Vintage Inspired: Paint by Numbers Rug

Vintage Paint by Numbers were created by Dan Robbins and Max Klein in the 1950's. Robbins was working for Klein at the Palmer Paint Company and asked to create something that could make everyone an artist; Essentially mass produced art for the lay-person.  The very concept sneers at "high art," giving everyone the opportunity to have their own "Van Gogh" or "Mona Lisa." Soon, the Paint by Numbers phenomenon took off, selling over 12 million kits. Today these kitschy pieces of "art" are collectors items. With their distinct color pallet and perfectly cheesy nature scenes, they are a great addition to a vintage inspired home.

I have been in love with the nature scenes for awhile, and when looking for rugs I stumbled upon the most amazing giant paint by numbers rug at Anthropologie.  Over the course of a few weeks, I finally decided to purchase it, luckily it had gone on sale. Oh how I love my masterpiece, it is so cute that I can hardly walk on it (defeating the very purpose of owning a rug)!

-Alea Ladybird

This Old House: Mayonnaise for Water Rings

Do you remember me writing about my new-to-me antique farmhouse dining room table? Well somehow, I managed to set a water glass directly on it absent-mindedly in the first week of owning it, and a nice white water ring set in. I was so discouraged, how could it have been used since the late 1800's with only a few scratches and slight dulling of its beautiful dark wood finish and I have it for a week and make an ugly white circle? After some soul and web searching, I found numerous sources stating that full-fat mayonnaise would do the trick. I figured I didn't have much to lose, slathered a few tablespoons of it on the ring, rubbed it in a little, and left it on overnight. I woke up the next morning, wiped it clean with a damp rag, and it was gone! I was so impressed with this trick, I just had to share. This would be great for flea-market or thrifted finds with this same problem, it literally made the table good as new. From now on I will be encouraging the use of thrifted little doilies as coasters. So cute.

-Twill

Photo Source: NY Times

This Old House: Home Sweet Home

I am finally moved into my new Minneapolis apartment near Lake of the Isles, and after a few weekends of treasure hunting, decorating, and organizing, I am pretty happy with the outcome. I am realizing that pretty much everything in my apartment has been found thrifting or antiquing, or I have inherited, and I am satisfied with that. It is far from modern, very vintage-inspired, and calms me down when I walk in the door. It is nice to feel like I have both feet firmly on the ground again.

My new farmhouse table, found antiquing in Linden Hills. It has two leaves that I can add in, and the sides have drop-leaves. I can see myself having this for years to come. I just need to find some more dark stained wooden chairs. Swoon*

I found this vintage handmade rug on Etsy, it is the perfect mix of masculine and feminine, with nature scenes and earth tones. I love how the colors are subdued.

This Old House: Patterns

I noticed how many patterns I had in my living room, and I just love the little details and how so many seemingly different patterns can look so good together. What patterns are popping up around your place?
-Ladybird

 

This Old House: My New Couch!

Finally feeling like my apartment is complete. The addition of a couch made it feel like home. I am so happy, it was a great find from Hunt & Gather, one of my favorite antique shops. This loveseat is so perfect for my space, small, newly reupholstered in vintage fabric, comfortable, and perfectly in tune with my space. Home sweet home!
-Ladybird

Vintage Inspired: Paint by Numbers

I have been in pursuit of a new hobby, and some new art for my upcoming apartment, and I think some vintage paint-by-number kits could be just the thing. I love the natural, subdued colors like terracotta, teal, navy, gray, brown, and cream that these old scenes supply. I especially love the landscapes, but some floral designs would complement the space in my mind as well. The following serve as inspiration, I am on the lookout for completed and blank pieces.

-Twill

Photo Sources 1/2/3/4/5

DIY: Chalkboard Frames

I am an avid list maker, with a big problem. . . that my lists tend to be scrawled out on tiny papers, that I then stuff in my pocket, purse or lay on a table. Which means, they are more or less useless. So I knew that I needed a better solution, and I loved the idea of having a chalkboard. This is an easy DIY project for those of us lucky enough to pound nails into our walls. If you are not so lucky check out Twill's cute solution!
-Ladybird

















Materials:
a thrifted frame
spray paint
chalk board paint
mini-paint roller (or brush, but the paint roller is ideal for a smooth surface)
chalk

1. take the frame apart from the inside chip board.
2. spray paint the frame and paint the chip board with the chalk board paint. Let the chalk board paint dry and do a second coat.

3. Wait for everything to dry and put the painted chip board in the frame. Draw. 

This Old House: The Details

I am celebrating the 5 month anniversary of my apartment and I, living together in such amazing harmony. So I thought I would post a few pictures of my little space.

-Ladybird

This Old House: O Thrifted Christmas Tree

"O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree
Forever true your colour.
Your boughs so green in summertime
Stay bravely green in wintertime.
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree
Forever true your colour."

 Since I just moved to Portland this fall and I left my Christmas decoration tote in my parents' shed, I decided to go another route. A thrifted Christmas tree! I was amazed by how many handmade and vintage ornaments made it to the thrift store shelves this year. I even found a never-opened vintage set of white twinkle lights that still work. I purchased a little potted fir tree, then went to town decorating it with my thrifted collection of birds, balls, crocheted snowflakes, pinecones with ribbon, and lights. I found three gift boxes made out of vintage wrapping paper as well, I think I am going to try to whip out my origami skills and figure out how to make some of these. Such a cute gift wrapping option! I think it turned out quite lovely and adds a touch of holiday spirit to this old house.
-Twill

DIY: Trompe l' Oeil Headboard

 Since I moved into my apartment, I have been working on "headboard" ideas. I decided not to get a bed frame, because before this apartment, I owned just about nothing, and it was getting expensive to keep up with the random things that you need living solo. So I had been thinking about ideas for a cheap, but totally rad headboard. I made a stencil in an old apartment, and i really like the look of that, but this time I wanted to make it something really special. So I went to Savers, my local standby thrift, and found a $4.00 piece of lace with a design I liked. Then, inspired, I went to work figuring out how to create the idea in my head.

my bedroom before

What you need:
Lace fabric the size of your headboard, thrifted lace is perfect on the cheap.
A newspaper taped together the size of your headboard
Scissors
Painting tape
Double sided tape
Spray paint

1. Tape the lace, making sure to measure the center and put a little dot


















2. Tape the newspaper together into one large sheet using the double sided tape

3. Fold the paper in half and draw half of your design making sure the middle is on the fold


















4. Cut out your design, retaining the top part, tape it on top of the lace, making sure to line up the center with your measured center

5. Get out your spray paint and go wild

















6. Remove the lace and paper from the wall, and you have yourself a cheap, handmade, awesome headboard!

The hardest part of this project was picking a shape. In the end, I went pretty simple, but I think that let the pattern and design show through. If you make one yourself, I would love to see how it turns out. This was an experiment for me, and I am very happy with the results.

-Ladybird

This Old House

I thought I would give a little glimpse into my new home in Portland. We were so lucky to find this place, it was a one hundred year old house that was restored to its finest, with vintage touches and original details in every room. I love a home with character and history! I found these old wooden fruit crates at an antique store in town, and Alex actually had the idea of turning them on their sides as little end tables for our living room. How cute! Throw in a slip covered vintage couch, an old family lap quilt, and some hand sewn pillows and it's starting to shape up quite nicely.

-Twill