a.forte's blog of Spain Hill Farm: chalkboard

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Friday, September 19, 2014

Pottery Barn Inspired Horse Triptych

I've been surfing around Pottery Barn's website again and found a beautiful Plank Horse Triptych. I loved the simple gesture drawing in black and white. I knew I could probably do something like that with the 3 large canvases I had. I do like the plank look better but having had the canvases, using them just made sense.

This project does require some degree of drawing skill. However, if you can copy and enlarge, you'll have no problem.

I began by painting all three of the canvases using flat black latex paint. Make sure to cover the white completely.

Next I rolled out brown kraft paper the size of the three canvases pushed together. Begin sketching (or copying) the image you want for your triptych. You can use an overhead projector to enlarge a drawing onto the paper. Trace your image on to a clear sheet like a page protector. Lay it on the projector and then trace the projection on the paper. You will probably need to tape your paper to a wall in order to use the projector method. I have been drawing since I was very young so I have had lots of practice and was able to handle this project freehand. (Not without mistakes however!)

Ok, here's my cheater step. After laying the drawing over the canvases to check for position, I cut the image out so that I could lightly trace around it with chalk onto the canvases.

Now comes the "fun" part. I say that because you wouldn't believe how many tries it took me to be satisfied with the look of the horse. My first attempt looked more like a donkey. Great thing about chalk...easy to erase :) I began by going over my light chalk lines and adding more sketch lines to it. This is a gesture drawing...very loose. So, remember that and don't try to draw perfectly straight or too deliberately. Loose...let your hand flow (said in a quiet, yoga master voice...looooose.)

Ok, seriously, don't be intimidated. The more you work with it, the better it will begin to look. I sketched and wiped off and sketched and wiped off many times. It really adds to the feel of the drawing. Once you're satisfied and done, you don't want to risk erasing your masterpiece accidentally. I used a clear spray sealer on mine. WARNING: Use several very light coats. If you get the canvas too wet at once, it will "wash" away the chalk.

I hope you give it a try. Remember, it's just chalk and paint. Don't like the horse, try something else. If all else fails, you've got three chalkboard ready canvases to use for a Scripture verse, quote, or menu!

DISCLAIMER: My drawing was inspired by Pottery Barn's and I created it for my own personal use, not to be sold.

Thanks for stopping by and God bless!

Angie

I'm linking here:
THE STYLE SISTERS
JENNIFER RIZZO
HOME STORIES A TO Z
FROM MY FRONT PORCH TO YOURS

HAVE A DAILY CUP OF MRS. OLSON
COASTAL CHARM'S NIFTY THRIFTY TUESDAY

CLEVER CHICKS BLOG HOP DIY SHOWOFF IT'S OVERFLOWING

PRETTY PINTASTIC PARTY
THOUGHTS FROM ALICE
HYMNS AND VERSES
MISS MUSTARD SEED

Thursday, August 21, 2014

Old Window Repurposed into a Chalkboard Calendar

Ever since I saw KariAnne's huge chalkboard over at Thistlewood Farms, I've wanted one. So, I was really excited when my father-in-law mentioned that he had a big, old window frame behind his shop. He also invited me to pick through his workshop for any junk I might want. Why, yes! Thank you, I'd love to!

Here's the supply list for my chalkboard calendar:

Old window frame

hardboard, cut to size

Plaid Chalkboard Paint

Minwax Fast Drying Polyurethane Spray

1" wood screws

2 picture hanging brackets

2 small cup hooks

junk piece for chalk holder

chalk

Equipment used:

cordless drill and screwdriver (used to attach hardboard to frame)

hammer (used to attach picture hanging brackets)

screwdriver (used to pry out old glazing)

paintbrush

Let's get started!

Here's the window before I began working on it. It's a little bigger than 4' x 3' and has lots of great chippy white paint. Since I wanted to make a chalkboard, I removed all 12 of the individual panes of glass, gave the frame a good scrub, and sealed it with Minwax's Fast Drying Polyurethane Spray. Easy peasy.

Since there was little structure to the frame once the glass was removed, I decided to use 1/4" tempered hardboard. It's light weight but sturdy enough to use as a chalkboard. I purchased my hardboard at Home Depot, which they kindly cut to my exact measurements. I love when they do that! It saved me so much time and was much easier to transport than the 4'x8' panel.

The actual chalkboard paint is by Plaid. I painted 2 coats and then seasoned the board with chalk before attaching it to the window frame.

This project is pretty easy once you find the window frame you want to use. The hardest part for me what finding the right spot to hang it.

I finally decided on this wall in our family room. I also added two cup hooks on each side because I thought it would be fun to hang seasonal garland or banners on it for celebrations. I couldn't help but sneak a little fall for this post.

I can't forget to show you the chalk holder. You'll never guess what this is. Give up? It's a metal plate from an old 60's iron. I deconstructed the iron when I was making my JoBots years ago and I still had a few of the leftover pieces. I did bend it to make the "tray" part perpendicular to the screw. It fit perfectly!

This is a little sneak peak at some of the other goodies I picked in my father-in-law's shop, a ring of skeleton keys. More on my picking finds later.

I hope you've found inspiration to take the old and make it new again. God bless and thanks for stopping by!

Angie

Join me here:

I'm linking here:
THE STYLE SISTERS
JENNIFER RIZZO
HOME STORIES A TO Z
FROM MY FRONT PORCH TO YOURS

HAVE A DAILY CUP OF MRS. OLSON
COASTAL CHARM'S NIFTY THRIFTY TUESDAY

CLEVER CHICKS BLOG HOP DIY SHOWOFF IT'S OVERFLOWING

PRETTY PINTASTIC PARTY
THOUGHTS FROM ALICE
HYMNS AND VERSES

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Here's Your Sign!

Do you love signs? I do and I have a small collection. Three constitutes a collection...right? Good, because I have five. :)

This is one of my oldest signs. It was painted by yours truly back in my high schools days. I painted it for my brother who had just married and they were starting a farm. Shallow Branch Farm is still the name of his farm today. It's painted on a piece of old barn wood from my papaw's farm where my brother lives. This sign hangs in my kitchen today. My brother was sweet enough to let me have it.

I guess a chalkboard is still signage. It wasn't used as a real sign in it's past life but I love the fact that I can change the message of this sign at any time. This hangs on a door in my kitchen that leads into the laundry room. If you notice the door frame, you'll be able to see some of the marks we've made over the past 9 years of our girls' growth. I think I'll have to take that piece of trim with me should we ever move.

This is a painting I created about 10 years ago. The house and occupants represent me, my husband, and three girls. The writing around the house are of all the addresses we've had since we were married. We've had a lot of addresses. From 1999 to 2005, we flipped houses, that were also our primary residences, as we worked our way through Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace to get out of debt. I could do a whole post on our journey out of debt and may do it soon. It's not easy but s-o-o-o worth it.

Ok, so this one is another chalkboard but I love it. I purchased the frame at a yard sale many years ago. It was painted bright pink and had cork board in it. I began removing the cork board and discovered the tin (which is what I eventually painted with chalkboard paint) was covered with newspaper from the 1950s. It was cool looking at the old articles and ads. This chalkboard hangs in my office on my map gallery wall.

The "JOY" sign brass stencils were purchased at a local antique store. I used them during the holidays and then sold them but I kept another one, the letter F for our last name.

And finally...

Another one of my DIY signs. I loved all of the grocery signs that were popular recently but I could never find one. So what does a DIYer do? Makes it herself. The piece of wood had been used for something else originally and was pretty beat up with dings and nail holes. Perfect. This sign was hanging in my kitchen window before I took it down to create the silverware snowflakes display. Now it hangs on the deck.

What are some of your favorite signs? Do you make your own too?

Thanks for stopping by and God bless!

Angie

I'm linking here:
THE STYLE SISTERS
JENNIFER RIZZO
HOME STORIES A TO Z
FROM MY FRONT PORCH TO YOURS

HAVE A DAILY CUP OF MRS. OLSON
COASTAL CHARM'S NIFTY THRIFTY TUESDAY

CLEVER CHICKS BLOG HOP DIY SHOWOFF IT'S OVERFLOWING