Studio Wall Easel

Pottery Barn Wall Easel: $235 (Pottery Barn frames = $275) TOTAL: $510

Jenna's Rustic Version: $17 (Ikea frames = $85) TOTAL: $102

My spectator as I took photos :) 

Total Savings: $408

How to make your own Studio Wall Easel:

Supplies: Piece of Wood, Wood Stain, Black Ribbon, Nails, Plumbing Pipe Brackets, and Picture Frames

1. I took a hammer to the piece of wood (mine is about 6 feet long). I distressed it by hitting it with both sides of the hammer multiple times.

2. I then took the plumbing brackets and bent them around the wood and into the shape I wanted.

3. I stained the wood until I had the color I wanted.

4. While the stain was drying, I took the plumbing brackets and sprayed them black (I also took a few screws and sprayed them black).

5. Once the stain was dry, I took 4 pieces of black satin ribbon (about 4 feet each) and nailed them into the board (leaving space for the brackets to be attached on the ends).

6. Then I hung the board on the wall with the plumbing brackets.

7. Here is the secret... I didn't really hang the frames from the ribbon. I used nails to nail through the ribbon and hold the frames in place on the wall. I couldn't figure out a way for the ribbon to hold the frames but after thinking about it for way too long... I realized I didn't need the ribbon to hold up the frames... it just needed to look like it was ;)

All Fenced In

This was actually our first project (besides installing the missing bathroom door right away... that was a necessity!). We speculate that the previous owners didn't finish paying for the fence because our neighbor told us that after the house was vacant, the fence company came out, sawed off the poles, and took the entire fence in less than 10 minutes. We were left with partial poles sticking out of the ground.

TGFG (Thank God for Glenn)!! Our neighbors from our first house ROCK! We will continue to try and move them to our new neighborhood. Glenn is probably the MOST handy person we know. Glenn so kindly helped (or did 99%) of the fence for us (I know... nice, huh!?!). He did such an amazing job. Nate and I (with the help of some family) stained and finished nailing. The best part is, he is great at finding deals and we were able to do the entire fence for a fraction of the cost of having it done by a company in town. We love that guy (and his family is amazing too)!

Old view from our backdoor:

New view from our backdoor (and our new gate):

Next BIG project this summer... redo the backyard (oh the joys of buying a foreclosure)!

We don't think this grass is going to pull through for us....

Flea Market Finds

Last weekend, my mom and I went to Picc-A-Dilly Flea Market in Eugene and found some really cool things! I found an old kneading bread bowl (from the "frontier days" the man claimed) ($25), a very heavy rod-iron candle holder ($5), a barn wood frame ($7), and nails used on railroad ties ($1). The nails have the numbers 23, 26, 32, and 33 on them which I was told stood for the years they were used to nail in railroad ties (...nail #23 was used in 1923...so cool!). Not quite sure what I am going to do with them, but I thought they were too neat to pass up! I have been looking for a kneading bowl like that to use as a fruit bowl. Pottery Barn has them but I really wanted an authentic one. Who knew I would find it at a flea market for 1/3 the price as ebay! I am now a Flea Market Fan! Thanks Ma!

Loving our new fruit bowl: