Yes. “Mission Jeans” accomplished. I bought two pair(s) of Gloria Vanderbilt ‘Amanda’ jeans and they fit really well. Don gave them an enthusiastic thumbs up. Thank you all! (To be honest, I didn’t even think of trying them on initially because I remember when GW jeans had that darned swan stitched on the back pocket and I wanted none of that. But they don’t now! Huzzah!
This is what we played with yesterday. Amidst all my preparations, laundry, lists to check off, we somehow decided it was time to hang things on the staircase wall. (Yes, there are scuff marks on the wall that I have to go at with the magic eraser. Another day, my friends, another day.)
I am not calling it a gallery wall. Maybe the ‘Some of our favorite art pieces wall?’ or “The staircase wall lined with favorite things?” Or ‘Lots of things we like hanging on the wall?” We’re just lucky we finally realized that we could use this big expanse of wall and have some fun with it.
We didn’t do any of the things decorators tell us to do. We didn’t make a big mockup of what we were going to hang and plot it out on craft paper. We didn’t measure anything, either. We simply started with the Use Other Stairs sign, which was already there, and added the “Life is Very Short” hand with the pointing finger. We knew we wanted the finger to point up the stairs. That’s all we knew. Once that was in place, we just hung things where we wanted them. Of course, we tried to vary size, shape, and color to make it visually interesting.
I don’t care that the frames are different colors. In fact, I like it. I don’t care if things get a bit crooked from time to time – I’m sure that every time we come down the stairs – or go up the stairs – we’ll be tweaking something. We want it to look happy and fun and eclectic and whimsical. (Sort of like the rest of the cottage. Sort of like we are – I think.) We want it to make a statement about us and our home. It’s a work in progress. As we find new pieces, we’ll add them. For now…this is what we like.
On the bottom: a needlepoint sampler I made for my mom. Above that, our infamous Use Other Stair sign that we found in an antique shop. Above that, a silhouette my parents had done of me. I was 24 at the time. How do I know? My dad wrote it on the back, which brings tears to my eyes every time I read it. The print above it with the gold matting is of several little boys getting into trouble playing with a hose. We bought it in San Diego. To the right of those two pieces is an oil painting by my Great Aunt Ruth. Above that is a watercolor of Main Street in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, including the studio of Norman Rockwell. Next to that is an oil painting we found when we were living in San Diego. I’m sure that if we took it to Antique Roadshow, they’d say “This could benefit from a good cleaning.” Below that are two small pieces; a flower print and an architectural salvage piece. Below them is a print by a local artist of a cow – it has a red frame. Next to them is an oil painting of the sea by my dad.
And of course, the hand.
Not the best pictures, as these were taken very late in the day. And it’s so hard to get a shot of the entire wall from any angle! I’ll take something better on a bright sunny day…but that will have to wait, as I’m taking off for Hartford this morning.
I’m writing this on Sunday night because Monday morning will be very busy and I want to get on the road by 11:00. See you on the other side.
Happy Monday.
The art wall looks great! ‘Happy and fun’ for sure. I’m not a fan of Ricky Gervais, so I tuned in for about two minutes to the Golden Globe Awards last night just as ‘Mr. Robot’ won for best TV drama. I hope Don is pleased that his contribution resulted in such a win. Best of luck with your travels today. I’d forgotten about the swan on GV jeans – thanks for the flashback! I know I thought GV and Ralph Lauren were the epitome of fashion back when I was in my early twenties.
Don got word this week that they want him back for two more episodes next season. Yay!
Yay indeed! We look forward to next season.
We do, too!
The stairwell arrangement/collection/exhibit perfectly fits your little cottage – well done you two! Everything on that wall is special to you both and that is what makes a house/cottage a ‘home’! Safe travels today and I look forward to seeing your home-away-from-home for awhile.
Thanks Regina Anne! I’m getting last minute things together and will be on the road soon!
Your wall of art looks great. It makes me smile. Such a variety of things that are loved — the best kind of wall art!
Thanks so much, Snap! It’s sure making us smile at the moment!
The wall looks fabulous. I’ve been collecting pieces to do a wall and think I’ll just start! Glad the GV jeans worked for you. They saved me last year when I needed new jeans and couldn’t find anything comfortable. I’m a fan of them and now own 4 pair. Safe travels this morning and I know you will post all about your trip. Congrats to Don on Mr Robot and more episodes in his future.
hugs,
Linda
I’m here. Very tired, after unloading everything. Starting to get settled.
But I’m homesick.
I think it’s an interesting art wall. Love the mix of textures and styles. The hand pointing up is wonderful. Have a safe trip.
Thank you, Leslie!
I love your wall art. I think when things are personally loved it makes a much more beautiful statement than having everything matchY, matchy.. That’s just my opinion though. Have a safe trip Claudia and congratulations to Don on the news of more episodes.
Blessings, Betsy
I agree with you. I can spot something that’s too perfect, too planned and it never rings true!
Love the pointing finger. All the pictures go perfectly together in that spot. Good day’s work.
Thanks, Barbara. I gave that to Don on his birthday a couple of years ago.
You two did a great job on the “wall”! It’s set up perfectly…so any additions will feel right at home! ;)
Thanks, Donnamae!
Love it!
Thanks, Carolyn Marie!
We watched the last hour or so of the Golden Globe’s last night and saw when Mr. Robot won. I thought of you and Don. I haven’t watched it, but so happy that Don is going back for a couple more episodes!
It is a cold that takes your breath away morning here today. I think it was -6 when we put the dogs out this AM. Greyhounds don’t have much fur, so I think they felt it was a form of abuse. Within about 3 minutes they were screaming at the door to get back in.
Safe travels today!
I think it’s very exciting for him to be part of a hit show. It sure is for me – vicariously!
Terribly cold here today, as well, with a relentless wind all last night and today.
For NOT plotting out every inch in advance, I think your wall looks terrific. I guess you showed the muckety-muck designers out there – LOL! That’s REAL interior design to me – not shopping for a space or a room when redecoration is wanted. But using things the homeowners already own. Things they’ve acquired over time – that tell THEIR story – things they bought themselves, or made, or were given. Whenever this is done, the space just seems to magically gel on its own. Personally I really dislike these TV design programs where a decorator basically decorates to HER taste, shopping all around for As, Bs and Cs to fill up a room. And MAYBE the occasional nod to the homeowner by including a piece of art, a quilt, a grandmother’s teapot etc. Shouldn’t the space – the whole house – be filled with whatever the homeowner already has?? This has been a peeve of mine for years. I guess Monday is a good day for peeves – LOL. Anyway, stay warm down there in the Valley. As we say along he Lake, very “chilly” here. My wind chimes are peeling away in the key of A and the wind chill is wicked. No kidding, when I bought the chimes at an area nursery, the attached paperwork read “tuned to the key of A natural.” But only a dusting of snow so far – which is strictly OK with me. And sunshine!?
Well, you know I’m in total agreement with you on that, Janet. That’s the way I decorate my space. I’ve never wanted a
‘decorator’ who shops for the space. No thank you! I don’t know how people can live that way, but clearly, many can.
Very windy and cold here, as well. It was very windy last night, all night long and all day long – both at home and in Hartford. Brrrr!
I think it looks great! and fits the flow of the stairway perfectly :)
Thanks, Dawn! We’re real pleased with it. Wouldn’t you know I would leave town the day after we arranged everything?
You did a fantastic job with the staircase wall. LOVE the pointing finger sign.
Thanks so much, Lynn Marie!
I think your wall looks great! I started to do that in my hallway last year – making a gallery wall of sorts with art pieces I liked – but in the end, it didn’t turn out the way I envisioned. It was too overwhelming in my narrow hallway. So, I took it all down! I hadn’t made many nail holes though: I used a lot of those 3M strips.
Question for you: I’ve noticed that you use the expression, “huzzah”. I have never heard that word before and not sure even how to pronounce it. I will look it up, but in the meantime, is this a common expression where you live, or just a favorite word that you’ve always used? I’m curious! :-)
Gosh, I don’t know how to answer that one, Melanie. I’ve used it for a long time and have no sense of learning it or discovering it. I just know it. Maybe from literature, maybe from plays, but I see it used a lot out there on the internet, as well.
You made a blank space come alive – I should do more in my stairwell. Yes, I could find some more art after all, and there I was thinking all my walls were full, haha! This could be a dangerous pursuit and will of course require treasure hunting – I haven’t done any for quite a while!
Great job Claudia – you and Don make a great team!
Mary x
That’s the same thing we thought, Mary! After 10 years of living in the cottage, it just dawned on us that we could fill that whole wall with favorite pieces! I can’t tell you how many times we’ve been out and didn’t buy something because we thought we had no more wall space available.
I love the placement of your favorite art. It’s eclectic and really nicely arranged. Perfect!
Thanks, Vicki!