Porch Makeover in Progress

As previously mentioned, our plans for the long weekend primarily surround a grandiose DIY porch makeover undertaking: removing all exterior wooden slats, removing all 1960's (?) striped screen panels, scraping & wire brushing remaining wood trim & panels, painting remaining wood elements (interior & exterior), hanging new aluminum screen panels, and finally affixing new white vinyl slats for the finish.

Here's what we were working with to begin with: a screened-in side porch original to the 1956 house with what we think is original screen which has a striped pattern made at the time to add privacy (the idea being that it could be seen out of but difficult to be seen inside of) and original painted wood slats. All of the above was showing some age, wear and tear:

We (meaning Tim) began by removing all of the wooden slats from the exterior, then ripping off the screen panels one metal staple at a time. While Tim did much of the "heavy lifting" I started in on scraping, wire brushing, and wiping down the remaining wood elements that would need to be painted later.

As the screen continued to come down, we were both astounded at how much brighter the porch instantaneously became. By midday, we had all the slats & screen removed and had prepped all of the remaining wood in preparation for painting.

Detail of before and after chipping wood vs. smoothed down below. We heard time and time again when talking about this project how important it was to scrape and smooth down ALL chipping paint on surfaces we planned to paint - otherwise any new paint would simply chip off in the same way the old paint already was.

Basil, our supervising weimaraner puppy, wasn't quite sure what to think, but he kept the situation under control at all times with his curious nature trying to be right in the middle of everything. The funny part was - we were worried he might try to jump from the porch into the front yard now that the screen was removed (we don't allow him to run free in the front) but he actually stayed within the guidelines of the porch at all times. He enjoyed sticking his head outside where the old boundaries were with the screen but never once tried to leave the porch.

Tim hauled away all the debris to our local recycling bins since the old screen was aluminum - it was crazy seeing it all in once place once it had been ripped out:

At this point, we had met the goal we set for the day (removal and prep) but still had some momentum and energy left in us so we went ahead and cracked open the cans of paint to get a first heavy coat on the remaining wood elements. We used an exterior semi-gloss finish paint which claims to be a severe weather protectant and have a lifetime warranty - we shall see.

After taping off the porch, painting was the most fun I had during the work today. It was relaxing and one of those things that gives an instant feeling of gratification with the before and after effect.

So you can see we got further than we thought for the day - it feels great. Tomorrow we plan to touch up the paint in the morning, measure to make sure we know how much screen and how many slats to purchase and then head down to my mom's place on the river to spend some good old family time together. Monday morning we plan to get back to business by hanging the new screen and nailing in new white vinyl slats.

By the looks of it, our "supervisor" was pretty tuckered after a full day of work:

In case anybody is wondering - yes that is white paint on the side of his nose. He couldn't help himself. Any big plans for your weekend?

How To: A Dog Bed for Basil

I will admit something here - Tim and I made a dog bed for Basil before we even knew we were getting him. We knew we wanted a dog and had been on the lookout for some time without much luck - this didn't stop us from preparing though.

One weekend this past summer, yes - summer, we decided to make the bed with some of the fabrics we'd picked up along the way including a burlap coffee sack from Blanchard's Coffee (like the one I used to make this laptop sleeve) and heavy duty canvas from an army tent we came across at a local flea market.

It's a simple square design bed consisting of the following basic steps:

1. Cutting and sewing upper and base fabrics in matching square shapes. 2. Sew lining onto each fabric backing. 3. Face outer fabrics against one another and sew securely around edges leaving a small opening on one side. 4. Flip fabric inside out from opening - you should now have your basic unstuffed dog bed - like a giant pillow. 5. Fill bed with desired stuffing. We chose a mixture of cotton and cedar chips to keep the bed both comfortable and fresh smelling. 6. Fold in edges of opening and pin together. 7. Sew opening closed.

The finished bed sat empty in our basement corner for months and we always talked about whether or not our future dog would like it. Now we ask ourselves if he will ever leave it.

We love the fact we were able to make something together from recycled fabrics that turned out to be so much more meaningful than picking up one of the generic mass produced versions from the pet store. We think Basil agrees.

My Prized White Pumpkin

Well it took me two years instead of just the one I had originally hoped to procure that white pumpkin, but oh - how it was worth the wait.

Last weekend I had the pleasure of spending the day with my sister along with my adorable niece & nephew at the Farm to Family fall market festival where I just knew I couldn't go wrong scoring these locally grown white, orange, and gray pumpkin varieties.

In keeping with tradition, we set out to carve these beauties earlier this morning. I'll have to admit the white and gray pumpkins were a much more difficult undertaking than I imagined. They both carried thick stubborn walls and my grand plans for master carving had to be tweaked into the polka dot designs pictured.

After painstakingly puncturing each hole manually and testing with the candles, Tim came to the rescue with a power drill and larger than life drill bit. I cannot tell you how quickly he fleshed out the original holes in the pumpkins and while I wished I had thought to do it in the first place, I was more thrilled at the end result for it to matter at all.

Note to self: consult Tim with pumpkin designs before starting next year.

Here's wishing you a Happy Halloween to you and yours!

How To: Recycled Laptop Sleeve Project

My coworker and friend, Jay, asked me to make him a laptop sleeve for his new MacBook Pro. Having never made one before, I told him "Of course, I'm sure I can figure it out..."

So, that's what I did. Using vintage upholstery fabric from my collection and portions of a large coffee sack Tim brought me from Blanchard's Coffee, I fashioned my first laptop sleeve.

I went about it by ironing fusible interfacing in between the two layers of fabric to keep the sleeve smooth and durable. After a simple edging and right side out rectangle sewing through the trusty Singer machine, I attached a strap recycled from the fabric scraps and hand sewed on a couple of vintage metal snaps.

While I don't think laptop sleeves will be a regular thing for me, it was inspiring to try something new and rewarding to make a tangible reality out of a vision in my head.

Shop Update: Vintage Letterpress Initial Necklaces

Last weekend's studio time evolved into this weekend's shop update. After working with the antique wooden letterpress sticks on hand, I came up with the above simplified pendant design.

Here's a peek into the process:

I worked with each wooden stick in a series of clamping, sawing down, drilling, and finally sanding smooth clean edges and sides. Once the pendants were complete, I threaded a single skinny chain through the hole and fastened together the clasp to complete the necklace design.

Each of the necklaces in the collection above are one of a kind and available in the shop. They make for a personalized and unique initial, monogram, or other meaningful customized type of gift.

Additional letter options should be making their debut soon!

Spring Update: Ranunculus Blooms

Ranunculus blooms are among my very favorites. This little bunch was headed straight for my collection of mason jars and glass bottles the second we met eyes. It's easy to feel like an expert in the field of floral arrangement when working with ranunculus as the stems on these blooms possess an effortless way of positioning themselves in an offbeat yet aesthetic grouping.

I incorporated a few daffodil blooms from the back garden and voila: an instant spring face-lift for my space.

Vote For Your Handmade Favorite

If you've been following Rikrak Studio's 2010 Handmade Olympics, now is the time to head over and place your votes. I was kindly invited to judge event #6 last week. It gave me the chance to explore many familiar and new-to-me shops, blogs, and products. I found scores of new favorite Etsy shops, and added several blogs I hadn't come across to my daily blog reader. While narrowing down the nominations was a challenge, my final selections include destinations created and brought to you from people just like you and me who are carving out a difference in the world little by little, one person at a time. Each of the nominees I chose captured my attention, inspired me as a creative person, and left me wanting more; all qualities I admire. I hope each of you will now enjoy the voting process for these 10 thrifty-forward, sustainably-minded blogs, shops, and sites.

Head on over to event #6 for my final 10 choices in the "favourite thrifty-forward, sustainably-minded blog, shop, or site" and place a vote for your favourite. Find out more about the 2010 Handmade Olympics and check out the final voting rounds in each of the 8 events over at Rikrak Studio.

How To: DIY Chalkboard Wall

With chalkboard paints becoming increasingly more available, it couldn't be easier to transform a small space, or large for that matter, into the inspiration board of your dreams. Tim and I have the perfect cranny of a wall space leading into the kitchen which we revamped into a full size chalkboard. It's been a life-saving hub for our grocery lists, reminders, dates to remember, random musings, and love notes.

This was a great weekend project that took about 3 hours total with a 24 hour drying period. Follow the steps below to bring new life and functionality to a space in your own dwelling.

Materials:

• Chalkboard paint: local hardware or craft store
  
• Paint brush
• Paint roller
• Paint tray
• Painter's tape
• Newsprint or paint tarp
• Chalk
• Optional: damp rag, spackle, sandpaper
  

step 1: Clean wall with damp rag. Wipe or let dry completely. Fill in any holes or cracks with spackle and smooth rough spots along wall with sandpaper.

step 2: Apply painter's tape along edges of wall where you plan to paint in order to create border and protect neighboring walls.

step 3: Apply 2-3 generous coats chalkboard paint along edges of wall with paint brush. Allow each coat to completely dry before applying next coat (or follow drying instructions on paint canister).

step 4: Apply 2-3 generous coats chalkboard paint to body of wall with paint roller. Allow each coat to completely dry before applying next (or follow drying instructions on paint canister).

step 5: Wait 24 hours before writing on wall with chalk.

step 6: Enjoy your new-found organizational solution and design sense.

Judging for the 2010 Handmade Olymics

Have you heard about Rikrak Studio's 2010 Handmade Olympics yet? If not, scurry over now to partake in the handmade competition, nomination process, and claim your stake in the $2000 USD worth of handmade and vintage prizes to be had. Kristal, the brilliance behind the Handmade Olympics, graciously asked me to participate in the judging portion of this year's events.

I'll be judging event #6, Favourite thrifty-forward, sustainably-minded blog, shop, or site. Learn more about how to get involved in the overall event here, the specific event I'll be judging here, and more about the other judges involved here.

Quit Your Day Job in The New York Times

This post is tad overdue, but better late then never, right? Over the holidays I was thrilled to see a highlight on the Etsy Quit Your Day Job series I write for on the front page of online Fashion and Style section of The New York Times. It's a great read that digs deeper into the reality of what it takes to run all aspects of your own DIY business.

Interestingly enough, this article turned out to be the #1 most emailed/shared article the day it published.

How To: Fancy Favors with Recycled Studio Bits

It's no secret I take great care in the presentation of packages I deliver from Contrary orders. What most folks don't realize is just how simple it can be to take fancy packaging to another level with studio supplies you may have overlooked. It's not only one way to help make the most of materials, but a solid means of owning your brand and wowing your customer every time.

I make most of my shipping supplies by hand using recycled menus from a french restaurant. It's so simple to find fancy paper all over the place that would have otherwise gone straight to the landfill, not to mention many places are happy to have the extras taken off their hands. Lately, I've been sewing up these decorative little paper garlands with the menu scraps I have on hand to use as favors included in select shipments.

Love them too? Here's how to make a set of your own:

Materials:

• Scissors
• Craft shape punch (optional)
• Paper or fabric scraps
• Thread
• Sewing Machine
• Typewriter or Pen (optional)
• Cellophane bag or wax paper (optional)
  

Step 1: Cut or punch desired shapes for your garland out of your scrap paper or fabric. Quantity of shapes is up to you in order to create desired garland length. Use additional scrap paper to create a label insert for the garland's final package. Below, I used a typewriter with the text: a little garland made just for you...

Step 2: Once desired shapes are cut, sew them one by one using a sewing machine. Make sure you have a little extra thread at the start for final garland to hang freely. Continue to hold down the pedal after shape has passed through the needle to create space between each shape. Once all shapes have been sewn, make sure again you allow extra thread at finish for slack on the garland.

Step 3: Finish your garland favor by bundling it flat in a cellophane bag or folded wax paper. Include your
label and voila!

I hope you'll enjoy getting creative with the free resources around your studio in order to add a little punch to your packages.

For those of you that love these little paper banners but don't want to make one, I'll send a free version to the mailboxes of the first three commenters on this post. Be sure to include your email address so I can contact you for shipping info.

In Good Company

I dwell with two talented musicians, both of which have recently released new projects I'd like to share with you.

The talented singer/songwriter (and my BFF), Emily Easterly just released a new single "The Only Two On Earth/Montreal." Download and enjoy these two free tunes by clicking the image below:

My other talented roomie, J Seger, just completed a video collaboration project outlining his musical point of view and recent move to Brooklyn. This video is a collection of photos, videos, artwork, and mixing by many in his creative circle of friends. I was honored to shoot parts of the video, which you'll notice in the indoor stop motion photography streams:

Creativity breeds creativity...enjoy.

Free DIY notebook

...brought to you from me via the blah blah blahg.

Head on over here for instructions on how to print and craft your own little book o'notes.

Restoration: Claw Foot Tub

I've frequently told Tim how I want an original claw foot tub. I think they have a way of adding the perfect touch of functional nostalgia to any space. I've also dreamed of transforming one into an outdoor herb garden. Sure enough, through all of his connections, he found one for me.

Here it is in its original dwelling, waiting to be rescued:

It has all of its original hardware and each of the feet contain a cast iron B initial. It's certainly needs some TLC, but the all the basics are in top shape. I think this little tub will make the perfect "before and after" project.

Stay tuned.

Process Piece: How I make fork bracelets

I just finished making a new batch of fork bracelets which you can find in the shop, here. I always get a lot of comments and questions from shoppers and other artists pertaining to how the forks are made, and what goes into the process. Today, I thought I might give you a little bit of a peek inside my studio when I'm making a new batch.

While earning my bachelor's degree in fine arts from VCU, I took a series of jewelry making classes, which taught me the skills for heating and working with metals, as well as the knowledge I needed for the types of equipment and tools that go into working with metal.

When I'm working with forks, I much prefer antique silver plated versions. They are a little tougher to work with than solid sterling, but I tend to get more of an antiqued quality to the finished bracelet from the base metal showing through in areas of wear and tear, which is something I'm going for.

To prepare the forks before working with them, I heat them through to their cores using a jewelry torch in a process called annealing. Basically, this is a process that changes the chemical makeup of the metal to make it easier to work with and shape. Safety note: Working with a gas torch and hot metal is a pretty dangerous process, so if you are considering trying this at home, please wear protective gear and take some metalsmithing classing in order to make sure you have all safety precautions and proper equipment set in place.

After heating and cooling the metal, I'm able to start working with it in a series of steps that consist of flattening, cleaning, shaping, and hammering out the shapes of the bracelets. This is the part that requires a little muscle, so I like to convince myself that making batches of bracelets counts for exercise.

Once the bracelets have taken shape, I run them through a series of polishing steps to make sure they get that perfect sheen. Making fork bracelets from start to finish is certainly a process, but one that is very meditative and something I have grown to love.

You can always find the newest batches of bracelets I've made right here in my shop.