Clipboard Wall Art

Our office is a long and narrow room.  When we began a remodel this spring, exchanging twenty-something-year-old carpet for wood, olive green for hummus colored walls, and adding a skylight, we also took down a giant map of our city.  I know, maps as wall art are all the rage now but in this room it took over.  It had to go. We were left with a 15 foot expanse to fill.  In short: We had a wall conundrum.

In addition to the long wall, three other factors had to be considered:
Cost...under $100.
Contrast...the need to keep things calm with low contrast is my home decorating M.O.
Capture... since what we do in the office is run our landscaping business, I wanted the wall art to capture, relate and inspire the garden theme.

For months I looked for inspiration on Pinterest and Houzz, while also searching in the usual places, like Target, Home Goods and Goodwill, finding many likable candidates, but nothing that jumped up and down saying, "choose me!"

Then, one Saturday morning, a few weeks ago -- inspiration appeared in the form of a photograph of three botanical prints hanging on clipboards in a kitchen.  I knew in a heartbeat that this was my answer.  It fit right in with all my design musts.

www-livelovecreate.tumblr.com/

All I needed to do was figure out the placement, find inexpensive clipboards, and locate some beautiful botanical art.

The art search came first. I have always been an admirer of  people who can create pretty pictures with talented strokes and dabs.  My mom can do it and so can my sisters. I have attempted to develop this skill, to no avail.  Instead, I paint pictures with objects, plants, flowers, rocks, trees and shrubs, words, love, and my camera; the draw and dab skills do not belong to me.

Not yet  but still hoping...

As I often do, I went shopping in my own home and found a book filled with botanical drawings from over 100 years ago.  It didn't take long to find the eighteen pieces of pure inspiration that I needed. They all depict lovely birds and plants; twelve also name the months of the year.

 NO I did not cut up the book.  I Could NOT.  Instead, I made color copies on card stock.The traditional and inexpensive clipboards are hanging on clear push pins... genius. Right? Not easy to get just right, however.  It took about an hour of planning and measuring to get things lined up.

Notice how the colors blend with the wall color? One of the unintended results of using the clipboards as frames is that the paper flutters a bit in the breeze of our ceiling fan.  I've considered using photo corners to secure them, but I'm mesmerized by the fluttery movement on the wall, like leaves on a tree or birds in flight.

While hunting for art, I remembered my mom's old easel, stored in a closet, waiting to be used again.  It still donned a few splashes of blue and white from the brook in this painting she did in 1949. The overflow of love -- and the easel sang to my heart.  Then there was some re-measuring.

My prince helped me figure out how to assemble the easel.  It adds just the right elements of whimsy and drama, as well as vertical movement to balance the horizontal movement of the grid on the wall.  I found this botanical in the closet too. I'm planning on picking up a canvas or a painting in the future, but for now, this one works just fine. Who knows; the wall, now replete with examples of nature drawings and the splotched old easel might inspire another attempt to draw or paint one on my own. Just Maybe.

and just maybe not.

(My prince suggests cutting up a pair of jeans and some old boots for the other wall. )  Ummm...nope:-/

2013 update: We re-purposed an old dining table.  You like?

~Blessings~

If you would like to read more stories about people gardening, creating, loving family,homesteading, homeschooling, and making things for under $100:

The Lettered Cottage

Here: Under the Table and Dreaming

wildly-original-linky-party @ I Gotta Create

 click here:  My Simple Country Living

and here:  A Rural Journal

 and HERE: Beyond the Picket Fence Under $100 Linky Party

OH, and HERE as well! The Shabby Creek Cottage Transformation Thursday

and here as well...there are so many creative people out there!

Grandma's Apron

Ada's Apron hangs awaiting duty

Oh how I'd love to have my grandmother to lunch today.

I would serve something light, probably salad...and I would wear her apron -- the one that hangs on the side of my fridge...and I would arrange our salad on Grandma's desert rose plates.

She would arrive smartly dressed, and properly shod and I would probably get a mini-lecture about the importance of wearing shoes when she saw my bare feet.  But it wouldn't be long before Grandma would laugh.

And when she began to laugh, I would think to reach for my camera to capture the sound.  Then, on second thought, I'd realize I have the sound of her laughter stored in my head.

After "luncheon," (that's what she called it when she got together with other women for this meal ) I would definitely sit her in front of my piano, secretly wishing I had called the piano tuner one of the hundred-and-one times I thought of it.  She would be thrilled to see that I have her music, but not nearly as thrilled as I would be to listen as her hands began to coax the keys to play...Everybody Loves Somebody...sometime.

She would notice the keys that don't sound right.

How long would it take for her to notice the lamps from her vanity, or the painting that once hung in her guest room?

Not long.

Grandma noticed things.  And she would notice things all over my home that she once touched, cleaned, arranged...loved... things my children and grandchildren think belong to me.  I would finally get to ask her about them. What was their history; where were they from?

I would introduce Grandma to my grand children. She would size them up, and when I wasn't looking, she would stealthily stuff a $20 into their hands.  I would be able to tell by the way they acted afterwards.

She would miss seeing my prince, who is off working in the 100-plus degree heat today.  But she would wisely tell me to take good care of him.  I know this because she always said it.  Grandma took care of things. That must be where I got the take-care-of-things-skills!  That must be why my mother is so careful to take care of things too! I  guess this is good news for my grand kids and their future spouses...grand kids who will one day realize that I was NOT old today...the day I had my imaginary luncheon with Grandma.

Grandma, I miss you! I cherish my memories of you.  I adore your taste in home furnishings, and I'm sorry I thought you were old when you were only 56.

I was inspired today by another blogger's post about aprons...you can read more or add your own story at Little Homestead on the Hill
and here
Farmgirl Friday Blog Hop

The Simplicity of Joy

What is joy?  It is certainly an emotion that we feel. And it is definitely pleasant.  But what is its purpose?

The Bible proclaims JOY to be one of the fruits of the Spirit of God.
Galatians 5:22-23
New International Version (NIV)

²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 

In my understanding, FRUIT is brought forth naturally as the ultimate goal of a fruit-bearing plant. And, unless grafted, the healthy host only bears one kind of fruit, in season.

 FRUIT (joy) is NOT intended to bless the tree.

Nope.

Fruit (joy) is intended for the passerby

...Or the gardener.

...Or the family of the gardener.

...Or the visitors to the home of the gardener

Joy (fruit) is a blessing that grows naturally.  

Joy (fruit) is something to share with others. 

But what is the purpose of joy, this pleasant fruit of the Spirit?  

Did these photos bring you joy?  

I know these sights bring joy to me.

Why?

Why do we experience the fruit, JOY, when we observe beauty?  When we create beauty?  When we participate in something wonderful? Something true? Noble?

Why?  Why does this emotion grow on/in us?  What is it for?

I think it is to encourage the things in life that are good for life...

...as fruit is good for life. 

 And then, when ripe, the fruit -- JOY -- is full of seed. 

 ...seed to beget more fruit of its kind.

Wonder

Laughter

Beauty

Beginnings

Honor

Awe

Love

EnJOY the fruit.  It is good. Healthy.  Life-sustaining. Nourishing. Godly. Free. Plentiful. Pure.

                              Simple.

Because of MOM, I :

Always make my bed
Trust God
Eat zucchini pancakes
Enjoy art
Read before bed
Never chew gum
Smile at strangers
Decorate with flowers
Know I'm loved
Write little ditties
Say, "Please."
See stories in faces
Have curls
I love you, MOM
HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

Becky and Ada Jane Cowper 

STEP,SNAP,GROW,ENJOY

Here are a few highlights of what my word of the year: STEP, and my project of the year: 365 photos have produced.

 ...interesting photos

 ... eggs for sale

 ...making art and onions from stuff I used to throw away

 ...enjoying my oldest hobby

 ...developing our Facebook page

...combining new enterprises with the tried and true

 ...viewing life from the eyes of a 3yr old

 ...looking at things in new ways through the lens of a camera

 ...remembering to give credit to God for the MANY and varied blessings in my life

 ...boring and/or delighting my peeps with photos of  eggs

 ...sneaking pics of my prince

...learning about some of the "old ways"

 ... like, making bone broth and preserving herbs

 ...decorating the ladies' bedroom

 ...playing games with grandchildren and making fond memories







Last evening I told my Prince that I don't deserve to be having so much

FUN...


It's true, I don't deserve anything --  every perfect gift that comes to me from my Father is a blessing   ...not a reward.

 What a JOY life is when  taking steps with God, enjoying his creation and playing with his children!  -Love,
Becky

..