decorating — Page 42

A New Find For Our Cottage

February 3, 2014 at 9:45 am by Claudia

I think that what we bought the other day might surprise you.

I know some of you had an idea about what it might be, but believe me, I gave no hints in yesterday’s post. We bought something that I might not have noticed had it not been for Don, who pointed it out to me. As we stood there and stared, we found we couldn’t take our eyes away from it. We’d leave that particular area in the shop and then we’d circle back, together and individually. We took photos.

We knew right where it would go, where it had to go.

aquitania1

There it is, above the piano. It’s a chromolithograph of the Aquitania, circa 1913, one of three ships in the Cunard Line, ships that crossed the Atlantic Ocean in the heyday of transatlantic travel.

aquitania2

These chromolithographs were given to travel agencies to hang on the wall, extolling the wonders of ocean voyages. This one is in particularly good shape. The Aquitania was launched in 1913 and was part of Cunard’s ‘grand trio’ of ocean liners, along with the SS Mauretania and the SS Lusitania. The Aquitania’s nickname was ‘Ship Beautiful.” It was in service for 36 years and held the record for the longest serving Express Liner until into the 21st Century when the Queen Elizabeth 2 became the longest serving liner. The ship also served in both World Wars.

We both love the ocean and Don spent a lot of time on the Pacific Ocean in his youth. The ocean still calls to him. There’s something glorious about the vivid red of the funnels, the choppy seas, the smoke pouring from the funnels, the cloudy skies. I’ve tried to capture its beauty in these photographs.

aquitania3

We can’t take our eyes off it. It’s also highly collectible and a good investment, but that’s not really why we bought it. We bought it because we love it and we wanted it to be a part of our home.

You understand, I know you do. Something touches you, you can’t stop thinking about it. You know, deep within you, that you have to find a way to make it yours.

It is made for this spot above the piano. For the first time, the piano makes sense where it is. I’ve always had a bit of a problem with this massive piece in our little living room, with its dark mahogany finish. It takes up space, and though I love it very much, I struggled with how to make it work. Somehow, this lithograph with its intense colors and its dark frame, makes it all come together.

aquitania4

Some rearranging of the McCoy singing birds and the McCoy vase had to be done. I took away everything but the birds and the vase, then Don and I eyed the whole thing and this is what we ended up with.

bluebirds

Two on one side.

whitebird

One on the other.

aquitania5

I love the way the lithograph changes depending on the light. It gets dark and moody at times. Then a burst of sun through our windows changes it yet again.

We are more than a little in love.

By the way, the Miss Keyboard sign has been moved to its new home, above the picture window in the den. I can’t get a good shot of it yet because of the light from the window, but I’ll work on it. I was a bit worried about where we would put it, but it actually looks even better there than it did above the piano.

There you go.

Happy Monday.

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Framed

January 31, 2014 at 9:04 am by Claudia

montywithprint

I’ve been moving a few things around, due, I’m sure, to being stuck in my own particular mattress vortex. There’s a whole heck of a lot I can’t do until that mattress is delivered and the old mattress is taken away. Which will be on Tuesday, by the way.

Since things are in a state of flux here, I have to give myself little projects to complete or I would go mad. The other day I painted some dollar store frames that I’m going to use in my studio. The studio that is to be rethought and decluttered, when I can get to it. Which will be after the mattress is delivered. Do you see how it all works? I also painted the mantel shelf that goes in the studio a paler aqua. I wanted to tone things down a bit.

Yesterday I cleaned out the closet in our spare bedroom that is, for want of a better word, my craft closet. Wait. Why not a better word? How about my All Things Creative Closet? I like that much better. Anyway, I sorted everything out, filled a trash bag with things I didn’t need and put a pile together to take to the Salvation Army.

Very satisfying.

Remember our trip the other day (which resulted in the red shoes) to Michael’s for some frames? Here’s what we framed:

costumerendering

This is a costume rendering done for a play Don did at the Old Globe many years ago. The costume designer, a wonderful guy who is sadly no longer with us, gave it to Don on opening night. It was in a plastic slip case and Don decided it should be framed because he wanted to honor it, as well as see it right here in the den every day. We really love it. Now it’s sitting on the music cabinet in the den, which is why that print in the top photo has moved to its new position behind Monty.

And we also found this shadow box frame for my vintage program for the Broadway play, Claudia.

claudiashadowbox

Excuse the glare. This program was sitting on the shelf in my studio and, foolishly, I didn’t do anything to protect it from the sun streaming through the skylight. The color had faded quite a bit. Don’s the one who found the shadow box, which works well with the thickness of the program. I stuck the bride and groom cake topper in there on a whim. This might go back in the studio. Or it might stay downstairs. I’m not sure yet.

By the way, the framing process for the costume rendering was a bit of a saga. We wanted an inexpensive frame, so we ended up buying one that already had a matted black and white photo in it, thinking we would simply change out the print for the rendering.

Not quite.

The back had been sealed and stapled and it took forever to pry up the little doohickeys that held the matted print inside the frame. I used a screwdriver. I used a knife. I used pliers. Then we had to get the print out of the frame, which wasn’t easy. When we finally got it out, we realized we had nothing left to serve as the backing for the rendering. I thought of the foam board that I use sometimes for Etsy photos (and since I don’t have anything in my Etsy shop I figured I could cut it up) and brought it downstairs. Then I grabbed my exacto knife and cut and cut and cut – a long and tedious process – until we finally got the foam board to fit the frame. I also have to add a hanger, which is why it’s propped against the wall in the photo.

Though I do like that look. I try to have at least one framed piece propped against a wall in each room. It adds a sort of casual look that I’m really drawn to.

Lest we forget, here’s the view into the den from the living room:

mattressintheden

As you can see, I can’t even see the framed rendering, which is on that cabinet to the right, when I’m sitting in my chair. The danged mattress is blocking it.

Happy Friday.

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Phase One Completed

January 10, 2014 at 8:26 am by Claudia

Yesterday was Phase One of The Adventures Of A Couple Living In A Small House Who Are About To Get A Bigger Bed.

Yes, the countdown has begun.

bookshelf1

When I first wrote about the California King mattress and box spring that will soon be in Mockingbird Hill Cottage, I said that I had an idea or two about rearranging the bedroom to accommodate said mattress. The one thing I knew for sure was that the IKEA Expedit bookcase that was currently on the same wall as the bed would have to be moved. The only other wall it could possibly go on was the wall where Don’s dresser is (just to the left as you enter the room.) The obvious dilemma: where to put Don’s dresser?

I gave Don his marching orders. We were to meet upstairs in the bedroom at noon and figure the whole thing out. Don, by the way, has a great eye and is very helpful in times like these. We considered moving my dresser over closer to the outside wall, closing the gap between that dresser and the sideboard that also houses the television and somehow cramming Don’s dresser in there. Or putting in on the narrow section of wall perpendicular to those pieces. With an attic-type bedroom with sloping walls, our options are limited. Very limited.

Thankfully, Don came up with an idea that I had entertained but had dismissed because I thought he might not go along with it: Why not move the dresser into the other room? The office/studio/guest bedroom? This idea seemed like a lifesaver, if it was indeed possible to somehow make space for the dresser and make it work.

And so it began. We lugged the dresser into the next room. Which led to trying to figure out why one of the drawers always stuck. Which led to me waxing the drawer slides. Which led to trying the drawers in different slots. Which led to a dresser that finally works. Which led to moving my grandmother’s trunk over on the wall so that we could move a chair into a new position. Which led to me opening the trunk and sorting through the things stored inside and dumping a lot of them. Which led to finding an old hooked rug which looks good on the floor in front of Don’s dresser.

Lunch break.

Then on to the bookcase, which I could now move. But first, I had to remove all the books and place them in piles all over the bedroom. Which led to looking at each book and making a pile of books to be donated to the library. Which led to me trucking piles of books out to the area where my sewing machine is. Which led to an upstairs that looked like a disaster zone.

Once the books were removed, I could move the bookcase to its new position. Which led to me seeing lots of dust along the wall where it previously lived. Which led to me hauling the vacuum upstairs. Which led to me vacuuming behind the bed in anticipation of the move.

Then, as I sat on the floor and/or crawled on my knees to various piles of books, I rearranged the books on the shelves. I also made a pile of magazines to be recycled. I hauled the stacks of magazines downstairs. By this time, my back was complaining loudly.

bookshelf4

It still needs tweaking, but Phase One is complete. Do you see why I want built-in bookshelves in the den? The books in these cubbies are doubled up – there are books behind the books you see. And remember, I made a four big piles of books to be donated. I only donate books I know I will no longer need or that I read but wasn’t thrilled with. Sometimes I donate review copies of the books I’ve reviewed on this blog. It’s all for a good cause. Our local library has a book sale once a year in order to raise money to keep the library going. That’s a cause I can enthusiastically support.

We won’t mention all the books in the shed.

That pile of magazines on the far right? Every Mary Engelbreit Home Companion magazine ever published. I refuse to part with them.

headshot

And Don’s new headshot took the place of his older headshot in my frame, per his orders. I’m proud to say I was the photographer for both of them. Who knew I could take an actor’s headshot?

Today, my back is aching and I feel the effects of Phase One. But it’s done! Don and I really like doing this sort of thing because sometimes, in rethinking furniture placement, we see things with fresh eyes and come up with an even better solution. It’s a win-win.

Except for my aching back!

Happy Friday.

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A New Find For Our Cottage

Framed

Phase One Completed

Lambs Like to Party

A Note

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