picture this

so my apartment is REALLY coming together. i absolutely love being there, especially since i've aquired several new pieces of furniture...but more about that later.

if you know me in the slightest, you're well aware that i love projects and love to take full advantage of figuring out different (and usually cheaper) ways of going about doing things. if i can do something myself rather than pay someone do it, well them im all for giving it a go. this is exactly the situation i found myself in a month or so ago, when my boss brought me a screenprint from the Flagstock Convention as a "thank you" for jumping in and helping her get ready for SXSW (see, i told you my new job is rad!).

since my apartment is lacking in the art department, i was really excited about getting the print framed, so i headed to my local Aaron Brothers to see what i could find. the print was an awkward size, and i couldnt seem to find a frame that it would fit in just right. i began discussing custom framing and matting options with an employee, and as soon as he said "Custom work begins at $150...", i told him to stop right there. i stared at the print and tried to imagine where it would go in my apartment...in the white bathroom, with a white frame? no, too cutsey. in the living room maybe near the door? no, not enough room. then i realized that i had a large amount of unused space above my stove! all at once, i had the perfect idea...
i found the selection of very large frames and picked out a wooden one. i dont know what kind of wood it is, but it matches my fondness for mid-century teak AND it was on sale for being "damaged"...perfect! then i stopped by one of my favorite stores, The Paper Source. i swear, i could spend hours in there, looking at the handmade cards, bound journals, special pens...its like a grownup's version of buying school supplies, i just love it. anyway, the best thing they have are big sheets of fancy flat paper. i picked out several different kinds that i thought looked nice with the screenprint, and took all my goodies home...i measured and cut all of the fancy papers to fit the cardboard backing of the frame. then, i "floated" the screenprint on the paper and pressed it all in the frame!

final product!


a (poor) closeup of the vintage paper i used-- its flecked with gold


and there it is above my stove!

i was so thrilled at how it turned out, and the best part is that since i bought several different paper 'backgrounds', i can easily change the whole look if i ever move or decide to redecorate! total cost...print: FREE, frame: $24, paper: $15 (for several). total = $39!

then, on the first of the month, i hit up the Pasadena City College monthly flea market, which is second only to the famous Rose Bowl...i went to look for a credenza, but ended up buying a really rad old shooting target from who knows when. it was aged and a bit yellowed, but still looked really cool to me...i picked it up for a more than reasonable price and once again, headed to Aaron Bros. i had a hard time picking out what kind of frame i wanted, but i finally settled on a solid black one. i think i'd eventually like to get something bigger, but this will do just fine in my little apartment for now. next stop: Paper Source, where i bypassed the fancy flat papers and headed straight for the bookcloth(for covering and binding books!). the sheets are made of German linen and have a texture similar to a fine-wale groisgrain-- i picked out a sheet of black and a sheet of a great vintagey poppy-color and went home to assemble my creation. unfortunately, i discovered that the bookcloth was smaller than the frame...what to do? i hit up Michaels Crafts and bought a roll of solid black matte wrapping paper! so the backing of the frame is covered in the black wrapping paper, then the poppy bookcloth "floats" on the black background, with the print "floating" on the bookcloth! I LOVE IT!

the print


the layering within the frame-- notice the raw edges of the bookcloth


final product!

and the best part...frame: $18, print: $3, bookcloth: $12 (i bought 2), wrapping paper: $4. total= $37! cant beat that...

anyway, the rest of the walls await the Audubons and I have done some MAJOR redecorating since my last round of photos. i did end up finding a gorgeous Danish modern walnut dresser and a couple of knockoff Eames chairs that will suffice till my real ones get here. i actually had friends over last night and it was fun! everyone had a place to sit and my teeny place didnt feel so small after all.