Come On In ... The Foyer

Hi friends! So glad to be back online after our area was hit by a rogue storm on Monday … in fact I've heard a tornado touched down about 10 miles from our house. The power was out throughout sections of Richmond and ours came back about 24 hours after the storm. Although all my neighbors also had their cable and internet come back up, ours is out. Seems as though our house took a direct lightening strike or something like that. So we have not had internet / cable / phone since Monday. I'm only back online now because a sweet neighbor is allowing me to signon to their Wi-Fi and she'll let me piggyback on her service until we get fixed, which is suppose to be Saturday. You get by online with a little help from your friends! 

So shall we talk a little DIY'ing and decorating?

We all know first impressions are important. And a foyer / entrance to your home is the first impression of you to your guests. What do you want your foyer to say about you?

Here's what mine said …

… neat and tidy {well, except for all the items in storage where it is suppose to be a display case} and good enough bones, but nothing exciting nor interesting nor unique, and quite honestly a heavy, dated feel. Not quite a "fail" but definitely a "so-what". The matching dark mahogany stain of the credenza and mirror feels so 80's to me. Probably because that's about the time we purchased them. And formal, this vignette feels way to formal for my taste today.

Wait, now that's different! Already feels lighter and less stuffy.

Is fabric replacing the glass surfaces?

And the credenza isn't going to be white?

Hope to have a full reveal of the credenza next week along with resources and sure hope you'll drop in and check it out. And, I plan to change everything you currently see in our foyer, using the DIY tinkerbell magic, over the next few weeks {weather permitting}!  Right now paint is drying very slow in our 100+ temps and soaring humidity.  Same goes for the big blue furniture piece I left you with teased with last week.

So how about you … painting anything this weekend or heading out for some fun in the sun? Be sure to load up on the sunscreen and drink lots of water :) And hey, if you're hanging inside to beat the heat, what parlor games are you playing so you don't go crazy?  Me, when I finally get my TV back, I might just catch up on a little viewing after being off the grid for the past week {Design Star and Game of Thrones}.


Oh, and I'm watching paint dry too, now that's some good stuff :)

Talk soon!

Robin

"Flying Flowers" {Butterflies LIVE at Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens}

Not the sunroom at our casa ...

Its part of the lovely grounds and facilities at Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens in Richmond, Va.

{Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens, Richmond, Va.}

Of course there are lovely flowers when you're at a botanical garden ...

But last weekend we went to the gardens to see flying flowers {the very poetic description coined by artist Georgia O'Keefe for butterflies}.

Butterflies.

Live.

Free to fly around,

lounge on leafs,

sit on your shoulder,

or snack on rotten fruit left out for their enjoyment.

OK, free to fly around inside the Conservatory.

And we were free to walk about and stalk take photos of the butterflies to our hearts content.

If you could "catch" them with your camera.

Those little buggers are fast.

Some butterflies would rest on the conservatory ceiling ... I wonder if they thought they were flying in the clouds.

Notice the butterfly to the left {sitting on a crossbar on the glass}?  

He was elusive.

Camera shy.

And gorgeous.

An iridescent bright blue.

And he eventually got hungry ... a sugar craving for rotting fruit.

Does this flutter-by {what I called butterflies as a child} look like he has a face drawn on his wings to you?

I'll return to the exhibit so maybe I'll have more photos to share this summer.  Butterflies are great "action photography" practice for me.

Butterflies LIVE will be at Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens through October, so if you're passing through Richmond it might be a nice detour and if you're close enough it could be a great day trip with the kiddos.  There's plenty of info on their website so Google it if you are interested.

Hope you had a great weekend ... what did you do?  Something fun I hope.  Or maybe you were working on some projects?  My garage was full of furniture ... you could almost think the color was inspired by the elusive butterfly!

So I'll have a furniture reveal or two coming up soon, if the humidity will break and the paint will cure!

Robin

{Quick, Easy & Cheap} Tips for Photo Framing

Smile pretty and say "cheese"!   Hope your summer is off to a fantastic start.  I bet there's lots of photo taking in your future this summer ... you may even want to use a few in your decor.

So here's a post with a couple tips for photo framing that could make the process quick, easy, and cheap{er}!

Using these tips we hung these pictures in about 5 minutes, level to each other, and no bickering :)

{A series of photos hung on the wall using our tips}

Tip #1 {Photo Matts ... The Look for Less}
Priced custom cut matts?  Ugh.  You can cut your own matts with a beveled edge ... I've done that.  But I'm notorious for changing my photo displays often, and sometimes I also change the size of the photo even though I use the same frame, so matts - because they have a specific size for the opening, are not flexible enough for my needs.  I came up with a "reverse matt" {made up that term} that works with any size photo used in a particular frame.

I like the Ribba Ikea frame in the 20" x 30" size but this technique can be used with any frame of any size.

I purchase Crescent Board - it looks like a matt board, in the Art department of my local Craft Store.  The back of the board ...

and I cut it to fit the frame.  Super simple straight-line cuts.

You don't have to be too concerned about how clean the cut is because it will be concealed by the inside edge of the frame.  Then I use double-sided tape* to attach my photo to the front of the Crescent Board.  And I pop it in the frame, and voila!  The photo floating on top of the Crescent Board gives the impression of a photo matt.  The photo below is an 11x14 centered in a 20x30 Ribba frame {frame spray painted white}.

Now there isn't a bevel edge around the photo but you have to get too real close to notice.

A photo floating on top of a Crescent Illustration board is a very cost effective way to simulate a matted framing of a photo.

* if you're interested in lifelong preservation of a photo

 be sure to use an archival acid-free tape / adhesive

Tip #2 {Pretty Pictures all in a Row, and Level}
A series of two or more photos is a great way to tell a story.

Hanging a series of frames level {aligned} with each other is not the easiest thing to do {for us, at least}.

And, at the end of a picture hanging day, I want my marriage to be in-tack and not marred by some snipping at each other while trying to get those frames level.  Tell me we're not the only ones who get a little tense doing all the picture frame hanging "advanced" math and, ahem, recalculations.

Marriage saver {and wall preserver} = a turnbuckle

Turnbuckles are nifty pieces of common hardware found alongside nuts, bolts, and screws.  Sometimes they are in the speciality bins.  They come in a range of sizes; the smaller the turnbuckle the smaller adjustment range.  I think our turnbuckles are the super big size ... lots of adjustability ... from the position of the picture hanger we can adjust the picture .75" in either direction without moving the hanger on the wall.  With that amount of adjustability you almost don't even need to initially measure :)

You'll attach your turnbuckle to the picture hanging wire on the back of the frame.  Wrap the hanging wire securely around the ends of the turnbuckle.  Note: In the below photo you can see the IKEA Ribba frames have a recessed picture back ... my finger shows the approximate depth ... we can tuck a super big turnbuckle behind those frames and the frame still lies flat to the wall.  If you use a frame with a standard flush back you will want to choose the smallest turnbuckle so the frame hangs flush with the picture hanging hook.  You'll still have a small amount of adjustability on the frame.

{A turnbuckle attached to the frame's hanging wire makes adjusting picture height easy.}

Hang the picture, note if it needs to be higher or lower, take it down and make a small adjustment {tightening or loosening the "buckle"} and rehang the picture.  Later rinse repeat until the picture is the correct height!  Once you get the hang {ha ha} of it there is usually only an adjustment or two needed.

Ahhh, three picture frames in a row and hanging level to each other.

{A series of photos hung on the wall using our tips}

If you're hanging a really large or heavy object you might want to use French Cleats ... also good in earthquake county or to baby-proof a wall hanging ... read about that here.

And if your picture has those "dastardly double d-rings" on the back of the frame I have a few tips for working with that type of hanger too ... read about that here.

So happy summer photo taking and picture hanging!

Have some picture framing or hanging tips you'd like to add?  Any plans to decorate with summertime photographs?  What's your favorite photo hanging in your home?

Thanks for visiting today and I really appreciate your patience as I complete my blog DIY redo ... seriously taking more time than I expected, but hey, what DIY project doesn't?!

Robin

Linking to these fun parties:
Metamorphosis Monday @ Between Naps on the Porch
How to Create a Mouse-over Picture of Your Before & After Project: 178th Metamorphosis Monday

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TipJunkie Homemade Projects 6-19

Graduation! {and a today only 50% savings on Photoshop Elements 10 via Adobe Software}

I'll show you mine if you show me yours.  Home projects lists, that is.

Do you have any plans to paint and transform furniture?  Check.

How about changing a wall color?  Me too.

Home decorating sewing projects looming in your future?  Hmmmm.

You know what, our to-do lists sound very similar.  And you know what that says to me?

I've graduated!

Graduated to just being a creative spirit who owns a home and enjoys decorating and fixing things up.  You know, just one of the gang. Folks, that's a super-long way from where I started, blogging as someone recovering from a house fire.

Well woo-to-the-hoo :) I couldn't be happier about my return to the ordinary.

And it's about time.  In 30 29 28 days we'll mark the two year anniversary of our house fire. Not that I'm counting.

Is everything perfect and done around here?  Well, no, it is not.  Is it at your house?

And yes, any item on my to-do list is really there because the fire turned the whole house upside down.  But I'm at the point that I want to be part of "team ordinary", and honestly, even if the fire hadn't happened, whatever color any room was two years ago, I'd probably be itching to repaint now regardless.  See, I think I've caught up with where I would have been anyway. That's. so. great!  So, onward!

Notice the new blog header and a few other changes?  A work in progress, a DIY blogger taking a DIY approach to her own blog.  I thought it time to refresh things on the blog given my graduation :)  So this week I'll be attempting some code development and stuff {please grant me the serenity to accept the bloggy code things I won't be able to make work}.

I'd love your opinion on a photo enlargement I'm working on ... you'll recognize the subject.  The two "images" are just a small section of the photo before and after for a proof comparison.

Left photo is not edited.

Right photo used the Accented Edges filter in Photoshop.

Is one better than the other?  Do you see any difference between the two?

For anyone interested in owning Photoshop Elements 10 (the version I use) here's a 1 day (June 12, 2012 only) 50% savings offer from Adobe I received in my email this morning.  I'm not being compensated for sharing this promotion, I'm just passing it forward in case you might be shopping for something like this and I can help you save some $$$.

{June 12, 2012 only, 50% savings on Photoshop Elements 10 directly from Adobe Systems by calling 1-800-585-0774}

Earth Box 2012: More Crazy Good Basil

If you read this blog last Summer you might recall I'm just a little over-the-top nutsy about fresh basil.  I'm sort of like the character in Forest Gump that could only talk about the many ways to cook shrimp ... only of course, my obsession is basil.

I. love. fresh. basil.

I use an Earth Box growing system for my basil "farm".  An Earth Box is a self-contained "sealed" box on wheels that looks a lot like an oversized window flower box.  It's great for anyone but especially folks who don't have access to farmable land, and truly, as a suburban dweller who knows there are tons of chemicals in my soil like 100 yr termite treatment, I don't consider my land worthy to grow edible items.

Don't have access to land at all but you have a deck or porch or stoop that has sun?  You're in ... an Earth Box would be a perfect way for you to grow herbs etc.

Another benefit of an Earth Box is the movability.  This past week we had strong pop-up storms.  Heavy rain, strong winds.  Lots of flowers and other delicate growing items were beat to the ground.  Not my basil.

You see, I rolled the Earth Box from my deck into the covered screen porch during the storms.  My basil just hung out waiting for the sun to return.

And while my basil was in the porch, this little hitch hiker emerged from the Earth Box and was trying to figure out what happened ... why he couldn't get out to the green grass or other that he liked hopping around.  Felt sorry for him really.  Don't worry, no tree frogs were hurt for this post :)  He's returned to the great outdoors and still hangs out around the Earth Box.

So here's a pic of the basil crop as of June 1 {one of the days spent on the porch} ...

compared with the size of the basil just a few weeks earlier on May 12 ....

In an Earth Box my basil grows fast, big, and sweet!

We've reached the time on the calendar that I'm harvesting at least a cup of basil every other day.  And that amount will increase exponentially soon.

At least with herbs you'd still have time to plant and reap the rewards of your crop if you use an Earth Box.  After our fire two years ago I had to replant my basil in mid-July; by early mid-August I had my second bumper crop of basil that season.

Want to know more about the Earth Box?  Here are my posts from last year:

Crazy Good Basil

Basil Loveliness: Fresh Now and Frozen for Later

So what's your favorite fresh garden eats?  Got any recipes to share?

Custom Photo Notecards

It's a little ironic that blogging has served to remind me about the gracious art of sending notes and cards.  Thinking of you.  Just because.  Miss you.  A funny thing happened, just want to share.  Congratulations!

Several times this Spring I've participated in a Notecard Link Party created and hosted by Vee of ahavenforvee.blogspot.com.  The idea of the party is to share 4 images from your blog that you'd like to see as a notecard.

Recently I found myself in need of a few social cards and was appalled by the cost of a simple card.  Then I thought about the photos I linked to Vee's notecard party.

A few clicks later my online order with Costco Photo (I'm not being paid to mention them) was complete and within several days they arrived in the mail :)

Glossy, vibrant photo printing, heavy card stock, matching envelopes, and I even had the option of printing text on either inside page as well as the back of the notecard {I had the text "Original Cover Photography by Robin, April 2012" printing on the inside left page}.  I selected the true Notecard format but they offered a traditional Greeting Card size as well.  The cost per card was right at a buck (1 dollar US) each; I wouldn't be able to purchase anything nearly as nice for even close to that cost.

So I'm already searching my personal photography catalog {hehe} for the next Notecard image to print ... I'm having so much fun I might just send cards for the heck of it!

So what about you ... in addition to text and email messages, tweets, and smoke signals {for those who aren't up with the times yet}, do you send cards and letters too?  Has your handwriting gotten really bad like mine because I haven't been writing anything, just typing!?

P.S.  The notecard link party is monthly, check Vee's blog for details.

Mimosa Tree: An Intoxicating Beauty

Ahhh ... lovely yes?

Although this could be a scene from a relaxing vacation retreat it's another edition of weekend walks around the lake at the University of Richmond.  So yes, for the Beaver fans out there, his pics will be at the end of the post!

Growing up in the mid-west I never saw a Mimosa tree until I moved to Richmond.  Perhaps I just didn't get out much ;)  From what I've read Mimosa trees are actually considered invasive and in need of "control" in areas such as Florida and along southern waterways; hard to believe about something so intoxicating in both beauty and fragrance.      To me, Mimosa trees look like they were drawn for a fairy tale book ... so delicate, ethereal, and exotic, almost other-worldly with their fern-like feathery leaf arrangement and pom-pomesque cluster of flowers.  And they're pink, I definitely seem to be having a love affair with pink these days.

Let's look closer ...

And still closer ...

Really, doesn't that flower almost look like a little fairy fluttering about?  Just squint when you look at it and think Tinkerbell, that's what I do.

And when there's a gentle breeze carrying the sweet fragrance of the Mimosa tree, well, to me, it's even more lovely than the scent of Gardenia shrubs.  By the way, we planted two Gardenias this spring by our front porch ... such a lovely greeting for visitors ... and I'm out there daily just to drink in the scent.

Today's final university picture is the Student Commons building that actually spans the lake ... the waterway on the far side of the building is more of a water management area and not scenic, but it is innovative how the building helps rather than hinders the management of the natural resources of the area and provides a way for students to experience nature on a daily basis as they cross the lake (classrooms and dormitories are located on both sides of the lake).

OK, here's the Beaver getting his gear on in the parking lot to go walk ... he's a little eager to get going.

And no, I can't explain the hubby's clothing combo ... swear he had a wide array of clean clothes to choose from ... maybe he's the fashion forward one able to mix and match patterns with abandon and not me?

In this photo you see some of the gear we always carry with us for Beaver ... really, I've considered using a stroller to tote stuff with us at times, but I've never actually gone that far.  Anyway, see the Gulpy in hubby's left hand?

Here's what the Gulpy is ...

They come in different sizes and colors; Gulpy is the brand name and an online search lists many places where they can be purchased.  With dogs in tow they are a great item to have.

Thanks for joining us on this walk.  Have you seen a Mimosa tree in person?  What's your favorite blooming "floral" scent?  Maybe you prefer the fresh scent of produce, like a Cantaloupe or Basil (two more of my favs).

Dining Room Update

Hi everyone! Lately I've been a MIA blogger and I'm just thrilled that despite my absence you decided to drop in and see what's going.  Other than finally getting our new second zone air system installed and being able to return to sleeping in our bedroom (not that camping in the downstairs living room wasn't fun but YAY!) I've started a few small projects.

We hung our very large mirror over the buffet in the dining room (you may have previously seen this mirror in our den, so yes, other changes are underway).

And here's how it looks from the other side of the space ...

For anyone curious about how we quickly and safely hung this large heavy mirror, here's a post I wrote about French Cleats, a piece of hardware that makes hanging large objects oh so easy.  And if you have little ones around, baby-proof even.

The buffet had been sitting in front of the windows shown in the above picture.  David was convinced there wouldn't be enough space between the table / chairs and the buffet on the side wall for comfortable functioning.  It took a while to convince him (19 months since we moved home) but we got there :)  With the table set for 4 or fewer people there is ample space for comfort and ease of movement.  If we go banquet size with the table for a special occasion (there are 2 leaves that can be added) we'll just slide the table toward the other side wall to create the appropriate amount of space for the added seating on the buffet side.  Simple solution. Problem solved.

I love the way the "chandy fan" style works with the room since we changed out the old style "boob light" for a modernized drum shade of an appropriate scale for the soaring ceilings.  You can read about that project with instructions here.

You've seen the other furnishings of this dining space before ...

Notice the beginning of an archway moulding to the right of the lamp?  On the other end of that archway is the newly arranged mirror / buffet.

  

Side-by-side photos approximate the flow in the room but the perspective isn't correct ... but it gives you an idea of what's here.  Also, its easier to see how the pop of bright blue is carried from the chest onto the border rug {FLOR tile carpeting}.  I'm ready to do more in here and I want to bring in more pattern and texture.

1) The table needs refinished; it is very scratched and marred.  I'm considering paint primarily because that's a DIY I can handle but I'd love to hear suggestions for other options; the usual color suspects include white or black but there's something taunting me to try gold or silver ... or a metallic glaze over white, something with that makes a personality statement. If these sound like a bad idea, please speak up and save me from myself!

2) Although the chairs are leather and in great condition I think slipcovers in a bold simple modern graphic pattern would add some great energy.  Another DIY I can tackle. And who says I have to limit myself to just one set of slipcovers!  I'm really drawn to this fabric which looks like a very popular designer fabric but in fact is a design available through Spoonflower and is by Honey&Fitz ... it isn't 100% linen but the price is much more in my range.

Source: spoonflower.com via Robin on Pinterest

3) The buffet needs to be updated.  I'm not interested in a display case but rather concealed storage.  I'm thinking a tailored skirt for the buffet something like this (yep, another DIY project).  This image is by Celerie Kemble and was featured in Lonny Magazine ...

Source: Uploaded by user via Robin on Pinterest

And for those who remembered the question I asked a while ago about using or storing "the good china" ... mine is out of storage and in daily use.  Although my pattern is very "english tea traditional" I've found it pairs well with graphic modern geometrics (which we know I like) and looks great with IKAT as well (another favorite) so it is much more versatile than I expected.  Here's my pattern:

So these projects will keep me busy for a while and I'll have something to post about!

And borrowing a phrase from Karah@thespacebetween, "for anyone who read the fine print" a while back about me waiting for test results, I don't have anything conclusive to share yet.  Tests beget more tests beget more waiting; that's just the way it works.  I did have one doctor say that it's good to need more tests because that means they didn't find what they expected to, and I didn't want them too ;)  So OK.  I'm going with that.  More tests is a good thing.

And if you have any thoughts or suggestions about my dining room plans I'd love to hear them.  What kind of projects are you planning over the next couple months ... something DIY around the house or something more poolside and recreational?