Art Collage Wall

When we moved in our new house I decided we need a collage wall somewhere for my daughter's art. She took art classes last year at The Little Paint Brush and had some from Art Camp at her school. The two framed watercolors were my sisters' idea as a surprise to me. Still not sure how they managed that.

I tried to design it so that I could add to it if she creates more pieces. Since a lot of it had red and blue colors, I decided it should go in the "red room." So called because of the red bunk bed that lives in there. For now. 

Not Bulletin Board

Have I mentioned how much I love consignment sales? Almost as much as I love Goodwill. I found this huge 90's era wall art frame with glass for $20. Original price tag: $125. Back when navy and maroon flowerdy art was in style.

I wasn't exactly sure what I wanted to do with it, and I admit it sat in my attic for several years. Normally, I only buy if I have a specific DIY project in mind.

A chalkboard might have worked, but I didn't need one and hated to paint glass. So often, frames are only a good deal when the glass is gone.

I even considered giving it away at one point because it had a chunk taken out of a corner. How many chipped frames do you store in your attic? I tried to fix it with wood filler. Didn't work.

But I am not a quitter.

I tried drywall spackling next by wetting my finger and molding it into the shape of the rope trim a thin layer at a time.

Next, I sanded it carefully, smoothing it into shape.

The next part of this project was to wrap the foam core "painting" with two layers of burlap leftover from a wedding my sisters and I decorated. You can see the wedding here. The frame was painted ivory and I might wax or glaze it, but I kinda like it this way. At least for now.

 

Admit it, you can't tell where the missing chunk of frame was. I have skills.

Pass or Fail?

I like to hang pictures on it with the cute navy ikat washi tape I recently purchased from Michael's Craft Store. I love navy all of a sudden. But not maroon. Or flowerdy art. 

I can also write on it with dry erase marker so my husband can remember the zip code where his company's home office is. He said I should just go buy a new frame. Too much trouble he said. Boys just don't understand.

Linked up to http://chiconashoestringdecorating.blogspot.com/

Goodwill Find

I was at Goodwill the other day and I spotted this from a mile away.

OK, not a mile, but far away.  It seemed to me that it could be real art.  It just had that look.  I got a little nervous thinking someone would get to it before me, but no one was the slightest bit interested. 

When I got closer I saw that it had a signature and was numbered.  All good signs, but still not positively "real" art.  The frame and mat were ok, at least worth the $15 price tag, because this is big.   And then, I turned to the back, and I saw it.  The certificate of authenticity.  This was getting better and better.  I called my hubby and asked him to look up the name Lebadang on the internet (cause I forgot my nifty cell phone that could do that sort of thing.)  He told me what he found.  That is when I yelled "SHUT UP"!!!!! really loudly and everyone turned to stare.

Evidently, Lebadang was a Vietnamese artist who studied in Toulouse, France a long time ago and was pretty famous.  Which means this puppy lithograph is worth a little something something. 

Finally, Art History class in college pays off.