Antique Framed Menu Chalkboard

This is a chalk menu board I created by preserving/stabilizing a lovely tattered antique frame.     

Above:  Details of the top center of the frame.

Some of the decorative pieces of the frame had been lost.  I sealed the remaining ornamentation and secured the frame connections and joints.

Mirrors originally occupied the three openings in the frame.  This tripartate style mirror was a common fixture in homes for centuries and was designed for hanging over the fireplace mantel.

Above:  Details along the side of the frame.

I made chalkboard panels cut to fit the openings where the mirrors once were (long gone by the time I discovered this piece) and installed them into the three openings of the frame.  I attached new wall-hanging hardware, thus giving this discarded old frame a second life as a unique menu board.


The menu board is now available at Home Again Consignment at 1019 E. 2100 S. in Sugarhouse.

Recently Completed Painting Commission

Painting by Toni Youngblood 24"x24"Acrylic on canvas

I recently completed this painting of a favorite Beatles' album cover, commissioned by a musician as a gift for the birthday of his girlfriend.

Tree House Hotels

I love being outside this time of  year.  The thought of curling up under a feather quilt on an old sleeping porch to spend the night is appealing.  And how about a tree house hotel for a little get away?  I found these images at Garden Design Magazine's website.  See the entire article here:
Garden Design Tree House Hotels.

 photo: TreeHouse Point - Washington State

photo: Margaret Whittaker, Northumberland, England

photo: Cedar Creek Treehouse, Washington State

 photo: Hapuku Lodge, New Zealand

photo: Tree House Hide Away, Madhyah Predash, India

photo: Redwoods Treehouse, near Aukland New Zealand

photo: Tree House Cottages, Eureka Springs, Arkansas

photo: TreeHouse Point,, Issaquah, Washington
OK, the photo below is not a tree house, but it does say "getaway". Andthere is a "hotel" in Sea View, Washington that is full of Air Stream and other travel trailers that you may reserve for your own little vacation, if you prefer it to their original classic lodge or individual cabins.  See it here at the Sou'Wester Lodge, since 1892.  And if you'd like to become a unique hotelier yourself, I just read on the Sou'Wester Lodge blog that the lodge is now for sale!
Below photo:   Nordeck Photography

Revitalized Workshop Progress

This is a snapshot of the new 9-foot-long work bench.  This heavy duty beauty was constructed from recycled decking materials that my friends gave me when they demolished their backyard deck.

I can now place large project furniture on top of the bench when needed.  The 30-inch depth of the workbench top allows space for small tools and other objects along the back wall of the bench and still have plenty of working surface.

Prior to the construction of the wunderful workbench, we insulated the window wall shown in the photo and installed drywall (left over from remodeling my back garden room).  There's now an official space for my table saw and shop vacuum. Colorful rubber floor mats make working while standing, much easier on the feet. The mats are also reused.  General reorganization of the whole space is in progress.  Yippee!

My builder is the same gentleman who invented this wunder, which you may have seen on Jay Leno, the World's Best Inventions and YouTube.

Patching the Infrastructure

Above:  Patching the Infrastructure, Toni Youngblood, 2011, Encaustic and oil pastel on board. 

I had in mind  while painting this piece, making efficient use of  land and existing infrastructure.  Also, I thought about the opportunity to to increase the density of inner-city residential units for sustainable communities.  Suburban sprawl uses undeveloped land which necessitates building new infrastructure and requires more and longer travel into the city center.   

Definition of INFRASTRUCTURE

1 : the underlying foundation or basic framework (as of a system or organization)

2

: the permanent installations required for military purposes

3

: the system of public works of a country, state, or region;also : the resources (as personnel, buildings, or equipment) required for an activity

And there is also Wikipedia, for more detail on "infrastructure".

The words "PATCHING THE INFRASTRUCTURE" are layered into this piece in the cool colors.   The word "CONNECT" appears in a contrasting warm color.

I am pleased with the direction the zoning is going in my own city to take advantage of the existing central assets and infrastructure.  An example is allowing the opportunity for accessory  units within the city. 

WHY ARE ACCESSORY UNITS IMPORTANT?

· Accessory units are a source of affordable housing for small households.

· Accessory units adapt existing housing stock.

· Installation upgrades and improves the property.

· Accessory units make efficient use of land and existing infrastructure.

· Accessory units may encourage economic and personal support between two separate households.

· Accessory units generate rental income for home owners.

 With this new opportunity in our city, if you want to build a secondary dwelling unit on your property, it will be an easier task obtaining permits, for example.  Teachers, service people, police can afford living within the city with less commuting and associated fuel usage and time, and instead will know the commitment of being part of the community in which they work.

Patching the Infrastructure for me means caring for, maintaining, building upon and using what we already have to our best advantage.

Exhibit at Westminster College Music Department

All photos by Toni Youngblood
This exhibit displays violins painted by various artists to represent different countries.

Project Work Space Organization

via rol.vn

One of my former posts spoke about garage organization. See it here:  A Beautiful Chaos/Garage/Workshop/Studio.    At the time I was bemoaning the result of a cataclysmic decline in organization of my own garage/workshop stimulated by the acquisition of a large amount of tools, equipment, hardware, lumber, etc. in a within a few days' time from friends moving out of state.

My post exhibited examples of organized garage spaces ... mainly for my own inspiration and encouragement, and avoided posting photos of the condition of my own garage space at the time.

I am happy to report that progress is being made on improving the layout and organization of my own garage/workshop/studio space.

The special guy in my life is nearly finished with constructing a large, sturdy workbench on which I may work on the heaviest of projects.  One of the great features of the new work bench is that it was constructed with recycled materials.  The main structure of the bench is made from the lumber of a demolished deck from my friends' yard and the left overs from my backroom remodel.

 The new bench figures heavily in the new layout and function of my workshop.  I will post photos of the new bench and the new space layout when completed.

 For now, I'm posting an additional collection of idea photos which help keep me heading in the happy direction of the type of space that makes what I do easier.

So important is a logical place for everything so you may put your hand on the right tool right when you need it.

 Room to spread out and do the job properly without running into clutter and obstacles makes the job easier and less stressful.

Check out this transformative idea for storing garden tools at Trash to Treasure.  

There is more to come on this topic.