly this cabinet needs to be repainted, but I'm holding out for some nice paint that's on my wish list.

Directly across from the sofa is a little white dresser (currently holding games and art supplies) with a vintage tool box on top. There are certain "junk" pieces that I never get tired of finding new places for, and this tool box is one of them. I bought this for just a few dollars at a farm sale many years ago. It's been used in three homes, indoors and out, and I still love it!

Here it is on my front porch two homes (about 10 years) ago. It's much more sun faded and weathered these days.

I've been in Colorado for about 19 years and LOVE our lakes, rivers and of course, pine cones!
But I was born and raised in southern California and summertime always has me longing for the ocean. I'm really hoping we can get there some how this summer! I decided I'd put together a little vignette in honor of my love of Summer in my current home state and all the beautiful beach memories I have from my California home.

Don't you just love the term "rustic"? It has served me so well when I make something, stand back to take a look and think, ~~"Oh crud, that's a total mess!"~~ "Look how charming and RUSTIC" -haha.
I decided to make a quick little stamped banner on a worn canvas scrap. It came out pretty crooked (rustic), but I like it.

"Pine Cones & Seashells" represent a tiny bit of what I love about Summer in my two states. I attached it to a piece of an antique door and hung it in front of my crib panel chalkboard.

A favorite photo of my kids on a very special California beach trip is clipped to the rusted latch that fell off the tool box, and sits next to a Colorado pine cone that my daughter gave me.