...they've been framed, and a little DIY discussion...

My plan for this post was a quick follow-up to my mini-vacation purchases (i.e. I framed the postcard and print); however, I started thinking about “found” objects and how almost everything (and everyone) can be transformed. When I purchased the Group of Ravens print, I knew it was from a book, most likely torn out or discarded. A woman in the store noticed it in my hand and noted that it was torn. I smiled and replied that I planned to frame the picture so a tear wasn’t a problem. Her response in a more than curt way was something about framing would cost more than the piece was worth to which I responded, “Not to me” and moved along.

When my town-home was finished being built, I set out to find the perfect dining room table for my small dining nook. It had to be round because of the size and I really wanted the base to resemble a chess piece. I found a table at Arhaus for about $4000. (This one is similar to what I saw). That was (and still is) out of a budget for a table without chairs included. Heck, it’s out of my budget sans or avec chairs! I kept looking and couldn’t find a thing until I found this table at Pier 1. It was pretty perfect shape-wise but I can’t stand brown and it was a $500 table that wasn’t perfect so I waited. Then a few months passed and the table went on sale for $300. Things were looking up but online they were all sold out. Bah! I went to the store and there happened to be a floor model that was marked "AS IS" because it had numerous scratches for $210. At that point, the table was mine! After purchasing some supplies and black paint for under a hundred bucks, I am left with a high-gloss, chess-piece-base-looking table of my dreams! The finishing touch was to add Ghost Chairs so the table remained visible.

 

I recall some skeptics commenting that I was putting a great deal of effort into this table. Well, yeah! I want to love it and get that weird attachment to inanimate objects that I sometimes feel. I think part of this was growing up goth. We ALWAYS had to DIY everything—our clothes, our décor, our accessories! I’ll be honest, now I’m sometimes a bit lazy thanks to Martha Stewart’s influence on places like Pottery Barn (during Halloween, that is), Etsy, and other online stores. I can now much more easily buy quality items that meet my fashion preference. But still, I think it’s important to have a DIYer’s eye especially when on a budget.

 

Now the post card was part of a set for $10 and the Group of Ravens print was $8. I spend about $30 on the frames at matting at Michaels with a coupon that I pulled up on my mobile. So yes, the snarky shopper was right about spending more; she wasn’t right about spending more than they’re worth. To me, I supported local merchants and artists. At the end of the day, I can’t put a price on that.