Frames, frames and more frames!

When I first started this little blog, I wandered what I was going to write about.  I thought "this will give me an excuse to go thrifting more!" I also didn't update much since I started because I haven't been able to go as much as I would have liked either.  However, looking around my place for inspiration has made me realize there is VERY little that I paid full price for.  I really am thrifty like that!  Looking back at how little I have posted is actually pretty funny considering this.  So it looks like I have a lot of work to do and I better get started.


I don't know if there is anything more boring than bare walls.  I always love it when people have intricate tapestries and fabrics on their walls.  I love seeing it but I personally don't think that I would do it myself.  I know my husband would like to and has gone as far as to pick something out online, but didn't order it.  That's just how he is though, procrastinator.  So instead I've been looking around for frames.

This first frame I picked up at the thrift store I used to volunteer at and it was about 8 dollars but that was mainly because it had a signed ink drawing in it buy a local artist.  The ink drawing was really nice so I kept it just incase I find another frame to put it in eventually.  Seems a little redundant, I know, but I was looking for a frame for THIS painting and unfortunately for the ink drawing this happened to be it.

I have more paintings than I have frames for, so I just need to keep looking for nice ones to go with them.  These next few frames were also purchased from local thrift stores as well.  The large one was about 15 dollars but I made an exception for it because it is in really nice condition.  The original print that came with it is not hanging in my bathroom in another frame that I picked up for 3 dollars.  The 2 smaller frames were 99 cents each and hold these little Counter Culture coffee cards from a tasting my husband went to at a local coffee shop.  If you haven't tried counter culture coffee I highly recommend it.  We first came upon their coffee when we lived in Philadelphia.  Both being coffee nuts we researched the cafes all around the city find the one with the best coffee.  It was all the way down in the "gay"borhood, as the locals used to say.  Spruce Street Espresso is right in the middle of a quaint part of philly with tons of rainbow flags fluttering in the breeze.  I miss it!  Needless to say, when the cafe here advertised a tasting my husband was there!  I had already given up on coffee at this point because I was pregnant :-( or I would have been there as well.  Oh well, a little reminder of our past and one of the good things in Philadelphia is good enough of me now.


This next little frame doesn't quite have a space yet.  I picked up this little hand made, unfinished gem at the same time I picked up the 2 little frames in the above photo as well.  It was an unintentional thrift shop outing, well KIND OF unintentional.  I may have, sort of planned to stop in on my way back from my intended destination.  It's just an opportunity I can not pass up, sans hubby.  It was 3 dollars and I just love it.  You can tell that it is hand made by the imperfections it shows in the alignment.  The bottom right corner is not aligned properly, and to a lesser degree so is the top right. You can see all the natural wood grain with all its cracks and knots.  <3  I just need a place to put it!

This last frame holds my first attempt at calligraphy.  "God is great" in the shape of a heart.  I eventually want to redo this with better attention to the line thickness.  I am happy with it, as a first attempt but I like it as a reminder as to what got me back into and inspired to paint again.    This frame was also just a few dollars as well.  I can't quite remember as I picked it up a couple of years ago.

This last photo is not framed but I am including it because it helps out with my solution to covering bare walls and making my home feel more "complete"

This photo of the Blue Mosque in Turkey was taken by a friend and printed, matted, and finally gifted to us by another good friend.  A long and unintended progression to us, but known by God. It's perfect and huge at 3' by 4' and I absolutely love it in our dinning room.  The whole year that we lived in this new place we always wondered what we were going to do with this wall and the solution just fell into our hands, thank to the Creator.  I love it for it's beauty and above all that it serves as a reminder that He is the ultimate provider. :-)

Anyway, my search continues for more frames and mirrors to put in bare places and if we sign the year lease to continue living here my next plan is to cover more wall space is a inexpensive floor to ceiling bookshelf plus entertainment unit.  I will know whether that post will be made in about a month so stay tuned!