Sunday, June 9, 2019

A Bluebird Feature Wall



Hello Lovely People! I apologize for the delay in getting this post out, but you know, adulting is hard.  Also, yes- I am experiencing an issue with mismatched fonts and mismatched word sizing.  Apologies- it bugs me too.  
So anyway, last Friday night I decided to paint my entryway wall. I wanted a feature wall that would provide some much needed color since somehow we amassed a collection of home decor items from people that are all brown.  Couple that with the ‘Crisp Linen’ walls and that is just too much boring for my wannabe Boho artist’s soul.

Entryway Feature Wall- Before


TV Area-Before
According to my girl crush Amanda Gibby Peters at Simple Shui, attention to your entryway is the one of the biggest ways to clear and allow new energy to your life aside from clearing clutter. If you do not follow her, I highly suggest you do so. I LURVE her! My sister met her on a trip to Morocco and told me all about her when she returned. I immediately went online and found her and have been following her ever since. 
Anyway, my entryway is an open space that spills out into our living room upon entering and when I pitched the idea to Mr. CML, he immediately said he was afraid it would close in the space. I got a little huffy and said, “No- not if you do it right. “ I went straight to the land of messed up, nonsensical dreams. Legit, my dreams are totally fooked. So screwy, but that’s a story for another time. I had to decide between these two colors I found on Pinterest.

Blue Paint Inspo- Image Via Pinterest
Green Paint Inspo- Image Via Pinterest


Gallery Wall Inspo- Image Via Pinterest

Fast forward to Saturday morning. I ignore the husband’s hesitations (also, he never gave me his opinion on which color) so I made the trek to the local hardware store where I gather my supplies. While my paint is being mixed, I wander around to find all the hardware I need for my DIY art hanging apparatus and then some. I totally ignore the garden center- Ain’t nobody got time for that. I found a random screen door protector and self tapping screws for our screenless patio door. We’ve been living la vida loca with no screen in our patio door for like 2 years. Can you say ‘ghetto’? Looks way better now. It's amazing how completing little tasks like this makes a huge difference in your peace of mind.


Repaired screen with new grate 

My Little Screen Door Model
At the hardware store, I found a lot there that I told myself was frivolous., that I didn’t need it. I’m also seeing all kinds of things that one could use for making art if you just looked at it in a different way. I found things you could use as stencils, things you could turn into candle holders...On and on. I also am pretty consistent with checking for mis-tints. None that day *insert sad face* 
   Anyway, I get to the checkout line and I’m all prepared to leave when I open my wallet and find my debit card missing. My heart fluttered and I panicked for a brief moment when I realize the last time I used it was in Walmart. So I had the lady suspend the transaction and I ran home, found my card right where I never leave it and came back to pay for it all. Finally I was ready to start! I moved the furniture, washed the wall, taped off the baseboard and removed the outlet plate.
  The first coat was very blue. In my mind I had pictured something a little more towards navy. However, when I went to pick out paint swatches, everything seemed too purple. I knew Mr. CML would NOT approve. I was really hoping for one coat coverage, but I had to apply two coats. While I waited for the first coat to dry I painted the trim piece that I would be using for my art hanging system. I will have another post on the art hanging system separately. I let everything dry while I ate lunch and then returned to apply a second coat. I got nervous at the first coat, but I kept telling myself that it will dry darker.

First Coat- REALLY bright blue!
Errybody.....I could not love it more! Even Mr. CML came around once it was almost done drying. He laughed and joked that he ‘must assimilate!’ I basically ignored his concerns about the whole thing and carried on with my plan anyway. In order to compromise, (because I’m a cool cat like that) I decided to move the dresser-turned-entertainment center to the feature wall and then put the TV on the bookcase. That way the white would tone down some of the blue a tad.  

TV Dresser Switched Out to Entryway

New feature wall with DIY art gallery hanging system

I will be sure to have a post on my DIY art gallery hanging system that is HUNDREDS of dollars cheaper than what you can find online- I love having the option to switch stuff out now without damaging my walls or spending so much money on Command Strips...


DIY metal marquis letter- a past favorite I created


I love how open it makes that side of the room!


Bookcase and dresser swapped places




Check out these before and afters! We are both energized by the color vibe and I simply can’t wait to see what kind of art gallery walls I’m able to create here. Would you go blue or would you have chosen green? 


Left- Before, Right- After

Peace, Love and Paintbrushes,





Art Journal Jazz

Seaside, OR

Around this time a year ago, I attended one of my bucket list workshops in Oregon.  It was an art journal workshop with Alisa Burke in Seaside, OR.  She is one of my BIGGEST inspirations for SO many reasons.  I was seriously almost starstruck when I pulled in to the parking spot in front of her studio and she walked out.  THERE SHE WAS!!! IN PERSON!!! Holy shit.  Anyway, I had a blast and learned a ton of techniques for my art journal. I realize it really is so neat to have the base layer already completed so I can just sit and doodle anywhere. I even followed her tip to make it portable and I took it to the park. I completed a doodle page while my son played! Fastest hour of my life ;-)

Alisa's cute little studio

Bucket List Item- Check!! Met my inspiration artist :-)


A gift from teacher

My hotel, found randomly online
The backside of the hotel, right on the river
Look at all these yummy layers of color and papers I did in her class!  Just begging for some mixed media.


Pockets to hold scraps or stickers or washi tape


Another finished spread-almost like scrapbook style



A completed spread from the layers shown in the next image




Inside Alisa's studio- CUTE handmade/hand painted quilt that she made

Portable studio wall with table chock full of yummy supplies
Her artwork is featured in books, on accessories and home decor items

So much inspiration here!

Her darling daughter, Lucy

In action, demonstrating her techniques.
I love everything about her free, authentic style.  I strive to work towards that myself and was feeling a little nostalgic about it since she just held another art journal retreat one year after I attended.  I was wishing I was there again <3

I took this at the Japanese Gardens in Portland, so beautiful there!



Peace, Love and Paintbrushes,

Thursday, May 9, 2019

Fun & Creative Mother's Day Gifts


Happy Mother's Day Mommas!

Hand painted drawings on cards and garden rocks make for some fun gift ideas.  Pair them with some plants and/or a culinary gift basket for a unique MD gift.  This is a great way to involve the smaller children and to keep them busy, but short enough to complete within the toddler attention span time frame. 


























Peace, Love & Paintbrushes,


Have you heard this song?




Song Lyric Alert!

Have you listed to this?  It is kinda fun and silly at first, but when I apply it to my creative adventure and the fear and paralysis one can feel at being good/productive/authentic/featured enough? Wowza.  Kinda spot on IMHO.







Peace, Love and Paintbrushes,