Trying out Picture Frames...

If you are interested in the on-line source for frames like these, send me a message by clicking on the "Contact Me" button in the right side column of this blog.  I have ordered a dozen or so frames from this provider in the recent past and my experience has been they have very handsome, decent quality frames at really good prices. ~Sparky

Trestle Table Project

Above:  This is a photo of a very heavy well-made vintage trestle table.  It was used as a work table for years by a previous owner and the top shows the residue of painting projects, as well as some superficial scratches and dings and compromise to the original finish.

 The lines of the table and construction are excellent.  This table is very very heavy and built to last.

Above:  The table exhibits some very nice joinery details.  

Above:  When I acquired the table, one of the "pegs" joining the trestle to the legs was missing, but I've already duplicated it in my workshop.  Now I will be cleaning and refinishing this beauty.  I would sure keep this treasure for myself, if I didn't already own the table pictured below...

Above:  This trestle table was made by my father around 1940 for my mom's kitchen dining area.  It's been painted many different colors over its lifetime:  red, butter yellow and I knew the table when it was French grey.  I had the table stripped of all layers of paint and applied a Clear Briswax over it.  This one lives with me in my current dining room and will continue to be a family heirloom.

I will post photos of my project trestle table when it is completed at which time it will be available in my Workshop Shop.

Einstein quote...

borrowed from French by Design.

Carhenge

Carhenge   in Western Nebraska.  Visit the official website here.

What to do when you want to make a monument and you don't have stones---Inventive Americana creating with "found" materials.

All photos below courtesy of  Jeff Youngblood

Above:  I spy a Gremlin, Jeep truck, Dodge Dart!

May GALLERY STROLL - Friday the 20th, 6-9pm

15th Street Gallery
My painting, Seattle Winter Table is included in the Spring Exhibition of the Utah Watercolor Society held this year at the 15th Street Gallery.  Opening reception for the show will be held during the May Gallery Stroll.  This exhibit runs through June 14---So you may visit the show anytime during normal business hours till then.
15th Street Gallery
1519 S 1500 E Salt Lake City UT 84105
801.468.1515
www.15thstreetgallery.com/
Monday - Friday 10-6
Saturday 10-5, closed Sunday

Left:  Mellow Yellow - Janell James oil on canvas 2011


Charley Hafen Jewelers - Gallery
features  Janell James’ exhibit “Yellow”.  James’ inspiration comes from the diverse and contrasting patterns of trees and landscapes she sees along the Wasatch Mountain Range---her artwork attempts to capture their soul in paint. Reception for the artist will be held during May Gallery Stroll.  This exhibit runs through June 14th---So you may visit the show anytime during normal business hours till then.
Charley Hafen Jewelers - Gallery
1409 South 900 East Salt Lake City, UT 84105
Telephone: 801-521-7711 

www.charleyhafen.com
Hours: Monday - Friday 12 – 7,
Saturday 10 – 2, Closed Sunday

For a complete list of participating galleries in this month's Gallery Stroll go here.

Also, remember this weekend is Salt Lake City's Living Traditions Festival.  More information about the schedule of performing artists, food market and crafts can be found on the 2011 Living Traditions website.

International Museum Day

Visit your local museums...

and also check out this online tour of museums of the world.

Launch of International Museum Day 2011 ‘Objects tell your story’ (This article is taken from The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions, IFLA website.)

The worldwide community of museums will celebrate International Museum Day around May 18, 2011. Museums and Memory is the theme of International Museum Day 2011. Museums store memory and tell stories. They have numerous objects in their collections that are basic to the memory of the communities we live in. These objects are the expressions of our natural and cultural heritage. Many of them are fragile, some endangered and they need special care and conservation. International Museum Day 2011 will be an occasion for visitors to discover and rediscover individual and collective memory. 

Memory is a preoccupation for organisations beyond the museum community. The International Council of Museums (ICOM) has therefore initiated close institutional partnerships with the UNESCO Memory of the World Programme (World Documentary Heritage), the Co-ordinating Council of Audiovisual Archives Associations (CCAAA), the International Council of Archives (ICA), the International Council of Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) and the International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA).

IMD 2011 will focus on the African continent whose cultural contribution to the world is often unknown and deserves to be promoted.

ICOM established International Museum Day in 1977 to encourage public awareness on the role of museums in the development of society. Momentum has been rising unabated ever since. In 2010, International Museum Day garnered record-breaking participation with almost 30,000 museums hosting events in more than 95 countries.

Consider the Source

It was fun to have my remodel project posted on Design*Sponge's Before & After feature last week.  There were lots of comments and some questions, too.  Many of the questions regarded the sources for the furnishings in the completed space.   

So I felt it may be helpful to post them.  Most items are not new and came from unconventional sources.  I am a believer and doer when it comes to re-using versus buying new and encourage others to do the same.

Often one of the incentives for purchasing previously owned items is the cost savings.  I compiled a list, shown below and included prices for most items.  I truly love the furnishings I found for this space, and am pretty amazed myself at the economy of the items.  So as you look at the photos of the completed space, check the list for the item descriptions and my cost.

Re-Sources:

Chrystal Chandelier:  Craigslist, $10 (Originally had one broken arm which I had professionally replaced for $40).

Drapes:  Home Depot or Lowes:  5’x9’, $10 each

Breakfast table:  Chic & Unique Consignment, $60

Breakfast chairs: Home Again Consignment, EmilieJayne Consignment, Craigslist - $125, $26, $40

Hand made wooden bowl: – Deseret Industries, $2

White-painted Indonesian cabinet: Craigslist, $100

Globe:  Deseret Industries, $6

Antique Regency-style sofa: Curb find, Free

Side table (next to sofa):  Curb find, Free

Table lamp: Yard sale, one of a pair for $25

Wall sconce lamp:  Second-Hand Hubie’s, $25 (I had a pair of shades custom made for $40)

Potting bench:  Home Again Consignment, $80

Red cotton/linen zippered pillow cover:   Deseret Industries - $2


Keep in mind that it does require a patient search to do this type of shopping.  ;o)


To see more re-sources I've used throughout other rooms in my house visit my post here, Furnishing Your Home By Recycling.

design*sponge---Before & After: Home Addition Makeover

Design*Sponge blog featured my renovation project on their Thursday Before & After.  Design*Sponge's Kate Pruitt did an excellent job editing the story:  Before & After:  Home Addition Makeover.

See the feature on design*sponge here.

Chihuahua - New Portrait

Above:  Portrait completed this weekend.

Above:  The original photograph from the client.  Such a cute photo.  We decided to "crop" the composition focusing on the pup, making a perfect fit with the 12x12 inch canvas.

Design Projects

Residential Addition:   Sunny breakfast room-chartroom-lounging room-doggie dining and mud room.This is a complete tear-down and rebuild of a poorly constructed addition to a home originally built in 1912.  A "shoe-string" budget was available.
Before and After comparison photos are included.  The completed remodel, furnished as a sunny breakfast room-chartroom-lounging room-doggie dining room.  When possible, "recylcled" building elements were used in the new construction.  All furnishings were found in consiggment shops, on craigslist and on the curb!  For more information regarding resources go here.
Interior Paint Colors:
Walls:  Ralph Lauren color - Montauk Driftwood (matched by Benjamin Moore paint specialists)
Ceiling and Trim:  Benjamin Moore Cloud White
All paint is Benjamin Moore's Regal Line in pearl finish.
Exterior Paint Colors:  Base Color - ICI Paints Virginia Vine; Trim - ICI Paints Casual White

 
Reminder of the way things were...

Above:  Before...Looking South

Above:  After...Looking South

Above:  Before...Looking East 

Above:  Now...Looking East

Above:  Before...Interior brick wall

Above:  Now...Interior brick wall

Above:  Exterior Before

Above:  Exterior After - Materials were chosen to match the existing garage (that I designed in 2007), shown below:

Above:  Front of the main house.  Next will be landscaping around the new back addition.

Commercial Interior Design Project:  Main Lobby, Canopy Properties - Lindon, Utah

Photo and Interior Architectural Design:  Toni Youngblood