The Library: Part 4 The Gallery Wall

I've always been an art lover and a firmly believe in supporting individual artists if at all possible rather than buying mass produced "art."  The trouble is that the real stuff can been extremely expensive and let's face it, the stuff you get from Amazon, Michael's, and Hobby Lobby is super cheap.  Ethically I don't like it; financially most of us can't swing authentic one of a kind oil paintings.  However, there is a work around.  A few years ago I started collecting vintage and antique prints as well as handmade paintings that I found at thrift stores, yard sales, and even inherited some very nice locally created antique oil paintings from a relative.  For the time being I just hung them on my wall to keep them out of storage and mushed them all together as best I could along with all the other things I'd been collecting for years, waiting to put into the home we were allegedly going to build one day.  This is how it looked before the renovations:

With all that in mind, I determined to save a large wall space in the library for displaying these pieces as a gallery.  Let's take a look at how it all began:

A very useful tip is to use paper to trace the shapes of the pieces you want to hang and tape them to the wall to get your arrangement just right before hammering nails into the wall.  I have used this method a number of times and it works extremely well.  However, for this wall, I really didn't want to put any unnecessary holes in it at all, so I opted for a gallery track instead.  This will allow me to change up the arrangement any time I want without need to use spackle and paint to cover all those holes.

The gallery track ended up being less of a life hack than I'd hoped.  This after waiting 6 weeks for Amazon to ship the wires because I don't have Prime.  The wires did scratch the wall in places and some of the paintings lean so far forward they pull everything on the wire forward with them.  If you want to remove a wire, you can't just unhook it, it has to slide all the way to the end to come out.  The hooks are very bulky and conspicuous, and I have a few other complaints as well, but I'll spare you the details.  It's not a perfect system and I have a few more paintings to go before I can call this done, but overall I am very happy with how it looks.  As always with my home renovation posts, to be continued...

The Pajamafication of Style

Have you noticed that there is less and less style out there? Where are the people with style? Why is every one out there walking around in some kind of co-opted sleep or athletic wear when they are neither sleeping nor athletic? Why? My two favorite fashion snobs recently referred to it as the pajamafication of America. In other words. People are trying to make laziness and apathy seem like a style, but it's not.  

Everywhere I go everyone looks the same. No matter the weather; no matter the occasion.  The dress code in this country is: Ultra (almost shamefully) Casual.  I went to a funeral a few weeks ago and was surprised to be the only one  not just wearing black, but dressed up in any way.  I've been to a few weddings like that too.  Church? Check.  Holidays? Check.  Work? School?  A nice dinner out? Check, check, and check.  No one dresses up for anything and that stinks, because it's not an income issue; it's an effort issue.  

Not only does no one dress up, no one dresses out.  No one dresses differently from anyone else anymore either.  Where are the rockabillies, the punks, the mods and twees?  Where are the goths, steampunks, cowboys, and skaters?  Coquettes, preppies, anyone? Where are all the new fashion groups people are inventing?  Where is anyone wearing anything other than disgusting athlesiure or sloppy jeans and tees?  I'm going to say this again because it bears repeating: Finances are not the explanation.  Creativity and effort are free.  A lot of the very best fashion niches were based on having no money and still creating outfits that had maximum self expression.  

Where'd they all go?  And, not on social media, it's easy enough to fake style there.  Where are the fashion subcultures, the interesting, self expressive people in real life?  I'm beyond bored with jeans, t shirts, athleisure slop and the complete lack of effort that goes into wearing them.  (Although, I will say that it's much more physically demanding to wiggle into stretchy pants than it is to just slip on a dress, so the effort saved is mainly...mental? spiritual?)  If you see the any of the niches that used to say I am me, I'm unique, and I want to I express it, will you tell them I'm looking for them, because I really miss them.

Outfit Info:  Bernie Dexter Polka Dot Dress and Petticoat are thrifted, Bag is vintage, YeMak Sweater, B.A.I.T. Heels

The Library: Part 3 The Cat Walk

As it turns out, and we learned this the hard way, a vaulted ceiling is extremely difficult to work on when doing DIY.  Since we didn't own a ladder or any equipment tall enough to get us all the way up to this ceiling, my husband came up with the ingenious idea of building a catwalk to span this room and that could be moved at intervals across the room thus enabling him to safely work in this high space.  While he was working, I fell in love with the idea of just keeping a little walk, perhaps lined with books.  What can I say, I'm a Shakespearean romance kinda girl and a I love a good balcony.  Since we're doing this all ourselves and adjusting our plans and ideas as we go, we decided to keep the catwalk and incorporate it into the room.

After the catwalk was built, I learned another lesson:  narrow extraneous elevated spaces are extremely hard to decorate.   Nothing really fit in this space.  Everything was too wide.  I may still turn this into a library wall, but it will require us to custom build shelving that's not so deep it takes up all the walking space.  For now I'm thinking of lining the railing with a box herb garden or vine plants to dangle over the railing. To be continued.....

Realistic Maintenence

Remember when I said that doing a major Declutter should be one and done or at most a very occasional thing?  And that all these influencers who claim to be minimalists and yet are constantly doing major declutters, cannot be true minimalists and it's all for content?  Remember that?  (click here if you don't) And then, do you remember when I did a major declutter a few years ago trying to make our lives and all of our stuff fit into this tiny house?  Well, I'm happy to report no hypocrisy here.  I am not in need of another huge declutter.

As I read back over the past...11? years of blog posts, I see myself being a little all over the place.  Sometimes I'm happy with what I have, sometimes I'm desperately wanting more, sometimes I am at peace with myself and sometimes I'm battling my nature to try to "be better."  That's because I write what I'm feeling or going through or thinking about at the moment I'm writing.  And things change; seasons in life change; priorities change.  But I am happy to report that when it comes to Decluttering, I'm holding steady.

Last year a relative passed away and she was a collector of all the vintage things I love.  Since anything unwanted was going to be donated, I decided to bring home anything I wanted and go through it later, knowing full well I wasn't going to keep all of it.  Recently, as we started completing renovations on certain rooms of the house, I've been able to take out the things I put in storage for this moment and either find a place for them, put them back to see if they'll fit in one of the other rooms once they're finished, or after taking a second look, deciding I don't really care for the item and donating it as it was going to be a year ago.  But, this has been a very small amount. 

 

Sometimes in my down time I go back through old blog posts to fix typos or correct spacing issues that escaped my notice when they were published and as I've been doing so I've also been making notes of a couple of items of clothing that I bought and they just don't look good on me; they're beautiful and I love them, but they don't love me back.  I wrote them on a to-do list I keep on my nightstand to remind myself if I ran across them in the process of searching for things for the house, to take them out right then and put them in the donate bag.  Yesterday, in fact, while I was searching for a box of lamps I wanted to test out to see which would look nicest in my library, I found all the items--3 corsets, 2 dresses, and 2 pairs of stockings--and donated them along with the lamps that didn't make the cut.  But, that's it.  I still feel really happy with the things I've let go of (for the most part, only had giveaway-remorse on a couple of things) and don't really want to part with much else.

I'm thrifting.  A lot.  And really just adding pieces that I want to be part of a permanent collection.  All my Selkies?  I don't really wear them much since I've been working full time.  My current job allows for me to wear dresses, but they have to be much more practical than anything I've ever bought from Selkie.  And, yet, I don't want to get rid of them either.  They're mine and I love them.  I'm good with what I have.  No more hauls and no more Declutters.  And when my house is done, we'll do one last declutter on everything in storage that doesn't make the cut for decorating the remaining rooms of the house, and then that's it.  I want to just enjoy my home and finally have a little breathing room around here... But, I'll probably still buy dresses. 

Decluttering shouldn't be a major regular event.  Do a major declutter and then change the habits that have led to accumulation.  Minor declutters will keep things tidy around the house, and ensure you don't get caught up in that negative loop of haul-declutter-repeat.

Outfit Info:  Anthropologie We Love Vera High Seas Dress is thrifted, American Eagle Cardigan is old, Honiara Vintage shoes are old, bag was gifted

New Bernie? Bingo!

I am so glad that Bernie Dexter has kept her business going!  It would have been such a great loss to the vintage fashion community if her dresses went away.  I had my eye on this Kelly Dress in Bingo Card print from Unique Vintage for several months, and waited for one of their amazing sales so I could bring it home.  Golly, am I ever glad I did, this bingo card print is even better in real life and the Kelly is one of my favorite styles.

Outfit Info:  Bernie Dexter Kelly Dress in Bingo Print from Unique Vintage

 

Palava, Please

If natural fibers, amazing prints, and sustainable production are all at the top of your priority list, look no further than today's post of these amazing pieces from British based company, Palava. I bought these pieces from Modern Millie, a small Massachusetts based business that stole my heart with its amazing outfit combos and commitment to carrying beautiful vintage inspired pieces.  I won't say anymore than that about these two companies, I'll just let the pictures do the talking.

Outfit Info: Peggy Top in Peas and Florence Skirt in Multi Pickle Jars from Palava, Cardi by YeMak, Flats from SheIn

Illuminating Crafts: A Little Lamp

Another micro renovation in today's post.  In between the big-big projects, there are lots of little details to make and bring together to create a cohesive design to each room.   I wanted a cute little lamp for my loft and I found this interesting antique in the chuck bin while settling a family member's estate last year.  It needed work, and no one else really looked at it twice, but since I'd become interested in making lampshades, I thought I could do something with this little piece, so I added it to my TLC treasure trove and brought it home.

The cord was crumbling and needed to be replaced and the base needed a good scrub down, but it was soon shiny and nice.  I bought a replacement wiring kit and got that installed with a little help from Mr. Bleu since somewhere in the process I lost the internal bar and we had to rig up a new system, but he made it work

I selected a small crescent shade frame and got it wrapped, then had to decide a bout all the trim and fixings.  I have a ceramic lady finial from the 1960s that I hoped I could make work for this project because I would love to see her restored to her original purpose, but alas, could not make it work.

Since the loft is so busy with colors I decided to keep this lamp all white, but add Swiss dot tulle and lace, plus beaded and tassel fringe.  This shape was difficult to work with and it's definitely not perfect, but I'm the only one who will see it on a daily basis and I'm happy with how it turned out...or at least not unhappy enough with it that I'll take it apart and re-do it.  Truly its own little composition, it reminds me of a wedding cake. I love how it looks lit up just as much as when it is not illuminated.  I never really thought I would like making lampshades but this has become a favorite busy-hands hobby of mine.

Roman Holiday Recreation

Travel was a very important part of my twenties and thirties.  At first I traveled for myself.  Then I traveled with my family.  Travel is an education, it's an experience that connects us with new places and makes home seem all the sweeter.  This phase in my life is more serious, less carefree.  My children's education, or at least my role in it, is complete, and travel, particularly international travel, has fallen lower on my list of priorities.  

It's been more than a couple decades at least since I was in Rome, but it was an experience I'll never forget for a multitude of reasons.  And, while I doubt I'll ever have the opportunity to visit that lovely place again, I can always see the sights and feel nostalgia while watching one of my favorite classic movies, Roman Holiday.  I cannot think of a single Audrey Hepburn movie that doesn't have stunning costumes and this film is no exception.  Princess Ann's casual travel outfit is absolutely darling and thanks to black and white film, we can imagine it was any color combo we want.

Personally, it seems more fitting with the story that a Princess wanting to keep a low profile would prefer neutrals in order to blend in, such as a white top, beige skirt, brown shoes and belt, and a navy scarf as shown in these iterations below:

I'm not exactly sure why, but I decided to try to create my own, inexpensive version of this outfit and I think I made out pretty well.  I forgot to roll up my sleeve--oof!--but it was the last of about two dozen outfits that I did on that particular evening and I was rapidly losing the last rays of sunlight, so I goofed.  I always make my priority finding clothes made of natural fibers, but it's just not always possible.  So, the top is cotton, the skirt is linen, and the scarf claims to be silk but feels more like polyester, but I love the final result and the entire outfit cost me less than $75.

Outfit Info:  Top-Hotouch on Amazon, Skirt-Grae Cove Linen skirt is thrifted, similar style is Belle Poque on Amazon shown in photo below, Scarf-NaSo Perfect silk scarf on Amazon, Woven Shoes from SheIn