Handmade Painting from Vintage Inspired Invitation

I started my personal blog, Under A Shady Tree a little more than three years ago when my son had just turned one.


I was very new to Blogland, and was stumbling around reading blogs and trying to figure out who to put on my Blogroll. Within days of my first post, I found a kindred spirit, and her name was Kim. Kim had a new blog too, called "Small Words." Her blog was an offshoot of her business, in which she was creating customized nursery paintings, often based on the bedding that had been chosen for the new arrival.

I enjoy visiting Kim's blog because she has a crazy life--she has had four--count 'em FOUR little ones in 35 months. With the schedule that you can imagine that comes with all of those children, she was often up and painting and blogging at 2am. When I was pregnant with my second child, Ella, I would often be wide awake at the same hours that Kim was painting. She unkowingly provided me with many moments of laughter and sweetness and inspiration during those long and sleepless nights!


I always knew that I wanted to buy one of her paintings--but things, and life, and stuff just kept pushing it out of my brain. Until one day when I got a message from Kim on Facebook that said she would love to have one of my new ruffle t shirts. I INSTANTLY came up with the idea of a trade.

The deal was that I would custom sew a shirt for Kim and she would paint a canvas for Ella. I finished Kim's shirt:


And she began Ella's painting. I told her to do whatever she liked--knowing that I love a vintage look.

Well, the other day she put up this post. Lo and behold she had completed Ella's canvas, and had based her design on the invite that I created for Ella's Lemonade and Sunshine Birthday Social!


Here is what Kim calls a "Sneaky Peeky" . . .


And here is a profile of this GORGEOUS painting!! I mean, look at the colors!! And what Kim doesn't even know yet is that I backed Ella's invites on SCALLOPED CARD STOCK from Martha' Stewart and they are the same color!!!


The burnished gold polka dots have such an antique feel to them! The painting is just so inspired. It is perfect, in every way. I love it. Kim isn't taking orders right now--she is playing catch up. But I encourage you to go and visit her--and be on the look out for when she begins taking new orders again! (Never mind the fact that her website is FANTASTIC.)


But what do I love most? That even though Kim and I haven't met--we have shared the joys and the trials of parenting, of blogging, of being work-at-home moms, and now we have shared a creative piece of ourselves as a gift for one another. Thanks Kim!

Custom Solar System Wall Art from Upcycled 80s Curtain Panel

Today's tutorial is for custom wall art. This is a great idea for literally whipping up an inexpensive and personalized piece of art, customized to your exact taste.

My boy is obsessed with all things space right now. I painted two small pictures for his room a few months ago, but he still has a large open space over his headboard that needed something special.


For this piece of artwork I chose to use a curtain panel from the 80s with the solar system on it.


I found this lovely piece of polyester at the Fort Andross Fleamarket, located inside Cabot Mill in Brunswick, ME. Every time we go back to Maine to visit my Dad we stop in there. Dad has a space at the adjacent Cabot Mill Antiques. We start there, and then wander over into the flea market.



The fabric caught my eye hanging in a seller's stall. I was drawn to the graphic and the brilliant color. Initially my hope was to somehow transform the panel into trim for James' dark blue curtain panels, but there wasn't enough fabric.

For this project you simply need scissors, a staple gun, your fabric and a canvas the size you want for the piece. This canvas is 22" x 28". I found it at Michael's crafts for $20 and it was 50% off. NICE!


Here's the boy, ready to help. (And TOTALLY ecstatic.)


First I laid the fabric right-side down on the table. I tried to find a place in the pattern where I could get nearly all of the solar system included in the piece. Then I trimmed all around the canvas, leaving a few inches with which to stretch the fabric over the frame.


Next I just stretched and stapled, starting at the center of each side and working my way outward.


When it came time for the corners, I just folded the fabric as if I was wrapping a present.


And then I stapled.


Tah-dahh!!!


One very happy boy! (Must wait for husband to come home to put nail in finicky old plaster wall.)


Such an easy project! I have seen similar pieces done with Amy Butler fabric. There are a million applications for this--in nurseries, in classrooms, over a master bed, maybe rooster fabric in a kitchen--anything!

Have fun!

BTW one of my new ruffled t shirts was just featured!

I am linked up with the following Monday parties: