I’m a Gemini. I’m not so sure I completely believe in all the astrological brew-ha-ha, but I do think there’s something to be said for a belief system that resides in the international social subconscious. Be it the moon’s pull or a self-fulfilling prophecy, my Gemini-ness is most evident in my split personalities. I’m not crazypants, but I do have two equal and opposite forces fighting tooth and nail with in me at all times: I have expensive taste but I am cheap frugal.
Luckily, I have cultivated other characteristics to assist in marginalizing the internal struggle: I’m a superstar at haggling and I’m not so bad at fixing things up. Here are 3 projects I’ve worked on in the last couple of weeks that have satisfied each twin that lives inside this little gemini:
I found this lucite gem at the City Wide Garage Sale last weekend. Normally I go when the best deals are to be had: just before close on Sunday. This time, I tried something different: I went when the doors opened on Saturday and the, ahem, planets aligned and the gods presented me with this vintage lucite barrel chair.
The price was $130, which is approximately 13 times more than I like to spend on a chair, but my frugal side also knows a good deal when it sees one (similar chairs are going for $800 – $900 online). I talked them down (of course) to $100 and hauled ass out of the convention center.
Now, don’t be fooled by the quasi-good lighting. That fabric is one thousand percent polyester and had enough dirt to fill a shallow grave. I ripped it off post-haste.
After taking off the offending upholstery, I realized why the seat was so uncomfortable: most of the rubber supports were rotten and torn to shreds. I cut new ones and Matt stapled them on for me. Look, I’m crafty, I can make things, but few people on this earth are strong enough to work the devil’s hand-tool that is Matt’s staple gun. One half-clutch of the handle is enough to give you a life-long battle with carpal tunnel syndrome
Once the internal repairs were complete it was time to spiff up the seat. I chose to cover the seat with fabric cut from a vintage silk scarf that I had purchased at a City Wide Garage Sale several months ago for two whole dollars.
I then covered the scarf with clear vinyl. I chose to use the vinyl for several reasons: 1. Putting plastic on furniture is hilarious. 2. I wanted to protect the scarf and 3. I wanted to give the seat the same wow-pizzazz as it’s lucite shell. In person, it looks lovely together.
Because I didn’t have enough fabric from scarf #1 to line the outer edge of the seat, I used fabric from a second scarf also purchased from the garage sale several months ago for $.99. See, Erin, I do have a use for all the fabric I hoard.
Moving on to project #2
I bought this sad little excuse for a chair at a yard sale for $2 a year or so ago. When I brought it home I could see Matt’s little mind adding up the plausibility of filing for divorce. I promised him glory and grandeur then the chair sat for months. Now that my office is almost done (pictures coming soon, promise) I finally had a need for it at my sewing station.
I painted it with high-gloss black spray paint, then recovered the seat with this awesome black and white Native American graphic print fabric I purchased when I lived in Albuquerque a gazillion years ago. I’m almost positive that I got it off the $1/yard table. I bought every last inch and have used it for several projects over the years, this is the first time it’s appeared on an item for my home, though.
And finally, project #3
I bought this lame lion head print from the thrift store for $7.99. It felt a bit steep for all that mucky beige art, but I had a plan and figured that, even if I failed, at least the frame was worth 3 times the price.
I used a straightedge to draw laser-light-show lines across the background, then taped off each area separately and painted as needed. It should be noted that I originally planned to cut out the lion head and put him on a new background, but the print is mounted on thick cardboard and I wasn’t sure I could cut it out cleanly. The result?
This little lion was relocated from depressingville to crazytown. I think he likes it better there. Oh, I painted the frame black, too.
All of these projects are living in my office now. Here are all the before and afters together. Are you starting to get a sense of the color scheme?
Related posts:
ACK! This is why I never go to the Citywide Garage Sale – I would spend the whole time imagining all of the fabulous creations that people would be creating and I would be totally depressed that I have no skills to execute anything.
That scarf chair?! Genius. See, I buy scarves but I just hoard them. Or give them to bag ladies. That lion painting?! Love. I totally want to try that.
This whole post is totally inspiring! I have to waste that inspiration by going to vote, but I’ll try to maintain it.
While these are all amazing, that lion painting is absolutely ridiculous! I wonder if a stop at the thrift store would be possible during my lunch break today…
STOPITSTOPITSTOPIT and SHUT UP!!!
1. You are incredible
2. You have mad skillz
3. I’m so glad you’re my friend so that I can bask in the warm rays of your talent
P.S. TWO EFFIN’DAYS!!!
AWESOME!!! The black & white chair blows my mind! I need 4 of those. You did a fantastic job on everything!!! VERY inspirational! Hey boss, do we have a city wide garage sale?
Love all of them, the chairs are the best. Will you recover mine when they come in?
Norell is the perfume that your two great-aunts and grandmother all wore for years. How perfect is that?
Ceci, I think there is a huge garage sale in Georgetown. If not there’s always Eastern Market…
Karly, you are amazing! The transformation of the lion painting is my favorite, but the lucite chair (where you started with the best original) with the contrasting fabric on the back is pretty damn cool.
I’m looking forward to seeing your office!
OMFGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG!!!!!!!!!!!! My brains just exploded all over my computer screen. Somebody call facilities!
This post is just incredible – thanks for sharing the before/after. And this is why peeps from all over flock to catch an eyeful of the what the Dynamic Duo keeps on coming back with! You don’t disappoint! I’m with Barchbo – I won’t go to Citywide anymore, cuz my skeelz are yet to be discovered…
As the sister of Barchbo I can attest to the fact that she is filled with awesome creative ideas. Growing up I was left to the execution of these plans (some worked some not-so-much) She also spends time finding great creative people and ideas and then sharing them with me. This blog has just been added to my reader. Love it!
wow! those are amazing! i was especially impressed with the lion. when i first saw it i thought ‘what could possibly be done to save this’ and you blew me away!
HOLY FUCKING SHIT!
Yes, this post deserves the maximum sentence…
1) Best post title ever.
2) Funny as hell.
3) I am picking my jaw up off the floor! Love the lion the bestest, but everything looks GREAT.
Now I have to write a post to follow this. Damn you, overachiever!
ps, how long did the lion take? And I like the effect so much more on art than on the wall.
Love what you did to the Lucite barrel chair! And the native american fabric is awesome…
Okay. My head is spinning. You are crazypants talented! Your “afters” are stunning. The painting is fantastic. And the lucite chair is fabulous. I need more adjectives. Oh, and I believe that my mother my have had that Norell scarf in green + white. Unbelievably funny, great post.
wow!! thanks for the love everyone!!! I’m glad you all like my new projects.
Barchbo: if you ever decide to revisit city wide, just let me know, i’m always game!
Connie: take Ceci to the garage sales, you might find a good console there. also, i’m not sure about recovering your seats, they look harder than mine but I’ll have a look next time.
Raina: I CAN’T WAIT!!!!
Erin: I worked on the painting on and off over a couple of weeks, I would just paint a little at a time in the evenings. I guess it kinda took a while, but since I’d only work on it for 30 minutes at a time, it didn’t seem so bad.
OMFG.
ibid with all the other ladies.
i think you are my SOUL MATE.
You are a freaking genius!!!
I was excited to see your office before. Now I absolutely can’t wait!!!
These projects are phenomenal…..and thanks for showing them all together at the end, you can really see how they all complement each other so well.
When I saw the beginning stages of the lion project, I definitely was not sure, but the finished project really blew me away. PHENOMENAL!!!!
Welcome welcome, Bix Mom!! Give your sister hugs for sending you our way
If you described the lion painting to me, I would have given you an encouraging facial expression whilst thinking to myself um, ew!
But seeing is believing (or whatever!) and its a bit too awesome actually! Awesome for having the idea to do in the first place, and then more awesome for executing so fabulously! I too await eagerly for the office unveiling -Bring it!
you need to send this to designsponge. they would so feature it!
http://www.designspongeonline.com/
a-maz-ing.
i want that lion art as a tattoo.
Bravo, Karly! I’m in awe of your talents and skills. The lucite chair – OMG, I have no words. And I can’t wait to see your office!
I have no words for that lion except that it makes you the lion tamer!(Okay, that was lame but the painting was genius!)
Geminis rule.
wow, wow and wow. You inspire me to be more crafty!! And more thifty too. I think I am overpaying for chairs!
An angel sent from DIY heaven!
you madam, are beyond awesome. the first chair may be my fave. no, the second. but the lion with lasers is INCREDIBLE.
I’m so, so jealous of what you did with that barrel chair. Now that takes some major talent. So no surprise here that you managed to pull it off flawlessly!
I am totally late to this party, but holy shit, these are all completely awesome. Wow.
I want that lion in my house.
girl, you are a rock star. damn.
and, yes, putting clear vinyl on everything is never not funny.
That lion head is a gift from God! I’m gonna have to find me some crazy faun or unicorn poster to try this out on. Brauva!
Wow, that lion is fantastic! What a groovy idea!