Monday, May 24, 2010

Thrifting Finds and Faux Window Instructions

Gosh, I was a bad bad blogger this week.. I sure have missed ya'll. 
I managed to stop in a visit some of you but not nearly as many as I wanted too.
We were having all the ceilings painted. Why we didnt do that when we had the walls done, I dunno.
I was surprised at hos it disrupted everything just to have the ceilings done. Took them 1 days to do 9 ceilings and me 6 days to get things back in order. I'm slower than I used to be ..
I'm participating in Marty's Party.. Make sure to go see all the creative talent that links to her.
http://astrollthrulife.blogspot.com/

I stopped in one of my favorite thrift stores this week and found a couple of soup bowls with handles that went well with my roosters and my new rugs. I was happy to pay the 2.00 each she was asking. After I got them home I thought I'd do a search to see if I could find two more. All it says on the bottom is Handpainted in Portugal. Not alot to go on but I tried anyway. I found some smaller, that I didnt really like the colors of as well and OMG , they were 36.00 each~!! There just has to be a place that has them more reasonable than that.. If anyone knows where I might find 2 more, please let me know.. Thanks:)
I'm posting a couple of shots of them that hopefully will give you a good enough visual..


 I posted my faux window about a month ago with the table my daughter and I were decorating. For those of you who have been here before, you know she won with her Zen style.. I've tweaked it a bit since then. Added a couple of new plants and my rooster plates:) yes indeedy I snuck those babies right back in , giggle..
I'm always amazed at how much I love my home when I see it in photos. This faux window was put in because due to exterior issues I couldnt have a window there. That was long before we gutted and made a new kitchen and opened the family room to the dining and kitchen. You can actually see it from the front door. I realize this set up would'nt suit everyone, but I truly love it. Can you tell I have an issue with enclosed spaces:)  This window , depending on where your standing, reflects all the other rooms. To me it feels like a Magic Window..
Between Naps On The Porch 
  I thought I'd take this opportunity to give you the method by which I made my faux window, 6 years ago.
 there are probably lots of ways to do this but since several requested the instructions, I'll post them..
I'll be posting this to Meta Monday, even though I dont have a before pic,  just imagine a large Blank beige wall and then Viola, a window:)
http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/ 
I'll quit jabberjawing now and get to the instructions..
I had a 6x7 space to cover. I bought 2 boxes of mirror squares at Home depot.
4 of the decorative squares for the edges and 3 pieces of the detail molding. and 1/2 inch thick shims.
I made a jig for my saw to the cut outs in the back of the shims but you dont have too. you can cut them individually. I attached the mirrors directly to the sheetrock-- you might want to put yours on plywood so it would be removable. I knew mine would be staying so I skipped that step.
 Glue the squares to the corners, then cut and put your frame molding in place.
 I'm sure you know the drill-- measure 5 times//cut once:)
I let the frame set up overnight and painted it- let dry before I added my grids.
As i said I made mine outside fitting and gluing it together. It can be done by cutting the long//across pieces and putting them in place first. Your mirror pieces are your guides for this. Then cut your short pieces and slip them in place. a tiny dot of glue top and bottom of each short piece will adhere them to the cross sections. let dry and Viola, your done..  oh yea- paint all those short pieces and the longer sections so you dont have to do any taping.   Its may not sound easy but it is and once you start these instructions will make perfect sense..

 Good luck-- have fun -- and enjoy your HUGE picture window that will cost you approx. 35.00 instead of 2000.00...  Now if that doesnt make ya smile , I dont know what will..


Happy Monday to you ((ALL))
Have I told ya lately how much you are cared for and appreciated, if not, I'm tellin ya now..
~Sonny~