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Tuesday, August 31, 2010

DIY: Chalkboard Window

Ever since I saw this post on Feeding the Soil, I've wanted to create my own chalkboard window. I've been in search of a good, old window for the past few weeks, and finally found one at the Shady Hollow Flea Market!

What a good-looking window model!


I eventually chose this six-panel window. Then it was as simple as heading the 0.5 mile to Menard's for magentic paint and chalkboard paint. While we were there I also spotted glow-in-the-dark and whiteboard paint. Seriously, what kind of paint don't they make?


After cleaning each window pane, I was ready for the magnetic primer. The instructions called for three thin coats, which I did, but my board is not very magnetic. Perhaps my coats were too thin? I might have done more, but like any craft project I could hardly wait for the end results. The four hours of drying time in between the primer and the chalkboard paint was almost too much! Here we are in between stages of magentic and chalkboard. For the final finishing effect, I took some regular white craft paint and a sponge brush. Rather than my normal meticulous and perfect paint job, I opted for a messy sort of look with thin amounts of paint and short brush strokes to cover up the boring brown frame.

I also picked up a cheap set of picture hangers and nailed two to the back. And just like that, my project was complete! The hardest part was waiting for the paint to "cure" for at least three days. Luckily I didn't have any chalk around to tempt me. And here it is--the final project hanging in our kitchen entry way. First thing up on our new walls. Love it!

Monday, August 30, 2010

Shady Hollow Flea Market

A few weeks ago, Louis and I were in Detroit Lakes for a family get-together. Last year we visted in time for the last Shady Hollow flea market of the season, and I was pretty excited to see what we might find this year (last year was two dining room chairs at 10 bucks each and a simple rug).

We arrived early, before most vendors even had their shops set up, so we left and came back. I was bummed that we might leave the market empty-handed, but then we stumbled upon a permanent vendor stand (with a little house set-up instead of just a plot of grass). We hit the mother lode here (mother lode=4 items)! What's not to love about all these antique windows?

I've been on the lookout for an old window to turn into a chalkboard, and these were just the ticket. A few picture texts later, I had picked up three of them for two friends to create their own, too. And it allowed me to haggle. Three of those babies for the price of two! More on the chalkboard project later.

I really wanted to take this table home, but eyeballed it as too wide to fit into our kitchen. Yes, eyeballed is a verb.

This=love. A galvanized bucket of antique white letters (and an ampersand)! Okay, maybe I'm starting to understand why I've been made fun of for my love of antiques.

We wrapped up at the market with: three windows, a nightstand painted white (I'm pretty much a sucker for anything white or antique white) for a mere $18, a blue paint-chipped mirror for $9.50 (more on this later), and the Eureka sign shown hanging on the wall in the windowframe photo. I was told by the store owner that it used to be on the front of an oven range. That piece is actually headed to a friend who works for the coolest nonprofit recyling company, Eureka Recycling!

Finally blogging!

This blog feels like it has been a long-time coming...I mean, I fall asleep at night thinking about different posts or topics I would write about. I suppose I've always been this way; in school, my papers were written well ahead of time, in my head, that is.

I really began diving into the blogging world this past winter, when I came across the many kindred spirits out there sharing tips, advice, and crafting ideas in preparation for our June wedding.

Now that Louis and I are in our first home, the blogs I follow have turned to DIY home improvements and decorating ideas. This blog is my attempt to share our piece of the land, as well as my love for all things local in and around the Twin Cities.

I also hope that my friends and family away from MN will enjoy house crashing from afar. Welcome to our little yellow house on Hubbard!