Cheap Gifts That Don’t Suck – Week 4

Guggenheim Collection Pollock Watch – $45

Made from Jackson Pollock’s Untitled (Silver Green), ca. 1949. Pretty cool.

Buy it here




Hypotrochoid Art Set – $7.50

Complicated name, but we’ve all made these at one time or another. Using special tools, you can make cool designs with these mathematical curves.

Buy it here



Tote-ally Awesome in Teal – $19.99

Made from 100% recycled cotten, this tote bag is a fun twist on your typical bag.

Buy it here



Personal Library Kit – $20

A perfect gift for someone who is always loaning out…and never getting back books.

Buy it here



Cannibal Funfair! Mini Figure – $5.95

Kid Robot has a great selection of designer toys. Check out their website to see all the different characters they sell. This is a great gift for anyone who loves disgustingly cute stuff.

Buy it here



T & Asia Soap – $5

Everybody uses it! And who doesn’t like naked ladies on their soap?

Buy it here



Stitching Postcard – $6.00

These postcards come with a needle and thread, so that you can stitch a route on the map. This would be a neat gift for someone who is planning a trip.

Buy it here



You Bake ‘Em Cat Treats – $13.95

This is great for all of your cat lady friends. Now they can actually pamper their cats with freshly baked treats!

Buy it here

(via 2nd Floor Living)

Learning the art of floral arrangements with help from my local flower shop

A little over a year ago a new bar/flower shop (yes, a bar slash flowershop) opened in my neighborhood called Sycamore. Their flower selection is beautiful and definitely a step up from the typical roses, carnations and baby’s breath that most places sell. Sycamore tends to have much more unusual selections with exciting names like “Kangaroo Foot.” Anyway, after buying a few beautiful bouquets there (that I did not put together myself), I realized how little I know about flowers and putting together nice floral arrangements. I don’t know why, but I kind of suck at it. Which is too bad because flowers are a great way to spruce up a room. Luckily Allison Jonas, one of the owners of Sycamore, agreed to give me some much needed advice. Here are her answers to my general flower questions. Read through them and then check out my progress as I put this advice into action!

Sycamore Q&A

How did you come up with the idea to open a flower shop in a bar?
We wanted to create a warm, inviting space to walk into during the day that could turn into a cozy place to hang out in at night. And we realized there was a need for a unique flowershop in the neighborhood. We sell everything by the stem, so you can stop in and just pick up a few blooms – which a lot of the time is all you need to spruce up your place and get a little pick me up on the cheap.

What are some general rules of thumb for creating flower arrangements? Could you walk us through the process?
First, pick out a color palette, then once you’ve decided on the colors you like, try to pick between 3-5 different types of flowers for the arrangement. Any less than that can feel incomplete and sometimes more than that can get a little crazy (but sometimes crazy can be fun). Of the 3-5 different types, its good to pick one of each of the following categories: Full/Big/Round Blooms (Like Peonies, Roses, Anemones, Sunflowers) then add in floppy, leafy stems to fill it out (like eucalyptus, brunia, waxflowers, kangaroo paws) and finally its nice to add smaller blooms for interest (like ranunculus, gloriosa, or delphinium). You can also add in some different textures (blue thistle, dusty miller). And when in doubt, just go for all of the same kind. Its classic and you can’t go wrong that way.

This is a question specific to me, but I always seem to have trouble figuring out how much of the stems to cut off so an arrangement will look best in a vase. It always feels like hit or miss even when I try to be thorough. Do you have any tips for how to do this better (or is it just practice)?
I’d say always cut the stems longer and then try them out in your vase, then you can adjust where to cut next. It is also helpful to split the arrangement into thirds and slowly add in stems.

What are some of your favorite kinds of flowers? Are there any flower combinations that you especially love?
My favorites are peonies, ranunculus and anemones

What are some tricks to making flowers last longer?
Flowers are happiest if you trim the stems on an angle every day and change their water. Also you can add a little sugar to the water (Sprite works) and a drop of bleach to keep away bacteria.

If someone is interested in learning more, are there any resources you could suggest?
We have a great reference book called The Floral Artists Guide. It lists every flower, how long it lasts and how to use it in an arrangement. Super helpful.

And now, I try out my flower arranging skills

Ok! After taking Allison’s advice into consideration, I boldly went into Sycamore determined to put together my own bouquet. I started by picking a color palette. On this particular day I was immediately drawn to the purple hydrangeas, so from there I selected some blue  delphinium and some purplely pink button poms. These selections also fulfilled my quota of full blooms, taller stems and small blooms. I was well on my way!

Once I got home I faced the challenge of arranging these flowers in my vase. This was a little scary, but I just remembered to be conservative with my cutting and also to add a third of the arrangement at a time. And viola! Here’s the final product:

Not bad? Maybe its not Martha Stewart quality, but I’m still pretty proud of myself. This arrangement cost $20, but you don’t have to spend that much. As Allison mentioned, just a couple of stems in a small vase can work wonders in a room.

And also, for your increased flower knowledge, here are pictures of all the flower species mentioned in this post:

Peony

Ranunculus

Waxflower

Kangaroo Paw

Gloriosa

Eucalyptus

Dusty Miller

Delphinium

Brunia

Blue Thistle

Anemone

Poms

(via 2nd Floor Living)

I need a drink – Mad Men Inspired bars

Ever since I got hooked on Mad Men last year, I have been in love with all the cocktail sets and office bars featured in the show. Damn they make drinking look good! It even inspired me to ask for decanters for my birthday last year, and I guess I am not the only one who has gotten the itch for easy liquor in my home. While perusing the new online magazine Lonny (which is great by the way) I noticed not one, not two, but FOUR different bars featured!

Sadly, a lot of vintage crystal decanters have lead in them, so they are not in good shape for regular use. You will notice that many of the bars in Lonny don’t have decanters at all or just use empty ones for decoration.

In general, putting together a bar set is pretty easy. I made one using the two decanters I got for my birthday last year along with some brandy glasses and bottles of Kalhua and whiskey (that’s what I randomly had at my house). I arranged it all in a wooden tray I bought at West Elm a while back and then added a little ceramic skull I bought in Austin, TX last year. I think its pretty cute, but it needs more alcohol!

If this post has made you thirsty, check out AMC’s Mad Men Cocktail Guide for some authentic 60’s cocktails.

(via 2nd Floor Living)

A fun before and after courtesy of my mommy

When my parents bought their new house a couple of years ago, it came with a round kitchen table and chairs. The style of this set was a bit…well, not my parents’ taste. It had a hand painted country motif…eck. But my mother is very handy and she has really improved these chairs with a just little paint and fabric.

To fix up a chair like this is actually pretty easy. For tips on painting furniture, check out my recent post on the subject.  And reupholstering a removable seat cushion is very straightforward and a great project for someone new to reupholstering. Check out this article for directions.

Thanks for the DIY inspiration Mom!

(via 2nd Floor Living)

To Michael and Jo-Ann wherever (and whoever) you are….

For Thanksgiving, I went to my hometown of Greensboro, North Carolina. It was nice to see my family and get away from the city, and it was also nice to take advantage of the craft and DIY resources that are available there. Greensboro is no more crafty than the rest of the country, but the standard mainstays that most of the US relies on (Michael’s, Jo-Ann Fabrics) disappear the minute you reach New York City. Let me just say this now and get it out of the way – I love Michael’s. I love this store so so much, and I am constantly mourning the fact that the closest one to my home in Brooklyn is on Northern Boulevard in Queens, and it is a cramped, poorly stocked, sad excuse for a Michael’s.

But Greensboro has a beautiful, big and shiny Michael’s and every time I go there it blows my mind. They have three whole aisles of just ribbons! They have a wall full of craft kits for tween girls! And I won’t even tell you how many aisles there are for Christmas decorations. This place is AMAZING PEOPLE!!! OMG!!!!

But I digress. I simply want to say I LOVE YOU MICHAEL’S. And while I’m at it, I’ll also say I LOVE YOU JO-ANN’S (to a lesser extent…but its still love!)

And my love of these stores has sparked my curiosity. Who are these magnificent stores named after? So, I did some research and here’s what I found…

Who is Michael?

The Michael behind Michael’s is Michael J. Dupey. He opened the first Michael’s in Dallas in 1976 and eventually sold it in 1982. After that, he started MJDesigns which was later bought by Michael’s. Gee, I wish this story was more exciting.

Who is Jo-Ann?

Jo-Ann is actually dum dum dum….TWO PEOPLE! The original Jo-Ann’s Fabrics was actually named the Cleveland Fabric Shop and was founded in 1943 by two couples who had immigrated from Nazi Germany. Not only did it sell fabric, but it also sold cheese! Anyway, by the 1950’s they began to expand the business and decided to give it the name Jo-Ann by combining the names of their two daughters: Joan Zimmerman and Jacqueline Ann Rosskamm. To read the whole history (I know you can’t wait!), click here.

(via 2nd Floor Living)

Waltzing through Art Deco paradise with Fred and Ginger

If you don’t already know who I’m talking about when I say “Fred and Ginger” then let me inform you that I am talking about Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers – two of the most popular movie stars during the 1930’s. The other night I was watching one of their films, The Gay Divorcee (1934), and I just couldn’t take my eyes off of the gorgeous art deco sets. Like many Depression-era musicals, Fred and Ginger’s films are light-hearted and the settings tend to be very luxurious. In The Gay Divorcee, most of the film takes place in a new luxury hotel.

The Origins of Art Deco

Art deco is a style that was popular in the 1920’s and 1930’s that was derived from avant-garde painting styles like Cubism and Russian Constructivism. It also drew inspiration from new technologies like aerodynamics. The result is a look that is geometric, abstract, colorful but also luxurious. In many ways Art Deco was a celebration of living in the fast-paced modern world of the roaring 20’s, and the style pervaded practically all areas of design. For instance, the Chrysler Building in Manhattan and the work of Frank Lloyd Wright are two examples of Art Deco architecture. To see more images of original Art Deco designs check out Architonic.com

Making Art Deco Work In Your Home

To inexpensively create an Art Deco look in your home can be a little tricky because the style is not as widely manufactured or should I say…um, overexposed, as other styles like mid-century modern. But if you look for things like tufted velvet chairs, mirrored or lucite tables and lamps, and geometric shapes you will at least get a hint of Art Deco.

1. Lucite Lamp in Black and White
2. Hourglass Bella Spice Chair – $179.99
3. Smoked Mirror Table Lamp -  $136.99
4. Hand-tufted Brown Zebra Wool Rug – $154
5. Mirror Block Side Table – $299
6. Lana Velvet Pouf in Spring Green – $89
7. Dolce Chair in Charcoal – $200
8. Butler Tray and Stand – $149

(via 2nd Floor Living)

Prime, Paint, Poly – Tips for painting furniture

I openly admitted it in my last DIY project post that I don’t know what I am doing when it comes to painting furniture. I’m not ashamed of my ignorance, but I’ve also decided that on this particular subject I prefer knowledge over stupidity, so I’ve done some research and have picked up some tips from my DIY idol Jenny at LittleGreenNotebook. She wrote an amazing post about how she DIY’d her whole office and from there I extrapolated some essential steps/tips for painting furniture.

Project 1: Parsons Desk

Prep: Sanded surface
Paint: Glossy White Latex + “a little bit of turquoise and brown acrylic craft paint” for the color (3 coats)
Post Paint Treatment: Two coats of Wipe On Poly. “Yes, it’s as easy and awesome as it sounds. Polyurethane sealer that you wipe on.”

Project 2: Credenza

Prep: Primed the top of the credenza (since it gets the most wear) with Zinsser primer
Paint: Rustoleum’s ‘Saftey Red’ Spray Enamel applied with a spray gun
Post Paint Treatment: Two coats of Wipe-On Poly

So, looking back at my DIY sideboard project, it seems like my paint choice (a mix of latex enamel and latex paint) was fine, but I should have primed the top beforehand and used some of the ever-so-helpful Wipe-On Poly to seal the deal. Next time, I will feel much more confident . And hopefully this will help you too!

Here’s some of the products Jenny used in these projects:

(via 2nd Floor Living)

Cheap Gifts That Don’t Suck – Week 3

3-D Drawing Pad – $7.50
I can tell you from experience that this is fun and yes, it does work. Comes with special paper and 3-D glasses.
Buy it here


Japanese Chapeau Animal Mug – $26
It’s cute, its practical and it comes with a tea strainer too!
Buy it here


Magic Garden – $10
Who doesn’t love growing their own magic garden!? Seriously! Not only is this fun, but it also creates a pretty Japanese-inspired vignette. How nice!
Buy it here


NPR Map – $9.95
OK, lets get serious with an NPR map. Its custom made to tell you what AM or FM stations are playing NPR near you. This is great for someone who travels a lot!
Buy it here


Breakfast at Tiffany’s Sleep Mask – $28.50
This unique sleep mask is an exact replica of the one worn by Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Its made out of soft satin silk and was designed by lingerie designer Mary Green. I think we all know someone who wants to be Holly Golightly.
Buy it here


Astronaut Ice Cream – $2.99
Man, do I have memories of eating this stuff at the Natural Science Center in my hometown. It tastes kind of weird, but what isn’t fun about dehydrated ice cream!?
Buy it here


Japanese Masking Tape – $7.50
I recently discovered this Japanese decorative tape while visiting the Cooper Hewitt Design Museum’s shop. The tape is adorable and it comes in multiple designs and colors. You could use it in any number of ways…and did I mention that its adorable?
Buy it here

(via 2nd Floor Living)

A Retro Thanksgiving – From the 1700’s to the 1980’s and beyond

I’ve been trying to think of the best way to celebrate Thanksgiving here in the 2nd Floor Living virtual world, and what I keep coming back to is the history of this holiday. And I don’t just mean way back when with the Pilgrims but also Thanksgiving in more recent times.  So here are some of both…some retro and some really really really retro (as in revolutionary retro) Thanksgiving ideas.

Part I: Retro Thanksgiving Recipes, Decorations and Ideas

You can check out these articles for free through Google Books, so click on a link below and it will take you to the full article. Also, you can click on the thumbnails to see a larger image.

Ebony Magazine: A ‘Down Home’ Thanksgiving
Ebony Magazine, November, 1982


Popular Mechanics: Thanksgiving Table Decorations
Popular Mechanics, November 1963


Life Magazine: In A Town’s Daily Life, A Message of Thanksgiving
Life Magazine, December 1, 1958


Weekly World News: The “Real” Father Of Thanksgiving Was A Woman!
Weekly World News, November 24, 1998



Part II: A Really Really Really Retro Revolutionary Thanksgiving

Sarah Lohman lives in Queens and blogs about historic food on her site Four Pounds Flour. She recently cooked an authentic 18th century Thanksgiving meal at the Old Stone House in Brooklyn but dammit I missed it! Some of the traditional Thanksgiving dishes she cooked were: a wild turkey, squash pudding and pumpkin pie. You can see some of the recipes she used as well as photos from the event on her blog.  And while you are there, she also has some really interesting Thanksgiving-related posts like the origin of green bean casserole. And holidays aside, she regularly posts other historic recipes on “History Dish Mondays” like Thomas Jefferson’s favorite apple pie and Huguenot Torte (a favorite dessert of President Martin van Buren).

(via 2nd Floor Living)

Designer Profile: Madeline Weinrib

Our newest designer profile is about none other than Madeline Weinrib – an inspiring textile designer who lives and works in New York City.

An assortment of Weinrib's pillows

Vino Ikat Evening Bag

Hollywood Regency Slipper Chair in Blue Daphne Ikat

Orange Keri Blockprint Napkin

Blue Brooke Tibetan Carpet

Lemon Ginger Tibetan Rug

Company: Madeline Weinrib Atelier

History: She is the great granddaughter of the founder of ABC Home & Carpet – the mulit-floor, multi-building design mecca just north of Union Square in Manhattan. Weinrib studied fine art in college and was well on her way to being an established painter when she was inspired to try her hand at designing textiles. The idea came to her after seeing a Tibetan rug in a similar palette to her paintings being sold at ABC. Soon she began to design cotton rugs for the store, and her designs have been top sellers ever since.

Best Known For: Hand-woven rugs and now block print fabrics with eastern inspired designs. She also designs ikat and suzani patterns.

Why She is Awesome: She has been able to reinterpret traditional textile patterns into very modern designs. I love the color and vitality in her work. I think I would buy all of her products if I could afford it.

Other Things You Should Know: Aside from rugs and fabric, she also sells pillows, furniture and accessories. There is also an etsy store that sells pillows made with her fabric. Check them (and their love letter to Weinrib) here.

(via 2nd Floor Living)

Slim Aarons and inspiration from the rich and famous

I first heard about Slim Aaron’s photography in a Vanity Fair article a few years ago. Ever since then, I have not been able to forget his intoxicating photographs of jet-setters and celebrities from the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s.

During World War 2, Aarons was a combat photographer for Yank magazine, but once the war was over, he began working as a freelance photographer taking pictures of as he put it “attractive people doing attractive things in attractive places.” He is often credited with perfecting the art of environmental portraits. Many of his photographs were commissioned for magazines such as Town & Country, Harper’s Bazaar, Vogue and Life.

Kaufman House

Family Snapper

Truman Capote at Home

Beauty and the Beast

Guinness Family

Monocled Miss

Even though these images are not that old, they depict a glamorous and elegant era that is long gone.  I don’t know about you, but looking at these photographs definitely makes me wish I could go back in time…and be rich! And because his photographs always feature their subject in an environment – be it an interior or an exterior – they can be a great source of inspiration for us. I mean, how cool does Truman Capote’s living room look?

You can purchase prints of Aaron’s work, but they are pretty expensive (although not unreasonable). He also has several books: Slim Aarons: Once Upon A Time, Slim Aarons: A Place in the Sun and Poolside with Slim Aarons

(via 2nd Floor Living)

Paint It Black/Black to Basics/Black is Beautiful…This post is about black rooms!

Would you ever paint a room or an accent wall black? Sounds scary doesn’t it? But sometimes black can really be a show stopper. Depending on the shade you use (yes there are shades of black!) and the finish of the paint (glossy, satin, etc) you can create many different kinds of moods. For instance, glossy black walls can make for a very rich and elegant feeling room, while a dark gray or warmer black in a matte finish will have a cozier feel. Check out these examples of black rooms and take the poll afterward. Also, for tips on how to paint with black, check out this article from Sherwin-Williams.

Image Credits: Fresh Home, Decor Pad, Monica Biering Hammer’s Norwegian apartment (photo by Maria Reme), Maria Claire Maison, The New York Times, House to Home

(via 2nd Floor Living)

Meet me at the S&S 99¢ Up (I’ll be waiting by the shower caps)

I live in Ditmas Park, Brooklyn and in the four years that I’ve lived here the neighborhood has been changing at a pretty steady pace. Like many people, I am conflicted when it comes to gentrification. I love it when a cool new restaurant opens, but I also resent it when I see more young white punks (like me) roaming the streets. My conflicted feelings about the neighborhood came to a head about three months ago when the long vacant store front that used to house the Flatbush Food Coop (which had moved across the street to a bigger space) was rented out to become a 99 cent store. This was the third dollar store within 5 blocks.

At first, I was not very pleased. But then, I went into the store and realized it is one of the BEST DOLLAR STORES EVER!* First of all they sell helium-filled mylar ballons and second of all, I was able to find a spray bottle and tons of little dinosaurs and horses for my terrarium project there. All in all, I’m glad this store is here because it has definitely made certain things easier to find.

But you do have to be careful about what you buy at dollar stores. Some things may not be good to buy and for that I turn to the website Brokelyn.com and their article about what you and should and shouldn’t buy at dollar stores. Check out their list.

*I wrote that statement the other day and I am not feeling quite as enthusiastic now because I got kicked out of the store while taking pictures today. I guess they thought I was from a competing dollar store. Oh well, it’s still a nice place. My feelings are just a little hurt right now.

(via 2nd Floor Living)

Cheap gifts that don’t suck – Week 2

Here’s week 2 of our cheap gift guide. 6 weeks until Xmas! 3 weeks until Hanukkah!

Bubble Wrap Calendar – $19.95

Just imagine, a bubble to pop for each day of the year. What more is there to say?
Buy it here


Sunprint Kit – $5.59
I remember making these as a kid. This kit comes with 10 sheets of light sensitive photo paper for you to make your own sunprint masterpiece!
Buy it here


Anchor Coasters – $25
These cute anchor coaster are just one of the many options at Iomoi’s online store. And they come with the lucite box too!
Buy it here


Stylophone Synthesizer – $19.99
This pocket-sized synthesizer is a great gift for any of your musically inclined friends. It features a metal keyboard played by touching it with a stylus. Fun!
Buy it here


Book Jackets – Set of 3 – $9

Not only are these a funny reminder of middle school text book covers, but they also come in handy when you don’t want people to know that you are reading Twilight on the subway. This set comes with: “Fiction,” “Non-Fiction,” and “Favorite.”
Buy it here

(via 2nd Floor Living)

Easy ways to keep the cold out

One thing that all of my apartments (and I’ve lived in 5) have had in common is drafty windows. Yes, cheap drafty windows are very popular with landlords for some reason. And they also love to turn the heat on as high as it will go. It is like a game they play to see which will be more uncomfortable to their tenants: the cold drafty windows or the boiling hot radiators. But enough of my complaining, my friend Megan wants to know what she can do to prevent drafts, so I (being a good friend and blogger) have found a couple of options that are actually really cheap and easy. Check out the list below!

Weatherstrip Tape – $5.10
Weatherstrip tape is a long strip of rubber with self-adhesive. You cut the rubber to match your window’s dimensions and then just peel and stick. The only issue is that you may end up peeling away paint when you remove the strips in the spring.
Available at Lowes


Insulation Film – $18.49
This is a plastic film that you attach to the window with double sided tape and then shrink using a blow dryer. It might make your window look like it is coated in saran wrap, but it should not leave a residue when you remove it.
Available at Amazon


Interior AC Unit Covers – $19.99
This is not the prettiest thing in the world, but I’m sure I’m not the only one who has to leave their air conditioning unit in all winter (it’s one of those in-the-wall installations). I think that this is just begging to be turned into a DIY project. Hmmm…could definitely see creating a cover for my insulated cover.
Avaliable at ImprovementsCatalog.com


PS. The main photo on this post is from Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jglsongs/2284532926/

(via 2nd Floor Living)

Before & After: my attempt at painting furniture is not disappointing!

This past weekend I decided to paint an old West Elm sideboard I have in my apartment. I just wasn’t crazy about the dark wood finish anymore and I wanted to paint it a color that would be more complimentary to my new gold lamp. I’m still learning when it comes to painting furniture, so I was totally prepared for this to be a failure, but lady luck was smiling down on me and I am actually pretty happy with what I ended up with!

I think I probably broke a few rules when I painted this. First I mixed two colors of glossy latex enamel (blue and white) which gave me a pretty straight forward light blue color. As far as I know that kind of mixing is totally fine. Where it got a little iffy for me was that I added in a little bit of satin latex paint that I had under my sink…probably a no-no, but I don’t claim to be an expert! I added in the extra paint because I wanted to make the blue a little more interesting. And I am happy with the way the color turned out. Now we just have to wait and see if this paint job will last.

Anyway, the new color definitely works better with the gold lamp. And it also inspired me to swap some of my wall art and put my horse anatomy poster over the sideboard. I like where this is headed. I need to work on a tablescape for this, so I’ll get back to you on what I figure out. Tablescapes are definitely a topic I want to touch on as it is something I’ve always wanted to be better at.

Anyway, lemme know what you think of my latest DIY exploration. Am I a really bad girl for mixing those paints?

(via 2nd Floor Living)

Strip Framing: not as erotic as it sounds but very practical

A couple of weeks ago I wrote about dealing with unconventionally shaped wall art. So, to follow up on this whole wall art topic, I’m gonna talk about framing canvases (gasp!). There are two paintings in my apartment that are on canvas. The first is a big painting done by my friend Madeline Donahue (she’s great)  for my boyfriend (he’s great), Josh’s, album cover. Its really wonderful and its also 3ft x 3ft! The second one is a velvet painting of a guy on a dirt bike that we bought at a store called the “Gay Dolphin” in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. I wanted to frame these so that they would look finished but I didn’t want to do anything that was going to cost too much or would detract from the art itself. Enter strip framing.

Strip framing is a technique a lot of artists use to finish off their canvases. It’s pretty easy and very cheap and the overall effect is a simple, clean presentation that is subtle but makes a huge difference.

What you will need:

• Four thin pieces of wood – the cheapest is “lattice stripping” although any flat thin pieces of wood you can find will work. I even saw some at an art store (see the pic I snapped on the right).
• A hand saw. These are very cheap and easy to use, so don’t be intimidated!
• Small brads. Brads are just a type of nail. Be sure to buy ones that are thick enough to go through your wood pieces.
• A pen

Now, here’s how to do it:

Image From Studio Chalk

1. First, you need to consider the orientation of the canvas because the top and bottom peices of wood will need to be a different length from the left and right pieces.
2. Lay a piece of wood across the top of the canvas and mark where it should be cut.
3. Next, cut the top piece at a 90 degree angle. You may want to have another person there to help you keep the wood steady as you cut it. And you can cut the wood in your apartment pretty easily by using your dining room table, desk or any flat surface. (You want the wood to hang off the edge of the flat surface so that you can cut it, so you should not inflict any damage on your table top…although I wouldn’t do it on a really nice surface)
4. Once the wood is cut, nail it onto the top of the canvas using two to four brads
5. Next, repeat steps 2 through 4 on the bottom of the canvas.
6. For the left and right sides of the canvas you will go through the same process you did for the top and bottom, but you need to take into account the added length of the top and bottom pieces of wood when you mark the cutting point.
7. Once all four pieces of wood are attached you’re done! Hang that sucker up!

(via 2nd Floor Living)

Curiosity Cabinet Inspired Art

This is just a quick follow up to my post a couple of days ago about curiosity cabinets. Check out these pieces by artists Andy Paiko and Maissa Toulet respectively. Both have been inspired by curiosity cabinets, and I love how they have managed to give them a more contemporary feel in two very different ways.

(via 2nd Floor Living)

Curiosity Cabinet Inspired Art

This is just a quick follow up to my post a couple of days ago about curiosity cabinets. Check out these pieces by artists Andy Paiko and Maissa Toulet respectively. Both have been inspired by curiosity cabinets, and I love how they have managed to give them a more contemporary feel in two very different ways.

(via 2nd Floor Living)

Make your walls happy: affordable limited edition music show posters

When it comes to decorating your walls, I truly believe that the more original you can be the better. I have nothing against widely reproduced art, but I just think that the artwork in your home should be a reflection of your own unique personality and not someone else’s. Finding interesting and original wall art for a reasonable price can be tricky, but don’t worry because we live in a world where GigPosters.com exists. This is an amazing site that catalogs gig posters for tons of bands most of which are for sale through the poster designers themselves. Over the last 10 years, as the indie music world has grown so has the number of cool show posters out there. Many that are for sale are screen prints and are made in very limited amounts. But you will rarely find a gig poster for sale for more than $50, which is pretty sweet. Buying a few gig posters is a great option if you love music and want some affordable yet interesting stuff to hang on your walls. The GigPosters site is massive, so I would definitely check it out on your own. But to whet your appetite, here are a few people I have discovered through their site:

This list corresponds to the posters above.

1) The Small Stakes
Dirty Projectors Poster
4-color silkscreen
18″ x 24″
$25.00

2) The Bungaloo
St. Vincent Poster
hand printed silkscreen
19″ x 25″
$20

3) Nate Duval
Fleet Foxes Poster
3-color silkscreen
$30

4) Spike Press
Peter, Bjorn and John Poster
4-color silkscreen
18″x24″
$25

5) Todd Stewart
Animal Collective Poster
3-color silkscreen
13″ x 20″
$15

6) Flora Fuana
Grizzly Bear / Beach House Poster
5-color silkscreen
18″ X 24″
$20

(via 2nd Floor Living)