D.I.Y. Home Decor Roundup [23/31]

Here's a roundup of my favorite home decor DIY's that you can try with thrifted items! Every one of these things (pre-vamped), I have seen or do see regularly on the thrift circuit. Let me know if you try any!

1. Decorative Clip Boards // 2. Copper Vase // 3. Plant Pot Makeover // 4. Serving Tray

1. Hanging Topiary // 2. Painted Glass Frame // 3. Decorative Plates // 4. Record Cabinet Makeover //
5. Dipped Painting

I am linking up with The Nester every day in October for #write31days. 

You can find a list of all 31 posts as they are published by clicking here. 

D.I.Y. Thrifted Frame + Washi Tape [22/31]

Buying frames can be costly. Especially when it comes to fulfilling our gallery wall fantasies. Fortunately, thrift shops are flowing with perfectly acceptable frames if you can get passed some dusty glass or an awkward print. Filling those frames with art & photos can also add up. I've currently got a stack of empty 8x10's just waiting to be utilized.

Here is one, simple D.I.Y. that I've assembled and now display (and love) in our home. It costs around $5 and takes about 10 minutes to complete. Think you can handle that? Good. It's fairly simple to replicate, but I'll break it down for you anyway.

Supplies: Thrifted frame, 8x10 cardstock quality paper, washi tape, scissors, ruler, & pencil.

The ruler comes in handy to keep your lines straight and proportionate to the paper's edge. The washi tape is super forgiving, so don't beat yourself up if it doesn't look perfect.

The lines will also help you determine how long to snip your washi tape strips. Easy, right?

Here it is on a floating shelf in our dining room. What other kinds of things would you recreate with washi tape and frame? The possibilities are endless!

I am linking up with The Nester every day in October for #write31days. 

You can find a list of all 31 posts as they are published by clicking here. 

Some Music & Some Art

A couple highlights from the past week...My dear friends, Dena & Maren, had a mini-girls' getaway to Omaha for a She & Him concert!

I saw a couple other pregnant ladies in attendance, but I was definitely the most pregnant of the ones I saw, haha. I think I stood for one song. But still, a good time:)

Future besties, June & Ruby. These girls were such little troopers as we carted them around Des Moines to a rummage sale, thrift store, and a mandatory Tasty Taco stop.

This past weekend was the Des Moines Arts Festival, which is sort of a yearly tradition to visit. Ruby was excited to see all the artist's "colorings".

On a couple occasions, our opinionated little lady would state, "I don't like this picture". Right in front of the artist. So.....sorry about that.

It's been a little quiet here lately due to general life stuff/ pregnancy/ etc, but all is going well. I've got a few more posts coming this week, so watch out for those! xx

Des Moines Arts Festival

Our little family made it down to the Des Moines Art Festival after church on Sunday. Though I prefer hitting the festival later in the day, we still had a nice time checking out all the vendors and eating lunch with friends. I only got a little bit of sun.

I've been wanting to check out Host since it opened, but I haven't been able to since their hours are during the week for lunch only. Thankfully, they had special hours for the Art Fest. My curried chicken sandwich was SO GOOD.

Creature art by Chris Vance.

Contemporary art with a Southern twist by Dolan Geiman. I saw this guy at Renegade Chicago back in 2010 and love his work. So inspired that he runs the whole business with his wife (she spoke at the Etsy workshop I attended at same Renegade).

Scissors Drawings by Ella Richards might have been my favorite booth. I would've taken any one of her pieces.

Contemporay figurative oils inspired by vintage found photography. Paintings by Signe & Genna Grushovenko. Love this concept.

If only downtown Des Moines looked like this throughout the year...xx

Mid-Century Masterpieces

The works of Jim Ward Morris. I want it all.




Be sure to check out his Etsy shop!

Byblos Art Hotel

16th Century architecture collides brilliantly with modern art & furniture in the flamboyant Byblos Art Hotel.

Located in Verona, Italy, the hotel houses a permanent collection of work by the likes of Damien Hurst, Cindy Sherman, and Anish Kapoor.


The room of my dreams.





I'm thinking a few soZealous pieces could easily fit in here...??

D.I.Y. Record Album Wall Art

This art project by Promise Tangeman is affordable, uncomplicated, and FABULOUS. Click here for the full tutorial.

Be sure to check out the rest of her site—thanks Jen for the recommendation!

Airstream Dreams & Purple Pencil Skirts

The Des Moines Art Festival took place this past weekend and I saw a good many inspiring pieces from both local & nationally recognized artists.

I especially enjoyed the work of Michael Bryant (Holga Photographer) and Cali Hobgood-Lemme (I featured one of her hand-colored photos for my most recent Best Of post).


Also at DMAF was a sweet little film troupe called Tiny Circus (from my hometown of Grinnell, IA) that shoot stop-motion shorts in Airstream trailers. Needless to say, I am quite enthralled by what they're doing (and maybe even more so with their Airstreams).

And now...two thing that cost me $3.00:


Purple pencil skirt from good ol' GW. Maybe you saw me shopping around in it down at Market Day Iowa, which was fantastic I might add! I got some vintage earrings, a typewriter pin, & an Arnold Palmer cupcake. Wow, indeed!!


My other $3.00 score was this 1957 Smith-Corona typewriter from an estate sale. Not only does it work, but it types in script lettering! Which is quite a rare find according to our online research...


Carrying case & instructions included. SO excited to start using it!!

Hope you had a lovely weekend as well xx

Thought on a Friday // 06.25.10

If you are an art lover and in the Des Moines area this weekend, then you have an *awesome* couple of days ahead of you! Here's a few things to check out:

• The Des Moines Art Festival - Sure, there's a lot of people and you have to shuffle through scores of tents at a snail's pace, but at least go to check out the Iowa Emerging Artists booths. It's a treat to see all the local artists on the verge and by far is my favorite part of the fest.


• Market Day Iowa - This will be the first Market Day that I haven't been out of town or had to work, so I'm definitely looking forward to it. Featuring the best of the best in Iowa handmade arts AND crafts. Not "arts & crafts".

• Vitae Design Collective is hosting a trunk Show for Rock n Reconstruct & Little Pretties. Sale takes place this Sunday at their new location in the East Village from 1-4 p.m. There will be discounted merch & appetizers.

[Image credits: iamtough tumblr; Market Day Facebook page.]

Iowa Artists 2010

Tonight's the night! Don't miss the Iowa Artists 2010 Preview Party featuring a performance by Leslie Hall & music by DJ John Solarz (of Flatform).

6-8 P.M. at the Des Moines Art Center. Admission is $5; FREE for Art Noir members.

Humble Materials

Intricut paper craftings from Nikki Salk & Amy Flurry for the Paper Cut Project. The collection was born out of "a love of fashion and an appreciation of the grace and nuance of this humble material".





Wigs are currently on display at Jeffrey locations in New York & Atlanta.

Check out the stunning Anamalia series if you visit the site!